as torn asunder
with terrific violence, and the bodies of her soldiers and mariners
were flung far over the bay and even upon the shore. So complete was
the destruction that only three of the several hundred Spaniards
escaped alive. The _Florencia_ had vanished in a manner truly epic,
and proud were the MacLeans of the deed of young Donald Glas who gave
his life for the honor of his clan.

One of the surviving traditions is that a dog belonging to Captain
Pareira was hurled ashore alive. The faithful creature, when it had
recovered from its hurts, refused to leave that part of the strand
nearest the wreck, and continued to howl most piteously by day and
night as long as it existed, which was more than a year. The Spanish
officers, who had remained as hostages in the hands of Lachlan Mo'r
MacLean were set at liberty by that sometimes courteous chief, and were
permitted to proceed to Edinburgh where they lodged complaint with the
king touching the destruction of their galleon. The matter of Captain
Pareira having been disposed of in this explosive fashion, Lachlan
MacLean returned to his main business of harrying the MacDonalds, and
so fiercely and destructively was the feud conducted thereafter, that
King James thought it time to interfere, lest he should have no
subjects left in the Western Highlands. The warring chiefs were
summoned to Edinburgh and imprisoned and fined, after which they made
their peace with the king and returned to their island realms. The
affair of the _Florencia_ was named in the charges brought against
MacLean. In the official records of Holyrood Palace, seat of the
Scottish kings, is this information, laid before the Privy Council on
January 3rd, 1591:

That in the preceding October, Lachlan MacLean "accompanied with a
great number of thieves, broken men and ... of clans, besides the
number of one hundred Spaniards, came to the properties of His Majesty,
Canna, Rum, Eigg and the Isle of Elenole, and after they had wracked
and spoiled the said islands, they treasonably raised fire, and in
maist barbarous, shameful and cruel manner, burnt the same island, with
the men, women and children there, not sparing the youths and infants;
and at the same time past came to the Castle of Ardnamurchan, besieged
the same, and lay about the said castle three days, using in the
meantime all kinds of hostilities and force, both by fire and sword....
The like barbarous and shameful cruelty has seldom been