Page images
PDF
EPUB

Murrogh O'Brian, in the year 1647. [There is a poem by Cathil Macou rich, (not translated) interleaved in betwixt the former part, and what follows of the civil wars.]

John Muidartach son of Donald son of Allan, went home with those who remained of his men, a , after he was forsaken by all the rest, and after Montrose and the Marquis of Huntly were put to death. He alone stood out, and those who were alive of his men continued with him. There came a message to him from the rulers of the kingdom, with offer of terms of peace, which he accept ed.

He sent Donald to Ireland with some of the Scots gentry, but he himself remained at home to keep the country, and to defend it from the enemy. Donald set off from Uist in a good low-country ship, and a long Highland one, with three hundred good soldiers, in 1648. From Uist they sailed to the sound of Mull, to Colonsay, and the sound of Isla, where they fell in with a large ship full of barley, which they captured; they took another ship, but found nothing in her; they left her there, and sailed for Ireland; were overtaken on their way by a storm which separated them; some of them reached the sea of Kealbeg. Donald and those who were along with him, landed at the bay of Ardmigalagan, and sent back the ship to Scotland. He went from thence to Acha, to his friends, when there was a garrison favourable to them; from thence they went to the county of Cavan, where they met Philip Orwell, the lord of that country; they went from thence to the Mull of Meath, where Donald left his men quartered, and went to Kilkenny, where the council of Ireland sat, and

where he and his men got orders to join the council's army, under the command of General Preston, and where Alexander, the Earl of Antrim's son, was, and those who remained with the Scots army, together with those of the Macdonalds who went over with Sir Alexander Macdonald; that regiment consisted of fifteen hundred chosen men, Donald the son of John Muidartach, being lieutenant-colonel, and Angus the son of Alexander Macdonald of Largs and Cantyre, being the first captain. This army was famous for some time, and much esteemed by their valour in taking of great towns, until they were at last defeated in the county of Rebui (King's county) where there were a great number of the Cavanchs of Ireland along with them, who as soon as they came to the places they were acquainted with in their own country, nigh a wood, fled and left them in the lurch, the enemy rushing in upon them at the same time, soon dispersed them. Donald, young Laird of Clanronald, and Angus, Laird of Glengary, were taken prisoners, and sent to Kilkenny, where they remained until the Marquis of Antrim found means to release them. Glengary came out sooner than Clanronald; he went over seas to the king, and left Donald in prison, until more money was given for his ransom by the Duchess of Buckingham, the Marquis of Antrim's lady. He came out of prison to Lochgarman, where a ship belonging to the Marquis of Antrim carried him to the Kyle of Staly in Uist; the son of Alexander, Laird of Largs, came along with him, and were joyfully received by their friends, His attendants came soon thereafter in a ship which they procured from Ireland. These were

Murcho Macneil of Bara, a tall handsome man; Alexander son of John son of Allan of Bualog; Donald son of Allan; Donald Mog son of Donald son of Lauchlan son of Murdoch; John son of Brian son of Murdoch; John son of Fagalach M'Beath; Angus son of Alexander, son of Macgodfrey; John the son of Brian Macvuirich, and others came another route. After Donald came home, he and his father, John Muidartach, defended their country until they obtained peace. Their invincible loyalty was the cause of their having been greatly in debt, which became a great burden both upon themselves and their posterity. John Muidartach died at Erisca, in Uist, 1670, and was interred in Tomor, leaving one son, Donald,

and three daughters, Mor Lady Coll, Catharine Lady Bara, and Ann Lady Benmaol. Donald lived sixteen years after his father's death, and these he spent in peace; sometimes at court, much esteemed, and sometimes at home.

He died at Cannay in 1686, the same year that King Charles the Second died, and his body was interred in Tomor, in the same grave with his father. He left two sons and three daughters, namely, Allan the Laird, and Ronald Mor, Janet, Mary, and Mora, Mora daughter to Sir Rodrick Mor, Macleod being their grandmother by the father's side.

Great was the loss sustained to the Hebrides by the death of this. Donald, as every one alive doth testify.

COPY LETTER

Earl of Perth Lord High Chancellor of Scotland,

TO

The Laird of Blair Drummond, 26th July, 1691.

"Sir, I received yours about an hour ago, that is, about eight o'clock at night. J. Hay had sent me the conditions agreed to in relation to Mary's marriage, but not quite so full as your letter had them. I hope Lord Hugh will do well enough. As for my carriage let none of my friends seem to doubt it; for that does but make enemies watchful; and when malice cannot find a real ground of complaint, and one loses labour in making observations, it makes where it wants. I'll assure you there shall be no cause of disquiet to my friends, or of fear from what the worst of my enemies can find to object. I cannot beat people away from me; but I desire none to come to me, and my train north consists but of six on horseback, and my wife her woman and myself in the coach; if a quarrel be made of that splendar, it is a poor ground of one. As to my Lord Melville's affair the matter of fact is this to the best of my memory, One day in the Treasury-Chamber my Lord Tarbat told me that albeit the master of Melville was secured in his father's estate, yet to shun debate, and to give my Lord Mel

ville freedom of returning, he being a melancholy sickly man, and desirous of being at home, he was willing to give somewhat to any body who would procure a remission to them, &c. and proposed the matter to me as to be received privately, and never to be heard of. I told my Lord Tarbat that never having received money from any body but from the king, I would not begin with my Lord Melville; he (at least his children) had that relation to my family that I would get him his remission for nothing. My Lord Tarbat said, that I must not do him that injury, for he was to have a share of what was to be given, and therefore entreated me to take my share and named the 30001. one half to be paid at the passing of the remission, the other at the ratifying it in parliament. I told my Lord that if it was given, I would have it as from the king, which occasioned the letter mentioned. And for the 2001. the master knew very well it was not for my behoof. Speak with my Lord Tarbat, and see if he remembers the matter to have passed in this fashion, that if he remembers it better

he may tell it to you. Now all having been transacted in the terms of kindness, it having been received as a most special favour from the king and altogether by my means, my Lord Tarbat having pressed the money upon me as an acknowledgement of my kindness, it having been mentioned as a composition merely by my own choice, because I would not receive money but from my master, I wonder that any man of honour can turn such a matter to a process; however all I would know is whether it is best to depone or refuse, and leave the matter to be received as true upon refusal to swear: for if they have a mind to have it, they will have it right or wrong. You will have occasion against Thursday, so write me about it then. Employ Sir James Grant in all my law-matters, for I am convinced of his kindness, and of his great diligence. I have no more to add now. I am still very much indisposed, though incomparably better than I was at Stirling. I wish my friends may apply timeously to get my time prolonged, for it will never do me good

else: And I fancy it will be my friends' fault if they do not obtain that favour; when my wife did so much against all men's expectation. But if they will not grant any, if I be alive I'll keep my day.-Adieu."

Copy Letter Earl of Perth to BlairDrummond, 27th July, 1691.

"Sir, I forgot one article of the interrogatories when I wrote to you last night, viz. that of my giving commission to you or John Drummond to repay the money. I never thought of repaying of it but conditionally, that is for such an act of kindness as might deliver me out of the hands of such as persecute me so severely. * Read my letter to Sir James Grant which I wrote to you yesternight, and this so far as it relates to the interrogatory, and let him send me word what advice he thinks fit upon the occasion.-Adieu."

* *

The Earl was at this time under bail to return to Stirling Castle by 1st Sept.

EXTRACTS

FROM

A JOURNAL KEPT DURING A COASTING VOYAGE

THROUGH THE

SCOTTISH ISLANDS.

LERWICK, ZETLAND, 6th August, 1814. Hire a six-oared boat, whaler-built, with a taper point at each end, so that the rudder can be hooked on either at pleasure. These vessels look very frail, but are admirably adapted to the stormy seas, where they live, when a ship's boat, stiffly and compactly built, must necessarily perish. They owe this to their elasticity and lightness. Some of the rowers wear a sort of coats of dressed sheep leather, sewed together with thongs. We sailed out at the southern inlet of the harbour, rounding successively the capes called Hammer, Kirkubus, and others, consisting of bold cliffs, hollowed into caverns, or divided into pillars and arches of fantastic appearance, by the constant action of the waves. As we passed the most northerly of these capes, called, I think, the Ord, and turned into the open sea, the scenes became yet more tremendously subblime. Rocks, upwards of four or

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

Not lone, however, in one sense, for their numbers, and the variety of their tribes, are immense, but, I think, do not quite equal those of Dunbug, on the coast of Buchan. Standing across a little bay, we reached the Isle of Noss, having hitherto coasted the shore of Brassay. Here we see a detached and precipitous rock, or island, being a portion rent by a narrow sound from the rest of the cliff, and called the Holm. This detached rock is wholly inaccessible, unless by a pass of peril, entitled the

« PreviousContinue »