17th century manuscripts Sir Robert Gordon (1630) The earliest account of the Battle of Bealach nam Broig was written by
Sir Robert Gordon (1580–1656) in his manuscript of around 1630. Like Cromartie, Mackenzie of Applecross places the battle after the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. However, Mackenzie of Applecross states that the Kinlochewe men were led by one Duncan MacAulay. MacAulay apparently apprehended the Laird of Balnagowan and marched away with him. They were pursued by the Munros and Dingwalls who MacAulay resolved to fight at a pass called
Bellach ni broigg. He sent two of his men to flee with the Laird of Balnagowan but the two men instead tied the Laird to a tree to stop him escaping and so that they could join in with the battle. MacAulay's arrows having run out he was forced to quit the pass. The Dingwall Laird of Kildun was killed with seven score of his men and the Munros lost thirteen who were allegedly supposed to succeed the Munro Laird of Foulis. As with Cromartie's account, MacAulay then used his prisoner to bargain for the release of his master who was a Mackenzie.
Letterfearn Manuscript (c. 1670) It has been claimed that the
Letterfearn manuscript, which is a history and genealogy of Clan Mackenzie, was written sometime between 1663 and 1670, and only an incomplete copy has survived. It contains a
bardic story concerning the "battle of the brogues" in which Euphame of Ross wished to marry a Mackenzie. However,
Euphemia I, Countess of Ross had died by 1398 and
Euphemia II, Countess of Ross had died by 1424. The generally accepted date of the Battle of Bealach nam Broig is 1452 which therefore casts doubt on the story written in the
Letterfearn manuscript. The story runs that Euphame of Ross wished to marry Mackenzie, despite his refusals. Her followers imprisoned him and
tortured his servant, who stated that
Eilean Donan Castle would never be surrendered by its constable, Macaulay, except to the one who wore Mackenzie's ring. The ring was then taken from Mackenzie, and used to deceive Macaulay into handing over the castle as a pledge that Mackenzie would not break his alleged
engagement to the countess. When Macaulay learned that he was tricked snuck into
Dingwall Castle, and communicated with Mackenzie who devised a plan to kidnap the countess' uncle. When the deed was carried out, Macaulay was then pursued by Munros and Dingwalls. When Macaulay and his followers were about to be overtaken he sent his prisoner and two men to continue while he stood to defend a pass. The pass, the story says, has since then been known as the 'pass of the brogue', because the pursuers were forced to cover their chests with their brogues to defend themselves against the arrows of the defenders. When Macaulay's arrows had run out he was forced to quit the pass and retreat towards Kintail. Along the way he surprised a party of
Rosses who were carrying provisions to
Eilean Donan Castle. Macaulay and his followers then arrived at the castle, passing as the Rosses with provisions, and re-took the castle. Macaulay prepared for a long
siege and sent word that he would
hang his prisoner, the Laird of Balnagowan, unless his master, Mackenzie, was set free—and so Mackenzie was freed in exchange for Ross of Balnagowan.
George Martine (1635-1712) George Martine (1635-1712) wrote his manuscript history of the Munro chiefs in the late 17th century. In the opening paragraph it mentions the battle as having taken place in 1299 but on the next page he says that the battle took place in 1452, and this latter date was later used by historian
Alexander Mackenzie in his
History of the Mackenzies in 1894 and
History of the Munros in 1898. The rebelling faction then apprehended the Earl of Ross's second son, Alexander, at Balnagown and carried him captive with them to make a deal with the Earl. Mackenzie's followers from Kenlochewe, consisting of MacIvers, MacLennans, MacAulays, and MacLeays, freed him and then seized Alexander Ross of Balnagown (chief of
Clan Ross) who was a relative of the Earl of Ross. In 1978, R.W Munro published a book
The Munro Tree 1734 which includes both the details of a Munro family tree dating from 1734 as well as his own historical research into the Munro family. Munro states that the Munro family tree of 1734 mentions that George Munro of Foulis was killed at the Battle of Bealach Nam Broig but it does not mention the often repeated tradition that there fell 'eleven Munros of the house of Foulis that were to succeed one another, so that the succession fell to a child lying in a cradle'. R. W. Munro also states that it is recorded that George Munro of Foulis was dead by 1453, just a year after the battle.
Other accounts John of Islay, Earl of Ross who was also the Lord of the Isles had supported the Earl of Douglas in rebellion against the king. George Eyre-Todd writing in 1923 stated that George Munro of Foulis was killed during the wars of the Isles and Douglases, the
Battle of Brechin having been fought by supporters of the Douglases in 1452, which was the same year that the Battle of Bealach nam Broig took place, but Eyre-Todd gives the year of Munro's death as 1454. ==Location==