history of the mackenzies-第104章
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e lieges； to the number of 300； 〃bodin in feir of weir；〃 and hounded on by the said John Mackenzie of Gairloch； 〃had come to the said William Robson's house； wherein the said complainers were； and had without any occasion of offence； assegeit the said house and used all means and engines for apprehending of the said James Sinclair and his said servant。〃 Further； 〃seeing they could not goodly recover the said house；〃 they 〃cried for fire； and had not failed most treasonably to have risen fire within the same had not the said complainer delivered the said James Paxton in their bands； whom they immediately conveyed and led to the castle of Chanonry pertaining to the said Colin； and kept and detained him captive therein for the space of two hours or thereby。〃 After such detention of the said James 〃they granted liberty to him to pass home； and the better to cloak their cruel and unmerciful decree； which openly they durst not put to execution； they secretly hounded out a great number of cut…throats to have beset the same James's way and to have bereft him of his life； which they not failed to have done had not God otherwise prevented their doings。〃 Moreover； 〃at that same time they reft and took away from the said complainers their horses； saddles； and other gear worth five hundred merks。〃 John Mackenzie of Gairloch； master and landlord of the foresaid persons； having been charged to appear personally and enter them this day 〃to have answered and underlaid punishment for the premises；〃 according to the general band； but making no such appearance or entry； while the complainers appear personally； the Lords order the said Mackenzie of Gairloch to be denounced rebel。
In 1606 John Roy received a charter of resignation in favour of himself in life…rent； and of his son； Alexander in fee； erecting Gairloch into a free barony and in 1619 he obtained another charter； ＇These charters are in the Gairloch Charter Chest。＇ under the Great Seal； by which Kinkell is included in the barony and constituted its chief messuage。 He built the first three stories of the Tower of Kinkell； 〃where his arms and those of his first wife are parted per pale above the mantelpiece of the great hall。〃 ＇Gairloch MS。＇
The son of Roderick MacAllan 〃Nimhneach〃 of Gairloch； in the absence of young MacGillechallum Garbh of Raasay； who； under the care of the Laird of Calder escaped the massacre of Island Isay； possessed himself of Raasay and took up his quarters in Castle Brochail； the ancient residence of the Chiefs of Macleod； of which the ruins are still to be seen on the east side of the island。
Seeing this； Donald Mac Neill； who previously sent young Macleod of Raasay to the protection of Calder brought back the rightful heir； and kept him； in private； until an opportunity occurred by which he could obtain possession of the castle。 This he soon managed by coming to terms with the commander of the stronghold； who preferred the native heir to his relative of the Gairloch Macleods。
It was arranged that when Mac Neill should arrive at the castle with his charge； access should be given to young Raasay。 The commander kept his word； and MacGillechallum Garbh was soon after proclaimed laird。 In 1610 a severe skirmish was fought at Lochan…an…Fheidh； in Glen Torridon； between the Mackenziesled by Alexander； since his brother's death in 1601； the apparent heir of Gairlochand the Macleods under John MacAllan Mhic Rory； then the only surviving direct male representative of Allan Macleod of Gairloch and grandson probably of Rory Nimhneach。 John Tolmach； John's uncle was also present； but he succeeded in effecting his escape； while John MacAllan and seventeen or eighteen of his followers were taken prisoners。 Many more were killed and a few who escaped alive with John Tolmach were pursued out of the district。 The slain were buried where they fell； and the graves can still be seen； the nettles which continue to grow over them at the present day indicating the position of the last resting…place on the field of battle of these Macleod warriors； on the west side of the Sgura Dubh； above Glen Torridon； a little beyond the Gairloch estate march。
Shortly after this engagement another attempt was made by the Macleods to regain the lands of Gairloch； the history of which is still a prominent and interesting feature in the local traditions of the parish。 The affair is called 〃Latha Leac…na…Saighead。〃
Mr John H。 Dixon gives a good version of it； as related to him by Roderick Mackenzie； locally known as Ruairidh an Torraan intelligent man of about ninety who only died two years agoin his interesting book on the history and traditions of the parish of Gairloch。
According to Roderick's version； as given by Mr Dixon； many of the Macleods； after they had been driven from Gairloch； settled in Skye。 A considerable number of the younger men were invited by their chief to pass Hogmanay night in the Castle of Dunvegan。 In the kitchen there was an old woman known as Mor Bhan； who was usually occupied in carding wool； and generally supposed to be a witch。 After dinner the men began to drink； and when they had passed some time in this occupation； they sent to the kitchen for Mor Bhan。
She at once joined them in the hall； and having drunk one or two glasses along with them； she remarked that it was a very poor thing for the Macleods to be deprived of their own lands in Gairloch； and to have to live in comparative poverty in Raasay and the Isle of Skye。 〃But；〃 she said to them； 〃prepare yourselves and start to…morrow for Gairloch； sail in the black birlinn； and you shall regain it。 I shall be a witness of your success when you return。〃
The men trusted her； believing she had the power of divination。 In the morning they set sail for Gairlochthe black galley was full of the Macleods。 It was evening when they entered the loch。 They were afraid to land on the mainland； for they remembered that the descendants of Domhnull Greannach （a celebrated Macrae） were still there； and they knew the prowess of these men only too well。 The Macleods therefore turned to the south side of the loch； and fastened their birlinn to the Fraoch Eilean； in the well…sheltered bay opposite Leac…nan…Saighead； between Shieldaig and Badachro。 Here they decided to wait until morning； then disembark； and walk round the head of the loch。
But all their movements had been well and carefully watched。 Domhnull Odhar Mac lain Leith and his brother Ian； the celebrated Macrae archers； recognised the birlinn of the Macleods； and determined to oppose their landing。 They walked round the head of the loch by Shieldaig and posted themselves before daylight behind the Leac； a projecting rock overlooking the Fraoch Eilean。 The steps on which they stood at the back of the rock are still pointed out。 Donald Odhar； being of small stature； took the higher of the two ledges； and Ian took the lower。 Standing on these they crouched down behind the rock； completely sheltered from the enemy； but commanding a full view of the island； while they were quite invisible to the Macleods； who lay down on the island。 As soon as the day dawned the two Macraes directed their arrows on the strangers； of whom a number were killed before their comrades were even aware of the direction from which the messengers of death came。 The Macleods endeavoured to answer their arrows； but not being able to see the foe； their efforts were of no effect。 In the heat of the fight one of the Macleods climbed up the mast of the birlinn to discover the position of the enemy。 Ian Odhar observing this； took deadly aim at him when near the top of the mast。
〃Oh；〃 says Donald； addressing John； 〃you have sent a pin through his broth。〃 The slaughter continued； and the remnant of the Macleods hurried aboard their birlinn。 Cutting the rope； they turned her head seawards。 By this time only two of their number were left alive。 In their hurry to escape they left all the bodies of their slain companions unburied on the island。
A rumour of the arrival of the Macleods had during the n
