The following is a reprint of a rare little book, issued from the Foulis press in 1764, entitled: “The History of the Feuds and Conflicts Among the Clans in the Northern Parts of Scotland and in the
Western Isles: from the year M.XX1 unto M.B.C.XIX, now first published from a manuscript wrote in the reign of King James VI.” That’s right, all that’s the title of such a little book!
This will be the fourth installment of this fascinating history.
The Conflict of Ruaig-Shansaid
The year of god 1437, Neil Wasse Mackay, after his release out of the Bass, entered Caithness with all hostility, and spoiled all that country. He skirmished with some of the inhabitants of that province at a place called Sanset, where he overthrew them with slaughter on either side. This conflict was called Ruaighanset, that is the Chase at Sanset. Shortly thereafter Neil Wasse died.
The Conflict of Blar-Tannie
About the year of God 1438, there fell some variance betwixt the Keiths and some others of the inhabitants of Caithness. The Keiths, mistrusting their own forces, sent to Angus Mackay of Strathnaver
(the son of Neil Wasse), entreating him to come to their aid, whereunto he easily yielded; so AngusMackay, accompanied with John Mor MacIan-Riabhaich, went into Caithness with a band of men, and
invaded that country.
Then did the inhabitants of Caithness assemble in all haste, and met the Strathnaver men and the Keiths at a place in Caithness called Blair-tannie. There ensued a cruel fight, with slaughter on either side.
In the end the Keiths had the victory, by means chiefly of John Mor MacIan-Riabhaich (an Assynt man), who was very famous in these countries for his manhood shown at this conflict. Two chieftains and leaders of the inhabitants of Caithness were slain, with divers others. This Angus Mackay, here mentioned, was afterward burnt and killed in the Church of Tarbat, by a man of the surname of Ross, whom he had often molested with incursions and invasions.
The Conflict of Blar-na-Pairc
After the Lord of the Isles had resigned the Earldom of Ross into the King's hands, the year of God 1477, that province was continually vexed and molested with incursions of the Islanders.
Gillespick (cousin to Macdonald), gathering a company of men, invaded the height of that country with great hostility; which, the inhabitants perceiving (and especially the Clan Mackenzie), they assembled speedily together, and met the Islanders beside the river of Conon, about two miles from Brayle, where there ensued a sharp and cruel skirmish.
The Clan Mackenzie fought so hardly, and pressed the enemy so, that in the end Gillespick Macdonald was overthrown and chased, the most part of his men being either slain or drowned in the river of Conon; and this was called Blar-na-Paire.
The Conflicts of Skibo and Strathfleet
About the same time, Macdonald of the Isles, accompanied with some of his kinsmen and followers, to the number or five or six hundred, came into Sutherland and encamped hard by the Castle of Skibo, whereupon
Neil Murray (son or grandson to Angus Murray, slain at Druimnacoub) was sent by John, Earl of Sutherland, to resist them, in case they did offer any harm unto the inhabitants. Neil Murray, perceiving
them going about to spoil the country, invaded them hard by Skibo, and killed one of their chieftains, called Donald Dow, with fifty others. Macdonald, with the rest of his company, escaped by flight, and so retired into their own country.
Shortly thereafter another company of Macdonald's kin and friends came to Strathfleet in Sutherland, and spoiled that part of the country, thinking thereby to repair the loss they had before received but, Robert Sutherland (John, Earl of Sutherland's brother), assembled some men in all haste, and encountered with them upon the sands of Strathfleet. After a sharp and cruel skirmish, Macdonald's men were overthrown, and divers of them killed. |
