history of the mackenzies-第59部分

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ily　of　Kintail　singular　in　this　respectseeing　its　flattering　prospects　withered　at；　perhaps；　a　fortunate　moment　for　　the　prosperity　of　the　Empire。　Jealousies　have　now　passed　away　on　that　　subject；　and　it　is　not　our　business　to　discuss　or　in　any　way　confound　the　principles　of　contending　loyalties。

To　check　the　proceedings　of　the　Mackenzies；　Mackay　placed　a　　garrison　of　a　hundred　Mackays　in　Brahan　Castle；　the　principal　seat　of　the　Earl；　and　an　equal　number　of　Rosses　in　Castle　Leod；　the　mansion　of　　Viscount　Tarbat；　both　places　of　strength；　and　advantageously　situated　for　watching　the　movements　of　the　Jacobite　Mackenzies。　＇Life　of　General　　Mackay；　by　John　Mackay　of　Rockfield；　pp。　36…37。＇

Seaforth　seems　to　have　left　Ireland　immediately　after　the　battle　of　　the　Boyne；　and　to　have　returned　to　the　Highlands。　　The　greater　part　of　the　　North　was　at　the　time　hostile　to　the　Government；　and　General　Mackay　was　　obliged　to　march　north；　with　all　haste；　before　a　general　rising　could　take　　place　under　Buchan；　who　now　commanded　the　Highlanders　who　stood　out　　for　King　James。　　Mackay　was　within　four　hours　march　of　Inverness　before　　Buchan；　who　was　then　at　that　place　〃waiting　for　the　Earl　of　Seaforth's　and　　the　other　Highlanders　whom　he　expected　to　join　him　in　attacking　the　　town；〃　knew　of　his　approach。　　Hearing　of　the　proximity　of　the　enemy；　　Buchan　at　once　retreated；　crossed　the　River　Ness；　and　retired　along　the　　north　side　of　the　Beauly　Firth；　eastward　through　the　Black　Isle。　　In　this　emergency；　Seaforth；　fearing　the　personal　consequences　of　the　part　be　had　acted　throughout；　sent　two　of　his　friends　to　General　Mackay；　offering　　terms　of　submission　and　whatever　securities　might　be　required　for　his　　future　good　behaviour；　informing　him　at　the　same　time　that；　although　he　　had　been　forced　to　appear　on　the　side　of　James；　he　never　entertained　any　　design　of　molesting　the　Government　forces　or　of　joining　Buchan　in　his　　attack　on　the　town　of　Inverness。　Mackay　replied　that　he　could　accept　no　　security　other　than　the　surrender　of　his　Lordship's　person；　at　the　same　time　　conjuring　him　to　comply；　as　he　valued　his　own　safety　and　the　preservation　of　his　family　and　people；　and　assuring　him　that　in　the　case　of　surrender　he　　should　be　detained　in　civil　custody　in　Inverness；　and　treated　with　the　　respect　due　to　his　rank；　until　the　will　of　the　Government　should　become　　known。　　Next　day　the　Earl's　mother；　the　Countess　Dowager　of　Seaforth；　　and　Sir　Alexander　Mackenzie　of　Coul　proceeded　to　Inverness；　to　plead　　with　Mackay　for　a　mitigation　of　the　terms　proposed；　but　finding　him　　inflexible；　they　told　him　that　Seaforth　would　accede　to　any　conditions　　agreed　to　by　them　in　his　behalf。　It　was　thereupon　stipulated　that　he　should　　deliver　himself　up　at　once　and　be　kept　a　prisoner　in　Inverness　until　the　　Privy　Council　decided　as　to　his　ultimate　disposal。　　With　the　view　of　　concealing　his　voluntary　submission　from　his　own　clan　and　his　other　　Jacobite　friends；　it　was　agreed　that　the　Earl　should　allow　himself　to　be　siezed　at　one　of　his　seats　by　a　party　of　horse　under　Major　Mackay；　as　if　he　　were　taken　by　surprise。　　He；　however；　disappointed　those　sent　to　take　him；　　in　excuse　of　which；　his　mother　and　he；　in　letters　to　General　Mackay；　　pleaded　the　delicate　state　of　his　health；　which；　it　was　urged；　would　suffer　　from　imprisonment；　and　indeed　few　can　blame　him　for　any　unwillingness　　to　place　himself　absolutely　at　the　disposal　of　such　a　body　as　the　Privy　　Council　of　Scotland　then　wasmany　of　whom　would　not　hesitate　in　the　　slightest　to　sacrifice　him；　if　by　so　doing　they　could　only　see　any　chance　of　　obtaining　a　share；　however　small；　of　his　extensive　estates。　　General　Mackay　became　so　irritated　at　the　deception　thus　practised　　upon　him　that　he　resolved　to　treat　Seaforth's　vassals　〃with　all　the　rigour　of　military　execution；〃　and　he　sent　his　Lordship　a　message　that　if　he　did　not　　surrender　forthwith　according　to　his　promise；　he　should　at　once　carry　out　his　instructions　from　the　Privy　Council　by　entering　his　country　with　fire　and　sword；　and　seizing　all　the　property　belonging　to　himself　or　to　his　clan　　as　lawful　prize；　and；　lest　the　Earl　should　have　any　doubt　as　to　his　intention　　of　executing　this　terrible　treat；　he　immediately　ordered　three　Dutch　　regiments　from　Aberdeen　to　Inverness；　and　decided　on　leading　a　　competent　body　of　horse　and　foot　in　person　from　the　garrison　at　the　latter　　place；　to　take　possession　of　Brahan　Castle。　　The　General；　at　the　same　time　wrote　instructing　the　Earl　of　Sutherland；　Lord　Reay；　and　　Ross　of　Balnagown；　to　send　a　thousand　of　their　men；　under　Major　Wishart　an　experienced　officer　acquainted　with　the　country；　to　take　up　their　quarters　in　　the　more　remote　districts　of　the　Seaforth　estates；　should　that　extreme　step；　　as　he　much　feared；　become　necessary。　Having；　however；　a　friendly　　disposition　towards　the　followers　of　Seaforth；　on　account　of　their　being　　〃all　Protestants　and　none　of　the　most　dangerous　enemies；〃　and　being　more　　anxious　to　get　hold　of　his　Lordship's　person　than　to　ruin　his　friends；　he　caused　information　of　his　intentions　to　be　sent　to　Seaforth's　camp　by　some　of　his　own　party；　as　if　from　a　feeling　of　friendship　for　him　the　result　being　　that；　contrary　to　Mackay's　expectations；　Seaforth　surrenderedthus　relieving　him　from　a　most　disagreeable　duty；　＇Though　the　General　〃was　not　　immediately　connected　with　the　Seaforth　family　himself；　some　of　his　near　　relatives　were；　both　by　the　ties　of　kindred　and　of　ancient　friendship。　　For　　these；　and　other　reasons　it　may　be　conceived　what　joy　and　thankfulness　to　Providence　he　felt　for　the　result　of　ibis　affair；　which　at　once　relieved　him　　from　a　distressing　dilemma；　and　promised　to　put　a　speedy　period　to　his　　labours　in　Scotland。〃Mackay's　Life　of　General　Mackay。＇and　he　was　at　once　committed　a　prisoner　to　the　Castle　of　Inverness。

Writing　to　the　Privy　Council　about　the　disaffected　chiefs　at　the　time；　General　Mackay　says〃I　believe　it　shall　fare　so　with　the　Earl　of　　Seaforth；　that　is；　that　he　shall　haply　submit　when　his　country　is　ruined　and　　spoyled；　which　is　the　character　of　a　true　Scotsman；　wyse　behinde　the　　hand。〃　＇Letters　to　the　Privy　Council；　dated　1st　September；　1690。＇　　By　　warrant；　dated　7th　October；　1690；　the　Privy　Council　directs　Mackay　〃to　　transport　the　person　of　Kenneth；　Earl　of　Seaforth；　with　safety　from　　Inverness　to　Edinburgh；　in　such　way　and　manner　as　he　should　think　fit。〃

This　done；　he　was　on　the　6th　November　following　confined　within　the　　Castle　of　Edinburgh；　but；　little　more　than　a　year　afterwards；　he　was　　liberated；　on　the　7th　January；　1692；　having　found　caution　to　appear　when　　called　upon；　and　on　condition　that　he　should　not　go　ten　miles　beyond　the　　walls　of　Edinburgh。　　He　appears　not　to　have　implemented　these　conditions　　for　any　length　of　time；　for　shortly　after　he　is　again　in　prison　　almost　immediately　makes　his　escape　is　apprehended　on　the　7th　of　May；　the　same　　year；　at　Pencaitland　and　again　kept　confined　in　the　Castle　of　Inverness；　　from　which　he　is　ultimately　and　finally　liberated　on　giving　sufficient　　security　for　his　peaceable　behaviour；　＇Records　of　the　Privy　Council；　and　Mackay's　Memoirs。＇　the　following　being　the　order　for　his　release：

〃William　R。；　Right　trusty　and　right…well…beloved　Councillors；　&c。；　we　greet　you　well。　　Whereas　we　are　informed　that　Kenneth；　Earl　of　Seaforth；　did　surrender　himself　prisoner　to　the　commander　of　our　garrison　at　Inverness；　and　has　thrown　himself　on　our　Royal　mercy；　it　is　our　will　and　　pleasure；　and　we　hereby　authorise　and　require　you　to　set　the　said　Earl　of　Seaforth　at　liberty；　upon　his　finding　bail　and　security　to　live　peaceably　under　our　Government　and　to　compear　before　you　when　called。　　And　that　　you　order　our　Advocate　not　to　insist　in　the　process　of　treason　waged　　against　him　until　our　further　pleasure　be　known　therein。　　For　doing　　whereof　this　shall　be　your　warrant；　so　we　bid　you　heartily　farewell。

Given　　at　our　Court　at　Kensington；　the　first　day　of　March；　1696…7；　and　of　our　　reign　the　eighth　year。　　By　his　Majesty's　command。

（Signed）　　　　　　　　　　〃TULLIBARDINE。〃

During　the　remaining　years　of　his　life；　Seaforth　appears　to　have　lived　mainly　in　France。　　Apart　from　his　necessary　absence　from　his　own　country　during　the　long…continued　period　of　political　irritation；　the　　exhausted　state　of　his　paternal　revenues　would　have　rendered　his　　residence　abroad　highly　expedient。　　We　accordingly　find　several　discharges　for　feu…duties　granted　by　others　in　his　absence；　such　as　the　　following：

〃I；　Maister　Alexander　Mackenzie；　lawful　brother　to　the　Marquis　of　Seaforth；　grants　me　to　have　received　from　John　Mathesone；　all　and　hail　　the　somme　of　seaven　hundred　and　twentie　merks　Scots　money　and　that　in　　complete　payment　of　his　duties　and　or　the　lands　of　both　the　Fernacks　and　　Achnakerich；　payable　Martimass　ninety　（1690）；　dated　22d　November；　　1694。〃

There　is　another　by　〃Isobel；　Countess　Dowager　of　Seaforth；　in　　1696；　tested　by　‘Rorie　Mackenzie；　servitor　to　the　Marquis　of　Seaforth；'〃　and　an　original　discharge　by　〃me；　Isobell；　Countess　Dowager　of　Seaforth；　Lady　Superior　of　the　grounds；　lands；　and　oyes　under…written；〃　to　Kenneth　　Mackenzie　of　Dundonnel；　dated　at　Fortrose；　15th　November；　1697；　signed；　　〃Isobell　Seaforth。〃　＇Allangrange　Service；　on　which　occasion　thc　originals　were　produced。＇　　It　may　fairly　be　presumed　that；　during　the　whole　of　this　period；　Earl　Kenneth　was　in　retirement；　and　that　be　took　no　personal　part　in　the　management　of　his　estates　for　the　remainder　of　his　life。

His　clansmen；　however；　seem　to　have　been　determined　to　protect　his　interest　as　much　as　they　could。　　A　certain　Sir　John　Dempster　of　Pitliver　　had　advanced　Seaforth　and　his　mother；　the　Countess　Dowager；　a　large　　sum　of　money　and　obtained　a　decree　of　Parliament　to　have　the　amount　　refunded　to　him。　　The　cash　was　not　forthcoming；　and　Sir　John　secured　　letters　of　horning　and　arrestment　against　them；　and　employed　several　　officers　to　serve　them；　but　they　returned　the　letters　unexecuted；　not　finding　　notum　accessum　in　the　Earl's　country；　and　they　refused　altogether　to　　undertake　the　duty　again　without　the　assistance　of　the　King's　forces　in　the　　district。　　Sir　John　petitioned　for　this　aid；　and　humbly　craved　the　Privy　　Council　to　allow　him　〃a　competent　assistance　of　his　Majesty's　forces　at　Fort…William；