history of the mackenzies-第35章
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as also the forfeiture of the Lewis； upon which Torquil Cononach made over his rights to Mackenzie； on the plea that he was the next male heir； but reserving the lands of Coigeach to his own son…in…law。
The Mackenzies did all they could to obtain the estste for Torquil Cononach； the legitimate heir； but mainly through his own want of activity and indolent disposition； they failed with their united efforts to secure undisturbed possession for him。 They succeeded； however； in destroying the family of Macleod of the Lewis； and most of the Siol…Torquil； and ultimately became complete masters of the island。 The Brieve by stratagem captured Torquil Dubh； with some of his friends； and delivering them up to Torquil Cononach； they were； by his orders； beheaded in July； 1597。 〃It fell out that the Breve （that is to say； the judge） in the Lewis； who was chief of the Clan Illevorie （Morrison）；； being sailing from the Isle of Lewis to Ronay in a great galley； met with a Dutch ship loaded with wine； which he took； and advising with his friends； who were all with him there； what he would do with the ship lest Torqull Du should take her from him； they resolved to return to Stornoway and call for Torqull Du to receive the wine； and if he came to the ship； to sail away with him where Torqull Cononach was； and then they might be sure of the ship and the wine to be their own； and besides； he would grant them tacks in the best parts in the Lewis； which accordingly they did； and called for Torqull to come and receive the wine。 Torqull Du noways mistrusting them that were formerly so obedient； entered the ship with seven others in company； where he was welcomed； and he commended them as good fellows that brought him such a prize。 They invited him to the quay to take his pleasure of the feast of their wine。 He goes； but instead of wine they brought cords to tie him； telling him he had better render himself and his wrongously possessed estate to his eldest brother； that they resolved to put him in his mercy； which he was forced to yield to。 So they presently sail for Coigeach； and delivered him to his brother； who he had no sooner got but he made him short by the head in the month of July； 1597。 Immediately he was beheaded there arose a great earthquake； which astonished the actors and all the inhabitants about them as a sign of God's judgment。〃 ＇Ancient MS。＇
In 1598 some gentlemen in Fife； afterwards known as the 〃Fife Adventurers；〃 obtained a grant of the Lewis with the professed object of civilising the inhabitants。 It is not intended here to detail their proceedings or to describe at much length the squabbles and constant disorders； murders； and robberies which took place while they held possession of the Island。 The speculation proved ruinous to the Adventurers； who in the end lost their estates； and were obliged to leave the islanders to their fate。 A brief summary of it will suffice； and those who desire more information on the subject will find a full account of it in the History of the Macleods。 ＇By the same author。 A。 & W。 Mackenzie； Inverness； 1889。＇
On the 15th of June； 1599； Sir William Stewart of Houston； Sir James Spence of Wormistoun； and Thomas Cunningham appeared personally before the Privy Council 〃to take a day for the pursuit of Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail upon such crimes as criminally they had to lay to his charge for themselves and in the name of the gentlemen…ventuaries of their society；〃 and the 26th of September was fixed for the purpose。
On the 14th of September Kenneth enters into a bond for a thousand merks that John Dunbar； Fiar of Avoch； and James Dunbar of Little Suddie； four sons of John of Avoch； and several others； in five hundred merks each； that they will not harm Roderick Dingwall of Kildin； Duncan Bayne； apparent heir of Tulloch； Alexander Bayne of Loggie； and other sons and grandsons of Bayne of Tulloch。
Sir James Stewart of Newton enters into a bond； on the 6th of October； for six hundred merks that Kenneth will not harm James Crambie； a burgess of Perth； signed at Dunkeld in presence of Murdo Mackenzie； apparent heir of Redcastle； John Mackenzie； minister of Dingwall； and Alexander Mackenzie； writer。
On the 16th of April； 1600； Tormod Macleod complains that Kenneth had apprehended him and detained him as a prisoner without just cause； and failing to appear the King and Council； understanding that Tormod 〃is a chief and special man of that clan （Macleod）； and that therefore it is necessary that order be taken for his dutiful obedience and good behaviour；〃 order Kenneth to present him before the Council on a day to be afterwards fixed。
Kenneth； on the 11th of December； brings under the notice of the Council a case which places the unlawful practices of the times in a strong light。 He says that upon the 16th of October preceding； while Duncan MacGillechallum in Kintail； his man； was bringing twenty…four cows to the fair of Glammis； three men； whose names he gives； violently robbed him of the cattle。 Upon the 1st of November； 1599； the same persons had reft Duncan MacGillechriosd in Kintail； his tenant； at the fair of Elycht； of twenty…six cows and four hundred merks of silver； and robbed Murdo Mac Ian Mhic Mhurchaidh； also his tenant in Kintail； of twenty…six cows at the same market。 On the 30th of October； 1600； he sent his servants； John and Dougall MacVanish； in Lochalsh； to the fair of Elycht with a hundred and fifty…four cows and oxen to be sold； 〃for outred and certane the said complenaris adois in thir pairtis；〃 and his servants being at the foot of Drummuir with his said cattle； two of the three who robbed his men at Glammis； with Patrick Boll in Glenshee； and Alexander Galld Macgregor； took from them the whole of the cattle and 〃hes sparpellit and disponit〃 upon the same at their pleasure。 This violence and rief at free markets and fairs； he says； is not only hurtful to him； but it 〃discourages all peaceable and good subjects to direct or send any goods to the market and fairs of the incountry。〃 Kenneth Mackenzie of Kilchrist appeared for Kintail； and the defenders； in absence； were denounced rebels。
He is ordered on the 31st of January； 1602； as one of the leading Highland chiefs； to hold a general muster and wapinschaw of his followers each year within his bounds； on the 10th of March； as the other chiefs are in their respective districts。 On the same day he is requested to provide a hundred men to aid the Queen of England 〃against the rebels in Ireland；〃 is authorised to raise this number compulsorily； if need be； and appoint the necessary officers to command them。 On the 28th of July following； Alexander Dunbar of Cumnock； Sheriff…Principal of Elgin and Forres； and David Brodie of Brodie； become cautioners to the amount of three thousand merks that Kenneth will appear before the King and Council； when charged with some unnamed offence； upon twenty days warning。
On the 9th of September Mackenzie complains to the Council that about St Andrews Day； 1601； when he sent eighty cattle to the St。 Andrew market for sale； Campbell of Glenlyon； with a large number of his men； 〃all thieves and broken Highland men；〃 had set upon his servants and spuilzied them of the whole； and that eighty cattle he had sent to the Michaelmas market had been reft from him in the same way by the said Campbell； for which Duncan Campbell； younger of Glenlyon； having failed to produce his father； who 〃was in his custody and keeping；〃 was denounced a rebel。
There being some variance and controversy 〃between Mackenzie and Donald Mac Angus of Glengarry； they were both ordered at the same meeting of Council to subscribe； within three hours after being charged； such forms of mutual assurance as should be presented to them； to endure till the 1st of May； 1603； under pain of rebellion。
By warrant of the King； Kenneth is admitted a member of the Privy Council and is sworn in； in common form； on the 9th of December； 1602。 On the following day he gives caution for James Dunbar of Little Suddie； and John Dunbar； Fiar of Avoch； in two hundred merks； for their relaxation by the 1st of February next from several hornings used against them。
At a meeting of the Privy Council； held at Edinburgh on the 30th of September； 1605； Kenneth receives a commission to act for the King against Neil MacNeill of Barra； the Captain of Clanranald； and several other Highland and Island chiefs； who had 〃of late amassed together a force and company of the barbarous and rebellious thieves and limmers of the Isles；〃 and with them entered the Lewis； 〃assailed the camp of his Majesty's good subjects；〃 and 〃committed barbarous and detestable murders and slaughters upon them。〃 Mackenzie is in consequence commissioned to convocate the lieges in arms and to pursue these offenders with fire and sword by sea or land； 〃take and slay them；〃 or present them to their Lordships for justice； with power also to the said Kenneth to pass to the Lewis for thc relief of the subjects 〃distressed and grieved〃 by the said rebellious 〃lymmairis；〃 or of prisoners in their hands； and to procure their liberty by 〃force or policy； as he may best have it。〃
He is also ordered to charge the lieges within the shires of Inverness and Nairn； burgh and landward； to rise and assist him in the execution of his office； whenever he requires them； 〃by his precepts and proclamations。〃
This was the beginning of Kenneth's second conquest of the Lewis。
Mackenzie is； on the 2nd of June； 1607； appointed by the Privy Council； along with the Bishop of Ross； a commissioner to the Presbyteries of Tam and Ardmeanach； and on the 14th of July following； he is summoned before their Lordships to report his diligence in that matter； under pain of rebellion。 Kenneth does not appear； and he is denounced a rebel。 On the 30th of July he takes the oath of allegiance； along with the Earl of Wyntoun and James Bishop of Orkney； in terms of a Royal letter issued on the 2nd of June preceding imposing a special oath acknowledging the Royal Supremacy in Church and state on all Scotsmen holding any civic or ecclesiastical office。
He receives another commission on the 1st of September； 1607。
Understanding that 〃Neil Macleod and others； the rebellious thieves and limmers of the Isles； have of late surprised and taken the Castle of Stornoway in the Lewis； and other houses and biggings； pertaining to the gentlemen portioners of the Lewis； and have demolished and cast down some of the said houses； and keep others of them as houses of war； victualled and fortified with men and armour； and in the meantime commit barbarous and detestable insolencies and cruelties upon so many of the poor inhabitants of that country as gave their obedience to his Majesty；〃 the Lords give commission to Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail to convocate the lieges in arms pass to the Lewis； and pursue the said Neil Macleod with fire and sword； using all kinds of 〃warlike engines〃 for recovering the houses； and having power to keep trysts and intercommune with the inhabitants of the Isles。 This commission is to continue in force for six months。
Mackenzie is one of the Highland chiefs to whom missive letters ar
