Series 5 > Campbell Letters 1559-1583

INTRODUCTION
41
who was frequendy associated with Grey Colin. The remaining sister,
Cecilia, wed David Wemyss of that ilk, whose father opposed the
Congregation, but whose own position was less hostile. These Ruthven
women drew together a substantial Protestant group which spread
throughout Perthshire and into Angus. This ideological grouping was
unusual in the mid sixteenth century. Most marriages were alliances made
to strengthen the position of the respective noble houses within national
and regional politics. This frequendy placed blood and marriage kin on
different sides over contentious issues, a situation which Katherine strove
to avoid in 1571 during the Murray-Reidheugh feud (193; and see below,
pp. 61-62).
Argyll
Whereas Perthshire was a border shire in which Highland and Lowland
societies met, Argyll lay entirely within the Highlands. Highland politics
had a different flavour derived from its Gaelic society and tenuous links
with the centre. The Lowland government displayed minimal and
intermittent interest in Highland events and national issues were rarely
important to Highlanders. By delegating royal authority to the earls of
Argyll and Clan Campbell in the south Highlands and to the Gordons
and Mackenzies in the northern part, the Stewart monarchs had
encouraged a semi-autonomous area detached from the rhythms of
Lowland politics. Although united by a common language, culture and
social structure, rivalries between the different clans fragmented and
localised Highland politics. The region did not possess a single political
system, but overlapping zones of which Argyll and the western Highlands
was the most important. During the period covered by the letters, it was
dominated by Archibald Campbell, fifth earl of Argyll. Alongside the
earl’s mainland predominance in Argyll, the major power within the
Western Isles was the descendant of the lords of the Isles, James MacDonald
of Dunivaig and the Glens. During this period much of his attention was
focused upon the MacDonald territories across the North Channel in
Antrim. Unlike subsequent generations, MacDonald was on amicable
terms with the Campbells. This was undoubtedly encouraged by his
remarkable and forthright wife Agnes, the daughter of the third earl of
Argyll (22). MacDonald was favourably disposed towards other members
of Clan Campbell, especially Grey Colin (20). Hector Mor MacLean of
Duart, who had a long-running feud with MacDonald over the Rhinns
of Islay, was also involved in the affairs of mainland Argyll. His base in
Mull, alongside the mainland of Lorn, made him Grey Cohn’s neighbour.