history of the mackenzies-第33节

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son　Kenneth　with　an　able　body　of　the　clan　to　arrest　Mackay's　progress；　which　duty　he　performed　most　effectually。

Meeting　at　Brora；　a　severe　contest　ensued；　which　terminated　in　the　defeat　of　Mackay；　with　the　loss　of　Angus　MacIain　Mhoir；　one　of　his　chief　　commanders；　and　many　of　his　clan。　　Kenneth　was　thereupon；　conjointly　　with　his　father；　appointed　by　the　Earl　of　Sutherland…then　the　Queen's　　Lieutenant　north　of　the　Spey；　and　Chamberlain　of　the　Earldom　of　Ross　　＇Sir　Robert　Gordon；　p。　134。＇his　deputies　in　the　management　of　this　vast　　property；　at　the　same　time　placing　them　in　possession　of　Ardmeanoch；　or　　Redcastle；　which　remained　ever　since；　until　within　a　recent　period；　in　the　　possession　of　the　family；　becoming　the　property　of　Kenneth's　third　son；　　Ruairidh　Mor；　first　of　the　house　of　Redcastle；　and　progenitor　of　the　family　of　Kincraig　and　other　well…known　branches。

After　this；　Kintail　seems　to　have　lived　in　peace　during　the　remainder　of　his　long　life。　　He　died　at　his　home　at　Inverchonan；　in　1561；　about　eighty　years　of　age。　　He　was　buried　in　the　family　aisle　at　Beauly。　　That　he　was　a　man　of　proved　valour　is　fully　established　by　the　distinguished　part　he　took　in　the　battles　of　Flodden　and　Pinkie。　　The　Earl　of　　Cromarty　informs　us　that；　〃in　his　time　he　purchased　much　of　the　Brae…lands　of　Ross；　and　secured　both　what　he　acquired　and　what　his　　predecessors　had；　by　well　ordered　and　legal　security；　so　that　it　is　doubtful　　whether　his　predecessors'　courage　or　his　prudence　contributed　most　to　the　rising　of　the　family。〃

In　illustration　of　the　latter　quality；　we　quote　the　following　story：　　John　Mackenzie　of　Kintail　〃was　a　very　great　courtier　and　counsellor　of　　Queen　Manes。　　Much　of　the　lands　of　Brae　Ross　were　acquired　by　him；　　which　minds　me　how　he　entertained　the　Queen's　Chamberlain　who　she　　sent　north　to　learn　the　state　and　condition　of　the　gentry　of　Ross；　minding　　to　feu　her　interest　of　that　Earldome。　Sir　John；　hearing　of　their　coming　to　　his　house　of　Killin；　he　caused　his　servants　put　on　a　great　fyre　of　ffresh　arn　　　wood　newly　cutt；　which　when　they　came　in　（sitting　on　great　jests　of　wood　　which　he　caused　sett　there　a　purpose）　made　such　a　reek　that　they　were　　almost　blinded；　and　were　it　not　the　night　was　so　ill　they　would　rather　goe　　than　byde　it。　　They　had　not　long　sitten　when　his　servants　came　in　with　a　　great　bull；　which　presently　they　brained　on　the　floor；　and　or　they　well　　could　look　about；　this　fellow　with　his　dirk；　and　that　fellow　with　his；　were　　cutting　collops　of　him。　　Then　conies　in　another　sturdie　lusty　fellow　with　a　　great　calderon　in　his　hand；　and　ane　axe　in　the　other；　and　with　its　shaft　　stroak　each　of　these　that　were　cutting　the　collops；　and　then　made　Taylzies　　of　it　and　put　all　in　the　kettle；　sett　it　on　the　same　tire　before　them　all　and　　helped　the　tire　with　more　green　wood。　　When　all　was　ready　as　he　had　　ordered；　a　long；　large　table　was　covered　and　the　beef　sett　on　in　great　　scaills　of　dishes　instead　of　pleats。　　They　had　scarcely　sitten　to　supper　when　　they　let　loose　six　or　sevin　great　hounds　to　supp　the　broth；　but　before　they　　made　ane　end　of　it；　they　made　such　a　tulzie　as　made　them　all　start　at　the　table。　　The　supper　being　ended；　and　longing　for　their　bedds　（but　much　　more　for　day）；　there　comes　in　5　or　6　lustie　women　with　windlings　of　strae　（and　white　plaids）　which　they　spread　on　each　side　of　the　house；　whereon　the　gentlemen　were　forced　to　lye　in　their　cloaths；　thinking　they　had　come　to　purgatory　before　hand；　but　they　had　no　sooner　seen　day　light　than　　without　stayeing　dinner　they　made　to　the　gett；　down　to　Ross　where　they　　were　most　noblie　entertained　be　Ffowlis；　Belnagowin；　Miltoun；　and　　severall　other　gentlemen。　　But　when　they　were　come　south　the　Queen　　asked　who　were　the　ablest　men　they　saw　there。　　They　answered　all　they　　did　see　lived　like　princes；　except　Her　Majesty's　great　courtier　and　　counsellor　Mackenzie。　　So　tells　her　all　their　usage　in　his　house；　and　that　he　　slept　with　his　doggs　and　sat　with　his　hounds；　wherat　the　Queen　leugh　　mirrily　（whatever　her　thoughts　was　of　M'Kenzie）　and　said　‘It　were　a　pity　　of　his　poverty；　ffor　he　is　the　best　and　honestest　among　them　all。'　　The　　Queen　thereafter　having　called　all　the　gentry　of　Ross　to　hold　their　lands　of　　the　Crown　in　feu；　Mackenzie　got　（by　her　favour　and　his　pretended　poverty）　the　easiest　feu；　and　for　his　1000　merks　more　than　any　of　the　rest　　had　for　three。〃　＇Ancient　MS。＇

John　had　a　natural　son　named　Dugall；　who　lived　in　Applecross；　　and　married　a　niece　of　Macleod　of　Harris；　by　whom　he　had　a　son　and　one　　daughter。　　The　son；　also　named　Dugall；　was　a　schoolmaster　in　Chanonry；　　and　died　without　issue。　　The　daughter　was　married　to　Duncan　Mackenzie；　　Reraig；　and　after　his　death　to　Mackintosh　of　Strone。　　Dugall；　the　elder；　　was　killed　by　the　Mathesons　at　Kishorn。　　John　had　also　a　natural　daughter；　　Janet；　who　married　first　Mackay　of　Reay；　and　secondly；　Roderick　　Macleod；　X。　of　Lewis；　with　issueTorquil　Cononach；　and　afterwards　〃Ian　　Mor　na　Tuaighe；〃　brother　of　John　MacGillechallum　of　Raasay；　with　　whom　she　eloped。

He　married　Elizabeth；　daughter　of　John；　tenth　Laird　of　Grant；　and　by　her　had　an　only　son　and　successor；

X。　　KENNETH　　MACKENZIE；

Commonly　known　as　Coinneach　na　Cuirc；　or　Kenneth　of　the　Whittle；　so　　called　from　his　skill　in　wood　carving　and　general　dexterity　with　the　　Highland　〃sgian　dubh。〃　　He　succeeded　his　father　in　　1561。　In　the　　following　year　he　was　among　the　chiefs　who；　at　the　head　of　their　　followers；　met　Queen　Mary　at　Inverness；　and　helped　her　to　obtain　　possession　of　the　Castle　after　Alexander　Gordon；　the　governor；　refused　her　　admission。　　In　the　same　year　an　Act　of　Privy　Council；　dated　the　21st　of　　May；　bears　that　he　had　delivered　up　Mary　Macleod；　the　heiress　of　Harris　　and　Dunvegan；　of　whom　he　had　previously　by　accident　obtained　the　　custody；　into　the　hands　of　Queen　Mary；　with　whom　she　afterwards　　remained　for　several　years　as　a　maid　of　honour。　　The　Act　is　as　follows：

〃The　same　day；　in　presence　of　the　Queen's　Majesty　and　Lords　of　Secret　Council；　compeared　Kenneth　Mackenzie　of　Kintail；　who；　being　commanded　by　letters　and　also　by　writings　direct　from　the　Queen's　Grace；　　to　exhibit；　produce；　and　present　before　her　Highness　Mary　Macleod；　　daughter　and　heir　of　the　umquwhile　William　Macleod　of　Harris；　conform　　to　the　letters　and　charges　direct　thereupon：　　And　declared　that　James　　Macdonald　had　an　action　depending　the　Lords　of　Session　against　him　for　　deliverance　of　the　said　Mary　to　him；　and　that　therefore　he　could　not　gudlie　　（well）　deliver　her。　　Notwithstanding　the　which　the　Queen's　Majesty　　ordained　the　said　Kenneth　to　deliver　the　said　Mary　to　her　Highness　and　　granted　that　he　should　incur　‘no　scaith　thairthrou'　at　the　hands　of　the　said　　James　or　any　others；　notwithstanding　any　title　or　action　they　had　against　him　therefor；　and　the　said　Kenneth　knowing　his　dutiful　obedience　to　the　　Queen's　Majesty；　and　that　the　Queen　had　ordained　him　to　deliver　the　said　Mary　to　her　Highness　in　manner　foresaid　which　he　in　no　wise　could　disobeyand　therefore　delivered　the　said　Mary　to　the　Queen's　Majesty　　conform　to　her　ordinance　foresaid。〃　＇Transactions　of　the　Iona　Club；　pp。　　143…4。＇

Prior　to　this　Mackenzie　refused　to　give　her　up　to　her　lawful　　guardian；　James　Macdonald　of　Dunyveg　and　the　Glens。　　In　1563　we　find　　him　on　the　jury；　with　James；　Earl　of　Moray；　and　others；　at　Inverness；　by　　whom　John　Campbell　of　Cawdor　was　served　heir　to　the　Barony　of　Strathnairn。　＇Invernessiana；　p。229。＇　　　Kenneth　was　advanced　in　years　　before　he　came　into　possession；　and　took；　as　we　have　seen；　an　active　and　　distinguished　part　in　all　the　affairs　of　his　clan　during　the　life　of　his　long…lived　father。　　He　seems　after　his　return　from　Inverness；　on　the　occasion　of　　meeting　Queen　Mary　there；　to　have　retired　very　much　into　private　life；　for；　　on　Mary's　escape　from　Lochleven　Castle　he　sent　his　son　Colin；　then　quite　　a　youth　attending　his　studies　at　Aberdeen；　at　the　head　of　his　vassals；　to　join　the　Earl　of　Huntly；　by　whom　Colin　was　sent；　according　to　the　Laird　of　　Applecross；　〃as　one　whose　prudence　he　confided；　to　advise　the　Queen's　　retreat　to　Stirling；　where　she　　might　stay　　in　　security　till　　all　　her　　friends　　　were　convocate；　but　by　an　unhappy　council　she　refused　this　advice　and　　fought　at　Langside；　where　Colin　was　present；　and　when　by　the　Regent's　　＇The　Earl　of　Moray；　appointed　to　the　office　after　Mary's　defeat。＇　　insolence；　after　that　victory；　all　the　loyal　subjects　were　forced　to　take　remissions　for　their　duty；　as　if　it　were　a　crime。　　Amongst　the　rest　　Mackenzie　takes　one；　the　only　one　that　ever　any　of　his　family　had　　and　this　　is　rather　a　mark　of　his　fidelity　than　evidence　of　failure；　and　an　honour；　not　　a　task　of　his　posterity。〃　　It　would　have　been　already　seen　that　another　　remission　had　been　received　at　an　earlier　date；　for　the　imprisonment　and　　murder　of　John　Glassich；　son　and　successor　to　Hector　Roy　Mackenzie　of　　Gairloch；　in　Ellandonnan　Castle。　　Dr　George　Mackenzie　says　that　Kenneth　　apprehended　John　Glassich　and　sent　him　prisoner　to　the　Castle；　where　he　　was　poisoned　by　the　constable's　lady；　＇This　lady　was　Nighean　Iamhair；　　and　was　spouse　to　John　MacMhurchaidh　Dhuibh。　the　Priest　of　Kintail；　　who　was　then　chosen　constable　of　Ellandonnan　for　the　following　reason：　　A　great