The King soon after denounced Thomas Neilson Mackay to be a rebel and promised his lands and possessions for a reward to any that would kill or apprehend him.
[7][2] Walter Bower's (c. 1385-1449) original 15th century contemporary account of the battle in his work Scotichronicon, which was later quoted by Pinkerton, is as follows: Meanwhile, in spite of all the endeavours by James, the highlands remained in a state of constant rebellion and savage anarchy.
[2]George Buchanan's (1506-1582) account is as follows: Although this severity produced a little more quietness in the Ebudae and neighboring regions for the time, yet the restless disposition of the inhabitants would not allow the tranquillity to be of any long duration.
Having gathered together almost an equal number, for each supported about twelve hundred ruffians by public rapine, they engaged with such fury, that scarcely a messenger was left to carry the tidings of the their mutual destruction.
[8]John Lesley's or Leslie's (1527-1596) account is as follows: The king efter this, rigorouslie punist al quha in his absence ony crime had committed.
Bot for al his severitie, he culd noct stay Angus Duff of Stanaver, from spoyleing and waisting Moray land and Cathnes: quhair meitis him, passing throuch the cuntrie, the vther Angus of Morayland in plane battel: Thay met thair, sa scharpile sett onn: sa cruellie faucht, that skairse war left on the baith partes to tell tydengs to the king, or the maner how that met.
Sir Robert Gordon (1580–1656) wrote an account of this battle in his book A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland: Angus Murray, for the performance of his engaged promise made to Niel and Morgan, gave them his two daughters in marriage; then gathering a company of Sutherland-men, with Earl Robert his attollerance, he went on with these two brethren into Strathnver, to invade the same.
When they were ready to encounter, some two miles from Tongue, at a place called Drum-ne-coub, Angus-Dow MacKay sent message unto his cousin-germans [sic], Niel and Morgan, offering them all his lands and possessions, except what is called Kintail in Strathnaver; which offer they did refuse, whereupon there ensued a cruel and sharp conflict, valiantly fought a long time with great slaughter on either side; Niel and Morgan trusting to their forces, John Aberach reposing his confidence in the equity of his cause, encouraged his men to assault their enemies afresh, who, with the like manhood, made stout resistance; by reason whereof there ensued such a cruel fight between them, that there remained, in the end very few alive on either side.
Sir Robert Gordon also writes of the events after the Battle of Drumnacoub: The Earl of Sutherland being advertised how all passed at Drum-na-coub, and being informed of Angus Murray his death, he pursued John Abeerach so hotly, that he constrained him, for safety of his life, to fly into the isles.
Then again John Aberach settled himself into the country of Strathnaver, where he continued until the death of King James the First, that his brother, Neil-Vasse MacKay was relieved out of the Bass (in 1437), by the means of the lady of that place, who was his near kinswoman.