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1540, and upon the ground that Ean Moydartach's infeftments were obtained ex sinistra unjusta informatione.* The Clanranald champion, in reply, admits the charge made by his opponent, and says that "he (Ranald) took out a charter of the lands of Arisaig and Moydart on the 14th December 1540. This charter undoubtedly recals a charter granted to John of Moydart in 1531, of the same lands, which I have no hesitation in stating was improperly obtained." The words of the precept, dated the 13th of December 1540, the day before the date of the charter itself, in favour of Ranald Gallda, are, revocat, cassat, annullat, et exonerat, cartam et infeofamentum per ipsum per sinistrum informationem in nostra minori ætate Johanni Mac Alestir, de predictis terris. Confectam et concessam." The charter itself is almost in the same words.

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There is a summons of treason against several Highland chiefs, dated 26th of April 1531, and "Johanne Mordordache de Ellanthorym, Capitaneo de Clanronald," is among the number. No serious steps appear to have been taken against him in consequence, for it is only ten months after, on the 11th of February in the same year, that he obtained the charter already quoted.+ The author of the History of Clanranald informs us that, not appearing in answer to the summons on the 26th of April, the day appointed, it was continued till the 28th, and on that day it was again continued till the 26th of May. "Further procedure appears to have been dropped against him, most probably owing to his being reconciled to the King; for, having married Margaret MacKeane, a daughter of Macdonald of Ardnamurchan, he, in July 1534, obtained from the Crown a charter of the lands of Kildonan, Moy, and others in favour of himself and his spouse." The Kildonan named was in the Island of Egg. The same writer says of the Precept of the lands in favour of Ranald,above quoted, that John "had no opportunity of showing that he had a lawful title to the lands, the King having at once reduced his charter, without any legal steps whatever; and the consequence was that John resolved to maintain his title, and he actually did so in face of all opposition. The injustice done him he severely felt, and this feeling seems to have actuated him in almost every action of his life, for at no period does he ever seem to have been thoroughly reconciled to the King, or rulers of the kingdom; and the battle of Blarleine, and consequent possession of immense estates and power enabled him, upon every occasion, to distress and harrass the Government,"

He is soon again engaged with the neighbouring clans, particularly the Frasers and Mackintoshes. "The battle of Blarleine had not been forgotten by Lovat, and he and Mackintosh took every opportunity of distressing him the Earl of Sutherland, too, prompted perhaps by the wish of sharing a part of John's inheritance, was an active but secret instigator of all disputes-and the consequence was that a warfare was constantly carried on. In this John was supported by the whole of his clan, particularly Glengarry, and the Lairds of Knoydart and Morour. The irresolute conduct of the Regent of the Kingdom, and the universal sway which the Earl of Huntly, then Lieutenant of the North, had over the

Glengarry and Clanranald Controversy, pp. 68-69.

The year in those days began on the 25th of March, not on the 1st of January as at present, so that February is later in the year than April,

Reg. Mag. Sig., Lib. 25, No. 141.

neighbourhood, contributed in no small degree to keep alive the animosity which then existed. Huntly's ambition was unbounded; his lands marched with those of the Clanranald in several parts, and could he have succeeded in reducing their power, there is little doubt but he would have reaped the whole benefit of the enterprise. Inroads were mutually made, and with various success, till the year 1554, when the Regent having resigned the government of the kingdom into the Queen Dowager's hands, and peace being for a time settled with the English, the Queen Regent and governor set about the internal settlement of the kingdom. Huntly was active in representing the conduct of John in its most unfavourable light, and he was at last despatched to bring him to the Queen Regent. He collected his own clan, the Gordons, as well as the Frasers and Mackintoshes, and marched forward to Moydart, into which he partly pene trated. John, in the meantime, was not inactive; he summoned the clan, and opposed Huntly with such a force as completely intimidated him. No action of any importance was fought, as it was alleged by Huntly that the Clan Chattan raised a tumult in the camp, which compelled him to retire. Be this as it may, Huntly, having completely failed in the enterprise, was committed to the Castle of Edinburgh, and was severely attacked by his enemies; who averred that the failure originated, not in the behaviour of the Clan Chattan, but in Huntly himself having a dislike to Mackintosh, the chief of that clan. When it is considered that Huntly was at this time one of the most powerful noblemen in the kingdom, and that his strength lay in the very neighbourhood, it can hardly be supposed that the defection of the Clan Chattan would have compelled him to retire; and when, again, it is observed that Huntly at all times had a dislike to the Clanranald, and that the recent battle of Blairleine must have tended to strengthen that dislike, it is far less to be supposed that he would have favoured their cause. The more natural supposition is, that he saw the strength of John was such as to give him little chance of success, and he threw the blame of the defeat upon the Clan Chattan, while his enemies averred that he had acted disloyally.

"This enterprise having completely failed, the Queen Regent was extremely indignant; she shortly afterwards proceeded to Inverness, and held assizes, to which she summoned John, and the heads of those collateral branches of the clan who supported him; but they refused to obey the summons, unless assured of their safety. John Stewart, Earl of Atholl, was despatched against them in July 1555. Atholl was rather favourably inclined towards the Clanranald, and promised pardon and protection to them. John was induced to go to Inverness with several of his sons; he had been but a short time there when, fearing treachery, he made his escape and returned to Castletirrim. On his way he was attacked by Mackintosh and the Clan Chattan, whom he beat off; but having but few followers, he could not attempt any retaliation upon them, He very shortly afterwards became reconciled to the Queen Regent, and returned to Inverness. While there he became acquainted with Penelope, second daughter of Sir Charles Erskine, who was third son of Alexander, Viscount Fenton, and (his former wife, Mariatte M'Kane, being dead) married her in the year 1555."*

History of the Family, 1819, pp. 101-103,

In 1547 John was commanded, among other Highland chiefs, to assemble at Fallow Muir to resist the English, who came to enforce the performance of a treaty of marriage which had previously been entered into for the marriage of Queen Mary with the heir to the English crown. John not only refused to go, but prevented all his retainers from doing so; and his influence was sufficient among the clan to induce the other leading chiefs and their followers to do the same. After the battle of Blarleine, to which we have already referred, the Earl of Huntly returned North with a strong force, when he laid a great part of the country waste, and apprehended many of the principal leaders of the clans, some of whom he put to death. Among the latter were Ewin Allanson of Lochiel and Ranald Macdonald, son of Donald Glas of Keppoch, who were tried for high treason, for the part they had taken at the battle of Blarleine and in the rebellions of the Earl of Lennox. These were tried by a jury of landed gentlemen, found guilty, for a short time imprisoned in the Castle of Ruthven, and then beheaded. Their heads were exposed over the gates of the town of Elgin. Many of the others apprehended at the same time were ignominiously hanged. John Moydartach does not appear on this occasion to have opposed Huntly, but is said to have taken shelter in the Isles, from which he returned as soon as the Earl of Huntly left the North, and retaliated on Huntly's neighbouring property and friends, by plundering and wasting their territories.

At Inverness, on the 24th of August 1552, we find a Commission, under the great seal, granted by Mary Queen of Scots, with the advice of James, Duke of Chatelherault, Earl of Arran, and Lord Hamilton, Protector and Governor of the Kingdom, to Archibald, Earl of Argyll, Lord Campbell and Lorn, and Justice General of Scotland, which proceeds, "that notwithstanding the said Governor has remained for a long time dispensing justice in the Burgh of Inverness, the Clanranald nevertheless refused obedience to Her Majesty's authority and laws, with the other subjects of the kingdom; wherefore Her Majesty gives full power to the said Earl of Argyll to assemble his friends and vassals, and with them go to Clanranald, and to pursue them with fire and sword, and within whatever islands they may seek refuge, for their disobedience, depredations, and murders."* Queen Mary of Guise, at this time in France, soon after came to Scotland, succeeded Arran as Protector, and became vested with full authority. She immediately ordered Huntly north with another expedition for the express purpose of apprehending the Captain of Clanranald, and putting an end to his violent proceedings.

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In June 1554 the Earls of Huntly and Argyll were ordered to proceed, by sea and land, to the utter extermination of the Clanranald,” and others who had failed to give hostages for their good conduct. Argyll proceeded to the Isles, while Huntly with a large force, composed of Lowlanders and Highlanders, proceeded to attack Clanranald. Both failed in the object of their expedition, Huntly, because the Highlanders were so much exasperated against Huntly for his execution of William Mackintosh of Mackintosh in 1550, that the Earl declined to face Clanranald by such an army, after which he disbanded his forces and returned home. He was, in consequence, committed to the prison of Edinburgh

* Invernessiana, p. 223.

by the Regent, and did not obtain his liberty until he had renounced, among other lucrative grants which he had recently acquired, the Earldoms of Mar and Moray, and the gift of the ward and marriage of Mary Macleod, heiress of Harris, Dunvegan, and Glenelg; while he became bound to banish himself to France for five years; but this latter condition was removed on payment to the Regent of a sum of £5000.

In 1548 the Highlanders, who refused to assemble at Fallow Muir, and who still remained outlaws, seem to have been pardoned in consequence of the disastrous results of the battle of Pinky, on more favourable terms than they could reasonably have expected in the circumstances. John Moydartach shared in this clemency. We find a respite, dated 26th of August 1548, in favour of " Jhone Muyduart MacAlester, Caiptane of Clanranald; Angus MacAlester, his brother; Rorye MacAlester, Allane MacAlester, sons to Jhone Muyduart; Alester MacAne vic Alester of Glengarie ; Alester MacDowell vic Rynnell; Angus MacAngus Moir; Angus MacAllane vic Ranald of Knowdwart; Allane Owge MacAlester vic Allane; Alester MacDonald vic Ane of Ardmowache; Angus MacAlester vic Angus; Donald MacAlester vic Kane; Allane MacPersone vic Alester ; Donald Moir MacAne vic Illane, for yr treasonable remaining and abyding at hame fra our Soverane Ladyis oist and army, devisit and ordanit to convene upon Falaw-mure, ye last day of August ye zeir of God Jm, Vc., xlvii. [1547] zers for resisting of the Protector of Ingland and his army, yam beand wt'in yis realme for destruction of ye lieges yrof, and for the slauchter of ye Lord Lovet and his complices at [Blarleine] ye yier of God Jm. Vc. forty [four] zeris; and for all actions, &c., and for xix. zers to endure. At Musselburgh, ye xxvi. day of August, the zere of God Jm. Vc. xlviii. zeris. Per signaturam."* In spite of the leniency displayed towards him on this occasion, John could not give up his habits of war and pillage. He had little faith in the Government, and he probably thought it much safer for himself and his clan, in their almost inaccessible wilds, to resist a power which he could not help seeing was, at this period, fast falling into decay.

Gregory, describing the Earl of Athole's expedition to the North in 1555, says that Athole succeeded so well with John, Captain of Clanranald, "that he prevailed upon that restless chief, with two of his sons, and certain of his kinsmen, to come before the Regent, and submit themselves to her clemency. Mary of Guise, pleased with their submission, pardoned them their past offences; but ordered them, in the meantime, to remain, some at Perth, and others at the Castle of Methven, till her will should be further declared to them. After remaining, however, in these places for a short time, the Highlanders made their escape to their native mountains; giving the Regent a lesson, as a Scottish annalist [Balfour] quaintly observes, to hold the fox better by the ear while she had him in her hands.' This result of her mistaken lenity roused the Regent to greater exertions, and determined her to proceed next year in person to the North, to hold Justice Courts for the punishment of great offenders, and thus to prevent misrule in time coming. Accordingly, in the month of July 1556, Mary of Guise arrived at Inverness, accompanied by the Earls of Huntly, Argyll, Athole, and Marischall, and the Bishops

* Privy Seal, vol. xxii., folio 27.

of Ross and Orkney, with others of the Privy Council. Here Courts were held, and offenders were visited with the most severe punishment— the chiefs of clans being obliged to apprehend and present to justice the criminals of their own tribes, according to the wise regulations by James. V., which, during the late wars, had fallen into desuetude. As John Moydartach is not mentioned at all by Lesley in his account of this progress of the Queen Regent to the North, it seems probable that this archrebel had escaped the punishment which awaited him by lying to the more remote Isles."*

When Queen Mary visited Inverness in September 1562, and was denied access to the Castle, John, Captain of Clanranald, made his appearance with a numerous retinue, and was among the foremost, with the Mackintoshes, Frasers, and Munroes, to protect the Queen, whom he accompanied for some distance on her return journey; and he appears to have continued firm in his loyalty during the remainder of his life. In 1566 he obtained a remission for past offences for himself, his sons, and all those who had taken part in his rebellious proceedings, dated 3d of March, as follows:-" Preceptum remissionis Johannis MacAlister, alias Moydart, Capitanei de Clanranald; Allan MacAne Vic Alestar, ejus filii; Johannis Oig MacAne Vic Alestair, etiam ejus filii; Rorie MacAne Vic Alestar, etiam sui filii; Angusii MacAne Vic Alestar, etiam filii dicti Johannis; Donaldi Gorme MacAne Vic Alester, etiam sui filii; Alani MacCawell Vic Rannald de Moroure, Angusii MacAllane Mac Rannald de Knoydert, Angusii Mac Alestar Vic Ane de Glengary Rorie, ejus fratris ; Gorie, ejus fratris; Alane, etiam sui fratris ; et Johannis Mac Condochie Cowill, pro ipsorum proditoria, remanentia, et domi existentia, ab exercitu apud Falew Muir, et ab hinc ad Maxwell Heuch migratione; pro resistentia antiquorum inimicorum Anglie, in mense Octobris anno domino millesimo quingentesimo quartuagestimo septimo, convenire ordinat; nec non ab omnibus aliis actionibus criminibus, transgressionibus, et offensionibus, per ipsos vel eorum aliquem, aliquibus temporibus preteritis preceden. diem date presentiam commiss. et perpetrat. Apud Edinburgh, tertio die mensis Marcij, anno Domini prescript. (1566) per signetum."+

The following concise statement corroborates the authorities already quoted:-In 1532 King James V. granted a charter of legitimation in favour of John Makalester of Castletirrim, the son of the deceased Alexander M'Alane of Castletirrim, and in the same year, for the good service done and to be done by him, and seeing that the charters granted to his predecessors had been destroyed through war and other local disturbances, granted anew to him and to his heirs the 27 mark lands of Moydart, the 30 mark lands of Arisaik, and other lands in the Sheriffdom of Inverness, which of old belonged in heritage to Allan Makrory, the grandfather of John Makalestar of Castletirrim, and to his predecessors, and now to be held of the King in fee for service of ward, relief, and marriage, provided that John Makalester and his heirs should not do homage to any person without the special licence of the King. In 1534 John M'Allaster Vic Allan, captain of the Clanranald, granted to Archibald, Earl of Argyll, the two Kinluthes, Aernie, Glenalladill, Blyng, and Shenan, together of the old extent of 10 marks, in the barony of Moydart. In the same year

* Highlands and Isles, pp. 185-186.

+ Privy Seal, vol. xxxv., folio 10.

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