Blair Collection > Critical dissertations on the origin, antiquities, language, government, manners, and religion, of the antient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots

268 Hijlory of the Norwegian
terms c:'ded by Magnus of Norway, if we are to
give faith implicitly to the Scottifh hiflorians.
But the account given by Torfseus of the mat-
ter, after the authors of his country, and the pubhc
records kept there, is in fubftance this.
" In the year 1263, the petty Kings of the So-
dorian illes acquainted their fovereign Haco of
Norway, that Kiarnach^ Earl of Rofs, had com-
mitted the moft cruel devaftations in their territo-
lies, that he had deftroyed many of their towns,
villages, monafteries and churches, and that he had
in the moll barbarous manner killed all the people
that fell in his way, without any diftindion of age
or fex. They notified further, that the King of
Scots had declared he would never defift till all the
Ebudes poifefied by the Norwegians fhould be re-
united to his dominions X.
" Haco, a Prince of uncommon abilities, and
of a military genius, heard all this with a becoming
indigaation ; and having without lofs of time fitted
out a vaft fleet, fct fail for Scotland, on the irth
of July 1263. He arrived in Shetland on the 13th,
and flaid there for two weeks; and after having
fettled his affairs in Orkneys and Caithnefs, fteered
his courfe firfl for the Lewis, and afterwards for
Sky. Here he was joined by Magnus, King of
Tvlan, and by Dugal, oie of thofe great Lords in
the illes, who had allumed the regal title. Haco
was piloted by this vafTal King to the Sound of
Mull, and from Mull to Kiarary. He had ordered
a!! his fhips of war to rendezvous in this ifle, and
here he received a confiderable accelllon of ftrength
X Torfx. Hill. Oread, p. 165,
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