第 16 节
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西门在线 更新:2021-09-29 13:02 字数:9322
ing clans; and by their industry; blood; and courage; have been instrumental in raising that family。〃 The writer adds that he does not know Macrae's christian name; but that he married 〃a daughter or grand…daughter of MacBeolan; who possessed a large part of Kintail before Mackenzie's predecessors got a right of it from Alexander III。〃 This marriage; and their common ancestry from a native Celtic source; and not from 〃the same race of people in Ireland〃 seems a much more probable explanation of the early and continued friendship which existed between the two families than that suggested by the rev。 author of 〃The Genealogy of the Macraes;〃 above quoted。
But the curious circumstance to which he directs attention regarding the first five Mackenzie chiefs is quite true。 It is borne out by every genealogy of the House of Kintail which we have ever seen。 There is not a trace of any legitimate male descendant from the first of the name down to Alexander; the sixth baron; except the immediately succeeding chief; so that their vassals and followers in the field and elsewhere must; for nearly two hundred years; have been men of different septs and tribes and names; except the progeny of their own illegitimate sons; such as 〃Sliochd Mhurcbaidh Riabhaich〃 and others of similar base origin。 Murdoch married Finguala or Florence; daughter of Malcolm Macleod; III。 of Harris and Dunvegan; by his wife; Martha; daughter of Donald Stewart; Earl of Mar; nephew of King Robert the Bruce。 By this marriage the Royal blood of the Bruce was introduced for the first time into the family of Kintail; as also that of the ancient Kings of Man。
Tormod Macleod; II。 of Harris; who was grandson of Olave the Black; last Norwegian King of Man; and who; as we have seen; had married Christina; daughter of Ferquhard O'Beolan; Earl of Ross; married Finguala Mac Crotan; the daughter of an ancient and powerful Irish chief。 By this lady Malcolm Macleod; III。 of Harris and Dunvegan; had issue; among others; Finguala; who now became the wife of Murdoch Mackenzie and mother of Alexander Ionraic; who carried on the succession of the ancient line of Kintail。
Murdoch died in 1416 when he was succeeded by his only son;
VI。 ALEXANDER MACKENZIE;
Alastair Ionraic; or Alexander the Upright; so called 〃for his righteousness。〃 He was among the Western barons summoned in 1427; to meet King James I。 at Inverness; who; on his return from a long captivity in England; in 1424; determined to put down the rebellion and oppression which was then and for some time previously so rampant in the Highlands。
To judge by the poceedings of a Parliament held at Perth on the 30th September 1426; James exhibited a foresight and appreciation of the conduct of the lairds in those days; and passed laws which might with good effect; and with equal propriety; be applied to the state of affairs in our own time。 In that Parliament an Act was passed which; among other things; ordained that; north of the Grampians; the fruit of those lands should be expended in the country where those lands lie。 The Act is as follows:〃It is ordanit be the King ande the Parliament that everilk lorde hafande landis bezonde the mownthe (the Grampians) in the quhilk landis in auld tymes there was castellis; fortalyces and manerplaicis; big; reparell and reforme their castellis and maneris; and duell in thame; be thameself; or be ane of thare frendis for the gracious gournall of thar landis; be gude polising and to expende ye fruyt of thar landis in the countree where thar landis lyis。〃 'Invernessiana; p。102。'
James was determined to bring the Highlanders to submission; and Fordun relates a characteristic anecdote in which the King pointedly declared his resolution。 When the excesses in the Highlands were first reported to him by one of his nobles; on entering Scotland; he thus expressed himself :〃 Let God but grant me life; and there shall not be a spot in my dominions where the key shall riot keep the castle; and the furze bush the cow; though I myself should lead the life of a dog to accomplish it〃; and it was in this frame of mind that he visited Inverness in 1427; determined to establish good government and order in the North; then in such a state of insubordination that neither life nor property was secure。 The principal chiefs; on his order or invitation met him; from what motives it is impossible to determinewhether hoping for a reconciliation by prompt compliance with the Royal will; or from a dread; in case of refusal; to suffer the fate of the Southern barons who had already fallen victims to his severity。 The order was in any case obeyed; and all the leading chiefs repaired to meet him at the Castle of Inverness。
As they entered the ball; however; where the Parliament was at the time sitting; they were; one by one; by order of the King; arrested; ironed; and imprisoned in different apartments; and debarred from having any communications with each other; or with their followers。
Fordun says that James displayed marks of great joy as these turbulent and haughty spirits; caught in the toils which he had prepared for them; came voluntarily within reach of his regal power; and that be 〃caused to be arrested Alexander of the Isles; and his mother; Countess of Ross; daughter and heiress of Sir Walter Lesley; as well as the more notable men of the north; each of whom he wisely invited singly to the Castle; and caused to be put in strict confinement apart。 There he also arrested Angus Duff (Angus Dubh Mackay) with his four sons; the leader of 4000 men from Strathnarven (Strathnaver。) Kenneth More; with his son…in…law; leader of two thousand men; 'All writers on the Clan Mackenzie have hitherto claimed this Kenneth More as their Chief; and argued from the above that Mackenzie had a following of two thousand fighting men in 1427。 It will be seen that Alexander was Chief at this time; but Kenneth More may have been intended for MacKenneth More; or the Great Mackenzie。 He certainly could have had no such following of his own name。' John Ross; William Lesley; Angus de Moravia; and Macmaken; leaders of two thousand men; and also other lawless caterans and great captains in proportion; to the number of about fifty Alexander Makgorrie (MacGodfrey) of Garmoran; and John Macarthur (of the family of Campbell); a great chief among his own clan; and the leader of a thousand and more; were convicted; and being adjudged to death were beheaded。 Then James Cambel was hanged; being accused and convicted of the slaughter of John of the Isles (John Mor; first of the Macdonalds of Isla。) The rest were sent here and there to the different castles of the noblemen throughout the kingdom; and were afterwards condemned to different kinds of death; and some were set at liberty。〃 Among the latter was Alexander of Kintail。 The King sent him; then a mere youth; to the High School at Perth; at that time the principal literary seminary in the kingdom; while the city itself was frequently the seat of the Court。
During Kintail's absence it appears that his three bastard uncles ravaged the district of Kinlochewe; for we find them insulting and troubling 〃Mackenzie's tenants in Kenlochewe and Kintail Macaulay; who was still Constable in Ellandonnan; not thinking it proper to leave his post; proposed Finlay Dubh Mac Gillechriost as the fittest person to be sent to St。 Johnston; now Perth; and by general consent he accordingly went to inform his young master; who was then there with the rest of the King's ward children at school; of his lordship's tenants being imposed on as above; which; with Finlay's remonstrance on the subject; prevailed on Alexander; his young master; to come home; and being backed with all the assistance Finlay could command; soon brought his three bastard uncles to condign punishment。〃 'Genealogical Account of the Macraes。'
The writer of the Ardintoul MS。 says that Finlay 〃prevailed on him to go home without letting the master of the school know of it。 Trysting with him at a certaiu place and set hour they set off; and; lest any should surprise them; they declined the common road and went to Macdougall of Lorn; he being acquainted with him at St。 Johnston。 Macdougall entertained him kindly; and kept him with him for several days。 He at that time made his acquaintance with Macdougall's daughter; whom afterwards he married; and from thence came to his own Kintail; and having his authority and right backed with the power of the people; he calls his bastard uncles before him; and removes their quarters from Kenlochewe; and gave them possessions in Glenelchaig in Kintail prescribing measures and rule for them how to behave; assuring them; though he pardoned them at that time; they should forfeit favours and be severely punished if they transgressed for the future; but after this; going to the county of Ross to their old dwelling at Kenlochewe; they turned to practice their old tricks and broke loose; so that he was forced to correct their insolency and make them shorter by the heads; and thus the people were quit of their trouble。〃
The young Lord of the Isles was at the same time that Mackenzie went