history of the mackenzies-第62章
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source of great annoyance to the Tutor and his followers。 On a little rock opposite Berrissay； Neil； by a well…directed shot killed one of the Tutor's followers named Donald MacDhonnchaidh Mhic Ian Ghlais； and wounded another called Tearlach MacDhomh'uill Roy Mhic Fhionnlaidh Ghlais。 This exasperated their leader so much that； all other means having failed to oust Neil from his impregnable position； the Tutor conceived the inhuman scheme of gathering together all the wives and children of the men who were on Berrissay； and all those in the island who were in any way related to them by blood or marriage； and； having placed them on a rock exposed only during low water； so near Berrissay that Neil and his companions could see and hear them； Sir Roderick and his men avowed that they would leave theminnocent； helpless women and childrenon the rock to be overwhelmed and drowned on the return of the tide； if Neil and his companions did not at once surrender the rock。 Macleod knew； by stern experience； that even to the carrying out such a fiendish crime； the promise of the Tutor； once given； was as good as his bond。 It is due to the greater humanity of Neil that the terrible position of the helpless women and children and their companions appalled him so much that he decided immediately upon yielding up the rock on condition that he and his followers should be allowed to leave the Lewis with their lives。 It cannot be doubted that but for Macleod's more merciful conduct the ferocious act would have been committed by Sir Roderick and his followers； and we have to thank the less barbarous instincts of their opponents for saving the clan Mackenzie from the commission of a crime which would have secured to its perpetrators the execration of posterity。
After Neil had left the rock he proceeded privately； during the night； to his cousin Sir Roderick Mor Macleod； XIII。 of Harris。 The Tutor learning this caused Macleod to be charged； under pain of treason and forfeiture； to deliver him up to the Council。 Realising the danger of his position； Macleod prevailed upon Neil and his son Donald to accompany him to Edinburgh； and to seek forgiveness from the King； and under pretence of this he delivered them both up on arriving in the city； where Neil； in April； 1613； was at once executed and his son afterwards banished out of the kingdom。 This treacherous conduct on the part of Macleod of Harris cannot be excused； but it was a fair return for a similar act of treachery of which Neil had been guilty against another some little time before。
When on Berrissay； he met with the captain of a pirate； with whom he entered into a mutual bond by which they were to help each other； both being outlaws。 The captain agreed to defend the rock from the seaward side while Neil made his incursions on shore。 They promised faithfully to live and die together； and to make the agreement more secure； it was arranged that the stranger should marry Neil's aunt； a daughter of Torquil Blair。 The day fixed for the marriage having arrived； and Neil and his adherents having discovered that the captain had several articles of value aboard his vessel； he； when the master of the pirate was naturally off his guard； treacherously seized the ship； and sent the captain and crew prisoners to Edinburgh； expecting that in this way he might secure pardon for himself in addition to possession of all the stores on board。 By order of the Council the sailors were all hanged at Leith。 Much of the silver and gold taken from the vessel Neil carried to Harris； where probably it helped to tempt Macleod； as it previously tempted himself to break faith with Neil。 The official account of these incidents has been already given at pages 194…95。
Sir Robert Gordon writing about this period but referring to 1477； says〃From the ruins of the family of Clandonald； and some of the neighbouring Highlanders； and also by their own virtue； the surname of the Clankenzie； from small beginnings； began to flourish in these bounds； and by the friendship and favour of the house of Sutherland； chiefly of Earl John； fifth of that name； Earl of Sutherland （whose Chamberlains they were； in receiving the rents of the Earldom of Ross to his use） their estate afterwards came to great height； yea above divers of their more ancient neighbours。 The chief and head of the family at this day is Colin Mackenzie； Lord of Kintail； now created Earl of Seaforth。〃 ＇Gordon's Earldom of Sutherland； p。 77。＇ If the family was so powerful in 1477； what must its position have been under Lord Colin？ The Earl of Cromarty says that 〃This Colin was a noble person of virtuous endowments； beloved of all good men； especially his Prince。 He acquired and settled the right of the superiority of Moidart and Arisaig； the Captain of Clandonald's lands； which his father； Lord Kenneth； formerly claimed right to but lived not to accomplish it。 Thus； all the Highlands and Islands from Ardnamurchan to Strathnaver were either Mackenzie's property； or under his vassalage； some few excepted； and all about him were tied to his family by very strict bonds of friendship or vassalage； which； as it did beget respect from many it be got envy in others； especially his equals。〃
It is difficult to discover any substantial aid which the Mackenzies ever received from the Earls of Sutherland of the kind stated by Sir Robert Gordon。 We have carefully perused the whole of the work from which the above quotation is made； and are unable to discover a single instance prior to 1477； where the Sutherlands were of any service whatever to the family of Kintail； and the assumption is only another instance of that quality of partiality to his own family；〃 so characteristic of Sir Robert； and for which even the publishers of his work deemed it necessary to apologise in the Advertisement prefaced to his History of the Earldom of Sutherland。
They 〃regret the hostile feelings which he expresses concerning others who were equally entitled to complain of aggression on the part of those whom he defends；〃 but 〃strict fidelity to the letter of the manuscript〃 would not allow them to omit 〃the instances in which this disposition appears。〃 After Mackenzie's signal victory over the Macdonalds at Blar…na…Pairc； and Hector Roy's prowess at Drumchait； the Earl of Sutherland began to think that the family of Mackenzie； rapidly growing in power and influence； might be of some service in the prosecution of his own plans and in extending his power； and he accordingly entered into the bond of manrent with him already noticed。 It has been seen that； for a long time after； the advantages of this arrangement were entirely on the side of the Sutherlands； as at the battle of Brora and other places previously mentioned。 The appointment of Kintail as Deputy…Chamberlain of the Earldom of Ross was due to and in acknowledgment of these signal and repeated services； and the obligations and advantages of the office were found to be reciprocal。 The first and only instance in which the Earl's connection with Mackenzie is likely to have been of service in the field is on the occasion when； in 1605； he sent 〃six score〃 men to support him against Glengarry； and these； it has been seen； had fled before they saw the enemy。 So much for the favour and friendship of the House of Sutherland and its results before and after 1477。
Lord Colin became involved in legal questions with the Earl of Argyll about the superiority of Moidart and Arisaig； and thus spent most of the great fortune accumulated for him by his uncle the Tutor； but he was ultimately successful against Argyll。 He was frequently at the Court of James VI。； with whom he was a great favourite； and in 1623 he was raised to the peerage by the title of Earl of Seaforth； and Viscount Fortrose。 From his influence at Court he was of great service to his followers and friends； while he exerted himself powerfully and steadily against those who became his enemies from jealousy of his good fortune and high position。
He imposed high entries and rents upon his Kintail and West Coast tenants； which they considered a most 〃grievous imposition。〃 In Lord Kenneth's time a
