history of the mackenzies-第22部分

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　as　they　had　　themselves；　and　further　he　desired　them　to　consider　what　would　be　the　　consequences；　for　if　the　least　drop　of　blood　was　shed；　Rory　would　be　　immediately　put　to　death；　and　so　all　their　pains　would　be　lost。　　He　thus　　prevailed　upon　them　to　keep　quiet。　In　the　meantime　Rory　struggled　with　　the　Kintail　men；　and　would　not　be　taken　or　go　along　with　them；　until　John　Mor；　afterwards　agnamed　Ian　Mor　nan　Cas；　brother　to　Gillecriost　　MacFhionnla；　took　Rory　by　the　feet　and　cast　him　down。　　They　then　bound　　him　and　carried　him　on　their　shoulders；　until　he　consented　to　go　along　　with　them　willingly；　and　without　further　objection。　　They　took　him　to　Ellandonnan；　whence　shortly　after　he　was　sent　south　to　the　King；　where　he　had　to　take　his　trial。　　He；　however；　denied　the　whole　affair；　and　in　the　　absence　of　positive　proof；　the　judges　declined　to　convict　him；　but　the　　King；　quite　persuaded　of　his　guilt；　ordered　him　to　be　sent　a　prisoner　to　the　　Bass　Rock；　with　strict　injunctions　to　have　him　kept　in　chains。　　This　order　　was　obeyed；　and　Rory's　hands　and　legs　were　much　pained　and　cut　with　the　　irons。　　The　governor　had　unpleasant　feuds　with　one　of　his　neighbours；　　which　occasioned　several　encounters　and　skirmishes　between　their　　servants；　who　came　in　repeatedly　with　wounds　and　bruises。　　Rory；　　noticing　this　to　occur　frequently；　said　to　one　of　them；　〃Would　to　God　that　　the　laird　would　take　me　with　him；　and　I　should　then　be　worth　my　meat　to　him　and　serve　for　better　use　than　I　do　with　these　chains。〃　　This　was　　communicated　to　the　governor；　who　sent　for　Rory　and　asked　him　if　he　　would　fight　well　for　him。　　〃If　I　do　not　that；〃　said　he；　〃let　me　hang　in　these　　chains。〃　　He　then　took　his　solemn　oath　that　he　would　not　run　away；　and　　the　governor　ordered　the　servants　to　set　about　curing　Rory's　wounds　with　　ointments。　　He　soon　found　himself　in　good　condition　to　fight；　and　an　　opportunity　was　not　long　delayed。　The　governor　met　his　adversary　　accompanied　by　his　prisoner；　who　fought　to　admiration；　exhibiting　great　　courage　and　enormous　strength。　　He　soon　routed　the　enemy；　and　the　　governor　became　so　enamoured　of　him　that　he　was　never　after　out　of　his　　company　whenever　he　could　secretly　have　him　unknown　to　the　Court。

About　this　time　an　　Italian　came　to　Edinburgh；　who　challenged　　the　whole　nation　　to　a　wrestling　match　for　a　large　sum　of　money。　　One　or　two　　grappled　with　him；　but　he　disposed　of　them　so　easily　that　no　one　else　　could　be　found　to　engage　him。　　The　King　was　much　annoyed　at　this；　and　　expressed　himself　strongly　in　favour　of　any　one　who　would　defeat　the　　Italian；　promising　to　give　him　a　suitable　reward。　　The　governor　of　the　　Rock　having　heard　of　this；　thought　it　an　excellent　opportunity　for　his　　prisoner　to　secure　his　freedom；　and　at　the　same　time　redeem　the　credit　of　the　nation；　and　he　informed　the　King　that　a　prisoner　committed　to　the　Bass　　by　his　Majesty　if　released　of　his　irons　would；　in　his　opinion；　match　the　　Italian。　The　King　immediately　answered；　〃His　liberty；　with　reward；　shall　he　have　if　he　do　so。〃　　The　governor；　so　as　not　to　expose　his　own　intimate　relations　with　and　treatment　of　the　prisoner；　warily　asked　that　time　should　　be　allowed　to　cure　him　of　his　wounds；　lest　his　own　crime　and　Rory's　　previous　liberty　should　become　known。　　When　sufficient　time　had　elapsed　　for　this　purpose　a　day　was　appointed；　and　the　governor　brought　Rory　to　　Holyrood　House　to　meet　the　King；　who　enquired　if　he　〃would　undertake　　to　cast　the　Italian　for　his　liberty？〃　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　answered　Rory　〃it　will　be　a　　hard　task　that　I　will　not　undertake　for　that；　but；　sir；　it　may　be；　it　will　not　be　so　easy　to　perform　as　to　undertake；　yet　I　shall　give　him　a　fair　trial。〃　　　〃Well〃　said　the　King；　〃how　many　days　will　you　have　to　fit　yourself？〃　　　〃Not　an　hour〃　replied　Rory。　　His　Majesty　was　so　pleased　with　his　　resolution　that　he　immediately　sent　to　the　Italian　to　ask　if　he　would　accept　　the　challenge　at　once。　　He　who　had　won　so　many　victories　so　easily　　already　did　not　hesitate　to　grapple　with　Rory；　having　no　fear　as　to　the　　result。　　Five　lists　were　prepared。　　The　Italian　was　first　on　the　ground；　and　　seeing　Rory　approaching　him；　dressed　in　his　rude　habit；　without　any　of　the　usual　dress　and　accoutrements；　laughed　loudly。　　But　no　sooner　was　he　in　　the　Highlander's　grasp　than　the　Italian　was　on　his　knee。　The　King　cried　　with　joy；　the　Italian　alleged　foul　play；　and　made　other　and　frivolous　　excuses；　but　His　Majesty　was　so　glad　of　the　apparent　advantage　in　his　　favour　that　he　was　unwilling　to　expose　Rory　to　a　second　hazard。　　This　did　not　suit　the　Highlander　at　all；　and　he　called　out；　〃No；　no；　sir；　let　me　try　　him　again；　for　now　I　think　I　know　his　strength。〃　　His　Majesty　hearing　this；　　consented；　and　in　the　second　encounter　Rory　laid　firm　hold　of　the　　foreigner；　pulled　him　towards　him　with　all　his　might；　breaking　his　back；　　and　disjointing　the　back…bone。　　The　poor　fellow　fell　to　the　ground　groaning　with　pain；　and　died　two　day's　after。　　The　King；　delighted　with　　Rory's　prowess；　requested　him　to　remain　at　Court；　but　this　he　refused；　　excusing　himself　on　the　ground　that　his　long　imprisonment　quite　unfitted　　him　for　Court　life；　but　if　it　pleased　his　Majesty　he　would　send　him　his　son；　　who　was　better　fitted　to　serve　him。　　He　was　provided　with　money　and　　suitable　clothing　by　Royal　command。　　The　King　requested　him　to　hasten　　his　son　to　Court；　which　he　accordingly　did。　　This　son　was　named　　Murdoch；　and　His　Majesty　became　so　fond　of　him　that　he　always　retained　　him　about　his　person；　and　granted　him；　as　an　earnest　of　greater　things　to　follow；　the　lands　of　Fairburn；　Moy；　and　others　adjoining；　also　the　Ferry　of　　Scuideal；　but　Murdoch　being　unfortunately　absent　from　the　Court　when　　the　King　died；　he　missed　much　more　which　his　Majesty　had　designed　for　him。　＇Ardintoul　and　Cromartie　MS。　Histories　of　the　Mackenzies。＇

The　following；　told　of　Roderick　and　Kenneth；　the　fifth　son；　is　also　worth　a　placeKenneth　was　Chaunter　of　Ross；　and　perpetual　Curate　of　　Coinbents；　which　vicarage　he　afterwards　resigned　into　the　hands　of　Pope　　Paulus　in　favour　of　the　Priory　of　Beauly。　　Though　a　priest　and　in　holy　　orders　he　would　not　abstain　from　marriage；　for　which　cause　the　Bishop　　decided　to　have　him　deposed。　　On　the　appointed　day　for　his　trial　he　had　　his　brother　Rory　at　Chanonry；；　when　the　trial　was　to　take　place；　with　a　　number　of　his　followers。　　Kenneth　presented　himself　before　the　Bishop　in　　his　long　gown；　but　under　it　he　had　a　two…edged　sword；　and　drawing　near　　　his　　Lordship；　who　sat　in　　his　presiding　　chair；　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃It　is　best　that　you　should　let　me　alone；　for　my　brother　Rory　is　in　the　churchyard　　with　many　ill　men；　and　if　you　take　off　my　orders　he　will　take　off　your　　head；　and　I　myself　will　not　be　your　best　friend。〃　He　then　coolly　exposed　　his　penknife；　as　he　called　his　great　sword；　〃which　sight；　with　Rory's　　proximity；　and　being　a　person　whose　character　was　well　enough　known　by　　his　Lordship；　he　was　so　terrified　that　he　incontinently　absolved　and　　vindicated　the　good　Chaunter；〃　who　ever　after　enjoyed　his　office　（and　his　wife）　unchallenged。

Sir　Kenneth　of　Kintail；　who　was　knighted　by　James　IV。　〃for　being　highly　instrumental　in　reducing　his　fierce　countrymen　to　the　blessings　of　a　　civilized　life；〃　was　twice　married；　first；　to　Lady　Margaret；　daughter　of　　John；　Lord　of　the　Isles　and　Earl　of　Ross；　with　issue

I。　　Kenneth　Og；　his　heir　and　successor。

He　married　secondly；　Agnes　or　Anne　Fraser；　daughter　of　Hugh；　　third　Lord　Lovat；　with　issue

II。　　John；　who　succeeded　his　brother　Kenneth　Og。

III。　　Alexander；　first　of　the　family　of　Davochmaluag。

IV。　　Roderick；　progenitor　of　the　families　of　Achilty；　Fairburn；　Ardross；　etc。

V。　　Kenneth；　better　know　as　〃the　Priest　of　Avoch；〃　from　whom　the　families　of　Suddie；　Ord；　Corryvulzie；　Highfield；　Inverlaul；　Little　Findon；　　and　others　of　lesser　note。

VI。　　Agnes；　who　married　Roderick　Macleod；　VII。　of　Lewis；　with　issue。

VII。　　Catherine；　who　married　Hector　Munro　of　Fowlis；　with　issue。

There　has　been　a　considerable　difference　of　opinion　among　the　family　genealogists　as　to　the　date　of　Sir　Kenneth's　death；　but　it　is　now　　placed　beyond　doubt　that　he　died　in　1491；　having　only　ruled　as　actual　　chief　of　the　clan　for　the　short　space　of　three　years。　This　is　clearly　proved　　from　　his　tomb　in　the　Priory　of　Beauly；　where　there　is　a　full　length　　recumbent　effigy　of　him；　in　full　armour；　with　arms　folded　across　his　chest　　as　if　in　prayer；　and　on　the　arch　over　it　is　the　following　inscription　〃Hic　　Jacet；　Kanyans；　m。　kynch　d'us　de　Kyntayl；　q。　oblit　vii。　die　Februarii；　a。　　di。　mcc。lxxxxi。〃　　Sir　William　Fraser；　in　his　history　of　the　Earls　of　Cromartie；　gives；　in　his　genealogy　of　the　Mackenzies　of　Kintail；　the　date　of　his　death　as　〃circa　1506；〃　and　ignores　his　successor　Kenneth　Og　　altogether。　　This　is　incomprehensible　to　readers　of　the　work；　for　in　the　　book　itself；　in　various　places；　it　is　indubitably　established　that　Sir　　William's　genealogy　is　incorrect　in　this；　as　in　other　important　particulars。〃　　＇Sir　William　Fraser　appears　to　have　adopted　Douglas　in　his　genealogies；　　who；　as　already　shown；　in　many　instances；　cannot　be　depended　upon。＇

The　following；　from　the　published　〃Acts　of　the　Lords　of　Council；〃　p。　327；　under　date　17th　　June；　1494；　places　the　question　absolutely　beyond　　dispute。　　〃The　King's　Highness　and　Lords　of　Council　decree　and　deliver　　that　David　Ross　of　Balnagown　shall　restore　and　deliver　again　to　Annas　　Fresale；　the　spouse　of　THE　　LATE　Kenneth　Mackenzie　of　Kintail；　seven　　score　of　cows；　price　of　the　piece　（each）；　20s；　30　horses；　price　of　the　piece；　　2　merks；　200　sheep　and　goats；　price　of　the　piece；　25；　and　14　cows；　price　of　　the　piece；　20s；　spuilzied　and　taken　by　the　said　David　and　his　complices　　from　the　said　Annas　out　of　the　lands　of　Kynlyn　（？　Killin　or　Kinellan）；　as　was　sufficiently　proved　before　the　Lords；　and　ordain　that　letters　be　written　　to　distrain　the　said　David；　his　lands　and　goods　therefor；　and　he　was　present　　at　his　action　by　this　procurators。〃　　It　is　needless　to　point　out　that　the　man　　who；　by　this　undoubted　authority；　was　THE　LATE　Kenneth　Mackenzie　of　　Kintail；　in　1494　could　not　have　died　about　or　〃circa　1506；〃　as　Sir　William　　Fraser　asserts　in　his　Earls　of　Cromartie。　　Kenneth　died　in　1491；　and　was　　succeeded　by　his　only　son　by　his　firs