Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 1

'i2ti HISTOKV Of THE HIGHLANDS.
James, therefore, resolved to vindicate his right by an appeal to arms.
though his force was far inferior to that of Sir Lauclilan. Taliing pos-
session of a hill at tlie Iiead of Loch Groynard, which the Macleans had
inetFectually endeavoured to secure, Sir James attacked their advanced
guard, which he forced to fall back upon their main body. A desperate
struggle then took place, in vhicli great valour was displayed on both
sides. Sir La\ichlan was killed fighting at the head of his men, who
were at length compelled to retreat to their boats and vessels. Besides
tlieir cliief, tlie Macleans left eighty of their principal men, and two
hundred common soldiers, dead on the field of battle. Lauchlan
Barroch-Maclean, son of Sir Lauchlan, was dangerously wounded, but
escaped. Sir James Macdonald was also so severely wounded that he
never fully recovered from his wounds. About thirtj' of the Clandonald
were killed and about sixty wounded. Sir Lauchlan, according to Sir
Robert Gordon, had consulted a witch before he undertook this journey
into Islay, who advised him, in the first ))Iace, not to land upon the island
on a Thursday ; secondly, that he should not drink of the water of a well
near Groynard ; and lastly, she told him that one Maclean should be
slain at Groynard. " The first he transgressed unwillingly (says Sir
Robert), being driven into the island of Ila by a tempest upon a Thurs-
day ; the second he transgressed negligentlie, haveiug drank of that
water befor he wes awair; and so he wes killed ther at Groinard, as wea
foretold him, hot doubtfullie. Thus endeth all these that doe trust in
such kynd of responces, or doe hunt after them I"*
On hearing of Maclean's death and the defeat of his men, the king
became so highly incensed against the Clandonald, that, finding he had
a right to dispose of their possessions both in Kiiityre and Islay, he made
a grant of them to the earl of Argyle and the Campbells. This gave
rise to a number of bloody conflicts between the Campbells and the Clan-
donald in the years sixteen hundred and fourteen, fifteen, and sixteen,
which ended in the ruin of the latter.
The rival houses of Sutherland and Caithness had now lived on friend-
ly terms for some 3'ears. After spending about eighteen months at
court, and attending a convention of the estates at Edinburgh, in July,
fifteen hundred and ninety eight, John, sixth carl of Sutherland, went
to the continent, where he remained till the month of September, sixteen
hundred. The eai-1 of Caithness, deeming the absence of the eai-1 of Su-
therland a fit opportunity for carrying into efiect some designs against
him, caused William IVIackay obtain leave from his brother Houcheon
Mackay to hunt in the policy of Durines belonging to the earl of Su-
therland. The earl of Caithness thereupon assembled all his vassids and
dependants, and, under the pretence of hunting, made demonstrations
for entering Sutherland or Strathnaver. As soon as Mackay was in-
formed of his intentions he sent a message to the carl of Caithness, inti-
• Hist. p. 23.