history of the mackenzies-第22章

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minately。　　But　in　point　of　fact　all　these　designations　describe　one　and　the　same　person。

Alexander　　married　　first；　Anna；　daughter　of　John　Macdougall　of　Dunolly；　with　issue

1。　　Kenneth；　his　heir　and　successor。

2。　　Duncan；　progenitor　of　the　Mackenzies　of　Hilton；　and　their　branches；　and　of　whom　in　their　order　as　the　senior　cadet　family　of　the　　clan。

He　married　secondly　Margaret；　daughter　of　Macdonald　of　Morar；　a　cadet　of　Clanranald；　with　issue

3。　　Hector　Roy　or　〃Eachainn　Ruadh；〃　from　whom　are　descended　　the　Mackenzies　of　Gairloch　and　their　various　offshoots；　of　whom　in　their　　proper　place。

4。　A　daughter；　who　married　Allan　Macleod；　Hector　Roy's　　predecessor　in　Gairloch。

He　is　also　said　to　have　had　a　natural　son；　Dugal；　who　became　a　priest　and　was　Superior　of　the　Priory　of　Beauly；　which　he　repaired　about　　1478；　and　in　which　he　is　buried。　　This　ecclesiastic　is　said　by　others　to　have　　been　Alexander's　brother。　（Anderson's　History　of　the　Frasers；　p。　66；　and　　MS。　History　of　the　Mackenzies。）

Alexander　died　in　1488　at　Kinellan；　having　attained　the　extreme　old　age　of　90　years；　was　buried　in　the　Priory　of　Beauly；　and　was　succeeded　　by　his　eldest　son　by　the　first　marriage；

VII。　　KENNETH　　MACKENZIE；

Better　known　as　〃Coinneach　a'　Bhlair；〃　or　Kenneth　of　the　Battle；　from　his　prowess　and　success　against　the　Macdonalds　at　the　Battle　of　Park　during　　his　father's　life…time。　　He　was　served　heir　to　his　predecessor　and　seized　in　　the　lands　of　Kintail　at　Dingwall　on　the　2nd　of　September；　1488。　　He　　secured　the　cognomen　〃Of　the　Battle〃　from　the　distinguished　part　he　took　　in　〃Blar…na…Pairc〃　fought　at　a　well…known　spot　still　pointed　out　near　　Kinellan；　above　Strathpeffer。　His　father　was　advanced　in　life　before　　Kenneth　married；　and　as　soon　as　the　latter　arrived　at　twenty　years　of　age　Alexander　thought　it　prudent；　with　the　view　of　establishing　peace　between　the　two　families；　to　match　Kenneth；　his　heir　and　successor；　with　Margaret；　daughter　of　John　Lord　of　the　Isles　and　fourth　　Earl　　of　Ross；　and　for　　ever　　　extinguish　　their　ancient　feuds　in　that　alliance。　　The　Island　chief　willingly　　consented　and　the　marriage　was　in　due　course　solemnised。　About　a　year　　after；　the　Earl's　nephew　and　apparent　heir；　Alexander　Macdonald　of　　Lochalsh；　came　to　Ross；　and；　feeling　more　secure　in　consequence　of　this　　matrimonial　alliance　between　the　family　of　Mackenzie　and　his　own；　took　　possession　of　Balcony　House　and　the　adjoining　lands；　where；　at　the　　following　Christmas；　he　provided　a　great　feast　for　his　old　dependants；　　inviting　to　it　also　most　of　the　more　powerful　chiefs　and　barons　north　of　the　Spey；　and　among　others；　Kenneth　Mackenzie；　his　cousin's　husband。　The　　house　of　Balcony　being　at　the　time　very　much　out　of　repair；　he　could　not　　conveniently　lodge　all　his　distinguished　guests　within　it；　and　had　　accordingly　to　arrange　for　some　of　them　in　the　outhouses　as　best　he　could。

Kenneth　did　not　arrive　until　Christmas　Eve；　accompanied　by　a　train　of　　forty　able　bodied　men；　according　to　the　custom　of　the　times；　but　without　　his　lady；　which　deeply　offended　Macdonald。　　Maclean　of　Duart　had　chief　　charge　of　the　arrangements　in　the　house　and　the　disposal　of　the　guests。　　　Some　days　previously　he　had　a　disagreement　with　Kenneth　at　some　　games；　and；　on　his　arrival；　Maclean　told　the　heir　of　Kintail　that；　taking　advantage　of　his　connection　with　the　family；　they　had　taken　the　liberty　of　　providing　him　with　lodgings　in　the　kiln。　　Kenneth　considered　this　an　　insult；　and；　divining　that　it　proceeded　from　Maclean's　illwill　to　him；　he　instantly　struck　him　a　blow　on　　the　ear；　which　threw　him　to　the　ground。　　　The　servants　in　the　house　viewed　this　as　a　direct　insult　to　their　chief；　Macdonald；　and　at　once　took　to　arms。　　Kenneth；　though　sufficiently　bold；　　soon　perceived　that　he　had　no　chance　to　light　successfully　or　to　beat　a　　retreat；　and；　noticing　several　boats　lying　on　the　shore；　which　had　been　　provided　for　the　transport　of　the　guests；　he　took　as　many　of　them　as　he　　required；　sank　the　rest；　and　passed　with　his　followers　to　the　opposite　　shore；　where　he　remained　over　night　in　the　house　of　a　tenant；　who；　like　a　good　many　more　in　those　days；　had　no　surname；　but　was　simply　known　by　　a　patronymic。　Kenneth；　boiling　with　passion；　was　sorely　affronted　at　the　insult　which　he　had　received；　and　at　being　from　his　own　house　at　Christmas；　staying　with　a　stranger；　and　off　his　own　property。　　In　these　　circumstances；　he　requested　his　host　to　adopt　the　name　of　Mackenzie；　　promising　him　protection　in　future；　so　that　be　might　thus　be　able　to　say　　that　he　slept　under　the　roof　of　one　of　his　own　name。　　The　man　at　once　　consented；　and　his　posterity　were　ever　after　known　as　Mackenzies。

Next　morning　（Christmas　Day）　Kenneth　went　to　the　hill　above　Chanonry；　and　sent　word　to　the　Bishop；　who　was　at　the　time　enjoying　his　　Christmas　with　some　of　his　clergy；　that　he　desired　to　speak　to　him。　　The　　Bishop　knowing　his　man's　temper　and　the　turbulent　state　of　the　times　　thought　it　prudent　to　comply　with　this　request；　though　be　considered　it　　very　strange　to　receive　such　a　message　on　such　a　day；　and　wondered　much　　what　his　visitors　object　could　be。　He　soon　found　that　Kenneth　simply　　wanted　a　feu　of　the　small　piece　of　land　on　which　was　situated　the　house　in　　which　he　had　lodged　the　previous　night；　stating；　as　his　reason；　〃lest　　Macdonald　should　brag　that　he　had　forced　him　on　Christmas　Day　to　lodge　　at　another　man's　discretion；　and　not　on　own　heritage。〃　　The　Bishop；　　willing　to　oblige　him　probably　afraid　to　do　otherwise；　and　perceiving　him　in　such　a　rage；　at　once　sent　for　his　clerk　and　there　and　then　granted　him　a　　charter　of　the　township　of　Cullicudden；　whereupon　Kenneth　returned　to　　the　place　and　remained　in　it　all　day；　lording　over　it　as　his　own　property。

The　place　was　kept　by　him　and　his　successors　until　Colin　〃Cam〃　acquired　　more　of　the　Bishop's　lands　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　afterwards　　exchanged　the　whole　with　the　Sheriff　of　Cromarty　for　lands　in　　Strathpeffer。

Next　day　Kenneth　started　for　Kinellan；　where　his　father；　the　old　chief　Alexander；　resided；　and　related　to　him　what　had　taken　place。　His　　father　was　much　grieved；　for　he　well　knew　that　the　smallest　difference　　between　the　families　would　revive　their　old　grievances；　and；　although　　there　was　less　danger　since　Macdonald's　interest　in　Ross　was　smaller　than　in　the　past；　yet　he　knew　the　clan　to　be　a　powerful　one　still；　more　so　than　　his　own；　in　their　number　of　able…bodied　warriors；　but　these　considerations；　　strongly　impressed　upon　the　son　by　the　experienced　and　aged　father；　only　　added　fuel　to　the　fire　in　Kenneth's　bosom；　which　was　already　fiercely　　burning　to　avenge　the　insult　offered　him　by　Macdonald's　servants。　　His　natural　impetuosity　could　ill　brook　any　such　insult　and　he　considered　himself　wronged　so　much　that　he　felt　it　his　duty　personally　to　retaliate　and　　avenge　it。　　While　this　was　　the　　state　　of　his　　mind　matters　　were　suddenly　　brought　to　a　crisis　by　the　arrival　on　the　fourth　day　of　a　messenger　from　　Macdonald　with　a　summons　requesting　Alexander　and　his　son　Kenneth　to　　remove　from　Kinellan；　with　all　their　families；　within　twenty…four　hours；　　allowing　only　that　the　young　Lady　Margaret；　Macdonald's　own　cousin；　　might　remain　until　she　had　more　leisure　to　remove；　and　threatening　war　to　the　knife　in　case　of　noncompliance。

Kenneth's　rage　now　became　ungovernable；　and；　without　consulting　　his　father　or　waiting　his　counsel；　he　bade　the　messenger　tell　Macdonald　that　his　father　would　remain　where　he　was　in　spite　of　him　and　all　his　　power。　As　for　himself；　he　accepted　no　rules　as　to　his　staying　or　going；　but　　Macdonald　would　be　sure　enough　to　hear　of　him　wherever　he　was。　　As　for　　Macdonald's　cousin；　Lady　Margaret；　since　he　had　no　desire　to　keep　　further　peace　with　his　family　he　would　no　longer　keep　his　relative。

Such　was　the　defiant　message　sent　to　young　Macdonald；　and　　immediately　after　its　despatch；　Kenneth　sent　away　Lady　Margaret；　in　the　　most　ignominious　manner；　to　Balcony　House。　　The　lady　was　blind　of　an　eye；　and；　to　insult　her　cousin　to　the　utmost；　he　sent　her　back　to　him　　mounted　on　a　one…eyed　horse；　accompanied　by　a　one…eyed　servant；　followed　by　a　one…eyed　dog。　　She　was　in　a　delicate　state　of　health；　and　this　　inhumanity　grieved