FEUDS AMONG THE MACKAYS.

177

The grant of the king as to the lands over which Sir James Dunbar's security extended, was called in question by Sir James, who obtained a decree before the lords of council and session, in February fifteen hundred and twelve, setting aside the right of Y-Roy-Mackay, and ordaining the earl of Sutherland, as superior of the lands, to receive Sir James Dunbar as his vassal.*

A lamentable instance of the ferocity of these times is afforded in the case of one of the earls of Sutherland, who upon some provocation slew two of his nephews. This earl, who was named John, had a natural brother, Thomas Moir, who had two sons, Robert Sutherland and the Keith, so called on account of his being brought up by a person of that The young men had often annoyed the earl, and on one occasion they entered his castle of Dunrobin to brave him to his face, an act which so provoked the earl, that he instantly killed Robert in the house. The Keith, after receiving several wounds, made his escape, but he was overtaken and slain at the Clayside near Dunrobin, which from that circumstance was afterwards called Ailein-Cheith, or the bush of the Keith.t

name.

• Sir R. Gordon, p. 80.

Sir R. Gordon, p. 81,

CHAPTER IX.

Alliance between the Earl of Sutherland and the Earl of Caithness-Feuds among the Mackays-John Mackay ravages Sutherland-Mackay defeated at Torran-DowQuarrel between the Keiths and the Clan Gun-Skirmish at Loch Salchie-Combat between the Mackays and the Murrays-Alexander Sutherland, the bastard, claims the Earldom of Sutherland-His warlike operations, apprehension, and executionJohn Mackay invades Sutherland-His Defeat-Dissention among the Clan-Chattan -Murder of the Chief-Operations of Hector Mackintosh-Massacre of the Ogilvies -Three hundred of the Mackintoshes executed-Remarkable instance of FidelitySubmission of Hector Mackintosh-His Assassination-Donald Mackay invades Sutherland-Skirmishes at Aldy-ne-Beth and at Loch Buy-Lawless proceedings of the Clanranald-Battle of Blar-Nan-Lein, in which the Frasers are almost annihilated-Apprehension and punishment of Ewen Allenson and Donald M'Coneilglase -Illegal conduct of the Earl of Caithness and Donald Mackay-Apprehension and Execution of the chief of the Mackintoshes-Commotions in Sutherland-Expedition against the Clanranald-Queen Regent's journey to the Highlands-Mackay's depredations-His submission and imprisonment-Devastations of John More-Mackay -Severe defeat of the Strathnaver men-Criminal conduct of Mackay-Feuds in Sutherland and Caithness-Execution of the Chief of the Guns-The Earl and Countess of Sutherland poisoned-Mackay of Far wastes Sutherland-The Earl of Caithness takes the castle of Skibo, and seizes the young Earl of Sutherland-Feud between the Murrays and the Seill-faille-Oppressive proceedings of the Earl of Caithness-The Earl of Sutherland rescued-Quarrel between the Monroes and the MackenziesRenewed oppressions of the Earl of Caithness.

In the year fifteen hundred and sixteen, Adam Earl of Sutherland, in anticipation of threatened dangers in the north, entered into bonds of friendship and alliance with the earl of Caithness for mutual protection and support. The better to secure the goodwill and assistance of the earl of Caithness, Earl Adam made a grant of some lands upon the eastside of the water of Ully; but the earl of Caithness, although he kept possession of the lands, joined the foes of his ally and friend. The earl of Sutherland, however, would have found a more trust-worthy supporter in the person of Y-Roy-Mackay, who had come under a written obligation to serve him, the same year; but Mackay died, and a civil war immediately ensued in Strathnaver, between John and Donald Mackay his bastard sons, and Neill-Naverigh Mackay, brother of Y-Roy, to obtain possession of his lands. John took possession of all the lands belonging to his father in Strathnaver; but his uncle Neill laid claim to them, and applied to the earl of Caithness for assistance to recover them. The earl, after many entreaties, put a force under the command of Neill and his two sons, with which they entered Strathnaver, and obtaining an accession of strength in that country, they dispossessed John Mackay, who immediately went to the Clan Chattan, and Clan Kenzie, to crave their aid and

support, leaving his brother Donald Mackay to defend himself in Strathnaver as he best could. Donald not having a sufficient force to meet his uncle and cousins in open combat, had recourse to a stratagem which succeeded entirely to his mind. With his little band he, under cloud of night, surprised his opponents at Delreavigh in Strathnaver, and slew both his cousins and the greater part of their men, and thus he utterly destroyed the issue of Neill. John Mackay, on hearing of this, immediately joined his brother, and drove out of Strathnaver all persons who had favoured the pretensions of his uncle Neill-Naverigh. This unfortunate old man, after being abandoned by the earl of Caithness, threw himself upon the generosity of his nephews, requesting that they would merely allow him a small maintenance to keep him from poverty during the remainder of his life; but these unnatural nephews, regardless of mercy and the ties of blood, ordered Neill to be beheaded in their presence by the hands of Claff-na-Gep, his own foster brother.

In the year fifteen hundred and seventeen, advantage was taken by John Mackay, of the absence of the earl of Sutherland, who had gone to Edinburgh to transact some business connected with his estates, to invade the province of Sutherland, and to burn and spoil every thing which came in his way. He was assisted in this lawless enterprise by two races of people dwelling in Sutherland, called the Siol-Phaill, and the SiolThomais, and by Neil-Mac-Iain-Mac-Angus of Assint, and his brother John Mor-Mac-Iain, with some of their countrymen. As soon as the countess of Sutherland, who had remained at home, heard of this invasion, she prevailed upon Alexander Sutherland, her bastard brother, to oppose Mackay. Assisted chiefly by John Murray of Aberscors, and UilleamMac-Sheumais-Mhic-Chruner, chief of the Clan Gun in Sutherland, Alexander convened hastily the inhabitants of the country and went in search of the enemy. He met John Mackay and his brother Donald, at a place called Torran-Dubh or Cnocan-Dubh, near Rogart in Strathfleet. Mackay's force was prodigious, for he had assembled not only the whole strength of Strathnaver, Durines, Edderachilis and Assint, with the Siol-Phaill and Siol-Thomais; but also all the disorderly and idle men of the whole diocess of Caithness, with all such as he could entice to join nim from the west and north-west isles, to accompany him in his expedition, buoyed up with the hopes of plunder. But the people of Sutherland were nowise dismayed at the appearance of this formidable host, and made preparations for an attack. A desperate struggle commenced, and after a long contest Mackay's van-guard was driven back upon the position occupied by himself. Mackay having rallied the retreating party, selected a number of the best and ablest men he could find, and having placed the remainder of his army under the command of his brother, Donald, to act as a reserve in case of necessity, he made a furious attack upon the Sutherland men, who received the enemy with

Sir Robert Gordon, p. 90.

great coolness and intrepidity. The chiefs on both sides encouraged their men to fight for the honour of their clans, and in consequence the fight was severe and bloody; but in the end the Sutherland men, after great slaughter, and after prodigies of valour had been displayed by both parties, obtained the victory. Mackay's party was almost entirely cut off, and Mackay himself escaped with difficulty. The victors next turned their attention to the reserve under the command of Donald Mackay; but Donald dreading the fate of his brother, filed along with his party, who immediately dispersed themselves. They were, however closely pursued by John Murray and Uilleam Mac-Sheumais, till the darkness of the night prevented the pursuit. In this battle, two hundred of the Strathnaver men, thirty-two of the Siol-Phaill, and fifteen of the Siol-Thomais, besides many of the Assint men, and their commander, Niall-Mac-Iain-Mac-Aonghais, a valiant chieftain, were slain. John Mor-Mac-Iain, the brother of this chief, escaped with his life after receiving many wounds. Of the Sutherland men, thirty-eight only were slain. Sir Robert Gordon says that this "was the greatest conflict that hitherto hes been foughtin between the inhabitants of these cuntreyes, or within the diocy of Catteynes, to our knowlege."*

Shortly after the battle of Torran-Dubh, Uilleam Mac-Sheumais, called Cattigh, chief of the Clan Gun, killed George Keith of Aikregell with his son and twelve of their followers, at Drummoy, in Sutherland, as they were travelling from Inverugie to Caithness. This act was committed by Mac-Sheumais to revenge the slaughter of his grandfather (the Cruner,) who had been slain by the Keiths, under the following circumstances. A long feud had existed between the Keiths and the Clan Gun, to reconcile which, a meeting was appointed at the chapel of St Tayr in Caithness, near Gernigs, of twelve horsemen on each side. The Cruner, then chief of the Clan Gun, with some of his sons and his principal kinsmen, to the number of twelve in whole, came to the chapel at the appointed time. As soon as they arrived, they entered the chapel and prostrated themselves in prayer before the altar. While employed in this devotional act, the laird of Inverugie and Aikregell arrived with twelve horses, and two men on each horse. After dismounting, the whole of this party rushed into the chapel armed, and attacked the Cruner and his party unawares. The Clan Gun, however, defended themselves with great intrepidity, and although the whole twelve were slain, many of the Keiths were also killed. For nearly two centuries the blood of the slain was to be seen on the walls of the chapel which it had stained. James Gun, one of the sons of the Cruner, being absent, immediately on hearing of his father's death, retired with his family into Sutherland where he settled, and where his son William Mac-Sheumais or Mac-James, otherwise William Cattigh, was born.

As John Mackay imputed his defeat at Torran-Dubh mainly to John

• Sir R. Gordon, p. 92.

CLAIMS OF ALEXANDER SUTHERLAND THE BASTARD. 181

Murray of Aberscors, he resolved to take the first convenient opportu nity of revenging himself, and wiping off the disgrace of his discomfiture. He, therefore, not being in a condition himself to undertake an expedi. tion, employed two brothers, William and Donald, his kinsmen, chieftains of the Sliochd-Iain-Abaraich, with a company of men to attack Murray The latter having mustered his forces, the parties met at a place called Loch-Salchie, not far from the Torran-Dubh, where a sharp skirmish took place, in which Murray proved victorious. The two Strathnaver chieftains and the greater part of their men were slain, and the remainder were put to flight. The principal person who fell on Murray's side was his brother John-Roy, whose loss he deeply deplored.

Exasperated at this second disaster, John Mackay sent John Croy and Donald, two of his nephews, sons of Angus Mackay, who was killed at Morinsh in Ross, at the head of a number of chosen men to plunder and burn the town of Pitfour, in Strathfleet, which belonged to John Murray; but they were equally unsuccessful, for John Croy Mackay, and some of his men were slain by the Murrays, and Donald was taken prisoner. In consequence of these repeated reverses, John Mackay submitted himself to the earl of Sutherland, on his return from Edinburgh, and granted him his bond of service, in the year fifteen hundred and eighteen. But notwithstanding of this submission, Mackay afterwards tampered with Alexander Sutherland, the bastard, and having gained his favour by giving his sister to Sutherland in marriage, he prevailed upon him to raise the standard of insurrection against the earl of Sutherland. All these commotions in the north happened during the minority of King James V., when, as Sir R. Gordon says, "everie man thought to escape unpunished, and cheiflie these who were remotest from the seat of justice."*

This Alexander Sutherland was son of John, the third of that name, Earl of Sutherland, and as he pretended that the Earl and his mother had entered into a contract of marriage, he laid claim, on the death of the earl, to the title and estates, as a legitimate descendant of Earl John, his father. By the entreaties of Adam Gordon, Lord of Aboyne, who had married Lady Elizabeth, the sister and sole heiress of Earl John, Alexander Sutherland judicially renounced his claim in presence of the Sheriff of Inverness, on the twenty-fifth day of July, fifteen hundred and nine. He now repented of what he had done, and being instigated by the earl of Caithness and John Mackay, mortal foes to the house of Sutherland, he renewed his pretensions. Earl Adam, perceiving that he might incur some danger in making an appeal to arms, particularly, as the clans and tribes of the country, with many of whom Alexander had become very popular, were broken into factions and much divided on the question betwixt him and Alexander Sutherland, endeavoured to win him over by offering him many favourable conditions, again to renounce

• Sir R. Gordon, p. 93.