General Mackay became so irritated at the deception thus practised
upon him that he resolved to treat Seaforth's vassals "with all the
rigour of military execution," and he sent his Lordship a message
that if he did not surrender forthwith according to his promise, he
should at once carry out his instructions from the Privy Council by
entering his country with fire and sword, and seizing all the
property belonging to himself or to his clan as lawful prize; and,
lest the Earl should have any doubt as to his intention of executing
this terrible treat, he immediately ordered three Dutch regiments
from Aberdeen to Inverness, and decided on leading a competent body
of horse and foot in person from the garrison at the latter place,
to take possession of Brahan Castle. The General, at the same time
wrote instructing the Earl of Sutherland, Lord Reay, and Ross of
Balnagown, to send a thousand of their men, under Major Wishart an
experienced officer acquainted with the country, to take up their
quarters in the more remote districts of the Seaforth estates,
should that extreme step, as he much feared, become necessary.
Having, however, a friendly disposition towards the followers
of Seaforth, on account of their being "all Protestants and none
of the most dangerous enemies," and being more anxious to get
hold of his Lordship's person than to ruin his friends, he caused
information of his intentions to be sent to Seaforth's camp by some
of his own party, as if from a feeling of friendship for him the
result being that, contrary to Mackay's expectations, Seaforth
surrendered - thus relieving him from a most disagreeable duty,
[Though the General "was not immediately connected with the
Seaforth family himself, some of his near relatives were, both by
the ties of kindred and of ancient friendship.
Pages:
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463