The book Arran; - Cook Clan

THE OWNERS OF ARRAN 61
however, meant comparatively little, Dumbarton Castle
much ; ^ and the latter was the objective of Lennox, when he
carried out his expedition of August 1544 with about a dozen
ships from Bristol and some hundreds of hackbuteers, archers,
and pikemen. Arran was Hamilton ground, and so it was
raided and plundered, and Brodick Castle, after re-erection,
once more utterly destroyed. Brodick Castle was a sort of
phoenix ; repeatedly being destroyed and repeatedly rising
from its ruins. But in so far as its main purpose was concerned
the expedition was a failure, though Lennox whipped
Argyll at Dunoon and did plentiful mischief in Ayrshire
and Kintyre, including the lands of James MacDonald.
To these two gentlemen the government was appropriately
grateful, and, among other things, MacDonald seems
to have got the gift or promise of the Arran lands of the
reckless sheriff, who was involved in the lamentable under-
takings of Lennox, thus fyling his own nest and lending a
helping hand to the enemies of his house. Nor did it serve
him much in the long run that he was pardoned for his
misdoings ; while MacDonald temporarily changed sides when
he saw his chance to set up a claim for the lost Lordship of
the Isles. In 1549 Stewart was summoned before Parliament
to answer for his treason ; afterwards he complains
the summons was at the instigation of the Earl of Argyll, who
had seized his lands by force. At this stage the Earl of Arran
comes in as honest broker, but Stewart avers that that Earl
was actually behind Argyll, who again had contracted with
MacDonald to put him in possession of the sheriff's estates.
Thus beset, Stewart was induced to sell his lands to Arran
for 4000 marks, the £10 lands of Cumbrae, and a reconciliation
with Argyll.2 The rest of the story he told afterwards ; but
the grant to Arran was nevertheless confirmed, while Argyll
had to settle up with MacDonald for compensation elsewhere.
From the sale to Arran the land of Corriegills was exempted
' See further on this point, p. 93. ' Hist. MSS., xi. vi. 23.