history of the mackenzies-第3章
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ed of the men of the Lothians; Berwick; Stirling; and Fife。 The King placed himself in the centre; at the head of the choice men of Ross; Perth; Angus; Mearns; Mar; Moray; Inverness; and Caithness; where he was confronted by Haco in person; who; for the purpose of meeting the Scottish King; took post in the Norwegian centre。 The High Steward; by a dexterous movement; made the enemy's left give way; and instantly; by another adroit manoeuvre; he wheeled back on the rear of Haco's centre; where he found the two warrior Kings desperately engaged。 This induced Haco; after exhibiting all the prowess of a brave King and an able commander; to retreat from the field; followed by his left wing; leaving; as has been variously stated; sixteen to twenty…four thousand of his followers on the field; while the loss on the Scottish side is estimated at about five thousand。 The men of Caithness and Sutherland were led by the Flemish Freskin; those of Moray by one of their great chiefs; and there is every reason to believe that the men of Ross rallied round one of their native chiefs。 Among the most distinguished warriors who took part in this great and decisive victory for the Scots; under the immediate eye of their brave King; was; it is said; Colin Fitzgerald; who is referred to in a fragment of the Record of Icolmkill as 〃Callenus peregrinus Hibernus nobilis ex familia Geraldinorum qui proximo anno ab Hibernia pulsus opud regni benigne acceptus hinc usque in curta permansit et in praefacto proelio strenue pugnavit。〃 That is; 〃Colin; an Irish stranger and nobleman; of the family of the Geraldines who; in the previous year; had been driven from Ireland; and had been well received by the King; remained up to this time at Court; and fought bravely in the aforesaid battle。〃 This extract has often been quoted to prove that Colin Fitzgerald was the progenitor of the Mackenzies; but it will be noticed that it contains no reference whatever to the point。 It merely says that Colin; an Irishman; was present at Largs。
After the defeat of Haco the King sent detachments to secure the West Highlands and Isles; and to check the local chiefs。 Among the leaders sent in charge of the Western garrisons was; according to the supporters of the Irish…origin theory; Colin Fitzgerald; who; under the patronage of Walter Stewart; Earl of Menteith; was settled in the Government of the Castle of Ellandonnan; the well…known stronghold of the Mackenzies; in Kintail; situated on a small rocky island at the junction of Lochalsh; Loch Duich and Loch Long。 Colin's jurisdiction; it is said; extended over a wide district; and he is referred to in the fragment of the Record of Icolmkill; already quoted; as he 〃of whom we have spoken at the battle of Largs; and who afterwards conducted himself with firmness against the Islanders; and was left a governor among them。〃 Sir George Mackenzie; first Earl of Cromartie; who will be proved later on to have been the inventor of the Fitzgerald theory; says in a MS。 history of the clan; that Colin 〃being left in Kintail; tradition records that he married the daughter of Mac Mhathoin; heritor of the half of Kintail。 This Mhathoin;〃 he continues; 〃is frequently identified with Coinneach Gruamach Mac Mhathoin; Cailean's predecessor as Governor of Ellandonnan Castle。 The other half of Kintail belonged to O'Beolan; one of whose chiefs; Ferchair; was created Earl of Ross; and his lands were given to Cailean Fitzgerald。〃
It will be proved by incontestible public documents still in existence; that these identical lands were; except that they once for a time exchanged them with a relative for lands in Buchan; uninterruptedly possessed by the Earls of Ross; the descendants of this Ferchair; or Farquhar; for two centuries after the battle of Largs。 While the Earl of Cromartie and other clan historians accept the Fitzgerald origin by marriage with a daughter of Kenneth Matheson of Lochalsh; the Mathesons maintain that the first Mackenzie; or Mac Choinnichthe actual progenitor of the clanwas a son of their chief; Coinneach Gruamach; and that the Mackenzies are thus only a sept; or minor branch of the Mathesons。 It must in fairness be admitted that the latter contention is quite as near the truth as the Fitzgerald theory and it must have already occurred to the reader; how; if the Fitzgerald origin of the Mackenzies had been true; has it come about that the original patronymic of Fitzgerald has given way to that of Mackenzie? It is not pretended that it was ever heard of after Colin himself。 This difficulty occurred even to the Earl of Cromartie; and this is how he attempts to dispose of it。 Cailean; he says; had a son by the daughter of Kenneth Mac Mhathoin; or Matheson; whom he named Coinneach; or Kenneth; after his father…in…law Kenneth Matheson; Cailean himself was killed in Glaic Chailein by Mac Mhathoin; who envied him; and was sore displeased at Colin's succession to Matheson's ancient heritage; Colin was succeeded by his son Kenneth; and all his descendants were by the Highlanders called 〃Mac Choinnich;〃 or Kenneth's son; taking the patronymic from Mac Mhathoin rather than from Cailean; whom they esteemed a stranger。 Of the two theories the Matheson one is by far the more probable; but they are both without any real foundation。 The Fitzgerald theory has; however; until recently; been accepted by all the leading Mackenzie families and by the clan generally。 It has been adopted in all the Peerages and Baronetages; and by almost every writer on the history and genealogy of the Cabar feidh race。 The main if not the only authority of any consequence in favour of this Irish origin is the charter alleged to have been granted by Alexander III。 to Colin in 1266; of which the reputed original runs as follows:
‘Alexander; Dei Gracia; Rex Scottorum omnibus probis hominibus tocius terre sue clericis it laicis; salutem sciant presentes et futuri me pro fiddi seruicio michi navato per Colinum Hybernum tam in bello quam in pace ideo dedisse; et hac Presenti carta mea concessisse dicto Colino; et ejus successoribus to/as terras de Kintail Tenendas de nabis et successoribus nostris in liberam baronium cum g ua rdia Reddendo servicium fo rinsecum et fidelitatem Testibus Andrea episcopo; Moraviensi。 Wa ltero Stewart。 Hen rico de Balioth Camerario。 Ama/do de Campania。 Thoma Hostiario; vice…comite de Innerness。 Apud Kincardine; IX die Jan。。 Anno Regni Domini; Regis XVI。〃
This is a literal translation of the document。〃Alexander; by the Grace of God; King of Scots; to all honest men of his whole dominions; cleric and laic; greeting: Be it known to the present and future that I; for the faithful service rendered to me by Colin of Ireland; in war as well as peace; therefore I have given; and by this my present charter I concede to the said Colin and his successors; the lands of Kintail to be held of us in free barony with ward to render foreign service and fidelity。 Witnesses (as above。) At Kincardine; 9th day of January; in the year of the reign of the Lord the King。 the 16th。〃
The Kincardine at which this charter is alleged to have been signed is supposed to be the place of that name situated on the River Dee; for about this time an incident is reported to have occurred in the Forest of Mar in connection with which it is traditionally stated that the Mackenzies adopted the stag's head as their coat armour。 The legend is as follows:
Alexander was on a hunting expedition in the forest; near Kincardine; when an infuriated stag; closely pursued by the hounds; made straight in the direction of the King; and Cailean Fitzgerald; who accompanied the Royal party; gallantly interposed his own person between the exasperated animal and his Majesty; and shot it with an arrow in the forehead。 The King in acknowledgment of the Royal gratitude at once issued a diploma in favour of Colin granting him armorial bearings which were to be; a stags head puissant; bleeding at the forehead where the arrow pierced it; to be borne on a field azure; supported by two greyhounds。 The crest to be a dexter arm bearing a naked sword; surrounded by the motto 〃Fide Parta; Fide Acta;〃 which contin