history of the mackenzies-第2章

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hat　　Colin's　reputed　father　was　70　years　old　when　he　died。　　He　（the　father）　　must　thus　have　been　born　as　early　as　1246。　　Let　us　take　it　that　his　eldest　　son；　the　reputed　Colin；　by　his　second　wife；　was　born　when　his　father　was　　only　24　years　of　agesay　in　1270and　the　result　of　the　Fitzgerald　origin　theory　would　be　that　Colin　must　have　fought　at　the　battle　of　Largs　7　years　　before；　according　to　the　laws　of　nature；　he　could　have　been　born。　　In　other　　words；　he　was　not　born；　if　born　at　all；　for　seven　years　after　the　battle　of　　Largs；　four　years　after　the　reputed　charter　of　1266；　and　40　years　　subsequent　to　1230；　the　last　year　in　which　either　of　the　witnesses　whose　　names　are　upon　the　alleged　charter　itself　was　in　life。　　（3）　But　take　the　　genealogy　as　given　by　the　upholders　of　the　Colin　Fitzgerald　origin　　themselves　Maurice；　who　died　in　1257；　had；　according　to　it；　two　sonsThomas　and　Gerald。　This　Thomas；　they　say；　succeeded　his　father　as　third　　Lord　Offaly；　and　had　a　son；　John；　who；　by　his　second　wife；　had　Colin　Fitzgerald。　That　is；　Maurice；　who　died　in　1257；　had　a　great　grandson　Colin；　who；　as　a　warrior　of　mature　years　and　experience；　fought　at　the　battle　of　Largs　only　six　years　after　his　great…grandfathers　death。　But　there　was　in　　fact　no　Earl　of　Kildare　at　this　early　date。　　That　title　was；　as　already　stated；　　not　created　until　1316；　twenty…eight　years　after　his　son　Colin　Fitzgerald　was；　according　to　the　testimony　of　his　supporters；　buried　in　Icolmkill。

It　is　　surely　unnecessary　to　add　that　such　a　consummation　is　absolutely　　impossible；　and　these　facts　alone；　though　no　other　shred　of　evidence　was　　forthcoming；　would　dispose　of　the　Colin　Fitzgerald　origin　of　the　　Mackenzies　for　ever。

Colin's　five　brothers　are　given　by　the　upholders　of　the　Fitzgerald　origin　as　Galen；　said　to　have　been　the　same　as　Gilleon　or　Gillean；　the　ancestor　of　the　Macleans；　Gilbert；　ancestor　of　the　White　Knights；　John；　　ancestor　of　the　Knights　of　Glynn；　Maurice；　ancestor　of　the　Knights　of　　Kerry；　and　Thomas；　progenitor　of　the　Fitzgeralds　of　Limerick。　　But　it　is　　quite　unnecessary　to　deal　with　Colin's　brothers　and　their　descendants　here。

It　will　be　sufficient　if　we　dispose　of　Colin　himself；　who；　according　to　the　　genealogy　given　to　him　by　those　who　claim　him　as　their　progenitor；　was　　really　not　Colin　Fitz…Gerald　but　Colin　Fitz…John。　He　must；　however；　be　　dealt　with　a　little　more　at　length；　for；　whoever　he　may　have　been；　and　　however　mythical　his　personal　history；　his　name　will　always　command　a　　certain　amount　of　interest　for　members　of　the　Clan　Mackenzie；　and　those　　who　have　become　allied　with　them　by　marriage　or　association。　　Most　of　us　are　acquainted　with　the　turbulent　state　of　the　West　　Highlands　and　Islands　in　the　reign　of　Alexander　II。；　when　the　Highland　　Chiefs　became　so　powerful；　and　were　so　remote　from　the　centre　of　　Government；　that　they　could　not　be　brought　under　the　King's　authority。　　　His　Majesty　determined　to　make　a　serious　effort　to　reduce　these　men　to　　obedience；　and　for　this　purpose　he　proceeded；　at　the　head　of　a　large　force；　　but　died　on　his　way　in　1249；　on　the　Island　of　Kerrera；　leaving　his　son；　Alexander　III。；　then　only　nine　years　of　age；　with　the　full　weight　and　　responsibility　of　government　on　his　shoulders。　　Shortly　after　the　King　attained　his　majority；　Colin　Fitzgerald；　　correctly　speaking　Fitz　John　is　said　to　have　been　driven　out　of　Ireland　and　　to　have　sought　refuge　at　the　Scottish　Court；　where　he　was　heartily　　welcomed　by　the　King；　by　whom　his　rank　and　prowess　well　known　to　him　　by　repute；　were　duly　recognised　and　acknowledged。

At　this　time　Alexander　was　preparing　to　meet　Haco；　King　of　　Norway；　who；　on　the　2nd　of　October；　1262；　landed　with　a　large　force　on　　the　coast　of　Ayrshire；　where　he　was　met　by　a　gallant　force　of　fifteen　hundred　knights　splendidly　mounted　on　magnificent　chargersmany　of　　them　of　pure　Spanish　breedwearing　breastplates；　while　their　riders；　clad　　in　complete　armour；　with　a　numerous　army　of　foot　armed　with　spears；　　bows　and　arrows；　and　other　weapons　of　war；　according　to　the　usage　in　　their　respective　provinces；　the　whole　of　this　valiant　force　led　by　the　King　　in　person。　　These　splendid；　well…accoutred　armies　met　at　Largs　two　or　　three　days　after；　and　then　commenced　that　sanguinary　and　memorable　　engagement　which　was　the　first　decisive　check　to　the　arrogance　of　the　　Norsemen　who　had　so　long　held　sway　in　the　West　Highlands　and　Isles；　　and　the　first　opening　up　of　the　channel　which　led　to　the　subsequent　　arrangements　between　Alexander　III。　of　Scotland　and　Magnus　IV。　of　　Norway　in　consequence　of　which　an　entirely　new　organisation　was　　introduced　into　the　Hebrides；　then　inhabited　by　a　mixed　race　composed　of　　the　natives　and　largely　of　the　descendants　of　successive　immigrant　　colonists　of　Norwegians　and　Danes　who　had　settled　in　the　country。　　In　this　memorable　engagement；　we　are　told；　the　Scots　commenced　　the　attack。　　The　right　wing；　composed　of　the　men　of　Argyle；　of　Lennox；　of　Athole；　and　Galloway；　was　commanded　by　Alexander；　Lord　High　　Steward；　while　Patrick　Dunbar；　Earl　of　March；　commanded　the　left　wing；　　composed　of　the　men　of　the　Lothians；　Berwick；　Stirling；　and　Fife。　　The　　King　placed　himself　in　the　centre；　at　the　head　of　the　choice　men　of　Ross；　Perth；　Angus；　Mearns；　Mar；　Moray；　Inverness；　and　Caithness；　where　he　　was　confronted　by　Haco　in　person；　who；　for　the　purpose　of　meeting　the　　Scottish　King；　took　post　in　the　Norwegian　centre。　The　High　Steward；　by　a　dexterous　movement；　made　the　enemy's　left　give　way；　and　instantly；　by　　another　adroit　manoeuvre；　he　wheeled　back　on　the　rear　of　Haco's　centre；　　where　he　found　the　two　warrior　Kings　desperately　engaged。　　This　induced　　Haco；　after　exhibiting　all　the　prowess　of　a　brave　King　and　an　able　　commander；　to　retreat　from　the　field；　followed　by　his　left　wing；　leaving；　as　　has　been　variously　stated；　sixteen　to　twenty…four　thousand　of　his　followers　on　the　field；　while　the　loss　on　the　Scottish　side　is　estimated　at　about　five　　thousand。　　The　men　of　Caithness　and　Sutherland　were　led　by　the　Flemish　　Freskin；　those　of　Moray　by　one　of　their　great　chiefs；　and　there　is　every　　reason　to　believe　that　the　men　of　Ross　rallied　round　one　of　their　native　　chiefs。　　Among　the　most　distinguished　warriors　who　took　part　in　this　great　　and　decisive　victory　for　the　Scots；　under　the　immediate　eye　of　their　brave　King；　was；　it　is　said；　Colin　Fitzgerald；　who　is　referred　to　in　a　fragment　of　　the　Record　of　Icolmkill　as　〃Callenus　peregrinus　Hibernus　nobilis　ex　　familia　Geraldinorum　qui　proximo　anno　ab　Hibernia　pulsus　opud　regni　　benigne　acceptus　hinc　usque　in　curta　permansit　et　in　praefacto　proelio　　strenue　pugnavit。〃　　That　is；　〃Colin；　an　Irish　stranger　and　nobleman；　of　the　　family　of　the　Geraldines　who；　in　the　previous　year；　had　been　driven　from　　Ireland；　and　had　been　well　received　by　the　King；　remained　up　to　this　time　at　Court；　and　fought　bravely　in　the　aforesaid　battle。〃　　This　extract　has　　often　been　quoted　to　prove　that　Colin　Fitzgerald　was　the　progenitor　of　the　Mackenzies；　but　it　will　be　noticed　that　it　contains　no　reference　whatever　to　the　point。　　It　merely　says　that　Colin；　an　Irishman；　was　present　at　Largs。

After　the　defeat　of　Haco　the　King　sent　detachments　to　secure　the　West　Highlands　and　Isles；　and　to　check　the　local　chiefs。　　Among　the　leaders　sent　in　charge　of　the　Western　garrisons　was；　according　to　the　　supporters　of　the　Irish…origin　theory；　Colin　Fitzgerald；　who；　under　the　　patronage　of　Walter　Stewart；　Earl　of　Menteith；　was　settled　in　the　　Government　of　the　Castle　of　Ellandonnan；　the　well…known　stronghold　of　　the　Mackenzies；　in　Kintail；　situated　on　a　small　rocky　island　at　the　junction　　of　Lochalsh；　Loch　Duich　and　Loch　Long。　Colin's　jurisdiction；　it　is　said；　extended　over　a　wide　district；　and　he　is　referred　to　in　the　fragment　of　the　　Record　of　Icolmkill；　already　quoted；　as　he　〃of　whom　we　have　spoken　at　　the　battle　of　Largs；　and　who　afterwards　conducted　himself　with　firmness　　against　the　Islanders；　and　was　left　a　governor　among　them。〃　　Sir　George　Mackenzie；　first　Earl　of　Cromartie；　who　will　be　proved　later　on　to　have　　been　the　inventor　of　the　Fitzgerald　theory；　says　in　a　MS。　history　of　the　　clan；　that　Colin　〃being　left　in　Kintail；　tradition　records　that　he　married　the　　daughter　of　Mac　Mhathoin；　heritor　of　the　half　of　Kintail。　　This　Mhathoin；〃　　he　continues；　〃is　frequently　identified　with　Coinneach　Gruamach　Mac　　Mhathoin；　Cailean's　predecessor　as　Governor　of　Ellandonnan　Castle。　　The　　other　half　of　Kintail　belonged　to　O'Beolan；　one　of　whose　chiefs；　Ferchair；　　was　created　Earl　of　Ross；　and　his　lands　were　given　to　Cailean　Fitzgerald。〃

It　will　be　proved　by　incontestible　public　documents　still　in　existence；　that　　these　identical　lands　were；　except　that　they　once　for　a　time　exchanged　　them　with　a　relative　for　lands　in　Buchan；　uninterruptedly　possessed　by　the　　Earls　of　Ross；　the　descendants　of　this　Ferchair；　or　Farquhar；　for　two　　centuries　after　the　battle　of　Largs。　　While　the　Earl　of　Cromartie　and　other　clan　historians　accept　the　　Fitzgerald　origin　by　marriage　with　a　daughter　of　Kenneth　Matheson　of　　Lochalsh；　the　Mathesons　maintain　that　the　first　Mackenzie；　or　Mac　　Choinnichthe　actual　progenitor　of　the　clanwas　a　son　of　their　chief；　Coinneach　Gruamach；　and　that　the　Mackenzies　are　thus　only　a　sept；　or　　minor　branch　of　the　Mathesons。　It　must　in　fairness　be　admitted　that　the　　latter　contention　is　quite　as　near　the　truth　as　the　Fitzgerald　theory　and　it　　must　have　already　occurred　to　the　reader；　how；　if　the　Fitzgerald　origin　of　the　Mackenzies　had　been　true；　has　it　come　about　that　the　original　patronymic　of　Fitzgerald　has　given　way　to　that　of　Mackenzie？　　It　is　not　　pretended　that　it　was　ever　heard　of　after　Colin　himself。　This　difficulty　occurred　even　to　the　Earl　of　Cromartie；　and　this　is　　how　he　attempts　to　dispose　of　it。　　Cailean；　he　says；　had　a　son　by　the　　daughter　of　Kenneth　Mac　Mhathoin；　or　Matheson；　whom　he　named　Coinneach；　or　Kenneth；　after　his　father…in…law　Kenneth　Matheson；　Cailean　　himself　was　killed　in　Glaic　Chailein　by　Mac　Mhathoin；　who　envied　him；　　and　was　sore　displeased　at　Colin's　succession　to　Matheson's　ancient　　heritage；　Colin　was　succeeded　by　his　son　Kenneth；　and　all　his　descendants　were　by　the　Highlanders　called　〃Mac　Choinnich；〃　or　Kenneth's　son；　　taking　the　patronymic　from　Mac　Mhathoin　rather　than　from　Cailean；　　whom　they　esteemed　a　stranger。　Of　the　two　theories　the　Matheson　one　is　　by　far　the　more　probable；　but　they　are　both　without　any　real　foundation。　　The　Fitzgerald　theory　has；　however；　until　recently；　been　accepted　　by　all　the　leading　Mackenzie　families　and　by　the　clan　generally。　　It　has　　been　adopted　in　all　the　Peerages　and　Baronetages；　and　by　almost　every　writer　on　the　history　and　genealogy　of　the　Cabar　feidh　race。　　The　main　if　not　the　only　authority　of　any　consequence　in　favour　of　this　Irish　origin　is　the　charter　alleged　to　have　been　granted　by　Alexander　　III。　to　Colin　in　1266；　of　which　the　reputed　original　runs　as　follows：

‘Alexander；　Dei　Gracia；　Rex　Scottorum　omnibus　probis　hominibus　tocius　terre　sue　clericis　it　laicis；　salutem　sciant　presentes　et　futuri　me　pro　　fiddi　seruicio　michi　navato　per　Colinum　Hybernum　tam　in　bello　quam　in　　pace　ideo　dedisse；　et　hac　Presenti　carta　mea　concessisse　dicto　Colino；　et　ejus　successoribus　to/as　terras　de　Kintail　Tenendas　de　nabis　et　　successoribus　nostr