Skye, Island of (Scotland) -- Description and travel
Norwegian messengers were, as before, some bishops and barons; the
Scotch commissaries were some knights and monks. The deliberations
were long, but still without any result. At last, when the day was
declining, a crowd of Scotchmen began to gather, and, as it continued
to increase, the Norwegians, not thinking themselves safe, returned
without having obtained anything. The Norwegian warriors now
demanded earnestly that the truce should be renounced, because their
provisions had begun to be scarce, and they wanted to plunder. King
Hacon accordingly sent one of his esquires, named Kolbein, to King
Alexander with the letter issued by this monarch, ordering him to
claim back that given by himself, and thus declare the truce to be
ended, previously, however, proposing that both kings should meet at
the head of their respective armies, and try a personal conference
before coming to extremities; only, if that failed, they might go to
battle as the last expedient. King Alexander, however, did not
declare his intention plainly, and Kolbein, tired of waiting,
delivered up the letter, got that of King Hacon back, and thus
rescinded the truce. He was escorted to the ships by two monks.
Kolbein, when reporting to King Hacon his proceedings, told him that
Eogan of Argyll had earnestly tried to persuade King Alexander from
fighting with the Norwegians. It does not seem, however, that Eogan
went back to King Hacon according to his promise. This monarch now
was greatly exasperated, and desired the Scottish monks, when
returning, to tell their king that he would very soon recommence the
hostilities, and try the issue of a battle.
"Accordingly, King Hacon detached King Dugald, Alan M'Rory his
brother, Angus of Isla, Murchard of Kentire, and two Norwegian
commanders, with sixty ships, to sail into Loch Long, and ravage the
circumjacent ports, while he prepared to land himself with the main
force at Largs, and fight the Scottish army. The detachment does not
appear to have met with any serious resistance, all the Scotch forces
being probably collected near Largs. The banks of Loch Lomond and
the whole of Lennox were ravaged. Angus even ventured across the
country to the other side, probably near Stirling, killing men and
taking a great number of cattle. This done, the troops who had been
on shore returned to the ships. Here, however, a terrible storm,
which blew for two days, (Oct. 1 and 2,) wrecked ten vessels; and one
of the Norwegian captains was taken sick, and died suddenly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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