history of the mackenzies-第49部分

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rebellious；　whereas　the　whole　remanent　Isles　are　　become　peaceable　and　obedient；　and　whereas　the　said　Lords；　for　　repressing　of　the　insolence　of　the　whole　of　the　rebellious　thieves　and　　limmers　of　the　Lewis　and　reducing　them　to　his　Majesty's　obedience；　　passed　and　expede　a　commissionto　Roderick　Mackenzie　of　Coigeach；　　Tutor　of　Kintail；　Mr　Colin　Mackenzie　of　Killin；　Murdo　Mackenzie；　their　brother；　Alexander　Mackenzie　of　Coul；　and　Kenneth　Mackenzie　of　Davochmaluag；　for　reducing　of　the　limmers　of　the　Lewis　to　obedience；〃　which　commission　〃is　now　expired；　and　the　said　thieves；　taking　new　　courage　and　breath　thereupon；　are　become　more　insolent　than　formerly　　they　were；　and　have　lately　made　a　very　open　insurrection　and　committed　　slaughter　and　bloodshed　within　the　said　bounds；　in　contempt　of　God　and　　disregard　of　his　Majesty's　laws〃；　　therefore　his　Majesty　and　the　Lords　of　Council；　understanding　of　the　〃good　affection〃　of　the　said　persons；　now　　reconstitute　them　commissioners　for　the　reduction　of　the　said　rebels；　with　　full　power　and　authority；　etc。　（as　in　previous　commissions　granted　them）　　and；　〃for　the　better　execution　of　this　commission；　to　take　the　lymphads；　　galleys；　birlinns；　and　boats　in　the　Lewis　and　in　the　next　adjacent　Isles　for　　the　furtherance　of　his　Majesty's　service；the　said　justices　being　always　　answerable　to　the　owners　of　the　said　lymphads；　galleys；　birlinns；　and　boats　　for　delivery　of　the　same　at　the　finishing　of　his　Majesty's　said　service。〃　　　Proclamation　was　to　be　made　at　Inverness　and　other　places　charging　the　　lieges　within　the　bounds　of　the　North　Isles　and　within　the　lands　of　Colin；　　Lord　of　Kintail　（except　those　of　the　name　of　Fraser；　Ross；　and　Munro；　　their　tenants　and　servants）；　to　assist　the　said　commissioners　in　the　　execution　of　their　duty。

By　a　commission　dated　the　same　day；　Sir　Roderick；　along　with　　Simon　Lord　Lovat；　and　Urquhart　of　Cromarty；　is　appointed；　for　the　trial　in　　the　Burgh　of　Inverness　of　all　resetters　within　thc　Sheriffdom　of　the　county　　of　any　traitors　in　the　Isles；　the　commission　to　last　for　one　year。

In　1618；　along　with　Grant　of　Grant；　he　assisted　the　Mackintosh　against　the　Marquis　of　Huntly。　　On　the　18th　of　June；　1622；　he　is　one　of　the　　chiefs　named　in　a　commission　against　the　Camerons；　among　the　others　　being　Mackintosh　of　Mackintosh；　Sir　Roderick　Macleod；　XIII。　of　Harris；　　Grant　of　Grant；　Sir　John　Campbell　of　Calder；　John　Grant　of　Glenmoriston；　　Patrick　Grant　of　Ballindalloch；　and　John　Macdonald；　Captain　of　　Clanranald。　＇See　Mackenzie's　History　of　the　Camerons；　p。　86。＇

At　the　death　of　Kenneth；　Lord　Kintail；　the　estates　were　very　　heavily　burdened　in　consequence　of　the　wars　with　Glengarry　and　various　family　difficulties　and　debts。　　His　lordship；　in　these　circumstances；　acted　　very　prudently；　as　we　have　seep；　in　appointing　his　brother；　Sir　Roderick　　Mackenzie　I。　of　Coigeachin　whose　judgment　he　placed　the　utmost　　confidenceTutor　to　his　son　and　successor；　Lord　Colin。　Knowing　the　　state　of　affairsthe　financial　and　numberless　other　difficulties　which　　stared　him　in　the　face；　at　the　same　time　that　the　family　were　still　much　　involved　with　the　affairs　of　the　Lewis；　and　other　broils　on　the　mainlandSir　Roderick　hesitated　to　accept　the　great　responsibilities　of　the　position；　　but；　to　quote　one　of　the　family　manuscripts；　〃all　others　refusing　to　take　the　　charge　he　set　resolutely　to　the　work。　　The　first　thing　he　did　was　to　assault　the　rebels　in　the　Lewis；　which　he　did　so　suddenly；　after　his　brother's　　death；　and　so　unexpectedly　to　them；　that　what　the　Fife　Adventurers　had　　spent　many　years　and　much　treasure　in　without　success；　he；　in　a　few　　months；　accomplished；　for　having　by　his　youngest　brother　Alexander；　　chased　Neil；　the　chief　commander　of　all　the　rest；　from　the　Isle；　pursued　　him　to　Glasgow；　where；　apprehending　him；　he　delivered　him　to　the　　Council；　who　executed　　him　immediately。　He　returned　to　the　Lewis；　　banished　those　whose　deportment　he　most　doubted；　and　settled　the　rest　as　　peaceable　tenants　to　his　nephew；　which　success　he　had；　with　the　more　　facility；　because　he　had　the　only　title　of　succession　to　it　by　his　wife；　and　　they　looked　on　him　as　their　just　master。　　From　thence　he　invaded　　Glengarry；　who　was　again　re…collecting　his　forces；　but　at　his　coming　they　dissipated　and　fled。　　He　pursued　Glengarry　to　Blairy　in　Moray；　where　he　　took　him；　but　willing　to　have　his　nephew's　estate　settled　with　　conventional　right　rather　than　legal；　he　took　Low…countrymen　as　sureties　　for　Glengarry's　peaceable　deportment；　and　then　contracted　with　him　for　the　reversion　of　the　former　wadsets　which　Colin　of　Kintail　had　acquired　of　　him；　and　for　a　ratification　and　new　disposition　of　all　his　lands；　formerly　　sold　to　Colin；　and　paid　him　thirty　thousand　merks　in　money　for　this；　and　　gave　him　a　title　to　Lagganachindrom；　which；　till　then；　he　possessed　by　　force；　so　that　Glengarry　did　ever　acknowledge　it　as　a　favour　to　be　　overcome　by　such　enemies；　who　over　disobligements　did　deal　both　justly　　and　generously。　　Rory　employed　himself　therefore　in　settling　his　pupil's　　estate；　which　he　did　to　that　advantage　that　ere　his　minority　passed　he　freed　his　estate；　leaving　him　master　of　an　opulent　fortune　and　of　great　superiorities；　for　be　acquired　the　superiority　of　Troternish　with　the　heritable　　Stewartry　of　the　Isle　of　Skye；　to　his　pupil；　the　superiority　of　Raasay　and　　some　other　Isles。　　At　this　time；　Macleod；　partly　by　law　and　partly　by　force；　　had　possessed　himself　of　Sleat　and　Troternish；　a　great　part　of　Macdonald's　　estate。　　Rory；　now　knighted　by　King　James；　owned　Macdonald's　cause　as　　an　injured　neighbour；　and　by　the　same　method　that　Macleod　possessed　　himself　of　Sleat　and　Troternish　he　recovered　both　from　him；　marrying　the　heir　thereof　Sir　Donald　Macdonald；　to　his　niece；　sister　to　Lord　Colin；　and　　caused　him　to　take　the　lands　of　Troternish　holden　of　his　pupil。　　Shortly　　after　that　he　took　the　management　of　Maclean's　estate；　and　recovered　it　　from　the　Earl　of　Argyll；　who　had　fixed　a　number　of　debts　and　pretences　on　it；　so　by　his　means　all　the　Isles　were　composed　and　accorded　in　their　　debates　and　settled　in　their　estates；　whence　a　full　peace　amongst　them；　　Macneill　of　Barra　excepted；　who　had　been　an　hereditary　outlaw。　　Him；　by　　commission；　Sir　Rory　reduced；　took　him　in　his　fort　of　Kisemull；　and　　carried　him　prisoner　to　Edinburgh；　where　he　procured　his　remission。　　The　King　gifted　his　estate　to　Sir　Rory；　who　restored　it　to　Macneill　for　a　sum　not　exceeding　his　expenses；　and　holding　it　of　himself　in　feu。　　This　Sir　　Rory；　as　he　was　beneficial　to　all　his　relations；　establishing　them　in　free　　and　secure　fortunes；　purchased　considerable　lands　to　himself　in　Ross　and　　Moray；　besides　the　patrimony　left　him　by　his　father；　the　lands　of　Coigeach　　and　others；　which；　in　lieu　of　the　Lewis；　were　given　him　by　his　brother。

His　　death　was　regretted　as　a　public　calamity；　which　was　in　September；　1626；　　in　the　48th　year　of　his　age。　　To　Sir　Rory　succeeded　Sir　John　Mackenzie　of　Tarbat；　and　to　him　Sir　George　Mackenzie；　of　whom　to　write　might　be　　more　honour　to　him　than　of　safety　to　the　writer　as　matters　now　stand。〃　　＇The　Applecross　Mackenzie　MS。＇

We　shall　now　draw　to　some　extent　on　the　family　manuscripts。　The　　narrative　in　this　form　will　add　considerable　interest　to　the　information　　already　given　under　this　head　from　official　sources。　Sir　Roderick　was　a　　most　determined　man；　and　extremely　fertile　in　such　schemes　as　might　　enable　him　to　gain　any　object　he　had　in　view。　　One　of　his　plans；　connected　　with　Mackenzie's　possession　of　the　Lewis；　in　its　barbarous　and　cruel　　details；　almost　equalled　the　Raid　of　Cillechriost。　　Neil　Macleod；　　accompanied　by　his　nephews；　Malcolm；　William；　and　Roderick；　the　three　　sons　of　Roderick　Og；　the　four　sons　of　Torquil　Blair；　and　thirty　of　their　　more　determined　and　desperate　followers；　retired；　when　Kintail　obtained　　possession　of　the　whole　of　the　Lewis；　to　the　impregnable　rock　of　　Berrissay；　at　the　back　of　the　island；　to　which　Neil；　as　a　precautionary　　measure；　had　been　for　years　previously　sending　food　and　other　necessaries　as　a　provision　for　future　necessity。　　Here　they　held　out　for　three　years；　where　they　were　a　source　of　great　annoyance　to　the　Tutor　and　his　　followers。　　On　a　little　rock　opposite　Berrissay；　Neil；　by　a　well…directed　shot　killed　one　of　the　Tutor's　followers　named　Donald　MacDhonnchaidh　　Mhic　Ian　Ghlais；　and　wounded　another　called　Tearlach　MacDhomh'uill　　Roy　Mhic　Fhionnlaidh　Ghlais。　　This　exasperated　their　leader　so　much　that；　all　other　means　having　failed　to　oust　Neil　from　his　impregnable　position；　the　Tutor　conceived　the　inhuman　scheme　of　gathering　together　all　the　　wives　and　children　of　the　men　who　were　on　Berrissay；　and　all　those　in　the　island　who　were　in　any　way　related　to　them　by　blood　or　marriage；　and；　　having　placed　them　on　a　rock　exposed　only　during　low　water；　so　near　　Berrissay　that　Neil　and　his　companions　could　see　and　hear　them；　Sir　　Roderick　and　his　men　avowed　that　they　would　leave　theminnocent；　　helpless　women　and　childrenon　the　rock　to　be　overwhelmed　and　　drowned　on　the　return　of　the　tide；　if　Neil　and　his　companions　did　not　at　　once　surrender　the　rock。　　Macleod　knew；　by　stern　experience；　that　even　to　the　carrying　out　such　a　fiendish　crime；　the　promise　of　the　Tutor；　once　　given；　was　as　good　as　his　bond。　　It　is　due　to　the　greater　humanity　of　Neil　　that　the　terrible　position　of　the　helpless　women　and　children　and　their　　companions　appalled　him　so　much　that　he　decided　immediately　upon　　yielding　up　the　rock　on　condition　that　he　and　his　followers　should　be　　allowed　to　leave　the　Lewis　with　their　lives。　　It　cannot　be　doubted　that　but　　for　Macleod's　more　merciful　conduct　the　ferocious　act　would　have　been　　committed　by　Sir　Roderick　and　his　followers；　and　we　have　to　thank　the　　less　barbarous　instincts　of　their　opponents　for　saving　the　clan　Mackenzie　from　the　commission　of　a　crime　which　would　have　secured　to　its　perpetrators　the　execration　of　posterity。

After　Neil　had　left　the　rock　he　proceeded　privately；　during　the　night；　to　his　cousin　Sir　Roderick　Mor　Macleod；　XIII。 of　Harris。　The　　Tutor　learning　this　caused　Macleod　to　be　charged；　under　pain　of　treason　　and　forfeiture；　to　deliver　him　up　to　the　Council。　Realising　the　danger　of　　his　position；　Macleod　prevailed　upon　Neil　and　his　son　Donald　to　　accompa