Historical and genealogical account of the Clan Maclean

\% HISTORICAL NOTICES.
donald on the subject of the earldom of Ross,
which Donald claimed in right of his wife Mary-
Leslie, heiress of Ross ; and the occasion pro-
mised too glorious a field for the genius of the
warlike Lord of Duart to admit of his listening
to any overture which would deprive him of a
conspicuous share in the contest ; besides, his
being the hereditary lieutenant-general of the
Isles gave his uncle a claim to his support, which
on so important an occasion as the approaching
contest he was not likely to waive. The whole
array of the Isles, consisting of ten thousand
warriors, was mustered for the approaching con-
flict ; and Donald of the Isles (Earl of Ross),
with the chief of Duart as his lieutenant, took
the field at its head. The insular prince scoured
the country eastward before him, and proceeded
onwards, contemplating an attack by surprise
upon Aberdeen, in which the head quarters of
the regent's forces under the immediate com-
mand of the Earl of Marr then lay ; but being
anticipated by the enemy, who concentrated
himself a few miles in advance of Aberdeen in
Macdonald's route, the celebrated battle of
Harlaw was fought, at the village of that name,
about Whitsuntide in the year 1411.
In this battle the renowned chief of Maclean
performed prodigies of valour; his massive sword,
wielded by an arm already known for deeds of
death, laid prostrate every foe it encountered ;