The Conflict of
Bealach-na-Broige
About the year of God 1299, there was an insurrection made
against the Earl of Ross by some of the people of that province, inhabiting the mountains,
called Clan Iver, Clan-tall-wigh, and Clan Leawe. The Earl of Ross made such diligence
that he apprehended their captain, and imprisoned him at Dingwall, which so incensed the
Highlanders, that they pursued the Earl of Ross's second son at Balnagown, took him and
carried him along prisoner with them, thinking thereby to get their captain relieved.
The Munros and the Dingwalls, with some other of the Earl of
Ross's dependers, gathered their forces, and pursued the Highlanders with all diligence;
so, overtaking them at Bealach-na-Broig, betwixt Ferrindonnell and Lochbrime, there ensued
a cruel fight, well fought on either side.
The Clan Iver, Clan-tall-wigh, and Clan-Leawe, were almost
all utterly extinguished; the Munros had a sorrowful victory, with great loss of their
men, and carried back again the Earl of Ross's son. The Laird of Kildun was there slain,
with seven score of the surname Dingwall. Divers of the Munros were slain in this
conflict; and, among the rest, there were killed eleven of the house of Fowlis, that were
to succeed one another, so that the succession of the Fowlis fell unto a child then lying
in his cradle, for which service the Earl of Ross gave divers lands to the Munros and the
Dingwalls. |
