Matheson Collection > Clan Donald > Volume 1

JOHN DE ILE, EARL OF ROSS. 203
age when he succeeded his father in 1449. Bub
though thus still of tender years, he would not have
lacked for counsel at so critical a moment in his
career as head of the House of Macdonald. The
veteran Donald Balloch, Lord of Dunnyveg and the
Antrim Glens, was the principal Councillor of the
Island Lord, as well as Captain of the Clan Donald,
and there were other cadets of the family who had
attained to considerable power and influence in the
Highlands and Islands. These were the Clanranald
branch, the Macdonalds of Ardnamurchan, the Mac-
donalds of Glencoe, and the Macdonalds of Keppoch,
Surrounded by these, as well as by the other vassals
of the family, whether at Dingwall or at Ardthornish,
John had little to fear from his foes inside or outside
the Highland boundary.
Both at Dingwall and at Ardthornish, the Earl
of Boss held Court on a scale approaching that of a
sovereign prince. From several charters granted by
him, we find the names of his councillors and the
offices held by them in the government of the Isles.
Donald Balloch comes before us as president of the
Council, while Maclean of Ardgour and Munro of
Fowlis were Treasurer of the Household and
Chamberlain respectively : other offices were held
by Maclean of Dowart, Macneill of Barra, Mac-
donald of Largie, and others of the vassals of the
Isles. One of the first charters granted by John on
his becoming Earl of Boss was that to the Master
of Sutherland of the lands of Easter Kindeace for
his homage and faithful service, and among the
witnesses are the names of several members of the
Island Council. The Earl of Boss, however, did not
confine himself to the afiairs of his own principality.
It would have been well if he had. He had barely