The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

222 THE HIGHLANDERS [part ii
when the individual who held the reins of government was
one fully able, by his singular energy, decision of character,
and personal bravery, to compete with his turbulent nobles,
as well as to break down their independence and power.
Towards this object James I. seems to have turned his atten-
tion at the very commencement of his reign, and, doubtful
of his strength effectually to reduce the northern barons to
obedience, he had recourse to stratagem. For this purpose
he summoned these barons to attend a parliament to be held
at Inverness, and proceeded there himself at the head of his
principal nobles, and accompanied by a force which rendered
resistance unavailing ; and the great northern chiefs not
thinking it proper to disobey the summons, were arrested as
soon as they made their appearance, to the number of about
forty chiefs, among whom was Alexander, earl of Ross and
lord of the Isles, his mother the countess of Ross, and
Alexander Mac Godfrey of Garmoran, who appeared as feudal
lord of that district.
Many of these victims of this act of treachery
with executed, among whom was Alexander of
were forth-
Garmoran,
whose whole possessions were in consequence forfeited to the
crown, while the rest, together with the lord of the Isles, were
detained in captivity. By the success of this expedient, the
king concluded that he had effectually reduced the Highland
chiefs to obedience, and accordingly, after a short captivity,
he set Alexander of the Isles at liberty ; but the prospect of
submission was only apparent, for no sooner was the lord
of the Isles free, than he flew to arms to obtain revenge for
the injurious treatment he had experienced, and appeared soon
after before Inverness with an army of 10,000 men, and rased
to the ground
the town which had been the scene of his
surprise.
But James, from the great decision and activity of his
character, was fully equal to cope with the Island lord, whose
and
ancestors had been the terror of preceding governments ;
accordingly he no sooner became aware of this invasion, than,
with an energy for which his adversary was little prepared,
he collected a feudal force, penetrated into Lochaber with
the utmost rapidity, and overtook the Highland army before