history of the mackenzies-第39章

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cient　letters　of　slams　from　the　master；　wife；　bairns；　and　principal　kin　and　friends　of　the　umquhile　　John　Mac　Ian　Mhoir；　and　on　the　said　letters　of　slams　being　obtained　　Robert　Munro　of　Fowlis　promised　and　obliged　himself　to　deliver　to　the　　said　Torquil　or　Colin　the　sum　of　two　hundred　merks　consigned　in　Robert　　Munro's　hands　by　certain　merchants　in　Edinburgh　for　the　assithment　of　slaughters　committed　at　Lochcarron　in　connection　with　the　fishings　in　that　　Loch。　　On　the　1st　of　August；　1569；　Colin　signs　a　decree　arbitral　between　　himself　and　Donald　Gormeson　Macdonald；　sixth　of　Sleat；　the　full　text　of　　which　will　be　found　at　pp。　185…88　of　Mackenzie's　History　of　the　　Macdonalds　and　Lords　of　the　Isles。

In　1570　a　quarrel　broke　out　between　the　Mackenzies　and　the　　Munros。　Leslie；　the　celebrated　Bishop　of　Ross；　who　had　been　secretary　to　Queen　Mary；　dreading　the　effect　of　public　feeling　against　prelacy　in　　the　North；　and　against　himself　personally；　made　over　to　his　cousin　Leslie　of　　Balquhair；　his　rights　and　titles　to　the　Chanonry　of　Ross；　together　with　the　　castle　lands；　in　order　to　divest　them　of　the　character　of　church　property；　　and　so　save　them　to　his　family　but　notwithstanding　this　grant；　the　Regent　Murray　gave　the　custody　of　the　castle　to　Andrew　Munro　of　Milntown；　a　　rigid　presbyterian；　and　in　high　favour　with　Murray；　who　promised　Leslie　　some　of　the　lands　of　the　barony　of　Fintry　in　Buchan　as　an　equivalent　but　　the　Regent　died　before　this　arrangement　was　carried　outbefore　Munro　obtained　titles　to　the　castle　and　castle　lands　as　he　expected。　　Yet　he　　ultimately　obtained　permission　from　the　Earl　of　Lennox；　during　his　　regency；　and　afterwards　from　the　Earl　of　Mar；　his　successor　in　that　office；　　to　get　possession　of　the　castle。

The　Mackenzies　were　by　no　means　pleased　to　see　the　Munros　　occupying　the　stronghold；　and；　desirous　to　obtain　possession　of　it　　themselves；　they　purchased　Leslie's　right；　by　virtue　of　which　they　　demanded　delivery　of　the　castle。　　This　was　at　once　refused　by　the　Munros。　Kintail　raised　his　vassals；　and；　joined　by　a　detachment　of　the　Mackintoshes；　＇In　the　year　1573；　Lachlan　More；　Laird　of　Mackintosh；　favouring　Kintail；　his　brother…in　law；　required　all　the　people　of　Strathnairn　　to　join　him　against　the　Munros。　　Colin；　Lord　of　Lorn　had　at　the　time　the　　adminstration　of　that　lordship　as　the　jointure　lands　of　his　wife；　the　　Countesa　Dowager　of　Murray；　and　he　wrote　to　Hugh　Rose　of　Kilravock：〃My　Baillie　off　Strathnarne；　for　as　much　as　it　is　reported　to　me　that　　Mackintosh　has　charged　all　my　tenants　west　of　the　water　of　Naim　to　pass　　forward　with　him　to　Ross　to　enter　into　this　troublous　action　with　　Mackenzie　against　the　Laird　of　Fowlis；　and　because　I　will　not　that　any　of　mine　enter　presently　this　matter　whose　service　appertains　to　me；　　wherefore　I　will　desire　you　to　make　my　will　known　to　my　tenants　at　　Strathnarne　within　your　Bailliary；　that　none　of　them　take　upon　hand　to　rise　　at　this　present　with　Mackintosh　to　pass　to　Ross；　or　at　any　time　hereafter　without　my　special　command　and　goodwill　obtained　under　such　pains；〃　etc。　　（Dated）　Darnoway；　28th　of　June；　1573。Kilravock　Writs；　p。263。＇　　garrisoned　the　steeple　of　the　Cathedral　Church；　and　laid　siege　to　Irvine's　　Tower　and　the　Palace。　　The　Munros　held　out　for　three　years；　but　one　day　　the　garrison　becoming　short　of　provisions；　they　attempted　a　sortie　to　the　Ness　of　Fortrose；　where　there　was　at　the　time　a　salmon　stell；　the　contents　　of　which　they　attempted　to　secure。　　They　were　commanded　　by　John　　　Munro；　grandson　of　George；　fourth　laird　of　Fowlis；　who　was　killed　at　the　　battle　of　〃Bealach…nam…Brog。〃　　They；　were　immediately　discovered；　and　quickly　followed　by　the　Mackenzies；　under　lain　Dubh　Mac　Ruairidh　Mhic　　Alastair；　who　fell　upon　the　starving　Munros；　and；　after　a　desperate　　struggle；　killed　twenty…six　of　their　number；　among　whom　was　their　　commander；　while　the　victors　only　sustained　a　loss　of　two　men　killed　and　　three　or　four　wounded。　　The　remaining　defenders　of　the　castle　　immediately　capitulated；　and　it　was　taken　possession　of　by　the　　Mackenzies。　　Subsequently　it　was　confirmed　to　the　Baron　of　Kintail　by　　King　James　VI。　＇Sir　Robert　Gordon；　p。　154；　and　MS。　Histories　of　the　　Family。＇　　Roderick　Mor　Mackenzie　of　Redcastle　seems　to　have　been　the　　leading　spirit　in　this　affair。　　The　following　document；　dated　at　Holyrood　House；　the　12th　of　September　1573；　referring　to　the　matter　will　prove　　interesting

Anent　our　Sovereign　Lord's　letters　raised　at　the　instance　of　Master　　George　Munro；　making　mention：that　whereas　he　is　lawfully　provided　to　　the　Chancellory　of　Ross　by　his　Highness's　presentation；　admission　to　the　　Kirk；　and　the　Lords'　decree　thereupon；　and　has　obtained　letters　in　all　the　　four　forms　thereupon　and　therewith　has　caused　charge　the　tenants　and　　intromitters　with　the　teind　sheaves　thereof；　to　make　him　and　his　factors　　payment；　and　in　the　meantime　Rory　Mackenzie；　brother　to　Colin　　Mackenzie　of　Kintail；　having　continual　residence　in　the　steeple　of　the　　Chanonry　of　Ross；　which　he　caused　to　be　built　not　only　to　oppress　the　　country　with　masterful　theft；　sorning；　and　daily　oppression；　but　also　for　suppressing　of　the　word　of　God　which　was　always　preached　in　the　said　　Kirk　preceding　his　entry　thereto；　which　is　now　become　a　filthy　stye　and　　den　of　thieves；　has　masterfully　and　violently　with　a　great　force　of　oppression；　come　to　the　tenants　indebted　in　payment　of　the　said　Mr　George's　benefice　aforesaid　and　has　masterfully　reft　them　of　all　and　whole　　the　fruits　thereof；　and　so　he　having　no　other　refuge　for　obtaining　of　the　said　benefice；　was　compelled　to　denounce　the　said　whole　tenants　rebels　　and　put　them　to　the　horn；　as　the　said　letters　and　execution　thereof　more　　fully　purports；　and　further　is　compelled　for　fear　of　the　said　Mr　George's　life　to　remain　from　his　vocation　whereunto　God　has　called　him。　　And　　anent　the　charge　given　to　the　said　Rory　Mackenzie　to　desist　and　cease　　from　all　intromitting；　uptaking；　molesting　or　troubling　of　the　said　Mr　　George's　tenants　of　his　benefice　above…written　for　any　fruits　or　duties　　thereof；　otherwise　than　is　ordered　by　law；　or　else　to　have　compeared　　before　my　Lord　Regent's　grace　and　Lords　of　Secret　Council　at　a　certain　day　bypast；　and　show　a　reasonable　cause　why　the　same　should　not　be　done；　under　the　pain　of　rebellion　and　putting　him　to　the　horn；　with　certification　to　him；　and　he　failing；　letters　would　be　directed　simpliciter　to　　put　him　to　the　horn；　like　as　is　at　more　length　contained　in　the　said　letters；　　execution　and　endorsement　thereof。　Which　being　called；　the　said　Master　　George　compeared　personally；　and　the　said　Rory　Mackenzie　oftimes　　called　and　not　compearing；　my　Lord　Regent's　grace；　with　advise　of　the　　Lords　of　Secret　Council；　ordained　letters　to　be　directed　to　officers　of　arms；　　Sheriffs　in　that　part；　to　denounce　the　said　Rory　Mackenzie　our　Sovereign　　Lord's　rebel　and　put　him　to　the　horn　and　to　escheat　and　bring　in　all　his　moveable　goods　to　his　Highness's　use　for　his　contempt。　＇Records　of　the　　Privy　Council。＇

In　December　of　the　same　year　Colin　has　to　provide　cautioners；　for　things　laid　to　his　charge；　to　the　amount　of　ten　thousand　pounds；　that　he　　shall　remain　within　four　miles　of　Edinburgh；　and　eastward　as　far　as　the　　town　of　Dunbar；　and　that　he　shall　appear　before　the　Council　on　a　notice　of　　forty…eight　hours。　　On　the　6th　of　February　following　other　cautioners　bind　　themselves　to　enter　him　in　Edinburgh　on　the　20th　of　May；　1574；　　remaining　there　until　relieved；　under　a　penalty　of　ten　thousand　pounds。　　　He　is　entered　to　keep　ward　in　Edinburgh　on　the　1st　March；　1575；　and　is　　bound　to　appear　before　the　Council　when　required　under　a　similar　penalty。　　　　On　the　10th　of　April　following　he　signs　a　bond　that　Alexander　Ross　shall　　appear　before　the　Lords　when　required　to　do　so。　　On　the　25th　of　May；　　1575；　at　Chanonry；　Robert　Munro　of　Fowlis　and　Walter　Urquhart；　Sheriff　of　Cromarty；　bind　　themselves　their　　heirs；　and　successors；　under　a　penalty　　of　five　thousand　pounds；　that　they　shall　on　a　month's　notice　enter　and　　present　Roderick　Mor　Mackenzie　of　Redcastle　before　the　King　and　the　　Privy　Council　and　that　he　shall　remain　while　lawful　entry　be　taken　of　him；　　and　that　he　shall　keep　good　rule　in　his　country　in　the　meantime。　　On　the　　same　day