THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. Conducted by ALEXANDER MACKENZIE, F.S.A. Scot. XVII. JOHN MACDONALD, tenth of Clanranald, in 1622-23, entered into a contract of fidelity with Donald MacAngus of Glengarry, in which he is described as "John Moydart, captain of Clanranald," and by which they mutually bind and oblige each other, their servants, and tenants, to assist and concur with one another against all mortal enemies. In 1625 he entered into an agreement with Sir Donald Mackay of Strathnaver, by which he resigned in favour of Mackay the superiority of the lands of Arasaig and Moydart, obtaining a feu-charter of them on the 7th of April, in the same year, in his own favour. This charter was confirmed by the Crown on the 22d of February 1627. On the 1st of August in the latter year, Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat granted him a precept of clare constat of the lands of Skirrough, Benbecula, and Gartgimines, of which Sir Donald, by charter from the Crown, obtained the superiority in 1614, while Sir Donald of Clanranald was under attainder, as already stated. On the precept of 1614 infeftment followed on the 1st and 2d of March 1629. On the 18th of September 1627, he was served heir in special to his father in the 21 merk lands of Eigg, which are "ex antiquo quondam Joanni M'Allister avo dict. quondam Domini Donaldi M'Allane, hæredibus suis et assignatis hæreditarie datas concessas et depositas;" and the other lands which had been erected into the Barony of Castletirrim by charter in favour of his father in 1610. On this retour a precept from Chancery was obtained; and infeftment followed on the 3d of March 1629. On the 13th of May 1630 he was served heir in general to Allan, his grandfather, and to his great-grandfather, John Moydartach. Having made up titles, he made an assedation of the lands of Dalilea, Langal, and others, to John Ranaldson, parson of Islandfinnan, in life-rent, after whose death to Allan M'Ranaldson, his brother's son, also in life-rent, and on the death of Allan to his son for a term of nineteen years. Infeftment duly followed. In 1629 John "resigned the lands of Moydart and Arisaig into the hands of Sir Donald McDonald of Sleat, who had acquired rights from Sir Donald McKay to the direct superiority, and they after wards granted a charter of them to Lord Lorn, in whose person a second intermediate superiority vested; and in this way the family of Argyll were, till lately, in possession of the superiority of a considerable part of the Clanranald estate."* This charter is dated 18th December 1633, and 1st of April 1634. On the same date Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat, with Clanranald's consent, executed a charter of the lands of Skirrough in favour of Lord Lorn, to be held of Sir Donald. About this period the Mackenzies of Kintail appear to have obtained possession of the superiority; for we find that "in 1633 George Mackenzie was served heir to his brother Colin Earl of Seafort, Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, in the 27 mark lands of Moydart and the 24 mark lands of Arrasack."* John took a prominent part in the wars of Montrose already described under the FAMILIES of SLEAT and GLENGARRY. Clanranald joined the famous Montrose and General Alexander Macdonald, son of Colla Ciotach, at Inverlochy, in 1645, and took a distinguished part in all the victories of the campaign. Clanranald soon after, his number of troops being small, returned to his own country to raise his followers, when he found the garrison of Mingarry had been attacked by the Earl of Argyll. He immediately went to its relief, defeated the Earl, reinforced the garrison, laid waste the whole of Suinart and Ardnamurchan, and returned to Castletirrim, where he found General Alexander Macdonald, who had in the meantime heard of the distress of his friends at Mingarry, and hastened to their relief. Finding his services unnecessary in consequence of Clanranald's action, he halted at Castletirrim, where he was introduced to Donald, Clanranald's eldest son, "a young man of great resolution and bravery," to whom he gave a command in his army. From thence they proceeded to Arasaig and Moydart, where they were joined by Donald Gorm, first of Scotus, and uncle of Glengarry, and raised all the men of Moydart and Glengarry. Proceeding to Lochaber, they were there joined by Donald Glas of Keppoch, with the men of the Braes of Lochaber, the Stewarts of Appin, the Lairds of Glencoe and Glen Nevis, and a considerable body of the Camerons. This body, soon after, met Montrose at Blair-Athol, whither they had marched. 66 Here a council of war was held, immediately on the arrival of the Highlanders, to fix upon their winter quarters, as the severe weather was fast approaching. Montrose recommended a descent on the Lowlands, but the Highlanders preferred a raid to Argyleshire, to revenge themselves on their enemy, Gillespie Gruamach.” Montrose expressed doubt at their being a sufficient supply of food for such an army to pass them over the winter procurable in the county, when Angus MacAlein Duibh, a distinguished soldier and marksman from Glencoe, replied, "There is not a farm, or half a farm, under MacCailein, but what I know every foot of it; and if good water, tight houses, and fat cows will do for you, there is plenty to be had." They immediately marched, the various chiefs acting independently of Montrose, to a considerable extent, in their cattlelifting excursions, on their way to Argyle. "John of Moidart and the Clanranald, with some of the Keppoch men, were the most active on these detours from the line of march; and upon one occasion they returned to the camp with 1000 head of cattle." They were soon marching * History of the Family, 1819, p. 119. Origines Parochiales Scotiæ, vol. ii., p. 203. on Inveraray, where Argyll was, at the time making arrangements for a meeting of his retainers, whom he called together. He declared that he would rather lose a hundred thousand crowns than that any mortal should know the passes by which an armed force could penetrate his county, even in the middle of summer. The month of December was now far advanced, and to his utter amazement and terror the herds and shepherds rushed from the mountain pastures with the astounding intelligence that Montrose and the Highlanders were within a few miles of the Castle of Inveraray. The Earl immediately escaped to sea by a fishing boat, leaving his friends and the whole county to the mercy of the enemy. The town of Inveraray was burnt to ashes. The army marched in three divisions, one under Montrose himself, one under Alexander Macdonald, his Lieut.General, and the third under Clanranald. "Thus he traversed, by separate routes, the whole district; which was wasted-even as Argyll had wasted Athole and the Braes of Angus, and burnt the Bonny house of Airlie.' The clans laid the whole face of the country in ashes, killing all whom they met marching to Inveraray (amounting, it is said, to 895 men-atarms), sweeping off its flocks and herds from every valley, glen, and mountain that owned the sway of MacCailinmor."* A contemporary writer states that the Highlanders plundered and destroyed wherever they came, and "spared none that were fit to carry arms, and, in particular, they put to the sword all the men whom they met going in arms to the rendezvous appointed by Argyll; nor did they desist till they had driven all the men who were fit for service out of the country, or at least obliged them to retire to lurking holes known to none but themselves. They drove all their cattle, and burnt their villages and cottages to the ground; thus retaliating upon Argyll the treatment he had given to others, he himself being the first who had practised this cruel method of waging war against the innocent country people, by fire and devastation. Nor did they deal more gently with the people of Lorn, and the neighbouring parts who acknowledged Argyll's authority."+ This expedition must have been of an atrocious character. Another contemporary writer informs us that they burnt and slew throughout the whole country, "and left no house or hold, except impregnable strengths, unburnt, their corns, goods, and gear, and left not a four-footed beast in his [Argyll's] haill lands; and such as would not drive, they houghed and slew, that they should never make stead." The Clanranald and Athole men returned home with the booty from Argyle, promising to return to Montrose whenever they were called upon to do so. We again find them, soon after, on the 2d of February 1645, taking a prominent part in the battle of Inverlochy, where, according to the last quoted authority, "the Captain of Clanranald, Maclean, and Glengarie was in the middle," round the Royal Standard, under the immediate command of Montrose himself, who commanded the centre. They took a distinguished share in the battle at Auldearn, victoriously fought on the 9th of May 1645, where "the brave, hardy Clan Macdonald, and the equally brave and hardy Clanranalds, all fought like true heroes without the least fear of strokes or shot," The Clanranalds, with the other Mac *Napier's Life and Times of Montrose, 289-291. + Wishart's Memoirs of Montrose. Spalding's "History of the Troubles in Scotland," vol. ii., p. 269-1792 Ed. donalds, were at Montrose's last great victory at Kilsyth, where, as usual, they greatly distinguished themselves, under the immediate command of their chief, who had just returned from a recruiting expedition in the Highlands, bringing with him 700 Macleans and 500 of his own clan. He was accompanied by his son Donald, already referred to, a youth at this date of only twenty years of age, who greatly distinguished himself throughout the whole campaign. On this occasion Montrose unfortunately stated, in presence of many of his officers, that, though Clanranald had brought a great addition to the camp, he had provided nothing to maintain them, while all the other clans had. Clanranald indignantly replied that the swords of his men could supply them with everything necessary for their maintenance at all times and in any circumstances. This did not quite satisfy Montrose, and dispute would have followed had not Alexander Macdonald (MacColla) intervened, stating that he knew the Clanranald men well, and would become personally responsible that by next evening. they would bring in as much provender as any of the other clans. He then turned to young Clanranald, directing him to get his men ready by themselves, and to prepare for a foray next morning. Donald was not slow in executing these orders. He marched his men to the lands of the Earl Marischall, and, though they had been pretty well wasted on previous occasions by others, "he brought back with him a booty, not only surpassing that furnished by any other, but one that served the whole army for months. This brave action pleased Montrose, and induced him to apologise for his hasty_expression." The author of the Red Book informs us that "Young Donald and his men brought more creachs to the camp than any others. Many of the Highlanders, when sent to drive a prey, drove it on to their own countries without asking the general's leave. John of Moidart would allow none of his men to leave him; but there was another reason for this, namely, that it was not easy for the men from the Islands to drive their prey home from the low country; hence the raising of creachs fell to their share all summer. Young Donald took a large prey from the Lord Marischall's country, and from the Mearns and Angus; an old man, whom they met there, told them that the Mearns had not been used so since Donald of the Isles creached, the year he fought the battle of Harlaw." The same chronicler, after describing various preliminaries of the battle, states that "Montrose held a Council of War, and referred it to his whole army whether to fight or retreat. All declared they would rather fight than retreat. Yet the troops had been long without food. Montrose sent his trumpet with a challenge, at which the great army gave a shout, and drew out in order of battle, 3,000 pikemen and 11,000 in battalions behind these, and you may think it was hard work for our small numbers to face. The fight was hard. The Highlanders had 4000 foot and 500 horses; and they fixed their shirts between their legs. The horsemen had white shirts over their armour. We advanced gallantly against a battery of great guns. Battle commenced by an excellent regiment of Scotch and Irish good marksmen; Major Lauchlin and Mac Coll directing and exhorting them. Donald, son of the Captain of Clanranald, and Donald MacEachain Oig Maclean, strove who should first engage. Donald and his men, and Patrick Caoch Macgregor and his men, in one regiment-Clanranald gave the assault, and young Donald was the first man who leaped the intrenchments, and his people after him. The enemy was completely routed." Napier explains as to the "white shirts above their armour," that it would rather seem that Montrose had ordered them to disencumber themselves of their heavy armour that was over their shirts, for they had to charge up hill in the middle of a hot August. In the retreat from Perth, leading up to the battle of Kilsyth, we are told that "Donald, the son of the Captain of Clanranald, had the honour of bringing up the rear, which was under the immediate command of Sir Alexander Macdonald. Many individual feats of bravery were performed, and those of young Donald were not the least conspicuous. At one time, by a gallant manoeuvre, he cut off the entire advance of the enemy; at another time he opposed his chosen band against ten times their number, who obstinately defended a ford, and was successful." At the battle of Kilsyth a slight difference arose between Donald and Maclean as to who should assume chief command of their immediate followers. It is thus related in the Clanranald Family History:"The action commenced by a fire of cannon and musketry from the Covenanters, and the attack by the King's forces, with a regiment of Irish commanded by Major Macdonald, and directed by Sir Alexander Macdonald. The gallant regiment commanded by Donald, son of the Captain of Clanranald, and by Maclean, were ordered to their relief. An unfortunate difference had existed between these two as to precedency. Each maintained that he was entitled to command the other; on this occasion Maclean desired Donald to place himself under his command. From Donald's situation he was rather in the rear, but, regardless of disputes of this kind, he pushed through Maclean's regiment with his men, and was himself the first who gained the trenches of the enemy. His men followed and drove all before them, striking terror wherever they went. By this bold and decisive action the battle of Kilsyth was in a great measure gained. It was fought on the 14th of August 1645. The Covenanters lost nearly 4000 men, while the loss of Montrose did not amount to 100. After the battle of Kilsyth Montrose marched to Hamilton; and nearly the whole of Scotland submitted to him. While there the Captain of Clanranald and his son retired to their own country exhausted by the many engagements they had been in." At the same time all the Western Highlanders left Montrose, and marched westward under their brilliant name-sake, Alexander Macdonald, son of Colla Ciotach, now Captain-General of the whole army, immediately next in rank to Montrose himself, and a warrior-knight of great renown. From that day, the moment on which he lost the active support of the Highlanders in the field, the star of the great Montrose began to wane, and the end is already known to every school-boy, but the Clanranald were as true to him in his misfortunes as they had been in the days of his great victories. Wishart describes the departure of the Highlanders thus:-Many of them, "being loaded with spoil, deserted privately, and soon after returned to their own country; their officers and leaders also openly demanded liberty to go home for a short time. They pretended that, as the Covenanters had at that time no army within the kingdom, there was the less occasion for their presence; and as their corns had been all destroyed and their houses burnt by the enemy, there was an absolute necessity for their going home, tho' but for a few weeks, in order to repair their habitations, and lay up some winter provisions for their wives and |
