Family records of the Bruces and the Cumyns

SO WILLIAM THE LION.
from his military command. The Earl of Buchan had already reached Kin-
cardine with his prisoner, in order to present him to the king, when an order
arrived for his immediate execution, which he had nearly anticipated by an
attempt to starve himself to death.
1 2 13. King John again came to the Scottish border to seek a conference with
William, who was, however, detained by illness at Haddington. John held out
magnificent promises to induce the young Prince Alexander to come in his
father's place ; but the nobles, fearful that he might be detained as a hostage
for the delivery of Eustace de Vesci, who had rebelled against King John, and
sought refuge with his father-in-law, the King of Scotland, would not allow him
to go, and John was obliged to return disappointed to the south. Hemingsford
says that Margaret, the beautiful wife of Eustace de Vesci, was King John's
real attraction to the north.
During the greater part of William's reign, Caithness, too, had been in
rebellion. In 11 37 Harald Maddadson, son of the Earl of Athol by Margaret,
daughter of Haco Jarl of Orkney, had by his mother's machinations succeeded
his uncle Paul as co-Earl of Orkney and Caithness, when only five years old.
1 158. He became sole earl. He first married " Affreca," sister of Duncan Earl of
Fife, by whom he had a son " Torphin." Secondly, he married a daughter of
M'Heth, in whose right Harald seized upon Moray in 1196.
Soon after, his son Torphin was defeated by the king's army at Thurso,
which was burnt, and the country ravaged. Torphin was demanded as a
hostage by William, and half the county of Caithness was given to another
Harald (Ericson). Earl Harold came to meet King William at Lochloy near
Nairn ; but failing to bring Torphin and the other hostages, he was himself
taken prisoner and carried to the south, until Torphin was sent to relieve him.
William then sold Caithness to Reginald King of Man, but Harold drove
him out by force ; and, ill-using the bishop, obliged William to return at Christ-
mas, first retaliating upon the unfortunate Torphin.
Harald Maddadson escaped to his island jarldom, which he held of Norway,
but returned in great force next spring.
1202. Harold terminated the contest by putting himself under the safe-conduct of
the Bishop of St Andrews, and tendering his submission to the king at Perth.
For a sum of 2000 lb. of silver he was allowed to enjoy his earldom in peace
till his death in 1206, when he left a diminished inheritance to his three
surviving sons. Heinrek (Henry) succeeded to his claims on Ross, whilst
David and John divided Caithness and the Orkneys — John, the survivor, at
last possessing the whole of both.
1214. King William went to Moray, where the Earl of Caithness (John Haraldson),