history of the mackenzies-第26部分

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ctor　Roy；　which　we　have　just　　given　mainly　on　the　authority　of　the　Earl　of　Cromartie。　The　writer　of　the　　Ardintoul　MS。　of　the　Mackenzies；　＇Dr　George　Mackenzie　gives　　substantially　　the　same　account；＇　however　corroborates　his　lordship；　and　　says　that　John　　was　but　young　when　his　father　died；　and　Hector；　his　　younger　uncle　（Duncan；　Hector's　eldest　brother；　who　should　be　tutor　being　dead；　and　Allan；　Duncan's　son；　not　being　able　to　oppose　or　grapple　with　　Hector）；　meddled　with　the　estate。　It　is　reported　that　Hector　wished　Allan　　out　of　the　way；　whom　he　thought　only　to　stand　in　his　way　from　being　laird；　　since　he　was　resolved　not　to　own　my　Lord　Lovat's　daughter's　children；　　being　all　bastards　and　gotten　in　adultery。　　The　reason　why　they　entertained　such　thoughts　of　him　was　partly　this：　　Hector　going　to　Ellandonnan　（where　he　placed　Malcolm　Mac　Eancharrich　constable）　called　such　of　the　country　　people　to　him　as　he　judged　fit；　under　pretence　of　setting　and　settling　the　　country；　but　asked　not　for；　nor　yet　called　his　nephew　Allan；　who　lived　at　Invershiel；　within　a　few　miles　of　Ellandonnan；　but　went　away。　　Allan；　　suspecting　this　to　have　proceeded　from　unkindness；　sends　to　one　of　his　　familiar　friends　to　know　the　result　of　the　meeting；　or　if　there　was　any　　spoken　concerning　him。　　The　man；　perhaps；　not　being　willing　to　be　an　ill　instrument　twixt　so　near　relations；　sends　Allan　the　following　Irish　（Gaelic）　　lines：

Inversheala　na　struth　bras；　Tar　as；　‘s　fear　foul　ga　d'　fheitheamh；　Nineag；　ga　caol　a　cas；　Tha　leannan　aice　gun　thios；　A　tighinn　ga'm　fhaire　a　shios；　Tha　i；　gun　fhios；　fo　mo　chrios　Tha　‘n　sar　lann　ghuilbneach　ghlas；　Bhehion　urchair　dha　le　fios。

Allan　put　his　own　construction　on　them；　and　thought　a　friend　　warned　him　to　have　a　care　of　himself；　there　being　some　designs　　on　him　from　a　near　relation；　and　so　that　very　night；　in　the　　beginning　thereof；　he　removed　himself　and　family　and　anything　　he　valued　within　the　house　to　an　bill　above　the　town；　where　he　　might　see　and　bear　anything　that　might　befall　the　house；　and　that　　same　night　about　cock　crow　he　saw　bis　house　and　biggings　in　　flames；　and　found　them　consumed　to　ashes　on　the　morrow。　　The　　perpetrators　could　not　be　found；　　yet　it　was　generally　thought　to　　be　Hector　his　uncle's　contrivance。〃

The　writer　then　describes　the　legitimation　of　Agnes　Fraser's　children　by　the　Pope；　and　continues〃Hector；　notwithstanding　of　the　　legitimation；　refused　to　quit　the　possession　of　the　estate；〃　and　he　then　　gives　the　same　account　of　John's　feigned　expedition　to　Ireland；　and　the　　burning　of　Hector's　house　at　Wester　Fairburn；　substantially　as　already　　given　from　another　source；　but　adding〃That　very　night　they　both　entered　　upon　terms　of　agreement　without　acquainting　or　sending　for　any；　or　to　　advise　a　reconciliation　betwixt　them。　　The　sum　of　their　agreement　was；　　that　Hector；　as　a　man　able　to　rule　and　govern；　should　have　（allowing　John　an　aliment）　the　estate　for　five　or　six　years；　till　John　should　be　major；　and　that　thereafter　Hector　should　render　it　to　John　as　the　right　and　lawful　　undoubted　heir；　and　that　Hector　should　ever　afterwards　acknowledge　and　　honour　him　as　his　chief；　and　so　they　parted；　all　being　well　pleased。　　＇John　　and　Hector　did　condescend　that　Hector　should　have　the　estate　till　John　　were　one　and　twentie　years；　and　that　John　should　live　on　his　own　purchase　till　then。　　Letter　from　MS。＇　　But　Allan　and　the　most　of　the　Kintail　men　　were　dissatisfied　that　John　did　not　get　Ellandonnan；　his　principal　house；　in　　his　own　possession；　and　so　desired　John　to　come　to　them　and　possess　the　　castle　by　fair　or　foul　means　wherein　　they　promised　to　assist　him。　　John　　goes　to　Kintail；　desires　him　to　render　the　place　to　him；　which　he　refused；　　for　which　cause　John　ordered　bring　all　his　cattle　to　those　he　employed　to　besiege　the　castle　till　Malcolm　（the　governor）　would　be　starved　out　of　it。

Yet　this　did　not　prevail　with　the　governor；　till　he　got　Hector's　consent；　who；　being　acquainted；　came　to　Lochalsh　and　met　with　his　nephew；　and　　after　concerting　the　matter；　Hector　sends　word　to　Malcolm　to　render　the　　place　to　John。　　But　Malcolm　would　not　till　he　would　be　paid　of　his　goods　　that　were　destroyed。　　But　Hector　sending　to　him　the　second　time；　after　　considerable　negotiation　for　several　days；　telling　him　he　was　a　fool；　that　　he　might　remember　how　himself　was　used；　and　that　that　might　be　a　means　　to　take　his　life　also。　　Whereupon　Malcolm　renders　the　house；　but　John　was　so　much　offended　at　him　that　he　would　not　continue　him　governor；　but　gave　the　charge　to　Gillechriost　Mac　Fhionnla　Mhic　Rath；　making　him　　Constable　of　the　Isle。　　So　after　that　there　was　little　or　no　debate　twixt　John　　and　Hector　during　the　rest　of　the　six　years　he　was　Tutor。'　＇Ardintoul　and　Ancient　MSS。　of　the　Mackenzies。＇

The　MS。　Histories　of　the　family　are　borne　out　by　Gregory；　　（Highlands　and　Isles　of　Scotland；　p。　111）　who　informs　us　that　〃Hector　Roy　Mackenzie；　progenitor　of　the　House　of　Gairloch；　had；　since　the　death　of　　Kenneth　Og　Mackenzie　of　Kintail；　in　1497；　and　during　the　minority　of　　John；　the　brother　and　heir　of　Kenneth；　exercised　the　command　of　that　　clan；　nominally　as　guardian　to　the　young　chief。　Under　his　rule　the　Clan　　Mackenzie　became　involved　in　feuds　with　the　Munroes　and　other　clans；　　and　Hector　Roy　himself　became　obnoxious　to　Government　as　a　disturber　　of　the　public　peace。　　His　intentions　towards　the　young　Laird　of　Kintail　　were　considered　very　dubious；　and　the　apprehensions　of　the　latter　having　　been　roused；　Hector　was　compelled　by　law　to　yield　up　the　estate　and　the　　command　of　the　tribe　to　the　proper　heir。〃　　Gregory　gives　the　〃Acts　of　the　Lords　of　Council；　xxii。；　fo。　142；〃　as　that　upon　which；　among　other　autho…rities；　he　founds。　　We　give　the　following　extract；　except　that　the　spelling　is　　modernised：

〃7th　April　　1511。Anent　the　summons　made　at　the　instance　of　　John　Mackenzie　of　Kintail　against　Hector　Roy　Mackenzie　for　the　　wrongous　intromitting；　uptaking；　and　withholding　from　him　of　the　mails　‘fermez；'　profits；　and　duties　of　all　and　whole　the　lands　of　Kintail；　with　the　　pertinents　lying　in　the　Sheriffdom　of　Inverness；　for　the　space　of　seven　　years　together；　beginning　in　the　year　of　God　1501；　and　also　for　the　space　of　two　years；　last　bye…past；　and　for　the　masterful　withholding　from　the　said　　John　Mackenzie　of　his　house　and　Castle　of　Ellandonnan；　and　to　bring　with　　him　his　evidence　if　（he）　any　has　of　the　constabulary　and　keeping　thereof；　and　to　hear　the　same　decerned　of　none　avail；　and　diverse　other　points　like　as　at　more　length；　is　contained　in　the　said　summons；　the　said　John　　Mackenzie　being　personally　present；　and　the　said　Hector　Roy　being　　lawfully　summoned　to　this　action；　oft…times　called　and　not　compearing；　　the　said　John's　rights；　etc。　　The　Lords　of　Council　decree　and　deliver；　that　　the　said　Hector　has　forfeited　the　keeping　and　constabulary　of　the　said　　Castle　of　Ellandonnan；　together　with　the　fees　granted　therefor；　and　decern　　all　evidents；　if　he　any　has　made　to　him　thereupon；　of　none　avail；　force；　nor　　effect；　and　the　said　John　Mackenzie　to　have　free　ingress　and　entry　to　the　said　Castle；　because　he　required　the　said　Hector　for　deliverance　thereof　and　to　thole　him　to　enter　thereunto；　howbeit　the　said　Hector　refused　and　　would　not　give　him　entry　to　the　said　Castle；　but　if　his　servants　would　have　　delivered　their　happinnis　from　them　to　his　men　or　their　entries；　like　as　one　　actentit　instrument　taken　thereupon　shown　and　produced　before　the　said　　Lords　purported　and　bore；　and　therefore　ordains　our　sovereign　Lords'　　letters　（to）　be　directed　to　devode　and　rid　the　said　Castle　and　to　keep　the　　said　John　in　possession　thereof　as　effeirs　and　continues　to　remanent　points　　contained　in　the　said　summons　in　form；　as　they　are　now；　unto　the　20th　day　of　July　next　to　come；　with　continuation　of　days；　and　ordains　that　letters　be　　written　in　form　of　commission　to　the　Sheriff　of　Inverness　and　his　deputies　　to　summon　witnesses　and　take　probations　thereupon　and　to　summon　the　　party　to　heir　them　sworn　and　thereafter　send　their　depositions　closed　to　the　　Lords　again；　the　said　day；　under　the　said　Sheriffs　or　his　Deputy's　seal；　that　thereafter　justice　may　be　ministered　thereuntill。〃

Whatever　truth　there　may　be　in　the　accounts　given　by　the　family　historians；　Hector　Roy　was　undoubtedly　at　this　period　possessed　of　considerable　estates　of　his　own；　for；　we　find　a　〃protocol；〃　by　John　Vass；　〃Burges　of　Dygvayll；　and　Shireff　in　this　pairt；〃　by　which　he　makes　known　　that；　by　the　command　of　his　sovereign　lord；　letters　and　process　was　　directed　to　him　as　Sheriff　granting　him　to　give　Hector　Mackenzie　heritable　　state　and　possession　〃of　all　and　syndri　the　landis　off　Gerloch　with　thar　　pertinens；　after　the　forme　and　tenor　off　our　souerane　lordis　chartyr　maide　　to　the　forsaide　Hector；〃　lying　between　the　waters　called　Inverew　and　　Torridon。　The　letter　is　dated　〃At　Alydyll　（？Talladale）　　the　xth　of　the　　moneth　off　December　the　zher　off　Gode　ane　thousande　four　hundreth　　nynte　an　four　zheris。〃　It　is　clear　that　Hector　did　not　long　continue　under　a　cloud；　for　in　　1508　the　King　directed　a　mandate　to　the　Chamberlain　of　Ross　requesting　　him　to　enter　Hector　Roy　Mackenzie　in　the　〃males　and　proffitis　of　our　　landis　of　Braane　and　Moy；　with　ariage；　　cariage　and　vther　pertinence　　thareof　。　for　his　gude　and　thankfull　service　done　and　to　be　done　to　us　。　　and　this　on　na　wise　ye　leif　vndone；　as　ye　will　incur　our　indignatioun　and　displesour。　　This　our　letrez　。　efter　the　forme　of　our　said　vther　letres　past　　obefor；　given　vnder　our　signet　at　Edinburgh　the　fift　day　of　Marche　and　of　Regne　the　twenty　yere。（Signed）　James　R。〃　　In　1513　he　received　a　charter　under　the　great　seal　of　the　lands　of　Gairloch　formerly　granted　him；　with　　Glasletter　and　Coruguellen；　with　their　pertinents。　＇The　original　charter；　the　　〃protocol〃　from　John　Vass；　the　mandate　to　the　Chamberlain　of　Ross；　for　　copies　of　which　we　are　indebted　to　Sir　Kenneth　S。　Mackenzie；　Baronet；　　are　in　the　Gaitloch　Charter　Chest；　and　the　latter　two　will　be　found　in　　extenso　in　the　account　of　the　Gairloch　family　later　on。＇　　Hector　Roy's　　conduct　towards　John　has　been　unfavourably　criticised；　but　if　it　is　kept　in　　mind　that　no　regular　marriage　ever　took　place　between　Kenneth　a　Bhlair　and　John's　mother；　Agnes　of　Lovat　that　their　union　was　n