The copy (watermarked 1829) is ascribed by Donald Gregory in 1836 (‘History of the western Highlands and Isles of Scotland’, page 10) to a Hugh Macdonald. Hand anonymous, probably that of a clerk. Gregory’s ascription to Hugh Macdonald may result from a misreading of Sir William MacLeod Bannatyne’s preface, in which ‘Austin’ (Hugh) in fact occurs twice although the words ‘Austin being himself’ resemble ‘written by himself’. Gregory had the history copied (watermarked 1827); the only ascription to Hugh Macdonald therein is modern (in list of contents).

When William Forbes Skene had the manuscript in 1833; nowhere does he ascribe it to more than ‘a Highland Sennachie’. The Hugh Macdonald ascription was followed, without comment, by J R N MacPhail in his edition of the text in ‘Donald Gorme his genealogie from Hugo Alexander’ in ‘Highland Papers’, volume 1, pages 101-102.

The semi-legible preface at page i, and many almost totally illegible marginal notes throughout the manuscript, are in Sir William MacLeod Bannatyne’s hand.

The contents are as follows.

(i) Bannatyne’s hand: “Copy, fragment History of the MacDonalds from mant. Possessed by Major Macdonald Knock, father of the late General Donald Macdonald, the fragment from which this copy was taken beginning with the history of Somerled and ending with the succession of Donald grandson of Austin brother to Alexander Lord of the Isles, in whose person that great family was forfeited, Austin being himself founder of the Sleat family, afterwards Baronets and then Irish peers by the title of Lord Macdonald. Note: this manuscript from part of its contents evidently appears to have been written by a descendant or retainer of the last mentioned family. Certainly tho’ (?) from the last part of it being wanting so that it does not now appear how far down the writer brought the history of the family, not written earlier than the reign of James the 2d and perhaps later as in notice of some particulars in the history of the Macdonalds of Moidt it talks of the time of Charles II as if (?) in parts not being earlier than the reign of Charles the 2d”. Pencilled above by Gregory: “Belongs to Sir Wm Bannatyne. Lent 16th Augt 1833 to Wm F Skene by Donald Gregory. To be returned to Mr Gregory when Mr Skene has done with it”. (Page i.)

(ii) MacDonald history beginning ‘Sommerled the son of Gilbert, began to muse on the low condition and misfortune to which he and his father were reduced. The following verses are quoted:’ (Page 1.)

(iii) Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. ‘Sma an cochdira an Pacris’, 1 quatrain. MacPhail, ‘Donald Gorme his genealogie from Hugo Alexander’ in ‘Highland Papers’, volume 1, page 42. (Middle of page 36.)

(iv) Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar. ‘Oiche dho bhi an theach’, 1 quatrain. See MacPhail, ‘Donald Gorme his genealogie from Hugo Alexander’ in ‘Highland Papers’, volume 1, page 43. (Middle of page 37.)

(v) Art Ó Cairbre. “Tanmin do Dhia a mharcaich”, 1 quatrain. See MacPhail, ‘Donald Gorme his genealogie from Hugo Alexander’ in ‘Highland Papers’, volume 1, page 52. (Middle of page 46.)