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GEORGE V, 45TH (7TH) EARL 1676-1698

[From History of Caithness and History of the Scottish Clans].

On the death of George IV, Glenorchy assumed the title, his deed of conveyance having been confirmed by Royal Charter under the Great Seal. In order to secure county support he appointed Sir John Sinclair of Murkle, Sheriff and Justiciary-Depute of Caithness, as well as bailie of all the baronies on the Caithness estate. In the meantime George Sinclair of Keiss, son of Francis Sinclair of Northfield, disputed Glenorchy's right to the title, and more especially to the lands of Northfield and Tister, which he inherited from his father. The claims of both were submitted to the four most eminent advocates of Scotland, namely, Sir George Mackenzie, Sir Robert Sinclair of Longformacus, Sir George Lockhart, and Sir John Cunningham. Their decision was favourable to Glenorchy, and the king thereupon wrote to the Privy Council instructing them to issue a proclamation prohibiting Keiss from assuming the title of Earl, etc., etc. Keiss paid no attention to the interdict, and not only retained possession of the lands, which he claimed as his inheritance, but annoyed Glenorchy's chamberlains so much that they found it exceedingly difficult to collect his rents. The county gentry all espoused Keiss' cause, the warmest supporters being David Sinclair of Broynach and William Sinclair of Thura, who even went so far as to assist him to demolish the castle of Thurso East, of which his rival had taken possession. The common people also were everywhere friendly to Keiss, and Glenorchy was generally regarded as an usurper who had taken advantage of the necessities of the late Earl to trick him of his title and estates.

At length the Privy Council, on 11th November 1679, passed an act charging the "haill kin, friends, and followers of John, Earl of Caithness, to concur and assist" in recovering the contested lands. To carry this into effect, in the summer of 1680 Glenorchy invaded Caithness with a large force of 700 or 1100 men, including the followers of the immediate descendants of his family, namely, Glenlyon, Glenfalloch, Glendochart, and Achallader, as also those of his brother-in-law, the Laird of Macnab. He was also attended by a detachment of the King's troops under General Dalzell, and they all marched North from the Tay. Keiss resolved to give battle in open field, and hastily collected 800 or 1500 followers, mostly destitute of military tactics, and his only officer of experience was Major Sinclair of Thura, who had served in the German wars. The hostile parties met near Stirkoke, but the day being far spent, and the Highlanders fatigued with a march of nearly 30 miles, Glenorchy declined battle, withdrawing to the hills of Yarrow. The place whence they retired was long known by the name of "Torran na Gael," or the Highlanders' Hill. The Sinclairs marched into Wick, and celebrated their supposed advantage in a deep carousal, being liberally supplied, it is said, with drink by a secret agent of the Campbells, Pennant says: "Glenorchy thought proper to add stratagem to force. He knew that in those days whisky was the nectar of Caithness, and in consequence ordered a ship laden with that precious liquor to pass round and wilfully strand itself on the shore. The Caithnessians made a prize of the vessel, and in indulging themselves too freely became an easy prey to the Earl". Glenorchy appointed a strict watch, and took every necessary precaution against a sudden surprisal. The men not on guard wrapped themselves in their plaids, and lay down to sleep on the bare heath.

About eight o'clock next morning (13th July) Glenorchy quitted his bivouac, and crossed the river of Wick below Sibster, nearly opposite Stirkoke Mains, which his men are stated to have leaped across. The news spreading to Wick excited much alarm. The Sinclairs, mustering hastily, hurried up the riverside to engage the enemy, and Glenorchy ranged 500 of his men on the haugh [mound] adjacent to the burn of Altimarlach. This water-course in summer is quite dry, and may then be described as a huge gully, with steep banks on each side. It lies about two miles to the west of Wick. Nothing could be better adapted for an ambuscade, of which Glenorchy with great tact availed himself. He accordingly ordered the remainder of his men to lie down and conceal themselves in this deep gorge, nor stir from the spot until their officers should give them the word to rise. As the Sinclairs advanced they made a detour to the right, at some little distance from the head of the ravine, and of course did not see the ambuscade prepared for them. Their object in this movement was to have the advantage of the higher ground, and thus to place the enemy between them and the river. In the meantime, Glenorchy encouraged his men with the following short address, originally delivered in Gaelic: "We are this day in an enemy's country. He that stands this day by me, I'll stand by him, my son by his son, and my grandson by his grandson; but if this day goes against us, he will be a lucky man that ever gets home, for long is the cry to Lochawe, and far is the help from Cruachan". When the two hostile bodies were within a few yards of each other Glenorchy gave the signal for attack, and the deadly strife commenced. The onset of the Campbells was so furious that the Sinclairs, unfitted by their carousal of the previous evening, instantly gave way and fled with precipitation in the direction of the burn of Altimarlach. At this moment the reserve corps of the Highlanders, starting up from their ambush with a savage shout, met the fugitives in the face, and being thus pressed in front and rear, and at the same time outflanked on the left, the Sinclairs in desperation made a rush for the river. The Campbells chased them into the water as they attempted to escape to the other side, and committed such dreadful havoc that it is said they passed dry-shod over the fallen dead. Not a few of the Sinclairs who endeavoured to save their lives by running for the open plain were hewed down by the murderous battle-axe and broadsword of the infuriated victors. Sinclair of Keiss himself, Sinclair of Thura, and the other leaders of his party, owed their safety to the fleetness of their chargers. The engagement lasted but a few minutes, and was as bloody as it was brief, no less than 200 of the Caithness men being reported to have fallen in action. Such was the issue of the famous battle of Altimarlach, so disastrous to the county, and so humiliating to the pride of the Sinclairs. Originating in a family quarrel, it has a special interest as being the last instance of private war being waged in Scotland.

Glenorchy quartered a part of his troops in Caithness for some time, levying rents and taxes as in a conquered country, and subjecting the people to the most grievous oppression. The remainder of his men he sent home in detached companies immediately after the battle.

Nothing daunted by the reverse at Altimarlach, George Sinclair of Keiss continued his opposition, and finally laid siege to Castle Sinclair, which he took after a feeble resistance of the garrison. The reduction was effected with the aid of firearms and or artillery. For this affair he and his three friends who assisted him, Sinclair of Broynach, Sinclair of Thura, and Mackay of Strathnaver, fell under the ban of Government, and were declared rebels. At length, through the influence of the Duke of York, afterwards James II, [Note - no Scot would ever have referred to James VII as James II] Keiss finally secured his claim to the title of Earl of Caithness, and also obtained full possession of his patrimonial property, while Glenorchy was compensated for his loss by being created Earl of Breadalbane and Baron of Wick (15th July 1681). The men of Caithness, detesting him for his cruelties at Altimarlach, lost no chance of "making him weary of his lands in the county", the most of which he sold to the Ulbster family in 1719.

George Sinclair, 45th Earl of Caithness, died without issue at Keiss in 1698, and was succeeded in the Earldom by his second cousin, Sir John Sinclair of Murkle.

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