This led Sir William
to take more particular notice of the harper than he had hitherto
done, and he asked him his name. On hearing it, Munro replied,
"You surely must have been fortunate, as your name imports, and
I am sure that you have been more so than I have been this day;
but it's fit to take your advice, MacRath." This was a play on the
minstrel's name - MacRath literally meaning "Son of Fortune" - and
the harper being, like most of his kind, smart and sagacious, made
the following impromptu answer -
Eachainn le sheachd fichead fear,
Agus thusa le d'ochd clad,
Se Mac Rath a mharbh na daoine
Air bathaois Cnoc faireal,
Which may be rendered in English as follows:
Although MacRath doth "fortunate" import,
It's he deserves that name whose brave effort
Eight hundred men did put to flight
With his seven score at Knockfarrel. [Ardintoul MS.]
In 1499, George, Earl of Huntly, then the King's Lieutenant,
granted warrant to Duncan Mackintosh of Mackintosh, John Grant
of Freuchie, and other leaders, with three thousand men, to pass
against the Clan Mackenzie, "the King's rebels," for the slaughter
of Harold of Chisholm, dwelling in Strathglass, "and for divers
other heirschips, slaughters, spuilzies, committed on the King's
poor lieges and tenants in the Lordship of Ardmeanoch," [Kilravock
Papers, p.
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