history of the mackenzies-第137章
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hat chief； of whom Queen Elizabeth had been complaining； to the Court of King James at Holyrood。 When brought into His Majesty's presence MacNeil； who； much to the surprise of all； was a tall； good…looking man of reverend aspect； with a long grey beard； proved a match for the King。
When asked by His Majesty what could induce him to commit so many piracies and robberies on the Queen of England's subjects； he replied that he thought he was doing the King good service by annoying 〃a woman who had murdered his mother。〃 James exclaimed； 〃The devil take the carle！ Rorie； take him with you again； and dispose of him and his fortune as you please。〃 On another occasion； when Sir Roderick was passing through Athole on his way to Edinburgh； in the interest of his ward； he was stopped and found fault with by the men of that district for passing through their country without the permission of their lord。 The Tutor dismounted and sought out a stone； on which he began to sharpen his claymore； whereupon the Athole men； from a safe distance； asked him what he was doing？ 〃I am going to make a road；〃 was the ready answer。 〃You shall make no road here。〃 〃Oh； I don't seek to do so； but I shall make it between your lord's head and his shoulders if I am hindered from pursuing my lawful business。〃
On hearing this retort the Athole men retired； and on reaching their master told him what had occurred。 〃It was either the devil or the Tutor of Kintail；〃 his Lordship replied； 〃let him have a free path for ever。〃
That he was severe in his position as Tutor is clear from the following proverb； still current in Ross…shire： 〃There are but two things worse than the Tutor of Kintailfrost in spring and mist in the dog days。〃 He married Margaret； daughter and co…heiress of Torquil Macleod； 〃Torquil Cononach〃 of the Lewis； Coigeach； and Assynt； with whom Roderick obtained her father's mainland possessions； previously； however； in 1605； granted by Torquil to Kenneth Mackenzie； X。 of Kintail； Sir Roderick's eldest brother。 He purchased Milton and Tarbat Ness in Easter Ross from the Munroes。 He had issue by his wife
1。 John； his heir and successor； afterwards Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat。
2。 Kenneth； I。 of Scatwell； of whose family presently。
3。 Colin； I of Tarvie； who married Isobel； daughter of Alexander Mackenzie； V。 of Gairloch； and widow of John Mackenzie of Lochslinn； with issue。
4。 Alexander； I。 of Ballone； of whom after Scatwell。
5。 James。 6。 Charles。 Both died unmarried。
7。 Margaret； who married Sir James Macdonald； IX。 of Sleat； with issuehis heir and successor； and others。
He had also a natural son； the Rev。 John Mackenzie； Archdean of Ross； who； by his wife； Christian； daughter of John Wemyss of Lathocker； had issuethe Rev。 Roderick Mackenzie； first of Avoch； in 1671 Sub…Chaunter of Ross； and several other children。 He died in 1666。
In 1609 Sir Roderick was knighted for the part he took； along with his brother Kenneth； first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail； in pacifying the Lewis and civilising its inhabitants。
He died in 1628； and was succeeded by his eldest son；
SIR JOHN MACKENZIE of Tarbat； created a Baronet of Nova Scotia on the 21st of May； 1628。 He married Margaret； daughter of Sir George Erskine of Innerteil； a Lord of Session； with issue
1。 George； his heir and successor。
2。 John； who died young。
3。 Sir Roderick； who has a sasine as third son in June； 1654。 He was M。P。 in 1700 for Cromarty； and in 1703 for the Burgh of Fortrose。 He was subsequently raised to the Bench as Lord Prestonhall； and married； first； Margaret； daughter of Dr Burnet； Archbishop of St。 Andrews； with issueAlexander Mackenzie of Fraserdale； who； in 1702； married Amelia； eldest daughter of Hugh； Xth Lord Lovat； with issueseveral sons and daughters。 Alexander's representation was proved extinct in 1826。 Lord Prestonhall married； secondly； Margaret； daughter of Haliburton of Pitcur； widow of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh； without issue。
4。 Alexander； I。 of Ardloch； whose representatives became heirs male to the Cromarty titles。
5。 Kenneth； who married Isobell Auckinleck； with issueKenneth； who died without issue。
6。 James； M。D。； who died unmarried。
7。 Margaret； who married； first； Roderick Macleod； XV。 of Macleod； without surviving issue； and secondly； Sir James Campbell of Lawers； Perthshire。
8。 Ann； who married Hugh； IXth Lord Lovat； with issue。
9。 Isabel； who married Kenneth； third Earl of Seaforth； with issue his heir and successor； and others。
10。 Barbara； who married Alexander Mackenzie； VII。 of Gairloch； with issue。
11。 Catherine； who married Sir Colin Campbell of Aberuchil； with issue。
Sir John died in 1654； when he was succeeded by his eldest son；
I。 SIR GEORGE MACKENZIE； created first Earl of Cromarty； who made a distinguished figure in the history of his country during the reigns of Charles II。； James II。； and William III。 In 1661； at the early age of 31； he was made a Lord of Session。 He subsequently held the offices of Lord…Justice…General and Clerk…Register of Scotland。 When Maitland got into favour Sir George shared the fall of his patron； Lord Middleton； but on the death of the Duke of Lauderdale he again got into favour； and； until the close of the reign of King James； he held the principal sway and power in Scottish affairs。 He was accessory； if not the principal； in putting Spence and Carstairs to the torture of the boot and thumb…screw after the rebellion of Argyll。 In 1685 King James ennobled him by the title of Viscount Tarbat； Lord Macleod and Castlehaven。 During the reign of William III。 his influence became much diminished； but he afterwards got into power； and； on the accession of Queen Anne； he again became a Royal favourite； and was by her in 1703 created Earl of Cromarty； and made Secretary of State for Scotland。 He subsequently resigned this office and took up his old post of Justice…General； and recompensed Her Majesty's favours by strongly advocating with voice and pen the Union between England and Scotland； of which he was the original proposer。 In 1710； after 60 years of the most active public service； he retired into private life。
That he possessed ability of a very high order is undoubted； though as a politician he held very loose and changeable principles。 Sinibert says that 〃as a judge； he was addicted to the old practice of considering the litigants rather than their causes〃； and Carstairs goes the length of saying that 〃he habitually falsified the minutes of Parliament； and recorded in its name decisions and orders never really made。〃 In the course of his long and checkered career he had been a member of so many Ministries and changed sides so often that it was not to be expected that he should escape charges of inconsistency。 〃Some do compare him to an eel；〃 said Lockhart of Carnwath； 〃and certainly the character suited him exactly。 He had sworn all the most contradictory oaths； and complied with all the opposite Governments since the year 1648； and was humble servant to them all till he got what he aimed at； though often he did not know what that was。〃 Almost every statesman of his time was as changeable as he was； but he possessed a capacity for business which distinguished few if any of his rivals。 He is admitted on all hands to have been in private life a gentleman of the most refined habits。 He wrote well on various subjects； his chief productions being Essays on the Union of the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland； on the Gowrie Conspiracy； and a 〃Plain Explication〃 of the Prophecies of Daniel and St。 John。 He also wrote the MS。 history of his clan； so often quoted and referred to in this work； and he undoubtedly invented Colin Fitzgerald。
His lordship married； first； Anne； daughter of Sir George Sinclair of Mey； with issue
1。 Roderick； who died young。
2。 John； who became his heir and successor。
3。 Kenneth； who in 1704 obtained a baronetcy with his grandfather's patent of creation； as Sir Kenneth Mackenzie； Baronet of Grandvale and Cromarty。 ＇Sir
