The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

2/6 THE HIGHLANDERS [part ii
was present with them at the unfortunate battle of Glasgow
Muir. Macfarlane also shared in the ruinous forfeiture which
followed that event, but being afterwards restored through the
intercession of his friends, he obtained a remission under the
priv}' seal, which is still extant. The loss of this battle obliged
the Earl of Lennox to retire to England, and having there
married a niece of king Henry VHL, he soon after returned
with some English forces, which he had obtained from that
monarch. On this occasion the chief of Macfarlane did not
dare to join the earl in person, but nevertheless his assistance
was not wanting, for he sent his relative, Walter Macfarlane,
of Tarbet, with four hundred men to join him. According to
Holinshed, " In these exploytes the erle had with him Walter
Macfarlane, of Tarbet, and seven score of men of the head of
Lennox, that spake the Irishe and the English Scottish tongues,
light footmen, well armed in shirtes of mayle, with bows and
two-handed swords ; and being joined with English archers and
shotte, did much avaylable service in the streyghts, mareshes,
and mounta\'ne countrys."
This Duncan is reported to have been slain, with a number
of his clan, at the fatal battle of Pinkey, in 1547. His son
Andrew was not less active in the civil wars of the period,
and took a ver\- prominent part on the side of the Regent,
exhibiting in this instance a contrast to almost all the other
Highland chiefs. Holinshed again records the name of Macfarlane
as being distinguished for bravery, for in describing
the battle of Langside, he says,
"
In this battle the valliancie
of ane Highland gentleman named Macfarlane stood the
Regent's part in great stead, for in the hottest brunte of the
fight he came in with three hundred of his friends and countrymen,
and so manfull)' gave in upoii the flank of the queen's
people, that he was a great cause of disordering of them."
The clan boast of having taken at this battle three of queen
Mar)-'s standards, which the\- say were preserved for a long
time in the famil}-. The reward obtained b\- the Macfarlanes
for their services upon this occasion, was of the usual substantial
nature of the royal rewards of those services when merited.
The Regent bestowed upon them the crest of a demi-savage
proper, holding in his dexter hand a sheaf of arrows, and