history of the mackenzies-第26章
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ured it by a second barrier of iron within a few steps of the outer defences。 Unable to procure access the Islesmen were driven to the expedient of shooting their arrows through the embrazures； and in this way they succeeded in killing the governor。
Duncan now found himself sole defender of the castle except the watchman； and worse still his ammunition was reduced to a single barbed arrow； which he determined to husband until an opportunity occurred by which he could make good use of it Macdonald at this stage ordered his boats round to the point of the Airds； and was personally reconnoitring with the view of discovering the weakest part of the wall for effecting a breach。 Duncan considered this a favourable opportunity； and aiming his arrow at Donald Gorm； it struck him and penetrated his foot through the master vein。 Macdonald； not having perceived that the arrow was a barbed one； wrenched it out； and in so doing separated the main artery。
Notwithstanding that all available means were used； it was found impossible to stop the bleeding； and his men conveyed him out of the range of the fort to a spota sand bankon which he died； called to this day； 〃Larach Tigh Mhic Dhomhnuill；〃 or the site of Macdonald's house； where the haughty Lord of Sleat ended his career。 ＇Genealogy of the Macras and the Ardintoul MS。 〃This Donald Gorme was son to Donald Gruamach； son to Donald Gallach； son to Hugh； natural son to Alexander； Earl of Ross； for which the elegy made on his death calls him grandchild and great grandchild to Rhi…Fingal （King Fingal）
〃A Dhonnchaldh Mhic Gillechriost Mhic Fhionnla； ‘S mor um beud a thuit le d'aon laimh； Ogha ‘s iar…ogha Mhic Righ Fhinghaill； ‘Thuiteam le bramag an aon mhic。〃
Letterform MS。＇ The Islesmen burnt all they could find ashore in Kintail。
〃In 1539 Donald Gorm of Sleat and his allies； after laying waste Trouterness in Sky and Kenlochew in Ross； attempted to take the Castle of Eileandonan； but Donald being killed by an arrow shot from the wall； the attempt failed。〃 ＇Gregory； pp。 145。146。 Border Minstrelsy。 Anderson； p。 283。 Reg。 Sec。 Sig。； vol。 xv。； fol。 46。＇ In 1541 King James V。 granted a remission to Donald's accomplicesnamely； Archibald Ilis； alias Archibald the Clerk； Alexander McConnell Gallich； John Dow Donaldsoun； and twenty…six others whose names are recorded in Origines Parchiales； p。 394； vol。 ii。； for their treasonable fire…raising and burning of the 〃Castle of Allanedonnand〃 and of the boats there； for the 〃Herschip〃 of Kenlochew and Trouterness； etc。
Duncan MacGillechriost now naturally felt that he had some claim to the governorship of the castle； but being considered 〃a man more bold and rash than prudent and politick；〃 Mackenzie decided to pass him over。
Duncan then put in a claim for his brother Farquhar； but it was thought best； to avoid local quarrels and bitterness between the respective claimants； to supersede them both and appoint another； John MacMhurchaidh Dhuibh； priest of Kintail； to the Constableship。 Duncan was so much offended at such treatment in return for his valiant services that he left Kintail in disgust； and went to the country of Lord Lovat； who received him kindly； and gave him the lands of Crochel and others in Strathglass； where he lived for several years； until Lovat's death。
Mackenzie； however； often visited him and finally prevailed upon him to return to Kintail； and Duncan； who always retained a lingering affection for his native country； ultimately became reconciled to the chief； who gave him the quarterland of Little Inverinate and Dorisduan； where he lived the remainder of his days； and which his descendants continued to possess for generations after his death。
For this service against the Macdonalds； James V。 gave Mackenzie Kinchullidrum； Achilty； and Comery in feu； with Meikle Scatwell； under the Great Seal； in 1528。 The lands of Laggan Achidrom； being four merks； the three merks of Killianan； and the four merk lands of Invergarry； being in the King's hands； were disposed by him to John Mackenzie； after the King's minority and revocation； in 1540； with a precept； under the Great Seal； and sasine thereupon by Sir John Robertson in January 1541。
But before this； in 1521； he acquired the lands of Fodderty and mill thereof from Mr John Cadell； which James V。 confirmed to him at Linlithgow in September； 1522。 In 1541 he feued Brahan from the King to himself and his heirs male； which failing； to his eldest daughter。 In 1542 he obtained the waste lands and forest of Neid and Monar from James V。 for which sasine is granted in the same year by Sir John Robertson。 In January 1547 he acquired a wadset of the half of Culteleod （Castle Leod） and Drynie from Denoon of Davidston。 In September of the same year； old as he was； he went in defence of his Sovereign； young Mary of Scots； to the Battle of Pinkie； where he was taken prisoner； and the Laird of Kilravock meeting him advised him that they should own themselves among the commons； Mackenzie passing off as a bowman。
While Kilravock would pass himself off as a miller； which plan succeeded so well as to secure Kilravock his release； but the Earl of Huntly； who was also a prisoner； having been conveyed by the Duke of Somerset to view the prisoners； espying his old friend Mackenzie among the common prisoners； and ignorant of the plot； called him by his name； desiring that he might shake hands with him； which civility two English officers noticed to Mackenzie's disadvantage； for thenceforward he was placed and guarded along with the other prisoners of quality； but afterwards released for a considerable sum； to which all his people contributed without burdening his own estate with it； ＇〃He was ransomed by cows that was raised through all his lands。〃Letterform MS。＇ so returning home to set himself to arrange his private affairs； and in the year 1556 he acquired the heritage of Culteleod and Drynie from Denoon； which was confirmed to him by Queen Mary under the Great Seal； at Inverness 13th July the same year。 He had previously； in 1544； acquired the other half of Culteleod and Drynie from Magnus Mowat； and Patrick Mowat of Bugholly。 In 1543 John Mackenzie acquired Kildins； part of Lochbroom； to himself and Elizabeth Grant； his wife； holding blench for a penny； and confirmed in the same year by Queen Mary。 ＇MS。 History by the Earl of Cromartie。＇
In 1540 Mackenzie with his followers joined King James at Loch Duich； while on his way with a large fleet to secure the good government of the West Highlands and Isles； upon which occasion many of the suspected and refractory leaders were carried south and placed in confinement。 His Majesty died soon after； in 1542。 Queen Mary succeeded； and； being a minor； the country generally； but particularly the northern parts； was thrown into a state of anarchy and confusion。 In 1544 the Earl of Huntly； holding a commission as Lieutenant of the North from the Queen Regent； Mary of Guise； commanded Kenneth Mackenzie； younger of Kintail （his father； from his advanced age； being unable to take the field）； to raise his vassals and lead an expedition against the Clan Ranald of Moidart； who； at that time； held lands from Mackenzie on the West Coast； but Kenneth； in these circumstances； thought it would be much against his personal interest to attack Donald Glas of Moidart； and refused to comply with Huntly's orders。 To punish him； the Earl ordered his whole army； consisting of three thousand men； to proceed against both Moidart and Mackenzie with fire and sword； but he had not sufficiently calculated on the constitution of his force； which was chiefly composed of Grants； Rosses； Mackintoshes； and Chisholms； and Kenneth's mother being a daughter of John； then laird of Grant； and three of his daughters having married； respectively； Ross of Balnagown； Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh； and Alexander Chisholm of Comar； Huntly found his followers as little disposed to molest Mackenzie as he had been to attack Donald Glas of Moidart。 In addition to the friendly feelings of the other chiefs towards young Kintail； fostered by these family alliances； Huntly was not at all popular with his own followers； or with the Highlanders generally。 He had incurred such odium for having some time before executed the Laird of Mackintosh； contrary to his solemn pledge； that it required little excuse on the part of the exasperated kindred tribes to counteract his plans； and on the slightest pretext to refuse to follow him。
He was therefore obliged to retire from the West without effecting any substantial service； was ultimately disgraced committed to Edinburgh Castle； compelled to renounce the Earldom of Moray and all his other possessions in the north； and sentenced to banishment in France for five years。
On the 13th of December 1545； at Dingwall； the Earl of Sutherland entered into a bond of manrent with John Mackenzie of Kintail for mutual defence against all enemies； reserving only their allegiance to their youthful Queen； Mary Stuart。 ＇Sir Robert Gordon； p。 112。＇ Two years later the Earl of Arran sent the fiery cross over the nation calling upon all between the ages of sixteen and sixty to meet him at Musselburgh for the protection of the infant Queen。 Mackenzie of Kintail； then between sixty and seventy years of age； when he might fairly consider himself exempt from further military service； duly appeared with all the followers he could muster； prudently leaving Kenneth； his only son； at home and when remonstrated with for taking part in such a perilous journey at his time of life； especially as he was far past the stipulated age for active service； the old chief patriotically remarked that one of his age could not possibly die more decorously than in the defence of his country。 In the same year （1547） he fought bravely； at the head of his clan； with all the enthusiasm and gallantry of his younger days； at the battle of Pinkie； where he was wounded in the head and taken prisoner； but was soon afterwards released； through the influence of the Earl of Huntly； who had meanwhile again got into favour received a full pardon； and was appointed Chancellor for Scotland。
The Earl of Huntly some time after this paid a visit to Ross； intending； if he were kindly received by the great chiefs； to feu a part of the earldom of Ross； still in the King's hands； and to live in the district for some period of the year。 Mackenzie； although friendly disposed towards the Earl； had no desire to have him residing in his immediate neighbourhood； and he arranged a plan which had the effect of deciding Huntly to give up。 any idea of remaining or feuing any lands in Ross。
The Earl； having obtained a commission from the Regent to hold courts in the county； came to the castle of Dingwall； where he invited the principal chiefs to meet him。 John of Killin； though very advanced in years； was the first to arrive； and he was very kindly received by Huntly。 Mackenzie in return made a pretence of heartily welcoming and congratulating his lordship on his coming to Ross； and trusted that he would be the means of protecting him and his friends from the violence of his son； Ken
