history of the mackenzies-第91节
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m not to touch him。 John Gearr； on being questioned why he had struck at Mackenzie and took no notice of those who apprehended his master； boldly replied that he 〃saw no one else present whose life was a worthy exchange for that of his own chief。〃 John's sword made a deep gash in the table； and the mark； which was deep enough to admit of a hand being placed edgeways in it； remained until Colin； first Earl of Seaforth； caused the piece to be cut off； saying that 〃he loved no such remembrance of the quarrels of his relations。〃
John Glassich； it would appear； was not unduly circumspect at home； or a very dutiful and loyal subject to his King。 In 1547 his estate was forfeited for refusing to join the Royal Standard； and the escheat thereof granted to the Earl of Sutherland； as will be seen by the following letter in favour of that nobleman：
〃A letter made to John； Earl of Sutherland； his heirs； assigns； one or more； the gift of all goods moveable and unmoveable； debts； tacks； steadings； corns； and obligations； sums of money； gold； silver； coined and uncoined； and other goods whatsoever which pertained to John Hectorsson of Gairloch； and now pertaining to our Sovereign Lady by reason of escheat through the said John's remaining and biding at home from the ‘oist' and army devised to convene at Peebles； the 10th day of July instant； for recovering of the house of Langholm furth of our enemies' hands of England； in contrary to the tenour of the letters and proclamations made thereupon； incurred therethrough the pains contained thereuntil； or any otherwise shall happen to pertain to us our Sovereign by reason foresaid with power； etc。 At Saint Andrews the 23rd day of July； the year of God； 1547 years。〃 ＇Reg。 Sec。 Sig。； xxi。 fol。 316。＇
There is no trace of the reversal of this forfeiture。 It does not； however； appear to have affected the succession。 Indeed it is not likely that it even affected the actual possession； for it was not easy even for the Earl of Sutherland； though supported by the Royal authority to wield any real power in such an out…of…the…way region in those days as John Glassich's possessions in the west。 It has been already stated that； in 1551； the Queen granted to John Mackenzie； IX。 of Kintail； and his heir； Kenneth na Cuirc； a remission for the violent taking of John Glassich； Dougal； and John Tuach； his brothers； and for keeping them in prison； thus usurping 〃therethrough our Sovereign Lady's authority。〃 None of them is spoken of in this remission as being then deceased； though tradition and the family MS。 history have it that John Glassich was poisoned or starved to death at Ellandonnan Castle in 1550。 ＇One of the family MSS。 says that by his marriage 〃he got the lands of Kinkell； Kilbokie； Badinearb； Pitlundie； Davochcairn； Davochpollo； and Foynish； with others in the Low Country； for which the family has been in the use to quarter the arm of Fraser with their own。 This John； becoming considerably rich and powerful by those different acquisitions； became too odious to and envied by John； Laird of Mackenzie； and his son Kenneth then married to Stewart； Earl of Atholes daughter； that they set upon him； having previously invited him to a Christmas dinner； having got no other pretence than a fit of jealousy on account of the said Earl's daughter； bound him with ropes and carried him a prisoner to Islandownan； where his death was occasioned by poison administered to him in a mess of milk soup by one MacCalman； a clergyman and Deputy…Constable of the Fort。〃＇ It is； however； probable that Kintail considered it wise to conceal John's death until the remission had been already secured。 Only six weeks after the date of the 〃respitt〃 John Glassich is referred to in the Privy Council Records； under date of 25th July； 1551； as the 〃omquhile （or late） John McCanze of Gairlocht；〃 his lands having then been given in ward to the Earl of Athole； 〃Ay and till the lawful entry of the righteous heir or heirs thereto； being of lawful age。〃 ＇Reg。 Sec。 Con。； vol。 xxiv。； fol。 84。＇
Although Hector obtained a charter of the lands of Gairloch in 1494； the Macleods continued for a time to hold possession of a considerable part of it。 According to the traditions of the district they had all to the east and south…east of the Crasg； a hill situated on the west side of the churchyard of Gairloch； between the present Free and Established Churches。 At the east end of the Big Sand； on a high and easily defended rock； stood the last stronghold occupied by the Macleods in Gairlochto this day known as the 〃Dun〃 or Fort。 The foundation is still easily traced。 It must have been a place of consider…able importance； for it is over 200 feet in circumference。 Various localities are still pointed out in Gairloch where desperate skirmishes were fought between the Macleods and the Mackenzies。 Several of these spots； where the slain were buried； look quite green to this day。 The 〃Fraoch Eilean；〃 opposite Leac…na…Saighid； where a naval engagement was fought； is a veritable cemetery of Macleods； ample evidence of which is yet to be seen。 Of this engagement； and of those at Glasleoid； Lochan…an…Fheidh； Leac…na…Saighid； Kirkton； and many others； thrilling accounts are still recited by a few old men in the district； especially of the prowess of Domh'ull Odhar Mac Ian Leith； and the other Kintail heroes who were mainly instrumental in establishing the Mackenzies of Gairloch permanently and in undisputed possession of their beautiful and romantic inheritance。
John Glassich married Janet Agnes； daughter of James Fraser of Phoineas； brother of Hugh； sixth Lord Lovat （with whom he got the Barony of Inchlag； etc。）； with issue
1。 Hector； his heir and successor。
2。 Alexander； who succeeded his brother Hector。
3。 John； who succeeded Alexander。
4。 A daughter； who married John Mackenzie； II。 of Loggie； with issue；
John Glassich's widow married； secondly； Thomas Chisholm； XV。 of Chisholm； without issue male。
He had also two natural sons before his marriage； Alexander Roy and Hector Caol。
Alexander Roy had a son John； who lived at Coirre Mhic Cromaill in Torridon； and who had a son； the Rev。 Murdoch Mackenzie； Chaplain to Lord Reay's Regiment in the Bohemian and Swedish service； under Gustavus Adolphus。 He was afterwards minister of Contin； Inverness； and Elgin； and subsequently Bishop of Moray and of Orkney in succession。 His family and descendants are dealt with under a separate headingMACKENZIES OF GROUNDWATER。
Hector Caol left a numerous tribe in Gairloch； still known as Clann Eachainn Chaoil； and said to be distinguished by their long and slender legs。
John Glassich； who was assassinated in 1550； as already stated； at Ellandonnan Castle； was buried in the Priory of Beauly； and succeeded by his eldest lawful son；
III。 HECTOR MACKENZIE。 He has a sasine； dated the 6th May； 1563； ＇Gairloch Charter Chest；＇ in which he is described as 〃Achyne Johannis MacAchyne；〃 and bearing that the lands had been in non…entry for 12 years； thus carrying back the date of his succession to 1551； when the estate was given in ward to John； fourth of the Stewart Earls of Athole。
Hector diedprobably killed； like his brotherwithout issue； on the 3rd of September； 1566； and was buried at Beauly； when he was succeeded by his next lawful brother；
ALEXANDER MACKENZIE； who has a retour； dated the 2nd of December； 1566； ＇Ing。 Retour Reg。； vol。 i。； fol。 22； and Origines Parochiales Scotiae；＇ as heir to 〃Hector his brother…german；〃 in the lands of Gairloch； namely； 〃Gairloch； Kirktoun； Syldage； Hamgildail； Malefage； Innerasfidill； Sandecorran； Cryf； Baddichro； Bein…Sanderis； Meall； Allawdall； with the pasturage of Glaslettir and Cornagullan； in the Earldom of Ross； of the old extent of ？；〃 but not to any of the other lands which Hector Roy left to his descendants。 Alexander did not long possess the estates； for he diedto all appearance assassinateda few weeks after he succeeded； without making up titles。 It is； therefore； not thought necessary to count him as one of the Barons of Gairloch。
It is probable that the brothers； Hector and Alexander； met with the same violent death as their father and uncles； John Glassich； John Tuach； and John Beg and by the same authors。 This is according to tradition； and an old MS。； which says that their mother Agnes Fraser fled with John Roy 〃to Lovat and her Fraser relatives；〃 adds as to the fate of his brothers that 〃In those days many acts of oppression were committed that could not be brought to fair tryales befor the Legislator。〃 〃She was afterwards married to Chisholm of Comar； and heired his family； here she kept him in as concealed a manner as possible； and； as is reported； every night under a brewing kettle； those who； through the barbarity of the times； destroyed his father and uncles； being in search of the son； and in possession of his all excepting his mother's dower。 He was afterwards concealed by the Lairds of Moydart and of Farr； till he became a handsome man and could put on his weapon； when he had the resolution to wait on Colin Cam Mackenzie； Laird o
