EARLS OF ROSS AND LORDS OF THE ISLES. 77 



whatever is known of the history of Tormod, whose son 

 Torquil lived in the reigns of David II. and Robert II. 



When the short-lived power of Edward Baliol came to 

 an end, and the rightful sovereign, David II., came to his 

 own, the cards of the Hebridean lords were shuffled afresh. 

 The Steward of Scotland and the other nobles of the 

 National party directed their enmity against the adherents 

 of Baliol, and John of the Isles trembled for the safety of 

 his extensive dominions. He was not disposed, however, 

 to submit tamely to any shearing process, and the resist- 

 ance which he offered to his opponents was both obstinate 

 and successful. He was ably seconded by Ranald Mac- 

 Ruari of the North Isles, whose sister he had married, and 

 thus the whole of the Long Island, as represented by its 

 chiefs, was solid against the Crown. Troubles with England 

 created a diversion in favour of the stubborn Hebrideans, 

 and King David was compelled to forego his attempt to 

 reduce them. The support of a powerful vassal like John 

 of the Isles was at that critical period of surpassing value 

 to the Scottish King, and he determined to purchase it by 

 striking a bargain with him. He pardoned both the Lord 

 of the Isles and Ranald MacRuari, and in 1344 confirmed 

 them in their possessions. Ranald accompanied the King 

 in his expedition to England, which terminated at the 

 disastrous battle of Neville's Cross. 



The increased prestige which these incidents conferred 

 upon the Lord of the Isles stimulated the ambition of that 

 chief ; he realised his strength, and was not slow to push 

 his advantage. Securing from the Pope a dispensation of 

 divorce from his first wife, he sought and obtained in 

 marriage, the hand of Margaret, daughter of his quondam 

 enemy, the Steward of Scotland, who afterwards reigned 

 as Robert II.* His alliance with the Royal House gave a 

 further impetus to the growing power of John of the Isles, 



* A letter from the Pope to the Bishop of St. Andrews dated July, 1 350, grants 

 a dispensation to John of the Isles and Margaret, daughter of " Robert, called 

 Steward (Senescallus), to intermarry, they being related in the third and fourth 

 degrees of affinity." (Papal Letters, Vol. III., p. 381.) 



