History Of The Mackenzies [93]
bastards. By Roderick Mackenzie's marriage with Torquil Cononach's eldest daughter, he became heir of line to the ancient family of Macleod, an honour which still remains to his descendants, the Cromarty family. Torquil Dubh secured considerable support by marriage with a daughter of Tormod, XI., and sister of William Macleod, XII. of Harris and Dunvegan, and, thus strengthened, made a descent on Coigeach and Lochbroom, desolating the whole district, aiming at permanent occupation. Kintail, following the example of his predecessors--always prudent, and careful to keep within the laws of the realm--in 1596 laid the following complaint before King James VI.:--
Please your Majesty,--Torquil Dow of the Lews, not contenting himself with the avowit misknowledging of your Hieness authority wherebe he has violat the promises and compromit made before your Majesty, now lately the 25th day of December last, has ta'n upon him being accompanied w 7 or 800 men, not only of his own by ylands neist adjacent, to prosecute with fire and sword by all kind of gud order, the hail bounds of the Strath Coigach pertaining to M'Leod his eldest brother, likewise my Strath of Lochbroom, quhilks Straths, to your Majesty's great dishonour, but any fear of God ourselves, hurt and skaith that he hath wasted w fire and sword, in such barbarous and cruel manner, that neither man, wife, bairn, horse, cattle, corns, nor bigging has been spared, but all barbarously slain, burnt, and destroyit, quhilk barbarity and cruelty, seeing he was not able to perform it but by the assistance and furderance of his neighbouring Ylesmen, therefore beseeches your Majesty by advice of Council to find some sure remeid wherebe sick cruel tyrannie may be resisted in the beginning. Otherway nothing to be expectit for but dailly increasing of his malicious forces to our utter ruin, quha possesses your Majesty's obedience, the consideration quharof and inconveniences quhilk may thereon ensue. I remit to your Highness guid consideration of whom taking my leif with maist humble commendations of service, I commit your Majesty to the holy protection of God eternal. At the Canonry of Ross, the 3d day, Jany. 1596-97. Your Majesty's most humble and obt. subject.
KENNETH MACKENZIE of Kintail.
The complaint came before the Privy Council, at Holyrood, on the 11th of February, following, and Torquil Dubh, failing to appear, was denounced a rebel. Kenneth thereupon obtained a commission of fire and sword against him, as also the forfeiture of the Lewis, upon which Torquil Cononach made over his rights to Mackenzie, on the plea that he was the next male heir, but reserving the lands of Coigeach to his own son-in-law.
The Mackenzies did all they could to obtain the estste for Torquil Cononach, the legitimate heir, but mainly through his own want of activity and indolent disposition, they failed with their united efforts to secure undisturbed possession for him. They succeeded, however, in destroying the family of Macleod of the Lewis, and most of the Siol-Torquil, and ultimately became complete masters of the island. The Brieve by stratagem captured Torquil Dubh, with some of his friends, and delivering them up to Torquil Cononach, they were, by his orders, beheaded in July, 1597. "It fell out that the Breve (that is to say, the judge) in the Lewis, who was chief of the Clan Illevorie (Morrison),, being sailing from the Isle of Lewis to Ronay in a great galley, met with a Dutch ship loaded with wine, which he took; and advising with his friends, who were all with him there, what he would do with the ship lest Torqull Du should take her from him, they resolved to return to Stornoway and call for Torqull Du to receive the wine, and if he came to the ship, to sail away with him where Torqull Cononach was, and then they might be sure of the ship and the wine to be their own, and besides, he would grant them tacks in the best parts in the Lewis; which accordingly they did, and called for Torqull to come and receive the wine. Torqull
Please your Majesty,--Torquil Dow of the Lews, not contenting himself with the avowit misknowledging of your Hieness authority wherebe he has violat the promises and compromit made before your Majesty, now lately the 25th day of December last, has ta'n upon him being accompanied w 7 or 800 men, not only of his own by ylands neist adjacent, to prosecute with fire and sword by all kind of gud order, the hail bounds of the Strath Coigach pertaining to M'Leod his eldest brother, likewise my Strath of Lochbroom, quhilks Straths, to your Majesty's great dishonour, but any fear of God ourselves, hurt and skaith that he hath wasted w fire and sword, in such barbarous and cruel manner, that neither man, wife, bairn, horse, cattle, corns, nor bigging has been spared, but all barbarously slain, burnt, and destroyit, quhilk barbarity and cruelty, seeing he was not able to perform it but by the assistance and furderance of his neighbouring Ylesmen, therefore beseeches your Majesty by advice of Council to find some sure remeid wherebe sick cruel tyrannie may be resisted in the beginning. Otherway nothing to be expectit for but dailly increasing of his malicious forces to our utter ruin, quha possesses your Majesty's obedience, the consideration quharof and inconveniences quhilk may thereon ensue. I remit to your Highness guid consideration of whom taking my leif with maist humble commendations of service, I commit your Majesty to the holy protection of God eternal. At the Canonry of Ross, the 3d day, Jany. 1596-97. Your Majesty's most humble and obt. subject.
KENNETH MACKENZIE of Kintail.
The complaint came before the Privy Council, at Holyrood, on the 11th of February, following, and Torquil Dubh, failing to appear, was denounced a rebel. Kenneth thereupon obtained a commission of fire and sword against him, as also the forfeiture of the Lewis, upon which Torquil Cononach made over his rights to Mackenzie, on the plea that he was the next male heir, but reserving the lands of Coigeach to his own son-in-law.
The Mackenzies did all they could to obtain the estste for Torquil Cononach, the legitimate heir, but mainly through his own want of activity and indolent disposition, they failed with their united efforts to secure undisturbed possession for him. They succeeded, however, in destroying the family of Macleod of the Lewis, and most of the Siol-Torquil, and ultimately became complete masters of the island. The Brieve by stratagem captured Torquil Dubh, with some of his friends, and delivering them up to Torquil Cononach, they were, by his orders, beheaded in July, 1597. "It fell out that the Breve (that is to say, the judge) in the Lewis, who was chief of the Clan Illevorie (Morrison),, being sailing from the Isle of Lewis to Ronay in a great galley, met with a Dutch ship loaded with wine, which he took; and advising with his friends, who were all with him there, what he would do with the ship lest Torqull Du should take her from him, they resolved to return to Stornoway and call for Torqull Du to receive the wine, and if he came to the ship, to sail away with him where Torqull Cononach was, and then they might be sure of the ship and the wine to be their own, and besides, he would grant them tacks in the best parts in the Lewis; which accordingly they did, and called for Torqull to come and receive the wine. Torqull