Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

THE
Celtic Magazine,
No. LII. FEBEUARY, 1880. Vol. Y.
HISTORY OF THE MACDONALDS,
AND
THE LORDS OF THE ISLES.
By the Editor.
IV.
VII. John Maodonald of Isla, first Lord of the Isles, who played a
most important part in the turbulent age in which he lived. He is ad-
mitted by all authorities to have been one of the most able and sagacious
chiefs of his time, and, by his diplomacy and alliances, more than by
the sword, he raised the clan to a position of splendour and power which
they have not attained to since the days of Somerled. In his time Scot-
land was divided and harrassed by various claimants to the crown, the
principal of whom wexe the second Bruce and Edward Baliol, John of
I the Isles sided with the latter, more probably with the object of recover-
j ing, and maintaining intact, the ancient possessions of his house, than for
any preference he entertained for Baliol and his English supporters. The
I Island chiefs had always, more or less, claimed to be independent of the
Scottish kings, and naturally enough it appeared to John of the Isles
I that to aid Baliol against Bruce would be the most effective means of
: strengthening his family pretensions. He was perfectly satisfied that the
i Scottish king would not admit the claim to independence of any compe-
j titer within his realm ; whereas Baliol, not only entertained his preten-
j sions, but actually confirmed him " as far as in him lay," not only to the
i vast territories aheady possessed by him, but to an extensive addition,
granting him by charter, in 1355, the lands of MuU, Skye, Islay, Gigha,
; Kiutyre, Knapdale, and other large possessions. For these favours John
bound himself and his heirs to become lieges to the Baliols ; for he well
knew that even if they succeeded to establish their claim to the crown he
would be practically independent in the Western Isles, and could at any
: time re-assert his old pretensions. He, however, visited England in 1338,
and was well received by Edward III., to whom, it is said, he acknow-
ledged vassalage. John and the Regent had some disputes about the
lands granted by Robert the Bruce to Angus Og of the Isles, which was
: the main cause of the Island chief being thrown into the arms of BaHol's
! party, who, in addition to the lands above-mentioned, also granted him
i K