history of the mackenzies-第40章
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e 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 surroun
