[101] This person was the chief of the ancient and warlike clan Gregor, and one of the few of the West Highland chiefs who took a part in the struggle for the independence of the country. He remained steady in his loyalty to Robert Bruce, who he is said to have rescued from John of Lorn at Dalreoch. On this occasion he was mounted on a milk-white steed. He afterwards harboured the King in a large cave near Cragcrastan, which is to this day called “_Uagh na riogh_”, or the _King’s Cave_, from which he crossed over and met the Earl of Lennox at Lochlomond. Malcolm fought at the Battle of Bannockburn, and is said to have been the person who brought the relict of St Fillan’s arm from the country of that name, then part of his property, to King Robert’s chaplain, who very adroitly passed it off for a miracle, and thereby excited the hopes and stimulated the valour of the army. So sensible was Bruce of this piece of service, that he founded a priory in honour of the saint in Strathfillan in 1314. Malcolm was much celebrated in the songs of the bards. He fought under King Edward Bruce in Ireland; and having received a wound at the battle of Dundalk, he retired home in consequence; and as he never entirely recovered, he was called ever after, “_Mórfhear bacach_” or the lame lord. [102] The rock on which the castle stood, was then known, as it is to this day, by the name of _Crag-an-àradh_, or the _rock of the ladder_. The Minstrel calls it _Crage unyn_. This deviation is extremely small, and more in the orthography than the orthoepy. The West-Highlanders pronounce _crag-an-àradh_, nearly as if spelled _craganari_. The difference may have easily occurred in the act of transcribing. The mode of crossing the ravine as above described, was in use till the present road was made by government, when a bridge was substituted for the less commodious expedient of a ladder. [103] See Appendix, E. [104] Vol. ii. p. 297. [105] Vol. ii p. 197. [106] See Appendix, F. [107] The military genius of Bruce had not yet developed itself. Nothing can exhibit a greater contrast than the early and the later career of this illustrious individual. The indecision and inertness which mark his first appearance in public life, and the sublimity of heroism to which he afterwards attained, almost entitle him to be considered as the Cimon of Scottish history. [108] Some curious and authentic information on this subject may be found in vol. i. p. 252-260 of Tytler’s History of Scotland,--a valuable work at present in the course of publication.