The grant of the king as to the lands over which Sir James Dunbar’s security extended, was called in question by Sir James, who obtained a decree before the lords of council and session, in February, 1512, setting aside the right of Y-Roy-Mackay, and ordaining the Earl of Sutherland, as superior of the lands, to receive Sir James Dunbar as his vassal.
A lamentable instance of the ferocity of these times is afforded in the case of one of the Earls of Sutherland, who upon some provocation slew two of his nephews. This earl, who was named John, had a natural brother, Thomas Moir, who had two sons, Robert Sutherland and the Keith, so called on account of his being brought up by a person of that name. The young men had often annoyed the Earl, and on one occasion they entered his castle of Dunrobin to brave him to his face, an act which so provoked the Earl, that he instantly killed Robert in the house. The Keith, after receiving several wounds, made his escape, but he was overtaken and slain at the Clayside, near Dunrobin, which from that circumstance was afterwards called Ailein-Cheith, or the bush of the Keith.
In 1513 a troop of Highlanders helped to swell the Scotch army on the ever-memorable and disastrous field of Flodden, but from their peculiar mode of fighting, so different from that of the Lowlanders, appear to have been more a hindrance than a help.
[148] MS. Adv. Lib. Coll. Diplom. a Macfarlane, vol. i. p. 245.--MS. Cart. Moray, 263.
[150] Fordun a Hearne, vol. iv. pp. 1283-4.
[157] _Auchinleck Chronicle_, pp. 58, 59.
[159] Ferrerius, p. 383.--Lesley _de Rebus Gestis Scotorum_, p. 300.
[160] Lesley’s _Hist._, p. 41.--Sir R. Gordon, p. 77.
James V., 1513-1542. Mary, 1542-1567. James VI., 1567-1603.
Doings in Sutherland--Battle of Torran-Dubh--Feud between the Keiths and the clan Gun--John Mackay and Murray of Aberscors--Alexander Sutherland, the bastard, claims the Earldom--Contests between John Mackay and the Master of Sutherland--Earls of Caithness and Sutherland--Dissensions among the clan Chattan--Hector Macintosh elected Captain--His doings--Disturbances in Sutherland--Feuds between the Clanranald and Lord Lovat--The ‘Field of Shirts’--Earl of Huntly’s Expedition--Commotions in Sutherland--Earl of Huntly and the Clanranald--The Queen Regent visits the Highlands--Commotions in Sutherland--Queen Mary’s Expedition against Huntly--Earl and Countess of Sutherland poisoned--Earl of Caithness’ treatment of the young Earl of Sutherland--Quarrel between the Monroes and clan Kenzie--Doings of the Earl of Caithness--Unruly state of the North--The clan Chattan--Reconciliation of the Earls of Sutherland and Caithness--The Earl of Sutherland and the clan Gun--Disastrous Feud between the Macdonalds and Macleans--Disputes between the Earls of Sutherland and Caithness--Reconciliation between Mackay and the Earl of Sutherland.