Mediaeval times
Oft " Gualainn ri gualainn " you've conquered, And for
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Oft " Gualainn ri gualainn " you've conquered, And for her you must conquer again. There are some very pretty sentiments in " My Sprig of White Heather," some stanzas of which are appended :— MY SPRIG OF WHITE HEATHER. 0! poor little sprig of heather Thou hast been with me many a day, But withered and dry are thy bonny bells, And their bloom has all faded away. So pure and white were thy flowerets, All bathed in the dews of the morn, ^fe11.,1 bade m? loved mountains a long farewell, While with anguish my poor heart was torn. Yet there's power in the shrivelled petals, Sweetest music in every beil That rings through my heart with wild magic tones, And lays me under a spell. I am borne on the wings of longing To the hills of the Highlands again, Where I see o'er the heather the tartan wave ■ To my ear comes the bagpipes' strain. I see the fair braes of Lochaber In the halo of sunset glow; And far away the blue mountain peaks Wear their wreaths of eternal snow. The breezes that blow through the birch woods Bear the perfumes of all the wild flowers That grow where the woodbine and ivy green Are twined into fairy bowers. I can hear the rapid Roy chafing 'Gainst the rocks as it pours down the glen, Its banks are all tangled with creeper and fern That cover the wild otter's den. * The Lochaber MacDonalds also fought at Bannock-burn in 1311. t See Loyal Lochaber, by W. D. Norio, pub. in I89S. Allt Ionndrainn in harmony murmurs, Whilst the mavis its melody sings, And far above through the evening sky The trill of the lark clearly rings. Once again thro' the heather and bracken By the banks of the Spean I roam, And hear " Eas na Smùide " as it thunders down, And lashes the waters to foam. Oh! how dear are the bonnie thatched hamlets That gladden the face of cach hill ? They shelter true gems, that are Scotia's pride, For Highlanders dwell in them still. I see their kind faces around me, I can feel in the grasp from each hand, A true noble heart, such as only beats In our rugged, unconqucrcd land. But how sad Roy and Spean seem, wailing, Near the spot where our old castle stood With its plane-trees still bearing black scars of flames Set by Cumberland's bloodthirsty brood. My own loved home, I hear but the voices Of strangers within thee to-day, Dismantled and changed are thy ancient walls, And thy children are far, far away. Oh! Lochaber, to me thou are fairest Of scenes where all beauties abound, And from childhood's days 'mid stalwart sons I have ever true friendship found. Now the mist from the mountain falls o'er thee, The vision that charmed me is gone; And all fhat I see of Lochaber now Is a sprig of white heather alone, Having resigned martial compositions to her sister, the Cian bardess, other poems need not be quoted. Meantime we can only express the hope that she will not forsake the muses entirely, interesting as the sister art of painting may be. Since the above was written her very interesting paper on " The Little People of Keppoeh's Country," has been published in the Cian Donald year book of 1899, and the following poem, which has not hitherto been published :— UNDER TONES. The west wind, the west wind, among those giant trees, Through birch woods and hazel, like sough of distant seas; The whisperings and the sobbings 'neath the rushing ruddy streams, A phtuthairag ! don't we hear it? don't we hear it in our dreams, Ah! m'eudail, ah! m'eudail, 'twas surely yesterday, Two bairnies we nestled upon the grassy brae! The lintie on the thornbush, the humming bees around, As we listen to tho music, the music underground. The sunshine, the sunshine, how soon it fled away. The glow upon the moorland was gone before the day! Tears showered upon the heath-bloom, dark mists that hid the hill, But m'eudail we hear it, we hear the music still. How silent yon twilight!—the home-our home no more, Chill, cheerless; how fearful, that sullen, bolted door, The sombre, stirlcss, pine-trees, the wailing in the streams ? Aphiutharag! aphiutharag! 'tis ever in my dreams. MAETTA.L ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE MACDONELLS OF KEPPOCH. As there is an intimate relation between poetry and music, love and war, I shall now enumerate the principal battles in which the MacDonells— (MacDonalds) of Keppoch were engaged. Having been remarkable for their poetic genius and martial achievements, I consider them to hold about the foremost place among all the MacDonalds, and to have been the most distinguished and most loyal family in the Stewart cause in the history of Scotland. Beginning with the founder of the family, Alastair Carrach, youngest brother of Donald, Lord of the Isles, who was married to a daughter of the Earl of Lennox, and nourished from about a.d. 1380 to 1440-6 I shall briefly mention the principal battles in which they, and the people of the Braes of Lochaber, fought during the troublous times in which they lived. 1394*.—Alastair Caerach, Ist Chief of Keppoch, who in a deed of 1398 is styled " Magnificus vir et potens," became Lord of Lochaber. By order of his brother Donald, Lord of the Isles, of connection with a dispute about the Earldom in Ross, he laid waste the Valley of the Ness, and miles of country were devastated by the Lochaber men, and the Earl of Moray who governed the district found it necessary to make terms with Alastair Carrach on the 5th Sept., 1394, in which they bind themselves to support each other, and all the church lands and possessions of the Regality of Moray were put under the Lochaber chief's protection for seven years. + 139S.--Alastair Carrach seized the church lands of Kinmylies and took upon himself the partition of them. 1402.—He attacked and plundered the Canonry of Elgin, and burned the town, for which he afterwards made some amends, and some time after fought with his brother Donald against Angus Dubh MacKay, and had him taken prisoner. He was also a staunch supporter of his brother Donald, Lord of the Isles, in all his rebellions and difficulties. 1411 (July 25th).—He fought at the battle of Harlaw with Donald Lord of the Isles, after which he returned to his seat at Tom-a-Charraich in Lochaber. 1431.—On a given signal at the first battle of Inverlochy, Alastair Carrach, with his archers, broadswords (claymores) and Lochaber axes, made a tremendous charge against the enemy and swept everything before him like chaff before the wind. For the share he took in this rebellion he was dispossessed of his estates in Glenroy and Glen Spean, which were bestowed on Malcolm Macintosh, Chief of Cian Chattan, and this led to a lasting feud between the Keppoch MacDonalds and the Macintoshes which continued to the end of the seventeenth century. 1455.—Angus II. of Keppoch, called "Aonghuas na Feirte " —because he resided at Fersit—was with the army of the Isles under Donald Balloch harrying the coast of Ayrshire, burnt Innerkip, levelled Brodick Castle, taxed Bute, and wasted Cumbrays. The author of the *' Comhachag " says he was as grand a character as Alastair Carrach. 1495.—Donald III. of Keppoch, after being forfeited with the historic Lordship of the Isles iu 1493, submitted to James IV. at the Castle of Mingarry, Ardnamurchan, on the 18th of May, 1493. In 1496 or 1497 he was killed in a battìe about the head of Glenorchy. The MacLarens of Balquhidder had made a foray into Brae-lochaber, and Donald with the Lochaber men turned out in force to revenge the injury done. The MacLarens sent to their kinsman, Dugald Stewart, Ist of Appin, to assist them, which he did, and the two chiefs, Donald and Dugald Stewart, fell by each others swoids. Iain Aluin IV. of Keppoch, from whom was descended the first poet in the family, viz., Iain Lom, was deposed by the cian for having delivered Donall Ruadh Beag Mac-Gille-Mhanntaieh to Macintosh, who was Steward of Lochaber. Tilis man, little red Donald, had been giving the Cian Chattan some trouble in Badenoch, and when he was surrendered to them they hanged him to a tree near Clach-na-Diolta, Torgulben, at the end of Loch Logan, at the march between Lochaber and Badenoch. Alexander V. of Keppoch was the second son of Aonghuas-na-Feirte. He was an old man when he succeeded Iain Aluin, and did not reign long as chief, so no stirring events took place in his time that has been recorded. 1503-4.—Donald Glas VI., and firstchief of that name, married a daugher of Lochiel and resided at Coille-Diamhainn, or Torran-na-Ceap, within a mile of the present Keppoch house, till he built the castle (moated) on Tom-Beag, which was razed to the ground after the Keppoch murder in 1663. He joined the rising under Donald Dubh of the Isles in 1503-4. 1544.—Raonuill Mor VII. of Keppoch fought at Blar-nan-Leine, the battle of the shirts, in July 1544, with the MacDonalds against the Frasers, where Lord Lovat and his heir were killed. The MacDonalds won, but both sides were nearly annihilated. This was one of the fiercest battles ever fought in the Highlands. The combatants on both sides stripped to the waist, where Greek met Greek in real earnest. The survivors of this battle, where about 400 were engaged on either side, were 1 Fraser gentleman, and 4 common men, and 8 MacDonalds. In a cian battle fought at Strathnaver in Caithness, where 1200 men were engaged, only 9 men returned from the field. The battle at the North Inch, Perth, in 1393. Witnessed by King Robeit III., the officers of state, and the nobility, between 30 MacPhersons and 30 Davidsons or Kays, to settle an old cian dispute, only one Davidson escaped, and the 11 of the Cian Chattan that survived were so badly wounded that they could not follow him. These m ere proper battles. 1547.—Raonuill Mòrwas beheaded at Elgin. His son John Dubh, gille gun iarraidh, was progenitor of the poets, Donald Doun, Donald Bàn, a Bhocain, &c. 1549.—Alexander Boloinne VIII. was the eldest son of Raonuill Mòr. It was during his time that the feud of Boloinne with the Camerons took place. He was unable to lead the Bvaerians, and his father being bed-ridden Iain Dubh had to take his place. It is alleged that he was a great favourite with the author of the " ComhachagJ " who says— An cinn a' ghiùbhsaich 'na laidhe, Tha nàmhaid na greighe deirge, Làmh dheas a mharbhadh a' bhradain, Bu mhath e'n sabaid na feirge. The following stanzas from an old song commemorate the feud of Boloinne:— Hd o hò na ha o hi An d' fhidir an d' fhairich no'n cuala sibh, t If the author of the "Comhachag" lived in the time of Alexander Boloinne it would make the famous poem Iol years old. Hò o hò na ha o hi, Mu'n luid nach toir cuisleach da gluasad air? Bha gnothach beag eile mu dhèighinn Bholoinne, 'S gu n innis mi soilleir's an uair so e, Bha creach Mac-an Tòiseich aig muinntir Shrath Lòchaidh 'S na gaisgaich Clanndonaill thug bhuapa i. 'S math is aithne dhomh 'n t-àite's na choinnich na h àrmainn, Fir ùra a' Bhraghad's an uair sin iad, Bha iubhair Loch Trèig aig nafiùrainnach gèilleadh, 'S bu shnnntach 'nan deigh fir Ghlinn-Ruaidh leatha. Tha còmhdach air fhathast far am beil iad 'nan laidhe, Gu'n robh iad mu'n sleibhtrich aigianlaithan t-slèibhe S na chaidh dhachaidh le sgeul diubh, bu shuarach e. Ceann-feadhna air maithibh Iain Mòr Shliochd-an-tighe, S ioma ceann bharr na h-amhaich a dh'fhuadaieh e, Ma's fhìor mo luchd-sgeòil-sa chuir e thairis air Lòchaidh, Am beagan 'bha beò dhiubh's an ruaig orra ! Alexander Boloinne died unmarried. 1564.—Raonull Og IX. of Keppoch, was the second son of Raonull Mòr, was progenitor of the houses of Fersit, and Inch. He assisted Glen-orehy against the MacGregors and fought under King James V. till the battle of Solway Moss. 1579.—Ranald Og defended Glengarry against Argyll. 1591.—Alastair nan Cleas X., chief, married Janet MacDougall of Lorn and had 5 sons, 1 Ranald Og, 2 Donald Glas, 3 Alastair Buidhe, 4 Donald Gorm, 5 Aonghuas Og—progenitor of the Achnancoichans, and grandfather of " Nighean Mhic Aonghuas Oig, the poetess. At the instigation of Huntly ne made a foray into Strathspey, seized the castle of Inverness, which he was soon obliged to evacuate. He fought in 1594 at the battle of Allt-Ohuailleachain in Strathspey, or near Ballindallach. 1602.—He is mentioned in the Act ordaining a levy of Highlanders to assist the Queen of England in her wars in Ireland. 1615.—In conjunction with his son Raonull Og, and the eldest son of Mac Mhic Ailein, assisted Sir James MacDonald to escape from Edinburgh Castle, Raonull Og using a false key, and accompanied him through the Isles to Ireland, and assisted him in his rebellions. 1616.—Commission was given to Lord Gordon for the seizure of Mac Ranald and his son. In 1617-18 Alastair-nan-Cleas and his son Ranald escaped to Spain, and in 1620 Alastair was recalled from Spain and received a pension of 200 merks sterling. 1640.—Angus Og, son of Ranald òg mortally wounded at the battle of Stron a' Chlachain, was carried to Corracharamaig where he was killed by the enemy, who discovered his whereabouts. 1645.—Donald Glas XL, chief, was the second son of Alastair nan Cleas. He invaded Argyll in 1644 and was at the 2nd battle of Inverlochy where the MacDonalds were again victorious. He was forfeited for the part he took in the battle. He married a daughter of Forrester of Kilbaggie in Forfarshire, and had two sons, Alexander and Ranald, who were the subjects of the Keppoch tragedy. His daughter was the authoress of " Cumha Ni' Mhic Raonuill." Alexander XII., murdered along with his brother in 1663. 1653.—Alastair Buidhe XIII. Chief and third son of Alastair nan Cleas joined the Earl of Glencairne's rising. The general belief in Lochaber is that he was innocent of the murder of the Keppoch brothers, but that his son Ailein Dearg was guilty. 1675.—Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich XIV. was a famous poet as well as chief. He married a daughter of MacMartin of Letterfinlay, the oldest branch of the Camerons of Lochiel, by whom he had two sons and eight daughters. Coll, and Angus Odhar, and Alexander were poets, also Silis, the 4th daughter, who married Gordon of Baldornie in Banffshire and Kildrumnie in Aberdeenshire, ancestors of the Gordons of Wardons. The other daughters whose names are known were Mòr, Seonaid, and Catriona (Catherine) who married MacPherson of Strathanashie, one was married to MacLean of Kingairloch, one to Maclntyre of Glenoe, one to Campbell of Bar-caldine, one to MacLauchlan of Castle Lauchlan, oneto another MacLauchlan and one to MacDonald of Glencoe who was massacred in 1692. Gilleasbuig was educated at Forres. In September, 1675, he joined Glengarry and Lochiel wnen they went to Mull to assist the MacLeans against Argyll, on which occasion the following verses were composed by a "witch wife" who promised the MacLeans that as long as she lived the Earl of Argyll should not enter Mull. Chorus. Hi haori ri iù, Hiri am boho hug eile Chall oho hi iù. Chunnacas long seach an caolas Hi haori ri iu etc. Ceart aogasg Mhic-Cailein, Chall oho hi iù. Ach gu'n caisg an Righ Mòr e, Hi haori hi iù, Hiri am boho hug eile, Chall oho hi iù. Ma tha Dubhart air aire Chall oho hi iù. Guidheam tonn thair a tobhta, Hi haori hi iù, Hiri am boho hug eile, Chall oho hi iù. Dh'fhiach an tog dheth 'marachd Chall oho hi iù. He was one of the chiefs who had to present themselves at Inverlochy in 1678. He was a poet of great ability, composed a number of excellent songs, and died in 1682. 1685.—Coll XV., chief, was only 18 years of age when his father died, and he was taken home from the university of St. Andrews. In the year 1685 he joined the Duke of Gordon, the Marquis of Athole, and Lord Strathnaver, when they invaded Argyll. He took the castle of Ruthven, besieged the castle of Inverness and plundered the town, for which he was ordered to restore 4000 merks to the burgh. He also fought the last cian battle, viz., the battle of Mulroy, near Keppoch in 1688, against theMacIntoshs, and was, as usual with the MacDonalds, victorious, and took Macintosh a prisoner (and where MacKenzie of Suddie was slain). 1698.—He fought at Killicrankie, and in 1715 he fought at Sheriffmuir where he routed the English cavalry. He married Barbara, daughter of Sir Donald MacDonald of Sleat, and died about 1728-30.
1745-46.—Alexander XVI. " the gallant Keppoch of the forty-five," fought in all the battles of that disastrous campaign, also at Sheriffmuir with his father Coll, and was killed at the battle uf Culloden, April 16th,1746. His brother, Donald, was also killed at the same battle. He had been 10 years in the French Army, and was esteemed one of the best officers in the service. He commanded the cian in 1745, and it was on his advice that the Jacobite army gave battle to "Johnny Cope "* at Prestonpans, and on all critical occasions during the campaign his advice was eagerly sought for. He knew the country well, and what the clans could do. This is borne out in the account of Keppoch's nephew, Donald, who was executed at Kennington in August, 1766. This latter was one of the pluckiest in the whole Jacobite Army though only 20 years of age. Alexander of Keppoch and Gillies MacBain were the grandest heroes of the campaign. 1759.—Ranald XVII., a major in Frasers Highlanders, fought at the siege of Quebec under Wolfe and the other battles in the American campaign. He married Miss Cargill of Jamaica, and died before 1798. He was buried on the top of Tom-Aingeal in Cille-Chaorraill, Lochaber. 1793.—Alexander XVIII. was a major in the Royal Scots, who died unmarried. He fought at the siege of Toulon, at the battle of Aboukir, where he was wounded, and in the Peninsular War. 1809.—Richard XIX., a lieutenant in the Gordons, also died without issue. He fought at Walcheren, Orthos (where he was wounded), Quatre-Bras, and Waterloo, where he was also wounded. Chichester XX. of Keppoch, was a son of Major Alexander of the Glengarry Fencibles, was married, and had two sons who died without issue. John XXI. was another son of Major Alexander and died unmarried. This ends the male line direct. Angus XXII. was a grandson of Barbara, daughter of Alexander of the " forty-five," who married the Rev. Patrick MacDonald of Kilmore and Kilbride, the Ist great collector of Highland airs, published in 1784. He married lus cousin, Christina MacNab, a daughter of Jessie—Mrs MacNab of Garvabeg—and granddaughter of Charlotte, 6th daughter of Alexander killed at Culloden. There were some of Angus's poems in MS. which have been lost. A daughter of Patrick MacDonald's (Flora) also composed some poems, but they don't seem to have been preserved. Alice and Josephine, daughters of Angus XXII., are the last poetesses of the family. Donald XXIII., son of Angus, was a young man of considerable ability. He had a great natural gift for caricaturing, and would undoubtedly have become distinguished in that line if he had lived in one of our large cities. He had three favourite subjects well known to the writer of this article for practising his ingenuity upon, and he portrayed their several weak points to perfection. One passing glimpse was enough for him to delineate every feature in one's countenance, and if there were a weak point in it it was sure to have a prominent place in the picture. He preferred, however, a colonial life, and died unmarried in Australia in 1889. Of this distinguished family it may well be said :— " Gone are the gallant hearts that kept our foes at bay, And gone the Highland broadswords that gleamed in battle day, Our friends are dust, their swords are rust, and we lament in vain, For Scotland can never be old Scotland again," Download 4.23 Mb. Share with your friends:
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