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Full text of "McKean historical notes, being quotations from historical and other records, relating chiefly to MacIain-MacDonalds, many calling themselves McCain, McCane, McEan, MacIan, McIan, McKean, MacKane, McKeehan, McKeen, McKeon, etc. Arranged and mostly compiled by Fred. G. McKean"

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presented  to 

Xibran? 


oftbe 


of  Toronto 


K 


McKEAN  HISTORICAL  NOTES, 


BEING 


QUOTATIONS  FROM  HISTORICAL  AND  OTHER 

RECORDS, 


RELATING  CHIEFLY   TO 


MAflAIN-MAcDONALDS, 

/  / 

- 


MANY  CALLING  THEMSELVES 


McCAIN,  McCANE,  McEAN,  MAcIAN,  McIAN, 

McKEAN,  MACKANE,  McKANE, 

McKEEHAN,  McKEEN, 

McKEON,  ETC. 


ARRANGED  AND  MOSTLY  COMPILED  BY 

FRED.  G.  McKEAN,   U.  S.  N. 


WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 
1906 


PKEHS  OF  GIBSON   BROS. 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

1906 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Introductory.      ..........  5 

Explanations.        .........  5 

Sources  of  information,  and  Acknowledgments.          .          .  6 

The  name  McKean.        ........  7 

Manner  of  compiling  data.      ........  9 

Books  and  other  authorities  referred  to.  1 1 

List  of  illustrations,  etc.        ....                     ...  14 

Section  I. — Probable  Early  Ancestors.      125  to  1329.        .          .          .  15 

Section  II. — Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan.       1260  to  1719.         .          .  34 

Section  III. — Maclansof  Glencoe.     Early  in  the  1 4th  cent,  to  1903.    .  84 

Section  IV. — Other  McKeans.       1 3th  to  the  igth  centuries.       .           .  164 

Glossary.                        .......                     .  205 

Appendices.         .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  213 

The  name  Donald.         .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  213 

Local  titles  of  some  Mac  Donalds.  .          .          .          .          .          .  214 

Ranald.     O'Cahan.       ........    214,215 

"  Sons  of  John. "             .          .          .          .          .          .          .          .  215 

An  old  Document.          ........  220 

Music.     (The  Massacre  of  Glencoe).         .          .          .          .          .  224 

Heraldic  Notes.              .          .          .          .          .          .          .           .  228 

Postscript ...........  232 

Index. 233 


INTRODUCTORY. 


Some  explanation  to  the  subscribers  to  McKean  Genealogies 
seems  necessary  for  the  appearance  of  these  Historical  Notes, 
so-called,  and  for  the  delay  connected  with  them. 

Mr.  Cornelius  McKean  of  Perry,  Iowa,  having  decided  more 
than  fifteen  years  ago  to  compile  the  genealogies  of  all  families 
of  McKeans,  McKeens,  etc.,  in  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
wrote,  about  1894,  for  the  family  history  of  one  of  the  bearers  of 
the  name  in  Washington,  D.  C.  The  latter  replied  that  his  branch 
had  no  known  history,  but  that  no  account  of  the  McKeans  would 
be  complete  without  notes  from  certain  volumes  in  the  State 
Department  Library,  containing  some  quaint  records  of  McKean- 
McDonalds  of  bygone  times,  and  including  the  official  inquiry 
into  the  Glencoe  Massacre,  etc. 

In  an  evil  day  he  was  prevailed  upon  to  promise  a  copy  of 
some  of  those  documents,  and  Mr.  Cornelius  McKean  in  his 
prospectus  to  subscribers,  made  such  mention  of  the  Historical 
Notes  intended  to  form  Part  IT.  of  the  combined  work,  that 
undue  expectation  was  raised  in  reference  to  their  importance. 

At  first  the  materials  seemed  scanty,  and  much  irrelevant 
matter  was  introduced,  especially  about  the  MacDonalds, 
O'Cahans  and  others,  while  the  gentleman  in  Iowa  urged  the 
inclusion  of  illustrations  and  other  things,  which,  while  extremely 
interesting,  appeared  to  have  little  to  do  strictly  with  the  subject. 
One  of  the  consequences  was  that  in  the  course  of  time  there 
was  too  much  bulk  for  the  wishes  of  the  generality  of  the  sub- 
scribers, and  when  its  publication  approached,  the  cost  of  the 
whole  was  found  to  be  much  more  than  some  of  the  subscribers 
had  specified  that  they  would  pay. 

Finding  there  was  no  disposition  to  join  him  in  printing  the 
whole  at  a  sacrifice  and  distributing  copies  at  less  than  cost, 
the  compiler  of  the  historical  part  decided  that  his  section  of 
the  work  was  of  secondary  importance,  and  that  Mr.  Cornelius 
McKean  ought  to  publish  the  Genealogies  as  originally  proposed ; 
the  Historical  Notes  to  be  laid  aside  until  a  more  favorable  oppor- 
tunity should  arise,  and  then  to  be  re-written,  omitting  much 
matter  which  did  not  particularly  concern  the  McKeans,  and 


6  INTRODUCTORY. 

awaiting  the  completion  of  that  monumental  work  Clan  Donald, 
in  which  we  were  promised  some  new  information  about  the  two 
branches  of  the  Clan  Maclan. 

The  last  volume  of  that  fine  work  having  been  published  toward 
the  end  of  1904,  there  seemed  little  further  excuse  for  delaying 
our  Historical  Notes,  excepting  interference  owing  to  the  printers' 
strike.  They  have  therefore  been  completely  remodelled  and 
almost  re-written  for  about  the  third  time,  and  are  intended 
to  be  sent  to  the  subscribers  of  the  McKean  Genealogies,  and  to 
a  few  others  who  may  be  interested  in  them,  in  spite  of  many 
imperfections  known  by  the  compiler  to  be  contained  therein. 

Perhaps  some  future  McKean  may  build  upon  the  printed 
Notes  and  others  in  manuscript  as  a  foundation,  and  produce 
the  work  much  to  be  desired  by  later  bearers  of  the  name. 

SOURCES  OF  INFORMATION,    AND  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

The  notes  originally  collected  were  gathered  from  a  series  of 
works  in  Washington,  the  full  range  of  which  was  accidentally 
discovered  by  the  compiler  during  investigations  in  the  State 
Department  Library, — on  the  origin  of  names.  It  is  claimed 
that  the  volumes  alluded  to,  together  with  others  not  mentioned, 
several  hundreds  in  number,  are  unique  in  this  country,  and  the 
issue  of  them  is  still  in  progress  in  England.  They  are  for  the 
most  part,  publications  in  print,  of  old  parchment  and  other 
records  in  various  collections  in  Great  Britain;  were  "Trans- 
mitted by  Direction  of  the  Master  of  the  Rolls,"  and,  as  a  printed 
fly-leaf  in  several  of  the  folios  sets  forth,  are  '  'To  be  perpetually- 
preserved  in  the  Library  of  the  Department  of  State  of  the 
United  States."  To  writers  on  archaeology,  history,  theology, 
philology,  genealogy,  military  matters,  law,  sociology  and 
other  subjects,  they  would  be  invaluable,  if  they  were  more 
widely  known.  They  are  in  several  languages  and  styles,  but 
the  ordinary  student  would  probably  have  little  difficulty  in 
deciphering  the  meaning  of  most  of  them.  The  prompt  courtesy 
with  which  the  Librarians,  and  particularly  Mr.  William  McNeir, 
granted  the  privilege  of  making  the  extracts  alluded  to,  and 
others  from  their  collections  is  hereby  thankfully  acknowledged. 
(The  volumes  have  been  recently  removed  to  the  Congressional 
Library.)  Some  notes  obtained  from  books  more  accessible 
to  the  general  public,  several  of  them  examined  in  Boston, 


INTRODUCTORY.  7 

Philadelphia  and  Washington  by  the  compiler's  eldest  son,— 
an  indefatigable  collector  of  material;  and  some  illustrations 
and  other  valuable  matter  obtained  from  Scotland  by  Mr.  Corne- 
lius McKean,  were  afterwards  incorporated  therewith,  and  as  for 
the  work  Clan  Donald,  just  finished,  the  references  to  it  with 
which  these  Notes  bristle,  testify  to  our  consideration  of  its 
value  as  an  authority  which  every  McKean,  McDonald  and 
Scot  should  read,  even  if  he  may  not  possess  it. 

THE  NAME 

It  is  generally  agreed  now,  that  the  name  McKean,  believed  to 
be  already  spelt  in  more  than  four  hundred  different  ways,  means 
the  son  of  John.  Those  who  have  paid  attention  to  the  subject 
are  aware  that  all  the  forms  of  John  found  in  almost  every  Euro- 
pean language  and  in  a  few  Oriental  ones,  are  referable  to  the 
name  of  the  beloved  disciple.  It  was  therefore  Hebrew  and 
means  in  its  present  shape,  "The  Lord's  grace,"  or  in  its  old 
uncontracted  form,  Johanan,  "Jehovah  is  gracious."  In  each 
country  inquirers  should  try  and  find  out  to  what  particular 
John  the  sons  in  whom  they  are  interested  may  be  traced.  In 
our  case  the  Me,  standing  for  mac,  mic,  mhic,  M',  Mc  and  when 
aspirated,  vac,  vie,  Vc,  etc.,  points  to  a  Scottish  derivation  first, 
but  also  in  some  instances  to  the  north  of  Ireland.  It  will  be 
noted  that  the  small,  hard  c  in  Mac,  became  a  capital  K  in  this 
as  in  a  great  many  other  Gaelic  names. 

McKean  as  a  name  can  be  traced  through  various  spellings  in 
at  least  two  large  historically  known  families,  those  of  Ardnamur- 
chan  and  Glencoe,  to  their  first  progenitors,  respectively  Eoin 
Sprangaich,  or  John  the  Bold,  toward  the  end  of  the  i3th  century ; 
and  Iain  Fraoch,  or  John  of  the  Heather,  in  the  very  beginning 
of  the  1 4th  century;  and  we  will  try  to  devote  a  Section  of  the 
Notes  to  each  of  these  Clans.  There  is  also  an  Iain  of  the  Clan 
Gunn,  perhaps  in  the  isth  century,  but  as  they  were  Norse  or 
Manx  in  origin  and  translated  their  name  later  to  Johnson, 
they  need  not  be  included  in  our  Notes.  Besides  these,  there  is 
occasional  mention  in  old  books,  of  various  spellings  of  the  name 
in  Scotland  and  elsewhere,  the  bearers  of  which  cannot  always 
be  certainly  connected  with  the  two  important  branches;  they 
have  been  grouped  in  a  Fourth  Section  called  "Other  McKeans." 

That  two  or  more  Johns  or  lans  should  transmit  their  names 


8  INTRODUCTORY. 

to  long  lines  of  descendants,  denotes  that  they  must  have  been 
men  of  mark ;  for,  while  a  certain  Angus,  for  instance,  might  be  a 
Maclain,  his  son  might  be  a  MacAngus,  and  the  Iain  might 
disappear  in  the  second  generation ;  or  if  there  was  a  succession 
of  Johns,  as  in  the  immediate  descendants  of  Iain  Fraoch,  the 
name  Maclain  might  persist  in  that  family  for  a  while;  but  here 
we  have  two  notable  Johns,  owners  of  considerable  land,  hence 
they  gave  rise  to  families  or  clans  of  Maclains,  further  distin- 
guished by  the  name  of  their  territory, — one  of  Ardnamurchan, 
the  other  of  Glencoe. 

In  the  line  which  we  are  tracing,  there  were,  long  ago,  Mac 
Somerleds  for  a  couple  of  generations,  then  certain  of  the  descen- 
dants became  MacDonalds  for  a  couple  more,  after  which  most 
of  the  families  continued  to  be  MacDonalds,  while  twro  at  least, 
descended  from  the  Johns  in  question,  were  first  and  compre- 
hensively MacDonalds,  and  secpnd  and  more  specially  Maclains, 
but  some  using  both  names  indifferently,  sometimes  one  brother 
calling  himself  Maclan  and  another  calling  himself  MacDonald, 
and  in  some  old  books  MacEan  may  be  indexed  MacDonald 
and  vice  versa.  Certain  families  of  MacDonald  have  called 
themselves  MacKechin  (sons  of  Hector?)  or  Darraghs  (Oaks), 
and  later  in  one  notable  case  at  least  in  the  i8th  century  (that 
of  the  Duke  of  Tarentum),  changing  back  to  MacDonald,  etc. 
Conversely,  as  mentioned  in  Stewart's  Highlanders,  a  Scot  might 
change  the  clan  name  to  something  entirely  different,  like 
Robertson  of  Straloch,  the  composer  of  "The  Garb  of  Old  Gaul," 
who  took  the  name  Reid  (Red?)  because  the  head  of  the  family 
was  always  addressed  as  Baron  Rua  (Roy?),  and  the  latter  for 
the  two-fold  reason  that  the  estate  had  once  been  erected  into 
a  barony,  and  the  then  holder  had  red  hair. 

While  there  is  a  multitude  of  ways  of  spelling  the  name  of  Mc- 
Kean  (  we  take  this  for  the  standard  as  being  that  of  the  Signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  therefore  probably  the 
best  known  form  in  the  United  States),  there  are  at  least  three 
well  recognized  ways  of  pronouncing  it:  first,  as  if  it  was  spelt 
McKane  or  McCain  (both  spellings  occur  as  family  names) ; 
second,  as  if  spelt  McKeen  (which  is  frequently  met  with),  and 
third,  as  if  it  is  still,  as  it  was  hundreds  of  years  ago,  Maclan 
or  MacEan,  in  three  syllables  and  almost  like  McKeehan  (  a 
spelling  which  is  not  uncommon).  The  last  pronunciation  is 


INTRODUCTORY.  9 

probably  the  oldest,  certainly  denotes  the  origin,  and,  unless 
McKane  was  also  pronounced  in  three  syllables  (McKiain),  is 
perhaps  the  most  correct ;  but  it  is  hopeless  outside  of  Scotland ; 
if  it  is  tried  on  any  one  to  whom  the  name  must  be  given,  he  will 
probably  ask  you  to  spell  it,  and  immediately  say:  "O  you  mean 
McKane," — or  McKeen,  or  something  which  you  don't  mean. 

Several  authors  in  Scotland  and  elsewhere  prefer  to  write  the 
two  names  which  concern  us  most,  in  the  forms  Macian  and  Mac- 
donald,  and  those  spellings  are  generally  followed  through  the 
following  notes,  in  quotations;  but,  apart  from  being  equivalent 
to  writing  John  and  Donald  without  capitals,  it  might  lead  an 
un-Gaelic  outsider  to  pronounce  the  former  name  Mashan. 

The  genealogist  who  restricts  himself  to  the  nineteenth  century 
spelling  of  a  name,  will  seldom  go  back  many  generations  in  his 
history, — certainly  not  many  centuries;  for,  even  some  time 
after  the  discovery  of  printing,  the  spelling  of  most  names  was 
a  matter  in  which  every  man  did  that  which  was  right  in  his 
own  eyes;  and  when  his  friends  and  enemies  wrote  the  name, 
they  generally  did  so  from  the  sound,  and  took  strange  liberties 
with  it.  On  the  other  hand,  the  writer  who  includes  every  com- 
bination of  letters  which  can  be  claimed  to  look  or  sound  like 
the  modern  name,  will  probably  err  in  the  other  direction.  It 
is  sometimes  difficult  to  strike  the  happy  mean,  and  the  compiler, 
while  omitting  many  examples  which  might  be  questioned,  has 
thought  it  well  to  include  others,  even  stray  references  to  possible 
wanderers  from  home,  and  a  few  who  are  not  McKeans  except 
in  a  faint  resemblance  to  the  name, — leaving  it  to  the  reader 
to  ignore  those  which  may  be  considered  too  far-fetched.  Great 
care  has  been  taken  to  follow  the  ever-varying  old  spellings  of 
names  and  words,  and  the  occasional  absence  of  punctuation, 
though  these  will  be  pain  and  grief  to  the  proof-reader. 

THE  MANNER  OF  COMPILING,  ETC. 

The  only  liberties  taken  with  the  original  text, — besides 
necessary  selection  from  a  large  mass  of  possible  material,  have 
been  the  substitution  nowr  and  then,  of  a  brief  synopsis  in  modern 
language,  for  irrelevant  matter  in  archaic  form,  or  an  abridg- 
ment made  in  later  narratives, — to  save  time  and  space.  But 
few  omissions  or  extenuations  have  been  purposely  made  on 
the  score  of  those  possible  progenitors  who  were  not  "unco  guid." 


10  INTRODUCTORY. 

Over-sensitive  McKeans  can  rest  assured  that  quite  as  many 
peccadilloes  or  dark  crimes  can  be  brought  to  the  charge  of 
names  more  famous  in  story, — if  we  go  back  far  enough,  not 
only  in  Scotland  but  in  other  countries;  they  should  remember 
that  the  possession  of  land  was  a  continual  source  of  dispute 
and  warfare;  that  flocks  and  herds  seemed  to  belong  to  those 
who  could  capture  and  hold  them;  that  property  was  almost 
looked  upon  as  common  by  the  law  of  nature,  and  that,  among 
all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men,  from  the  laird  to  the  gillie,  some 
actions  of  a  questionable  nature  from  our  present  point  of  view, 
must  be  expected.  As  to  the  terms  "traitor"  and  "rebel, "- 
they  are  sometimes  titles  of  honor. 

There  was  too  much  fighting  going  on  for  modern  ideas,  be- 
cause each  clan  was  against  almost  every  other;  the  Highlanders 
were  often  against  the  Lowlanders;  occasionally  both  were  dis- 
satisfied with  the  King;  sometimes  all  united  against  their  grasp- 
ing Southern  neighbor :  these  and  other  circumstances  combined 
to  make  the  Scots  a  fighting,  turbulent  and  sometimes  lawless 
people,  but  they  were  probably  no  worse  than  the  average  of 
their  day,  in  fact,  it  has  been  remarked  that  highwaymen  plied 
their  trade  in  the  suburbs  of  the  very  city  of  London,  long  after 
the  Borders  were  comparatively  safe. 

The  Notes  have  been  arranged  according  to  date  as  nearly  as 
could  be  conveniently  done,  though  that  method  is  disastrous  to 
style,  and  may  make  continuous  reading  as  uninteresting  as  a 
chronology  or  dictionary  would  be. 

The  arrangement  of  the  four  genealogical  charts  is  believed  to 
be  original,  though  the  facts  were  obtained  from  several  sources, 
chiefly  Clan  Donald]  the  compiler  heard  when  too  late  for  its 
examination,  that  Lang's  History  contains  a  chart  of  that  Clan. 
To  avoid  folders  the  charts  were  reduced  to  the  size  of  the  page, 
making  the  lettering  small:  we  trust  that  those  readers  who 
refer  to  the  charts  will  be  content  to  use  a  magnifying  glass  if 
necessary. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  glossary  will  be  found  useful  and  fairly 
correct. 

The  index  is  particularly  full  under  the  letters  Mac,  Mak,  Me,  etc. 

But  without  further  explanation  or  apology  for  admitted  errors 
of  omission  and  commission,  we  will  proceed  to  the  subject, 
hoping  that  if  we  are  honored  with  criticism,  it  will  be  lenient. 


BOOKS  AND  OTHER  AUTHORITIES  REFERRED 

TO. 


Account   of   Clan    Maclean.     By   a 

Seneachie. 

Accounts  of  the  Lord  High  Treas- 
urer of  Scotland. 
Acta  Dominorum  Concilii. 
Acts  of  the  Lords  Auditors  of  Causes 

and  Complaints. 

Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland. 
American  Cyclopaedia. 
Annals.     Hailes. 
Annals  of  Loch  Ce. 
Ann.  Ult.  (Annals  of  Ulster). 
Athenaeum.     (London). 
Baronage  of  Scotland.     Sir  Robert 

Douglas. 

Blackvvood's  Magazine. 
Book  of  Clanranald. 
Border   Clans.     B.    Homer    Dixon. 
Bride  of  Lammermoor.     Sir  Walter 

vScott. 

British  Chronologist. 
Calendar  of  State  Papers. 
Calendarium  Rotulorum  Patentium. 
Canadian  Magazine. 
Carew  section  of  State  Papers. 
Celtic  Scotland.     Skene. 
Century  Dictionary. 
Chartularies  of  St.   Mary's  Abbey, 

Dublin. 

Chronica  Majora. 
Chronica  Rogeri  de  Hoveden. 
Chronicles     of     Scotland.     Robert 

Lindsay  of  Pittscottie. 
Churchman  (of  New  York). 
Clan  Donald.     Reverends  A.   Mac- 

donalds. 

Clanronald  Family. 
Clans  of  the  Scottish  Highlanders 

Robert  Ronald  Maclan. 
Clans   of   the    Scottish   Highlands. 

James  Logan 
Classical   Dictionary.     J.    J.    Lem. 

priere,  D.  D.. 
Coke  upon  Littleton. 
Court     Hand     Restored.     Andrew- 
Wright. 


Crests.     Fairbairn. 
Cromwell's  Remembrances. 
Croniques  .    .    .   de   la   Grant    Bre- 

tagne.     Jehan  de  Waurin. 
Culloden  Papers. 

Dictionary  of  National  Biography. 
Dictionary   of    Phrase    and    Fable. 
Rev.  E.  Cobham  Brewer,   LL.    D. 
Diplom.  Regior.  Indices.     Tytler. 
Domesday  Studies.      Dove. 
Early  Metrical  Tales.     Laing. 
Eccl.  An'tiq.    Reeves. 
Encyclopaedia  Britannica. 
Essays  on   English  Surnames.     M. 

A.  Lower. 

Exchequer  Rolls  of  Scotland. 
Fair    Maid    of    Perth.     Sir   Walter 

Scott. 

Finales  Concordia?. 
Genealogical    Collections.       Macfar- 

lane. 
Genealogy,  etc..  of  Antient  Scottish 

Surnames.     William  Buchanan. 
Genealogy  of  the  McKean  Family  of 

Pennsylvania.     Roberdeau     Bu- 
chanan. 

General  Armory.     Burke. 
General  Atlas  of  the  World.     Adam 

and  Charles  Black. 
Geography  of  the  Clans.    Johnston. 
Grameid.     Heroic      Poem.     James 

Philip. 
Guide     to     Scotland.     Adam     and 

Charles  Black. 

Highland  Clans.     J.  S.  Keltic. 
Highlanders    and    Highland    Regi- 
ments.    Stewart. 

Highlanders   of    Scotland.     Skene 
Highlands    of    Scotland.     Andrew 

Lang. 
Historical    Account    of    lona.     L. 

Maclean. 

Historical  Notes.     Tindal. 
History  of  England.     T.    B.    Mac- 

aulay. 
History  of  Ireland.      Keating. 


12 


BOOKS    AND   OTHER   AUTHORITIES 


History  of  Scotland.    Andrew  Lang. 

History  of  Scotland.  William  Rob- 
ertson. 

History  of  Scotland.     Tytler. 

History  of  the  Camerons.  Alex- 
ander Mackenzie. 

History  of  the  Chisholms.  Alex- 
ander Mackenzie. 

History  of  the  Clan  Gregor.  '  'Char- 
tulary. "  A.  G.  M.  MacGregor. 

History  of  the  Clan  MacLean.  J. 
P.  MacLean. 

History  of  the  Highlanders  and 
Clans.  Browne. 

History  of  the  Highlands.     Skene. 

History  of  the  Macdonalds.  Mac- 
kenzie. 

History  of  the  Western  Highlands. 
Donald  Gregory. 

Hundred  Rolls. 

I nquisitionum  ad  Capellam  Dom- 
ini Regis  Retornatarum,  etc. 

Inquisitionum  in  Officio  Rotulorum 
Cancellariae  Hiberniae  asservatum 
Repertorium. 

Irish  Pedigrees.     O'Hart. 

Landed  Gentry.     Burke. 

Last  Jacobite  Rising.     Terry. 

Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla.  Fraser- 
Mackintosh. 

Law  Dictionary.     Black. 

Legend  of  Montrose.  Sir  Walter 
Scott. 

Letters  from  the  Mountains.  Mrs. 
Annie  Grant  (of  Liggan). 

Loyal  Lochaber.     W.  D.  Norie. 

Macdonalds  of  Sleat.  Hugh  Mac- 
donald. 

Macdonnels  of  Antrim.     Hill. 

MacMillan's  Magazine. 

Manual  of  Dates.  George  H .  Towns- 
end. 

Martial  Music  of  the  Clans. 

Massacre  of  Glencoe.  Poem.  An- 
gus Macdonald. 

McKean  Genealogies  in  America. 
Cornelius  McKean. 


Memoirs  of  Lochiel.  Maitland 
Club. 

Memoirs  of  the  Lord  Viscount  Dun- 
dee. Jenner. 

Memoranda  de  Parliamento. 

Moidart,  or  Among  the  Clanran- 
alds.  Rev.  Charles  MacDonald. 

MS.  of  Dean  Munro,  1549. 

MSS.,  Woodrow's;  1450,  1700. 

Newspapers  and  periodicals. 

Notes    and    Queries.     (English). 

Old  and  Rare  Scottish  Tartans. 
Donald  William  Stewart. 

Origines  Parochiales  Scotise. 

Paper  Register  of  the  Great  Seal. 

Papistry  Stormed,  etc.  Poem. 
Professor  Tennant. 

Patronymica  Britannica.  M.  A. 
Lower. 

Percy  Reliques  of  Ancient  Poetry. 

Pictorial  History  of  Scotland. 
James  Taylor. 

Pilgrim  of  Glencoe.  Thomas  Camp- 
bell. 

Pipe  Music.  Collection  of  Ancient 
Pibrochs.  Angus  McKay. 

Poetical  Works.     Robert  Burns. 

Poetical    Works.     Thomas    Moore. 

Poetical  Works.     Sir  Walter  Scott. 

Popish  Families  of  Scotland. 

Proelium  Gillecrankianum.  Poem. 
Professor  Kennedy. 

Record  Interpreter.  Chas.  T.  Mar- 
tin. 

Records  of  Argyll.  Lord  Archi- 
bald Campbell. 

Records  of  the  Privy  Council. 

Register  of  Decreet  of  Council  and 
Session. 

Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of 
Scotland. 

Register  of  the  Privy  Seal. 

Registrum  Palatinum  Dunelmense. 

Registrum  Secreti  Sigilli. 

Registrvm  Magni  Sigilli  Regvm 
Scotorvm. 

Rob  Roy  and  his  Times.     Macleay. 


REFERRED  TO. 


Rob  Roy.     Sir  Walter  ScoU. 

Rotuli  Litterarum  Clausarum. 

Royal  Letters. 

Scots  in  Eastern  and  Western  Prus- 
sia. Th.  A.  Fischer. 

Scotland,  Historic  and  Romantic. 
Maria  Horner  Lansdale. 

Scottish  Clans  and  Tartans.  W. 
and  S.  K.  Johnston. 

Scottish    Dictionary.     Jamieson. 

Scottish  Gael.     James  Logan. 

Sketch  of  the  Highlanders.  Gen- 
eral Stewart  of  Garth. 

Special  Inquisitions. 

Standard  Dictionary  of  the  English 
Language. 

State  Papers. 


Stewarts  of  Appin. 

Stories  of  Famous  Songs.  S.  J. 
Adair  Fitz-Gerald. 

Tales  of  a  Grandfather.  Sir  Walter 
Scott. 

Tartans  of  the  Clans  of  Scotland. 
James  Grant. 

The  Great  Marquess.  John  Wilcox. 

Tour  of  the  Hebrides.  James  Bos- 
well. 

Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick. 

Vestiarum  Scotiorum.  Sir  Richard 
Urquhart,  Knycht. 

West  of  Scotland  in  History.  Ir- 
ving. 

What  is  my  Tartan  ?     Frank  Adam . 

Widow  of  Glencoe.     Aytoun. 


ILLUSTRATIONS,  ETC. 


PAGE. 

Trophy  of  Arms,  etc.            ........  15 

Chart  IA.—  Early  Ancestors.     Conn  to  Somerled,  Clan  Cholla,  etc.     .  18 

Chart.  IB. — Clan  Donald,  nth  to  i6th  century.     The  two  lains.        .  26,   27 

Seal  of  Reginald  (2  views).      .           .           .          .          .          .           .  29,   30 

Seal  of  Angus  Mor  of  Isla.    ........  33 

Tombstone  of  Angus  Og  of  Isla.    .......  35 

Seal  (Galley)  of  Ardnamurchan.   .          .          .          .          .          .          .  37 

Chart  II. — The  Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan.    ...  38 

Inverlochy  Castle.       ......                    .          .  39 

Tantallon  Castle.          .........  40 

Ruined  Keep  of  Ardthornish  Castle.       .          .          .          .          .          .  41 

Dunaverty  Castle  Rock,  Kintire.             ......  45 

Map  of  Mull,  Glencoe,  etc.              .......  52 

The  Maclain  Tombstone  in  lona.            ......  53 

Mapof  position  of  Maclans,  some  MacDonalds,  etc.,  in  the  i6th  cent.      .  70 

Mingarry  Castle.     (2  views)     ........  72 

lona  Cathedral  and  St.  Oran's  Chapel.    ......  80 

Tombstone  of  the  Last  Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan.          ...  82 

Trophy  of  Arms,  etc.            ...                     ....  84 

Chart  III.— The  Maclans  of  Glencoe 89 

The  river  Coe,  and  view  in  Glencoe        .          .          .          .          .          .  100 

The  Mackeane  Tartan.           .          .           .          .          .          .                     ,  no 

Signatures  of  Dundee,  Argyll  and  Dalrymple.             .          .           .           .  115 

Pass  of  Killicrankie.     (2  views).    .....                     .  118 

Signature  of  Alexander  MacDonald  of  Glencoe.         ...  120 

The  Pass  of  Glencoe  and  "The  Three  Sisters."     (2  views).          .          .    128,129 

Scene  of  the  Massacre  of  Glencoe.           .           .           .          .          .          .  131 

Memorial  picture,  "MacDonald  of  Glencoe."    .           .                     .          .  133 

Sketch-map,  Callender  and  Oban  Railway.     .          .           .          .          .  136 

Bridge    of     the    Three    Waters,     Glencoe;     and     Buchael     Etive. 

(2  views).             .           .          .          ...          .          .          .           .  141 

John  MacDonald,  XIII.  of  Glencoe.         ...                     .  147 

Monogram  on  house  in  Glencoe.              ......  148 

Culloden  Field  and  Monument.      .           .           .           .          .           .          .  153 

Ewen  MacDonald,  XVII.  of  Glencoe.      ...                     .  159 

Major  Duncan  Cameron  MacDonald,  XX.  of  Glencoe.       .           .          .  159 

Macdonald's  Monument,  Glencoe.           .          .          .          .          .          .  161 

Trophy  of  Arms,  etc.           ........  164 

Dunyvaig  Castle,  Islay.        ......                     .  168 

Isle  Davaar  and  Campbeltown  Loch.      ......  182 

Loch  Ach-Treachtan,  Glencoe.      .           .           .          .           .          .          .  201 

Thomas  McKean,  The  Signer.        .......  202 

Charter  to  Willielmus  Maceoune,  1306?           .           .          .          .          .  221 

The  Glencoe  Lament.     (Music).  .....      225   226,227 

Arms,  crests  and  mottoes  of  Glencoe  and  other  MacDonalds.    .          .  229 


McKEAN  HISTORICAL  NOTES, 


BEING 


QUOTATIONS  FROM  HISTORICAL  AND  OTHER  RECORDS. 


SECTION  I. — PROBABLE  EARLY  ANCESTORS. 


FROM  LOGAN'S  SCOTTISH  GAELL 


A  few  thoughts  about  the  really  probable  ancestors  of  the 
McKean-McDonalds  and  those  who  are  supposed  to  have  pre- 
ceded even  them,  may  be  acceptable.  The  subject  has  been 
handled  at  length  and  with  much  learning  in  the  book  Clan 
Donald,  I.,  Chap.  I.,  and  we  will  try  to  present  briefly  a  very 
small  number  of  the  facts  mentioned  therein. 

Archaeologists  assert  that  they  have  discovered  traces  in  Scot- 
land, of  a  prehistoric  non-Aryan  race,  resembling  the  Iberians 
and  Aquitani,  representatives  of  the  so-called  Stone  Age.  After 
them  came  a  Celtic  Aryan  race,  the  Gaidhels  or  Gaels,  and  still 


1 6  EARLY  4th  cent. 

later,  another  Celtic  Aryan  race,  the  Britons.  When  the  Romans 
came,  they  mentioned  among  other  inhabitants  the  Caledonii  and 
Picts,  who  remained  unconquered. 

Several  new  races  appeared  afterwards,  but  the  Scots  of  Dalriada 
concern  us  most,  as  they  settled  Islay,  Mull  and  some  of  the 
Southern  Isles,  having  come  probably  from  the  North  of  Ireland. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  6th  century  Ere,  king  of  Dalriada  died, 
leaving  three  sons,  Fergus,  Lorn  and  Angus ;  Lorn  occupying  the 
district  afterwards  named  after  him,  as  well  as  most  of  Argyle, 
while  Angus  acquired  Islay  and  Jura.  The  question  of  suc- 
cession caused  civil  wars,  and  Scottish  history  is  dim  for  three 
centuries  and  dark  in  the  gth,  but  Angus  MacFergus,  King  of 
Ulster,  had  subdued  the  Dalriads;  the  Danes  and  Norwegians 
invaded  the  islands  and  coasts,  and  the  latter  people  under 
Harold  Harfager  the  Fair-haired,  made  settlements;  treaties 
were  concluded  in  which  the  rulers  of  the  west  of  Scotland  pur- 
chased some  of  the  islands,  but  the  Vikings  left  traces  of  them- 
selves among  the  Highland  people  and  in  the  place-names, 
while  the  language  was  unaffected. 

In  the  loth  and  nth  centuries  the  name  Alban  came  to  be 
recognized  for  part  of  what  is  now  Scotland,  and  soon  after, 
the  name  Scotia  came  into  being.  English  influence  of  various 
kinds  began  to  be  felt  under  Malcolm  Canmore,  then  for  a  while 
all  foreigners  were  banished,  until  David  I.  in  the  i2th  century 
introduced  a  Norman  baronetage  and  a  new  feudal  system. 

Having  hastily  glanced  at  the  earlier  history  of  Scotland, 
we  have  arrived  at  the  period  when  the  Clan  Donald  is  about 
to  appear,  and  the  question  has  been  debated  whether  Somer- 
led,  the  founder  of  the  Family  of  the  Isles,  was  of  Norse,  Pictish 
(and  therefore  ancient  Celtic),  Scoto-Irish  or  foreign  Gael  origin. 
The  authors  of  the  work  we  have  already  quoted  from,  are  con- 
vinced that  the  Clan  Donald  are  descended  from  the  Dalriadic 
stock  of  Argyle  (I.,  28).  Before  the  clan  was  known  by  the 
name  Donald,  it  was  called  the  Clan  Cholla,  tracing  back  to 
Colla  Uais,  a  King  of  Ireland  in  the  4th  century,  and  earlier 
still,  we  have  a  few  names  until  we  reach  an  eminent  supreme 
Irish  King,  Conn  Ceud-Chathach,  who  lived  in  the  2nd  century. 

We  will  first  endeavor  to  give  a  suggestion  for  a  genealogical 
chart  IA,  of  the  Early  Ancestors,  based  chiefly  upon  statements 
in  various  shapes  to  be  found  in  Clan  Donald,  supplemented 


2nd  cent.  ANCESTORS.  17 

by  notes  from  several  other  sources,  put  together  we  fear,  with 
more  pains  than  skill  or  correctness,  but  which  must  'serve  for 
the  present.  The  second  chart,  IB,is  reinforced  by  scraps  of  infor- 
mation in  foot-notes  and  otherwise,  about  some  of  the  persons 
mentioned,  and  is  brought  down  late  enough  to  include  the  two 
lains  or  Johns  who  concern  the  McKeans ;  also  some  other  people 
either  as  progenitors  of  certain  clans  or  for  various  reasons. 
Other  charts  follow,  carrying  on  the  two  Mac  Ian  families  as  far 
in  both  directions  as  the  compiler  has  been  able  to  obtain  notes 
for  the  purpose. 

It  is  not  pretended  that  any  American  family  of  McKean  can 
be  certainly  traced  hereby ;  the  utmost  hoped  for  is  that  living 
descendants  of  Glencoe  or  other  Maclans  or  MacDonalds,  who 
have  family  records  or  traditions  by  which  they  can  fill  the 
gaps  between  their  remotest  known  ancestor  and  some  name 
on  one  of  the  later  charts,  may  be  reasonably  confident  that 
they  can  make  up  an  unbroken  line  for  nearly  1800  years. 

After  giving  some  data  in  Vol.  I.,  whereby  the  ancestors  of 
Colla  Uais  might  be  traced  back  about  two  hundred  years,  the 
compilers  of  Clan  Donald  begin  the  Genealogy  of  The  Lords  of 
the  Isles  in  Vol.  III.,  173-184,  with  Colla  himself;  this  is  the 
more  strange,  as  they  call  attention  to  the  error  of  Sennachies 
who  drop  several  generations.  We  will  take  the  liberty  of  restor- 
ing some  names  and  of  heading  our  chart  with  Conn  in  the  2nd 
century,  and  call  attention  to  the  notes  on  the  chart,  showing 
the  authorities  and  the  manner  in  which  the  first  list  consisting 
of  eighteen  ancients  was  made  up.  But  this  is  not  the  only 
difficulty:  in  trying  to  construct  a  new  and  extended  genea- 
logical list,  with  an  accompanying  chart,  two  instances  are  found 
in  which  names  are  given  of  men  who  succeeded  and  reigned, 
and  yet  are  not  set  down  in  the  Clan  Donald  Genealogy ;  and  on 
the  other  hand,  at  least  one  name  is  retained  in  that  Genealogy, 
with  the  statement  that  the  man  bearing  it  did  not  succeed 
to  the  sovereignty.  No  doubt  the  apparent  discrepancies  arise 
from  the  intention  to  recognize  the  line  of  Dalriada,  while  noting 
interferences  only  by  the  line  of  Lorn  and  vice  versa.  Taking 
the  total  of  23  names,  and  dividing  it  into  975,  the  years  from 
125  to  noo  A.  D.,  will  give  the  large  average  of  42.4  years  for 
each  "reign,"  justifying  the  remark  that  some  of  the  rulers 
must  have  lived  to  almost  patriarchal  age. 


18 


EARLY 


2nd-i2th  cent. 


In  the  2nd  century  of  our  era,  there  is  said  to  have  flourished 
the  celebrated  Irish  King,  Conn  Ceud-Chathach,  whose  name  has 
been  classicized  into  Constantinus  Centimachus,  later  Anglicized 
into  "Conn  of  the  Hundred  Battles."  He  is  said  to  have  been 
ruler  over  "Conn's  half,"  and  later  supreme  King  of  Ireland 
"in  Tara's  Halls,"  and  to  have  been  one  of  the  greatest  heroes 
of  antiquity.  Some  genealogists  who  have  few  misgivings 


ist~4thcent.  ANCESTORS.  19 

about  the  misty  past,  have  connected  the  descent  of  the  Clan 
Donald,  and  through  them  the  McKeans,  with  the  mighty  fighter 
Conn  or  Cond,  from  whom  the  province  Connaught  derives 
its  name. 

McKeans  who  are  not  "satiate"  with  the  antiquity  of  Conn, 
whose  date  has  been  given  as  125  and  165  A.  D.,  may  be  referred 
to  his  grandfather  Tuathal,  surnamed  "the  Legitimate."  He 
is  said  to  have  led  the  free  clans  or  Scots*  in  a  combination 
against  the  servile  classes,  and  to  have  founded  a  kind  of  feudal 
system  which  ruled  Ireland  for  a  while.  He  also  formed  Meath 
("the  middle"),  the  central  county  of  Ireland,  from  portions  of 
the  four  provinces,  in  order  to  supply  the  table  of  the  over-king. 
(Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  article  Ireland,  from  which  source 
some  of  these  early  notes  are  drawn.) 

The  successors  of  Conn  were  Art  or  Arthur,  212-220  A.  D., 
giving  a  very  long  reign  for  Conn  if  the  figures  are  correct,  and 
Cormac,  254-277,  the  latter  of  whom  had  sent  a  fleet  across  "the 
plain  of  the  sea,"  and  obtained  sovereignty  of  Alba  or  Scotland 
about  240;  each  ruler  had  several  names  or  titles;  it  may  be 
noted  that  there  is  already  a  gap  between  reigns.  Then  came 
three  brothers  who  carved  out  principalities  or  "sword-lands" 
for  themselves;  each  brother  had  a  first  name  Cairpre,  but  the 
one  on  our  list  was  known  as  Liffeacher  from  the  river  Liffey, 
near  which  he  was  nursed,  and  acquired  territory  in  Antrim, 
Ireland,  called  Dal  Riata,  a  name  which  still  survives  in  the 
local  title  "the  Route;"  this  Cairpre  or  some  of  his  successors 
also  acquired  lands  in  Scotland.  He  was  slain  by  his  nephews 
the  three  Collas,  a  name  thought  to  be  given  them  because  they 
were  rebellious,  and  to  mean  a  strong  man.  After  the  rule  of 
Eochach,  one  of  the  Collas,  named  Uais  or  "the  Noble,"  became 
king  about  327,  and  we  will  now  generally  follow  the  book  Clan 
Donald,  III.,  173-179. 

Few  particulars  are  known  about  this  celebrated  ancestor 
Colla  Uais  or  Uathais;  but  among  other  things  he  is  claimed 
to  be  either  the  fifth  or  the  eighth  in  descent  from  the  famous 
Conn,  and  to  have  been  one  of  the  sons  of  Eochaid  or  Ochaius 
Dubhlin,  King  of  Ireland,  and  of  a  Scottish  princess  Aileach, 
"a  mild,  true  woman,  modest,  blooming,"  etc.,  and  daughter  of 

*Some  titles  have  been  transferred;  the  present  Irish  were  the  Scots  of 
old  times,  the  Scots  were  Albans  and  the  men  of  Albion  were  Britons 


20  EARLY  4th — 6th  cent. 

Uhdaire,  King  of  Alba.     Colla  Uais  is  said  to  have  lived  fifteen 
years  in  Scotland,  to  have  reigned  only  four  years  and  to  have  died 

in  337- 

Eochaidh,  spelt  in  various  ways,  and  latinized  into  Ochaius, 
was  the  son  of  Colla  and  succeeded  him.  Art,  Arthur  or  Cartan 
followed,  also  known  as  Crimthand  of  Munster  and  otherwise, 
but  with  all  his  names  some  of  the  Annals  omit  him  altogether. 
He  was  the  father  of  Ere  or  Eric,  mentioned  early  in  this  Section 
as  having  three  sons,  Fergus,  Lorn  and  Angus,  all  of  whom  settled 
in  Scotland  or  the  Isles,  after  receiving  the  blessings  of  Saint 
Patrick  in  their  former  home. 

Here  we  will  make  a  short  digression :  in  the  5th  century,  it  is 
mentioned  in  the  Tripartite  Life  of  S.  Patrick,  that  the  Saint 
came  into  the  district  of  Calrige,  and  baptized  (baptizauit) .  .  . 
Caichan.  .  .and  the  latter  offered  Caichan's  fifth  part  to  God 
and  to  Patrick;  the  boundaries  of  the  land  are  given.  .  . 
It  is  also  mentioned  that  a  lady  "of  the  race  of  Caichan  took 
the  veil  from  Patrick,"  etc.  If  ch  is  silent,  as  in  Conchobar, 
McConachie,  etc.,  these  Caichans  were  possibly  the  ancestors 
of  the  O'Cahans  and  O'Canes,  Keans,  Keens,  etc.,  mentioned 
incidentally  in  Buchanan's  Genealogy  of  the  McKean  Family. 

Resuming: — The  three  brothers,  sons  of  Ere,  landed  in  Arygle 
in  466,  and  Ere  is  said  to  have  died  in  502.  Fergus,  one  of  the 
brothers,  is  called  Mor,  the  great  or  first.  He  is  said  in  the  Ency- 
clopaedia Britannica,  to  have  founded  a  new  Dalriata,  known 
as  Airer  Gtfedel,  now  Argyle,  ultimately  developed  into  the 
Kingdom  of  Scotland,  appropriating  the  name  of  the  mother 
country,  or  at  least  that  which  was  its  Latin  name  [the  inhabitants 
of  Ireland  being  originally  called  Scots]. 

At  this  point  we  come  to  a  great  difference  in  the  lists,  for, 
whereas  the  names  in  Vol.  I.  of  Clan  Donald  give  about  18  num- 
bsrs,  the  Genealogy  in  Vol.  III.  gives  23  names,  by  inserting 
several  between  two  Ferguses,  said  above  to  have  been  dropped 
by  the  preservers  of  traditions. 

Domangart,  son  of  Fergus,  held  the  sovereignty  three  years 
only  and  died  in  505.  He  was  succeeded  by  Comgall  his  eldest 
son,  who  died  in  538  [and  does  not  appear  in  any  of  the  lines], 
but  Gauran  or  Godfrey  his  brother  succeeded  him  [and  was  the 
progenitor  of  the  line  from  which  Clan  Donald  sprang]. 

Gauran  wielded  the  sceptre  over  the  Dalriads  for  twenty-two 


6th — 8th  cent.  ANCESTORS.  21 

years,  and  died  in  560.  Conall  or  Donal,  the  son  of  Comgall, 
succeeded  his  uncle  Gauran,  reigned  sixteen  years,  died  about 
574  [and  is  apparently  not  in  either  list]. 

Aidan  or  Hugh,  the  son  of  Gauran,  next  succeeded.  He  held 
the  principality  for  thirty-eight  years,  and  died  in  606.  He 
had  a  brother  named  Evvan,  whose  son  was  Rigullan. 

Ethach  or  Eocha  of  the  yellow  locks,  son  of  Aidan,  assumed  the 
sovereignty  over  the  Dalriads  and  died  in  623.  He  had  a  brother 
named  Conan,  and  sons  Conan  Cearr  Bran,  Domangart,  Eochfinn, 
Arthur  and  Failbhe. 

Donald  Brec,  the  son  of  Ethach  Buidhe,  took  the  sceptre, 
neither  as  the  immediate  successor  of  his  father,  nor  of  his  elder 
brother  Conan  (in  power  for  three  months),  but  as  immediate 
successor  to  Fearchar,  son  of  Ewen,  of  the  race  of  Lorn,  who 
reigned  for  sixteen  years.  Donald  died  after  reigning  either 
five  or  fourteen  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Conal  or  Donal, 
son  of  Duncan,  and  grandson  of  Conal  (already  mentioned), 
son  of  Comgall  of  the  race  of  Fergus.  Domgall,  also  of  the 
race  of  Lorn,  reigned  over  that  race  at  the  same  time.  Conal 
died  in  660.  Donald  Duinn,  his  son,  succeeded,  and  Maold- 
uinn,  his  brother,  succeeded  him.  The  former  reigned  thirteen 
and  the  latter  seventeen  years.  They  had  a  brother  named 
Conn.  Ferchar  Fada  reigned  over  Argyle  after  Donald  Brec; 
was  of  the  Lorn  race,  and  died  in  697,  after  reigning  twenty- 
one  years. 

Domangart,  the  son  of  DDnald  Brec,  did  not  succeed  to  the 
sovereignty  [yet  his  name  appears  to  be  in  this  line]  His 
brother  Catasaigh,  also  died  young. 

Ethach  or  Eocha  Rineval,  son  of  Domangart,  succeeded  to 
the  throne  after  the  death  of  Fearcher  Fada,  for  two  years. 
The  son  of  Fearcher  took  up  the  sceptre  after  his  death,  and 
Selvach,  another  son  of  the  same,  succeeded  Ainceallach.  Dun- 
can, a  descendant  of  Fergus,  by  Comgall,  next  succeded.  He 
died  in  721. 

Ethach,  son  of  the  above,  assumed  the  government  in  726  and 
died  in  733.  During  his  son's  minority,  Muireadach,  the  son 
of  Ainceallach,  was  sovereign  prince  for  a  short  time,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Ewen,  his  son. 

Aidan  or  Hugh,  the  fair  son  of  Eacha  of  the  steeds,  succeeded. 
He  held  the  power  thirty  years  and  died  in  778, 


22  EARLY  8th  cent. 

It  must  have  been  in  this  reign  that  St.  Regulus  or  Rule  brought 
certain  relics  of  St.  Andrew  to  the  northeast  coast  of  Scotland, 
"under  orders  delivered  by  an  angel — to  found  a  church  wher- 
ever his  ship  should  be  wrecked.  This  event  happening  near 
the  present  harbor  of  St.  Andrews,  and  the  King  of  the  Picts 
receiving  him  kindly,  the  church  was  forthwith  founded,  and 
St.  Peter,  hitherto  the  national  saint,  was  deposed,  and  St.  Andrew 
put  in  his  stead,  731-747".  (Lansdale's  Scotland,  Historic  and 
Romantic,  II.,  164.)  Who  will  gainsay  this,  except  that  Fife- 
shire  is  hardly  on  the  N.  K-  coast  of  Scotland? 

Fergus,  the  son  of  Aidan  or  Aodhfin  (fair-haired),  next  suc- 
ceeded. He  reigned  three  years,  and  during  and  after  his  son's 
minority  the  sceptre  was  held  by  Selvach2nd  of  the  race  of  Lorn, 
for  twenty-four  years.  Eocha  Anfhuinn  (weak),  the  son  of 
Aidan,  followed,  reigned  thirty  years,  and  after  him  Dungal, 
the  son  of  Selvach,  swayed  the  sceptre  for  seven  years.  Eocha 
or  Ochaius  established  the  throne  by  his  marriage  with  Urgusia, 
daughter  of  the  Pictish  sovereign,  an  alliance  which  enabled  his 
grandson  Kenneth  MacAlpin,  afterwards  to  claim  and  acquire 
the  Pictish  sceptre  in  right  of  his  grandmother.  The  descendants 
of  Ethach  kept  firm  hold  of  the  Dalriadic  sceptre  to  the  exclusion 
of  the  offspring  of  Fergus,  and  enabled  them  to  extend  the  whole 
of  Caledonia  without  extirpating  the  Picts  as  asserted  by  his- 
torians. Ethach  was  succeeded  by  Alpin,  and  Alpin  by  Kenneth, 
who  removed  the  seat  of  his  court  from  the  western  coast  of 
Argyle  to  the  interior.  [From  Dunnad  on  L,och  Criman  (?)  to 
Scone,  near  Perth.]  The  descendants  of  Fergus  in  the  West 
owned  "Argayl"  and  some  of  the  Isles,  and  are  named  as  follows: 

Maine,  or  Eacime ;  his  son  was : 

Godfrey,  whose  daughter  was  the  wife  of  Kenneth  MacAlpine, 
and  who  was  Toshach*  of  the  Isles. 

The  Danes  ravaged  the  coasts  of  Scotland  and  of  the  Isles 
towards  the  end  of  the  8th  century,  about  the  period  we  have 
reached,  and  it  may  be  interesting  to  note  what  is  given  as  the 
origin  of  the  Thistle  of  Scotland.  "The  Danes  thought  it 
cowardly  to  attack  an  enemy  by  night,  but  on  one  occasion 

*Toshach  or  Toisech  was  a  Scottish  officer  immediately  under  the  maor- 
mor:  the  latter  was  the  hereditary  magistrate  and  administrator  of  a  certain 
territory:  first  a  tributary  king.  (Standard  Dictionary),  Military  leader, 
distinct  from  hereditary  chief,  (Clan  Donald.  I.,  419). 


loth  cent.  ANCESTORS.  23 

deviated  from  their  rule.  On  they  crept,  barefooted,  noise- 
lessly and  unobserved,  when  one  of  the  men  set  his  foot  on  a 
thistle,  which  made  him  cry  out.  The  alarm  was  given,  the 
Scotch  fell  upon  the  night-party,  and  defeated  them  with  terrible 
slaughter.  Ever  since  the  thistle  has  been  adopted  as  the  insignia 
of  Scotland,  with  the  motto:  Nemo  me  impune  lacessit"  [No 
one  attacks  me  with  impunity].*  (Brewer's  Dictionary  of  Phrase 
and  Fable} . 

Returning  to  dry  names,  the  son  and  successor  of  Godfrey 
was: 

Nialgus,  or  Neill ;  his  son  was : 

Suibne,  or  Swyffine ;  his  son  wras : 

Mearrdha,  latinized  Marcus;  and  Hailes  in  his  Annals  states 
that  Kenneth,  King  of  the  Scots;  Malcolm,  King  of  the  Cambri, 
and  Marcus,  King  of  the  Isles,  entered  into  a  bond  of  treaty  for 
mutual  assistance  and  defence  in  the  year  973.  This  shows  that 
Lords  of  the  Isles  existed  before  Somerled's  time. 

To  prove  this  last  fact  more  in  detail,  and  to  relieve  the  dulness 
of  the  list  of  names,  we  will  insert  the  following : 

The  Latin  Chronica  Rogeri  de  Ho-veden  (in  four  volumes)  relates 
that  in  973,  King  Edgar  of  England  sailed  around  Britain,  and 
among  others  who  did  homage  to  him  were  "Kinath  scilicet 
rex  Scottorum,  Malcolmus  rex  Cumbrorum,  Maccus  plurimarum 
rex  insularum,  et  alii  quinque,  scilicet  Dufnal  [Donald],  Siferth, 
Hurald,  Jacob  [James],  Juchil  .  .  .  "This  mention  of  a  Mac, 
king  of  the  greater  part  of  the  Isles  in  the  loth  century,  is  inter- 
esting, because  it  is  generally  supposed  that  the  title  "Lord  of 
the  Isles"  was  not  assumed  until  four  hundred  years  after,  by 
John  MacDonald,  and  yet  Roger  de  Hoveden  writes  this  in  the 
1 2th  century.  It  can  hardly  refer  to  a  different  aggregation  of 
islands,  for,  in  another  reference  to  the  "eight  kings  who  rowed 
King  Eadgar  on  the  Dee,"  Matthew  of  Paris  in  the  Chronica 
Majora  (seven  volumes  in  Latin,  written  in  the  i3th  century), 
mentions  "Maccus  of  Man,"  called  by  others  "King  of  the  Isles; 
and  history  states  Harold  I.  placed  Orkney,  Shetland,  the 

*We  have  tried  to  work  out  a  design  for  our  cover,  embodying  conven- 
tional thistles  in  form  of  St.  Andrew's  cross,  for  Scotland;  flanked  by  sham- 
rocks for  Ireland;  anchors  for  the  seafaring  Ardnamurchans  as  well  as  for 
the  "Good  Hope"  that  all  McKeans  should  have;  the  whole  surrounded  by 
the  Stars  beneath  which  so  many  Scotsmen  and  Irishmen  have  found  home 
and  prosperity. 


24  EARLY  1 1 th  and  1 2th  cent. 

Hebrides  and  the  Isle  of  Man  under  Norwegian  government  in 
the  nth  century,  apparently  grouped  together.  (Encyc.  Brit., 
article  Hebrides.}  O'Hart  in  Irish  Pedigrees,  states  that  the 
MacDonnells  and  McDonalds  intermarried  with  these  [?]  Nor- 
wegian earls.  Before  leaving  the  above  entry,  it  may  be  stated 
that  the  king  of  the  Scots  was  evidently  Kenneth  II.,  and  that 
the  land  of  the  Cumbreae  of  King  Malcolm  comprised  what  is 
now  Argyle,  Ayrshire,  etc. 

To  return  to  the  genealogy;  the  son  of  Mearrdha  was: 

Solaim,  Solan  or  Sella,  whose  son  and  heir  in  the  Lordship  of 
Argyle  and  the  Isles  was : 

Gilledomnan.  It  was  during  the  lifetime  of  this  chief  that  the 
Western  Isles  of  Scotland  were  completely  subjugated  by  the 
Norsemen. 

In  the  nth  century,  Gilledomnan  "servant  of  (St.)  Adamnan, " 
grandfather  of  Somerled,  held  sway  over  a  considerable  portion 
of  Argyle,  and  his  daughter  became  the  wife  of  Harold  Gillies, 
one  of  the  Kings  of  Norway,  but  Gilledomnan  was  finally  driven 
from  his  territories  by  the  Scandinavians  and  retired  to  Ireland, 
where  he  devoted  himself  to  pious  duties.  His  son  Gillebride 
made  ineffectual  attempts  to  recover  his  inheritance.  (Abridged 
from  Clan  Donald  I.,  36,  37.) 

Gilledomnan  was  succeeded  by 

Gillebride  or  Gilbert,  *  who  is  mentioned  by  the  first  Highland 
genealogist  as  "rig  eilean  Shidir,"  that  is,  King  of  the  Sudereys 
or  Southern  Isles.  His  daughter  was  the  wife  of  Wymund  Mac- 
Heth,  Earl  of  Moray.  He  derived  another  Gaelic  title  from 
living  in  a  cave  in  Morvern  when  depressed  in  fortune.  From 
him  are  said  to  have  descended,  besides  the  Clan  Donald  and 
Clan  Dougall,  etc., — the  Maclachlans,  MacKwin  of  Otter,  and 
others.  His  son  was  Somerled  rex  insularum,  or,  as  he  is 
known  in  Highland  tradition,  Somhairle  Mor  Mac  Gillebhride. 

In  the  1 2th  century,  Somerled,  "the  terror  of  the  Norsemen 
and  the  Achilles  of  his  race,"  displayed  his  "immense  force  of 
character,  high  military  talents,  great  energy  and  ambition  .  .  . 
with  .  .  .political  sagacity  and  prudence."  After  a  great 
defeat  he  achieved  a  signal  victory  over  the  Scandinavian  host, 
drove  out  the  Norsemen,  assumed  the  title  of  Thane  or  Regulus 

*It  is  a  trifle,  but  Gilliebride  is  Gaelic  and  means  Servant  of  (Saint)  Brid- 
get, while  Gilbert  is  Teutonic  for  Bright  pledge, 


1 2th  cent.  ANCESTORS.  25 

of  Argyll,  and  was  about  to  carry  the  war  against  the  Isle  of  Man 
and  other  Isles  when  Olave  (the  Swarthy),  King  of  Man,  gave 
him  his  daughter  Ragnhildis  (or  Effrica)  under  reman  tic  circum- 
stances (in  1135)-  A  battle  between  Godred  the  son  of  Olave, 
and  Somerled,  was  followed  by  a  treaty  of  peace,  and  all  of  the 
"islands  south  of  the  point  of  Ardnamurchan,  along  with  Kintyre, 
came  into  the  possession  of"  Somerled.  But  two  years  after, 
war  broke  out  again  and  the  latter  captured  the  Isle  of  Man,  and 
still  later  waged  a  war  with  Malcolm  IV.  of  Scotland,  who  had 
threatened  his  subversion:  at  first  Somerled  was  successful  and 
peace  was  established  between  them  in  1157,  and  which  lasted 
about  seven  years.  Upon  the  renewal  of  the  war,  and  when 
Somerled,  with  some  15,000  men  from  Ireland,  Argyle  and  the 
Isles,  and  164  galleys  sailed  up  the  Clyde  to  Greenock,  he  seems 
to  have  been  assassinated  with  his  son  at  Renfrew  in  1164  ("he, 
and  his  swne  bath  was  Left  dede  slayne  in  to  that  plas"),  his 
army  dispersed,  and  the  Celts  began  to  give  way  to  the  increasing 
power  of  the  Gaels  and  of  feudal  institutions.  "The  dust  of 
the  'mighty  Somerled'  reposed  within  the  sacred  precincts  of 
the  monastery"  of  Saddell,  the  ruins  of  which,  together  with  a 
view  of  the  Castle,  are  shown  in  Clan  Donald,  from  which  work, 
(I,  41-54)  most  of  these  particulars  are  taken.  The  Castle  is  a 
"large,  square  battlemented  tower  still  in  a  state  of  perfect 
preservation."  Though  out  of  chronological  order,  it  may 
be  mentioned  here  that  it  was  in  Saddell  that  Angus  Og,  Lord 
of  the  Isles,  first  received  Bruce;  but  "As  Barber  informs  us, 
Angus  Og  took  his  royal  guest  for  greater  security  to  the  Castle 
of  Dunaverty,  another  Kintyre  stronghold,  and  residence  of 
the  Lord  of  the  Isles : 

'And  for  mair  sekyrness  gaiff  him  syne 
His  Castle  of  Donaverdyne. ' " 

1163  or  64  is  given  by  various  authorities  as  the  date  of  the 
death  of  Somerled  of  Argyle,  and  as  he  is  spoken  of  as  the  founder 
of  the  dynasty  of  the  Lords  of  the  Isles,  a  few  words  may  be  devoted 
to  him  in  this  place,  and  a  brief  sketch  of  his  immediate  descend- 
ants will  be  given  presently,  although  some  of  the  latter  are 
referred  to  again,  under  their  appropriate  dates.  His  name  in 
the  Norse  language  was  Somerled,  in  Gaelic  Somhairle,  meaning 
Samuel,  and  he  was  also  known  as  Sorley,  a  name  of  some  note 
afterwards  in  Ireland.  From  Clan  Donald  I.,  53,  etc.,  and  other 


26 


EARLY 


i  ith-i6th  cent. 


sources,  we  cull  the  following  details.  "Somerled,  King  of  the 
Isles  and  Argyle,  'the  Sleat  historian  tells  us,  was  a  well-tem- 
pered man,  in  the  body  shapely,  of  a  fair  piercing  [blue]  eye, 
Of  middle  stature  and  of  quick  discernment.'  [Another  writer 
calls  him  in  La  tin  "Pirate,  and  most  famous  robber"].  He 


nth- 1 6th  cent. 


ANCESTORS. 


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was  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Donald,  the  progenitor  of  the  Mac- 
Donald  y,  founded  a  family  which  played  no  ignoble  part  in  Scottish 
history,  and  is  said  to  have  had  either  three  or  four  sons: 
Reginald,  his  successor;  Dugall,  from  whom  came  Lorn,  the 
MacDaugals,  etc. ;  Angus,  who  with  his  three  sons  was  killed 
in  1 210,  and  so  his  male  line  became  extinct;  and,  according  to 


28  EARLY  1 3th  and  1 4th  cent. 

some,  Olave.  "Reginald,  son  of  Somerled,  married  Fonia, 
daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Moray.  Their  issue:  Donald,"  afore- 
mentioned and  who  '  'married  a  daughter  of  Walter,  High  Steward 
of  Scotland.  Their  issue:  Angus  Mor  MacDonald,  who  succeeded 
to  the  Lordship  of  the  Isles,  married  and  had  issue :  Alexander 
his  successor,  Angus  Og,  and  John  or  Ian  Sprangaich,  progenitor 
of  the  MacDonalds  or  Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan.  After  the 
death  of  Alexander,  Angus  Og  succeeded  his  brother  in  1308, 
'both  in  his  lands  and  in  the  chief  ship  of  the  clan.'  He  married 
Anna  or  Agnes,  a  daughter  of  Conbuidh  O'Cathan  or  O'Kane ; 
their  eldest  son  John,  who  became  Lord  of  the  Isles  [and  has 
been  called  'First  Lord']  married  first,  Euphemia  or  Amy 
Macruari;  their  son  Reginald  was  ancestor  of  the  Clanranald 
MacDonalds.  John,  son  of  Angus  married  second,  'Lady  Mar- 
garet, daughter  of  Robert  II.,  now  reigning  king  of  Scotland.' 
'Donald  the  eldest  son  by  the  second  marriage,  of  John  of  Isla, 
succeeded  his  father  as  Lord  of  the  Isles  to  the  exclusion  of  the 
eldest  surviving  son  of  the  first  marriage,  and  was  ancestor  of 
the  MacDonnells  of  Isla,  and  the  MacDonnells  of  Antrim,  Ireland. 
John  [or  Iain]  Fraoch,  son  of  Angus  Og  MacDonald,  was  the 
progenitor  of  the  MacDonalds  of  Glencoe,  patronymically  known 
as  Maclans,  or  as  it  is  now  written :  MacKean,  McKean,  McKeen, 
McKane,  McCain,  McKeon,  and  in  various  other  forms."  A 
graphic  view  of  the  above  and  other  relationships  may  be  ob- 
tained from  Chart  IB,  of  these  Notes. 

Reginald,  "King  of  the  Isles,"  and  son  of  Somerled,  died  in 
1207.  Confusion  has  sometimes  arisen  in  the  early  history  of 
the  Isles,  as  to  which  son  was  the  older  in  this  case,  Reginald 
or  Dugall,  because  the  rule  of  primogeniture  was  not  followed, 
and  lands  were  often  "ga veiled"  or  divided  among  the  male 
members  of  a  family.  The  seal  of  Reginald,  shown  herewith, 
"adhibited  to  his  charter  to  Paisley  Abbey  is  thus  described: — 
'  In  the  middle  of  the  seal  on  one  side  a  ship  filled  with  men-at- 
arms  ;  on  the  reverse  side  the  figure  of  an  armed  man  on  horse- 
back with  a  sword  drawn  in  his  hand.'"  (Clan  Donald,  I.,  60, 
61,  66,  from  Orig.  Par.  Scot.).  Both  sides  are  presented. 

Donald  of  the  Isles,  grandson  of  Somerled,  died  before  1249, 
after  having,  as  is  reported,  made  a  pilgrimage  to  Rome  to  obtain 
absolution  for  deeds  which,  even  in  the  i3th  century  and  in 
Scotland,  were  considered  those  of  violence;  in  return  for  abso- 


1^92-1308  ANCESTORS.  29 

lution  he  enriched  the  Church  with  valuable  gifts  of  land.     (Clan 
Donald  I.,  71,  72,  etc.). 

In  1292  there  is  a  version  in  Old  French,  of  a  document  in 
which  "Alisaundre  des  Isles  fuiz  Anegus  fuiz  Douenald"  swears 
on  the  Holy  Evangels  to  maintain  "la  pees"  of  Scotland  and 
especially  "des  Ylles;"  for  at  that  time  his  alliance  by  marriage 


with  the  family  of  Lorn,  and  associations  with  the  English  interest 
made  him  "take  the  part  of  England  in  the  efforts  to  accomplish 
the  conquest  of  Scotland;"  in  1295  he  is  called  Alexandrum  de 
Hyle,  and  about  1297  he  held  the  office  of  Admiral  of  the  Western 
Isles  under  the  English  crown;  in  1308  he  was  fighting  against 
Bruce,  was  taken  prisoner  and  died  very  soon  after.  (Adapted 
from  Clan  Donald,  I.,  Appendices). 


EARLY 


1292-94 


A  safe  conduct  was  granted  to  "Angus  MacDonald,  'Lord'  of 
the  Isles,  and  to  Alexander  his  son/'  both  mentioned  above, *"in 
1292  at  "Berewyke  super  Twedam."  In  the  same  year  "King 
John  Balliol  ordered  Alexander  of  Argyle  and  his  baillies  of 
Lochaw  to  summon  Sir  Angus,  the  son  of  Donald,  and  others  to 
do  him  homage  within  fifteen  days  after  Easter,  wheresoever  he 


might  be  in  Scotland.  Though  his  citation  was  repeated  in  1293, 
Angus  Mor  of  Isla  seems  to  have  given  no  response  .  .  .  the 
year  of  his  death  cannot  be  exactly  determined  [but  is  supposed 
to  be  about  1 294]  ...  he  was  buried  at  Columkill  the  sacred 
storehouse  of  his  predecessors,  and  guardian  of  their  bones." 
(Adapted  from  Clan  Donald,  I.,  Appendices,  also  p.  84). 


1301-14  ANCESTORS.  31 

As  to  Angus  Og,  son  of  Angus  Mor  MacDonald  of  Isla,  in  1301 
he  was  at  first  zealous  as  his  brother  Alexander  in  helping  the 
English,  and  in  his  letter  to  Edward  I.,  reproduced  in  Clan  Donald, 
he  superscribes  himself  as  his  "humble  and  faithful  Engus  de 
Yle,"  states  that  he  is  awaiting  orders,  and  promises,  God  helping, 
to  destroy  the  enemies  of  the  most  noble  man  and  most  excellent 
lord  the  King. 

"Angus,  fifth  in  descent  from  Somerled,  was  a  faithful  and 
uncompromising  friend  of  Robert  Bruce  in  his  attempt  to 
free  his  native  land  from  the  harsh  grasp  of  England.  He  shel- 
tered this  monarch,  after  the  disastrous  defeat  at  Methven,  in 
his  castle  at  Dunaverty,  August,  1306."  (History  of  the  Clan 
MacLeari).  And  he  did  so  "at  a  time  when  his  [Bruce's]  for- 
tunes were  most  depressed  and  his  prospects  of  success  least 
hopeful."  (Clan  Donald  I.,  93).  This  is  well,  but  the  reasons 
are  not  clearly  known  why  Angus  Og  changed  sides  after  1301. 

From  the  History  of  Clan  MacLean  and  other  sources  we 
gather  that  1314  was  the  date  of  Bannockburn,  fought  on  "Mon- 
day, June  24.  It  was  at  this  battle  that  the  power  of  the  English 
Edwards  was  broken,  and  the  sovereignty  of  Scotland  once  more 
recognized.  Robert  Bruce's  army  consisted  of  thirty  thousand 
men,  while  that  of  Edward  has  been  estimated  at  over  one  hun- 
dred thousand  .  .  .  The  Scottish  army  was  arranged  in  a  line 
consisting  of  three  square  columns  .  .  .  The  reserve,  composed 
of  the  men  of  Argyle,  Carrick,  Kintyre,  and  the  Isles,  formed 
the  fourth  line  of  battle,  and  was  commanded  by  Bruce  in  person. 
In  this  reserve  were  five  thousand  Highlanders,  under  twenty- 
one  different  chiefs,  commanded  by  Angus  Og  MacDonald,  father 
of  John,  first  Lord  of  the  Isles,"  and  of  Iain  or  John  Fraoch  .  .  . 
Before  the  attack,  Bruce  is  thought  to  have  made  an  address 
similar  to  that  immortalized  by  Burns  in  the  lines  beginning : 

'  'Scots  wha  h'ae  wi'  Wallace  bled, 
Scots  whom  Bruce  has  often  led, 
Welcome  to  your  gory  bed, 
Or  to  victory. " 

"After  the  battle  was  fully  on,  Bruce  brought  up  the  whole  of 
his  reserve,  which  completely  engaged  the  four  battles  of  the 
Scots  in  one  line  .  .  .  Step  by  step  the  Scots  gained  ground, 
and  fortunately,  in  a  critical  moment,  the  camp  followers,  desir- 
ing to  see  the  battle,  appeared  over  the  hill,  and  were  taken  by 


32  EARLY  1314-29 

the  English  for  Scotch  re-inforcements.  Immediately  dismay 
spread  through  the  English  ranks,  which,  the  Scots  noticing, 
made  a  fearful  onslaught,  which  broke  the  English  army  into 
disjointed  squadrons.  The  flight  at  once  became  general."  .  .  . 
It  will  be  remembered  that  Scott  gives  the  supposed  words  of 
Bruce  at  the  supreme  instant : — 

"One  effort  more  and  Scotland's  free! 
Lord  of  the  Isles,  my  trust  in  thee 

Is  firm  as  Ailsa  rock; 
Rush  on  with  Highland  sword  and  targe, 
I  with  my  Carrick  spearmen  charge ; 

Now  forward  to  the  shock!" 

As  a  reward  for  the  great  services  of  Angus  Og,  "Bruce  con- 
ferred upon  him,  in  1314,  the  Lordship  of  Lochaber — forfeited 
by  the  Comyns,  and  the  lands  of  Duror  and  Glencoe,  and  the 
islands  of  Mull,  Jura,  Coll  and  Tiree,  which  had  belonged  to  the 
family  of  Lorn"  (History  of  the  Clan  MacLeari).  Logan's  Clans 
of  the  Scottish  Highlands  relates  that  the  MacDonalds,  who  were 
always  eager  to  take  on  themselves  "the  first  press  and  dint  of 
the  battle,  received  from  King  Robert  Bruce  at  Bannockburn, 
the  honour  of  taking  position  on  the  right  of  the  army,  and  they 
were  ever  most  jealous  of  this  privilege,  alleging  that  no  engage- 
ment could  be  successful  if  it  were  overlooked,  and  they  adduce 
the  defeats  of  Harlaw  and  Culloden  (1411  and  1746)  as  striking 
instances  of  this  truth.  Holding  this  position  in  the  Scottish 
armies  they  have  performed  prodigies  of  valour." 

"Angus  Og  married  Margaret  or  Agnes,  a  daughter  of  Guy  or 
Conbuidh  O'Cathan  or  O'Kane,  one  of  the  greatest  barons  of 
Ulster,  Lord  of  Limvady,  and  Master  of  the  whole  County  of  Derry. 
The  O'Cathans  were  originally  a  branch  of  the  Cinel  Eoghain, 
descended  from  Neil  of  the  nine  hostages,  King  of  Ireland  [about 
379]  .  .  .  The  lady's  portion  took  the  form  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  men  out  of  every  surname  in  O'Cathan's  territory  .  .  . 
(Clan  Donald,  I.,  100). 

Angus  MacDonald,  called  Angus  Og,  i.  e.,  the  Younger,  [his 
father  being  Angus  Mor,  i.  e.,  the  Older]  died  in  Islay  about 
1329  or  '30.  The  pictures  of  his  interesting  tomb 

»    "  ....  in  lona's  piles 
Where  rest  from  mortal  coil  the  Mighty  of  the  Isles," 

and  of  his  father's  seal,  are  copied  from  ClanDonald,  I.,  102.  The 
biorlin  or  galley  is  a  notable  feature  in  both  figures,  and  the 


1248-133° 


ANCESTORS. 


33 


interlacings  which  form  the  continuation  of  the  animals'  tails  03 
the  tombstone,  are  characteristic  of  the  Celtic  (and  Gaelic?) 
schools  of  decoration;  the  triplication  of  the  letter  i  in  "Filiii" 
is  a  curious  slip  of  the  chisel  in  the  epitaph:  "Hie  jacet  corpus 
Angusii  filiii  Domini  Angusii  Mac  Domhnill  de  Ila." 


TOMBSTONE  OF  ANGUS  OG  OF  ISLA 

LORD  OF  THE  ISLES,    OB.    1330. 

Inscription. 

Hie  jacet  corpus  Angusii  filii  Domini 
Angusii  Mac  Domhnill  de  Ila. 


SEAL  OF  ANGUS  MOR  OF  ISLA  I  248-94. 

Legend. 
SR.  ENGUS  DE  YLE  FILII  DOMNALDI. 


Having  touched  upon  the  earlier  ancestors  of  the  Maclains , 
and  having  reached  the  two  Johns  who  immediately  concern  us, 
we  will  proceed  to  the  other  Sections,  and  hope  they  will  be  found 
less  tedious  than  the  first. 


SECTION  II.— MAC!AINS  OF  ARDNAMURCHAN. 


From  Clan  Dcnald  II..  144. 

This  once  important  sept  of  the  great  Clan  MacDonald  obtained 
its  local  title  frcm  the  territory  of  Ardnamurchan  about  mid- 
way on  the  outer  west  coast  of  Scotland,  the  name  meaning  in 
Celtic  "The  promontory  by  the  great  ocean."  The  nature  of 
the  country  made  hardy  hillmen  of  the  inhabitants,  and  as  it 
was  nearly  surrounded  by  water  they  also  became  bold  mariners, 
and  the  fact  that  the  Norsemen  settled  to  the  north  and  south 
as  well  as  in  the  outlying  islands,  brought  them  into  fighting 
condition. 

The  authors  of  Clan  Donald,  II.,  145  et  seq.,  state  that  the 
district  was  referred  to  by  Adamnan,  Abbot  of  lona,  in  the  jth 
century  as  "the  rough  and  very  rocky  region  which  is  called 
Ardamuirchol."  Also  that  when  the  district  of  Lorn  was  erected 
into  a  sheriffdom  by  King  John  Baliol  in  1292,  it  included  the 
lands  of  Ardenmuirich, — the  first  reference  to  them  in  any  public 
record.  Moreover,  that  in  1309,  Robert  Bruce  granted  a  charter 
of  Ardnamurchan  with  other  lands  to  Angus  Og  MacDonald. 
Finally,  and  this  concerns  the  McKeans,  Angus  Og  bestowed 
Ardnamurchan  and  Sunart,  together  consisting  of  87,753  Scotch 
acres,  on  his  brother  Eoin  or  Iain  Sprangach,  or  John  the  Bold, 
always  recognized  by  the  bards  who  kept  the  traditions,  as  the 
progenitor  of  the  Maclain  family  afterwards  spelling  their  name 


i4th-iyth  cent.  ARDNAMURCHAN.  35 

in  various  ways,  but  gradually  approaching  the  modern  ones. 
A  few  facts  relating  to  Angus  Og  are  given  in  the  Section  refer- 
ring to  Early  Ancestors. 

Before  coming  to  the  genealogical  chart  and  detailed  account 
of  the  Ardnamurchan  family,  it  may  be  interesting  to  compare 
two  short,  partial  lists  of  the  chiefs  of  the  clan.  The  older  one 
is  quaint  and  free  from  punctuation,  and  is  by  Dean  Munro  of 
the  Isles,  about  1549  (?) ;  it  is  quoted  in  Genealogy,  etc.,  of  Ancient 
Scottish  Surnames  by  William  Buchanan  of  Auchmar.  The 
Dean  says:  "Heir  followis  The  Genealogies  of  the  Chieff  Clans 
of  the  lies;  Collected  by  me  Sir  Donald  Monro  Heigh  Dean  of 
of  the  lies.  .  .  .Clan  Ean  of  Ardnamorachin,  the  fourte  house 
of  the  Clan  Donald.  Alexander  M' Donald  Donaldi  M'Ean  Jo- 
hannis  M'Aloir  Alexandri  M' Angus  M'Ean  Achechterwache 
M' Angus  Moire,  who  was  the  lord  of  the  lies,  and  him  I  impe 
to  the  tree."  The  other  list  is  from  The  Last  Macdonalds  of 
Isla,  which  says:  "The  following  pedigree  is  merely  tentative 
as  I  have  no  particulars  to  verify  a  complete  table ....  The 
.  .  names  are  found,  but  the  descent  was  not  always  by 
father  and  son." 

Angus  Moire  lord  of  the  Isles.  Angus  Mor  of  Isla. 

John  Achechterwache  (son   of  An-  i .  John,  younger  son  of  the  above. 

gus.)  2.  Angus 1342. 

Angus  M'Ean  (son  of  John).  3. 

4- 

5.  Alexander 1448-78 

Alexander  M'Angus.  6.  John 1494-1519. 

7.  Alexander 1530-45. 

8.  John 1588. 

John  M'Aloir  (son  of  Alexander).  9.  John   pig 1596. 

Donald  M'Ean  (son  of  John).  10.  John  vie  Allister 1602-11. 

1 1.  Allister : .  .  .  .  : .  .  .  .  1622-29 

Alexander  M' Donald  (son  of  Donald 
M'Ean). 

Between  the  rival  claimants  Bruce  and  Baliol,  England  took 
possession  of  Scotland  for  a  while. 

I.  IAIN  espoused  the  cause  of  Baliol  and  was  granted  more 
lands,  afterwards  confirmed  to  him  by  Edward  I.  of  England; 
the  English  King  also  advanced  him  to  the  dignity  of  Baron  of 
the  Exchequer*  of  England,  and  he  became  one  of  the  magnates 
sworn  in  Parliament  to  treat  of  affairs  in  Scotland;  was  further- 
more appointed  Justice  of  the  Lothian  and  to  other  offices,  from 

*The  treasury,  called  exchequer  .  .  .  from  the  checked  cloth  .  .  . 
which  covers  the  table  there,  according  to  Blackstone. 


MACIAINS  OF 


I3th-i7th  cent. 


which,  as  the  Reverends  Macdonalds  write :  "it  appears  that  John 
Sprangach  possessed  no  mean  share  of  the  undaunted  spirit  and 
bold  activity  which  characterized  the  conduct  of  his  ancestors, 
and  in  him  we  have  a  worthy  progenitor  of  a  family  destined  to 
play  a  not  unimportant  part  in  the  history  of  the  Highlands." 


I34I~I411  ARDNAMURCHAN.  37 

II.  ANGUS,  the  son  of  the  above,  and  therefore  the  first  Mac- 
Iain,  possessed  Ardnamurchan  in   1341   by  charter  from  David 
Bruce,  and  later  under  his  cousin  John  the  Good,  Lord  of  the 
Isles,  though  there  is  no  account  of  a  reconciliation  between  the 
Bruces  and  Iain,  nor  of  the  death  of  the  latter,  which  apparently 
occurred  about   1306.     Little  is  known  of  Angus,  but   as   Clan 
Donald  states,  II.,  151,  "we  may  infer  from  the  contents  of  the 
charter  of  1341  that  he  was  a  man  of  considerable  importance 
in  the  Highlands." 

There  are  few  facts  known  about  the  family  in  the  next 
century  and  a  half  besides  the  names  of  the  head  of  the  clan  and 
some  dates,  but  this  is  not  surprising:  as  vassals  of  the  Lords 
of  the  Isles,  the  Maclans  of  Ardnamurchan  followed  the  banner 
of  those  chiefs,  and  continued  to  support  them  in  all  their  con- 
tentions. The  history  of  the  minor  is  merged  in  that  of  the 
larger  family,  and  this  no  doubt  accounts  for  the  meagre  ref- 
erences we  find  to  the  family  of  Maclain  during  its  early  history." 
(Clan  Donald,  II.,  151,  152). 

III.  ALEXANDER   of    Ardnamurchan,    the    son    and    successor 
of  Angus,  was  in  the  battle  of  Harlaw,  and  we  will  refer  to  that 
event. 

From  various  sources  we  summarize  that  the  immediate  reason 
for  the  rebellion  of  Donald,  Lord  of  the  Isles,  was  to  obtain  the 
rights,  (through  his  wife),  to  large  territories  claimed  by  Robert, 
Duke  of  Albany,  Regent  of  the  Kingdom.  The  MacDonalds 
with  some  seven  other  clans,  (the  Macleans,  Mackintoshes,  Cam- 
erons,  Mackinnons  and  Macleods  are  mentioned),  took  Inverness 
the  highland  capital,  after  some  fighting,  and  then  assumed  the 
offensive  with  about  ten  thousand  men,  but  were  met  upon  the 
field  of  Harlaw  near  Aberdeen,  July  24,  1411,  by  a  smaller  but 
much  better  equipped  force,  including  the  followers  of  twenty - 
five  clans  and  names,  among  whom  were  the  Ogilvies,  Lindsays, 
Carnegies,  Lesleys,  Lyons,  Irvings,  Gordons,  Abercrombies, 
Arbuthnots,  Bannermans,  Leiths,  Douglases,  Barclays,  Mowats, 
Duguids,  Fotheringhams,  Frasers  and  Burnets.  "It  was  not 
a  battle  between  civilization  and  barbarism, —the  men-at-arms 
in  mail  were  as  far  removed  from  the  civilization  of  to-day  as 
were  the  kilted  warriors."  The  result  is  variously  given  as 
indecisive  and  as  a  defeat,  yet  it  is  said  to  have  terminated  the 
struggle  between  the  Celtic  and  the  Saxon  races.  The  Lowland 
army  seems  to  have  been  almost  annihilated,  but  Henry  IV.  of 


38  MACIAINS  Otf  I4II-I2 

England  was  too  busily  engaged  to  help  Donald,  who  retired  to 
his  Island  strongholds  where  his  fleet  was  superior  in  strength, 
and  he  seems  to  have  held  his  own.  An  old  ballad  says: 

There  was  not  sin'  King  Kenneth's  day, 

Sic  strange,  intestine,  cruel  strife, 

In  Scotland  seen  as  ilk  man  says — 

Where  monie  likelie  lost  their  life, 

Whilk  made  divorce  tween  man  and  wife 

And  monie  children  fatherless. 

And  monie  a  ane  will  mourn  for  aye, 

The  breme  battle  of  the  Harlawe. 

The  3 1  st  and  last  stanza  gives  the  date  in  old  style : 

In  July,  on  St.  James  his  euin, 

That  four-and-twenty  dismal  day, 
Twelve  hundred,  twelve  score,  and  eleven, 

Of  yeirs  sin'  Christ  the  suthe  to  say;  etc. 

The  field  is  said  in  Taylor's  Pictorial  History  of  Scotland,  I., 
22,  to  get  its  name  from  several  boundary  stones  (Hare  or  Hoar- 
laws),  and  that  book  refers  its  readers  to  Laing's  Early  Metrical 
Tales  for  probably  the  most  ancient  Scottish  historical  ballad 
of  any  length  now  in  existence  for  an  account  of  the  battle ;  and 
also  states  that  a  bagpipe  tune  with  the  title  of  the  battle  was 
long  extremely  popular. 

Moreover,  "Sir  Walter  Ogilvy,  on  the  28th  of  January,  1426, 
founded  a  chaplainry  in  the  parish  church  of  St.  Mary  of  Uchter- 
house,  in  which  perpetual  prayers  were  to  be  offered  up  for  the 
salvation  of  King  James  and  his  Queen  Johanna;  and  for  the  souls 
of  all  who  died  in  the  Battle  of  Harlaw."  (Diplom.  Regior. 
Indices,  I.,  97;  Tytler,  III.,  Appendix,  156). 

The  Annals  of  Loch  Ce*  also  mention  in  1411,  what  must 
have  been  the  battle  of  Harlaw: — "A  great  victory  of  MacDom- 
hnaill  of  Alba  [MacDonald  of  Scotland],  king  of  Airer-Gaeidhel 
[Argyle],  over  the  Foreigners  of  Alba;  and  MacGilla-Eoin 
of  MacDomhnailPs  people  was  slain  in  the  counter-wounding 
of  that  victory."  [MacGilla-Eoin  has  become  MacClean,  Mac- 
Lean,  etc.,  but  this  old  form  indicates  that  it  means  the  son  of 
the  follower  of  St.  John]. 

IV.  JOHN  McEan  of  Ardnamurchan  succeeded  to  the  chief - 
ship  about  1412,  and  was  one  of  the  witnesses  at  the  Chanonry 

*Annals  of  the  Old  Abbey  of  Inis-Macreen,  an   island   in   Lough-Kea   [or 

Key]. 


1420-31  ARDNAMURCHAN.  39 

of  Ross,  to  an  important  document,  in  1420.  (Clan  Donald, 
II.,  153;  Tytler,  III.,  396).  But  he  was  also  a  fighter:  in  1427 
King  James  I.  of  Scotland  having  apparently  instigated  the  death 
of  John  Mor  Tanistear,  a  powerful  MacDonald  and  founder  of 
the  family  of  Dunyveg  and  the  Glens  of  Antrim,  followed  up  this 
act  by  another  of  treachery.  He  summoned  a  convention  of 
the  Highland  chiefs  at  Inverness,  arrested  them,  imprisoning 
some  and  executing  others;  Alexander,  Lord  of  the  Isles,  after 
his  release  from  a  short  custody,  stirred  up  a  rebellion  on  these 
accounts  as  well  as  his  being  deprived  of  the  Earldom  of  Ross, 
and  MacEan  of|  Ardnamurchan,  loyal  to  the  MacDonalds, 
"threw  himself  with  all  his  energy  .  .'  into  the  conflict." 


From  Macintosh's  Last  MacDonalds  of  Isla. 
INVERLOCHY  CASTLE. 

The  Lord  of  the  Isles  was  at  first  successful  in  his  invasion  of 
the  main  land  in  1429,  but  owing  to  the  activity  of  the  King  and 
the  desertion  of  some  of  the  clans,  he  sued  for  peace  and  appears 
to  have  made  an  ignominious  submission. 

Donald  Balloch.in  1431,  a  cousin  of  Alexander,  enraged  beyond 
measure  at  the  pusillanimous  submission  of  his  kinsman,  col- 
lected a  fleet  and  an  army  in  the  Hebrides,  ran  his  galleys  into 
the  neck  of  sea  that  divides  Morvern  from  the  island  of  Lismore, 
and  disembarking  at  Lochaber,  swept  over  that  district  with  all 
the  ferocity  of  northern  warfare.  At  Inverlochy  he  met  a  su- 
perior force  of  the  king's  army,  commanded  by  Alexander,  Earl 
of  Mar,  and  Alan  Stewart,  Earl  of  Caithness.  With  their  broad- 


MACIAINS  OF* 


H3I 


swords  and  battle-axes,  the  Islesmen  commenced  a  furious  attack 
upon  the  well-armed  and  disciplined  Lowland  knights.  The 
royal  army  was  cut  to  pieces;  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  with  six- 
teen of  his  personal  retinue,  and  many  other  barons  and  knights, 
were  left  dead  on  the  field .  Mar,  although  severely  wounded  and 
barely  escaping  being  made  prisoner,  succeeded  in  rescuing  the 
remnant  of  his  army.  In  the  engagement,  Donald  Balloch  made 
a  main  'battle'  and  a  front  of  his  men.  The  front  was  com- 
manded by  Maclain  of  Ardnamurchan  and  John  Dubh  Mac- 
Lean  and  the  main  'battle'  by  Ranald  Ban,  while  200  Keppoch 
archers  sent  swarms  of  arrows  from  their  position  on  the  steep 
hill  overlooking  Inverlochy  Castle,  and  later  joined  in  with  clay- 


prom  Lansdale's  Scotland,  I.,  214. 

TANTALLON  CASTLE  AND  BASS  ROCK. 

mores  and  Lochaber  axes.  The  royal  army  sustained  a  loss 
of  nine  hundred  and  ninety,  while  that  of  Donald  was  but  twenty- 
seven  men.  Donald  first  descended  on  the  Cameron  and  Chattan 
lands,  and  later,  with  his  plunder,  retired  to  the  Isles,  but  the 
King  bringing  a  superior  force  against  him,  he  fled  to  Ireland 
after  several  encounters  and  married  a  daughter  of  Conn 
O'Neill.  The  King  gave  some  of  the  Keppoch-MacDonald 
lands  to  Mackintosh,  whence  arose  a  feud  between  those  clans 
for  over  two  hundred  years. 


1431-62 


ARDNAMURCHAN. 


For  his  services  at  Inverlochy,  John  Maclain  of  Ardnamur- 
chan  obtained  lands  in  Isla  from  the  Lord  of  the  Isles  after  the 
release  of  the  latter  from  Tantallon  Castle;  and  also  certain 
lands  in  Jura  from  Donald  Balloch;  later  he  became  one  of  the 
councillors  of  John,  Lord  of  the  Isles,  and  in  1463  appears  as  a 
witness  to  a  charter  by  that  nobleman.  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  153). 

"A  Charter  by  John  de  Yle,  Earl  of  Ross  and  Lord  of  the  Isles, 
to  his  brother  Hugh  (son  of  Alexander),  of  the  Isles,  Lord  of 
Slate,  and  Fynvola  nin  Allister  vie  Iain  of  Ardnamurchan,"  is 
dated  28th  June,  1409,  but  the  correct  date  is  in  all  probability 
1449.  It  bears  the  signature  of  Alexander  Maclain  of  Ardnamur- 
chan. (The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla). 


From  Photo,  by  Messrs.  G.  W.  Wilson  &  Co.,  Aberdeen. 

From  Clan  Donald,  I.,  126. 
RUINED  KEEP  OF  ARDTHORNISH  CASTLE. 

Mention  may  be  made  here,  chronologically,  of  a  Note  to  Scotts' 
Poem,  The  Lord  of  the  Isles,  stating  that  from  the  castle  of  Artor- 
nish,  upon  the  igth  of  October,  1461,  John  de  Yle,  designing 
himself  Earl  of  Ross  and  Lord  of  the  Isles,  granted,  like  an  inde- 
pendent sovereign,  a  commission  to  Ronald  of  the  Isles,  and  Dun- 
can, arch-dean  of  the  Isles,  empowering  them  to  treat  with  King 
Edward  IV.  of  England;  John  agreeing  to  become  the  vassal 
of  Edward,  and  to  assist  in  subduing  the  realm  of  Scotland. 
[For  which  he  was  branded  as  a  traitor  in  1462,  and  deprived 
of  the  Earldom  of  Ross].  MacLean  says:  "The  castle  is  lo- 


42  MACIAINS  OF1  1467-90 

cated  upon  the  point  of  a  peninsula  that  projects  into  the  Sound 
of  Mull.  The  ruins  now  consist  chiefly  of  the  remains  of  an  old 
tower,  with  fragments  of  outward  defenses.  The  site  of  the 
spacious  apartment  in  which  the  ancient  parliament  met  is  still 
pointed  out,  and  in  the  face  of  the  rock,  overhanging  the  bay 
of  Ardtornish,  is  the  precipice  over  which  the  transgressors 
of  feudal  times  were  thrown." 

V.  The  next  chief  signs  himself  "ALEXANDER  Joannis  (son 
of  John)  Lord  of  Ardnamurchan,"  on  a  charter  in  1467.  And 
he  was  one  of  the  Council  of  the  Isles  in  1469.  A  daughter  of 
Alexander  Maclain,  called  Fynvola  nin  Alister,  married  Hugh 
MacDonald  of  Sleat  in  the  same  year,  and  the  Lord  of  the  Isles 
granted  lands  to  Hugh  and  his  heirs  male.  Mariota,  said  to 
have  been  another  daughter,  married  Malcolm  Macduffie  of 
Colonsay,  and  of  this  couple  more  hereafter.  A  daughter 
Florence  was  the  second  wife  of  Allen  Macrory  of  Clanranald. 
In  1478  the  name  of  the  chief  witnessing  a  charter,  appears  as 
"Alexander  McCane  of  Ardnamercho."  The  work  Clan  Donald, 
II.,  154,  says:  "Alexander  Maclain  evidently  was  a  man  of  con- 
siderable influence  and  power.  The  family  now  held,  besides 
Ardnamurchan  and  Sunart,  lands  in  Kintyre,  Isla  and  Jura ; 
but,  as  we  shall  soon  see,  it  had  not  yet  attained  the  zenith  of 
its  greatness  in  the  Highlands."  The  date  of  his  death  is  uncer- 
tain, and  by  some  authorities  he  is  said  to  have -had  a  son  Donald, 
who,  however,  may  have  died  young. 

While  endeavoring  to  restrict  these  Notes  to  the  fortunes  of 
the  Maclans,  we  will  touch  now  upon  those  of  the  MacDonalds 
of  the  Isles,  the  families  having  been  intimately  connected,  and 
the  affairs  of  both  having  approached  a  crisis.  Angus  Og  Mac- 
Donald,  the  second  of  the  Isles,  and  "Rider  of  the  dappled  steed," 
was  assassinated  at  the  instigation  of  the  Lady  of  Moydart,  on 
account  of  the  disputed  lordship  of  the  Island  of  Lewis.  The 
Annals  of  Loch  Ce  state  that  in  1490  MacDomhnaill  [Aenghus] 
of  Alba,  i.  e.,  the  young  Lord,  the  best  man  in  Erinn  or  in  Alba 
in  his  time,  was  unfortunately  slain  by  an  Irish  harper,  i.  e., 
Diarmaid  Cairbrech,  in  his  own  chamber."  Mackenzie's  account 
(History  of  the  Camerons,  34,  note],  is:  "At  Inverness,  in  1485, 
Angus  Og  of  the  Isles  was  assassinated  by  an  Irish  Harper,  Hugh 
Macdonald,  the  Sleat  Seannachaid."  Clan  Donald  gives  the 
date  1490,  and  the  name  of  the  assassin  as  Art  O'Carley,  and 


1491-93  ARDNAMURCHAN.  43 

goes  on  to  say:  "With  the  death  of  Angus  Og,  the  fortunes  of 
the  family  of  the  Isles,  took  a  downward  tendency."  The  next 
step  in  their  fall  is  related  thus : 

A  feud  between  the  MacDonalds  and  Mackenzies,  beginning 
in  an  insult  by  the  latter,  followed  by  the  burning  of  a  church 
full  of  Mackenzies  by  the  former,  had  resulted  in  the  battle  of 
Park  (1488  or  1491)  in  which  the  MacDonalds  under  Alexander 
of  Lochalsh  were  defeated.  "This  insurrection  cost  them  the 
lordship  of  the  Isles,  as  others  had  the  earldom  of  Ross.  At  a 
parliament  held  in  Edinburgh  in  1493,  the  possessions  of  the 
Lord  of  the  Isles  were  declared  to  be  forfeited  to  the  crown. 
In  the  following  February,  John  MacDonald,  the  aged  Lord 
of  the  Isles,  made  his  appearance  before  King  James  IV.,  and 
made  a  voluntary  surrender  of  every  thing,  after  which,  for 
several  years,  he  remained  in  the  king's  household  as  a  court 
pensioner."  (History  of  the  Clan  MacLean). 

"Thus  fell  the  Lordship  of  the  Isles,  and  with  it  the  dynasty 
which  for  hundreds  of  years  had  continued  to  represent,  in  a 
position  of  virtual  independence,  the  ancient  Celtic  system  of 
Scotland."  (Clan  Donald,  I.,  280). 

We  have  seen  several  spellings  of  the  McKean  name  already, 
but  hereafter  we  will  find  several  more.  Alexander  McCane 
was  succeeded  by  his  nephew — 

VI.  JOHN  MAKANE,  Macian  or  Maclain,  who  was  Chief  of 
Ardnamurchan  from  1493-1518,  was  a  notable  man  in  his  day, 
and  perhaps  the  greatest  of  the  Clan. 

"John  inherited  as  'grandson  and  heir  of  John,  son  of  Alex- 
ander, the  son  of  [Angus  the  son  of]  John  of  Ardnamurchan'  .  .  . 
Hugh  Macdonald,  the  Sleat  historian,  bastardizes  this  chief, 
whom  he  calls  'John  Brayach,'  but  this  is  Hugh's  way,  and  there 
are  no  grounds  for  putting  in  the  bar  sinister.  Hugh  describes 
him  as  bold,  intrepid,  and  not  altogether  sound  in  his  mind  .  .  . 
on  the  contrary,  he  appears,  judged  by  the  standard  of  his  time, 
to  have  been  no  less  famed  for  his  statesman-like  qualities  than 
for  his  personal  prowess.  He  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  vassals 
of  the  Isles  to  make  his  submission  to  James  IV.  on  the  forfeiture 
of  the  Island  Lord  in  1493.  He  married  a  lady  of  the  Argyll 
family,  by  whom  he  is  said  to  have  had:  i.  Donald.  2.  Somer- 
led.  3.  A  son  whose  name  has  not  come  down.  4.  Alexander, 
who  succeeded."  He  must  have  had  two  more  sons, — John 


44  MACIAINS  OF  1493-95 

Sunertach    (of   Sunart),    and   Angus,  who  are  named  as  having 
been  killed  in  his  last  battle  at  the  Silver  Crag.      "He  also  had 
a  daughter  [Catherine]  who  married  Alastair  Maclan  Chathan 
aich,  5th  chief  of  Dunnyveg;  and  another,  Mariot,  who  married 
John  Robertson  of  Struan."     (Clan  Donald,  III.,  211  and  II. ,154). 

On  the  1 8th  of  August,  1493,  James  IV.  held  Court  at  Dunstaff- 
nagfc  and  received  the  homage,  "among  others,  of  John  of  Dunny- 
vaig,  John  Cathanach  his  son,  John  Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan, 
and  Alexander  of  Lochalsh" :  he  knighted  the  first  and  last  and 
confirmed  them  in  their  lands.  Among  other  Clan  Donald  vassals, 
"John  Abrachson  of  Glencoe  and  Alister  Maclan  of  Glengarry 
had  not  yet  acknowledged  the  new  order  of  things.  The  only 
chieftain  of  the  Clan  Donald  who  made  any  show  of  loyalty  was 
Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan,  whose  allegiance  and  services  at 
this  time  and  afterwards  were  amply  requited  at  the  expense 
of  the  other  clansmen."  (Clan  Donald  I.,  285).  That  is,  at 
the  expense  of  those  who  showed  no  loyalty. 

The  Accounts  of  the  Lord  High  Treasurer  of  Scotland  show 
that  in  1494,  "On  the  i4th  of  June,  John  Makane  of  Ardnamur- 
chan had  a  charter  of  lands  in  Isla  and  of  the  office  of  bailie  there, 
which  he  had  before  held  of  the  I,ord  of  the  Isles.  On  the  2oth 
of  August,  the  King  (James  IV.)  had  returned  to  Stirling,  but 
it  is  said  that,  even  before  he  had  left  the  Isles,  Dunaverty  had 
been  recaptured  by  John  of  Isla,  [otherwise  known  as  Sir  John  of 
Dunnyveg  and  the  Glinns,  also  by  his  son  John  Cathanach],'  the 
governor  put  to  death,  and  his  body  hung  over  the  wall  in  sight  of 
the  King  and  his  fleet.  This  called  for  prompt  action,  and  accord- 
ingly, about  the  8th  of  September,  a  messenger-at-arms  was 
despatched  'to  summond  Schir  Johne  of  the  His  of  tressone  in 
Kintyre.'  He  and  four  of  his  sons  were  quickly  taken  by  John 
Makane  of  Ardnamurchan,  and  brought  to  Edinburgh,  where 
they  were  found  guilty  and  executed."  [Probably  early  in 
1495].  See  also  Lang's  History  of  Scotland,  I.,  348.  The  Illus- 
tration is  from  the  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla. 

By  royal  charter,  certain  lands  in  Isla  were  "granted  to  John 
Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan  for  apprehending  'Johannes  de 
Glennys  militis,  Johannes  Caynoch,  ejus  filii,  et  complicum 
suorum,'  "  which  was  done  "treacherously"  [as  one  book  states 
without  giving  authorities  for  the  charge]  at  the  instigation  of 
Argyle,  whose  daughter  he  had  married,  and  for  the  alleged 


1493-96 


ARDNAMURCHAN. 


45 


reason  of  a  feud  between  them  on  account  of  Sunart  and  lands 
in  Isla.  (Adapted  from  Clan  Donald,  I.,  288,  etc.)  Lang  also 
(!•>  35°)»  mentions  valuable  concessions  received. 

The  fact  that  the  King  entrusted  this  Makane  with  the  ?  rdu- 
ous  and  hopeless  task  of  preserving  order  in  the  Highlands  shows 
the  importance  of  the  Ardnamurchan  branch.  James  IV.  twice 
visited  Dunstaffnage  and  Mingarry  during  1493  [and  1495]  in 
the  course  of  his  visits  of  inspection.  Exactly  one  hundred 
years  later  will  be  found  a  reference  to  another  Johnne  McAne 


DUNAVERTY   CASTLE   ROCK,    KINTYRE. 

of  Ardnamurchane,  showing  the  persistence  of  favorite  bap- 
tismal names  in  some  old  families. 

The  book  Clan  Donald,  I.,  296,  charges  the  Maclan  of  1495 
with  assassinating  Alexander  of  Lochalsh  during  the  repeated 
rebellion  of  the  latter  in  attempting  to  recover  the  Island  Lord- 
ship, but  the  authorities  are  mistaken  in  some  at  least  of  the 
details,  as  that  book  shows.  Probably  Maclan  was  acting  here 
in  his  official  capacity  of  Baillie  as  in  the  case  of  John  of 
Dunnyveg. 

In  1496,  according  to  the  History  of  the  Camerons,  John 
Macian  of  Ardnamurchan,  Donald  Angusson  of  Keppoch  and 


46  MACIAINS  OF  1496-97 

two  others  "appeared  before  the  Lords  of  Council,  and  bound 
themselves,  'by  the  extension  of  their  hands,'  to  the  Earl  of 
Argyll  on  behalf  of  the  king,  to  abstain  from  mutual  injuries 
and  molestations,  under  a  penalty  of  .£500." 

The  Annals  of  Loch  Ce  note  for  1499:  "A  great  deed  was  com- 
mitted by  the  King  of  Alba  whose  name  was  Stuart,  viz. : — he 
hanged  John  Mor  MacDomhnaill,  King  of  Innsi-Gall  [the  Hebri- 
des], and  John  Cathanach,*  and  Alexander  Ballagh  [Domhnall?] 
on  the  same  gallows."  This  appears  to  refer  to  the  occurrence 
already  mentioned  as  having  taken  place  in  1494. 

Hugh  Macdonald,  as  quoted  in  Clan  Donald,  II.,  161,  162, 
relates  a  circumstance  beginning  with  playfulness  but  resulting 
in  tragic  misfortune;  it  may  be  abridged  as  follows:  Two  of  the 
chief's  sons,  Donald  and  Somerled,  were  "lusty,  young  strong 
men,"  and  one  at  least  was  so  good  a  wrestler  that  he  threw  all 
opposers;  the  chief,  though  old,  wished  to  have  a  bout  with 
him,  and  the  son,  after  trying  in  vain  to  excuse  himself,  threw  his 
father;  whereupon  the  latter  intimated  that  the  son  would 
sooner  overcome  his  father,  than  expel  Alexander,  John  Cathe- 
nach's  son,  from  the  Glens  of  Ireland.  Immediately  the  two 
sons  started  with  a  levy  of  men  to  Ireland,  and  upon  landing 
were  met  by  Alexander.  Some  of  the  allies  of  the  Maclains, 
headed  by  "the  Smith  of  Islay,"  deserted  to  the  enemy,  and 
in  the  resulting  battle  the  MacEans  were  routed,  and  most  of 
them,  with  MacEan's  two  sons  were  killed.  Alexander  at  once 
took  the  MacEan  boats  and  crossed  over  to  Islay,  where  he  sur- 
prised the  Castle  of  Dunivaig,  besieged  MacEan  in  the  Island, 
and  the  latter  surrendered  on  condition  that  he  should  give  up 
Islay  to  Alexander,  and  that  Alexander  should  marry  his  daughter. 
[It  is  worthy  of  note  that  the  opposition  chronicler  begins  by 
calling  John  of  Ardnamurchan  "Maclain"  and  ends  by  writing 
it  "MacEan"]. 

As  intimated  in  the  last  paragraph,  Maclain  of  Ardnamurchan 
in  1497  gave  his  daughter  in  marriage  to  Alasdair,  son  of  Sir 
John  [of  Islay],  one  of  two  sons  who  had  escaped  to  their  property 
the  Glens  of  Antrim  [in  1494]  (Lang,  I.,  350).  In  our  suggest- 

*"The  Ann  Ult.  say  that  he  was  the  son  of  John  Mor  MacDomhnaill. 
The  sobriquet  'Cathanach,'  was  given  to  him  from  his  intimate  connection 
with  the  O'Cathains  (O'Kanes)  of  Cianacta,  or  Keenaght  (in  Londonderry) 
amongst  whom  he  seems  to  have  been  fostered." 


I497-I5°6  ARDNAMURCHAN.  47 

tions  for  a  Genealogical  Chart,  the  married  couple  appear  as 
Catherine  (Maclain)  and  Alexander  Macdonell  of  Dunyvaig ; 
the  marriage  must  have  been  lamentable  at  first,  judging  from 
Clan  Donald,  III.,  376,  where  it  is  stated  that  the  child  was 
Donald,  surnamed,  according  to  an  Irish  genealogical  manu- 
script, malak,  i.  e.,  'cursed.  The  reason  given  is  that  "he  was 
cursed  by  his  mother  before  his  birth,  because  her  husband  had 
killed  her  five  brothers,  in  vengeance  for  the  treachery  wrought 
upon  his  family  by  her  father,  Maclain  of  Ardnamurchan.  She 
prayed  that  her  unborn  offspring  should  never  see  light  of  day, 
and  the  alleged  result  was  that  the  first-born  came  blind  into  the 
world.  Another  authority  says  he  was  deficient  in  courage, 
which  was  the  reason  for  his  not  succeeding  to  the  lordship. 
Donald,  who  was  called  Balloch,  had  two  sons,  Alastair 
and  Donald  Gorm."  But  it  appears  that  there  were  nine  sons 
and  two  daughters  born  to  Alexander  and  Catherine,  so  we  may 
hope  if  there  ever  was  the  curse  related,  it  yielded  later  to  blessing. 

In  1498,  Maclain  had  a  serious  quarrel  with  Allan  MacRuarie 
of  Clanranald  about  the  lands  of  Sunart,  and  the  dispute  being 
referred  to  the  King,  [James  IV .],  the  latter  decided  in  Maclain's 
favor  and  gave  him  a  charter  of  them.  Apparently  wishing 
to  crush  the  Macdonald  families,  the  King  divided  up  the  lands 
of  the  Lordship  of  the  Isles  among  his  supporters,  and  Maclain 
was  naturally  well  rewarded,  and  in  one  of  the  charters  he  is 
given  the  Castle  of  Mingarry,  mentioned  hereafter.  "John  Mac- 
Iain  of  Ardnamurchan  had  now  become  the  most  powerful  chief- 
tain of  the  Clan  Donald,  and  the  most  effective  instrument  in 
the  hands  of  the  King  for  their  destruction."  .  .  .  To  the  end 
of  James's  reign  he  was  in  constant  communication  with  that 
monarch,  the  King  making  frequent  visits  to  Castle  Mingarry 
and  holding  courts  there.  Frequent  references  are  also  made 
in  the  records  of  the  time  to  payments  made  to  messengers  carry- 
ing letters  to  Maclain  from  the  King."  (Abridged  from  Clan 
Donald,  II.,  158,  159). 

The  History  of  the  Clan  MacLean  also  states  that  the  rebellion 
of  1499-1506,  caused  by  the  revocation  of  some  charters  recently 
granted  by  the  King,  and  headed  by  Donald  Dhu  and  the  Mac- 
lans  of  Glencoe,  found  Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan  on  the  royal 
side  and  that  the  struggle  resulted  in  the  breaking  up  of  the  con  - 
federacv  of  the  Island  lords. 


48  MACIAINS    OF  1505-07 

Upon  the  suppression  of  the  first  rebellion,  "the  King,  for  the 
faithful  and  willing  service  rendered  him  by  his  'dear  John  Mak- 
kane  of  Ardnamurchane,'  confirmed  him  in  all  the  lands  formerly 
granted  to  him,  with  the  houses  and  fortalices  of  Castle  Mingary 
in  Ardnamurchan,  and  Dunnyveg  in  Isla,  and  in  the  bailiary  of 
that  Island" — [which  brought  on  great  trouble  with  the  Mac- 
leans]. (Clan  Donald,  II.,  139). 

Further  references  to  the  grants  mentioned  above  are  made 
as  follows: 

"John  Maclain  received  from  the  King  [James  IV],  on  24th 
November,  1505,  a  ratification,  for  good  services,  of  all  charters 
formerly  made  in  his  favour  of  whatsoever  lands  in  the  islands 
of  Yle  and  Jura,  and  the  low  land  (bassa  term)  of  Ardnamurchan 
and  Suynart,  with  the  Castle  of  Mingarry,  in  Ardnamurchan, 
and  Donavagan,  in  Yle,  etc.  The  King,  at  Edinburgh,  igth 
November,  1506,  confirmed  to  John  Maclain,  as  heir  of  his  grand- 
father, John  vie  Allister  vie  Iain,  inter  alia,  two  merks,  and  6s. 
8d.  worth  of  lands  in  Jura,  viz.,  a  large  eighth  part  of  Aridscar- 
nula,  an  eighth  part  of  Knock-na-seolomon,  which  held  of  the 
late  Donald  de  Insulis,  Lord  of  Dunyvaig  and  Glens,  but  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  Crown  through  the  forfeiture  of  the  late  John 
de  Insulis  of  Dunyvaig,  knight,  heir  of  the  said  Donald  de  Insulis 
on  account  of  Sir  John's  treason  .  .  .  Maclain  was  also  sent  to  Ire- 
land to  capture  or  slay  Alexander  [Macdonnell  of  Dunyvaig], 
but  failed,  after  long  search,  as  he  reported  to  the  King.  In 
reality,  Maclain  seems  to  have  relented,  became  reconciled  to 
Alexander,  and  gave  him  his  daughter  Catherine  in  marriage, 
all  unknown  to  the  King  .  .  .  "  (The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla, 
also  Clan  Donald  I.,  291,  etc.). 

This  ending  is  so  different  a  version  from  the  one  already 
quoted  that  it  almost  seems  like  a  different  incident. 

We  read  many  sneers  and  some  harsh  adjectives  against  Baillie 
Maclain,  but  the  facts  are  that  he  was  an  official  of  the  Scottish 
Government,  and  received  his  emoluments  from  that  Govern- 
ment, that  his  acts  were  against  men  in  rebellion,  and  that  he 
was  the  most  honest  among  the  Macdonalds  of  his  day,  and  did 
not  change  sides  with  the  same  facility  as  the  rest,  and  this  the 
attacks  upon  him  show. 

In  Royal  Letters,  Richard  III.  and  Henry  VII.,  is  one  from 
O'Donnel  to  James  IV.  of  Scotland,  in  which  the  former  asks 


X507"I3  ARDNAMURCHAN.  49 

on  Mar.  13,  1507,  for  the  assistance  of  the  Scots  against  his  Irish 
enemies,  and  mentions  "dominum  Johanem  filium  Alexandri 
McHean  [indexed  'or  McKeane'}.  suae  nationis  principalem," 
[chief  of  his  people],  coupling  him  with  the  "Clanndonayll 
and  Clandompnayll,"  signing  himself  Odonipnayll,  and  alluding 
to  ^Eneas  McDonayll :  he  wants  the  help  by  the  next  feast  of 
Saints  Philip  and  James.  The  King  answers,  April  22,  that4,ooo 
armed  men  will  be  sent  with  John,  son  of  Alexander  McKeane, 
but  there  is  not  time  by  the  day  named. 

The  fatal  battle  of  Flodden  in  Northumberland  was  fought 
September  9,  1513,  between  the  English  and  the  Scots;  King 
James  of  Scotland  was  killed  with  most  of  his  army,  while  some 
of  the  Macdonald  clans  were  nearly  annihilated,  apparently 
owing  to  breaking  ranks  and  charging  the  English  pikemen  in 
detail.  John  Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan  was  in  the  battle,  and 
was  reported  by  mistake  in  the  English  Gazette  among  the  killed . 

In  Taylor's  Pictorial  History  of  Scotland,  I.,  406-411,  is  a  map 
of  the  battle-field,  and  an  illustration  with  a  description,  from 
which  last  we  copy  a  few  paragraphs,  as  well  as  a  few  couplets 
from  Scott's  Marmion,  Canto  VI. ,  Stanza  XXXIV.  "While  the 
English  were  crossing  the  stream  [called  the  Till]  with  their 
vanguard  separated  from  their  rear,  the  Scottish  nobles  in  vain 
begged  the  king  to  attack.  Borthwick,  master  of  his  artillery 
on  his  knees  asked  permission  to  bring  his  guns  to  bear  on  the 
English  columns  as  they  defiled  over  the  narrow  bridge.  'But 
the  king,'  says  Pittscottic,  I.,  277,  'answered  this  gunner,  Robert 
Borthwick,  like  to  ane  man  bereft  of  all  wit  and  judgment,'  say- 
ing, 'I  will  cause  hang  thee  and  quarter  thee  if  thou  shoot  a 
shot  this  day,  for  I  will  have  the  enemy  all  in  a  plain  field  before 
me,  and  assay  them  what  they  can  do.  "  Whether  this  infatu- 
ation was  owing  to  the  king's  ignorance  of  tactics,  or  to  a  roman- 
tic wish  to  give  the  enemy  every  chance,  is  a  question.  "On 
the  extreme  right  of  the  Scottish  army  the  clans  suffered  so 
from  the  volleys  of  the  Cheshire  and  Lancashire  archers : 

The  English  shafts  in  volleys  hailed, 
In  headlong  charge  their  horse  assailed : 

that  they  broke  their  array  to  close  with  the  enemy.  The  Eng- 
lish pikemen  reeled  from  the  attack,  but  recovered  and  attacked 
the  disorganized  Highlanders  in  frontand  flank,  routing  them  with 
great  slaughter.  In  the  centre  the  struggle  was  severe,  and 


50  MACIAINS    OF  1513    17 

for  a  time  the  Scots  had  the  better  of  it.  No  quarter  was  given 
on  either  side,  the  ground  became  so  slippery  from  blood  that 
the  combatants  pulled  off  their  boots  and  shoes  and  fought  in 
their  hose.  The  loss  of  the  Scots  in  this  disastrous  field  amounted 
to  from  8,000  to  10,000  men,  but  these  included  the  flower  of 
their  nobility,  gentry  and  even  clergy : 

Their  king,  their  lords,  their  mightiest  low, 
They  melted  from  the  field  as  snow. 

Scarce  a  Scottish  family  of  eminence,  as  Sir  Walter  Scott  remarks, 
but  has  had  an  ancestor  killed  at  Flodden, 

Where  shivered  was  fair  Scotland's  spear, 
And  broken  was  her  shield!" 

An  old  version  of  "Flowers  of  the  Forest"  was  composed  in 
commemoration  of  the  battle,  and  the  air  is  still  played  as  a  reg- 
imental dirge  in  Scotland.  But  passing  from  grave  to  gay, — it 
is  related  that  a  Scotch  physician,  many  years  after,  went  to 
England  to  practice  his  profession.  Sir  Walter  Scott,  knowing 
that  he  was  unlearned,  protested  that  he  would  kill  a  lot  of 
Englishmen;  "Aye,"  said  Sawney,  "but  not  eneugh  to  mak'  up 
for  Flodden." 

The  surviving  Highlanders,  including  Alexander  Maclan  of 
Glengarry,  again  "raised  the  standard  of  rebellion,  and  Sir  Donald 
of  Lochalsh  was  proclaimed  Lord  of  the  Isles,"  but  Maclan  of 
Ardnamurchan  exerted  his  influence  with  some  success,  to  keep 
certain  of  the  Islesmen  from  breaking  the(  peace,  and  in  1515 
(August  23rd)  there  was  "Ane  Respit  maid  be  avise  of  the  Gov- 
ernour  [Regent  Albany]  to  Donald  of  the  His  of  Lochalsh"  and 
others,  "for  the  space  of  IX  dayis  next  to  come  after  the  date 
hereof,"  and  the  rebellion  was  extinguished.  (Clan  Donald  I., 
321 ;  II.,  160;  and  Lang,  I.,  361). 

In  1516,  as  MacLean  states,  Donald  of  the  Isles  made  redress 
to  John  Maclan  of  Adnamurchan  for  injuries  done  by  Lachlan 
McClane  of  Do  ward. 

And  in  1517  Lachlan  obtained  from  the  Lords  of  Council, 
pardon  for  recent  rebellion,  and  in  return  was  obliged  to  promise 
restitution  to  the  Earl  of  Argyle  and  Macdonald  of  Ardnamur- 
chan for  injuries  done  to  their  vassals.  (Abridged  from  Account 
of  Clan  Maclean  by  a  Seneachie,  25-27).  In  seven  lines  one 
authority  calls  him  Maclan,  another  writes  Macdonald,  both  of 
Ardnamurchan,  and  the  next  says  Mac  Iain. 


I5I3~50  ARDNAMURCHAN.  5! 

On  the  death  of  King  James  IV.  [1513],  Maclain  found  him- 
self surrounded  by  many  enemies,  including  nearly  all  of  the 
Western  Clans,  but  none  so  determined  as  the  Clan  Iain  Mhoir 
to  which  Sir  John  of  Dunnyveg  had  belonged,  and  whom  Maclain 
was  instrumental  in  having  executed  in  1494.  So  powerful 
were  his  enemies  that  the  Duke  of  Albany,  Regent  during  the 
minority  of  James  V.,  and  the  Council  could  not  protect  him. 
In  1515  raids  were  made  on  his  lands  in  Isla,  and  when  summoned 
to  an  account  the  raiders  failed  to  appear,  and  his  own  tenants 
in  Isla  seem  to  have  been  disloyal  to  him,  and  Maclain  had  to 
rely  upon  his  immediate  followers  on  the  main  land;  but  the 
Macdonalds  of  Dunnyveg,.  Sir  Donald  of  Lochalsh,  the  Mac- 
leods  of  Lewis  and  Raasay  formed  a  combination  too  powerful 
for  him.  They  invaded  Ardnamurchan,  wasted  it  with  fire 
and  sword  and  sacked  Maclain's  Castle  of  Mingarry;  Maclain 
and  his  men  retreated  before  this  formidable  host,  but  were  pur- 
sued to  a  place  called  Creag-an-Airgid  [the  Silver  Crag]  in  Morven , 
where  a  sanguinary  engagement  took  place.  Here  Maclain, 
his  two  sons  John  Sunartach  [of  Sunart]  and  Angus,  and  many 
of  his  followers  were  slain,  apparently  in  1518.  "With  John 
Maclain  departed  the  glory  of  the  Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan. 
He  was  buried  with  befitting  pomp  and  ceremony  in  [lona]  the 
sacred  Isle  of  the  West."  (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald,  II., 
161-164) 

The  accounts  in  Lang's  History  of  Scotland,  I.,  363,  and  in 
The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla  are  somewhat  similar,  and  the  latter 
adds  that  Mariot,  daughter  of  John  Maclain,  was  served  heir 
to  him  in  1538,  and  two  years  after,  Ardnamurchan  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle,  who  in  1550  alienated  it  .  .  .to 
James  Macdonal,  and  the  grant  was  confirmed  the  same  year  by 
Queen  Mary." 

The  Maclain  tombstone  in  lona  is  evidently  that  of  John  who 
was  head  of  that  branch  of  the  family  at  least  between  1494  and 
1518:  it  must  have  been  a  very  fine  stone  before  it  was  broken 
and  weather-beaten.  In  the  upper  half  the  effigies  of  John  Mac- 
Iain  and  his  sister  Mariota  are  distinguishable;  in  the  centre 
is  the  galley  which  was  their  armorial  bearing;  below  that  is  a 
beautiful  and  intricate  figure  compounded  of  crosses,  sprigs, 
etc.,  while  the  inscriptional  border  is  subdivided  by  rosettes. 
The  text  of  Fr as er -Mackintosh  (from  whose  book  the  plate  is 


ARDN  AMURCH  AN . 


copied)  implies  that  Malcolm  Macduphie  of  Colonsay  erected 
the  tomb  to  his  brother-in-law  John  Maclain,  I^ord  of  Ardna- 
murchan  and  Mariota  Maclain,  sister  of  John  and  wife  of  Mal- 
colm; but  the  inscription  is  very  indistinct  except  at  the  right 
hand  lower  half  and  bottom,  where  we  may  distinguish  :  "  Ard- 
namurchan  *  et  Mariota  .  .  .  eain  soror  ejus  [foror  eius]  * 


THE  MACIAIN  TOMBSTONE  IN  IONA. 

spousa  *  The    authors    of  Clan    Donald  apparently    make 

Mariota  the  daughter  of  Alexander  the  uncle  of  John  Mac  Iain  t 
(III.,  210). 

VII.  ALEXANDER  was  the  son  and  heir  of  John  Maclain,  and 
was  a  minor  at  his  father's  death.  Colin  Campbell,  Earl  of  Ar- 
gyle  was  appointed  guardian.  The  policy  of  the  latter  being  to 
extend  the  influence  of  his  house,  and  the  Maclains  with  their 


54  MACIAINS  otf  1517-29 

vast  estates  being  entirely  in  his  power,  Argyle  was  not  slow 
to  use  his  opportunity.  His  brother,  Sir  John  of  Calder  became 
his  agent,  and  between  them  they  set  about  dividing  the  pos- 
sessions of  the  House  of  Ardnamurchan,  but  were  not  altogether 
successful.  Maclain,  though  not  of  age,  led  his  men  fighting 
against  the  Campbells  in  a  quarrel  provoked  by  the  murder  of 
Lachlan  Catanach  Maclean  of  Do  wart.  (Abridged  from  Clan 
Donald,  II.,  164-166). 

The  Macleans  and  Macdonalds  though  later  at  feud  with  each 
other,  were  united  during  the  minority  of  James  V.  Some  of 
the  lands  forfeited  by  the  Lord  of  the  Isles  being  granted  to  them, 
Argyle  persuaded  the  Council  to  declare  the  grants  null  and  void. 
The  two  neighbors  made  a  descent  upon  the  lands  of  Argyle,  and 
the  Government  sent  a  herald  to  the  Isles  to  command  the  latter 
wrong-doers  to  peaceable  behaviour  and  to  give  an  explanation. 
The  herald  returned  unsuccessful.  Argyle  offered  to  repress 
the  two  chiefs,  but  the Gavernn^nt  doubted  his  disinterestedness 
and  patriotism,  and  gave  the  Macleans  and  Macdonalds  a  chance 
to  present  their  wrongs,  and  Ardnamurchan  is  mentioned  among 
those  who  sent  in  their  submission,  and  Argyle  gave  two  Camp- 
bells as  hostages  to  be  confined  in  Edinburgh  Castle  in  fulfil- 
ment of  these  terms.  (Abridged  from  Clan  Maclean,  31-33). 

A  more  important  saving  interference  is  thus  described:  Colin 
Campbell,  third  Earl  of  Argyle,  had  been  granted  a  Commission 
of  "lieutenandry"  over  the  men  of  the  Isles  about  1517,  but  in 
1529  it  dawned  upon  the  King  and  council  that  the  Earl  had 
secretly  fomented  disturbances  there  in  hopes  of  benefiting  by 
forfeitures,  and  he  represented  any  attacks  upon  himself  as  a 
rebellion  against  the  sovereign.  About  this  time  Alexander 
MacDonald  of  Islay,  with  the  contemporary  MacLean  made  a 
descent  upon  certain  lands  belonging  to  the  Campbells,  and  the 
latter  being  worsted,  appealed  to  the  council,  who  summoned 
Alexander  of  Islay  and  his  followers  to  lay  down  their  arms, 
offering  them  royal  protection.  Nine  of  the  principal  Islanders, 
including  Alexander  Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan,  sent  offers  of 
submission  to  the  King,  who  deprived  Archibald  Campbell,  fourth 
Earl  of  Argyle,  of  the  chief  command  of  the  Isles,  conferring  it 
on  Alexander  of  Islay,  which  caused  Argyle  to  join  the  English 
forces.  (Adapted  from  the  History  of  the  Clan  MacLeari). 


1 5  3 1 -5°  ARDN AMURCH AN .  5 5 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland,  Vol.  II.,  James  V., 
A.  D.  1531,  several  persons,  among  whom  were  "alexander 
makeane,  alister  de  glengarry,  Johanes  mckane"  and  others, 
were  called  upon  to  testify  "sup.  certis  praeditorijs  accoibus.in 
dca.  sumoicoe.  contente;"  [upon  certain  predatory  gatherings 
affirmed  in  the  said  summons];  the  case  was  postponed  at  least 
three  times,  and  there  is  no  record  of  it  at  the  last  date  set . 

"We  hear  no  more  of  the  young  Chieftain  of  Ardnamurchan, 
and  he  must  have  been  dead  before  the  year  1538;  for  in  that 
year  Mariot  Maclain,  his  sister,  and  wife  of  Robert  Robertson 
of  Struan,  was  served  heiress  to  her  father  in  the  lands  possessed 
by  him  at  his  death.  Two  years  later,  Mariot,  with  consent  of 
her  husband,  resigned  these  lands  in  favour  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle, 
but  the  King  [James  V.]  the  following  year  paid  the  sum  of  ,£5,000 
to  the  Earl  for  resigning  ad  perpetuam  remanentiam  the  same 
lands.  In  1543  Queen  Mary  granted  to  Argyle  the  lands  of  Ard- 
namurchan and  others  for  the  space  of  twelve  years.  This  last 
transaction  seems  afterwards  to  have  been  thought  irregular, 
and  in  the  year  1550  Argyle,  in  virtue  of  the  old  resignation  in 
his  favour  by  Mariot  Maclain,  the  heiress,  received  a  crown  char- 
ter of  the  80  merk  lands  of  Ardnamurchan,  which  he  immedi- 
ately bestowed  on  his  brother-in-law,  James  Macdonald  of  Dunny- 
veg  and  the  Glens  to  be  held  under  the  Earls  of  Argyle"  (Clan 
Donald,  II,  166,  167). 

It  may  be  interesting  to  quote  the  royal  document  above  men- 
tioned; it  is  in  the  Register  of  the  Great  Seal  of  the  Kings  of  Scot, 
land,  is  in  Latin,  and  may  be  rendered  as  follows : 

"527  At.  Edinburgh,  20  September  (1550). 

The  Queen  [Mary]  &c .,  has  granted  and  quitclaimed  to  ARCHI- 
BALD EARL  OF  ARGYLE  [Ergadie  Comiti],  Lord  Campbell  and 
Lome  &c.,  his  heirs  and  assigns, — the  lands  of  Ardnamurchan, 
with  the  castle  and  fortress  of  Castell-Mayerie, near  Inverness; — 
which  Mariota  McAne,  daughter  and  heiress  of  the  late  John 
M.  of  Ardnamurchan  transferred  into  the  hands  of  King  James 
V.  at  Holyrood*  [apud  monasterium  S.  Crucis]: — Attested,  27. 
4.  26.  31.  30.  32.  XXX.  496." 

*This  palace  derived  its  name  from  a  valued  relic.  The  Holy  Rood  of 
Scotland  was  a  cross-shaped  casket  of  wrought  gold,  containing  a  fragment 
of  the  True  Cross,  "carried  off  later  by  that  royal  thief,  Edward  I."  Still 
later  it  was  returned  by  treaty,  afterwards  captured  by  the  English,  and 
lastly  disappeared  from  the  Cathedral  of  Durham  at  the  time  of  the  Reform- 
ation. (Lansdale's  Scotland,  Historic  and  Romantic,  I.,  6,  note). 


56  MACIAINS    OF  1,550 

It  is  curious  to  see  that  in  the  copious  Index  of  the  work  last 
mentioned,  Makeane  is  noted:  "vide  Makane,"  and  at  that  place 
we  find:  "Makane  (McAne,  Makaane,  McEane,  Makeane,  Mc- 
Carie,  McCaine,  McKane,  McKayne,  McKeane,  McKaane ;  cf  Mak- 
kany)  de  Ardnamurchan,  Joh.,  527."  The  locality  has  been 
spelled  Ardenmuirich,  Ardmurquhane,  Ardnamercho,  Ardna- 
mourach,  Ardnamurch,  Ardnamurchane,  Ardnamurquhan,  Ar- 
mourche  and  otherwise. 

In  a  document  dated  i2th  day  of  October,  1550,  is  mentioned 
the  80  merks  land  of  the  old  extent  of  Ardnamurchan,  with  the 
castle  and  fortalice  of  Mingarry,  tenants,  tenantries,  and  service 
of  free  tenants,  etc.,  etc.,  lying  within  the  Sheriff dom  of  Inver- 
ness .  .  .  and  '  'James  Macdonald  took  sasine  at  the  Castle  of  Min- 
garry of  the  lands  of  Ardnamurchan  on  yth  January  1550-51." 
(The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla). 

"Henceforth  the  superiority  of  Ardnamurchan  remained 
nominally  with  the  Argyle  family,  although  it  was  many  years 
before  their  title  was  completed  by  possession,  the  Maclains 
continuing  to  hold  the  estate  as  if  it  had  been  a  male  fief  of  the 
crown.  The  fact  that  they  continued  to  possess  the  lands  of 
Ardnamurchan,  noth withstanding  the  charters  to  Argyle  and 
James  Macdonald,  is  proved  by  several  references  to  them  in  the 
public  records  as  'of  Ardnamurchan.'  The  only  feasible  explan- 
ation of  this  state  of  matters  is  that  considerable  indulgence 
must  have  been  extended  to  the  Maclains  by  all  parties,  for 
otherwise  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  they  could  have  kept  their 
hold  against  so  strong  a  combination  as  the  Campbells  and  the 
Macdonalds  of  Dunnyveg.  The  conduct  of  the  Government 
in  depriving  the  Maclains  of  their  just  and  lawful  rights  at  this 
time  is  somewhat  difficult  to  explain.  The  loyalty  of  the  family 
during  the  troublous  times  that  followed  the  fall  of  the  Lordship 
of  the  Isles  seems  to  have  been  entirely  forgotten,  when  it  should 
have  stood  them  in  good  stead.  As  no  reason  is  given  for  so 
harsh  a  treatment  we  can  only  venture  the  surmise  that  the 
family  of  the  Maclain  who  succeeded  to  the  chieftainship  in 
1538  must  have  made  themselves  obnoxious  by  their  opposition 
to  the  Government."  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  167,  168). 

Alexander  Maclain  is  said  (Ibid.,  III.,  211),  to  have  had 
three  sons — i.  John,  who  succeeded.  2.  Donald.  3.  Alexander. 
This  Alexander  had  two  sons — i.  John.  2.  Donald. 

Alexander  was  succeeded  as  head  of  the  family  by  his  cousin 


I544~45  ARDNAMURCHAN.  57 

"Alexander  MacDonald  Vclain  of  Ardnamurchan,"  who  seems 
to  have  held  the  leadership  about  forty-seven  years,  but  who 
does  not  appear  in  the  Genealogy  given  by  the  Reverends  A. 
Macdonalds,  in  III.,  211. 

In  1544  he  supported  John  Moydertach  of  Clanranald  and 
the  Frasers  of  Lovat,  and  fought  at  Blar  Leine  or  Kinloch  Lochy 
in  1545.  A  respite  was  granted  him  in  1548  by  the  Government 
for  his  doings  in  this  battle  and  for  being  absent  from  the  royal 
army  summoned  in  1547  (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald,  II.,  168). 

Some  of  the  contemporary  correspondence  on  public  affairs 
alludes  to  familiar  clan  names;  e.  g.,  under  the  date  1545,  the 
State  Papers  contain  a  very  curious  "Commission  to  make  com- 
pact with  Henry  VIII.  and  Lennox: — The  Earl  of  Rosse,  etc., 
to  McAlister  and  McLean."  The  document  itself  is  in  part  as 
follows:  "Be  it  kend  till  all  men  be  vis  present  wryt,  We,  Don- 
ald Lord  of  ye  His  and  Erll  of  Rose,  wicht  awise  and  consent  of 
our  Barronis  and  Counsall  of  ye  Ilis,  yet  is  to  say, .  .  .  Jhone  Mac- 
allister  Capitane  of  Clanrannald .  .  .  Anguse  Maconill  brudir  ger- 
mane to  James  Maconill.  .  .Alexander  Mackeyn  of  Ardnamur- 
chane  .  .  .  Alexander  Rannaldsoun of  Glengerre .  .  .to  have  maid, 
constitude  and  ordanit,  and  be  yir  our  presents  makis  consti- 
tutis  and  ordainis,  giffand  our  full  powar  exprese  bidding  and 
command  to  honorable  personis  and  our  Kynnismen,  yat  is  to 
say,  Rore  Macallister  Elect  to  ye  Bishopre  of  ye  Ilis  in  Scotland, 
and  Deyn  of  Morwarne,  and  Mr  Patrik  Maclane .  .  .  brudir  ger- 
mane to  ye  said  Lord  Maclane,  Bailze  of  Ycomkill  and  Justice 
Clerk  of  ye  South  Ilis,  conjunclie  and  severalie  our  afald  and 
indowtit  Commissioners .  .  .  and  in  speciall  twetching  our  bandis 
instantlie  to  be  maid  to  ane  most  anobill  and  potent  Prince 
Harye  ye  Acht,  be  ye  Grace  of  God  King  of  Ingland,  France 
and  Ireland .  .  .  and  for  securite  of  yir  present,  we  ye  said  Donald 
has  affiixit  our  propir  seill  wicht  our  hand  at  ye  pen  because 
we  can  nocht  wryte,  and  has  causit  ye  Baronis  aboun  writtin, 
becaus  thai  can  nocht  write,  to  cause  ane  Notar  to  subscribe 
for  yame  wicht  yair  hand  at  ye  pen,  with  yair  bodely  ay  this 
never  to  cum  in  ye  contrar  of  ye  sammyn.  (Signed} :  Donald 
of  ye  Ilis  and  Erll  of  Ros,  w*  my  hand  at  ye  pen.  .  .  Alexr  Ranald- 
son  of  Glegare,  w*  had  at  pen.  .  .Angus  McConill  Brudr  Jarme 
to  Jamis  Mcconill,  w*  my  hand  at  ye  pene.  .  .  Allexad.  McCane 
off  Annourche,  w*  my  hand  at  ye  pene..." 


58  MACIAINS    OF1  1545 

But  this  is  not  enough:  the  State  Paper  DXLVIII.,  in  the 
same  year,  is  the  Oath  of  Rosse  and  the  Lairds  of  the  Isles;  it 
begins:  "In  Dei  nomine.  Amen,"  and  proceeds  to  state  that  there 
"comperit  ane  honorable  Lord,  Donald  Lord  of  ye  Ilis  and  Erll 
of  Rose,  into  ye  Cheptour  of  ye  Gray  Freris  of  Knokfarguse" 
and  with  several  others  including  "Macallister  capitane  of  Clan- 
rannald.  .  . Anguse  Macconill.  .  .Alexander  Mackeyn  of  Ardnamur- 
chan .  .  .  Alexander  Rannoldson  of  Glengarre  .  .  .  wncoakit  or 
imcompulsit,  bot  of  yair  awin  free  motive  will"  .  .  .  [have 
given  their  oaths  to]  "Patrik  Colquhoun,  as  Commissionar  to 
my  Lord  of  Lennox  and  servand  to  ye  Kingis  Majeste"  .  .  .  that 
they  had  become  the  King's  true  subjects  touching  the  marriage 
of  the  Princess  of  Scotland,  and  in  all  other  affairs,  etc. 

In  1545  also  appears  a  very  long  communication  on  behalf 
of  Ross  and  the  others,  protesting  loyalty  to  their  new  friends 
the  English,  and,  we  regret  to  write,  hatred  to  their  own  country- 
men; asserting  that  it  is  not  a  question  of  money,  while  they 
seem  to  be  driving  a  pretty  close  bargain.  It  is  from  "McAlister, 
&c.  to  The  Privy  Council. — To  our  werray  good  Lordis  of  ye 
Counsall,  these  be  giffen.  Item  first  that.  .  .our  lord  and  maister 
thErlle  (sic)  of  Rose  and  Lord  of  the  His,  promittis  that  his 
Lordship  schall  destroye  the  tayne  half  of  Scotland,  or.  .  .mak 
theyme  to  cum  to  the  Kingis  Majesties  obedience.  .  .the  Lord 
Maclane,  and  the  rest  of  the  Barronis  of  the  Ilis... the  Lord 
Maclane,  Captane  of  Clanrannald.  .  .be  includit  therein  .  .  The 
fourt  artikill,  quhen  it  specifyeth ...  to  gif  the  said  Erll  of  Rose 
one  zeirlie  pensioun  of  two  thousand  crownis  for  service  doyne, 
and  to  be  doyne  .  .  .  the  said  Erll  of  Rose  desyris  to  have  wachis 
to  tbre  thousand  of  the  said  eycht  thousand  (men),  the  wther 
fyve  thousand  to  serve  the  Kingis  Majeste  in  favour  of  my  Lord 
thErll  of  Lennox,  not  takand  wagis ...  we  schall  mak  the  number 
of  6  thousand  men  with  their  galays  and  wischell  to  serve  the 
Kingis  Hienes .  .  .  Item  secundlie,  my  Lordis,  we  exhort  zour 
Lordschepes  to  ramember  and  considder  quhat  honorable 
and  faythfull  service  we  promit  to  do  the  Kingis  Majeste  on  our 
liffis  and  honour .  .  .  Item  thridlie .  .  .  zour  good  Lordschepes .  .  . 
[should]  be  the  more  ware  with  all  the  natioun  of  Scottis,  trfis 
for  their  fraud,  and  in  speciale  wyth  ws  that  is  callit  the  wyld 
Ilis  of  Scotland;.  .  .we  beseik  zour  Lordschepis  to  have  no  sich 
consait  in  ws, .  .  .zour  Lordschepas  sail  considder  we  have  beyne 
auld  enemys  to  the  realm  of  Scotland,  and  quhen  they  had 


1545  ARDNAMURCHAN.  59 

peasche  wyth  the  Kingis  Hienes,  they  hanged  hedit  presoned  and 
destroed  many  of  our  kyn  freindis  and  forbears,  as  testifyis.  .  . 
thElle  of  Rose.  .  .the  quhilk  hath  lyin  in  presoun  afoir  he  was 
borne  of  his  modir .  .  .  And  many  wther  crewell  slachter  burnyng 
and  herschep  that  hath  beyn  betuix  ws  and  the  sadis  Scottis,  the 
quhilk  war  lang  to  wrytte.  .  .the  hatrand  wilbe  the  grittar  be- 
tuix ws  and  them  van  it  was  afore,  and  is  able  more  to  encrese .  .  . 
Item  fourtlie  and  last  of  all".  .  .[it  is  most  important  to  act 
immediately].  .  ."that  the  precius  and  convenient  tyme  be  not 
lost,  ye  quhilk  onis  lost  is  wnrecoverable ;  and,  on  our  lyffis, 
zour  Lordschepps  had  never  so  good  tyme  as  now.  Finale,  my 
Lordis,  to  concluid,  we  pray  zour  Lordschepps  to  have  ws  ex- 
cusit  of  our  lang  rusticall  and  barbarose  ditment  to  consider 
our  mynd  and  nocht  the  wrytte,  and  that  our  mynd  is  not  to 
perswaid  zour  Lordschepps  wyth  wordis,  or  to  be  desyrars  of 
the  Kingis  Graceis  mony,  bot.  .  .quhar  we  desyre  one  crown  of 
His  Hienes,  we  shall  spend  thre  in  His  Graceis  service,  with 
tie  grace  of  God;  prayand  Christ  Jesu  to  have  ye  Kingis  Ma- 
jeste  in  keiping  an  Zour  good  Lordschipps,  with  ansour  as  zour 
Lordschipps  thinkis  expedient."  It  may  be  mentioned  that 
Ross  gets  his  "pension,"  the  Earl  of  the  Isles  gets  his,  and  of 
the  8,000  men,  "6000.  .  .shall  be  employed.  .  .to  annoye  then- 
emyes,  thother  2000  remayning  in  their  cowntrees  for  defence." 
And  soon  there  are  such  stirring  items  in  the  Contents  as  "Dry- 
burgh  taken,"  Tiviotdale  forrayed,"  "Jedburgh  burnt,"  "Merse 
forrayed,"  "Dunse  rased,"  etc.,  etc. 

Perhaps  the  canny  Scots  were  not  the  only  people  who  may 
be  accused  of  double-dealing  at  this  period.  The  State  Papers 
make  mention,  September  4,  1545,  of  two  letters,  both  from 
Henry  VIII.;  one  to  Donald  McOnell,  Earl  of  Ross,  "Lord  of 
the  Isles,"  and  the  other  to  Hector  McLean,  "Lord  of  the  Isles;" 
the  letters  are  "to  the  same  effect,  and  in  the  same  words, "- 
encouraging  them  to  proceed  in  the  invasion  of  Scotland.  It 
should  be  stated,  however,  that  there  may  have  been  some  doubt 
at  this  time  as  to  the  rightful  owner  of  the  above  title.* 

*The  title  "of  the  Isles"  was  written  in  various  ways:  "Isla  has  continued 
from  the  earliest  times  to  the  present;  "Ilacht"  and  "Ilycht"  meant  the 
Isla  men;  among  Gaelic  forms  were  "de  lie"  or  "Yle."  Younger  sons  were 
styled  "de  Insulis"  and  "Illis  "  (The  List  Macdonalds  of  Isla).  Besides  the 
above,  there  are  found  Ylis  and  Yllis,  des  Isles  in  1292,  de  Hyle  in  1295  and 
d'Eyl  in  1297,  de  Ysle  in  1336,  Ilys  in  1346,  the  lyles  in  1626,  the  Eylis  in 
1630,  etc. 


6o  MACIAINS   OF1  1545-06 

It  is  apparent  that  McConel  and  McOnell  are  forms  of  Mac- 
Donald;  the  reason  for  that  form  of  the  name  is  given  in  the 
Appendix,  in  the  Table  of  some  spellings  of  the  name  (Mac) 
Donald. 

Donald  Dubh,  claimant  to  the  forfeited  lordship  of  the  Isles 
and  earldom  of  Ross,  having  escaped  from  imprisonment  in 
which  he  had  been  detained  from  infancy  by  the  King,  was  re- 
ceived with  open  arms  by  the  island  chiefs;  they  instantly  took 
the  field  in  support  of  his  claims,  and  Alexander  Macian  (Mac- 
donald)  of  Ardnamurchan  is  mentioned  among  his  supporters 
(Gregory's  History  of  the  Western  Highlands,  70,  note). 

In  1545  Donald  Dubh  escaped  for  the  second  time  (first  from 
Inchconnell,  now  from  Edinburgh  Castle),  and  "again  summoned 
the  men  of  the  Isles  to  his  standard,  .  .  .  Alexander  Maclain 
was  among  the  first  to  join  him,  and  his  importance  may  be 
measured  by  his  elevation  to  the  position  of  one  of  the  Council 
of  the  Island  Claimant.  He  also  was  one  of  the  eighteen  Com- 
missioners appointed  by  Donald  Dubh  to  treat  with  Henry  VIII. 
of  England.  We  thus  see  that  Alexander  Maclain  played  an 
important  part  during  that  stirring  time."  (Clan  Donald,  II., 
169). 

"The  death  of  Donald  Dubh  in  1545,  left  no  claimant  to  the 
Lordship  of  the  Isles  The  Islanders,  after  a  while,  chose  James 
MacDonald  of  Isla,  [and  of  Dunneveg  and  the  Glinns],  as  their 
leader — a  chieftain  whose  pretensions  to  the  Lordship  of  the 
Isles  were  much  inferior  to  those  of  Donald  Gorm  of  Sleat."  .  .  . 
"The  repeated  failures  of  the  western  clans  to  re-establish,  in  any 
shape,  the  old  lordship  of  the  Isles,  proved  to  them  the  futility  of 
making  another  attempt.  Having  no  longer  a  common  object, 
the  clans,  by  degrees,  became  estranged  from  each  other,  and 
the  less  powerful  ones  were  forced  to  contend  against  the 
aggressions  of  their  stronger  neighbors."  (History  of  the  Clan 
MacLeari).  James  MacDonald  here  mentioned,  "took  no  overt 
action,  but  subsided  once  more  into  the  attitude  of  a  loyal  sub- 
ject, and  was  restored  to  favor  with  the  Scottish  Regent."  With 
this  act  passed  away  the  hope  that  the  ancient  title  ['of  the 
Isles']  might  yet  be  restored.  (Adapted  from  Clan  Donald). 

Referring  to  the  above  James,  a  few  quotations  follow, — of 
portions  of  a  document  accompanying  another  in  1546,  and 
among  the  State  Papers, — from  "The  Lord  Deputy  and  Council 


1546-80  ARDNAMURCHAN.  6 1 

of  Ireland  to  the  Privy  Council  in  England."  The  principal 
one  mentions  "letters  from  one  Jamez  McConel,  whiche  nowe 
declareth  hymself  Lorde  of  the  Isles,  by  the  consent  of  the  no- 
bilitie  of  the  Insulans."  The  accompanying  declaration  says: 
"At  Ardnamurchan,  the  24  day  of  Januar  the  zeir  of  God  ane 
thowsand  fyef  hundyr  46  zeir.  We,  James  McConaill  of  Dunne- 
waik  and  ye  Glinnis,  and  aperand  aeyr  of  ye  Yllis,"  [pray  the 
Lord  Deputy  of  Ireland  and  Council  of  Dublin  to  express  to  the 
King]  "that  we  ar  raddy,  efter  owr  extrem  power,  our  kynis- 
man  and  alya,  naymly  owr  cusyng,  Alan  McKlayn  of  Gyga,Clan- 
ronald,  Clanchanrown  [Cameron]  Clancayn  [Maclan]  and  owr 
awyn  sowrnaym,  bayth  north  and  sowth,  to  tak  ane  part  with 
the  said  Erl  of  Lenox,  or  ony  oder  quhat  sumever,  ye  Kyngis 
Majeste  plaissis  to  haif  autyrise  or  constitut  be  His  Grace,  in 
Scotland".  .  .  [and  he  mentions  a  bond]  "maid  to  our  seyf, 
and  Maister  Donald  Lord  Yllis,  qhowrn  God  asolyeit  ye  qhilk 
deid  in  His  said  Graceis  serwice  .  .  .we  requyer  thwa  orthre 
schyppis  to  be  send  to  ws  to  (ye  yll  of  Sanday  besyid  Kintyr,  at 
vSanct  Patrikis  day  next  to  cowm,  or  yair  by)  and  .  .  .we  haif 
afixit  our  propir  seill  to  the  samyng,  with  our  subscription  man- 
uall,  the  day  zeir  and  place  abowven  expremit. 

(Signed)  James  McConel  of 

L-  S.  Dunnewaik  &  Gli'nis." 

"In  a  rental  of  the  Bishopric  of  the  Isles  and  Abbacy  of  lona 
of  the  year  1561,  we  find  that  Maclain  held  the  lands  of  Garga- 
deill,  in  Ardnamurchan,  as  tenant  of  the  Abbot  of  lona,  while 
he  possessed  the  Isle  of  Muck,  as  tenant  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Isles. 
(Clan  Donald,  II.,  169).  Furthermore  there  is  the  following 
curious  document: 

"Act  of  the  Lords  of  Council  and  Session,  in  causa  Bishop  of 
the  Isles  against  the  Islesmen,*i5<So. 

Tertio  Decembris,  anno  1580. 

Anent  the  sumondis  raisit  at  the  instance  of  ane  reuerend 
father  in  God,  jhonne  Bischop  of  the  lies  aganes  Gilemane 
M'Neill  of  Baray,  .  .  .  Johne  M'Ane  of  Arinamurchan  .  .  . 
To  heir  it  be  fundin,  be  decreit  of  the  counsale,  that  the  saidis 
persones,andilk  ane  of  thame,  hes  intromettit  with  the  maillis, 
fermes,  teyndis  and  deuties  pertenying  and  belanging  to  the  landis 
and  kirks  pert enying  to  the  said  reuerend  father  within  the  bischop- 
*Register  of  Decreet  of  Council  and  Session,  LXXXIL,  169 


62  MACIAINS    OF  1580-85 

rik  of  His  and  abbay  of  Ycolmkill,  ilk  ane  of  them  for  thair  awin 
pairtis  of  the  cropis  and  yeiris  of  God  Imvc  Ixxij,  lxxiij,anddiuerss 
vtheris  yeiris  .  .  .  The  said  reuerend  father  compeirand  be 
Mr.  Alexander  Mauchane, his procuratour"  .  .  .etc.  (Historical 
Account  of  lona,  91,  L-  Maclean). 

VIII.  JOHN  succeeded  Alexander.  "He  had  by  his  first  wife 
his  heir  and  successor  John  Og;  also  a  daughter  Una,  who  mar- 
ried Allan  Maclean  of  Ardthornish,  of  whom  the  Macleans  of 
Kinlochaline,  Drirnnin,  Pennycross  and  others.  He  married 
(secondly)  Janet  Campbell,  Dowager  Lady  of  Duart."  (Clan 
Donald,  III.,  211,  212). 

John  appears  to  have  become  chief  in  1585,  in  which  year 
began  |a  serious  feud  between  the  MacDonalds  of  Sleat  and  Mac- 
Leans  of  Dowart,  developing  later  into  a  war  which  involved 
all  the  MacDonalds  and  MacLeans,  and  Maclain  of  Ardnamur- 
chan  took  sides  naturally  with  the  MacDonalds.  According 
to  a  MacLean  tradition,  one  incident  in  the  feud  was  that  John 
Maclain  falsely  represented  that  Lachlan  MacLean  had  executed 
two  MacDonald  hostages:  thereupon  Angus  MacDonald  of 
Dunnyveg  executed  two  notable  MacLean  prisoners,  following 
which  the  MacLeans  invaded  Ardnamurchan,  and  according 
to  the  MacLean  Seanachies,  "peace  was  purchased  by  the 
marriage  of  Maclains'  daughter  Una,  and  Allan  Maclean,  to 
whom  certain  lands  were  given  in  name  of  dowry."  (Clan  Donald, 
II.,  169,  170). 

The  Maclean  account  is  of  course  somewhat  different,  and  in 
brief  relates  that  the  Bishop  of  the  Isles  granted  Lachlan,  6th 
Maclean  of  Coll,  certain  land  in  the  Island  of  Muke  [Muck?] 
"formerly  the  property  of  the  Maclans  of  Ardnamurchan,  who, 
keeping  violent  possession  of  the  island,  Coll  had  fourteen  of  their 
number"  put  to  death,  for  which  the  Maclans  took  their  revenge 
afterwards  (p.  308)  .  .  .  Hector,  son  of  Lachlan,  had  the  island 
of  Muke  given  him  by  his  father.  "The  Maclans  of  Ardna- 
murchan from  a  feeling  of  revenge  for  some  supposed  injury 
done  them  by  Hector's  father,  [possibly  explained  by  the  pre- 
ceding paragraph],  and  being  privately  instigated  by  their 
cunning  and  artful  enemy  Sir  Donald  Campbell,  now  the  possessor 
of  the  property  of  the  Maclan  Chief,"  landed  on  Muck,  seized 
some  cattle,  and  were  fired  upon  by  Hector,  who  was  shot  dead. 
The  murderers  were  afterwards  apprehended  and  hanged  (p. 322). 


1586-88  ARDNAMURCHAN.  63 

And  as  to  hanging,  Dixon  in  the  Border  Clans,  47,  intimates 
that  retainers  took  it  almost  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  as  better 
than  dying  in  their  beds :  when  led  out  to  execution  they  listened 
calmly  to  the  priest  as  he  recited  the  Fifty-first  Psal  in  Latin, 
the  Neck-verse,  so  called  because  said  when  the  halter  was  on 
their  necks. 

The  troubles  proceeded  with  other  branches;  in  1586  there 
was  an  invasion  of  Mull  and  Tiree  by  the  MacDonalds  of  Islay 
and  Skye  under  Angus  MacDonald  [of  Dunnyveg],  supported 
amongst  others,  by  Clanian  of  Ardnamurchan,  in  revenge  for 
the  devastation  of  Islay  by  the  MacLeans.  (Lang's  History  of 
Scotland.  I.,  417)- 

In  1587  "certain  charges  are  made  against  Maclain  and  others, 
the  Council  meantime  prohibiting  him  from  gathering  his  men  in 
arms.  In  the  same  year  his  name  is  found  in  the  Roll  of  Chiefs, 
and  the  Clan  Iain  are  found  in  the  Roll  of  Clans  sent  down  in 
the  Act  of  Parliament  commonly  called  the  General  Bond.  These 
indicate  the  position  of  Maclain  and  his  Clan  in  the  history  of 
the  Highlands  at  this  time,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  one  of 
considerable  importance,  despite  the  absence  of  crown  charters." 
(Clan  Donald,  II.,  170). 

The  first  of  the  rolls  mentioned  in  the  previous  paragraph  is 
evidently  the  one  in  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland, 
(James  VI.,  A.  D.  1587),  and  which  reads  in  part:  "THE  ROLL 
of  ye  names  of  ye  landislordis  and  baillies  of  landis  duelland  in 
the  bordouris  and  in  the  hielandis  quhair  brokin  men  hes  duelt 
and  pntlie  duellis."  In  this  long  roll  of  names  and  titles  is  in- 
cluded tnckane  of  ardnamrchin. 

According  to  the  Reg.  Privy  Council  Scot.,  letters  are  directed 
in  1587,  to  officers  and  sheriffs,  to  command  and  charge  several 
persons,  including  John  Mckane  of  Ardnamurchan,  to  deliver 
up  eight  hostages  for  MacLean, — to  Archibald,  Earl  of  Argyle, 
Lord  Campbell  and  Lome. 

A  painful  piece  of  treachery  is  related  by  several  authori- 
ties as  having  occurred  about  this  time : 

MacLean  of  Dowart,  in  1588,  "having  failed  openly  to  kill 
John  Mckane  of  Ardnamurchin "  treacherously  invited  him  and 
his  friends  to  the  marriage  of  Janet  Campbell,  the  mother  of 
MacLean;  and  after  the  banquet  and  after  McKane  and  his 
friends  had  "fallen  on  sleep,"  the  MacLeans  killed  about  eighteen 


64  MACIAINS    OF  1588 

"gentlemen,  besides  others,"  and  but  for  his  own  defense  and 
the  earnest  suit  of  MacLean's  mother,  would  have  killed  McKane; 
however,  he  was  detained  in  captivity,  with  Allaster  McKane, 
and  Angus  McKane,  his  page, — for  all  of  which  MacLean  was 
denounced  rebel. 

The  foregoing  is  evidently  the  circumstance  alluded  to  in 
Browne's  History  of  the  Highlanders  and  Clans,  as  follows, — but 
as  having  occurred  in  1591:  "In  order  to  strengthen  his  own 
power  and  to  weaken  that  of  his  antagonist,  (Angus  Macdonald 
of  Kintyre),  Sir  Lauchlan  Maclean  attempted  to  detach  John 
Maclain  of  Ardnamurchan,  from  Angus  Macdonald  and  his 
party.  Maclain  had  formerly  been  an  unsuccessful  suitor  for 
the  hand  of  Macleans'  mother,  and  Sir  Hector  now  gave  him 
an  invitation  to  visit  him  in  Mull,  promising,  at  the  same  time, 
to  give  him  his  mother  in  marriage.  Maclain  accepted  the  invi- 
tation, and  on  his  arrival  in  Mull,  Maclean  prevailed  on  his  mother 
to  marry  Maclain,  and  the  nuptials  were  accordingly  celebrated 
at  Torloisk  in  Mull.  Maclean  thought  that  by  gratifying  Mac- 
Iain  in  his  long-wished  for  object,  he  would  easily  succeed  in 
obtaining  his  assistance  against  Macdonald,  but  he  was  disap- 
pointed in  his  expectations,  for  no  persuasion  could  induce  Mac- 
Iain  to  join  against  his  own  tribe,  towards  which,  notwithstand- 
ing his  matrimonial  alliance,  he  entertained  the  strongest  affec- 
tion. Chagrined  at  the  unexpected  refusal  of  Maclain,  Sir  Lauch 
Ian  resolved  to  punish  his  refractory  guest  by  one  of  those  gross 
infringements  of  the  laws  of  hospitality  which  so  often  marked 
the  hostility  of  rival  clans.  During  the  dead  hour  of  the  night 
he  caused  the  door  of  Maclains'  bed-chamber  to  be  forced  open, 
dragged  him  from  his  bed,  and  from  the  rms  of  his  wife,  and  put 
him  in  close  confinement  after  killing  eighteen  of  his  followers. 
After  suffering  a  year's  captivity,  he  was  released  and  exchanged 
for  Maclean's  son  and  the  other  hostages  in  Macdonald's  posses- 
sion." Fraser-Mackintosh  adds  in  Last  Alacdonalds  of  Isla: 
"The  evil  doers  were  committed  to  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh, 
were  afterwards  reconciled  and  a  severe  penalty  imposed  upon 
the  first  that  would  break  the  peace." 

Lachlan  Maclean  was  summoned  to  appear  before  the  Privy 
Council  and  to  produce  the  persons  of  his  prisoners:  he  failed 
to  do  so  and  was  pronounced  rebel,  but  appears  to  have  given 
Maclain  his  liberty;  the  treatment  the  latter  had  received, how- 


1588  ARDNAMURCHAX.  65 

ever,  aroused  the  indignation  of  the  Macdonalds  of  Clan  Ranald ; 
and  MacLean  of  Dowart,  "not  waiting  to  be  attacked,  invaded 
the  Islands  of  Rum,  Cana,  Eigg  and  Muck,  which  belonged  to 
the  Clan  Iain  and  Clan  Ranald,"  after  which  he  "made  a  descent 
on  the  district  of  Ardnamurchan,  and  laid  siege  to  the  Castle  of 
Mingarry.  Here  he  was  met  by  the  Macdonald  chieftains,  who 
defeated  him  with  great  slaughter.  (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald, 

II,  173)- 

Disputes  about  the  Rhinns,  (certain  lands  in  Islay),  caused 
depredations  and  trouble  between  the  Clans  of  MacDonald  and 
MacLean,  leading  to  the  narrow  escape  of  John  Maclan  of  Ard- 
namurch  (otherwise  Johnne  McKane  of  Ardmurchin),  and  which 
feud  was  sought  to  be  allayed  by  ths  marriage  between  Allan 
MacLean  and  Una  Maclan. 

It  may  be  a  relief  to  quote  a  few  archaic  fragments  about  the 
foregoing  MacLean  raid  as  quaintly  set  forth  in  the  Register  of 
the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland,  which  relates  in  fulness  of  detail 
and  indignation  in  1588,  that  Lachlan  MacLean,  "accompayed 
with  a  grite  nowmer  of  thevis,  broken  men,  andsornaies  of  Clannis 
besydis  the  nowmer  of  ane  hundreth  Spanyeartis,*  come, .  .  . 
byrnt  the  same  Illis,  with  the  haill  men,  wemen  and  childrene 
being  thoir  intill,  not  spairing  the  pupillis  and  infantis,  and  at 
that  same  tyme  past  to  the  Castell  of  Ardnamurchin,  (Mingarry), 
assegeit  the  same,  and  lay  abowte  the  said  Castell  three  dayis- 
using  in  the  meantyme  all  kind  of  hostilitie  and  force,  baith  be 
fyre  and  swerd  .  .  .  the  like  barbarous  and  shamefull  crueltie 
has  sendle  bene  hard  of  amangis  Christeanis  in  any  kingdome  or 
age."  They  were  only  forced  from  their  warm  attentions  by 
"gude  subjectis."  The  MacDonalds  on  their  part,  employed 

*These  notable  allies  consisted  of  a  hundred  marines  borrowed  from  the 
Florida  (Florencia,  the  Florentine  galleon),  one  of  the  scattered  remnants 
of  the  Spanish  Armada,  and  which  ship  had  put  into  a  bay  in  Mull  for  pro- 
visions. She  never  left  the  bay,  for  a  Scotch  prisoner  on  board  blew  her  up 
"by  sulphurous  powder  of  her  magazine,"  with  the  loss  of  himself  and  the 
crew  of  some  three  hundred  men. 

It  should  be  noted  that  in  Tune,  1905,  attempts  were  made  after  several 
failures  to  bring  up  from  the  sunken  hull  bronze  cannon,  gold  doubloons  and 
other  expected  treasure  trove,  under  the  action  of  the  present  Duke  of  Ar- 
gyle.  The  newspaper  accounts  differ  slightly  from  ours,  in  stating  that 
the  ship  was  the  Admiral  of  Florence,  that  she  put  into  Tobermory  Bay  for 
food  and  water,  and  being  claimed  for  the  king  of  Scotland,  the  commander 
blew  her  up. 


66  MACIAINS    OF  1588-95 

English  mercenaries,  and  James  VI.,  being  in  want  of  money, 
and  having  induced  the  chiefs  of  both  clans  to  come  to  Edin- 
burgh on  the  pretence  of  consulting  with  the  king  and  council 
for  the  good  of  the  country,  seized  and  imprisoned  them  and 
fined  them  ,£20,000  each,  taking  hostages  in  the  meantime,  and 
they  only  returned  to  their  estates  in  1591,  after  being  com- 
manded to  live  in  quietness.  (Adapted  from  the  History  of 
the  Clan  MacLeari). 

John  the  elder  died  apparently  about  1591.  The  Account  of 
Clan  Maclean  by  a  Seneachie,  p.  330,  intimates  that  he  was 
instrumental  in  the  death  of  Allan  Maclean's  father,  Ian  Dubh 
of  Morvern,  who  was  beheaded  by  Angus  Macdonald  of  Isla. 
John  was  succeeded  by  his  son 

IX.  JOHN  OG  or  OIG  (the  Younger). 

In  1592  King  James  [VI.],  being  as  usual,  in  sore  need  of  money, 
issued  a  decree  commanding  the  Chiefs  to  find  surety  for  the 
payment  of  the  rents  of  their  lands ;  those  who  failed  to  obey  were 
put  to  the  horn  :*  John  Og  Maclain  must  have  found  the  secu- 
rity, for  the  King,  with  advice  of  his  Council,  ordered  him  to 
be  released  from  the  horn.  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  174).  The  full 
clause  is  found  in  the  Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland, 
under  date  1593:  "the  King  .  .  .  ordains  letters  to  issue  to 
relax  the  following  persons  from  the  horn  for  any  cause  bygone, 
receive  them  to  the  King's  peace  '  and  gif  to  thame  the  wandf 
thairof :'  "  among  them  are  Johnne  McAne  of  Ardnamurchane. 

Also  in  1593  (25th  October),  James  VI.  held  his  Court  at  Min- 
gary,  and  he  was  again  there  on  the  i8th  May,  1595.  (The 
Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla) . 

In  1594-95,  Queen  Elizabeth  was  hard  put  to  it  to  retain  Ire- 
land, assisted  as  that  "distressful  country"  was  by  the  galleys 
of  the  MacDonalds;  for  the  Isles  could,  on  an  emergency,  raise 
a  force  of  six  thousand  hardy  troops,  accustomed  to  danger  both 
by  land  and  sea,  and  equipped  for  war  on  either  element.  To 
keep  this  force  away  from  Ireland,  MacL,ean  stood  ready  to 

*Horning,  or  being  put  to  the  horn,  was  a  process  requiring  a  debt  [or 
fine?]  to  be  paid  within  a  limited  time;  probably  so  called  from  the  procla- 
mation being  made  with  sound  of  horn. 

flf  this  be  not  a  contraction  of  "warrand"  (or  warrant),  it  must  allude  to 
the  baton  of  office  borne  by  the  messenger  of  a  court  of  justice;  when  hin- 
dered from  enforcing  the  law,  he  broke  his  wand  or  staff. 


ARDNAMURCHAN.  67 

attack  the  possessions  of  any  chief  who  left  his  home  unprotected( 
and  with  the  aid  of  Argyle  and  the  English  ships,  dispersed  the 
fleet  of  the  Islesmen.  He  also  surprised  and  took  prisoner  the 
captain  of  Clan  Ranald,  Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan  and  others, 
thereby  gaining  for  himself  the  titles  of  "anevailyeantman  of  weir, 
and  ane  man  of  honour,"  and  strangest  of  all,  a  thousand  crowns 
from  the  parsimonious  queen,  but  the  last  with  such  difficulty 
and  delay  that  his  own  force  was  nearly  disbanded,  and  many 
MacDonalds  crossed  over  to  Ireland  to  assist  Tyrone.  (Adapted 
from  the  History  of  the  Clan  MacLeari). 

The  capture  of  the  chiefs  of  Clanranald  and  of  Ardnamurchan 
is  also  mentioned  in  Clan  Donald,  II.,  175,  where  they  are  called, 
in  a  quotation  "the  maist  doubtlit  and  able  men  in  the  Isles," 
and  are  said  to  have  been  thrown  into  a  dungeon,  but  released 
when  Lachlan  Mor  MacLean  was  called  upon  by  the  King  to 
answer  for  his  conduct.  In  Tytler's  History  of  Scotland,  IX., 
202,  it  is  stated  that  Maclain  and  his  men  constituted  part  of 
a  force  of  900  under  the  Captain  of  Clanranald,  and  which  was 
on  the  way  to  join  Tyrone  in  Ireland. 

Soon  after  these  doings,  John  Og  Maclain  was  witness  to  a 
tack  or  lease  by  Angus  MacDonald  of  Dunnyveg,  of  lands  in 
Sunart.  "The  lands  of  Sunart  had  been,  as  we  have  seen,  for 
a  long  time  a  bone  of  contention  between  the  families  of  Dunny- 
veg and  Ardnamurchan,  and  from  the  fact  that  neither  had  a 
legal  title,  it  is  somewhat  singular  to  find  the  chieftains  parties 
to  a  transaction  which  in  law  could  not  be  binding.  By  his 
signing  as  a  witness,  Maclain  would  seem  to  acquiesce  in  the 
disposition  of  lands  by  another  which  he  formerly  claimed  as 
his  own.  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  175). 

"In  1595,  John  Og  Maclain  is  offered  as  a  surety  for  Alexander 
Macranald  of  Keppoch  in  a  contract  between  the  latter  and  the 
Earl  of  Argyle.  And  as  still  further  evidence  of  his  importance 
in  the  sphere  of  Highland  politics,  we  find  about  the  same  time  in  a 
bond  of  caution  by  Lachlan  Maclean  of  Dowart  reference  made 
to  Maclain  as  one  of  the  principal  men  of  the  Isles."  (Ibid.,  II., 
176.) 

The  Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland  states  that  in 
1596  "Lauchlane  Macklane  of  Dowart  gives  bonds  in  20,000  marks, 
but  the  bond  is  not  to  extend  to  any  action  or  quarrell  with  the 
Clan  Donald  .  .  .  Clan  Eane,  and  their  friends  and  partakers 


68  MACIAINS    OF  1596-1601 

till  the  principals  and  chiefs  of  the  said  Clans  find  caution  on 
the  like  condition." 

X.  DONALD  Mac  MhicEoin,  uncle  of  John  Og  Maclain,  mur- 
dered the  latter  about  1596,  and  has  a  position  in  this  list,  but 
for  a  very  short  time,  as  he  was  killed  in  his  turn,  by  the  Mac- 
lains  and  Camerons,  about  1602. 

It  is  stated  in  the  History  of  the  Camerons,  page  70,  that  John  Og- 
Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan,  who  had  been  betrothed  to  one  of 
the  daughters  of  Allan  Cameron  of  Lochiel,  was  murdered  about 
1598  by  his  uncle  MacMhic  Hoin,  with  the  view  of  succeeding 
him  in  his  estate  arid  command  of  the  clan  as  the  next  heir, 
lyochiel  having  the  highest  esteem  for  Maclan  on  account  of  his 
many  excellent  qualities,  determined  to  avenge  his  death,  and 
pursued  the  murderer,  who  fled  to  Mull  to  the  protection  of 
Maclean  of  Duart,  and  was  killed  in  the  resulting  skirmish  at 
Morvern,  where  his  tomb  is  still  pointed  out. 

Among  other  details  of  the  lamentable  occurrence  given  in 
Clan  Donald,  II.,  176,  we  read  that  his  uncle  Donald  Maclain 
the  murderer,  had  had  differences  with  John  Og,  about  the  pos- 
session of  Sunart,  to  which  Donald  laid  claim,  "he  was  besides, 
presumptive  heir  to  his  nephew,  and  would,  therefore,  in  the 
event  of  the  latter  dying  without  issue,  succeed  him  as  head 
of  the  family  of  Ardnamurchan.  While  preparations  were  being 
made  for  the  celebration  of  the  marriage  of  the  young  chieftain, 
and  as  he  was  returning  from  a  visit  to  L,ochiel,  accompanied 
by  a  small  retinue,  he  was  attacked  and  slain  by  his  uncle,  who 
was  lying  in  wait  for  him  at  a  place  in  Sunart." 

The  tradition  is  that  being  warm  under  the  weight  of  his  ar- 
mor, Donald  in  the  fight  following  the  pursuit  which  resulted 
in  his  death,  was  raising  his  helmet,  and  one  of  the  Camerons 
remarking:  "though  mighty,  this  will  do  for  him,"  sped  an 
arrow  which  pinioned  Donald's  hand  to  his  skull. 

In  1 60 1  the  necessities  of  the  avaricious  James  VI.  made 
him  again  turn  his  eyes  upon  the  highland  chiefs  and  endeavor 
to  get  up  some  fresh  charge  against  them  whereby  he  might 
replenish  his  exhausted  coffers  .  .  .  He  tried  process  for  non- 
payment of  crown  rents,  but  this  was  abandoned  by  the  Council. 
He  then  gave  commission  of  lieutenancy  over  the  southern  and 
northern  isles  to  Argyle  and  Huntly,  and  put  an  armed  force  at 
their  command,  .  .  .finally  "they  were  offered  a  royal  grant 


l6oi-03  ARDNAMURCHAN.  69 

of  all  the  lands  they  might  conquer  by  the  total  extirpation 
of  the  existing  proprietors  within  a  given  period,  provided  they 
agreed  to  pay  rent  for  them.  Huntly  was  called  off  by  the 
nobles  and  ministers  of  the  reformed  faith,  and  the  privy  council 
with  the  king's  sanction  withdrew  Huntly 's  commission. 
(Adapted  from  Records  of  Priiiy  Council,  23rd  June,  1607). 

"On  the  death  of  Donald  Maclain, 

XI.  JOHN  MACALLISTER  Vc  IAIN  succeeded  as  head  of  the 
family,  [about  1602],  but  his  succession  to  the  lands  of  Ardna- 
murchan  was  disputed  by  the  Earl  of  Argyle.  The  Clan  Iain 
being  weakened  by  intestine  broils,  Argyle  seized  his  opportunity 
to  enforce  the  deed  of  conveyance  granted  in  favour  of  the  fourth 
Earl  by  the  heiress,  Mariot  Maclain  .  .  .The  Earl  further 
promised  faithfully  to  protect  Maclain  in  the  possession  of  these 
lands  ...  it  would  appear  that  Maclain  delivered  up  his  old 
title-deeds  and  did  not  receive  the  promised  charter  in  return. 
There  is  also  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  the  title-deeds  came 
into  the  possession  of  Argyle  by  his  having  found  them  with 
a  burgess  of  Edinburgh,  with  whom  Maclain  left  them  as  a 
pledge  for  a  debt  incurred  in  educating  his  son.  Be  this  as  it 
may,  the  old  charter  of  1499  granted  to  John  Maclain  for  ap- 
prehending the  Macdonalds  of  Dunnyveg  is  now  in  the  Argyle 
charter  chest."  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  177,  178). 

"The  departure  of  King  James  from  his  native  Scotland  to 
take  possession  of  the  English  crown,  [in  1603],  and  the  turmoil 
which  followed  and  continued  for  some  time,  no  doubt  prevented 
Argyle,  who  was  busy  elsewhere,  extending  his  influence  and 
possessions  in  the  name  of  law  and  order,  from  taking  actual 
possession  of  Ardnamurchan .  The  history  of  the  Ardnamur- 
chan  family  from  this  juncture  is  one  long  and  desperate  strug- 
gle, in  which  they  succeeded  for  a  time  in  holding  their  own 
against  several  branches  of  the  Clan  Campbell.  (Ibid.,  II.,  178). 

We  hope  the  accompanying  map  will  prove  acceptable.  It 
shows  that  in  the  i6th  century,  the  Maclans  of  Ardnamurchan 
and  of  Glencoe,  with  occupants  in  Glencoan  and  Loch  Aber, 
were  spread  over  a  long  stretch  of  territory  about  the  latitude 
56°:  45'.  The  map  only  partially  indicates  how  widely  distrib- 
uted was  the  powerful  parent  Clan  of  MacDonald,  extending 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  the  map ;  we  have  easily  collected  seventy- 


MACIAINS 


1 6th  cent. 


eight  families  of  the  title,  each  specified  by  a  local  name,  and  they 
may  be  found  tabulated  in  the  Appendix.  Indeed  it  was  said 
that  there  were  more  rascally  MacDonalds  than  there  were  honest 
men  in  all  the  rest  of  the  clans,  and  as  to  their  alleged  acquisit- 


Sketch-Mop    indicating    the  position    of  some   of  the 
Macdonalds,   etc.,  in  the    16th    Century    and    afterwards'. 
Compiled   from    Johnston,  Black,  etc.,  kj  .F.  G.  M«K. 


iveness  that  they  were  more  like  MacTak's  than  MacGi'es, 
but  we  may  accept  this  as  the  tribute  of  envy,  because  Robertson 
the  historian  says:  "Of  all  the  clans,  that  of  the  MacDonalds 


l6l2  ARbNAMURCHAN.  71 

is  by  every  rule  of  antiquity,  power  and  numbers  fully  entitled 
to  be  spoken  of  before  any  other."  And  in  lists  of  Scottish 
families  with  descriptive  adjectives  prefixed,  will  be  found  "The 
brave  MacDonalds;"  but  in  reference  to  the  numerous  dependent 
septs,  and  for  the  sake  of  certain  definitions,  we  will  make  further 
quotations  in  a  footnote.*  A  few  names,  mostly  of  neighbor- 
clans  or  of  no  ted  places  have  been  added  in  the  map;  but  the 
large  letters  "Argyle"  are  an  anachronism,  as  they  represent 
the  present  shire  of  that  name. 

As  to  one  place  inserted,  Hill's  Macdonnels  of  Antrim  has  the 
following:  "Mingarry  Castle  stands  on  a  low,  rocky  promon- 
tory, south  of  Ardnamurchan  Point.  The  Castle,  fifty  feet  in 
length  and  three  stories  in  height,  is  surrounded  by  an  irregu- 
lar hexagonal  wall  nearly  as  high  as  itself,  and  rising  immedi- 
ately from  the  edge  of  the  rock  to  the  angles  of  which  those  of 
the  castle  are  adapted.  Mingarrie  was  the  ancient  and  celebrated 
residence  of  the  Maclan  Macdonnells  of  Ardnamurchan  until 
their  expulsion  by  the  Campbells  at  the  commencement 
of  the  i yth  century."  We  may  continue  that  according  to 
Origines  Parochiales  Scotiae,  in  1612  (?)  a  commission  was 
gran  ted  by  Archibald,  seventh  earl  of  Argyle,  to  Donald  Campbell  of 
Barbreck-Lochow,  "to  take  and  receive  the  castle  of  Mingaray, 
and  to  put  keepers  in  it  at  the  Earl's  expense,  with  power  to  sum- 

*In  an  interesting  little  book  published  in  1896,  and  called  What  is  my 
Tartan?  Frank  Adam  states  that  Gregory  divides  the  Clan  Donald  into 
nine  main  branches,  including  the  Clans  Ian  of  Ardnamurchan  and  Glencoe, 
and  he  himself  enumerates  no  fewer  than  seventy-two  clan-septs  out  of  five 
hundred  that  he  tabulates,  which  were  septs  and  dependents  of  the  various 
branches  of  the  MacDonalds,  including  Maclan,  MacKean  and  some  other 
spellings  to  be  found  in  a  Table  in  the  Appendix.  His  book  quotes  the  defi- 
nition of  "Clan"  as  follows,  though  he  also  gives  a  much  fuller  description 
of  the  term.  "A  Highland  Clan  is  a  set  of  men,  all  bearing  the  same  sur- 
name, and  believing  themselves  to  be  related  the  one  to  the  other,  and  to 
be  descended  from  the  same  stock.  In  each  Clan  are  several  subaltern  tribes, 
who  own  their  dependence  on  their  own  immediate  chief,  but  all  agree  in 
owing  allegiance  to  the  supreme  chief  of  the  Clan  or  kindred,  and  look  upon 
it  to  be  their  duty  to  support  him  in  all  adventures."  He  also  states  that 
"there  were  no  Clans  among  the  Gael  until  after  the  great  Celtic  Earls  be- 
came extinct,  and  which  began  in  the  thirteenth  century. "  Septs  he  de- 
scribes as  minor  "families,  who,  though  possessing  no  tartan  of  their  own, 
are  entitled  to  wear  that  of  the  Clan,  with  whom  they  are  connected  or  on 
whom  they  are  dependent. "  The  first  list  of  Highland  Clans  was  dated 
1587,  there  was  another  in  1594. 


MACIAINS  OF  1 8th  and  1 9th  cent. 


MINGARRY  CASTLE,  ARDNAMURCHAN. 


1602-05  ARDNAMURCHAN.  73 

mon  before  him  the  tenants  of  Ardnamurchan  to  fix  and  collect 
the  Earl's  rents  and  punish  refractory  tenants." 

The  author  of  The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla  writes:  "It  was 
at  Mingarry  that  Alexander  Macdonald  and  his  men  landed 
from  Ireland  to  assist  Montrose,  and  as  a  strong  garrison  was 
kept  there  up  to  Montrose's  overthrow,  it  may  be  taken  for 
granted  that  such  of  the  Maclains  as  remained,  rallied  to  their 
kinsman's  standard.  [See  date  1644].  The  "Prospect  of  Min- 
garry Castle"  is  copied  here  from  the  book  just  mentioned,  and 
is  said  to  show  the  castle  as  it  appeared  in  1734.  It  is  explained 
that  the  wall  around  it  formed  "a  kind  of  polygon  for  the  pur- 
pose of  adapting  itself  to  the  projecting  angles  of  the  precipice 
overhanging  the  sea,  and  on  which  the  castle  stands."  A 
more  modern  and  artistic  representation  of  the  Castle,  from 
another  point  of  view,  is  also  given  (reproduced  from  Clan 
Donald,  II.,  158). 

To  resume  the  Notes: 

About  the  middle  of  1602,  certain  troubles  originating  in  the 
never-ending  dispute  about  lands,  culminated  in  the  MacLeans 
assisting  the  MacKenzies  by  invading  the  territories  of  the  Mac- 
Donalds  of  Islay,  Ardnamurchan  and  Glencoe,  those  chiefs 
being  about  to  assist  their  namesakes  the  Clan  Ranald  of  Glen- 
garry; but  Archibald  Campbell,  seventh  earl  of  Argyle,  claim- 
ing the  MacDonalds  to  be  his  vassals,  procured  criminal  letters 
against  the  MacLeans.  It  was  probably  in  the  course  of  the 
"variance  and  contraversie "  referred  to,  between  the  MacKen- 
zies and  Glengarries,  that  "Glengarry's  son  was  killed  in  battle 
near  Ellondonan,  and  buried  in  the  doorway  of  the  Church  of 
Kintail,  so  that  the  MacKenzies  might  trample  on  him  every 
Sunday."  (Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland,  1602). 

The  following  seems  to  be  in  some  respects  a  different  set  of 
occurrences  from  those  under  date  1601 : 

The  chiefs  of  the  principal  clans  were  summoned  in  1605  to 
appear  at  Kintyre  before  Sir  David  Murray,  (Lord  Scone), 
Comptroller  of  Scotland,  for  the  payment  of  the  King's  rents  and 
duties,  showing  of  title-deeds,  etc. ;  only  the  MacDonalds  of 
Dunyveg  went;  the  rest,  including  the  Maclans  of  Ardnamur- 
chan and  Glencoe  did  not  attend  the  meeting,  probably  knowing 
that  their  only  tenure  was  arms  and  men,  and  certainly  not  "crot- 
chets upon  parchment;"  so  the  Marquis  of  Huntly  undertook 


74  MACIAINS   Otf  1605-29 

to  extirpate  "the  barbarous  people  of  the  Isles,  within  a  year." 
Fortunately  for  them  the  marquis  belonged  to  the  church  of 
Rome,  and  the  jealous  Presbyterians  of  the  council  decreed  that 
he  should  hear  sermons  in  order  to  reclaim  him  from  his  errors; 
the  delay  actually  seems  to  have  postponed  a  "massacre  of 
Glencoe."  (Adapted  from  the  History  of  the  Clan  MacLeari). 

"From  all  this  it  would  appear  that  the  authority  of  the  Argyle 
family  had  not  been  established  in  Ardnamurchan,  and  that  the 
Clan  Iain  still  possessed  that  territory,  though  illegally,  upon 
the  old  charters  .  .  .Lord  Ochiltree  was  appointed  lieutenant 
[holding  place  for  the  King],  in  1608,  and  held  court  at  Aros  in 
Mull,  in  that  year.  Maclain  of  Ardnamurchan  wisely  avoided 
falling  into  the  trap  which  was  so  skilfully  laid  for  the  other 
Chiefs.  Lord  Ochiltree,  however,  on  his  return  from  his  expe- 
dition, reported  to  the  Privy  Council  'anent  the  House  of  Ard- 
namurchan that  he  held  the  bond  of  James  Campbell  of  Lawers 
that  it  should  be  delivered  whenever  required  under  a  penalty  of 
£10,000'  ...  In  1609  the  Lords  of  the  Privy  Council  ordered 
Maclain  to  be  summoned  before  them,  for  a  certain  day,  to 
'underly  such  order  as  shall  be  taken  with  him  touching  his  obe- 
dience to  his  Majesty,  under  the  pain  of  rebellion.'  There  is 
no  evidence  that  Maclain  ever  answered  the  summons,  and  the 
probability  is  that  he  was  dead  before  the  day  appointed  .  .  .  " 
(Clan  Donald,  II.,  179,  180). 

John  Maclain  left  a  son, 

XII.  ALEXANDER,  who  was  a  minor  at  the  time  of  his  father's 
death .  In  the  year- 1 6 1 1  we  find  from  the  Register  of  the  Privy 
Seal,  that  the  Clan  Iain  of  Ardnamurchan  were  led  by  Donald 
Maclain,  uncle  of  the  minor,  who  is  referred  to  as  Tutor  of  Ard- 
namurchan." In  1612,  taking  advantage  of  a  lull  and  of  the 
minority  of  young  Maclain,  Archibald,  Karl  of  Argyle,  made 
one  more  effort  to  establish  his  authority  in  the  district  of  Ard- 
namurchan. (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald,  II.,  180). 

The  effort  is  thus  mentioned  in  another  work : 

"Intheyear  1612  .  .  .  Donald  Campbell,  styled  of  Barbreck,  got  a 
commission  to  '  receive  the  Castle  of  Mingarry  and  put  keepers  there . 
He  was  also  made  Tenant  of  the  Lands.  .  .In  1622  he  made  a 
false  charge  against  Allister  Maclain  that  he  was  congregating 
his  men  with  a  view  to  rebellion.  Before  1629  he  became  Pro- 
prietor of  Ardnamurchan  and  was  created  a  Baronet.  His 


1619-21  ARDNAMURCHAN.  75 

oppression  now  was  greater  than  ever,  so  that  the  poor  Mac- 
lains,  driven  from  the  land,  became  Sea  Rovers,  and  were  called 
Pirates."  The  History  of  the  Macdonnells  of  Antrim  says  of  Sir 
Donald  Campbell  and  George  Campbell  of  Airds:  "Both  uncle 
and  nephew  were  infamous  for  the  cruelty  and  rapacity  with  which 
they  rooted  out  and  destroyed  the  old  family  and  clan  of  the 
Macdonalds,  known  as  the  Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan."  (The 
Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla) . 

"In  return  for  his  services  as  Commissioner,  Mr.  Donald 
Campbell  ("Magister, "  being  originally  a  churchman)  received 
from  Argyle  a  lease  of  the  lands  of  Ardnamurchan."  His  sev- 
erity was  such  that  the  Maclains  broke  out  into  open  rebellion. 
Then  the  Privy  Council  compelled  the  Tutor  Donald  to  give  a 
bond  "as  taking  burden  for  Alexander  Maclain  of  Ardnamur- 
chan, his  nephew,  and  for  all  persons  for  whom  his  nephew  was 
by  law  obliged  to  answer,  that  they  should  keep  good  rule  in 
the  country  and  obey  the  laws;"  also  that  he  would  appear  annu- 
ally or  oftener  to  render  his  obedience  under  penalty  of  2000 
merks.  He  looked  for  help  to  a  third  party,  and  Sir  James 
Macdonald  of  Dunnyveg  having  just  escaped  from  Edinburgh 
Castle,  was  joined  by  the  Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan,  who  ren- 
dered conspicuous  service  during  his  short  and  ill-planned  cam- 
paign, "and  thus  only  succeeded  in  making  themselves  still 
more  obnoxious  to  the  Government  and  the  Clan  Campbell." 
Donald  Maclain  failed  to  appear,  incurred  the  penalty  of  2000 
merks  and  the  Council  gave  a  decree  against  him.  Campbell, 
Argyle's  tenant,  hastened  to  put  into  force  the  sentence  of  the 
Privy  Council  against  Donald  Maclain.  "About  1619  Donald 
McEan  in  Ormisage,  John,  Angus  and  Donald  his  sons,  Alaster 
McAngus  VcEan  in  Ardsliginish,  Alaster  McConeill  VcEan  in 
Camisingle,  and  a  number  of  others  of  the  Clan  Iain  were  put  to 
the  horn  and  denounced  rebels."  Matters  went  from  bad  to 
worse,  and  about  1621  Alexander  Maclain  was  at  the  head  of 
his  men  in  open  rebellion,  and  bidding  defiance  to  the  whole 
Campbell  Clan;  and  his  sureties  Macleod,  Clanranald  and  Mac- 
Lean  of  Coll  were  summoned  for  not  exhibiting  certain  rebels 
of  the  Clan  Iain  for  whom  they  had  pledged  themselves,  and 
they  also  were  declared  rebels.  (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald 
II.,  181-185). 

"The  Clan  Iain  had  now  broken  loose  from  all  ordinary  modes 


76  MACIAINS    Otf  1625 

of  warfare,  and,  taking  to  a  piratical  life,  they  became  the 
terror  of  the  Western  seas.  It  seems  to  us  that,  judged  by  the 
standard  of  their  time,  and  their  peculiar  circumstances,  there 
was  much  to  justify  the  conduct  of  the  Maclains.  They  had 
been  pressed  hard  for  years  by  their  enemies,  the  Campbells, 
who  had  by  unfair  means  dispossessed  them  of  their  lawful  in- 
heritance. For  the  repressive  measures  of  the  Government 
itself,  it  is  difficult  to  find  excuse,  for  the  Maclains  of  Ard- 
namurchan  were  not  sinners  above  all  the  other  Hebrideans. 
The  piratical  band  of  Clansmen  having  seized  an  English  ship, 
which  they  manned  and  armed,  the  Government  at  once  took 
steps  to  suppress  the  insurrection."  (Ibid.,  II.,  185,  186). 

Some  of  the  measures  taken  against  the  "Clan  Kan"  are  de- 
tailed in  the  work  last  quoted,  and  also  in  The  Great  Marquess, 
by  John  Wilcox,  p.  17;  and  among  them  warrant  was  given  to 
James,  Archbishop  of  Glasgow  [the  Church  was  then  a  Church 
Militant]  and  Sir  William  Livingston  to  provide  vessels  well 
armed,  for  the  pursuit  of  the  Clan  Ban;  also  a  commission  of 
fire  and  sword  was  given  to  Lord  Lorn  and  four  lairds  against 
them ;  the  Maclains,  however,  continued  operations  which 
would  now  be  called  piratical,  but  under  the  persuasion  of  those 
times,  that  almost  "all  property  was  common  by  the  law  of 
of  nature." 

In  1625  the  Council  wrote  to  4;he  King  about  the  "rebellis  of 
the  Clan  Kane  be  whom  not  only  your  maiesties  awne  subjectis, 
bot  the  subjectis  of  otheris  princes  yor  maiesties  friends  and  con- 
federates were  havelie  distrest  and  robbed  of  thair  shippis  and 
goodis  and  some  of  them  cruellie  and  barbarouslie  slain."  The 
rebels,  pursued  by  Lord  Lome  and  other  notables,  were  driven 
from  the  Southern  to  the  Northern  Isles;  from  the  island  of 
Skye  they  were  pursued  across  the  Minch  to  the  main  land, 
where,  in  the  Clanranald's  country,  (some  of  whom  had  joined 
them),  they  hid  themselves  in  the  woods  and  caves  of  Arisaig 
and  Moidart.  (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald,  II.,  186,  187). 

"The  Maclain  rebellion  being  at  length  suppressed,  Lord 
Lorn  and  those  associated  with  him,  landed  at  Ardnamurchan, 
and  made  a  pretence  of  driving  away  the  few  followers  of  the 
Clan  Iain  that  still  remained  there.  Lorn  was  thanked  by  the 
Privy  Council  for  his  services,  and  Mr.  Donald  Campbell  became 
proprietor  of  Ardnamurchan  for  an  annual  feu  duty  of  2000 


1629-44  ARDXAMURCHAN.  77 

merks,  payable  to  Argyle,  the  Superior.  The  Clan  Iain  now 
ceased  to  exist  as  a  territorial  family.  It  appears,  however, 
that  Alexander  Mac  Iain,  the  head  of  the  family,  received  a  con- 
siderable sum  of  money  in  name  of  compensation  for  his  claims 
on  the  lands  of  Ardnamurchan.  At  Edinburgh,  on  the  22nd 
of  April,  1629,  he  gives  his  bond  for  .£40,000  Scots  to  Robert 
Innes,  burgess  of  Fortrose,  a  sum  which  represented  at  that 
time  a  very  large  fortune.  It  appears  from  this  transaction  that 
however  much  the  family  of  Ardnamurchan  may  have  suffered 
otherwise,  they  were  now,  financially  at  least,  in  a  very  flourish- 
ing condition."  (Ibid.,  II.,  187). 

'  'Very  little  is  known  of  the  history  of  the  Maclains  as  a  family 
from  the  time  of  their  landing  in  the  Moidart  district  in  1625 
.  .  .According  to  the  Morar  MS.,  John  Macdonald  of  Clanranald 
became  answerable  to  the  King  for  the  future  good  be- 
'haviour  of  the  Clan  Iain.  As  we  have  seen,  they  had  already 
acknowledged  Clanranald  as  their  Chief,  and  the  small  rem- 
nant now  left  of  them  identified  themselves  with  his  branch  of 
the  Clan  Donald."  (Ibid.,  II.,  187,  188). 

Though  we  may  have  only  one  further  mention  to  make  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Ardnamurchan  family,  it  may  be  interesting  to  note  a 
few  quotations  in  which  the  names  of  their  former  places  and 
territories  are  mentioned;  they  themselves  were  included  among 
"The  Islesmen." 

Slightly  different  from  the  account  above  is  one  in  Moidart, 
or  Among  the  Clanranalds,  by  the  Reverend  Charles  MacDonald : 

"When  the  Maclans  of  Ardnamurchan  were  chased  from  the 
sea  and  forced  to  give  up  their  career  of  piracy,  it  is  related  of 
one  of  their  bands  that  being  hotly  pursued  by  a  Government 
ship,  and  some  galleys  belonging  to  the  hostile  clans,  they  ran 
their  vessel  ashore  near  Ardtoe,  and  taking  to  the  woods  betwreen 
that  place  and  Sheilfoot  baffled  the  search  of  the  enemy.  They 
afterwards  crossed  the  Sheil  river  and  became  absorbed  among 
the  Clanranald  MacDonalds." 

The  Maclains  had  disappeared  as  a  Clan,  but  mention  remains 
of  their  localities,  their  acts  among  the  Islesmen,  and  of  a  few 
individuals. 

"In  1644  determined  effort  was  made  to  support  the  King 
[Charles]  from  Ireland.  The  Earl  of  Antrim  got  full  power 
from  the  Irish  Confederates,  exerted  himself  to  the  uttermost, 


78  MACIAINS    OF  1644-89 

and  under  promise  of  Scottish  support,  raised  and  equipped  over 
2000  men,  whom  he  placed  under  the  command  of  Alexander 
Macdonald.  He  sailed  in  the  "Harp,"  the  first  body  consisting 
of  about  1600  men,  and  they  landed  at  Mingarry  on  8th  July( 
1644.  There  was  none  to  welcome  them,  and  it  is  possible  a 
retreat  would  have  been  ordered,  were  it  not  that  their  trans- 
ports had  been  surprised  and  burnt.  Here  the  genius  of  Mac- 
donald displayed  itself.  He  determined  to  establish  a  safe 
basis  of  operation,  took  and  garrisoned  the  Castles  of  Mingarry 
and  Ivochaline,  and  felt  secure  enough  to  act  on  the  aggressive 
.  .  straggling  bodies  of  these  men  were  constantly  cut  off,  and 
quarter  was  never  given.  Indeed  it  may  be  said  that  hardly  a 
man  returned  to  Ireland.  (The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla). 

Before  1670  a  document,  bearing  no  date,  was  drawn  up,  in 
which  Sir  James  Macdonald  of  Sleat  was  acknowledged  as  "chief 
of  the  whole  name  and  family  of  Macdonald,"  and  the  declara- 
tion was  signed  by  the  chieftains  of  Ardnamurchan  and  Glencoe. 
But  previously,  one  of  the  Dunnyveg  Macdonalds  seems  to  have 
been  held  responsible  for  "thair  haill  kyn  of  Clan  Donald." 
(Adapted  from  Clan  Donald,  III.,  167).  The  Declaration,  which 
is  very  short,  is  among  the  appendices  to  the  same  volume, 
and  begins:  "Be  it  kend  till  all  men  That  we  undersubscribers 
do  testify"  etc..  The  second  statement  in  Clan  Donald  is  found 
in  the  Calendar  of  State  Papers  nearly  a  hundred  years  before,— 
that  in  1575  the  Earl  of  Essex  incloses  information  from  Ireland 
to  Queen  Elizabeth,  that  several  chieftains  in  Scotland,  and 
among  them  "the  Captain  of  Clan  Rannall,  have  chosen  among 
them  I^ord  McConnell  [indexed  Donald  McDonald]  to  be  their 
lord  and  ruler  of  the  isles. " 

About  1685  upwards  of  forty  families  in  various  districts  of 
the  west  of  Scotland,  including  Sunart  and  Ardnamurchan, 
gave  up  the  Protestant  religion,  following  the  example  of  their 
Chief  Macdonald  of  Sleat,  who  wished  to  gratify  King  James  II. 
in  that  respect.  It  is  thought  that  certain  emigration  from 
Scotland  to  Ireland  about  this  time,  was  to  avoid  being  called 
on  to  make  a  similar  change.  (Adapted  from  Rob  Roy  and  his 
Times}. 

At  the  battle  of  Killiecrankie,  fought  in  1689,  the  reinforce- 
ments from  Ardnamurchan  and  other  places  had  not  joined, 
because  the  day  set  had  not  arrived;  but  it  was  resolved  to 


6th- 1 6th  cent.  ARDNAMURCHAN.  79 

attack  at  once,  and  the  Islesmen  were  on   the   extreme   left  in 
this  victory. 

Those  McKeans  who  are  able  and  willing  to  travel  outside  the 
beaten  path,  should  visit  lona,  a  spot  replete  with  historical 
memories,  and  sacred  to  both  branches  of  the  clan,  as  containing 
the  graves  of  some  of  its  ancestors  (see  the  dates  1329, 1518,  etc.). 
Kingussie  or  Badenoch,  in  Inverness-shire,  twenty-three  miles 
east-south-east  of  Fort  Augustus  (see  1719),  must  be  easy  of 
access  as  it  is  on  the  Perth- Inverness  railway.  An  interesting 
description  of  lona  and  its  Cathedral  appears  in  the  History 
of  the  Clan  MacLean,  from  which  book  and  from  other  sources 
we  take  the  liberty  of  borrowing  a  few  notes.  The  island  is  a 
small  one  off  the  southern  point  of  Mull,  and  variously  called  I, 
Hii,  Hy,  loe,  Aoi,  and  by  the  English  Icolmkill  (the  church  of 
St.  Columba).  It  is  believed  to  have  been  one  of  the  last  re- 
treats of  the  druids.  St. Columba,  of  the  royal  family  of  Ireland, 
with  twelve  companions,  founded  a  monastery  there  in  the 
sixth  century,  and  which  was  long  the  first  seminary  of  learning 
in  Europe.  His  monks  and  priests  were  called  Gillean-De,  or 
servants  of  God,  whence  the  word  Culdee,  and  for  the  most  part 
they  kept  aloof  from  the  influence  of  Rome.  In  the  eighth 
and  twice  in  the  ninth  century,  Scandinavian  rovers  burned  the 
monastery,  at  that  time  the  only  European  sanctuary  of  real 
learning.  It  was  rebuilt,  but  in  the  ninth  and  tenth  centuries 
suffered  from  the  Danes,  and  in  the  eleventh  from  the  Nor- 
mans. In  the  twelfth  and  thirteenth  centuries,  Romish  monks 
gained  the  ascendency,  first  the  Cluniacs  and  later  the  Bene- 
dictine monks  and  nuns,  and  the  present  ruins  are  those  of  the 
Benedictine  establishment.  In  1561  an  Act  was  passed  by  the 
Convention  of  Estates  "for  demolishing  all  the  abbeys  of  monks 
and  friars,  and  for  suppressing  whatsomever  monuments  of  idol- 
atrie  were  remaining  in  the  realm."  So  the  monastery  was 
bombarded  with  cannon,  three  hundred  and  sixty  crosses  cast 
into  the  sea,  the  great  library,  together  with  the  registers,  burned, 
(Keltic  literature  sustaining  an  irreparable  loss  thereby),  and 
the  very  sepulchres  of  the  dead  were  rifled.  The  lands  fell  into 
the  hands  of  MacLean  of  Duard.  The  most  commanding  of 
the  remaining  ruins  is  Saint  Mary's  Cathedral,  some  blocks  in 
its  walls  being  of  immense  size.  St.  Oran's  Chapel,  close  by, 
is  now  roofless  and  stands  in  the  principal  cemetery;  it  was  erected 


So 


MACIAIKS    OF 


1 6th  cent. 


i  ith-2oth  cent.  ARDNAMURCHAN.  81 

in  the  eleventh  century  by  Queen  Margaret.  In  the  large  en- 
closure, in  the  cathedral  and  in  this  chapel  have  been  buried 
many  saints;  sixty-four  monarchs  of  Ireland,  Norway,  France 
and  Scotland  (the  last  including  Mac  Beth) ;  chiefs  and  poten- 
tates of  the  isles,  notably  MacDonalds  [and  as  we  have  seen, 
Maclans],  MacLeans,  MacLeods,  MacKinnons,  MacKenzies, 
MacQuarries  and  others  of  powerful  families;  while  ladies  of 
rank  and  prioresses  are  entombed  within  the  chapel  of  the 
Nunnery.  The  American  Cyclopaedia  states  that  in  1543  Anna 
Macdonald,  the  last  prioress,  died.  In  1635,  King  Charles  I. 
wrote  to  the  MacLean  of  that  time:  "Trustie,  etc.  Whereas  we 
wer  informed  that  of  late  yow  and  your  umquhile  brother  Hec- 
tour  McCleane  did  without  ordour  or  anie  right  violentlie  intrude 
yourself  in  the  possession  of  the  Yle  of  Ycolmekill  which  belong- 
eth  to  the  Bischop  of  the  Yles  for  the  time"  .  .  .  therefore  he 
is  to  restore  the  island  to  the  bishop.  Its  present  inhabitants, 
two  or  three  hundred  in  number,  depend  for  their  support  on 
fishing  and  agriculture. 

"Lone  isle!  though  storms  have  round  thy  turrets  rode — 

Though  their  red  shafts  have  sear'd  thy  marble  brow — 

Thou  wert  the  temple  of  the  living  God, 

And  taught  earth's  millions  at  his  shrine  to  bow. 

Though  desolation  wraps  thy  glories  now 

Still  thou  wilt  be  a  marvel  through  all  time 

For  what  thou  hast  been ;  and  the  dead  who  rot 

Around  the  fragments  of  thy  towers  sublime 

Once  taught  the  world,  and  sway'd  the  realm  of  thought, 

And  ruled  the  warriors  of  each  northern  clime." — Moore. 

One  of  the  latest  notices  about  lona  appeared  in  The  Church- 
man of  New  York,  in  July,  1903:  "The  apparently  unfounded 
rumor  that  the  Carthusians  were  about  to  purchase  lona,  the 
island  sacred  to  the  memory  of  Columba,  from  the  Duke  of 
Argyll,  leads  the  Paris  Figaro  to  raise  this  voice  of  protest,  which 
is  not  without  general  application:  'When  a  corner  of  the  earth 
possesses  such  a  history,  when  the  forces  of  nature  and  the  aban- 
donment by  men  have  invested  it  with  such  an  aureole  of  soli- 
tude and  of  savage  grandeur,  is  it  not  a  mistake  to  flood  it  with  a 
new  life?  Has  it  not  acquired  the  right  to  that  respect  which 
we  accord  to  relics?  lona  is  unique  of  its  kind,  and  surely  the 
Duke  of  Argyll  is  rich  enough  to  preserve  it  as  it  now  is,  and  to 
defend  it  against  whomever  would  come  to  disturb  its  sublime 
memories.'" 


82 


MACIAINS    OF 


1719 


ETNT  I 
THE 
FA  MI 


TOMBSTONE  OP  THE  LAST  MACIAINS  OF  ARDNAMURCHAN, 
IN  ST.  COI,UMBA  CHURCHYARD,  KINGUSSIE. 


1719  ARDNAMURCHAN.  83 

Of  the  tombstone  of  the  last  of  the  Maclains  of  Ardna- 
murchan  in  St.  Columba  Churchyard,  Kingussie,  and  which  is 
intimated  to  belong  approximately  to  the  date  1719— Mr.  Fraser 
Mackintosh  says:  "it  would  seem  that  two  of  the  Maclains 
remained  in  Ruthven  in  poverty  and  obscurity.  Through  the 
exertion  of  Mr.  Alexander  Macpherson,  Banker  in  Kingussie, 
the  old  churchyard  of  that  parish  was,  some  years  ago,  restored 
and  beautified.  A  grave  stone  with  inscription  was  brought  to 
light,  of  the  rudest  material,  lettering  and  language,  as  may  be 
seen  by  the  fac-simile  given,  prepared  for  these  papers  by  the 
kindness  of  Mr.  Mackenzie,  Surveyor's  Office,  Kingussie,  and 
Mr.  John  Campbell,  Inspector  of  Poor,  there."  The  inscription 
indicates  that  even  in  its  original  condition  the  stone  was  a 
broken  fragment.  Our  illustration  is  from  The  Last  Macdonalds 
of  Isla. 

It  is  highly  improbable  that  there  are  no  descendants  of  the 
chiefs  of  this  once  powerful  House,  in  fact,  a  family  will  be  men- 
tioned hereafter,  but  as  a  broken  clan  could  have  no  chief,  and 
professional  genealogists  would  not  record  the  histories  of  land- 
less men  with  no  following,  there  are  probably  no  published 
tables  of  descent  of  the  later  Ardnamurchan  Maclans. 


SECTION  III. — MAC!ANS  OF  GUJNCOK. 


ADAPTED    FROM  LOGAN. 


This  sept  of  the  MacDonalds  derived  its  local  title  from  a  glen 
through  which  the  stream  called  Coe  or  Cona,  passing  through 
Lake  Treachatan,  flowed  on  in  its  way  to  Loch  Leven  in  what  is 
now  Argyleshire.  in  the  west  of  the  main  land  of  Scotland.  The 
Glen  is  the  traditional  home  of  the  poet  Ossian,  who  was  there- 
fore called  "the  voice  of  Co'ana."  On  the  north  side  of  the  valley 
of  the  Cona  is  the  Hill  of  Fingal,  and  close  by  is  "the  sunny 
place  of  Darthula"  (a  woman  so  called  from  the  beauty  of  her 
eyebrows).  Later  we  will  have  to  allude  to  the  rugged  moun- 
tains which  encompass  the  Glen,  but  which  did  not  shelter  the 
unfortunate  inhabitants  from  powerful  enemies. 

A  Smith  is  now  Laird  of  the  territory;  no  MacDonald  of  Glen- 
coe  has  attained  sufficient  fortune  to  have  an  epitome  of  his  family 
history  recorded  in  "Peerage"  or  "Landed  Gentry."  It  there- 
fore requires  considerable  research  to  trace  anything  like  a  con- 
nected narrative  of  this  sept  of  Clan  Donald, 

§4 


i4th  cent.  GLENCOE.  85 

Surrounded  as  they  were  by  other  clans:  the  Camerons  on 
the  North,  Menzies  on  the  East,  Campbells  on  the  South  and 
Stewarts  of  Appin  on  the  West,  the  Clan  Ian  Abrach  has  been 
termed  an  "outpost  of  the  Macdonalds,"  and  much  of  their 
history  is  interwoven  with  that  of  these  neighboring  clans. 

Coke  upon  Littleton  says  that  a  man  may  have  more  than  one 
surname,  and  this  appears  to  have  been  the  case  with  the  Mac- 
Donalds  or  Maclans  of  Glencoe.  The  murdered  chief  who  was 
the  victim  of  the  famous  Glencoe  Massacre  was  known  indiffer- 
ently as  M'Kean,  Maccean,  M'Ean,  Maclan,  and  MacDonald 
or  M' Donald,  and  M'lan  the  artist  is  spoken  of  in  the  Diction- 
ary of  National  Biography  as  being  descended  from  the  old 
M'lans  or  Macdonalds  of  Glencoe.  In  cases  like  this  it  seems 
to  have  been  optional  with  the  Highlanders  to  retain  the  sept 
or  family  patronymic,  or  to  revert  to  the  clan  surname.  An 
illustration  is  afforded  of  this,  in  the  case  of  the  celebrated  French 
marshal,  MacDonald,  whose  father,  a  member  of  the  Macdonald 
Clan,  was  known  as  Neil  McKechin. 

The  industrious  and  accomplished  compilers  of  Clan  Donald 
begin  their  Chapter  VII.  of  Volume  II.,  ("The  Macdonalds  of 
Glencoe"),  by  acknowledging  that  "The  history  of  this  branch 
of  the  Clan  Donald  is  beset  perhaps  by  greater  difficulties  than 
that  of  any  other  family  in  the  wide  confederacy.  During  long 
periods  its  Annals  are  worse  than  obscure,  they  are  hopelessly 
blank  .  .  .  Even  in  the  sixteenth  century,  when  light 
dawns  upon  the  rest  of  the  Clan  Donald  after  the  fall  of  the 
Island  lordship,  the  Clanian  of  Glencoe  continue  to  lurk  in  their 
dark  and  cavernous  retreats,  and  their  history,  until  the  seven- 
teenth century,  is  almost  entirely  a  blank.  One  reason  for  this 
was  that  the  Chiefs  of  Glencoe  never  became  Crown  vassals, 
or  if  they  did,  it  was  only  at  a  very  late  period  of  their  history. 
They  occupied  lands  which  for  the  most  part  were  held  by  Crown 
vassals,  and  thus  the  public  records  which  throw  so  much  light 
upon  the  ownership  of  land  in  the  case  of  the  other  Clan  Donald 
septs,  are  silent  on  the  Clanian,  and  it  is  only  when  the  Records 
of  the  Scottish  Privy  Council  become  available  for  purposes  of 
research  that  the  Glencoe  family,  who  gave  the  authorities  a 
lively  time,  cease  to  elude  the  historians'  grasp.  (Clan  Donald, 
II.,  189,  190). 


86  MACIANS    OF  1325-27 

Both  M'Vurich  and  Hugh  Macdonald*  are  at  one  as  to  the 
tradition  that  Iain  Og  an  fhraoich — young  John  of  the  heather — 
the  progenitor  of  the  Glencoe  family,  was  a  natural  son  of  Angus 
Og  of  Isla,  Lord  of  the  Isles,  by  Dugall  MacHenry's  daughter. 
Why  he  was  called  John  of  the  heather  we  have  now  no  means 
of  ascertaining,  nor  are  there  data  available  for  confirming  or 
rejecting  the  tradition  that  there  was  a  bar  sinister  on  his  escut- 
cheon, f  We  know  little  of  him  beyond  the  fact  that  his  father 
gave  him  the  land  of  Glencoe,  apparently  by  verbal  gift.  (Ibid., 
II.,  190.) 

For  the  little  that  is  known  of  some  of  the  forefathers  of  Iain 
Fraoch,  including  Conn  the  Fighter  in  the  2nd  century,  Colla 
Uais  in  the  4th,  the  "Mighty  Somerled"  in  the  i2th  and  the  first 
Donald  in  the  i3th,  we  refer  the  reader  to  other  and  more  preten- 
tious works,  but  a  few  paragraphs  may  be  found  in  Section  I. — 
"Early  Ancestors." 

As  to  the  lands  mentioned  above,  it  may  be  stated  here  that 
Glencoe,  together  with  the  other  territories  of  Angus  were  con- 
ferred upon  John  the  Good,  in  1325,  by  Edward  Balliol,  who 
claimed  to  be  king  of  Scotland.  The  grants,  also  including 
Ardinton  (Ardnamurchan)  were  ratified  by  Edward  III.  of 
England,  for  Balliol  acknowledged  the  English  king  as  his  su- 
perior and  Lord  Paramount,  and  in  1327  King  Edward  writes 
him  a  "blandiloquent  epistle." 

MacKenzie's  History  of  the  Camerons,  p.  2,  states  that  accord- 
ing to  several  authorities,  the  Camerons,  as  far  back  as  can  be 
traced,  had  their  seat  in  Lochaber,  part  held  by  the  Lord  of  the 
Isles  as  superior,  and  appeared  to  have  been  first  connected  with 
the  Macdonalds  of  Islay,  in  the  reign  of  Robert  Bruce,  from 
whom  Angus  Og  of  Isla  had  a  grant  of  Lochaber.  This  is  inter- 
esting, because  Iain  Fraoch,  the  ancestor  of  the  Maclans  of 
Glencoe,  was  also  called  Abrach,  from  his  being  brought  up  in 
the  district  of  Lochaber. 

From  Iain  Fraoch  or  Abrach  the  sept  got  the  title  Maclain 
and  also  Abrochson,  both  spelt  in  various  ways  at  various  times 

*The  former  an  ancient  bard  and  genealogist;  the  latter  the  historian  of 
the  MacDonalds  of  Sleat,  and  who  wrote  in  the  latter  half  of  the  seven- 
teenth century. 

f  "  John  of  the  Heather  "  or  "  Lochaber,"  is  said  to  have  been  illegitimate, 
but  clan  genealogists  were  fond  of  bastardizing  other  lines.  (Athenaeum,  1900, 
part  II.,  1 14). 


1427-31  GLENCOE.  87 

as  will  be  seen,  and  apparently  it  was  not  until  1617  that  a  con- 
temporary document  refers  to  a  Glencoe  chieftain  as  a  Macdonald- 
He  married  the  daughter  and  heiress  of  Dugald  McEanruig  or 
MacHenry  of  Glencoe,  though  Clan  Donald  says  (III.,  212), 
that  she  was  his  mother:  through  her  at  any  rate  he  seems  to 
have  acquired  the  territory  of  Glencoe  according  to  Logan's 
Clans  of  the  Scottish  Highlands.  Judging  from  the  Genealogical 
Table  in  Andrew  Lang's  History  of  Scotland  he  died  about  1358. 
He  is  said  to  have  been  buried  in  lona  beside  his  father.  Clan 
Donald,  (II.,  191),  states  that  "When  we  say  that  the  founder 
of  the  Glencoe  family  flourished  about  the  beginning  of  the 
fourteenth  century  we  tell  nearly  the  whole  history  of  the  sept 
for  hundreds  of  years." 

The  account  of  the  beginning  of  the  Glencoe  branch,  in  Mac- 
kenzie's History  of  the  Macdonalds  is  much  like  that  given  above, 
though  he  says:  "It  has  been  found  impossible  to  give  a  complete 
genealogy  of  the  successive  heads  of  the  house.  The  legitimate 
male-heirs  are  said  to  have  entirely  died  out  .  .  ."  Logan 
mentions  the  Clann  Mhic  Iain  Ghlinne  Comhann  or  Maclans 
[of  Glencoe],  and  gives  the  arms,  crest,  motto  and  badge,  for 
which  See  Heraldic  Notes  in  the  Appendix.  "They  held  high 
rank  among  the  clans  and  were  sometimes  designated  'of  the 
Isles "...  In  the  time  of  James  VI.  ...  it  does  not  appear 
that  the  Glencoe  people  had  any  share  in  their  [the  Ardna- 
murchans']  desperate  conduct,  although  from  the  similarity  of 
names  it  is  to  be  suspected  they  have  been  charged  with  partici- 
pation in  the  misdeeds  of  others." 

About  1431  there  would  appear  to  have  been  two  John  Maclan 
Abrachs.  To  avenge  an  act  of  treachery  by  King  James  I.  of 
Scotland  in  1427,  Alexander,  third  Lord  of  the  Isles,  in  1429 
burnt  and  pillaged  Inverness.  The  king  attacked  the  insurgent 
clans  unexpectedly  in  1431,  and  the  Camerons  and  Mackintoshes 
having  deserted  the  Lord  of  the  Isles  at  Inverlochy,  the  latter 
sued  for  peace,  but  his  friends  gave  the  Cameron  lands  to  a 
Maclean.  Later  the  Camerons  killed  the  young  chief  [of  the 
Macleans?]  John  Abrach,  so  called  from  his  residence  in  Lochaber. 
MacLean  calls  the  latter  "Maclan  Abrach."  (Abridged  from  the 
History  of  the  Camerons,  26). 

"After  John  Abrach,  there  was  an  unbroken  succession  of 
eight  Johns."  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  192).  "The  special  difficulties 


88  MACIANS   OF  1358-1497 

of  the  genealogy  arise  from  the  fact  that  so  many  of  the  same 
name  followed  each  other  in  the  chiefship,  and  that  with  nine 
or  ten  John  Abrachs  and  John  Maclains  and  John  Maclain 
Abrachs,  it  is  difficult  to  make  distinctions.  (Ibid.,  III.,  212). 

I.  JOHN  FRAOCH  or  Abrach,  died   1358. 

II.  JOHN  ABRACHSON.     (Maclain  Fraoch?) 

III.  JOHN  ABRACHSON.     (Og  Maclain  Fraoch?) 

IV.  JOHN  ABRACHSON.     (Maclain   Og?) 

V.  JOHN  ABRACHSON   "of  Glencoe,"   was    one    among   other 
Clan   Donald  vassals  who  had  not   yet  acknowledged  the  new 
order  of   things   when   James   IV.   held   court   at   Dunstaffnage; 
August  18,   1493,  to  receive  homage.     (Ibid.,  I.  285). 

VI.  JOHN  ABRACHSON.     "John  of  the  Isles  alias  Abrochson" 
is  referred  to  as  Chief  of  the  Clan  at  the  date  of  the  last  forfeiture 
of  the  Lords  of  the  Isles  [1494].     (Gregory's  History  of  the  Western 
Highlands,  67).     We  also  find  in  the  History  of  the  Camerons,  44 1 
that  about  1497  the  Mackintoshes  successfully  invaded  the  Clan 
Ian  of  Glencoe. 

This  was  in  retaliation  for  a  raid  related  in  quaint  language: 
"Anno  1496  Cameronii  de  Lochabir,  Appin,  et  Ronoch  cum 
quibusdam  a  Glencoona,  et  eadem  nocte  invadunt  Brebadonoch- 
iam  et  Strathnairn,  et  clancullum  jumentum  agmina  exportant. 
Gulielmus  subitam  in  Ronoch  et  Appin  expeditionem  facit,  ubi, 
multis  Clanchameroniorum  trucidatis,  eorum  agros  depopulavit. 
Eodemque  supplicio  Glenco  affixit,  quoniam  in  praedictis,  prse- 
dationibus  auxiliati  sunt."  That  is  to  say:  In  the  year  1496 
the  Camerons  of  L,ochaber,  Appin  and  Rannoch,  with  some  from 
Glencoe  (came),  and  on  the  same  night  invaded  Brae  Badenoch 
and  Strathnairn,  and  stealthily  carried  off  herds  of  cattle. 
William  [i'3th  of  Mackintosh]  made  a  sudden  raid  on  Rannoch 
and  Appin,  where,  after  killing  many  of  the  clan  Camerons,  he 
wasted  their  lands.  He  inflicted  the  same  punishment  on 
Glencoe,  because  they  assisted  the  Camerons  in  the  aforesaid 
robberies  (Macfariane's  Genealogical  Collections  231). 

About  1497  also,  the  MacLaurins  carried  off  a  creach  from 
the  braes  of  Lochaber.  The  MacDonalds  followed  the  spoilers, 
and  having  overtaken  them  in  Glenurchie,  recovered  the  prey, 
after  a  sharp  skirmish.  The  MacLaurins  went  straight  to  their 
kinsman  Dugal  Stewart  of  Appin,  who,  joining  them  with  this 
followers,  they  marched  hastily  in  pursuit,  and  intercepted  the 


I4th-i9th  cent. 


GLENCOE- 


89 


'JLA~4k^ 

J^i 

.  H. 


MacDonalds  somewhere  about  the  Black  Mount  in  Glencoe, 
where  a  desperate  conflict  forthwith  took  place.  There  was 
dreadful  slaughter  on  both  sides ;  Dugal,  and  Donull  MacAonghais 
mhic  Dhonuill  of  Keppoch,  the  chiefs  of  their  respective  clans 
were  slain.  (Adapted  from  Logan's  Clans  of  the  Scottish  High- 
lands). Although  this  fight  took  place  on  their  soil,  no  mention 


90  MACIANS   OF  1500-43 

is  made  of  the  Maclans  of  Glencoe,  but  some  authorities  neglect 
to  mention  Glengarry  and  Glencoe  in  the  Battle  of  Mullroy, 
and  yet  their  presence  there  is  well  attested. 

"In  1500  there  is  evidence  that  the  Clanian  of  Glencoe  have 
lost  the  benefits  of  the  kindly  sway  of  the  House  of  Isla,  and 
that  there  is  an  attempt  to  oust  them  from  their  lands.  Archi- 
bald, Earl  of  Argyll,  Lord  Campbell  and  Lome  evidently  tried 
not  only  to  evict  'John  of  the  His  utherwyis  Abrochsoune,'  but 
also  Duncan  Stewart,  son  of  Stewart  of  Appin,  from  the  lands 
of  'Durroure  and  Glencoyne.'  But  although  decreet  in  Absence 
was  granted  in  favour  of  Argyll  and  against  Glencoe  by  the 
Lords  of  Council,  Maclain  continued  in  possession.  (Clan 
Donald,  II.,  193). 

It  may  be  stated  that  the  lands  of  Glencoe  had  already  passed 
through  several  hands.  In  1343  they  were  granted  by  David 
II.  to  John  of  Yle  [the  Isles],  then  held  from  him  by  John  of 
Larin  and  granted  anew  to  the  latter  in  1354;  in  1475  they 
were  forfeited  by  John  of  Yle,  Karl  of  Ross,  and  in  1476  were 
restored  to  him.  In  1494,  after  the  insurrection  of  Alexander 
of  Lochalsh,  the  titles  and  lordship  of  the  Isles  were  forfeited 
and  subsequently  voluntarily  surrendered  and  in  that  year 
James  IV.  granted  John  Makgillion  [Maclean]  of  Lochbuie,  the 
fifty- three  merk  lands  of  Durgwin  and  Glencole.  These  lands 
were  granted  by  the  King  to  Duncan  Stewart  of  Appin  in  1500; 
and  the  grant  was  renewed  in  1501.  (Stewarts  of  Appin,  98). 

In  the  rebellion  of  1499-1506,  caused  by  the  violation  of  his 
promises  by  the  King  [the  revocation  of  some  charters  recently 
granted  by  him],  a  party,  led  by  the  Maclans  of  Glencoe,  broke 
into  the  dungeon  where  Donald  Dhu,  grandson  of  John,  Lord 
of  the  Isles  had  been  shut  up  for  forty  years  (having  been  carried 
off  from  Islay  when  an  infant),  and  sought  to  place  him  upon 
the  throne  of  the  Isles.  Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan  was  on  the 
royal  side  in  this  struggle,  which  resulted  in  the  breaking  up 
of  the  confederacy  of  the  Island  lords,  the  capture  and  imprison- 
ment for  about  forty  years  more  of  Donald ;  but  when  he  escaped 
for  the  second  time,  in  1543,  the  faithful  Islanders  again  em- 
braced his  cause.  (Adapted  from  the  History  of  the  Clan  Mac- 
Lean?)  The  dates  and  ages  seem  irreconcilable. 

Some  explanation  of  this  incident  may  be  needed.  Skene's 
Celtic  Scotland,  III.,  404,  quotes  from  the  Book  of  Clanranald: 


1506-08  GLENCOE.  91 

"The  daughter  of  MacCailin  [Argyll]  the  wife  of  Aonghus  [Og, 
son  of  Erin]  was  pregnant  at  the  time  he  was  killed  [Angus  Og 
was  murdered  by  his  harper,  see  entry  about  1490  in  Section  II.] 
and  she  was  kept  in  custody"  .  .  .  where  she  gave  birth  to 
Donald  Dubh;  "he  was  kept  in  custody  until  he  arrived  at  the 
age  of  thirty  years  [in  1501?]  when  the  men  of  Gleann  Comhann 
[Glencoe]  brought  him  out  by  a  Fenian  exploit,"  from  the  castle 
of  Inchconnel  or  Innisconnel  on  Loch  Awe.  In  Ossianic  verse 
"the  Fenians  are  warriors  of  superhuman  size,  strength,  speed 
and  powers"  as  the  Century  Dictionary  says;  this  use  of  the 
adjective  "Fenian,"  which  is  equivalent  to  the  heroic  of  Greek 
mythology,  is  high  praise  on  the  part  of  the  hereditary  sennachie 
or  genealogist  of  Clanranald,  who  was  of  course  a  MacVurrich. 
The  rescue  led  to  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  Donald  Dubh  to 
resume  the  office  and  territory  of  his  grandfather  John,  last 
Lord  of  the  Isles,  as  stated  in  Lang's  History  of  Scotland,  I.,  256. 
The  attempt  was  brought  to  naught  by  the  efforts  of  Maclan  of 
Ardnamurchan  and  others,  but  the  conduct  of  the  men  of  Glencoe 
"was  a  clear  indication  that  whoever  was  their  feudal  superior 
they  felt  that  their  loyalty  as  a  tribe  was  due  to  the  patriarchal 
head  of  their  race."  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  192,  193).  The  book 
Stewarts  of  Appin,  about  p.  98,  says  that  Lachlan  Maclean  of 
Duart  joined  Donald  Dubh  in  his  attempt  .  .  .  but  that 
Duncan  Stewart  of  Appin,  at  the  head  of  his  own  men  and  the 
MacDonalds  of  Glencoe  who  then  mustered  about  150  claymores, 
opposed  Maclean  in  1503:  no  authority  is  given  for  this  state- 
ment that  the  same  men  who  rescued  Donald  Dubh  but  two 
years  previously  now  fight  one  of  his  staunchest  allies.  The 
very  stirring  little  war  is  ably  described  in  Clan  Donald  "Under 
James  IV."  However,  Donald  was  again  taken  prisoner,  and 
almost  all  of  the  chiefs  gave  in  their  submission  about,  or  a 
little  before,  1508. 

VII.  "(Old)  JOHN,  called  Iain  Abrach.  There  is  no  record  of 
his  marriage  nor  of  the  marriages  of  the  Johns  who  preceded 
him.  He  had  three  sons — i.  John  Og,  who  succeeded;  2.  Donald 
Og;  3.  Alastair  Og."  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  213). 

There  appears  to  be  a  dearth  of  history  of  the  Glencoe -men 
at  this  time;  probably  they  were  enduring  the  disasters  which 
seem  to  have  been  common  to  all  septs  of  the  Clan  Donald  at 
this  period,  and  possibly  were  not  present  at  the  disastrous 


92  MACIANS   OF  1513-43 

battle  of  Plodden  in  1513,  where  Maclan  of  Ardnamurchan 
fought  on  the  Scottish  side. 

On  June  6th,  1522,  John  Campbell  of  Calder,  brother  of  the 
Earl  of  Argyll,  obtained  from  Maclean  of  L,ochbuy  the  assign- 
ment of  his  obsolete  and  revoked  charter  (Gregory's  Western 
Highlands,  126),  dated  1494,  of  the  lands  of  Durrour,  Glencoe 
and  part  of  the  lands  of  L,ochiel,  but  the  Stewarts  of  Appin, 
MacDonalds  of  Glencoe,  and  Camerons  of  Lochiel  effectually 
resisted  his  efforts  to  take  possession.  The  matter  was  arbitrated 
at  Edinburgh  in  1528  with  the  result  that  the  award  was  made 
in  favor  of  Calder.  The  latter  resigned  these  lands  to  the  King 
[James  V.],  and  the  Council  of  which  Argyll  was  a  member, 
(James  being  a  minor),  granted  them  to  the  Earl.  On  attaining 
his  majority  the  King  revoked  all  charters  granted  during  his 
minority,  and  December  yth,  1538,  granted  to  Alan  Stewart 
.  .  .  the  twenty  merk  land  of  Glenkowne.  .  .  .  James  V. 
died  in  1542,  and  in  1547,  Queen  Mary  being  a  child  and  Argyll 
regaining  authority  in  the  West  of  Scotland,  Alan  resigned  the 
lands  of  Diiror,  Ballachelish  and  Glencoe  to  the  Queen,  and 
they  were  re-conveyed  to  the  Earl  of  Argyll,  son  of  the  former 
Earl.  Argyll  then  re-conveyed  these  lands  to  Alan  at  a  smaller 
feu-rent  than  that  which  Alan  in  his  original  charter  had  cove- 
nanted to  pay  the  Crown.  (Stewarts  of  Appin,  105,  106). 

In  1542  James  V.  was  at  war  with  England,  but  the  Scottish 
barons  were  disloyal  or  lukewarm;  "the  influence  of  Henry 
VIII.  with  the  leaders  of  the  Reformation  movement  in  Scotland 
was  the  main  cause  of  the  disaffection  of  the  barons  to  their 
own  King,  who  still  continued  to  support  the  Church  of  Rome; 
James  felt  the  national  lack  of  support  so  keenly  that  it  has 
been  thought  that  his  death  in  this  year  was  largely  due  to  that 
cause.  As  is  often  the  case,  politics  mingled  with  religion,  and 
about  this  time  the  Roman  Catholics  happened  to  be  on  the 
side  of  Scottish  independence  with  Franch  aid,  while  the  Protes- 
tants opposed  them  and  hoped  for  English  assistance ;  but  Henry 
VIII.  interposed  so  bluntly,  and  his  supporters  in  Scotland 
sought  to  act  so  treacherously  that  for  a  while  at  least,  all  parties 
in  Scotland  united.  This  stormy  period  seemed  to  be  a  fitting 
opportunity  for  Donald  Dubh,  who  escaped  from  Edinburgh 
Castle  in  1543,  to  lay  claim  not  only  to  the  Lordship  of  the  Isles 
to  which  he  had  once  been  proclaimed,  but  also  to  the  Earldom 


I544~88  GLENCOE.  93 

of  Ross,  to  which  his  claim  was  very  shadowy;  he  therefore, 
with  the  Islesmen,  excepting  James  Macdonald  of  Dunnyveg, 
invaded  Argyle  about  1544,  with  threats  to  proceed  further, 
insomuch  that  in  Aberdeen  "the  hayll  tooun"  by  "hand  bell 
passand  throcht  all  the  rewis  and  stretis "  made  "iugment" 
.  .  .  "of  taxt,  for  furnising  of  ane  thousand  horse  to  remain 
with  the  locumtenant  on  the  bordouris,  for  resisting  of  our  auld 
enemies  of  Ingland"  and  also"  for  resisting  of  Donald  His  quhilk 
with  his  complices  is  cumand,  as  is  allegit  upoun  the  quenes 
[Regent's]  landis  of  Ross  for  inuasion  thairof  and  conquising  of 
the  same."  England  made  new  advances  for  an  alliance  with 
the  House  of  Isla,  and  a  treaty  was  entered  into  in  1545,  so  the 
Scottish  Government  issued  a  proclamation  against  ' '  Donald 
alleging  himself  of  the  Isles  and  other  Highlanders  his  partakers." 
(Abridged  from  Clan  Donald  I.,  368,  371,  etc.}. 

VIII.  JOHN  OG  (i),  who  appears  first  on  record  in  1563,  and 
in  whose  time  and  in  that  of  his  successor  the  Clan  Iain  Abrich 
became  very  numerous.  As  his  successor  was  also  called  John 
Og,  the  two  have  to  be  carefully  distinguished.  John  Og  (i) 
had  a  family  of  seven  sons — (A)  John  Og  (2),  who  succeeded. 
(B)  John  Dubh,  progenitor  of  the  families  of  Dalness  and  Ach- 
triachtan  .  .  .  (C)  Alexander  Maclain  Oig,  in  Larach.  (D) 
Archibald  Maclain  Oig.  (E)  Allan  Roy  Maclain  Oig.  (F) 
Ronald  Maclain  Oig.  (G)  Angus  Maclain  Oig.  (Clan  Donald, 
III.,  213). 

"In  1 563. 'John  Og  Mac  Ane  Abrycht'  was  in  lawful  possession 
or  occupation  of  the  lands  of  Glencoe  under  Colin  Campbell  of 
'Glenurquhay,  who  held  them  from  the  Crown.  On  6th  May  of 
that  year  a  contract  of  protection  and  manrent  is  signed  by  both 
parties.  In  this  bond  Campbell  undertakes  to  defend  the  Chief 
of  Clanian  in  the  possession  of  his  lands,  while  John  Og  on  the 
other  hand  becomes  bound  to  serve  the  Laird  of  Glenurquhay 
against  all  persons  whatsoever,  save  only  the  authority  and  my 
Lord  Argyll.  It  is  stipulated  that  the  contract  shall  at  once 
become  void  if  John  Og  does  not  instantly  serve  against  the 
Clan  Gregor.  In  1588  a  Commission  of  Justiciary  was  given  by 
James  VI.  to  George,  Earl  of  Huntly,  John  Grant  of  Freuchie^ 
and  others  against  a  number  of  Highland  chiefs,  and  amongst 
them  John  M'Ane  Oig  in  Glencoe  and  Alexander  M'Ane  Oig,' 
probably  sons  of  the  John  Og  M'Ane  Abrycht  who  gave  the 


94  MACIANS    OF  1563-89 

bond  of  manrent  to  Glenurquhay  in  1563.  That  the  Clanian 
Abraich  were  at  this  time,  as  indeed  they  must  have  been  at 
all  times,  a  terror  to  neighbouring  communities,  is  proved  by 
contemporary  records."  (Ibid,  II.,  190). 

Curiously  enough,  a  letter  from  Campbell  to  the  keeper  of  his 
Castle  of  Glenurquhay,  and  dated  August  18,  1570,  shows  that 
the  latter  was  named  Gregor  McAne,  presumably  of  Glencoe 
(Clan  Gregor,  I.,  189).  The  beginning  of  the  last  paragraph 
accounts  for  a  Glencoe  man  holding  office  under  a  Campbell. 

The  Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland  contains  in  1583 
the  complaint  of  Coline  Campbell  of  Glenloyoun, — that  a  number 
of  persons,  including  four  McAines,  etc.,  "with  their  complices, 
.  .  .  cam  by  the  break  of  day  .  .  .  and  masterfully  reft  the 
servants  of  the  complainer,  forth  of  their  lands  .  .  ."  The 
Lords  of  the  Council  order  all  the  culprits  to  be  denounced  rebels. 
[The  Campbells  of  Glenlyon  never  rested  from  their  complaints 
until  they  had  assisted  in  working  the  ruin  of  the  Maclans  at 
Glencoe]. 

Allan  Cameron,  sixteenth  of  Lochiel,  assumed  command  of 
his  clan  for  the  second  time  in  1585;  thirty  pages  of  Mackenzie's 
book  are  devoted  to  this  chief,  who  interests  us  particularly  as 
he  was  called  "Alein  Maclan  Duibh"  and  "Alein  MacDhomnuill 
Duibh,"  showing  that  the  names  Maclan  and  MacDonald  were 
in  a  sense  interchangeable  more  than  three  hundred  years  ago, 
the  former  being  a  personal  and  the  latter  the  clan  designation, 
and  indicating  as  Mackenzie  states,  that  some  at  least  of  the 
Camerons  were  originally  MacDonalds.  It  is  not  so  pleasant, 
however,  to  read  that  "On  the  3oth  of  June,  1589,  we  find  Allan 
and  Grant  [of  Freuchie]  entering  into  a  bond  of  mutual  friend- 
ship, directed  specially  against  the  Macdonalds  of  Glencoe." 

"The  territorial  position  of  the  Clanian  isolated  them  from 
the  more  powerful  branches  of  the  Clan  Donald,  and  they  were 
on  all  hands  surrounded  by  powerful  and  hostile  neighbours, 
while  their  wild  and  almost  unapproachable  fastnesses,  inacces- 
sible to  strangers  save  at  most  imminent  risk  of  fatal  ambuscades, 
enabled  them  to  carry  on  their  forays  and  depredations  almost 
with  entire  impunity,  and  these,  of  course,  were  no  infringement 
of  the  ancient  code  of  Celtic  ethics."  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  194). 

According  to  the  Reg.  Privy  Council  Scot.,  John  Stewart  of 
Appin  is  summoned  in  1586  to  appear,  because  certain  of  his 


1587-88  GLENCOE.  95 

men,  tenants  and  servants  had  committed  wrongs:  among  them 
are  Allaster,  John  and  Donald  Oig  Mcanebrych  [Maclanabrich, 
Maclan  Abrich] ;  not  appearing,  he  was  ' '  ordained  to  be  de- 
nounced rebel." 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland  (James  VI.,  A.  D. 
1587),  the  Clane  mckane  of  Avricht,  (spelled  Clan-Mackeane 
Awricht  in  Townsend's  Manual  of  Dates,  and  Clan  Maclan  of 
Abrach  elsewhere),  is  included  in  "THE  ROLL  of  ye  clannis  yat 
hes  capitanes  cheiffis  and  chiftanes  quhome  on  thai  depend 
oftymes  aganis  ye  willis  of  thair  landislordis  alsweill  on  ye  borderes 
as  hielandes  and  of  sum  speale  personis  of  branches  of  ye  saidis 
clannis." 

It  seems  to  have  been  about  1588  that  a  circumstance  occurred, 
referred  to  in  Macleay's  Rob  Roy  and  his  Times.  Some  young 
Glencoe  men  being  caught  trespassing  in  the  royal  deer  forest 
of  Glenartney,  their  ears  were  cropped.  In  revenge  they  cut 
off  the  head  of  Drummond  of  Drummondernoch,  the  leader  of 
the  men  who  had  ill-treated  them;  and  the  sight  of  his  bloody 
head  caused  his  sister,  Mrs.  Stewart  of  Ardvoirlich  to  be  crazed 
for  a  while,  with  the  result  that  her  son,  (who  was  born  soon 
after),  became  the  gloomy  Stewart  of  Ardvoirlich,  a  character 
in  Scott's  Legend  of  Montrose,  and  who  murdered  I/ord  Kilpont, 
Montrose's  friend.  The  narrative,  with  more  of  its  repulsive 
details  is  told  in  Clan  Gregor,  II.,  i.  Scott  rejects  the  story 
that  the  killing  was  done  by  any  but  the  MacGregors;  Macaulay 
gives  the  incident  as  an  illustration  of  Highland  barbarity,  in 
his  apology  for  the  Glencoe  Massacre,  but  even  he  does  not 
attribute  it  to  the  clan  he  was  defaming, — the  Macdonalds  of 
Glencoe. 

Sometime  toward  the  end  of  the  sixteenth  century,  Stewart 
of  Strathgarry  having  taken  possession  of  lands  in  the  upper 
part  of  Rannoch,  which  had  been  possessed  by  a  Macdonald, 
was  surprised  by  a  party  of  that  clan  and  killed  for  dispossessing 
their  kinsman.  .  .  .  The  Stewarts  of  Appin,  Balquhidder  and 
Athol  entered  into  a  written  bond  to  avenge  the  death  of  Strath- 
garry, and  they  met  at  the  Blackmount  in  Glencoe.  They  had 
letters  of  Fire  and  Sword  against  the  murderers  of  Stewart  of 
Strathgarry,  which  his  widow  had  procured  from  the  Privy  Coun- 
cil at  Stirling.  As  it  was  in  the  month  of  June,  the  Macdonalds 
of  Glencoe  were  out  at  their  shealings  in  the  Blackmount,  when 


96  MACIANS    OF  1590-91 

they  were  surrounded  by  the  Stewarts  and  a  number  killed. 
The  I/aird  of  Glencoe  and  his  brother  were  among  the  slain,  and 
their  heads  were  cut  off,  to  be  sent  to  Stirling  and  presented 
to  the  Privy  Council,  as  proof  that  their  orders  had  been  carried 
out.  The  messenger  appears  to  have  been  of  a  grotesquely 
humorous  turn  of  mind,  and  to  have  indulged  in  gibes  at  the 
heads  and  to  have  "joked"  with  the  Lady  of  Ardvoirlich  in 
reference  to  them.  (Abridged  from  The  Stewarts  of  Appin,  152, 
153).  The  use  of  the  term  shealings  indicates  that  the  clan 
were  in  rude  huts  for  their  summer  quarters,  it  being  the  custom 
in  the  Highlands  for  the  natives  to  take  their  flocks  and  herds 
into  the  mountains  upon  the  approach  of  warm  weather. 

IX.  JOHN  OG  (2),  succeeded  John  Og  (i),  about  1590.  He 
had  three  sons — (A)  John  Abrach,  his  successor.  (B)  Alexander. 
(C)  Donald  Bowie.  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  213).  In  1588,  1591 
and  1592,  the  name  is  spelt  M'Ane  Oig,  M'Inoig  and  MacEan 
Oig,  respectively.  (Ibid.,  II.,  193,  195,  196). 

"During  the  last  decade  of  the  sixteenth  century,  the  Act 
of  James  V.  rendering  a  baron  responsible  for  the  behaviour  of 
his  servants,  or  feudal  inferiors,  was  called  into  requisition  in 
connection  with  the  Clanian  of  Glencoe.  Serious  complaints 
were  laid  before  the  King  and  Council  in  1591  as  to  the  numerous 
cases  of  foray  and  plunder  whereby  the  lieges  were  victimized. 
The  Earl  of  Argyll  proved  to  be  guilty,  not  only  feudally  and 
vicariously,  but  really  as  particeps  criminis  in  a  serious  foray  in 
which  the  men  of  Glencoe  and  others  were  involved  during 
1591."  Briefly,  a  certain  Campbell  was  invited  to  a  wedding 
among  the  Ogilvies,  and  managed  to  insult  the  bride  and  stab 
her  father:  he  narrowly  escaped  hanging,  but  being  treated  with 
great  indignity  he  was  expelled;  he  complained  to  his  kinsman 
the  Earl.  "Argyll  mustered  the  Glencoe  men,  the  Keppoch 
men,  and  others,  and  sent  them  to  invade  and  spoil  the  Ogilvies 
and  their  glen.  The  raid,  we  may  be  sure,  was  executed  with 
much  zeal  and  success,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  the  marauders 
marched  was  such  that  Lord  Ogilvie  in  his  complaint  to  the 
King  said  that  he  was  'nocht  able  to  resist  them,  but  with  grite 
difficultie  and  short  advertisement  he  his  wyffe  and  bairnis 
eschaiped.'  The  complaint  .  .  .  referred  to  Archibald  Earl  of 
Argyll  and  his  friends,  particularly  Allan  Roy  M'Inoig  son  to 
the  Laird  of  Glencoe  and  500  other  marauders."  Failing  to 


I592~I6OO  GLENCOE-  97 

appear  on  citation  they  were  denounced  rebels.  Later  in  the 
year,  "John  Og  M'Ane  Abrych  in  Glencone,  Allaster  Og  M'Ane 
Abrych  his  brother,  and  Donald  Og  M'Ane  Abrick,  brother  to 
John  Og  elder"  made  a  raid  against  John  Drummond  of  Blair, 
and  this  time  "without  the  countenance  and  patronage  of  the 
Earl  of  Argyll."  John  Stewart  of  Appin  was  summoned  to 
answer  for  it,  but  "there  is  nothing  to  indicate  the  penal  conse- 
quences of  this  last  outlawry."  (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald, 

II.,  195). 

In  1592  "it  wTas  reported  to  the  King  and  Council  that  John 
MacEan  Oig  in  Glencone"  with  two  of  his  brothers,  "were  guilty 
of  open  and  manifest  oppression,  murder,  sorning,  theft — a 
sufficiently  formidable  indictment,"  .  .  .  and  were  declared 
rebels  and  fugitives  .  .  .  "but  it  does  not  appear  that  the 
men  of  Glencoe  labored  very  long  under  the  sentence  of  out- 
lawry, for  we  find  the  same  year  [  or  1 593  according  to  the  Regis- 
ter of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland]  that  'MacAne  Abrich  of  Glen- 
cone,' along  with  MacAne  of  Ardnamurchane  and  others,  was, 
by  the  King  and  on  advice  of  his  Council,  relaxed  from  the 
horn."  Abridged  from  Ibid^  II.,  195,  196). 

The  General  Index  of  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland, 
a  ponderous  folio,  states  in  1593  that  the  Clan  MacKane  of 
Aruicht  is  an  unruly  clan;  (this  refers  to  an  entry  given  as  Mac- 
lans  of  Avricht) ;  candor  compels  us  to  admit  that  such  appears 
to  be  the  case. 

"For  several  years  after  the  foregoing  events  there  is  calm 
in  the  stormy  annals  of  Glencoe,  at  least  so  far  as  these  are 
disclosed  by  the  Records  of  the  Privy  Council;  but  it  is  the 
calm  that  follows  as  well  as  precedes  the  tempest.  In  1599 
Allaster  MacEan  Oig  and  his  men,  under  John  Og  MacEan 
Abrich,  reft  from  David  Craig  out  of  his  fold  of  Drumcharrie 
'seven  great  kye'  and  a  bull  worth  .£140.  This  was  only  pre- 
liminary to  much  greater  deeds  of  'herschipp.'  '  (Clan  Donald, 
II.,  196). 

The  Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland  notes  in  1600, 
that  Johnne  McFatrick  VcEane  was  delivered  to  Sir  Duncan 
Campbell  of  Glenurquhy  for  his  keeping,  as  one  of  the  pledges 
of  Allester  McGregour  of  Glenstra.  The  authors  of  Clan  Donald 
intimate  that  this  refers  to  "the  slaughter  of  Lennox  at  Glen- 
fruin,  a  conflict  .  .  .  where  eighty  of  the  Colquhoun  Clan  were 


98  MACIANS    OF  16OO-O2 

slain,"  but  that  the  connection  of  the  Clanian  of  Glencoe  with 
the  affair  was  "subordinate  and  incidental."  We  fear,  however, 
that  dates  and  authorities  refer  to  still  another  evil  deed  later 
on,  for  which  the  Privy  Council  proceeded  against  Allan  Oig 
Mclntnach  of  Glencoe,  who  in  1609  was  accused  of  assisting  the 
Clan  Gregor  of  Glenfruin,  and  of  murdering  defenseless  persons. 
But  here  the  MacGregors  charge  the  act  to  the  ferocity  of  a 
single  man  of  their  tribe,  said  to  have  been  an  ancestor  of  Rob 
Roy.  (Irving's  West  of  Scotland  in  History,  153).  The  Council 
made  it  an  offense  punishable  with  death  to  bear  the  name 
Macgregor,  or  to  give  any  of  the  clan  food  or  shelter:  so  some 
of  them  assumed  the  name  Gregory. 

In  the  same  year  and  Work,  (Reg.  Pri-v.  Council,  Scot.},  Ludo- 
vick,  Duke  of  L,ennox,  complains  that  some  McNauchtanes, 
McGregours,  Campbells  and  others,  including  half  a  dozen  Mac- 
Ian  "abrichis,"  came  at  night  to  the  wood  of  Ardincaple,  remain- 
ing till  morning  in  order  to  kill  Aula  McCaula  [Macaulay]  or 
"that  they  mycht  have  persewit  him  of  his  lyfe"  .  .  .  they 
seized  some  messengers  and  servitours,  one  named  Mclntailliour 
.  .  .  and  "verie  hardlie  intertenyit  them"  .  .  .  but  "feiiing 
to  have  bene  persewit  be  the  cuntrie  people  they  depairtit," 
spoiling  some  houses  and  reiving  some  cattle  .  .  .  the  defen- 
dants not  appearing,  are  denounced  as  rebels. 

Moreover,  in  1601,  Archibald,  Earl  of  "Krgyle"  was  charged, 
as  master  and  landlord  of  Allaster  McCeane  Oig  of  Glenco,  for 
not  entering  him,  and  was  to  be  denounced  rebel. 

And  we  read  in  April,  1602,  that  there  is  a  complaint  of  "  Johne 
Campbell,  comissary  of  Invernes,"  that  in  February  last  a  num- 
ber of  Highlanders,  including  nine  hereafter  tabulated  among 
"McEans  and  apparent  connections," — came  to  Moy,  "quhar 
they  tressonablie  and  awfullie  raised  fyre,  brunt  and  destroyed 
his  haill  houssis"  .  .  .  besides  the  "whole  insight  and  plenish- 
ings" within  the  said  houses,  while  another  company  of  the 
said  party  committed  murder — "the  lyk  of  quhilk  barbarous 
and  beistlie  crueltie,  committit  sa  fer  within  the  incuntrey,  has 
semdle  bene  hard  of."  The  order  is  to  denounce  them  all  as 
rebels. 

In  June,  George  and  James  Dumbar  are  placed  under  "bands" 
in  2,000  marks  each,  to  obey  the  King's  letters  forbidding  them 
to  "intercommune"  with  a  long  list  of  spoilers  who  had  been 


1602  GLENCOE.  99 

denounced  rebels,  for  coming,  as  described  in  the  preceding 
paragraph,  in  fair  daylight  to  the  lands  of  Moy,  belonging  to 
Johne  Campbell,  Commissary  of  "Inuerness,"  and  treasonably 
burning  of  his  buildings  and  corns,  [sic]  spuilying  oxen  and 
sheep  and  slaying  three  men :  among  these  rebels  are  twenty- 
two  of  the  scape-grace  MacEans  catalogued  subsequently.  It 
may  be  interesting  to  note  that  one  of  them, — Alexander,  had 
a  brother  also  called  Alexander;  for  there  are  several  instances 
in  old  times,  of  living  brothers  bearing  the  same  first  or  baptismal 
name.  On  the  same  day,  some  of  the  Dumbars,  one  of  them  a 
sheriff,  were  charged,  among  other  things,  with  bringing  into 
the  country  of  Murray  several  Maclans,  one  "of  Glenko,"  and 
becoming  assurance  for  them  and  furnishing  them  with  food 
divers  days  and  nights,  etc. 

In  July,  Duncane  Meinzeis  petitions  that  he  is  not  answerable 
for  certain  men, — among  them  Duncane  McEane  Cam  in  Fother- 
gill,  one  of  the  tutors  to  the  son  of  the  late  Geir  McCondachy : — 
as  Robertson  of  Strowan  (named  also  as  a  complainer)  was  so 
answerable,  he  was  ordered  denounced  a  rebel.  Some  of  the 
McKechins,  VcAchanes,  etc.,  complain  that  many  persons, — 
"all  the  said  Laird  of  Glengarry's  men,"  came  in  the  night,  set 
fire  to  houses,  and  "maist  mercyleslie  murtherit  and  slew" 
several  individuals;  and  "Immediately  afterwards,  the  malefac- 
tors had  repaired  to  the  Laird  of  Glengarry,  and  'with  all  glaidnes 
of  hairt  were  ressett  be  him  and  upoun  his  landis;'  "  the  order 
is  to  denounce  them.  This  appears  to  have  been  a  family  quarrel, 
for  there  are  names  indexed  Maclan  on  both  sides,  i.  e.,  as  com- 
plainers  and  defenders;  nine  of  them  appear  in  the  list  following 
the  year  1550.  Towards  the  end  of  the  month,  Katharene  Reid, 
relict  of  Mr.  [Magister,  he  being  a  Cleric]  Alexander  Dumbar, 
dean  of  Murray,  brings  a  libel  against  the  Baron  of  Kilravock 
for  resetting  certain  evil-doers,  among  whom  was  Johne  Dow 
McEane  Roy,  alias  Girls.  And  on  the  same  day  there  is  a  com- 
plaint of  William  Ros  of  Kilraack  [Kilravock  aforesaid?]  that 
some  sinners,  indexed  Maclan,  with  others,  came  "in  the  dawing 
of  the  day,"  murdered  Alexander  McMiechell  in  Geddes  and 
servant  and  spuilyied  his  whole  goods.  And  again  one  particu- 
larly irrepressible  Alaster,  "in  Glaik  (of  Glenko),"  with  others, 
set  on  fire  houses  in  Geddes,  with  the  whole  plenishing  of  the 
same,  estimated  at  .£5,000,  etc.,  etc. 


IOO  MACIANS    OF  l6O2 

In  August,  Archibald  Earl  of  "Ergyle"  was  ordered  to  be 
denounced  for  not  appearing  or  presenting  certain  individuals, 
including  a  McEane  McAllaster  in  Glencoane  and  three  McEwne 
McGregours,  for  reiving  horses  and  cattle.  Archibald  Herring 
of  Drummane  accuses  one  Duncane  McEane  Birrach,  with  others, 
of  reiving:  the  property  was  to  be  restored  or  ,£10  paid  for 
each  animal.  Donnald  Menteith  of  Carquhen  charges  that  a 
McEancheir  [Maclan-Keir?]  and  his  brothers,  tenants  of  the 
Laird  of  Strowane,  had  reft  some  animals. 

In  September  a  similar  complaint  is  made  by  Johne  Ferguson 
of  Dercullych,  against  a  McEane  Abrich,  Duncan  Stewart  of 
Appin's  man,  and  others;  for  which,  Stewart  not  appearing  nor 
producing  the  McEane,  is  to  be  denounced  rebel.  Sir  Duncan 
Campbell  of  Glenurquhy  got  into  trouble  for  non-entry  of  his 
man,  a  McEane  VcGillechonane:  some  of  our  readers  will  be 
agreeably  shocked  to  learn  that  in  this  case  two  McEanes  were 
on  the  side  of  the  law.  Also  that  another, — one  of  the  Laird 
of  Gairnetullie's  men,  actually  complains  of  a  spuilyie.  But, 
per  contra,  Sir  Duncan  had  been  charged  to  enter  a  McEane  to 
answer  a  complaint  about  a  horse,  which  was  ordered  to  be  re- 
stored in  as  good  condition  as  when  it  was  taken  away.  And 
another  McEane,  servant  of  the  Laird  of  Glenurquhy  had  been 
"reiving  kye."  There  is  also  entered  an  accusation  of  Alexander 
Flemyng  against  certain  "disorderit"  men  of  Glenco,  in  which 
case  the  complainer  is  to  be  paid  £16  for  each  ox  proven  to  have 
been  slain  and  eaten  in  a  certain  house.  Our  young  friend 
"Allaster  McEane  Oig  of  Glenko,"  accompanied  by  a  number 
of  "sornaris  of  his  awne  Clan  and  utheris,  came  to  Femes  and 
Auchnebechan "  and  elsewhere  on  their  usual  quest  of  pillage, 
accompanied  this  time  with  murder;  he  had  for  accessories  a 
long  list  of  Macs,  some  of  whose  names  are  suspiciously  like 
Maclan.  Sir  Johne  Murray  of  Tullibairdin  complains  that  he 
is  "wrongously"  charged  for  not  entering  several  persons,  whereas 
he  had  been  "ordained  "  only  to  enter  one, — Andro  McEane  Roy  in' 
the  Head  of  Glencoich,  servant  to  the  complainer. 

In  November,  Archibald,  Earl  of  Argyle  came  under  censure 
for  inefficient  performance  of  his  lieutenancy  against  the  Clan 
Gregor,  which  "hes  bene  and  are  als  insolent  and  of  als  wicked 
and  unhappie  a  dispositioun  as  they  wer  at  ony  tyme  preceid- 
ing."  For  example,  certain  McEans  took  horses,  some  described 


ARGYLESHIRE. — RIVER  COE. 


SCENE   IN    GLENCOE. 


1602-03  GivENCOE.  ioi 

as  "wild,"  also  "great  kye"  ;  they  had  also  "spuilyed  the  plenish- 
ing and  moveables"  of  several  people.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  a  few  of  these  rogues  having  committed  many  unlawful 
acts,  their  names  are  repeated,  some  of  them  in  several  different 
works,  so  that  it  seems  as  if  the  whole  lot  were  bad.  In  this 
month  it  was  also  to  be  proved  that  certain  individuals  were 
men  of  Archibald,  Earl  of  "Ergyll", —  among  them  a  McEane 
VcGregour,  "household  man  to  the  Laird  of  McGregour." 

The  same  work  specifies  the  petition  in  1603,  of  Johne  McEan- 
doyn  [MacEan  the  Dark?],  "sometime  in  Tullimat,  .  .  .  touch- 
ing the  alleged  ejection  of  him  furth  of  the  lands  of  Balligoun, 
and  reiving  of  his  kye,  plenishing  and  goods."  Also  the  giving 
of  bonds  in  500  marks  by  Johnne  Cummyng  for  Thomas  Hep- 
burne,  that  the  latter  would  not  harbor  certain  people,  includ- 
ing two  McEans, — during  their  rebellion. 

The  general  process  among  the  Highlanders  of  every  clan 
and  name  appears  to  have  been  to  make  a  "spuilyie"  upon  some 
neighbor's  cattle  and  goods;  then  there  would  be  a  "summond" 
issued,  which  they  perhaps  never  heard  of, — at  the  market- 
cross  of  some  town  in  the  shire;  then  they  would  "fail  to  corn- 
pear"  on  the  day  fixed  for  the  hearing;  so  they  would  be  "declared 
rebel";  which  would  give  an  opportunity  for  the  hostile  clans 
to  join  temporarily  with  the  representatives  of  the  law,  in  making 
a  counter-descent;  in  due  time  those  of  the  sufferers  who  escaped, 
would  rally,  and  try  to  pay  off  old  scores  with  liberal  interest,— 
and  so  on. 

Although  we  will  meet  with  mention  of  bows  and  arrows 
later,  [in  1665],  it  is  claimed  that  firearms  of  a  kind,  swords 
and  portions  of  armor  were  used  even  by  common  soldiers  at 
the  period  we  have  reached.  The  Reverends  A.  Macdonalds 
show  this  by  "the  slaughter  of  Lennox,  which  took  place  in 
1603,  when  400  freebooters,  of  whom  Clan  Iain  Abrich  formed 
a  large  contingent,  came  armed  with  pistols,  murriones,  coats 
of  mail,  etc.  It  is  similarly  proved  that  the  trews  were  much 
more  frequently  worn  than  is  generally  supposed."  Some 
mentions  of  the  arms  used  of  old  in  Scottish  wapenschawings 
verge  on  the  comic,  as  when  Dixon  in  Border  Clans,  79,  quotes 
about  "pistolettis  and  utheris  ingynis  of  fyre  work,"  but  he 
says  that  in  1540  the  only  firearms  mentioned  were  culverins. 


io2  MACIANS  OF  1605-11 

"In  1605,  John,  son  of  John  Og  Maclain,  seems  still  to  be 
the  Chief  of  Glencoe.  That  year  there  is  a  charge  against  him 
to  compear  personally  with  tacks,  securities,  etc.,  at  Loch  Kil- 
kerran  in  Kintyre;  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  Maclain  pre- 
sented himself  on  that  occasion,  nor  is  it  likely  that  he  could 
have  satisfied  the  Government  by  the  production  of  any  feudal 
title  to  Glencoe.  The  Maclain  charter  chest  does  not  appear 
to  have  held  any  parchments  in  the  shape  of  instruments  of 
tenure  early  in  the  seventeenth  century."  (Clan  Donald,  II. 
198). 

The  above  non-compearance  is  alluded  to  by  Gregory  in  his 
Western  Highlands,  306,  from  which  it  seems  that  Lord  Scone, 
Comptroller  of  Scotland  summoned  the  chiefs;  that  Kilkerran 
is  now  Campbelltown ;  that  they  were  to  find  sureties  for  the 
payment  of  the  rents  of  His  Majesty,  [James  I.  of  England  and 
VI.  of  Scotland],  under  penalty  of  having  their  deeds  declared 
null  and  void  and  themselves  "pursuit  with  fire  and  sword  as 
rebels  to  the  King"  in  the  event  of  their  failure  to  appear. 

In  1609  John  and  Alexander  Stewart  were  slain  by  Glencoe 
men,  and  the  guilty  parties  were  put  to  the  horn  in  1610,  at 
the  instance  of  Hlspeth  Stewart,  relict  of  John.  "During  1610 
we  are  informed  that  'Allaster  Maclain  Oig  of  Glencoe'  .  .  . 
seems  to  have  been  the  last  chief's  brother,  and  judging  by  his 
designation,  to  have  succeeded  him,"  but  he  does  not  appear 
in  the  list  of  chiefs  in  Vol.  III.  of  Clan  Donald.  Many  hard  names 
are  heaped  upon  Allaster  Maclain  Oig  of  Glencoe  in  connection 
with  the  Stewart  murders,  "and  Providence  is  devoutly  thanked 
for  [his  falling]  into  the  hands  of  Colin  Campbell  of  Abermichell." 
James,  Earl  of  Perth,  and  Stewart  of  Stratherne  were  to  bring 
the  malefactor  to  trial.  Commission  was  also  given  to  a  Colqu- 
houn,  Maclean  and  Cameron  "to  convocate  the  lieges  to  appre- 
hend Angus  Maclain  Buy  in  Dalness,  Allastair  Maclain  Duy  in 
Achtriachtan,  Allan  Dow  Maclain  Duy  his  brother,  and  John 
Og  Maclain  Duy,  [the  families  of  Dalness  and  Achtriachtan 
were  Cadets  of  Glencoe],  for  not  having  found  caution  to  underly 
the  laws  for  the  slaughter  of  the  late  Allaster  and  John  Stewart." 
In  1611  "Allaster  MacEan  Oig  of  Glencoe  is  still  in  durance 
vile  in  the  Tolbooth  of  Edinburgh"  and  he  "passes  out  of  history 
and  is  seen  no  more."  (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald,  II.,  198, 

199)- 


1615-3° 

"It  is  highly  improbable  that  the  Maclans  refrained  from 
supporting  their  brethren  of  Clan  Donald  in  their  struggle  with 
the  intriguing  Argyle,  ['Fair  and  false  like  a  Campbell'], — whose 
treacherous  doings  culminated  in  the  fight  of  1615." 

X.  JOHN  ABRACH  or  ABROCH  appears  in  1617  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  family.     We  do  not  find  any  trace  of  sons  of 
this  Chief,   except  his  successor.     (Clan  Donald,   II.,    199;  III. 
214). 

In  1617  a  commission  was  given  to  the  Sheriffs  of  seven  places, 
to  apprehend  and  try  three  "servitors  to  John  Abroch  of  Glencoe, 
for  not  answering  to  the  charge  of  murdering  David  Bowman. 
During  this  year  the  feud  with  the  Stewarts  resulted  in  several 
fatalities,  and  measures  were  taken  for  the  apprehension  and, 
trial  of  John  Abroch  Macdonald  of  Glencoe,  [apparently  the 
first  application  in  a  contemporary  document,  of  the  title  Mac- 
donald to  a  Glencoe  chief],  Donald  Bowie  Maclain  Viclain  Oig 
Viclain  Abrich,  and  a  number  of  other  Highlanders.  The 
result  of  these  proceedings  does  not  transpire.  (Abridged  from 
Clan  Donald,  II.,  200). 

"The  foregoing  monotony  of  lawlessness  gives  a  black  picture 
of  the  descendants  of  John  Fraoch,  but  being  drawn  from  the 
national  record  of  contemporary  misdeeds  it  could  hardly  be 
otherwise.  There  must  have  been  in  the  inner  life  of  the  Clanian 
much  that  was  chivalrous  and  attractive,  even  in  the  ruder 
stages  of  their  history;  but  the  centuries  refuse  to  give  up  their 
secrets,  and  we  only  see  the  Glencoe  men  in  their  role  of  Ishmael- 
ites — their  hand  against  every  other,  and  the  hands  of  many 
others  against  them."  (Ibid.,  II.,  200). 

From  1617  to  1634  there  is  a  prolonged  pause,  during  which 
there  is  no  trace  of  the  men  of  Glencoe  either  in  war  and  foray 
or  in  the  arts  of  peace,  excepting  that— 

About  1630,  as  related  by  Macleay  in  Rob  Roy  and  his  Times, 
Glencoe,  the  son-in-law  of  the  chief  of  the  Macgregors,  aided 
the  latter  in  a  raid  on  Kilmarnock  on  the  banks  of  the  Leven. 

XI.  ALEXANDER,   according   to   the   ordinary  rules  of    calcu- 
lation would  have  succeeded  his  father  about    1630.     He  was 
knownin  his  day  as  Alastair  Ruadh.     He  had  two  sons — i.  Alex- 
ander, his  successor.     2.  Angus,  known  as  Aonghas  MacAlastair 
Ruaidh,  the  well-known  Gaelic  bard.     (Clan  Donald,  III.,  214). 


104  MACIANS   OF1  1634 

Glencos  was  the  scene  of  much  disorder  at  this  time.  "The 
Chartulary*  says,  August  i,  1634,  Act  in  favour  of  certain  Stewarts, 
That  whereas  they  having  raised  lettres  of  lawborrisf  againis 
Angus  McDonald  Vceane  dowie  vcalaster  in  Glenco,  John  Gaer 
Mcallaster  Roy  there  and  aganis  a  number  of  otheris  disorderit 
and  broken  lymmars,  some  of  the  Clan  Gregours  and  some  other 
Clanns  all  for  the  most  part  duelling  in  Glenco,  they  can  get 
no  officer  that  will  or  daire  repaire  to  the  place  where  thir  people 
duellis  to  charge  thame."  Record  of  Secret  Council  Decreta. 
(History  of  the  Clan  Gregor,  II.,  43). 

In  1634  the  Glencoe  men  went  as  far  as  Aberdeenshire,  being 
involved  in  a  feud  between  the  Chrichtons  and  the  Gordons. 
The  Lords  of  Secret  Council  summoned  the  Gordons  and  Clanian 
to  compear  personally,  to  give  information  and  to  restrain  their 
people.  In  January  1635,  Allaster  Maclain  Abraich  of  Glencoe, 
evidently  the  chief  of  the  tribe,  appeared  to  answer  for  his  alleged 
"misdemeanours.  The  Glencoe  Chief  seems  to  have  spent  a 
considerable  part  of  the  year  of  grace  1635  within  the  precincts 
of  the  Scottish  capital  ...  he  has  to  bind  and  oblige  himself 
to  remain  and  keep  ward  in  Edinburgh  till  he  found  caution 
conform  to  the  Act  of  Parliament.  It  is  probable  that  until 
the  following  summer  Maclain  of  Glencoe  did  not  tread  his 
native  heath,  but  had  still  to  submit  to  the  uncongenial  atmos- 
phere of  'Auld  Reekie, 'I  and  it  is  most  likely  that  the  curtailment 
of  the  modified  liberty  he  was  first  allowed  was  owing  to  some 
suspicion  that  he  either  tried  or  purposed  to  break  ward.  In 
any  case,  ...  he  was,  with  others,  committed  to  ward  within 
the  Tolbooth,  Edinburgh,  till  he  found  security  for  observing 
the  relevant  Acts;  the  permission  to  go  a  Sabbath  day's  journey 

*  This  consists  of  extracts  from  various  Records  embodying  every  known 
authentic  passage  regarding  the  Clan  Gregor.  The  title  is  more  correctly 
the  record  of  the  temporalities  or  property  of  a  monastery,  or  of  the  keeper 
of  the  record. 

t  Law  Borrois,  Law  Borrows,  s.  pi.  The  legal  security  which  one  man 
is  obliged  to  give,  that  he  will  not  do  any  injury  to  another  in  his  person 
or  property.  Scottish  Acts,  James  II.  Law  and  borgh,  or  borrow,  a  pledge. 
(Jamieson's  Scottish  Dictionary). 

J  This  well-known  name  for  Edinburgh  (please  call  it  Edinborough),  is 
not  from  any  smokiness,  but  meaning  royal,  from  righ,  a  king.  (Lansdale's 
Scotland,  Historic  and  Romantic,  I.,  i,  note). 


1640-41  GLENCOE.  105 

beyond  the  city,  which  he  formerly  enjoyed,  having  been  with- 
drawn. As  to  Allaster's  subsequent  history  we  are  left  in  the 
dark  ...  It  would  not  be  safe,  however,  to  conclude  that 
there  was  any  sudden  conversion  from  the  ancient  love  of  'creach,' 
or  that  their  attitude  towards  neighboring  clans  had  undergone 
a  radical  change."  (Adapted  from  Clan  Donald,  II.,  201,  202). 

"  In  1 640  the  Clan  Iain  took  part  in  a  foray  in  which  the  men 
of  Keppoch  were  the  principals,  and  which  resulted  in  serious 
loss  to  both."  Returning  from  the  expedition,  they  were  passing 
through  the  Campbell  territory  without  offering  to  pay  toll  on 
their  booty:  the  Campbells  attacked  them  and  in  the  bloody 
conflict  which  followed,  the  Clan  Donald  were  victorious,  eighteen 
of  the  Campbells  being  killed.  .  .  .  "But  the  victory  was  dearly 
bought  by  the  death  of  two  Clan  Donald  chiefs."  (Abridged 
from  Clan  Donald,  II.,  203). 

XII.  ALEXANDER,  the  principal  victim  of  the  inhuman 
slaughter  of  1692.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Archibald  Mac- 
donald  of  Keppoch, — a  sister  of  the  famous  Coll;  and  had  two 
sons,  both  of  whom  escaped  from  the  massacre. —  i.  John,  his 
successor.  2.  Alexander.  The  second  son,  Alexander,  married 
in  1696,  Florence  Macdonald,  and  died  in  1707.  (Ibid.,  III., 
214,  643). 

Before  coming  to  the  following  pathetic  account  in  the  Acts 
of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland, — of  what  appears  from  our  present 
point  of  view  to  have  been  a  foul  wrong,  we  should  recollect 
that  manners  change  with  the  times.  Also  that  Mistress  Eliza- 
beth Ross  has  given  us  no  inkling  of  the  provocation  which  the 
McEans  and  others  had  probably  received  from  her  people. 
Furthermore,  we  have  no  knowledge  of  the  number  of  retainers 
she  had  in  the  town  and  land  of  Milnecraig  belonging  to  her; 
they  must  have  been  numerous  to  have  needed  so  many  in  the 
attacking  force,  and  the  death  of  the  late  Donald  may  have 
been  quite  incidental  to  what  was  probably  a  common  foray. 
Lastly,  in  those  good  old  times,  the  best  chieftain  was  the  most 
successful  cattle-lifter,  the  best  naval  commander  was  the  pirate 
most  impartial  towards  friend  and  foe,  and  the  best  soldier  or 
sailor  was  the  most  active  pillager. 

SUPPUCATIOUN  of  Elspeth  Ros.     Acts  Parl.  Scot.,  A.  D.  1641. 
"Mv  LORDES  and  remanent  estaites  of  this  present  parliament 
now   presently  convenit   wnto   yor  lo   [rdships]  humblie   menes 


106  MACIANS  OF1  1641 

and  schawes  Elspeth  Ros  relict  of  vmquhile  Donald  Roy  miller 
servitor  to  hew  Ros  of  Tollie"  [in  brief,  as  Parliament  was  sitting 
for  the  repressing  of  all  oppressions  and  injuries,  ...  to  see 
Justice  administered,  and  to  purge  the  land  of  "murdor  slachter 
and  Innocent  blood"  .  .  .  the  petitioners  are  imboldened  to 
show]  "That  vpoun  the  nyntene  day  of  Maij  last  bypast"  .  .  . 
[a  number  of  persons,  among  whom  we  regret  to  find  the  names 
of  Johne  roy  mceayne,  Jon  croy  mceayne,  Alexander  mceayne, 
mcfinlay  vie  eayne  "fermorer  in  keatuall,"  Donald  mceayne, 
hector  mceayne  vie  to  Alister,  Wm.  mceayne,  etc.,  congregated], 
' '  And  withothers  thr  complicis  cam  efter  sune  setting  to  the 
number  of  [blank]  persounes  bodin  in  hoisteill  maner  with  hagbutes 
gunes  pistolles  carabines  swordes  tairgis  bowes  dorlaches  and 
other  Invasive  wapones  by  all  ordor  of  law  or  Justice  To  the 
toune  and  landes  of  Milnecraig  pertening  to  me  the  sd  hew  Ros 
of  Tollie  qr  the  sd  wmquhile  Donald  roy  miller  and  otheres  of 
myne  the  sd  hew  Ros  my  servandes  war  in  ane  most  peceablie 
maner  at  my  service  for  the  tyme  And  there  maist  crewallie 
and  wnmercifullie  schot  many  and  divers  schottes  of  gunes 
hagbutes  pistoilles  carabines  and  arowes  at  the  sd  wmquhile 
Donald  roy  miller  and  wounded  him  in  diverse  pairtis  of  his 
bodie  And  not  being  content  therewith  strak  at  him  with 
diverse  naked  swords  till  at  last  he  fell  doune  deid  to  the  grund 
And  Imediatelie  therefter  he  depairtit  this  mortall  lyff  .  .  . 
And  the  puire  relict  and  hir  sex  Infantes  and  fatherles  orphanes 
wanting  means  defraudit  of  the  benefeit  of  law  competent  to 
ws  Heirfor  we  beseik  your  lo[rdships]  .  .  .  To  gif  and  appoynt 
sik  ordor  and  warrand  as  salbe  thocht  most  fitting"  [in  short, 
that  no  remission  or  respite  be  granted  the  aforenamed  persons 
for  the  said  slaughter  till  the  law  should  take  its  course  against 
them  or  the  petitioners  be  satisfied;  and  that  any  respite  pri- 
vately procured  be  declared  null]. 

In  the  above  case  the  Estates  of  Parliament  order  the  Deputy 
Treasurer  and  Lords  of  the  Exchequer  to  pass  no  remission  in 
favor  of  the  parties  named,  until  the  petitioner  be  first  called 
and  heard;  and  the  Clerk  was  to  give  the  "dowble  heirof"  to 
the  petitioner. 

The  next  mention  of  the  McEans,  in  Vol.  V.,  Caroli  I.,  A.  D. 
1641,  would  seem  at  first  sight,  to  hint  strongly  of  retaliation, 
if  not  justice;  as  it  speaks  of  the  repression  of  the  Clan,  and 


1636-44  6LENCOE.  to? 

(seeing  the  order  of  the  documents),  apparently  in  consequence 
of  the  fray  at  Milnecraig;  but  if  we  are  to  judge  from  the  date 
1636  in  the  instrument,  the  "repression"  preceded  the  skirmish, 
and  may  have  been,  in  part,  the  provocation  to  the  Clan,  for 
which  we  otherwise  look  in  vain.  A  few  extracts  follow: 

"RATIFICATION  to  Archebald  Lord  Lome  of  the  lordschip 
of  Kintyre,  etc.  OURE  SOVERANE  LORD  with  advyise  and 
consent  of  the  estaites  of  this  present  parliament  Ratefies  and 
approves  the  contract  past  betuixt  his  sacred  majestic  with 
consent  of  his  hienes  [s's]  heigh  thesaurer  and  Remanent  Lordis 
of  his  majesties  exchekker  of  this  kingdome  his  hienes  commis- 
sionares  On  the  ane  pairt  And  wmquhyill  Archibald  earle  of 
argyle  Lord  Campbell  and  Lome  for  himselff  .  .  .  The  yeir  of 
god  JMVJC.  [one  thousand  six  hundred]  and  threttie  sex  yeires 
...  Quhairby  and  in  respect  of  the  bygane  services  of  the 
said  wmquhyill  earle  of  argyle  in  Repressing  of  the  barbarous 
races  of  the  Clangregor  and  clandonald  And  of  the  services  of 
Archibald  now  earle  of  argyle  father  to  the  said  Archibald  now 
Lord  of  Lome  In  repressing  of  the  clan  of  Mcean  and  apprehend- 
ing of  that  notable  sorner  called  Gilroy  and  of  the  other  onerous 
and  weightie  causses  particularlie  mentionat  in  the  said  contract 
His  majestie  with  consent  forsaid  Ratefiet  the  former  Infest  - 
mentis  grantit  be  his  majesties  wmquhyill  deirest  father  of 
blissed  memorie  or  his  majesties  selff"  [and  so  on  and  so  forth 
through  two  folio  columns  bristling  with  "And  quhilk,"  "!N 
ALL,"  "And  Sicklyke,"  "And  Farder,  fforsamekill,"  "With  the 
priviledge"  and  "THAIRFORE;"  but  containing  nothing  more 
about  the  McEans].  There  is  much  fighting  indicated  however, 
in  the  word  "repressing." 

"In  the  political  turmoil  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the 
Clanian,  like  the  rest  of  the  Clan  Donald,  supported  the  claims 
of  the  House  of  Stewart.  There  is  distinct  evidence  that  they 
took  their  own  share  of  the  toils  and  glories  of  the  campaigns 
of  Montrose"  .  .  .  It  is  shown  that  the  Glencoe  men  were  in 
a  party  to  relieve  the  castles  of  Mingarry  and  Lochaline  in  Ard- 
namurchan.  A  Council  was  held  at  Blair- Athole  about  1644  to 
consult  .  .  .  about  winter  quarters,  and  Colkitto  joined  with 
recruits  from  Clanranald,  Glengarry,  Keppoch,  Glencoe,  Appin, 
the  Camerons  and  Farquharsons.  "The  Council  declared  for  the 
Highlands  as  being  most  secure.  Montrose  gave  in  to  the  ma- 


IOS  MACIANS   OF1  1644-45 

jority,  on  the  assurance  being  given  that  food  and  quarters  could 
...  be  provided.  'But  how  shall  we  find  a  track?  '  asked 
Montrose,  'or  how  obtain  subsistence  at  this  season? '  Angus 
the  son  of  Allan  Dubh,  who  appears  to  have  been  the  leader  of 
the  Glencoe  men,"  offered  himself  as  a  guide  after  Argyle  was 
accustomed  to  say  that  he  would  not  let  any  one  know  the  passes 
into  his  country  from  the  east  for  100,000  crowns;  Allan  .  .  . 
was  also  prominent  upon  the  question  of  commissariat  .  .  . 
and  said  he  knew  the  stanch  houses  and  could  procure  fat  cattle 
in  the  Campbell  country  of  Argyle,  and  this  assurance  "turned 
the  scale  in  favour  of  wintering  in  the  Highlands."  (Adapted 
from  Clan  Donald,  II.,  203,  204;  and  Taylor's  Pictorial  History 
of  Scotland,  II.,  622). 

The  Calendar  of  State  Papers  notes  that  in  1644  Alaster  Mac- 
Donell  was  a  comrade  of  the  Karl  of  Montrose:  at  first  glance 
this  might  seem  to  refer  to  Alexander  or  Alastair  of  Glencoe, 
but  it  is  improbable ;  the  first  reference  in  the  Calendar  states 
that  the  Earl  "with  a  famous  fellow  called  Kittock"  are  taken 
prisoners  by  the  Earl  of  Argyle;  the  next  is  that  the  enemy 
was  routed,  Montrose  missing  and  his  comrade  Kitto  slain.  But 
this  may  have  been  a  mistake,  for  in  1652  a  certain  Col.  Alex. 
Macdonall,  possibly  the  same,  was  made  a  close  prisoner,  special 
care  was  to  be  taken  of  him  and  2s  a  day  allowed  him,  etc. 

We  read  in  the  Encyc.  Brit.,  article  Scotland,  that  about  1645 
"Montrose  erected  the  royal  standard  [of  Charles  I.]  in  Dumfries  ; 
then  passing  to  the  Highlands,  after  the  victory  of  Tippermuir 
he  took  Perth,  and  defeated  L,ord  Lewis  Gordon  at  the  Bridge 
of  Dee.  Next,  after  ravaging  the  county  of  Argyll,  he  marched 
to  Inverness,  but  returned  to  defeat  Argyll  at  Inverlochy,  won 
further  victories  at  Auldearn  near  Nairn  and  Alford  on  the  Don, 
and  by  that  of  Kilsyth  appeared  to  have  recovered  Scotland 
for  Charles."  We  quote  these  names  partly  because  Glencoe 
served  under  Montrose  in  his  wars  and  fought  with  particular 
valor  at  the  battle  of  Inverlochy,  according  to  Grant's  Tartans 
of  the  Clans  of  Scotland. 

The  Maclans  took  part  in  the  celebrated  raid  of  the  Campbell 
country  ,as  noted  in  Browne's  Highlanders  and  Clans,  I.,  362, 
and  the  Stewarts  of  Appin,  185. 

And  they  were  in  the  centre  of  the  front  line  in  the  battle  of 
Inverlochy,  fought  Sunday,  February  2nd,  1645.  (Keltic's 


I645-51  GLENCOE-  109 

Highland  Clans,  I.,  198).  It  was  after  this  battle  that  Ranald 
of  the  Shield,  afterwards  killed  in  the  Glencoe  Massacre,  won 
his  sobriquet  by  fighting  with  dirk  and  target  against  a  braggart 
English  dragoon.  This  incident  has  been  given  with  much  vigor 
and  eloquent  detail  in  Clan  Donald,  II.,  204-206,  the  hero  being 
Ranald  Macdonald,  (son  of  Allan  of  Achtriachtan),  and  who 
remarked  among  other  things  in  Gaelic:  "There  is  no  knowing 
what  may  happen  to  me,  but  the  very  devil  will  happen  to  him.'' 
As  Ranald  fought  at  Worcester  in  1651,  it  is  probable  the  Clan 
formed  part  of  the  Highland  forces  which  defended  that  place 
against  ten  times  their  number,  until  King  Charles  [II.]  himself 
ordered  them  to  retreat. 

We  had  hoped  to  show  that  the  spirited  military  march  called 
"Blue  Bonnets  over  the  Border"  was  written  by  Sir  Walter 
Scott  in  commemoration  of  this  invasion  of  England  by  the 
Highlanders,  but  it  evidently  celebrated  a  period  a  few  years 
before,  when  General  Alexander  Leslie  advanced  toward  Long 
Marston  Moor;  and  the  names  are  decidedly  of  the  Lowlands. 
Perhaps  the  most  stirring  version  is  the  one  beginning: 

March,  march,  Ettrick  and  Teviotdale, 

\Yhy  the  de'il  dinna  ye  march  forward  in  order? 

March,  march,  Eskdale  and  Liddesdale, 

All  the  Blue  Bonnets  are  over  the  Border."    .    .    . 

We  read  that  about  1651  some  plaids  were  known,  and  as 
we  have  mention  of  them  in  Section  IV.  about  this  date,  we 
introduce  the  subject. 

PLAIDS  AND  TARTANS. — It  is  well  known  that  each  Clan  had 
its  distinguishing  plaid  and  tartan,  (the  difference  is  said  to  be 
in  the  texture  of  the  goods,  the  former  being  much  the  thicker 
of  the  two).  They  were  originally  worn  only  in  the  Highlands, 
and  "some  were  known  in  1651,"  [we  have  just  seen  that  plaiding 
was  known  in  1649*];  their  use  was  forbidden  in  1747,!  but 

*  Frank  Adam  quotes  several  items  from  official  documents,  showing  that 
"tartanes"  were  mentioned  as  far  back  as  1471,  in  the  accounts  of  the  royal 
household.  Among  other  quaint  entries  are  found:  "Four  elne  and  ane 
halve  of  tartane  for  a  sparwort  aboune  his  credill,  [canopy  above  his  cradle  ?]i 
foprice  ane  elne,  ios.";  also  "Heland  sarkis  to  the  Kingis  grace  .  .  .  r 
twa  unce  of  silk  to  sew  thame  .  .  .  for  iiij  elnis  of  ribanis  to  the  handes 
of  them  ..." 

t  The  following  "Indemnity  Oath,"  which  may  be  found  in  the  Encyclo- 


110  MACIANS    OF  1651 

the  Act  was  repealed  in  1782.  There  were  two  principal  marks 
of  distinction, — the  green  (or  Maine)  and  the  red  (or  dearg) 
field ;  a  very  few  had  yellow  for  the  ground  or  conspicuous  color, 
and  one  or  two  were  chiefly  white,  grey,  blue  or  black.  Upon 
the  various  fields,  generally  green  or  red,  the  arrangement  of 
bars  and  threads  of  differing  colors  in  various  widths,  formed 
the  clan  plaid.  And  so  the  proverb  said:  "Kyth  i'  your  ain 
colours,  that  fowk  may  ken  you." 

These  fabrics  are  still  made  in  favorite  patterns  which  are 
often  called  for,  but  there  being  little  or  no  demand  for  some, — 
like  that  of  the  Maclans  or  McKeans,  those  have  to  be  made  to 
order.  We  have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  a  sample  of  the 
Mackeane  arrangement,  made  by  White  of  Edinburgh,  and  said 
to  be  set  forth  in  Old  and  Rare  Scottish  Tartans,  by  Donald 
William  Stewart,  Edinburgh,  George  P.  Johnston,  1893.  "Sir 
Richard  Urquhart,  Knycht,  author  of  'Vestiarum  Scotiorum,' ' 
says:  "Mackeane  he  the  four  stryppes  of  Blak  upon  ain  scarlett 
feilde,  and  upon  the  scarlett  set  ain  spraig  (sprainge)  of  yellow 
of  saxteen  threidis,  havand  thereto  ain  bordure  of  Blak  of  twa 
threidis."  This  seems  conclusive  of  the  color  of  the  field,  though 
Maclan's  "Clans  of  the  Scottish  Highlanders  indicates  the  Glencoe 
as  one  of  the  green  plaids.  W.  and  A.  K.  Johnston's  Scottish 
Clans  and  Tartans  gives  the  MacDonald  in  general,  and  those 
of  Clanranald  and  of  Glengarry  with  green  or  blue  predominating, 
and  those  of  the  Isles  and  Slate  and  of  Staffa  with  red.* 

paedia  Britannica  and  in  What  is  my  Tartan?  was  extorted  from  the  High- 
landers, to  guard  against  evasion  of  the  Act:  "I,  A.  B.,  do  swear,  and  as  I 
shall  answer  to  God  at  the  great  day  of  judgment,  I  have  not,  nor  shall 
have,  in  my  possession  any  gun,  sword,  pistol,  or  arm  whatsoever,  and  never 
use  tartan,  plaid,  or  any  part  of  the  Highland  garb;  and  if  I  do  so  may  I 
be  cursed  in  my  undertakings,  family,  and  property, — may  I  never  see  my 
wife  and  children,  father,  mother,  or  relations, — may  I  be  killed  in  battle 
as  a  coward,  and  lie  without  Christian  burial  in  a  strange  land,  far  from 
the  grave  of  my  forefathers  and  kindred;  may  all  this  come  across  me  if 
I  break  my  oath."  Among  other  indignant  protests  called  forth  by  the 
oath  was  a  poetical  one  mentioned  by  Frank  Adam  and  entitled,  ''The 
Anathema  of  the  Breeks."  The  Act  was  repealed  in  1782,  but  even  in  1809, 
one  of  the  Scottish  regiments  was  ordered  to  discontinue  their  Highland 
dress,  as  it  was  "objectionable  to  the  people  of  Britain!  "  (Adapted  from 
What  is  my  Tartan?). 

*  Samples  furnished  by  Simpson,  Hunter  and  Young,  of  Glasgow,  indi- 
cate that  the — 


THE  MACKEANE  TARTAN 


l65I-55  GLENCOE.  in 

The  documents  just  quoted  mention  prices  varying  from 
4-y.  4</.  to  i2.y.  ["old  style"]  per  ell  (the  Scotch  ell  used  to  be 
37.2  inches):  the  price  in  Glasgow,  in  1901,  of  any  pattern  ap- 
peared to  be  6s.  per  yard,  54  inches  wide, — customs  dues,  ocean 
freight,  domestic  expressage,  etc.,  not  included,  but  possibly 
increasing  the  cost  from  40  to  50  per  cent.  Any  small  quantity 
can  probably  be  supplied,  but  in  the  case  of  rare  patterns  being 
ordered  to  be  manufactured,  perhaps  a  piece  25  yards  long 
and  21  inches  wide  would  have  to  be  taken  at  the  least. 

Lord  Archibald  Campbell's  Records  of  Argyll,  428,  referring 
to  "The  search  in  Glencoe  for  mention  or  tradition  anent  dis- 
tinctive clan  tartan  or  clan  colours,"  gives  the  following 

"Letter  from  S.  MacGregor  to  'D.'     Glencoe  2Oth  Feb.,  1883. 

My  dear  Sir,  .  .  .  As  to  the  wider  question  as  to  the  existence 
of  tartans  generally  at  and  previous  to  the  time  of  the  Massacre 
of  Glencoe,  we  think  that  there  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt. 
Upon  this  subject  tradition  is  full  and  undivided.  An  old  woman 
in  the  Glen  (Mrs.  Maclntyre),  a  descendant  of  MacEunruig  or 
Henderson,  Maclan's  family  piper  (MacEunruig  Mor) — tells  me 
.that  when  a  little  girl  she  heard  her  grandmother,  then  a  very 
old  woman,  say  that  all  her  ancestors  wore  tartan  and  nothing 
else." 

James  Logan  in  The  Scottish  Gael,  159,  quotes  from  Heron 
that  before  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  tartan  was  manu- 
factured of  one  or  two  colors  for  the  poor;  but  gives  intimations 
on  p.  156  that  tartans  existed  in  Britain  long  prior  to  the  com- 
mencement of  our  credible  history,  and  that  Abaris  the  high 
priest  of  the  Hyperborei  wore  a  robe  which  seems  to  be  a  Scottish 
plaid. 

Resuming  historical  notes  proper: — 

In  the  General  Index  to  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland, 
we  read  for  1655:  "Glencoe  with  adjacent  districts  to  form  a 


MacDonalds  of  Clan  Ranald  /  had  a  plaid  with  dark  blue  or  green  field,  with 

Glengarry      i"      red  and  white  bars  and  threads. 
',,  v  ,        \  had  a  plaid  writh  dark  blue  or  green  field,  with 

j      red  bars  and  threads. 
(Staffa,  said)  -had  a  plaid  wkh  dark  red   field>  witH  Wack> 

(     Glencoe    )       blue  and  white  threads. 

(  Sleat   and  )  had  a  plaid  with  dark  red  field,  with  black 

(     th°elsle°s   )       and  dark  blue  threads- 


112  MACIAN3    OF  1655-74 

new  county;"  and  there  is  a  similar  entry  about  Glengarry, 
but  tri2  detailed  reference  appears  to  be  missing. 

Raids  and  feuds  continue  to  occupy  the  attention  of  the  sub* 
jects  of  these  Notes  at  this  period  of  their  history. 

It  was  apparently  in  September,  1665,  that  some  Maclans  of 
Glencoe,  and  MacGregors,  joined  the  Camerons  against  the  Mack- 
intoshes, about  lands  in  Lochaber;  three  hundred  of  the  men 
had  bows,  and  it  is  stated  that  these  were  the  last  considerable 
company  of  bowmen  that  appeared  in  the  Highlands.  [But  we 
will  meet  with  them  again].  Soon  after,  the  Camerons  being 
joined  by  the  MacDonalds  of  Glengarry,  Keppoch,  Glencoe  and 
others,  marched  into  Mull,  and  prevented  an  intended  invasion 
by  Argyll.  (History  of  the  Camerons,  162,  163).  At  this  time 
also,  [see  1685]  another  fight  took  place  between  Glencoe  and 
some  Breadalbane  men  at  Killin.  (Records  of  Argyll,  477). 

And  in  June,  1671,  the  MacGregors,  joined  by  the  MacDonalds 
of  Glencoe  and  Keppoch,  entered  Menzies'  lands,  drove  out  his 
tenants  and  performed  warlike  acts.  "In  consequence  of  which 
they  were  on  August  i  denounced  rebels  for  not  having  compeared 
before  the  Lords  of  Council  on  July  27,  to  answer  for  their  assis- 
tants and  complices  entering  the  lands  of  Rannoch  and  by  force 
and  violence  taking  possession  of  a  part  of  the  said  Sir  Alexander 
Menzies  his  lands  and  maintaining  of  the  same  by  force  of  arms, 
and  committing  divers  other  outrages,"  etc.  (Clan  Gregor,  II., 

155)- 

Sir  James  Macdonald  of  Sleat  having  laid  claim  to  be  chief 
of  the  whole  clan,  he  was  held  responsible  for  their  good  behavior 
in  the  Isles  and  on  the  Mainland.  In  1674  it  was  represented 
to  the  Privy  Council  "that  Alexander  Macdonald  of  Glencoe 
who  had  been  committed  prisoner  within  the  Tolbooth  of  Invera- 
ray  by  order  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle,  had  succeeded  in  effecting 
his  escape"  .  .  .  his  misdeeds  are  not  specified.  But  "since 
his  escape  he  was  accused,  with  John  Macdonald  of  Achtriachatan, 
and  their  accomplices,  of  having  committed  'several  murders 
and  depredations'  in  the  County  of  Argyle."  Sir  James  was 
required  "to  assist  in  apprehending  his  clansmen,  but  nothing 
further  is  heard  of  them  in  this  connection.  (Clan  Donald,  III., 
67,  68).  A  similar  claim  of  precedence  over  "their  haill  kyn 
of  Clan  Donald"  had  been  made  before,  by  certain  Macdonalds 
of  Dunnyveg.  (Ibid.,  167). 


1 66i-87  GLENCOE.  113 

The  clan  entered  the  government  service  as  part  of  the  Highland 
host  brought  down  to  curb  the  Covenanters  in  that  bloodless 
but  devastating  foray.  "  It  may  be  explained  that  the  'High- 
land host,'  about  8,000  men,  with  headquarters  at  Stirling, 
remained  in  the  Lowlands  some  eight  months.  It  overawed 
the  whigs  so  that  the  latter  did  not  attempt  to  oppose  the  govern- 
ment during  the  stay  of  these  Highlanders. "  (Keltic's  Highland 
Clans,  I.,  335).  A  letter  in  Woodrow's  MSS.,  Advocates'  Library, 
dated  Feb.  i,  1678,  says  that  among  other  clans  of  the  Highland 
host  brought  down  to  curb  the  Covenanters,  "the  Glencow  men 
were  verie  remarkable,  who  had  for  their  ensign  a  faire  bush 
of  heath,  wel  spread  and  displayed  on  the  head  of  a  staff,  such 
as  might  have  affrighted  a  Roman  eagle."  The  letter  is  published 
entire  in  Black-wood's  Magazine,  April,  1817,  p.  68.  It  is  also 
related,  in  one  of  the  manuscripts  of  later  date  (?)  that  four 
amber  beads  now  in  the  Antiquarian  Museum  in  Edinburgh, 
and  worn  by  a  lady  of  the  clan  on  the  morning  of  the  massacre, 
were  esteemed  as  a  cure  for  blindness.  The  above  letter  is 
mentioned  here  chronologically,  though  the  Covenants  appear 
to  have  been  suppressed  before,  and  declared  illegal  in  1661. 

Probably  towards  the  end  of  the  reign  of  Charles  II.  the  Clan 
incurred  the  enmity  of  Brcadalbane,  (who  had  been  recently 
[Aug.  13,  1681]  created  an  earl),  and  thus  engendered  a  feeling 
of  hatred  which  vented  itself  in  the  Glencoe  massacre.  On 
their  return  from  a  foray  into  the  Lowlands,  they  attempted  to 
cross  the  lands  of  Breadalbane  without  asking  permission,  and 
the  Campbells  sallied  out  in  hot  pursuit.  They  overtook  the 
Macdonalds  near  Killin,  where  the  raiders  took  up  their  position 
on  some  rising  ground  .  .  .  and  awaited  the  onset.  They 
received  their  assailants  with  swarms  of  arrows  and  repulsed 
them,  killing  nineteen  of  the  Campbells,  and  wounding  among 
others  Colonel  Menzies,  who  had  urged  in  vain  that  the  fiery 
young  Campbells  should  make  a  flank  attack  on  their  enemies. 
(Abridged  from  Stewart's  Highlanders  and  Highland  Regiments). 

In  1687  the  Glencoe  men  took  part  in  what  it  is  a  relief  to 
know  was  the  last  great  clan  battle  of  Scottish  history, — Mullroy 
or  Glenroy.  Mackintosh  of  Moy  held  a  crown  grant  of  certain 
lands,  which  Keppoch  was  in  actual  possession  of,  and  when 
the  latter  was  challenged  to  produce  his  title  deeds  he  replied 
that  he  held  his  lands  not  by  a  sheep's  skin  but  by  the  sword. 


114  MACIANS   OF  1687 

(Scott's  Tales  of  a  Grandfather,  Chap.  LVI.).  Aided  by  an 
independent  company  of  government  troops  commanded  by 
Captain  Mackenzie  of  Suddie,  Mackintosh"  with  his  clan  marched 
on  Keppoch,  and  finding  the  chief's  house  deserted  he  set  a 
large  force  of  workmen  brought  for  the  purpose,  to  build  a  fort 
near  by.  The  work  was  interrupted  by  news  that  the  Macdonalds 
of  Keppoch,  Glengarry  and  Glencoe  were  behind  a  neighboring 
ridge  intending  to  surprise  Mackintosh  at  daybreak.  The  latter 
determined  to  anticipate  them  and  marched  his  men  before 
dawn,  but  the  Macdonalds  under  Coll  of  Keppoch  .  .  .  appeared 
upon  the  upper  ridge  while  the  Mackintoshes  and  their  govern- 
ment allies  were  scaling  the  heights  of  Mullroy.  With  bows  and 
arrows,  broadswords  and  Lochaber  axes  the  Macdonalds  attacked 
Moy  so  fiercely  that  they  routed  his  men,  killing  Suddie  and 
taking  Mackintosh  himself  prisoner.  While  the  Macdonalds 
were  scattered  in  pursuit  of  the  vanquished  enemy,  the  Mac- 
phersons  appeared,  and  sending  a  flag  of  truce  demanded  thsa 
Moy  be  surrendered  to  them.  Mackintosh  claimed  to  be  head 
of  the  confederation  Clan  Chattan  of  which  the  Macphersont 
were  members,  and  Keppoch  realizing  that  in  the  disorganized 
state  of  his  forces  resistance  was  useless,  handed  Mackintosh 
over  to  the  despised  Macphersons.  This  was  galling  to  the 
pride  of  the  haughty  chieftain,  but  the  good-natured  Macphersons 
set  him  free  instead  of  taking  him  to  their  chief  at  Cluny.  From 
the  Macdonalds  gaining  the  higher  ground  at  the  outset  of  the 
battle  arose  the  words:  "Macdonald  took  the  brae  on  them," 
in  a  '  Salute '  ever  after  used  by  the  pipers  of  the  Keppoch  Mac- 
donalds. Coll  besieged  Inverness,  exacted  a  fine  from  it  and 
compelled  its  people  to  ground  arms  to  the  MacDonald  tartan 
as  a  punishment  for  aiding  Mackintosh.  This  resistance  to 
royal  troops  and  the  killing  of  their  captain  caused  letters  of 
fire  and  sword  to  be  issued  against  Coll  Macdonald  of  Keppoch, 
and  soldiers  were  sent  with  orders  to  destroy  man,  woman  and 
child,  and  lay  waste  Keppoch's  estates.  He  escaped  and  a 
kinsman  purchased  his  immunity  from  further  punishment  by 
paying  a  large  crick  or  fine.  (Abridged  from  Skene's  History 
of  the  Highlands}. 

We  have  thought  that  the  accompanying  signatures,  selected 
from  a  couple  of  pages  of  them  in  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments 
of  Scotland, — would  prove  of  interest  to  our  readers.  There  is 


1687-89  GLENCOU.  115 

little  to  be  explained  about  them :  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse, 
the  "Bonnie  Dundee,"  was  the  head  and  front  of  the  rebellion 
in  which  several  Macdonalds,  McKeans  and  others  joined, — as 
will  be  set  forth  presently:  Argyle  and  Dalrymple  were  their 
inveterate  enemies;  the  blot  on  the  name  of  the  former  is  literal 
as  well  as  figurative,  and  the  latter  exhorted  the  executioners 
of  Glencoe  "to  be  exact  in  rooting  out  that  damnable  sect,  the 
worst  in  all  the  Highlands,"  and  that  they  need  not  trouble 
the  Government  with  prisoners. 


Le. 

,  'fat^Jt, 


Early  in  1689,  as  we  gather  from  MacKenzie's  History  of  the 
Camerons,  183,  etc.,  MacDonald  of  Keppoch,  with  eight  hundred 
men,  was  to  have  conveyed  Viscount  Dundee  to  Lochaber,  the 
place  fixed  upon  for  the  mustering  of  the  adherents  of  King 
James ;  but  Keppoch  laid  siege  to  Inverness,  arrested  the  magnates 
there  and  insisted  upon  their  paying  a  heavy  ransom;  and 
Dundee  having  rebuked  Keppoch,  the  latter  retired  to  his  own 
country  instead  of  conducting  the  Viscount.  At  Lochaber  the 
first  person  who  met  Dundee  was  Glengarry  with  two  or  three 
hundred  men.  He  was  followed  by  MacDonald  of  Morar  at  the 


Il6  MACIANS  OF  1689 

head  of  about  two  hundred  members  of  Clan  Ranald;  also  by 
Appin  and  Glencoe  with  about  the  same  number.  A  letter 
dated  June  23,  1689,  written  by  Dundee  to  Macleod  of  Macleod, 
shows  how  much  dependence  he  placed  on  the  Highland  chief- 
tains, among  whom  he  names  Glencoe. 

The  letter  is  given  in  Browne's  History  of  the  Highlanders  and 
Clans,  II.,  146,  and  the  following  are  extracts: 

"Moy  June  23,  1689. 

.  .  .  Captain  of  Glenrannald  is  near  us  these  several  dayes 
...  Apen  Glenco  Lochell  Glengaire  Keppoch  are  all  raidy." 

Towards  the  middle  of  the  year,  according  to  MacKenzie, 
Dundee  and  his  army  being  in  Lochaber,  Macdonald  of  the  Isles 
joined  him  with  about  seven  hundred  men,  but  it  was  concluded 
to  adhere  to  the  Highland  tactics  and  not  to  drill  the  force. 

"An  interesting  word  picture  of  several  Highland  chiefs  is 
given  in  a  Latin  poem  composed  by  Dundee's  standard-bearer, 
and  the  portrait  of  the  Chief  of  Glencoe  before  Killiecrankie  may 
be  accepted  as  substantially  correct,  though  somewhat  hyper- 
bolical in  colouring.  'Next  came  Glencoe,  terrible  in  unwonted 
arms,  covered  as  to  his  breast  with  new  hide,  and  towering 
above  his  whole  line  by  head  and  shoulders.  A  hundred  men 
all  of  gigantic  mould,  all  mighty  in  strength,  accompany  him 
as  he  goes  to  the  war.  He  himself  turning  his  shield  in  his  hand, 
nourishing  terribly  his  sword,  fierce  in  aspect,  rolling  his  wild 
eyes,  the  horns  of  his  twisted  beard  curled  backward,  seems  to 
breathe  forth  [?]  wherever  he  moves."  (Clan  Donald,  II.,  206, 
207,  quoting  from  The  Grameid,  an  Heroic  poem  descriptive  of 
the  Campaign  of  Graham,  Viscount  Dundee  in  1689,  by  James 
Philip  of  Almerieclose,  1691). 

The  battle  of  Killiecrankie  was  fought  on  the  27th  of  July, 
1689,  an  English  force  of  3,500  men  and  two  troops  of  horse 
having  arrived  at  the  pass  on  their  march  northward;  Dundee 
had  with  him  about  1,800  Highlanders  and  300  Irishmen.  The 
reinforcements  sent  for  from  various  places,  Ardnamurchan 
included,  not  having  joined  the  Jacobites  because  the  day  of 
rendezvous  had  not  arrived,  the  question  with  the  latter  was 
whether  to  wait  for  assistance  or  attack  at  once.  Alexander 
Macdonald  of  Glengarry  and  Sir  Hwen  Cameron  spoke  so  decidedly 
in  favor  of  fighting  immediately,  that  Dundee  concluded  to  do 
so,  though  at  first  the  council  were  disposed  to  stand  on  the 


1689  GIvENCOE.  117 

defensive.  The  Macdonalds  of  Clanranald  and  Glengarry  were 
with  the  right;  Sir  Donald  Macdonald  and  the  Islesmen  were 
on  the  extreme  left,  with  the  Camerons,  according  to  Mackenzie, 
who  sums  up  the  account  of  the  engagement  thus:  "The  High- 
landers, though  they  had  to  mourn  the  loss  of  about  a  third  of 
their  men,  secured  a  complete  victory,  and  few  of  the  enemy 
escaped;  but  having  lost  their  brilliant  commander,  [Dundee, 
"Greatest  of  Scots  and  last"],  the  result  was  dearly  bought, 
and  the  war  may  be  said  to  have  ended — before  it  was  well 
commenced — by  a  Highland  victory,  perhaps  the  most  brilliant 
on  record."  History  of  the  Camerons,  196. 

Taylor's  Pictorial  History  of  Scotland  states  (II.,  786,  787), 
that  Dundee's  men  fought  in  their  shirt-sleeves  at  Killiecrankie, 
and  that  the  Clans  formed  separate  battalions  and  charged  the 
English  lines  in  column.  "When  the  English  troops  fired  their 
last  shots  on  the  advancing  Highlanders  the  latter  rushed  in 
with  their  double-edged  broadswords  before  the  royal  troops 
could  screw  their  bayonets  to  the  end  of  their  muskets.  This 
experience  led  their  general,  Mackay,  to  invent  the  present  plan 
of  fastening  the  bayonet  to  the  outside  of  the  muzzle." 

A  Latin  poem  written  towards  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury by  Professor  Kennedy  of  Aberdeen,  and  entitled  " Proelium 
Gillecrankianum,"  says  in  part: 

"Macneillus  de  Bara,  Glencono,  Keppochanus, 
Ballechinus  cum  fratre  Stewartus  Apianus, 
Pro  Jacobo  Septimo  fortiter  gessere, 
Pugilis  fortissimi  feliciter  vincere." 

"The  Maclan  of  Glencoe  of  this  period  was,  according  to 
contemporary  testimony,  a  person  of  'great  integrity,  honour, 
good  nature  and  courage.'  His  loyalty  to  King  James  was  such 
that  he  continued  in  arms  from  Dundee's  first  appearance  in 
the  Highlands  till  the  fatal  treaty  that  brought  about  his  ruin." 
(Grant's  Tartans  of  the  Clans  of  Scotland}. 

Glencoe  was  not  only  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Killiecrankie, 
but  also  took  part  in  the  campaign  which  followed  under  General 
Buchan.  (Scott's  Tales  of  a  Grandfather,  Chap.  LVIII.). 

In  Vol.  IX.  of  the  Acts  Parl.  Scot.,  we  come  to  official  docu- 
ments bearing  upon  the  troublous  times  alluded  to,  and  it  is 
somewhat  difficult  to  reconcile  dates  and  facts.  Some  quotations 


MACIANS   OF 


1 689-1 9th  cent. 


PRESUMING  THAT  OUR  READERS  WOULD  BE  PLEASED  TO  SEE  SOME  VIEWS  OF 

THE  PASS,  WE  HAVE  SELECTED  TWO  CONTRASTING  ONES  OUT  OF  SEVERAL. 


1690 

may  be  necessary  from  the  Appendix  first,  and  afterwards  from 
the  body  of  the  work.  Among  the  "Proceedings  in  the  Parlia- 
ment of  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  holden  and  begun  at 
Edinburgh  April  XV,  M.DC.XC.,"  are  many  documents  of 
various  lengths.  We  will  quote  one  of  the  Bonds  of  Association 
entered  into  by  the  Highland  Clans  after  the  Defeat  of  their 
party  at  Dunkeld,  and  later  give  extracts  from  the  decree  of 
forfeiture  against  the  Viscount  of  Dundee  and  others  for  high 
treason,  as  both  of  these  instruments  include  the  McKean- 
McDonald  of  Glencoe  in  more  or  less  good  company  with  many 
others. 

"BOND  of  Association 

WEE  Lord  James  Murray,  Patrick  Stewart  of  Ballechan  Sr  John 
McLean,  Sr  Donald  McDonald,  Sr  Ewan  Cameron,  Glengarie, 
Bembecula,  Sr  Alexr  McLean,  Appin,  Enveray,  Keppoch,  Glencoe, 
Strowan,  Calochell,  Lr,  Coll :  McGreger,  Bara,  Large,  McNaughton, 
doe  herby  bind  and  oblidge  our  selves  for  his  Majesties*  service, 
and  our  oun  safties  to  Meit  att  the  day  of 

September  next  and  to  bring  along  with  us  of  fencible 

men,f  that  is  to  say  L,  James  Murray  and  Ballechan 
Sr  John  McLean  200,  Sr  Donald  McDonald  200,  Sr  Alexr  McLean 
100,  Appin  100,  Enveray  100,  Keppoch  100,  L,  Coll:  McGregore 
loo,  Calochele  50,  Strowan  60,  Bara  50,  Glencoe  50,  McNawghton 
50,  Large  50,  Bot  in  caice  any  of  the  rebells  shall  assault  or  Attaque 
any  of  the  above  named  persons  betwixt  the  date  hereof  and 
the  aforsaid  day  of  rendevouze,  wee  do  all  solemnlie  promise 
to  assist  one  another  to  the  utmost  of  our  power  as  witness 
thir  presents  signed  by  us  att  the  Castle  of  Blair  the  24  of  August 
1689  years 

Tho  Farqrsone  D  Mackdonald  Alr  Robertsone 

Jo  MacLeane  D  M  D  of  Benbecula   D  McNeill 

E  Cameron  of  Locheill  Al  McDonald  Alexr  McDonald 

Al  Stewart  Do  McGregor 

Alexr  M  Donell 

*  That  is,  for  "James  VII.,"  not  William  III. 
t  Men  capable  of  bearing  arms. 


20  MACIANS   OP  1690 

[Endorsed  ?]          13  June  1690 

Produced  by  His  Majesties  Advocate 
Signature  of  Alexr.  Macdonald  of  Glencoe. 


From  Clan  Donald,  III. 

The  importance  of  the  following  documents  may  excuse  long 
quotations  from  them. 

"DECREET  of  Forfeiture  against   John  Viscount   of   Dundee 
&  others. 

AT  EDINBURGH  the  ffourteenth  day  of  July  one  thousand  sex 
hundreth  &  nynty  years  Anent  the  lybelled  Summonds  and 
Indytement  for  high  treasone  raised  and  persewed  befor  the 
King  and  Queens  Majesties  and  the  Estates  of  Parliament  written 
in  Latine  and  expede  under  the  hand  of  the  deputfy]  of  the 
directors  of  Chancellary  keeper  of  the  Quarter  Seall  conforme 
to  ane  warrand  and  act  of  Parliament  after  mentioned  At  the 
instance  of  Sir  John  Dalrymple  younger  of  Stair  their  Maties 
advocat  for  their  highnes  Intrest  in  the  matter  under  wrytten 
Against  John  Viscount  of  Dundee,  James  Earle  of  Dumfermling 
Viscount  of  ffrendraught  Lord  Dunkeld,  Major 

William  Grahame  of  Balwhaple,  Collonell  Alexander  Cannan, 
John  Cleiland  of  Fasken  Mr  Colin  McKenzie  uncle  to  the  Earle 
of  Seaforth,  Sir  John  Drummond  of  Machany,  William  Crawford 
younger  of  Ardmillan  James  Crawfurd  his  brother, 
Robertson  of  Strowan,  David  Grahame  brother  to  the  deceist 
John  Viscount  of  Dundee  for  himselfe  and  as  representing  the 
said  Viscount  Halyburton  of  Pitcurr  and  Haly- 

burton  as  air  to  the  said  deceist  Halyburton  of  Pitcurr 

his  father  James  Edmonstoun  of  Newtoun  of  Doune,  Sir  Ewan 
Cameron  of  Lochyeell  Cameron  his  eldest  sone,  Donald 

Mcdonald  younger  of  Sclaite,  the  Laird  of  Mcnaughton, 


1690  GUiNCOE.  121 

Grant  of  Ballindalloch  Stewart  of  Appin, 

Mckean  alias  Mcdonald  elder  of  Glencoe,  Alexander  Mcdonald 
younger  of  Glengary  Donald  Mcneill  of  Gallahellie  and  Sir 
John  Mclean  of  Dowart  and  diverse  others  their  associats  and 
accomplices.  The  authentick  Copie  whereof  in  English  produced 
in  manner  after  specified  maketh  mentione  That  where  the 
Crymes  of  rebellione  and  treasone,  ryseing  and  continowing  in 
in  armes  against  their  Majesties  and  their  highnesses  authority 
&  government  and  the  assaulting  of  their  Majesties  forces,  The 
garisoneing  of  houses  and  strengths,  The  harbouring  correspond- 
ing and  associateing  with  open  rebells  and  traitours,  The  falling 
upon,  woundeing  or  robbeing  their  Maties  forces  in  their  retreate, 
are  high  Crymes  punishable  with  forfeiture  of  lyfe,  lands  and 
goods,  And  by  the  third  act  first  Parliament  King  James  the 
First  It  is  statute  and  ordained  that  no  man  nottourly  rebell 
against  the  Kings  persone  under  the  pain  of  forfaulting  of  life 
lands  and  goods  And  by  the  thretty  seventh  act  of  his  second 
Parliament  it  is  statute  that  nae  man  wilfully  resett  entertaine 
or  doe  favours  to  open  and  manifest  rebells  And  by  the  fourteenth 
&  fyfteenth  acts  Parliament  sexth  of  King  James  the  second 
and  Parliament  tuelth  King  James  the  sexth  Caput  one  hundred 
and  fourty  sex  the  ryseing  in  fear  of  weare  or  supplying  the 
rebells  in  help,  red  or  councill  or  the  stuffeing  of  houses  for  the 
furthering  of  the  Kings  rebells  are  crymes  for  which  the  persones 
are  punishable  as  traitours  against  whom  not  only  forfaultures 
are  allowed  to  proceed  in  absence  by  the  eleventh  act  of  the 
first  session  second  Parliament  of  King  Charles  the  Second  but 
also  by  the  sexty  nynth  act,  Parliament  sexth  King  James  the 
fyfth  the  summonds  of  treasone  may  be  persewed  against  the 
air  for  the  treason  committed  by  his  predecessor  Nevertheles  it 
is  of  verity  that  the  deceist  John  Viscount  of  Dundee  and" 
[here  follows  'the  full  list  of  names  already  given]  "haveing 
shaken  off  all  fear  of  God  and  regaird  to  their  Maties  and  their 
Laws  and  love  to  their  native  Countrey  they  did  ryse  and  con- 
tinow  in  open  armes  .  .  .  the  first,  second,  thrid  or  ane  or 
other  of  the  dayes  of  the  moneth  of  Aprill  Imvjc  eighty  nyne 
years  or  ane  or  other  of  the  dayes  of  the  moneth  of  May  there- 
after the  said  year  And  upon  .  .  .  the  said  moneth  and  year 
of  God  forsaid  the  said  deceist  John  Viscount  of  Dundee  and 
the  other  persons  amentioned  did  come  to  the  toune  of  Perth 


122  MACIANS   OF  1690 

in  fear  of  wear  and  therein  in  ane  hostile  manner  did  seize  and 
carry  away  the  deceist  Laird  of  Blair  and  other  officers  of  their 
Majesties  forces  .  .  .  And  upon  the  day  of  June  .  .  .  did 
attack  a  certain  number  of  their  Majesties  forces  ...  As 
also  .  .  .  having  raised  &  assembled  severall  thousands  of 
rebells  and  Highland  robbers,  they  had  the  boldnes  to  march 
throw  the  Countrey  oppressing  and  destroying  their  Majesties 
good  and  loyall  subjects  and  to  oppose  their  forces  .  .  .  and 
.  .  .  did  in  a  plain  battle  attack  their  Majesties  Armie,  betwixt 
the  Blair  of  Athole  and  the  pass  of  Gilliechrankie  and  did  kill 
and  wound  severall  of  their  Majesties  forces  and  good  subjects 
And  thereafter  .  .  .  did  attack  their  Majesties  forces  at  Dun. 
keld  .  .  .  And  haveing  mett  and  assembled  at  Inverlochie 
.  .  .  they  entred  into  treasonable  Conspiracies  bonds  and 
associacns  for  furnishing  of  certain  numbers  and  proportions  of 
armed  men  for  the  maintenance  and  support  of  the  rebellion 
.  .  .  and  the  other  crymes  above  mentioned  were  committed 
by  the  persones  above  named  and  ilkane  of  them  ...  Of  the 
which  horrid  and  treasonable  crymes  above  specified  or  ane  or 
other  of  them  the  haill  fornamed  persons  and  ilk  ane  of  them 
are  actors  airt  &  pairt  .  .  .  And  therfore  the  saids  haill  defenders 
above  named  to  have  compeared  befor  their  Majesties 

and  the  three  estates  of  Parliament  within  the  Parliament  hous 
of  Edr  at  ane  certain  day  bygone  to  have  heard  &  seen  sentence 
and  decreit  given  and  pronounced  against  them  .  .  .  with  the 
usuall  solemnities  necessar  upon  tuenty  fyve  dayes  warning  at 
the  mercat  cross  of  the  head  burgh  of  the  shyre  where  the  for- 
named persones  live  .  .  .  and  accordingly  all  the  persons 
against  whom  the  lybell  or  Indytement  of  high  treasone  is  raised 
were  thryce  publickly  called  by  macers  at  the  barr  &  at  the 
great  door  of  the  house  and  none  of  them  compearing  the  said 
Sir  John  Dalrymple  their  Maties  advocat  .  .  .  did  produce  ane 
executione  of  the  said  summonds  .  .  .  bearing  that  the  said 
George  Ogilvy  Albany  herauld  at  command  of  the  saids  Letters 
of  treasone  .  .  .  and  by  vertew  thereof  with  one  of  their 
Maties  trumpeters  &  witnesses  thereunto  subscryveing  past 
upon"  [certain  days  and  at  market  crosses  specified]  "with 
their  coats  of  arms  displayed,  sound  of  trumpet  and  other  solem- 
nities requisite  and  necessar  open  proclamation  and  publict 
reading  of  the  said  sumonds  of  treasone  he  lawfully  charged 


1690  GLENCOE.  123 

the  haill  persones  above  and  after  mentioned  viz"  [a  recapitu- 
lation of  the  names]  .  .  .  "to  have  compeared  .  .  .  and 
that  he  made  certification  and  affixt  &  left  authentick  doubles 
.  .  .  Together  with  another  executione  under  the  hand  of 
William  Glover  Rothesay  herauld  bearing  that  upon"  [certain 
days  and  at  other  market  crosses  named,  he]  '  'summoned  warned 
and  charged  ilk  ane  of  the  fornamed  persones  above  named 
and  others  ...  be  sound  of  trumpet  three  severall  tymes  with 
displayed  coatt  be  open  proclamatione  &  publict  reading  .  .  . 
to  compeir  befor  their  Majesties  high  Court  of  Parliament  .  .  . 
and  after  publict  reading  of  the  said  lybell  of  treason  in  Scots 
.  .  .  the  same"  [persons  already  named]  ".  .  .  being  oft  & 
diverse  tymes  called  by  macers  in  the  Parliament  house  and 
at  the  great  door  which  was  cast  open  as  use  is  and  not  com- 
pearand  .  .  .  And  sicklyke  their  Majesties  Advocat  produced 
the  writs  after  mentioned  viz.  Ane  Bond  of  Association  entered 
into  by  ...  and  other  highlanders  wherby  they  bind  and 
obleidge  themselves  for  his  Majestic  (the  late  King  James) 
service  ...  to  meet  .  .  .  and  to  bring  alongst  with  them 
.  .  .  fencible  men  ...  as  they  pretend  in  testimonie  of 
their  loyalty  to  their  Sacred  &  Dread  Soveraign  .  .  .  they  vow 
and  protest  befor  the  Almighty  God  and  on  their  Salvation  at 
the  Great  Day  to  goe  on  secretly  and  with  all  the  power  and 
strength  they  have  to  stick  and  byde  by  one  another,  .  .  . 
So  help  them  God;  As  also  produced  ane  letter  wryten  by  the 
said  Sir  Ewan  Cameron  .  .  .  and  others  of  the  highland  Clans 
direct  to  Major  Generall  Mckay  ...  in  answer  to  his  .  .  . 
and  that  he  might  know  the  sentiments  of  men  of  honour  they 
declare  to  him  &  all  the  world  they  scorne  his  usurper  and  the 
indemnities  of  his  Government  and  to  save  his  further  trouble 
by  his  frequent  invitations  they  assure  him  that  they  are  satis- 
fied their  King  (James  will]  take  his  oun  tyme  &  way  to  manadge 
his  dominions  &  punish  his  rebells  And  albeit  he  should  send  no 
assistance  to  them  at  all  they  will  all  dye  with  their  Swords  in 
their  hands  befor  they  faill  in  their  loyalty  and  swore  alleadgeance 
to  ther  Soveraign  .  .  .  and  that  those  of  them  who  live  in 
Islands  have  already  seen  and  defyed  the  Prince  of  Orange  his 
friggotts  and  that  they  had  returned  Duke  Hamilton's  letter 
becaus  he  had  more  use  for  it  then  they.  And  after  production 
and  reading  of  the  said  tuo  bonds  of  associatione  .  .  .  By 


124  MACIANS   Otf  1690 

which  bonds  they  obleidge  themselves  to  stick  to  one  another 
in  his  Maties  service,  which  by  the  place  and  persons  appears 
to  be  the  late  King  James  .  .  .  And  farder  .  .  .  deponed  in 
the  said  matter  of  treasone  as  to  the  poynts  admitted  to  the 
Lord  Advocat  his  probation  in  manner  forsaid  viz.  against 
[all  the  names  and  titles  are  here  repeated]  .  .  .  that  the 
fornamed  persons  were  actually  in  armes  against  their  Majesties 
.  .  .  And  haveing  also  considered  the  bonds  of  association  and 
missive  letter  above  mentioned  produced  by  the  Lord  Advocat 
which  he  declared  he  made  use  of  for  adminiculating  of  the 
probation  against  the  said  [the  names  appear  again]  .  .  .  And 
likeways  their  Majesties  and  the  Estates  of  Parliament  by  the 
mouth  of  the  said  John  Ritchie  Dempster  of  Parliament  decern 
and  adjudge  the  said  [above  list  of  names  excepting  John,  Vis- 
count Dundee,  who  was  already  dead]  to  be  execute  to  the  death, 
demained  as  traitours  and  to  underly  the  pains  of  treasone 
when  ever  they  shall  be  apprehendit  and  that  at  such  tymes 
and  places  &  in  such  manner  as  their  Majesties  or  the  Estates 
of  Parliament  or  the  Commissioners  of  Justiciary  shall  appoynt, 
And  ordains  the  saids  persons,  their  name,  fame,  memory  & 
honours  to  be  extinct,  their  blood  to  be  tainted  and  their  armes 
to  be  riven  furth  &  delett  out  of  the  books  of  armes  so  that 
their  posterity  may  never  have  place  nor  be  able  hereafter  to 
brook  or  joyse  any  honours  offices,  titles  or  dignities  in  tyme 
comeing  And  the  saids  persons  imediatly  above  named  to  have 
forfaulted  amitted  and  tint  all  and  sundry  their  lands  heretadges 
tacks  steeding  roums  possessions  goods  and  gear  moveable  and 
immoveable  whatsomever  pertaining  to  them  to  belong  to  their 
Majesties  and  to  remain  perpetually  with  them  and  their  suc- 
cessors in  property,  which  was  pronounced  for  doom,  And  wher- 
upon  their  Majesties  Advocat  asked  and  took  instruments. 

THE  fourteenth  day  of  July  1690 

THE    depositions    of    the    witnesses    concerning   .    . 
Stewart    of    Appin  Macean    alias    Macdonald    elder    of 

Glenco    Alexr    Macdonald    younger    of    Glengarie  Mac- 

neill  of  Gallochellie  and  Sir  John  Macleane  of  Dowart  The  lybell 
was  found  proven  against  all  the  saids  persones  The  Estates 
having  past  a  severall  vote  upon  advysing  of  the  probation  as 
to  ilk  one  of  them  .  .  . 

.    .    the  sentences  being  reade  The  same  were  putt  to  Hie 


1690-9!  GLENCOE.  125 

vote  and  Approven  And  therafter  the  persones  whose  names  are 
contained  in  the  sentences  being  called  by  Macers  at  the  barre 
and  at  the  great  doore  of  the  Parliament  House  After  sound  of 
trumpet  the  Heraulds  being  present  with  their  Coates  of  Armes 
displayed  The  two  sentences  of  forfaulture  were  pronounced 
with  the  vsuall  solemnities  And  therafter  the  Coates  of  Armes 
of  the  persones  forfaulted  were  reversed  &  torne  by  the  Lyon 
deputt  and  his  brethren  Heraulds  in  presence  of  their  Majesties 
Commissioner  and  the  Estates  of  Parliament  And  therafter  the 
Heraulds  with  the  trumpeters  went  to  the  Market  Croce  of 
Edinburgh  to  perfect  the  formalitie  with  the  vsuall  solemnities." 

The  narrative  of  the  Massacre  of  Glencoe  has  been  written 
"in  eloquent  prose,  impassioned  verse"  and  in  official  reports. 
Those  who  want  a  brilliant  perversion,  will  find  it  in  Macaulay's 
"History;"  others  who  may  prefer  an  apparently  just  account 
will  get  one  in  Black-wood's  Magazine,  Vol.  86,  July,  1859.  As 
might  be  expected,  the  well-equipped  authors  of  Clan  Donald 
go  into  full,  and,  all  things  considered,  not  too  bitter  detail: 
their  description,  with  that  of  the  circumstances  leading  up  to 
it,  being  rather  long,  however,  we  will  take  the  liberty  of  cur- 
tailing it  somewhat. 

"On  a  Deposition  by  certain  witnesses  taken  at  Edinburgh 
in  May,  1690,  Maclain's  active  support  of  the  Jacobite  move- 
ment had  been  proved,  and  in  September,  a  Commission  was 
given  by  the  Privy  Council  to  the  Earl  of  Argyll  to  pass  with 
competent  force  to  the  lands  of  Glencoe  and  other  rebels,  and 
reduce  them  to  obedience.  The  reduction  of  the  Highlands  to 
acceptance  of  the  Government  of  William  and  Mary,  was  to  be 
the  head  and  front  of  the  new  policy  in  Scotland. 

"Circumstances  were  leading  up  to  the  terrible  episode  which 
has  left  so  dark  a  stain  upon  the  British  history  of  the  age.  The 
deposed  dynasty  were  guilty  of  political  errors,  but  never  schemed 
a  conspiracy  so  barbarous  as  that  now  to  be  enacted  for  the 
pacification  of  the  Highlands,  by  a  Government  professing  the 
principles  of  popular  rights  and  liberties. 

"In  the  summer  of  1691,  the  Government  took  steps  for  the 
settlement  of  the  Highlands.  They  appointed  the  Marquis 
[Earl  ?]  of  Breadalbane  to  the  task  of  pacification  and  gave  him 
,£12,000  to  be  applied  to  this  end.  No  one  less  suited  than  he 
could  have  been  selected.  It  was  hinted  that  a  much  smaller 


126  MACIANS   OF  169! 

part  of  the  fund  went  to  the  Clans  than  that  which  recompensed 
his  own  dubious  services.  Besides  which,  he  was  at  feud  with 
some  of  those  he  was  appointed  to  pacify.  He  inaugurated  his 
mission  of  peace  by  fastening  a  quarrel  on  Maclain  of  Glencoe 
about  cows  said  to  have  been  stolen  by  his  clansmen,  and  threaten- 
ing him  with  vengeance.  The  peace  of  the  Highlands  was 
undoubtedly  sacrificed  for  the  sake  of  Breadalbane's  cows.  He 
retained  Glencoe's  share  of  the  Government  fund  in  name  of 
payment  for  past  depredations,  and  Glencoe  exercised  his  in- 
fluence with  the  other  chiefs,  to  refuse  or  delay  allegiance.  The 
Government,  under  the  circumstances,  seemed  reasonable  and 
politic:  a  Proclamation  recommended  the  Clans  to  submit  to 
the  authority  of  William  and  Mary,  offering  pardon  to  all  who 
promised  to  live  peacefully  under  their  rule,  if  the  submission 
was  made  on  or  before  the  3ist  December,  1691,  but  all  those 
who  held  out  after  that  date  were  to  be  regarded  as  enemies 
and  traitors. 

"Yet  behind  the  policy  avowed  there  lurked  the  dark  designs 
of  the  Master  of  Stair  and  of  Breadalbane;  and  the  former 
intended  a  crime  exceeding  that  which  was  committed:  the 
clans  of  Keppoch,  Glengarry  and  Lochiel  were  to  be  exterminated , 
as  well  as  that  of  Glencoe.  His  orders  to  the  commander  of 
the  forces  were:  'Your  troops  will  destroy  entirely  the  country 
of  Lochaber,  Lochiel's  lands,  Keppoch's  Glengarry's,  and  Glen- 
coe's. Your  power  shall  be  large  enough.  I  hope  the  soldiers 
will  not  trouble  the  Government  with  prisoners.'  * 

"The  other  chiefs  submitted  in  time,  but  Maclain's  delay 
proved  fatal.  Possibly  he  hoped  for  a  fresh  rally  of  the  Jacobite 
cause,  and  this  failing,  he  only  allowed  himself  sufficient  time 
to  appear  before  Colonel  Hill,  the  Governor  at  Fort  William, 
before  the  expiration  of  the  last  day  granted. 

"Arriving  there,  he  found  to  his  alarm  and  mortification  that 
the  Colonel,  not  having  a  magistrate's  commission,  could  not 
receive  the  oath  of  allegiance;  but  he  hastened  him  to  Invera- 
ray  with  a  letter  to  the  Sheriff  there  to  receive  Maclain  as  a 
'lost  sheep.'  He  went  past  his  home  without  stopping,  through 

*  Dalrymple's  instructions  were  said  to  have  been  written  on  the  back 
of  a  playing  card,  the  nine  of  diamonds,  known  as  "The  curse  of  Scotland.'' 
Of  the  five  reasons  for  this  title,  given  in  Brewer's  Dictionary  of  Phrase  and 
Fable,  none  seems  convincing. 


1691-92  GLENCOE.  127 

snow  and  tempest  to  meet  further  delays,  being  detained  by 
Captain  Drummond,  of  whom  more  hereafter.  He  was  three 
days  at  Inveraray  before  Sir  Colin  Campbell,  detained  by  stress 
of  weather  could  come  to  town.  After  some  hesitation,  the 
oath  was  administered,  though  six  days  after  the  statutory 
time,  and  Maclain,  hoping  all  his  difficulties  were  surmounted, 
retired  to  his  Glen.  He  called  his  people  together,  told  them 
he  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  made  his  peace  with 
the  Government,  and  charged  them  to  be  loyal  to  the  new  order 
of  things. 

"The  certificate  was  sent  to  Edinburgh  written  upon  the 
same  page  as  several  others  bearing  upon  quondam  Jacobite 
rebels,  and  ought,  like  the  rest,  to  have  been  submitted  to  the 
Privy  Council,but  there  were  influences  at  work,  taking  advantage 
of  the  fact  that,  despite  Maclain's  submission,  he  was  technically 
a  rebel ;  the  favorable  circumstances  were  to  be  left  out  of  account. 
Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  Clerk  to  the  Council,  refused  to  take  Glencoe's 
certificate  on  account  of  its  irregularity  as  to  time,  and  some 
Privy  Councillors  opined  that  it  could  not  be  received  without 
a  warrant  from  the  King.  So  Colin  Campbell,  Sheriff  Clerk  of 
Argyll  erased  the  certificate  and  its  submission  to  the  Council 
Board  was  prevented. 

"On  the  nth  January,  1692,  the  instructions  were  signed 
by  King  William,  by  which  the  massacre  was  to  be  carried  out. 
Drawn  up  by  the  Scottish  Secretary,  Sir  John  Dalrymple,  they 
showed  how  necessary  for  the  perpetration  of  the  outrage  was 
the  suppression  of  the  certificate  of  the  submission.  The  instruc- 
tions distinctly  empower  the  authorities  to  receive  on  mercy, 
even  at  that  late  date,  those  who  were  willing  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance:  Maclain's  case  was  therefore  clearly  covered  by 
this  last  Proclamation — 'That  chieftains  and  heritors  or  leaders 
.  .  .  taking  the  oaths  .  .  .  are  to  have  quarters  and  indem- 
nity for  their  lives  and  fortunes,  and  to  be  protected  from  the 
soldiers  .  .  .'  Hence  the  grave  significance  of  the  last  para- 
graph of  the  instructions: — 'If  MacEan  of  Glencoe  and  that 
trybe  can  be  well  separated  from  the  rest  it  will  be  a  proper 
vindication  of  the  public  justice  to  extirpate  that  sect  of  thieves.' 
This  had  been  effected  by  the  suppression  of  the  certificate. 

"William's  action  has  been  defended  and  attacked:  he  was  a 
Dutch  and  not  a  British  statesman,  and  domestic  questions 
had  little  interest  for  him.  He  governed  Scotland  by  advice  of 


128 


MACIANS    OF 


1692 


his  Council,  English  was  a  foreign  tongue  to  him  and  even  if 
he  had  perused  the  fatal  order  and  understood  it  he  could  hardly 
be  blamed  for  giving  it  his  imprimatur.  Maclain's  submission 
had  been  concealed  from  him ;  to  extirpate  dens  of  robbers  might 
seem  a  proper  function,  and  so  the  Prince  of  Orange  was  probably 
an  unconscious  instrument  in  the  plot  so  cunningly  devised. 
For  the  security  of  his  British  rule,  increasing  the  irritation  in 
Scotland  would  have  been  madness  But  at  a  later  stage  he 
was  blameworthy. 

"While  the  ancient  Chief  of  Glencoe  dwelt  in  fancied  security 
in  his  mountain  home,  his  destruction  was  being  worked.  Sir 
Thomas  Livingstone,  the  Commander  of  the  Forces  in  Scotland, 


From  the  Illustrated  London  News,  Sept.  22,  1894. 

THE  PASS  OF  GLENCOE 


Photo  by  Valentine,  Dundee. 


was  furnished  with  a  copy  of  the  instructions,  accompanied  by 
letters  from  Stair,  which  left  no  doubt  as  to  the  Government's 
intentions  to  put  the  Clanian  to  the  sword.  Livingstone  was  a 
soldier  and  bound  to  carry  out  the  royal  instructions.  He  had 
to  regard  Maclain  as  a  rebel  to  be  dealt  with  by  military  law; 
much  the  same  applies  to  his  subordinates,  Hill  and  Hamilton. 
The  orders  to  Hamilton  were  to  take  400  of  Hill's  regiment  and 
400  of  Argyll's  regiment,  to  march  straight  to  Glencoe,  and 
there  put  in  execution  the  orders  received  by  the  Commander- 
in-Chief. 


1692 


GLENCOE. 


129 


"Precautions  were  taken  by  the  Scottish  Secretary  to  secure 
success:  he  made  arrangements  with  Argyll  and  Breadalbane  to 
cut  off  the  retreat  of  refugees,  and  the  Laird  of  Weem  was  to 
guard  the  passes  of  Rannoch.  Yet  the  measures,  though  harsh 
and  cruel,  were  to  be  carried  out  so  treacherously  that  the  Clanian 
must  be  destroyed  under  the  guise  of  friendship.  The  Master 
of  Stair  feared  that  on  the  first  alarm  the  Clanian  would  take 
refuge  in  fastnesses  so  naturally  strong  as  to  defy  an  armed 
force  to  dislodge  them:  hence  the  Agents  of  the  Government 
must  obtain  entrance  into  the  very  houses  and  win  the  confidence 
of  the  people  of  Glencoe. 


THE  "THREE  SISTERS." — PASS  OP  GLENCOE. 

"The  practical  working  was  to  be  divided  between  Captain 
Campbell  of  Glenlyon,  who  was  connected  by  marriage  with  the 
family  of  Glencoe,  and  Lieut. -Colonel  Hamilton.  The  former 
was  well  qualified  for  the  part  he  had  to  play:  on  the  ist  of 
February,  he  marched  into  Glencoe  at  the  head  of  120  soldiers. 
The  sight  of  them  created  alarm  among  the  inhabitants,  and 
John,  Maclain's  eldest  son  went  to  meet  them  with  20  men,  and 
asked  them  for  what  purpose  they  came.  Lieut.  Lindsay  showed 
them  his  orders  for  quartering  there,  and  assured  them  they  had 


130  MACIANS    OF  1692 

no  ulterior  end  in  view.  The  system  of  quartering  troops  upon 
communities  supposed  to  be  indebted  to  the  Government,  was 
practised  under  parliamentary  enactment,  and  the  suspicions  of 
the  Clanian  were  allayed;  the  officers  and  men  were  billeted  in 
the  glen,  and  hospitable  entertainment  given  them.  Glenlyon 
and  some  of  his  men  were  lodged  with  Macdonald  of  Inneriggan, 
while  Sergeant  Barbour's  party  were  with  Macdonald  of  Ach- 
triachtan,  the  principal  cadet  of  Glencoe.  Nearly  every  morning 
Glenlyon  came  to  Alexander  Maclain's  house,  the  latter  being 
his  nephew  by  marriage,  and  took  his  morning  draught,  while 
the  evenings  were  spent  in  card  playing  and  other  forms  of 
friendly  intercourse. 

"The  morning  of  the  i3th  February  had  been  fixed  for  the 
accomplishment  of  the  purpose.  Lieut. -Colonel  Hamilton  was 
to  arrive  at  Glencoe  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  with  400  men, 
and  to  bar  all  possible  avenues  of  escape.  To  the  very  end  the 
appearance  of  cordial  friendship  was  maintained,  and  for  that 
same  afternoon  an  invitation  to  the  officers  to  dine  at  the  Chief's 
house  had  been  given  and  accepted.  On  the  evening  before 
the  massacre  the  suspicions  of  the  Chief's  eldest  son,  John,  were 
aroused,  and  about  midnight  he  went  to  Glenlyon's  quarters  to 
make  inquiries  and  found  him  and  his  men  getting  their  arms 
ready,  but  Glenlyon  put  him  off  with  friendly  assurances  and  a 
story  that  they  were  getting  ready  to  punish  Glengarry's  people 
for  a  raid,  and  that  he  would  be  sure  to  mention  any  danger  to 
Sandy  and  his  wife,  that  is,  to  Maclain's  second  son  and  his 
own  niece. 

"The  hour  arrived  but  a  snowstorm  delayed  Hamilton  and 
enabled  the  bulk  of  the  Clanian  to  escape.  Glenlyon's  instruc- 
tions were  peremptory,  and  he  was  determined  to  carry  them 
out.  Macdonald  of  Inneriggan,  his  host,  with  nine  others  were 
slain  in  cold  blood.  Macdonald  of  Achtriachtan  and  eight  of 
his  family  were  sitting  round  the  fire  when  a  volley  of  musketry 
killed  all  but  his  brother,  who  asked  of  Sergeant  Barbour  the 
favour  of  being  allowed  to  die  in  the  open  air.  Barbour  granted 
the  favour  'for  the  sake  of  his  meat  which  he  had  eaten.'  Mac- 
donald catne  out,  flung  his  plaid  over  the  faces  of  his  intending 
murderers,  arid  escaped  in  the  darkness. 

"Others  were  busy  in  the  residence  of  the  Chief.  Lieut, 
lyindsay  who  lodged  near  by,  knocked  and  asked  for  admission 


1692 


GLENCOE- 


132  MACIANS   OF  1692 

in  friendly  terms.  Maclain  commenced  to  dress  and  ordered 
his  servants  to  open  the  door  and  provide  refreshments.  The 
response  was  a  number  of  shots,  one  of  which  passed  through 
Maclain's  head,  killing  the  Chieftain  on  the  spot.  His  wife  had 
her  clothes  and  jewels  pulled  off.  As  a  result  of  the  ill-usage 
she  was  subjected  to,  she  died  the  following  morning. 

"Maclain's  sons  were  warned  by  faithful  servants  in  time  for 
them  to  escape.  As  John,  the  older,  left  his  house,  20  soldiers 
approached  it,  but  he  and  his  brother  Alexander,  favoured  by 
the  darkness,  made  their  escape.  Old  Ranald  of  the  Shield, 
was  dragged  out  of  his  bed,  and  knocked  down  for  dead.  Young 
Ranald,  the  son,  escaped,  and  his  father  recovering,  went  to 
another  house,  but  that  was  burnt,  and  the  warrior  and  bard 
met  his  death. 

"When  day  had  fully  dawned,  and  Hamilton  appeared,  30 
individuals  had  fallen  victims,  but  it  is  probable  that  as  many 
more.,  women,  children  and  old  men,  died  from  exposure  and 
want  upon  the  hillside.  The  orders  were  to  slay  all  under  70, 
but  one  aged  clansman  80  years  old  was  shot  by  Colonel  Hamil- 
ton. After  setting  fire  to  the  hamlets,  the  soldiers  drove  away 
from  the  smoking  glen  such  sheep  and  goats,  cattle  and  horses, 
as  could  be  found. 

"Thus  ended  the  massacre  of  Glencoe.  It  not  only  touches 
the  Macdonald  heart  with  grief  and  indignation,  but  must  bring 
the  blush  of  shame  to  the  cheek  of  every  countryman  to  think 
that  in  the  land  of  kindly  Scots,  individuals  could  be  found 
to  besmirch  the  fair  fame  of  Caledonia  with  so  dark  a  stain." 
(Abridged  from  Clan  Donald,  II.,  207-220). 

Parliament  inquired  into  the  matter,  and,  as  will  be  seen 
presently,  "whitewashed"  everybody  except  the  Master  of  Stair 
who  was  asked  to  resign  the  office  of  Secretary  for  Scotland ;  no 
military  and  no  capital  punishments  appear  to  have  followed. 
In  time  the  King  exonerated  Stair,  and  he,  Hill,  Glenlyon  and 
Livingstone  were  promoted  or  advanced  in  due  course. 

Original  documents  relating  to  the  Glencoe  Massacre  are  in 
Culloden  Papers,  London,  1815,  pp.  19-22.  The  chief's  name 
is  there  spelled  "M'Kan  of  Glenco."  Paper  No.  XXVII.  con- 
tains a  letter  -from  Sir  John  Hill  to  the  Laird  of  Culloden,  dated 
"Fort  William,  gth  Oct.,  1692,"  and  says,  (p.  22),  "The  Glenco 
Men  are  abundantly  civil ;  I  have  put  them  under  my  Lord  Argyle 


1692 


GIvENCOE. 


133 


MACDONALD  OF  GLENCOE. 
From  R.  R.  Mclan's  "Clans  of  Scotland." 

"The  above  figure  illustrative  of  this  cl-n  repre- 
sents a  young  man  plunged  in  deep  afflictive 
emotion,  beside  the  sad  memorial  of  the  death 
of  his  ancestors.  In  a  plain  round  bonnet  he  wears 
an  eagle's  feather,  and  the  appropriate  badge  of 
his  tribe.  The  jacket  is  of  Lachdan  or  undyed 
cloth,  and  the  sporran  or  purse  is  of  the  olden 
fashion."  [Three  feathers  denoted  a  chief,  two  a 
chieftain,  and  one  a  gentleman]. 


134  MACIANS   OF  1692 

and  have  Arkenloss  surety  for  them  till  my  Lord  comes;  for 
they  are  now  my  Lord  Argyle's  Men;  for  'twas  very  necessary 
they  should  be  under  some  person  of  power,  and  of  honesty  to 
the  Government  .  .  .  " 

It  is  pleasant  to  record  a  tradition  connected  with  this  lament- 
able business,  and  told  in  The  Martial  M u sic  of  the  Clans,  54,  55. 
It  is  that  a  Campbell  piper  played  Lord  Breadalbane's  March 
under  its  title  "Wives  of  the  Glen,"  early  on  the  fateful  morning, 
in  the  hope  of  alarming  the  Maclans.  The  Gaelic  words  breathe 
rather  much  of  cattle  and  herdsmen,  perhaps  the  following 
paraphrase  is  a  trifle  less  rugged: 

Wives  of  Glen-Cona,  Glen-Cona,  Glen-Cona, 
Wives  of  Glen-Cona,  awake  from  your  dreams! 
Hark  to  my  warning,  Death  comes  with  morning, 
Hark  to  the  warning  that  my  pipe  shrilly  screams. 

Herdsmen  are  falling,  vain  was  their  calling, 

'Scape  to  the  hills  with  your  bairns  and  your  men! 

Danger  is  'round  ye,  fiend-foes  surround  ye, 

'Rouse  from  your  slumbers  faithful  Wives  of  the  Glen! 

Readers  with  music  in  themselves  will  recognize  the  rhythm 
that  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  made  popular  to  the  same  air  in  "Hail 
to  the  Chief  \  "  (which  it  has  been  suggested  might  be  called  The 
President's  Salute  if  it  were  not  used  too  frequently  for  other 
people).  This  tune  is  also  said  to  have  been  skirled  through 
the  streets  of  Brussels  on  the  morning  of  Ouatre-Bras  to  rouse 
the  slumbering  highlanders,  some  of  whom  in  a  few  short  hours 
immortalized  themselves  at  Hougoumont.  It  should  be  stated 
that  Lord  Breadalbane's  March  in  Mackay's  Pipe  Music  is 
not  like  Hail  to  the  Chief,  but  the  title  may  have  belonged  to 
more  than  one  tune. 

It  is  thought  that  no  apology  need  be  made  for  introducing 
some  views  of  Glencoe  and  neighboring  places.  Much  stress  has 
been  laid  by  various  writers  upon  the  barrenness  and  desolation 
of  the  Pass;  by  Macaulay  apparently  to  imply  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  such  scenes  must  be  expected  to  be  savages,  and  that 
not  being  able  to  derive  a  living  from  the  soil,  they  subsisted 
solely  on  plunder;  whereas  the  Memoirs  of  Lochiel,  Maitland 
Club,  p.  315,  concludes  a  description  with  mention  of  "a  beauti- 
ful valley,  where  the  inhabitants  reside."  A  tourist  very  recently 


1692-95  GLENCOE  135 

wrote  as  follows  in  an  English  paper:  "The  grand  and  command- 
ing object  at  the  head  of  Loch  Leven  is  Glencoe  ...  its  preci- 
pices rise  like  a  huge  wall,  dark  as  though  built  of  lava.  Tre- 
mendous buttresses,  from  base  to  summit,  disengage  themselves 
from  their  surface,  separated  from  each  other  by  depths  such 
as  might  have  been  cut  and  cloven  by  Thor's  great  hammer, 
wielded  in  stormy  passion.  The  mountain  is  scored  across,  too, 
by  deep  lines  and  platforms  of  trap,  as  though  they  marked  the 
successive  floods  of  molten  rock  poured  out  by  volcanic  forces. 
Nothing  can  be  more  utterly  sombre,  sad,  and  desolate  than 
this  Glencoe  .  .  ." 

For  the  convenience  of  possible  pilgrims  to  Glencoe,  a  sketch- 
map  of  the  railroad,  etc.,  in  that  part  of  the  country  is  here 
inserted.  It  may  be  of  assistance  in  laying  plans,  to  know  that 
the  railroad  shown  connects  Glasgow  or  Edinburgh,  via  Stirling, 
with  Callender,  thence  to  Oban,  and  that  at  a  recent  date,  a 
steamboat  used,  in  the  summer  season,  to  make  the  passage 
from  Oban  to  the  neighborhood  of  Ballachulish  on  Loch  Leven, 
where  it  is  understood,  conveyances  may  be  procured  for  excur- 
sions to  the  Pass  and  elsewhere.  Invercoe,  the  residence  of  the 
present  proprietor  of  Glencoe,  Sir  Donald  Smith,  is  near  the 
right  bank  of  the  junction  of  the  Cona  with  Loch  Leven ;  Treach- 
tan,  spelled  in  more  than  one  way,  is  a  small  loch  through  which 
the  Cona  flows.  For  a  few  particulars  about  the  locality,  see 
the  first  paragraph  of  this  Section. 

Alexander  Macdonald  of  Glencoe  was  a  man  of  gigantic  and 
muscular  frame,  and  his  bones  were  to  be  seen  in  1845  in  an 
open  niche  of  the  ruined  chapel  of  St.  Munn.  (Logan's  Clans 
of  the  Scottish  Highlands).  He  was  succeeded  in  the  chiefship 
by  his  older  son 

XIII.  JOHN.  There  does  not  appear  to  be  much  known  about 
this  chief  after  his  escape  from  the  massacre  beyond  certain 
privileges  accorded  to  himself  and  his  clan  in  view  of  the  ruin 
brought  about  by  the  disasters  of  1692.  He  died  before  1714, 
and  left  three  sons— i.  Alexander.  2.  James,  a  captain  in  het 
Prince's  army  in  1745.  3.  Donald,  out  in  1745. 

Resuming  our  extracts  from  Volume  IX.  of  the  Acts  of  the 
Parliaments  of  Scotland,  we  find  in  the  Session  of  May  23,  1695 
(some  three  years  after  the  occurrence)  an  entry  that  "His 


136 


MACIANS   OF 


1695 


Majesties  Commission  under  the  Great  Seal,  for  an  inquiry  about 
the  slaughter  of  Glencoe,  [was]  read."  The  Commission  does  not 
appear  in  the  Acts,  but  can  be  found  among  the  Minutes  in  the 
appendix;  perhaps  a  couple  of  quotations  may  be  interesting, 
though  the  apologetic  proceedings  of  the  Parliament  in  search 
of  a  scape-goat  are  rather  long. 

[CoMMissio  pro  inquirendo  de  csede  de  Glencoe 
GULIEUVIUS   Dei  Gratia  Magnae   Britaniae  Francise  et  Hyberniae 
Rex  fideique  defensor  Omnibus  probis  hominibus  totius  terras 


CALLANDER  AND  OBAN  RAILWAY. 

From,  Black's  Guide  to  Scotland,  etc. 

suae  ad  quos  presentes  literae  nostrae  pervenerint  salutem    .    .    . 
pro  examinando  et  inquirendo  de  caede  quorund  Cognominis  de 
McDonald  aliorumque  de  Glenco  anno  millesimo  sexcentesimo 
nonagesimo  secundo   .    .    .   etc.] 
Which  may  be  rendered : 

Commission  for  inquiry  concerning  the  killing  of  Glencoe: 
William,  by  the  Grace  of  God  King  of  Great  Britain,  France 
and  Ireland,  and  defender  of  the  faith,  To  all  well-disposed  men 
of  his  entire  dominions  to  whom  these  our  letters  present  may 
come,    greeting   .    .    .    for    examining    and    inquiring    into    the 
killing  of  certain  of  the  name  of  McDonald  and  of  others  of 
Glencoe,  in  the  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-second  year 
.  etc. 


1695  GLENCOE-  137 

[Endorsed]  VOTED  nemine  contradicente,  that  his  Majesties 
high  Commissioner  transmitt  the  humble  thanks  of  the  Parlia- 
ment to  his  Majesty  for  ordering  an  inquiry  in  that  matter, 
whereby  the  honor  and  justice  of  the  Nation  might  be  vindicated." 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  that  some  members  of  Parliament 
becoming  impatient,  they  asked  several  times  for  the  Report, 
as  follows : 

On  June  14,  1695,  it  was  "MovED,  that  the  Commission  for 
inquiring  into  the  Slaughter  of  the  Glencoe-men,  may  give  in 
an  account  of  their  procedure  therein." 

On  June  18,  it  was  "  MOVED  that  the  Commission  for  inquiring 
into  the  Slaughter  of  the  Glencoe  men  may  give  an  account  to 
the  House  of  their  procedure  in  the  said  affair." 

On  June  20,  it  was  "  MOVED  again,  that  the  Commission  for 
inquiring  into  the  slaughter  of  the  Glencoe-men,  may  give  an 
account  to  the  House  of  their  procedure  in  the  said  affair.  His 
Majesties  Commisioner  signifyed,  that  the  Commission  had  now 
brought  the  said  affair  to  a  conclusion,  and  a  report  thereof 
was  prepared,  which  in  decency  ought  to  be  first  sent  to  the 
King,  and  that  on  Monday  next,  since  they  were  so  earnest,  he 
wold  endeavour  to  lay  the  discovery  of  the  said  affair  before 
the  Parliament." 

On  June  24,  "SEVERAL  members  insisting  to  have  the  report 
of  the  Commission  for  inquiring  into  the  Slaughter  of  the  Glencoe 
men  laved  before  the  Parliament  His  Majesties  Commissioner 
told  the  Parliament,  that  the  report  of  the  Commission  for 
inquiry  into  the  business  of  Glencoe,  being  sent  to  his  Majesty 
on  Thursday  last,  he  wold  lay  the  same  before  them,  with  the 
depositions  of  the  witnesses,  and  other  documents  relating 
thereto,  for  their  Satisfaction  and  full  Information,  and  if  they 
thought  fitt  to  make  any  other  use  of  it,  he  made  no  doubt  it 
wold  be  with  that  deference  and  submission  to  his  Majesties 
Judgement,  that  becometh  so  loyal  and  zealous  a  Parliament, 
in  vindication  of  the  Justice  and  honor  of  his  Majesties  Govern- 
ment. THEN  the  report  .  .  .  [was]  read  .  .  .  AFTER  hearing 
of  the  said  Report,  it  was  voted,  nemine  contradicente,  that 
his  Majesties  Instructions  .  .  .  contained  no  warrand  for  the 
execution  of  the  Glencoe  men,  made  in  February  therafter. 
THEN  the  question  stated  and  voted,  if  the  Execution  &  Slaughter 


138  MACIANS  oF  1695 

of  the  Glencoe  men  .  .  .  be  a  murder  or  not,  and  caried  in 
the  affirmative.  MOVED  that  since  the  Parliament  has  found  it 
a  murder,  that  it  may  be  inquired  into,  who  were  the  occasion 
of  it,  and  the  persons  guilty  and  committers  of  it,  and  what 
way  and  manner  they  should  be  prosecute,  .  .  .  " 

On  June  26,  "SUPPLICATION  the  Glencoe-men  Craving  redress 
for  plundering  their  Cattle,  and  burning  their  Houses,  read,  and 
remitted  to  the  Committee  for  Security  of  the  Kingdom." 

On  June  28,  "THEN  the  Parliament  proceeded  in  the  furder 
inquiry  of  the  Slaughter  of  the  Glencoe-men;  And  in  the  first 
place  as  to  the  orders  given  by  Sir  Thomas  Livingstoun,  in 
two  of  his  Letters  directed  to  Lievetennent  Collonell  Hamilton, 
and  the  saids  Letters  being  read,  after  debate  thereon,  voted 
first  proceed  or  delay,  and  caried  proceed.  THEN  the  question 
stated,  whither  Sir  Thomas  Livingstoun  had  reason  to  give  such 
orders,  as  were  contained  in  these  letters  or  not,  it  caried  in 
the  affirmative  nemine  contradicente.  COLLONELL  Hill  and 
Lievetennent  Collonell  Hamilton  ordered  to  attend  the  next 
Ssierunt  of  Parliament." 

July  2,  1695.  "THEN  the  Parliament  proceeded  in  the 
further  inquiry  of  the  Slaughter  of  the  Glencoe  men  as  to  these 
who  gave  the  orders,  and  were  the  Actors  of  it,  and  the  Master 
of  Stairs  Letters*  directed  to  Collonel  Hill,  with  Lievetennent 
Collonell  Hamiltons  deposition,  and  Collonell  Hills  order*  to 
Lievetennent  Collonel  Hamilton,  read,  and  Collonel  Hill  called 
and  compearing,  his  oath  taken  before  the  Commission  was 
again  read,  and  it  being  moved  that  the  Collonell  may  give  his 
oath,  and  depone  upon  what  further  Interrogator[ie]s  any  of 
the  Members  of  Parliament  shall  ba  pleased  to  put  to  him,  and 
he  having  accordingly  deponed  on  several  Interrogators  proponed 
by  several  of  the  Members  of  Parliament,  and  signed  the  same, 
his  Deposition  was  read,  and  then  the  vote  being  put,  if  from 
what  was  laid  before  the  House,  Collonell  Hill  was  clear  and 
free  of  the  Slaughter  of  the  Glencoe  men  or  not,  it  caried  in 
the  affirmative  nemine  contradicente  WARRAND  granted  to 
cite  Lievetennent  Collonell  Hamilton  against  the  next  Sederunt 
of  Parliament." 

July    8,     1695.     "LIEVETENNENT    Collonell    Hamilton    being 

*  These  letters  and  orders  are  in  Black-wood's  Magazine  for  July,   1859. 


1695  GLENCOE.  139 

Cited  to  appear  this  day  and  he  being  called,  and  not  Compearing, 
Certification  was  granted  against  him,  and  he  ordered  to  be 
denounced  apprehended  and  secured  in  the  terms  of  the  former 
order.  THE  Parliament  having  resumed  the  inquiry  into  the 
Slaughter  of  the  Glencoemen  and  who  were  the  Actors  .  .  . 
voted,  if  from  what  appears  to  the  Parliament  Lievetennent 
Collonell  Hamilton  be  clear  of  the  murder  of  the  Glencoemen, 
and  whither  there  be  ground  to  prosecut  him  for  the  same,  or 
not,  and  caryed  he  was  not  clear,  and  that  there  was  ground 
to  prosecut  him.  THEN  the  Question  stated  and  voted  as  to 
Major  Duncanson  at  present  in  Flanders ;  if  the  King  should  be 
addressed  either  to  cause  him  be  examined  there,  about  the 
orders  he  receaved,  and  his  knowledge  about  that  matter,  or 
that  he  be  ordered  home  to  be  prosecut  therefore,  as  his  Majesty 
shall  think  fitt,  or  not;  and  carried  in  the  affirmative.  THEN 
that  part  of  the  Report  of  the  Commission  as  to  Glenlyon  Captain 
Drummond,  Lievetenent  or  Adjutant  Lindsay,  Ensign  Lundie, 
and  Serjant  Barber,  read  with  the  Depositions  of  the  witnesses 
against  them  And  the  Question  stated  and  voted,  If  it  appeared 
that  the  saids  persons  were  the  Actors  of  the  Slaughter  of  the 
Glencoemen  under  trust  [i.  e.,  that  the  slaughter  was  an  act 
of  treachery]  And  that  his  Majesty  be  addressed  to  send  them 
home  to  be  prosecute  for  the  same  according  to  Law  or  not,  and 
carryed  in  the  affirmative.  THERAFTER  voted  if  it  should  be 
remitted  to  the  Committee  for  Security  of  the  Kingdom  to 
draw  this  Address,  or  a  new  Committee  elected  for  drawing 
therof,  and  carryed  Remitt.  REPORT  from  the  Committee  for 
Security  of  the  Kingdom  in  flavors  of  the  Glencoemen  read,  and 
remitted  to  the  said  Committee,  That  there  be  a  particular 
Recommendation  of  the  Petitioners  case  to  his  Majesty  brought 
in  by  the  said  Committee." 

"AT  EDINBURGH  the  Eight  day  of  July  One  thousand  Six 
hundred  and  nynty  five  years  Anent  the  Petition  presented  to 
his  Majesties  high  Commissioner  and  the  Estates  of  Parliament 
by  John  McDonald  of  Glencoe  for  himself  and  in  name  of  Alex- 
ander McDonald  of  Achatriechatan  and  the  poor  remnant  left 
of  that  Family  Shewing  that  it  being  then  evident  to  the  con- 
viction of  the  Nation  how  inhumanely  as  well  as  unchristianly 
the  deceast  Alexr  McDonald  of  Glencoe  the  deceast  John  Me- 


140  MACIANS   0#  1695 

Donald  of  Achatriechatan  and  too  many  more  of  the  Petitioners 
unfortunate  family  were  murdered  and  butchered  in  ffebruary 
One  thousand  Six  hundred  and  nynty  two  against  the  Lawes 
of  nature  and  Nations,  the  Lawes  of  hospitality  and  the  publick 
faith  by  a  band  of  men  quartered  amongst  them  and  pretending 
peace  tho  they  perpetrated  the  grossest  cruelty  under  the  colour 
of  his  Majesties  Authority  And  seeing  the  Evidence  taken  by 
the  Right  honorable  the  Lords  and  other  Members  of  the  Com- 
mission which  his  Majesty  was  most  graciously  pleased  to  grant 
for  inquiring  into  that  affair  hath  cleared  to  the  Parliament 
that  after  committing  of  the  forsaid  Massacre  the  poor  petitioners 
were  most  ravenously  plundered  of  all  that  was  necessary  for 
the  sustentation  of  their  Lives  and  besides  all  their  Cloaths 
money  houses  and  plenishing  all  burned  destroyed  or  taken 
away  That  the  Souldiers  did  drive  no  fewer  than  five  hundred 
horses  fforteen  or  fifteen  hundred  Cowes  and  many  more  Sheep 
and  goats  And  that  it  was  a  proper  occasion  for  his  Majesty  and 
the  Estates  assembled  in  Parliament  to  give  a  full  Vindication 
of  their  Justice  and  freeing  the  publick  from  the  least  imputa- 
tion which  may  be  cast  thereon  by  fforeign  Enemies  on  the 
account  of  so  unexampled  an  action  And  that  it  is  worthy  of 
that  honour  and  Justice  which  his  Majesty  and  the  saids  Estates 
have  been  pleased  to  show  to  the  world  with  relation  to  that  affair 
to  relieve  the  necessity  of  the  poor  petitioners  and  to  save  them 
and  their  exposed  widows  and  Orphans  from  starving  and  all  the 
misery  of  the  extremest  poverty  to  which  they  were  inevitably 
lyable  unless  his  Majesty  and  the  saids  Estates  provide  them  a: 
remeady  And  therefore  most  humbly  Begging  That  his  Grace 
and  the  saids  Estates  wold  from  the  principles  of  commiseration 
to  their  petitioners  sad  circumstances  as  well  as  that  of  honour 
and  Justice  ordain  such  relieff  and  redress  to  the  Petitioners  as 
in  their  wisdom  should  be  found  most  fitt  Which  Petition  being 
upon  the  twenty  Sixth  day  of  June  now  last  bypast  heard  by  his 
Majesties  high  Commissioner  and  the  saids  Estates  They 
Remitted  to  the  Committee  for  Security  of  the  Nation  to  Consider 
the  same  and  to  report  And  which  petition  being  upon  the  second 
day  of  July  instant  heard  and  Considered  by  the  said  Committee 
They  were  of  opinion  that  the  Petitioners  should  be  recommended 
to  his  Majesties  special  favor  for  their  reparation  According  to 


1 695 


GLENCOE. 


141 


BRIDGE   OF    THE   THREE   WATERS, — GLENCOE. 


BUCHAEL  ETIVE,  FROM  KING'S  HOUSE,  GLENCOE. 


142  MACIANS    OF  1695 

which    Report    his    Majesties    high    Commissioner   &    the    saids 
Estates  having  upon  the  day  and  date  of  thir  presents  heard  and 
Considered  the  same     They  Remitted  to  the  forsaid  Committe'e 
to  make  a  particular   Recommendation  of  the   Petitioners  case 
to  his  Majesty  in  the  Address  to  be  drawn  by  them  in  relation 
to  tha>  affair."     [And  which  address  follows]. 
July  X,  M,  DC,  XCV. 
PRAYERS  said  Rolls  called 
MINUTS  of  the  last  Sederunt  read 

WE  your  Majesties  most  loyall  and  dutyfull  Subjects  The 
Noblemen  Barrens  and  Burrowes  assembled  in  Parliament  Do 
humbly  represent  to  your  Majesty  That  in  the  beginning  of 
this  Session  Wee  thought  it  our  duty  for  the  more  solemn  and 
publick  vindication  of  the  honour  and  justice  of  the  Government 
to  inquire  into  the  barbarous  slaughter  committed  in  Glencoe 
in  ffebruary  One  thousand  Six  hundred  and  nynty  two  which 
hath  made  so  much  noise  both  in  this  Kingdom  and  your  Majes- 
ties other  Dominions  Bot  wee  being  informed  by  your  Majesties 
Commissioner  that  wee  were  prevented  in  this  matter  by  a  Com- 
mission under  the  great  Seal  for  the  same  purpose  Wee  did 
upon  the  reading  of  the  said  Commission  unanimously  acquiesce 
to  your  Majesties  pleasure,  and  returned  our  humble  acknowl- 
edgements for  your  Royal  care  in  granting  the  same  And  Wee 
only  desired  that  the  discoveries  to  be  made  should  be  Commu- 
nicated to  us  to  the  end  that  wee  might  add  our  zeal  to  your 
Majesties  for  prosecuting  such  discoveries  and  that  in  so  national 
a  Concern  the  Vindication  might  be  alse  publick  as  the  reproach 
and  scandal  had  been  And  principally  that  wee  for  whom  it 
was  most  proper,  might  testify  to  the  world  how  clear  your 
Majesties  Justice  is  in  all  this  matter 

AND  now  your  Majesties  Commissioner  having  upon  our 
repeated  instances  communicated  to  us  a  Copy  of  the  Report 
transmitted  by  the  Commission  to  your  Majesty  with  your 
Majesties  Instructions,  the  Master  of  Stairs  Letters,  the  orders 
givefi  by  the  Officers  and  the  depositions  of  the  witnesses  relating 
to  that  Report  and  the  same  being  read  and  compared  Wee 
could  not  bot  unanimously  Declare  that  your  Majesties  Instruc- 
tions of  the  eleventh  and  Sixteent*  dayes  of  January  One  thousand 

*  Those  of  the  i6th  January  are  in  Black-wood's  Magazine,  July,   1859. 


1695  GLENCOE.  H3 

Six  hundred  and  nynty  two  touching  the  highlanders  who  had 
not  accepted  in  due  time  of  the  benefit  of  the  Indemnity  did 
contain  an  Warrand  for  mercy  to  all  without  exception,  who 
should  offer  to  take  the  oath  of  alleagiance,  and  come  in  upon 
mercy  tho  first  of  January  One  thousand  Six  hundred  and  nyntie 
two  prefixed  by  the  Proclamation  of  Indemnity  was  past  And 
that  these  instructions  contain  no  Warrand  for  the  Execution 
of  the  Glencoe  men  made  in  February  thereafter  And  here  wee 
can  not  bot  acknowledge  your  Majesties  Clemency  upon  this 
occasion  alse  well  as  in  the  whole  tract  of  your  Government  over 
us  For  had  your  Majesty  without  new  offers  of  mercy  given 
positive  orders  for  the  Executing  the  Law  upon  the  Highlanders 
that  had  already  despised  your  repeated  Indemnities  they  had 
but  met  with  what  they  justly  deserved 

Box  it  being  your  Majesties  mind  according  to  your  usual 
Clemency  still  to  offer  them  mercy  and  the  killing  of  the  Glencoe 
men  being  upon  that  account  unwarrantable  alse  well  as  the 
manner  of  doing  it  being  barbarous  and  inhumane  wee  proceeded 
to  vote  the  killing  of  them  a  murder  and  to  inquire  who  had 
given  occasion  to  it,  or  were  the  actors  in  it. 

WE  found  in  the  first  place  that  the  Master  of  Stairs  Letters 
had  exceeded  your  Majesties  Instructions  towards  the  killing 
and  destruction  of  the  Glencoe  men  This  appeared  by  the  com- 
paring of  the  Instructions  and  Letters  wherof  the  just  attested 
Duplicats  are  herewith  transmitted  In  which  Letters  the  Glencoe 
men  are  over  and  over  again  distinguished  from  the  rest  of  the 
Highlanders  not  as  the  fittest  Subject  of  Severity  in  case  they 
continued  obstinat  and  made  severity  necessary  according  to 
the  meaning  of  the  Instructions  bot  as  men  absolutely  and 
positively  ordered  to  be  destroyed  without  any  further  Consider- 
tion  than  that  of  their  not  having  taken  the  Indemnity  in  due 
time  and  ther  not  having  taken  it,  is  valued  as  a  happy  incident 
since  it  afforded  an  opportunity  to  destroy  them  And  the  destroy- 
ing of  them  is  urged  with  a  great  deal  of  zeal  as  a  thing  acceptable 
and  of  publick  use  And  this  zeal  is  extended  even  to  the  giving 
of  directions  about  the  manner  of  cutting  them  off,  from  all 
which  it  is  plain  that  tho  the  Instructions  be  for  mercy  to  all 
that  will  Submitt  tho  the  day  of  Indemnity  was  elapsed  yet 
the  Letters  do  exclude  the  Glencoe  men  from  this  mercy. 


144  MACIANS   OF  1695 

IN  the  next  place  Wee  examined  the  orders  given  by  Sir  Thomas 
Livingstoun  in  this  matter  and  were  unanimously  of  opinion 
that  he  had  reason  to  give  such  orders  for  the  cutting  off  of  the 
Glencoe  men  upon  the  supposition  that  they  had  rejected  the 
Indemnity  and  without  making  them  new  offers  of  mercy  being 
a  thing  in  itselfe  lawfull  and  which  your  Majesty  might  have 
ordered  And  it  appearing  that  Sir  Thomas  was  then  ignorant 
of  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  Glencoe  men  he  might  very 
well  understand  your  Majesties  Instructions  in  the  restricted 
sense  which  the  Master  of  Stairs  Letters  had  given  them  or 
understand  the  Master  of  Stairs  Letters  to  be  your  Majesties 
additional  pleasure  And  it  is  evident  he  did  by  the  orders  which 
he  gave  where  any  addition  that  is  to  be  found  in  them  to  your 
Majesties  Instructions  is  given  not  only  in  the  Master  of  Stairs 
sense  bot  in  his  words. 

WE  proceeded  to  examine  Collonell  Hills  part  of  the  business 
and  were  unanimous  that  he  was  clear  and  free  of  the  slaughter 
of  the  Glencoe  men  for  tho  your  Majesties  Instructions  and  the 
Master  of  Stairs  Letters  were  sent  straight  from  London  to 
him  alse  well  as  to  Sir  Thomas  Livingstoun  yet  he  knowing 
the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  Glencoe  men  shunned  to  execut 
them  and  gave  no  orders  in  the  matter  till  such  time  as  knowing 
that  his  Lievtennent  Collonell  had  receaved  orders  to  take  with 
him  four  hundred  men  of  his  Garison  and  Regiment  for  the 
Expedition  against  Glencoe  He  to  save  his  own  honour  and 
authority  gave  a  general  order  to  Hamilton  his  Lievetennent 
Collonel  to  take  the  four  hundred  men  and  to  put  to  due  execu- 
tion the  orders  which  others  had  given  him. 

LIEVETENNENT  Collonel  Hamiltons  part  came  next  to  be 
considered  and  he  being  required  to  be  present  and  called  and 
not  appearing  Wee  ordered  him  to  be  denounced  and  to  be 
seised  on  wherever  he  could  be  found  And  having  Considered 
the  orders  that  he  receaved,  &  orders  he  said  before  the  Com- 
mission he  gave,  and  his  share  in  the  Execution  Wee  agreed 
that  from  what  appeared,  he  was  not  clear  of  the  murder  of 
the  Glencoe  men  And  that  there  was  ground  to  prosecut  him 
for  it. 

MAJOR  Duncanson  who  receaved  orders  from  Hamilton  being 
in  Flanders  alse  well  as  those  to  whom  he  gave  orders  Wee  could 


1695  GLENCOE.  145 

not  see  these  orders  And  therefore  Wee  only  resolved  about 
him  that  Wee  should  address  to  your  Majesty  either  to  cause 
him  be  examined  there  in  Flanders  about  the  orders  he  receaved 
and  his  knowledge  of  that  affair  or  to  order  him  home  to  be 
prosecuted  therefore,  as  your  Majesty  shall  think  fitt. 

IN  the  last  place  the  Depositions  of  the  witnesses  being  clear 
as  to  the  share  which  Captain  Campbell  of  Glenlyon,  Captain 
Drummond  Livetennent  Lindsay  Ensign  Lundy  and  Serjant 
Barber  had  in  the  Execution  of  the  Glencoe  men  upon  whom 
they  were  quartered  Wee  agreed  that  it  appeared  that  the  saids 
persons  were  the  actors  in  the  Slaughter  of  the  Glencoe  men 
under  trust  And  that  wee  should  address  your  Majesty  to  send 
them  home  to  be  prosecuted  for  the  same  according  to  Law 

THIS  being  the  State  of  that  whole  matter  as  it  lyes  before 
us  and  which  together  with  the  Report  transmitted  to  your 
Majesty  by  the  Commission  (and  which  we  saw  verifyed)  gives 
full  light  to  it  Wee  humbly  beg  that  considering  that  the  Master 
of  Stairs  excess  in  his  Letters  against  the  Glencoe  men  has  been 
the  Original  cause  of  this  unhappy  business  and  hath  given  occa- 
sion in  a  great  measure  to  so  extraordinary  an  Execution  by 
the  warm  directions  he  gives  about  doing  it  by  way  of  Surprize 
And  considering  the  high  Station  and  Trust  he  is  in  and  that 
he  is  absent  Wee  do  therefore  beg  that  your  Majesty  will  give 
such  orders  about  him  for  vindication  of  your  Government  as 
yow  in  your  Royal  wisdom  shall  think  fitt 

AND  likewayes  considering  that  the  Actors  have  barbarously 
killed  men  under  trust  Wee  humbly  desire  your  Majesty  wold 
be  pleased  to  send  the  Actors  home,  and  to  give  orders  to  your 
Advocat  to  prosecut  them  according  to  Law  there  remaining 
nothing  else  to  be  done  for  the  full  vindication  of  your  Govern- 
ment of  so  foull  and  scandalous  an  aspersion  as  it  has  lyen  under 
upon  this  occasion 

WE  shall  only  add  that  the  remains  of  the  Glencoe  men  who 
escaped  the  Slaughter  being  reduced  to  great  poverty  by  the 
depredation  and  vastation  that  was  then  committed  upon  them 
And  having  ever  since  lived  peaceably  under  your  Majesties 
protection  Have  now  applyed  to  us  that  wee  might  interceed 
with  your  Majesty  that  some  reparation  may  be  made  them 
for  their  Losses  Wee  do  humbly  lay  their  case  before  your  Majesty 


146  MACIA^NS    OF  1695 

as  worthy  of  your  Royal  Charity  and  Compassion  that  such 
orders  may  be  given  for  Supplying  them  in  their  necessities  as 
your  Majesty  shall  think  fitt. 

AND  this  the  most  humble  Address  of  the  Estates  of  Parlia- 
ment is  by  order  and  their  Warrand  and  in  their  name  Subscribed 
by 

May  it  please  your  Majesty 

Your  Majesties  most  humble  most  obedient 
and  most  ffaithfull  Subject  and  servant 
sic  subscribitur  ANNANDALE  President]. 

I.   P.   D.*  Parl: 

Which  Address  was  upon  the  tenth  day  of  the  Moneth  of  July 
One  thousand  Six  hundred  and  nynty  five  voted  and  approven 

in  Parliament. 

RECOMMENDED  to  his  Majesties  Commissioner  to  transmitt  to 
the  King  the  said  Address,  with  Duplicats  of  the  Kings  Instruc- 
tions, and  of  the  Master  of  Stairs  Letters.  MOVED  That  his 
Majesties  Commissioner  have  the  thanks  of  the  Parliament  for 
laying  the  Discovery  made  of  the  matter  of  Glencoe  before 
them;  As  likewise,  the  Commission  for  their  carefull  procedure 
therein,  Which  being  put  to  the  vote,  approve  or  not,  carried 
in  the  affirmative  nemine  contradicente  Which  his  majesties 
Commissioner  accepted  of." 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  redress  sought  in  the  peti- 
tion above  mentioned  was  in  due  time  afforded.     Pending  the 
royal  pleasure  in  this  respect,  protection  was  given  and  renewed 
to  save  from  caption  and  other  legal  executions  for  civil  debts 
the  following  heads  of  the  community  of  Glencoe  :• — John  Mac- 
donald,  the  chief;  Alexander  Macdonald,  his  brother;  Alexander 
Macdonald  of  Achtriachtan ;  Alexander  Macdonald   of  Dalness ; 
Ranald  Macdonald  in  Lechentuim,  Ranald  Macdonald  of  Inveri- 
gan,   Alexander  Macdonald  in  Braikled,   and  Angus  Macdonald 
in  Strone.     It  is  pleasant  to  read  that  as  soon  as  news  of  the 
Glencoe  necessities  reached  the  distant  Isle  of  Monach,  beyond 
Uist,  Alexander  Macdonald  of  Griminish    (Alastair    Ban  Maclain 
Ic  Uisdein),   tacksman  there,   filled  his  birlinn  with  meal,   and 
brought  it  through  stormy  seas  to  the  relief  of  Clanian.     (Clan 
Donald,  II.,  221,  222). 

*  In  prsesentia  Dominorum  (in  the  presence  of  the  Lords  of  Parliament). 


1692 


GLENCOE 


MACDONALD   OF    GLENCOE. 

Escaped  from  Massacre  in   1692. 

(Clan  Donald,  II.,  219). 

It  may  seem  strangely  careless  to  us,  that  the  book  Historical 
Notes  refers  to  Tindal  I.,  284,  for  "Maclean  [sic]  of  Glencoe," 
but  a  writer  in  English  Notes  and  Queries  for  1887,  vol.  II., 
gives  another  instance  of  the  same  error  in  Popish  Families  of 
Scotland, — "Makeans  is  erroneously  printed  Mackleans;"  and 
the  Registrum  Secreti  Sigilli  has  been  quoted:  "John  Makclane 
of  Ardnamurchane, "  though  the  original  appears  to  be :  J.  Makeane 
of  Ardnamurquhan. 


148 


MACJANS    OF 


1695-1714 


On  June  22nd,  1695,  we  find  that  Alexander  McDonald,  brother 
german  to  John  McDonald  of  Glencoe,  younger  son  of  the  chief 
killed  in  the  massacre,  and  who  had  married  the  niece  of  Captain 
Robert  Campbell  of  Glenlyon  is  named  as  one  of  the  cautioners 
on  the  bond  of  the  immortal  Rob  Roy.  (Clan  Gregor,  subse- 
quent to  p.  156). 

Though  out  of  place  in  one  respect,  it  may  be  mentioned 
here  that  in  Burke's  Landed  Gentry,  Article,  Stewart  of  Ballechin, 
we  read  that  in  1700,  John  Stewart,  4th  of  Ardsheal,  married 
Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Charles  Stewart,  8th  of  Ballechin  in 
Athole,  and  had  Isabel,  married  to  Alexander  Macdonald  of 
Glencoe.  (Stewarts  of  Appin,  134).  This  Alexander  Macdonald 


was  the  grandson  of  the  chief  murdered  at  Glencoe.     (Scott's 
Tales  of  a  Grandfather,  Chap.  LXXXVL). 

"The  son  of  the  murdered  chief  escaped  the  Massacre,  and 
succeeding  his  father  in  the  chiefship  reorganized  the  broken 
clan.  It  was  he  who  changed  the  religion  of  the  clan.  Like 
most  divisions  of  Clan  Donald,  the  Glencoe  Macdonalds  had 
been  Roman  Catholics,  but  some  time  in  the  reign  of  Anne 
[1702-14]  they  became  'Episcopalians.'  There  is  a  story  told 
of  Glencoe,  which  is  found  also  in  other  places  in  the  Highlands, 
to  the  effect  that  the  chief,  having  quarrelled  with  the  local 
priest,  commanded  his  whole  clan  to  change  their  creed;  and 
that  on  a  certain  Sunday  morning  he  stood  at  the  cross-rcads, 
armed  with  a  yellow  stick  (or,  as  some  say,  a  gold-headed  cane), 


ry  15  GLENCOE.  149 

and  very  forcibly  pointed  the  way  to  the  Protestant  church  as 
the  way  in  which  the  clansmen  should  walk.  Hence  it  happened 
that  Protestantism  became  known  to  them  as  ...  the  Religion 
of  the  yellow  stick." 

"To  this  day,  [1903]  at  Glencoe,  Invercoe,  and  Ballachulish, 
there  are  large  flourishing  congregations  of  Gaelic-speaking  Epis- 
copalians .  .  .  "  (Jenner's  Memoirs  of  the  Lord  Viscount  Dun- 
dee, Ivii,  Iviii). 

XIV.  ALEXANDER.     He  must  have  succeeded  shortly  before 

1714,  as  that  is  the  time  given  for  the  death  of  his  father  John. 
Among  the   102   "chief  Heritors  and  Heads  of  Clans  in  the 

Highlands"  who  signed  an  address  to  George  I.  on  his  accession 
to  the  throne  in  1714,  was  "A.  M' Donald  of  Glenco."  By 
court  intrigue  this  was  prevented  from  being  delivered  to  the 
King.  (Clanronald  Family,  Appendix,  xvii.).  The  non-delivery 
of  this  address  to  His  Majesty,  and  the  non-recognition  of  the 
signatories  was  the  direct  cause  of  the  rebellion  of  1715.  (Clan 
Donald,  II.,  222). 

The  laird  of  Glenco  attended  the  famous  hunting  party  of 
the  Earl  of  Mar  on  the  Braes  of  Mar,  August  27th,  1715.  (Stewarts 
of  Appin,  122).  The  party  was  assembled  ostensibly  to  hunt 
ordinary  game,  but  in  reality  to  foment  another  rebellion. 

In  spite  of  the  death  of  Dundee,  the  incompetence  of  his 
successor,  the  liberal  offers  of  the  English  Government  and  the 
disarming  of  the  clans,  (in  which  Glencoe  and  the  other  chiefs 
surrendered  the  worst  arms  and  secreted  the  best),  the  Camerons, 
Macdonalds,  Macleans  and  some  others  held  out.  In  August, 

1715,  the  Keppoch  and  Glengarry  Macdonalds  captured  some 
English  infantry  at  the  end  of  Loch  Oich;  in  September  they 
attempted  to  surprise  the  garrison  at  Inverlochy ;  with  a  number 
of  Camerons  and  others  they  assisted  in  taking  possession  of 
Dunkeld,  Perth  and  Edinburgh.     In  this  campaign  the  revival 
of  an  Irish  song  gave  Scotland  the  well  known  air:  "The  Camp- 
bells are  Coming." 

On  the  march  from  Auchterador  to  Sheriffmuir  a  chosen  body 
of  Highland  troops,  including  the  Macdonalds  under  Clanranald, 
Glengarry,  Sir  Donald  Mac  Donald,  Keppoch  and  Glencoe, 
formed  the  vanguard  under  General  Gordon.  (Scott's  Tales  of 
a  Grandfather,  Chap.  L,XX.). 


1 50  MACIANS    Otf  1715-45 

The  Clanian  fought  at  the  plain  of  Sheriff muir,  near  Dumblane, 
where  the  Scotch  army  under  the  Karl  of  Mar,  was  attacked 
by  the  royal  troops  under  the  Duke  of  Argyll,  November  13, 
1715;  the  result  being  called  a  drawn  battle. 

Most  of  those  who  were  "out"  with  Mar  in  1715  received  a 
pardon  under  the  Privy  Seal,  January  4,  1727,  and  engrossed 
in  a  highly  ornamental  style,  in  the  following  terms:  "Pardona- 
mus,  remittimus,  relaxamus,  pranfato,  Robert  Stewart  de  Appin, 
Alexander  Macdonald  de  Glenco,  John  Grant,  Domino,  Anglice 
Laird,  de  Glenmorriston,  Joanno  Mackinnon,  Anglice  Laird  de 
Mackinnon,  Roderick  Chisholm  de]  Strathglass,  etc."  (History 
of  the  Chisholm  ^,  64). 

Undismayed  by  the  ill  success  of  the  prior  Jacobite  movements, 
Prince  Charles  set  sail  for  Scotland  in  the  Doutelle,  18  guns,  and 
landed  in  July,  1745.  (Johnston's  Geography  of  the  Clans). 
McDonald  of  Glenco  was  among  the  chiefs  who  on  July  24th 
concerted  measures  with  Prince  Charles  on  board  that  vessel. 
McDonald  of  Lochgarie  led  600  men  including  those  of  Knoidart, 
Glenco,  Glenmorriston  and  his  own  immediate  following  the 
McDonalds  of  Glengary,  and  met  the  Prince  at  Obertaive  in 
Glengarie.  (The  Last  Jacobite  Rising,  32,  44,  etc.).  On  his 
march  to  Dunblane  the  Prince  was  joined  by  Glencoe  with  60 
of  his  men  and  by  James  Drummond  or  MacGregor  of  Glengyle 
at  the  head  of  255  Macgregors;  60  of  the  Glencoe  Macdonalds 
had  previously  joined  Charles  Edward  at  Perth.  (History  of 
the  Highlanders  and  Clans,  II.,  49).  The  chief  was  a  member 
of  the  prince's  council  of  war  which  met  daily  at  Holyrood  during 
the  occupation  of  Edinburgh.  On  the  march  to  Kelso  the 
troops  advanced  in  two  columns ;  the  first  under  the  command 
of  the  Chevalier  included  the  Macdonalds  of  Glencoe.  (Last 
Jacobite  Rising,  77,  81,  etc.,  Tales  of  a  Grandfather,  Chap.  LXXIX). 

"At  Preston-pans  or  Gladsmuir,  September  21,  1745,  the 
MacDonald  regiments  of  Clanranald,  Keppoch,  Glengarry  and 
Glencoe  formed  the  right  wing,  with  Glencoe  in  the  post  of  honor 
on  the  extreme  right.  All  did  their  part  in  putting  to  flight 
the  British  veterans  of  Sir  John  Cope's  army,  with  a  loss  to  the 
latter  of  500  men."  The  clan  were  posted  on  the  right  of  the 
front  line  according  to  an  official  account  published  by  Charles 
in  the  Caledonian  Mercury.  (Browne,  III.,  79).  They  were  in 


1745  GLENCOE.  151 

the  front  line  according  to  Scott,  and  the  text  of  Johnston,  although 
the  map  in  the  latter  work  placed  them  in  the  second  line.  They 
were  under  the  command  of  their  chief  Alexander  Macdonald. 
(Appin,  134).  The  clan  was  organized  as  a  regiment.  In  the 
clan  regiments  every  company  had  two  captains,  two  lieutenants 
and  two  ensigns.  The  front  rank  was  composed  of  gentlemen 
[clansmen  who  could  trace  their  descent  from  a  chief],  all  with 
targets  when  fully  armed,  as  was  generally  the  case;  every 
gentleman  carried  a  musket  and  broadsword,  with  a  pair  of 
pistols  and  a  dirk  in  his  belt;  the  target  was  generally  of  wood 
and  leather  thickly  studded  with  nails.  (Browne,  III.,  123). 

This  organization  does  not  agree  exactly  with  the  following 
account,  though  the  British  Chronologist  bears  testimony  to  the 
sturdy  support  by  the  Glencoe  and  other  MacDonalds  in  "The 
Forty-Five," — of  what  they  considered  their  allegiance. 

In  November,  1745,  "A  list  of  the  Pretender's  officers  and 
troops  contains  among  other  names  which  we  have  met  with 
in  the  foregoing  Notes : 

The  Clanronald  regiment,  Colonel  Clanronald  of  Clanronald, 
jun.  .  .  .  200  Men. 

The  Keppoch  regiment,  Colonel  Macdonald  of  Keppoch  .  .  . 
400  Men. 

The  Glenco  regiment,  Colonel  Macdonald  of  Glenco  .  .  , 
200  Men. 

The  Glengeary  regiment,  Colonel  Macdonald,  of  Glengeary, 
jun.  .  .  .  300  Men. 

The  leaders  are  spoken  of  as  "Colonels"  because,  although 
their  commands  were  only  of  battalion  size,  it  was  probably 
thought  more  expedient  to  consider  each  clan  as  a  regiment  than 
to  arouse  jealousy  by  consolidating  them  into  one  organization. 

Mackenzie,  in  the  part  of  his  History  of  the  Macdonalds  touch- 
ing upon  those  of  Glencoe,  quotes  General  Stewart  of  Garth, 
(Sketch  of  the  Highlanders],  who  "Relates  how  in  one  instanec 
the  force  of  principle,  founded  on  a  sense  of  honour,  and  its 
consequent  influence,  was  exhibited  in  the  case  of  this  persecuted 
tribe  in  1745;  when  the  army  of  ^Prince  Charles  lay  at  Kirkliston, 
near  the  seat  of  the  Karl  of  Stair,  whose  grandfather,  when 
Secretary  of  State  for  Scotland  in  1692,  had  transmitted  to 
Campbell  of  Glenlyon  the  orders  of  King  William  for  the  mas- 


152  MACIANS   Otf  1745-6 

sacre  of  all  the  Glencoe  men.  MacDonald,  the  immediate  descen- 
dant of  the  unfortunate  gentleman  who,  with  nearly  all  his 
family,  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  horrid  massacre,  was  at  the  time, 
with  his  followers,  in  West  Lothian.  Prince  Charles,  anxious 
to  save  the  house  of  Lord  Stair,  and  to  remove  from  his  followers 
all  incitement  to  revenge,  but  at  the  same  time  not  comprehending 
the  true  character  of  the  MacDonalds  of  Glencoe,  ordered  that 
they  should  be  marched  to  a  distance  from  Stairs'  house  and 
park,  lest  the  remembrance  of  the  share  which  his  grandfather 
had  in  the  war  for  extirpation  of  the  clan  should  then  excite 
among  them  a  spirit  of  revenge.  When  the  proposed  order  was 
communicated  to  the  MacDonalds,  they  declared  that  in  that 
case  they  must  return  home;  for,  they  said,  'if  they  were  con- 
sidered so  dishonourable  as  to  take  revenge  on  an  innocent  man 
for  the  conduct  of  his  ancestor,  they  were  not  fit  to  remain  with 
honourable  men,  nor  to  support  an  honourable  cause:'  and  it 
was  not  without  much  explanation  and  great  persuasion  that 
they  were  prevented  from  marching  away  next  morning.  Such 
was  the  character  of  the  massacred  MacDonalds  of  Glencoe  and 
their  descendants." 

The  battle  of  Culloden  was  fought  April  1 6,  1 746,  and  showed 
the  disastrous  effects  of  clan  jealousy.  It  is  claimed  that  tte 
victory  of  the  English  over  the  Scots  in  this  battle  was  due  to 
the  defection  of  the  MacDonalds,  and  that  the  defection  was 
due  to  their  having  been  slighted  in  the  posting  of  the  Young 
Pretender's  troops.  Since  the  battle  of  Bannockburn  the  Mac- 
Donalds  were  always,  except  when  they  yielded  from  courtesy, 
(as  to  the  Macleans  at  Harlaw)  placed  on  the  right  wing  of  an 
army  in  recognition  of  their  services  to  Bruce.  But  at  Culloden, 
Prince  Charles'  Adjutant,  Sullivan,  neglected  to  post  them  in 
their  hereditary  place;  the  MacDonald  commanders  waived  their 
pretensions,  but  their  followers  were  dissatisfied,  and  when  the 
time  of  conflict  came,  left  the  field  with  pipes  playing  and  colors 
flying,  although  their  chiefs  endeavored  to  persuade  them  to 
remain,  and  one  of  them,  Keppoch,  fell  while  trying  to  urge 
them  against  the  enemy. 

The  foregoing  is  one  account;  but  as  to  the  Clanian  there  are 
three  possibilities:  first,  that  it  withdrew  prior  to  the  battle  as 
a  result  of  the  dissension  arising  from  the  accidental  shooting 


1746 


153 


of  one  Macdonald  by  another;  second,  that  the  clan  participated 
in  the  sullen  refusal  of  the  majority  of  the  Macdonalds  to  advance 
upon  being  refused  their  traditional  post  on  the  right  of  the 
line,  or  third,  that  they  were  among  those  who  followed  Keppoch 
in  his  charge  on  the  English  forces,  and  Clan  Donald,  II.,  222, 
223,  states  not  only  that  Clanian  fought  at  Culloden,  but  that 
Donald,  the  descendant  of  Ranald  of  the  Shield  was  able  to 
lead  130  men. 

At  all  events  their  part  in  the  general  uprising  was  sufficiently 
prominent;  for  their  chief  was  among  those  expressly  excepted 
from  the  general  amnesty  of  1747. 


CULLODEN   MONUMENT. 

Strange  infatuation  for  the  Stewarts  and  for  "Bonnie  Charlie," 
even  after  the  latter  had  fled  to  France.  Doubtless  thousands 
in  Scotland  were  still  moved  by  the  sentiment  voiced  in  the 
simple,  pathetic  couplet  of  a  well-known  song: 

"Mony  a  heart  will  br'ak  in  twa, 
Gi'n  ye  no  coirie  back  again." 

According  to  the  British  Chronologist,  a  bill  of  attainder  in 
1746  includes,  among  other  Scottish  names  and  titles:  James 
Graham,  called  viscount  of  Dundee;  Donald  MacDonald  the 
younger,  of  Clanronald;  Donald  MacDonald,  of  Lochgarie; 


154  MACIANS  otf  1747-51 

Alexander  MacDonald,  of  Keppoch;  Archibald  MacDonald,  of 
Barrisdale,  and  Alexander  MacDonald  of  Glencoe.  And  in  1747, 
most  of  the  above  are  mentioned  among  "Persons  excepted  by 
name  out  of  the  King's  general  pardon." 

As  Mackenzie  relates,  (History  of  the  Camerons,  238),  it  was 
in  1746  that  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  backed  by  a  servile  parlia- 
ment, sent  out  detachments  of  English  soldiers,  with  orders  to 
burn  the  seats  of  Lochiel,  Glengarry,  Keppoch  and  others. 
"The  excesses  committed  on  helpless  men,  women  and  children, 
are  universally  admitted  to  be  unparalleled  in  history  .  .  . 
It  would  have  been  literally  possible  to  travel  for  days  through 
the  depopulated  glens  without  seeing  a  chimney  smoke  or  hearing 
a  cock  crow." 

After  the  events  of  1745  had  consigned  the  Stewart  prospects 
to  the  limbo  of  lost  and  hopeless  causes  we  find  scions  of  the 
Glencoe  family  in  the  service  of  the  reigning  monarchs.  (Clan 
Donald,  II.,  223). 

Alexander  Macdonald  of  Glencoe  left  issue — i.  John,  his 
successor.  2.  Donald,  who  was  born  in  1738,  and  died  in  1821. 
He  married  Flora,  daughter  of  Donald  Maclean  of  Kilmollaig, 
Tiree,  and  had  by  her  (a)  Major-General  Alexander  Macdonald 
of  the  Royal  Artillery,  C.  B.,  K.  St.  A.;  (6)  Captain  Macdonald. 
(Clan  Donald,  III.,  643). 

XV.  JOHN,  who  1751  had  the  forfeited  estate  restored.  [The 
estate  of  his  father  Alexander  was  forfeited  for  the  Rebellion 
of  1715].  By  charter  dated  29th  July,  1751,  Robert  Stewart  of 
Appin,  heritable  superior  of  Glenco — to  whom  the  Duke  of 
Argyll  had  given  the  superiority  forfeited  by  his  father,  John 
Stewart — disponed  to  John  the  two  merklands  of  Polvig  and 
the  two  merklands  of  Carnick  with  the  Glen  of  Lecknamoy. 
(Clan  Donald,  III.,  215). 

The  notorious  Alan  Breck,  immortalized  by  Robert  Louis 
Stevenson,  stopped  at  Carnoch,  then  the  home  of  Macdonald  of 
Glencoe,  and  informed  the  chieftain's  mother  of  the  death  of 
Campbell  of  Glenure,  as  he  started  to  escape  from  the  scene  of 
the  murder.  Andrew  Lang  in  an  article  "Who  shot  Glenure?  " 
(Mac Afillan's  Magazine,  1879,  P-  T36),  says  that  May  15,  1752, 
the  home  of  Macdonald  of  Glencoe  was  Carnoch  on  the  south 
side  of  Loch  Leven,  exactly  opposite  Callart,  and  three  miles 


3  GLENCOE.  155 

from  Ballachulish  and  Ballachulish  Ferry  by  which  men  cross 
into  Lochaber.  He  also  states  that  Macdonald's  mother  had  a 
brief  interview  with  Allen  Breck  shortly  after  the  murder,  and 
that  she  was  Ardishiel's  sister.  (See  also  Introduction  to  Scott's 
Rob  Roy).  The  relationship  mentioned  indicates  that  the  chief 
at  that  time  was  a  son  of  XIV.,  Alexander,  and  that  the  latter 
was  now  dead. 

"That  the  sins  of  the  fathers  are  visited  upon  the  children  is 
a  firm  belief  in  the  minds  of  Highlanders.  The  'curse  of  Glencoe ' 
it  is  pointed  out,  was  visited  upon  the  house  of  Campbell  of 
Glenlyon,  which  has  now  no  representative  in  the  direct  male 
line,  the  family  having  merged  in  that  of  Garden-Campbell. 
Campbell  of  Glenlyon,  grandson  of  the  perpetrator  of  the  mas- 
sacre of  Glencoe,  firmly  believed  this.  He  was  an  officer  in  the 
British  army  and  in  1771  was  stationed  at  Havannah.  Here  a 
marine  was  sentenced  by  court-martial  to  be  shot,  but  was 
reprieved.  Notice  of  the  reprieve  was  not  given  to  the  con- 
demned man,  and  it  was  arranged  by  the  authorities  that  all 
the  formalities  of  a  military  execution  be  proceeded  with.  The 
signal  for  firing  was  to  be  given  by  Glenlyon  producing  a  hand- 
kerchief from  his  pocket,  but  instead  of  this  he  was  to  show 
the  pardon.  By  an  unfortunate  accident  Glenlyon  showed  the 
handkerchief  instead  of  the  pardon  and  the  man  was  executed. 
Campbell  was  overcome  with  horror,  exclaiming:  'The  curse  of 
God  and  Glencoe  is  upon  me!  I  am  an  unfortunate  ruined 
man.'  The  disaster  so  preyed  upon  his  mind  that  he  resigned 
from  the  service."  (Adapted  from  Tales  of  a  Grandfather,  Chap, 
LVIII.).* 

We  insert  here  a  letter  dated  about  the  time  we  have  reached, 
and  containing  some  touches  of  nature.  Letter  XI.,  May  17, 
1773.  After  writing  of  "the  young  ladies  of  Glencoe,"  the 
writer  proceeds:  "But,  first,  that  you  may  estimate  duly  the 
renown  of  this  little  glen,  I  must  tell  you  what  a  tuneful  and 
warlike  tribe  inhabited  it.  The  tribe  of  Macdonalds,  called 
Maclans,  or  sons  of  John,  who  dwelt  in  this  sequestered  spot, 
were  all,  as  the  country  people  say,  born  poets;  and  this  belief 

*  It  was  also  a  widely  spread  belief  that  the  madness  and  murder  depicted 
in  The  Bride  of  Lammermoor,  and  founded  upon  an  incident  in  the  history 
of  the  Stair  family,  was  a  retribution  of  fate. 


156  MACIANS   OF  1773-79 

was  so  well  established,'  that,  if  a  Maclan  could  not  rhyme,  his 
legitimacy  was  called  in  question.  This  is  not  only  very  strange, 
but  very  true ;  but  I  think  we  may  credit  it,  on  the  principle 
of  the  old  bye-word,  'Bode  a  gown  of  gowd  and  ye '11  aye  get 
the  sleeve  of  it.'  "...  The  writer  philosophizes  at  great 
length,  alludes  to  the  natural  strength  of  the  glen,  the  friendliness 
of  the  clan  towards  the  Stuarts  their  neighbors,  and  describes 
the  massacre.  .  .  .  "The  present  Laird,  grandfather  to  my 
young  friends,  was  an  infant  two  years  old,  and  was  carried  off 
to  the  hills  by  his  nurse,  unobserved.  The  only  other  male  in 
the  chief's  house  who  escaped  was  the  bard.  .  .  .  Next  day 

.    .   The  bard  sat  alone  upon  a  rock,  and,  looking  down,  com- 
posed  a   long  dismal   song,    .    .    .   They   say  it   has  not   much 
poetical   merit.     No    wonder    'Small   heart   had    he    to    sing.'  ' 
(Letters  from  the  Mountains,  by  Mrs.  Annie  Grant  [of  Liggan]). 

The  last  time  the  old  clan  spirit  was  evoked  was  when  Mac- 
donald's  Highlanders,  the  76th  Regiment,  was  organized.  It 
was  authorized  in  1777  and  organized  in  1778,  through  the 
influence  of  Macdonald  of  Sleat.  With  the  exception  of  one 
Irish  and  two  Lowland  companies,  the  76th  was  largely  recruited 
from  the  Macdonalds  of  Sleat  and  Glencoe.  It  was  officered 
from  various  families,  including  the  Macdonalds  of  Glencoe 
.  .  .  The  76th  sailed  to  New  York  and  landed  in  August,  1779. 
Here  the  flank  companies  [light  infantry  and  grenadiers?]  were 
attached  to  batallions  of  that  description  and  remained  between 
New  York  and  Staten  Island  until  February,  1781,  when  they 
embarked  under  Major  General  Phillips  for  Virginia,  the  light 
company  being  in  the  2nd  batallion  of  light  infantry ;  the  grena- 
diers remained  at  New  York.  The  regiment  landed  at  Ports- 
mouth, Virginia,  in  March,  1781,  and  joined  the  troops  under 
Brigadier  General  Arnold  [the  renegade?].  In  May  they  formed 
a  junction  with  the  army  under  Lord  Cornwallis.  July '  6th 
La  Fayette  forced  the  pickets  in  front  of  Yorktown  and  drew 
up  in  front  of  the  British  line.  He  was  resisted  by  the  76th 
and  8oth  regiments,  which  formed  Colonel  Dundas's  brigade; 
the  Both  were  covered  by  woods,  but  the  76th  were  exposed  in 
an  open  field.  The  76th  joined  in  the  charge  that  routed  La 
Fayette,  who  lost  his  cannon  and  300  men  killed  and  wounded. 
Soon  afterwards  400  chosen  men  of  the  76th,  the  majority  of 


1781-1837  GLENCOE.  157 

whom  had  never  before  been  on  horseback,  were  detailed  as 
mounted  infantry  and  attached  to  Tarleton's  Legion.  Upon 
the  surrender  at  Yorktown,  when  the  British  bands  played 
'The  World  Turned  Upside  Down,'  the  regiment  was  broken 
up  into  detachments,  and  marched  as  prisoners  into  different 
parts  of  Virginia.  At  the  close  of  the  war  they  embarked  for 
New  York,  whence  they  sailed  for  Scotland,  where  they  were 
disbanded  in  March,  1784,  at  Stirling  Castle.  (Adapted  from 
Stewart,  II.,  116;  Browne,  IV.,  297;  Canadian  Magazine,  VII. 

259)- 

"John  Macian  of  Glenco  had  an  only  son,  Alexander,  to  whom 
he  left  a  General  Disposition  of  his  Estates  in  1785."  (Clan 
Donald,  III.,  215). 

XVI.  "ALEXANDER,    who   married   Mary   Cameron,    and    had 
three  sons,    Ewen  and  two  others,   whose  names  we  have  not 
been  able  to  ascertain."     (Clan  Donald,   III.,    215).     [The  Ad- 
denda,   643,    states:  He    married    Mary,    third    daughter   of   Sir 
Ewen  Cameron,   Bart,  of  Fassifern,  and  had  by  her — i.   Ewen, 
his  successor.     2.  Ranald,  a  Captain  in  the  Army,  who  married 
a  Miss  Thomson,   and  had  a  son,   Alexander,   and  a  daughter. 
3.  John.     4.  Jane  Cameron,  who,  in  1817,  married  Captain  Coll 
MacDougall,  of  the  42nd  Regiment]. 

At  Martinmas  of  1787,  Alexander  MacDonald  of  Glencoe  was 
paying  ,£120  rent  to  Ewen  Cameron  of  Fassiefern,  for  Corpach, 
one  of  the  estates  of  Lochiel.  (History  of  the  Camerons,  458). 

Alexander  made  a  Trust  Disposition  of  his  Estate  in  1814 
in  favour  of  Trustees  [he  died  igth  December,  1814]  and  Sasine 
was  taken  of  the  same  in  1816.  In  1817  a  Deed  of  corroboration 
of  the  previous  procedure  was  executed  by  his  successor.  (Clan 
Donald,  III.,  215). 

XVII.  EWEN   Macdonald    of     Glenco.     He     was   born      iith 
July,    1788,    and   succeeded   his   father  about    December,    1814. 
He  was  a  distinguished  physician  in  the   East  India  Company 
Service,  and  it  would  appear  that  the  affairs  of  the  family  became 
more  prosperous  when,  in  1828,  the  Trustees  conveyed  back  to 
him  the  patrimony  of  his  house.     In   1837   Ewen  entailed  the 
estate  on  himself  and  male  heirs;  failing  whom,   heirs  female; 
failing  whom,  to  his  daughter  Ellen  Caroline  Macpherson  Mac- 
donald, whose  mother  was  the  daughter  of  an  Indian  Maharaja. 


158  MACIANS   OF  1840-94 

Ewen  died  i9th  August,  1840.  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  215,  216, 
644). 

In  1856  the  historical  painter  Robert  Ronald  M'lan,  died; 
he  was  born  in  1803.  He  was  descended  from  the  old  M'lans 
or  Macdonalds  of  Glencoe,  Argyllshire.  Amongst  other  subjects 
he  painted  "The  Battle  of  Culloden,"  in  1843.  In  1845  his 
illustrations  of  Highland  costumes  were  published  in  "The  Clans 
of  the  Scottish  Highlands."  (Logan's).  He  was  elected  an 
associate  of  the  Royal  Scottish  Academy  in  1852,  in  recognition 
of  the  meritorious  character  of  his  work.  Fanny  M'lan,  his  wife, 
painted  "Highlander  defending  his  Family  at  the  Massacre  of 
Glencoe,"  which  has  been  engraved.  On  the  i3th  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1856,  M'lan  died  at  Hampstead.  (Dictionary  of  National 
Biography.  Vol.  XXV.). 

It  has  been  intimated  in  Logan's  Clans  of  the  Scottish  High- 
lands, that  Alexander,  the  nephew  of  Ewen,  and  son  of  Captain 
Ranald  MacDonald,  succeeded  Ewen  as  chief,  but  had  no  property. 
This  succession,  however,  appears  to  be  a  mistake,  for  the  writers 
of  Clan  Donald,  in  the  Addenda  to  Vol.  III.,  give  [not  as  Chief, 
but  we  presume,  as  real  head  of  the  House]: 

XVIII.  ELLEN  Caroline  Macpherson  Macdonald,  who  was  born 
5th  July,   1830.     She  married  Archibald  Burns,  who  afterwards 
assumed  the  name  of  Macdonald;  and  had  by  him — i.  Archibald 
Maxwell,  who  succeeded  her.  2.  Duncan  Cameron.  3.  A  daughter 
who  married   Mr.   Ballingal.     4.   A  daughter,   who  married  Mr. 
Cook. 

Ewen  having  no  other  heirs  of  his  body,  the  estate  devolved 
upon  Mrs.  Burns  Macdonald,  by  whom  it  was  disentailed  in 
1876,  and  whose  son  sold  it  in  1894  to  the  Honourable  Sir  Donald 
Smith.  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  216).  Mrs.  Burns  Macdonald  died 
March  3rd,  1887  and  was  succeeded  by  her  son.  (Ibid.,  644). 

We  read  that  apparently  after  1885,  "Mr.  Douglas  Maclean 
(New  Zealand)  and-  of  Kensington  Garden  Terrace,  Hyde  Park, 
London,  has  the  dirk  and  powderhorn  which  belonged  to  the 
MacDonald  of  Glencoe  who  fell  in  the  massacre.  They  came  to 
Mr.  Maclean  through  a  relative,  the  late  General  MacDonald  of 
Invercoe."  (Records  of  Argyll,  288,  Note). 

XIX.  ARCHIBALD  Maxwell,  succeeded  his  mother,  Mrs.  Mac- 
donald; he  died  unmarried  gth  June,   1894,  an^  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother — 


1814-94 


GLENCOE- 


159 


r6o  MACIANS  OF  1849-5 

XX.  DUNCAN  Cameron  Macdonald,  a  Major  in  the  British 
Army.  He  married  Marie  Thayer,  only  daughter  of  William 
M'Intyre  Cranston,  late  of  Holland  Park,  London,  and  has  by 
her — i.  William  M'lain.  2.  Roy  Cameron.  3.  Ellen  Macpherson. 
(Clan  Donald,  III.,  644). 

The  following,  gleaned  from  several  English  newspapers,  gives 
one  of  the  latest  public  references  to  the  MacDonalds  of  Glencoe. 
Lord  Archibald  Campbell  some  years  ago  instituted  the  Inverary 
Pipe  Band,  consisting  of  about  a  dozen  bagpipers  and  drummers; 
they  are  in  the  habit  of  accompanying  him  to  attend  the  Gaelic 
Mod. — an  annual  musical  congress.  In  1895  it  was  announced 
that  they  would  make  an  excursion  through  the  Pass  of  Glencoe, 
in  September,  on  their  way  from  Inverary  to  Oban,  to  the  Mod; 
and  straightway  certain  journalists  appear  to  have  seen  a  chance 
for  items, — welcome  in  a  dull  season.  So  the  "news"  was  pub- 
lished, and  telegraphed  across  the  Atlantic,  that  the  Macdonalds 
of  the  Glen  had  sent  word  to  his  lordship  that  if  any  of  the  clan 
which  had  murdered  their  ancestors  attempted  a  demonstration  in 
Glencoe,  the  fiery  cross  would  be  sent  around  and  heads  would 
be  broken.  Next  came  the  "news"  that  Lord  Archibald  was 
much  annoyed  at  this  threat,  for,  so  far  from  intending  a  trium- 
phal march,  his  object  was  to  make  expiation  for  the  past  by 
appropriate  dirges;  but,  the  road  through  the  Pass  being  the 
public  highway,  he  and  his  pipers  would  go  through  at  all  hazard, 
and  under  police  protection  if  necessary.  In  due  time  the 
journalists  had  written  articles  in  several  moods;  some  seriously 
giving  the  history  of  the  massacre  of  1692;  others  humorously 
alluding  to  excursion  trains  which  might  bring  people  to  places 
well  adapted  for  seeing  the  coming  fight ;  one  at  least  insinuating 
that  even  in  their  palmy  days  the  Campbells  never  dared  to 
enter  the  Glen  except  by  treachery;  refusing  to  believe  that  a 
Highland  gentleman  would  persevere  in  outraging  the  sentiments 
of  the  Macdonalds ;  asserting  that  there  were  now  no  Macdonalds 
or  other  inhabitants  of  the  Pass,  etc.,  etc.  The  gth  of  September 
having  come  and  gone,  the  public  was  informed  of  what  actually 
occurred,  viz.,  that  the  pipers  rode  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
way  in  a  large  vehicle  drawn  by  horses,  but  dismounted  several 
times  to  play,  and  that  in  Glencoe  and  wherever  else  they  went, 
the  inhabitants,  including  some  Highland  cattle,  came  to  hear 


1895-97 


GLENCOE. 


161 


them  with  many  signs  of  interest.  Incidentally  it  was  mentioned 
that  the  visiting  party  were  welcomed  at  "Invercoe  House,  the 
residence  of  Sir  Donald  Smith,  now  proprietor  of  Glencoe"; 
also  at  Dalness  in  a  forest  about  five  miles  south  of  the  Glen, 
the  proprietress  of  which  is  "Mrs.  Stuart,  a  descendant  of  the 
Macdonalds  of  Glencoe,  and  an  enthusiastic  Highland  lady." 
One  writer  stated  that  the  last  chief  of  the  Glencoe  Macdonalds 
died  in  1894,  and  in  his  account  continues:  "On  an  elevated  spot 
in  the  village  stands  an  lona  Cross,  with  the  inscription — 'This 


MACDONALD'S  MONUMENT,  GLENCOE. 

Cross  is  reverently  erected  in  memory  of  Maclan,  Chief  of  the 
Macdonalds  of  Glencoe,  who  fell  with  his  people  in  the  massacre 
of  the  1 3th  Feb.,  1692.  By  his  direct  descendant  Ellen  Burns 
Macdonald,  of  Glencoe,  August,  1883.'  '  The  picture  is  from 
Lansdale's  Scotland,  II.,  418. 

Of  Sir  Donald  Smith,  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  paragraphs, 
we  were  told  by  newspapers  in  1897,  (but  some  of  the  statements 
have  been  denied  by  Sir  Donald),  that  he  was  a  self-made  man 
who  started  life  as  an  errand  boy  in  a  village  store  in  Moray  shire, 
emigrated  at  the  age  of  seventeen  to  Canada,  where  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company.  He  made  an  enor- 


1 62  MACIANS   OF  1903 

mous  fortune,  was  knighted  for  services  in  connection  with  the 
construction  of  the  Canadian  Pacific  railroad,  and  purchased 
the  estate  of  Glencoe,  where  he  was  building  a  magnificent  country 
seat.  But  the  accounts  continue  that  when  he  wished  to  assume 
the  title  of  Lord  Glencoe,  the  whole  of  Scotland  was  up  in  arms 
at  the  idea  of  a  self-made  man  and  a  parvenu  adopting  for  his 
title  a  name  so  celebrated  in  the  history  of  Scotland  and  the 
annals  of  the  grand  old  Clan  MacDonald.  It  is  presumed  that 
this  is  "Baron  Strathcona  and  Mount  Royal,  of  Glencoe  in 
the  County  of  Argyle  and  of  Mount  Royal  in  the  Province  of 
Quebec  and  Dominion  of  Canada,"  who  in  1900  raised  the  Strath- 
cona Horse  for  service  in  the  South  African  campaign :  a  curious 
"whirligig  of  time." 

"At  the  present  day  [1903],  the  villages  of  Invercoe  and  Glencoe 
are  largely  inhabited  by  Macdonalds,  who  claim  descent  from 
those  whom  the  Campbells  .  .  .  strove  to  exterminate.  Large 
numbers  of  them  are  employed  in  the  Ballachulish  slate  quarries." 
(Memoirs  of  the  Lord  Viscount  Dundee,  lix.). 

"Glencoe,  though  so  near  a  large  quarrying  village  at  Ballachu- 
lish, abounds  in  legend  and  tradition,  running  back  to  Viking 
times,  and  second-sight  is  by  no  means  extinct  in  the  glen.  In 
the  haunted  burial  isle,  there  is  a  curious  grave  stone,  with  an 
effigy  of  a  Highlander  cutting  down  a  Dragoon."  (Highlands 
of  Scotland,  162,  Note). 

"Clans  are  no  longer  what  they  were.  The  purposes  for  which 
they  once  existed,  as  tolerated  but  not  as  sanctioned  societies, 
are  not  now  lawful.  To  all  practical  purposes  they  cannot 
legally  act,  and  they  do  not  legally  exist.  The  law  knows  them 
not.  For  peaceful  pageantry  mention  may  still  be  made  of 
clans  and  chiefs  of  clans;  but  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  no 
longer  oppressed  by  arbitrary  sway,  or  distracted  by  feudal 
contentions,  are  now  inhabited  by  loyal,  orderly  and  peaceful 
subjects  of  the  Crown  of  Great  Britain;  and  clans  are  not  now 
corporations  which  law  sustains,  nor  societies  which  law  recognizes 
or  acknowledges."  (Legal  decision  as  quoted  in  Skene's  Celtic 
Scotland,  III.,  366). 

After  their  clan-ties  were  broken,  the  Maclans,  spelling  the 
name  in  many^ways,  and  scattered  in  various  parts  of  the  world, 


1906  GU3NCOE.  1 63 

have  acted  individually,  and  their  acts  and  names  are  in  more 
accessible  publications  than  some  of  those  quoted  in  these  Notes. 
A  few  have  been  set  forth  in  the  McKean  Genealogies.  We  have 
lett  to  other  hands  their  family  histories  and  the  pleasant  duty 
of  showing  how  faithfully  those  of  them  who  were  born  or  who 
settled  in  the  United  States  have  served  their  country  in  the 
legislature,  the  army  and  navy,  in  literature,  or  in  the  humbler 
but  necessary  walks  of  life. 


SUCTION  IV. — OTHER  MCKEANS. 


ADAPTED  TROM  LOGAN  &  W-  lAN 

It  was  intended  to  place  in  this  part  of  the  work  some  historical 
and  other  notices  of  McKeans  in  Europe,  not  known  to  be  refer- 
able to  the  Ardnamurchan  and  Glencoe  families.  But  it  was 
concluded  that  some  cadets  of  those  families  who  retained  the 
name  Maclain  should  be  mentioned  briefly,  and  a  few  Glenco- 
men  in  one  of  the  tables,  and  also  some  names  which  may  not 
be  really  sons  of  John,  but  which  seem  more  or  less  equivalent 
to,  though  not  always  spelt,  McKean.  The  word  "unidentified" 
would  apply  to  most  of  the  persons,  but  not  to  all.  A  very  few 
O'Cahans,  O'Kanes,  etc.,  have  been  included.  Americans  were 
intended  to  be  dealt  with  in  the  book  McKean  Genealogies, 
published  by  Mr.  Cornelius  McKean  of  Perry,  Iowa,  in  1902. 

It  is  doubtful  whether  the  McKeans,  like  some  other  families, 
can  (?)  be  traced  back  to  Adam,  but  those  of  them  who  would 
like  a  very  ancient  mention  of  an  apparent  form  of  the  name, 
apart  from  the  tolerable  certainties  mentioned  in  Section  I.,  may 
be  amused  to  know  that  in  the  Croniques  ,  .  .  de  la  Grant 
Bretagne  .  .  .  ,  by  Jehan  de  Waurin, — an  eight  volume  work 
in  old  French,  beginning  with  the  siege  of  Troy  and  coming  down 
to  the  i^th  century, — it  is  mentioned  that  "Bructus  et  sa  com- 


1 3th  cent.  OTHER   MCKEANS.  165 

paignie  parvindrant  en  une  isle  qui  a  a  non  Makainie,  ou  ils 
descendirent  pour  eulx  rafreschir  et  prendre  leurs  necessitiz;" 
i.  e.,  Brutus  and  his  company  arrived  at  an  island  which  had 
the  name  Makainia,  where  they  disembarked  to  refresh  themselves 
and  attend  to  their  wants;"  "the  Paris  MS.  reads  Makaine" 
[and  a  later  volume  has  it  indexed  Macania].  This  Brutus  is 
said  to  have  been  the  son  of  Julius,  the  son  of  Ascanius,  the 
son  of  ^neas,  the  son  of  Anchises,  who  survived  the  siege  of 
Troy, — by  a  damsel  who  was  the  niece  of  Lavinia,  the  queen  of 
^neas  aforesaid.  The  island  was  on  the  southern  shore  of  the 
Mediterranean,  near  the  "royalme  d'Aufriques,"  and  probably 
belonged  to  a  people  called  Macae  by  Lempriere  in  his  Classical 
Dictionary.  The  Trojan  war  may  also  remind  some  of  our 
readers  that  Machaon,  a  celebrated  physician  and  son  of  ^Escula- 
pius,  healed  the  wounds  of  the  Greeks,  and  that  he  was  one  of 
those  concealed  in  the  wooden  horse. 

We  might  pass  from  an  impossible  entry  in  the  nth  century, 
B.  C.,  to  a  very  plausible  one  in  the  2nd  century  of  our  era,  but 
that  has  been  given  in  Section  I. 

Rad'[ulphus]  and  Thomas  de  Makeni,  and  "Cecilia  mater 
Thomae,"  met  with  in  1197  in  Buckinghamshire,  according  to 
Finales  Concordia  [Bounds  of  Grants],'  were  probably  not  Macs 
at  all. 

About  1230,  for  the  exact  date  does  not  seem  to  be  given, 
the  Calendar  of  State  Papers  includes  among  the  pleas  and  profits 
of  the  Mint  in  Ireland :  ' '  From  Makan,  for  a  false  farthing  of 
new  money,  ^  mark."  This  was  evidently  not  a  case  of  counter- 
feiting, as  the  old  punishment  for  that  crime  was  "to  forfeit 
the  hands  with  which  he  wrought  that  false,"  and  later  it  was 
made  high  treason;  when  taken  with  false  money,  "true  justice 
was  thereupon  to  be  done."  If  Makan's  first  name  was  Rory, 
(or  Roderick),  it  was  probably  a  case  of  official  responsibility. 
(See  below,  1285). 

The  Chartularies,  etc.,  of  St.  Mary's  Abbey,  Dublin,  state  that 
about  1245  Wymarke  Helier  grants  to  Donald  Makeyn  [in  another 
entry  "Makewe"]  certain  lands  in  "Ostmans"  Town,  Dublin," 
and  Wymark  and  his  heirs  will  guarantee  ("warrantizabimus") 
the  said  land  against  all  men  and  women  '  'inperpetuum."  Donald 
Makeyn  seems  at  first  glance  undoubtedly  of  the  name  and 


1 66  OTHER    MCKEANS.  1249-66 

clan:  our  lains  had  not  yet  appeared,  much  less  their  sons,  but 
what  then?  There  were  certainly  Johns  and  possibly  lains 
before  ours. 

In  the  Calendar  of  State  Papers,  for  the  date  1249,  there  is  a 
"Mandate  ...  to  cause  Raymond  Makeyn,  citizen  of  Bor- 
deaux [which  city  belonged  to  England  for  about  300  years], 
...  to  have  942  marks  in  which  the  K.  [sic]  is  bound  to  him, 
and  20  marks  for  his  expenses."  Also,  in  November  of  the 
same  year,  we  find  in  Royal  Letters,  Henry  III.,  Vol.  II.,  Appendix 
II.,  No.  8,  that  The  Sheriffs  ("Vicecomites")  of  London  are 
charged  to  apprehend  certain  persons,  including  Reymundum 
Ernaldi  Makeyn,  .  .  .  Ernaldum  Makeyn  de  la  Ruchele,  and 
their  aiders  approving  treachery  (?)  "rectatos  de  proditione" 
and  other  transgressions  against  the  king  in  Wasconia,  [Gascony, 
one  of  the  English  territories  in  France  between  the  i2th  and 
1 5th  centuries],  .  .  .  unless  several  evil-doers  are  produced, 
.  .  .  and  the  Constable  of  the  Tower  of  London  is  commanded 
to  receive  them  and  guard  them  with  care  "in  medio  stadio 
Tunis." 

The  same  series  of  Papers,  "Ireland,"  mentions  Raymond 
again,  for  in  1257  "The  King  [Henry  III.]  permits  2,200  marks, 
residue  of  a  debt  for  5,000  marks  due  to  citizens  of  Bordeaux, 
to  be  paid  to  Reymund  Makayn  and  another,  in  the  name  of 
the  citizens,  out  of  the  issues  of  vacant  archbishoprics,  bishoprics, 
abbeys  and  priories  in  Ireland."  Also,  on  the  next  day,  "A 
grant  to  Makayn  and  the  other,  of  50  marks  a  year  .  .  .  until 
full  satisfaction  shall  be  given  to  certain  citizens  of  Gascony 
for  2,200  marks  .  .  .  loan  made  by  them  to  the  K."  Also, 
in  1258,  Makayn  .  .  .  having  caused  to  be  conveyed  to  Drog- 
heda,  "for  the  K.'s  Welsh  army,"  50  hogsheads  of  wine,  which 
the  K.  does  not  require,  ...  his  attorney  is  allowed  to  sell 
the  wine.  Finally,  in  1266,  95  3/.  5$.  \d.  were  paid  to  the  attorney 
of  Reymund  Macayn  and  other  citizens  of  Bordeaux,  for  the 
K.'s  debt  to  them.  [The  mention  of  wine  for  the  army  shows 
a  custom  of  olden  times,  and  Dixon  in  Border  Clans  quotes 
several  accounts:  "For  -  -  days  the  army  had  no  drink  but 
water."] 

In  the  Hundred  Rolls  — the  List  of  the  Hundreds  or  divisions 
of  one  hundred  families  or  freemen  into  which  English  counties 


1272-1400  OTHER    MCKEANS.  167 

were  separated — in  Vol.  I.,  reign  of  Edward  I.  (after  his  return 
from  the  Holy  Land,  say,  about  1272),  there  is  mention  of  Alanus 
and  Paganus  Makene  at  Tunbridge  in  the  Hundred  of  Wrotham, 
County  of  Kent.  This  name  may  be  one  of  three  syllables,  and 
the  same  as  the  following.  In  Vol.  III.  of  the  same  reign  Radul- 
phus  de  Mackene  (also  written  MacKeneya)  was  a  free  tenant 
in  the  County  of  Oxford,  and  Willielmus  de  Mackeneye  is  men- 
tioned in  Berkshire ;  but  these  are  perhaps  only  resemblances. 

In  the  Calendar  of  State  Papers  and  the  i3th  year  of  Edward 
I.,  [1285],  there  is  mention  of  a  payment  of  £25  to  Rory  Mackan, 
Baron  of  the  Exchequer,  "who  takes  £10  a  year." 

In  Memoranda  de  Parliamento,  1305,  a  certain  Donald  McCan, 
called  in  Latin  fiz  Can  and  Fiz  Kan  [Fitz  Kan],  and  in  an  old 
French  copy  having  the  name  Campbell  struck  out  and  "fuiz 
Caan"  [Kane?]  above  the  line, — prays  the  King  [Edward  I.]  to 
grant  him  .£10  for  the  term  of  his  life,  for  ten  librates  of  land 
"les  queux  le  dit  Dovenald  tynt  en  la  Conte  de  Are  .  .  .  si  come 
avant  est  dit"  [which  the  said  Donald  held  in  the  County  of 
Ayr  ...  as  aforesaid].  Donald  is  called  a  knight,  and  appears 
to  have  gotten  the  land  by  charter  from  John  Balliol,  "formerly 
King  of  Scotland." 

1396  "yeiris  fra  the  incarnation"  was  "the  debait"  called  the 
battle  of  the  North  Inch,  said  to  have  been  fought  on  the  banks 
of  the  Tay,  near  the  City  of  Perth,  between  thirty  of  the  Came- 
rons  and  thirty  Mackintoshes  according  to  some  accounts,  or 
between  the  Clankayis  and  Glenquhattanis  according  to  another, 
or  Clan  Quhele  and  Clanchinyha  according  to  a  third;  and  in 
which  the  single  survivor  on  one  side  fled, — the  eleven  on  the 
other  being  so  near  death  that  they  could  not  pursue  him.  Our 
reason  for  mentioning  the  "debate"  is  that  Scott,  in  the  Fair 
Maid  of  Perth,  has  given  the  name  of  the  "morally  brave  but 
constitutionally  timid"  survivor  as  Eachin  Maclan.  Impressible 
McKeans  may  re-assure  themselves  by  reading  the  preface  to 
the  book,  wherein  Sir  Walter  discloses  the  fact  that  they  were 
"imaginary  persons"  in  his  relation  of  the  "mortal  encounter." 

"The  Isla  branch  of  the  Macdonalds  was  styled  after  John, 
second  son  of  John,  Lord  of  the  Isles,  'Clann  Iain  Mhoir'  .  .  . 
This  John  married  about  1400,  Marjory  Byset,  heiress  of  the 
Seven  Lordships  of  the  Glens,  in  Antrim.  After  the  marriage, 


168 


OTHER    MCKEANS. 


1400-31 


John  is  found  styled  Lord  of  Dunyvaig  and  the  Glens,  also  Lord 
of  Isla  and  Kintyre  .  .  .  Dunyvaig  Castle,  for  centuries  a 
ruin  [and  of  which  we  present  a  picture],  stands  on  the  estate 
of  Wildalton  in  Isla."  (The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla). 

Under  the  date  1408  the  transiency  of  human  affairs  is  quaintly 
exemplified  in  a  Gaelic  Charter  re-produced  in  Clan  Donald, 
(I.,  Appendices.)  and  by  which  Macdonald,  Lord  of  the  Isles, 
grants  certain  lands  "to  Brian  Vicar  McKay  and  to  his  heirs 
after  him  for  ever  and  ever";  and  if  the  conditions  are  not 


DUNYVAIG    CASTLE,    ISLAY. 

fulfilled,  the  lands  are  to  be  returned  "to  me,  and  to  my  heirs 
after  me,  to  the  end  of  the  world." 

About  1431  there  appear  to  have  been  two  John  Maclan 
Abrachs,  one  in  the  Glencoe  branch,  (see  that  date  in  Section 
III.),  and  the  other  a  MacLean.  (History  of  the  Camerons,  26). 

Browne's  History  of  the  Highlanders  and  Clans  gives  items  of 
clan  feuds,  forays  and  battles  in  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth 
centuries,  mentioning  the  Slaight  or  Sliocht-Ean-Aberigh,  Slaight- 
Ean  Voir  and  Slaight-Ean-Rcy,  -which  apparently  indicate 
different  septs  of  Eans  or  Johns,  though  the  fact  that  the  Slaight- 


1468-95  OTHER    MCKEANS.  169 

Ean-Aberigh  was  at  one  time  in  Strath  Naver  in  the  extreme 
north  of  Scotland  and  far  from  Ardnamurchan  and  Glencoe, 
may  denote  a  distinct  family. 

Volume  IX.  of  the  Exchequer  Rolls  of  Scotland,  contains  in 
1468,  among  the  Rentals  of  our  Lord  the  King,  [James  III.],  a 
statement  of  seizin  to  Duncan  McKane,  of  Tarren,  Corblaren 
and  Garfauld  in  Argyle. 

In  the  Accounts  of  the  Lord  High  Treasurer  of  Scotland,  there 
is  entry  of  a  composition  with  a  certain  McCane  in  1473,  for 
harboring  Gilbert  McGay  when  the  latter  was  an  outlaw;  the 
amount  is  "viij  li"  [pounds]. 

In  1478  we  find  in  the  Acts  of  the  Lords  Auditors  of  Causes  and 
Complaints,  that  "duncain  makmakyn"  [indexed  MacMakane], 
was  charged  with  several  others  by  "elizabeth  hamiltoun  for 
the  wrangwise  spoliation  away  taking  and  witholding  ...  of 
sixty-six  bolls  of  clean  broddit  aits." 

The  Exchequer  Rolls  of  Scotland  state  that  in  1481  and  1483, 
half  of  Ester  Lanerky  and  Caschdrapane  were  let  to  Donald 
McCane;  and  to  his  widow  and  son  Fergus  in  1486.  In  1483, 
in  the  barony  of  Down,  there  are  mentioned  Lundy,  Andrew 
and  Donald  McCane  [indexed  McKane];  the  last  two  are  tenants 
of  Sessintuly,  specified  again  in  1486. 

According  to  the  Ada  Dominorum  Concilii  [Acts  of  the  Lords 
of  Council  (in  Civil  Causes)],  in  1489  Johne  mcmakane  is  charged 
by  Johne  Kennydy  of  Carlok  for  wrongful  occupation  of  certain 
lands;  and  in  the  same  year:  "Before  ye  lordes  comperit  Sr. 
Johne  kenedy  as  procurator  [for  several  persons  including]  alane 
mckene  .  .  .  and  protested  that  because  Robert  of  Carlish  gert 
summon  them  at  his  instance  and  at  the  instance  of  our  sovereign 
Lord  and  wald  nocht  compere  to  folow  them,  that  therefore,"  etc. 

The  Accounts  of  the  Lord  High  Treasurer  of  Scotland  contain 
an  entry  in  1494:  "Item,  the  viij  day  of  Nouember,  gevin  at 
the  Kingis  command,  brocht  be  the  Bischop  of  Murray  and  the 
Chalmerlane,  to  certain  Masones  that  passit  to  cast  down  McKanys 
house  [indexed  McKane,  Makane]  with  the  Lord  Gordoun  xviij 
/."  Another  entry  in  the  same  work,  shows  that  "At  Kirkcud- 
bright, [pronounced  Kirco6bree],  April  8,  1495,  there  was  a 
remission  of  40  shillings  to  Thomas  Makane,"  who  seems  to  be 
a  Lowlander, — the  occasion  is  not  stated.  Thomas  evidently 


170  OTHE;R  MCKEJANS.  1497-1532 

appears  again  in  1497:  "Item,  to  William  Yong  and  Thorn 
Makachane,  wrychtis  in  Dunbar,  to  make  the  ruf  to  Hannis 
toure,  thair  xiiij  dayis  wage,  xxxvij  s.  iiij  d." 

The  MacEachen-Macdonalds  were  a  branch  of  the  Clanranald 
and  the  name  means  Son  of  Hector.  The  progenitor  lived 
toward  the  end  of  the  i5th  century,  and  the  family  was  in  exis- 
tence at  the  end  of  the  igth.  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  239).  As  ch 
in  Gaelic  names  is  often  if  not  always  silent,  the  name  must 
have  been  pronounced  very  nearly  like  MacEan.  The  Mac- 
Eachens  of  Howbeg  and  Glenuig  originated  early  in  the  i7th 
century  and  came  down  to  1835.  (Ibid.,  248,  250).  The  Mac- 
Eachens  of  Peniuren  date  from  before  1638  to  after  1786.  (Ibid., 

251)- 

Alexander  Macdonald,  V.  of  Dunnyveg  and  the  Glens,  1499- 
1538,  a  man  of  note  in  his  day,  was  known  in  vScotland  and 
Ireland  as  Alastair  Maclan  Chathanaich,  and  married  Catherine, 
daughter  of  John  Maclain  of  Ardnamurchan.  (Ibid.,  375,  376). 

Allan  IV.  of  Knoydart,  about  1501,  is  "designed"  Allan 
Ranaldson  McEanson,  [because]  his  father  was  Ranald  and 
grandfather  John.  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  238).  A  few  similar 
forms  are  met  with  now,  Mc  and  son  being  used  together,  with 
the  same  patronymic. 

For  1512,  or  "The  Kalends  of  January;  the  age  of  the  Lord 
one  thousand,  five  hundred  and  twelve  years,"  the  Annals  of 
Loch  Ce  mention  "A  hosting  by  Garrett,  Earl  of  Cill-dara  [Kil- 
dare?]  ...  on  which  occasion  he  took  the  castle  of  Bel-ferside, 
and  broke  down  the  castle  of  MacEoin*  and  plundered  the  Glinns, 
and  a  great  part  of  the  country;  ..." 

After  the  fatal  battle  of  Flodden,  in  1513,  the  surviving  High- 
landers, including  Alexander  Maclan  of  Glengarry,  again  "raised 
the  standard  of  rebellion,  and  Sir  Donald  of  Lochalsh  was  pro- 
claimed Lord  of  the  Isles,"  but  Maclain  of  Ardnamurchan  seems 
to  have  succeeded  in  helping  to  extinguish  the  rebellion. 
(Adapted  from  Clan  Donald,  I.,  319,  321;  and  Lang,  I.,  361). 

The  State  Papers  of  1532  include  letters  from  Northumberland 
to  Henry  VIII.:  In  one  of  them  he  "  .  .  .  haith  sertyffyed 

*" MacEoin,  literally,  'son  of  John,'  or  Johnson;  the  cognomen  of  the 
family  of  Bissett  of  the  Glinns,  in  the  County  of  Antrim.  See  Reeves's 
Eccl.  Antiq.,  p.  325." 


1532-48  OTHEjR    MCKEiANS.  iyi 

Your  Highnes  of  the  arryvall  of  certeyne  Scottyshemen  to  the 
nombre  of  foure  thousand  in  your  said  land,  [Ireland],  under 
the  leading  of  Machonell,  [MacDonald],  intending  to  join  with 
Adonell  [O'Donnell]  .  .  .  the  vScottes  Kyng  hath  sent  fyye 
hundreth  archers  from  the  owte  isles  of  Scotland  unto  the  said 
Machonell  in  great  hast  .  .  ."In  another  letter  soon  after,  he 
writes: — "Your  Highnes  shall  perceyve  that  for  Makayn  ys  gone 
over  in  to  Ireland  with  the  numbre  of  7000  men,  whereof  most 
parte  be  footemen,  and  it  is  said  hath  done  myche  harme  in 
Ireland  .  .  .  the  Kyng  of  Scottes  hath  plucked  from  the  Erie 
of  Argyle,  and  from  his  heires  for  ever,  the  rule  of  all  the  out 
iles,  and  given  the  same  to  Mackayn  and  his  heires  for  ever; 
and  also  hath  in  likecase  taken  from  thErle  of  Crafford  suche 
landes  as  he  had  ther,  and  gy ven  the  same  to  the  said  Mackayne ; 
the  which  hath  ingendred  a  great  hatred  in  the  said  Erie's  harte 
against  the  said  Scottes  King."  [James  V.].  Here  in  eight 
lines  of  an  official  document  the  name  of  Maclain  is  spelt  in 
three  different  ways. 

In  the  same  work  are  some  possible  mentions  of  Other  McKeans, 
but  we  will  only  quote  that  in  1534,  among  a  number  of  "escriptes 
and  writings"  called  "Cromwell's  Remembrances,"  there  is 
notice  of  Agnes  and  Ellen  Macheon,  in  depositions  about  "the 
breach  of  Ilchester  prison."  And  in  1537,  among  Reports  against 
Ossory  [the  Earl]  in  Ireland,  we  find  the  names  of  Cosney  McKey- 
hone  and  Bollyagh  McKeighon,  possibly  old  forms  of  McKeon, 
"judges  to  Okarill,"  and  who  testified. 

Alexander  Mackenzie  in  the  History  of  the  Camerons,  37,  states 
that  in  1548,  21  merks  of  land,  the  property  of  Alastair  Maclan 
MacAlastair  of  Glengarry,  were  apprised  to  John  Grant  of  Freuchie 
and  also  12  merks,  "the  hereditary  fee  of  his  son  Angus,  all  of 
which  had  been  apprised  for  the  sum  of  ,£10,770,  13^.  ^d.  Scots, 
for  satisfaction  of  a  'spulzie'  committed  by  Glengarry,  his  son, 
and  their  accomplices.  These  lands  .  .  .  were  afterwards  held 
for  a  time  by  Glengarry,  in  right  of  his  wife,  Margaret  de  Insulis." 

In  the  Register  of  the  Great  Seal  of  the  Kings  of  Scotland,  there 
are  certain  passages  in  Latin,  of  various  dates;  one  of  them  is 
in  Section  II.,  the  other  may  be  rendered  as  follows: 

"203.  At  Edinburgh,  4th  May  [1548]. 

The  Queen  [Mary]  has  confirmed  to  John  Grant  of  Culkabok, 


172 


OTHER  MCKEANS. 


1545-79 


his  heirs  and  assigns — 2\  marcates  of  land  situated  in  Lochar- 
roun  .  .  .  which  land  of  Locharron  belonged  to  Alester  Mc- 
Kaane  McAlestar  de  Glengawrie  in  free  tenement,  and  to  Angus 
his  son  and  heir  apparent  in  fee  .  .  .  "  In  the  note  to  this 
grant  we  find:  "Names  of  assize  .  .  .  Joh.  McCane  McComas 
in  Auchnaschallauch  .  .  .  and  among  the  tenants  and  their 
holdings  ...  Joh.  McEane  McGilleis,  in  the  town  of  Culnakirk 
in  Urquhard  .  .  .  " 

Mention  is  made  in  this  volume,   mostly  as  witnesses,   from 
1545  to   1579,  of 


Donald     McEane     McFerquhard, 

1545- 

Donald  Owz  (Owr?]  McEane  Mc- 
Fyndlaw.  (i),  1545. 

Donald  McEane  McGilleis,   1545. 

John   Doy  McEane   McCoill,    1545. 

John  McCoill  McKeane,   1545. 

John    McEane    McConnill,    1545. 

John  McEane  McWilliame,  1545. 

Maria  McKane  McFale,   1545. 

Donald    Makane-bayne     (McAne 
Bayne),  1545. 

Wil.  McPatrick  Makane-bayne  (Mc- 
Eane Vayne),  1545. 

John  Mclldonych  Makane-boy  (Mc- 
Eane Boy),  (2),  1545. 

Joh.   McCane  McComas,  (3),   1548. 

McEane  McConquhy,  1548. 

Joh.  McEane  McGilleis,  1548. 

William  McDonald  McKane  (4) ,  1 549 

Matilda,  wife  of  the  last,  and 
daughter  of  Murdoch  McKane, 
1549- 

i.  In  Wester  Ballewat.  2.  In  Litill  Invermorischtoun.  3.  In  Auchnas- 
challauch. 4.  To  whom  the  Queen  gave  letters  of  legitimacy.  5.  Of  Balle- 

manoch.     6.  In    Brasdale.     7.  Of    Carbarranbeg.     8.  Son    of    the    Vicar? 

Like  McPherson,  son  of  the  Parson.     9.  In  Eddirracharron  in  Lochcarne. 

10.  Of  the  burgesses  of  Rothsay. 

From  the  six  bulky  volumes  of  the  Register  of  the  Privy  Council 
of  Scotland,  1545  to  1604,  we  will  make  occasional  abridged 
quotations  about  names  connected  with  the  McKeans  of  old 
times. 


Margareta     Neynthomas     McKane 

McEwin,  1551. 
Dugall  Makane  (or  McAkane    Mc- 

Nele  of  Sorba,  1553. 
Neil  Makeane  Maknele,  1553. 
Duncan     Makane-bayne     (McAne- 

bane,      McEane-vayne)    McKey, 

(5)-  1554- 
Neil     Makane-duffe     (McAneduffe) 

McKachane,  (6),  1554. 
Malcolm  Makane  McDonill,( 7),  1559. 
Donald   Makane    Vekvicar   (8),    of 

Sallychary,  1559. 
Neil    McCaine    "cliens,"    1559. 
Duncan  Makane-voir  Vekeller,  1 562. 
Willelmus  McKayne,    1562. 
Wil.   Makeane,    1563. 
Hector  McAne  Ekane,  (9),  1567. 
Duncan  McEane  McCondachie  Mc- 

Gillebred,  1574. 
Ferquhard    McCaine,    alias    Jame- 

soun,  (TO),    1579. 


I545~l6°4  OTHER    MCKEANS.  173 

And  a  rather  insubordinate  set  some  of  them  appear  to  have 
been  at  that  time, — a  time,  however,  when  men  all  the  world 
over,  cared  more  for  force  than  for  law,  and  when  almost  every 
self-respecting  Highlander  thought  raiding  the  Lowlands  and 
often  his  neighbors,  to  be  right  and  proper.  It  is  small  comfort 
to  know  that  the  enemies  of  the  Maclans  were  about  as  bad,  and 
were  also  frequently  denounced  as  law-breakers  and  rebels.  The 
compiler  has  waded  through  the  whole  record,  disheartening  in 
its  variety  of  violence  and  wrong,  and  will  presently  give  a  few 
naive  and  archaic  extracts  as  samples,  instead  of  pages  of  quota- 
tion, however  curious.  Before  doing  so,  however,  he  will  state, 
in  excuse  for  this  long,  frail  record  of  our  possible  forefathers, 
that  several  of  the  names  are  repeated  over  and  over  again,  to 
the  scandal  of  their  peaceful  and  law-abiding  kinsfolk. 

Some  readers  may  be  interested  to  see  the  style  of  names 
borne  in  old  times  in  the  Highlands,  so  a  list  of  various  spellings 
of  McEans  and  connections,  almost  all  from  the  Register  men- 
tioned, will  be  first  given,  nearly  one-half  being  indexed  as  Mac- 
lans, though  that  part  of  the  name,  or  its  equivalent,  does  not 
always  appear  the  last  as  in  a  surname  of  the  present  clay,  and 
would  indicate  alliances  by  marriage  or  otherwise,  with  a  large 
number  of  families.  A  few  of  the  following  bore  nicknames 
besides  (which  must  have  been  a  relief  to  their  friends  of  short 
breath  and  memory),  one  in  particular,  arouses  our  ardent 
curiosity  as  to  the  reason  of  his  bearing  the  alias  "Girls," — 
which  charming  sobriquet,  however,  he  belied  by  rough  conduct; 
in  other  clans  we  have  met  with  the  nicknames  "Traitour," 
"Vagabound,"  etc.  Finally,  as  to  standing  in  life,  many  of  the 
following-named  men  were  tenants  or  retainers,  and  in  some 
cases  servants,  but  evidently  most  enthusiastic  to  follow  the 
Laird  when  a  neighborly  incursion  was  to  the  fore. 

SOME  McEAxs  AND  APPARENT  CONNECTIONS,  mentioned  in 
forays,  complaints,  etc.,  chiefly  in  the  Register  of  the  Privy  Council 
of  Scotland; — from  1545  to  1604.  About  twenty  of  these  are 
Glencoe-men. 


Donald  McEane  Dowe  (3)  VcAllas- 
ter  (16)  McEane  Abrich  (i,  *). 

Duncane  McEane  Dowveig  (3,  12) 
Mclndulich  Birrach  (i?,  *). 

Duncane  McEane  Cam  (2,  *). 


Angus  Me  An  Dow  (3a). 
Angus  Dow  McEane   Dow   (3a). 
Ewin  McEane  Dow  (3). 
Johne     Dow     (3)     McEane     Dow 
(3,  *,  6). 


i74 


OTHER    MCKEANS. 


1545-1604 


Johne   McEan   Dow   (3b). 
Donnald     Mclnnes     VcEane     (16) 

Dowy  (3). 
Neill  McGilliechallum  VcEane  (16) 

Dowy  (3). 

Tarloch  McEane  Dowy  (30). 
Donnald  McEane  Doy  (3). 
John  McEane  VcMurchie  (16)  Glas 

(4). 
William  Dow  (3)  McEane  Inche  (5). 

William  McAine  Inche  (5,  *). 
Allaster  McEane  VcFer  (16)  Innes 

(6). 
John    Moir    McEane    Keir    (7,    *), 

alias  Chamrone  [Cameron]. 
Alexander  McCain  McAin. 
Tarloch  McAine  (*,  c). 
Allane  McAne  of  Inner  loch  (21). 
Allaster  M^aneabrych  (i). 
Donald  Oig  (13)  Mcaneabrych  (i). 
John  Mcaneabrych  (i). 
Johnne  Dow  McConeill  (8)  McEan. 
Thomas     McConeill     (8)      McEan 

(stabler) . 

Johne  Oig  (13)  McEancheir  (7,  *). 
Johne  McEandecheir  (7,  *). 
Johnne  McEandoyn  (3,  *). 
Allane   McEane   (*)   in   Ballochqu- 

hindochie. 

John  McAllaster  McEanwichts. 
John  Dow  Mceane   (9)   McGregour 

(d). 
John  Dow  McEwne  (9)  McGregour 

(d). 

William  McEane  McHuchesoun. 
Allane  Mclnabrich  (i,   *)  in  Glen- 

coan  (10,  e). 
Allane   Dow  Mclnabrich   (i,    *)   in 

Lochquaber  (n,  e). 
Allaster  Mclndow  (3)   Mclnabrich, 

alias  McConei'11  (8). 
Angus  Mclnabrich  (i,   *)  in  Glen- 

coane  (10). 
Angus  Dow  (3)  Mclnabrich  (i,  *) 

in  Lochquaber  (n). 
Archibald     McConeil     (8)     Mclna- 
brich (i,  *,  f). 


Archibald  Mclndow  (3)  Mclna- 
brich (i,  *),  alias  McConeill  (8,  f). 

Donald  Mclndow  (3)  Mclnabrich 
(i,  *),  alias  McConeill  (8). 

Johne  Mclnabrich  (i,  *)  in  Glen- 
coane  (10). 

Johnne  Beg  (12)  Mclnabrich  (i,  *). 

Johne  Dow  (3)  Mclnabrich  (i,  *) 
in  Lochquaber  (n). 

Ronald  Mclnabrich  (i,  *)  in  Glen- 
coan  (10). 

Ronald  Dow  (3)  Mclnabrich  (i,  *) 
in  Lochquaber  (n). 

Allaster  McAne  [and  McEane]  Mc- 
lnnes (6,  *,  g). 

Allaster  McCeane  Oig  (13,  *,  h)  of 
Glenco. 

Allaster  McEane  Oig  (13,  *,  h)  of 
Glenko. 

Angus  McEan  Oig  (13,  *). 

Rory  McEane  Oig  (13,  *). 

Allane     Roy     (14)     McEan  _Oyge 

(i3,  *)• 

Andro  McEane  Roy  (14). 
Ewne     McEane     McFindlay     Roy 

(H,  *,  i). 
Gillespik    McAllane    McEane    Roy 

(i4). 

Johne  Dow  (3)  McEane  Roy  (14). 
Johnne     McAine     VcFynlay     (16) 

Roy  (14,  *,  i). 
Johne  McEwne  VcAllaster  (16)  Roy 

(14,  21). 

Ewne  McEane  Tuich  (k,  21). 
Johnne  McEan  Tuich  (k,-  21). 
Gilliechallum  McFarquhar  Doy  (3) 

VcEane  (16)  Vane  (15). 
John   McEane  Vane   (15,   *). 
John  McFarquhar  Doy  (3)  VcAine 

(16)  Vane  (15). 

Donnald  Gar  McEane  Vany  (15). 
Donald   Roy   (14)    Mceane  VcAch- 

ane  (16,  *). 
John  McAne  VcConell  (8)  VcAglas- 

sre  (4?,  1 6). 
Alexander  McEane  Vc Allane  (16,*). 


OTHER     MCKEANS. 


175 


Alexander    Oig    (13)    McEane    Vc- 

Allane  (16,  *). 

Ronnald  McEane  VcAllane  (16,  *). 
Donald  McEanair  Vc Allen  (16,  *). 
Allan  McEan  Duy  (3)  VcAllaster 

(16). 

Allaster  McEan   Duy   (3)   VcAllas- 
ter (16). 
Donald  McEan  Duy  (3)  VcAllaster 

(16). 

Gillespik  McEan  Duy  (3)  VcAllas- 
ter (16). 

Donald  McConeill  (8)  VcAine  (16). 
Johnne  McGillandris  VcAyne  (16). 
Donald  Roy  (14)  McAine  VcConell 

(8,  *    16). 
Donald  Moir  (17)  McEane  VcConill 

(8,  16). 
Johne  Dow  (3)  McEane  Dowy  (3) 

VcConill   (8,   b?,    16). 
Angus  McAine  VcConnell  (8,  *,  16). 
Gillespik  McAine  VcConnell   (8,   *, 

16). 
William   McAine   VcConnell   (8,    *, 

16). 
Allaster  Dow  (3)  McAllane  VcEane 

of  Culchinny  (21). 
Angus     Oig     Mclnnes     VcMartine 

VcEane  (21). 

Johnne  McFatrik  VcEane  (16,  *). 
Johnne  Moir  (17)  McAllane  VcEane 

(16)  of  Collardy  (21). 
Johnne  Oig  (13)  McAllane  VcEane 

(16,  21). 
Ewne  McCondoquhy  VcEwne  (16) 

in  Auchnesune  (21). 


Neill    McEane    Duy    (3)    VcEwne 

(16,  *). 
Ewne  McEane  Dow  (3)  VcGillecho- 

nane  (16,  *). 
Allaster  McCondochy  McEane  Dowy 

VcGregour  (16,   *). 
Allaster  McEane  Vclnnes  (6,  *,  16). 
Angus  McEane  Vclnnes  (6,   16). 
Donald   McEane   Vclnnes    (6,    16). 
Finlay  McEane  Vclnnes  (6,  *,  16). 
James  McEane  Vclnnes  (6,  *,  16). 
John  McEane  Vclnnes  (6,  16). 
Ronald  McEane  Vclnnes  (6,  16). 
Donald  Our  Vclnnis  (6,  16)  VcEane 

(16)   VcMartine   (16,  1,   21). 
Donald  Roy  (14)  McAngus  VcEane 

(16)  VcMartine  (16,  1,  21). 
Duncan     McAngus     VcEane     (16) 

VcMartine  (16,  21). 
Donald     Dow     (3)     McConeill     (8) 

VcEane  (16)  VcMartyne  (16,  21). 
Alexander  McCaney  (McEane)  Vc- 

Sir  James  (16,  *,  20). 
Angus    McCaney    (McEane)    VcSir 

James  (16,  *,  20). 
Nicoll     McEane     Roy     (14)     Veig 

(*,    12?). 

Angus  McEane  Virich  (i?,   *,    18). 
Allester  McAllester  Vrik  (i?,  18). 
Ewin  McAin  WcConeill   (8,    19). 
Alexander    McAine    Dow    (3)    Wc- 

Krenald  (19)  [McRanald]. 
Angus    McEan    Doy    (3)    Vclnnes 

(6,    1 6)   Weill   (*). 
Angus  Reoch   (14)   McEane   Dowy 

(3)   Vclnnes   (6,    16)    Weill,  etc., 

etc. 


*  Indexed  "Maclan"  in  the  Records,  i.  McEane  Abrich,  M^aneabrych, 
Mclnabrich,  but  perhaps  not  McEane  Virich  and  Vrik, — may  refer  to  the 
Clan-anverich,  Clan  Abarach,  Maclan  of  .Avricht,  Awricht,  Abrach,  etc., 
said  by  Logan  (?)  to  have  originated  from  one  of  their  chiefs  being  fostered 
at  Lochaber.  2.  Cam  is  crooked  or  bent.  3.  Dow  in  various  spellings  is 
black  or  dark.  4.  Glas  is  green,  possibly  from  the  place  of  residence.  5. 
Inche  may  be  island,  from  the  place  of  residence,  or  see  6.  6.  Innes  is  for 
Aonghais  or  Angus.  7.  McEane  Keir,  McEancheir,  McEandecheir,  would 
probably  be  now  written  McKean-Keir;  the  third  form  is  indexed  John 


I?6  OTHER    MCKEANS. 


1557-9 


In  the  " Inquisitionum  ad  Capellam  Domini  Regis  Retornatarum, 
quae  in  Publicis  Archivis  Scotiae  adhuc  ser7antur,  Abbreviatio, " — 
a  work  in  Latin,  in  three  volumes,  and  which  is  an  Abridgment 
of  the  Record  of  Proceedings  by  Inquest,  or  Verdict  of  Assize, 
originating  in  Writs  issuing  from  Chancery,  between  the  dates 
1486  and  1701, — there  are  several  references  which  will  be  alluded 
to  in  due  course.  For  the  present  it  may  be  stated  that  in  1557 
under  the  heading  of  the  County  of  Bute  in  Scotland,  there  is 
a  record  that  John  McCame  ("or  McCaine"),  heir  of  Nigellus 
[Niell]  McCame  his  father,  had  23  solidates  4  denariates  of  land 
in  "Barnald"  in  the  island  of  Bute.  [We  will  presently  find 
this  family  name  spelt  McKaine]. 

Having  mentioned  in  Section  I.,  the  founding  of  the  Cathedral 
of  St.  Andrew,  the  patron  Saint  of  Scotland,  it  may  be  permis- 
sible to  state  here  that  in  1559,  that  building  was  pulled  down 
by  a  mob,  excited  by  a  sermon  of  John  Knox  against  idolatry. 
Professor  Tennant  in  his  poem  ' '  Papistry  Stormed,  or  the  Dinging 
Doun  o1  the  Cathedral"  tells  how — "Great  bangs  o'  bodies 
.  .  .  Gaed  to  Sanct  Andro's  town; 

(Dachir)  Maclan.  8.  McCon?i  1  possibly  for  MacDonald;  see  foot-note  to 
Table  of  (Me)  Donalds,  Appendix.  9.  Shows  that  Ewne  is  sometimes,  at 
least,  the  same  as  Eane.  10.  Glencoan  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  Forth 
of  Lorn  from  Glencoe,  though  the  stream  in  the  latter,  (celebrated  by  Ossian), 
being  "Cona  Water,"  the  two  may  be  confounded,  u.  Lochquaber,  prob- 
ably Loch  Ab2r.  12.  Beg,  little  or  small.  13.  Oig,  etc.,  in  several  forms, 
younger  or  junior;  literally,  grandson  or  descendant,  now  written  O'.  14. 
Roy,  spelled  in  various  ways,  the  red  [haired?].  15.  Vane  might  in  some 
cases  be  for  VcAne,  McAne,  but  more  likely  for  bane,  white  or  fair.  16.  Vcformc, 
old  form  of  mac,  son  of.  17.  Moir,  mor,  etc.,  large,  great;  sometimes  elder 
or  senior.  18.  Vrik,  evidently  a  contraction  of  Virich,  which  was  supposed 
to  be  a  form  of  Avricht,  (see  i  ,  but  more  probably  denotes  one  of  the  "race 
of  MacVurrichs,"  who  were  bards  to  MacDonald  of  Clanranald.  Vuirich 
is  also  given  as  the  Gaelic  for  MacPherson,  though  that  is  considered  to 
mean  "son  of  the  Parson."  19.  Wc  for  T/c,  equivalent  to  Mac.  20.  This 
Sir  James  was  probably  the  MacDonald,  though  indexed  "Maclan."  -  a,  b, 
c,  etc.,  .  .  .  k,  1,  indicate,  in  couples,  equivalent  forms  of  the  same  name. 
2 1 .  Also  said  to  be  Camerons. 

Ean  in  various  shapes  means  John  in  Gaelic,  but  it  may  be  necessary  to 
caution  some  readers  that,  as  a  prefix  in  Saxon  names,  it  is  quite  distinct. 
That  word  is  probably  from  earn,  eagle,  and  is  compounded  with  -bald, 
-berht,  -bert,  -bryth,  -dred,  -flaed  (-fleda),  -frith,  -ich,  -mund,  -red,  -switha, 
-thulf,  -ulf,  -wlf,  -wolf,  etc, 


J559-77  OTHER  MCKEANS.  177 

And  wi'  John  Calvin  in  their  heads, 
And  hammers  in  their  hands,  and  spades, 
Enraged  at  idols,  mass,  and  beads, 
Dang  the  Cathedral  down." 

In  1567  the  Carew  section  of  State  Papers  records  that  Parlia- 
ment passed  an  Act  of  Attainder  against  Shane  O'Neale  with 
his  assistants;  among  the  latter  were  the  sept  of  "McCan  .  .  . 
Clankanny  or  Mackans  country"  .  .  .  etc.  In  the  same 
volume  mention  is  made  of  Carbry  McCan  or  McCann,  "chief 
of  name;"  also  that  100  acres  of  land  in  the  precinct  of  Oriel 
were  granted  to  Hugh  McBrien  McCan;  160  acres  to  McPhelim 
McCan;  120  acres  to  Rory  McPatrick  McCan,  besides  which, 
much  is  said  of  the  McDonnells. 

Also  in  1568,  an  inclosure  from  the  Lord  Justice  to  the  Queen, 
notes:  "The  captain  of  the  Scots  called  Donnell  McCane  and 
others  slain." 

The  Register  of  the  Great  Seal,  contains  under  date  of  1574, 
two  documents  of  one  of  which  we  give  the  following  free  trans- 
lation : 

"2270.  At  Holyrood,  8  Jul.  [1574].  The  King  [James  VI.], 
etc.,  has  confirmed  a  charter  of  John  Grant  of  Fruquhy, — [by 
which  he  has  sold  to  Angus  McAlestare,  son  and  heir  of  the  late 
Alexander  Makaane  of  Glengarrie],  — the  lands  of  Glengarrie 
belonging  to  him  by  virtue  of  appraisement  and  conveyance  in 
fee  executed  above  to  his  predecessors,"  [with  other  lands  speci- 
fied], "which  they  appraised  to  the  said  Angus;  and  this  on 
account  of  letters  of  homage  and  faithful  service  by  the  said 
Angus  for  himself,  his  heirs  and  the  successors  of  the  lord  of 
Glengarrie,  and  his  friends,  kindred,  partners  and  associates, 
according  to  the  form  of  law  and  the  acts  of  parliament,  by 
royal  dispensation,  (comprising  clauses  in  the  contract  between 
the  said  John  and  Angus  entered  into  at  Elgin,  17  Nov.  1571), 
with  proper  charges  to  the  said  John  determined  before,  the 
feast  of  Whitsuntide  next ;  also  on  account  of  filling  up  of  other 
articles  of  the  said  contract;  in  which  if  the  said  Angus,  etc., 
fail,  this  fief  [hec  infeodatio]  is  to  be  void"  .  .  .  Among  the 
witnesses  is  Duncan  McEane  McCondachie  McGillebred. 

In  1576-77,  according  to  the  History  of  the  Camerons,  "Ewin 
McAne,  Capitane  of  Inverlochy,  the  fader  brother"  of  a  certain 


178  OTHER   MCKEANS.  1576-86 

"Camroun  and  John  Cam,  his  brother  of  surnawm,"  represented 
them  before  the  Secret  Council  in  their  application  to  be  set 
at  liberty  by  the  Earl  of  Athole,  who  had  imprisoned  them. 
[Among  other  things  they  were  charged  with  the  slaughter  of  a 
certain  Donald  Dow  MacKewin]. 

There  is  mention  in  1576,  in  the  Reg.  Priv.  Council,  of  surety 
that  two  individuals,  one  of  whom  is  Johnne  McAne  VcConell 
VcAglassre,  shall  answer  at  accusation  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle; 
the  charge  is  not  set  forth. 

The  same  work  records  in  1579  that  John,  Bishop  of  the 
Isles,  complains  that  although  he  is  the  lawful  Bishop,  several 
fellows,  including  "Johnne  McKane  of  the  Rande  [or  Randy 
(riotous  ?)]  made  stop,  trouble  and  impediment  .  .  .  and  being 
oftimes  called  and  not  appearing,  letters  of  rebellion  and  horning 
are  to  go  forth."  Something  similar  is  recorded  on  page  61. 

Among  the  names  mentioned  in  the  Clan-Allister  beg  bond, 
"the  year  of  God  1580  years,"  are  Alester  vie  Iain  Chittach 
and  his  sons;  and  Angus  vie  Iain  Chittach.  (The  Last  Alac- 
donalds  of  Isla). 

The  Carew  (State)  Papers  include  a  letter  in  1583  from  Sir 
Henry  Sydney  to  Sir  Francis  Walsingham,  to  the  effect  that  he 
had  informed  the  Earl  of  Tyrone  that  "he  must  not  accept 
the  sirname  of  O'Nell  without  permission  .  .  .  and  appointed 
unto  him  the  service  of  O'Chane  MacKann  [O'Kane  McKane?] 
.  .  .  and  other  landlords."  The  reference  to  "O'Nell"  is 
interesting  because  he  "esteemed  the  name  more  in  price  to 
him  than  to  be  intituled  Caesar." 

Relative  to  names  beginning  with  Me,  and  O',  this  may  be  a 
suitable  place  to  note  that  in  1586  the  State  Papers  mention, 
in  an  account  of  the  rebellion  of  the  Burkes  in  Ireland,  that  the 
bearing  of  "titles  of  Mcs  and  O's  was  abolished,"  and  again  in 
1587,  reference  is  made  to  the  previous  "banishing  of  the  Macs 
and  Goes;"  but  this  appears  to  have  been  quite  limited,  for 
in  1585,  the  names  of  only  41  Mc's  and  26  O's  are  given  in  Con- 
naught,  who  "surrendered  their  names  and  customs  of  inheri- 
tance and  received  their  castles  and  lands  by  patent,  to  them 
and  their  heirs,  in  English  succession.  The  law  seems  soon  to 
have  been  disregarded,  for  in  1596  we  find  that  "the  people  of 


I  OTHER    MCKEANS.  179 

Connatight  will  seek  to  retain  their  new  titles  of  Macs  and  Oes, 
with  their  tainist*  law;"  and  the  fear  is  expressed  that  "through 
the  revival  of  the  tyranny  of  the  Macs  and  Oes  Her  Majesty's 
laws  shall  no  more  be  heard  of  amongst  the  Connaught  people." 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland,  under  date  of  1585, 
Jon  and  Dauid  mckein  and  James  mcquhune  are  mentioned, 
apparently  among  residents  of  Esdale,  Ewisdale  and  Wauchop- 
dale. 

Domhnull  Maclain  'ic  Sheumais  III.  of  the  Macdonalds  of 
Castle  Camus,  about  1585,  appears  to  have  been  a  warrior-bard 
of  some  distinction ;  the  writer  of  lasting  songs,  and  the  wielder 
of  a  terrible  sword  called  "Five  merks"  from  its  price.  There 
is  much  about  Donald  Maclain  in  Clan  Donald,  III.,  500-504. 

In  the  Roll  of  names  of  Chiefs  and  landlords,  etc.,  in  1587, 
is  that  of  allane  mckane  of  Ilandterum. 

And  in  the  same  year,  according  to  the  Register  of  the  Privy 
Council  of  Scotland,  John  Moir  Mckane  and  others  are  charged 
to  deliver  up  eight  hostages  for  MacLean, — to  Archibald,  Earl 
of  Argyle,  Lord  Campbell  and  Lorn. 

The  same  work  notes  in-  1591  the  registration  of  a  bond  of 
caution,  in  ,£200  each,  against  a  number  of  the  tenants  of  the 
Earl  of  Glencairn,  among  wrhom  is  Bartholomew  McKane  in 
Aber, — that  they  will  not  harm  James  Cunynghame,  pensioner 
of  Lesmahago,  and  Janet  Wallace,  his  spouse.  [It  seems  evident 
from  several  instances,  that  a  wife  sometimes  retained  her  own 
name]. 

In  the  same  year  the  tenants  of  Sir  Duncan  Campbell  of  Glenur- 
quhy,  being  threatened,  refused  to  pay  their  mails  [taxes], 
whereupon  the  sheriff  and  his  messengers  seized  six  cows  belong- 
ing to  the  tenants,  and  were  driving  them  off,  fearing  "na  vio- 
lence," when  several  of  the  retainers  of  the  Earl  of  Atholl,  includ- 
ing John  McEan  in  Balnecaird,  John  McAllister  McEanwichts  in 
Drumnacarff,  etc.,  followed  the  said  messengers  on  horse  and 
foot,  overtook  them,  "utterit  mony  injurious  and  disdanefull 
speichis,"  and  violently  reft  the  said  goods  from  them,  etc., 
and  since  they  did  not  appear  as  charged,  are  to  be  denounced 
rebels. 

*  Tanistrie  is  the  allotted  inheritance  to  the  oldest  and  worthiest  man 
of  the  deceased's  name  and  blood. — Black's  Law  Dictionary. 


ISO  OTHER   MCKEANS.  I592 

Mention  is  made  in  1592,  of  James  McKane  "councillor  there" 
[at  Montrose];  the  name  is  also  spelt  Mccayne  and  Makene,  and 
(by  mistake)  Mcrane. 

Alexander  Macdonald  III.  of  Killiechonate  is  mentioned  in 
1592  as  Alastair  Maclain  Vic  Innes.  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  464). 

In  1593,  according  to  the  Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scot- 
land, David  McKene  in  Laicht,  was  one  of  several  persons  bound 
in  ,£500  each,  not  to  harm  Patrick  Harvie  in  Wester  Pennyveinzie. 

In  the  same  year  and  volume  we  find  that  the  King  relaxed 
from  the  horn  for  any  cause  bygone,  among  others  Chairles 
McVcane  of  Duprene.  This  curious  spelling  means  the  son  of 
the  son  of  Ane  or  Ean.  It  is  sometimes  found  in  Old  Celtic  as 
mic  mic  preceding  the  name,  but  was  afterwards  superseded  by 
O'  in  Ireland. 

It  has  been  noted  already  that  the  spelling  of  proper  names 
yaried  greatly  in  old  times:  we  come  now  to  a  notable  case  of 
this.  The  Maclans  of  Elanterim  in  the  General  Index  of  the 
Acts  of  the  Parliament  of  Scotland  in  1593,  are  those  of  Ilandter- 
rum  in  the  special  index;  it  is  found  as  Yllanetyrum  in  1608. 
In  a  marriage  contract  dated  1613  we  find  Donald  Makallane 
Vic  Keanne  of  Ilandtirme.  In  1627,  in  the  Inquisitionum  ad 
Capellam,  etc.,  Joannes  McDonald  McAllane  Viceane  capitanus 
de  Clanronald,  was  heir  male  of  Laird  Donold  McAUane  Vic 
Eane  de  Ellantirrin  capitani  de  Clanronald,  his  father;  [in  this 
case  two  evident  McEans,  Chiefs  of  Clanranald,  are  indexed  as 
MacDonalds].  In  1645  J.  Mcorronald  of  Eyellantirrim  is  the 
form  in  Clan  Gregor,  and  Allane  McKane  of  Ilandterrim  (no 
date)  was  the  Chief  of  Clanranald.  Here  the  personal  name  has 
been  spelt  in  five  ways  and  the  local  one  in  seven.  We  are 
tempted  to  give  a  few  quotations  from  the  marriage  contract 
mentioned  above,  which  was  between  John  Macdonald  of  Clan- 
ranald and  Marion  (always  called  Moir  in  the  document,  possibly 
a  pet  name),  daughter  of  Roderick  Macleod  of  Dunvegan,  1613, 
but  though  Vic  Keanne  may  be  classed  with  "Other  McKeans," 
the  contract  is  very  long  in  its  references  to  the  "airis"  expectant, 
the  "tocher"  of  the  bride  (including  "nyne  scoir  of  gud  and 
sufficient  quick  ky"  and  ane  gaillay  of  twentie  foure  airis  with 
thri  sailling  and  rowing  geir  gud  and  sufficient"),  etc.,  etc.  Is 
it  not  written  in  the  third  book  of  Clan  Donald,  Appendices? 


I594~6  OTHER   MCKEANS.  l8l 

On  the  1 8th  day  of  July,  1594,  among  witnesses  to  a  Bond 
of  the  Clan  Neill,  and  in  which  Sir  James  Macdonald,  the  last 
of  those  of  Isla,  is  described  as  Apparent  of  Dunyvaig,- — one 
is  Donald  Makayne.  The  bond  was  signed  at  Killeonane,  now 
incorporated  with  the  modern  Parish  of  Campbelltown.  (Last 
Macdonalds  of  Isla). 

It  is  stated  in  the  Reg.  Privy  Council,  Scot.,  that  in  1594  Hector 
Monro  complains  of  some  men  who  had  "awaytuke  .  .  .  ane 
grite  nowmer  of  his  ky  .  .  .  to  ane  quiet  place,"  whither  he 
followed  them  and  "caryed  thame  with  him";  but  the  Laird 
of  Balnagownis  collected  sundry  accomplices,  among  whom  were 
a  couple  of  the  inevitable  McEans,  one  described  as  a  "stabler;" 
they  followed  and  overtook  the  complainer,  "invadit  him  and 
his  cumpanie,  .  .  .  schoit  arrowis  at  thame,  wundit  thame 
with  durkis  .  .  .  and  drave  with  them  the  said  ky;"  and  the 
aforesaid  Laird  is  to  be  denounced  rebel.  [After  a  repetition 
of  the  complaint  in  1596,  the  rest  are  denounced,  but  the  McEans 
do  not  figure  in  the  later  document, — had  they  reformed?]. 

According  to  the  Inquis  ad  Cap.  Dom.  Reg.  Ret.,  Willelmus 
Makkeine  was  heir  in  1595,  of  Joneta  Makkeine,  daughter  of 
his  paternal  uncle  ("filiae  patrui")  in  3  roods  of  land  in  Watslakkis 
in  Dumfries;  3  acres  towards  Mill-dam-head  (?)  with  tenements, 
a  garden  and  barn,  etc.  E.  30  /. 

The  Macdonalds  of  Achtriachtan,  the  second  family  of  Cadets 
of  Glenco,  [the  Dalness  family  does  not  appear  to  have  retained, 
even  in  a  few  individuals,  the  name  Maclain],  was  descended 
from  I.  Alexander,  son  of  John  Dubh,  son  of  John  Og  (i),  Mac- 
Iain  Abrich  of  Glenco, — towards  the  end  of  the  i6th  century. 
His  son,  II.,  Alexander  appears  on  record  in  1611  as  Allaster 
Maclain  Duibh  Mhic  Alastair  of  Achtriachtan,  the  Maclain 
Duibh  being  in  this  case  the  patronymic  or  tribe  name.  The 
family  has  come  down  to  the  present  time.  (Adapted  from 
Clan  Donald,  III.,  221).  Their  share  in  the  Massacre  of  Glencoe 
is  mentioned  in  Section  III.  The  time  is  doubtful,  but  it  was 
probably  about  1644,  that  Patrick  Aberach  MacGregor,  (son 
and  successor  of  Duncan,  k.  1604),  the  leader  of  the  MacGregors 
under  Montrose,  married  "Marion  daughter  of  Macdonald  of 
Auchatrichatan,  [perhaps  II.  Alexander],  chief  of  the  most 
powerful  tribe  of  the  Macdonalds  of  Glencoe."  (Sir  Robert 


182  OTHER  MCKEANS,  1 597~& 

Douglas'  Baronage  of  Scotland,  1798,  as  quoted  in  History  of  the 
Clan  Gregor,  II.,  18). 

"A  branch  of  the  Clan  Iain  of  Glencoe  that  may  be  genealogi- 
cally traced  for  a  few  generations,  [from  the  end  of  the  isth  to 
about  the  middle  of  the  i8th  century],  consists  of  the  descendants 
of  I.  Allan  [Maclain]  Duibh,  son  of  John  Dubh,  and  brother 
of  the  founders  of  Dalness  and  Achtriachlan."  (Clan  Donald, 
HI-,  225). 


ISLE   DAVAAR    AND    CAMPBELTOWN   LOCH. 

From  Last  Macdcnalds  of  Isla. 

There  is  a  Bond  signed  "9th  day  of  March,  1597  years,"  in 
which  Ronald  McConnald  vie  Iain  [McDonald  Mclan]  of  Hand, 
supposed  to  be  the  owner  of  Isles  including  Davaar  of  the  mouth 
of  Loch  Kilkerran,  accepts  the  Right  Honourable  Sir  James 
McConnald  of  Knockransay,  Knight,  as  his  superior  Master  and 
Foster,  and  obliges  himself  to  fortify  and  defend  Sir  James 
with  all  the  men  and  gear  he  may  have  .  .  .  against  all  deadly 
or  mortals  without  any  exception  in  all  time  hereafter;  and  he 
signs  with  his  hand  at  the  pen  led  by  the  writer  under-written 
[Johne  McKay].  (The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla}. 

In   1598  the  Reg.  Privy  Council  Scot,  contains  the  complaint 


1598-1601  OTHER   MCKEANS.  183 

of  Johnne  Dumbar  and  others,  that  a  number  of  persons,  among 
whom  were  some  of  "Fraseris  vagaboundis"  and  about  a  score 
of  McAnes,  McEans,  VcEanes,  VcEwnes,  etc.,  included  in  one 
of  the  Tables  already  given, — "with  convocation  of  the  lieges 
to  the  number  of  200  .  .  .  with  tua  handit  swordis,  steilbon- 
nettis,  etc.  .  .  .  came  ...  by  way  of  briggancie  to  the  said 
George  Dumbaris  duelling  house  in  Clune  .  .  .  and  thair 
tressonablie  rased  fyre  in  the  said  house,"  [and  in  short,  behaved 
most  abominably,  even  to  Mairjorie  and  Issobell  Dumbar]. 
"And,  not  satisfeit  thairwith,"  drove  away  horses  and  cattle; 
"the  order  is  to  denounce  them  rebels." 

In  the  following  year.  Vol.  VI.  of  the  same  work  tells  about 
"James  McKene,  one  of  the  bailies  of  the  burgh  of  Montrose, 
and  William  McKene,  one  of  the  councillors  thereof," — who  got 
into  trouble  for  sturdily  maintaining  what  they  supposed  were 
their  rights.  It  seems  that  the  King  [James  VI.]  had  charged 
the  magistrates  and  council  of  Montrose  to  elect  John,  Earl  of 
Mar,  to  be  provost  of  the  said  burgh  for  the  year,  but  they  dis- 
obeyed the  charge  and  wilfully  passed  to  the  horn:  "the  King 
and  Council  therefore  ordain  the  defenders  to  be  committed  to 
ward  in  the  castles  of  Blakknes  and  Downe  of  Menteith  during 
his  Majesty's  pleasure." 

The  Reg.  Privy  Council  Scot.,  notes  that  Allane  McEane  in 
Ballochquhindochie,  complains  in  1600,  that  he  was  denounced 
rebel  by  letters  raised  at  the  instance  of  the  Treasurer, —  for 
non-appearance  before  the  King  and  Council  .  .  .  Complainer 
was  never  lawfully  charged  to  appear  .  .  .  and  would  wil- 
lingly have  done  so  ...  and  he  had  found  caution  in  300 
marks  to  that  effect  .  .  .  "Wherefore  the  said  letters  should 
be  suspended  simpliciter" — which  is  done.  [Under  another  date 
it  appears  that  Allan  had  given  bonds  through  George  Elphing- 
stoun  of  Ballabeg  [Belenbeg]. 

In  1 60 1,  the  Inquis.  ad  Cap.  Dom.  Reg.  Ret.  states  that  Andreas 
McKaine  ("or  McKame")  inherited  the  lands  of  "Barnale,"  [see 
previous  note  for  1557,  where  the  name  was  spelt  McCaine],  as 
heir  of  John  McKaine  his  brother.  [This  Andrew  will  appear 
as  McKainie  in  1644]. 

We  learn  from  the  Register  of  the  Privy  Council  of  Scotland  that 


184  OTHER   MCKEANS.  1602-3 

in  April,  1602,  "James  McKeane,  merchant,  burgess  of  Monrois, 
for  Patrik  Buttir  of  Marytoun,  500  marks,  to  answer  before 
the  King  and  Council  at  Dundie  upon  24th  instant  for  his  lying 
under  the  censure  of  [civil?]  excommunication." 

And  in  August  of  the  same  year  there  is  complaint  by  Robert 
Robertsoun  of  Strowane  that  he  has  been  "straitit"  to  find 
caution  for  a  number  of  persons;  yet,  as  they  are  not  obedient 
to  him,  nor  acknowledge  him  in  service  or  duty,  he  asks  that 
they  be  made  to  find  caution  for  themselves;  among  them  are 
a  McEane  Keir  in  Rannoch  (of  Glenco?)  and  a  McEane  Virich 
there  [in  Cannavoren];  the  defenders  not  appearing,  are  to  be 
denounced  rebels. 

There  is  a  document  in  the  Carew  division  of  State  Papers, 
called  "A  Survey  of  Ireland,"  written  about  1574,  but  with 
additions  to  the  time  we  have  now  reached.  Under  the  head- 
ings: "Ulster  .  .  .  The  Bounds  .  .  .  Men  of  name," — we 
find  McDonnell,  O'Cane,  McCan,  O'Donnell,  etc. 

About  1603,  as  we  learn  from  Mackenzie's  Camerons,  77,  a 
Clanranald  who  was  the  son-in-law  of  Allan  Cameron  of  Lochiel, 
is  mentioned  as  "a  youth  of  extraordinary  qualities,  a  polite 
courtier,  and  very  adroit  in  the  management  of  business."  It 
may  be  stated  that  the  laird  of  Glengarry  of  this  period,  [probably 
Donald  MacDonald  and  the  eighth],  was  also  a  son-in-law  of  this 
Cameron,  and  that  his  son  Eneas,  the  ninth  of  Glengarry  was 
in  1660  created  a  Peer  of  Scotland,  as  Lord  Macdonell  and  Arros. 
Maclanduy,  which  is  almost  undoubtedly  Maclan  the  Dark,  is 
the  title  of  the  Allan  Cameron  mentioned, — the  sixteenth  of 
Lochiel. 

We  will  depart  from  the  resolution  to  omit  everything  con- 
cerning the  O'Cahans  and  O'Kanes,  and  introduce  a  few  to 
show  their  apparent  intimacy  with  the  McDonalds  and  McKeans 
about  the  time  we  have  now  reached. 

In  the  Inquisitionum  in  Officio  Rotulorum  Cancellarice  Hiber- 
nian asservatum  Repertorium*  under  the  heading  "London- 

*  This  work  is  a  Catalogue  of  Records  preserved  in  the  Rolls  Office  of 
the  Court  of  Chancery  of  Ireland.  There  are  two  volumes,  representing 
Leinster  and  Ulster;  but  those  for  Connaught  and  Munster,  if  they  were 
ever  published,  appear  to  be  missing  from  the  Washington  set. 


1603 


OTHER  MCKEANS. 


derry,"  and  for  the  year  1603,  there  is  apparent  mention  of  a 
parish  church,  erected  and  endowed  long  before  by  Dominus 
O'Cane,  in  honor  of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary,  in  the  town  of. 
Annaghe  in  Co.  "Colrane,"  with  lands  in  Balliowne;  [the  village 
of  Owen  or  John?];  also  a  hospital  "sive  termon"  [or  sanctuary] 
in  "Co.  Coolrane,"  known  as  Gowry  de  Aghadowy, — "all  of 
which  have  for  a  long  time  been  unjustly  withheld  from  the 
king."  *  Curiously,  this  record  of  Lord  O'Cane  seems  to  be 
indexed  "McConnell,"  and  equivalent  to  McDonald,  and  also 
curiously,  "Gowry"  appears  possibly  connected  with  a  Gaur', 
alias  Gorry,  alias  Gaured  O'Cahan,  also  in  Londonderry,  who 
died  in  1621,  and  who,  together  with  two  McGorry  O'Cahans, 
is  mentioned  in  several  documents  along  with  McDonnells,  like- 
wise of  Londonderry. f  The  same  work  also  states  that  in 
Longford,  in  1603,  Shaen  and  Tad  O'Canyn  were  found  attainted 
as  to  their  possessions. 

This  may  be  an  appropriate  position  for  the  following  Table : 
SOME  O'CAHANS,  MCCANES,  MCKEANES  AND  APPARENT  CON- 
NECTIONS IN   IRELAND,   from    1603   to    1617;  mentioned  in  the 
Calendarinm   Rotulorum    Patentium,    [List   of   Open    (or   Public) 
Rolls], — chiefly  as  having  been  pardoned  for  rebellion. 


1603  Edmund  Mclyn   of  Tulerie. 
"      Donnell  O'Cahan  of  Laghbal- 
leconnor. 


Gilladuffe  McKeane")  gentlemen 
Neile  McCan  !-  £**«£ 

Patrick  McCan         J  Antrim  Co. 


*  Colrane  and  Coolrane  are  of  course  the  place  made  famous  by  the  Beauti- 
ful Kitty, — she  who  according  to  the  song  was  tripping 

With  a  pitcher  of  milk  from  the  fair  of  Coleraine, 
When  she  saw  me  she  stumbled, 
The  pitcher  it  tumbled, 
And  all  the  sweet  butthermilk  watered  the  plain. 

But  All's  Well  that  Ends  Well,  though  all  the  pitchers  in  the  place  were 
broken  soon  after. 

t  The  O'Cahans  and  O'Canes  of  Londonderry;  O'Caanes  of  Antrim;  O'Ca- 
hans of  Armagh;  McCans  of  Armagh;  O'Kanes  of  Fermanagh,  etc.,  etc., 
mentioned  or  to  be  mentioned,  may~  have  been  related  to  the  O'Cahans  of 
Ulster  alluded  to  in  Mr.  Roberdeau  Buchanan's  exhaustive  Genealogy  of  the 
McKean  Family  of  Pennsylvania.  All  of  the  above  Counties  are  in  the 
Province  of  Ulster. 


i86 


OTHER  MCKKANS. 


1604-17 


1604  Redmond  McMurtaghO'Kean, 

Carlow  Co. 

Tirlogh  boy  McEane   of  Bal- 
lynecowlagh,  in  Dublin  Co. 
"      John  McCahin  of  Bawnemore, 
in  Kilkenny  Co. 

1605  John  Magiane        )  yeomen,  of 

AT-    u    i        n/r       •  i~  the  Ards, 

Nicholas  Magiane*   Down  Co. 

1607  Sir   Donell   O'Cahan,    Knight, 

of  Tyrone  Co. 

"      John    Mechain    [McKain?]   of 

Ballishannan,    Donegal    Co. 

McShane  O'Cahane  1 

Shane  Ballagh  O'Cahane 

"      John  O'Cahane  McSwyne 

"      Brian  O'Cahane  McRichard 

John  Shallogh  O'Cahane 

Brian  O'Donell  McWm. 

O'Cahane  |  ? 

"      Quoy  McBrian  Modder        | 
O'Cahane 

1608  Shane  McKeyne     )  of  Tyrone 
"      Coyne  McKeynie*  i        Co. 

"       Donogh  O'Cahan   |_  Of  Wexford 
"      Patrick  McCahane^        Co' 
"      Brian  oge  O'Cahan 
"      Dermond  O'Chane 

Donell  O'Chane 
"      Owen  McCane         "1 
"      McTowell[Dowell?]  I   Of  Louth 

McCane  |"       Co- 

"      Edmund  McCane    j 
"      Edmond  McCany  of  Donegal 
Co. 

1608  Donohie  O'Cahan 

1609  Rowrie  O'CahaneMcToole  boy 
"      Brian  McCany 

"      Richard  O'Keen 
"      Gorie  McShane  O'Cahan  ,    Of 
"      Mulmory  McCahan  bane  |  Dg°ane- 
O'Reilie  )   Co. 


16  io  Richard     McBriane] 

Carragh  O'Cahane 
"      Donogh    O'Cahane 

McRowrie 
Donogh  O'Cahane 

McCorbe  J 

"      Rorie  McPatrick"| 
McCan  j 

"      Hugh  McBryan    | 


gentle- 

i    Colerane 
Co. 


grant  of 
lands  to,  in 
Armagh  Co. 


McCan 
Carberie  oge 

McCan 
Toole  McPhelim 

McCan  j 

1612  Owen    McYeone,    yeoman, 

Down  Co. 

Dermod  oge  O'Cahan 

Cowy  McRoory  O'Cahan 

Manus  O'Cahan  McOwen 

"      Owen  O'Cahan  McSenekyn  j    I 

Murrey  j   "„. 

Owen  O'Cahan  McDermod   ]•  o 

"      Brian  O'Cahan  McDonnell    I    5" 

"      Roorye  Duff  O'Cahan  Me-      5' 

I        ^ 

Donell  •    o 

Cowie  O'Cahan  McBrian 
JenkinMcHugh  O'Cahan     J 
Carberie   McCan,*   gentleman, 
(grant   of  land   to),   in   Ar- 
magh Co. 

1613  Shane  Crone     )    laborers  of 
McKeane         -  Cloghtr,  in 
Owen  McKeane' 

1615  Philip  O'Keine,   in  Mayo  Co. 
1617  James     Machen,f     of     Drum- 

carne,  in  Donegall  Co. 
"      James     McMakene.f     of     Do- 

naghdie,  in  Down  Co. 
1617   Ran  all  boy  McDonnell,  and 

several  other  McDonnells. 
Donnogh  O'Makin,  gentleman, 
of   Cloonowen,    in   Roscom- 
mon  Co. 


*  Coupled  with  McKeyne.  fThese  names  are  coupled  together  in  a  grant 
''to  be  free  from  the  yoke  of  the  servitude  of  Scotland,  Ireland,  or  any 
other  nation,  and  enjoy  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  an  English  subject;" 


l6o8-!5  OTHER   MCKEANS.  187 

In  the  Carew  division  of  the  Calendar  of  Slate  Papers,  among 
the  gentlemen  of  the  Barony  of  Guery,  is  Calloigh  McKeen  of 
Collonok;  and  among  those  of  the  Barony  of  Eallaighene  is 
Oyne  McEnn  of  Rahendarg;  both  included  in  "The  Giand 
Panel  of  the  County  of  Wexford,"  in  1608. 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland,  a  certain  Euphcmia 
McKane  appears,  quite  incidentally,  in  the  following  dry  extract, 
under  date  A.  D.  1612:  "RATIFICATIOUN  In  favcuris  of  Maister 
Josua  Durie  of  his  pensioun.  OURE  SOUERANE  LORD  with  the 
aduise  of  the  Estaittis  of  this  pnt.  parliament  Ratifeis  apprevis 
and  confirmes  The  Lettir  of  pension  gevin  and  grantit  Be  his 
hienes  To  Maister  Josua  Durie  Minister  at  Sanctandrois  Ewphame 
mckane  his  s'pous  and  Johnne  Durie  their  Lauchfull  sonne  Con- 
tening  the  sowme  of  Sevin  scoir  of  pundis  money  of  Scotland," 
etc.,  etc. 

"1612  [Feb.]  Alexander  Stewart  of  I.aggarie  is  debtor  in  the 
testament  of  Agnes  McKean — Commissary  Books  of  Glasgow." 
(Clan  Cregor,  I.,  397.  From  the  "Chartulary." 

"Honestus     Kilianus     Makkien     Scotus     civis     Bidgcsticnsis 
(Bromberg)   sells  his  garden  and   shed  behind  the  hospital  of 
St.   Stanislaus  to  Michael  Normanth   (Anglicus  vel  Scotus)   for 
50  gulden   (1615)."     (Scots  in  Eastern  and  Westein  Prussia). 

In  the  Appendix  to  Vol.  III.  of  the  Hist.  Notes,  about  1615, 
it  is  stated  that  "Orgiel,  Oriel  or  Uriel,  a  large  territory  compre- 
hending the  present  counties  of  Armagh,  Louth  and  Monaghan 
[in  the  province  of  Ulster],  had  for  the  Names  of  Chiefs  or  Septs, 
the  McCahens  or  McCahans.  Also  that  Clan-Bressail  [one  spelling 
of  which  now  is  "Brazil"  !]  or  Le  Braskelough  on  south  of  Lough- 
Neagh,  in  barony  of  O'Neland,  was  the  country  of  the  McCanes 

— in  short,  naturalization  papers.    Machen  has  been  considered  as  an  English 
name,   but  it  must,  sometimes  at  least,  have  been  one  of  the  Macs. 

There  are  also  no  fewer  than  forty-two  McEgans,  McKeighans,  McKeygans, 
etc.,  spelled  in  eight  different  ways,  besides  McKavan,  McKeveny  (coupled 
with  McKeyne,  McQjyn,  etc.,  but  we  will  spare  the  reader  detailed  reference 
to  them.  Among  place-names,  however,  we  may  include  suggestive  men- 
tions of  "the  said  O'Cane's  country"  in  1608;  "a  messuage  in  St.  Michan's 
parish  near  Dublin"  in  1610;  "Sept  of  the  Carrowes".  [Careys];  Cane  in 
Wexford  Co.;  Kilmcowne  and  CoilniPkeane  [McKean's  Church?],  the  latter 
in  Roscommon  Co.,  and  probably  dedicated  to  the  Saint  aforesaid;  "hospi- 
tal or  termoe  in  O'Cane's  country;"  "McCan's  country"  in  1605,  etc.,  etc. 


188  OTHER    MCKEANS.  1616-28 

or  McCahans.  The  Calendar  of  State  Papers  for  1604  corrobo- 
rates the  latter  account,  defining  the  Braskelagh  as  "otherwise 
McCan's  country." 

There  is  a  long  contract  given  in  the  Appendices  of  Clan  Donald, 
II.,  768-770,  between  Donald  Macdonald  of  Glengarry  and 
Donald  Macdonald  of  Clanranald  in  1616.  The  latter  is  described 
in  the  instrument  as  Donald  McAllane  VcEan,  also  VcEane, 
and  when  Johne  and  Rorie  are  mentioned  the  last  name  is  plural — 
VcEanes:  they  are  of  the  family  of  Ilandterim.  "Ye  hono11 
persones  under  writtin"  are  "allwayes  of  guid  mynd  and  inten- 
sioun  that  his  maties  peas  be  observit"  .  .  .  Each  binds  him- 
self that  he  will  "in  na  tyme  cuming  harme  skaithe  trubill  molest 
nor  oppres"  the  others  .  .  .  "under  ye  paine  of  four  thousand 
punds  toties  quoties."  And  after  VcEane's  signature  is  the  note: 
"above  written  with  my  hand  at  ye  pen  led  by  ye  notar."  Simi- 
lar remarks  were  often  added  to  old  documents,  as  the  hand  was 
generally  more  expert  in  wielding  the  claymore  or  the  Lochaber 
axe.  In  the  contract  we  find  VcEan  five  times,  VcEane  thirteen 
times,  and  VcEanes  three  times. 

Among  the  Special  Inquisitions,  (a  Section  of  the  Inquis.  ad 
Cap.,  etc.),  there  is  reference  in  1621,  to  Joneta  Buchanane, 
wife  of  John  Mackene  in  Ballaconochie,  and  co-heiress  of  John 
Buchanane  of  the  same  place,  her  maternal  uncle  ("avunculi"). 

Of  the  Macdonalds  of  Benbecula,  the  first  was  Ranald  fourth 
son  of  Allan  IX.  of  Clanranald,  called  Raonull  MacAilein  'ic 
Iain,  about  1625,  and  the  family  extended  into  the  igth  century. 
(Clan  Donald,  III.,  277). 

In  1627  Mariota  and  Joneta  McKeane  are  mentioned  in  the 
Special  Inquisitions,  as  co-heiresses  (haeres  portionaria)  of  their 
uncle  James  Harvey,  formerly  surgeon  to  S.  D.  N.  [Our  Sacred 
Lady]  the  Queen  [Henrietta-Maria].  It  may  be  stated  in  passing, 
that  the  same  Joneta  was  heiress  in  1647,  of  Mariota  Trotter, 
her  mother. 

And  in  1628,  under  the  heading  Forfar,  Robertus  McKein  is 
described  as  the  heir  of  Andrew  McKein  junior,  his  brother,  in 
one-half  ["  in  dimidia  parte"]  of  16  librates  of  arable  land  called 
Clayhalf,  in  Montrose:  E.  i8,y.  yd.;  land  in  St.  John's  croft 
.  .  .  E.  i6s.  yd.;  in  Clayhalf  and  Ouhytberriecroft,  in  The 
Sandhalf,  A.  E.  i2d.  N.  E.  4*. 


1631-40  OTHER   MCKEANS.  189 

The  Inquis.  in  Off.  Rot.  Can.  Hib.  makes  mention  in  1631,  of 
Eliz'  Mageon,  (which  is  essentially  McKeon),  as  the  wife  of 
Maur  McObikin  Fitzsimons  of  Knitagh.  McCans,  O'Cahans, 
O'Caanes,  McDonills,  McDonnells,  and  McKegans  spelled  in  a 
variety  of  ways,  appear  also. 

In  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland,  a  "Chartour  for 
the  fishing"  may  be  found  in  Vol.  V.,  according  to  which,  Charles 
I.  in  1631,  by  letters  patent,  ordains  "ane  Societie"  with  certain 
liberties  and  privileges  in  his  Majesty's  dominions.  The  charter, 
though  very  quaint,  is  too  long  to  quote,  but  in  the  list  of  names 
there  occurs  a  williame  mckene. 

According  to  the  Inquis.  ad  Cap.  Dom.  Reg.  Ret.,  in  1632  John 
McKean,  merchant,  of  Edinburgh,  heir  of  Janet  Bartane,  his 
mother,  was  seized  of  a  tenement  in  said  burgh.  E.  5m[arks]. 

Browne  intimates  that  it  was  about  1634  that  the  Clann 
Mhic-Iain  Dhuin,  dependents  of  Lord  I/orn,  took  part  in  a  cattle- 
rieving  expedition.  It  is  possible  they  were  Maclans  of  Ard- 
namurchan,  though  the  probability  is  that  the  latter  men 
affiliated  with  the  MacDonalds  of  Clan  Ranald,  their  neighbors 
and  fellow-members  of  Clan  Donald.  (History  of  the  High- 
landers and  Clans). 

In  1638  the  Inquis.  etc.,  states  that  Joneta  Patersone,  spouse 
of  Robert  McKean,  furrier  ("pellionis")  of  Edinburgh,  heir  of 
Thomas  Patersone,  merchant,  and  oldest  lawfully  born  son  of 
William  Patersone,  merchant,  his  brother, —  had  tenements  in 
Edinburgh.  E.  T>S.  \d. 

Turning  aside  for  a  moment  to  London,  we  find  in  the  Calendar 
of  State  Papers,  that  in  1640,  Richard  Makin,  an  old  servant  of 
King  James,  [and  possibly  brought  with  him  from  "The  land 
o'  cakes  and  brither  Scots"),  petitions  the  King  that  Robert 
Wood,  "your  cormorant-keeper,"  has  long  owed  him  ,£633  and 
more  for  promise  of  that  position,  but  has  given  it  to  another. 
According  to  the  Domestic  Papers  for  this  year,  Robert  R~cd 
writes  to  Thos  [Secretary  ?]  Windebank  that  he  does  not  remember 
that  he  ever  saw  any  resignation  of  Robert  Wood  to  Mr.  Makin, 
but  two  parchments  concerning  the  businerr,  had  not  been 
signed  by  the  King.  The  remarkable  apparent  office  of  "cormo- 
rant-keeper" might  set  some  persons  to  wondering  whether  there 
was  an  English  "sport"  in  the  waters  parallel  with  that  of  fal- 


IQO  OTHER    MCKEANS.  1640-44 

conry  in  the  air,  coursing  on  land,  etc. ;  but  probably  the  word 
above  is  a  misprint  for  commorant,  and  the  office  was  therefore 
that  of  keeper  of  some  residence  or  palace  in  the  absence  of 
royalty. 

Among  the  Bards  of  Clan  Donald,  a  certain  John  the  Stam- 
merer may  be  mentioned  with  Maclains,  as  his  patronymic  con- 
tained no  fewer  than  three,  it  being  Iain  MacDhomhnuill  'ic  Iain 
'ic  Dhomhnuill  'ic  Iain  Aluinn :  he  apparently  lived  from  about 
1640  to  1710.  It  is  said,  probably  without  truth,  that  he  could 
neither  read  nor  write,  but  that  his  productions  were  written  by 
another,  as  a  wonderful  memory  imparted  them  to  him.  Charles 
II.  made  him  poet  laureate  in  Scotland  with  a  salary  of  .£100 
sterling  a  year,  "which  the  niggardly  Scottish  Exchequer  reduced 
to  ,£100  Scots."  (Abridged  from  Clan  Donald,  III.,  570-575). 

In  1643,  the  Inquis.  ad  Cap.  Dom.  Reg.  Ret.  states  that  in  Dum- 
fries, (which,  however,  is  in  the  Lowlands),  John  McKewne  was 
heir  of  John  McKewne  his  grandfather  ["avi"],  to  part  of  church 
and  town  lands  in  Duriadeir.  E.  los. 

The  same  work  in  1644  resumes  that  Matheus  McKainie  (or 
McKame)  is  heir  of  Andrew  McKainie,  his  father  [mentioned  as 
McKaine  in  1601]  to  the  lands  of  Barnald  or  Barnale  in  the  island 
of  Bute.  "E.  2$s.  ^d." 

In  the  sixth  volume  of  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland, 
at  "Edinburgh  the  15  of  Apryle  1644,"  we  find  that:  "The  Con- 
vention of  estates  ordaines  the  gnall  of  the  Artellerie  to  delyver 
out  of  the  publict  magazen  To  Sir  Williame  Cochrane  of  Coudoun 
for  the  vse  of  the  srefdome  of  air  Ane  thousand  muskettis  and 
bandelieris*  tuo  thousand  weight  of  matche  And  ane  thousand 
weight  of  ball  The  said  Sr.  Williame  assigneing  to  the  generall 
of  the  artellerie  and  his  deputtis  the  contract  whereby  Alexander 
Maxwell  and  James  McKeane  [indexed  Macean  (Mackean)]  are 
bund  to  delyver  to  him  at  Leith  ane  thousand  muskettis  and 
bandelieris  and  tuo  thousand  weight  of  matche  betuix  [this 
date?]  and  the  sevent  of  May  And  als  giveing  band  that  if  the 
merchantis  faile  That  he  sail  pay  the  said  gnall.  of  the  artellerie 
and  his  deputtis  The  pryce  thereof  at  that  day  for  the  vse  of 
the  Publict." 

*  A  bandoleer  was  a  leather  belt  and  case  for  the  ammunition  of  muske- 
teers. 


1645-49  OTHER   MCKEANS.  IQI 

In  1645,  (viii  Martii),  the  Acts  Pad.  Scot,  mention  Robert 
Mackeane,  Burgesse  of  Edinburgh,  as  a  member  (grouped  with 
the  Barons)  of  the  following  Committee:  "THE  Estates  of  Parlia- 
ment now  conveened  ...  do  hereby  nominate,  authorize  and 
appoint  the  persons  following  ...  As  ane  Committee  of 
Parliament  for  Inbringing  and  distributing  of  moneys,  and  for 
regulating  of  the  publike  Accounts  and  Burdens  of  the  King- 
dom, ...  To  consider  and  try  the  yeerly  rent  and  worth  of 
the  lands  and  estates  of  forefaulted  persons,  .  .  .  and  to  do 
every  thing  thereanent  as  might  best  clear  the  trueth,  ...  To 
consider  and  try  the  rights  and  securities  to  have  been  given  in 
to  them  by  the  Ladies  and  wives  of  the  forefaulted  persons,  with 
their  supplications,  craving  the  benefit  of  their  rights  .  .  . 
That  thereafter  sick  course  might  be  tane  concerning  the  samine 
.  .  .  Therefore  the  Estates  of  Parliament  :  .  .  grants  .  .  . 
To  the  Committee  of  Estates  now  nominate,  With  power  to 
them  or  their  Quorum  foresaid,  to  do  every  thing  thereanent, 
as  they  shall  think  expedient  and  most  usefull  for  the  Publike, 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  Parliament  might  have  done  if  they 
were  sitting,"  etc.,  etc. 

This  Rob :  Mackeane  is  also  mentioned  as  one  of  the  two  Com- 
missioners of  the  "Burro we  of  Edinbrughe;"  and  in  1648  he 
was  a  member  of  a  Committee  nominated  to  consider  the  "great 
and  imminent  dangers  threatning  the  true  Protestant  Religion, 
his  Majesties  Person  and  authoritie,  Monarchicall  Government, 
the  peace  of  this  Kingdom,  and  union  betwixt  the  Kingdomes, 
from  Papists,  Malignants  and  Prelats,  and  from  the  prevalencie 
of  Sectaries  and  their  adherents  now  in  Armes:"  etc.,  etc.  The 
last  probably  refers  to  one  of  the  Covenants. 

Furthermore,  the  General  Index  to  the  Acts  Parl.  Scot,  gives 
several  entries  about  Robert  MacKean,  but  the  details  do  not 
seem  to  be  supplied;  possibly  portions  of  Vol.  VI.  are  missing. 
The  Index  implies  that  he  was  in  Parliament  for  Edinburgh  in 
1645;  gives  two  references  to  his  presenting  a  petition  In  behalf 
of  the  burgh  in  that  year,  and  two  more  that  hi  3  conduct  is  to 
be  inquired  into  before  he  is  allowed  to  fit  in  Parliament. 

The  same  work  contains  in  1661,  a  long  and  circumstantial 
account  of  certain  misdoings  in  1649,  of  a  number  of  persons, 
among  whom  truth  compels  us  to  admit  that  several  McKeans 


192  OTHER    MCKEANS.  1649 

of  various  spellings  were  included.  The  specification  of  this 
raid  occupies  about  four  and  one-half  folio  pages,  and  for  quaint- 
ness  and  showing  the  canniness  of  the  Scot,  it  is  extremely  inter- 
esting; we  will  only  make  the  following  extracts,  however: 
"AcT  and  Decreit  in  favours  of  Thomas  McKenzie  of  Pluscardin 
Against  Mcachan,  Mcgilreoch  Mcalaster  &  others 

ANENT  the  supplication  and  lybell  given  in  to  his  Maiesties 
Commissioner  his  grace  and  Estates  of  Parliament  be  Thomas 
McKeinzie  of  Pluscarden  Against  [many  names  besides]  Donald 
Mcean  vie  illi  glas  ther,  [there,  i.  e.,  of  the  last  place  mentioned 
(Stron  in  this  case)],  Donald  Mcean  more  Vc  govan  in  Clun, 
Ewyn  Mccewn  tailyeour  ther,  .  .  .  Duncan  Mckean  vc  con- 
dachie  in  Corinach,  .  .  .  Johne  Mccodachie  mcean  ...  in 
Crathimore,  .  .  .  Johne  Mcdonald  vc  ean  ther,  Johne  McDonald 
vc  ean  angus  in  Crachiecroy,  Alaster  Me  William  vc  can  vc  ewin 
in  Blargiemore,  .  .  .  Dougall  Mccoill  vc  ean  ther  [in  Cluny], 
.  .  .  Johne  Mcean  .  .  .  ther  [in  Cask],  .  .  .  Donald  Mcean 
vc  finlay  in  Tullochronbie,  .  .  .  ffindlay  Mccan  ...  in  Gar- 
vamore,  Archibald  Mcean  ...  in  Garvamore  .  .  .  Ewin  Mc- 
ean  .  .  .  ther  [in  Muchgull],  Ewine  Mccean.  .  .  in  Muchgull, 
.  .  .  Donald  Mcewyn  Mceanyre  ther,  [of  Purie?]  .  .  .  Shew- 
ing that  the  fornamed  persones  defenders  [defendants]  in  the 
moneth  of  Junij  1649  robbed  and  destroyed  the  supplicant  and 
his  tennents  in  the  lands  of  Pluscarden  without  any  order  or 
power  from  any  Authority  and  long  after  the  supplicant  had 
ended  his  capitulation  with  Leivt  Genall  [Lieutenant-General] 
David  Leslie  which  wes  approven  by  the  estats  of  Parlia*  and 
wes  liveing  in  peaceable  and  quyet  maner  Wherby  the  perse wer 
was  damnified  in  above  the  summe  of  fourtie  thousand  pund 
scots  as  the  availl  and  pryce  of  the  goods  &  others  vnderwritten 
by  &  attour  the  excressent  proffeits  thairof  in  maner  after  men- 
tioned viz1  Inprimis  ther  wes  robbed  &  away  taken  violently 
be  the  fornamed  persons  defenders  upon  the  first  second  third 
fourt  &  remanent  dayes  of  June  or  ane  or  other  the  yeer  of  God 
1649  .  .  .  the  number  of  nyntie  four  labouring  oxen,  some 
blak,  others  branded,  broun  coloured  &c.  ...  ilk  ane  of  them 
worth  tuenty  pund  scots  overhead,  .  .  .  Item  the  excressent 
proffeits  of  the  said  oxen  which  they  wold  have  been  worth  to 
the  persewer  if  they  had  not  been  violently  robd  as  said  is  be 


1649  OTHER    MCKKANS.  193 

the  space  of  twelve  score  work  dayes  in  the  yeer  at  three  shilling 
four  pennies  for  the  work  of  ilk  ox  per  diem  extends  in  the  year 
for  the  saids  whole  four-score  fourtein  oxen  To  the  sume  of  ffyve 
thousand  sex  hundreth  and  fourty  merks  inde  since  they  were 
robd  now  be  the  space  of  eleven  yeers  and  sex  moneths  or  therby 
to  the  summe  of  sextie  four  thousand  eight  hundreth  and  Sextie 
merks  money  Item  .  ,  .  ane  hundreth  &  threttein  milk  kyne 
with  calves  of  the  culours  forsaids  .  .  .  Item  .  .  .  Item  more 
the  said  kyne  would  have  yielded  the  proffeits  vnderwrittin  viz 
ilk  second  year  a  Calve  for  ilk  kow  Extending  to  ane  hundreth 
and  threttein  calves  Wherof  the  second  halff  preserved  for  store 
and  breiding  and  the  other  calve  for  sale  or  slaughter  Extending 
.  .  .  Item  the  other  calves  ...  in  the  yeer  1653  would  have 
proven  milk  kyne  and  so  would  have  been  worth  tuentie  punds 
the  peice  .  .  .  Item  the  milknes  thairof  at  ten  merks  the 
peice  ut  supra  [as  above]  yeerly  the  yeers  1657.  58.  59  &  60 
extending  the  saids  proffeits  to  the  sum  of  ...  Item  .  .  . 
ffiftie  tuo  one  yeer  old  stirks  whereof  tuenty  quoyes  and  thirty 
tuo  oxen  stirks  estimat  to  four  punds  the  peice  overhead,  .  .  . 
And  siclyk  the  saids  stirks  within  three  years  thereafter  would 
have  been  drawing-oxen  in  the  year  1652  and  then  thair  work 
would  have  been  worth  .  .  .  Item  .  .  .  nyn  English  mears 
.  .  .  Whairof  three  whyt  red  framed,  .  .  .  tuo  duplin  gray 
.  .  .  one  mirk  gray  .  .  .  another  red  sand  colored  whyte 
faced  .  .  .  and  another  blak  .  .  .  Item  the  saids  mares 
wold  .  .  .  had  yielded  .  .  .  ane  foil  every  yeer  being  nyne 
foals  which  at  three  yeers  old  would  have  been  worth  .  .  . 
Item  ...  in  maner  abovespeit  [above  specified]  one  hundreth 
threescore  tuo  goats  .  .  .  with  ane  Buck  .  .  .  Item  the 
proffeits  of  the  saids  goats  being  one  hundreth  threscore  tuo 
kids  yeerly  .  .  .  Item  four  sheip  .  .  .  the  wooll  and  fleice  of 
ilk  ane  of  the  said  sheip  .  .  .  Item  .  .  .  the  insight  &  ple- 
nishing of  his  house  such  as  pots  pans  bedding  and  other  houshold 
stuff  .  .  .  eight  ells  of  plaiding  at  tuelff  shelling  the  ell  ... 
a  sword  worth  eight  pund  scots  .  .  .  his  domicills  .  .  .  With 
coat  &  trews  &  shoes  .  .  .  with'four  pair  of  lining  sheits  .  .  . 
ten  elnes  of  tartan  at  threttie  shilling  the  elne  .  .  .  tuo  sute 
of  cloaths  .  .  .  tuo  gouns  with  pittiecoats  conforme  with 
weiring  linings  worth  one  hundreth  pund  scots.  Item  tuo  Eng- 


104  OTHER    MCKEANS.  1649-61 

lish  hats  the  one  blak  the  other  gray  worth  ten  pund  the  peice 
with  a  gold  string  worth  eight  punds  .  .  .  three  fether  beds 
three  bolsters  &  sex  cods  .  .  .  ane  boll  of  ry  .  .  .  fyve 
sirlots  of  malt  broune  in  aill  .  .  .  His  Maiestie  and  Estates  of 
Parliament  Decernes  and  Ordeans  the  whole  persons  defenders 
abovenamed  To  make  pay1  and  delyverance  ...  of  the 
summe  of  fourty  thousand  pund  seots  money  .  .  .  the  number 
pryces  availls  &  proffeits  of  the  saids  goods  proven  by  the  oath 
.  .  .  conforme  to  the  laws  and  practick  of  this  Kingdome  in 
all  such  caces  of  spuilyie." 

If  these  unfortunate  Scotsmen  had  to  pay,  among  other  imagi- 
nary items,  for  the  prospective  milk  which  would  have  been 
yielded  by  eventual  cows  which  would  have  been  developed 
from  calves  yet  unborn,  it  is  no  wonder  that  they  sometimes 
showed  distaste  for  the  law. 

Another  Macdonald  Bard,  besides  the  one  already  mentioned, 
but  with  two  lains  in  his  name,  was  known  patronymically  as 
Iain  Dubh  Maclain  'ic  Ailein.  He  was  born  about  1650,  was 
a  prolific  writer  of  songs  and  ranks  high  among  the  Gaelic  bards. 
(Abridged  from  Clan  Donald,  III.,  575,  576). 

The  Special  Inquisitions  (ad  Cap.  Dom.  Reg.  Ret.}  note  that 
in  1656,  Rorie  McAlister  McEan  Gig  was  "heir  maill"  of  Alex- 
ander Makean  Gig,  his  father.  [The  repetition  of  "Gig"  perhaps 
implies  a  younger  branch  of  the  Makean  family,  or  that  Rorie 
was  the  youngest  son  of  Alexander  who  was  the  youngest  son 
in  the  generation  before]. 

Donald  Macdonald  I.  of  Aberarder,  alias  Maclnnes  Vic  Ean 
Duibh  of  Invervudden  lived  about  1659;  the  family  existed 
towards  the  end  of  the  i9th  century.  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  442). 

In  1661,  in  Scotland,  there  was  passed  an  "AcT  &  Decreit  in 
favours  of  Jeane  Countes  [s]  of  Annandale  [and  Viscountess  of 
Stormonth]  against  the  tennents  and  occupyers  of  the  tuentie 
pund  land  of  Lochmaben."  Among  other  names  are  those  of 
John  Mckean  in  Greinhill  and  James  Mckein  ther  [in  Hietae]. 
The  lady  complains  that  the  "persons  possessors  of  the  saids 
lands  presuming  vpon  want  of  law  &  justice  Doth  altogether 
refuise  to  mak  payment  to  the  supplicant  of  her  rents  as  heirto- 
fore  they  have  done  .  .  .  Wherby  the  Supplicant  is  frustrat 
of  her  aliamentarie  subsistence"  .  .  .  [On  the  other  hand  the 


l66l  OTHER   MCKEANS.  195 

defendants  produced]  "ane  warrand  or  order  vnder  the  hand  of 
King  James  the  sext  of  the  date  the  tuelff  day  of  July  1592 
Wherby  his  Maiestie  ordaines  the  keeper  of  the  Castle  of  Loch- 
maben  to  desist  and  cease  from  molesting  poinding  and  vseing 
violence  against  these  complainers  withinwrin  Bot  to  suffer 
them  peaceablie  to  occupy  their  roums  and  possessions  without 
any  trouble  &  impediment  Together  with  ane  other  order  super- 
scry  ved  'Rex'  and  subscryved  'James'  of  the  date  the  [blank] 
day  of  [blank]  1602  yeers  Beareing  these  words"  [in  short,  that 
the  poor  tenants  of  Hietae,  Greenhill,  etc.,  were  to  pay  no  duty 
nor  service  "further  nor  they  and  their  predicessors  were  in  vse 
to  pay."  Parliament,  however,  having  heard,  seen  and  con- 
sidered the  case,  decided  in  favor  of  the  complainant,  specifying 
among  other  particulars]:  "The  said  James  Mckean  ther  for  his 
occupation  of  the  saids  lands  possest  be  him  the  said  terme  of 
witsunday  1658  fiftein  punds  More  be  him  for  his  occupation 
thairof  yeerly  the  saids  yeers  threttie  punds  .  .  .  The  said 
John  Mckean  ther  for  his  occupation  of  that  parte  of  the  saids 
lands  possest  be  him  yeerly  the  saids  yeers  Tuentie  punds." 

There  was  also  passed  in  1661,  an  "AcT  and  Decreit  in  favours 
of  Murdo  Mcclean  of  Lochbowie  against  John  McAlaster  Roy 
alias  Campbell  &  others 

Anent  the  criminall  lybelled  sumons  raised  and  pursued  befor 
our  Soverane  Lord  and  estates  of  Parliament  at  the  instance 
of  Murdo  Mccleane  of  Lochbuie  and  Lauchlane  Mcclean  of  Kal- 
chellie  for  themselffs  and  in  name  and  behalff  of  their  kin  freinds 
tennents  &  followers  .  .  .  against"  [sundry  and  divers  persons 
mentioned,  and  setting  forth  that  although  it  had  been  declared 
to  be  treason  to  murder  our  Lord's  lieges]  "Nevertheles  the 
saids  defenders  all  boden  in  feir  of  warre  with  guns  swords  bowes 
dorliches  culvirines  pistolls  and  other  weapons  invasive  came 
under  silence  &  cloud  of  night  to  the  lands  of  Glengarristill 
belonging  &  perteaning  to  the  said  Murdoch  Mcclean  of  Loch- 
bowie And  ther  in  the  yeer  of  God  1647  and  in  ane  or  other 
of  the  moneths  of  the  said  yeer  The  saids  defenders  most  cruellie 
&  barbarouslie  murthered  .  .  .  Donald  Meangus  vie  ean  .  .  . 
tennents  &  servants  to  the  said  Murdoch  Mcclean  all  liveing 
quyetlie  and  peaceablie  at  thair  oune  homes  exerc[is]eing  thair 
lawfull  callings  and  vocations."  [Parliament  having  repeatedly 


196  OTHER   MCKEANS.  1 66 1 

summoned  the  defendants,  and  they  proving  contumacious  and 
not  compeirand]  "ordaines  them  to  be  declared  rebells  and  put 
to  the  home  and  all  their  moveable  goods  to  be  escheit  &  in- 
broght  to  his  Maiesties  vse  for  thair  contemption,"  etc. 

We  regret  to  find  that  in  the  same  year,  among  "certain  pris- 
oners incarcerate  within  the  tolbuith  of  Pearth,"  there  was 
one  Donald  Mcean  vcean,  "for  alledged  breaking  &  perturbing 
of  his  Maiesties  peace."  It  was  granted  that  all  the  prisoners 
should  be  put  "to  ane  dew  and  legall  tryell,  and  to  execute 
iustice  against  them  for  their  rextive  crymes  alledged  comitted 
be  them  in  maner  forsaid."  How  Donald  expiated  the  alleged 
crime  of  perturbing  the  peace  of  the  somewhat  hilarious  "Merry 
Monarch,"  Charles  II., — is  not  recorded.* 

The  Inquis.  (Generates]  ad  Cap.  Dom.  Reg.  Ret.,  mention  in 
1 66 1,  Margaretta  McKean,  heiress  of  David  McKean,  merchant 
of  the  burgh  of  Montrose, — her  father. 

As  h  is  considered  a  mere  aspirate  in  Gaelic  names  as  in  those 
of  other  languages,  we  may  note  the  circumstance  that  in  1662, 
in  a  very  formidable  "AcT  containing  some  Exceptions  from 
the  Act  of  Indemnitie"  by  Charles  II.,  is  included  "John  Mchans 


*  If  a  digression  is  allowable,  it  may  'be  stated  that  in  this  volume  (VII. 
of  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland,)  there  is  an  item  which  should 
interest  every  lover  of  good  Scottish  song.  In  1667  there  was  appointed 
for  the  sheriffdom  of  Nithisdale,  a  certain  Robert  Lawrie  of  Maxweltoun;  a 
happy  lover  has  been  supposed  to  sing: 

"Maxwelton's   braes  are   bonnie,  Where   early   falls  the   dew, 
And  it's  there  that  Annie  Laurie  Gave  me  her  prcmi:e  true." 

But  that  iconoclast  Fitz-Gerald,  in  his  generally  charming  Stcries  of  Famous 
Songs,  tells  us  too  much  about  this  one  (II.  m-ii6).  We  are  not  sure 
that  the  older  McKeans  have  been  sung  by  name  in  immortal  verse;  Ay- 
toun's  Widow  of  Glencoe  speaks  of  MacDonald  instead  of  Maclan,  and  the 
same  is  true  of  Campbell's  Pilgrim  of  Glencoe;  Scott's  Massacre  is  impersonal; 
the  "beautiful  poem"  by  Angus  Macdonald,  on  the  massacre  of  Glencoe, 
is,  we  presume,  in  Gaelic;  as  is  also  one  of  the  songs  "floating  tmorg  the  old 
people  in  the  Glen  [1883],  and  competed  upon  the  Massacre  of  Glencoe  shortly 
after  the  event."  (Records  of  Argyll,  428).  In  the  Scottish  Pastoral  of 
1568,  called  "Robin  and  Makyne,"  (Percy  Reliques  of  Ancient  Poetry,  or  the 
collections  of  Allan  Ramsey  and  George  Bannatyne),  the  love-sick  maiden, 
afterwards  so  scornful,  and  who  reminds  Robin  that  "The  man  that  will 
not  when  he  may,  Sail  have  nocht  when  he  wald," — is  probably  not  a  McKyn, 
but  a  Mai-kin,  i.  e.,  little  Mary. 


1661-74  OTHER    MCKEANS.  197 

tanner  ther  [in  Wigtown]  sex  hundth  pd."  The  reasons  for 
fining  John  .£600,  and  others  in  various  sums,  are  numerous; — 
perhaps  they  may  be  summed  up  in  the  having  "Assist  the 
murderer  [Cromwell]  in  his  Usurpation  to  the  Royall  Throne 
.  .  .  and  sacrificed  their  homage  and  alledgeance  to  that  sword 
he  caried  in  his  hand  smoaking  with  the  blood  of  that  glorious 
Marty  re  [Charles  I.]  their  oune  Native  Leidge  Lord  and  King." 
If  these  fines  are  paid  before  a  certain  date,  the  persons  named 
will  obtain  full  pardon;  if  not,  their  estates  shall  be  taken  for 
His  Majesty's  use,  etc. 

In  1662,  in  the  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  we  learn  from  the 
Inquis.  in  Off.  Rot.  Can.  Hib.,  that  "The  said  Owen  McEdmond 
O'Neile  did,  in  his  life  time,  sell  and  convey  the  premisses  [in 
Bally-Taunaghmore  and  Drumkeerin  and  — allshiny]  unto  Glesny 
McKaine,  clarke,  and  his  heires,  upon  condition  of  redemption 
and  payment  of  3i/. — The  said  Glesny  did,  in  the  year  1641, 
engage  in  rebellion,  whereby  the  premisses  became  forfeited." 

A  couple  of  English  items  may  be  culled  from  the  Calendar 
of  Slate  Papers.  In  i665(?)  Capt.  Angus  Mackany  (whose  first 
name  proclaims  him  a  Scotsman,  and  whose  last  has  been  seen 
to  be  equivalent  to  Mackaine), — petitions  "For  supply  in  time 
of  need:  has  served  His  Majesty  [Charles  II.]  in  the  wars,  but 
his  wounds  have  brought  a  palsy  and  he  cannot  work."  In 
1666  the  place  of  Yeoman  of  the  buttery  became  void  by  the 
death  of  John  Mackune. 

The  lands  of  Uthred  or  Uthried  McKean  are  mentioned  in 
some  old  document  of  1672,  the  title  of  which  the  compiler  has 
apparently  lost. 

Donald  McEachan  in  South  Uist  witnessed  a  contract  between 
Macdonalds  of  Clanranald  and  Glenaladale  in  1674.  (Clan 
Donald,  III.,  658). 

It  has  been  suggested  that  the  emigration  of  William  McKean 
of  Argyleshire  to  Ireland,  thought  to  have  taken  place  about 
this  time,  may  be  explained  by  his  finding  it  difficult  to  remain 
in  a  neighborhood  where  the  people  had  changed  their  religion. 
For  Macleay's  Rob  Roy  and  his  Times  states  that  "At  the  acces- 
sion of  James  [the  Second,  which  was  in  1685],  the  people  of 
Abertarf  were  wholly  Protestants;  but  Macdonald  of  Sleat, 
descendant  of  the  lord  of  the  isles,  having  also  relinquished  his 


198  OTHER   MCKEANS.  1674-1701 

principles  to  gratify  James,  upwards  of  forty  families,  chiefly 
Macdonalds  in  Skye,  and  the  adjacent  districts  of  Knoydart, 
Morar,  Arisaig,  Sunart  and  Ardnamurchan,  followed  the  example 
of  their  chief,  and  had  the  same  power,  it  would  appear,  over 
the  consciences,  as  they  possessed  over  the  services  of  their 
vassals." 

In  thelnquis.  ad  Cap.,  (subdivision  dePossessione  Ouinquinnale) , 
there  is  reference  to  Gulielmus  and  Joannes  McKeand  in  1686, 
"nuper  aerarium  et  nuper  balivum," — late  coppersmith  (?)  and 
late  bailiff,  respectively,  of  Wigtown;  who.  with  others,  being 
sworn,  say  "magno  sacramento  interveniento," — that  Master 
William  Gordon,  Master  William  Ferguson,  etc.,  are  lawful 
possessors  of  certain  lands.  [Some  say  that  Magister  denotes  a 
Cleric;  others  that  it  is  the  title  of  the  eldest  son  of  the  chief, 
or  of  the  eldest  brother  if  the  chief  has  no  son]. 

The  sufferings  undergone  by  the  MacIan-MacDonalds  of 
Achtriachtan  and  Inneriggan  in  the  Massacre  of  Glencoe,  Feb., 
1692,  and  temporary  protection  from  arrest,  etc.,  are  mentioned 
in  Section  III. 

The  benevolence  of  Alastair  Ban  Maclain  Ic  Uisdein,  tacksman 
of  Heiskir,  etc.,  North  Uist,  in  furnishing  a  galley  full  of  meal 
for  the  suffering  Glencoeman  in  1692,  has  also  been  alluded  to 
in  the  appropriate  place. 

The  MacKains,  MacKeans  or  MacKeands  of  Elgin  are  de- 
scended from  the  Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan,  one  family  of 
that  house  at  least  having  settled  in  Morayshire,  and  several 
members  afterwards  becoming  merchant  burgesses  of  Elgin,  the 
first  perhaps  about  1700.  (Clan  Donald,  III.,  553-5). 

In  Volume  X.  of  the  Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland,  and 
in  the  year  1701,  there  is  a  six-page  "RATIFICATION  of  a  Contract 
betwixt  the  Burghs  of  Glasgow  and  Dumbartoun  anent  their 
rights  &  privileges  to  the  river  of  Clyde;"  but  it  only  interests 
us  because  among  other  names  mentioned,  is  included  that  of 
James  Mackean,  one  of  the  "persons  of  the  Common  Council 
of  the  said  Burgh"  [of  Dumbarton]. 

In  the  Appendix  to  the  same  volume,  and  in  the  same  year, 
appear  several  addresses  to  Parliament,  more  or  less  largely 
signed,  and  containing  a  curious  mixture  of  religion  and  trade. 
The  address  from  the  "Shyre  of  Dumbartoun"  bears,  among 


1701-lS  OTHER    MCKEANS.  199 

other  names,  that  of  Thomas  McKean  of  Camsmawn.  It  sets 
forth  that  certain  "misfortuns  and  other  callamities  which  of 
late  hath  befallen  us  [were  due  to]  the  displeasure  of  the  Almightie 
God  for  the  grate  immoralities  that  everie  whair  abound  .  .  . 
to  the  dishonor  of  God  and  our  hollie  Religione  and  debauching 
the  spirits  ...  of  the  people.  May  it  tharfor  please  .  .  . 
Parlement  to  take  some  effectuall  course  for  crubing  of  vice 
.  .  .  maintaining  the  poor  .  .  .  and  for  the  incouradgment 
of  our  manufactories  at  home  and  carving  on  our  trade  abrode 
with  advantage.  And  particularlie  to  lay  on  such  impositions 
on  French  wyne,  and  brandie,  as  may  be  as  effectuall  as  a  pro- 
hibitione  ay  and  whill  we  be  allowed  to  export  our  herings  to 
France  .  .  .  and  that  all  wolen  and  silke  manufactorie  from 
England  be  prohibited"  .  .  .  etc. 

Among  the  numerous  signatures  to  the  petition  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants of  the  City  of  Glasgow,  January  9,  1701,  we  find  that  of 
William  McKeowne  "The  Address  .  .  .  Sheweth,  That  .  .  . 
wee  will  not  be  able  to  subsist  in  this  place,  under  our  present 
Taxes  or  Stents  considering  our  extraordinary  losses  dureing  the 
late  warr.  May  it  therfor  please  .  .  .  Parliament  to  make  such 
lawes  as  your  wisdomes  shall  think  fit,  for  the  securitie  of  the 
Protestant  Religion  and  maintaining  the  Presbeterian  Church 
Government  as  it  is  now  established  by  law,  the  incouradgement 
of  piety  and  vertue,  the  suppressing  of  iniquity  &  vice  and  to 
assert  our  Companys  right  to  our  Collonie  of  Calledonia  in  which 
so  great  a  pairt  of  our  stock  is  imployed,  and  to  give  such  in- 
couradgement to  our  manufactures  at  home  that  our  poor  so  very 
numberous  may  be  imployed,  and  to  discharge  or  discouradge 
commerce  with  these  Nationes  that  refuse  our  herrings  &  others 
the  product  &  manufacture  of  this  Natione  &  to  relive  us  of 
unnecessary  Stents  &  Taxes,  And  your  Petitioners  shall  ever 
pray." 

A  work  which  we  have  not  seen, — The  Paper  Register  of  the 
Great  Seal,  1590-1707,  is  said  to  contain  the  pedigrees  of  such 
Scotsmen  as  served  in  European  armies  other  than  the  British. 

Among  the  names  on  the  Judicial  Rental  of  Sir  Donald  Mac- 
donald's  estate  of  North  Uist  in  1718,  are  the  following :  Angus 
Mclaian,  Patrick  McEanduin,  Don.  Mcilespickvic  ean',  Don.  McCoil 
vicean  vuy,  Finlay  Mcean,  John  McEan  Vayne,  Rory  McOil  vice- 


2OO  OTHER   MCKEANS.  1718-73 

anduy,  John  McOil  vicean  vie  uinlay,  Annable  McEan  vie 
illimartin ;  with  lists  of  places,  the  money  rent  generally  in  merks 
or  £  Scots,  and  the  rent  in  kind,  generally  of  victfuals],  b[utter] 
and  meal;  also  in  ells  of  plaid  or  blanket.  (Clan  Donald,  III., 
Appendices,  659-662). 

About  1 730,  Margaret,  daughter  of  the  first  Macdonald  of  Sartle 
married  Alexander  Macdonald  of  the  Ardnamurchan  family 
of  Maclan.  "This  branch  probably  migrated  to  the  friendly 
territory  of  the  kindred  clan  Uisdein,  when  adverse  fortune, 
coupled  with  Campbell  machinations,  rendered  their  native 
country  unsafe."  The  son  of  this  couple,  Somerled  Macdonald, 
was  a  Captain  in  the  British  Legion,  "and  greatly  distinguished 
himself  in  the  first  American  War."  He  married  a  second  wife 
at  the  age  of  94,  and  left  three  children  of  this  marriage;  he 
died  in  1839,  aged  106.  (Ibid.,  III.,  532). 

Roderick  Macdonald,  V.  of  Camuscross  and  Castleton,  about 
1734-1790,  was  known  as  Ruairidh  Maclain,  his  father's  name 
being  John.  (Ibid.,  III.,  520-522). 

In  1748  an  Act  was  passed  by  the  British  Parliament,  abolish- 
ing the  "Heritable  Jurisdiction  of  the  Highland  chiefs,"  i.  e., 
the  Clan  system.  This  is  said  to  have  produced  the  emigration 
between  1763  and  1775,  of  twenty  thousand  Highlanders.  An- 
other exodus  followed  between  1810  and  1850,  owing  to  lands 
being  "cleared"  for  sheep-farms,  deer-runs,  etc.  (Adapted  from 
What  is  my  Tartan?). 

Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  made  his  "Tour  of  the  Hebrides"  in  1773, 
and  MacLean  has  noted  an  amusing  incident  which  may  be 
condensed  as  follows:  MacLean  of  Lochbuie  finding  that  the 
Doctor  was  related  neither  to  the  "Johnsons"  of  Ardnamurchan 
nor  those  of  Glencoe,  exclaimed  that  he  must,  in  that  case,  -be 
illegitimate!  (Hist,  of  the  Clan  MacLean).  The  sesquipedalian 
reply  of  "The  Great  Bear"  is  not  set  forth. 

In  reference  to  the  view  of  Loch  Achtreachtan,  it  may  be 
stated  that  in  the  History  of  the  Camerons  and  that  of  the  Clan 
Donald,  there  are  several  allusions  to  MacDonalds  of  the  spot 
illustrated,  and  who  were  Cadets  of  the  Maclans  of  Glencoe. 
The  former  authority  states  that  Donald  Cameron  of  Inverailort, 
married  Helen,  daughter  of  Alexander  Macdonald  of  Achatri- 
achtan,  Glencoe,  with  issue  eight  sons;  and  Helen,  the  sixth 


1813 


OTHER   MCKEANS. 


20 1 


child  of  Ewen  Cameron  of  Glenlevis,  married,  early  in  the  last 
century,  Adam  Macdonald  of  Achtreachtan,  Glencoe,  with  sur- 
viving issue,  John  Cameron,  Isabella  Jane  and  Jane  Fraser. 

Also,  about  1813  there  were  certain  Misses  MacDonald  of 
Achtreactain,  who  were  great-granddaughters  of  a  Lady  Glen- 
levis of  whom  the  following  condensed  account  of  a  romantic 
incident  may  be  allowable.  After  Culloden,  the  Mrs.  Cameron 
in  question  took  refuge  in  a  cave,  her  house  having  been  burnt 
by  the  troops  of  the  Duke  of  Cumberland,  "The  Royal  Butcher," 
but  was  discovered.  She  refused  to  tell  where  she  had  con- 


LOCH  ACH-TREACHTEAN. — GLENCOE. 

cealed  some  old  silver  plate,  but  one  of  the  soldiers  observing 
that  she  evidently  had  something  of  value  in  the  bosom  of  her 
dress,  cut  the  latter  with  the  point  of  his  sword,  thereby  wounding 
her  infant  son  in  the  neck, — for  he  was  her  hidden  treasure. 
History  of  the  Camerons,  392,  3).  Achatriechatan  has  also  been 
mentioned  in  the  Petition  of  Jo"hn  McDonald  of  Glencoe,  in  1695. 

"Other  McKeans"  of  later  date  in  Europe  seem  few  and  far 
between,  and  their  records  perhaps  are  not  of  sufficiently  striking 
importance  for  us  to  try  the  patience  of  our  readers  any  further. 

Of  Thomas  McKean,   The  Signer,   Member  and   President  of 


2O2 


OTHER    MCKEANS. 


1817 


Congress,  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  etc.,  who  died  in  1817,  we 
need  not  write,  after  the  minute  and  admirable  account  by  Mr. 
Roberdeau  Buchanan,  already  referred  to,  and  the  copious 
extracts  in  the  McKean  Genealogies,  but  we  will  take  the  liberty 
of  presenting  his  portrait  here,  so  that  some  more  of  his  country- 
men may  become  familiar  with  the  features  of  this  eminent 
American. 


The  compiler  will  rest  from  his  labors,  but  not  from  lack  of 
material: — it  seems  as  if  "Notes"  which  might  be  found  suitable, 
spring  from  all  manner  of  sources,  and  promise  to  do  so  almost 
without  end,  while  his  eldest  son  has  persisted  in  sending  on 
tempting  discoveries,  regardless  of  the  injunction:  "Hold! 
Enough!"  The  compiler  would  suggest  to  persons  who  contem- 
plate a  history  of  Kanes,  O'Canes  and  other  families  whose 


OTHER    MCKEANS.  203 

names  resemble  those  forms,  that  they  could  not  do  better  than 
consult  the  Annals  of  Loch  Ce  for  records  of  the  O'Cathains; 
and  any  one  in  search  of  a  picturesque  subject  could  find  it 
in  Randal  McDonnell  of  Antrim,  in  some  of  the  other  volumes 
quoted  in  these  Notes. 

Industrious  workers  with  moderate  means  wishing  to  bring 
into  one  view  a  list  of  modern  "sons  of  John"  in  the  United 
States  and  other  countries,  with  brief  mention  of  the  first  name, 
address  and  occupation,  might  begin  work  at  low  charge  in  a 
curious  and  little  visited  collection  of  books  in  New  York,  known 
as  Trow's  Directory  Library;  or,  if  unable  to  work  there  per- 
sonally, can  have  notes  taken  by  the  Assistants  there.  These 
lists  could  also  be  supplemented  by  examination  of  many  long 
catalogues  of  names  in  permanent  records  or  in  periodical  publi- 
cations. 


GLOSSARY. 


In  this  connection,  a  few  of  the  differences  between  Scottish 
and  English  writings  will  be  given,  as  they  may  assist  some  of 
our  readers : — and  may  be  used  for  the  participial  termination  ing, 
also  for  ant;  es  or  is  for  the  mark  s  of  the  plural ;  i  for  ;',  or  -vice 
-versa;  it  for  ed  in  verbs  and  participles ;  oun  for  on;  qu  for  w;  u 
for  oo ;  u  for  v  in  old  print,  English  as  well  as  Scotch;  yfor  th,  and 
z  for  y;  (the  two  last  from  their  resemblance  to  Anglo-Saxon 
forms  of  letters).  Uniformity  of  spelling  in  names  or  words,  is 
exceptional;  and  punctuation  in  the  originals,  is  generally  con- 
spicuous by  its  absence.  As  to  true  Scottish  words  which  are 
not  defined,  Jamieson's  and  other  dictionaries  will  be  found 
useful;  see  also  specimen  in  Appendix. 


Abbay,  abbey. 

Abovespeit,  above  specified. 

Abown  writtin,  above  written. 

Abowven  expremit,  above  ex- 
pressed. 

Abrichis,  plural  of  name  Abrich. 

Acht,  Eighth. 

Adhibited,  attached. 

Adminiculating  the  probation,  con- 
firming the  proof. 


Aduise,  advice. 

Aduocat,  advocate. 

Advertisement,  notice. 

Advysing  of  the  probation,  consid- 
ering the  proof. 

Aeyr,  heir. 

Afald  and  indowtit,  sincere  and 
undoubted. 

Aganis,  against. 

Aill,  ale. 


206 


GLOSSARY. 


Air,  Ayr,  also  heir. 

Airis,  heirs;  also  oars. 

Airt    and    pairt,    accessories    and 

participants. 
Aits,  oats. 
Als,  also. 
Als  and  alse,  as. 
Alsweill,  as  well. 
Alya,  allies? 
Amitted,  stained. 
Ane,  one. 

Anent,  concerning,  in  reference  to. 
Anobill,  noble. 

Aperand  aeyr,   heir  apparent. 
Apparent  aeyr,  heir  apparent. 
Apprevis,  approves. 
Armourche,  Ardnamurchan. 
Asolyeit,  absolve,  assoilzie. 
Assegeit,  besieged. 
Associacns,  associations. 
Attour,  besides. 
Autyrise,  authorities. 
Availl,  value. 
Awan,  own. 

Awaytuke,  taken  away. 
Awise,  advice. 
Awne,  own. 

Ay  and  while,  always  and  while. 
Aye,  ever. 
Aythis,  oaths. 

Bairns,  children. 
Band,  bonds. 
Bandelieris,  bandoleers. 
Bandis  instantlie  to  be  maid,  agree- 
ment immediately  to  be  made. 
Bangs,  noisy  crowds. 
Bath,  both. 
Bayth,  both. 
Be,  by. 

Bearing,  setting  forth. 
Beris,  shows,  bears. 
Beseik,  beseech. 
Beyne,  been. 
Biorlin,  galley. 
Birlinn,  galley. 
Blair,  plain. 


Bode,  an  offer  of  a  price,  a  bid. 
Bodely  aythis,   personal   oaths. 
Bodies,  people. 

Bodin,  announcing,  threatening. 
Boll,    a    measure    of    four    or    six 

bushels. 
Bonnettis,  bonnets,  highland  caps, 

helmets. 

Bordouris,  borders. 
Brayach,  braw  is  worthy,  excellent. 
Breeks,  trowsers,  breeches. 
Breme,  fierce,  also  famous. 
Brigancie,  brigandage. 
Brim,  fierce. 
Brocht  be,  brought  by. 
Broddit  aits,  sprouted  oats. 
Broken  and  brokin  men,  belonging 

to  a  clan  broken  up,  or  expelled 

from  a  clan,  or  who  had  broken 

the  law. 
Brook    or   joyse,    make    use    of   or 

enjoy. 

Broune  in  aill,  brewed  in  ale. 
Brudr  Jarme,  brother  german. 
Bund,  bound. 
Burgess,    inhabitant    of    a    burgh, 

and  having  full  municipal  rights. 
Buttery,  storehouse  for  provisions 

or  wine. 
By,  contrary  to. 

Caces  of  spuilyie,  cases  of  spolia- 
tion. 

Caption,  arrest. 

Caution,  bail,  security. 

Cautioner,  one  who  stands  security. 

Chalmeilane,  chamberlain. 

Chaptour,  chapter. 

Chartulary,  record  of  property  in 
a  monastery. 

Clannis,  clans. 

Clarke,  clerk. 

Claymore,  a  two-handed,  double- 
edged  broadsword. 

Cleared,  made  clear. 

Coatt,  tabard,  herald's  coat. 

Cod,  pillow. 


GLOSSARY. 


207 


Collegis,  colleagues. 

Commorant,  residence. 

Conipearan'd,  appearing. 

Conipeirand,  appearing. 

Coniperit,  appeared. 

Competent,  belonging. 

Com  plena  iris,  complainers. 

Complicum  suorum,  their  accom- 
plices. 

Composition,     modified    payment. 

Conquising,  conquering. 

Contemption,  contempt. 

Contrar  of  ye  sammyn,  contrary  of 
the  same. 

Convocate,  convoked,  called  to- 
gether. 

Creach,  a  highland  raid. 

Credill,  cradle? 

Crick,  a  fine. 

Croce,  cross. 

Cropis,  crops? 

Crubing,  curbing? 

Culverins,  very  long  pieces  of  early 
ordnance. 

Cum,  come. 

Cumand,  coming. 

Damnified,  injured. 

Dang,  dash. 

Dawing,  dawn. 

Dearg,  red. 

Decern,  decree. 

Decreet  and  decreit,  decreed. 

Defenders,  defendants. 

Deid,  dead. 

De'il.  devil. 

Delett  out,   stricken  out. 

Dempster,  an  official  who  repeated 

the  doom  or  sentence  of  a  court. 
Deponed,  testified,  deposed. 
Deputtis,  deputies. 
Designed,  designated. 
Deulie,  duly. 
Deuties,  dues? 
Deyn  of  Morwarne,   Dean  of  Mor- 

vern. 
Direct,  directed,  addressed. 


Discovery,  finding  (in  law). 

Disorderit,  disorderly. 

Displayed  coatt,   official  tabard  of 

the  herald. 

Dispone,  grant,  dispose  of  property. 
Ditment,  diction. 
Diuers,  divers,  several. 
Dorlache,  dagger;  also  bag. 
Dorlich,  dagger. 
Double,  copy. 
Dowble  heirof,  duplicate  or  copy 

of  this. 

Doubtit,   formidable,   redoubted. 
Doyne,  done. 
Duellis,  dwell. 
Duelt,  dwelt. 
Duplin,  dappled. 
Durkis,  dirks. 
Duvege  and  glenes,   Dunevaig  and 

the  Glinns. 
Dwelland,  dwelling. 

Edr,  Edinburgh. 

Elne,  ell,   the  measure,   37   inches 

Scots. 

Ergyle,  Argyle. 
Eschaiped,  escaped. 
Escheit,  escheat,  to  confiscate  the 

estate  of. 
Estaittis,  estates. 
Euin,  eve. 

Excressant,  accruing. 
Expede,  hastened,  expedited. 
Expremit,  expressed. 
Eycht,  eight. 

Fader,  father. 

Farder,  further. 

Fencible     men,     men     capable     of 

bearing  arms. 
Far  within,  far  inland. 
Fermis,  farms. 
Fermorer    in    keatuall,    farmer    in 

Keathvale. 
Fermour,  farmer. 
Feu,  duty,  rent  paid  for  lands  held 

in  agricultural  service. 


208 


GLOSSARY. 


Fforsamekill,  forasmuch  (for  as 
mickle). 

Find  caution,  give  security. 

Folow,  attend. 

For,  as. 

Forbears,  ancestors. 

Forefaulted,  forfeited. 

Forfaulting,  forfeiting. 

Forfaulturis,  forfeitures. 

Fornamed,   aforementioned. 

Fowk,  folk. 

Fra,  from. 

Freris,  friars. 

Friggotts,  frigates. 

Frustrat,   made  void,   deprived  of. 

Fuiz,  son.      (Old  French). 

Fundin,  proving,  finding,  estab- 
lished. 

Furder,  further. 

Gaed,  went. 

Gaeidhel,  Gaels. 

Gaiff,  gave. 

Gailley,  galley,  large  boat. 

Galays,  galleys. 

Gert,  caused. 

Gillie,  servant. 

Gin,  if,  (given  that). 

Glehes,  the  Glinns,  valleys. 

Gnall,  general. 

Gossiprede,  relationship  of  a  spon- 
sor. 

Gowd,  gold. 

Grite  nowmer  of  his  ky,  great  num- 
ber of  his  cows,  kine. 

Grittar,  greater. 

Guid,  good. 

Gyffand,  giving. 

Hagbutis,      harquebusses,      heavy 

hand-guns. 
Haif,  have. 

Hail,   whole   of,   all,   entire. 
Haill  houssis,   all  of  his  houses. 
Had,  hand. 
Handit,  handed. 
Hatraund,  hatred. 


Havand,  having. 

Havelie,  heavily. 

Hedit,  beheaded. 

Heigh,  high. 

Heirschippis,     ruin,     wrecking     of 

property. 

Heritable,   capable   of  inheriting. 
Herschip,  cattle-raising. 
Hes,  has. 

Hes  duelt,  have  dwelt. 
Hethe,  has,  hath. 
Hienes,  Highness. 
HonoH,  honorable. 
Horn,    horning,    put   to   the    horn, 

requiring  payment  of  fines  within 

a  limited  time. 

Hosting,  gathering  of  armed  men. 
Hous,  house. 
Houssis,  houses. 
Hundreth,  hundred. 

Ic,  'ic,  for  vie,  son. 

Ilk,  each,  every. 

Ilkane,  each  one. 

Impe,  (probably  e),  impend,  sus- 
pend over. 

Incompulsit,  uncompelled. 

Incuntrey,  inland. 

Indorsit,  endorsed. 

Indowtit,  undoubted. 

Infestimentis,  investings  with  lands, 
ngynis,  instruments,  engines. 

Insight  and  plenishings,  appoint- 
ments, household  furniture. 

Insulands,  Islanders. 

Intertenyit,  entertained,  engaged 
in  battle. 

Intromettit,  dealing  by  an  agent 
in  the  property  of  a  principal. 

Inver-,  a  meeting  of  waters. 

lugment,  judgment. 

Jarme,  german  (relationship). 
Joyse,  enjoy. 
Justiciar,  chief  justice. 

Keatuall,   Keathvale? 


GLOSSARY. 


209 


Kend,  known. 
Kirks,  churches. 
Knokferguse,  Kno^kfergus. 
Kye,  cattle,  kine. 
Kyn,   kindred,   kin. 
Kynnismen,  kinsmen. 
Kyth,  appear,  show. 

Laird,     lord,     proprietor    of    land, 

landlord. 

La  Ruchele,  Rochelle 
Lauchfull,  lawful. 

Lawborris,   security  not  to  injure. 
Lesematie,  leze-majesty. 
Lieutenandry,     lieutenancy,     place 

of  a  superior. 
Lieges,  vassals. 
Liffis,  lives. 

Likelie,  well-favored,   likely. 
Lining,  linen. 
Lo,  lordships. 
Locumtenant,    substitute,    holding 

the  place. 

Lybell,  declaration. 
Lybilled,  published. 
Lykmaner,  like  manner. 
Lyon    deputt,    deputy    Lion- King 

at-arms. 

Maharaja,   a   Hindoo  great   prince. 
Macer,  macebearer,  an  officer  who 

executes  the  orders  of  a  court. 
Mailis  and  maills,  taxes. 
Mair,  more 
Maist,  most. 
Manrent,  homage  of  various  kinds 

to  a  superior. 
Masterfully,  by  force. 
Maties,  majesty's. 
Mears,  mares. 
Menes,  purposes. 
Mercat,  market. 
Merk,    Scottish    mark,    about    i~,\ 

cents,  former  value  much  greater. 
Milknes,  milkings. 
Mirk,  dark,  murk. 
Missive,  letter,  sent,  writing. 


Monie,  many. 

Monrois,  Montrose. 

More  be  him,  besides. 

Moritur,  dies. 

Morwarne,  Morvern. 

Murray,  Morayshire  or  Elgin. 

Murriones,  morions,  open  helmets. 

Nin,  Neyn,  etc.,  daughter. 
Nocht,  not. 
Notar,  notary. 
Nottourly,  notoriously. 
Nowmer,  number. 

Obleidge,   obligate,  bind. 
Onis,  once. 

Otheris,  other  (plural). 
Overhead,  per  head. 
Out,  under   arms  against  the  gov- 
ernment. 
Owte,  Outer  (Isles),  The  Hebrides. 

Pairt,  participants. 

Pairtis,  parts. 

Parliat,  parliament. 

Passand  throcht,   passing  through. 

Passit,  went,   passed. 

Payt,  payment. 

Pearth,  Perth. 

Peasche,  peace. 

Pees,  peace. 

Pene,  pen. 

Pensioun,  pension. 

Persewed,  prosecuted,  sued. 

Persewer,  plaintiff. 

Pertenying,   belonging  to,  purtain- 

ing  to. 
Plas,  place. 

Plenishing,    household    furniture. 
Pnt.,  present. 

Pntlie,  duellis,  at  present  dwell.     • 
Poinding,  tax  of  a  certain  rate  per 

pound. 

Practick,  practice. 
Pranfato,  wounding,  hurting,  (pran 

and  facere). 
Prayand,  praying. 


2IO 


GLOSSARY. 


Presentis,  presents. 

Presoned,  imprisoned. 

Principalem,  chief. 

Probation,' proof ,  act  of  proving. 

Procurator  and  Procuratour,  proc- 

ton,or  -solicitor. 
Promit  and  Promittis,  promise  and 

promises. 
Publict,  public. 
Pundis,  pounds. 

Qr,  where. 

Qrby,  whereby. 

Quhair  and  Quhar,  where. 

Quhen,  when. 

Quhome  on,  on  whom. 

Quick,  pregnant. 

Quoye,  cow. 

Qwhilk,  who,  which. 

Raisit,   served,  raised. 

Red,  advice. 

Reft,  deprived  of,  bereaved. 

Regior,  for  regiorum  (of  royal). 

Remanent,  remaining. 

Resett,  resetting,  ressett;  received, 

receiving. 

Reuerend,  reverend. 
Rewis,  lanes?  (rues?) 
Rextive,  respective. 
Ruf,  roof. 

Sa  fer,  so  far. 

vSadis,  said  (plural). 

vSafties,  safety. 

Saidis  clannis,  said  clans. 

Salbe  thocht,  shall  be  thought. 

Samine,     sammyn,     samyng;  same 

(sometimes  plural). 
Sanctandrois,  Saint  Andrew's. 
Sarkis,  shirts. 
Sasine,  sasyne,   seizin,   giving  legal 

possession. 
Schawes,  shows 
Schir,  Sir. 
Schyppis,  ships. 
Scoir,  twenty,  a  score. 


Seannachaid,  bard. 

Sederunt,   session   (of  Parliament). 

Seill,  seal.    . 

Seised,  seized;  seized,  invested  with 

possession. 
Seizin,  possession. 
Sekyrness,   safety,   security. 
Serndle,  sendle ;  seldom. 
Sennachie,  bard. 
Servardis,  servants. 
Severall,  individual,  separate. 
Sevin  scoir  of   pundis,  seven   score 

pounds. 
Sext,  sixth. 
Seyf,  self. 
Shealings,    shepherds'    or    drovers' 

rude  huts. 

Sicklykeand  Siclyke,  in  like  manner. 
Sic  subscribitur,  signed  thus. 
Simpliciter,   simply,  absolutely. 
Sin,'  since. 
Skirl,  to  shriek  shrilly  (said  of  the 

bagpipe) . 

Slachter,  slaughter. 
Sornaris,   pi.  of  sorner,   these  who 

obtain  food  or  lodging  by  threat. 
Sowme,  sum. 
Sowrname,  surname. 
Soytour,  shoemaker. 
Sparwort,  canopy? 
Speale,  special? 

Spraig  or  sprainge,  stripe  or  streak. 
Spuilyie     and     spuilying,    raiding. 

spoiling  one  of. 

Srefdome  of  air,  sheriffdom  of  Ayr. 
Stadio,    probably    for   statio,  resi- 
dence. 

Statute,  enacted  by  statute. 
Steil  bonnettis,  steel  helmets. 
Stent,  assessment  for  taxing. 
Stirk,  heifer. 

Straitit,   hard   put,   straitened. 
Strength,  stronghold. 
Strowan,     stream,     etc.,     streamy, 

abounding  in  streams. 
Stuffing,  crowding. 


GLOSSARY. 


211 


Subscribitur,  signed,  written  under. 
Subscryveing,  subscribing,  signing. 
Sumondis,  summons. 
Supplicant,  petitioner. 
Supplication     and     supplicatioun, 

petition. 

Surnawm,  surname. 
Suthe,  truth,  sooth. 
Swne,  son. 
Swordis,  swords. 
Swore,  sworn. 
Syne,  since,  afterward. 

Tack,  tacks,  leases,  steeding-rooms, 

farm-houses. 
Tacksman,    lessee   or   tenant   of   a 

large  landed  proprietor. 
Tairgis,   targets,   shields. 
Takand,  taking. 
Tane,  taken. 
Target,  shield. 
Taxt,  contribution. 
Tauld,  t9ld. 
Tayne,  the  one. 
Tent,  tainted,  also  attention. 
Teyndis,  tithes. 
Thair,  their. 
The    Forty-five,    the    rebellion    of 

1745- 

Thenemyes,  the  enemy  (plural). 
Ther,  there,  at  the  place  last  named. 
Thereanent,  in  reference  to. 
Thesaurer,   treasurer. 
Thevis,  thieves. 
Theyme,  them. 
Tho,  though. 
Thocht,  thought. 
Thre,  three. 
Threidis,  threads. 

Thrid  and   thridlie,   third,   thirdly. 
Throcht,  through. 
Thwa    or    thre    schyppis,    two    or 

three  ships. 
Till,  to. 
Tint,  lost. 
Tocher,  dower. 


Tolbooth  or  tolbuith  of  Pearth,  the 

Perth  prison. 
Toshach,  military  leader. 
Toties  quoties,   as  often,   so  often, 

each   time    (the   offence   is   com 

mitted) . 
Toure,  tower. 
Tract,  duration. 
Tressone,  treason. 
Trews,  trowsers. 
Tua    handit    swordis,    two-handed 

swords. 

Tutor,  guardian. 
Twetching,  touching. 

Uaine,   green   (plaid). 

Umquhile,  formerly,  late. 

Unce,  ounce. 

Unco,  remarkably,  very. 

Underly,  undergo. 

Under  trust,  confiding,  unsuspect- 
ing. 

Utheris  their  collegis,  others  their 
colleagues. 

Utherwyis,  otherwise. 

Vastation,  devastation. 
Vc  and  Vic,   son. 

Wachis,  wages. 

Wald  nocht  compere  to  folow. 
would  not  appear  to  attend. 

Wapenschawings,  inspections,  wea- 
pon-showings. 

War,  worse. 

Ware,  wary. 

Warrand,  authority. 

Wear  and  weare,   war. 

Weiring,  wearing  or  warring? 

Werray,  very. 

Weschell,  vessels. 

Whilk,  which. 

Wicht  awise,  with  advice. 

Withinwrin,  within  written. 

Wmquhyill,  formerly,  late. 

Wncoakit,  unconstrained. 

Wnto,  unto 


212 


GLOSSARY. 


Wrangwise,  wrongful. 
Wrongously,  wrongfully. 
Wrychtis,  wrights,  workmen. 
Wryt  and  Wrytte,  writing. 
Ws,  us. 
Wt,  with. 
Wther,  other. 

Yair  awin,  their  own. 
Yair  by,   thereabouts. 


Yame,  them. 

Ye,  the. 

Yeiris  and  Yeirs,  years . 

Yir .  .  presentis,  these .  .  presents. 

Yis..wryt,   this,  .writing. 

Yor,  your. 

Ys,  is. 

Zeir  and  Zeirly,  year  and  yearly. 
Zour,  your. 


APPENDICES. 


THE  NAME  DONALD. 


Some  forms  in  which  the  name  (Mac)  Donald  has  been  written, 
may  be  of  interest.  Donald  is  said  to  mean  "proud  chief," 
O'Hart  says  it  is  from  "world  and  all,"  in  the  sense  of  "mighty;" 
the  Revs.  A.  Macdonalds  say  the  oldest  form  is  Domvall  =  Dumno 
Valdos,  "a  world wielder;"  a  more  commonplace  derivation  is 
•'brown  man,"  or,  according  to  Lower,  "brown-eyed." 


McChonell* 

McCoynell. 

McDonell. 

McDouevald. 

McCoil. 

Me  Daniel. 

McDoneuall. 

McDouenhal. 

McComnaill. 

McDhomhnaill. 

McDonewaldus. 

McDovenal. 

McConaill. 

McDhonell. 

McDonil. 

McDovenald. 

McConald. 

McDofnald. 

McDonill. 

McDownale. 

McConall. 

McDolfnal. 

McDonivaldus. 

McDownill. 

McConeill. 

McDomhnail. 

McDonnalds. 

McDufnal. 

McConel. 

McDomhnaill. 

Mcdonnall. 

McDuf-njall. 

McConell. 

McDomhnail. 

McDonnell. 

McDuneval. 

McConil. 

McDomnaill. 

McDonnghal. 

Me  Dun  wall. 

McConill. 

McDomnal. 

McDonnill. 

McKonnel. 

McConnail. 

McDomnaldus. 

McDonold. 

Mcodonill. 

McConnaill. 

McDomnall. 

McDonuill. 

McO'Donnel. 

McConnal. 

McDompnayll. 

McDonull. 

McOdonyll. 

McConnald 

McDonald. 

McDonvalle. 

McOnell. 

McConnail. 

McDonall. 

McDonwal. 

McWhannel. 

McConnell. 

McDonayll. 

McDonyll. 

McWhannell. 

McConnill. 

McDoneill. 

McDopnalde. 

etc.,  etc. 

The  local  titles  of  some  MacDonalds. 

i 

These  are  arranged  alphabetically :  in  antiquity  the  Ardnamur- 
chan  and  Glencoe  families  are  respectively,  gth  and  loth  in  Clan 
Donald,  but  as  MacDonalds  they  are  in  the  2nd  and  3rd  genera- 
tions. 

*  The  occasional  confusion  of  Conaill  and  Domhnaill  is  explained  in  the 
Annals  of  Loch  Ce,  as  arising  from  the  aspiration  of  the  first  letter  of  the 
name  "Domhnaill,"  which  is  hardly  sounded  in  the  pronunciation  of  the 
name,  and  the  attraction  over,  of  the  c  of  Mac. 


2I4 


MACDONALDS. 


Aberarder. 
Aberchalder. 

Dalness.                                   Lochgarry. 
Drimore.                                  Lundie. 

Achnancoichean. 

Dunach.                                  Macheachan. 

Achtriachtan. 
Aird  and  Vallay. 
Antrim. 
Ardnabie. 
Ardnam  urchan  . 

Dunnyveg     and     the         Milton. 
Glens.                                  Morar. 
East  Sheen.                            Murlagan. 
Fersit.                                     Ostaig  and  Capstill. 
Gellovie.                                Peninuren. 

Balishan. 

Geridhoil  in  Uist.                Rammerscales. 

Balranald. 
Barisdale. 

Glenaladale.                           Rigg  and  Balvicquean. 
Glencoe  and  Cadets.           Sanda. 

Belfinlay. 
Benbecula. 
Bohuntin. 
Boisdale. 

Glengarry. 
Glenmore. 
Greenfield. 
Heisker  and  Skaebost. 

Sartle. 
Scothouse    (and    Scot- 
us?) 
Shian. 

Bornish. 

Herraich. 

Sleat. 

Camuscross   and    Cas- 
tleton. 

Howbeg  and  Glenuig. 
Inch. 

Staffa. 
Tirnadrish. 

Castle  Camus. 

Invercoe. 

Totamurich  and 

Clanranald. 
Clianaig. 
Colonsay. 
Cuidreach. 
Culachie. 

Keppoch. 
Killichonate. 
Kilmore. 
Kingsburgh. 
Kinlochmoidart. 

Knock. 
Totscor,     Bernisdale 
and  Scalpay. 
Tullieb. 
Tulloch. 

Cranachan. 
Dalchosnie. 
Dalelea>v  ? 
Dalily  >    ' 

Knoydart. 
Largie  (and  Largo?). 
Leek. 
Lochalsh. 

Tullocherom. 
Tynekill. 
Waternish. 
etc.,  etc. 

RANALD. 

Some  forms  of  the  name  entering  into  the  title  Clanranald, 
which  Clan  became  the  refuge  of  some  Maclains  of  Ardnamurchan. 

Rignold. 
Rinaldo. 
Rinnell. 
Rinnyll. 
Ronald. 
Ronall. 
Ronnald. 
Rynnell. 
etc. 


Raghnall. 

Rannall. 

Reignold. 

Ranald. 

Ranulph. 

Reinald. 

Ranall. 

Ranulphus. 

Reinhold. 

Randal. 

Raonaill. 

Reinold. 

Randell. 

Raoniull. 

Reinwald. 

Randle. 

Raonuill. 

Renaud. 

Randolfo. 

Raonull. 

Renyll. 

Randolph.                  Reginald. 

Reynaldo. 

Randolphe. 

Reginaldus. 

Reynaldos. 

Randulph. 

Regnall. 

Reynaldus. 

Ranell. 

Regnauld. 

Reynold. 

Rannald. 

Regnault. 

Reynolde. 

O'CAHAN. — MCKEANS. 


215 


It  may  mean  "strong  ruler,"  "kingly,"  or  "house-[or  red-] 
wolf,"  according  as  it  is  referred  to  one  or  other  of  three  alleged 
derivations,  for  it  appears  in  Teutonic  and  Latin  forms  also. 


O'CAHAN.     A  few  variations  of  this  name. 


Cachain. 

Cahan. 

Caichan. 

Cain. 

Caine. 

Cane. 

Gahan. 

Gethan. 

Kane. 


Kean. 

O'Cahaine 

Keane. 

O'Cahan. 

Keen. 

O'Cahane. 

Keene. 

O'Cahen. 

Kyan. 
MacCahan. 

O'Cain. 
O'Cane. 

MacKahan. 
O'Caane. 

O'Canyn. 
O'Cathain. 

O'Caen. 

O'Chan. 

O'Chane. 
O'Kahan. 
O'Kane. 
O'Kean. 
O' Keane. 
O'Keen. 
O' Keene. 
i  O'Keine. 
etc. 


Lower  gives  cain,  Gaelic,  beloved.  Skene  considers  O'Cane 
equivalent  to  Cathan  or  Chattan.  O'Hart  says  the  name  is 
from  cath.  battle,  and  an  "one  who"  [joins  in  it];  also  that  O'Neill 
of  Tyrone  (of  the  Nine  Hostages),  is  said  to  be  the  ancestor  of 
the  O'Cathains,  and  he  is  held  to  have  been  King  of  Ireland 
in  the  4th  century.  The  de  Caens,  de  Caynes,  de  Keynes,  de 
Cahaignes,  etc.,  are  evidently  French  and  local,  —  i.  e.,  from 
places  of  those  names. 


MCKEANS  (?). 

The  following  Table,  compiled  from  many  sources,  old  and 
recent,  will  indicate  some  of  the  supposed  Gaelic  and  Celtic 
equivalents  of  the  patronymic  "Son  of  John,"  either  in  meaning 
or  in  form.  If  the  various  affixes  fil,  Fitz,  O',  Vic,  etc.,  and  the 
suffixes  son,  sohn,  zoun,  ez,  ski,  vitch,  etc.,  in  different  languages, 
were  added,  the  list  might  be  greatly  extended. 


McAchen  (i,  4). 
McAchin  (i,  4). 
McAegan   (2). 
McAhan  (6). 
McAin. 
McAine  (3). 
McAkane  (i,  4). 
Me  An. 


McAne. 

McAnebane  (37). 
McAneny?  (36). 
McAnn. 
Me  Anna  (5). 
McAnney? 
McAnroe  (18). 
McAntailyour  (20). 


McAny  (5). 
McAuin  (n). 
McAwan  (n). 
McAyne. 
McCachane  (r, 
McCaghen  (2). 
McCahan  (6). 
McCahane  (6). 


4). 


2l6 


MCKEANS    (?) 


McCahen  (6). 
McCahin  (6). 
McCahn  (6). 
McCahon  (6). 
McCain. 
McCaine. 
McCainze  (7). 
McCame  (22). 
McCamey  (22). 
McCan. 
McCana. 
McCane. 
McCaney. 
McCann. 
McCanna. 
McCany. 
McCanney  (5). 
McCanye. 
McCanys. 
McCanze  (7). 
McCanzie  (7). 
McCaughan  (2). 
McCaughen  (2). 
McCavan  (8). 
McCavins  (8). 
McCawan. 
McCeane  (9). 
McCewin  (12,  26). 
McCewn,  (12,  26). 
McCewntailor  (20). 
McChain  (10). 
McChan  (10?). 
McChann  (10?). 
McCheyne  (10). 
McCheon. 
McCiochain  (i,  2). 
McCoan  (8). 
McCoane  (8). 
McCon  (8,  29). 
McCone  (8). 
McConn  (8). 
McCoon  (8). 
McCoun  (8). 
McCowan  (n). 
McCowane  (n). 
McCowen  (n). 
McCowin  (u). 


McCown  (n). 
McCoyn  (8). 
McCoyne  (8). 
McCuean  (12). 
McCuen  (12). 
McCughen  (2) 
McCuin  (12). 
McCuinn  (12). 
McCune  (12). 
McCuney. 
McCunn. 
McCuny. 
McEachan  (i). 
McEachen  (2). 
McEachin  (i). 
McEagan  (2). 
McEaghan  (2). 
McEan. 

McEanair  (13). 
McEancheir  (14). 
McEandecheir  (14). 
McEandoyn  (15). 
McEanduy  (15). 
McEane. 
McEaney. 
McEanruig  (18). 
McEanvoy. 
McEanwiehts  (17?). 
McEanyre. 
McEayne. 
McEgan  (2). 
McEgane  (2). 
McEgen  (2). 
McEggan?  (2). 
McEn. 

McEnay?  (5). 
McEndow  (15). 
McEnenane  (30). 
McEnereogh  (18). 
McEnn. 
McEnroe  (18). 
McEoain  (n). 
McEogain  (2). 
McEogan  (2). 
McEoghain  (2). 
McEoin  (32). 
McEoune. 


McEowen. 
McEvan. 
McEven  (8). 
McEvene  (8). 
McEveny  (8). 
McEwan  (12). 
McEwen  (26). 
McEwin  (26). 
McEwine  (26). 
McEwing  (26). 
McEwn  (26). 
McEwne  (26). 
McEwoen  ( 1 1 ) . 
McEwyn,  (26). 
McEwyne  (26). 
McGaan. 

McGachan  (i,  2). 
McGachen  (i,  2). 
McGachin  (i,  2). 
McGahan. 
McGahen. 
McGain. 
McGan. 
McGane. 
McGann. 
McGany. 
McGaun  (i  i). 
McGavin  (8). 
McGawen  ( 1 1 ) . 
McGeachan  (i,  2). 
McGeachin  (i,  2). 
McGean. 

McGechan  (i,  2). 
McGeean. 
McGeehan  (6). 
McGeehen  (6). 
McGeehin  (6). 
McGeen. 
McGeeney  ? 
McGehan  (6). 
McGehean. 
McGeiann. 
McGeihen. 
McGein. 
McGenn. 
McGeon. 
McGeown  (n). 


MCKEANS    (?) 


2I7 


McGeyann. 
McGhan. 
McGheen. 
McGiane. 
McGiann. 
McGiehan  (6). 
McGien. 
McGin. 
McGing. 
McGinn. 
McGinney?  (5). 
McGoane  (8). 
McGoens  (n). 
McGone  (8,  29). 
McGouan  (8). 
McGoun  (8). 
McGowan  (n). 
McGowen  (u). 
McGowin  (u). 
McGown  (n). 
McGowne  (n). 
McGuan  (26). 
McGuane  (26). 
McGuegan  (2). 
McGuigan  (2). 
McGuighan  (2). 
McGuine  (12). 
McGuinn  (12). 
McGun. 
McGune  (12). 
McGuown  (n). 
McGyn. 
McHagan. 
McHahan  (6). 
McHain. 
McHan. 
McHaney  (5). 
McHaon? 
McHean. 
McHegan  (2). 
McHen. 
McHon  (29). 
McHune  (12). 
Mclain. 
Mclaine. 
Mclan. 
Mclanduy  (15). 


Mclan voy  (16). 
Mcln. 

Mclnabrich  (17). 
Mclndie  (15). 
Mclndoe  (15). 
Mclndow  (15). 
Mclndoy  (15). 
Mclnerney? 
Mclnery  (18?). 
Mclnir  (13). 
Mclnnis?  (19). 
Mclnroth  (18). 
Mclnroy  (18). 
Mclnrye  (18). 
Mclntaillour  (20). 
Mclntailyeour  (20). 
Mclntaylor  (20). 
Mclnturff? 
Mclntyn. 
Mclnvoy  (16). 
Mclonack  (33). 
Mclonick  (33). 
Mclonin  (21). 
Mclonnicke  (33). 
Mclyn. 
Mcjain. 
Me  Jan. 
Mcjeane. 
Me  John. 
Mcjonnin? 
Mcjoyn. 
McKaane. 
McKachane  (i,  2). 
McKahan  (6). 
McKahin  (6). 
McKahn  (6). 
McKahon  (6). 
McKain. 
McKaine. 
McKainie  (5). 
McKainze  (7). 
McKainzie  (7). 
McKame,  22. 
McKand. 
McKandy  (15). 
McKane. 
McKann. 


McKanne  (5). 
McKany  (5). 
McKauny  (23). 
McKavan  (8). 
McKayn. 
McKayne. 
McKeachan  (i). 
McKeachin  (i). 
McKeagan  (2). 
McKeaghan  (2). 
McKean. 
McKeand. 
McKeane. 
McKeanfoyle  (16?) 
McKeang. 
McKeanna  (5). 
McKeanne  (5?). 
McKeanoig  (24). 
McKeany. 

McKeanyeochsoun(a5). 
McKechin  (i). 
McKechine  (i). 
McKechnie  (i,  5). 
McKeegan  (2). 
McKeehan  (6). 
McKeem  (27). 
McKeen. 
McKeenan  (30). 
McKeener. 
McKeeny. 
McKeeon  (6). 
McKegan  (2). 
McKegen  (2). 
McKeggan  (2). 
McKehan  (6). 
McKeigan  (2). 
McKeigane  (2). 
McKeighan  (2). 
McKeighane  (2). 
McKeighon  (2). 
McKeigney  (5). 
McKein. 
McKeine. 
McKeinezie?  (7). 
McKeithen  (34). 
McKen. 
McKena  (5). 


218 


MCKEANS    (?) 


McKenane  (30). 

McKichen  (i).                        McMakyn  (28). 

McKenay  (5). 

McKiegan  (2). 

McMechan  (28). 

McKene. 

McKien. 

McMechin  (28). 

McKeneya  (5?)- 

McKigan  (2). 

McMeekan  (28). 

McKeneye  (5). 

McKigane  (2). 

McMeeken  (28). 

McKenna  (5). 

McKiggin  (2). 

McMeekin  (28). 

McKenney  (5). 

McKigin  (2). 

McMeeking  (28). 

McKenny  (5). 

McKign  (2). 

McMeichan  (28). 

McKenroth  (18). 

McKikan  (4). 

McMeichen  (28). 

McKenyee. 

McKim  (27). 

McMeikan  (28). 

McKenzie  (7). 

McKimm  (27). 

McMeiking  (28). 

McKeoan  (n). 

McKitnmie  (27). 

McMichan  (28). 

McKeochan  (i,  2). 

McKin. 

McMickan  (28). 

McKeohan  (6). 

McKinder  (15). 

McMicken  (28). 

McKeon.                                McKiney. 

McOine  (n). 

McKeone. 

McKinn. 

McOne  (i  i,  29). 

McKeoner. 

McKinney  (5). 

McOnie. 

McKeonyn  (21?). 

McKinroth  (18). 

McOwan  (i  i). 

McKeoun. 

McKithan  (34). 

McOwen. 

McKeoune. 

McKoen  (n). 

McOwenan  (30). 

McKeowane  (n). 

McKon  (29). 

McOwin  (n). 

McKeowen  (n). 

McKone  (n). 

McOwine  (n). 

McKeown  (n). 

McKoon  (n). 

McOwne  (n). 

McKeowne  (n). 

McKoun  (n). 

McOwyne  (n). 

McKethan  (34). 

McKowan  (n). 

McQuain  (12) 

McKeuan  (25). 

McKowen  (i  i). 

McQueen  (12). 

McKeune  (26). 

McKown  (i  i). 

McQueeney? 

McKevaine  (8). 

McKowne  (n). 

McQueine  (12). 

McKevan  (8). 

McKowyne?  (i  i). 

McQuen  (12). 

McKeven  (8). 

McKuen  (12). 

McQuenn  (12). 

McKeveny  (8). 

McKuhn  (12). 

McQuewan  (26). 

McKevine  (8). 

McKune  (12). 

McQuhan  (6,  26). 

McKewan  (26). 

McKunn  (12).                        McQuhen  (6,  26). 

McKewen  (26). 

McKyan.                                 McQuhenze  (6,  7). 

McKewin  (26). 

McKygan  (2). 

McQuhin  (6,  26). 

McKewn  (26). 

McKyn. 

McQuhune  (6,  26) 

McKewne  (26). 

McKynna  (5). 

McQuhyn  (6,  26). 

McKewonan?  (30). 

McKynne  (5). 

McQuigin  (2,  12) 

McKeygan  (2). 

McKynny  (5). 

McQuin  (12). 

McKeyhone  (6). 

McLean?  (35). 

McQuinn  (12). 

McKeyn. 

McMachan  ('28). 

McQune  (12). 

McKeyne. 

McMachen  (28). 

McQuoin  (n). 

McKeynie  (5). 

McMachin  (28). 

McQuown  (n). 

McKhan. 

McMakane  (28). 

McQuoyn  (n). 

McKian. 

McMakene  (28). 

McQuyn  (12). 

McKianny  (5?). 

McMakin  (28). 

McQuyne  (12). 

McKichan  (i). 

McMaking  (28). 

McQuynn  (12) 

MCKEANS    (?)  219 


McShane  (31).  McUin  (26). 

McShawn  (31),  etc.  McUine  (26). 

MclJeen  (12).  McUny  (26?). 

McUen  (26).  McVcane  (28). 


McWaen  (i  i). 
McWay ne  ( 1 1  ?) . 
McYeone  (11?) 
etc.,  etc. 


i.  ch  is  often  silent;  Kechin  is  also  said  to  be  one  of  the  forms  for  Hector 
2.  When  not  from  Eoghain,  Owen  or  John,  it  is  sometimes  perhaps  from 
eoghain,  a  young  warrior;  but  g  and  gh  are  often  silent,  as  in  Geogheghan 
Callaghan,  etc.,  so  that  these  names  may  belong  here;  the  McEgans  "may 
be  the  clan  Aedhagain,"  but  that  appears  to  be  simply  Hugh-Owen;  Ea- 
chann  is  also  said  to  mean  a  lover  of  horses.  3.  As  a  female  name,  this  is 
a  form  of  Hannah.  4.  Possibly  for  McO'Kane,- — such  combinations  were 
not  unknown.  5.  McAnna,  McKenna,  etc.,  like  McAny,  McKany,  etc.? 
McKechnie  is  said  to  be  son  of  a  horseman ;  McKenna  is  claimed  to  be  from 
ionach,  a  dirk,  but  under  date  1550,  we  have  mention  of  Makkany  of  Ardna- 
murchan,  which  points  to  McKane,  "the  son  of  John."  6.  h  being  an  aspi- 
rate or  breathing,  is  negligible  in  many  names.  7.  z  was  often  written  for 
y,  so  that  these  forms  may  have  been  originally  the  same  as  McEany,  Me. 
Keany,  etc.;  the  spellings  McCanye,  McKenyee,  etc.,  give  color  to  this 
theory.  8.  It  may  be  questioned  if  these  names  should  be  included,  as  they 
may  be  derived  from  caomhan,  a  noble  person;  and  yet  the  T  in  Dovenald 
was  softened  to  /  in  Dofnald,  and  (with  w  in  some  forms),  dropped  in  Donald; 
besides  which,  if  taken  to  be  forms  of  McEvan,  they  have  right  of  entry 
by  meaning,  if  not  form.  9.  r  hard,  like  k,  though  possibly  Anglicized  in 
some  cases  to  McSeney,  etc.;  the  list  from  1545  to  1604,  note  h,  shows  that 
McCeane  is  equivalent  to  McEan,  McEane,  and,  McEwne.  10.  Perhaps 
soft,  and  pronounced  McShane,  which,  however,  also  means  "son  of  John." 

11.  Apparently  McOwen,  "son  of  John,"  though  some  are  claimed  to  belong 
to  class  8,  and  McGowan  and  its  corruptions  may  mean  "son  of  the  smith. '' 

12.  A  few  of  these  are  said  to  be  from  ceann,  a  head,  but  may,  occasionally 
at  least,  be  spellings  of  McEwan,  etc.,  meaning  "son  of  John;"  Queen  has 
been  given  as  equivalent  to  Sweene,  (Norwegian,  Sweyn) ;  and  Quin  is  said 
to  be  from  Irish,  Con.      13.  Shortened  to  McNair,  McNeir,  etc.?     14.  Indexed 
Keir  [or  Kerr],  and  would  probably  now  be  written  with  a  hyphen, — McEan- 
Keir.     15.  Must  be  for  McKean  Dow,  the  dark.     16.  Probably  Mclan  Boy, 
the  yellow  (haired?).      17.  Mclan  Abrich?     From  residence  in  Lochaber.      18. 
McKean  Roy,  the  red;  one  family  of  Mclnroy  has  "a  lymphad   in  full  sail 
sable,"     in    the    arms;    McEanruig     has    been    corrupted    into    McHenry. 
19.    Mclnnis,    McGinness,    etc.,    are    also    said    to    be    from    MacAonghais, 
or  Angus;  or  else  from  a  word  for  island.     20.  One  old  Index  explains  Mc- 
antailyour  as   "McAn,   tailor,"   but   Mclntailyeout   and   McCewntailor  also 
appear,  so  they  may  denote  marriage  alliances,  which  wouldjiow  be  hyphen- 
ated,— McKean-Tailor,   etc.     Some  Camerons  were  known  as  Maclntaylors 
afterwards  Taylor,  and  descended  from  a  celebrated  warrior-tailor  in  the 
i6th   century.     21.  These   may   be   nuasi  English    forms   of   a   diminutive, 
22.  Appear  as  alternative  forms  of  McCane  and  McKane,  under  the  dates 


22O  AN    OLD    DOCUMENT. 

1557  and  1601.  23.  Probably  another  name,  now  spelt  McConaughy,  Mc- 
Conichie,  etc.,  and  meaning  "son  of  Duncan?"  24.  McKean  oig  would  be 
the  younger,  or  the  son;  therefore  the  grandson  of  Ian,  and  equivalent  in 
form  to  O'Cahan,  O'Kane,  etc.  25.  This  extraordinary  combination  seems 
to  mean  Mac-Ian-oig-son,  i.  e.,  the  great  grandson  of  John.  26.  McEwan, 
and  see  12.  27.  We  have  noted  in  22,  that  m  and  n  are  sometimes  interchange- 
able here,  as  in  other  names.  28.  Possibly  equivalent  in  some  cases  to  Mc- 
McKane, — such  forms  were  met  with  occasionally;  the  McMahons,  etc., 
probably  mean  "son  of  the  bear,"  there  was  also  a  Saint  Michan.  29. 
o  long.  30.  an  as  a  Celtic  termination  sometimes  means  an  individual,  or 
"one  who"  (possessed  the  attribute,  etc.,  expressed  in  the  rest  of  the  name). 
31.  McShane,  Shaen,  Shean,  Shine,  Shawn,  etc.,  are  Irish  forms  of  (the  son 
of)  John.  32.  Eoain  equals  Hoan  or  John.  33.  Perhaps  from  ionach,  a 
dirk.  34.  th  sounded  like  h.  35.  We  have  seen  under  date  1411,  that  Mac- 
Clean,  McLean,  etc.,  was  originally  MacGilla-Eoin,  the  "son  of  the  follower 
of  (Saint)  John."  36.  May  be  from  eineach,  affability.  37.  Bane,  yellow 
(haired?). 

AN  OLD  DOCUMENT. 

In  Clan  Donald  there  are  reproduced  several  charters  and 
letters  which  are  only  a  little  less  mysterious  to  the  ordinary 
layman  than  some  of  the  Egyptian  papyri  recently  made  familiar 
to  us. 

The  Washington  collection  alluded  to  in  our  Introduction 
also  contains  some  interesting  reproductions  of  old  writings. 
We  wish  we  could  photograph  a  certain  document  among  those 
in  the  Register  of  the  Great  Seal  of  the  Kings  of  the  Scots,  and 
produce  it  in  exact  fac-simile,  in  order  that  our  readers  might 
see  a  short  and  much  easier  specimen  of  legal  writing  of  the 
times  in  question.  The  reproduction  of  a  copy  in  script,  on 
the  following  page,  may  give  some  idea  of  what  the  genuine 
student  of  some  ancient  documents  should  be  prepared  to  en- 
counter; and  when  the  writing  is  on  curled,  mouldy,  torn  parch- 
ments; in  obsolete  languages,  and  in  the  differing  hands  of 
numerous  scriveners,  each  of  whom  had  his  peculiarities,  "short 
cuts"  and  abbreviations  in  the  performance  of  his  more  or  less 
perfunctory  duties,  we  may  well  be  grateful  for  the  learning, 
patience  and  skill  exercised  by  modern  scholars,  to  give  us  so 
many  interpretations  which  can  be  " understanded  of  the  people." 

Our  specimen  follows,  first  as  in  the  original,  next  without 
abbreviations,  and  lastly  translated  into  modern  legal  English. 


AN    OLD    DOCUMENT.  221 


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First.  —  Expanding  the  foregoing  to  eliminate  the  old  legal 
contractions,  and  using  modern  letters  and  punctuation,  it 
becomes  : 

"Carta  Willielmi  Maceoune. 

Robertus  [dei  gratia  Rex  Scotorum]  et  cetera.  Sciatis  nos 
dedisse,  concessisse,  et  hac  pra?senti  Carta  nostra  confirmasse 
Willielmo  dicto  Maceoun  dilecto  et  fideli  nostro  pro  homagio  et 
servicio  suo,  decem  libratas  terre  cum  pertinenciis  ;  que  fuerunt 
Ingerami  Cnouut  et  Johannis  de  Weston,  in  tenemento  de  Mer- 
tone.  Tenende  et  habende  dicto  Willielmo  et  heredibus  suis  de 
nobis  et  heredibus  nostris  in  feodo  et  hereditate;  libere  quiete 
plenarie  et  honorifice,  cum  omnibus  libertatibus,  commoditatibus, 


222  AN    OLD   DOCUMENT. 

aysiamentis  et  justis  pertinenciis  suis.  Faciendo  inde  nobis  et 
heredibus  nostris  dictus  Willielmus  et  heredes  sui  servicium 
debitum  et  consuetum  tempore  bone  memorie  domini  Alexandri 
Regni  Scotise  [Regis  Scotorum?]  predecessoris  nostri  ultimo 
defuncti.  In  cujus  rei  [testimonio ?]  et  cetera." 

Second. — Which,  beginning  overleaf,  may  be  freely  translated 
as  follows: 
Register  of  the  Great  Seal  of  the  Kings  of  the  Scots;  preserved 

in  the  Public  Archives.     A.  D.   1306 — A.  D.   1424. 
Register  of  Robert  the  First.     Roll  I.,  Section  15.     Roxburgh- 
shire. 

"Charter  of  William  MacEoun. 

Robert,  [by  the  grace  of  God  King  of  the  Scots],  etc.  Know 
ye,  that  we  give,  grant,  and  by  this  our  present  Charter  do  con- 
firm to  our  beloved  and  faithful  the  said  William  MacEoun  for 
his  homage  and  service,  ten  librates*  of  land  with  the  appur- 
tenances; which  belonged  to  Ingeramus  Knowtf  and  to  John 
of  Weston,  in  the  tenement  of  Merton.  To  the  said  William 
and  his  heirs  to  hold  and  to  have  from  us  and  our  heirs  in  fief 
and  heirship;  in  free,  full  and  honorable  quiet;  with  all  their 
privileges,  benefits,  easements  and  lawful  appurtenances.  The 
said  William  and  his  heirs  henceforth  rendering  to  us  and  our 
heirs  the  service  owed  and  customary  in  the  time  of  the  lord 
Alexander  King  of  Scotland,  of  good  memory,  our  predecessor 
lately  deceased.  In  testimony  whereof  and  so  forth."  [we  have 
caused  the  Great  Seal  to  be  attached?]. 

As  this  is  one  of  the  first  documents  in  the  reign  of  Robert 
Bruce,  its  date  can  not  be  far  from  1306;  it  is  certainly  older 
than  1329,  the  end  of  said  reign. 

Third. — Those  who  are  in  doubt  whether  Maceoune  could  be 
an  old  form  of  McKean,  are  probably  correct,  and  yet  they  may 

*  The  exact  extent  of  a  librate  is  probably  unknown  at  present;  some 
writers  say  any  amount  free  (libera)  from  services  to  the  superior;  others 
affirm  that  it  is  so  much  land  that  the  yearly  value  of  it  amounted  to  nomi- 
nally one  pound  (libra)  of  silver  in  weight.  When  it  is  added  that  land 
measurements  and  pound  values  differed  in  Scotland,  England  and  in  some 
shires  of  each,  the  uncertainty  may  be  appreciated.  See  Dove's  Domesday 
Studies  and  other  Works. 

t  This  looks  like  Knut  or  Canute, —  a  Danish  rather  than  a  Scottish  name 
and  probably  became  Knott  in  more  modern  times. 


AN    OLD    DOCUMENT,    ETC.  223 

be  reminded  that  the  Mac  seems  evident,  though  this  would  be 
one  of  the  earliest  instances  of  that  spelling,  ancient  documents 
(Celtic  ones  at  least)  being  oftener  found  with  "mic,"  denoting 
son.  (But  note  Donald  McCan,  1305).  Passing  to  eoune,  which 
we  would  now  write  Eoune, — critics  will  remember  that  every 
Scottish  spelling  of  a  town  ("ton"  in  modern  local  names)  was 
in  old  times  toun,  i.  e.,  oun  is  equivalent  to  on.  If,  furthermore, 
we  conclude  that  the  final  e,  which  is  not  written  but  indicated 
by  the  mark  over  the  n,  was  either  silent,  or  was  a  concession 
to  the  ending  of  a  supposed  genitive  or  dative  case  in  the  Latin 
version  of  the  name,  we  might,  if  other  circumstances  did  not 
forbid,  feel  tolerably  assured  that  Maceoune  equals  McEon,  a 
spelling  of  McKean  which  may  be  found  in  old  lists,  modern 
directories  or  other  collections  of  names. 

It  should  be  stated  however,  as  possibly  bearing  upon  the 
name  in  the  foregoing  document,  that  in  the  Registrum  Palatinum 
Dunelmense  [The  Register  of  Richard  de  Kellawe,  Lord  Palatine 
and  Bishop  of  Durham],  four  bulky  octavo  volumes  in  Latin, 
1311-16,  there  is  a  petition  in  1314,,  of  Ralph  le  Maceon  and 
Emma  his  wife,  relative  to  lands  in  Seggefeld ;  but  there  again 
the  "le"  before  this  name,  (which  was  also  spelt  about  that 
period,  Macoon,  Machun,  Macun,  Mascun,  le  Massun  and  de 
Mazun),  and  the  persons  and  lands  being  in  England,  indicate 
a  different  family  in  the  latter  case, — apparently  one  of  those 
now  called  Mason. 

Before  leaving  the  Charter  given  above,  the  subject  of  abbre- 
viations may  be  alluded  to:  a  short  list  of  the  most  common 
ones  occurs  in  the  Introduction  to  the  Rotuli  Litterarum  Clausa- 
rum,*  and  130  pages  in  double-column  can  be  found  in  Vol.  IV. 
of  the  Reg.  Pal.  Dun.,  just  mentioned;  but  the  thorough  searcher 
should  be  familiar  with  The  Record  Interpreter  by  Chas.  T.  Martin, 
(London,  1892),  and  perhaps  with  Court  Hand  Restored,  by 
Andrew  Wright. 

*  Close  Rolls,  i.  e.,  documents  of  a  private  nature,  as  opposed  to  Patent 
or  public  records. 


224  MUSIC. 

Music. 

The  Macdonalds'  Gathering  has  five  stanzas  of  eight  lines  each  ; 
the  part  which  may  interest  our  readers  is : 

"Gather,  brave  clan  Donuil, 

Many  sons  of  might  you  know ; 
Lenochan's  your  brother, 

Auchterechtan  and  Glencoe." 

The  hereditary  bards  or  pipers  of  the  Glencoe  chiefs  appear 
to  have  borne  the  surname  of  Iain  Fraoch's  mother, — Mac- 
Eanruig,  Anglicized  to  MacHenry  or  Henderson.  One  of  them, 
in  the  time  of  Montrose  is  said  to  have  written  a  famous  March 
for  the  Stewart  Clan:  "We  will  take  the  Highway,"  and  known 
later  as  The  Sheriffmuir  March. 

There  is  not  much  to  be  said  in  introducing  the  following 
Lament.  It  is  No.  n  in  the  volume  of  sixty-one  "Ancient 
Pibrochs"  compiled  by  Aonghas  MacAoidh  (McKay)  in  1838, 
but  the  "History"  promised  at  the  end  of  the  volume,  consists 
only  of  a  short  description  of  the  valley  of  Glencoe,  an  allusion 
to  the  massacre,  and  a  declension  to  describe  the  latter.  The 
air  alone  is  given,  without  accompaniment,  that  being  supposed 
to  be  furnished  by  the  drones,  three  tubes  each  producing  one 
sustained  note  (two  small  ones  tuned  a  fifth  below  E  of  the 
chanter,  and  the  larger  one  an  eighth) :  the  chanter  is  the  finger- 
pipe  upon  which  the  tune  is  played.  The  Gaelic  musical  term 
crumlua(th)  denotes  a  finishing,  quick  movement. 


LAMENT. 


225 


MURT  GHLINNE  A  COMHANN. 

The  Massacre  of  Glencoe 


_ 


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226 


LAMENT. 


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Doubling  of  Variation  2. 


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CRESTS,  MOTTOES,  ARMS,  ETC. 


A  few  heraldic  data  may  be  found  of  interest:  they  are  chiefly 
from  Maclan's  Clans  of  the  Scottish  Highlanders,  Fairbairn's 
Crests,  Burke's  General  Armory,  Skene's  Highlanders  of  Scotland, 
Adam's  What  is  my  Tartan?  and  O'Hart's  Irish  Pedigrees. 

Burke  gives  the  arms  of  three  families  of  McKcans,  one  of 
Edinburgh,  one  of  Scotland  and  one  of  England.  Fairbairn  also 
gives  three  crests  for  McKeans,  two  Scotch  families  and  one 
English;  they  are,  a  cat,  a  dog  and  a  talbot  (an  heraldic  dog), 
each  sejant  or  sitting;  with  the  motto  for  the  last,  J'ai  bonne  esper- 
ance  (I  have  good  hope).  Perhaps  the  reason  for  selecting  a  dog, 
was  an  old  idea  that  the  name,  exclusive  of  Me,  was  from  a  Gaelic 
word  meaning  dog,  accepted  in  its  heraldic  or  noble  sense,  as  repre- 
senting faithfulness  and  bravery.  This  derivation  is  probably 
erroneous,  though  the  word  kene  signifies  daring,  bold.  Our 
illustration  comprises  the  mottoes  of  several  houses,  the  bearings 
of  the  two  indicated,  and  two  McKean  crests.  We  have  heard 
of  a  McKean  of  that  ilk,  (whose  surname  and  the  name  of  the 
estate  were  the  same),  but  have  no  particulars. 

MacIan-MacDonald  of  Glencoe  bears:  Ar.  an  eagle  displayed 
gu.  surmounted  by  a  lymphad  sa.  sails  furled  and  rigged  ppr. 
in  the  dexter  chief  a  dexter  hand  couped  of  the  second.  Crest. — 
A  raven  perched  on  a  rock  az. ;  another  MacDonald  has :  on  a 
rock  inflamed,  a  raven  sa.  Motto  over,  Cragan  an  Fhathich, — 
otherwise  Craggan  an  fhithich,  (The  raven's  crag) ;  another 
branch  has  for  motto:  Sure.  The  MacDonalds  of  the  Isles,  of 
Glengarry  and  of  Keppoch  have  coats  very  similar  to  the  above, 
but  the  tinctures  or  colors,  and  some  minor  points,  differ  slightly : 
thus  the  shield  is  or  instead  of  argent;  the  lymphad  [long-fada] 
of  Burke,  (and  which  in  Scottish  heraldry  is  a  biorlin  or  galley), 
has  the  yard  squared  for  The  Isles,  while  the  others  have  it 
"cock-billed;"  (a  nautical  sign  of  grief  and  therefore  appropriate 
enough  for  Glencoe) ;  in  the  sinister  chief  a  cross  crosslet  fitchee* 
of  the  third  for  Glengarry,  which  also  has  for  Supporters, — Two 


MacDonald    of  Glencoe, 


Of  the  Isles ««» Glengarry. 


230  HERALDIC    NOTES. 

bears  each  having  an  arrow  pierced  through  the  body  all  ppr. 
Motto:  Per  mare,  per  terras,  (By  sea,  by  land).  The  old  arms 
of  the  Lords  of  the  Isles  were:  quarterly  ist  and  4th,  sable,  three 
battle-axes  or,  2d  and  3d,  gules,  three  biorlins  or  large  Highland 
boats  of  antique  construction.  McDonald  of  Moydart  (Captain 
of  Clanranald)  has  over  the  crest  (which  is  a  castle,  etc.) — My 
hope  is  constant  in  thee,  referring  to  the  tradition  that  Bruce 
made  this  avowal  to  the  Lord  of  the  Isles  at  a  crisis  in  the  battle 
of  Bannockburn,  (see  Scot's  Poem) ;  below  the  shield,  the  war- 
shout  :  Dhandeon  co  Heiragha,  or  Dhandheoin  Cotheir-aidh  e,  (In 
spite  of  all  opposition,  or  In  spite  of  who  would  gainsay).  Some 
authorities,  however,  give  the  McDonald  war-cry  as :  Fraocheilan, 
(The  Heathery  Isle),  and.  the  March  Dhonuill  Dhui.  Mc- 

Donald of  Largie  has  over  the  crest,  (which  is  an  arm,  dagger, 
etc.),  Semper  pugnare  paratus  (Always  ready  to  fight) ;  below  the 
shield,  Pro  P atria  (For  Country).  He  of  Dumfries  has  for 

motto:  7  beir  the  bel,  (I  am  first  or  leader,  I  bear  the  bell). 
MacDonald  of  Lockhart  has  a  boar's  head  erased,  and  the  words : 
Corda  serata  pando,  (I  open  hearts  locked  up),  alluding,  possibly, 
to  the  story  of  the  heart  of  Bruce  (locked  in  a  silver  case)  being 
brought  back  to  Scotland  after  the  unsuccessful  effort  of  Douglas 
to  carry  it  to  the  Holy  Land,  and  which  was  done  by  a  Lockhard, 
who  thence  assumed  the  name  Lockhart.  Other  MacDonalds 

have  the  mottoes:  Pro  rege  in  tyrannos,  (For  the  King  against 
tyrants),  and  Victoria  vel  Mors,  (Victory  or  Death).  And 

still  another,  who  has  for  crest  the  Holy  Bible,  expanded,  ppr., 
says:  Coelestia  sequor,  (I  follow  heavenly  things).  The  badge  of 
the  MacDonalds,  and  also  of  the  Glencoe-men,  (See  entry  for 
1678),  is  Fraoch  gorm,  erica  vulgaris,  the  common  heath. 
McDonnell,  Earl  of  Antrim  has  the  motto  :Sero  sed  serio,  (Late, 
but  in  earnest).  McDonnell  of  the  Glens  of  Antrim,  of  the  Clan 
Ian  Vohr,  Viscount  Dunluce,  bears  for  arms:  Or,  a  lion  rampant 
gu.,  and  for  crest  an  arm,  etc.,  in  hand  a  cross  crosslet,  fitched 
gu.  For  motto,  he  and  MacDonald  of  Durham  have — Toujours 

*  This  cross  with  a  very  long  and  pointed  stem,  could  be  used  as  a  walking- 
staff,  or,  being  stuck  in  the  ground,  was  adapted  for  devotional  purposes. 
Tradition  states  that  a  MacDonald  adopted  it  in  consequence  of  his  carrying 
Saint  Patrick  over  to  Ireland  in  a  boat:  the  Saint,  however,  belongs  to  the 
4th  century,  while  MacDonalds, — under  that  name  at  least, — do  not  appear 
until  long  after. 


HERALDIC   NOTES.  231 

pret,  (Always  ready),  one  branch  retaining  the  archaic  spelling: 
Tout  jours  prest.  O'Hart  writes  that  the  MacDonnells  of  Antrim 
(Route  and  Glynnes)  went  from  Ulster,  settled  in  Scotland, 
where  they  were  generally  called  MacDonalds  (of  the  Isles,  etc.), 
and  some  returned  to  Antrim,  and  formed  alliances  by  marriage 
with  the  O'Neills  of  Tyrone,  the  O'Donnells  of  Donegal,  the 
O'Kanes  of  Derry,  etc.  Another  MacDonald  of  Ireland  has 

a  talbot's  head,  az.  He  of  Connaught  bears  the  motto:  His 
vinces,  (By  these — Conquer),  the  plural  referring  no  doubt  to 
both  the  galley  and  the  cross  in  his  arms;  the  latter  device, 
sometimes  called  the  Cross  Calvary,  is  in  Scotch  blazonry  a  cross 
"degreice,"  and  in  English,  "degraded," — both  terms  being  from 
the  French  degres,  i.  e.,  with  steps, — three,  in  reference  to  the 
Trinity.  The  MacKains  of  Elgin,  descended  from  John  Mac- 
Iain  of  Ardnamurchan,  have  on  their  shield  a  demi-eagle,  to 
which  the  motto  evidently  refers:  "Le  Tout  Ne  Vaut  Pas  La 
Moitie,"  (The  whole  is  not  worth  the  half).  The  McKeowns 

of  Ulster  have  for  crest:  An  arm  embowed  in  chain  armor,  the 
hand  holding  a  sword,  blade  wavy  all  ppr. 

Most  of  the  clans  had  distinctive  pipe-music ;  some  MacDonalds 
possessing  a  Gathering,  Salute,  March  and  Lament.  The  Glencoe- 
men  retain  only  the  Lament — "  Mort  Ghlinne  Comhann" 
(Massacre  of  Glencoe). 

The  O'Cahan  crests  are  A  cat-a-mountain  rampant,  ppr.,  and 
also  salient.  The  cat  borne  by  one  of  the  McKeans  indicates 
another  point  of  connection  between  the  three  names  mentioned 
in  these  Notes.  The  motto  is  Felis  demulcta  mitis,  (The  stroked 
cat  is  gentle).  And  the  cat  perhaps  shows  Skene  to  be  right  in 
connecting  the  O'Cahans  with  the  Clan  Chattan  and  their  cele- 
brated motto:  Touch  not  the  cat  but  [without}  a  glove. 

Heraldry,  however,  is  as  much  out  of  date  as  Clanship,  though 
the  former  has  furnished  many  a  "wise  saw."  And  a  McKean 
may  now,  as  in  auld  lang  syne,  be  cheered  with  the  noble  motto, 
even  in  an  alien  tongue :  i  HAVE  GOOD  HOPE. 


POSTSCRIPT. 


Having  acknowledged  indebtedness  for  literary  material 
used  in  the  compilation  of  these  Historical  Notes,  there  remains 
the  pleasure  of  expressing  obligations  to  the  efficient  helpers 
who  have  worked  upon  the  mechanical  portions  of  the  book. 

Mr.  George  Gibson  (of  Gibson  Brothers)  is  well  known  for 
good  work  in  a  long  career  as  printer,  book-binder,  etc. ;  his 
manager  Mr.  Jos.  L  Shipley  has  a  happy  faculty  of  causing 
difficulties  to  vanish,  and  the  proof-reader,  Mr.  H.  Rule,  has 
been  very  correct  in  occasional  intricate  passages;  Messrs.  Robert 
Gibson  and  George  Mellis,  foremen  respectively,  of  the  composing 
and  press  rooms,  and  Mr.  E  P.  Homer  of  the  bindery,  have 
been  painstaking  and  skilful;  the  industrious  workers  of  various 
departments  also  have  my  sincere  thanks,  as  well  as  the  pleasant 
people  in  the  office. 

The  Maurice  Joyce  Engraving  Company  have  skilfully  managed 
the  illustrations  of  different  kinds,  and  yielded  their  better  judg- 
ment to  my  persistence  in  retaining  the  "Charts"  in  their  reduced 
size  to  avoid  folders:  their  representative,  Mr.  Edw.  E.  Wilson, 
has  been  willing  and  courteous,  and  their  artist,  Mr.  Benson 
B.  Moore,  has  responded  to  request. 

The  M.  Silverberg  Company  have  shown  patience  in  cutting 
and  preparing  the  tartan,  and  expertness  in  mounting  it, — meeting 
difficulties  which  had  not  been  anticipated. 

J.  L.  Shoemaker  and  Company  of  Philadelphia  have  done 
much  towards  carrying  out  the  design  for  the  cover. 

Last  but  not  least,  my  wife  has  detected  in  time,  several  glaring 
errors  which  had  escaped  notice,  and  has  made  not  a  few  useful 
suggestions. 

To  those  named  and  others,  I  owe  gratitude  for  the  efficiency 
and  cheerfulness  which  have  lightened  my  closing  labors,  and 
have  brought  the  latter  to  an  end. 

THE  COMPILER. 
1220  NEW  HAMPSHIRE  AVENUE, 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


INDEX. 


FOR  SUB-HEADINGS,  see  BATTLES  AND  SONGS. 


Abbreviations,  223. 

Aberach  McGregor,  Patrick,  Chart 
III.,  181. 

Aberigh,  Slaight-Ean-,  168. 

Abrach,  Abrachson,  (Glencoe  Mac- 
lans),  44,  86,  87,  88. 

Abrach  or  Abroch,  John,  X.  of 
Glencoe,  103;  called  Macdonald, 
103. 

Abrachs,  John  Maclan,  Two,  one 
a  Glencoe  man,  the  other  a 
MacLean,  1431,  168. 

Abrachson,  John;  Glencoe  Chiefs  II. 
to  VI.,  44,  88. 

Abrich,  Donald  Bowie  MacIainVic 
Iain  Oig  Viclain,  103. 

Abrochsoune,  John  of  the  Isles,  89. 

Abrycht,  John  Og  MacAne,  93. 

Account  of  Clan  Maclean,  by  a 
Seneachie,  50,  66. 

Accounts  of  the  Lord  High  Treas- 
urer of  Scotland,  44,  169. 

Achtriachtan,  102, 109, 112,  130,  139, 
146,  181,  198,  200,  loch  201. 

Acknowledgments,  vi,  vii,  and  post- 
script. 

Acta  Dominorum  Concilii,  169. 

Acts  of  the  •  Lords  Auditors  of 
Causes  and  Complaints,  169. 

Acts  of  the  Parliaments  of  Scotland, 
55,  63,  95;  Index,  97;  Acts,  105; 
Index  in;  Acts,  114,  117-124, 
!35»  Z79!  Index,  180;  Acts,  187, 
189,  190,  191;  Index,  191;  Acts, 
196  note,  198. 

Aidan,  21,  Chart  I  A. 

Alan  Breck,  154. 


Alexander,  III.  of  Ardnamurchan, 
36-38. 

Alexander  Joannis,  V.  Lord  of 
Ardnamurchan,  42,  43  ;  of  the 
Council  of  the  Isles,  42;  called 
Alexander  McCane  of  Ardnamer. 
cho,  42;  daughters  Fynvola  and 
Mariota,  42;  a  man  of  consid- 
erable influence  and  power,  42. 

Alexander  Maclain,  VII.  of  Ardna- 
murchan, 53-62;  died  before  1538, 
55-57- 

Alexander  Maclain,  XII.  of  Ardna- 
murchan, 74. 

Alexander,  XI.  of  Glencoe,  (Alastair 
Ruadh),  103-105.  Allaster  Mac- 
Iain  Abraich  to  remain  in  Edin- 
burgh, 104;  killed  by  Campbells, 
105. 

Alexander,  XII.  of  Glencoe,  105; 
escapes  from  Tolbooth  of  Invera- 
ray,  112;  word  picture  of  the 
Chief  and  his  men,  116;  praise 
of  "Maclan,"  117;  signature  of 
"Macdonald,"  120;  decree  of 
forfeiture  against,  120;  Mckean 
alias  Mcdonald  elder  of  Glencoe, 
121 ;  Macean  'alias  Macdonald 
elder  of  Glenco  124,  125;  just 
too  late  to  take  the  oath,  126; 
but  it  is  administered,  127;  cer- 
tificate erased,  127;  MacEan  of 
Glencoe,  127;  Maclain,  129;  shot 
in  the  massacre,  132;  M'Ean  of 
Glenco,  132. 

Alexander  McDonald,  XIV.  of  Glen- 
coe, 148;  joined  the  rebellion 


INDEX. 


of  1715,  149,  150;  pardoned  for 
same,  150;  joined  Prince  Charles, 
1745,  150;  member  of  his  council 
of  war,  150;  commanded  the  clan 
at  Preston-pans,  150,  151;  Cullo- 
den,  153;  excepted  from  amnes- 
ty, 154;  children,  154. 

Alexander  Macian  or  MacDonald, 
XVI.  of  Glencoe,  157. 

Alexandrum  de  Hyle,  29. 

Alisaundre  des  Isles,  29. 

Allegorical  painting  of  Macdonald 
of  Glencoe,  R.  R.  Mclan,  133. 

American  Cyclopaedia,  81. 

Anathema  of  the  Breeks,  no,  note. 

Ancestors,    Chart   of  the  Early,   18. 

Angus   Mor  MacDonald,   28,   31. 

Angus  Og  MacDonald,  28,  31,  32,  33. 

Angus  Og  second,  of  the  Isles, 
assassinated,  42. 

Angus,  II.  of  Ardnamurchan,  the 
first  Maclain,  36. 

Anna  or  Agnes  O'Cathanor  O'Kane, 
28,  32. 

Annals,  Hailes,   23. 

Annals  of  Loch  Ce,  38,  and  note, 
42,  46,  170,  203,  213,  note. 

Annals  of  Ulster,  46,  footnote. 

Annie  Laurie,    1667,   196,  note. 

Antrim,  Randal  McDonnell  of,  203. 

Ardenmuirich,  56. 

Ardmurquhane,  56. 

Ardnamercho,  56. 

Ardnamourach,  56. 

Ardnamurch,  56. 

Ardnamurchan,  vii,  Maclain  of, 
34-83;  seal,  34;  meaning  of,  34; 
description  of,  34;  given  to  Iain 
Sprangaich,  34;  lists  of  the  chiefs, 
35;  Iain,  35;  Angus,  36,  37;  a  man 
of  considerable  importance,  36; 
Alex.  Joannis,  42,  43;  John  Mak- 
ane,  43-53;  Makkane,  48,  called 
Macian,  Macdonald  and  Mac- 
Iain,  50 ;  Mariot  or  Mariota,  5 1 ; 
Macian  tombstone,  53;  Alex- 


ander, VII,  53-62;  Argyle  in- 
trigues for  lands,  51;  Queen  Mary 
grants  lands  to  Argyle  for  12 
years,  55,  56;  12  spellings  of 
Makane  and  9  of  Ardnamurchan, 
56,  61,  etc.;  Clan  Ian  of,  71  note; 
Macdonnells  of,  71;  Mac  Donalds 
°f>  73,  75;  become  Sea  Rovers, 
76;  Clan  Ban,  76,  Eane,  76; 
clan  ceases  to  exist  as  territorial 
family,  77;  tombstone  of  the  last 
Maclains,  82,  83;  place  mentioned, 
116;  J.  Makain  of  Ardnamur- 
quhan,  147;  164,  198,  200. 

Ardnamurchane,  56. 

Ardnamurquhan,  56. 

Ardthornish,  41,  42,  62. 

Argyle,  Ergayll,  etc.,  the  shire, 
Earl,  Lord  Lorn,  etc.,  21,  24,  25, 

3i,  32,  43,  44,  46,  51,  53,  54,  55, 
56,  63,  67,  68,  69,  71,  73,  81,  84, 
90,  91,  92,  93,  94,  96,  97,  98,  ioo, 
101,  103,  107,  108,  in,  115  signa- 
ture; 125,  128,  129,  150,  162,  169, 
171,  179,  196  note. 

Armourch,  56. 

Art  or  Arthur,  Chart  I  A.,   19. 

Aruicht     (Clan     Mackane),     unruly, 

97- 

Athole,  Earl  of,  178,  179. 
Auld  Reekie,  104,  note. 

Baliol,  John,  34,  35. 

Baronage  of  Scotland,  Douglas, 
Chart  III,  89,  182. 

Battles: — Bannock  burn,  1314,  31, 
32;  North  Inch,  1396,  167;  Har- 
law,  1411,  36-38;  Inverlochy, 
1431,  39-41;  Park,  1488,  43; 
Flodden  Field,  '1513,  49,  50; 
Blar  Leine,  1545,  57;  Inverlochy, 
1645,  1 08;  Mulroy,  1687,  113, 
114;  Killiecrankie,  1689,  78;  116- 
118;  Sheriffmuir,  1715,  149,  150; 
Preston-pans,  1 745,  1 50,  151; 
Culloden,  1746,  152,  153,  158. 


INDEX. 


235 


Bishop  of  the  Isles,  57,  61,  62,  178. 
Blackwood's    Magazine,     113,    date 

1706,   125,   138  note,   142  note. 
Blair  of  Athole,  122. 
Blue     Bonnets     over    the     Border, 

Scott,  109. 

Bond  of  Association,  119,  120. 
Bonnie   Dundee,   Signature  of,    115. 
Book  of  Clanranald,  Chart  I  A.,  90. 
Border  Clans,   Dixon,  63,   101,   166. 
Borthwick,  Robert,  gunner,  1513,49. 
Bows  and  arrows,  49,  101,  112-114 
Breadalbane,   112,   113,   125,   126. 
Breadalbane  March,  134. 
Breeks,  Anathema  of  the,  1 10,  note. 
Bride  of  Lammermoor,   155  note. 
British  Chronologist,   151,  153. 
Bruce,  25,  31,  35,  36. 
Bruce's  Address,  31. 
Burns'  Poetical  Works,  31. 

Caichan,  20. 

Cairpre  Liffeacher,  Chart    IA.,    19. 

Calendarium  Rotulorum  Patentium, 
185,  186. 

Calendar  of  State  papers,  57,  58, 
60,  61,  78,  108,  165,  166,  Ireland; 
1 66,  170,  171;  Carew  Section,  177, 
178,  184,  187;  Cal.,  188,  189;  Do- 
mestic, 189;  Cal.,  197. 

Camerons,  68,  85,  87,  Chart  III., 
92,  94,  107,  112,  115,  116,  117, 
119,  120,  123,  126,  149,  154,  157 
and  Chart  III.,  168,  184,  201. 

Campbell  (Argyle)  and  others,  45, 
5i,  53,  54,  55,  56,  62,  63,  67,  69, 
70,  71,  73,  74,  75,  76,  83,  85,  89, 
92,  93,  94,  96,  97,  98,  Ergyle,  g8( 
99,  loo,  102,  103,  105,  107,  108 
113,  127,  129,  132,  134,  150,  154, 
155,  160,  178,  179,  200. 

Canadian  Magazine,  157. 

Carew  section  of  State  Papers,  177^ 
178,  184,  187. 

Carnegies,  36. 

Cartan,  Chart  I  A.,  20. 


Celtic  Scotland,  Skene,  90,  162,  215. 
Century  Dictionary,  91. 
Chart  I  A. — Early  Ancestors,   18. 
Chart  IB.— The  Clan  Donald,  26. 
Chart  II. — Maclains   of   Ardnamur- 

chan,  37. 

Chart  III. — Maclans  of  Glencoe,  89. 
Charter  of  William  MacEoun,  1306? 

220-223. 
Chartularies,     etc.,     of    St.     Mary's 

Abbey,  Dublin,  165. 
Chisholms,  150. 
Chronica  Majora,  Matthew  of  Paris, 

23- 

Chronica    Roger!   de    Hoveden,    23. 

Chronicles  of  Scotland,  Pittscottie, 
49- 

Clancayn  (Maclan)  of  Ardnamur- 
chan,  61. 

Clan  Cholla,  afterwards  Clan  Don- 
ald, 1 6,  Chart  I  A. 

Clan,  Definition  of,  71,  note. 

Clan  Donald,  (Book),  vii,  x,  15,  16, 
17,  Chart  I  A.,  19,  20,  22  note,  24, 
25,  28,  29,  30,  31,  32,  34,  36,  39, 
4i,  42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  47,  48,  50, 
5i,  52,  53,  54,  55,  56,  57,  60,  61, 
62,  6.3,  6s,  66,  67,  68,  69,  73,  74, 
75,  76,  77,  78,  85,  86,  87,  88,  90, 
91,  92,  93,  94,  96,  97,  102,  103, 
104,  105,  108,  109,  112,  116,  120, 
125-130,  132,  146,  149,  153,  15^, 
X57.  I59,  i6c>i  168,  170,  179,  180, 
181,  182,  188,  190,  194,  197,  198, 
200,  213,  220. 

Clan  Donald,  Chart  of  the,   26,   27. 

Clan  Ean  of  Ardnamorachin,  35,  76. 

Clan  Gregor,  (book),  94,  95,  104, 
112,  148,  180,  182,  187. 

Clan  Gregor  (MacGregors),  93,  95, 
97,  death  to  bear  the  name;  98, 
100,  101,  103;  "Chartulary,"  104 
and  note;  107,  in,  112,  119,  148, 
150,  181,  182,  187. 

Clan  Gunn,  Maclain  first,  Johnson 
later,  7. 


236 


INDEX. 


Clan  Neill,  181. 

Clanranald,  42,   47,   57,   58,   61,  65, 

67,    73,    75,    76,    77,    78,   91,    107, 
139,  151,  170,  180. 
Clanronald  Family,   (Book),   149. 
Clans    as    they    once    existed,     no 

longer  lawful,  162. 
Clans   of   the  Scottish  Highlanders, 

Maclan,  no,  228. 
Clans    of   the    Scottish    Highlands, 

Logan,  32,  87,  89,  135,  158. 
Clan   System  abolished,    174S,    200. 
Classical  Dictionary,  Lempriere,  165. 
Cochrane,   Sir  Williame,    1644,   190. 
Coilmckeane,  McKean's  Church  (St. 

Michan?),  187,  note. 
Coke  upon  Littleton,  85. 
Colla   Uais,    17,    18,   Chart   IA.,    19. 
Colrane,    Coolrane,    Coleraine,     185 

and  note. 
Commission    to    inquire    about    the 

slaughter    of    Glencoe,     136-146; 

recommendation,    142-146. 
Comyns,  32. 

Conn  Cetid-Chathach,  16. 
Conn  of  the  Hundred   Battles,    16, 

Chart  I  A.,  1 8. 
Cormac,  Chart  IA.,  19. 
Court  Hand  Restored,  Wright,  223 
Covenanters,  113,  191. 
Crests,  Fairbairn,  228. 
Cromwell's     Remembrances,      1534, 

171. 
Croniques   .    .    .   de   la   Grant    Bre- 

tagne,  de  Waurin,  164. 
Culloden  Papers,  132. 
Curse  of  Glencoe,  155. 
Curse  of  Scotland,  1 26,  note. 

Dalness,  102,  146,  161,  181. 

Dalrymple,  Master  of  Stair,  115, 
1 20,  126  and  note,  127,  128,  129, 
132,  138,  142,  143,  144,  151. 

Danish  and  Norwegian  invasions,  16. 

Debait  of  North  Inch,  167. 

Decree    of   forfeiture  against  many 


persons,  including  M^kean  alias 
Mcdonald  elder  of  Glencoe,  120- 
125- 

Description    of   Glencoe,    134,    135. 

Dictionary  of  National  Biography, 
85,  158. 

Dictionary  of  Phrase  and  Fable, 
Brewer,  23,  126  note. 

Diplom.   Regior.   Indices,  Tytler,  38. 

Domangart,  Chart  I  A.,   20,   21. 

Domesday  Studies,  Dove,  222,  note, 

Dominus  O'Cane,  1603,  185. 

Donald   Balloch's  rebellion,   39,   40. 

Donald  Brec,  Chart  I  A.,  21. 

Donald  Dhu,   or   Dubh,  60,  90,  91 
92,  93- 

Donald  Mac  Mhic  Eoin,  X.  of  Ard- 
namurchan,  killed  his  nephew; 
killed  in  his  turn,  68. 

Donald  of  the  Isles,  28,  58. 

Donald,  the  Clan,  Chart  IB.,  26,  27. 

Donald,  The  name,  213. 

Dr.  Samuel  Johnson,   1773,  200. 

Duke  of  Cumberland,  about  1813, 
201. 

Dunaverty  Castle  Rock,  Kintyre, 
25,  3i,  45- 

Dundee  (Viscount),  signature  of, 
115;  supported  by  Highlanders, 
115;  letter  mentioning  Glencoe, 
116;  decreet  of  forfeiture  against, 
120-125,  149,  153- 

Dunnyveg,  Dunyvaig,  etc.,  and  the 
Glinns,  39,  44;  Sir  John  of,  arrested 
by  Makane  of  Ardnamurchan  for 
treason,  and  hanged,  44;  46,  47, 
48,  51,  56,  60,  61,  63,  69,  75,  78, 
93,  ii2,  castle  168,  181. 

Dunyvaig   Castle,    Isla,    illus.,    168. 

Early  Ancestors,   Chart  of  the,    18. 
Early  Ancestors,  Section  I.,   15-33. 
Early  Metrical  Tales,  Laing,  38. 
Early  races  in  Scotland,   15,    16. 
Eccl.  Antiq.   Reeves,'  170  note. 
Elspeth  Ros,  Supplicaticun  of,  105, 
106. 


INDEX. 


237 


Emigration  between  1763  and  1775; 

also  between  1810  and  1850,  200. 

Emigration  of  William   McKean  of 

Argyleshire  to  Ireland  about  1674. 

197. 

Emigration   on  account  of   religion, 
78,  etc. 

Encyclopaedia    Britannica,     19,    24, 
108,  no  note. 

Ensign  of  heath,  113. 

Eochaidh,  Chart  I  A.,  20. 

Ere    or    Eric,     King    of    Dalriada, 
Chart  I  A.,  20. 

Essays  on  English  Surnames,  Low- 
er, 213,  215. 

Ethach,  Chart  I  A.,  21. 

Explanation   to   subscribers  of   Mc- 
Kean Genealogies,  v. 

Exchequer  Rolls  of  Scotland,    169. 

Fair  Maid  of  Perth,  Scott,  167. 

Farquharsons,  107. 

Fenian  exploit,  91. 

Fergus,  Chart  IA.,  20,  22. 

Fergus,  Lorn  and  Angus,  Chart  I  A., 

16. 

Finales  Concordise,  165. 
Firearms  in  use  in  the  i6th  century, 

101. 

Flodden   (Battle  of),    1513,   49,   50. 
Florencia,  of  the  Spanish  Armada, 

65  note. 

Flowers  of  the  Forest,  50. 
Fraoch,  The  Heather,     vii. 

Garb  of  Old  Gaul,  viii. 
Gauran,  Chart  I  A.,  20,  21. 
Genealogies,    McKean,    in   America, 

C.  McKean,   v,  vi,    163,  164,  202. 
Genealogy,  etc.,  of  Ancient  Scottish 

Surnames,  William  Buchanan,  35. 
Genealogy  of  the   McKean   Family 

of    Pennsylvania,  20,  185,  note. 
General  Armory,  Burke,  228. 
General  Bond,  63. 
Gentlemen  of  a  Clan,  133,  151. 


Geography  of  the  Clans,  Johnston, 

150. 

Gillebride,  Chart  I  A.,   24  and  note. 
Gilledamnan,  Chart  IA.,  24. 
Glencoe,  vii,  32,  Maclans  of,  84-163; 
John  Abrachson  of,  44,  Clan    Ian 
of,   71,    note,    MacDonalds  of,   70, 
73,  78,  84;  A  Smith  is  Laird,  84; 
clan    Ian   Abrach,  85;   not  much 
known  of  early   history,   86;   the 
lands,  86;  not  called  MacDonalds 
till    1617,    87;    Clann    Mhic   Iain 
Ghlinne  Comhann,  87;  eight  John 
Abrachs,  87;  Argyle  tries  to  evict 
the  chief,  90,  Glencoyne,  90;  sup- 
port Donald   Dhu,    90,  terror    to 
their  neighbors,  94,  97;  Glencone, 
97;  Glenko,  99;  in  the  front  line 
at  Inverlochy,    108;   probably  at 
Worcester,     109,     in,     112;     in 
government    service,     113;     156; 
mentioned    in     Dundee's    letter, 
116;  word-picture  of  Glencoe  and 
his  men,    116,    117,    in    Bond   of 
Association,  119;  decree  of  forfeit- 
ure against,  120;  Massacre  of,  125- 
132;  allegorical   representation   of 
a  Glencoe-man,    133;    Commission 
to  inquire  into  slaughter,  136-146; 
Parliament  finds  King's  instruct- 
ions no  warrant  for  the  execution 
of  the  Glencoe  men,  137,  and  that 
their  slaughter  was  a  murder,  138; 
portrait    of    John,     XIII.,     147; 
protection    given    the    clan,    146; 
relief     from     distant     isle,      146; 
changed    religion,    148;   in    rebel- 
lion of    1715,    149;  pardoned    for 
same,   150;  joined  Prince  Charles, 
1745,    150;  at   Preston-pans,    150, 
151;     refused     to     avenge     their 
wrongs  on   Stair,    151,    152;   Cul- 
loden,    152,     153,    158;  Curse    of 
Glencoe,    155;  76th    regiment    at 
Yorktown,     156;  estate    disposed 
to  trustees,    157;  conveyed  back 


238 


INDEX. 


to  next  heir,  157;  a  lady  as  head 
of  the  House,  158;  her  son  sells 
the  estate  to  Hon.  Sir  Donald 
Smith  in  1894,  158;  Major  Dun- 
can Cameron  Macdonald  is  XX. 
in  line  of  descent,  160;  passage 
of  pipers  through  the  Glen,  160, 
1 6 1 ;  monument  to  the  chief  who 
fell  in  the  massacre,  161;  present 
inhabitants  of  the  Glen,  162; 
music  of  Lament,  224-227. 

Glencoe,    Description   of,    134,    135. 

Glencoe,  Massacre  of,  Lament,  224- 
227. 

Glencoe,  Pass  of,  illus.  100,  128,  129. 

Glencoe,  Scene  of  the  massacre,  131. 

Glencoe,  Views  in,  100,  128,  129, 
131,  141,  161. 

Glengarry,  57,  58,  73,  99,  107,  in 
note,  112,  114,  115,  116,  117,  119, 
121,  124,  126,  130,  149,  150,  151, 

154,  171- 

Glenlyon,  Campbell  of,  94,  129,  130, 
145,  148,  151;  Curse  of  Glencoe, 

155- 
Glenurquhy,     Campbell     of,     Chart 

IB.,  93,  94,  179- 

Glossary,  205-212. 

Godfrey,  Chart  I  A.,  22. 

Graham,  Viscount  Dundee,  115  sig- 
nature, 116,117,120-125,  149,153. 

Grant  of  Culkabok,  171. 

Grant  of  Freuchie,  93,  94,  171,  177. 

Grameid,  heroic  poem,  Philip,   116. 

Hail  to  the  Chief,  Scott,  134. 

Hamilton,  Duke  of,  123. 

Hand  at  ye  pen,  57,   182,   188. 

Hanging  in  olden  times,  63. 

Heath,  ensign  of,  113. 

Heraldic  Notes,  228-231. 

Heralds,  Albany  and  Rothesay,  122, 
123,  125- 

Heritable  Jurisdiction  (Clan  sys- 
tem) abolished,  1748,  200. 

Highland  Clans,  Keltic,  108,  109, 
"3- 


Highlanders    and     Highland    Regi- 
ments, Stewart,  8,  113,  157. 
Highlanders     of     Scotland,     Skene, 

228. 

Highland  Host,  113. 

Highlands  of  Scotland,  Lang,  162. 

Historical  Account  of  lona,  Mac- 
lean, 79,  81. 

Historical  Notes,  Tindal,  etc.,  147, 
187. 

History  of  England,  Macaulay,  95, 
125. 

History  of  Ireland.  Keating,  Chart 
IA. 

History  of  Scotland,  Lang,  x,  44, 
46,  50,  51,  63,  87,  91,  170. 

History  of  Scotland,   Robertson,  70, 

7i- 

History  of  Scotland,  Tytler,  67. 

History  of  the  Camerons,  Macken- 
zie, 42,  45,  68,  86,  94,  112,  115, 
117,  154,  157,  168,  177,  184,  200, 

2OI. 

History  of  the  Chisholms,  1 50. 
History  of  the  Clan  MacLean,  J.  P. 

MacLean,  31,  32,  43,  47,  50,  54, 

60,  62,  66,  67,  73,  74,  79,  90,  200. 
History    of    the    Highlanders    and 

Clans,  Browne,  64,  108,  116,  150, 

151,   157,  168,   189. 
History   of   the    Highlands,    Skene, 

114. 

History   of   the    Macdonalds,    Mac- 
kenzie, 87,  151. 
History  of  the  Western  Highlands, 

Gregory,  60,  88,  102. 
Holy   Rood   of   Scotland,    55,    note. 
Horning,  or  being  put  to  the  horn, 

66  note,  180,  183. 
House     of    Stewart,     the     Clanian 

supported  the  claims  of  the,  107. 
Hundred  Battles,  Conn  of  the,   16, 

Chart  I  A.,  1 8. 
Hundred  Rolls,  166. 
Hunting  party  of  the  Earl  of  Mar, 

149. 


INDEX. 


239 


Iain   Abrach,    (Old)    John,  VII.  of 

Glencoe,  91-93. 
Iain   Fraoch,  John  of  the  Heather, 

vii,   Chart  IB.,    28,   86  and  note, 

Abrach,  87,  88,  Chart  III. 
Iain    Mhoir    Clann,    the    Isla    Mac- 

donalds,  167. 
Iain     Sprangaich,     The     Bold,    vii, 

Chart  IB.,  27,  28,  Ardnamurchan 

given  to  him,  34;  first  chief,  35; 

his  offices  and  dignities,  35. 
'ic    Iain    Aluinn,    Iain    MacDhom- 

hnuill    'ic    Iain    'ic    Dhomhnuill, 

1640?  poet   laureate   in   Scotland 

to  Charles  II.,  190. 
'ic   Iain,   Raonull   MacAilein,    1625? 

1 88. 

Ilandterrum,  179. 

Illustrated  London  News,  128,  131. 
Inquis.  ad  Cap.  Dom.  Reg.  Retorn  , 

176,  181,   183,   (Spec.),   188,   194; 
(Gen.),    189,    190,    196:  (de  Poss. 
Quin.),  198. 

Inquisitionum    in    Off.    Rot.    Cane. 

Hiberniae  asserv.  Repert.  184,  189, 

197. 
Inscription  on  house  in  Glencoe, 

148. 
Inverlochy  Castle,  illus.,  39;  108, 

177,  etc. 

lona,    32,    51,    61,    Ycolmkill,    62, 

illus.,  80;  description,  79,  81. 
Ireland,  History  of,  Keating,  Chart 

IA. 
Irish  Pedigrees,  O'Hart,  24,  213, 

215,  228. 
Islesmen  and  Islanders,  40,  50,  60, 

Insulans,  61;  67,  77,  79,  117. 
Isles,  Title  Of  the,  59,  note. 

J'ai  bonne  Esperance,  228. 

James  VI.,  King  of  Scotland,  66,  68, 

69,  189. 

Jamieson's  Dictionary,  205. 
John     Abrachson    of    Glencoe,    88, 

Chart  III. 


John  McEan,  IV.  of  Ardnamurchan, 
Chart  II.,  38-42;  in  rebellion,  39; 
at  Inverlochy,  39,  40;  rewarded 
with  lands,  41. 

John,  VIII.  of  Ardnamurchan,  62- 
66;  A  man  of  importance,  63; 
John  Mckane  to  deliver  up  host- 
ages, 63;  attempt  by  MacLeans 
to  murder  him,  63,  64;  65;  died 
about  1591,  66. 

John  Mac  Allister  Vclain,  XI.,  Ard- 
namurchan, 69-74. 

John  Mor  Tanistear,  Chart  IB.,  39. 

John  of  the  His,  utherwyis  Abroch- 
soune,  90. 

John  Og  or  Oig  Maclain,  IX.,  Ard. 
66,  67;  McAne,  66;  released  from 
the  horn,  66;  an  able  man,  67; 
witness  to  a  lease,  67 ;  surety  for 
Keppoch,  67;  murdered,  68. 

John  XV.  of  Glencoe,  154-157;  es- 
tate restored,  154;  Macian  left  an 
only  son  Alexander,  157. 

Kennedy,  Sir  John,  169. 

Kenneth   MacAlpin,   Chart  I  A.,   22. 

Keppoch,  Chart  IB.,  note  26,  45,  67, 
89,  96,  105,  107,  112,  113,  114, 
115,  119,  126,  149,  150,  151,  154. 

Killiecrankie,  Views  of,  118;  pass  of 
Gilliechrankie,  122. 

King  of  the  Isles,  23,  26. 

King  William  III.,  136. 

Kitty  of  Coleraine,  185,  note. 

Lament,  Massacre  of  Glencoe,  224- 

227. 

Landed  Gentry,  Burke,  148. 
Last  Jacobite  Rising,  150. 
Last    Macdonalds    of    Isla,    Fraser- 

Mackintosh,  35,  44,  48,  51,  56,  59 

note,  64,  66,  75,  83,  168,  178,  181, 

182. 

Law  Dictionary,  Black,  179  note. 
Lawrie     of     Maxweltoun,     Robert, 

1667,  196,  note. 


240 


INDEX. 


Legend  of  Montrose,  Scott,  95. 
Leslie,  Lt.  Gen.  David,  1649,  192. 
Letter  of  Dundee,  116. 
Letters   from   the   Mountains,    Mrs. 

Grant,  156. 

Librate  of  land,  222,  note. 
Local    titles   of   some    MacDonalds, 

214. 
Lochaber,   the   place   and   the   axe, 

Chart  IB,  note  26,  32,  39,  40,  69, 

86,   87,    112,    114,    115,    116,    126, 

I55,  175  note. 
Lochalsh    (Donald    and    Alexander 

of  the  His  of)  43,  44,  45,  50,  51,  90. 
Lochiel,  Cameron  of,  68,  184. 
Loch  Leven,  135,  136,  etc. 
Lord  of  the  Isles,  Poem,  Scott,  32, 

41,  228. 
Lords  of  the  Isles,  17,  23,  25,  28,  31, 

32,  35,  35,  39,  4*.  43,  44,  5°,  57, 

58,  59  and  note,  60,  61,  87,  90,  168, 

170,  228,  229,  230. 

MacAlpin,  Kenneth,  844-850,  Chart 

IA.,  22. 

MacAne  Abrycht,  John  Og  (i), 
VIII.  of  Glencoe,  93-96;  M^ane- 
brych  (Maclan  Abrich),  John 
Oig,  95;  mckane  of  Avricht,  Mac- 
keane  Awricht,  95,  John,  killed 
by  Stewarts,  96. 

Macayn,  Reymund,  of  Bordeaux, 
1258,  166. 

MacBeth,  81. 

Macdonald,  Archibald  Maxwell,  XIX. 
of  Glencoe,  sold  the  estate  to 
Hon.  Sir  Donald  Smith  in  1894, 
158. 

Macdonald,  Duncan  Cameron,  XX. 
in  the  line  of  descent,  1894,  a 
Major  in  the  British  Army,  159, 
1 60. 

Macdonald,  Ellen  Caroline  Mac- 
pherson,  head  of  the  House,  and 
XVIII.  of  Glencoe,  died  1887,  158. 

Macdonald,  Ewen,  XVII.  of  Glen- 
coe, 1814-1840,  157,  158. 


MucDonald  position  in  battle,  32 
152. 

MacDonalds,  viii,  24,  27;  of  Ardna- 
murchan  and  Glencoe,  28;  war 
involving  all  the  MacDonalds,  62 ; 
of  Keppoch,  67;  of  Ardnamur- 
chan  and  Glencoe,  73,  etc. 

Macdonalds'  Gathering,  224,  231. 

MacDonalds,    Local   titles   of   some, 

2\.\. 

Macdonalds,  see  also  Clan  Donald, 
(Book). 

Macdonnels  of  Antrim,  Hill,  71,  75. 

MacDougals,  Chart  IB,  note  6. 

MacEachens,   1 5th  century,   1 70. 

MacEan,  viii,  39,  75,  97,  98,  127,  etc. 

Macean  alias  Macdonald  elder  of 
Glenco,  1690,  124. 

MacEanruig  or  MacHenry  of  Glen- 
coa,  85,  87,  in,  219,  note,  224. 

MacEoin,  son  of  John;  Bissett  of 
the  Glinns,  Ireland,  1512,  170  note. 

MacEoun?  William,  Charter,  1306? 
221-223. 

Machson,  Agnes  and  Ellen,  1534, 
171. 

Miclain,  Alexander  XII.  of  Ardna- 
murchan,  a  minor,  1611,  74;  clan 
led  by  his  uncle  Donald,  74;  re- 
sists the  Campbell  clan,  75;  in 
open  rebellion,  75;  driven  to  Clan- 
ranald's  country,  76;  received 
compensation  for  his  claims,  77. 

Maclain,  Catherine,  1497,  47,  an- 
other, 1 70. 

Maclain,  Donald,  Tutor  of  Ardna- 
murchan,  74,  MacEan,  75. 

Maclain  Diiibh  Mhic  Alastair,  Al- 
laster,  of  Achtriachtan,  1611,  181. 

Maclain  Daibh,  Allan,  end  of  i6th 
cent.,  182. 

Maclain  Duy,  Allan  Dow,  Allastair, 
Angus  and  John  Og,  102. 

Maclain  'ic  Ailein,  Iain  Dubh,  1650? 

194- 

Maclain  'ic  Sheumais,  Domhnull, 
1585,  a  warrior-bard,  179. 


INDEX. 


241 


Maclain  Ic  Uisdein,   Alastair  Ban, 

1692,  198. 

Maclain,  John,  1692,  129,  130,  132. 
Maclain,  Ruairidh,  1734,  200. 
Maclain  Vic  Innes,   Alastaii,    1592, 

1 80. 
Maclan,  viii,  17,  42,  49;  the  artist, 

85,  133,  158. 

Maclan,  Alexander,  of  Glengarry, 
50;  another,  1513?  170. 

Macian  and  Macdonald,  ix.,  50. 

Maclan  Chathanaicb,  Alastair,   170. 

Maclanduy,  a  Cameron  of  Lochiel, 
1603,  184. 

Maclan,  Eachin,  167. 

Maclan  MacAlastair,  Alastair,  of 
Glengarry,  1548,  171. 

MacIan-MacDonald,  John,  XIII.  of 
Glencoe,  135;  escaped  from  the 
massacre,  132;  petition  for  re- 
dress in  property  destroyed,  139- 
142;  portrait,  147;  protection 
given  the  Chief  and  others,  146; 
changed  the  religion  of  the  Clan, 
148;  died  1714,  148. 

Macian  of  Ardnamurchan,  Alex- 
ander, 1545,  60. 

Macian  or  MacDonald,  Alexander 
XVI.  of  Glencoe,  157;  disposed 
the  estate  to  trustees,  157;  died 
1814,  157. 

Maclan's  family  piper,  MacEanruig 
or  Henderson,  in,  224. 

Maclans  of  Elanterim,  180. 

MacKains,  MacKeans,  MacTIeands 
of  Elgin,  198,  231. 

Mackan,  Rory,  Baron  of  the  Ex- 
chequer, 167. 

MacKane  of  Aruicht,  97. 

MacKann,  O'Chane,  178. 

Mackans  or  McCan's  country,  177, 
187,  note,  188. 

Mackany,  Capt.  Angus,    1665?  197. 

Mackayn,  1532,  171.  )   The  same 

Mackayne,  1532,  171.)       man. 

Mackean,  James,  Common  Council- 
lor of  Dumbarton,  1701,  198. 


Mackeane  Awricht  (Clan  Ian  of 
Glencoe),  95. 

Mackeane,  Robert,  Burgesse  of  Edin- 
burgh, 1645,  191. 

Mackeane,  Rob :  Commissioner,  Mem- 
ber of  Parliament,  etc.,  1645,  etc., 
191. 

Mackeane  Tartan,  no. 

Mackene,  John  and  Joneta,  1621, 
188. 

Mackene,  Radulphus  de,  i3th  cen- 
tury, 165. 

Mackenzie,  (yie),  43,  73,  81,  83,  114, 

1 20,  192. 

Mackeyn  of  Ardnamurchane,  Alex- 
ander, 1545,  57. 

Mackinnon,  150. 

Mackintosh,  36,  40,  113. 

Mackintoshes,  Chart  IB,  note  27;  36, 
112,  113,  114,  167. 

Mackune,  John,  1666,  197. 

MacLaurins,  88. 

MacLean  (s),  etc.,  Chart  II.,  notes 
10,  12,  etc.,  36,  38,  41,  50,  54,  57, 
58,  59,  61,  62,  63,  64,  65,  66,  67, 
68,  70,  73,  75,  79,  81,  87,  Chart 
III.,  note  15,  90,  91,  92,  102,  119, 

121,  124,  for  Mackean   147;   149, 
152,  154,  158,  168,  179,  195,  200, 
220,   note  and    see    Hist,    of    the 
Clan. 

Maclean,    MacClean,   McClane,    etc., 

from   MacGilla-Eoin,   Son   of    the 

follower  of  John,  38. 
Macleod  of  Lewis  and  Raasay,  5 1 ; 

of  Dun  vegan,  180. 
Macleod  of  Macleod,  etc.,  75,  81,  116. 
MacMillan's  Magazine,  154. 
Macpherson  (s)  83,  114,  172  note,  176 

note. 

MacQuarries,  81. 

Mageon  (McKeon?)  Eliz',  1631,  189. 
Magiane,  John  and  Nicholas,   1605, 

i  So. 

Maine,  Chart  I  A,  22. 
Makaane,  Alexander,  of  Glengarrie, 

177 


242 


INDEX. 


Makaane  de  Ardnamurchane,  1550, 
56. 

Makachane,  Thorn,  1497,  170. 

Makan,  fined  about  1230,  165. 

Makane-bayne,   Donald,   172. 

Makane-bayne,  Wil.  McPatrick,  172. 

Makane-bayne  McKey,  Duncan,  172. 

Makane-boy,  John  Mcldonich,   172. 

Makane   de   Ardnamurchane,    56. 

Makane-duffe,   Neil,    172. 

Makane,  John,  VI.,  (Macian  or 
Maclain)  1493-1518,  43-53;  per- 
haps the  greatest  of  the  clan,  43; 
children,  43,  44;  Bailie  in  Isla, 
44 ;  arrested  Sir  John  of  Dunny- 
veg,  44;  two  sons  killed  in  Ire- 
land, 46;  marriage  of  daughter 
Catherine,  46,  47;  John  intimate 
with  the  King,  47,  48;  receives 
lands,  48;  at  Flodden  49;  re- 
dress to,  50;  killed  at  Sunart,  51; 
buried  at  lona,  51;  tombstone, 

53;   170,  171- 

Makane  McDonill,  Malcolm,  172. 

Makane  McNele,  Dugall,  172. 

Makane,  Thomas,  1495,  169,  170. 

Makane  Vckvicar,   Donald,   172. 

Makane-voir  Vekeller,  Duncan,  172. 

Makayn,  Reymund,   1257,   166. 

Makayn,   1532,   171. 

Makayne,  Donald,   1594,  181. 

Makcane,  Wil.,  172. 

makeane,  alexander,  1531,  55. 

Makeane  de  Ardnamurchane,  56. 

Makeane  Maknele,  Neil,  172. 

Makean  Oig,  Alexander,   1656,   194. 

Makene,  Alanus  and  Paganus,  1 272  ? 
167. 

Makene,  James,  councillor  at  Mon- 
trose,  1592,  180. 

Makeni,  Rad'  and  Thomas  de;  and 
Cecilia,  165. 

Makeyn,  Donald,  1245?     165. 

Makeyn,  Raymond,  1249,  166;  Mak- 
eyn de  La  Ruchele,  166. 

Makin,  Richard,  wants  position  of 
"cormorant  keeper,"  1640,  189. 


Makkane  of  Ardnamurchane,  John, 
1506,  48. 

Makkany  de  Ardnamurchane,  1550, 
56. 

Makkeine,  Joneta,   1595,  181. 

Makkeine,  Willelmus,   1595,  181. 

Makkien,  Honestus  Kilianus,  (Sco- 
tus),  1615,  187. 

makmakyn  (MacMakane),  duncain , 
1478,  169. 

Manner  of  compiling,  ix. 

Manual  of  Dates,  Townsend,  95. 

Manuscript  of  Dean  Munro,  Chart 
IA.,  35- 

Map  of  Mull,  Glencoe,  etc.,  52. 

Map  of  position  of  Maclans,  Mac- 
Donalds,  etc.,  in  the  i6th  cen- 
tury, 70. 

Margaret  de  Insulis,  Chart  IB.,  171. 

Margaretta  and  David  McKean, 
1661,  196. 

Mariot  or  Mariota  Maclain,  Chart 
II.,  note  6,  51,  52. 

Marmion,  Poem,  Scott,  49,  50. 

Martial  Music  of  the  Clans,  134. 

Massacre  of  Glencoe,  125-132; 
Scene  of,  131;  Commission  to  in- 
quire into  it,  136-146;  Poetry  in 
reference  to,  196,  note;  Music  of 
Lament,  225-227. 

McAin,  Alexander  McCain,  174. 

McAin  WcConeill,  Ewin,  175. 

McAine,  Tarlach,  174. 

McAine,  Dow  WcKrenald,  Alexan- 
der, 175. 

McAine,  Inche,  William,  174. 

McAine,  VcConnell,  Donald  Roy, 
i?5- 

McAine,    VcConnell,   Angus,    175. 

McAine,   VcConnell,   Gillespik,    175. 

McAine,  VcConnell,  William,  175. 

McAine,    VcFynlay     Roy,    Johnne, 

J74- 
Me   and    O',    abolished   in    Ireland, 

1586,  178,  179. 
McAn  Dow,  Angus,  173. 
Mcaneabrych,   Allaster,    174. 


INDEX. 


243 


Mcaneabrych,  Donald  Oig,   174. 
Mcaneabrych,  John,  174. 
McAne,   Allane,    174.  . 
Mcanebrych,     Allaster,     John     and 

Donald  Oig,  95. 
McAne  de  Ardamurchane,  55. 
McAne  Ekane,  Hector,  172. 
McAne,    Ewin,  Capitane    of    Inver- 

lochy,  1576?     177. 
McAne,  Gregor,  94. 
McAne    Mclnnes,    Allaster,    174. 
M'Ane  of  Arinamurchan,  Johne,  61. 
M'Ane    Oig,    M'Inoig   and    MacEan 
Oig,  John  Og  (2),  IX.  of  Glencoe, 
96-103;     raids     against     Ogilvies 
and     Drummonds,     96,     97;  out- 
lawed   for    a    time,    97;  released 
from  the  horn,  97:   of  Glencone, 
97;  MacKaneof  Aruicht,  an  unruly 
clan,    97;   abrichis,    98;   to    com- 
pear  personally,  102. 
McAne  VcConell  VcAglassre,  John, 

174,  178. 
McCahan   bane   O'Reilie,    Mulmory, 

1609,  1 86. 

McCahane  Patrick,  1608,  186. 
McCahans  or  McCahens,   1615,   187. 
McCahin,  John,  1604,  186. 
McCain,  viii. 

McCaine  "cliens,"  Neil,   172. 
McCaine    de    Ardnamurchane,    56. 
McCaine,  Ferquhard,   172. 
McCame     ("or     McCaine"),     John, 

1557,  176. 

McCame,  Nigellus,   176. 
McCan,  Carbarie,  1612,  i85. 
McCan,  Carberie,  oge,   1610,   186. 
McCan,     Carbry,     Hugh     McBrien, 
M;Ph^li-n   and    Rory    McPatrick, 
1567,  177. 

McCan,  Donald,   1395,   167. 
McCan,  Hugh  McBryan,   1610,   186. 
M;Can,  Nsile,  1693,  185. 
M-Cin,  O'Cins,  etc.,  184. 
McCan,  Patrick,  1603,  185. 
McCan,  Rorie  McPatrick,  1610,  i£6. 


McCan,  Toole  McPhelim,   1610,  186. 
McCan's   country,    1604,    177,    187, 

note,  1 88. 
McCans,  etc.  185,  note. 

McCane, 1473,    169. 

McCane  de  Ardnamurchane,  56. 
McCane,  Donald  and  Andrew,  1481, 

83;  Fergus,  1486,  169. 
McCane,  Donnell,  1568,  177. 
McCane,  Edmund,   1608,  186. 
McCane  McComas,  Joh.,   1548,   172. 
McCane,  McTowell,  1608,  186. 
Mccane    off    Armourche,     Allexad, 

1545,  57. 
McCanes,    or     McCahans'     country, 

1615,  187,  188. 
McCane,  Owen,  1608,  186. 
McCany,  Brian,  1609,  and  Edmond, 

1608,  186. 
Mccayne,  James,  councillor  at   Mon- 

trose,  1592,  180. 
Mccean,  Ewine,  1649,  192. 
McCeane  Oig,   Allaster,    1545-1604, 

174- 
McCeane    Oig   of   Glenco,    Allaster, 

1601-11?  98,  100,  102. 
McClane,  etc.,  of  Do  ward,  50,  54,  63 

65,  68,  79,  121,  124. 
McComas,  Joh,  McCane,   1548,   172. 
McConel,  a  form  of  MacDonald,  60, 

McConnell,  78,  213  note. 
McDonald,  Alexander,  of  Glencoe, 

148. 

McEachan,  Donald,  1674,  197. 
Mcean,  Archibald,  1649,  192. 
McEan,  Dow,  Johne,  174. 
McEan,  Doy  Vclnnes  Weill,  Angus> 

175- 

McEan,  Duy  VcAllaster,  Allan,  175- 
McEan,    Duy    VcAllaster,    Allaster, 

175-  ^ 

McEan,     Duy    VcAllaster,    Donald, 

175- 
McEan,    Duy  VcAllaster,   Gillespik, 

175- 
Mcean,  Ewin,  1649,  192. 


244 


INDEX. 


Mcean,  ffindlay,  1649,  192. 
Mcean,  Finlay,  1718,  199. 
McEan,  John,  in  Balnecaird,  1591, 

179- 

Mcean,  Johne,   1649,  192. 
mcean,     Johne     Mccodachie,    1649, 

192. 

McEan,  Johnie  Dow  McConeill,  174. 
Mcean  more  Vcgovan,  Donald,  1649, 

192. 

M'Ean  of  Glenco,  132. 
McEan,  Oig,  Angus,  174. 
McEan,  Oig,  Rorie  McAlister,   1656, 

194. 

McEan,  Oyge,  Allane  Roy,   174. 
McEan,  Thomas  McConeill,  (stabler), 

174- 

McEan,  Tuich,  Johnne,   174. 
McEan  Vayne,  John,  1718,  199. 
Mcean  vc  finlay,  Donald,  1649,  192. 
Mcean  vie  illi  glas,  1649,  192. 
McEan  vie  illimartin,  Annable,  1718, 

200. 

McEanair  Vc  Allen,  Donald,  175. 
McEancheir,   100. 
McEancheir,  Johne  Oig,   174. 
McEandecheir,  Johne,  174. 
McEandoyn  Johne,  ioi,and  Johnne 

174. 

McEanduin,  Patrick,   1718,   199. 
McEans,  99,  100,  105,  106,  181,  183, 

etc. 

McEane,  Abrich,  100. 
McEane    Abrich,     Donald    McEane 

Dowe  VcAllaster,  173. 
McEane,    Allane,    174,     183;   letters 

as  rebel  suspended,  1600,  183. 
McEane  Cam,  Duncane,  99,  173. 
McEane  de  Ardnamurchane,   56. 
McEane  Dow,  Angus  Dow,   173. 
McEane  Dow,  Ewin,   173. 
McEane  Dow,  Johne  Dow,  173. 
McEane  Dowveig    Mclndulich    Bir- 

rach,  Duncane,  173. 
McEane  Dow  VcGillechonane,  Ewne, 

175 


McEane,  Dowy,  Tarloch,  174. 
McEane     Dowy      VcConill,     Johne 

Dow,  175. 
McEane  Dowy  VcGregour,   Allaster 

McCondochy,  175. 
McEane     Dowy     Vclnnes     Weill, 

Angus  Reoch,  175. 
McEane  Doy,  Donnald,  174. 
McEane  Duy  VcEwne,  Neill,  175. 
McEane  Inche,  William   Dow,    174. 
McEane  Keir,  John  Moir,  174. 
McEane,  Me  Allaster,   100. 
McEane   McCondachie   McGillebred, 

Duncan,   1571,  172. 
McEane  McConnill,  John,  172. 
McEane  McConquhy,  172. 
McEane  McCoill,  John  Doy,   172. 
McEane,      McFerquhard,       Donald, 

1545,  172. 

McEane  McFindlay  Roy,  Ewne,  174. 
McEane  McFyndlaw,  Donald  Owz.  ? 

172. 

McEane  McGilleis  Donald,  172. 
McEane  McGilleis  Joh.,   1548,   172. 
McEane  McHuchesoun,  William,  174. 
McEane  McWilliame,  John,    172. 
McEane  Oig,  Allaster,  174. 
McEane  Oig,  Rory,  174. 
McEane    Roy,    Andro,    100,    174. 
McEane    Roy,    Gillespik    McAllane, 

174- 
McEane     Roy,    Johne     Dow,    alias 

"Girls,"  99,  174. 
McEane  Roy  Veig,  Nicoll,  175. 
McEane,  Tirlogh  boy,    1604,   186. 
McEane  Tuich,  Ewne,  174. 
McEane  Vane,  John,   174. 
McEane  Vany,    Donnald   Gar,    174. 
Mceane     VcAchane,     Donald     Roy, 

174- 

McEane  VcAllane,   Alexander,    174. 
McEane    VcAllane,    Alexander   Oig, 

175- 

McEane  VcAllane,  Ronnald,  175. 
McEane  VcConill,  Donald  Moir,  175. 
McEane  VcFer  Innes,  Allaster,  174. 


INDEX. 


245 


McEane,  VcGillechonane,  100. 
MgEane  Vclnnes,  Allaster,   175. 
McEane  Vclnnes,  Angus,  175. 
McEane  Vclnnes,   Donald,    175. 
McEane  Vclnnes,  Finlay,   175. 
McEane  Vclnnes,  James,  175. 
MoEane  Vclnnes,  John,  175. 
McEane  Vclnnes,  Ronald,  175. 
McEane  VcMurchie  Glas,  John,  174. 
McEane  Virich,  Angus,  175,  184. 
McEanson,  Allan  Ranaldson,   1501? 

170. 
McEanwichts,  John  McAllaster,  174, 

'79- 
Mceanyre,    Donald    Mcewyn,    1649, 

192. 

mceayne,    Alexander,    Donald,    hec- 
tor, Johne  roy,  Jon  croy,  mcfinlay 

vie,  Wm.,  1641,  106. 
McEnn,  Oyne,  1608,  187. 
McGregour,  etc.,  97,  etc. 
Mchans,  John,  tanner,   1662,   196. 
McHean,    Alexander,    (indexed    "or 

McKeane"),  1507,  49. 
Mclaian,  Angus,  1718,  199. 
M'lan,     Robert     Ronald,     painter, 

1803-1856,  158. 
Mclnabrich,   Allane,    1 74. 
Mclnabrich,  Allane  Dow,  174. 
Mclnabrich,      Allaster      Mclndow, 

174. 

Mclnabrich,  Angus,  174. 
Mclnabrich,  Angus  Dow,  174. 
Mclnabrich,     Archibald     McConeil, 

174- 
Mclnabrich,     Archibald     Mclndow, 

174- 

Mclnabrich,  Donald  Mclndow,  174. 
Mclnabrich,  Johne,  174. 
Mclnabrich,  Johnne  Beg,  174. 
Mclnabrich,  Johne  Dow,  174. 
Mclnabrich,   Ronald,    174. 
Mclnabrich  Ronald  Dow,  174. 
Mclnoig,  Allan  Roy,  1591,  96. 
Mclntnach,  Allan  Oig,  of   Glencoe, 

1609,  98. 


Mclyn,  Edmond,  1603,  185. 
McKaane  de  Ardnamurchane,  1550, 

56. 
McKaane  McAlestar  de  Glengawrie, 

Alester,   1548,  172,   177. 
McKaine  (or  McKame),  Andreas  and 

John,  1601,  183. 

McKaine,  Glesny,  clarke,  1662,  197. 
McKainie  (McKaine  ?)  Andrew,  1644, 

190. 
McKainie  (McKaine?)  Matheus,  1644, 

190. 

McKane,  viii,  ix.,  64,  etc. 
McKane,  Allane,  of  Ilandterrim,  180 
McKane,  Allaster  and  Angus,  1588, 

64. 
McKane,     Bartholomew,    in     Aber, 

1591,  179. 
McKane    de   Ardnamurchane,   1550, 

5<5. 

McKane,  Duncan,   1468,  169. 
McKane,     Ewphame,     (Euphemia), 

1612,  187. 
McKane,  James,  councillor  at  Mon- 

trose,  1592,  180. 
mckane,  Johanes  1531,  55. 
Mckane,  John  Moir,  1587,  179. 
Mckane,   John,    of     Ardnamurchan, 

1587,  1588,  63. 
McKane,  Johnne,  of  the  Rande,  1579, 

178. 

McKane,  Matilda,   1549,   172. 
McKane,  McEwin,  Margareta  Neyn- 

thomas,  1551,  172. 
McKane  McFale,  Maria,  1545,  172. 
McKane  Murdoch,    1549,   172. 
mckane  of  Ilandterum,  allane,  1587, 

179. 
McKane,    William  McDonald,    1549, 

172. 
McKanys  (McKane,  Makane)  house, 

1494,  169. 
McKayne  de  Ardnamurchane,  1550, 

5.6-' 

McKayne,  Willelmus,   1562,  172. 
McKean,  Agnes,  1612,  187. 


246 


INDEX. 


Mckean    alias    McDonald    elder    of 

Glencoe,   1690,   121. 
McKean    Family    of    Pennsylvania, 

Genealogy  of  the,  20, 185,  note,  202. 
McKean  Genealogies  in  America,  v, 

vi.,  163,  164,  202. 
Mckean,  John,  1661,  194. 
McKean-McDonalds,   15,  etc. 
McKean,    John,    merchant,    Edinb., 

1632,   189. 
McKean,    Margaretta,    and    David, 

1661,  196. 

McKean,  pronounced  in  three  differ- 
ent ways,  viii. 
McKean,  Robert,  furrier,  and  Joneta 

his  spouse,  1638,  189. 
McKeans,  v,  ix,  x.,  17,  19  ...   164, 

196,  215-219,  etc. 
McKean,    Thomas,    of    Camsmawn, 

1701,  199. 
McKean,    Thomas,    The    Signer,    d. 

1817,  201,  202. 
McKean,  Uthred  or  Uthried,   1672, 

197- 
Mckean  vc  condachie,  Duncan,  1649, 

192. 
McKean,    William,    of    Argyleshire, 

his  emigration  to  Ireland,    1674? 

197- 
McKeand,   Gulielmus,   coppersmith, 

1686,  198. 
McKeand,    Joannes,     bailiff,     1686, 

198. 
McKeane  de  Ardnamurchane,  1550, 

56. 

McKeane,  Gilladuffe,   1603,   185. 
McKeane,    James,    merchant,    bur- 
gess of  Montrose,  1602,  184. 
McKeane,  John  McCoill,   1545,   172. 
McKeane  (Macean,  Mackean),  James, 

1644,  190. 
McKeane,  Mariota  and  Joneta,  1 627, 

1 88. 

McKeane,  Owen.  1613,  186. 
McKeane,  Shane  Crone,   1613,   186. 
McKechin  (s),  85,  99. 


McKeehan,  viii. 
McKeen,  v,  viii,  ix,  etc. 
McKeen,  Calloigh,   1608,   187. 
McKeighon,  Bollyagh,  1537,  171. 
Mckein,  James,   1661,   194. 
mckein,  Jon  and  Dauid,  1585,  179. 
McKein,    Robertus    and    Andrew, 

junior,  1628,  188. 
mckene,  alane,   1489,  169. 
McKene,    David,    in   Laicht,    1593, 

1 80. 
McKene,  James,  bailie  in  Montrose, 

1598,  183. 
McKene,     William,     councillor     in 

Montrose,  1598,  183. 
mckene,  williame,   1631,  189. 
McKeowne    William,    of   Glasgow, 

1701,  199. 

McKewne,  John,  1643,  190. 
McKeyhone,  Cosney,   1537,  171. 
McKeyne,  Shane,  1608,  186. 
McKeynie,  Coyne,  1608,  186. 
m'makane,  Johne,   1489,   169. 
McMakene,  James,  1617,  186. 
McNaughton  (s),  98,  119. 
McOnell,  a  form  of  MacDonald,  60. 
Mcorronald  of  Eyellantirrim,   1645, 

1 80. 
McVcane,     Chairles,    of     Duprene, 

1593,  1 80. 

McVurichs,  bards,  86,  91. 
McYeone,  Owen,  1612,  186. 
Mearrdha,  Chart  IA,  23. 
Mechain(McKain?)  John,  1607,  186. 
Memoirs  of  Lochiel,  Maitland  Club, 

134- 

Memoirs  of  the  Lord  Viscount  Dun- 
dee, Jenner,  148,  162. 

Memoranda  de  Parliamento,  167. 

Menzies,  Menges,  112,  113. 

Mhic-Iain  Dhuin,  Clann,  1634?  189. 

Mingarry  Castle,  45,  47,  48,  51,  56, 
65,  66,  71,  72  illus.,  73,  74,  78,  107. 

Moidart,  or  Among  the  Clanranalds, 
MacDonald,  77. 

Montrose,  107,  108,  etc. 


INDEX. 


Moore's  Poetical  Works,  lona,  81. 
Mr  Cornelius     McKean    of    Perry, 

Iowa,  v,  vii,  164,  202. 
Mulroy  or  Glenroy,  Last  great  clan 

battle,  113,  114. 
Music  of  Lament,  Massacre  of  Glen- 

coe,  224-227. 

Nemo  me  impune  lacessit,  23. 
Newspapers   and    periodicals,    160, 

161,  162. 

Nialgus,  Chart  I  A.,  23. 
Nicknames,  173. 
North  Inch,  Battle  of  the,  167. 
Notes  and  Queries,  147. 

O'Caanes,  O'Cahans,  etc.,  189. 
O'Cahan,  Brian  oge,  1608,  186. 
O'Cahan,  Cowy  McRoory,  1612, 

186. 

O'Cahan,  Dermod  oge,   1612,  186. 
O'Cahan,  Donnell,  1603,  185. 
O'Cahan,  Donogh,  1608,  186. 
O'Cahan,  Donohie,  1608,  186. 
O'Cahan,  Gorie  McShane,  1609,  186. 
O'Cahan,    Jenkin    McHugh,     1612) 

186. 

O'Cahan,  Sir  Donell,  1607,  186. 
O'Cahan  McBrian,  Cowie,  1612,  186. 
O'Cahan  McDermod,  Owen,    1612, 

1 86. 
O'Cahan    McDonell,    Roory    Duff, 

1612,  186. 
O'Cahan    McDonnell,    Brian,    1612, 

186. 
O'Cahan    McOwen,    Manus,     1612, 

186. 
O'Cahan  McSenekyn  Murrey,  Owen, 

1612,  186. 
O'Cahane,  Brian  O' Donell,  McWm., 

1607,  1 86. 

O'Cahane,  John  Shallogh,  1607,  186. 
O'Cahane,  McShane,  1607,  186. 
O'Cahane,  Quoy  McBrian  Modder, 

1607,  1 86. 
O'Cahane,  Richard  McBriane  Car- 

ragh,  1610,  186. 


O'Cahane,    Shane     Ballagh,     1607, 

1 86. 
O'Cahane  McCorbe,   Donogh,    1610, 

186. 
O'Cahane  McRichard,  Brian,   1607, 

1 86. 
O'Cahane  McRowrie,  Donogh,  1610, 

1 86. 
O'Cahane    McSwyne,    John,     1607, 

1 86. 
O'Cahane    McToole    boy,    Rowrie, 

1609,  1 86. 

O'Cahan,  The  name,  20,  215. 
O'Cahans,       O'Caanes,       O'Canes, 
O'Kanes,    etc.,    1603-1617,    etc., 
v.,  20,  164,  184-186;   185,  note. 
O'Cane,  Dominus,  1603,  185. 
O'Cane,  McCan,  etc.,  185,  note. 
O'Cane's  country,  187,  note. 
O'Cathans  or  O'Kanes,  28,  32  ... 

202,  215. 

O'Chane,   Dermond,    1608,   186. 
O'Chane,  Donell,  1608,  186. 
O'Chane,  MacKann,  178. 
Ogilvies,  38,  g6,  122. 
O'Kanes  and  O'Cahans,  1603-1617, 
184-186;  O'Canes,  O'Caanes,  etc., 
164,  185,  note. 
O'Kean,     Redmond     McMurtagh, 

1604,  1 86. 

O'Keen,  Richard,  1609,  186. 
O'Keine,  Philip,  1615,  186. 
Old    and    Rare    Scottish    Tartans, 

Stewart,  no. 
O'Neill,  40,  215. 
"O'Nell,"  Earl  of  Tyrone  178, 

O'Neill,  215. 

Origines  Parochiales  Scotia?,  28,  71. 
Ossiati,  8j,  91,  176  note. 
Other  McKeans,  vii,  164-203. 

Paper  Register  of  the  Great  Seal,  199. 
Papistry  Stormed,  poem,  Tennant, 

176. 

Pass  of  Glencoe,  illus,  128,  129. 
Passage  of  pipers  through  the  Glen, 

1895,  160,  161. 


248 


INDSX. 


Percy  Reliques  of  Ancient  Poetry, 
196,  note. 

Pictorial  History  of  Scotland,  Tay- 
lor, 38,  49,  108,  117. 

Pilgrim  of  Glencoe,  Campbell,  196, 
note. 

Pipe  Music,  (Mackay),  134,  224,  231. 

Piper,  Maclan's  family,  in,  224. 

Plaids  and  Tartans,  109-111,  114, 
193,  200. 

Popish  Families  of  Scotland,  147. 

Postscript  and  Acknowledgments, 
232. 

Prince  Harye  ye  Acht,  57. 

Process  in  making  a  spuilyie,  101. 

Proelium  Gillecrankianum,  Latin 
poem,  Kennedy,  117. 

Queen  Mary,  51,  55,  171. 

Queen  Elizabeth  and  Ireland,  66,  78. 

Ranald  of  the  Shield,  109,  132,  153 
Ranald,  See  Clanranald. 
Ranald,  The  name,  214. 
Rebellion  of  Donald,   Lord   of  the 

Isles,  36. 

Rebellion  of  1715,  149,  150. 
Record  Interpreter,  Martin,  223. 
Records  of  Argyll,  Campbell,    in, 

112,  158,  196,  note. 
Reginald,  Chart  IB,  note  6,  27,  28; 

seal  29,  30. 
Register  of  Decreet  of  Council  and 

Session,  61,  note. 
Register  of  the  Great  Seal  of  the 

Kings  of  Scotland,  171,  177,  220. 
Register   of  the   Privy   Council   of 

Scotland,  63,  65,  66,  67,  73,    94, 

95)  97,  98-101,  172,  178,  179,  180, 

181,  183. 

Register  of  the  Privy  Seal,  74. 
Registrum  Palatinum  Dunelmense, 

223. 

Registrum  Secreti  Sigilli,  147. 
Religion  and  politics,  92,  148,  191, 

197,  i98,  199. 


Repressing  of  the   clan   of  Mcean, 

107. 
Repressing  the    barbarous    race    of 

.   .   .   clandonald,  107. 
Robert  Bruce,   31,   32,   34,   35,   86, 

221,  222. 

Robertson  of  Strowan,  Struan,  etc., 

44,  Chart  II.,  55,  99,  119,  120,  184. 
Robin  and  Makyne,  196,  note. 
Rob  Roy  and  his  Times,  Macleay, 

78,  95,  103,  197. 
Rob  Roy,  Scott,  155. 
Roll  of  Chiefs,  63. 
Roll  of  Clans,  63,  95. 
Rotuli  Litterarum  Clausarum,   223. 
Royal    Letters,     Henry    VII,     48; 

Henry  III,  166. 
Ruined  keep  of  Ardthornish  Castle, 

41,  illus. 

Saint  Andrew,  Patron  of  Scotland, 

Church  of,  22,  176,  177,  187. 
Saint  Patrick,  20,  228,  note. 
Saint  Regulus  or  Rule,  22. 
Scene  of  the  Massacre  of  Glencoe 

illus.,  156. 

Scotland  called  Alba  and  Scotia,  16. 
Scotland,   Historic  and   Romantic, 

Lansdale   22,    40,  illus.,  55   note; 

104  note;  161  illus. 
Scotland,  The  Thistle  of,  22,  23  and 

note. 

Scots,  Albans  and  Britons,  19  note. 
Scots    in      Eastern    and     Western 

Prussia,  Th.  A.  Fischer,  187. 
Scots  of  Dalriada,  16,  17,  Chart  I  A., 

19- 

Scots  whaha'e  wi'  Wallace  bled,  31. 

Scottish  Clans  and  Tartans,  John- 
ston's, no. 

Scottish  Gael,  Logan,  1 1 1 . 

Scott,  Sir  Walter  and  physician,  50. 

Scotts'  Poetical  Works,  32,  41,  49, 
50,  230. 

Seal  of  Angus  Mor  of  Isla,  33. 

Seal  (Galley)  of  Ardnamurchan,  34. 


INDEX. 


249 


Seal  of  Reginald,  29,  30 
Sept,  Definition  of,  71,  note. 
Signature  of  Alexander  Macdonald 

of  Glencoe,  r2o. 
Signatures  of  Dundee,   Argyll  and 

Dalrymple,  1689,  115. 
Sketch  of  the  Highlanders,  Stewart, 

151- 
Sketch-map   of    railroad    to   Oban, 

etc.,  136. 
Sleat,  Slate,  etc.,  26,  27*,  41,  42,  60, 

62,  78,  86  note,  in  note,  112,  120, 

156,  197- 
Smith,  Hon.  Sir  Donald,  proprietor 

of  Glencoe  since    1894,   84,    135 

158,  161,  162. 
Solaim,  Chart  IA.,  24. 
Somerled,  founder  of  the  Family  of 

the  Isles,  Chart  IA.,  24,  25,  Chart 

IB.,  and  note  3;  26,  28. 
Songs,  Ballads,  etc.,  mentioned. 

Annie  Laurie,  196,  note. 

Battle  of  Harlaw,  38. 

Bonnie  Charlie's  gone  awa',  153. 

Blue   Bonnets  over  the   Border, 
109. 

Bruce's  Address,  31. 

Campbells  are  Coming,  149. 

Flowers  of  the  Forest,  50. 

Garb  of  Old  Gaul,  viii. 

Hail  to  the  Chief,  134. 

Kitty  of  Coleraine,  185,  note. 

Macdonalds'  Gathering,  224. 

Wives  of  Glencona,  134. 
Sons  of  John  ?.   .   .   203,  215-220. 
Spanish  marines,  A  hundred,  65  and 

note. 

Spuilyie,  process  in  making,  101. 
State  Papers,  60. 
Stewart  (s),  85,  88,  Chart  III.,  90, 95, 

97,  102,   104,  107,   117,   119,   121, 

124,  148,  151,  224. 
Stewarts    of    Appin,    Book,    Chart 

III.,  90,  91,  92,  96,  108,  148,  149, 

151,  156. 
Stories    of    Famous    Songs,    Fitz- 

Gerald,  196,  note. 


Suibne,  Chart  IA,  23. 

Supplication    of   the    Glencoe-men 

for  redress  for  plundering   their 

cattle  and  burning  their  houses, 

138,  139,  146. 
Supplication  of  Thomas  McKeinzie, 

1649,  192-194. 
Supplicatioun  of  Elspeth  Ros.,  105, 

106. 

Tales  of  a  Grandfather,  Scott,  114, 

148,  149,  150,  155. 
Tanistrie,  179,  note. 
Tantallon  Castle,  40,  illus.,  41. 
Tartan,  Mackeane,  no. 
Tartans   and   Plaids,    109-11,    114, 

193,  200. 
Tartans  of  the  Clans  of  Scotland, 

Grant,  108,  117. 
The  Great  Marquess,  Book,  76. 
The  name  Donald,  213. 
The   name     McKean,   vii-ix;     203; 

215-220. 

The  name  O'Cahan,  215. 
The  name  Ranald,  214. 
The  two  lains  or  Johns,  vii.,  17, 

Chart  IB,  28,  33. 

Thistle  of  Scotland,  22,  23  and  note. 
Three  Collas,  Chart  I  A,  19. 
Title  "of  the  Isles."  59  and  note. 
Tombstones,  Angus  Og  of  Isla,  33; 

Maciain,  53;  the  last  Maciains  of 

Ardnamurchan,  82;  Macdonald  of 

Glencoe,  Monument,  161. 
Toshach   of  the    Isles,    Chart    IA., 

22,  and  note. 

Tour  of  the  Hebrides,  Boswell,  200. 
Tripartite  Life  of  St.  Patrick,  20. 
Trophies  of  weapons,  etc.,   15,  84, 

164. 
Trow's  Directory  Library,   203. 

Uais,    Colla,    4th   century,    16,    17, 

Chart  I  A.,  19,  20. 
Una  Maciain,  1585,  62. 
Unruly  Clan,  MacKane  of  Aruicht, 

97- 


250 


INDEX. 


Uthred  or  Uthried  McKean,  1672, 
197- 

VcAchanes,  99. 

VcAine,   Donald  McConeill,    175. 

VcAine    Vane,    John    McFarquhar 

Doy,   174. 

VcAyne,  Johnne  McGillandris,  175. 
vcean     angus,     Johne     McDonald, 

1649,  192. 
VcEan     or    VcEane,    Donald     Mc- 

Allane,  1616,  188. 
v^ean,  Donald  Mcean,  1661,  196. 
ycean,  Dougall  Mccoill,  1649,  192. 
VcEan  or  VcEane,  John  and  Rorie, 

1616,  188. 

vcean,  Johne  Mcdonald,  1649,  192. 
v^ean  vcewin,   Alaster  McWilliam, 

1649,  192. 
VcEane,    Allaster    Dow    McAllane, 

175- 

VcEane,  Angus  Oig  Mclnnes  Vc- 
Martine,  175. 

VcEane,  Johnne  McFatrik,  97,  175. 

VcEane,  Johnne  Moir  McAllane,  175. 

VcEane,  Johnne  Oig  McAllane,  175. 

VcEane  Vane,  Gilliechallum  Mc- 
Farquhar Doy,  174. 

VcEane  VcMartine,  Donald  Our 
Vclnnis,  175. 

VcEane  VcMartine,  Donald  Roy 
McAngus,  175. 

VcEane  VcMartine,  Duncan  Mc- 
Angus, 175. 

VcEane  VcMartyne,  Donald  Dow 
McConeill,  175. 

VcGregour,  McEane,  101. 

Vclain    of   Ardnamurchan,    Alexa- 

ander   MacDonald   57;  leader   of 

the    Clan,     57;  supported    Clan- 

'  ranald,  57;  fought  at  Blar  Leine 

57;  Mackeyn  of  Ardnamurchane, 


57;  Macian  of  Ardnamurchan,  57; 

in   Donald   Dubh's  rebellion,   60; 

Councillor  and  Commissioner,  60, 

61. 
Vclain,    John    MacAllister,   XI.,   of 

Ardnamurchan,     69 ;     succession 

disputed  by  Argyle,  69,  74. 
Vestiarum     Scotiorum,     Urquhart, 

1 10. 

vie  can,  Donald  M^angus,  1661,  195. 
vie  can,  Don.  M^ilespick,  1718,  199. 
VicEan  Duibh,  Maclnnes,  1659? 

J94- 
viceanduy,  Rory  McOil,   1718,   199, 

200. 
viceanvic  uinlay,  John  McOil,  1718, 

200. 

vie  can  vuy,  Don,  McCoil,  1718,  199. 
VicEane  de  Ellantirrin,  180. 
Viceane,    Joannes     McDonald    Mc- 
Allane, capitanus  de  Clanronald, 

1627,  1 80. 

vie  eayne,  mcfinlay,  106. 
viclain,     Ronald      McConnald,     of 

Hand,  1597,  182. 
viclain  Chittach,  Alester  and  Angus, 

1580,  178. 

VicKeanne  of  Ilandtirme,  180. 
Views  in  Glencoe,  100,  128,  129,  131, 

141,  161. 
Virich,  McEane,  184. 

West  of  Scotland  in  History,  Irving, 

98. 
What  is  my  Tartan?     Frank  Adam, 

71,  note,  no  note,  200,  228. 
Widow    of    Glencoe,   Aytoun,    196, 

note. 

William  and  Mary,  119,  125,  126. 
Wine  for  the  army,  166. 
Wood  row's  MSS.,    113. 


CS  McKean,  Frederick  George 

479  (comp.) 

M23         McKean  historical  notes 

1906 


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