history of the mackenzies-第47章
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d towns of Lochcarron； namely； the towns and lands of Auchnaschelloch； Coullin； Edderacharron； Attadill； Ruychichan； Brecklach； Achachoull； Delmartyne； with fishings in salt water and fresh； Dalcharlarie； Arrinachteg； Achintie； Slumba； Doune； Stromcarronach； in the Earldom of Ross； of the old extent of ？3 6s 8d； and also the towns of Kisserin； and lands of Strome； with fishings in salt and fresh water； and the towns and lands of Torridan with the pertinents of the Castle of Strome； Lochalsh； Lochcarron； and Kisserin； including the davach of Achvanie； the davach of Achnatrait； the davach of Stromcastell； Ardnagald； Ardneskan； and Blaad； and the half davach of Sannachan； Rassoll； Meikle Strome； and Rerag； in the Earldom of Ross； together of the old extent of ？ 13s 4d。〃 ＇Origines Parochiales Scotiae； p。 401。＇ He was served heir male to his father Kenneth； Lord Mackenzie of Kintail； in the lands and barony of Pluscardine； on the 14th of January； 1620； and had charters of Balmungie and Avoch； on the 18th of July； 1635； of Raasay； on the 18th of February； 1637 and of Lochalsh； on the 4th of July； 1642。
His high position in the North； and his intimate friendship at this period with the powerful House of Sutherland； is proved by the fact that he and Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat； on the 2d of November； 1633； stood godfathers to George Gordon； second son of John； Earl of Sutherland； and there cannot be any doubt that to the influence of the latter must mainly be attributed Seaforth's vacillating conduct during the earlier years of the great civil wars which became the curse of Scotland for so many years after。 In 1635 the Privy Council； with the view of putting down the irregularities then prevalent in the Highlands； demanded securities from the chiefs of clans； heads of families； and governors of counties； in conformity with a general bond； previously agreed to； that they should be responsible for their clans and surnames； men…tenants； and servants。
The first called upon to give this security was the Earl of Huntly； then followed the Earls of Sutherland and Seaforth； and afterwards Lord Lorn and all the chiefs in the western and northern parts of the Kingdom。
In the following year the slumbering embers of religious differences broke out into a general blaze all over the country。 Then began those contentions about ecclesiastical questions； church discipline and liturgies； at all times fraught with the seeds of discontent and danger to the common weal； and which in this case ultimately led to such sad and momentous consequences as only religious feuds can。 Charles I。 was playing the despot with his subjects； not only in Scotland； but in England。
He was governing without a Parliament； defying and trying to crush the desires and aspirations of a people born to govern themselves and to be free。 His infatuated attempt to introduce the Liturgy of the Church of England into the Calvinistic and Presbyterian pulpits of Scotland was as insane as it was unavailing。 But his English as well as Scottish subjects were at the same time almost in open rebellion for their liberties。 He tried to put down the rising in Scotland by the sword； but his means and military skill were unequal to the task。 He failed to impose the English Liturgy on his Scottish subjects； but his attempt to do so proved the deliverance of his English subjects from high…handed tyranny。 It is only natural that in these circumstances Seaforth； though personally attached to the King； should be found on the side of the Covenant； and that he should have joined the Assembly； the clergy； and the nobles in the Protest； and in favour of the renewal of the Confession of Faith previously accepted and confirmed by James VI。 in 1580； 1581； and 1590； at the same time that these several bodies entered into a covenant or bond of mutual defence among themselves against all opposition from whatever source。
The principal among the Northern nobles who entered into this engagement were the Earls of Seaforth and Sutherland； Lord Lovat； the Rosses； Munroes； Grant of Grant； Mackintosh of Mackintosh； Innes； the Sheriff of Moray； Kilravock； Cumming of Altyre； and the Tutor of Duffus。
These； with their followers under command of the Earl of Seaforth； who was appointed General of the Covenanters north of the Spey； marched to Morayshire； where they met the Royalists on the northern banks of the river ready to oppose their advance。 ＇On May 14； 1639； 4000 men met at Elgin under the command of the Earl of Seaforth； and the gentlemen following； viz。：The Master of Lovat； the Master of Ray； George； brother to the Earl of Sutherland； Sir James Sinclare of Murkle； Laird of Grant； Young Kilravock； Sheriff of Murray； Laird of Innes； Tutor of Duffus； Hugh Rose of Achnacloich； John Munro of Lemlare； etc。 They encamped at Speyside； to keep the Gordons and their friends from entering Murray； and they remained encamped till the pacification； which was signed June 18； was proclaimed； and intimated to them about June 22。Shaw's MS。 History of Kilravock。＇ An arrangement was here come to between Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine； Seaforth's brother； on behalf of the Covenanters； and a representative from the Gordons for their opponents； that the latter should recross to the south side of the Spey； and that the Highlanders should return home。 About the same time Seaforth received a despatch from Montrose； then at Aberdeen and fighting for the Covenant； intimating the pacification entered into on the 20th of June between the King and his subjects at Berwick； and requesting Seaforth to disband his armyan order which was at once obeyed。 Shortly after； however； Montrose dissociated himself from the Covenanters； joined the King's side and raised the Royal standard。 The Earl of Seaforth soon after this was suspected of lukewarmness for the Covenant。 In 1640 the King arrived at York on his way north to reduce the Covenanting Scots； after they had resolved to invade England； and； as a precautionary measure； to imprison or expel all suspected Royalists from the army。 Among the suspects are found the Earl of Seaforth； Lord Reay； and several others； who were taken before the Assembly； kept in ward at Edinburgh for two months； and in 1641； on the King's arrival in Scotland； the Earl of Traquair； who had been summoned before Parliament as an opponent to the Lords of the Covenant succeeded in persuading the Earls of Montrose； Wigton； Athole； Hume； and Seaforth （who had meanwhile escaped）； and several other influential chiefs； to join in a bond against the Covenanters。
Soon after this Montrose leaves Elgin with the main body of his army； and marches towards the Bog of Gight； accompanied by the Earl of Seaforth； Sir Robert Gordon； Grant of Grant； Mackenzie of Pluscardine； and several other gentlemen who came to him at Elgin； to support the King。 After this； however； fearing that depredations might be committed upon his followers by a garrison of two regiments then stationed at Inverness； and the other Covenanters of that district； he permitted Seaforth； Grant of Grant； and other Morayshire gentlemen； to return home in order to defend their estates； but before permitting them to depart he made them swear allegiance to the King and promise that they should never again under any circumstances take up arms against his Majesty or any of his loyal subjects； and to rejoin him with all their available forces as soon as they were able to do so。 Seaforth； however； with unaccountable want of decision； disregarded his oath； again joined the Covenanters； and excused himself in a letter to the Committee of Estates； saying that he had joined the Royalists through fear of Montrose； at the same time avowing that he would abide by 〃the good cause to his death〃a promise not much to be trusted。
He is soon again in the field； this time against Montrose。 Wishart says that 〃the Earl of Seaforth； a very powerful man in those parts （and one of whom he entertained a better opinion） with the garrison of Inver…ness； which were old soldiers； and the whole strength of Moray； Ross； Sutherland； and Caithness； and the sept of the Frasers； were ready to meet him with a desperate army of 5000 horse and foot。〃 Montrose had only 1500the Macdonalds of Glengarry and the Highlanders of Athol having previously gone home； against the earnest solicitude of Montrose that they should complete the campaign； according to their usual custom； to deposit the booty obtained in their repeated victories under their great chief； but on the plea of repairing their houses and other property which had been so much injured by their enemies in their absence。 The great commander； however； although he knew many of the garrison to be old soldiers； decided to attack the superior numbers against him； correctly surmising that a great many of his opponents were newly raised recruits 〃from among husband…men； cowherds； tavern…boys and kitchen…boys；〃 and would be raw and unserviceable。 Fortunately for Seaforth and his forces； matters turned out otherwise。 The gallant Marquis； on his way to Inverness； was informed of Argyll's descent on Lochaber； and； instantly changing his route； he fell down upon him at Inverlochy so unexpectedly； that when Argyll； by an ignominious flight in one of his boats； made himself secure； he had the well…merited reward of personal cowardice and pusillanimity of witnessing fifteen hundred of his devoted adherents cut down； among whom were a great number of the leading gentlemen of the clan； who deserved to fight under a better and less cowardly commander。
Among those who fell were Campbell of Auchinbreck； Campbell of Lochnell； his eldest son； and his brother Colin； Macdougall of Rara； and his eldest son； Major Menzies； brother to the Chief of Achattens Parbreck； and the Provost of the Church of Kilmuir。 The power of the Campbells was thus broken； and so probably would that of Seaforth had Montrose attacked him first。
After this brilliant victory at Inverlochy； on the 2d February； 1645； Montrose returned to Moray； by Badenoch； where on his march to Elgin； he was met by Thomas Mackenzie of Piuscardine and others； sent by Seaforth and the Covenanters as commissioners to treat with him。 They received an indignant answer。 The Marquis declined any negotiation； but offered to accept the services of such as would join and obey him as the King's Lieutenant…General。 The Earl of Seaforth was then sent by the Committee of Ross and Sutherland； in person； and meeting the Marquis between Elgin and Forres； he was arrested and for several days detained prisoner。 He was subsequently released； but all the authorities plead ignorance of the terms。
When the Royalists marched south； the Laird of Lawers； who was then Governor of the Castle of Inverness； cited all those who had communications with Montrose in Moray； and compelled them to give bonds for their appearance； to answer for their conduct； before Parliament； if required to do so。 Among them were Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine； and； after the affair at Fettercairn； and the retreat of Montrose from Dundee； the Earls of Seaforth and Sutherland； with the whole of the Clan Fraser； and most of the me
