Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: III. THE INVASION OF HACO. On the 2d of October 1263, Scotland was released from a danger which had for many months overhung its shores. Early in the year, the Scots had heard that their old enemy Haco, king of Norway, had, at the preceding feast of Christmas, summoned all the warriors of his kingdom to assemble under his banner in the spring, for the purpose of recovering possession of the Western Isles, and carrying dreadful vengeance among the peaceful subjects of Alexander III. Otl the anniversary of the day made sacred through all time by the heavenly tidings of "Peace on Earth," the Norwegian monarch sent forth his proclamation of war. The Scottish king, then in the 23d year of his age, was on his part determined to spare no means of defence against the invading Norsemen. All the principal castles in the country, from Ayr to Aberdeen, were strengthened, and all his subjects able to bear arms got them in readiness to resist the enemy at whatever point the attack should be made. It was, however, to theHebrides and the other islands near the western coast, that Alexander turned his most anxious attention. It had long been felt by his predecessors and himself, that the security and prosperity of the Scottish mainland absolutely required that the western sea should be freed from the piracies of the savage chiefs who pretended allegiance to Norway, an object to be accomplished only by securing to the Scottish crown the firm possession of those islands, and restoring that natural connection with them which the power of the Norsemen had severed. But the very independence of Scotland was now at stake. So well was Haco's summons answered, that in the beginning of July he was able to lead from the harbour of Herlover an armament more powerful and magnificent than any that had pre...