history of the mackenzies-第42部分

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s　majority；　the　cousins；　taking　advantage　of　the　　absence　of　Mackenzie；　who　had　gone　on　a　visit　to　France；　continued　their　　depredations　and　insolence　wherever　they　found　opportunity。　　Besides；　　they　made　a　complaint　against　him　to　the　Privy　Council；　whereupon　he　　was　charged　at　the　pier　of　Leith　to　appear　before　the　Council　on　an　appointed　day　under　pain　of　forfeiture。　　In　this　emergency；　Mr　John　　Mackenzie；　minister　of　Dingwall；　went　privately　to　France　in　search　of　his　　chief；　whom　he　found　and　brought　back　in　the　most　secret　manner　to　　Edinburgh；　fortunately　in　time　to　present　himself　next　day　after　his　arrival　　before　the　Council；　in　terms　of　the　summons　at　Glengarry's　instance；　and；　after　consulting　his　legal　adviser　and　other　friends；　he　appeared　quite　　unexpectedly　before　their　Lordships。

Meantime；　while　the　gentlemen　were　on　their　way　from　France；　Alexander　MacGorrie　and　Alexander　MacRory　killed　in　his　bed　Donald　Mackenneth　Mhic　Alastair；　a　gentleman　of　the　family　of　Davochmaluag；　who　lived　at　Kishorn。　　The　shirt；　covered　with　his　blood；　had　been　sent　to　　Edinburgh　to　await　the　arrival　of　Mackenzie；　who　the　same　day　presented　　it　before　the　Privy　Council；　as　evidence　of　the　foul　crime　committed　by　his　　accusers。　　Glengarry　was　unable　to　prove　anything　material　against　Kintail　　or　his　followers。　　On　the　contrary；　the　Rev。　John　Mackenzie；　of　Dingwall；　charged　Glengarry　with　being　instrumental　in　the　murder　of　John　Og　and　　his　family　at　Applecross；　as　also　in　that　of　Donald　Mackenzie　of　　Davochmaluag；　and　undertook　not　only　to　prove　this；　but　also　that　he　was　　a　sorner；　an　oppressor　of　his　own　and　of　his　neighbours'　tenants；　an　idolater；　who　had　a　man　in　Lochbroom　making　images；　in　testimony　of　　which　he　carried　south　the　image　of　St。　Coan；　which　Glengarry　worshipped；　called　in　Edinburgh　Glengarry's　god；　and　which　was；　by　　public　order；　burnt　at　the　Town　Cross　that　Glengarry　was　a　man　who　lived　　in　constant　adultery　with　the　Captain　of　Clan　Ranald's　daughter；　after　he　had　put　away　Grant　of　Grant's　daughter；　his　lawful　wife；　whereupon　　Glengarry　was　summoned　there　and　then　to　appear　next　day　before　the　　Council；　and　to　lodge　defences　to　this　unexpected　charge。　　He　naturally　　became　alarmed；　and　fearing　the　worst；　fled　from　the　city　during　the　night；　　〃took　to　his　heels；〃　and　gave　up　further　legal　proceedings　against　　Mackenzie。　　Being　afterwards　repeatedly　summoned；　and　failing　to　put　in　　an　appearance；　most　of　the　charges　were　found　proven　against　him；　and　in　　1602；　＇Records　of　Privy　Council；　9th　September；　1602；　Sir　Robert　　Gordon's　Earldom　of　Sutherland；　p。　248；　Letterfearn；　Ardintoul；　and　other　MS。　Histories　of　the　Mackenzies。＇　he　was　declared　outlaw　and　rebel；　a　　commission　of　fire　and　sword　was　granted　to　Mackenzie　against　him　and　　all　his　followers；　with　a　decree　of　ransom　for　the　loss　of　those　who　were　burnt　and　plundered　by　him；　and　for　Kintail's　charges　and　expenses；　　making　altogether　a　very　large　sum。　　But　while　these　legal　matters　were　　being　arranged；　Angus　Macdonald；　younger　of　Glengarry；　who　was　of　a　　restless；　daring　disposition；　went　along　with　some　of　his　followers　under　silence　of　night　to　Kintail；　burnt　the　township　of　Cro；　killed　and　burnt　　several　men；　women；　and　children；　and　carried　away　a　large　spoil　of　　cattle。

Mackenzie；　hearing　of　this　sudden　raid；　became　much　concerned　about　the　loss　of　his　Kintail　tenants；　and　decided　to　requite　the　quarrel　by　　at　once　executing　his　commission　against　the　Macdonalds　of　Glengarry；　　and　immediately　set　out　in　pursuit；　leaving　a　sufficient　number　of　men　at　home　to　secure　the　safety　of　his　property。　　He　took　along　with　him　a　force　　of　seventeen　hundred　men；　at　the　same　time　taking　three　hundred　cows　　from　his　farm　of　Strathbraan　to　maintain　his　followers。　　Ross　of　　Balnagowan　sent　a　party　of　a　hundred　and　eighty　men；　under　command　of　　Alexander　Ross　of　Invercharron；　to　aid　his　neighbour　of　Kintail；　while　　John　Gordon　of　Embo　commanded　a　hundred　and　twenty　men　sent　to　his　　aid　by　the　Earl　of　Sutherland；　in　virtue　of　the　long　standing　bond　of　　manrent　which　existed　between　the　two　families；　but　Sir　John　〃retired　at　　Monar；　growing　faint…hearted　before　he　saw　the　enemie〃。　　Andrew　Munro　　of　Novar　also　accompanied　Kintail　on　this；　as　on　several　previous　　expeditions。　The　Macdonalds；　hearing　of　Mackenzie's　approach；　drove　　all　their　cattle　to　Monar；　where　they　gathered　in　strong　force　to　guard　　them。　Kintail；　learning　this；　marched　straight　where　they　were；　harried　and　wasted　all　the　country　through　which　he　had　to　pass；　defeated　and　　routed　the　Macdonalds；　and　drove　into　Kintail　the　largest　booty　ever　heard　　of　in　the　Highlands　of　Scotland；　〃both　of　cows；　horses；　small　bestial；　duinuasals；　and　plenishing；　which　he　most　generously　distributed　amongst　his　　soldiers；　and　especially　amongst　such　strangers　as　were　with　him；　so　that　John　Gordon　of　Embo　was　at　his　repentance　for　his　return。〃　Mackenzie　　had　only　two　men　killed　in　this　expedition；　though　a　few　of　the　Kintail　　men；　whom　he　caused　to　be　carried　home　on　litters；　were　wounded。

Several　instances　are　recorded　of　the　prowess　and　intrepidity　of　　Alexander　of　Coul　on　this　occasion。　　He　was；　excepting　John　MacMhurchaidh　Mhic　Gillechriost；　the　fastest　runner　in　the　Mackenzie　country。　　On　his　way　to　Kintail；　leading　his　men　and　driving　the　creach　　before　them；　he　met　three　or　four　hundred　Camerons；　who　sent　Mackenzie　　a　message　demanding　〃a　bounty　of　the　booty〃　for　passing　through　their　　territory。　　This　Kenneth　was　about　to　grant；　and　ordered　thirty　cows　and　a　　few　of　the　younger　animals　to　be　given；　saying　that　it　〃was　fit　that　hungry　　dogs　should　get　a　collop；〃　whereupon　Alexander　of　Coul　and　his　brave　　band　of　one　hundred　and　twenty　followers　started　aside　and　swore　with　a　　great　oath　that　if　the　Camerons　dared　to　take　away　a　single　head；　they　　would；　before　night；　pay　dearly　for　them；　and　have　to　light　for　their　collop；　for　he　and　his　men；　he　said；　had　already　nearly　lost　their　lives　driving　them　　through　a　wild　and　narrow　pass　where　eighteen　of　the　enemy　fell　to　their　　swords　before　they　were　able　to　get　the　cattle　through；　but　he　would　now　　let　them　pass　in　obedience　to　his　chief's　commands。　　The　messengers；　　hearing　the　ominous　threat；　notwithstanding　Kenneth's　personal　　persuasion；　declined　on　any　account　to　take　the　cattle；　and　marched　away　　〃empty　as　they　came。〃

Before　starting　from　home　on　this　expedition　Kintail　drove　every　one　of　Glengarry's　followers　out　of　their　holdings　in　Lochalsh　and　　Lochcarron；　except　a　few　of　the　〃Mathewsons　and　the　Clann　Jan　Uidhir；〃　　and　any　others　who　promised　to　submit　to　him　and　engaged　to　prove　their　　sincerity　by　〃imbrowing　their　bands　in　the　enemy's　blood。〃　　The　Castle　of　Strome；　however；　still　continued　in　possession　of　the　Macdonalds。

Mackenzie；　after　his　return　home；　had　not　well　dissolved　his　camp　when　Alexander　MacGorrie　and　Ranald　MacRory　made　an　incursion　to　　the　district　of　Kenlochewe；　and　there　meeting　some　women　and　children　who　had　fled　from　Lochcarron　with　their　cattle；　he　attacked　them　unexpectedly；　killed　several　of　the　defenceless　women；　all　the　male　　children；　slaughtered　and　took　away　many　of　the　cattle；　and　〃houghed〃　all　they　were　not　able　to　carry　along　with　them。

In　the　following　autumn；　Alexander　MacGorrie　made　a　voyage　to　　Applecross　in　a　great　galley；　contrary　to　the　advice　of　all　his　friends；　who　looked　upon　that　place　as　a　sanctuary　which　all　Highlanders　had　hitherto　　respected　as　the　property　of　the　Church。　　Notwithstanding　that　many　took　　refuge　in　it　in　the　past；　he　was　the　first　man　who　ever　pursued　a　fugitive　to　　the　place；　〃but；〃　says　our　authority；　〃it　fared　no　better　with　him　or　he　　rested；　but　be　being　informed　that　some　Kintail　men；　whom　he　thought　no　　sin　to　kill　anywhere；〃　bad　taken　refuge　there　with　their　cattle；　he　　determined　to　kill　them；　but　on　his　arrival　he　found　only　two　poor　fellows；　　tending　their　cows。　　These　he　murdered；　slaughtered　all　the　cows；　and　took　away　as　many　of　them　as　his　boat　would　carry。

A　few　days　after　this；　Glengarry　combined　with　the　Clann　Alain　of　Moydart　（whose　chief　was　at　the　time　captain　of　Clan　Ranald's　men）；　the　　Clann　Ian　Uidhir；　and　several　others　of　the　Macdonalds；　who　gathered　　together　amongst　them　thirty…seven　birlinns　with　the　intention　of　sailing　to　　Lochbroom；　and　on　their　return　to　burn　and　harry　the　whole　of　the　　Mackenzie　territories　on　the　west　coast。　Coming　to　an　arm　of　the　sea　on　　the　east　side　of　Kyleakin　called　Loch　na　Beist；　opposite　Lochalsh；　they　　sent　Alexander　MacGorrie　forward　with　eighty　men　in　a　large　galley　to　　examine　the　coast　in　advance　of　the　main　body。　　They　first　landed　in　　Applecross；　in　the　same　spot　where　MacGorrie　had　previously　killed　the　　two　Kintail　men。　　Kenneth　was　at　the　time　on　a　visit　to　Mackenzie　of　　Gairloch；　at　his　house　on　Island　Rory　in　Loch…Maree；　and　hearing　of　　Glengarry's　approach　and　the　object　of　his　visit；　he　ordered　all　his　coasts　　to　be　placed　in　readiness；　and　sent　Alexander　Mackenzie　of　Achilty　with　sixteen　men　and　eight　oarsmen；　in　an　eight　oared　galley　belonging　to　John　Tolmach　Macleod；　son　of　Rory；　son　of　Allan　Macleod；　who　still　possessed　　a　small　portion　of　Gairloch；　to　watch　the　enemy　and　examine　the　coast　as　　far　as　Kylerhea。　　John　Tolmach　himself　accompanied　them；　in　charge　of　　the　galley。　　On　their　way　south　they　landed　by　the　merest　chance　at　　Applecross；　on　the　north　side　of　the　point　at　which　MacGorrie　landed；　　where　they　noticed　a　woman　gathering　shellfish　on　the　shore；　and　who　no　　sooner　saw　them　than　she　came　forward　and　informed　them　that　a　great　　galley　had　landed　in　the　morning　on　the　other　side　of　the　promontory。

This　they　at　once　suspected　to　contain　an　advanced　scout　of　the　enemy；　　and；　ordering　their　boat　round　the　point；　in　charge　of　the　oarsmen；　they　　took　the　shortest　cut　across　the　neck　of　land；　and；　when　half　way　along；　　they　met　one　of　Macdonald's　sentries　lying　sound　asleep　on　the　ground。　　　He　was　soon　sent　to　his　long　rest；　and　the　Mackenzies　blowing　up　a　set　of　bagpipes　found　lying　beside　him；　rushed　towards　the　Macdonalds；　who；　　suddenly　surprised　and　alarmed　by　the　sound　of　the　Piob　mhor；　and　　thinking　a　strong　force　was　falling　down　upon　them；　fled　to　their　boat；　　except　MacGorrie；　who；　when　he　left　it；