Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

48 HISTORY OF THE WRSTKUN ISLANDS.
reignty over the whole, while the other isles held imme-
diately from Mann. But this must pass, as hopeless,
with much more. Whatever the fact be, Olave arrived
at Bergen in 1230, where he performed his homage;
returning with Paul Balkason in twenty ships and join-
ing Dugal, Duncan, Huspac, and a Somerlid, who appears
to have been a cousin, at Isla. This party, now
mustering eighty ships, took Rothsay castle and reduced
Bute, where Huspac was killed. This is called by the
Norwegians the first expedition of Haco. But other ac-
counts say that the castle taken was Kilkerran in Can-
tyre, and that Huspac died on board of the fleet some time
afterveards.
Olave now surrendered the outer isles, though it is not
said which these >vere, to his nephew Godred Don. If,
as is said, " he retained Mann," then probably he must
have surrendered the whole of the Western Isles. Godred
commenced his career by murdering- Paul Balkason, but
was himself assassinated in Lewis :
leaving- a son, Harold,
in 1233. In J 235, we find Olave in connexion with Henry;
receiving an annual grant of corn and wine for defending'
the coasts of Ireland ; and in 1237 he died.
Olave left four sons ;
Harold, Reginald, Magnus, and
Godred; the former succeeding to the kingdom at the
age of fourteen. In 1240, Haco sent two commissioners
to Mann, to suspend him till he should render homage;
on which he went to Norway and remained two years;
returning to Mann, confirmed in his kingdom, in 1242.
From about this period commence the negotiations which
finally terminated in the secession of the Norwegian
government. In 1244, Alexander the second sent am-
bassadors to Haco, to treat for the cession of Bute, Arran,
and the Cumbrays, but without effect; the king refusing-
" to sell his inheritance for silver." The death of Harold