Battle of Garbharry

The Battle of Garbharry was a Scottish clan battle fought in the year 1555, in Strathnaver, in the Scottish Highlands. It was the last battle to be fought between the Clan MacKay and Clan Sutherland.

Accounts of the Battle

ir Robert Gordon

Historian Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656) wrote of the feud in his book the "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland":

"The Queen granted commission to John Gordon, Earl of Sutherland, against Iye MacKay and his country. The Earl of Sutherland, assisted by Huntly, and having the regent's commission, raised an overwhelming force, and for the first time that ever any Earl of Sutherland adventured to do so, invaded MacKay's country. So Earl John assembling all his forces, entered into Strathnaver, sack-ing and spoiling before him in a hostile manner, and possessed all the places of doubt, lest, as Hollinshed sayeth, any hole might be left for them to pass away from thence. But when Earl John perceived that Iye MacKay would not abide and fight him, he besieged the strong castle and fort called Borwe, the principal strength of that country, not two miles distant from Far. After a short siege, he took it by force, and hanged Rory MacKean-Voir, captain thereof." ["Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland". p.134- 135, by Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656)]

Robert MacKay

Robert MacKay after giving Sir Robert Gordon's account continues to the Battle of Garbharry in his book the "History of the House and Clan of the Name MacKay" (1829):

"Iye MacKay and his people, however, acted more manfully than to hide themselves in holes, and more prudently than to fight such a multitude: they marched by another direction to the coast-side, and spoiled before them, doing more injury than they had received. It appears that Earl John had been apprehensive of this, and had ordered his chamberline, MacKenzie of Kintail, to guard his country in his absence, assisted by his clan, and others from Ross, of which Earl John was then lieutenant. They met at Strathbora, where they had a conflict and whosever credits Sir Robert, needs be at no loss to the conjecture how it terminated. He says, that on that occasion, Iye MacKay burnt the church at Loth, but mentions no cause. It rests on his authority that he did so at all: but if he did so, it must have been in order to redress himself of the enemy who had taken sanctuary there: but stones and timber were then beginning to be less held in veneration than formerly. Some time thereafter, Iye MacKay having left his country and affairs under the management of his cousin, John-More MacKay, took his journey to Edinburgh, and gave himself up to the regent, to take his trial, in reference to any crimes that might be charged against him. It is said that she was much taken with his appearance, and felt inclined to befriend him. She had also many upright men of her council at that time, such as the Earls of Cassilis, Glencairn, and Argyle, Lord James Stuart, afterwards Earl of Murray, and others. It does not appear that he was brought to any trial, but kept in confinement for some time." ["History of the House and Clan of the Name MacKay" (1829). p.126 - 127 by Robert MacKay: Quoting "Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland" by Sir Robert Gordon (1580 - 1656)]

Conflicts of the Clans

An account of the battle was written in the book "Conflicts of the Clans" published by the Foulis Press in 1764, written from a manuscript from the time of King James VI of Scotland (1566 - 1625):

"The Queen Regent having gotten the Government of Scotland from the Earl of Arran, she made her progress into the North, and so to Inverness the year of God 1555. Then was Y Mackay (the son of Donald) summoned to compear before the Queen at Inverness, for that he had spoiled and molested the country of Sutherland during Earl John's being in France with the Queen Regent. Mackay refused to compear, whereupon there was a commission granted to John, Earl of Sutherland, against him. Earl John invaded Strathnaver in all hostile manner, and besieged the Castle of Borve, the principal fort of that country, which he took by force, and caused hang the Captain, then demolished the fort. In end, he beset Y Mackay so, on all sides, that he forced him to render himself, and then was delivered by Earl John to Sir Hugh Kennedy, by whom he was conveyed South and committed to ward in the Castle of Edinburgh, where he remained a long space. Whilst Y Mackay staid in captivity, his cousin-german John Mor Mackay, took upon him the government of Strathnaver. This John Mor taking the occasion of Earl John's absence in the south of Scotland, he invaded Sutherland with a company of the most resolute men in Strathnaver; they burnt the chapel of St. Ninian's in Navidell, where the inhabitants of the country, upon this sudden tumult, had conveyed some of their goods; so, having spoiled that part of the country, they retire homeward. The inhabitants of Sutherland assembled together, and followed in all haste under the conduct of MacJames, the Terell of the Doil, and James MacWilliam. They overtook the Strathnaver men at the foot of the hill called Beinn-mhor, in Berriedale, and invaded them beside the water of Garbharry, where then ensued a cruel conflict, fought with great obstinacy. The Strathnaver men were overthrown and chased; about 120 of them were slain, and some drowned in Garbharry. This is the last conflict that hath been fought betwixt Sutherland and Strathnaver." [ [http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/Scots_NS/Hty_Sct/Conflict_Clans/CC/Garbharry.html Conflicts of the Clans ] ] [ [http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/conflict/Garbharry.html Conflicts of the Clans ] ]

References