Troubles in the Island of
Raasay in 1611
In the month of August, 1611, there happened an accident in
the Isle of Raasay, which is among the West Isles, where GilleCallum, Laird of Raasay, and
Murdoch Mackenzie (son to the Laird of Gairloch), with some others, were slain, upon this
occasion. The lands of Gairloch did sometime pertain to the Lairds of Raasay, his
predecessors, and when the surname of Clan Kenzie begin first to rise and to flourish, one
of them did obtain the third part of Gairloch in wadset; and thus once getting footing
therein, shortly thereafter did purchase a pretended right to the whole, which the lawful
inheritors did neglect; whereby, in process of time, the Clan Kenzie do challenge the
whole, whereof the Laird of Gairloch, his father, obtains the possession, excluding the
Laird of Raasay and his kin, the Clan Vic-GilleChallium, whom Gairloch and the Clan Kenzie
did pursue with fire and sword, and chased them out of Gairloch.
In like manner, the Clan Vic-GilleChallium invaded the Laird
of Gairloch and his country with spoils and slaughters. In end, the Laird of Gairloch
apprehended John MacAllan, and chased John Tolmach, two principal men of the race of Clan
Vic-GilleChallium, and near cousins to the Laird of Raasay, at which skirmish there was
slaughter on either side, the year of God, 1610.
The Laird of Gairloch, not fully satisfied herewith, he sent
his son Murdoch, accompanied with Alexander Bayne (son and heir to Alexander Bayne of
Tulloch), and some others, to search and pursue John Tolmach; and, to this effect, he did
hire a ship (which then, by chance, happened to be on that coast) to transport his son
Murdoch, with his company, into the Isle of Skye, where he understood John Tolmach to be
at that time. But how soon Murdoch, with his company, were embarked, they turned their
course another way, and (whether of set purpose, or constrained thereto by contrary winds,
I know not) arrived at the Isle of Raasay, running headlong to their own destruction.
The Laird of Raasay, perceiving the ship in the harbour, went
aboard to buy some wines and other commodities, accompanied with twelve men. How soon
Murdoch did see them coming, he with all his company (least they should be known or seen),
went to the lower rooms of the ship, until the other party had gone away. The Laird of
Raasay entered the ship, and, having spoken with the mariner, he departed with a
resolution to return quickly.
Murdoch, understanding that they were gone, came out of the
lower rooms, and perceiving them come again, he resolved not to conceal himself any
longer. The Laird of Raasay desired his brother, Murdoch MacGilleChallum, to follow him
into the ship with more company, in another galley, that they might carry to the shore
some wine and other provisions which he had resolved to buy from the mariner; so the Laird
of Raasay, returning to the ship, and finding Gairloch's son there, beyond his
expectation, he adviseth with his men, and thereupon resolveth to take him prisoner, in
pledge of his cousin, John MacAllan, whom Gairloch detained in captivity.
They began first to quarrel, then to fight on the ship, which
continued all day long. In the end, the Laird of Raasay was slain, and divers of his men;
so was Murdoch, the son of Gairloch, and Alexander Bayne killed, with their whole company,
three only excepted, who fought so manfully that they killed all those that came into the
ship with the Laird of Raasay, and hurt a number of those that were with Murdoch
MacGilleChallium in two galleys hotly pursuing them. At last, feeling deadly hurt, and not
able to endure any longer, they sailed away with prosperous wind, and died shortly
thereafter. |
