Mo thruaigh e mi thug gaol dut, 'S nach fhaod sinn bhi reidh.

NOTE.-I took down the above words and air from the singing of a little boy in Lochbroom. The air is one of the sweetest of our Highland melodies, and is popular in different parts of the country. The words, I am informed, are the composition of Donald Fraser, who was at one time forester at Fannich, on the Dundonell Estate. Fraser composed many songs, some of which are of more than ordinary merit. The above song is given exactly as I got it, but I am inclined to think that it is not exactly as the Bard left it.-W. M'K.

THE

CELTIC MAGAZINE.

No. XXIX.

MARCH 1878.

VOL. III.

HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE,

WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES.
BY THE EDITOR.

[CONTINUED.]

VII. COINNEACH A BHLAIR, or KENNETH OF THE BATTLE, was served heir to his father, at Dingwall, in 1488. He secured the cognomen "of the battle" from the distinguished part he took in the battle of Park already mentioned, fought during his father's lifetime, in the neighbourhood of Kinellan. His father was far advanced in years before Kenneth married, and arriving at the age of twenty, Alexander thought it prudent, with the view to establish and strengthen his peace with John of Isla, to match Kenneth, his heir and successor, with Isla's daughter Margaret, and so extinguish their ancient feuds for ever in that alliance. The Island chief willingly consented, and the marriage was not long afterwards solemnised in 1480. John, Isla's eldest son, soon after this came to Ross, and feeling himself more secure in consequence of this alliance, took possession of Balcony House and the adjacent lands, where, at the following Christmas, he provided a great feast for his old dependants, inviting to it most of the more powerful chiefs and barons north of the Spey, and among others, his brother-in-law Kenneth Mackenzie. The House of Balcony was at the time very much out of repair, so that he could not conveniently lodge all his distinguished guests within it. He therefore had to arrange some of them in the outhouses as best he could. Kenneth did not arrive until Christmas eve, accompanied by a train of followers numbering forty men, in accordance with the custom of the times. An official of the name of Maclean had the chief charge of the arrangements in the house. Some days previously he had a disagreement with Kenneth at some games, and on his arrival, Maclean, who had the disposal of the guests, told the heir of Kintail that, in consequence of his connection with the family, they had taken the liberty to provide him with lodgings in the kiln. Kenneth considered himself thus insulted, the more especially as he imagined the slight proceeded from Maclean's ill-will towards him, and Kenneth who was exceedingly powerful, instantly struck him a blow on the ear, which threw him to the ground. The servants in the house viewed this as an insult

N

directed against their Chief, Macdonald, and at once took to their arms. Kenneth though bold enough soon perceived that he had no chance to fight them successfully, or even to beat a retreat, and noticing some boats lying on the shore, which had been provided for the transport of the guests, he took as many of them as he required, sank the rest, and passed with his followers to the opposite shore, where he remained for the night. He took up his quarters in the house of a tenant "who haid no syrnam but a patronimick;" and Kenneth, boiling with passion, was sorely affronted at being from his own house on Christmas, staying with a stranger, and off his own property. He, in these circumstances, requested his guest to adopt the name of Mackenzie, promising him protection in future, that he might thus be able to say he slept under the roof of one of his own name. His host at once consented, and his posterity were ever after known as Mackenzies. Next morning (Christmas day) Kenneth went to the hill above Chanonry, and sent word to the Bishop, who was at the time enjoying his Christmas with others of his clergy, that he desired to speak to him. The Bishop, knowing his man's temper, and the turbulent state of the times, thought it prudent to meet the young chieftain, though he considered it very strange to receive such a message, on such a day, from such a quarter, and wondered what could be the object of his visitor. He soon found that young Mackenzie simply wanted a feu of the small piece of land on which was situated the house in which he lodged the previous night, and stated his reason to be, "lest Macdonald should brag that he had forced him on Christmas eve to lodge at another man's discretion, and not on his own heritage." The Bishop, willing to oblige him, and afraid to do otherwise, perceiving him in such a rage, at once sent for his clerk and there and then granted him a charter of the township of Cullicudden, whereupon Kenneth returned to the place, and remained in it all day, lording over it as his own property. The place was kept by him and his successors until Colin acquired more of the Bishop's lands in the neighbourhood, and afterwards exchanged the whole with the Sheriff of Cromarty for lands in Strathpeffer.

Next day Kenneth started for Kinellan, where the old Chief, Alexander, resided, and related what had taken place. His father was sorely grieved, for he well knew that the smallest difference between the families would revive their old grievances, and, although there was less danger since Macdonald's interest in Ross was smaller than in the past, yet he knew the Clan to be a powerful one still, even more so than his own, in their number of able-bodied warriors; but these considerations, strongly impressed upon the son by the experienced and aged father, only added fuel to the fire in Kenneth's bosom, which was already fiercely burning to revenge the insult offered him by Macdonald's servants. His natural impetuosity could ill brook any such insult, and he considered himself wronged to such an extent that he felt it his duty to retaliate, and personally revenge it. While this was the state of his mind, matters were suddenly brought to a crisis by the arrival, on the fourth day, of a messenger from Macdonald with a summons requesting Alexander and Kenneth to remove from Kinellan, with all their family, within twenty-four hours, allowing only that the young Lady Margaret, his own sister, might remain until she had more leisure to remove, and threatening war to the knife in case

of non-compliance. Kenneth's rage can easily be imagined, and without consulting his father or waiting for his counsel, he requested the messenger to tell Macdonald that his father would remain where he was in spite of him and all his power. For himself he was to receive no rules

for his staying or going, but he would be sure enough to hear of him wherever he was; and as for his (Macdonald's) sister, Lady Margaret, since he had no desire to keep further peace with the brother, he would no longer keep the sister. Such was the defiant message sent to young Macdonald, and immediately after receipt thereof, Kenneth despatched Lady Margaret in the most ignominious manner to Balnagown. The lady was blind of an eye, and to insult her brother to the highest pitch, he sent her mounted on a one-eyed horse, accompanied by a one-eyed servant, followed by a one-eyed dog. She had only a short time before borne him a son, and being still in a delicate state, this inhumanity grieved the poor lady so much that she never after wholly recovered her health. Her son, and the only issue of the marriage, was also named Kenneth, and to distinguish him from his father he was called Coinneach Og, or Kenneth the younger.

It appears that Kenneth had no great affection for the Lady Margaret, for a few days after he sent her away he went to Lord Lovat's country, accompanied by two hundred of his followers, and besieged his house. Lovat was naturally much surprised at such conduct, and demanded an explanation, when he was coolly told by Kenneth that he came to demand his daughter Anne, or Agnes, in marriage now that he had no wife, having, as he told him, disposed of the other in the manner already described. He demanded a favourable answer to his suit without further deliberation, on which condition he would be on strict terms of friendship with her family; but if his demand was refused, he would swear mortal enmity against Lovat and his house. And as evidence of his intention in this respect, he pointed out to his Lordship that he already had a party of his men outside gathering together the men, women, and goods that were nearest in the vicinity, all of whom should "be made one fyne to evidence his resolution." Lovat had no particularly friendly feelings towards Macdonald of the Isles, and was not at all indisposed to procure Mackenzie's friendship on such terms, and considering the exigencies and danger of his retainers, and knowing full well the bold and determined character of the man he had to deal with, he therefore consented to the proposed alliance, provided the young lady herself was favourable. She fortunately proved submissive. Lord Lovat delivered her up to her suitor, who immediately returned home with her, and ever after they lived together as husband and wife.*

Macdonald was naturally very much exasperated by Kenneth's defiant answer to himself, and the repeated insults heaped upon his sister, and, through her, upon all her family. He thereupon despatched his great steward, Maclean, to collect his followers in the Isles, as also to advise and request the aid of his nearest relations on the mainland, such as the Macdonalds of Moidart, and Clann Ian of Ardnamurchan. In a short time they mustered a force between them of about fifteen hundred men, History of the Family of Fraser and Earl of Cromartie's MS. History of the Mackenzies,

and arranged with Macdonald to meet him at Contin, for they assumed that Alexander Mackenzie, now so aged, would not have gone to Kintail, but would stay in Ross, judging that the Macdonalds, so recently come under obligations to their King to keep the peace, would not venture to collect their forces and invade the low country. But Kenneth, foreseeing the danger from the rebellious temper of his brother-in-law, went to Kintail on the commencement of Macdonald's preparations, and placed a strong garrison in the Castle of Ellandonnan, with sufficient provisions; and the cattle and other goods in the district he ordered to be driven and taken to the most remote hills and secret places. He took all the remaining able-bodied men along with him, and on his way back to Kinellan he was joined by his dependants in Strathconan, Strathgarve, and other glens in the Braes of Ross, fully determined to defend him and his aged father at the cost of their lives, small as their united force was in comparison with that against which they would soon have to contend.

Macdonald had meanwhile collected his supporters, and at the head of a large body of Western Highlanders, advanced through Lochaber into Badenoch, where he was joined by the Clan Chattan ; marched to Inverness, where they were joined by the young Laird of Kilravock and some of Lovat's people, reduced the Castle (which was then a Royal fortress), placed a garrison in it, and proceeding to the north-east, plundered the lands of Sir Alexander Urquhart, Sheriff of Cromarty. They next marched westward to the district of Strathconan, ravaging the lands of the Mackenzies as they proceeded, and putting the inhabitants and more immediate retainers of the family to the sword-resolutely determined to punish Mackenzie for his ill treatment of Lady Margaret, and recover possession of that part of the Earldom of Ross so long possessed by the Earls of that name, but now the property of Mackenzie by Royal charter from the King. Macdonald wasted Strathconan, and arrived at Contin on Sunday morning, where he found the people in great terror and confusion; and the able-bodied men having already joined Mackenzie, the aged, the women, and the children took refuge in the church, thinking themselves secure within its precincts from an enemy professing Christianity, but they soon, to their horror, found themselves mistaken, Macdonald having little or no scruples on the score of religion. He ordered the doors to be closed and guarded, and set fire to the building. The priest, helpless and aged men, women, and children were burnt to ashes, not a single soul escaping.

This sacriligious and cruel act has been confused with the diabolical burning of the Church of Cille-Chriost by the Macdonalds of Glengarry, at a later date, and of which hereafter. Some of those who were fortunate enough not to have been in the church immediately started for Kinellan, and informed Mackenzie of the hideous and cruel conduct of the advancing enemy. Alexander was sorely grieved in his old age at the cruel destruction of his people, but expressed his gratitude that the enemy, whom he had hitherto considered too numerous to contend with successfully, had now engaged God against them, by their impious and execrable conduct. Contin was not far from Kinellan, and Macdonald, thinking that Mackenzie would not remain there with such a comparatively small force, ordered his uncle, Gillespick, to draw up his followers to the large