| He was only fifteen when he succeeded to his father, having been born, according to Sir Robert Gordon, in Darnaway Castle at midsummer 1552. He was brought up or fostered in the family of Dunbar of Grangehill. He narrowly escaped his father's fate, and was sent for safety to the Castle of Skibo, where he was found by the Earl of Caithness, who had purchased his wardship till he was of age. Caithness in the capacity of guardian resided at Dunrobin, where he is said to have burned what he could of the family writs, but the late Earl of Sutherland had placed these in safe custody. Sir Robert Gordon gives details of another plot against the young Earl which was frustrated by his friends, who helped him to escape from Dunrobin and take refuge with the Earl of Huntly. In 1573, being now twenty-one, the Earl took steps to obtain legal possession of his estate, but his service as heir was obtained with much difficulty, as owing to local feuds among the barons and gentlemen of Invernessshire, a sufficient number to form a jury could not be safely convened. He applied to the Privy Oouncil, soliciting a special court to be constituted at Aberdeen, and there accordingly the service vs^as carried through on 8 July 1573. He entered to his inheritance at a time when the counties of Sutherland and Caithness were in a state of turmoil, but according to Sir Robert Gordon he succeeded in pacifying his own tenants, and he also, after a tedious legal process, obtained the reduction of the rights of justiciary held over his territory by the Earl of Caithness. He took little part in public affairs, but he appeared at court more frequently during the stay in Scotland of his kinsman Esme, Duke of Lennox. The rest of his career cannot easily be set down liere, as it was occupied largely with treaties of reconciliation between him and his neighbours the Earl of Caithness, and Mackay of Farr and others, so as to prevent the frequent feuds and quarrels which had formerly disturbed the country. From various references to sickness and disease in connection with this Earl it would appear he was frequently in bad health, and he died, at the early age of forty-two.17 |