history of the mackenzies-第24部分

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ng　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　　plunder　in　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　nameMacRath　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。＇

In　1499；　George；　Earl　of　Huntly；　then　the　King's　Lieutenant；　granted　warrant　to　Duncan　　Mackintosh　of　Mackintosh；　John　Grant　of　　Freuchie；　and　other　leaders；　with　three　thousand　men；　to　pass　against　the　Clan　Mackenzie；　〃the　　King's　rebels；〃　for　the　slaughter　of　Harold　of　　Chisholm；　dwelling　in　Strathglass；　〃and　for　divers　other　heirschips；　　slaughters；　　spuilzies；　committed　on　the　King's　poor　lieges　and　tenants　in　　the　Lordship　of　Ardmeanoch；〃　＇Kilravock　Papers；　p。　170。＇　but　Hector　Roy　　and　his　followers　gave　a　good　account　of　them；　and　soon　defeated　and　　dispersed　them。　　He　seems　to　have　held　undisturbed　possession　until　the　　year　1507；　when　John　and　his　brother　Roderick　were　on　a　visit　in　the　Aird；　　at　the　house　of　their　uncle；　Lord　　Lovat；　when　a　fire　broke　out　at　the　castle。　　According　to　the　Earl　of　Cromartie；　when　the　house　took　fire；　no　one　was　found　bold　enough　to　approach　the　burning　pile　but　John；　who　　rushed　boldly　through　the　flames　and　carried　away　the　Lovat　charter　chest　〃a　weight　even　then　thought　too　much　　for　the　strongest　man；　and　that　　cheist；　yett　extant；　is　a　load　sufficient　for　two。　　His　uncle；　bothe　obleiged　　by　the　actione；　and　glad　to　sie　such　strength　and　boldnes　in　the　young　man；　　desyred　（him）　to　do　as　much　for　himself　as　he　haid　done　for　him；　and　to　　discover　his　（own）　charter　cheist　from　his　uncle；　and　that　he　should　have　all　the　concurrance　which　he　（Lovat）　could　give　to　that　effect。〃

Anderson's　History　of　the　Family　of　Fraser　ascribes　this　bold　act　to　　Roderick；　for　which　he　was　〃considered　　amply　recompensed　by　the　gift　　of　a　bonnet　and　a　pair　of　shoes。〃　　It　matters　little　which　is　the　correct　version；　but　it　is　not　unlikely　that　Lovat's　valuable　charter　chest　was　saved　　by　one　or　other　of　them；　and　it　is　by　no　means　improbable　that　his　　Lordship's　suggestion　　that　they　should　procure　their　own　charter　chest　　and　his　offer　to　aid　them　in　doing　so　was　made　and　determined　to　be　acted　upon　on　this　occasion。

John；　who　had　proved　himself　most　prudent；　even　in　his　youth