history of the mackenzies-第14章
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r heads for the edification of the surrounding lieges high upon the castle walls。 Randolph himself soon after arrived and； says the same chronicler； was 〃right blithe〃 to see the goodly show of heads 〃that flowered so weel that wall〃a ghastly warning to all treacherous or plundering 〃misdoaris。〃 From what occurred on this occasion it is obvious that Kenneth either did not attempt or was not able to govern his people with a firm hand and to keep the district free from plunderers and lawlessness。
It is undoubted that at this time the Earl of Ross succeeded in gaining a considerable hold in the district over which he had all along claimed superiority； for in 1342 William； the fifth and last O'Beolan Earl； is on record as granting a charter of the whole ten davochs of Kintail to Reginald； son of Roderick of the Isles。 The charter was granted and dated at the Castle of Urquhart； witnessed by the bishops of Ross and Moray； and confirmed by David II。 in 1344。 ＇Invernessiana； p。56。＇ From all this it may fairly be assumed that the line of Mac Kenneth was not far from the breaking point during the reign of Kenneth of the Nose。
Some followers of the Earl of Ross about this time made a raid to the district of Kenlochewe and carried away a great herschip。 Mackenzie pursued them； recovered a considerable portion of the spoil。 and killed many of the raiders。 The Earl of Ross was greatly incensed at Kenneth's conduct in this affair； and he determined to have him apprehended and suitably punished for the murders and other excesses committed by him。
In this he ultimately succeeded。 Mackenzie was captured； chiefly through the instrumentality of Leod Mac Gilleandraisa desperate character； and a vassal and relative of the Earland executed at Inverness in 1346； when the lands of Kenlochewe； previously possessed by Kintail； were given to Mac Gilleandrais as a reward for Mackenzie's capture。
On this point the author of the Ardintoul manuscript says； that the lands of Kenlochewe were held by Kenneth Mackenzie 〃and his predecessors by tack； but not as heritage； for they had no real or heritable right of them until Alexander of Kintail got heritable possession of them from John； Earl of Ross；〃 at a much later date。 Ellandonnan Castle； however； held out during the whole of this disturbed and distracted period； and until Kenneth's heir； who at his father's death was a mere boy； came of age； when he fully avenged the death of his father； and succeeded to the inheritance of his ancestors。 The garrison meanwhile maintained themselves on the spoil of the enemy。 The brave defenders of the castle were able to hold their own throughout and afterwards to hand over the stronghold to their chief when he arrived at a proper age and returned home。
The Earl of Cromarty； who gives a very similar account of this period； concludes his notice of Kenneth in these terms〃 Murdered thus； his estate was possessed by the oppressor's followers； but Island Donain keeped still out； maintaining themselves on the spoyle of the enemie。 All being trod under by insolince and oppression； right had no place。 This was during David Bruce's imprisonment in England；〃 when chaos and disorder ruled supreme； at least in the Highlands。
Kenneth married Finguala； or Florence； daughter of Torquil Macleod； II。 of Lewis。 by his wife Dorothea； daughter of William； second O'Beolan Earl of Ross by his wife； Joan； daughter of John the first Red Comyn； and sister of John the Black Comyn； Lord of Badenoch and Earl of Buchan； with issue； an only son；
IV。 MURDOCH MACKENZIE；
Usually called 〃Murchadh Dubh na h' Uagh；〃 or Black Murdoch of the Cave； from his habits of life； which shall be described presently。
Murdoch was very young when his father was executed at Inverness。 During Kenneth's absence on that occasion； and for some time afterwards； Duncan Macaulay； a great friend； who then owned the district of Lochbroom； had charge of Ellandonnan Castle。 The Earl of Ross was determined to secure possession of Murdoch； as he previously did of his father； and Macaulay becoming apprehensive as to his safety sent him； then quite young； accompanied by his own son； for protection to Mackenzie's relative； Macdougall of Lorn。 While here the Earl of Ross succeeded in capturing young Macaulay； and in revenge for his father's gallant defence at Ellandonnan during Kenneth's absence； and more recently against his own futile attempts to take that stronghold； he put Macaulay to death； whereupon Murdoch； who barely escaped with his life； left Lorn and sought the protection of his uncle； Macleod of Lewis。
The actual murderer of Macaulay was the same desperate character； Leod Macgilleandrais； a vassal of the Earl of Ross； who had in 1346 been mainly instrumental in the capture and consequent death of Mackenzie's father at Inverness。 The Earl of Cromarty describes the assassin as 〃a depender of the Earl of Ross； and possessed of several lands in Strathcarron （of Easter Ross） and some in Strathoykell。〃 When he killed Macaulay； Leod possessed himself of his lands of Lochbroom and Coigach 〃whereby that family ended。〃 Macaulay's estates should have gone to Mackenzie in right of his wife； Macaulay's daughter； but 〃holding of the Earl of Ross； the earl disponed the samen in lyfrent by tack to Leod； albeit Murdo Mackenzie acclaimed it in right of his wyfe。〃
Leod kept possession of Kenlochewe； which； lying as it did； exactly between Kintail and Lochbroom； he found most convenient as a centre of operations against both； and he repeatedly took advantage of it； though invariably without success so far at least as his main object was concernedto get possession of the stronghold of Ellandonnan。 On the other hand； the brave garrison of the castle made several desperate reprisals under their heroic commander； Macaulay； and held out in spite of all the attempts made to subdue them； until the restoration of David II。； by which time Murdoch Mackenzie had grown up a brave and intrepid youth； approaching majority。
The author of the Ardintoul MS。 informs us that he was called Murdo of the Cave； being perhaps not well tutored； he preferred sporting and hunting in the hills and forests to going to the Ward School； where the ward children； or the heirs of those who held their lands and wards from the King； were wont or bound to go； and he resorted to the dens and caves about Torridon and Kenlochewe； hoping to get a hit at Leod Mac…gilleandrais； who was instrumental； under the Earl of Ross； to apprehend and cut off his father。 In the meantime Leod hearing of Murdo's resorting to these bounds； that he was kindly entertained by some of the inhabitants； and fearing that he would withdraw the services and affections of the people from himself； and connive some mischief against him for his ill…usage of his father； he left no means untried to apprehend him； so that Mackenzie was obliged to start privately to Lochbroom； from whence； with only one companion； he went to his uncle； Macleod of Lewis； by whom； after he had revealed himself to him alone； he was well received； and both of them resolved to conceal his name until a fit opportunity offered to make known his identity。 He； however； met with a certain man named Gille Riabhach who came to Stornoway with twelve men； about the same time as himself； and he； in the strictest confidence； told Gille Riabhach that he was Mackenzie of Kintail； which secret the latter kept strictly inviolate。 Macleod entertained his nephew； keeping it an absolute secret from others who he was； that his enemies might think that he was dead； and so feel the greater security till such time as they would deem it wise that he should act for himself and make an attempt to rescue his possessions from Macgilleandrais； who now felt quite secure； thinking that Mackenzie had perished； having for so long heard nothing concerning him。 When a suitable time arrived his uncle gave Murdo two of his great galleys； with as many men （six score） as he desired； to accompany him； his cousin german Macleod； the Gille Riabhach and his twelve followers； all of whom determined to seek their fortunes with young Kintail。 They emb
