Facts and traditions collected for a family record

REDDSHANKES. 79
names, and pleas your Hignes, but when they subscryvede a lettir, as
Ewwyn O'Neill, i.e., Eugenius nepos Nigelli ; for 0' in Eyrische signifiethe a
nephew*
Moreover, wherfor they call us in Scotland Reddshankes, and in your Graces
dominion of England, roghe footide Scottis, pleas it your Maiestie to under-
stande that we of all people can tollerat, suffir, and away best with colde ; for,
boithe somer and wyntir, (excepte when the froest is mooste vehemente,) goynge
alwaies bair leggide and bair footide, our delite and pleasure is not only in hwn-
tynge, but also in rynninge, leapinge, swymmynge, shootynge, and thrawinge of
dartis ; therfor, in so muche as we use and delite so to go alwaies, the tendir, deli-
cate gentillmen of Scotland call us Reddshankes. And agayne in wynter, when
the froest is mooste vehement, which we can not suffir bair footide, so Weill as
snow, whiche can never hurt us whene it cunrrnes to our girdills, we go a hwn-
tynge ; and after that we have slayne redd deir, we flaye of the skyne, bey and
bey, and settinge of our bair foote on the insyde thereof, for neide of cunnyge
shoemakers, we play the swtters ; compasinge and mesuringe so moche therof as
shall retche up to our anklers, pryckynge the upper part therof, also, with holis,
that the water may repas when it entres, and stretchide up with a stronge
thwange of the same, meitand above our saide anklers, so we make our shoois ;
therfor, we usinge such manner of shoois, the roghe, hairie syde outwart, we be
callit roghe footide Scottis.''
It was stated in the last chapter that Ewin Allanson, captain of the
clan Chameron, married the sister of Alexander, son of Gillespick, second
son of Alexander, Lord of the Isles ; and that several descendants of
Ewen Allanson, or MacAllan bore the name of M'Coil or M'C'onell Duie.
It is probable that Ewen Allanson added the name of M'Conell or Mac-
dhonuill, to his own on account of this marriage. Gregory says, \x 77 : —
" The chief of the Clanchameron was generally known in the Highlands by his
patronymical appellation of ' MacDhonuill Duibh,' i.e., MacConnett Duy ; or, the
son of Black Donald."
* "Annals of the Four Masters," p. 10 : — " Hy, in Irish Ibh, pronounced Iv, is the
plural of Ua, or 0, which is the preposition from. The word Ua, or 0, prefixed to Irish
surnames, signified originally a grandson, but was afterwards applied to all the descendants.
Mac signifies a son."