A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

APPREHENSION OF WILLIAM MAC-ANGUS 251
look iiis leave. The earl was extremely enraged at his quondam ser-
vant for so acting ; but, as William Mac-Angus was in possession of a
warrant in writing unilcr the carl's own hand, authorising him to act as
lie had done towards tlie people ot' Caithness, the earl was afraid to
adopt any proceedings against him, or against those who protected and
harboured him, before the privy council, lest he might produce the
warrant wiiich he held from the earl. The confidence which the earl
had reposed in him served, however, still more to excite the curl's indig-
nation.
As William Mac-Angus continued his depredations in other quar-
ters, he was apprehended in the town of Tain, on a charge of cattle-
stealing ; but he was released by the Monroes, who gave security to
the magistrates of the town for his ap[)earance when n cjuired, upon due
notice being given that he was wanted for trial. The Monroes granted
this favour out of respect to the chief of the Mackays, whose countryman
William Mac-Angus was ; but, as a measure of precaution, they de-
tained Mac-Angus in the castle of Foulis until they should receive
Mackay's instructions how to act. Impatient of confinement, and think,
Ing that his friends in Strathnaver were cither careless about him In not
sending back an answer to the notice sent by the Monroes, or, consi-
dering his life in danger, William determined to attempt an escape by
jumping from the height of the tower of the castle of Foulis, but he in-
jured one of his legs so much in the fall, that he could not proceed.
The laird of Foulis again took him into custody, and, being offended at
him for his attempt, he delivered him back again to the provost and
bailies of Tain, fiom whence he was sent into Caithness by Sir William
Sinclair of 'Sia.y, sheriff of Tain. The earl of Caithness thereupon put
him in fetters, and imprisoned him within Castle Sinclair. His con-
finement in Castle Sinclair was, however, of short duration ; for, disen-
gaging himself from his fetters, lie jumped from the castle into the sea
which washed its walls, swam safely to the shore, and, after lurking
two days among the rocks and mountains in the neighbourhood, ei-
fected his escape into Strathnaver in the year sixteen hundred and
twelve. The earl of Caithness sent his son, William, Lord Berridale,
in pursuit of him ; and, understanding that he was in the town of Gall-
waill in Strathnaver, he hastened there with a party of men, but missing
the fugitive, he, in revenge, apprehended a servant of Mackav,
called Angus Ilenriach, without any authority from his majestj^, and
carried him to Castle Sinclair, where he was put into fetters and closely
imprisoned on the pretence that he had assisted William Mac-Ano-us
in effecting his escape from Gall-waill. When this occurrence took
place, Donald Mackay, son of Houcheon Mackaj% the chief, was at
Dunrobin castle, who, on hearing of the apprehension and imprison-
noent of his father's servant, could scarcely be made to believe the fact
on account of the recent friendship which had been contracted betweeu
his father and the earl the preceding Christmas, "ut being made sen-