history of the mackenzies-第14部分

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informed　him　that；　altogether　independently　of　that　　important　consideration；　he　felt　no　great　incentive　to　aid　in　the　cause　of　the　　representative　of　his　grandfather's　murderer。　Mackenzie　was　in　fact　one　of　　those　prudent　and　loyal　chiefs　who　kept　at　home　in　the　Highlands；　looking

after　his　own　affairs；　the　comfort　of　his　followers；　and　laying　a　solid　　foundation　for　the　future　prosperity　of　his　house；　〃which　was　so　　characteristic　of　them　that　they　always　esteemed　the　authority　of　the　　magistrate　as　an　inviolable　obligation。〃

Donald　of　the　Isles　never　forgave　Mackenzie　for　thus　refusing　to　assist　him　in　obtaining　the　Earldom　of　Ross；　and　he　determined　to　ruin　　him　if　he　could。　　On　this　subject　the　Earl　of　Cromartie　says　that　at　the　　battle　of　Harlaw　Donald　was　assisted　by　almost　〃all　the　northern　people；　　Mackenzie　excepted；　who　because　of　the　many　injuries　received　by　his　　predecessors　from　the　Earls　of　Ross；　and　chiefly　by　the　instigation　and　　concurrence　of　Donald's　predecessors；　he　withdrew　and　　refused　concurrence。　　Donald　resolved　to　ruin　him；　but　deferred　it　till　his　return；　　which　falling　out　more　unfortunately　than　he　expected；　did　not　allow　him　　power　nor　opportunity　to　use　the　vengeance　he　intended；　for　on　his　return　to　Ross　he　sent　Mackenzie　a　friend　with　fair　speeches　desiring　his　　friendship；　thinking　no　enemy　despicable　as　he　then　stood。〃　　Murdoch；　at　　Donald's　request；　proceeded　to　Dingwall；　where　the　Island　Lord　urged　　him　to　join　and　promise　him　to　support　his　interest。　　This　Mackenzie　firmly　refused；　〃partly　out　of　hatred　to　his　family　for　old　feuds；　partly　dissuaded　by　Donald's　declining　fortunes〃　at　that　particular　period　；　　whereupon　the　Lord　of　the　Isles　made　Murdoch　prisoner　in　an　　underground　chamber　in　the　Castle　of　Dingwall。　　　He　was　not　long　here；　　however；　when　he　found　an　opportunity　of　making　his　plight　known　to　　some　of　his　friends；　and　he　was　soon　after　released　in　exchange　for　some　　of　Donald's　immediate　relatives　who　had　been　purposely　captured　by　　Mackenzie's　devoted　vassals。

Here　it　may　be　appropriate　to　give　the　traditionary　account　of　the　origin　of　the　Macraes　and　how　they　first　found　their　way　to　Kintail　and　　other　places　in　the　West；　for　their　relationship　with　the　Mackenzies　has　　from　the　earliest　times　been　of　the　closest　and　most　loyal　character。　　　Indeed；　from　the　aid　they　invariably　afforded　them　they　have　been　aptly　　described　as　〃Mackenzie's　shirt　of　mail。〃　　According　to　the　Rev。　John　　Macrae；　minister　of　Dingwall；　who　died　in　1704；　and　wrote　the　only　　existing　trustworthy　history　and　genealogy　of　his　own　clan；　the　Macraes　　came　originally　from　Clunes；　in　the　Aird　of　Lovat；　recently　acquired　from　patriotic　family　reasons　by　Horatio　Macrae；　W。S。；　Edinburgh；　the　　representative　in　this　country　of　the　Macraes　of　Inverinate；　who　were　　admittedly　the　chiefs　of　that　brave　and　warlike　race。　　The　Rev。　John　　Macrae；　who　was　himself　a　member　of　the　Inverinate　family；　says　that　the　Macraes　left　the　Aird　under　the　following　circumstances：A　dispute　had　　arisen　in　the　hunting　field　between　Macrae　of　Clunes　and　a　bastard　son　of　Lovat；　when　a　son　of　Macrae　intervened　to　protect　his　father；　and　killed　　Fraser's　son　in　the　scuffle。　　The　victor　〃immediately　ran　oft；　and　calling　　himself　John　Carrach；　that　he　might　be　less　known；　settled　on　the　West　　Coast；　and　of　him　are　descended　the　branch　of　the　Macraes　called　Clann　　Ian　Charraich。　It　was　some　time　after　this　that　his　brethren　and　other　　relatives　began　seriously　to　consider　that　Lovat's　own　kindred　and　friends　became　too　numerous；　and　that　the　country　could　not　accommodate　them　　all；　which　was　a　motive　for　their　removing　to　other　places　according　as　　they　had　encouragement。　　One　of　the　brothers　went　to　Brae　Ross　and　lived　　at　Brahan；　where　there　is　a　piece　of　land　called　Knock　Vic　Ra；　and　the　　spring　well　which　affords　water　to　the　Castle　is　called　Tober　Vic　Ra。

His　　succession　spread　westward　to　Strathgarve；　Strathbraan；　and　Strathconan；　　where　several　of　them　live　at　this　time。　　John　Macrae；　who　was　a　merchant　in　Inverness；　and　some　of　his　brethren；　were　of　them；　and　some　others　in　　Ardmeanach。　　Other　two　of　MacRa's　sons；　elder　than　the　above；　went　off　　from　Clunes　several　　ways；　one　　is　said　　to　have　gone　to　Argyleshire　and　　another　to　Kintail。　　In　the　meantime　their　father　remained　at　Clunes　all　his　　days；　and　bad　four　Lords　Fraser　of　Lovat　fostered　in　his　house。　　He　that　　went　to　Argyle；　according　to　our　tradition；　married　the　heiress　of　Craignish；　and　on　that　account　took　the　surname　of　Campbell。　　The　other　　brother　who　went　to　Kintail；　earnestly　invited　and　encouraged　by　　Mackenzie；　who　then　had　no　kindred　of　his　own　blood；　the　first　six　　Barons；　or　Lords　of　Kintail；　having　but　one　lawful　son　to　succeed　the　　father；　hoping　that　the　MacRas；　by　reason　of　their　relation；　as　being　　originally　descended　from　the　same　race　of　people　in　Ireland　would　prove　　more　faithful　than　others；　wherein　he　was　not　disappointed；　for　the　　MacRas　of　Kintail　served　him　and　his　successors　very　faithfully　in　every　　quarrel　they　had　with　neighbouring　clans；　and　by　their　industry；　blood；　and　　courage；　have　been　instrumental　in　raising　that　family。〃　　The　writer　adds　that　he　does　not　know　Macrae's　christian　name；　but　that　he　married　〃a　　daughter　or　grand…daughter　of　MacBeolan；　who　possessed　a　large　part　of　　Kintail　before　Mackenzie's　predecessors　got　a　right　of　it　from　Alexander　　III。〃　　This　　marriage；　and　their　common　ancestry　from　a　native　Celtic　　source；　and　not　from　〃the　same　race　of　people　in　Ireland〃　seems　a　much　　more　probable　explanation　of　the　early　and　continued　friendship　which　　existed　between　the　two　families　than　that　suggested　by　the　rev。　author　of　　〃The　Genealogy　of　the　Macraes；〃　above　quoted。

But　the　curious　circumstance　to　which　he　directs　attention　　regarding　the　first　five　Mackenzie　chiefs　is　quite　true。　　It　is　borne　out　by　every　genealogy　of　the　House　of　Kintail　which　we　have　ever　seen。　There　　is　not　a　trace　of　any　legitimate　male　descendant　from　the　first　of　the　name　　down　to　Alexander；　the　sixth　baron；　except　the　immediately　succeeding　　chief；　so　that　their　vassals　and　followers　in　the　field　and　elsewhere　must；　　for　nearly　two　hundred　years；　have　been　men　of　different　septs　and　tribes　and　names；　except　the　progeny　of　their　own　illegitimate　sons；　such　as　　〃Sliochd　Mhurcbaidh　Riabhaich〃　and　others　of　similar　base　origin。　　Murdoch　married　Finguala　or　Florence；　daughter　of　Malcolm　　Macleod；　III。　of　Harris　and　Dunvegan；　by　his　wife；　Martha；　daughter　of　　Donald　Stewart；　Earl　of　Mar；　nephew　of　King　Robert　the　Bruce。　　By　this　　marriage　the　Royal　blood　of　the　Bruce　was　introduced　for　the　first　time　　into　the　family　of　Kintail；　as　also　that　of　the　ancient　Kings　of　Man。

Tormod　Macleod；　II。　of　Harris；　who　was　grandson　of　Olave　the　Black；　last　　Norwegian　King　of　Man；　and　who；　as　we　have　seen；　had　married　Christina；　daughter　of　Ferquhard　O'Beolan；　Earl　of　Ross；　married　Finguala　Mac　Crotan；　the　daughter　of　an　ancient　and　powerful　Irish　chief。　　　By　this　　lady　Malcolm　Macleod；　III。　of　Harris　and　Dunvegan；　had　issue；　among　　others；　Finguala；　who　now　became　the　wife　of　Murdoch　Mackenzie　and　　mother　of　Alexander　Ionraic；　who　carried　on　the　succession　of　the　ancient　line　of　Kintail。

Murdoch　died　in　1416　when　he　was　succeeded　by　his　only　son；

VI。　　ALEXANDER　　MACKENZIE；

Alastair　Ionraic；　or　Alexander　the　Upright；　so　called　〃for　his　righteousness。〃　　He　was　among　the　Western　barons　summoned　in　1427；　to　　meet　King　James　I。　at　Inverness；　who；　on　his　return　from　a　long　captivity　in　England；　in　1424；　determined　to　put　down　the　rebellion　and　oppression　　which　was　then　and　for　some　time　previously　so　rampant　in　the　Highlands。

To　judge　by　the　poceedings　of　a　Parliament　held　at　Perth　on　the　30th　　September　1426；　James　exhibited　a　foresight　and　appreciation　of　the　　conduct　of　the　lairds　in　those　days；　and　passed　laws　which　might　with　　good　effect；　and　with　equal　propriety；　be　applied　to　the　state　of　affairs　in　　our　own　time。　　In　that　Parliament　an　Act　was　passed　which；　among　other　　things；　ordained　that；　north　of　the　Grampians；　the　fruit　of　those　lands　　should　be　expended　in　the　country　where　those　lands　lie。　　The　Act　is　as　　follows：〃It　is　ordanit　be　the　King　ande　the　Parliament　that　everilk　lorde　　hafande　landis　bezonde　the　mownthe　（the　Grampians）　in　the　quhilk　landis　　in　auld　　tymes　there　　was　　castellis；　　fortalyces　　and　　manerplaicis；　big；　　reparell　and　reforme　their　castellis　and　maneris；　and　duell　in　thame；　be　　thameself；　or　be　ane　of　thare　frendis　for　the　gracious　gournall　of　thar　　landis；　be　gude　polising　and　to　expende　ye　fruyt　of　thar　landis　in　the　　countree　where　thar　landis　lyis。〃　＇Invernessiana；　p。102。＇

James　was　determined　to　bring　the　Highlanders　to　submission；　and　Fordun　relates　a　characteristic　anecdote　in　which　the　King　pointedly　declared　his　resolution。　When　the　excesses　in　the　Highlands　were　first　　reported　to　him　by　one　of　his　nobles；　on　entering　Scotland；　he　thus　　expressed　himself　：〃　Let　God　but　grant　me　life；　and　there　shall　not　be　a　　spot　in　my　dominions　where　the　key　shall　riot　keep　the　castle；　and　the　　furze　bush　the　cow；　though　I　myself　should　lead　the　life　of　a　dog　to　　accomplish　it〃；　and　it　was　in　this　frame　of　mind　that　he　visited　Inverness　　in　1427；　determined　to　establish　good　government　and　order　in　the　North；　　then　in　such　a　state　of　insubordination　that　neither　life　nor　　property　was　　secure。　　The　principal　chiefs；　on　his　order　or　invitation　met　him；　from　　what　motives　it　is　impossible　to　determinewhether　hoping　for　a　reconciliation　by　prompt　compliance　with　the　Royal　will；　or　from　a　dread；　in　case　of　refusal；　to　suffer　the　fate　of　the　Southern　barons　who　had　　already　fallen　victims　to　his　severity。　　The　order　was　in　any　case　obeyed；　　and　all　the　leading　chiefs　repaired　to　meet　him　at　the　Castle　of　Inverness。

As　they　entered　the　ball；　however；　where　the　Parliament　was　at　the　time　　sitting；　they　were；　one　by　one；　by　order　of　the　King；　arrested；　ironed；　and　　imprisoned　in　different　apartments；　and　debarred　from　having　any　　communications　with　each　other；　or　with　their　followers。

Fordun　says　that　James　displayed　marks　of　great　joy　as　these　turbulent　and　haughty　spirits；　caught　in　the　toils　which　he　had　prepared　for　　the