history of the mackenzies-第15部分

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Fordun　says　that　James　displayed　marks　of　great　joy　as　these　turbulent　and　haughty　spirits；　caught　in　the　toils　which　he　had　prepared　for　　them；　came　voluntarily　within　reach　of　his　regal　power；　and　that　be　　〃caused　to　be　arrested　Alexander　of　the　Isles；　and　his　mother；　Countess　of　　Ross；　daughter　and　heiress　of　Sir　Walter　Lesley；　as　well　as　the　more　　notable　men　of　the　north；　each　of　whom　he　wisely　invited　singly　to　the　　Castle；　and　caused　to　be　put　in　strict　confinement　apart。　　There　he　also　　arrested　Angus　Duff　（Angus　Dubh　Mackay）　with　his　four　sons；　the　leader　　of　4000　men　from　Strathnarven　（Strathnaver。）　　Kenneth　More；　with　his　　son…in…law；　leader　of　two　thousand　men；　＇All　writers　on　the　Clan　　Mackenzie　have　hitherto　claimed　this　Kenneth　More　as　their　Chief；　and　　argued　from　the　above　that　Mackenzie　had　a　following　of　two　thousand　fighting　men　in　1427。　　It　will　be　seen　that　Alexander　was　Chief　at　this　　time；　but　Kenneth　More　may　have　been　intended　for　MacKenneth　More；　　or　the　Great　Mackenzie。　　He　certainly　could　have　had　no　such　following　of　his　own　name。＇　John　Ross；　William　Lesley；　Angus　de　Moravia；　and　　Macmaken；　leaders　of　two　thousand　men；　and　also　other　lawless　caterans　　and　great　captains　in　proportion；　to　the　number　of　about　fifty　Alexander　　Makgorrie　（MacGodfrey）　of　Garmoran；　and　John　Macarthur　（of　the　family　　of　Campbell）；　a　great　chief　among　his　own　clan；　and　the　leader　of　a　　thousand　and　more；　were　convicted；　and　being　adjudged　to　death　were　　beheaded。　　Then　James　Cambel　was　hanged；　being　accused　and　convicted　　of　the　slaughter　of　John　of　the　Isles　（John　Mor；　first　of　the　Macdonalds　of　　Isla。）　The　rest　were　sent　here　and　there　to　the　different　castles　of　the　noblemen　throughout　the　kingdom；　and　were　afterwards　condemned　to　different　kinds　of　death；　and　some　were　set　at　liberty。〃　　Among　the　latter　　was　Alexander　of　Kintail。　　The　King　sent　him；　then　a　mere　youth；　to　the　　High　School　at　Perth；　at　that　time　the　principal　literary　seminary　in　the　kingdom；　while　the　city　itself　was　frequently　the　seat　of　the　Court。

During　Kintail's　absence　it　appears　that　his　three　bastard　uncles　ravaged　the　district　of　Kinlochewe；　for　we　find　them　insulting　and　troubling　〃Mackenzie's　tenants　in　　Kenlochewe　and　Kintail　　　Macaulay；　who　was　still　Constable　in　Ellandonnan；　not　thinking　it　proper　to　leave　his　　post；　proposed　Finlay　Dubh　Mac　Gillechriost　as　the　fittest　person　to　be　　sent　to　St。　Johnston；　now　Perth；　and　by　general　consent　he　accordingly　　went　to　inform　his　young　master；　who　was　then　there　with　the　rest　of　the　　King's　ward　children　at　school；　of　his　lordship's　tenants　being　imposed　on　　as　above；　which；　with　Finlay's　remonstrance　on　the　subject；　prevailed　on　　Alexander；　his　young　master；　to　come　home；　and　being　backed　with　all　the　assistance　Finlay　could　command；　soon　brought　his　three　bastard　uncles　to　condign　punishment。〃　＇Genealogical　Account　of　the　Macraes。＇

The　writer　of　the　Ardintoul　MS。　says　that　Finlay　〃prevailed　on　him　to　go　home　without　letting　the　master　of　the　school　know　of　it。　Trysting　with　him　at　a　certaiu　place　and　set　hour　they　set　off；　and；　lest　any　should　　surprise　them；　they　declined　the　common　road　and　went　to　Macdougall　of　　Lorn；　he　being　acquainted　with　him　at　St。　Johnston。　　Macdougall　　entertained　him　kindly；　and　kept　him　with　him　for　several　days。　　He　at　that　　time　made　his　acquaintance　with　Macdougall's　daughter；　whom　　afterwards　he　married；　and　from　thence　came　to　his　own　Kintail；　and　　having　his　authority　and　right　backed　with　the　power　of　the　people；　he　　calls　his　bastard　uncles　before　him；　and　removes　their　quarters　from　　Kenlochewe；　and　gave　them　possessions　in　Glenelchaig　in　Kintail　　prescribing　measures　and　rule　for　them　how　to　behave；　assuring　them；　　though　he　pardoned　them　at　that　time；　they　should　forfeit　favours　and　be　　severely　punished　if　they　transgressed　for　the　future；　but　after　this；　going　　to　the　county　of　Ross　to　their　old　dwelling　at　Kenlochewe；　they　turned　to　practice　their　old　tricks　and　broke　loose；　so　that　he　was　forced　to　correct　　their　insolency　and　make　them　shorter　by　the　heads；　and　thus　the　people　　were　quit　of　their　trouble。〃

The　young　Lord　of　the　Isles　was　at　the　same　time　that　Mackenzie　　went　to　Perth　sent　to　Edinburgh；　from　which　he　soon　afterwards　escaped　to　the　North；　at　the　instigation　of　his　mother；　the　Countess；　raised　his　　vassals；　and；　joined　by　all　the　outlaws　and　vagabonds　in　the　country；　　　numbering　a　formidable　body　of　about　ten　thousand；　he　laid　waste　the　　country；　plundered　and　devastated　the　crown　lands；　against　which　his　　vengeance　was　specially　directed；　razed　the　Royal　burgh　of　Inverness　to　　the　ground；　pillaged　and　burned　the　houses；　and　perpetrated　every　　description　of　cruelty。　He　then　besieged　the　Castle；　but　without　success；　after　which　he　retired　precipitately　towards　Lochaber；　where　he　was　met　　by　the　Royal　forces；　commanded　by　the　King　in　person。　　The　Lord　of　the　　Isles　prepared　for　battle；　but　he　had　the　mortification　to　notice　the　desertion　of　Clan　Chattan　and　Clan　Cameron；　who　had　previously　joined　　him；　and　of　seeing　them　going　over　in　a　body　to　the　Royal　standard。　　The　　King　immediately　attacked　the　island　chief　and　completely　routed　his　　forces；　while　their　leader　sought　safety　in　flight。　　He　was　vigorously　　pursued；　and　finding　escape　or　concealment　equally　impossible；　and　being　　reduced　to　the　utmost　distress；　hunted　from　place　to　place　by　his　vigilant　　pursuers；　the　haughty　chief　resolved　to　throw　himself　entirely　on　the　　mercy　of　His　Majesty；　and　finding　his　way　to　Edinburgh　in　the　most　secret　manner；　and　on　the　occasion　of　a　solemn　festival　on　Easter　Sunday；　in　　1429；　at　Holyrood；　he　suddenly　appeared　in　his　shirt　and　drawers　before　　the　King　and　Queen；　surrounded　by　all　the　nobles　of　the　Court；　while　they　were　engaged　in　their　devotions　before　the　High　Altar；　and　implored；　on　　his　knees；　with　a　naked　sword　held　by　the　point　in　his　hand；　the　　forgiveness　of　his　sovereign。　　With　bonnet　in　hand；　his　legs　and　arms　quite　　bare；　his　body　covered　only　with　a　plaid；　and　in　token　of　absolute　　submission；　he　offered　his　sword　to　the　King。　　His　appearance；　　strengthened　by　the　solicitations　of　the　affected　Queen　and　all　the　nobles；　　　made　such　an　impression　on　His　Majesty　that　he　submitted　to　the　　promptings　of　his　heart　against　the　wiser　and　more　prudent　dictates　of　his　　judgment。　　He　accepted　　the　sword　offered　him；　and　spared　the　life　of　his　captive；　but　immediately　committed　him　to　Tantallon　Castle；　under　the　　charge　of　William　Douglas；　Earl　of　Angus。　　The　spirit　of　Alexander's　followers；　however；　could　not　brook　this　mortal　offence；　and　the　whole　　strength　of　the　clan　was　promptly　mustered　under　his　cousin　Donald　　Balloch；　who　led　them　to　Lochaber；　where　they　met　the　King's　forces　　under　the　Earls　of　Mar　and　Caithness；　killed　the　latter；　gained　a　complete　　victory　over　the　Royal　army；　and　returned　to　the　Isles　in　triumph；　with　an　　immense　quantity　of　spoil。

James　soon　after　proceeded　north　in　person　as　far　as　Dunstaffnage；　Donald　Balloch　fled　to　Ireland；　and；　after　several　encounters　with　the　　rebels；　the　King　obtained　the　submission　of　the　　majority　of　the　　chiefs　　who　were　engaged　in　the　rebellion；　while　others　were　promptly　　apprehended　and　executed　to　the　number　of　about　three　hundred。　　The　　King　thereupon　released　the　Lord　of　the　Isles　from　Tantallon　Castle；　and　　granted　him　a　free　pardon　for　all　his　rebellious　acts；　confirmed　him　in　all　　his　titles　and　possessions；　and　further　conferred　upon　him；　in　addition；　the　　Lordship　of　Lochaber；　which　had　previously；　on　its　forfeiture；　been　　granted　to　the　Earl　of　Mar。　　After　his　first　escape　from　Edinburgh；　the　Lord　of　the　Isles　again　in　　1429　raised　the　standard　of　revolt。　　He　for　the　second　time　burnt　the　town　　of　Inverness；　while　Mackenzie　was　〃attending　to　his　duties　at　Court。〃

Kintail　was　recalled　by　his　followers；　who　armed　for　the　King；　and　led　by　their　young　chief　on　his　return　home；　they　materially　aided　in　the　　overthrow　of　Alexander　of　the　Isles　at　the　same　time　securing　peace　and　　good　government　in　their　own　district；　and　among　most　of　the　surrounding　　tribes。　　Alexander　is　also　found　actively　supporting　the　King；　and　with　the　　Royal　army；　during　the　turbulent　rule　of　John；　successor　to　Alexander；　　Lord　of　the　Isles；　who　afterwards；　in　1447；　died　at　peace　with　his　　sovereign。

James　I。　died　in　1460；　and　was　succeeded　by　James　II。　When；　in　1462；　the　Earl　of　Douglas；　the　Lord　of　the　Isles；　and　Donald　Balloch　of　　Isla　entered　into　a　treaty　with　the　King　of　England　for　the　subjugation　of　　Scotland；　on　condition；　in　the　event　of　success；　that　the　whole　of　Scotland；　　north　of　the　Firth　of　Forth；　should　be　divided　between　them；　Alexander　　Mackenzie　stood　firm　in　the　interest　of　the　ruling　monarch；　and　with　such　success　that　nothing　came　of　this　extraordinary　compact。　　We　soon　after　　find　him　rewarded　by　a　charter　in　　his　favour；　dated　7th　January　1463；　　confirming　him　in　his　lands　of　Kintail；　with　a　further　grant　of　the　〃5　merk　lands　of　Killin；　the　lands　of　Garve；　and　the　2　merk　lands　of　Coryvulzie；　　with　the　three　merk　lands　of　Kinlochluichart；　and　2　merk　lands　of　Ach…na…Clerich；　the　2　merk　lands　of　Garbat；　the　merk　lands　of　Delintan；　and　the　4　　merk　lands　of　Tarvie；　all　lying　within　the　shire　and　Earldom　of　Ross；　to　be　　holden　of　the　said　John　and　his　successors；　Earls　of　Ross。〃　　This　is　the　first　　Crown　charter　in　favour　of　the　Mackenzie　chief　of　which　any　authentic　　record　exists。

Alexander　continued　to　use　　his　great　influence　at　Court；　as　well　as　　with　John　Lord　of　the　Isles；　for　the　purpose　of　bringing　about　a　　reconciliation　between　his　Majesty　and　his　powerful　subject　during　the　　unnatural　rebellion　of　Angus　Og　against　his　father。　The　King；　however；　　proved　inexorable；　and　refused　to　treat　with　the　Earl　on　any　condition　　other　than　the　absolute　and　unconditional　surrender　of　the　earldom　of　　Ross　to　the　Crown；　of　which；　however；　he　would　be　allowed　to　hold　all　his　other　possessions　in　future。　These　conditions　the　island　chief　haughtily　refused；　again　flew　to　arms；　and　in　1476　invaded　Moray；　but　finding　that　　he　could　offer　no　effectual　resistance　to　the　powerful　forces　sent　against　　him　by　the　King；　he；　by　the　seasonable　grants　of　the　lands　of　Knapdale　and　　Kintyre；　sec