Hugh MacDonald's tale of the Maurice MacNeill saving Olav's ship: Hugh was writing in the 16th century
There are two Maurice MacNeills mentioned in the text. Are they the same man or two different Maurice MacNeills. Some authors think they are different men. Or Maurice the son of Neill in this phrase. His name was Maurice MacNeill, or Macarill. Where did this reference come from. It's not in the Hugh MacDonald history. The name is commonly anglicized as MacCorckle a close form to Macarill (MacCorquill, MacTorquill).
History of the MacDonalds Hugh MacDonald
"After this, Olay, surnamed the Red, King of Man, Isla, Mull and Isles southward of the point of Ardnamurchan, came with his fleet to Loch Stornua in order to subdue all the Isles south and north, pretending his right from the King of Denmark, to whom the ancient Danes north of Ardnamurchan refused allegiance; and, as Olay encamped at Loch Stornua, Somerled came to the other side of the loch, and cried out, if Olay was there, and how he fared? Olay replied, that he was well. Then said Somerled, I come from Somerled, Thane of Argyle, who promises to assist you conditionally in your expedition, provided you bestow your daughter on him. Olay answered, that he would not give him his daughter, and that he knew that he himself was the man; but that he and his men should follow him in his expedition. So Somerled resolved to follow Olay.
"There was at that time a foster brother of Olay's, one Maurice MacNeill, in Olay's company, who was a near friend of Somerled; and when Somerled brought his two galleys near the place where Olay's ship lay, this Maurice aforesaid came where he was, and said that he would find means by which he might come to get Olay's daughter. So, in the night time, he bored Olay's ship under water with many holes, and made a pin for each hole, overlaying them with tallow and butter.
"When they were up in the morning and set to sea, after passing the point of Ardnamurchan, Olay's ship sprung a leak, casting the tallow and butter out of the holes by the ship tossing on the waves, and beginning to sink, Olay and his men cried for help to Somerled. Maurice replied, that Somerled would not save him unless he bestowed his daughter upon him. At last, Olay being in danger of his life, confirmed by an oath that he would give his daughter to Somerled, who received him immediately into his galley. Maurice went into Olay's galley, and fixed the pins in the holes, which he had formerly prepared for them, and by these means they landed in safety. From that time the posterity of Maurice are called MacIntyres (or wright's sons) to this day.
"The messenger returned with this answer to the king, whose party was not altogether bent upon joining battle with Somerled, neither did the king look much after his ruin, but, as the most of kings are commonly led by their councillors, the king himself being young, they contrived Somerled's death in another manner. There was a nephew of Somerled's, Maurice MacNeill, his sister's son, who was bribed to destroy him. Somerled lay encampted at the confluence of the river Pasley into Clyde. His nephew taking a little boat, went over the river and having got private audience of him, being suspected by none, stabbed him, and made his escape.
"The rest of Somerled's men hearing the death and tragedy of their leader and master, betook themselves to their galleys. The king coming to view the corpse, one of his followers, with his foot, did hit it. Maurice being present said that though he had done the first thing most villainously and against his conscience, that he was unworthy and base so to do; and withal drew his long scian, stabbed him, and escaped by swimming over to the other side of the river, receiving his remission from the king thereafter, with the lands which were formerly promised him. The king sent a boat with the corpse of Somerled to Icollumkill at his own charges. This is the report of twenty writers in Icollumkill, before Hector Boetius and Buchanan were born.
The King referred to in this last section was colm, King of Scotland. King colm, on attaining to manhood, decided to rid the Isles of Somerled, to divide his possessions among his nobles. Somerled, hearing of this plan, came to Greenoch and the King colm came to Glasgow to give battle to Somerled, who marched up the side of the Clyde. The King told Somerled he could retain possession of Isles, which were his from his mother. But the King wanted Argyle and Kintire for himself. Then his councillors came up with the plan to have Somerled slain by a traitor (Maurice MacNeill).
Hugh MacDonald states that King Colm rewarded Maurice MacNeill for his treachery in slaying Somerled with the lands that were formerly promised to him. And we know from the story that the lands King colm wanted to seize from Somerled were the lands of Argyle and Kintire, Maurice is called Macarill, or Maurice. Only the name Maurice appears in Hugh MacDonald's story;
The History of the MacDonalds Hugh MacDonald (17th Cent.) The Highland Papers, Vol. 1 Scottish History Society J.R.N. MacPhail, K.C., editor
Somerled, the son of Gilbert, began to muse on the low condition and misfortune to which he and his father were reduced, and kept at first very retired. In the meantime, Allin MacVich Allin, coming with some forces to the land of Morverin for pillage and her ships, intending to retire forthwith to Lochaber, from whence he came. From this Allan descended the family of Lochiel. Somerled thought now it was high time to make himself known for the defense of his country, if he could, or at least see the same, having no company for the time. There was a young sprout out of a tree near the cave which grew in his age of infancy. He plucked it up by the root, and putting it on his shoulder, came near the people of Morverin, desired them to be of good courage and do as he did, and so by his persuasion, all of them having pulled a branch, and putting the same on their shoulder, went on encouraging each other.
Godfrey Du had possession of the Isles of the north side of Ardnamurchan from the King of Denmark. Olay compelled the inhabitants of some of these Isles to infest Morverin by landing some forces there. The principal surnames in the country were MacInnes's and MacGilvrays, who are the same as the MacInnes's. They being in sight of the enemy could act nothing without one to command them. At length they agreed to make the first person that should appear to them their general. Who came in the meantime but Somerled, with his bow, quiver, and sword?
Upon his appearance they raised a great shout of laughter. Somerled inquiring their reason, they answered they were rejoiced at his appearance. They told him that they had agreed to make the first that would appear their general. Somerled said he would undertake to head them, or serve as a man otherwise. But if they pitched upon him as their commander, they should swear to be obedient to his commands; so, without any delay, they gave him an oath of obedience.
There was a great hill betwixt them and the enemy, and Somerled ordered his men to put off their coats, and put their shirts and full armour above their coats. So, making them go three times in a disguised manner about the hill, that they might seem more in number than they really were, at last he ordered them to engage the Danes, saying that some of them were on shore and the rest in their ships; that those on shore would fight but faintly so near their ships.
Withal he exhorted his soldiers to be of good courage, and to do as they would see him do, so they led on the charge. The first whom Summerlid slew he ript up and took out his heart, desiring the rest to do the same, because that the Danes were no Christians. So the Danes were put to the flight; many of them were lost in the sea endeavouring to gain their ships; the lands of Mull and Morverin being freed at that time from their yoke and slavery.
After this defeat given to the Danes, Sommerlid thought to recover Argyle from those who, contrary to right, had possessed it, being wrung out of the hands of his father unjustly by MacBeath, Donald Bain, and the Danes. It is strange that some of our writers should, through ice or want of information, make him ignobly born, and yet call him Thane of Argyle, which title was not given him by then present king, but they understood he had it by right from his predecessors. Some of the Argathelians made resistance, but were defeated. Macphadin, by joining with Sommerlid, was reconciled to him. In a short time he mastered Lorn, Argyle, Kintyre, and Knapdale; most of the inhabitants, knowing these lands were his by right, as formerly belonging to and possessed by his predecessors.
After this, Olay, surnamed the Red, King of Man, Isla, Mull and Isles southward of the point of Ardnamurchan, came with his fleet to Loch Stornua in order to subdue all the Isles south and north, pretending his right from the King of Denmark, to whom the ancient Danes north of Ardnamurchan refused allegiance; and, as Olay encamped at Loch Stornua, Somerled came to the other side of the loch, and cried out, if Olay was there, and how he fared? Olay replied, that he was well. Then said Somerled, I come from Somerled, Thane of Argyle, who promises to assist you conditionally in your expedition, provided you bestow your daughter on him. Olay answered, that he would not give him his daughter, and that he knew that he himself was the man; but that he and his men should follow him in his expedition.
So Somerled resolved to follow Olay. There was at that time a foster brother of Olay's, one Maurice MacNeill, in Olay's company, who was a near friend of Somerled; and when Somerled brought his two galleys near the place where Olay's ship lay, this Maurice aforesaid came where he was, and said that he would find means by which he might come to get Olay's daughter. So, in the night time, he bored Olay's ship under water with many hoes, and made a pin for each hole, overlaying them with tallow and butter.
When they were up in the morning and set to sea, after passing the point of Ardnamurchan, Olay's ship sprung a leak, casting the tallow and butter out of the holes by the ship tossing on the waves, and beginning to sink, Olay and his men cried for help to Somerled. Maurice replied, that Somerled would not save him unless he bestowed his daughter upon him. At last, Olay being in danger of his life, confirmed by an oath that he would give his daughter to Somerled, who received him immediately into his galley. Maurice went into Olay's galley, and fixed the pins in the holes, which he had formerly prepared for them, and by these means they landed in safety. From that time the posterity of Maurice are called MacIntyres (or wright's sons) to this day.
On this expedition Olay and Somerled killed MacLier, who possessed Strath within the Isle Sky. They killed Godfrey Du, or the Black, by putting out his eyes, which was done by the hermit MacPoke, because Godrey Du had killed his father formerly. Olay, surnamed the Red, killed MacNicoll in North Uist likewise. Now Somerled marrying Olay's daughter, and becoming great after Olay's death, which death, with the relation and circumstances thereof, if you be curious to know, you may get a long account of it in Camden.
Now, Somerled being envied by the rest of the nobility of Scotland for his fortune and valour, King colm being young, thought by all means his kingdom would suffer by the faction, ambition, and envy of his leading men, if Somerled's increasing power would not be crushed. Therefore, they convened and sent an army to Argyle under the command of Gilchrist, Thane of Angus, who, harassing and ravaging the country wherever he came, desired Somerled to give up his right of Argyle or abandon the Isles. But Somerled, making all the speed he could in raising his vassals and followers, went after them; and joining battle, they fought fiercely on both sides with great slaughter, till night parted them. Two thousand on Somerled's side, and seven thousand on Gilchrist's side, were slain in the field.
Being wearied, they parted and marched off at the dawn of day, turning their backs to one another. After this, when the king came to manhood, the nobles were still in his ears, desiring him to suppress the pride of Somerled, hoping, if he should be crushed, they should or might get his estate to be divided among themselves, and at least get him expelled the country. Somerled being informed hereof, resolved to lose all, or possess all, he had in the Highlands; therefore, gathering together all his forces from the Isles and Continent, and shipping them for Clyde, he landed in Greenock.
The king came with his army to Glasgow in order to give battle to Somerled, who marched up the south side of the Clyde, leaving his galleys at Greenock. The king's party quartered at Renfew, Those about him thought proper to send a message to Somerled, the contents of which were, that the king would not molest Somerled for the Isles, which were properly his wife's right; but, as for the lands of Argyle and Kintyre, he would have them restored to himself.
Somerled replied, that he had as good a right to the lands upon the continent as he had to the Isles; yet these lands were unjustly possessed by the King MacBeath and Donald Bain, and that he thought that it did not become his majesty to hinder him from the recovery of his own rights, of which his predecessors were deprived by MacBeath, out of revenge for standing in opposition to him after the murder of king Duncan. As to the Isles, he had an undoubted right to them, his predecessors being possessed of them by the good will and consent of Eugenius the First, for obligations conferred upon him: That, when his forefathers were dispossessed of them by the invasion of the Danes, they had no assistance to defend or recover them from the Scottish king, and that he had his right of them from the Danes; but, however, he would be assisting to the king in any other affairs, and would prove as loyal as any of his nearest friends, but, as long as he breathed, he would not condescend to resign any of his rights which he possessed to any; that he was resolved to lose all or keep all, and that he thought himself as worthy of his own as any about the king's court.
The messenger returned with this answer to the king, whose party was not altogether bent upon joining battle with Somerled, neither did the king look much after his ruin, but, as the most of kings are commonly led by their councillors, the king himself being young, they contrived Somerled's death in another manner. There was a nephew of Somerled's, Maurice MacNeill, his sister's son, who was bribed to destroy him. Somerled lay encampted at the confluence of the river Pasley into Clyde. His nephew taking a little boat, went over the river and having got private audience of him, being suspected by none, stabbed him, and made his escape.
The rest of Somerled's men hearing the death and tragedy of their leader and master, betook themselves to their galleys. The king coming to view the corpse, one of his followers, with his foot, did hit it. Maurice being present said that though he had done the first thing most villainously and against his conscience, that he was unworthy and base so to do; and withal drew his long scian, stabbed him, and escaped by swimming over to the other side of the river, receiving his remission from the king thereafter, with the lands which were formerly promised him. The king sent a boat with the corpse of Somerled to Icollumkill at his own charges. This is the report of twenty writers in Icollumkill, before Hector Boetius and Buchanan were born.