of Argyle against the Clandonald; but on hearing of the approach of Macdonald, Alexander Macleod, brother of Sir Roderick, resolved to try the result of a battle. Assembling, therefore, all the inhabitants of his brother's lands, together with the whole tribe of the Siol-Thormaid and some of the Siol-Thorcuill, he encamped close by the hill of Benquhillin, in Skye, resolved to give battle to the Clandonald next morn ing, who were equally prepared for the combat. Accordingly, on the arrival of morning, an obstinate and deadly fight took place, which lasted the whole day, each side contending with the utmost valour for victory; but at length the Clandonald overthrew their opponents. Alex. ander Macleod was wounded and taken prisoner, along with Neill-MacAlastair-Ruaidh, and thirty others of the choicest men of the SiolThormaid. Iain-Mac-Thormaid and Thormaid-Mac-Thormaid, two near kinsmen of Sir Roderick, and several others, were slain.

After this affair, a reconciliation took place between Macdonald and Sir Roderick, at the solicitation of old Angus Macdonald of Kintyre, the laird of Coll, and other friends, when Macdonald delivered up to Sir Roderick the prisoners he had taken at Benquhillin; but although these parties never again showed any open hostility, they brought several actions at law against each other, the one claiming from the other respectively, certain parts of their possessions. When the bloody strife between these two rivals was over, Macdonald paid a visit to the earl of Sutherland, and renewed the ancient league of friendship and alliance, which had been contracted between their predecessors.

CHAPTER XII.

Feud between the Colquhouns and Macgregors-Defeat of the Colquhouns and Buchanans-Harsh proceedings against the Macgregors-The chief of the Macgregors surrenders himself-Base Execution of the Chief and his hostages-Quarrel between the Clan-Kenzie and Glengarry-The latter outlawed-Proceedings against him and his people-Alister Mack-William-Moir beheaded-Murder of Angus Mack-KennethMack-Alister-Circumstances which led thereto-The Earl of Caithness attempts to disturb the North-Deadly quarrel in Dornoch-Meeting of the Earls of Sutherland and Caithness at Elgin-Their reconciliation-Dispute between the Earls of Caithness and Orkney-Feud between the Murrays and some of the Seill-Thomas-Dissentions in Moray among the Dunbars-Quarrel between the Earl of Caithness and the Chief of the Mackays-Commotions in Lewis among the Macleods-Proceedings of Torquill Connaldagh-Avaricious conduct of the Mackenzies-Invasion of Lewis by Fife adventurers-They are forced to abandon it-Second invasion and final abandonment of Lewis-Plans of Lord Kintail to obtain possession thereof Acquires right theretoExpulsion of Neill Macleod-Quarrel between the Laird of Rasay and Mackenzie of Gairloch-Rasay and Mackenzie, younger of Gairloch, killed-Depredations of William Mack-Angus-Rory-Apprehension of Arthur Smith, a false coiner-His trial and liberation-Employed by the Earl of Caithness-Commission against Smith— Apprehended in Thurso-Tumult in the town in consequence-The Earl of Caithness prosecutes the Commissioners-Submission of differences.

In the early part of the year sixteen hundred and two, the west of Scotlaud was thrown into a state of combustion, in consequence of the renewal of some old quarrels between Colquhoun of Luss, the chief of that surname, and Alexander Macgregor chief of the Clan-Gregor. Aggressions had formerly been committed on both sides; first by Luss and his party against some of the Macgregors, and then by John Macgregor, the brother of Alexander, against the laird of Luss and his dependants and tenants. To put an end to these dissensions, Alexander Macgregor left Rannoch, accompanied by about two hundred of his kinsmen and friends, entered Lennox, and took up his quarters on the confines of Luss's territory, where he expected, by the mediation of his friends, to bring matters to an amicable adjustment. As the laird of Luss was suspicious of Macgregor's real intentions, he assembled all his vassals, with the Buchanans and others, to the number of 300 horse, and 500 foot, with the design, if the result of the meeting should not turn out to his expectations and wishes, to cut off Macgregor and his party. But Macgregor, anticipating his intention, was upon his guard, and, by his precautions, defeated the design upon him. A conference was held for the purpose of terminating all differences; but the meeting broke up without any adjustment; Macgregor then proceeded

homewards. The laird of Luss, in pursuance of his plan, immediately followed Macgregor with great haste through Glenfreon, in the expectation of coming upon him unawares, and defeating him; but Macgregor, who was on the alert, observed, in due time, the approach of his pursuers, and made his dispositions accordingly. He divided his company into two parts, the largest of which he kept under his own command, and placed the other part under the command of John Macgregor, his brother, whom he dispatched by a circuitous route, for the purpose of attacking Luss's party in the rear, when they should least expect to be assailed. This stratagem succeeded, and the result was, that after a keen contest, Luss's party was completely overthrown, with the loss of two hundred men, besides several gentlemen and burgesses of the town of Dumbarton. It is remarkable that of the Macgregors, John, the brother of Alexander, and another person alone, vcre killed, though some of the party were wounded.

The laird of Luss and his friends sent early notice of their disaster to the king, and they succeeded so effectually by misrepresenting the whole affair to him, and exhibiting to his majesty eleven score bloody shirts belonging to those of their party who were slain, that the king grew exceedingly incensed at the Clan-Gregor, who had no person about the king to plead their cause, proclaimed them rebels. and interdicted all the lieges from harbouring or having any communication with them. The earl of Argyle with the Campbells were afterwards sent against the proscribed clan, who hunted them through the country. About sixty of the clan made a brave stand at Bentoik against a party of two hundred chosen men belonging to the Clan-Cameron, Clan-Nab, and Cian-Ronald, under the command of Robert Campbell, son of the laird of Glenorchy, when Duncan Aberigh, one of the chieftains of the Clan-Gregor, and his son Duncan, and seven gentlemen of Campbell's party were killed. But although they made a brave resistance, and killed many of their pursuers, the Macgregors, after many skirmishes and great losses, were at last overcome. Commissions were thereafter sent through the kingdom, for fining those who had harboured any of the Clan, and for punishing all persons who had kept up any communication with them, and the fines so levied were given by the king to the earl of Argyle, who converted the same to his own use as a recompense for his services against the unfortunate Macgregors.

Alexander Macgregor, the chief, after suffering many vicissitudes of fortune, and many privations, at last surrendered himself to the earl of Argyle, on condition that he should grant him a safe conduct into England to king James, that he might lay before his majesty a true state of the whole affair from the commencement, and crave the royal mercy; and as a security for his return to Scotland, he delivered up to Argyle thirty of his choicest men, and of the best reputation among the clan as hostages to remain in Argyle in custody, till his return from England. But no sooner had Macgregor arrived in Berwick on his way to

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE LAIRD OF GLENGARRY.

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London, than he was basely arrested, and brought back by the earl to Edinburgh, and, by his influence, executed along with the thirty hostages. Argyle hoped, by these means, ultimately to annihilate the whole clan; but in this cruel design he was quite disappointed, for the clan speedily increased, and became almost as powerful as before.*

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While the Highland borders were thus disturbed by the warfare between the Macgregors and the Colquhouns, a commotion happened in the interior of the Highlands, in consequence of a quarrel between the ClanKenzie and the laird of Glengarry, who, according to Sir Robert Gordon, was unexpert and unskilfull in the lawes of the realme." From his want of knowledge of the law, the Clan-Kenzie are said by the same writer to have "easalie intrapped him within the compas thereof," certainly by no means a difficult matter in those lawless times; and having thus made him commit himself, they procured a warrant for citing him to appear before the justiciary court at Edinburgh, which they took good care should not be served upon him personally. Either not knowing of these legal proceedings, or neglecting the summons, Glengarry did not appear at Edinburgh on the day appointed, but went about revenging the slaughter of two of his kinsmen, whom the Clan-Kenzie had killed after the summons for Glengarry's appearance had been issued. The consequence was that Glengarry and some of his followers were outlawed. Through the interest of the earl of Dunfermline, lord chancellor of Scotland, Kenneth Mackenzie, afterwards created Lord Kintail, obtain a commission against Glengarry and his people, which occasioned great slaughter and trouble. Being assisted by many followers from the neighbouring country, Mackenzie, by virtue of his commission, invaded Glengarry's territories, which he wasted and destroyed with fire and sword without control. On his return, Mackenzie besieged the castle of Strome, which ultimately surrendered to him. To assist Mackenzie in this expedition, the carl of Sutherland, in token of the ancient friendship which had subsisted between his family and the Mackenzies, sent two hundred and forty well equipped and able men, under the command of John Gordon of Embo. Mackenzie again returned into Glengarry, where he had a skirmish with a party commanded by Glengarry's eldest son, in which the latter and sixty of his followers were killed. The Mackenzies also suffered some loss on this occasion. At last, after much trouble and bloodshed on both sides, an agreement was entered into, by which Glengarry renounced in favour of Kenneth Mackenzie, the castle of Strome and the adjacent lands.*

In the year sixteen hundred and five, the peace of the northern Highlands was about being disturbed by one of those atrocious occurrences, so common at that time. The chief of the Mackays had a servant named Alastair-Mac-Uilleam-Mhoir. This man having some business to transact in Caithness, went there without the least apprehension of dan

ger, as the earls of Sutherland and Caithness had settled all their differs ences. No sooner, however, did the latter hear of Mac-Uilleam- Mhoir's arrival in Caithness, than he sent Henry Sinclair, his bastard brother, with a party of men to kill him. Mac-Uilleam-Mhoir, being a bold and resolute man, was not openly attacked by Sinclair; but on entering the house where Mac-Uilleam-Mhoir had taken up his residence, he and his party pretended that they had come on a friendly visit to him to enjoy themselves in his company. Not suspecting their hostile intentions, he invited them to sit down and drink with him; but scarcely had they taken their seats when they seized Mac-Uilleam-Mhoir, and carried him off prisoner to the earl of Caithness, who caused him to be beheaded, in his own presence, the following day. The fidelity of this unfortunate man to Mackay, his master, during the disputes between the earls of Sutherland and Caithness, was the cause for which he suffered. Mackay, resolved upon getting the earl punished, entered a legal prosecution against him at Edinburgh, but by the mediation of the marquis of Huntly the suit was quashed.*

In July, sixteen hundred and five, a murder was committed in Strathnaver, by Robert Gray of Hopsdale or Ospisdell, upon the body of Angus-Mac-Kenneth-Mac-Alister, one of the Siol-Mhurchaidh-Rhaibhaich, under the following circumstances. John Gray of Skibo held the lands of Ardinsh under John, the fifth of that name, earl of Sutherland, as superior, which lands the grandfather of Angus Mac-Kenneth had in possession from John Mackay, son of Y-Roy-Mackay, who, before the time of this earl John, possessed some lands in Breachat. When John Gray obtained the grant of Ardinsh from John the fifth, he allowed Kenneth Mac-Alister, the father of Angus Mac-Kenneth, to retain possession thereof, which he continued to do till about the year fifteen hundred and seventy-three. About this period a variance arose between John Gray and Hugh Murray of Aberscors, in consequence of some law-suits which they carried on against one another; but they were reconciled by Alexander, earl of Sutherland, who became bound to pay a sum of money to John Gray, for Hugh Murray, who was in the meantime to get possession of the lands of Ardinsh in security. As John Gray still retained the property and kept Kenneth Mac-Alister in the possession thereof at the old rent, the Murrays took umbrage at him, and prevailed upon the earl of Sutherland to grant a conveyance of the wadset or mortgage over Ardinsh in favour of Angus Murray, formerly bailie of Dornoch. In the meantime, Kenneth Mac-Alister died, leaving his son, Angus Mac-Kenneth, in possession. Angus Murray having acquired the mortgage, now endeavoured to raise the rent of Ardinsh, but Angus Mac-Kenneth refusing to pay more than his father had paid, was dispossessed, and the lands were let to William Mac-lainMac-Kenneth, cousin of Angus Mac-Kenneth. This proceeding so exas

* Sir R. Gordon, p. 253.