[Ardintoul and Cromartie MS. Histories of the Mackenzies.]
The following, told of Roderick and Kenneth, the fifth son, is also
worth a place: - Kenneth was Chaunter of Ross, and perpetual Curate
of Coinbents, which vicarage he afterwards resigned into the hands
of Pope Paulus in favour of the Priory of Beauly. Though a priest
and in holy orders he would not abstain from marriage, for which
cause the Bishop decided to have him deposed. On the appointed
day for his trial he had his brother Rory at Chanonry, when the
trial was to take place, with a number of his followers. Kenneth
presented himself before the Bishop in his long gown, but under
it he had a two-edged sword, and drawing near his Lordship,
who sat in his presiding chair, whispered in his ear, "It is
best that you should let me alone, for my brother Rory is in the
churchyard with many ill men, and if you take off my orders he will
take off your head, and I myself will not be your best friend."
He then coolly exposed his penknife, as he called his great sword,
"which sight, with Rory's proximity, and being a person whose
character was well enough known by his Lordship, he was so terrified
that he incontinently absolved and vindicated the good Chaunter,"
who ever after enjoyed his office (and his wife) unchallenged.
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