Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

VANITIE EXPOSED
3.
“ Weem who was second son to the Thane of Fife (says this
author), derived his name from the caves about his residence;
for Irish or Highlands (says he) being the universall language
Ui is a cave in Irish.”
It is not yielded by Weems that his predecessor was
M‘DufTs second son, but strenuouslie contended that he was
the eldest: and it seems more probable, that he who stayed in
his native country after his father’s forfaulture in hopes to be
restored (tho’ he lurked in a cave for some time till the heat
and search was over) was older than the other, who having no
such prospect or pretence, fled in despair to a remote corner of
the Highlands, and took protection in McDonald’s court, who
at that time, and some ages after till he was conquered and
reduced, had as good a right to the Isles, as the Kings of
Scotland had to the mainland.
4.
“ Shaw, M‘Duffs third son, took his proper name for his sir-
name. He came north and possessed himself of Rothemurchus,
which (sayes this scribbler) was a pairt of his father’s inherit¬
ance, and its very probable (adds he) that the great M‘Duff
might have lived some time at Rothemurchus for propinquity
to the Castle of Kendroched in Braemarr, where Malcolm
Canmore King of Scotland his great benefactor (whom the
said M‘Duff was the main instrument of settling on the
throne) lived very often for hunting cause. A testimony
where of (says this author) is that in the hills betwixt Rothe¬
murchus and marr is Beinue vick duie,1 in English, M‘Duffs hill,
and Sow'l vick dui? which is M‘Duffs hunting sheal, which
(sayes he) retains the very name to this very day.”
I have often heard from some of the oldest men I have con¬
versed with, of severall diflerent families, that M‘Duff had two
sons, to witt, the Laird of MTntoshe his predicessor and the
Earl of Weems, but of the third son called Shaw, they or we
know nothing till this author obleidged us with the discovery.
But whether he had or not, I am very positive that there was
Beinn Mhic Duibh.
2 Sobhal Mhic Duibh.