intending, if he were kindly received by the great chiefs, to feu
a part of the earldom of Ross, still in the King's hands, and to
live in the district for some period of the year. Mackenzie,
although friendly disposed towards the Earl, had no desire to
have him residing in his immediate neighbourhood, and he arranged
a plan which had the effect of deciding Huntly to give up any
idea of remaining or feuing any lands in Ross. The Earl, having
obtained a commission from the Regent to hold courts in the county,
came to the castle of Dingwall, where he invited the principal
chiefs to meet him. John of Killin, though very advanced in years,
was the first to arrive, and he was very kindly received by Huntly.
Mackenzie in return made a pretence of heartily welcoming and
congratulating his lordship on his coming to Ross, and trusted that
he would be the means of protecting him and his friends from the
violence of his son, Kenneth, who, taking advantage of his frailty
and advanced years, was behaving most unjustly towards him. John,
indeed, expressed the hope that the Earl would punish Kenneth for
his illegal and unnatural rebellion against him, his aged father.
While they were thus speaking, a message came in that a large
number of armed men, three or four hundred strong, with banners
flying and pipes playing, were just in sight on the hill above
Dingwall. The Earl became alarmed, not knowing whom they might be
or what their object was, whereupon Mackenzie said that it could
be no other than Kenneth and his rebellious followers coming to
punish him for paying his lordship this visit without his consent
and he advised the Earl to leave at once, as he was not strong
enough to resist the enemy, and to take him (the old chief) along
with him in order to protect him from his son's violence, which
would now, in consequence of this visit he directed against him
more than ever. The Earl and his retinue at once withdrew to
Easter Ross. Kenneth ordered his men to pursue them. He overtook
them as they were crossing the bridge of Dingwall and killed
several of them; but having attained his object of frightening
Huntly out of Ross, he ordered his men to desist. This skirmish
is known as the "affair of Dingwall Bridge." [Ardintoul MS.]
In 1556 Y Mackay of Farr, progenitor of the Lords of Reay, refused
to appear before the Queen Regent at Inverness, to answer charges
made against him for depredations committed in Sutherlandshire;
and she issued a commission to John, fifth Earl of Sutherland,
to lay Mackay's country waste. Mackay, satisfied that he could
not successfully oppose the Earl's forces in the field, pillaged
and plundered another district of Sutherland. The Earl conveyed
intelligence of how matters stood to John of Kintail, who, in
terms of the bond of manrent entered into between them in 1545,
despatched his son Kenneth with an able body of the clan to arrest
Mackay's progress, which duty he performed most effectually. Meeting
at Brora, a severe contest ensued, which terminated in the defeat of
Mackay, with the loss of Angus MacIain Mhoir, one of his chief
commanders, and many of his clan. Kenneth was thereupon, conjointly
with his father, appointed by the Earl of Sutherland - then the
Queen's Lieutenant north of the Spey, and Chamberlain of the Earldom
of Ross [Sir Robert Gordon, p. 134.] - his deputies in the management
of this vast property, at the same time placing them in possession of
Ardmeanoch, or Redcastle, which remained ever since, until within a
recent period, in the possession of the family, becoming the property
of Kenneth's third son, Ruairidh Mor, first of the house of Redcastle,
and progenitor of the family of Kincraig and other well-known branches.
After this, Kintail seems to have lived in peace during the
remainder of his long life. He died at his home at Inverchonan,
in 1561, about eighty years of age. He was buried in the family
aisle at Beauly. That he was a man of proved valour is fully
established by the distinguished part he took in the battles of
Flodden and Pinkie. The Earl of Cromarty informs us that, "in
his time he purchased much of the Brae-lands of Ross, and secured
both what he acquired and what his predecessors had, by well
ordered and legal security, so that it is doubtful whether his
predecessors' courage or his prudence contributed most to the rising
of the family."
In illustration of the latter quality, we quote the following
story: John Mackenzie of Kintail "was a very great courtier and
counsellor of Queen Maries. Much of the lands of Brae Ross were
acquired by him, which minds me how he entertained the Queen's
Chamberlain who she sent north to learn the state and condition of
the gentry of Ross, minding to feu her interest of that Earldome.
Sir John, hearing of their coming to his house of Killin, he caused
his servants put on a great fyre of ffresh arn wood newly cutt,
which when they came in (sitting on great jests of wood which he
caused sett there a purpose) made such a reek that they were almost
blinded, and were it not the night was so ill they would rather
goe than byde it. They had not long sitten when his servants came
in with a great bull, which presently they brained on the floor,
and or they well could look about, this fellow with his dirk, and
that fellow with his, were cutting collops of him. Then comes
in another sturdie lusty fellow with a great calderon in his hand,
and ane axe in the other, and with its shaft stroak each of these
that were cutting the collops, and then made Taylzies of it and
put all in the kettle, sett it on the same tire before them all
and helped the tire with more green wood. When all was ready as
he had ordered, a long, large table was covered and the beef sett
on in great scaills of dishes instead of pleats. They had scarcely
sitten to supper when they let loose six or sevin great hounds
to supp the broth, but before they made ane end of it, they made
such a tulzie as made them all start at the table. The supper
being ended, and longing for their bedds (but much more for day),
there comes in 5 or 6 lustie women with windlings of strae (and
white plaids) which they spread on each side of the house, whereon
the gentlemen were forced to lye in their cloaths, thinking they
had come to purgatory before hand; but they had no sooner seen day
light than without stayeing dinner they made to the gett, down to
Ross where they were most noblie entertained be Ffowlis, Belnagowin,
Miltoun, and severall other gentlemen. But when they were come
south the Queen asked who were the ablest men they saw there. They
answered all they did see lived like princes, except Her Majesty's
great courtier and counsellor Mackenzie. So tells her all their
usage in his house, and that he slept with his doggs and sat with
his hounds, wherat the Queen leugh mirrily (whatever her thoughts
was of M'Kenzie) and said 'It were a pity of his poverty, ffor he
is the best and honestest among them all.' The Queen thereafter
having called all the gentry of Ross to hold their lands of the
Crown in feu, Mackenzie got (by her favour and his pretended
poverty) the easiest feu, and for his 1000 merks more than any of
the rest had for three." [Ancient MS.]
John had a natural son named Dugall, who lived in Applecross, and
married a niece of Macleod of Harris, by whom he had a son and
one daughter. The son, also named Dugall, was a schoolmaster
in Chanonry, and died without issue. The daughter was married
to Duncan Mackenzie, Reraig, and after his death to Mackintosh
of Strone. Dugall, the elder, was killed by the Mathesons at
Kishorn. John had also a natural daughter, Janet, who married
first Mackay of Reay, and secondly, Roderick Macleod, X. of Lewis,
with issue - Torquil Cononach; and afterwards "Ian Mor na Tuaighe,"
brother of John MacGillechallum of Raasay, with whom she eloped.
He married Elizabeth, daughter of John, tenth Laird of Grant, and
by her had an only son and successor,
X. KENNETH MACKENZIE,
Commonly known as Coinneach na Cuirc, or Kenneth of the Whittle,
so called from his skill in wood carving and general dexterity
with the Highland "sgian dubh." He succeeded his father in 1561.
In the following year he was among the chiefs who, at the head
of their followers, met Queen Mary at Inverness, and helped her
to obtain possession of the Castle after Alexander Gordon, the
governor, refused her admission. In the same year an Act of Privy
Council, dated the 21st of May, bears that he had delivered up
Mary Macleod, the heiress of Harris and Dunvegan, of whom he had
previously by accident obtained the custody, into the hands of
Queen Mary, with whom she afterwards remained for several years
as a maid of honour. The Act is as follows:
"The same day, in presence of the Queen's Majesty and Lords of
Secret Council, compeared Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail, who, being
commanded by letters and also by writings direct from the Queen's
Grace, to exhibit, produce, and present before her Highness Mary
Macleod, daughter and heir of the umquwhile William Macleod of
Harris, conform to the letters and charges direct thereupon: And
declared that James Macdonald had an action depending the Lords of
Session against him for deliverance of the said Mary to him, and
that therefore he could not gudlie (well) deliver her. Notwithstanding
the which the Queen's Majesty ordained the said Kenneth to deliver
the said Mary to her Highness and granted that he should incur 'no
scaith thairthrou' at the hands of the said James or any others,
notwithstanding any title or action they had against him therefor;
and the said Kenneth knowing his dutiful obedience to the Queen's
Majesty, and that the Queen had ordained him to deliver the said
Mary to her Highness in manner foresaid which he in no wise could
disobey - and therefore delivered the said Mary to the Queen's
Majesty conform to her ordinance foresaid." ["Transactions of the
Iona Club," pp. 143-4.]
Prior to this Mackenzie refused to give her up to her lawful guardian,
James Macdonald of Dunyveg and the Glens. In 1563 we find him
on the jury, with James, Earl of Moray, and others, at Inverness,
by whom John Campbell of Cawdor was served heir to the Barony of
Strathnairn. ["Invernessiana," p.229.] Kenneth was advanced in
years before he came into possession, and took, as we have seen,
an active and distinguished part in all the affairs of his clan
during the life of his long-lived father. He seems after his return
from Inverness, on the occasion of meeting Queen Mary there, to
have retired very much into private life, for, on Mary's escape
from Lochleven Castle he sent his son Colin, then quite a youth
attending his studies at Aberdeen, at the head of his vassals, to
join the Earl of Huntly, by whom Colin was sent, according to the
Laird of Applecross, "as one whose prudence he confided, to advise
the Queen's retreat to Stirling, where she might stay in security
till all her friends were convocate, but by an unhappy council
she refused this advice and fought at Langside, where Colin was
present, and when by the Regent's [The Earl of Moray, appointed
to the office after Mary's defeat.] insolence, after that victory,
all the loyal subjects were forced to take remissions for their
duty, as if it were a crime. Amongst the rest Mackenzie takes one,
the only one that ever any of his family had and this is rather
a mark of his fidelity than evidence of failure, and an honour,
not a task of his posterity." It would have been already seen
that another remission had been received at an earlier date, for
the imprisonment and murder of John Glassich, son and successor
to Hector Roy Mackenzie of Gairloch, in Ellandonnan Castle. Dr
George Mackenzie says that Kenneth apprehended John Glassich and
sent him prisoner to the Castle, where he was poisoned by the
constable's lady, [This lady was Nighean Iamhair, and was spouse
to John MacMhurchaidh Dhuibh, the Priest of Kintail, who was then
chosen constable of Ellandonnan for the following reason: A great
debate arose between the Maclennans and the Macraes about this
important and honourable post, and the laird finding them
irreconcilable, lest they should kill one another, and he being a
stranger in the country himself, Mackenzie, on the advice of the
Lord of Fairburn, elected the priest constable of the castle.
This did not suit the Maclennans, and, as soon as Mackenzie left
the country, they, one Sabbath morning, as the priest was coming
home from church, 'e sends a man in ambush in his road who shot
him with an arrow in the buttocks, so that he fell. The ambusher
thinking him killed, and perceiving others coming after the priest
that road, made his escape, and he (the priest) was carried to
his boat alive. Of this priest are all the Murchisons in thise
countries descended." - Ancient MS.] whereupon "ane certain female,
foster-sister of his, composed a Gaelic rhyme to commemorate him."
The Earl of Cromartie gives as the reason for this imprisonment
and murder that, according to rumour John Glassich intended to
prosecute his father's claim to the Kintail estates, and Kenneth
hearing of this sent for him to Brahan, John came suspecting nothing,
accompanied only by his ordinary servants. Kenneth questioned
him regarding the suspicious rumours in circulation, and not being
quite satisfied with the answers, he caused John Glassich to be
at once apprehended. One of John's servants, named John Gearr,
seeing his master thus inveigled, struck at Kenneth of Kintail a
fearful blow with a two-handed sword, but fortunately Kenneth, who
was standing close to the table, nimbly moved aside, and the blow
missed him, else he would have been cloven to pieces. The sword
made a deep cut in the table, "so that you could hide your hand
edgeways in it," and the mark remained in the table until Colin,
first Earl of Seaforth, "caused cut that piece off the table,
saying that he loved no such remembrance of the quarrels of his
relations." Kenneth was a man of good endowments "he carried so
prudently that he had the good-liking of his prince and peace from
his neighbours." He had a peculiar genius for mechanics, and was
seldom found without his corc - "sgian dubh" - or some other such
tool in his hand, with which he produced excellent specimens of
hand-carving on wood.
He married early, during his father's lifetime, Lady Elizabeth
Stewart, daughter of John, second Earl of Athol, by his wife,
Lady Mary Campbell, daughter of Archibald, second, and sister of
Colin, third Earl of Argyll, and by her had three sons and several
daughters -
I. Murdoch, who, being fostered in the house of Bayne of Tulloch,
was presented by that gentleman on his being sent home, with a
goodly stock of milch cows and the grazing of Strathvaich, but he
died before he attained majority.
II. Colin, who succeeded his father.
III. Roderick, who received the lands of Redcastle and became the
progenitor of the family of that name.
IV. Janet, who as his third wife married, first, Aeneas Macdonald,
VII. of Glengarry, with issue - a daughter Elizabeth, who married John
Roy Mackenzie, IV. of Gairloch. She married secondly, Alexander
Chisholm, XIV. of Chisholm, with issue.
V. Catherine, who, as his second wife, married Alexander Ross, IX.
of Balnagown, with issue - one son Nicholas Alexander, who died on the
21st of October, 1592.
VI. Agnes, who married Lachlan Mor Mackintosh of Mackintosh, [The
following anecdote is related of this match: Lachlan Mackintosh,
being only an infant when his father, William Mackintosh of that
ilk, was murdered in 1550, was carried for safety by some of his
humble retainers to the county of Ross. This came to the knowledge
of Colin, younger of Kintail, who took possession of the young
heir of Mackintosh, and carried him to Ellandonnan Castle. The
old chief retained him, and treated him with great care until
the years of pupilarity had expired, and then married him to his
daughter Agnes, by no means an unsuitable match for either, apart
from the time and manner in which it was consummated.] with issue.
VII. A daughter who married Walter Urquhart of Cromarty.
VIII. A daughter who married Robert Munro of Fowlis.
IX. A daughter who married Innes of Inverbreackie.
By Kenneth's marriage to Lady Elizabeth Stewart, the Royal blood
of the Plantaganets was introduced into the Family of Kintail, and
it was afterwards strengthened and the strain further continued
by the marriage of Kenneth's son, Colin Cam, to Barbara Grant of
Grant, daughter of Lady Marjory Stewart, daughter of John, third
Earl of Athol.
By the inter-marriages of his children Kenneth left his house
singularly powerful in family alliances, and as has been already
seen he in 1554 derived very substantial benefits from them himself.
He died at Killin on the 6th of June, 1568, and was burried at
Beauly. He was succeeded by his second and eldest surviving son,
XI. COLIN CAM MACKENZIE,
Or COLIN THE ONE-EYED, who very early became a special favourite
at Court, particularly with the King himself; so much, the Earl
of Cromartie says, that "there was none in the North for whom he
hade a greater esteem than for this Colin. He made him one of
his Privie Councillors, and oft tymes invited him to be nobilitate
(ennobled); but Colin always declined it, aiming rather to have
his familie remarkable for power, as it were, above their qualitie
than for titles that equalled their power." We find that "in 1570
King James VI. granted to Coline Makcainze, the son and apparent
heir of the deceased Canzeoch of Kintaill, permission to be served
heir in his minority to all the lands and rents in the Sheriffdom
of Innerness, in which his father died last vest and seised. In
1572 the same King confirmed a grant made by Colin Makcanze of
Kintaill to Barbara Graunt, his affianced spouse, in fulfilment
of a contract between him and John Grant of Freuchie, dated 25th
April 1571, of his lands of Climbo, Keppach, and Ballichon, Mekle
Innerennet, Derisduan Beg, Little Innerennet, Derisduan Moir,
Auchadrein, Kirktoun, Ardtulloch, Rovoch, Quhissil, Tullych,
Derewall and Nuik, Inchchro, Morowoch, Glenlik, Innersell and Nuik,
Ackazarge, Kinlochbeancharan, and Innerchonray, in the Earldom
of Ross, and Sheriffdom of Inverness. In 1574 the same Colin
was served heir to his father Kenneth M'Keinzie in the davach
of Letterfernane, the davach of Glenshall, and other lands in the
barony of Ellendonane of the old extent of five marks." [Origines
Parechiales Scotia, p. 393, vol, ii.]
On the 15th of April, 1569, Colin, along with Alexander Ross
of Balnagown, Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh, Walter Urquhart
of Cromarty, Robert Munro of Fowlis, Hugh Rose of Kilravock, and
several others, signed a bond of allegiance to James VI. and to
James Earl of Murray as Regent. On the 21st of June, in the same
year, before the Lord Regent and the Privy Council, Colin promised
and obliged himself to cause Torquil Macleod of Lewis to obtain
sufficient letters of slams from the master, wife, bairns, and
principal kin and friends of the umquhile John Mac Ian Mhoir, and
on the said letters of slams being obtained Robert Munro of Fowlis
promised and obliged himself to deliver to the said Torquil or
Colin the sum of two hundred merks consigned in Robert Munro's
hands by certain merchants in Edinburgh for the assithment of
slaughters committed at Lochcarron in connection with the fishings
in that Loch. On the 1st of August, 1569, Colin signs a decree
arbitral between himself and Donald Gormeson Macdonald, sixth
of Sleat, the full text of which will be found at pp. 185-88 of
Mackenzie's "History of the Macdonalds and Lords of the Isles."
In 1570 a quarrel broke out between the Mackenzies and the Munros.
Leslie, the celebrated Bishop of Ross, who had been secretary to
Queen Mary, dreading the effect of public feeling against prelacy
in the North, and against himself personally, made over to his
cousin Leslie of Balquhair, his rights and titles to the Chanonry
of Ross, together with the castle lands, in order to divest them
of the character of church property, and so save them to his family
but notwithstanding this grant, the Regent Murray gave the custody
of the castle to Andrew Munro of Milntown, a rigid presbyterian,
and in high favour with Murray, who promised Leslie some of the
lands of the barony of Fintry in Buchan as an equivalent but the
Regent died before this arrangement was carried out - before Munro
obtained titles to the castle and castle lands as he expected. Yet
he ultimately obtained permission from the Earl of Lennox, during
his regency, and afterwards from the Earl of Mar, his successor
in that office, to get possession of the castle.
The Mackenzies were by no means pleased to see the Munros occupying
the stronghold; and, desirous to obtain possession of it themselves,
they purchased Leslie's right, by virtue of which they demanded
delivery of the castle. This was at once refused by the Munros.
Kintail raised his vassals, and, joined by a detachment of the
Mackintoshes, [In the year 1573, Lachlan More, Laird of Mackintosh,
favouring Kintail, his brother-in law, required all the people of
Strathnairn to join him against the Munros. Colin, Lord of Lorn
had at the time the adminstration of that lordship as the jointure
lands of his wife, the Countesa Dowager of Murray, and he wrote to
Hugh Rose of Kilravock: "My Baillie off Strathnarne, for as much
as it is reported to me that Mackintosh has charged all my tenants
west of the water of Naim to pass forward with him to Ross to
enter into this troublous action with Mackenzie against the Laird
of Fowlis, and because I will not that any of mine enter presently
this matter whose service appertains to me, wherefore I will desire
you to make my will known to my tenants at Strathnarne within
your Bailliary, that none of them take upon hand to rise at this
present with Mackintosh to pass to Ross, or at any time hereafter
without my special command and goodwill obtained under such pains,"
etc. (Dated) Darnoway, 28th of June, 1573. - "Kilravock Writs,"
p.263.] garrisoned the steeple of the Cathedral Church, and laid
siege to Irvine's Tower and the Palace. The Munros held out for
three years, but one day the garrison becoming short of provisions,
they attempted a sortie to the Ness of Fortrose, where there was at
the time a salmon stell, the contents of which they attempted to
secure. They were commanded by John Munro, grandson of George,
fourth laird of Fowlis, who was killed at the battle of
"Bealach-nam-Brog." They, were immediately discovered, and
quickly followed by the Mackenzies, under lain Dubh Mac Ruairidh
Mhic Alastair, who fell upon the starving Munros, and, after a
desperate struggle, killed twenty-six of their number, among whom
was their commander, while the victors only sustained a loss of
two men killed and three or four wounded. The remaining defenders
of the castle immediately capitulated, and it was taken possession
of by the Mackenzies. Subsequently it was confirmed to the Baron
of Kintail by King James VI. [Sir Robert Gordon, p. 154, and MS.
Histories of the Family.] Roderick Mor Mackenzie of Redcastle seems
to have been the leading spirit in this affair. The following
document, dated at Holyrood House, the 12th of September 1573,
referring to the matter will prove interesting -
Anent our Sovereign Lord's letters raised at the instance of
Master George Munro, making mention: that whereas he is lawfully
provided to the Chancellory of Ross by his Highness's presentation,
admission to the Kirk, and the Lords' decree thereupon, and has
obtained letters in all the four forms thereupon and therewith has
caused charge the tenants and intromitters with the teind sheaves
thereof, to make him and his factors payment; and in the meantime
Rory Mackenzie, brother to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, having
continual residence in the steeple of the Chanonry of Ross, which
he caused to be built not only to oppress the country with masterful
theft, sorning, and daily oppression, but also for suppressing of the
word of God which was always preached in the said Kirk preceding
his entry thereto, which is now become a filthy stye and den
of thieves; has masterfully and violently with a great force of
oppression, come to the tenants indebted in payment of the said Mr
George's benefice aforesaid and has masterfully reft them of all
and whole the fruits thereof; and so he having no other refuge
for obtaining of the said benefice, was compelled to denounce the
said whole tenants rebels and put them to the horn, as the said
letters and execution thereof more fully purports; and further is
compelled for fear of the said Mr George's life to remain from his
vocation whereunto God has called him. And anent the charge given
to the said Rory Mackenzie to desist and cease from all intromitting,
uptaking, molesting or troubling of the said Mr George's tenants
of his benefice above-written for any fruits or duties thereof,
otherwise than is ordered by law, or else to have compeared before
my Lord Regent's grace and Lords of Secret Council at a certain
day bypast, and show a reasonable cause why the same should not be
done; under the pain of rebellion and putting him to the horn, with
certification to him, and he failing, letters would be directed
simpliciter to put him to the horn, like as is at more length
contained in the said letters, execution and endorsement thereof.
Which being called, the said Master George compeared personally,
and the said Rory Mackenzie oftimes called and not compearing, my
Lord Regent's grace, with advise of the Lords of Secret Council,
ordained letters to be directed to officers of arms, Sheriffs in
that part, to denounce the said Rory Mackenzie our Sovereign Lord's
rebel and put him to the horn and to escheat and bring in all his
moveable goods to his Highness's use for his contempt. [Records of
the Privy Council.]