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An t-seachdain sa chaidh bha sinn a’ leantainn Hákon IV, Rìgh Nirribhidh, an dèidh Blàr na Leargaidh Ghallta. Chaidh e a dh’Arcaibh. ’S e an treas Rìgh Alasdair a bha air rìgh-chathair na h-Alba. Cha robh Hákon air a bhith gu math fad greis. Agus ann an Arcaibh, chaochail e.

An dèidh a bhàis, thàinig a mhac, Mànus VI, don rìgh-chathair. Bha esan a’ tuigsinn gun robh cumhachd Nirribhidh ann an Alba agus Eilean Mhanainn a-nise lag.

Chaidh teachdairean eadar an dà dhùthaich. Thug Alasdair ionnsaigh air Eilean Mhanainn agus eileanan eile. Bha smachd nan Nirribheach air eileanan eadar Ìle agus Leòdhas a’ fàs cugallach. 

Ann an dà cheud deug, seasgad ʼs a còig (1265) chuir Rìgh Mànus dithis theachdairean cliùiteach a dh’Alba. Thuirt iad ri Alasdair gum biodh na Nirribhich riaraichte nam biodh smachd aig Alba air Bòd agus Arainn. Ach bha iad ag iarraidh smachd a chumail air a h-uile eilean eile.

Cha robh Alasdair toilichte le sin. Bha grunn choinneamhan eile ann, ann an Nirribhidh agus Alba. Mu dheireadh, thàinig iad gu aonta. B’ e an t-aonta sin Co-chòrdadh Pheairt. Chaidh ainmean riochdairean an dà dhùthaich a chur ris ann am Manachainn nam Manach Dubha ann am Peairt. Bha sin air an dàrna latha dhen Iuchar, dà cheud deug, seasgad ʼs a sia (1266).

Fon aonta, leig na Nirribhich seachad an smachd aca air Eilean Mhanainn agus eileanan taobh an iar na h-Alba. Bhiodh na h-eileanan sin fo ùghdarras is uachdranachd na h-Alba. Cha bhiodh na h-eileanaich a bha a’ taobhadh le Nirribhidh air am peanasachadh. Agus bha iad saor gus falbh nam biodh iad air a shon.

Dè fhuair na Nirribhich às? Uill, ghlèidh iad Arcaibh agus Sealtainn. Agus fhuair iad sùim airgid – ceud marg gach bliadhna. Bha sin timcheall air seasgad ʼs a sia notaichean (£66) gach bliadhna – sùim glè mhòr aig an àm.

Eadar Co-chòrdadh York agus Co-chòrdadh Pheairt, choisinn Alba an ìre mhath an cumadh a tha aice an-diugh, ach gu bheil Arcaibh agus Sealtainn a-nise mar phàirt dhith. Eatarra, dhearbh an dàrna agus treas Alasdair gur e rìghrean buadhach a bha annta. 

Last week we were following Hákon IV, King of Norway, after the Battle of Largs. He went to Orkney. It’s Alexander III that was on the throne of Scotland. Hákon had not been well for a while. And in Orkney, he died.

After his death, his son, Magnus VI, came to the throne. He was understanding that Norway’s power in Scotland and the Isle of Man was now weak.

Envoys went between the two countries. Alexander attacked the Isle of Man and other islands. The Norwegians’ control of islands between Islay and Lewis was becoming shaky.

In 1265 Magnus sent two well-regarded envoys to Scotland. They said to Alexander that the Norwegians would satisfied if Scotland controlled Bute and Arran. But they were wanting to retain control of every other island.

Alexander wasn’t pleased with that. There were a few other meetings, in Norway and Scotland. Finally, they reached agreement. That agreement was the Treaty of Perth. Representatives of the two countries signed it in the Blackfriars’ Monastery in Perth. That was on the second of July 1266.

Under the agreement, the Norwegians relinquished their control of the Isle of Man and the islands of western Scotland. Those islands would be under the authority and sovereignty of Scotland. The islanders who were siding with Norway would not be punished. And they were free to leave if they wished.

What did the Norwegians get out of it? Well, they retained Orkney and Shetland. And they received a sum of money – a hundred merks every year. That was around £66 annually – a significant sum at the time.

Between the Treaty of York and the Treaty of Perth, Scotland achieved pretty much the shape it has today, except that Orkney and Shetland are now part of it. Between them, the second and third Alasdairs proved that they were successful kings.