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history of the mackenzies-第65章

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ity; correspondence; and amity that was so well kept and  entertained betwixt superiors and their followers and vassals in former  ages; besides as it is now…a…days; he need not think it so; and I may truly  say that there was no clan in the Highlands of Scotland that would  compete with the Mackenzies; their vassals and followers; as to that; and it is sure their superiors in former times would not grant their daughters in  marriage without their consent。  Nor durst the meanest of them; on the  other hand; give theirs to any stranger without the superior's consent; and  I heard in Earl Colin's time of a Kintail man that gave his daughter in  marriage to a gentleman in a neighbouring country without the Earl's  consent; who never after had kindness for the giver; and; I may say; is yet  the blackest marriage for that country; and others also; that ever was  among their commons。  But it may be objected that now…a…days their  commons advice or consent in any matter of consequence is not so  requisite; whereas there are many substantial friends to advise with; but its  an old Scots phrase; ‘A king's advice may fall from a fool's head。'  I  confess that is true where friends are real friends; but we ordinarily find;  and partly know by experience; that; where friends or kinsmen  become  great and rich in interest; they readily become emulous; and will ordinarily advise for themselves if in the least it may hinder them from becoming a  chief or head of a family; and forget their former headship; which was one  of the greatest faults; as also the ruin of Munro of Miltown; whereas a  common man will never eye to become a chief so long as he is in that  state; and therefore will advise his chief or superior the more freely。〃

What a change in the relationship between the chiefs and clansmen of to…day!  Sir William Fraser; who quotes the foregoing narrative from the  former edition of this work; says that John Grant; fifth of Freuchie; in  whose time this incident is said to have occurred; was not 〃uncle〃 but  cousin to Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail。  But he adds that the 〃story is so  far corroborated by the fact that about the time the incident is said to have  happened; the young Chief of Kintail granted a receipt to the laird of  Freuchie for the charter of comprising; granted on 4th May; 1548; to  James Grant of Freuchie; which; with relative papers; was now handed  over to Mackenzie; in terms of a disposition by the Laird to him of lands in Kessoryne; Lochalsh; Lochcarron; etc。〃  The original discharge; dated  1st May; 1606; Sir William says; is at Castle Grant。 'Chiefs of Grant; vol。  i。 p。 178。'  A bond of manrent is entered into between Grant and  Mackenzie on the same date; at Inverness。

The day appointed for the meeting of Mackenzie and Glengarry to arrange terms soon arrived。   The former had meanwhile brought up several decrees and claims against the latter at the instance of neighbouring proprietors; for 〃cost; skaith and damage;〃 which altogether amounted to a greater sum than the whole of Macdonald's lands were  worth。  The two; however; settled their disputes by an arrangement which  secured absolutely to Mackenzie all Glengarry's lands in the county of  Ross; and the superiority of all  his other possessions; but Glengarry was  to hold the latter; paying Mackenzie a small feu as superior。  In  consideration of these humiliating concessions by Macdonald; Mackenzie  agreed to pay twenty thousand merks Scots; and thus ended for ever the  ancient quarrels which had existed for centuries between the powerful  families of Glengarry and Kintail。  〃Thus ended the most of Glengarrie's troubles tho' there was severall other bloody skirmishes betwixt ymsuch  as the taking of the Stank house in Knoidart; where there was severalls  burnt and killed by that stratagem; as also young Glengarrie's burning and  harrying of Croe in Kintail; where there was but few men killed; yet  severall women and children were both burned and killed。  I cannot forget ane pretty fellow that was killed there; who went himself and three or four  women to ane outsett in the Croe; where there was a barn (as being more  remote); where they sleept yt night。  But in the morning the breaking of the dore was their wakening; whereupon the man; (called Patrick McConochy Chyle) started and finding them about the barn; bad them leave of and he would open it。  So; getting his bow and arrow; he opens  the door; killed 4 of them there; (before) they took nottice of him; which  made them all hold off。  In end they fires the barn and surrounds it; which  he finding still; started out; and as he did he still killed one of them; till he  had killed 11。  The barn in end almost consumed and his arrows spent; he  took him to his heels; but was killed by them; and two of the women; the  third having stayed in the reek of the barn; and a rough hide about her。〃 'Ancient MS。'

On the 18th of July; 1610; Lord Kenneth made over to Sir  Roderick Mor Macleod; XIII。 of Dunvegan; the five unciate lands of  Waternish; which his lordship had previously purchased from Sir George  Hay and others; who obtained possession of them on the forfeiture of the  Macleods of Lewis; to whom Waternish formerly belonged。  As part  payment; Sir Roderick Mor Macleod disponed to Mackenzie two unciates  of lands in Troternish; Isle of Skye; which belonged to him; along with the  Bailliary of the old extent of eight merks which had been united to the  Barony of Lewis; and in which William Macleod; XII。 of Dunvegan; had  been served heir to his father in 1585。  On the 24th of the same month the  Lords of the Privy Council ordain that Lord Kintail should pay Norman  Macleod's expenses in prison in all time coming。

Kenneth; first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail; to quote the Earl of  Cromarty; 〃was truly of an heroic temper; but of a spirit too great for his  estates; perhaps for his country; yet bounded by his station; so as he (his  father) resolved to seek employment for him abroad; but no sooner had he  gone to France; but Glengarry most outrageously; without any cause; and  against all equity and law convocates multitudes of people and invades his  estates; sacking; burning; and destroying all。  Kenneth's friends sent John Mackenzie of Tollie to inform him of these wrongs; whereupon he made a  speedy return to an affair so urgent; and so suitable to his genius; for as he  never offered wrong so he never suffered any。  His heat did not  overwhelm his wit; for he took a legal procedure; obtained a commission  of fire and sword against Glengarry and his complices; which he  prosecuted so bravely as in a short time by himself and his brother he soon  forced them to retreat from his lands; and following them to their own  bills; he soon dissipated and destroyed them; that young Glengarry and  many others of their boldest and most outrageous were killed; and the rest  forced to shelter themselves amongst the other Macdonalds in the islands  and remote Highlands; leaving all their estates to Kenneth's disposal。

This tribe of the Clan Ranald seem to have been too barbarous for even  those lawless times; while by a strange contumacy in latter times; a  representative of that ancient family pertinaciously conti
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