|
IN the early part of the
year 1602 the west of Scotland was thrown into a state of great disorder,
in consequence of the renewal of some old quarrels between Colquhoun of
Luss, the chief of that surname, and Alexander Macgregor, chief of the
clan Gregor. To put an end to these dissensions, Alexander Macgregor left
Rannoch, accompanied by about 200 of his kinsmen and friends, entered
Lennox, and took up his quarters on the confines of Luss’s territory,
where he expected, by the mediation of his friends, to bring matters to an
amicable adjustment. As the laird of Luss was suspicious of Macgregor’s
real intentions, he assembled all his vassals, with the Buchanans and
others, to the number of 300 horse and 500 foot, designing, if the result
of the meeting should not turn out according to his expectations and
wishes, to cut off Macgregor and his party. But Macgregor, anticipating
Colquhon’s intention, was upon his guard, and, by his precautions,
defeated the design upon him. A conference was held for the purpose of
terminating all differences, but the meeting broke up without any
adjustment: Macgregor then proceeded homewards. The laird of Luss, in
pursuance of his plan, immediately followed Macgregor with great haste
through Glenfruin, in the expectation of coming upon him unawares, and
defeating him; but Macgregor, who was on the alert, observed, in due time,
the approach of his pursuers, and made his preparations accordingly. He
divided his company into two parts, the largest of which he kept under his
own command, and placed the other part under the command of John
Macgregor, his brother, whom he despatched by a circuitous route, for the
purpose of attacking Luss’s party in the rear, when they should least
expect to be assailed. This stratagem succeeded, and the result was, that
after a keen contest, Luss’s party was completely overthrown, with the
loss of 200 men, besides several gentlemen and burgesses of the town of
Dumbarton. It is remarkable that of the Macgregors, John, the brother of
Alexander, and another person, were the only killed, though some of the
party were wounded.
The laird of Luss and his
friends sent early notice of their disaster to the king, and by
misrepresenting the whole affair to him, and exhibiting to his majesty
eleven score bloody shirts, belonging to those of their party who wore
slain, the king grew exceedingly incensed at the clan Gregor, who had no
person about the king to plead their cause, proclaimed them rebels, and
interdicted all the lieges from harbouring or having any communication
with them. The Earl of Argyle, with the Campbells, was afterwards sent
against the proscribed clan, and hunted them through the country. About 60
of the clan made a brave stand at Bentoik against a party of 200 chosen
men belonging to the clan Cameron, clan Nab, and clan Ronald, under the
command of Robert Campbell, son of the laird of Glenorchy, when Duncan
Aberigh, one of the chieftains of the clan Gregor, and his son Duncan, and
seven gentlemen of Campbell’s party were killed. But although they made
a brave resistance, and killed many of their pursuers, the Macgregors,
after many skirmishes and great losses, were at last overcame. Commissions
were thereafter sent through the kingdom, for fining those who had
harboured any of the clan, and for punishing all persons who had kept up
any communication with them, and the fines so levied were given by the
king to the Earl of Argyle, as a recompense for his services against the
unfortunate Macgregors.
Alexander Macgregor, the
chief, after suffering many vicissitudes of fortune, at last surrendered
himself to the Earl of Argyle, on condition that he should grant him a
safe conduct into England to King James, that he might lay before his
majesty a true state of the whole affair from the commencement, and crave
the royal mercy; and as a security for his return to Scotland, he
delivered up to Argyle thirty of his choicest men as hostages. But no
sooner had Macgregor arrived at Berwick on his way to London, than he was
basely arrested, brought back by the earl to Edinburgh, and, by his
influence, executed along with the thirty hostages. Argyle hoped, by these
means, ultimately to annihilate the whole clan; but in this cruel design
he was quite disappointed, for the clan speedily increased, and became
almost as powerful as before.
While the Highland borders
were thus disturbed by the warfare between the Macgregors and the
Colquhouns, a commotion happened in the interior of the Highlands, in
consequence of a quarrel between the clan Kenzie and the laird of
Glengarry, who, according to Sir Robert Gordon, was "unexpert and
unskilfull in the lawes of the realme." From his want of knowledge of
the law, the clan Kenzie are said by the same writer to have "easalie
intrapped him within the compas thereof," certainly by no means a
difficult matter in those lawless times; they then procured a warrant for
citing him to appear before the justiciary court at Edinburgh, which they
took good care should not be served upon him personally. Either not
knowing of these legal proceedings, or neglecting the summons, Glengarry
did not appear at Edinburgh on the day appointed, but went about revenging
the slaughter of two of his kinsmen, whom the clan Kenzie had killed after
the summons for Glengarry’s appearance had been issued. The consequence
was that Glengarry and some of his followers were outlawed. Through the
interest of the Earl of Dunfermline, lord chancellor of Scotland, Kenneth
Mackenzie, afterwards created Lord Kintail, obtained a commission against
Glengarry and his people, which occasioned great trouble and much
slaughter. Being assisted by many followers from the neighbouring country,
Mackenzie, by virtue of his commission, invaded Glengarry’s territories,
which he mercilessly wasted and destroyed with fire and sword. On his
return, Mackenzie besieged the castle of Strome, which ultimately
surrendered to him. To assist Mackenzie in this expedition, the Earl of
Sutherland, in token of the ancient friendship which had subsisted between
his family and the Mackenzies, sent 240 well equipped and able men, under
the command of John Gordon of Embo. Mackenzie again returned into
Glengarry, where he had a skirmish with a party commanded by Glengarry’s
eldest son, in which the latter and 60 of his followers were slain. The
Mackenzies also suffered some loss on this occasion. At last, after much
trouble and bloodshed on both sides, an agreement was entered into, by
which Glengarry renounced in favour of Kenneth Mackenzie, the castle of
Strome and the adjacent lands.
In the year 1605, the peace
of the northern Highlands was somewhat disturbed by one of those atrocious
occurrences so common at that time. The chief of the Mackays had a servant
named Alister-Mac-Uilleam-Mhoir. This man having some business to transact
in Caithness, went there without the least apprehension of danger, as the
Earls of Sutherland and Caithness had settled all their differences. No
sooner, however, did the latter hear of Mao-Uilleam-Mhoir’s arrival in
Caithness, than he sent Henry Sinclair, his bastard brother, with a party
of men to kill him. Mac-Uileam. Mhofr, being a bold and resolute man, was
not openly attacked by Sinclair; but on entering the house where the
former had taken up his residence; Sinclair and his party pretended that
they had come on a friendly visit to him to enjoy themselves in his
company. Not suspecting their hostile intentions, Alister invited them to
sit down and drink with him; but scarcely had they taken their seats when
they seized Mac-Uilleam-Mhoir, and carried him off prisoner to the Earl of
Caithness, who caused him to be beheaded in his own presence, the
following day. The fidelity of this unfortunate man to Mackay, his master,
during the disputes between the Earls of Sutherland and Caithness, was the
cause for which he suffered. Mackay, resolved upon getting the earl
punished, entered a legal prosecution against him at Edinburgh, but by the
mediation of the Marquis of Huntly the suit was quashed.
In July, 1605, a murder was
committed in Strathnaver, by Robert Gray of Hopsdale or Ospisdell, the
victim being Angus Mac-Kenneth-Mac-Alister, one of the
Siol-Mhurchaidh-Rhiabhaich. The circumstances leading to this will
illustrate the utterly lawless and insecure state of the Highlands at this
time. John Gray of Skibo held the lands of Ardiush under John, the fifth
of that name, Earl of Sutherland, as superior, which lands the grand
father of Angus Mac-Kenneth had in possession from John Mackay, son of
Y-Roy-Mackay, who, before the time of this Earl John, possessed some lands
in Breachat. When John Gray obtained the grant of Ardinsh from John the
fifth, he allowed Kenneth Mac-Alister, the father of Angus Mac-Kenneth, to
retain possession thereof, which he continued to do till about the year
1573. About this period a variance arose between John Gray and Hugh Murray
of Aberscors, in consequence of some law-suits which they carried on
against one another; but they were reconciled by Alexander, Earl of
Sutherland, who became bound to pay a sum of money to John Gray, for Hugh
Murray, who was in the meantime to get. possession of the lands of Ardinsh
in security. As John Gray still retained the property and kept Kenneth
Mac-Alister in the possession thereof at the old rent, the Murrays took
umbrage at him, and prevailed upon the Earl of Sutherland to grant a
conveyance of the wadset or mortgage over Ardinsh in favour of Angus
Murray, formerly bailie of Dornoch. In the meantime, Kenneth Mac-Mister
died, leaving his son, Angus Mac-Kenneth, in possession. Angus Murray
having acquired the mortgage, now endeavoured to raise the rent of
Archinsh, but Angus Mac-Kenneth refusing to pay more than his father had
paid, was dispossessed, and the lands were let to William Mac-lain-MacKenneth,
cousin of Angus Mac-Kenneth. This proceeding so exasperated Angus that he
murdered his cousin William Mac-Kenneth, his wife, and two sons, under
cloud of night, and so determined was he that no other person should
possess the lands but himself, that he killed no less than nine other
persons, who had successively endeavoured to occupy them. No others being
disposed to occupy Ardinsh at the risk of their lives, and Angus Murray
getting weaned of his possession, resigned his right to Gilbert Gray of
Skibo, on the death of John Gray, his father. Gilbert thereafter conveyed
the property to Robert Gray of Ospisdell, his second son; but Robert,
being disinclined to allow Angus Mac-Kenneth, who had again obtained
possession, to continue tenant, he dispossessed him, and let the land to
one Finlay Logan, but this new tenant was murdered by Mac-Kenneth in the
year 1604. Mac-Kenneth then fled into Strathnaver with a party composed of
persons of desperate and reckless passions like himself, with the
intention of annoying Robert Gray by their incursions. Gray having
ascertained that they were in the parish of Creigh, he immediately
attacked them and killed Murdo Mac-Kenneth, the brother of Angus, who made
a narrow escape, and again retired into Strathnaver. Angus again returned
into Sutherland in May 1605, and, in the absence of Robert Gray, burnt his
stable, with some of his cattle, at Ospisdell. Gray then obtained a
warrant against Mac-Kenneth, and having procured the assistance of a body
of men from John Earl of Sutherland, entered Strathnaver and attacked
Mac-Kenneth at the Cruffs of Hoip, and slew him.
The Earl of Caithncss,
disliking the unquiet state in which he had for some time been forced to
remain, made another attempt, in the month of July, 1607, to hunt in
Bengrime, without asking permission from the Earl of Sutherland; but he
was prevented from accomplishing his purpose by the sudden appearance in
Strathully of the latter, attended by his friend Mackay, and a,
considerable body of their countrymen. Almost the whole of the inhabitants
of Dornoch turned out on this occasion, and went to Strathully. During
their absence a quarrel ensued in the town between one John Macphaill and
three brothers of the name of Pope, in which one of the latter was killed;
the circumstances leading to and attending which quarrel were these:— In
the year 1585, William Pope, a native of Ross, settled in Sutherland, and
being a man of good education, was appointed schoolmaster in Dornoch, and
afterwards became its resident minister. He also received another clerical
appointment in Caithness, by means of which, and of his other living, he
became, in course of time, wealthy. This good success induced two younger
brothers, Charles and Thomas, to leave their native country and settle in
Sutherland. Thomas was soon made chancellor of Caithness and minister of
Rogart. Charles became a notary public and a messenger-at-arms; and
having, by his good conduct and agreeable conversation, ingratiated
himself with the Earl of Sutherland, was appointed to the office of
sheriff-clerk of Sutherland. The brothers soon acquired considerable
wealth, which they laid out in the purchase of houses in the town of
Dornoch, where they chiefly resided. Many of the inhabitants of the town
envied their acquisitions, and took every occasion to insult them as
intruders, who had a design, as they supposed, to drive the ancient
inhabitants of the place from their possessions. On the occasion in
question William and Thomas Pope, along with other ministers, had held a
meeting at Dornoch on church affairs, on dissolving which they went to
breakfast at an inn. While at breakfast, John Macphaill entered the house,
and demanded some liquor from the mistress of the inn, but she refused to
give him any, as she knew him to be a troublesome and quarrelsome person.
Macphaill, irritated at the refusal, spoke harshly to the woman, and the
ministers having made some excuse for her, Macphaill vented his abuse upon
them. Being threatened by Thomas Pope, for his insolence, he pushed an
arrow with a barbed head, which he held in his hand, into one of Pope’s
arms. The parties then separated, but the two Popes being observed walking
in the churchyard in the evening, with their swords girt about them, by
Macphaill, who looked upon their so arming themselves as a threat, he
immediately made the circumstance known to Houcheon Macphaill, his nephew,
and one William Murray, all of whom entered the churchyard and assailed
the two brothers with the most vituperative abuse. Charles Pope, learning
the danger his brothers were in, immediately hastened to the spot, where
he found the two parties engaged. Charles attacked Murray, whom he wounded
in the face, whereupon Murray instantly killed him. William and Thomas
were grievously wounded by Macphalli and his nephew, and left for dead,
but they ultimately recovered. Macphaill and his nephew fled to Holland,
where they ended their days. After this occurrence, the surviving brothers
left Sutherland and went back into their own country. It is only by
recording such comparatively unimportant incidents as this, apparently
somewhat beneath the dignity of history, that a knowledge of the real
state of the Highlands at this time can be conveyed.
By the mediation of the
Marquis of Huntly, the Earls of Caithness and Sutherland again met at
Elgin with their mutual friends, and once more adjusted their differences.
On this occasion the Earl of Sutherland was accompanied by large parties
of the Gordons, the Frasers, the Dunbars, the clan Kenzie, the Monroes,
the clan Chattan, and other friends, which so displeased the Earl of
Caithness, who was grieved to see his rival so honourably attended, that
he could never afterwards be induced to meet again with the Earl of
Sutherland or any of his family.
During the year 1608 a
quarrel occurred in Sutherland between Iver Mac-Donald-MacAlister, one of
the Siol-Thomais, and Alexander Murray in Auchindough. Iver and his eldest
son, John, meeting one day with Alexander Murray and his son, Thomas, an
altercation took place on some questions in dispute. From words they
proceeded to blows, and the result was that John, the son of Iver, and
Alexander Murray were killed. Iver then fled into Strathnaver, whither he
was followed by Thomas Murray, accompanied by a party of 24 men, to
revenge the death of his father. Iver, however, avoided them, and having
assembled some friends, he attacked Murray unawares, at the hill of
Binchlibrig, and compelled him to flee, after taking five of his men
prisoners, whom he released after a captivity of five days. As the chief
of the Mackays protected Iver, George Murray of Pulrossie took up the
quarrel, and annoyed Iver and his party; but the matter was compromised by
Mackay, who paid a sum of money to Pulrossie and Thomas Murray, as a
reparation for divers losses they had sustained at Iver’s hands during
his outlawry. This compromise was the more readily entered into by
Pulrossie, as the Earl of Sutherland was rather favourable to Iver, and
was by no means displeased at him for the injuries he did to Pulrossie,
who had no acted dutifully towards him. Besides having lost his own son in
this quarrel, who was killed by Thomas Murray, Iver was unjustly dealt
with in being made the sole object of persecution. |
