Historical account of the Macdonnells of Antrim

240
THE MACDONNELLS OF ANTRIM.
first offer of the property to his own half-brother, the lord of Lome. (83) The latter declining to
purchase, a bargain was thereupon closed with the earl of Antrim, who paid, probably as a first
instalment or deposit, the sum of ^1500, besides .£250 of expenses incurred by the assignment.
On the 16th of January, 1635, after much difficulty and delay, lord Antrim got legal and peaceable
" seasing," or possession, from lord Cantire, as the following documents, still preserved at Glenarm
castle, sufficiently prove : —
"At the Tour and Fortalice of Dunnavartick, (84) the sixteenth day of January, 1635.
Quhilk day seasing is given be James Stewart of Askamilne, baillie, to Archibald Stewart of Ballin-
toy, (85) as actum ey, and in name, and to the behove of Randolphe M'Donnell viscount Dunluce,
(86) of the haill lands, lordship, and barrony of Kintyre, comprehending the lands of south and
north Kintyre and also Jura, (see p. 1 1 1, supra) upon the said Archibald Stewart, as actumey; and
in name and behalfe of me, notar publict under written ; and the promisses were done within and
uppon the said Tour and Fortalice of Dunnavartick, in presence of Malcolm M'Naghtane of Stron,
Mr. Donald O'Mey, (87) minister of Kilcherane, Ninian Stewart, appeirand of Askok, (88) Alex-
ander Stewart Machremoire, (89) Neil Buoy M'Kay in Campbeltown, (see p. 24, supra), John
Kendrid in Machremoire, Donald M'Neill in Dillkraden, John M'llroy, servitor to my lord of Kin-
tyre, and Malcolm M'Arthor, servitor to James Stewart of Askmilne, baillie aforesaid. Betwixt ten
and eleven hours in the morning, day, month, and year of God above spicified.
" James Nicoll, notar publict.
" Ninian Stewart, witnes.
"James Stewart, witnes."
" Be it knowen to all men that I, James lord Kintyre, give permission and power to Archibald
(83) Lord 'of 'Lome. — This was the eldest son of the seventh
earl of Argyle, by his first wife, Anne Douglas, a daughter
of the earl of Morton. Lome became earl of Argyle on
the death of his father in 1638. He was created a marquis
by Charles I. in 1640. For several notices of him in con-
nexion with the campaigning of Montrose, see pp. 73 - -97,
supra.
(84) Dunnavartick. — See pp. 13, 24, supra. In the
time of Angus Macdonnell the fortifications at Dunaverty
were kept in good repair and well guarded, as only from
this position could the communications with Antrim be
kept open and safe. (See New Statistical Account of
Argyleshire. p. 424.) At the time above referred to, and
for many years subsequently, the castle was kept in good
order, and occupied ; but at the end of the great struggle
between Montrose and the covenanters, it was permitted
to go to decay. At present, the ruin can only be ap-
proached by a sort of stair which appears natural, being
overgrown and matted with grass, but underneath this
catpetting are still the remains of regularly constructed
steps. The front and the two sides are giddy precipices,
reminding us very distinctly of the ruin known as Bruce's
Castle, in the island of Rathlin.
(85) Ballinloy. — Archibald Stewart (son of Ninian, the
first settler of this surname on the Antrim coast), was
appointed principal agent to the earl of Antrim, on the
death of John Macnaghten, in 1630. For an account of
this gentleman and his descendants, see Hill's Steivarts of
Ballintoy, pp. 6 — 36, et sea.
(86) Viscount Dunluce. — The earl of Antrim purchased
the lands of Cantire in the name, and for the use of his
son, viscount Dunluce ; and in his name, as a matter of
course, all the proceedings connected with the purchase
were conducted.
(87) O'Mey. — Donald O'Mey happened to be minister
of the parish of Southend, on the Mull of Cantire, and
was thus a witness on this occasion. He had been pre-
viously minister in the island of Bute. Thomas Knox,
bishop of the Isles, reporting on the state of his diocese
in 1626, mentions Bute as paying " 160 merkis a yeir to
to the Bischope," and as being then "servit be Mr.
Patrick Stewart, Mr. John Bogill, and Mr. Donald
O'Mey." See Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis, p. 123.
(SS) Askok. — This name is more generally written
Askog. It is in the parish of Rothesay, Bute. In 1637,
this Ninian Stewart of Ascog was served heir to his father,
John Stewart, in the half of the lands of Ballankalie and
Blackhous. See Orig. Paroch. Scot., vol. ii., p. 229.
(89) Machremoire. — There is a place of this name in
the immediate vicinity of Dunaverty castle, parish of
Kilblane. There is also a place so called in the parish
of Ramoan, and in it was the residence of an Alexander
Stewart, nephew of Archibald above-named, who pro-
bably was the gentleman here referred to.