history of the mackenzies-第23部分

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rts　in　his　Earls　of　Cromartie。　　Kenneth　died　in　1491；　and　was　　succeeded　by　his　only　son　by　his　first　wife；　Margaret　of　Isla；


VIII。　　KENNETH　　OG　　MACKENZIE；


Or　KENNETH　　THE　　YOUNGER；　who　was　also　known　as　Sir　Kenneth。　　　He　was　fostered　in　Taagan；　Kenlochewe。　＇Ancient　MS。＇　　When；　in　1488；　King　James　the　IV。　succeeded　to　the　throne；　he　determined　to　attach　to　his　　interest　the　principal　chiefs　in　the　Highlands。　　〃To　overawe　and　subdue　the　　petty　princes　who　affected　independence；　to　carry　into　their　territories；

hitherto　too　exclusively　governed　by　their　own　capricious　or　tyrannical　　institutions；　the　same　system　of　a　severe　but　regular　and　rapid　　administration　of　civil　and　criminal　justice　which　had　been　established　in　　his　Lowland　dominions　was　the　laudable　object　of　the　King；　and　for　this　　purpose　he　succeeded；　with　that　energy　and　activity　which　remarkably　　distinguished　him；　in　opening　up　an　intercourse　with　many　of　the　leading　　men　in　the　northern　counties。　With　the　Captain　of　the　Clan　Chattan；　　Duncan　Mackintosh　with　Ewen；　the　son　of　Alan；　Captain　of　the　Clan　　Cameron　with　Campbell　of　Glenurghay；　the　Macgilleouns　of　Duart　and　　Lochbuy；　Mackane　of　Ardnamurchan　the　Lairds　of　Mackenzie　and　Grant；　　and　the　Earl　of　Huntly；　a　baron　of　the　most　extensive　power　in　these　　northern　districts；　he　appears　to　have　been　in　habits　of　constant　and　　regular　communication　…rewarding　them　by　presents；　in　the　shape　either　of　money　or　of　grants　or　land；　and　securing　their　services　in　reducing　to　obedience　such　of　their　fellow　chieftains　as　proved　contumacious；　or　　actually　rose　in　rebellion。〃　＇Tytler；　vol。　iv。；　pp。　367…368。＇

To　carry　out　this　plan　he　determined　to　take　pledges　for　their　good　　behaviour　from　some　of　the　most　powerful　clans；　and；　at　the　same　time；　　educate　the　younger　lairds　into　a　more　civilized　manner　of　governing　their　　people。　　Amongst　others　he　took　a　special　interest　in　Kenneth　Og；　and　　Farquhar　Mackintosh；　the　young　lairds　of　Mackenzie　and　Mackintosh；　　who　were　cousins；　their　mothers　being　sisters；　daughters　of　John；　last　Lord　　of　the　Isles。　　They　were　both　powerful；　the　leaders　of　great　clans；　and　　young　men　of　great　spirit　and　reckless　habits。　　They　were　accordingly　　apprehended　in　1495　＇〃The　King　having　made　a　progress　to　the　North；　　was　advised　to　secure　these　two　gentlemen　as　hostages　for　securing　the　　peace　of　the　Highlands；　and　accordingly　they　were　apprehended　at　　Inverness　and　sent　prisoners　to　Edinburgh　in　the　year　1495；　where　they　remained　two　years。〃Dr　George　Mackenzie's　MS。　History；＇　and　sent　to　　Edinburgh；　where　they　were　kept　in　custody　in　the　Castle；　until　a　　favourable　opportunity　occurring　in　1497；　they　escaped　over　the　ramparts　　by　the　aid　of　ropes　secretly　conveyed　to　them　by　some　of　their　friends。

This　was　the　more　easily　managed；　as　they　had　liberty　granted　them　to　　roam　over　the　whole　bounds　of　the　Castle　within　the　outer　walls；　and　the　　young　chieftains；　getting　tired　of　restraint；　and　ashamed　to　be　idle　while　　they　considered　themselves　fit　actors　for　the　stage　of　their　Highland　　domains；　resolved　to　attempt　an　escape　by　dropping　over　the　walls；　when　　Kenneth　injured　his　leg；　so　as　to　incapacitate　him　from　rapid　progress；　but　　Mackintosh　manfully　resolved　to　risk　capture　himself　rather　than　leave　his　fellow…fugitive　behind　him　in　such　circumstances。　　The　result　of　this　　accident；　however；　was　that　after　three　days　journey　they　were　only　able　to　　reach　the　Torwood；　where；　suspecting　no　danger；　they　put　up　for　the　night　in　a　private　house。

The　Laird　of　Buchanan；　who　was　at　the　time　an　outlaw　for　a　　murder　he　had　committed；　happened　to　be　in　the　neighbourhood；　and　　meeting　the　Highlanders；　entertained　them　with　a　show　of　kindness；　by　which　means　he　induced　them　to　divulge　their　names　and　quality。　　A　proclamation　had　recently　been　issued　promising　remission　to　any　outlaw　　who　would　bring　in　another　similarly　circumstanced；　and　Buchanan　　resolved　to　procure　his　own　freedom　at　the　expenseof　his　fellow…fugitives；　　for　he　knew　well　that　such　they　were；　previously　knowing　of　them　as　his　　Majesty's　pledges　from　their　respective　clans。　　In　the　most　deceitful　　manner；　he　watched　until　they　had　retired　to　rest；　when　he　surrounded　the　house　with　a　band　of　his　followers；　and　charged　them　to　surrender。　　This　　they　declined；　and　Mackenzie；　being　of　a　violent　temper　and　possessed　of　　more　courage　than　prudence；　rushed　out　with　a　drawn　sword　〃refusing　delivery　and　endeavouring　to　escape；〃　whereupon　he　was　shot　with　an　　arrow　by　one　of　Buchanan's　men。　　His　head　was　severed　from　his　body；　　and　forwarded　to　the　King　in　Edinburgh；　while　young　Mackintosh；　who　　made　no　further　resistance；　was　secured　and　sent　a　prisoner　to　the　King。

Buchanan's　outlawry　was　remitted；　and　Mackintosh　was　confined　in　Dunbar；　where　he　remained　until　after　the　death　of　James　the　Fourth　at　the　　battle　of　　Flodden　　Field。　＇Gregory；　p。93；　and　MS。　History　by　the　Earl　of　Cromartie。＇　　Buchanan's　base　conduct　was　universally　execrated；　while　　the　fate　of　young　Mackenzie　was　lamented　throughout　the　whole　　Highlands；　having　been　accused　of　no　other　crime　than　the　natural　　forwardness　of　youth；　and　having　escaped　from　his　confinement　in　　Edinburgh　Castle。

It　is　admitted　on　all　hands　that　Kenneth　Og　was　killed；　as　above；　in　1497；　and　he　must；　thereforehis　father　having　died　in　1491have　ruled　　as　one　of　the　Barons　of　Kintail；　though　there　is　no　record　of　his　having　　been　formally　served　heir。　　He　was　not　married；　but　left　two　bastard　sonsone；　known　as　Rory　Beag；　by　the　daughter　of　the　Baron　of　Moniack；　and　　the　other　by　the　daughter　of　a　gentleman　in　Cromar；　of　whom　are　　descended　the　Sliochd　Thomais　in　Cromar　and　Glenshiel；　Braemar；　the　　principal　families　of　which　were　those　of　Dalmore　and　Renoway。　＇〃In　his　　going　to　Inverness；　as　I　have　said；　to　meet　the　King；　he　was　the　night　　before　his　coming　there　in　the　Baron　of　Muniag's　house；　whose　daughter　　he　got　with　child；　who　was　called　Rory　Begg。　　Of　this　Rory　descended　the　　parson　of　Slate；　and　on　the　same　journey　going　along　with　the　King　to　　Edinburgh　he　got　a　son　with　a　gentleman's　daughter；　and　called　him　　Thomas　Mackenzy；　of　whom　descended　the　Mackenziesin　Braemar　　called　Slyghk　Homash　Vic　Choinnich。　　That　is　to　say　Thomas　　Mackenzie's　Succession。　　If　he　had　lived　he　would　be　heir　to　Mackenzie　　and　Macdonald　（Earl　of　Ross）。〃Ancient　MS。＇　　He　was　succeeded　by　his　eldest　brother　by　his　father's　second　marriage　with　Agnes　or　Anne；　daughter　of　Hugh；　third　Lord　Lovat；

IX。　　JOHN　　MACKENZIE　　OF　　KILLIN；

Known　by　that　designation　from　his　having　generally　resided　at　that　place。

He　was；　as　we　have　seen；　the　first　son　of　Kenneth；　seventh　Baron　of　　Kintail；　by　his　second　wife　Agnes；　or　Anne　of　Lovat；　and　his　father　being　never　regularly　married；　the　great　body　of　the　clan　did　not　consider　John　his　legitimate　heir。　　Hector　Roy　Mackenzie；　his　uncle；　progenitor　of　the　　House　of　Gairloch；　a　man　of　great　prudence　and　courage；　was　by　Kenneth　　a　Bhlair　appointed　tutor　to　his　eldest　son　Kenneth　Og；　then　under　age；　　though　Duncan；　an　elder　brother　by　Alexander's　first　wife；　had；　according　to　custom；　a　prior　claim　to　that　honourable　and　important　trust。　　Duncan　　is；　however；　described　as　one　who　was　〃of　better　hands　than　head〃…　more　　brave　than　　prudent。　　Hector　took　charge；　and　on　the　death　of　Kenneth　Og　　found　himself　in　possession　of　valuable　and　extensive　estates。　　He　had　　already　secured　great　popularity　among　the　clan；　which　in　the　past　he　had　often　led　to　victory　against　the　common　enemy。　　He　objected　to　John's　　succession　on　the　ground　that　he　was　the　illegitimate　son　of　Lovat's　　daughter；　with　whom　his　father；　Kenneth；　at　first　did　〃so　irregularly　and　unlawfully　cohabit；〃　and　John's　youth　encouraging　him；　it　is　said；　＇MS。　　History　by　the　Earl　of　Cromartie。＇　　Hector　proposed　an　arrangement　to　　Duncan；　whom　he　considered　the　only　legitimate　obstacle　to　his　own　　succession；　by　which　he　would　transfer　his　rights　as　elder　brother　in　　Hector's　favour；　in　return　for　which　he　should　receive　a　considerable　　portion　of　the　estates　for　himself　and　his　successors。　　Duncan　declined　to　　enter　into　the　proposed　agreement；　principally　on　the　ground　that　the　　Pope；　in　1491；　the　year　in　which　John's　father　died；　had　legitimised　　Kenneth　a　Bhlair's　marriage　with　Agnes　of　Lovat；　and　thereby　restored　the　children　of　that　union　to　the　rights　of　succession。　　Finding　Duncan　　unfavourable　to　his　project；　Hector　declared　John　illegitimate；　and　held　　possession　of　the　estates　for　himself；　and　the　whole　clan；　with　whom　he　　was　a　great　favourite；　submitted　to　his　rule。　＇Though　we　have　given　this　　account　on　the　authority　of　the　MS。　histories　of　the　family；　it　is　now　　generally　believed　that　Duncan　was　dead　at　this　period；　and　that　his　son　　Allan；　who　would　have　succeeded；　failing　John　of　Killin's　legitimacy；　was　a　minor　when　his　father　died。＇

It　can　hardly　be　supposed　that　Lord　Lovat　would　be　a　disinterested　spectator　of　these　proceedings；　and　in　the　interest　of　his　sister's　children　　he　procured　a　precept　of　clare　constat　from　James　Stewart；　Duke　of　Ross；　　＇After　the　forfeiture　of　the　ancient　Earls　of　Ross；　the　district　furnished　　new　titles　under　the　old　names；　to　members　of　the　Royal　family。　　James　　Stewart；　second　son　of　King　James　the　Third；　was　created　in　1487　Duke　of　　Ross；　Marquis　of　Ormond；　Earl　of　Ardmanach；　and　Lord　of　Brechin　and　　Navar。　　The　Duke　did　not　long　hold　the　territorial　Dukedom　of　Ross。　　On　　the　13th　of　May　1503；　having　obtained　the　rich　Abbey　of　Dunfermline；　he　　resigned　the　Dukedom　of　Ross　into　the　hands　of　the　King。　　The　Duke　　reserved　for　his　life　the　hill　of　Dingwall　beside　that　town　for　the　style　of　Duke；　the　hill　of　Ormond　（above　Avoch）　for　the　style　of　Marquis；　the　　Redcastle　of　Ardmanach　for　the　style　of　Earl；　and　the　Castle　of　Brechin；　　with　the　gardens；　&c。；　for　the　name　of　Brechin　and　Navar。　　The　Duke　of　　Ross　died　in　1504。　　It　was　said　of　him　by　Ariosto；　as　translated　by　Hoole 　/*〃The　title　of　the　Duke　of　Ross　he　bears；　No　chief　like　him　in　dauntless　mind　compares。〃*/

The　next　creation　of　the　title　of　the　Duke　of　Ross　was　in　favour　of　　Alexander　Stewart；　the　posthumous　son　of　King　James　the　Fourth。　The　　Duke　was　born　on　the　30th　April　1514；　and　died　on　the　18th　December　　1515。