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West Highlanders under Colla Ciotach Macdonald； Clanranald； and Glengarry； the Macnabs； Macgregors； and the Stewarts of Appin。 In addition to these some of the Farquharsons of Braemar and small parties of lesser septs from Badenoch rallied round the standard of Montrose。 Thus； as a contemporary writer says； 〃he went like a current speat （spate） through this kingdom。〃 Seeing all thisthe great successes of Montrose and so many Highlanders joining…Seaforth； who had never been a hearty Covenanter； began to waver。 The Estates sent a commission to the Earl of Sutherland appointing him as their Lieutenant north of the Spey； but he refused to accept it。 It was then offered to Seaforth； who likewise declined it； but instead 〃contrived and framed ane band； under the name of an humble remonstrance； which he perswaded manie and threatened others to subscryve。 This remonstrance gave so great a distast to both the Church and State； that the Earl of Seaforth was therefore excommunicate by the General Assemblie； and all such as did not disclaim the raid remonstrance within some days thereafter； were； by the Committee of Estates； declared inimies to the publick。 Hereupon the Earl of Seaforth joined publicly with Montrose in April； 1646； at the siege of Inverness； though before that time be had only joined in private councils with him。〃 ＇Gordon's Earldom of Sutherland； p。 529。＇
At Inverness； through the action of the Marquis of Huntly and the treachery of his son； Lord Lewis Gordon； Montrose was surprised by General Middleton； but he promptly crossed the river Ness in face of a regiment of cavalry； under Major Bromley； who crossed the river by a ford above the town； while another detachment crossed lower down towards the sea with a view to cut off his retreat。 These he succeeded in beating back with a trifling loss on either side； whereupon he marched unmolested to Kinmylies； and the following morning he went round by Beauly and halted at Fairley； where slight marks of field works are still to be seen； and now； for the first time； he found himself in the territories of the Mackenzies； accompanied by Seaforth in person。 Montrose； here finding himself in a level country； with an army mainly composed of raw levies newly raised by Seaforth among his own people； and taught by their chief's vacillating conduct and example to have little interest or enthusiasm in either cause； did not consider it prudent to engage Middleton； who pursued him with a disciplined force； including a considerable following of cavalry； ready to fight with every advantage on his side in a level country。 He therefore moved rapidly up through the valley of Strathglass； crossed to Loch…Ness； and passed through Stratherrick in the direction of the river Spey。 Meanwhile Middleton advanced to Fortrose and laid siege to the castle； which was at the time under the charge of Lady Seaforth。 She surrendered after a siege of four days； and having removed a considerable quantity of stores and ammunition； sent by Queen Henrietta for the use of Montrose on his arrival there； Middleton gave the Countess； whom he treated with the greatest civility and respect； possession of the stronghold。
The Committee on Public Affairs； which； throughout the contest； acted in opposition to the Royal authority； and held sederunts at Aberdeen and Dundee as well as at Edinburgh； gratified their malignity； after Montrose gave up the fight in 1646； by fining the loyalists in enormous amounts of money； and decerning them to 〃lend〃 to the committee such sumsin many cases exorbitantas they thought proper。 Sir Robert Farquhar； formerly a Bailie of Aberdeen； was treasurer； and in the sederunt held in that city； the committee threw a comprehensive net over the clan Mackenzie。 Sixteen of the name were decerned to lend the large sum of ？8；666 13s 4d Scots； but from the other side of the balance sheet it is found that they declined to lend a penny； and Sir Robert credits himself as treasurer thus：〃Item of the loan moneys above set down there is yet resting unpaid； and wherefore no payment can be gotten； as followsviz。Be the name of Mackenzie； sixteen persons； the sum of ？8；666 13s 4d Scots。〃 The following are the names and sums decerned against each of them：Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine； ？000； Alexander Mackenzie of Kilcoy； ？000； Roderick Mackenzie of Redcastle； ？000； Alexander Mackenzie of Coul； ？000； Kenneth Mackenzie of Gairloch； ？333 6s 8d； Hector Mackenzie of Scotsburn； ？000； Roderick Mackenzie of Davochmaluag； ？333 6s 8d； John Mackenzie of Dawach…Cairn； ？333 6s 8d； William Mackenzie of Multavie； ？000； Kenneth Mackenzie of Scatwell； ？000； Thomas Mackenzie of Inverlael； ？333 6s 8d； Colin Mackenzie of Mullochie； ？66 13s 4d； Donald Mackenzie of Logie； ？66 13s 4d； Kenneth Mackenzie of Assint； ？000； Colin Mackenzie of Kincraig； ？000； Alexander Mackenzie of Suddie； ？000。 Among the other sums decerned is one of ？666 13s 4d against William Robertson in Kindeace； and his son Gilbert Robertson；〃 and in Inverness and Ross the loan amounted to the respectable sum of ？4；783 6s 8d； of which the treasurer was allowed to retain ？5；000 in his own hands。 The sum； with large amounts of disbursements by the committee； show that they were more fortunate with others than with the Clan Mackenzie。 ＇Antiquarian Notes； pp。 307…308…309。＇
The Earl of Seaforth taking advantage of being on opposite sides to the Earl of Sutherland； now asserted some old claims against Donald Ban Mor Macleod； IX。 of Assynt； a follower of the house of Sutherland； who afterwards became notorious as the captor of the great Montrose himself。 In May； 1646； Mackenzie laid siege to his castle； on the Isle of Assynt。
A document written by a friend of the family of Assynt； in 1738； for Norman Macleod； XIX。 of Macleod； who； in that year； in virtue of a disposition of all his estates made by Neil Macleod of Assynt to John Breac Macleod； XVI。 of Macleod； dated the 24th of November； 1681； commenced a process against Mackenzie； gives a most interesting account of the proceedings； from the Macleod point of view； by which Seaforth obtained possession of the lands of Assynt。 This document or 〃Information〃 came into the possession of Simon Lord Lovat； with whose papers it found its way to the Rev。 Donald Fraser； minister of Killearnan； and is now the property of that gentleman's grandson； the Rev。 Hector Fraser； Halkirk。 It was read by Mr William Mackay； solicitor； Inverness； before the Gaelic Society there on the 19th of March； 1890； and is published at length in their Transactions for that year； vol。 XVI。 pp。 197…207。 According to the writer of this paper； Neil Macleod was in possession of Assynt from 1650 to 1672； when in the latter year 〃he was violently dispossessed by Seaforth；〃 and was from 1672 to 1692； when be obtained a 〃Decree of Spulzie〃 against Seaforth； endeavouring to recover his right； but without avail。 He says that from the time Seaforth got a right； 〃such as it was；〃 to the Island of Lewis for a payment of ten thousand merks； 〃and afterwards； in lieu of that； for a mile of the wood of Letterew；〃 he and his family had it in view to make themselves masters of