Feud between the Colquhouns and Macgregors--Macgregors
outlawed--Execution of their Chief--Quarrel between the clan
Kenzie and Glengarry--Alister Mac-Uilleam-Mhoir beheaded--Lawless
proceedings in Sutherland--Deadly quarrel in Dornoch--Meeting
between the Earls of Caithness and Sutherland--Feud between the
Murrays and some of the Siol-Thomais--Dissension in Moray among
the Dunbars--Quarrel between the Earl of Caithness and the chief
of the Mackays--Commotions in Lewis among the Macleods--Invasion
of Lewis by Fife adventurers--Compelled to abandon it--Lord
Kintail obtains possession of Lewis--Expulsion of Neill
Macleod--Quarrel between the Laird of Rasay and Mackenzie of
Gairloch--Disturbances in Caithness--Tumults in Caithness on the
apprehension of Arthur Smith, a false coiner--Earl of Caithness
prosecutes Donald Mackay and others--Dissensions among the clan
Cameron.
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 Glenfreon, 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
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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