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38. " Tha Clann Domhnnill Socharach " (The
MacDonalds are simple).
39. " Spaidsearachd Mhic Dhomhnuill" (the
March of the MacDonalds).
40. Crninneachadh Chlann Raonnill (sliabh an
t-Siorra,") MacDonald of Clan Ranald's gathering
to Sheritt'muir.
41. MacDonald of Kinloch Moidart's salute.
42. " Uaille Chlann Domhnnill " (the parading
of the MacDonalds.)
43. " Cuniha Alastair Dheirg " (lament for
Alexander MacDonald of Glengarry).
44. " Cnmha Dhomhnuill an Lagan " (lament
for MacDonald of Laggan).
45. Lament for Captain MacDonald.
POEMS AND SONGS IN HONOUR OF
FLORA MACDONALD.
Flora MacDonald, the historic heroine in the
last drama of the Jacobite period, and the
deliverer of Prince Charles from the clutches of
his enemies, was the daughter of Ranald Mac-
Donald, younger of Milton, in South Uist. She
was born in 1722, and was 24 years of age when
she first met the Prince in the Long Island in 1746.
Her patronymic was "Fionnghal, nighean
Raonuill 'ic Aonghais Oig, an Airidh Mhuilinn,"
that is. Flora, daughter of Ranald, the son of
Angus, younger of Milton. Her mother was
Marion, daughter of the Rev. Angus MacDonald,
" Am ministear làidir "—the strong minister—
mild, generous, and most hospitable gentleman.
Her father was a cadet of the family of Clanranald,
not very distantly related, and her grandmother
was a daughter of MacDonald of Largie,
in Kintyre, so that she was well connected on
botli sides of the house. She was the only
daughter of the family, but she had two brothers.
The elder, Ranald, a very promising youth, died
from the bursting of a blood vessel—from an over-
strain in rowing a boat against an adverse wind ;
so that the younger brother, Angus, succeeded
his father at Milton, while her mother in 1728
married as her second husband, Hugh MacDonald
of Armadale, in Skye, a captain of militia in the
Long Island during the Prince's wanderings there.
Flora's adventurous history began shortly after
the Prince landed in South Uist in April, 1746,
a
and before she ever saw him she and Lady
Clanranald were constantly devising schemes for
the safety and escape of the fugitive Prince.
"Twelve powerful and trustworthy men who
could acquit themselves by sea or land were
selected by Lady Clanranald to be in readiness
night and day in case their services might be
required." Flora frequently conversed with these
gallant Highlanders who had seen the Prince on
several occasions, though she had not. One
morning as two of them had come to Ormiclate to
report how the Prince had passed the night, she
met them at the door and asked them in Gaelic,
"Am bheil e laghach?" Is he nice? "Am
bheil e aoidheil ? " Is he cheerful? "Am bheil
e idir iriosal agus taitneach ? " Is he at al 1
humble and pleasant ? On another occasion she
jocularly remarked to them that she could direct
them how to become far wealthier than Clan-
ranald. " Oh, do tell us how that can come to
pass. More wealthy than our noble chief ! " Oh,
yes, perfectly true," said Flora. "Go immed-
iately and give up the Prince to my step-father.
Captain Hugh MacDonald, and as sure as the
sun is now shining in the firmament you shall
have £15,000 a piece for your loyalty." The
answer was short but decisive: " Nior leigeadh
Ni Maith ! Ochan ! ged gheibheamaid an saoghal
mu'n iadh a' ghrian, cha bhrathamaid ar
n-oganach Rioghail gu bràth."
" Goodness for-
bid ! Alas ! should we receive the world around
which the sun revolves we would never betray
our Royal youth."* Neither they would, and the
writer does not believe that any genuine Highlander
even at the present day would betray him,
but he would not be answerable for the oiitsiders
who now infest the Highlands. After an unsuccessful
attempt to escape to Stornoway and
return to Benbecula, and much negotiation and
scheming between Clanranald and his lady,
Boisdale, MacDonald, Baileshear, and Flora
MacDonald, it was at last arranged—Captain
O'Neil and Neil MacEachainn being all along
faithful attendants, that the Prince should make
his escape to Skye accompanied by Flora and
Neil MacEachainn only, in which she nobly remarked
to Lady Clanranald,— " Think not, dear
lady, for a moment, that I consider my own
* Rev. Alex. MacGregor's Life of Flora MacDonald.