The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

362 THE HIGHLANDERS [part ii
A very minute and circumstantial history of the first generations
is narrated in the ponderous volume of Sir Robert
Gordon ;
he
deduces them from the Forbeses, but states that
the first who obtained possessions in Strathnaver was named
Martin, and adds " that he wes slain at Keanloch-Eylk in
Lochaber, and had a son called Magnus. Magnus died in
Strathnaver, leaveing two sones, Morgan and Farquhar. From
this Morgan the whole familie of Macky is generally called
clan-wic-VVorgan in Irish or old Scottish, which language 'is
most as yet vsed in that countrey. From Farquhar the clan-wic-
Farquhar in Strathnaver ar descended."
The striking coincidence between Martin and his son Magnus,
of Sir Robert Gordon, and Moddan and his son Magnus of the
Sagas, strongly confirms the supposition that the Mackays are
descended from these old Maormors of Caithness. The first
chief of this clan who appears on record is Angus Dow, towards
the beginning of the fifteenth century, and to him the latter
chiefs can all be traced. At this time the clan had extensive
possessions in Sutherland and Caithness, and seem to have
been of no ordinary power and consideration among the
Highland clans. Their territories included the greater part
of Strathnaver, and a considerable portion of the district of
Sutherland proper, and these were confirmed by Donald, lord
of the Isles, after he had married the countess of Ross>
"
Angusis eyg de Strathnaver et Nigello filio suo seniori inter
ipsum et Elezabetham de insulis sororem nostram procreato,"
on the 8th of October, 141 5. Among the chiefs arrested by
King James I. at the parliament held at Inverness in 1427,
Angus Dow is mentioned and designated as the leader of no
less than four thousand men, a fact which places the Mackays
among the most powerful of the Highland clans, and shews
that they must have occupied their territories for a very long
period of time. Angus Dow was chiefly remarkable for the
resistance which he made to Donald of the Isles, when that
ambitious leader made his well known attempt to obtain
possession of the earldom of Ross, and it is this event which
has principally preserved the name of Angus Dow Mackay
from oblivion. Donald of the Isles had claimed the earldom
of Ross in right of his wife, but had been refused possession