Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

46 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
shapely, of a fair piercing eye, of middle stature, and quick discernment."*
Gregory, from the well-knoAvn character of the celebrated Chief, is
disposed to believe in the account which says " that he was assassinated
in his tent by an individual in whom he placed confidence, and that his
troops, thus deprived of their leader, returned in haste to the Isles." Hq
does not, however, adopt that part of it which states that Sommerled was
buried in Icolmkill. "Modern enquiries," he says, "rather lead to the
conclusion that he was interred at the Church of Sadale, in Kintyre,
where Reginald, his son, afterwards founded a monastery."
A recent writer, who claims descent for the Macdonalds from Fergus
Mor, son of Eire, " who, about the year 506, permanently laid the founda-
tion of the Dalriadic Kingdom of Scotland," sums up the character of
Somerled thus — The family of Fergus INIor continued to maintain a lead-
ing position in Scotland, sujiplying with few exceptions, the line of Dal-
riadic kings, and many of the more powerful of its thanes, or territorial
lords. Of the latter, the most historical, and, it may be truly added, the
most patriotic, was a great thane of Argyle, who appeared in the twelfth
century, called Somliairle among his Celtic kinsmen, but better known
as Somerled, which was the Norwegian form of his name. During the
tenth and eleventh centuries, frequent settlements were made by Nor-
wegian colonists among the Celtic population of the Higlilauds and Isles
of Scotland. Although, however, the evils of Northern rapacity and
oppression were keenly felt, the Celtic element continued to predominate
even during the most disastrous periods. At length a deliverer arose in
Somerled, who was the son of a Celtic father, and a fair-haired, blue-eyed
Norwegian mother. Few, if any, military leaders have left their marks
more broadly or distinctly in Scottish history than he. This fact stands
clearly out not only from the records of his career, preserved in authentic
chronicles, but perhaps even more strikingly in the circumstantial tradi-
tions respecting him, which stiU exist in Argyleshire and the Isles.
These traditions when compared with the well-authenticated records of
his life, appear like the fragments of some history that had been written
of him, but is now lost, and hence they serve to supplement attractively
the curt and dry details of the old chronicles. Many of these traditions
refer to the youtliful days of Somerled, who appears to have grown up an
indolent and handsome giant. His father, Gillebride, regarded with con-
tempt the seemingly unwarlike nature of his youngest son, who occupied
himself in hunting and fishing, whilst his brothers trained themselves to
engage, as opportunities oti'ered, in deadly conflict with their Norwegian
oppressors. Somerled's indolent and pleasant time, however, was soon
destined to end. His father, being driven from the hills and glens of
Argyle, was compelled to conceal himself in a cave in Morven, and from
that moment Somerled began to take serious counsel regarding the posi-
tion of affairs with his youthful companion? of the chase. He found
them ready, and equally prepared to hunt the wild boar, or assault the
dreaded Norsemen. Somerled's very nature thenceforward was entirely
changed ; he became a new man ; the indolent dreamer was suddenly
absorbed in the delights of stratagem and battle. He spoUed like the
eagle, and had no joy so great as when in the act of rending the prey.
His little band gathered strength as he went, and under his eye dealt
* Macdouald AIS. ; iniiited ia the " ColKotauca de Rebus Albanicis."