Ossian Collection > Romance of the Highlands

THE CHIEF. THE FIERY CROSS. 31
His powers over his clan were almost absolute, and
it might be said that only in cases of gross neglect or
inability were they ever questioned. These cases were
very rare, and there are only a few instances recorded
when the clan and their chief did not see eye to eye.
When such differences occurred the chief was deposed
and allegiance transferred to the next in succession. Two
instances of this character appear in the annals of the
Clan McDonald.
In 1544 trouble arose between Clanranald and his
followers, because of an injudicious speech he had
delivered. It appears that preparations on a large scale
had been made to give him a great reception on his
return from residence among the Frasers, where he had
been fostered. Observing that a large number of cattle
had been slaughtered for the feast, he passed the remark
that a few hens might have served the purpose equally
well. Now, hens were not in those days, or for long
afterwards, recognised as fit subjects for killing to feast
upon, and his ill-placed words were more than the
people could stand. His suggestion being intended to
convey to the people that the reception was unnecessarily
extravagant, would no doubt, if spoken in the present
day, have passed with little comment. It was different
then, however, and his clan claimed that it exposed a
very small mind, unworthy of a chief of theirs, and that
it had been said with indifference to their feelings. They
let it be known that they would have nothing to do with
a "hen chief," well knowing all the time that their actions
would probably bring on bloodshed. Young Clanranald
was not so chicken-hearted as his speech implied. He
secured help from the Frasers and attacked his own clan.
A desperate battle was fought. It has since been known
as Blar na Lein, or "The Battle of the Shirts," and it
procured this name through the men throwing off their