!SOURCE: Sir Robert Douglas of Glenbervie, Bart., THE PEERAGE OF
SCOTLAND, Vol. 2, Second Edition, John Philip Wood, Esq., Editor,
Edinburgh, 1813, pp. 12-13.
XVI. Donald MacDonald of Slate, who, under the designation of Donald
Gorme de Slait, was served heir to Donald Gorme de Slait, his uncle, in
the lands of Slait, Northwist, Skerdhoug, Beambeculla, Gergremynis,
Skelpick, Gremynis, Tallowmartane, Orwnsag, Wainlies, adn the Ile
Gilligerrie, in the lordship of the Isles, 6th May 1617. He had his
education at the University of Oxford, and stood high in the favour of
King Charles I, who created him a baronet of Nova Scotia, by patent,
bearing date 14th July 1625, containing this clause, that he and his heirs
male and assigns should have precedency before Sir William Douglas of
Glenbervy, Sir Alexander Strachan of Thorntoun, and Sir David
Livingstone of Dunipace, by virtue of which he became the next baronet
to Sir Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, and the second of that order in the
kingdom of Scotland. When the civil wars commenced in 1639, Charles I.
thought the assistance of Sir Donald Macdonald of so much consequence,
that he wrote him a letter, dated 11th June that year, from his camp
near Berwick, promising him the lands of Punard, Ardnamurchan, and
Strathardill, the islands of Roume, Muck, and Cannay, which were to
accrue to him by the forfeiture of the Earl of Argyll, Sir Dugald
Campbell, and Mackinnon, seeing that Sir Donald at this time stood out
for the good of his Majesty''s service, and was resolved to undergo the
hazard of his person and estate for the same; all which he promises, on
the word of a king, to ratify to Sir Donald and his heirs, in any manner
they shall think think proper, provided that he use his best endeavours in
his service at this time, according to his Majesty''s commission. He
made some discoveries of the secret designs of the covenanters, of much
importance to the King; but died in October 1643, at a time when he
expected considerable succours from the Marquis of Antrim. He married
Janet, second daughter of Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, sister
of the first and second Earls of Seaforth, by whom he had issue.