History of the Mackenzies, with genealogies of the principal families of the nameMackenzie, Alexander
History
History of the Mackenzies, with genealogies of the principal families of the name
Mackenzie, Alexander
Mackenzie family; Scotland -- Genealogy; Seaforth, Earls of
and gave up further legal proceedings against Mackenzie. Being
afterwards repeatedly summoned, and failing to put in an appearance,
most of the charges were found proven against him; and in 1602,
[Records of Privy Council, 9th September, 1602; Sir Robert Gordon's
Earldom of Sutherland, p. 248; Letterfearn, Ardintoul, and other
MS. Histories of the Mackenzies.] he was declared outlaw and rebel;
a commission of fire and sword was granted to Mackenzie against
him and all his followers, with a decree of ransom for the loss
of those who were burnt and plundered by him, and for Kintail's
charges and expenses, making altogether a very large sum. But
while these legal matters were being arranged, Angus Macdonald,
younger of Glengarry, who was of a restless, daring disposition,
went along with some of his followers under silence of night to
Kintail, burnt the township of Cro, killed and burnt several men,
women, and children, and carried away a large spoil of cattle.
Mackenzie, hearing of this sudden raid, became much concerned
about the loss of his Kintail tenants, and decided to requite the
quarrel by at once executing his commission against the Macdonalds
of Glengarry, and immediately set out in pursuit, leaving a sufficient
number of men at home to secure the safety of his property. He
took along with him a force of seventeen hundred men, at the same
time taking three hundred cows from his farm of Strathbraan to
maintain his followers. Ross of Balnagowan sent a party of a hundred
and eighty men, under command of Alexander Ross of Invercharron, to
aid his neighbour of Kintail, while John Gordon of Embo commanded
a hundred and twenty men sent to his aid by the Earl of Sutherland,
in virtue of the long standing bond of manrent which existed
between the two families; but Sir John "retired at Monar, growing
faint-hearted before he saw the enemie". Andrew Munro of Novar also
accompanied Kintail on this, as on several previous expeditions.
The Macdonalds, hearing of Mackenzie's approach, drove all their
cattle to Monar, where they gathered in strong force to guard them.
Kintail, learning this, marched straight where they were; harried
and wasted all the country through which he had to pass; defeated
and routed the Macdonalds, and drove into Kintail the largest
booty ever heard of in the Highlands of Scotland, "both of cows,
horses, small bestial, duinuasals, and plenishing, which he most
generously distributed amongst his soldiers, and especially amongst
such strangers as were with him, so that John Gordon of Embo was at
his repentance for his return." Mackenzie had only two men killed
in this expedition, though a few of the Kintail men, whom he caused
to be carried home on litters, were wounded.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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