The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CiiAK III] OF SCOTLAND 221
which had been given to the Highland army was immediately
followed up by the duke of Albany collecting additional forces,
and marching in person to Dingwall. But Donald avoided
hazarding another encounter, and returned with his forces to the
Isl€*5, where he remained all winter, while Albany rapidly made
himself master of the earldom of Ross.
In the ensuing summer the war was again renewed, and
carried on with various success on both sides, until at length the
Island king was obliged to- come to terms with the governof,
and a treaty was concluded at Polgilp, in Argyllshire, in which
Donald agreed to give up his claim to the earldom of Ross, and
to become a vassal of the Scottish crown.
It has generally been supposed that the resignation of the
earldom of Ross by Euphame, the Xun, in favour of her grand-
father, was the sole cause of this invasion; but this is impossible,
for the instrument by which the earldom was resigned is dated
in 141 5, just four }-ears after the battle, and it seems rather to
have been an attempt on the part of Albany to give a colour of
justice to the retention of the earldom, which he was enabled,
by the result of the battle, to carry into effect. There is no
doubt that a claim on the earldom was the ostensible cause of
the invasion but the readiness with which that claim was ;
given
up when his subsequent inroad upon the Lowlands was checked
—and he might easily have retained possession of Ross, instead
of retreating to the Isles ; besides, the fact that in the }-ear 1408
there was a treat}- between Donald and the king of P^ngland,
and that the war was no sooner at an end than a truce was
concluded with England for six years— very clearly indicate
that this invasion was but a part of a much more extensive and
more important scheme for which the claim of the earldom
served but as a pretext ; and that upon
the failure of the
greater plan, that claim was readily resigned.
During the rest of the regency of Albany, Donald did not
and on the utter
again disturb the peace of the kingdom ;
ruin of the Albany family, accomplished by the revenge of
James I., Alexander, lord of the Isles, the son of Donald,
quietly succeeded to the earldom of Ross. Unfortunately for
himself, however, his succession to such extensive territories,
and the acquisition of so much power, took place at a time