history of the mackenzies-第35章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ss； extending in all to 36 marks； which he had resigned。 ＇Reg。 Mag。 Sig。； lib。 xxviii。； No。 524。 Reg。 Sec。 Sig。；vol。 xvii。； fol。 56。＇ In 1551 the same Queen granted to John M'Kenze of Kintaill； and Kenzeoch M'Kenze； his son and apparent heir； a remission for the violent taking of John Hectour M'Kenzesone of Garlouch； Doull Hectoursone； and John Towach Hectoursone； and for keeping them in prison ‘vsurpand thairthrou our Souerane Ladyis autorite。' ＇Reg。 Sec。 Sig。； vol。 xxiv。； fol。 75。＇ In 1554 there appear on record John Mackenzie of Kintaile and his son and heir…apparant； Kenneth Mackenzie of Brahanapparently the same persons that appear in 1551。 ＇Reg； Mag。 Sig。； lib。 xxxii。； No。 211。＇
Donald Gorm Mor Macdonald of Sleat laid waste the country of Macleod of Dunvegan； an ally of Mackenzie； after which he passed over in 1539 to the mainland and pillaged the lands of Kenlochewe； where he killed Miles or Maolmuire； son of Finlay Dubh MacGillechriost MacRath； at the time governor of Ellandonnan Castle。 Finlay was a very 〃pretty man；〃 and the writer of the Genealogy of the Macras informs us that 〃the remains of a monument erected for him； in the place where he was killed； is still （1704） to be seen。〃 Kintail was naturally much exasperated at this unprovoked raid upon his territory； as also for Macdonald's attack upon his friend and ally； Macleod of Dunvegan； and to punish Donald Gorm； he dispatched his son； Kenneth； with a force to Skye； who made ample reprisals in Macdonald's country； killing many of his followers； and at the same time exhibiting great intrepidity and sagacity。 Donald Gorm almost immediately afterwards made an incursion into Mackenzie's territories of Kintail； where he killed Sir （Rev。） Dougald Mackenzie； 〃one of the Pope's knights〃； whereupon Kenneth； younger of Kintail； paid a second visit to the Island； wasted the country； and on his return； Macdonald learning that Ellandonnan was garrisoned by a very weak force； under the new governor； John Dubh Matheson of Fernaigwho had married Sir Dugald Mackenzie's widowhe made another raid upon it； with fifty birlinns or large boats full of his followers； with the intention of surprising the small garrison； and taking the castle by storm。 Its gallant defenders consisted at the time of the governor； his watchman； and Duncan MacGillechriost Mac Fhionnladh Mhic Rath； a nephew of Maolmuire killed in the last incursion of the Island chief。 The advance of the boats was； however； noticed in time by the sentinel or watchman； who at once gave the alarm to the country people； but they arrived too late to prevent the enemy from landing。 Duncan MacGillechriost was on the mainland at the time； but flying back with all speed he arrived at the postern of the stronghold in time to kill several of the Islesmen in the act of landing； and； entering the castle； he found no one there but the governor and watchman； almost immediately after； Donald Gorm Mor furiously attacked the gate； but without success； the brave trio having strongly secured it by a second barrier of iron within a few steps of the outer defences。 Unable to procure access the Islesmen were driven to the expedient of shooting their arrows through the embrazures； and in this way they succeeded in killing the governor。
Duncan now found himself sole defender of the castle except the watchman； and worse still his ammunition was reduced to a single barbed arrow； which he determined to husband until an opportunity occurred by which he could make good use of it Macdonald at this stage ordered his boats round to the point of the Airds； and was personally reconnoitring with the view of discovering the weakest part of the wall for effecting a breach。 Duncan considered this a favourable opportunity； and aiming his arrow at Donald Gorm； it struck him and penetrated his foot through the master vein。 Macdonald； not having perceived that the arrow was a barbed one； wrenched it out； and in so doing separated the main artery。
Notwithstanding that all available means were used； it was found impossible to stop the bleeding； and his men conveyed him out of the range of the fort to a spota sand bankon which he died； called to this day； 〃Larach Tigh Mhic Dhomhnuill；〃 or the site of Macdonald's house； where the haughty Lord of Sleat ended his career。 ＇Genealogy of the Macras and the Ardintoul MS。 〃This Donald Gorme was son to Donald Gruamach； son to Donald Gallach； son to Hugh； natural son to Alexander； Earl of Ross； for which the elegy made on his death calls him grandchild and great grandchild to Rhi…Fingal （King Fingal）
〃A Dhonnchaldh Mhic Gillechriost Mhic Fhionnla； ‘S mor um beud a thuit le d'aon laimh； Ogha ‘s iar…ogha Mhic Righ Fhinghaill； ‘Thuiteam le bramag an aon mhic。〃
Letterform MS。＇ The Islesmen burnt all they could find ashore in Kintail。
〃In 1539 Donald Gorm of Sleat and his allies； after laying waste Trouterness in Sky and Kenlochew in Ross； attempted to take the Castle of Eileandonan； but Donald being killed by an arrow shot from the wall； the attempt failed。〃 ＇Gregory； pp。 145。146。 Border Minstrelsy。 Anderson； p。 283。 Reg。 Sec。 Sig。； vol。 xv。； fol。 46。＇ In 1541 King James V。 granted a remission to Donald's accomplicesnamely； Archibald Ilis； alias Archibald the Clerk； Alexander McConnell Gallich； John Dow Donaldsoun； and twenty…six others whose names are recorded in Origines Parchiales； p。 394； vol。 ii。； for their treasonable fire…raising and burning of the 〃Castle of Allanedonnand〃 and of the boats there； for the 〃Herschip〃 of Kenlochew and Trouterness； etc。
Duncan MacGillechriost now naturally felt that he had some claim to the governorship of the castle； but being considered 〃a man more bold and rash than prudent and politick；〃 Mackenzie decided to pass him over。
Duncan then put in a claim for his brother Farquhar； but it was thought best； to avoid local quarrels and bitterness between the respective claimants； to supersede them both and appoint another； John MacMhurchaidh Dhuibh； priest of Kintail； to the Constableship。 Duncan was so much offended at such treatment in return for his valiant services that he left Kintail in disgust； and went to the country of Lord Lovat； who received him kindly； and gave him the lands of Crochel and others in Strathglass； where he lived for several years； until Lovat's death。
Mackenzie； however； often visited him and finally prevailed upon him to return to Kintail； and Duncan； who always retained a lingering affection for his native country； ultimately became reconciled to the chief； who gave him the quarterland of Little Inverinate and Dorisduan； where he lived the remainder of his days； and which his descendants continued to possess for generations after his death。
For this service against the Macdonalds； James V。 gave Mackenzie Kinchullidrum； Achilty； and Comery in feu； with Meikle Scatwell； under the Great Seal； in 1528。 The lands of Laggan Achidrom； being four merks； the three merks of Killianan； and the four merk lands of Invergarry； being in the King's hands； were disposed by him to John Mackenzie； after the King's minority and revocation； in 1540； with a precept； under the Great Seal； and sasine thereupon by Sir John Robertson in January 1541。
But before this； in 1521； he acquired the lands of Fodderty and mill thereof from Mr John Cadell； which James V。 confirmed to him at Linlithgow in September； 1522。 In 1541 he feued Brahan from the King to himself and his heirs male； which failing； to his eldest daughter。 In 1542 he obtained the waste lands and forest of Neid and Monar from James V。 for which sasine is granted in the same year by Sir John Robertson。 In January 1547 he acquired a wadset of the half of Culteleod （Castle Leod） and Drynie from Denoon of Davidston。 In September of the same year； old as he was； he went in defence of his Sovereign； young Mary of Scots； to the Battle of Pinkie； where he was taken prisoner； and the Laird of Kilravock meeting him advised him that they should own themselves among the commons； Mackenzie passing off as a bowman。
While Kilravock would pass himself off as a miller； which plan succeeded so well as to secure Kilr
