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History Of The Mackenzies [69]

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of the Airds, and was personally reconnoitring with the view of discovering the weakest part of the wall for effecting a breach. Duncan considered this a favourable opportunity, and aiming his arrow at Donald Gorm, it struck him and penetrated his foot through the master vein. Macdonald, not having perceived that the arrow was a barbed one, wrenched it out, and in so doing separated the main artery.

Notwithstanding that all available means were used, it was found impossible to stop the bleeding, and his men conveyed him out of the range of the fort to a spot--a sand bank--on which he died, called to this day, "Larach Tigh Mhic Dhomhnuill," or the site of Macdonald's house, where the haughty Lord of Sleat ended his career. [Genealogy of the Macras and the Ardintoul MS. "This Donald Gorme was son to Donald Gruamach, son to Donald Gallach, son to Hugh, natural son to Alexander, Earl of Ross, for which the elegy made on his death calls him grandchild and great grandchild to Rhi-Fingal (King Fingal)--

"A Dhonnchaldh Mhic Gillechriost Mhic Fhionnla, `S mor um beud a thuit le d'aon laimh, Ogha `s iar-ogha Mhic Righ Fhinghaill, `Thuiteam le bramag an aon mhic."

--Letterform MS.] The Islesmen burnt all they could find ashore in Kintail.

"In 1539 Donald Gorm of Sleat and his allies, after laying waste Trouterness in Sky and Kenlochew in Ross, attempted to take the Castle of Eileandonan, but Donald being killed by an arrow shot from the wall, the attempt failed." [Gregory, pp. 145.146. Border Minstrelsy. Anderson, p. 283. Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. xv., fol. 46.] In 1541 King James V. granted a remission to Donald's accomplices--namely, Archibald Ilis, alias Archibald the Clerk, Alexander McConnell Gallich, John Dow Donaldsoun, and twenty-six others whose names are recorded in Origines Parchiales, p. 394, vol. ii., for their treasonable fire-raising and burning of the "Castle of Allanedonnand" and of the boats there, for the "Herschip" of Kenlochew and Trouterness, etc.

Duncan MacGillechriost now naturally felt that he had some claim to the governorship of the castle, but being considered "a man more bold and rash than prudent and politick," Mackenzie decided to pass him over.

Duncan then put in a claim for his brother Farquhar, but it was thought best, to avoid local quarrels and bitterness between the respective claimants, to supersede them both and appoint another, John MacMhurchaidh Dhuibh, priest of Kintail, to the Constableship. Duncan was so much offended at such treatment in return for his valiant services that he left Kintail in disgust, and went to the country of Lord Lovat, who received him kindly, and gave him the lands of Crochel and others in Strathglass, where he lived for several years, until Lovat's death.

Mackenzie, however, often visited him and finally prevailed upon him to return to Kintail, and Duncan, who always retained a lingering affection for his native country, ultimately became reconciled to the chief, who gave him the quarterland of Little Inverinate and Dorisduan, where he lived the remainder of his days, and which his descendants continued to possess for generations after his death.

For this service against the Macdonalds, James V. gave Mackenzie Kinchullidrum, Achilty, and Comery in feu, with Meikle Scatwell, under the Great Seal, in 1528. The lands of Laggan Achidrom, being four merks, the three merks of Killianan, and the four merk lands of Invergarry, being in the King's hands, were disposed by him to John Mackenzie, after the King's minority and revocation, in 1540, with a precept, under the Great Seal, and sasine thereupon by Sir John Robertson in January 1541.

But before this, in 1521, he acquired the lands of Fodderty and mill thereof from Mr John Cadell, which James V. confirmed to him at Linlithgow in September, 1522. In 1541 he feued Brahan from the King to himself and his heirs male, which failing, to his eldest daughter. In 1542 he obtained the waste lands and forest of Neid and Monar from James V. for which sasine
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