THE INSURRECTION OF DONALD GALLDA. 125 



how Donald Gallda went to Lewis, accompanied by Malcolm 

 Macleod's son MacGillecolum of Raasay and enlisted 

 the support of the chief of the Siol Torquil, who convened 

 a meeting at Kyleakin of his brother chiefs, to discuss the 

 question of the succession to the Lordship of the Isles. 

 The choice lay between Donald Gruamach, grandson of 

 Hugh of Sleat, and Donald Gallda, grandson of Celestine 

 of Lochalsh, the latter, like Hugh of Sleat, being either an 

 illegitimate or a handfast son of Alexander, Earl of Ross 

 and Lord of the Isles. Donald Gruamach, however, refused 

 to put forward his claim while Donald Dubh was alive, 

 and Donald Gallda, who had no such scruples, was ulti- 

 mately proclaimed Lord of the Isles at Morvern. 



The insurrection which was the outcome of the decision 

 to enforce the claims of Donald Gallda, proceeded un- 

 checked until 1515, when active steps were taken by John, 

 Duke of Albany, for its suppression. Colin, third Earl of 

 Argyll, and Macian of Ardnamurchan were the instruments 

 chosen for that purpose, and as the result of their joint 

 efforts, the rising collapsed. A free pardon was given to 

 all except the leaders, who, however, had enriched them- 

 selves with sufficient booty to compensate them for the 

 Regent's displeasure. Donald Gallda and his fellow con- 

 spirators seem to have escaped punishment ; the former, 

 who is called " Monsieur de Ylis," was indeed summoned 

 in 1516 to join the army then about to proceed against 

 Alexander, Earl of Home, the powerful and refractory 

 Warden of the Scottish Border, with whom, there is 

 some reason to suppose, Donald Gallda was acting by 

 collusion. 



Early in 1517, Donald Gallda again headed an insurrec- 

 tion in the Hebrides, one of his first acts being to gratify 

 his revenge against Macian of Ardnamurchan, whose castle 

 was burnt and whose lands were ravaged. A disagreement 

 with his colleagues resulted in the detachment of Macleod 

 of Harris, Maclean of Duart, and Gilleonan Macneill of 

 Barra, all of whom submitted to the Regent. Maclean 

 was particularly bitter against his former leader, in whose 



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