youth from Kintail was seen staring about, as the Mackenzies were
starting to meet the enemy, in an apparently idiotic manner, as
if looking for something. He ultimately came across an old rusty
battle-axe, of great size, and, setting off after the others, he
arrived at the scene of strife just as the combatants were closing
with each other. Duncan Macrae (for such was his name), from his
stupid and ungainly appearance, was taken little notice of, and
was wandering about in an aimless, vacant, half-idiotic manner.
Hector Roy, Alexander's third son, and progenitor of the Gairloch
Mackenzies, observing him, asked why he was not taking part in the
fight, and supporting his chief and clan. Duncan replied - "Mar a
faigh mi miabh duine, cha dean mi gniomh duine." (Unless I get
a man's esteem, I shall not perform a man's work.) This was in
reference to his not having been provided with a proper weapon.
Hector answered him - "Deansa gniomh duine 's gheibh thu miabh
duine." (Perform a man's work and you will get a man's esteem.)
Duncan at once rushed into the strife, exclaiming - "Buille mhor
bho chul mo laimhe, 's ceum leatha, am fear nach teich rombam,
teicheam roimhe." (A heavy stroke from the back of my hand [arm]
and a step to [enforce] it. He who does not get out of my way,
let me get out of his.) Duncan soon killed a man, and, drawing
the body aside, he coolly sat upon it. Hector Roy, noticing this
peculiar proceeding as be was passing by in the heat of the contest,
accosted Duncan, and asked him why he was not still engaged with
his comrades. Duncan answered - "Mar a faigh mi ach miabh aon duine
cha dean mi ach gniomh aon duine." (If I only get one man's due
I shall only do one man's work). Hector told him to perform two
men's work, and be would get two men's reward. Duncan returned
again to the field of carnage, killed another, pulled his body
away, placed it on the top of the first, and sat upon the two. The
same question was again asked, and the answer given: "I have
killed two men, and earned two men's wages." Hector answered
- "Do your best, and we shall not be reckoning with you." Duncan
instantly replied - "Am fear nach biodh ag cunntadh rium cha
bhithinn ag cunntadh ris" - (He that would not reckon with me, I
would not reckon with him) - and rushed into the thickest of the
battle, where he mowed down the enemy with his rusty battle-axe
like grass; so much so that Lachlan Maclean of Lochbuy (Lachlainn
MacThearlaich), a most redoubtable warrior, placed himself in
Duncan's way to check him in his murderous career. The two met
in mortal strife, but, Maclean being a very powerful man, clad
in mail, and well versed in arms, Duncan could make no impression
upon him but, being lighter and more active than his heavily mailed
opponent, he managed to defend himself, watching his opportunity,
and retreating backwards until he arrived at a ditch, where
his opponent, thinking he had him fixed, made a desperate stroke
at him, which Duncan parried, at the same time jumping backwards
across the ditch. Maclean, to catch his enemy, made a furious
lunge with his weapon, but, instead of entering Duncan's body, it
got fixed in the opposite bank of the ditch. In withdrawing it,
he bent his head forward, when the helmet, rising, exposed the
back of his neck, upon which Duncan's battle-axe descended with
the velocity of lightning, and with such terrific force as to sever
Maclean's head from his body. This, it is said, was the turning-point
of the struggle, for the Macdonalds, seeing the brave leader of
their van falling, at once retreated, and gave up all for lost.
The hero was ever afterwards known as "Donnchadh Mor na Tuaighe,"
or Big Duncan of the Axe, and many a story is told in Kintail and
Gairloch of the many other prodigies of valour which he performed
in the after contests of the Mackenzies and the Macraes against
their common enemies. "Such of Macdonald's men as escaped the
battle fled together, and as they were going homeward began to
spulzie Strathconan, which Mackenzie hearing, followed them with
a party, overtakes them at Invercorran, kills shoals of them and
the rest fled divers ways."
That night, as Mackenzie sat at supper, he missed Duncan Mor, and
said to the company - "I am more vexed for the want of my scallag
mar (big servant) this night than any satisfaction I had of this
day." One of those present said, "I thought, (as the people fled)
I perceived him following four or five men that ran up the burn."
He had not well spoken the word when Duncan Mor came in with
four heads "bound on a woody" and threw them before his master,
saying - "Tell me now if I have not deserved my supper," to which,
it is said of him, he fell with great gusto.
This reminds me, continues the chronicler, "of a cheat he once
played on an Irishman, being a traveller, withal a strong, lusty
fellow, well-proportioned, but of an extraordinary stomach. He
resorted into gentlemen's houses, and (was) very oft in Mackenzie's.
Having come on a time to the same Mackenzie's house in Islandonain
two or three years after this battle (of Park), he was cared for
as usual, and when the laird went to dinner, he was set aside,
at a side-table to himself, and a double proportion allowed him,
which this Duncan Mor envying, went on a day and sat side for side
with him, drew his skyn or short dagger and eats with him. 'How
now,' says the Irishman, 'how comes it that you fall in eating
in any manner of way.' 'I cannot tell,' says Duncan, 'but I do
think I have as good will to eat as you can have.' 'Well,' says
the other, 'we shall try that when we have done.' So when the
laird had done of his dinner, the Irishman went where he was
and said, 'Noble sir, I have travelled now almost among all the
clans in Scotland, and was resorting their houses, as I have been
several times here, where I cannot say but I was sufficiently cared
for, but I never met with such an affront as I have this day.' The
laird asked what he meant. So he tells him what injury Duncan had
done him in eating a share of his proportion. 'Well,' says the
laird, 'I hope M'ille Chruimb,' for so the Irishman was called,
'you will take no notice of him that did that; for he is but a fool
that plays the fool now and then.' 'I cannot tell,' says he, 'but he
is no idiot at eating, nor will I let my affront pass so; for I must
have a turn or two of wrestling with him for it in your presence.'
Whereupon a stander-by asks Duncan if he would wrestle with him. 'I
will,' says he, 'for I think I was fit sides with him in eating and
might be so with this.' They yocks, and Duncan threw him thrice on
his back. The Irishman was so angry he wist not what to say. He
invites him to put the stone, and at the second cast he worried him
four feet, but could never reach him. Then he was like to burst
himself. Finding this, he invites him to lop so that he outlopped
him as far a length. The Irishman then said, 'I have travelled as
far as any of my equals, both in Scotland, England, and Ireland, and
tried many hands, but I never met with my equal till this day,
but comrade,' say's he 'let us now go and swim a little in the
laird's presence.' 'With all my heart,' say's Duncan, 'for I never
sought better' (with this Duncan could swim not at all), but down
to the shore they go to the next rock, and being full sea, was at
least three fathoms deep, but before the Irishman had off half of
his clothes Duncan was stark naked, lops over the rocks and ducks
to the bottom and up again. Looking about him he calls to a boy
that stood by, and said, 'Lad, go where the Lady is, and bid her
send me a butter and four cheese.' The Irishman, hearing this,
asks `what purpose.' 'To what purpose,' says he, 'yons the least we
will need this night and to-morrow wherever we be,' 'Do you intend a
journey,' say's the Irishman. 'Aye, that I do,' answered the other,
'and am in hopes to cross the Kyle ere night.' Now, this Kyle was
20 leagues off with a very ill stream, as the Irishman very well
knew, so that he said, with a very great oath, lie would not go with
him that length, but if he liked to sport the laird with several
sorts of swimming, he would give a trial. 'Sport here, sport there,
wherever I go you must go.' With this the cheese and butter come,
and Duncan desires the Irishman to make ready, but all his
persuasions (not against his will) would not prevail with
Mac a Chruimb, whereupon all the company gave over with laughter,
knowing the other could swim none at all, but the fellow thought
they jeered him. The laird made Duncan forbear him; but Duncan
swore a great oath he would make him swim or he left the town,
otherwise he would want of his will. So it came to pass for the
Irishman got away that same night, was seen on the morrow in
Lochalsh, but none (was) found that ferried him over. But never
after resorted Mackenzie's house." [Ancient MS. of the Mackenzies.]
What remained of the Macdonalds after the battle of Park were
completely routed and put to flight, but most of them were killed,
"quarter being no ordinar complement in thos dayes."
The night before the battle young Brodie of Brodie, accompanied by
his accustomed retinue, was on a visit at Kinellan, and as be was
preparing to leave the next morning be noticed Mackenzie's men in
arms, whereupon he asked if the enemy were known to be so near
that for a certainty they would fight before night. Being informed
that they were close at hand, he determined to wait and take part
in the battle, replying to Kenneth's persuasions to the contrary,
"that be was an ill fellow and worse neighbour that would leave
his friend at such a time," He took a distinguished part in the
fight and behaved "to the advantage of his friend and notable loss
of his enemy," and the Earl of Cromarty informs us that immediately
after the battle be went on his journey. But his conduct produced
a friendship between the Mackenzies and the family of Brodie, which
continued among their posterity, "and even yet remains betwixt
them, being more sacredly observed than the ties of affinity and
consanguinity amongst most others," and a bond of manrent was
entered into between the families. Some authorities assert that
young Brodie was slain, but of this no early writer makes any mention
and neither in Sir Robert Gordon's 'Earldom of Sutherland,' in the
'Earl of Cromartie' or other MS. 'Histories of the Mackenzies,' nor in
Brown's 'History of the Highland Clans,' is there any mention made
of his having been killed, though they all refer to the distinguished
part be took in the battle. He was, however, seriously wounded.
The morning after the battle Kenneth, fearing that the few of the
Macdonalds who escaped might rally among the hills and commit
cruelties and robberies on those of his people whom they might come
across, marched to Strathconan, where he found, as he had expected,
that about three hundred of the enemy had rallied, and were
destroying everything they had passed over in their eastward march
before the battle. As soon, however, as they noticed him in pursuit
they took to their heels, but they were overtaken and all killed or
made prisoners.
Kenneth then returned to Kinellan, carrying with him Alexander
Macdonald of Lochalsh, whom he had taken prisoner, in triumph. His
aged father, Alastair Ionraic, had now returned from the Raven's
Rock, and warmly congratulated his valiant son upon his splendid
victory; adding, however, with significant emphasis, that he feared
they made two days work of one," since, by sparing Macdonald,
who was also a prisoner, and his apparent heir, they preserved
the lives of those who might yet give them trouble. But Kenneth,
though a lion in the field, could not, from any such prudential
consideration, be induced to commit such a cowardly and inhuman
act as was here inferred. He, however, had no great faith in the
forbearance of his followers if an opportunity occurred to them,
and he accordingly sent Macdonald, under a strong guard, to Lord
Lovat, to be kept by him in safety until he should advise him how
to dispose of him. He kept Alexander of Lochalsh with himself, but,
contrary to the expectations of their friends, he, on the
intercession of old Macdonald, released them both within six months,
having first bound them by oath and honour never to molest him or
his, and never again to claim any right to the Earldom of Ross,
which the Lord of the Isles had in 1475 forfeited to the Crown.
Many of the Macdonalds and their followers who escaped from the
field of battle perished in the River Conon. Flying from the close
pursuit of the victorious Mackenzies, they took the river, which
in some parts was very deep, wherever they came up to it, and were
drowned. Rushing to cross at Moy, they met an old woman - still
smarting under the insults and spoliations inflicted on her and
her neighbours by the Macdonalds on their way north - and asked her
where was the best ford on the river. "O! ghaolaich," she answered,
"is aon ath an abhuinn; ged tha i dubh, cha 'n eil i domhain," (Oh!
dear, the river is all one ford together; though it looks black,
it is not deep). In their pitiful plight, and on the strength of
this misleading information, they rushed into the water in hundreds,
and were immediately carried away by the stream, many of them
clutching at the shrubs and bushes which overhung the banks of
the river, and crying loudly for assistance. This amazon and a
number of her sex who were near at hand had meanwhile procured
their sickles, and now exerted themselves in cutting away the
bushes to which the wretched Macdonalds clung with a death grasp,
the old woman exclaiming in each case, as she applied her sickle,
"As you have taken so much already which did not belong to you,
my friend, you can take that into the bargain. The instrument
of the old woman's revenge has been for many generations, and
still is by very old people in the district, called "Cailleach na
Maigb," or the Old Wife of Moy.
The Mackenzies then proceeded to ravage the lands of Ardmeanach
and those belonging to William Munro of Fowlis - the former because
the young laird of Kilravock, whose father was governor of that
district, had assisted the Macdonalds; the latter probably because
Munro, who joined neither party, was suspected secretly of favouring
Lochalsh. So many excesses were committed at this time by the
Mackenzies that the Earl of Huntly, Lieutenant of the North, was
compelled, notwithstanding their services in repelling the invasion
of the Macdonalds, to proceed against them as oppressors of the
lieges. [Gregory, p.57. Kilravock Writs, p.170, and Acts of
Council.]
A blacksmith, known as Glaishean Gow or "Gobha," one of Lovat's
people, in whose father's house Agnes Fraser, Mackenzie's wife, was
fostered, hearing of the advance of the Macdonalds to the Mackenzie
territory, started with a few followers in the direction of Conan,
but arrived too late to take part in the fight. They were, however,
in time to meet those few who managed to ford or swim the river,
and killed every one of them so that they found an opportunity
"to do more service than if they had been at the battle."
This insurrection cost the Macdonalds the Lordship of the Isles,
as others had previously cost them the Earldom of Ross. In
a Parliament held in Edinburgh in 1493, the possessions of the
Lord of the Isles were declared forfeited to the Crown. In the
following January the aged Earl appeared before King James IV., and
made a voluntary surrender of everything, after which he remained
for several years in the King's household as a Court pensioner.
By Act of the Lords of Council in 1492 Alexander Urquhart, Sheriff
of Cromarty, had obtained restitution for himself and his tenants
for the depredations committed by Macdonald and his followers.
According to the Kilravock Papers, p.162, the spoil amounted to
600 cows and oxen, each worth 13s 4d, 80 horses, each worth 26s
8d; 1000 sheep, each worth 2s; 200 swine, each worth 3s; with
plenishing to the value of L300 and also 500 bolls of victual and
L300 of the mails of the Sheriff's lands.
The Earl of Cromarty says of Kenneth, "that he raised great
fears in his neighbours by his temper and power, by which he had
overturned so great ane interest as that of Macdonald, yet it
appearit that he did not proceid to such attemptts but on just
resentments and rationall grounds, for dureing his lyfe he not
only protected the country by his power, but he caryed so that
non was esteemed a better neighbour to his friends nor a juster
maister to his dependers. In that one thing of his caryadge to his
first wife he is justly reprowable; in all things else he merits
justly to be numbered amongst the best of our Scots patriots."
The same writer continues - "The fight at Blairnapark put Mackenzie
in great respect through all the North. The Earl of Huntly,
George, who was the second Earle, did contract a friendship with
him, and when he was imployed by King James 3d to assist him
against the conspirators in the South, Kenneth came with 500 men
to him in summer 1488; but erre they came the lengthe of Perth,
Mackenzie had nottice of his father Alexander's death, whereupon
Huntly caused him retire to ordor his affaires, least his old
enemies might tack advantage of such a change, and Huntly judgeing
that they were rather too numberous than weak for the conspirators,
by which occasion he (Kenneth) was absent from that vnfortunat
battle wher King James 3d wes kild, yet evir after this, Earl
George, and his son Alexander, the 3d Earl of Huntly, keipt a
great kyndness to Kenneth and his successors. From the yeir 1489
the kingdom vnder King James 4d wes at great peace, and thereby
Mackenzie toock opportunity to setle his privat affaires, which
for many yeirs befor, yea severall ages, had bein almost still
disturbed by the Earls of Ross and Lords of the Illes, and so he
lived in peace and good correspondences with his neighbours till
the yeir 1491, for in the moneth of February that yeir he died and
wes buried at Bewlie. All his predecessors wer buried at Icolmkill
(except his father), as wer most of the considerable chieffs in the
Highlands. But this Kenneth, after his marriage, keipt frequent
devotiones with the Convent of Bewlie, and at his owin desyre wes
buried ther, in the ille on the north syd of the alter, which wes
built by himselfe in his lyftyme or he died; after that he done
pennance for his irregular marieing or Lovit's daughter. He procured
recommendationes from Thomas Hay (his lady's uncle), Bishop of Ross,
to Pope Alexander the 6, from whom he procured a legittmatione of
all the cheildrein of the mariadge, daited apud St Petri, papatus
nostri primo, anno Cristiano 1491."
Bishop Hay strongly impressed upon Mackenzie the propriety of getting
his marriage with Agnes of Lovat legitimized, and to send for a
commission to the Pope for that purpose. Donald Dubh MacChreggir,
priest of Kirkhill, was despatched to Rome with that object, and,
according to several of the family manuscripts, procured the
legitimation of the marriage. "This priest was a native of Kintail,
descended from a clan there called Clan Chreggir, who, being a
hopefull boy in his younger days, was educat in Mackenzie's house,
and afterwards at Beullie be the forementioned Dugall Mackenzie,
pryor yrof. In end he was made priest of Kirkhill. His successors
to this day are called Frasers. Of this priest is descended Mr
William Fraser and Mr Donald Fraser." [Ancient MS.] Another writer
describes the messengers sent to Rome as Mr Andrew Fraser, priest of
Kintail, a learned and eloquent man, who took in his company Dugal
Mackenzie, natural son to Alexander Inrig, who was a scholar. The
Pope entertained them kindly and very readily granted them what they
desired and were both made knights to the boot of Pope Clement the
VIII., but when my knights came home, they neglected the decree of
Pope Innocent III. against the marriage and consentrinate of all the
clergy or otherwise they got a dispensation from the then Pope
Clement VIII., for both of them married - Sir Dugall was made priest
of Kintail and married nien (daughter) Dunchy Chaim in Glenmorriston.
Sir Andrew likewise married, whose son was called Donald Du Mac
Intagard, and was priest of Kirkhill and Chaunter of Ross. His tack
of the vicarage of Kilmorack to John Chisholm of Comar stands to this
day. The present Mr William Fraser, minister of Kilmorack, is the
fifth minister in lineal and uninterrupted succession."
[Ardintoul MS.]
Anderson, in his 'Account of the Family of Fraser,' also says that
"application was made to the Pope to sanction the second marriage,
which he did, anno 1491." Sir James D. Mackenzie of Findon (note,
p. 19) however says that he made a close search in the Vatican and
the Roman libraries but was unable to find trace of any document
of legitmation.