A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...
A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...
A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
TOWN AND CATHEDRAL OF DORNOCH BURNT. 197<br />
iiig to see Monroe in possession, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> being desirous to get liold <strong>of</strong> tbe<br />
castle <strong>the</strong>mselves, <strong>the</strong>y purchased Lesley's right, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>, by virtue <strong>the</strong>re<strong>of</strong>,<br />
dem<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>ed delivery <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> castle. Monroe refused to accede to this de-<br />
m<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>, on which <strong>the</strong> cl<strong>an</strong> laid siege to <strong>the</strong> castle ; but Monroe defended<br />
it for three years at <strong>the</strong> expense <strong>of</strong> m<strong>an</strong>y lives on both sides. It was<br />
tlien delivered up to <strong>the</strong> Cl<strong>an</strong> Kenzie under <strong>the</strong> act <strong>of</strong> pacification.*<br />
No attempt was made by <strong>the</strong> earl <strong>of</strong> Su<strong>the</strong>rl<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>, during his minority,<br />
to recover his possessions from <strong>the</strong> earl <strong>of</strong> Caithness. In <strong>the</strong> me<strong>an</strong>time<br />
<strong>the</strong> latter, disappointed <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> enraged at <strong>the</strong> escape <strong>of</strong> his destined prey<br />
vexed <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>an</strong>noyed still far<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> partis<strong>an</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Su<strong>the</strong>rl<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> family.<br />
In particular, he directed his venge<strong>an</strong>ce against <strong>the</strong> Murrays, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> made<br />
vV'illiam Su<strong>the</strong>rl<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>of</strong> Evelick, bro<strong>the</strong>r to <strong>the</strong> Laird <strong>of</strong> Dufius, appre-<br />
nend John Croy-Murray, under <strong>the</strong> pretence <strong>of</strong> bringing him to justice.<br />
This proei'i^ding roused <strong>the</strong> indignation <strong>of</strong> Hugh Murray <strong>of</strong> Aberscors,<br />
who assembled his friends, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> made several incursions upon <strong>the</strong> l<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>s<br />
uf Evelick, Pronsies, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> Iliercher. They also laid waste sevei'al vil-<br />
lages belonging to <strong>the</strong> Lain! <strong>of</strong> Du'fus, from which <strong>the</strong>y carried <strong>of</strong>f some<br />
booty, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> apprehending a gentlem<strong>an</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sutlierl<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>s, <strong>the</strong>y detained<br />
him as <strong>an</strong> hostage for <strong>the</strong> safety <strong>of</strong> John Croy-Murray. U|)on this <strong>the</strong><br />
Laird <strong>of</strong> Dutfiis collected all his kinsmen <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> friends, toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Siol-Pliaill at Skibo, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> proceeded to <strong>the</strong> town <strong>of</strong> Dornoch, <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> in-<br />
tention <strong>of</strong> burning it. But <strong>the</strong> inhabit<strong>an</strong>ts, aided by <strong>the</strong> Murrays, went<br />
out to meet <strong>the</strong> enemy, whom <strong>the</strong>y courageously attacked <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> over-<br />
threw, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> pursued to <strong>the</strong> gates <strong>of</strong> Skibo. Besides killing several<br />
<strong>of</strong> Duffus' men <strong>the</strong>y made some prisoners, whom <strong>the</strong>j' exch<strong>an</strong>ged for<br />
John Croy-Murray. This affair was called <strong>the</strong> skirmish <strong>of</strong> Torr<strong>an</strong>-Roy.<br />
The Laird <strong>of</strong> Duffus, who was fa<strong>the</strong>r-in-law to <strong>the</strong> earl <strong>of</strong> Caitfmess,<br />
<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> supported him in all his pl<strong>an</strong>s, immediately sent notice <strong>of</strong> this disas-<br />
ter to <strong>the</strong> earl, who <strong>with</strong>out delay sent his eldest son, John, Master <strong>of</strong><br />
Caithness, <strong>with</strong> a large party <strong>of</strong> countrymen <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> friends,- including<br />
Y-Mackay <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> his countrymen, to attack <strong>the</strong> Murrays in Dornoch.<br />
They besieged <strong>the</strong> town <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> castle, which were both m<strong>an</strong>fidly defended<br />
by <strong>the</strong> Murrays <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir friends; but <strong>the</strong> Master <strong>of</strong> Caithness, favoured<br />
by <strong>the</strong> darkness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> night, set fire to <strong>the</strong> ca<strong>the</strong>dral, <strong>the</strong> steeple<br />
<strong>of</strong> which, however, was preserved. After <strong>the</strong> town had been reduced,<br />
<strong>the</strong> Master <strong>of</strong> Caithness attacked <strong>the</strong> castle <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>the</strong> steeple <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church,<br />
mto which a body <strong>of</strong> men had thrown <strong>the</strong>mselves, botli <strong>of</strong> which held<br />
out for <strong>the</strong> space <strong>of</strong> a week, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> would probably have resisted much<br />
longer, but for <strong>the</strong> interference <strong>of</strong> mutual friends <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> parties, by whose<br />
mediation <strong>the</strong> Murrays surrendered <strong>the</strong> castle <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> <strong>the</strong> sieeple <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
church; <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> as hostages for <strong>the</strong> due perform<strong>an</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r conditions,<br />
<strong>the</strong>y delivered up Thomas Murray, son <strong>of</strong> Houeheon Murray <strong>of</strong> Aberscors,<br />
Houcheon Murray, son <strong>of</strong> Alex<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>er Mac -Sir -Angus, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> John<br />
Murraj-, son <strong>of</strong> Thomas Murray, <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> John Murray <strong>of</strong> Aber-<br />
• Sir U. Gcrcloii, p, tSo.