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！
it would； he thought； be easier for him to attain repossession of the lands of Gairloch； from which his family was driven by the Mackenzies。
Roderick's name appears as 〃Rory Mac Allan； alias Nevymnauch；〃 in a decree…arbitral by the Regent Earl of Murray between Donald Macdonald； V。 of Sleat； and Colin Mackenzie； XI。 of Kintail； dated at Perth； the 1st of August； 1569； in terms of which Macdonald becomes responsible for Roderick and undertakes that he and his kin shall 〃desist and cease troubling； molesting； harming or invasion of the said Laird of Gairloch's lands and rowmes； possessions； tenants； servants； and goods； while on the other hand Kintail shall see to it that Torquil Cononach shall cease to do the same in all respects to Macdonald's lands。〃 In 1586 Roderick is described as 〃of Lochgair；〃 but another person is named in the same document as 〃Macleud； heritor of the lands of Gairloch；〃 which proves that Roderick Nimhneach was not the actual proprietor of even the small portion of that district which was still left to his family。 He was the second son； and one of the objects of the massacre on Island Isay was to cut off his father's only surviving son and heir by his first wifea daughter of Mackenzie of Kintailwho escaped the previous massacre on the Island of Loch Tolly。
With the view of cutting off the legitimate male representation of his own Macleod relatives of Gairloch and of Raasay； he invited all the members of both families； and most of them accepted the invitation。 Roderick on their arrival feasted them sumptuously at a great banquet。
In the middle of the festivities he informed them of his desire to have each man's advice separately； and that he would after…wards make known to them the important business which had to be considered； and which closely concerned each of them。 He then retired into a separate apartment； and called them in one by one； when they were each； as they entered； stabbed with dirks through the body by a set of murderous savages whom he had engaged and posted inside the room for the purpose。
Not one of the family of Raasay was left alive； except a boy nine years of age； who was being fostered from home； and who had been sent privately by his foster…father； when the news of the massacre became known； to the laird of Calder； who kept him in safety during his minority。 He afterwards obtained possession of Raasay； and became known as Gillecallum Garbh MacGillechallum。 Macleod of Gairloch's sons； by Hector Roy's sister； were all murdered。 Roderick took his own nephew to the room where； walking with his brutal relative； he heard one of his half…brothers cry on being stabbed by the assassin's dirk； and saying 〃Yon's my brother's cry。〃
〃Hold your peace；〃 Rory replied； 〃yonder cry is to make you laird of Gairloch； he is the son of one of Mackenzie's daughters。〃 The boy； fearing that his own life might be sacrificed； held his tongue； 〃but afterwards he did what in him lay in revenging the cruel death of his brothers and kinsmen on the murtherers。〃 ＇Ancient MS。＇
In acknowledgment of the King's favour； Hector gathered his followers in the west； joined his nephew； John of Killin； with his vassals； and fought； in command of the clan； at the disastrous battle of Flodden； from which both narrowly escaped but most of their followers were slain。 Some time after his return home he successfully fought the desperate skirmish at Druim…a…chait； already referred to； pp。 114…118； with 140 men against 700 of the Munros； Dingwalls； MacCullochs； and other clans under the command of William Munro of Fowlis； on which occasion Sheriff Vass of Lochslinn was killed at a bush near Dingwall； 〃called to this day Preas Sandy Vass；〃 or Alex。 Vass's bush； a name assigned to it for that very cause。 ＇Gairloch MS。＇
Hector； during his life； granted to his nephew； John of Killin； his own half of Kintail； the lands of Kinellan； Fairburn； Wester Brahan； and other possessions situated in the Low Country； which brought his son John Glassich afterwards into trouble。 ＇Ibid。＇ Hector Roy was betrothed to a daughter of the Laird of Grantprobably Sir Duncan； who flourished from 1434 to 1485but she died before the marriage was solemnised。 He； however； had a son by her called Hector Cam； he being blind of an eye； to whom he gave Achterneed and Culte Leod； now Castle Leod； as his patrimony。 Hector Cam married a daughter of Mackay of Farr； ancestor of Lord Reay； by whom he had two sons Alexander Roy and Murdo。 ＇〃These were both succeeded by the son of Alexander； a slothful man； who dotingly bestowed his estate on his foster child。 Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach； in detriment to his own children； though very deserving of them； Captain Hector Mackenzie； late of Dumbarton's Regiment； and also a tribe in the Eastern circuit of Ross； surnamed； from one of their progenitors； Mac Eanin； i。e。； the descendants of John the Fair。〃Gairloch MS。 Another MS。 gives the additional names of〃Richard Mackenzie； vintner in Edinburgh； grandson of Alexander Mackenzie of Calder； Midlothian； Duncan Mackenzie； an eminent gunsmith in London； and James Mackenzie； gunsmith in Dundee。〃 It also adds that of the successors of the Mac Eanins in Easter Ross； were 〃Master Alexander Mackenzie； an Episcopal minister in Edinburgh； and preceptor to the children of the present noble family of Cromarty； whose son is Charles Mackenzie； clerk to Mr David Munro of Meikle Allan。〃＇
Alexander married a daughter of John Mor na Tuaighe MacGillechallum； a brother of Macleod of Raasay； by whom she had a son； Hector； who lived at Kinellan； and was nicknamed the Bishop。 This Hector married a daughter of Macleod of Raasay； and left a large family； one of the daughters being afterwards married to Murdo Mackenzie； V。 of Achilty； without issue。 Hector Cam's second son； Murdo； married a daughter of Murdoch Buy Matheson of Lochalsh； with issueLachlan； known as 〃Lachlainn Mac Mhurchaidh Mhic Eachainn；〃 who married a daughter of Murdoch Mackenzie； III。 of Achilty； with issueMurdoch； who married a daughter of Alexander Ross of Cuilich and Alastair； who married a daughter of William MacCulloch of Park。
Hector Roy； after the death of Grant of Grant's daughter； married his cousin Anne； daughter of Ranald MacRanald； generally known as Ranald Ban Macdonald； V。 of Moydart and Clanranald。 Her brother Dougal was assassinated and his sons formally excluded from the succession； when the estate and command of the clan were given to his nephew Alexander； 〃portioner；〃 of Moydart； whose son； John Moydartach afterwards succeeded and became the famous Captain of Clanranald Gregory says； however； that 〃Allan； the eldest son of Dougal； and the undoubted heir male of Clanranald； acquired the estate of Morar； which he transmitted to his descendants。 He and his successors were always styled ‘MacDhughail Mhorair；' that is MacDougal of Morar； from their ancestor Dougal MacRanald。〃 This quite explains the various designations by which these Moydart and Clanranald ladies who had married into the Gairloch family have been handed down to us。 Anne was the widow of William Dubh Macleod； VII。 of Harris； Dunvegan；