Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

HISTORY OF THi: WESTERN ISLANDS. 45
of Ross, afterwards more conspicuous in the family of
Macdonald Lord of the Isles. But Reginald's fears of
Olave continuing, he did homage again to England in
the person of Henry the third ; and we have Sir Edward
Coke's authority that letters patent were drawn up ac-
knowledging his title. Even yet, doubtful of his strength
as of his right, he attempted to confirm both by surren-
dering his dominions to the Pope in 1219, so as to hold
under the see of Rome ; adding to this act, which is pre-
served in Leibnitz, an annual tribute of twelve marks.
Godred, the son of Reginald, was now governor or
lieutenant in Sky, and was tempted by his mother to
attack and destroy Olave, of whom they still continued
in fear. He endeavoured, in consequence, to induce
Paul Balkason, who is called Sheriff, to join him in this
plan: but the honest Sheriff refused and escaped to the
Earl of Ross; where Olave joined him, having fled from
Lewis on its being invaded by Godred. After ravaging
Lewis, Godred took shelter and sanctuary in lona, where
he was attacked by Paul and Olave in 1223, and defeated,
with the subsequent deprivation of his sight ; an expe-
dient which seems to have been in use in Scotland as well
as in Norway. The outer isles then submitted to Olave j
who, in 1224, sailed to Mann with thirty-two ships ;
where he terrified Reginald into dividing the kingdom;
remaining- himself in this island with the title of
King. Reginald now formed a league with Allan Lord of
Galloway, and made a fruitless attempt to recover Mann.
But it appears that even Olave was not yet settled in
his kingdom, as ambassadors were now despatched to
Haco in Norway, while Reginald married his daughter to
the son of Allan, Thomas Mac Dhu Allan, renewing or
strengthening by these means the original league. What
occurred during this anarchy is unknown; but, in 1226,