SUTHERLAND AND CAITHNESS IN SAGA--TIME OR, THE JARLS AND THE FRESKYNS BY JAMES GRAY, M.A. OxoN. EDINBURGH OLIVER & BOYD. STROMNESS: PRINTED BY W. R. RENDALL. PREFACE. RIG IN ALLY delivered as a Presidential 0 Address to The Viking Society for Northern Research, the following pages, as amplified and revised, are published mainly with the object of interesting Sutherland and Caithness peopie in the early history of their native counties, and particularly in the three Sagas which bear upon it as well as on that of Orkney and Shetland at a time regarding which Scottish records almost wholly fail us. When, however, these records are extant, use has been made of them together with later books upon them, of which a list follows, and to which references are given in the notes. A special effort has been made to deal with the vexed question of the succession to the Caithness Earldom after Earl John's death in 1231, with the pedigree of the first known ancestors of the House of Sutherland, and with the mystery of the descent of Lady Johanna of Strathnaver. Acknowledgments of assistance received are ten­ dered to the writers of the books above referred to, but thanks are specially due to Mr. A. W. JOHNSTON, Founder and Past President of the Viking Society, for numerous hints, and for making the Index; to Mr. JON STEFANNSON for reading the manuscript; and to Mr. ALAN 0. ANDERSON, whose knowledge of the English and Scottish Records of the period is as accurate as it is extensive, and who has made several valuable suggestions. But for the opinions expressed no one save the writer is responsible, and, where records are scanty, much has necessarily been left to conjecture. J. G. 53 MONTAGU SQUARE, LONDON, W., 1922. TABLE OF CONTENTS. .. LIST OF AUTHORITIES AND BOOKS REFERRED TO lX-.Xll. CHAPTER !.-INTRODUCTORY 1-6 A. D. 82-790-Scope of this Book-Authorities-Roman times and their result-Post-Roman days. CHAPTER IL-THE PICT AND THE N ORTHMAN 7-17 Geography and description of Cat-Brochs-Picts-Christianity -Vikings-Gall-gaels-Gaelic-Land Settlement-The rise of the Scots. CHAPTER III.-THE EARLY NORSEJARLS 18-35 790-1014-Constantine I and the Northmen-Kenneth and the Union of the Picts and Scots-Thorstein the Red and Aud­ Groa and Duncan of Duncansby-The Vikings and Harald Harfagr-Ragnvald of Maeri and Jarl Sigurd-Cyderhall­ Torf-Einar, Thorfinn Hausakliufr, Skuli and others-War for the Moray seaboard-Jarl Sigurd Hlodverson-Christianity introduced in Orkney-Swart Kell-Earl Anlaf-Story of Barth-Sigurd Hlodverson, Clontarf-" Darratha-liod "­ Resume. CHAPTER IV.-TH0RFINN, EARL AND JARL ... .. 1oo8-1o64-King Malcolm's matrimonial alliances-Victory of Carham-Thorfinn Sigurdson, Earl of Caithness and Sutherland -His attempts on Orkney-Somarled, Brusi and Einar­ Thorkel Fostri slays Einar-Moddan created Earl of Caithness and slain by Thorkel-Battle of Torfness-Death of Duncan­ Thorfinn and Macbeth-Thorfinn and Ragnvald Brusison­ Marriage with Ingibjorg-Battle of Rautharbiorg-Thorfinn sole Jarl of Orkney and Shetland-His travels, retirement, and death-His chronology. CHAPTER V.-PAUL AND ERLEND, HAK0N AND MAGNUS 47-57 1058-II23-Paul and Erlend, jarls-Ingibjorg's marriage with Malcolm III-Its objects-Norman conquest of England­ King Magnus Barelegs-Hakon and Magnus, jarls-Harold Slettmali and Paul the Silent, jarls-lngibiorg and Margret­ Moddan in Dale-Feudalism in Scotland-The Catholic Church-Alexander I and David I-The three leading families in Caithness and Sutherland, of the Norse Jarls, Moddan, and Freskyn de Moravia-The Mackays-The Gunns. CHAPTER VI.-THE M0DDA~ FAMILY, JARLS HARALD AND PAUL AND RAGNVALD ... II23-u58-Harald Slettmali and Paul the Silent-Frakark and Helga-Harald poisoned-Frakark in Kildonan-Plot against Jarl Paul-The Moddan family-Audhild-Eric Stag­ brellir-Ragnvald's history and jarldom-Battle of Tankerness -Olvir Rosta and Sweyn-Paul kidnapped-Harold Maddad­ son-Frakark's Burning-Thorbiorn Klerk-Ragnvald's cruise to the East-Erlend Haraldson's grant of half Caithness­ Scramble for the earldom-Ragnvald's daughter Ingirid's marriage to Eric Stagbrellir-Fight at Thurso-Erlend and Sweyn-Erlend's death-Ragnvald' s murder-His descendants. Vlll. Table of l'ontents. CHAPTER VII. -HAROLD MADDADSON AND THE FRESKYNS... 73-92 I 158-12o6-Harold sole Jarl and Earl; his first farnily-Sweyn's cruises and death in I 171-Harold's second wife, and family- Eric Stagbrellir's family-Scottish affairs-Moray and the MacHeths-Freskyn and Duffus-William MacFrisgyn-Hugo Freskyn of Sutherland, and his brother, William of Petty- Hugo's grant to Gilbert, Archdeacon of Moray-Hugo's family-William dominus Sutherlandzae-Events in the North in 1153 and after-William the Lion's accession, 1165- Persons of note at that date-Those in authority-Harold's forfeitures-Events leading up to them-Eddirdovir and Dun­ skaith-Donald Ban Mac William-Defeat ofThorfinn, Harold's son, and of Harold, 11g6-Harald Ungi-Ragnvald Gudrod­ son-Victory of Dalharrold-The Stewards-Death of Thor- finn, Harold's son-William the Lion in Caithness-Death of Harold Maddadson, 1206. CHAPTER Vlll.-JARLS DAVID AND JOHN, FRESKIN II... ... 93-101 12o6-1263-David's eight years, 1206-1214-King William takes John's daughter as a hostage-Murder of Bishop Adam, 1222-King Alexander's expedition-John's forfeiture-Death of John's son, Harald, 1226-Snaekoll Gunni's son, grandson of Eric Stagbrellir-:Murder of Earl John-Trial at Bergen- Lady Johanna of Strathnaver. CHAPTER IX.-THE SUCCESSION TO THE CAITHNESS EARLDOM 102-118 1231-9-Difficulty of the subject-The Angus pedigree-The Diploma of the Orkney Earls-Magnus II's charter-The wardship question-Three claimants ( 1 ) Magnus, ( 2) Johanna of Strathnaver and ( 3} Earl John's nameless hostage daughter- Skene~s opinion-The Cheynes and Federetbs, descendants of Johanna-Her charitable gift-Her Moddan and Erlend descent-~Iagnus II, his descent and marriage-Freskin de Moravia, his descent, marriage, life, and death-The settlement of Caithness and Sutherland-Creation of the Sutherland Earl- dom between 10th October 1237 and Magnus' death in 1239- Conclusion. CHAPTER X.-KING HAKON's EXPEDITION AND THE NORTH I 19-128 1263-1266-Recapitulation-Norse jads and the Norse Crown -Affairs in Sutherland-Battle at Embo-Dornoch Cathedral and its constitution-The Angus line and the Freskyns- Hakon's fleet at Ragnvaldsvoe sails south-Battle of Largs- Hakon's retreat and death-The mainland of Scotland and the Hebrides won for Scotland-Treaty of Perth, 1266. CHAPTER XL-RESULTS AND CONCLUSION ... ... ... .. 129-138 The creed of the Viking-The causes of his migration­ Odinism-Settlement in the West-Celtic mothers-Effect on race, language and place-names-Viking remains-Skaill, Dun­ robin-Castles-The Viking type of man-The blended race- Norman influence. NOTES. .. .. .. .. ... ... ... ... .. .. APPENDIX.-EARLY PEDIGREE OF THE FRESKYN FAMILY INDEX. ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... LIST OF AUTHORITIES AND BOOKS REFERRED T0.1 Anderson, Dr. Joseph. Rhind Lectures, "Scotland in Pagan Times." Edinburgh, 1883 and 1886. Antiquaries. Proceedings of The Society of Scottish. Bain. Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland in Record Office. Bannatyne Club-Publications of. Barry, History of Orkney. Edinburgh, Constable, 180 5. Broxburn. (Strabrock.) History and Antiquities of Uphall, by Rev. James Primrose. Edinburgh, Andrew Elliott, 1898. Burnt Njal. Dasent's Translation. (B.N.)2 Edinburgh, Edmonston & Douglas, 1861. Caithness Family History, by John Henderson. Edinburgh, David Douglas, 1884. Caithness, The County of-by John Horne. Wick, W. Rae, 1907. Calder's History of Caithness. Glasgow, Thomas Murray & Son, 1861. Cat, History of the Province of-by Rev. Angus Mackay. \Vick, Peter Reid & Co., Ltd., 1914. Chalmers. Caledonia. Chroniques Anglo-Normandes. Francisque Michel. Rouen, Ed. Frere, 1836. Corpus Poeti cum Boreale. Oxford, Clarendon Press, r 88 3. Curle. Monuments of Caithness. Royal Commission's Report, 191 I. Curle. Monuments of Sutherland. Royal Con1mission's Report, 1912. Dalrymple's Collections, ( 170 5 ). Diploma of the Earls of Orkney. 1 An excellent Bibliography of Caithness, by Mr. John Mowat, was published by W. Rae, Wick, in 1909, and of Caithness and Sutherland by The Viking Club, 1910, by the same author. 2 The Capitals and abbreviations placed in brackets after certain authorities, give their initial letters and short titles, (e.g. ( 0. S.) Orkneyinga Saga), as used in the notes at the end of this volume. X List of Author£ties Du Chaillu. The Viking Age. John Murray, 1889. Dunfermelyn, Register of. (Bannatyne Club.) Early Scottish Kings, by E. William Robertson, 1862. Eric the Red-Saga of. Flatey Book ( Flateyjarbok ). Christiania, Mallings, 1860. ( F. B.) Fordun. Scottish Annals. Edited by W. F. Skene. Edinburgh, Edmonston & Douglas, 18 7 1. Genealogie of the Earles of Southerland, by Sir Robert Gordon, Bart. Edinburgh, A. Constable, 1813. Hailes (Lord) Additional Case of Elizabeth, Claimant of the Earldom of Sutherland and Annals of Scotland, ( Dalrymple's Works, vol. 4 ). Hakon Saga. Dasent's Translation, Rolls Edition, 1894. (H.S.) Henderson, George-Norse Influence on Celtic Scotland. Glas­ gow, Maclehose, 1910. Henderson, George-Survivals in Belief among the Celts. Glasgow, Maclehose, 1911. Hume Brown. History of Scotland. (H.B.) Innes, Familie of. ( Spalding Club). Laing and Huxley. Prehistoric Ren1ains of Caithness. Williams & Norgate, 1866. Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters. Glasgow, Maclehose, 1905. Lawrie, Annals of the Reigns of Malcolm and William, 1153-1214. Glasgow, Maclehose, 191 o. Liber Pluscardensis. Edited by Felix J. H. Skene. Edinburgh, William Paterson, 1877. Mackay, Rev. Angus. Book of 1\-iackay. Edinburgh, Norman Macleod, 1906. Magnus Saga ( in Rolls Edition of Dasent's Translation of Orkneyinga Saga). Maxwell, Sir Herbert. Early Chronicles relating to Scotland. Glasgow, Maclehose, 1912. Moray-Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis (Bannatyne Club) ( Reg. Morav.) Moray-Shaw's History of.