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

Principality of the IJles. 26g
by the jundlion of a fleet which the Iflanders had
brought to his aid.
" While Haco was fettling his plan of opera-
tions at Kiarnry, he detached a Iquadron of fifty
fhips to the ifhhmus of Kintyre, and another con-
filling of fifteen to the illc of Bute. The firft was
commanded by Magnus, King of Man, and Du-
gal, the Sodorian Prince already mentioned. Three
or four Norwegian Captains, and one of the Ebu-
denfian Chieftains commanded the other. Thefe
two fquadrons had all the fuccefs that could be
defired. The corquefl of Kintyre was finilhcd in
a fhort time. Two Lords who bore the greaitft
fway in that province delivered it up to the Nor-
wegians, fwore fealty to Haco, and brought in a
thoufand bullocks for the ufe of his army. The
caflle of Bute furrendered, and the whole ifland
was fubdued, and a confiderable body of troops
fent from it did no fmall damage on the continent
of Scotland.
" While Haco lay before the ifie of Arran,
after having reduced all the other Ebudes *, the
King of Scots fent ambalfadors to him with propo-
fitions of peace. The Norwegian monarch, after
receiving feveral different melfages in the fam.e
ftile, began to liften to the overtures made, a"d
fent two biihops and three laics of diftinguifhed ta-
lents, invelled with a public character to fettle all
differences. Alexander was in appearance fond
of an accommodation, but infifted peremptorily
that Arran, Bute, and Camray, fliculd be reftored
to the crown of Scotland. Haco, unwilling to
grant fuch advantageous term^s, and perceiving that
"^ Torfs. Kin. Ouad. p. i66.
he