history of the mackenzies-第17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！


t；　followed　by　a　one…eyed　dog。　　She　was　in　a　delicate　state　of　health；　and　this　　inhumanity　grieved　her　so　much　that　she　never　after　wholly　recovered。　　Her　son；　recently　born；　the　only　issue　of　the　marriage；　was　named　　Kenneth；　and　to　distinguish　him　from　his　father　was　called　〃Coinneach　　　Og〃　or　Kenneth　the　younger。

It　appears　that　Kenneth　had　no　great　affection　for　Lady　Margaret；　for　a　few　days　after　he　sent　her　away　he　went　to　Lord　Lovat　accompanie　by　two　hundred　of　his　followers　and　besieged　his　house。　　Lovat　was　naturally　surprised　at　his　conduct　and　demanded　an　explanation；　when　he　　was　informed　by　Kenneth　that　he　came　to　demand　his　daughter　Agnes　in　　marriage　now　that　he　had　no　wife；　having；　as　he　told　him；　disposed　of　　Lady　Margaret　in　the　manner　already　described。　He　insisted　upon　an　　immediate　and　favourable　reply　to　his　suit　on　which　condition　he　　promised　to　be　on　strict　terms　of　friendship　with　the　family；　but；　if　his　demand　was　refused　he　would　swear　mortal　enmity　against　Lovat　and　his　　house；　and；　as　evidence　of　his　intention　in　this　respect；　he　pointed　out　to　　his　lordship　that　he　already　bad　a　party　of　his　vassals　outside　gathering　together　the　men；　women；　and　goods　that　were　nearest　in　the　vicinity；　all　of　whom；　be　declared；　should　〃be　made　one　fyne　to　evidence　his　　resolution。〃　Lovat；　who　had　no　particularly　friendly　feelings　towards　　Macdonald　of　the　Isles；　was　not　at　all　indisposed　to　procure　Mackenzie's　friendship　on　the　terms　proposed；　and　considering　the　exigencies　and　　danger　of　his　retainers；　and　knowing　full　well　the　bold　and　determined　　character　of　the　man　he　had　to　deal　with；　he　consented　to　the　proposed　　alliance；　provided　the　voting　lady　herself　was　favourable。　　She　fortunately　　proved　submissive。　　Lord　Lovat　delivered　her　up　to　her　suitor；　who　　immediately　returned　borne　with　her；　and　ever　after　they　lived　together　as　　husband　and　wife。

Macdonald　was　naturally　very　much　exasperated　by　Kenneth's　　defiant　answer　to　himself　and　the　repeated　insults　heaped　upon　his　　relative；　and　through　her　upon　her　family。　　He　therefore　dispatched　his　great　steward；　Maclean；　to　collect　his　followers　in　the　Isles；　as　also　to　advise　and　request　the　aid　of　his　nearest　relations　on　the　mainland…the　　Macdonalds　of　Moidart　and　Clan　Jan　of　Ardnamurchan。　In　a　short　time　　they　mustered　a　force　between　them　of　about　fifteen　hundred　mensome　　say　three　thousandand　arranged　with　Macdonald　to　meet　him　at　Contin。　　　They　assumed　that　Alexander　Mackenzie；　now　so　old；　would　not　have　　gone　to　Kintail；　but　would　stay　in　Ross；　judging　that　the　Macdonalds；　so　　recently　come　under　obligations　to　the　King　to　keep　the　peace　would　not　　venture　to　collect　their　forces　and　invade　the　low　country。　　But　Kenneth；　foreseeing　the　danger　from　the　rebellious　temper　of　Macdonald；　went　to　　Kintail　at　the　commencement　of　his　enemy's　preparations；　and　placed　a　　strong　garrison；　with　sufficient　provisions；　in　Ellandonnan　Castle；　and　the　　cattle　and　other　goods　in　the　district　he　ordered　to　be　driven　and　sent　to　　the　most　remote　hills　and　secret　places。　　He　took　all　the　remaining　able…bodied　men　along　with　him；　and　on　his　way　back　to　Kinellan　he　was　　joined　by　his　dependants　in　Strathconan；　Strathgarve；　and　other　glens　in　　the　Braes　of　Ross；　all　fully　determined　to　defend　Kenneth　and　his　aged　　father　at　the　expense；　if　need　be；　of　their　lives；　small　as　their　united　forces　　were　in　comparison　with　that　against　which　they　knew　they　would　soon　　have　to　contend。

Macdonald　had　meanwhile　collected　his　friends；　and；　at　the　head　of　a　large　body　of　Western　Highlanders；　advanced　through　Lochaber　into　　Badenoch；　where　he　was　joined　by　the　Clan　Chattan；　marched　to　　Inverness；　where　they　were　met　by　the　young　laird　of　Kilravock　and　some　　of　Lovat's　people；　　reduced　the　Castle　（then　a　royal　fortress）；　placed　a　　garrison　in　it；　and　proceeded　to　the　north…east；　plundering　the　lands　of　Sir　　Alexander　Urquhart；　Sheriff　of　Cromarty。　They　next　marched　westward　　to　the　district　of　Strathconan；　ravaged　the　lands　of　the　Mackenzies　as　they　　went；　and　put　the　inhabitants　and　more　immediate　retainers　of　the　family　　to　the　sword；　resolutely　determined　to　punish　Mackenzie　for　his　ill…treatment　of　Lady　Margaret　and　recover　possession　of　that　part　of　the　　Earldom　of　Ross　forfeited　by　the　earls　of　that　name；　and　now　the　property　of　Mackenzie　by　Royal　charter。　　Having　wasted　Strathconan；　Macdonald　arrived　on　Sunday　morning　at　Contin；　where　he　found　the　people　in　great　　terror　and　confusion；　and　the　able…bodied　men　having　already　joined　　Mackenzie；　the　aged；　the　women；　and　the　children　took　refuge　in　the　　church；　thinking　themselves　secure　within　its　precincts　from　any　enemy　　professing　Christianity。　　They　soon；　to　their　horror；　found　out　their　　mistake。　　Macdonald；　having　little　or　no　scruples　on　the　score　of　religion；　　ordered　the　doors　to　be　closed　and　guarded；　and　then　set　fire　to　the　　building。　　The　priest；　together　with　the　hapless　crowd　of　helpless　and　aged　　men；　women　and　children；　were　all　burnt　to　ashes。

Some　of　those　who　were　fortunate　enough　not　to　have　been　in　　Contin　church　immediately　started　for　Kinellan；　and　informed　Mackenzie　of　the　hideous　massacre。　　Alexander；　though　deeply　grieved　at　the　cruel　　destruction　of　his　people；　expressed　his　gratitude　that　the　enemy；　whom　he　　had　hitherto　considered　too　numerous　to　contend　with　successfully；　had　　now　engaged　God　against　them　by　their　impious　conduct。　　Contin　was　not　　far　from　Kinellan；　and　Macdonald；　thinking　that　Mackenzie　would　not　　remain　at　the　latter　place　with　such　a　comparatively　small　force；　ordered　Gillespic　to　draw　up　his　followers　on　the　large　moor；　now　known　as　〃Blar…na…Pairc；〃　that　he　might　review　them；　and　send　out　a　detachment　to　pursue　the　enemy。　Kenneth　Mackenzie；　who　had　received　the　command　of　the　　clan　from　the　old　chief；　had　meantime　posted　his　men　in　a　strong　position　on　ground　where　he　considered　he　could　defend　himself　against　a　superior　force；　and　conveniently　situated　to　attack　the　enemy　if　a　　favourable　opportunity　occurred。　　His　followers　only　amounted　to　six　　hundred；　while　his　opponent　had　at　least　three　times　that　number；　but　he　　had　the　advantage　in　another　respect　inasmuch　as　he　had　sufficient　　provisions　for　a　much　longer　period　than　Macdonald　could　possibly　　procure　for　his　larger　force；　the　country　people　having　driven　their　cattle　　and　all　the　provender　that　might　be　of　service　to　the　enemy　out　of　his　　reach。　　About　mid…day　the　Islesmen　were　drawn　up　on　the　moor；　about　a　　quarter　of　a　mile　distant　from　the　position　occupied　by　the　Mackenzies；　　the　opposing　forces　being　only　separated　from　each　other　by　a　peat　moss；　　full　of　deep　pits　and　deceitful　bogs。　　Kenneth；　fearing　a　siege；　had　shortly　　before　this　prevailed　upon　his　aged　father　to　retire　to　the　Raven's　Rock；　above　Strathpeffer；　to　which　place；　strong　and　easily　defended；　he　resolved　to　follow　him　in　case　he　were　compelled　to　retreat　before　the　　numerically　superior　force　of　his　enemy。　　This　the　venerable　Alexander　　did；　recommending　his　son　to　the　assistance　and　protection　of　a　Higher　　Power；　at　the　same　time　assuring　him　of　success；　notwithstanding　the　far　　more　numerous　numbers　of　his　adversary。

By　the　nature　of　the　ground；　Kenneth　perceived　that　Macdonald　　could　not　bring　all　his　forces　to　the　attack　at　once；　and　he　accordingly　resolved　to　maintain　his　ground　and　try　the　effects　of　a　stratagem　which　he　　correctly　　calculated　　would　　mislead　　his　opponent　and　place　him　at　a　　serious　disadvantage。　　He　acquainted　his　younger　brother；　Duncan；　with　　his　resolution　and　plans；　and　sent　him　off；　before　the　struggle　commenced；　　with　a　body　of　archers　to　be　placed　in　ambush；　while　he　determined　to　　cross　the　peat…bog　himself　and　attack　Macdonald　in　front　with　the　main　　body；　intending　to　retreat　as　soon　as　his　adversary　returned　the　attack；　and　　thus　entice　the　Islesmen　to　pursue　him。　　He　informed　Duncan　of　his　own　　intention　to　retreat　and　commanded　him　to　be　in　readiness　with　his　archers　to　charge　the　enemy　whenever　they　got　fairly　into　the　moss　and　entangled　　among　the　pits　and　bogs。

Having　made　these　preliminary　arrangements；　he　boldly　advanced　　to　meet　the　foe；　leading　his　resolute　band　in　the　direction　of　the　intervening　moss。　　Macdonald；　seeing　him；　cried　in　derision　to　Gillespic　to　　see　〃Mackenzie's　impudent　madness；　daring　thus　to　face　him　at　such　　disadvantage。〃　Gillespic；　being　a　more　experienced　leader　than　the　　youthful　and　impetuous　Alexander；　said　that　〃such　extraordinary　boldness　　should　be　met　by　more　extraordinary　wariness　in　us；　lest　we　fall　into　　unexpected　inconvenience。〃　　Macdonald；　in　a　towering　passion；　replied　to　　this　wise　counsel〃Go　you　also　and　join　with　them；　and　it　will　not　need　our　care　nor　move　the　least　fear　in　my　followers；　both　of　you　will　not　be　a　　breakfast　to　me　and　　mine。〃　　Meanwhile　Mackenzie　advanced　a　little　　beyond　the　moss；　avoiding；　from　his　intimate　knowledge　of　it；　all　the　dangerous　pits　and　bogs；　when　Maclean　of　Lochbuy；　who　led　the　van　of　　the　enemy's　army；　advanced　and　charged　him　with　great　fury。　Mackenzie；　　according　to　his　pre…arranged　plan；　at　once　retreated；　but　in　so　masterly　a　　manner　that；　in　doing　so；　he　inflicted　as　much　damage　on　the　enemy　as　he　　received。　　The　Islesmen　speedily　got　entangled　in　the　moss；　and　Duncan　　Mackenzie　observing　this；　rushed　forth　from　his　ambush　and　furiously　　attacked　them　in　flank　and　rear；　killing　most　of　those　who　had　entered　the　　bog。　　He　then　turned　his　attention　to　the　main　body　of　the　Islesmen；　who　　were　quite　unprepared　　for　so　sudden　　an　　onslaught。　Kenneth；　setting　this；　　charged　with　his　main　body；　who　were　all　well　instructed　in　their　leader's　　design；　and；　before　the　enemy　were　able　to　form　in　order　of　battle；　he　fell　　on　their　right　flank　with　such　impetuosity　and　did　such　execution　among　　them　that　they　were　compelled　to　fall　back　in　confusion　before　the　　splendid　onset　of　the　small　force　which　they　had　so　recently　sneered　at　　and　despised。　　Gillespic；　stung　by　Alexander　Macdonald's　taunt　before　the　engagement　began；　to　prove　to　him　that　〃though　he　was　wary　in　council　　he　was　not　fearful　in　action；〃　sought　out　Kenneth　Mackenzie；　that　he　　might　engage　him　in　single　combat；　and　followed　by　some　of　his　bravest　followers　he；　with　signal　valour；　did　great　execution　among　the　Mackenzies　in　course　of　his　approach　to　Kenneth；　who　was　in　the　hottest　　of　the　fight；　and　who；　seeing　Gillespic　coming　in　his　direction；　advanced　to　meet　him；　killing；　wounding；　or　scattering　any　of　the　Macdonalds　that　　came　in　his　way。　　He　made　a　signal　to　Gillespic　to　advance　and　meet　him　　hand…to…hand；　but；　finding　him　hesitating；　Kenneth；　who　far　exceeded　him　　in　strength　while　he　equalled　him　in　courage；　would　brook　no　tedious　　debate　but　pressed　on　with　fearful　eagerness；　at　one　blow　cut　off　　Gillespic's　arm　arid　passed　very　far　into　his　body　so　that　he　fell　down　dead　　on　the　spot。

At　this　moment　Kenneth　noticed　his　standard…bearer　close　by；　　without　his　colours；　and　fighting　desperately　to　his　own　hand。　　He　turned　round　to　him；　and　angrily　asked　what　had　become　of　his　colours；　when　he　　was　coolly　answered〃　I　left　Macdonald's　standard…bearer；　quite　　unashamed　of　himself；　and　without　the　slightest　concern　for　those　of　his　　own　chief；　carefully　guarding　mine。〃　Ke