Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

THE CEI.TIO MONTHLY.
147
THE HIGHLANDERS OF SCOTLAND.
BY EX-DEAN OF GUILD DAVID MACDONAID, ABERDEEN.
(Continued from page 133).
THE KAKLDOM OF RIISS.
fN 1411 an invasion was attempted liy
Donald, Lord of the Isles, who laid
— claim to the Earldom of Ross The
Governor of Scotland declining to sustain his
pretensions, the Lord of the Isles raised an
army of ten thousand men, and assisted by a
fleet from iMii^land, he carried everythini;
before him. He received a tem|iorary check
at Dingwall by Mackay of Farr and his
retainers, but Mackay was taken prisoner, and
many of his followers slain. Donald pursued
his victorious career through the counties of
Inverness, Nairn, Moray, etc., etc., with tlie
intention of marching on Aberdeen, and burning
that city. In Strathbogie, and round the
district, the rebel array committed great e.xoesses;
and the inhabitants of Aberdeen were in con-
siderable alarm at their approach. Their fears
were, however, to some extent allayed at the
appearance of the Earl of Mar, and a choice
body of knights, men-at-arms, etc., on the scene.
The Provost of Aberdeen with five hundred
Ijurgcsses also contributed to swell the army of
defence, but notwithstanding all this, it did not
amount to more than a tenth of the host opposed
to them. The two armies met at the villaje of
The result of the encounter was most disastrous
for both sides; but Mar's army from the small-
ness of its numbers suffered most. Donald,
however, took alarm at the obstinacy with which
he had been met and retreated during the night,
leaving the Earl of Mar master of the situation.
On the return of James I. from his captivit}', he
found the country in a fearful state of anarchy ;
and he is said to liave made the remark that if
his life were spared he would render life and
property throughout his dominions secure, a
promise which to a very great degree he fulfilled.
In 1427 he arrived at Inverness, attended by
his Parliament, and summoned the principal
chiefs before him. From whatever motive, his
mandate was readily obeyed, and about forty
placed themselves in his power. They were
immediately seized and imprisoned, and were
not allowed either to hold converse with one
another or their friends. Some of those who
had been most conspicuous in their attacks
on their neighbours were e.xecvited ; others
imprisoned for lengthened periods, and after-
wards hanged. The Lord of the Isles, who had
also been imprisoned, was treated with greater
leniency, and received his liberty ; but this
haughty chief returned the forbearance of the