things laid to his charge, to the amount of ten thousand pounds,
that he shall remain within four miles of Edinburgh, and eastward
as far as the town of Dunbar, and that he shall appear before the
Council on a notice of forty-eight hours. On the 6th of February
following other cautioners bind themselves to enter him in Edinburgh
on the 20th of May, 1574, remaining there until relieved, under
a penalty of ten thousand pounds. He is entered to keep ward in
Edinburgh on the 1st March, 1575, and is bound to appear before
the Council when required under a similar penalty. On the 10th
of April following he signs a bond that Alexander Ross shall appear
before the Lords when required to do so. On the 25th of May, 1575,
at Chanonry, Robert Munro of Fowlis and Walter Urquhart, Sheriff
of Cromarty, bind themselves their heirs, and successors, under
a penalty of five thousand pounds, that they shall on a month's
notice enter and present Roderick Mor Mackenzie of Redcastle
before the King and the Privy Council and that he shall remain
while lawful entry be taken of him, and that he shall keep good
rule in his country in the meantime. On the same day Colin, his
brother, "of his own free motive will" binds himself and his heirs
to relieve and keep these gentlemen scaithless of the amount of
this obligation. He is one of several Highland chiefs charged by
the Regent and the Privy Council on the 19th of February, 1577-78,
to defend Donald Mac Angus of Glengarry from an expected invasion
of his territories by sea and land. [Register of the Privy Council.]
The disturbed state of the country was such, in 1573, that the
Earl of Sutherland petitioned to be served heir to his estates, at
Aberdeen, as he could not get a jury together to sit at Inverness,
"in consequence of the barons, such as Colin Mackenzie of Kintail,
Hugh Lord Lovat, Lachlan Mackintosh of Dunachton, and Robert Munro
of Fowlis, being at deadly feud among themselves." [Antiquarian
Notes, p. 79]
In 1580 a desperate quarrel broke out between the Mackenzies and
Macdonalds of Glengarry. The Chief of Glengarry inherited part of
Lochalsh, Lochcarron, and Lochbroom, from his grandmother, Margaret,
one of the sisters and co-heiresses of Sir Donald Macdonald of
Lochalsh, and grand-daughter of Celestine of the Isles. Kenneth,
during his father's life, had acquired the other part by purchase
from Dingwall of Kildun, son of the other co-heiress of Sir
Donald, on the 24th November, 1554, and Queen Mary confirmed the
grant by Royal charter. Many causes leading to disputes and feuds
can easily be imagined with such men in close proximity. Glengarry
and his followers "sorned" on Mackenzie's tenants, not only in
the immediate vicinity of his own property of Lochcarron, but also
during their raids from Glengarry, on the outskirts of Kintail,
and thus Mackenzie's dependants were continually harrassed by
Glengarry's cruelty and ill-usage. His own tenants in Lochalsh
and Lochcarron fared little better, particularly the Mathesons in
the former, and the Clann Ian Uidhir in the latter, who were the
original possessors of Glengarry's lands in that district. These
tribes, finding themselves in such abject slavery, though they
regularly paid their rents and other dues, and seeing how kindly
Mackenzie used the neighbouring tenantry, envied their more
comfortable state and "abhorred Glengarry's rascality, who would
lie in their houses (yea, force their women and daughters) so long
as there was any good to be given, which made them keep better
amity and correspondence with Mackenzie and his tenants than with
their own master and his followers. This may partly teach how
superiors ought always to govern and oversee their tenantry and
followers, especially in the Highlands, who were ordinarily made
up of several clans, and will not readily underlie such slavery as
the Incountry Commons will do."
The first serious outbreak between the Glengarry Macdonalds and
the Mackenzies originated thus: One Duncan Mac Ian Uidhir Mhic
Dhonnachaidh, known as "a very honest gentleman," who, in his early
days, lived under Glengarry, and was a very good deerstalker and
an excellent shot, often resorted to the forest of Glasletter,
then the property of Mackenzie of Gairloch, where he killed many
of the deer. Some time afterwards, Duncan was, in consequence of
certain troubles in his own country, obliged to leave, and he, with
all his family and goods, took up his quarters in Glen Affrick, close
to the forest. Soon after, he went, accompanied by a friend, to
the nearest hill, and began his favourite pursuit of deerstalking.
Mackenzie's forester perceiving the stranger, and knowing him as
an old poacher, cautiously walked up, came upon him unawares, and
demanded that he should at once surrender himself and his arms.
Duncan, finding that Gairloch's forester was only accompanied by
one gillie, "thought it an irrecoverable affront that he and his
man should so yield, and refused to do so on any terms, whereupon
the forester being ill-set, and remembering former abuses in their
passages," he and his companion killed the poachers, and buried
them in the hill. Fionnla Dubh Mac Dhomh'uill Mhoir and Donald
Mac Ian Leith, the latter a native of Gairloch, were suspected of
the crime, but it was never proved against them, though they were
both several times put on their trial by the barons of Kintail
and Gairloch.
About two years after the murder was committed, Duncan's bones
were discovered by one of his friends, who had continued all the
time diligently to search for him. The Macdonalds always suspected
foul play, and this having now been placed beyond question by the
discovery of the bodies of the victims, a party of them started,
determined to revenge the death of their clansman; and, arriving
at Inchlochell, Glenstrathfarrar, then the property of Rory Mor
Mackenzie of Redcastle, they found Duncan Mac Ian Mhic Dhomh'uill
Mhoir, a brother of the suspected Finlay Dubh, without any fear
of approaching danger, busily engaged ploughing his patch of land,
and they at once attacked and killed him. The renowned Rory Mor,
hearing of the murder of his tenant, at once despatched a messenger
to Glengarry demanding redress and the punishment of the assassins,
but Glengarry refused. Rory was, however, determined to have
satisfaction, and he resolved, against the counsel of his friends,
to have retribution for this and previous injuries at once and as
best he could. Having thus decided, he at once sent for his friend,
Dugall Mackenzie of Applecross, to consult him as to the best mode
of procedure to ensure success.
Glengarry lived at the time in the Castle of Strone, Lochcarron,
and, after consultation, the two Mackenzies resolved to use every
means in their power to capture him, or some of his nearest
relatives. For this purpose Dugall suggested a plan by which he
thought he would induce the unsuspecting Glengarry to meet him on
a certain day at Kishorn. Rory Mor, to avoid any suspicion, was
to start at once for Lochbroom, under cloak of attending to his
interests there; and if Macdonald agreed to meet Dugall at Kishorn,
he would immediately send notice of the day to Rory. No sooner had
Dugall arrived at home than, to carry out this plan, he dispatched a
messenger to Glengarry informing him that he had matters of great
importance to communicate to him, and that he wished, for that
purpose, to meet him on any day which he might deem suitable.
Day and place were soon appointed, and Dugall at once sent
a messenger, as arranged, with full particulars of the proposed
meeting to Rory Mor, who instantly gathered his friends, the Clann
Allan, and marched them to Lochcarron. On his arrival, he had a
meeting with Donald Mac Ian Mhic Ian Uidhir, and Angus Mac Eachainn,
both of the Clann Ian Uidhir, and closely allied to Glengarry by
blood and marriage, and living on his lands. "Yet notwithstanding
this alliance, they, fearing his, and his rascality's further
oppression, were content to join Rory in the plot." The appointed
day having arrived, Glengarry and his lady (a daughter of the
Captain of Clan Ranald, he having previously sent away his lawfull
wife, a daughter of the laird of Grant) came by sea to Kishorn.
He and Dugall Mackenzie having conferred together for some time
discussing matters of importance to each as neighbours, Glengarry
took his leave, but while being convoyed to his boat, Dugall
suggested the impropriety of his going home by sea in such a clumsy
boat, when he had only a distance of two miles to walk, and if
he did not suspect his own inability to make the lady comfortable
for the night, he would be glad to provide for her and see her home
safely next morning. Macdonald declined the proffered hospitality
to his lady. He sent her home by the boat, accompanied by four
of his followers, and told Dugall that he would not endanger the
boat by overloading, but that he and the remainder of his gentlemen
and followers would go home on foot.
Rory Mor had meanwhile placed his men in ambush in a place still
called Glaic nan Gillean. Glengarry and his train, on their way
to Strone Castle, came upon them without the slightest suspicion,
when they were suddenly surrounded by Rory's followers, and called
upon to surrender. Seeing this, one of the Macdonalds shot an
arrow at Redcastle, which fixed in the fringe of his plaid, when
his followers, thinking their leader had been mortally wounded
furiously attacked the Macdonalds; but Rory commanded his friends,
under pain of death, to save the life of Glengarry, who, seeing
he had no chance of escape, and hearing Redcastle's orders to his
men, threw away his sword, and ran into Rory Mor's arms, begging
that his life might be spared. This was at once granted to him,
but not a single one of his men escaped from Redcastle's infuriated
followers, who started the same night, taking Glengarry along with
him, for Lochbroom.
Even this did not satisfy the cruel disposition of Donald Mac Ian
Mhic Ian Uidhir and Angus Mac Eachainn, who had an old grudge against
their chief, Glengarry, his father having some time previously
evicted their father from Attadale, Lochcarron, to which they
claimed a right. They, under silence of night, gathered all the
Clann Ian Uidhir, and proceeded to Arinaskaig and Dalmartin, where
lived at the time three uncles of Glengarry - Gorrie, Rorie, and
Ronald - whom they, with all their retainers, killed on the spot.
"This murder was undoubtedly unknown to Rory or any of the
Mackenzies, though alleged otherwise; for as soon as his nephew,
Colin of Kintail, and his friends heard of this accident, they were
much concerned, and would have him (Rory) set Glengarry at liberty
but all their persuasions would not do tell he was secured of him
by writ and oath, that he and his would never pursue this accident
either legally or unlegally, and which, as was said, he never
intended to do, till seventeen years thereafter, when, in 1597,
the children of these three uncles of Glengarry arrived at manhood,"
determined, as will be seen hereafter, to revenge their father's
death. [Ancient and Ardintoul MSS.]
Gregory, however, says (p. 219) that after his liberation, Glengarry
complained to the Privy Council, who, investigating the matter,
caused the Castle of Strone, which Macdonald yielded to Mackenzie
as one of the conditions of his release, to be placed under the
temporary custody of the Earl of Argyll and Mackenzie of Kintail
was detained at Edinburgh in open ward to answer such charges as
might be brought against him. [Records of Privy Council of date 10th
August and 2d December 1582; 11th January and 8th March 1582-3.]
In 1586 King James VI. granted a remission to "Colin M'Kainzie of
Kintaill and Rodoric M'Kainzie of Auchterfailie" (Redcastle), "his
brother, for being art and part in the cruel murder of Rodoric
M'Allester in Stroll; Gorie M'Allester, his brother, in Stromcraig;
Ronnald M'Gorie, the son of the latter; John Roy M'Allane v'
Allester, in Pitnean; John Dow M'Allane v' Allester, in Kirktoun
of Lochcarroun; Alexander M'Allanroy, servitor of the deceased
Rodoric; Sir John Monro in Lochbrume; John Monro, his son; John
Monro Hucheoun, and the rest of their accomplices, under silence
of night, upon the lands of Ardmanichtyke, Dalmartene, Kirktoun
of Lochcarroun, Blahat, and other parts within the baronies
of Lochcarroun, Lochbrume, Ros, and Kessane, in the Sheriffdom
of Innerness," and for all their other past crimes, ["Origines
Parochiales Scotia" and Retours.]
During Colin's reign Huntly obtained a commission of fire and
sword against Mackintosh of Mackintosh, and reduced him to such a
condition that he had to remove with all his family and friends for
better security to the Island of Moy. Huntly, having determined
to crush him, came to Inverness and prepared a fleet of boats
with which to besiege the island. These preparations having been
completed, and the boats ready to be drawn across the hills from
Inverness to Moy, Mackenzie, who had been advised of Huntly's
intentions, despatched a messenger - John Mackenzie of Kinnock -
to Inverness, to ask his Lordship to be as favourable as possible
to his sister, Mackintosh of Mackintosh's wife, and to treat her as
a gentlewoman ought to be treated when he came to Moy, and that
he (Colin) would consider it as an act of personal courtesy to
himself. The messenger delivered his message, to which Huntly
replied, that if it were his good fortune, as he doubted not it
would be, to apprehend her husband and her, "she would be the worst
used lady in the North; that she was an ill instrument against
his cause, and therefore he would cut her tail above her houghs."
"Well, then," answered Kinnock, "he (Kintail) bade me tell your
Lordship if that were your answer, that perhaps he or his would
be there to have a better care of her." "I do not value his being
there more than herself" Huntly replied, "and tell him so much
from me." The messenger departed, when some of Huntly's principal
officers who heard the conversation remonstrated with his Lordship
for sending the Mackenzie chief so uncivil an answer, as he might
have cause to regret it if that gentleman took it amiss. Kinnock
on his arrival at Brahan, told his master what had occurred,
and delivered Huntly's rude message. Colin, who was at the time
in delicate health, sent for his brother, Rory Mor of Redcastle,
and sent him next day across the ferry of Ardersier with a force
of four hundred warriors. These he marched straight through the
hills; and just as Huntly, on his way from Inverness, was coming
in sight, on the west of Moy, Rory and his followers were marching
along the face of the hill on the east side of the Island, when
his Lordship, perceiving such a large force, asked his officers
who they could be. One of them, present during the interview with
Mackenzie's messenger on the previous day, answered, "Yonder is the
effect of your answer to Mackenzie." "I wonder," replied Huntly,
"how he could have so many men ready almost in an instant." The
officer replied, "Their leader is so active and fortunate that his
men will flock to him from all parts on a moment's notice when he
has any ado. And before you gain Mackintosh or his lady you will
lose more than he is worth, since now, as it seems, her friends
take part in the quarrel;" whereupon the Earl retired with his
forces to Inverness, "so that it seemed fitter to Huntly to agree
their differs friendly than prosecute the laws further against
Mackintosh."
There is a complaint to the Privy Council by Christian Scrymgeour,
relict of the late Alexander, Bishop of Ross, dated 24th January,
1578-9, in which it is stated that Colin not only stopped and
debarred her late spouse from having fuel and "elding" to his
dwelling house in the Chanonry of Ross, where he made his residence
last summer, but stopped him also from victuals to his house, using
such unhuman and cruel dealings against him that he fell sick and
never recovered "till he departed this life." During the illness
of the bishop in December preceding, Colin and others "of his
special sending" enclosed the house of the Chanonry and debarred
the complainer and her husband of meat and drink and all other
relief of company or comfort of neighbours and friends, and how
soon he had intelligence of the bishop's approaching his death he
laid ambushes of armed men within the town of Chanonry and in the
neighbourhood and apprehended several of the bishop's and dean's
servants, whom he carried "immediately to the said Colin's house
of the Redcastle," and there detained them for twenty-four hours.
Further, on the 22nd of September preceding, the bishop being at
the extreme point of death, Colin with an armed following in great
numbers, came to the castle and house of the Chanonry and by force
and violence entered therein and put the said Christian Scrymgeour,
the bishop's wife, and his servants, children, and household out
of the same, intromitted with their goods and gear and constrained
them to leave the country by sea, not suffering them to get meat,
drink, or lodging, in the town, nor letting them take away with
them of their own gear as much as a plaid or blanket to protect
the children from cold in the boat, "committing thair throw such
cruel and barbarous oppression upon them as the like has not
been heard of in any realm or country subject to justice or the
authority of a Sovereign Prince." Colin did not appear to answer
this complaint, and he and his chief abettors were denounced rebels,
put to the horn and escheated.
On the same day, there is a complaint by Henry Lord Methven, in
which it is stated that although his Lordship "has by gift of His
Highness to him, his heirs and assignees, the gift of all and whole
the temporality of the Bishopric of Ross, and of the castle, house,
and place of the Chanonry of Ross, now vacant in our Sovereign
Lord's hands by the decease of the late Alexander, last Bishop
of Ross, of all years and terms to come, aye and till the lawful
provision of a lawful bishop and pastor to the said bishopric,"
and although it is "specially provided by Act of Parliament that
whatsoever person or persons takes any bishop's places, castles, or
strengths, or enters by their own authority to hold them without
his Highness' command, letters or charges, shall incur the crimes
of treason and lesemajesty," yet, "Colin Mackenzie of Kintail,
in proud and high contempt of his Majesty's said loveable law and
Act of Parliament, and of his Highness now having the administration
of the Government of the realm in his own person, lately, upon the
22nd day of September last bypast, in the very hour of the death
of the said late Alexander, Bishop of Ross, or shortly thereafter
beset and enclosed the said castle, house, and place of the Chanonry
of Ross, took the same by force and as yet detains and holds the
same as a house of war and will not render and deliver the same
to the said Lord Methven.' Mackenzie was duly charged to give up
possession of the castle and place or take the consequences. Lord
Methven appeared personally, but Colin did not, where-upon their
Lordships ordained letters to be directed to him charging him to
give them up, "with the whole munition and ordnance therein" to
Henry Lord Methven or to any other having power to receive them,
within twenty-four hours of the charge under the pain of treason.
The following complaint by Donald Mac Angus of Glengarry laid before
the Privy Council at Dalkeith on 10th of August, 1582, is that
gentleman's version of his apprehension by Roderick Mor Mackenzie
of Redcastle and Dugall Mackenzie of Kishorn, as described from
family MSS. at pp. 156-59. Glengarry's complaint proceeds -
After the great slaughters, herschips, and skaiths, committed upon
him, his kin, friends, and servants upon the last day of February
the year of God 1581 years, estimate worth six score thousand
pounds money of this realm or thereby, and on the first, second,
third, fourth, fifth and sixth days of March last bypast thereafter
by Rory Mackenzie, brother-german to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail,
Dugald Mackenzie, his brother and the remainder of their colleagues
and company, to the number of two hundred persons, armed with
two-handed swords, bows, darlochis, hagbutts, pistols, prohibited
to be worn or used, and other offensive weapons who also upon
the sixteenth day of April last bypast or thereby, came upon the
said complainant he being within his own "rowmes" and country of
Lochcarron having mind of no evil or injury to have been done to
him nor none of his, but thinking to have lived under God's peace
and our Sovereign Lord, and then not only took himself captive,
kept and detained him prisoner in coves, craigs, woods, and other
desert places at their pleasure wherethrough none of his kin
nor friends had access to him for the space of fourteen days or
thereby, but also in the meantime took and apprehended the late
Rory MacAlister, father's brother to the said complainant, and
three of their sons and other of his friends and servants to the
number of 33 persons or thereby, bound their hands with their own
shirts, and cruelly and unmercifully, under promise of safety of
their lives, caused murder and slay them with dirks, appointing
that they should not be buried as Christian men, but cast forth
and eaten by dogs and swine." Further, "at the end of the said
complainant's captivity and detention in the manner aforesaid,
being delivered by the foresaid person, his takers and detainers,
to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, both he and they, being armed in
warlike manner as said is, upon the 24th day of the said month of
April, came to the said complainant's town and lands of Strome,
where they also carried him captive with them and theirs, by
hostility and way of deed, spoiled and reft the whole goods, gear,
and plenishing therein and besieged his house and Castle of Strome,
threatening his friends and servants therein that if they rendered
not the same to them they would hang the said complainant in their
sight compelling him and his said friends therefor and for safety
of his life to yield to the said persons' tyrranous desires and
appetites, and render to them the said castle, which they not only
wrongfully detained and withheld from him, but also through occasion
thereof still insists in their cruelty and inhumanity against the
said complainant, his kin and friends. Like as lately, about the
end of July last, the said Colin Mackenzie Rory Mackenzie, and
others aforesaid, having violently taken Donald MacMoroch Roy, one
of the said complainant's chief kinsmen, and were not content to put
him to a simple death, but to bait them in his blood, and by a
strange example to satisfy their cruel and unnatural hearts, first
cut off his hands, next his feet, and last his head, and having cast
the same in a "peitpott," exposed and laid out his carcase to be a
prey for dogs and ravenous beasts: Tending by such kind of dealing
to undo as many of the said complainant's friends and servants as
they can apprehend, and to lay waste their lands, "rowmes," and
possessions to the said complainant's heavy hurt and skaith, and
dangerous example of wicked persons to attempt the like, if remedy
be not provided." In consequence of this complaint charges had
gone forth to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, (1), to have rendered the
said Castle of Strome with the munition and goods therein to the
complainer or his representatives, within twenty-four hours after
being charged, under pain of rebellion, or else to have appeared
and shown cause to the contrary; (2) to have appeared and found
sufficient surety in the Books of the Council for the safety of
the complainer and his dependants in persons and goods, or else
shown cause to the contrary, under the same pain. And now, "the
said Angus Mac Angus compeared personally and the said Colin
Mackenzie of Kintail being oftimes called and not compearing, the
Lords (1) repeat their charge for delivery of the castle within
twenty-four hours, and, failing obedience, order Mackenzie of
Kintail to be denounced rebel and put to the horn and to escheat;
(2) repeat their charge to the said Mackenzie to find sufficient
caution for the safety of the complainer and his dependants in person
and goods, with order that if he fail to do so within fifteen days
after being charged, he shall, for that default also, be denounced
rebel and put to the horn."