history of the mackenzies-第63章
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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 and that of his predecessors； the people had their lands at very low rates。 After the wars with Glengarry the inhabitants of the West Coast properties devoted themselves more steadily to the improvement of their stock and lands； and accumulated considerable means。 The Tutor； discovering this； took advantage of their prosperity and imposed a heavy entry or grassum on their tacks payable every five years。 〃I shall give you one instance thereof。 The tack of land called Muchd in Letterfearn； as I was told by Farquhar Mac Ian Oig； who paid the first entry out of it to the Tutor； paid of yearly duty before but 40 merks Scots； a cow and some meal； which cow and meal was usually converted to 20 merks but the Tutor imposed 1000 merks of entry upon it for a five years' tack。 This made the rent very little for four years of the tack； but very great and considerable for the first year。 The same method proportionately was taken with the rest of the lands； and continued so during the Tutor's and Colin's time； but Earl George； being involved in great troubles； contracted so much debt that he could not pay his annual rents yearly and support his own state； but was forced to delay his annual rents to the year of their entry； and he divided the entry upon the five years with the people's consent and approbation； so that the said land of Muchd fell to pay 280 merks yearly and no entry。〃 From this account； taken from the contemporary Ardintoul Manuscript； it appears that the system of charging rent on the tenant's own improvements is an injustice of considerable antiquity。
Colin 〃lived most of his time at Chanonry in great state and very magnificently。 He annually imported his wines from the Continent； and kept a store for his wines； beers； and other liquors； from which he replenished his fleet on his voyages round the West Coast and the Lewis； when he made a circular voyage every year or at least every two years round his own estates。 I have heard John Beggrie； who then served Earl Colin； give an account of his voyages after the bere seed was sown at Allan （where his father and grandfather had a great mains； which was called Mackenzie's girnel or granary）； took a Journey to the Highlands； taking with him not only his domestic servants but several young gentlemen of his kin； and stayed several days at Killin； whither he called all his people of Strathconan； Strathbran； Strathgarve； and Brae Ross； and did keep courts upon them and saw all things rectified。 From thence he went to Inverewe； where all his Lochbroom tenants and others waited upon him； and got all their complaints heard and rectified。 It is scarcely credible what allowance was made for his table of Scotch and French wines during these trips amongst his people。 From Inverewe he sailed to the Lewis； with what might be called a small navy； having as many boats； if not more loaded with liquors； especially wines and English beer； as he had under men。 He remained in the Lewis for several days； until he settled all the controversies arising among the people in his absence； and setting his land。 From thence he went to Sleat in the Isle of Skye； to Sir Donald Macdonald； who was married to his sister Janet； and from that he was invited to Harris； to Macleod's house； who was married to his sister Sybilla。 While he tarried in these places the lairds； the gentlemen of the Isles； and the inhabitants came to pay their respects to him； including Maclean； Clanranald； Raasay； Mackinnon； and other great chiefs。 They then convoyed him to Islandonain。 I have heard my grandfather； Mr Farquhar MacRa （then Constable of the Castle）； say that the Earl never came to his house with less than 300 and sometimes 500 men。 The Constable was bound to furnish them victuals for the first two meals； till my Lord's officers were acquainted to bring in his own customs。 There they consumed the remains of the wine and other liquors。 When all these lairds and gentlemen took their leave of him； he called the principal men of Kintail； Lochalsh； and Lochcarron together； who accompanied him to his forest of Monar； where they had a great and most solemn hunting day； and from Monar he would return to Chanonry about the latter end of July。〃 ＇Ardintoul MS。＇
He built the Castle of Brahan； which he thought of erecting where the old castle of Dingwall stood； or on the hill to the west of Dingwall； either of which would have been very suitable situations； but the Tutor who had in view to erect a castle where he afterwards erected Castle Leod； induced the Lord High Chancellor； Seaforth's father…in…law； to prevail upon him to build his castle upon his own ancient inheritance； which he subsequently did； and which was then one of the most stately houses in Scotland。 He also added greatly to the Castle of Chanonry； and 〃as be was diligent in secular affairs； so be and his lady were very pious and religious。〃 They went yearly to take the Sacraments from the Rev。 Thomas Campbell； minister of Carmichael； a good and religious man； and staid eight days with him； nor did their religion consist in form and outward show。 They proved its reality by their good works。 He had usually more than one chaplain in his house。 He provided the kirks of the Lewis without being obliged to do so； as also the five kirks of Kintail； Lochalsh； Lochcarron； Lochbroom； and Gairloch； all of which he was patron； with valuable books from London； the works of the latest and best authors； 〃whereof many are yet extant〃 He also laid the foundation for a church in Strathconan and Strathbran； of which the walls are 〃yet to be seen in Main in Strathconan； the walls being built above the height of a man above the foundation； and he had a mind to endow it had he lived longer。〃 He mortified 4000 merks for the Grammar School of Chanonry； and had several works of piety in his view to perform if his death had not prevented it。 The last time he went to Court some malicious person； envying his greatness and favour； laboured to give the King a bad impression of him； as if he were not thoroughly loyal； but the King himself was the first who told him what was said about him； which did not a little surprise and trouble the Earl； but it made no impression on the King； who was conscious and sufficiently convinced of his loyalty and fidelity。 After his return from Court his only son； Lord Alexander； died of smallpox at Chanonry； on the 3d of June； 1629； to the great grief of all who knew him； but especially his father and mother。 His demise hastened her death at Edinburgh； on the 20th February； 1631。 She was buried with her father at Fife on the 4th of March； after which the Earl contracted a lingering sickness； which； for some time before his death； confined him to his chamber； during which 〃he behaved most Christianly； putting his house in order； giving donations to his servants； etc。〃 He died at Chanonry on the 15th of April； 1633； in the 36th year of his age； and was buried there with his father on the 18th of May following； much lamented and regretted by all who knew him。 The King sent a gentleman all the way to Chanonry to testify his respect and concern for him； and to attend his funeral； which took place； on the date already stated； with great pomp and solemnity。 〃Before his death he called his successor； George of Kildene； to his bedside； and charged him with the protection of his family； but above all to be kind to his men and followers； for that he valued himself while he lived upon their account more than upon his great estate and fortune。〃 ＇Ardintoul； Letterfearn； and other Family MSS。＇ On the occasion of his last visit to London the King complimented him on being the best archer in Britain。
Colin married； first； Lady Margaret Seton； daughter of Alexander； Earl of Dunfermline； Lord High Chancellor of Scotland； with issue
I。 Alexander Lord Kintail； who died young。
II。 Anna； who married Alexander； second Lord Lindsay； who was created Earl of Balcarres by Charles II。 in 1651。 By him Lady Anna had two sons； Charle
