He naturally became alarmed, and fearing the
worst, fled from the city during the night, "took to his heels,"
and gave up further legal proceedings against Mackenzie. Being
afterwards repeatedly summoned, and failing to put in an appearance,
most of the charges were found proven against him; and in 1602,
[Records of Privy Council, 9th September, 1602; Sir Robert Gordon's
Earldom of Sutherland, p. 248; Letterfearn, Ardintoul, and other
MS. Histories of the Mackenzies.] he was declared outlaw and rebel;
a commission of fire and sword was granted to Mackenzie against
him and all his followers, with a decree of ransom for the loss
of those who were burnt and plundered by him, and for Kintail's
charges and expenses, making altogether a very large sum. But
while these legal matters were being arranged, Angus Macdonald,
younger of Glengarry, who was of a restless, daring disposition,
went along with some of his followers under silence of night to
Kintail, burnt the township of Cro, killed and burnt several men,
women, and children, and carried away a large spoil of cattle.
Mackenzie, hearing of this sudden raid, became much concerned
about the loss of his Kintail tenants, and decided to requite the
quarrel by at once executing his commission against the Macdonalds
of Glengarry, and immediately set out in pursuit, leaving a sufficient
number of men at home to secure the safety of his property.
Pages:
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336