history of the mackenzies-第70章
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ait the arrival of the rest of their confederates； Lord Reay； Glengarry； Maclean； and several others； who； with such as were ready to join him south； were likely to make a formidable army for the King but； in the meantime； the King having come to the Scots army； the first thing they extorted from him was to send a herald to Montrose； commanding him to disband his forces； and to pass over to France till his Majesty's further pleasure。 The herald came to him in the last of May； 1646； while he was at Strathglass waiting the rest of the King's faithful friends who were to join him。 For this Montrose was vexed； not only for the King's condition； but for those of his faithful subjects who declared themselves for him and before he would disband he wrote several times to the King； but received no answer； except some articles from the Parliament and Covenanters； which after much reluctance； he was forced to accept； by which he was to depart the Kingdom against the first of September following； and the Covenanters were obliged to provide a ship for his transportation； but finding that they neglected to do so； meeting with a Murray ship in the harbour of Montrose； he went aboard of her with several of his friends； namely； Sir John Hurry； who served the States the year before； John Drummond； Henry Brechin； George Wishart； and several others； leaving Seaforth and the rest of his friends to the mercy of these implacable enemies； for the States and Parliament threatened to forfeit him for acting contrary to their orders； and the Kirk excommunicated him for joining with the excommunicated traitor； as they called him； James Graham； for now the Kirk began to rule with a high hand； becoming more guilty than the bishops； of that of which they charged him with as great a fault for meddling with civil and secular affairs； for they not only looked upon them to form the army and to purge it of such as whom； in their idiom； they called Malignants； but really such as were loyal to the King； and also would have no Acts of Parliament to pass without their consent and approbation。 Their proselytes in the laity were also heavy upon and uneasy to such as they found or conceived to have found with a tincture of Malignancy； whereof many instances might be given。〃 But to return to Seaforth。 〃After he was excommunicated by the Kirk he was obliged to go to Edinburgh； where he was made prisoner and detained two years； till in the end he was； with much ado； released from the sentence of excom…munication； and the process of forfeiture against him discharged； for that time he returned home in the end of the year； 1648； but King Charles I。 being before that time murdered； and King Charles II。 being in France； finding that he would not be for any time on fair terms with the States and Kirk； he proposed to remove his family to the Island of Lewis； and dwell there remote from public affairs； and to allocate his rents on the mainland to pay his most pressing debts； in order to which； having sent his lady in December to Lochcarron； where boats were attending to transport himself and children to the Lewis by way of Lochbroom； wherein his affairs called him； he； without acquainting his kinsmen and friends； went aboard a ship which he had provided for that purpose； and sailed to France； where the King was； who received him most graciously and made him one of his secretaries。 This did incense the States against him； so that they placed a garrison in his principal house at Brahan； under the command of Captain Scott； who （afterwards） broke his neck from a fall from his horse in the Craigwood of Chanonry； as also another garrison in the Castle of Ellandonnan； under the command of one William Johnston； which remained to the great hurt and oppression of the people till； in t
Paragraph 587 has too many words。 he year 1650； some of the Kintail men； not bearing the insolence of the garrison soldiers； discorded with them； and in harvest that year killed John Campbell； a leading person among them； with others； for having wounded several at little Inverinate； without one drop of blood drawn out of the Kintail men； who were only 10 in number； while the soldiers numbered 30。 After this the garrison was very uneasy and greatly afraid of the Kintail men； who threatened them so； that shortly thereafter they removed to Ross； being commanded then by one James Chambers； but Argyll； to keep up the face of a garrison there； sent ten men under the command of John Muir； who lived there civilly without molesting the people； the States were so incensed against the Kintail men for this brush and their usage of the garrison； that they resolved to send a strong party next spring to destroy Kintail and the inhabitants thereof。 But King Charles II。； after the defeat of Dunbar； being at Stirling recruiting his army against Cromwell； to which Seaforth's men were called； it proved an act of oblivion and indemnity to them； so that the Kintail men were never challenged for their usage of the garrison soldiers。 Though the Earl of Seaforth was out of the kingdom； he gave orders to his brother Pluscardine to raise men for the King's service whenever he saw the King's affairs required it； and so； in the year 1649； Pluscardine did raise Seaforth's men and my Lord Reay joining him with his men； marched through Inverness； went through Moray； and crossed the Spey； being resolved to join the Gordons； Atholes； and several others who were ready to rise； and appeared for the King。 Lesley； who was sent from the Parliament to stop their progress； called Pluscardine to treat with him； while Seaforth's and my Lord Reay's men encamped at Balveny； promising a cessation of hostilities。 For some days Colonel Carr and Strachan； with a strong body of horse； surprised them in their camp； when they lay secure； and taking my Lord Reay； Rory Mackenzie of Redcastle； Rory Mackenzie of Fairburn； John Mackenzie of Ord； and others； prisoners； threatening to kill them unless the men surrendered and disbanded； and the under officers fearing they would kill them whom they had taken prisoners； did their utmost to hinder the Highlanders from fighting； cutting their bowstrings； etc。； so they were forced to disband and dissipate。 Pluscardine； in the meantime； being absent from them； and fearing to fall into their hands； turned back to Spey with Kenneth of Coul； William Mackenzie of Multavie； and Captain Alexander Bain； and swam the river； being then high by reason of the rainy weather； and so escaped from their implacable enemies。 My Lord Reay； Red…castle； and others were sent to Edinburgh as prisoners； as it were to make a triumph； where a solemn day of thanksgiving was kept for that glorious victory。 My Lord Reay and the rest were set at liberty； but Redcastle was still kept prisoner； because when he came from home he garrisoned his house of Redcastle； giving strict commands to those he placed in his house not to render or give it until they had seen an order under his hand； whereupon Colonel Carr and Strachan coming to Ross； after the defeat of Balvenny； summoned the garrison to come forth； but all in vain； for they obstinately defended the house against the besiegers until； on a certain day； a cousin of Carr's advancing in the ruff of his pride； with his cocked carbine in his hand； to the very gates of the castle； bantering and threatening those within to give up the castle under all highest pain and danger； he was shot from within and killed outright。 This did so grieve and incense Colonel Carr； that he began fairly to capitulate with them within； and made use of Redcastle's own friends to mediate and persuade them； till in the end； upon promise and assurance of fair terms； and an indemnity of what passed； they came out； and then Carr and his party kept not touches with them； but； apprehending several of them； and finding who it was that killed his cousin； caused him to be killed； and thereafter； contrary to the promise and articles of capitulation； rifled the house； taking away what he found useful； and then burnt the house and all that was within it。 In the meantime Redcastle was kept prisoner at Edinburgh； none of his friends being in a con
