第 25 节
作者:西门在线      更新:2021-09-29 13:02      字数:9322
  orders he would not abstain from marriage; for which cause the Bishop  decided to have him deposed。  On the appointed day for his trial he had  his brother Rory at Chanonry;; when the trial was to take place; with a  number of his followers。  Kenneth presented himself before the Bishop in  his long gown; but under it he had a two…edged sword; and drawing near   his  Lordship; who sat in  his presiding  chair; whispered in his ear; 〃It is best that you should let me alone; for my brother Rory is in the churchyard  with many ill men; and if you take off my orders he will take off your  head; and I myself will not be your best friend。〃 He then coolly exposed  his penknife; as he called his great sword; 〃which sight; with Rory's  proximity; and being a person whose character was well enough known by  his Lordship; he was so terrified that he incontinently absolved and  vindicated the good Chaunter;〃 who ever after enjoyed his office (and his wife) unchallenged。
  Sir Kenneth of Kintail; who was knighted by James IV。 〃for being highly instrumental in reducing his fierce countrymen to the blessings of a  civilized life;〃 was twice married; first; to Lady Margaret; daughter of  John; Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross; with issue
  I。  Kenneth Og; his heir and successor。
  He married secondly; Agnes or Anne Fraser; daughter of Hugh;  third Lord Lovat; with issue
  II。  John; who succeeded his brother Kenneth Og。
  III。  Alexander; first of the family of Davochmaluag。
  IV。  Roderick; progenitor of the families of Achilty; Fairburn; Ardross; etc。
  V。  Kenneth; better know as 〃the Priest of Avoch;〃 from whom the families of Suddie; Ord; Corryvulzie; Highfield; Inverlaul; Little Findon;  and others of lesser note。
  VI。  Agnes; who married Roderick Macleod; VII。 of Lewis; with issue。
  VII。  Catherine; who married Hector Munro of Fowlis; with issue。
  There has been a considerable difference of opinion among the family genealogists as to the date of Sir Kenneth's death; but it is now  placed beyond doubt that he died in 1491; having only ruled as actual  chief of the clan for the short space of three years。 This is clearly proved  from  his tomb in the Priory of Beauly; where there is a full length  recumbent effigy of him; in full armour; with arms folded across his chest  as if in prayer; and on the arch over it is the following inscription 〃Hic  Jacet; Kanyans; m。 kynch d'us de Kyntayl; q。 oblit vii。 die Februarii; a。  di。 mcc。lxxxxi。〃  Sir William Fraser; in his history of the Earls of Cromartie; gives; in his genealogy of the Mackenzies of Kintail; the date of his death as 〃circa 1506;〃 and ignores his successor Kenneth Og  altogether。  This is incomprehensible to readers of the work; for in the  book itself; in various places; it is indubitably established that Sir  William's genealogy is incorrect in this; as in other important particulars。〃  'Sir William Fraser appears to have adopted Douglas in his genealogies;  who; as already shown; in many instances; cannot be depended upon。'
  The following; from the published 〃Acts of the Lords of Council;〃 p。 327; under date 17th  June; 1494; places the question absolutely beyond  dispute。  〃The King's Highness and Lords of Council decree and deliver  that David Ross of Balnagown shall restore and deliver again to Annas  Fresale; the spouse of THE  LATE Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail; seven  score of cows; price of the piece (each); 20s; 30 horses; price of the piece;  2 merks; 200 sheep and goats; price of the piece; 25; and 14 cows; price of  the piece; 20s; spuilzied and taken by the said David and his complices  from the said Annas out of the lands of Kynlyn (? Killin or Kinellan); as was sufficiently proved before the Lords; and ordain that letters be written  to distrain the said David; his lands and goods therefor; and he was present  at his action by this procurators。〃  It is needless to point out that the man  who; by this undoubted authority; was THE LATE Kenneth Mackenzie of  Kintail; in 1494 could not have died about or 〃circa 1506;〃 as Sir William  Fraser asserts in his Earls of Cromartie。  Kenneth died in 1491; and was  succeeded by his only son by his first wife; Margaret of Isla;
  VIII。  KENNETH  OG  MACKENZIE;
  Or KENNETH  THE  YOUNGER; who was also known as Sir Kenneth。   He was fostered in Taagan; Kenlochewe。 'Ancient MS。'  When; in 1488; King James the IV。 succeeded to the throne; he determined to attach to his  interest the principal chiefs in the Highlands。  〃To overawe and subdue the  petty princes who affected independence; to carry into their territories;
  hitherto too exclusively governed by their own capricious or tyrannical  institutions; the same system of a severe but regular and rapid  administration of civil and criminal justice which had been established in  his Lowland dominions was the laudable object of the King; and for this  purpose he succeeded; with that energy and activity which remarkably  distinguished him; in opening up an intercourse with many of the leading  men in the northern counties。 With the Captain of the Clan Chattan;  Duncan Mackintosh with Ewen; the son of Alan; Captain of the Clan  Cameron with Campbell of Glenurghay; the Macgilleouns of Duart and  Lochbuy; Mackane of Ardnamurchan the Lairds of Mackenzie and Grant;  and the Earl of Huntly; a baron of the most extensive power in these  northern districts; he appears to have been in habits of constant and  regular communication …rewarding them by presents; in the shape either of money or of grants or land; and securing their services in reducing to obedience such of their fellow chieftains as proved contumacious; or  actually rose in rebellion。〃 'Tytler; vol。 iv。; pp。 367…368。'
  To carry out this plan he determined to take pledges for their good  behaviour from some of the most powerful clans; and; at the same time;  educate the younger lairds into a more civilized manner of governing their  people。  Amongst others he took a special interest in Kenneth Og; and  Farquhar Mackintosh; the young lairds of Mackenzie and Mackintosh;  who were cousins; their mothers being sisters; daughters of John; last Lord  of the Isles。  They were both powerful; the leaders of great clans; and  young men of great spirit and reckless habits。  They were accordingly  apprehended in 1495 '〃The King having made a progress to the North;  was advised to secure these two gentlemen as hostages for securing the  peace of the Highlands; and accordingly they were apprehended at  Inverness and sent prisoners to Edinburgh in the year 1495; where they remained two years。〃Dr George Mackenzie's MS。 History;' and sent to  Edinburgh; where they were kept in custody in the Castle; until a  favourable opportunity occurring in 1497; they escaped over the ramparts  by the aid of ropes secretly conveyed to them by some of their friends。
  This was the more easily managed; as they had liberty granted them to  roam over the whole bounds of the Castle within the outer walls; and the  young chieftains; getting tired of restraint; and ashamed to be idle while  they considered themselves fit actors for the stage of their Highland  domains; resolved to attempt an escape by dropping over the walls; when  Kenneth injured his leg; so as to incapacitate him from rapid progress; but  Mackintosh manfully resolved to risk capture himself rather than leave his fellow…fugitive behind him in such circumstances。  The result of this  accident; however; was that after three days journey they were only able to  reach the Torwood; where; suspecting no danger; they put up for the night in a private house。
  The Laird of Buchanan; who was at the time an outlaw for a  murder he had committed; happened to be in the neighbourhood; and  meeting the Highlanders; entertained them with a show of kindness; by which means he induced them to divulge their names and quality。  A proclamation had recently been issued promising remission to any outlaw  who would bring in another similarly circumstanced; and Buchanan  resolved to procure his own freedom at the expenseof his fellow…fugitives;  for he knew well that such they were; previously knowing of them as his  Majesty's pledges from their respective clans。  In the most deceitful  manner; he watched until they had retired to rest; when he surrounded the house with a band of his followers; and charged them to surrender。  This  they declined; and Mackenzie; being of a violent temper and possessed of  more courage than prudence; rushed out with a drawn sword 〃refusing delivery and endeavouring to escape;〃 whereupon he was shot with an  arrow by one of Buchanan's men。  His head was severed from his body;  and forwarded to the King in Edinburgh; while young Mackintosh; who  made no further resistance; was secured and sent a prisoner to the King。
  Buchanan's outlawry was remitted; and Mackintosh was confined in Dunbar; where he remained until after the death of James the Fourth at the  battle of  Flodden  Field。 'Gregory; p。93; and MS。 History by the Earl of Cromartie。'  Buchanan's base conduct was universally execrated; while  the fate of young Mackenzie was lamented throughout the whole  Highlands; having been accused of no other crime than the natural  forwardness of youth; and having escaped from his c