The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. Ill] OF SCOTLAND 213
As Angus had shared in Bruce's dangers and adversity, so
he now reaped the advantage of his success. The extensive
territories of the Comyns, and their alHes, the lords of Lorn, had
fallen into his hands through their forfeiture, and he accordingly
bestowed upon Angus the lordship of Lochaber, which had
formerly belonged to the Comyns, together with the lands of
Durrour and Glencoe, and the islands of iVIull, Tiree, &c.,
which had formed part of the possessions of the Lorn family.
Bruce, however, was quite aware that in thus increasing the
already extensive possessions of the Isles' family, he was raising
up a powerful opponent to the crown ; but the services of
Angus in his utmost need rendered it impossible for him to
withhold these grants, and believing himself secure of Angus's
attachment during his life, he endeavoured to neutralize the
effects of such an addition to their power by building the castle
of Tarbett in Kintyre, which he demanded permission to do as
an equivalent for the grants of land he had made. Angus Og
of the Isles died in the early part of the fourteenth century,
leaving two sons, John, his successor, and John Og, ancestor of
the Macdonalds of Glencoe.
Although Angus had throughout his life been a steady
friend to the crown, yet when, on his death, any influence, which
personal attachment between the king and him might have
occasioned had ceased, the causes which had formerly forced
this clan into opposition to the crown, again operated to change
the policy of the lords of the Isles, or rather to cause them to
resume their former line of conduct. These natural causes of
separation were heightened by a dispute between John and the
Regent, with regard to some of the lands which had been
granted by the Bruce ; and John had not been long in possession
of the power and dignities of his ancestors before he
joined the party of Edward Baliol and the English king. In
consequence of this, a formal treaty was concluded between
Edward Baliol and John on the 12th of December, 1335, in
which Baliol, "
quantum in se est," yielded for ever to John
and his heirs and assignees, together with the whole of his
father's possessions, all title to the lands and islands claimed by
the Earl of Murray (the Regent), and also gave him the ward-
ship of Lochaber until the majority of the heir of Atholl, at