EARLS OF ROSS AND LORDS OF THE ISLES. 97 



of the Isles himself, completely failed in its object : Angus 

 Og defied them all. By this time his prowess had inspired 

 such wholesome respect that the two Earls were none too 

 eager to come to close quarters with him, and they retired 

 baffled by their active foe, thus virtually acknowledging 

 defeat. The father of the rebel was now left to cope with 

 the situation single-handed. It was a novel position foi 

 John of the Isles to be the representative of law and order, 

 hunting his own son, Angus the rebel. It is possible that he 

 wished to impress the Government with his loyalty. It 

 is possible that he himself was held responsible for the 

 enormities of his hopeful offspring. But it is clear that the 

 latter had proved an undutiful son, as well as a recalcitrant 

 subject. MacVurich relates that a disagreement had arisen 

 between father and son about a division of territory, and 

 that John had given Knapdale to "MacCailin" (the Earl of 

 Argyll) the father-in-law of Angus, for going with him 

 before the King to complain of his son ;* and it is also sug- 

 gested that he had been over-liberal to the heads of Hebri- 

 dean clans other than the Clan Donald. Be that as it may, 

 it is certain that the Hebridean chiefs became embroiled in 

 the quarrel, the Macdonalds taking the part of Angus, and 

 the other clans ranging themselves on the side of their 

 Superior, the Lord of the Isles. After his desertion by 

 Argyll and Atholl, John continued the pursuit of Angus 

 Og. His followers were chiefly Macleans, Macleods, and 

 Macneills. William Dubh Macleod of Harris led his clans- 

 men, and with him was his nephew, the son and heir of 

 Roderick Macleod of Lewis. The men of Barra were led by 

 Gilleonan Macneill, grandson of the Gilleonan who was 

 killed in Coll. And thus every section of the Long Island 

 was represented at the final struggle between John of the 

 Isles and his son. 



The two forces met in a bay south of Ardnamurchan 

 Point Mr. Gregory says a bay in Mull where a stiff 



* In 1481, Colin, first Earl of Argyll, received a grant of lands in Knapdale, 

 along with the keeping of Castle Sweyn, which had previously been held by 

 he Lord of the Isles. 



