history of the mackenzies-第18部分

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inguish　　their　ancient　feuds　in　that　alliance。　　The　Island　chief　willingly　　consented　and　the　marriage　was　in　due　course　solemnised。　About　a　year　　after；　the　Earl's　nephew　and　apparent　heir；　Alexander　Macdonald　of　　Lochalsh；　came　to　Ross；　and；　feeling　more　secure　in　consequence　of　this　　matrimonial　alliance　between　the　family　of　Mackenzie　and　his　own；　took　　possession　of　Balcony　House　and　the　adjoining　lands；　where；　at　the　　following　Christmas；　he　provided　a　great　feast　for　his　old　dependants；　　inviting　to　it　also　most　of　the　more　powerful　chiefs　and　barons　north　of　the　Spey；　and　among　others；　Kenneth　Mackenzie；　his　cousin's　husband。　The　　house　of　Balcony　being　at　the　time　very　much　out　of　repair；　he　could　not　　conveniently　lodge　all　his　distinguished　guests　within　it；　and　had　　accordingly　to　arrange　for　some　of　them　in　the　outhouses　as　best　he　could。

Kenneth　did　not　arrive　until　Christmas　Eve；　accompanied　by　a　train　of　　forty　able　bodied　men；　according　to　the　custom　of　the　times；　but　without　　his　lady；　which　deeply　offended　Macdonald。　　Maclean　of　Duart　had　chief　　charge　of　the　arrangements　in　the　house　and　the　disposal　of　the　guests。　　　Some　days　previously　he　had　a　disagreement　with　Kenneth　at　some　　games；　and；　on　his　arrival；　Maclean　told　the　heir　of　Kintail　that；　taking　advantage　of　his　connection　with　the　family；　they　had　taken　the　liberty　of　　providing　him　with　lodgings　in　the　kiln。　　Kenneth　considered　this　an　　insult；　and；　divining　that　it　proceeded　from　Maclean's　illwill　to　him；　he　instantly　struck　him　a　blow　on　　the　ear；　which　threw　him　to　the　ground。　　　The　servants　in　the　house　viewed　this　as　a　direct　insult　to　their　chief；　Macdonald；　and　at　once　took　to　arms。　　Kenneth；　though　sufficiently　bold；　　soon　perceived　that　he　had　no　chance　to　light　successfully　or　to　beat　a　　retreat；　and；　noticing　several　boats　lying　on　the　shore；　which　had　been　　provided　for　the　transport　of　the　guests；　he　took　as　many　of　them　as　he　　required；　sank　the　rest；　and　passed　with　his　followers　to　the　opposite　　shore；　where　he　remained　over　night　in　the　house　of　a　tenant；　who；　like　a　good　many　more　in　those　days；　had　no　surname；　but　was　simply　known　by　　a　patronymic。　Kenneth；　boiling　with　passion；　was　sorely　affronted　at　the　insult　which　he　had　received；　and　at　being　from　his　own　house　at　Christmas；　staying　with　a　stranger；　and　off　his　own　property。　　In　these　　circumstances；　he　requested　his　host　to　adopt　the　name　of　Mackenzie；　　promising　him　protection　in　future；　so　that　be　might　thus　be　able　to　say　　that　he　slept　under　the　roof　of　one　of　his　own　name。　　The　man　at　once　　consented；　and　his　posterity　were　ever　after　known　as　Mackenzies。

Next　morning　（Christmas　Day）　Kenneth　went　to　the　hill　above　Chanonry；　and　sent　word　to　the　Bishop；　who　was　at　the　time　enjoying　his　　Christmas　with　some　of　his　clergy；　that　he　desired　to　speak　to　him。　　The　　Bishop　knowing　his　man's　temper　and　the　turbulent　state　of　the　times　　thought　it　prudent　to　comply　with　this　request；　though　be　considered　it　　very　strange　to　receive　such　a　message　on　such　a　day；　and　wondered　much　　what　his　visitors　object　could　be。　He　soon　found　that　Kenneth　simply　　wanted　a　feu　of　the　small　piece　of　land　on　which　was　situated　the　house　in　　which　he　had　lodged　the　previous　night；　stating；　as　his　reason；　〃lest　　Macdonald　should　brag　that　he　had　forced　him　on　Christmas　Day　to　lodge　　at　another　man's　discretion；　and　not　on　own　heritage。〃　　The　Bishop；　　willing　to　oblige　him　probably　afraid　to　do　otherwise；　and　perceiving　him　in　such　a　rage；　at　once　sent　for　his　clerk　and　there　and　then　granted　him　a　　charter　of　the　township　of　Cullicudden；　whereupon　Kenneth　returned　to　　the　place　and　remained　in　it　all　day；　lording　over　it　as　his　own　property。

The　place　was　kept　by　him　and　his　successors　until　Colin　〃Cam〃　acquired　　more　of　the　Bishop's　lands　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　afterwards　　exchanged　the　whole　with　the　Sheriff　of　Cromarty　for　lands　in　　Strathpeffer。

Next　day　Kenneth　started　for　Kinellan；　where　his　father；　the　old　chief　Alexander；　resided；　and　related　to　him　what　had　taken　place。　His　　father　was　much　grieved；　for　he　well　knew　that　the　smallest　difference　　between　the　families　would　revive　their　old　grievances；　and；　although　　there　was　less　danger　since　Macdonald's　interest　in　Ross　was　smaller　than　in　the　past；　yet　he　knew　the　clan　to　be　a　powerful　one　still；　more　so　than　　his　own；　in　their　number　of　able…bodied　warriors；　but　these　considerations；　　strongly　impressed　upon　the　son　by　the　experienced　and　aged　father；　only　　added　fuel　to　the　fire　in　Kenneth's　bosom；　which　was　already　fiercely　　burning　to　avenge　the　insult　offered　him　by　Macdonald's　servants。　　His　natural　impetuosity　could　ill　brook　any　such　insult　and　he　considered　himself　wronged　so　much　that　he　felt　it　his　duty　personally　to　retaliate　and　　avenge　it。　　While　this　was　　the　　state　　of　his　　mind　matters　　were　suddenly　　brought　to　a　crisis　by　the　arrival　on　the　fourth　day　of　a　messenger　from　　Macdonald　with　a　summons　requesting　Alexander　and　his　son　Kenneth　to　　remove　from　Kinellan；　with　all　their　families；　within　twenty…four　hours；　　allowing　only　that　the　young　Lady　Margaret；　Macdonald's　own　cousin；　　might　remain　until　she　had　more　leisure　to　remove；　and　threatening　war　to　the　knife　in　case　of　noncompliance。

Kenneth's　rage　now　became　ungovernable；　and；　without　consulting　　his　father　or　waiting　his　counsel；　he　bade　the　messenger　tell　Macdonald　that　his　father　would　remain　where　he　was　in　spite　of　him　and　all　his　　power。　As　for　himself；　he　accepted　no　rules　as　to　his　staying　or　going；　but　　Macdonald　would　be　sure　enough　to　hear　of　him　wherever　he　was。　　As　for　　Macdonald's　cousin；　Lady　Margaret；　since　he　had　no　desire　to　keep　　further　peace　with　his　family　he　would　no　longer　keep　his　relative。

Such　was　the　defiant　message　sent　to　young　Macdonald；　and　　immediately　after　its　despatch；　Kenneth　sent　away　Lady　Margaret；　in　the　　most　ignominious　manner；　to　Balcony　House。　　The　lady　was　blind　of　an　eye；　and；　to　insult　her　cousin　to　the　utmost；　he　sent　her　back　to　him　　mounted　on　a　one…eyed　horse；　accompanied　by　a　one…eyed　servant；　followed　by　a　one…eyed　dog。　　She　was　in　a　delicate　state　of　health；　and　this　　inhumanity　grieved　her　so　much　that　she　never　after　wholly　recovered。　　Her　son；　recently　born；　the　only　issue　of　the　marriage；　was　named　　Kenneth；　and　to　distinguish　him　from　his　father　was　called　〃Coinneach　　　Og〃　or　Kenneth　the　younger。

It　appears　that　Kenneth　had　no　great　affection　for　Lady　Margaret；　for　a　few　days　after　he　sent　her　away　he　went　to　Lord　Lovat　accompanie　by　two　hundred　of　his　followers　and　besieged　his　house。　　Lovat　was　naturally　surprised　at　his　conduct　and　demanded　an　explanation；　when　he　　was　informed　by　Kenneth　that　he　came　to　demand　his　daughter　Agnes　in　　marriage　now　that　he　had　no　wife；　having；　as　he　told　him；　disposed　of　　Lady　Margaret　in　the　manner　already　described。　He　insisted　upon　an　　immediate　and　favourable　reply　to　his　suit　on　which　condition　he　　promised　to　be　on　strict　terms　of　friendship　with　the　family；　but；　if　his　demand　was　refused　he　would　swear　mortal　enmity　against　Lovat　and　his　　house；　and；　as　evidence　of　his　intention　in　this　respect；　he　pointed　out　to　　his　lordship　that　he　already　bad　a　party　of　his　vassals　outside　gathering　together　the　men；　women；　and　goods　that　were　nearest　in　the　vicinity；　all　of　whom；　be　declared；　should　〃be　made　one　fyne　to　evidence　his　　resolution。〃　Lovat；　who　had　no　particularly　friendly　feelings　towards　　Macdonald　of　the　Isles；　was　not　at　all　indisposed　to　procure　Mackenzie's　friendship　on　the　terms　proposed；　and　considering　the　exigencies　and　　danger　of　his　retainers；　and　knowing　full　well　the　bold　and　determined　　character　of　the　man　he　had　to　deal　with；　he　consented　to　the　proposed　　alliance；　provided　the　voting　lady　herself　was　favourable。　　She　fortunately　　proved　submissive。　　Lord　Lovat　delivered　her　up　to　her　suitor；　who　　immediately　returned　borne　with　her；　and　ever　after　they　lived　together　as　　husband　and　wife。

Macdonald　was　naturally　very　much　exasperated　by　Kenneth's　　defiant　answer　to　himself　and　the　repeated　insults　heaped　upon　his　　relative；　and　through　her　upon　her　family。　　He　therefore　dispatched　his　great　steward；　Maclean；　to　collect　his　followers　in　the　Isles；　as　also　to　advise　and　request　the　aid　of　his　nearest　relations　on　the　mainland…the　　Macdonalds　of　Moidart　and　Clan　Jan　of　Ardnamurchan。　In　a　short　time　　they　mustered　a　force　between　them　of　about　fifteen　hundred　mensome　　say　three　thousandand　arranged　with　Macdonald　to　meet　him　at　Contin。　　　They　assumed　that　Alexander　Mackenzie；　now　so　old；　would　not　have　　gone　to　Kintail；　but　would　stay　in　Ross；　judging　that　the　Macdonalds；　so　　recently　come　under　obligations　to　the　King　to　keep　the　peace　would　not　　venture　to　collect　their　forces　and　invade　the　low　country。　　But　Kenneth；　foreseeing　the　danger　from　the　rebellious　temper　of　Macdonald；　went　to　　Kintail　at　the　commencement　of　his　enemy's　preparations；　and　placed　a　　strong　garrison；　with　sufficient　provisions；　in　Ellandonnan　Castle；　and　the　　cattle　and　other　goods　in　the　district　he　ordered　to　be　driven　and　sent　to　　the　most　remote　hills　and　secret　places。　　He　took　all　the　remaining　able…bodied　men　along　with　him；　and　on　his　way　back　to　Kinellan　he　was　　joined　by　his　dependants　in　Strathconan；　Strathgarve；　and　other　glens　in　　the　Braes　of　Ross；　all　fully　determined　to　defend　Kenneth　and　his　aged　　father　at　the　expense；　if　need　be；　of　their　lives；　small　as　their　united　forces　　were　in　comparison　with　that　against　which　they　knew　they　would　soon　　have　to　contend。

Macdonald　had　meanwhile　collected　his　friends；　and；　at　the　head　of　a　large　body　of　Western　Highlanders；　advanced　through　Lochaber　into　　Badenoch；　where　he　was　joined　by　the　Clan　Chattan；　marched　to　　Inverness；　where　they　were　met　by　the　young　laird　of　Kilravock　and　some　　of　Lovat's　people；　　reduced　the　Castle　（then　a　royal　fortress）；　placed　a　　garrison　in　it；　and　proceeded　to　the　north…east；　plundering　the　lands　of　Sir　　Alexander　Urquhart；　Sheriff　of　Cromarty。　They　next　marched　westward　　to　the　district　of　Strathconan；　ravaged　the　lands　of　the　Mackenzies　as　they　　went；　and　put　the　inhabitants　and　more　immediate　retainers　of　the　family　　to　the　sword；　resolutely　determined　to　punish　M