powerful man, the following interesting story is told: - He was a
man of great strength and stature, and in a quarrell which took
place between him and Dingwall of Kildun, he killed the latter, and
"that night abode with his wife." Complaint was made to King James
the Fifth, who commanded the Baron of Kintail to give Rory up to
justice. His brother, knowing he could not do so openly and by
force without trouble and considerable danger, went to Kintail
professedly to settle his affairs there, and when he was about
returning home he requested Rory to meet him at Glassletter, that
he might privately consult and discourse with him as to his
present state. Rory duly met him on the appointed day with fifty
men of his "coalds," the Macleays, besides ordinary servants and
some Kintail men. While the two brothers went to discourse, they
passed between the Kintail men and the Macleays, who sat at a good
distance from one another. When Mackenzie came near the Kintail
men, he clapped Rory on the shoulder, which was the sign between
them, and Rory was immediately seized. Gillecriost MacFhionnla
instantly ran to the Macleays, who had taken to their arms to
relieve their Coald Rory Mor, and desired them in a friendly manner
to compose themselves, and not be rash, since Rory was seized not
by his enemies, but was in the hands of his own brother, and of
those who had as great a kindness for him, and interest in him 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 place: - Kenneth 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. obiit vii. die Februarii, a. di.
m.cccc.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, 2s; 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 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 expense of 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, therefore - his father having died in 1491 - have
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 sons - one, 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 Mackenzies - in 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. In the reign of Mary Queen of Scots, John, Earl
of Sutherland, acquired from Mary, the Queen Dowager, a certain
right in the Earldom of Ross, which might ultimately have joined
in one family both Sutherland and Ross. Lord Darnley, on the
prospect of his marriage with Queen Mary, was created Earl of
Ross, a title by which he is little known, as it was only given
to him a short time before he obtained the higher titles of Duke
of Albany and King of Scotland. - Fraser's Earls of Cromartie.] and
Archbishop of St Andrews, in favour of his grandson, John, as heir
to the estates. The document is "daited the last of Apryle 1500
and seasin thereon 16 Mey 1500 be Sir John Barchaw and William
Monro of Foulls, as Baillie to the Duk." [MS. History by the Earl
of Cromartie.] This precept included the Barony of Kintail, as
well as the lands held by Mackenzie off the earldom of Ross, for,
the charter chest being in the possession of Hector Roy, Lovat
was not aware that Kintail was held direct from the Crown; but
notwithstanding all these precautions and legal instruments, Hector
kept possession and treated the entire estates as his own.
Sir William Munro of Fowlis, the Duke's Lieutenant for the
forfeited earldom of Ross, was dissatisfied with Hector's conduct,
and resolved to punish him. Munro was in the habit of doing things
with a high hand, and on this occasion, during Hector's absence
from home, he, accompanied by his Sheriff, Alexander Vass, went to
Kinellan, where Hector usually resided, held a court at the place,
and as a mulct or fine took away the couples of one of Hector's
barns as a token of his power. When Hector discovered what had
taken place in his absence, he became furious, and sent a messenger
to Fowlis telling him that if he were a man of courage and a "good
fellow" he would come and take away the couples of the other barn
when their owner was at home.
Munro, greatly offended at this message, determined to accept the
bold challenge conveyed in it, and promptly collected his vassals,
including the Dingwalls and the MacCullochs, who were then his
dependants, to the number of nine hundred, and with this force
started for Kinellan, where he arrived much sooner than Hector,
who hurriedly collected all the men he could in the neighbourhood,
anticipated. Hector had no time to advise his Kintail men nor those
at a distance from Kinellan, and was consequently unable to bring
together more than one hundred and forty men. With this small
force he wisely deemed it imprudent to venture on a regular battle,
but decided upon a stratagem which if it proved successful, as he
anticipated, would give him an advantage that would more than
counterbalance the enemy's superiority of numbers. Having supplied
his small but resolute band with provisions for twenty-four
hours, Hector led them secretly, during the night, to the top of
Knock-farrel, a place so situated that Munro must needs pass near
its north or south side in his march to and from Kinellan. Early
next morning Fowlis marched past on his way to Kinellan, quite
ignorant of Hector's position, and expecting him to have remained
at home to implement the purport of his message. Sir William was
allowed to pass unmolested, and imagining that Hector had fled,
he proceeded to demolish the barn at Kinellan, ordered its couples
to be carried away. Broke all the utensils about the place, and
drove out all the cattle, as trophies of his visit. In the evening
he returned, as Hector had conjectured, carrying the plunderin
front of his party, accompanied by a strong guard, while he placed
the rest of his picked men in the rear, fearing that Hector might
pursue him, little thinking that he was already between him and his
destination.
On his way to Kinellan, Munro bad marched through Strathpeffer round
the north side of Knock-farrel, but for some cause he returned by the
south side where the highway touched the shoulder of the hill on which
Hector's men were posted. He had no fear of attack from that quarter,
and his men feeling themselves quite safe, marched loosely and out of
order. Hector seeing his opportunity, allowed them to pass until the
rear was within musket shot of him. He then ordered his men to charge,
which they did with such furious impetuosity, that most of the enemy
were cut to pieces before they were properly aware from whence they
were attacked, or could make any effectual attempt to resist the
dashing onset of Hector's followers. The groans of the dying in the
gloaming, the uncertainty as well as the unexpectedness of the attack,
frightened them so much that they fled in confusion, in spite of every
attempt on the part of Fowlis, who was in front in charge of the spoil
and its guard, to stop them. Those from the rear flying in disorder
soon confused the men in front, and the result was a complete rout.
Hector's men followed, killing every one they met for it was ordered
that no quarter should be given, the number being so large that they
might again turn round, attack and defeat the victors. In this retreat
almost all the men of the clan Dingwall and MacCullochs capable of
bearing arms were killed, and so many of the Munroes were slain that
for a long time after "there could not be ane secure friendship made
up twixt them and the Mackenzies, till by frequent allyance and
mutuall beneffets at last thes animosities are setled and in ordor
to a reconciliation, Hector, sone to this William of Foulls, wes
maried to John Mackenzie's sister Catherine."
At this conflict, besides that it was notable for its neat contrivance,
the inequality of the forces engaged, and the number of the slain,
there are two minor incidents worth noting. One is that the pursuit
was so hot that the Munroes not only fled in a crowd, but there
were so many of them killed at a place on the edge of the hill
where a descent fell from each shoulder of it to a well; and most
of Hector's men being armed with battle-axes and two-edged swords,
they had cut off so many heads in that small space, that, tumbling
down the slope to the well, nineteen heads were counted in it and
to this day the well is called "Tobar nan Ceann" or the Fountain
of the Heads. The other incident is that Suarachan, better known
as "Donnchadh Mor na Tuaighe," or Big Duncan of the Axe, previously
referred to as one of the heroes of the battle of Park, pursued
one of the enemy into the Church of Dingwall, to which he had fled
for shelter. As he was entering in at the door, Suarachan caught
him by the arm, when the man exclaimed, "My sanctuary saves me!"
"Aye," returned Suarachan, "but what a man puts in the sanctuary
against his will he can take it out again; and so, pushing him back
from the door, he killed him with one stroke of his broadsword.
[MS. History by the Earl or Cromartie.]
Sir William Munro returned that night to Fowlis, where happened
to be, passing the evening, a harper of the name of MacRa, who,
observing Sir William pensive and dispirited, advised him to be
more cheerful and submit patiently to the fortunes of war, since
his defeat was not his own fault, nor from want of personal courage
and bravery, but arose from the timorousness of his followers, who
were unacquainted with such severe service. This led Sir William
to take more particular notice of the harper than he had hitherto
done, and he asked him his name. On hearing it, Munro replied,
"You surely must have been fortunate, as your name imports, and
I am sure that you have been more so than I have been this day;
but it's fit to take your advice, MacRath." This was a play on the
minstrel's name - MacRath literally meaning "Son of Fortune" - and
the harper being, like most of his kind, smart and sagacious, made
the following impromptu answer -
Eachainn le sheachd fichead fear,
Agus thusa le d'ochd clad,
Se Mac Rath a mharbh na daoine
Air bathaois Cnoc faireal,
Which may be rendered in English as follows:
Although MacRath doth "fortunate" import,
It's he deserves that name whose brave effort
Eight hundred men did put to flight
With his seven score at Knockfarrel. [Ardintoul MS.]