The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. Ill] OF SCOTLAND 219
principal barons of Scotland, in consequence of the marriage of
the duke of Rothsay, and the consequent departure of the earl
of March to the English court, caused the wars between the two
countries once more to break out, and called forth the English
invasion of Scotland, the intercourse between England and the
Island chiefs appears to have been renewed, and the frequency
of the safe conducts granted at this period by the king of
England to the sons of John, shews that their relationship to the
Scottish king was not sufficient to counteract the causes which
naturally threw them into opposition. From the tenor of these
documents, it does not appear that at this time there was any
difference of rank or authority observed among the brothers.
By the wise policy of Robert II. this great clan had become
completely divided for the time into two, who \\'ere in every
respect independent of each other. Godfrey, the eldest surviving
son of the first marriage, possessed the principal power on the
mainland, as lord of Garmoran and Lochaber, which he transmitted
to his son ; and Donald, the eldest son of the second
marriage, held a considerable extent of territory of the crown,
which was now first known as the feudal lordship of the Isles,
and which, though not superior to, was independent of the
lordship of Garmoran and Lochaber. The rest of the brethren
received the usual provision allotted to them by the law of gavel,
and which was principally held by them as vassals of one or
other of the two lords. But a circumstance soon after occurred
which had the effect of raising one of the brothers to a station of
power which he could not otherwise have attained, and of adding
to the already too extensive possessions of the Macdonalds.
This circumstance was the marriage of Donald, the eldest son of
the second marriage of John, lord of the Isles, with Mary, sister
of Alexander, earl of Ross. Alexander, earl of Ross, had an
only daughter, Euphemia, b}' the Albany, whom he had married.
daughter of the duke of
Upon the death of Alexander,
Euphemia became a nun, and committed the government of her
earldom to the governor. Donald saw that if the governor was
permitted in this manner to retain the actual possession of the
earldom, although his right to the succession was undeniable, he
would be unable to recover his inheritance from the grasp of so
crafty and ambitious a nobleman. He accordingly proceeded to