History Of The Mackenzies [113]
troubles tho' there was severall other bloody skirmishes betwixt ym--such as the taking of the Stank house in Knoidart, where there was severalls burnt and killed by that stratagem; as also young Glengarrie's burning and harrying of Croe in Kintail, where there was but few men killed, yet severall women and children were both burned and killed. I cannot forget ane pretty fellow that was killed there, who went himself and three or four women to ane outsett in the Croe, where there was a barn (as being more remote), where they sleept yt night. But in the morning the breaking of the dore was their wakening, whereupon the man, (called Patrick McConochy Chyle) started and finding them about the barn, bad them leave of and he would open it. So, getting his bow and arrow, he opens the door, killed 4 of them there, (before) they took nottice of him, which made them all hold off. In end they fires the barn and surrounds it, which he finding still, started out, and as he did he still killed one of them, till he had killed 11. The barn in end almost consumed and his arrows spent, he took him to his heels, but was killed by them, and two of the women, the third having stayed in the reek of the barn, and a rough hide about her." [Ancient MS.]
On the 18th of July, 1610, Lord Kenneth made over to Sir Roderick Mor Macleod, XIII. of Dunvegan, the five unciate lands of Waternish, which his lordship had previously purchased from Sir George Hay and others, who obtained possession of them on the forfeiture of the Macleods of Lewis, to whom Waternish formerly belonged. As part payment, Sir Roderick Mor Macleod disponed to Mackenzie two unciates of lands in Troternish, Isle of Skye, which belonged to him, along with the Bailliary of the old extent of eight merks which had been united to the Barony of Lewis, and in which William Macleod, XII. of Dunvegan, had been served heir to his father in 1585. On the 24th of the same month the Lords of the Privy Council ordain that Lord Kintail should pay Norman Macleod's expenses in prison in all time coming.
Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, to quote the Earl of Cromarty, "was truly of an heroic temper, but of a spirit too great for his estates, perhaps for his country, yet bounded by his station, so as he (his father) resolved to seek employment for him abroad; but no sooner had he gone to France, but Glengarry most outrageously, without any cause, and against all equity and law convocates multitudes of people and invades his estates, sacking, burning, and destroying all. Kenneth's friends sent John Mackenzie of Tollie to inform him of these wrongs, whereupon he made a speedy return to an affair so urgent, and so suitable to his genius, for as he never offered wrong so he never suffered any. His heat did not overwhelm his wit, for he took a legal procedure, obtained a commission of fire and sword against Glengarry and his complices, which he prosecuted so bravely as in a short time by himself and his brother he soon forced them to retreat from his lands, and following them to their own bills, he soon dissipated and destroyed them, that young Glengarry and many others of their boldest and most outrageous were killed, and the rest forced to shelter themselves amongst the other Macdonalds in the islands and remote Highlands, leaving all their estates to Kenneth's disposal.
This tribe of the Clan Ranald seem to have been too barbarous for even those lawless times, while by a strange contumacy in latter times, a representative of that ancient family pertinaciously continued to proclaim its infamy and downfall by the adherence to the wild strain of bagpipe music (their family pibroch called Cillechriost), at once indicative of its shame and submission. Kenneth's character and policies were of a higher order, and in the result he was everywhere the gainer by them."
He was supported by Murdoch Mackenzie, II. of Redcastle; and by his own brothers--Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach, Alexander of Coul, and Alexander of Kilcoy, all
On the 18th of July, 1610, Lord Kenneth made over to Sir Roderick Mor Macleod, XIII. of Dunvegan, the five unciate lands of Waternish, which his lordship had previously purchased from Sir George Hay and others, who obtained possession of them on the forfeiture of the Macleods of Lewis, to whom Waternish formerly belonged. As part payment, Sir Roderick Mor Macleod disponed to Mackenzie two unciates of lands in Troternish, Isle of Skye, which belonged to him, along with the Bailliary of the old extent of eight merks which had been united to the Barony of Lewis, and in which William Macleod, XII. of Dunvegan, had been served heir to his father in 1585. On the 24th of the same month the Lords of the Privy Council ordain that Lord Kintail should pay Norman Macleod's expenses in prison in all time coming.
Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, to quote the Earl of Cromarty, "was truly of an heroic temper, but of a spirit too great for his estates, perhaps for his country, yet bounded by his station, so as he (his father) resolved to seek employment for him abroad; but no sooner had he gone to France, but Glengarry most outrageously, without any cause, and against all equity and law convocates multitudes of people and invades his estates, sacking, burning, and destroying all. Kenneth's friends sent John Mackenzie of Tollie to inform him of these wrongs, whereupon he made a speedy return to an affair so urgent, and so suitable to his genius, for as he never offered wrong so he never suffered any. His heat did not overwhelm his wit, for he took a legal procedure, obtained a commission of fire and sword against Glengarry and his complices, which he prosecuted so bravely as in a short time by himself and his brother he soon forced them to retreat from his lands, and following them to their own bills, he soon dissipated and destroyed them, that young Glengarry and many others of their boldest and most outrageous were killed, and the rest forced to shelter themselves amongst the other Macdonalds in the islands and remote Highlands, leaving all their estates to Kenneth's disposal.
This tribe of the Clan Ranald seem to have been too barbarous for even those lawless times, while by a strange contumacy in latter times, a representative of that ancient family pertinaciously continued to proclaim its infamy and downfall by the adherence to the wild strain of bagpipe music (their family pibroch called Cillechriost), at once indicative of its shame and submission. Kenneth's character and policies were of a higher order, and in the result he was everywhere the gainer by them."
He was supported by Murdoch Mackenzie, II. of Redcastle; and by his own brothers--Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach, Alexander of Coul, and Alexander of Kilcoy, all