Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 2, 1894

236
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
and defend, fortify and assist the said Donald in all
his lawful adoes in contrar all men — the King's
Majesty being excepted. For the which doings, 1
the said Donald grants and confesses me to have
taken the said Sir James my chief master, and
promises to wair mj'self goods and gear in the
maiutenange of the said Sir James during my
lifetime, so long as the said Sir James does his
lawful duty to me. And for more of verification
and shewing of my obedience to the said Sir James,
1 by the tenure hereof grants me to have given
upon myself and my brethren and our heirs ane
baiiii's part of gear to the said Sir James and his-
heirs for ever ; and the said Sir James to do all
duties that he ought to us, and ours for the same.
In token whereof both I, the said Sir James, and
the said Donald, has subscribed these presents with
our hands as follows : — At Simerby the :?rd of
July, 159", before these witnesses — Uillespic Mac
vie Allister of the Largie, John Mac Gillespie vie
Cay, John Oig Mac MarcNis, and John Steward,
writer, hereinto with others diverse. (Signed),
Sir J. M'Connall of Knockransaj', Kn3't, I,
Donald M'Duphie, lies subscryssit, this present
j^.l::r^.:>5)X''^
I'UKut or ()K(l^■s.\^■
contrak for my own [lart, and in my brother's
behalf."
Sir James M'lJonakl was taken prisoner as
early as 1601, and after one attem])t of e.scape
which failed in consecjuence of liis l)einfi; kept in
irons, wliereby he fell and was injured, finally
escaped in May, lol."). Prior to tlii.s Dunyvaig,
which had been occupied by the Bisliop of tlie
Isles, liad been suddenly seized by Angus Mac-
donald, and some of the Bishop's family held in
security. Information being conveyed to Sir
James that tlie time was favourable for his re-
appearance, and he having also heard that the
King had secretly given the Earl of Argyle
power to carry out the old sentence, made a
determined and successful attempt to escape.
Accompanied by Ke])poch and others he moved
rapidly through Perthshire and the Islands, and