Historical and genealogical essay upon the family and surname of Buchanan

1$2 ACCOUNT OF THE
the same. The buildings were joined round the
inside with sloping roofs. There were also two,
sometimes more ports, or entries, with stairs mount-
ing to the battlement, and a draw-well or spring
within each. The garrisons kept in these, with the
others in the fortified towns, so overawed the Irish,
that they durst not fall upon any means, or so
much as think of regaining their liberty ; although
they had always elective kings of their own natives,
not always of the old line of their kings, but more
often of other stems, the state of the country oblig-
ing them to choose men of valour and conduct,
without much regard had to their pedigree. These
elective kings were rather kings in name, than ef-
fect, being in condition for a long time of doing
no other service in behalf of their country, than to
keep themselves with such as adhered to them in
woods, mountains, and other inaccessible places,
being intent upon all occasions to cut off such
small parties of the Danes as they found either
robbing or purchasing provisions in the country.
Things continued in this state till the year 998,
in which the Irish elected a valiant nobleman, and
eminently expert in martial feats, for their king,
called Brian MacKennedy : who entering upon the
government, and pondering with himself what in-
superable difficulties he was to grapple with, in
supporting the burden of such a disordered state,
did fall upon the most effectual methods he could
in prudence imagine, for remedy of the present in-
conveniences ; and for that effect having called
his whole subjects to a general rendezvous, he elec-
ted out of them nine thousand men, which number