138 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



which the Islesmen might be put in checkmating the 

 Cardinal and furthering the plans of the pro-English party. 

 It may be we cannot tell that he was instrumental in 

 effecting by bribery or otherwise the release of Donald 

 Dubh from confinement, but certain it is that the escape 

 of Donald coincided with a remarkable movement in the 

 Hebrides directed against the National party. Sadler kept 

 his Royal master well posted in all that went on behind 

 the scenes in Edinburgh and elsewhere in Scotland, and 

 his letters are instructive reading, as showing the utter 

 want of cohesion, the grasping selfishness, the lack of 

 patriotism, and the mutual distrust which prevailed among 

 the Scottish nobles of his time. The Earls of Argyll and 

 Huntly were exceptions among these time-servers. They 

 at least never forgot that they were Scotsmen first and 

 partisans afterwards. It is only bare justice to say that 

 Argyll and Huntly acted the part of true patriots, who 

 had no axe to grind by acquiescence in, or opposition to, 

 the ambitious views of Henry VIII. They were therefore 

 marked men by the English party : dangerous opponents, 

 whose actions had to be carefully watched, and whose 

 influence had to be skilfully counteracted. 



The re-appearance of Donald Dubh in the Hebrides 

 once more unsheathed the broadswords. His old sup- 

 porters again rallied round him, and menaced their old 

 enemies, the Campbells. A truce, however, was arranged 

 between Argyll and the self-styled " Earl of the Isles," 

 which lasted until May-Day, 1543. But Argyll made 

 preparations for the inevitable trial of strength. According 

 to Sadler, the news was current in Edinburgh, that Donald 

 Dubh had decided to take part with the Earl of Lennox 

 " against all Scotishmen his enemies," and was getting 

 ready to attack Argyll and Huntly. In June, 1543, active 

 hostilities were in progress, Argyll in the South and Huntly 

 in the North, being fully occupied with the " Irishmen " 

 (Gaelic-speakers). 



Between June and August, the Hebrideans received a 

 valuable accession to their strength. The Regent, insti- 



