THE 
 
 I MASSACHUSETTS 
 fHISTORIGAL S0GIET\1 
 
 I FOUNDED A.D.1791 
 FROM THE Fl^ND 
 
 BEQUEATHED 
 By the Reverend 
 
 RobcriCass/e Waters ton 
 
PUBLICATIONS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 SCOTTISH HISTORY SOCIETY 
 
 VOLUME XLVII 
 
 CHRONICLES OF THE FRASERS 
 
 Febiiuauy 1905 
 
CHRONICLES 
 or THE ERASERS 
 
 THE WARDLAW MANUSCRIPT 
 ENTITLED ' POLICHRONICON SEU 
 POLICRATICA TEMPORUM, OR, THE 
 TRUE GENEALOGY OF THE ERASERS/ 
 916-1674 
 
 By Master JAMES FRASER 
 
 MINISTER OF THE PARISH OF WARDLAW 
 (NOW KIRKHILL), INVERNESS 
 
 Edited from the Original Manuscript 
 with Notes and Introduction, by 
 WILLIAM MACKAY 
 
 EDINBURGH 
 
 Printed at the University Press by T. and A. Constable 
 for the Scottish History Society 
 1905 
 
l5o 
 
 .525 
 
 V. 47 
 
 OCT 21 1971 
 
 465040 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 INTRODUCTION, vii 
 
 Catalogue of Manuscripts, .... xliv 
 Original Title-page of the Wardlaw Manuscript, . xlvii 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU POLICRATICA TEMPORUM, 1 
 
 INDEX, ....... 525 
 
 ILLUSTRATION 
 
 reproduction of part of a page of the manuscript, at page 1. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 The author of Polichronicon, which has for the last hundred 
 years been better known as the ' Wardlaw Manuscript,"* was 
 Master James Fraser of Phopachy, near Inverness, minister 
 of the parish of Wardlaw or Kirkhill, in which Phopachy 
 is situated. He was one of the twenty - four children of 
 Mr. William Fraser of Phopachy and his good wife, Alison 
 Fraser. Mr. William took the degrees of master of arts and 
 doctor of medicine ; but he ultimately studied divinity, and 
 was minister of Kilmorack from 1630 to 1643, minister of 
 Killearnan or Redcastle from 1643 to 1649, and minister 
 of the Second Charge of Inverness from 1649 till his death 
 in November 1659.^ 
 
 Our author was born on 1st January 1634.^ The pro- 
 bability is that he first saw the light at Phopachy, where his 
 father may have resided when minister of Kilmorack, as he 
 did while minister at Inverness. The child was named after 
 his grandfather, James Fraser, Lord Lovat's major domo, or 
 fear-an-tigli (the man of the house), who, in 1599, acquired 
 in wadset Lovat's lands of Phopachy, which he had 
 previously possessed under lease.^ To these lands James 
 succeeded on his father's death. He was succeeded in them 
 by his son, Alexander, who was rewarded for his good 
 services to Simon, the Lord Lovat of the Forty-five, by being 
 
 ^ P. 117, and Scott's Fasti. See his descent from the Frasers of Fruid, 
 p. 115 <?/f seq. 
 
 P. 268. 3 pp, 235, 268. 
 
 vii 
 
viii 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 persecuted to death by that nobleman ; and to Alexander 
 succeeded his son, Robert, in whose time — about 1740 — 
 Lord Simon redeemed the wadset. The connection with 
 Phopachy thus ceased, but Alexander's son, James, the 
 London apothecary who attended Lord Simon during his 
 last hours, acquired the estate of Torbreck, near Inverness, 
 which remained in his family until 1834. To him it was 
 that Lovat said on the scaffold, ' My dear James, I am 
 going to heaven, but you must continue to crawl a little 
 longer in this evil world.' Several families of standing in 
 Scotland and in England now trace their descent from the 
 apothecary and his grandfather, the writer of the ' Wardlaw 
 Manuscript."* 
 
 That writer received his early education in the grammar- 
 school of Inverness. Along with his chief's son, James 
 Fraser, he boarded with his schoolmaster, John Robertson 
 — 'a pope,' with whom 'we must content ourselves to 
 remain sub ferida.''^ He was with Robertson as late as 
 1650, and probably until 1651, when he entered King's 
 College, Aberdeen,^ where, in 1655, he took his degree 
 of master of arts.^ 
 
 A student of diligence and gifts, Mr. James, as he was 
 now by virtue of his degree entitled to be called, ripened 
 into a scholar of culture and erudition. In addition to 
 English and Gaelic, he wrote Latin and French with ease ; 
 and he had some knowledge of Hebrew, Greek, German, and 
 Italian. He was given to writing, and the Catalogue of his 
 works, which he inserts in the Manuscript, and is printed in 
 this volume, is a remarkable record of industry and versa- 
 tility. Few literary workshops of his day saw so much 
 
 1 P. 349. 2 298; Alumni of Kuig' s College, p. 19. 
 
 Fasti Aberd. (Spalding Club), p. 515 ; Officers and Graduates of University 
 and King's College (New Spalding Club), p. 193. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 ix 
 
 labour as the little room in the thatched manse of Kirkhill 
 which he calls ' my studdy at Mons Mariae.' From it came 
 forth, during his incumbency of forty-eight years, upwards of 
 fifty volumes on subjects varying from history and theology 
 to songs and jests. These extended to thousands of pages 
 of manuscript. The Policlironicon alone, if printed in full, 
 would make perhaps two volumes of the size of the present 
 one ; and the three volumes of * Triennial Travels ' would 
 extend to almost as much. Mr. James wrote poetry in 
 English and Gaelic, and he was the author of an ' Irish ' or 
 Gaelic dictionary, and of a volume on place-names. In 
 addition to the works specified in the Catalogue he wrote 
 an account of Loch Ness, which appears in the Transactions 
 of the Philosophical Society for 1699 ; 'A Short Chronologie 
 and Genealogie of the Bissets and Frasers of Lovat,^ given in 
 volume ii. of Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections^ printed by 
 this Society ; and ' A True Genealogie of the Frasers, . . . 
 being the Marrow of y* he relates of y® Frasers in his Poli- 
 chronicon.** So far as the editor has been able to find, these 
 writings are all lost, with the exception of Policlironicon ; 
 the * Triennial Travels,^ which are in the possession of the 
 author's descendant. Miss Hilda M. Paterson, of Birkwood, 
 Banchory, who has kindly allowed the editor to peruse 
 them; 'Providentia,' which is in the Advocates'* Library; 
 the ' Bill of Mortality a most interesting record, which 
 was discovered some years ago among the family papers of 
 Mr. Ramsay Biscoe of Newton, and is now in the General 
 Register House ; and copies of the ' Short Chronologie ' and 
 ' True Genealogie.' The loss of his sermons and theological 
 and philosophical treatises is to be regretted, but more so 
 the disappearance of his Gaelic poetry and Gaelic dictionary, 
 his book on the flora of his parish, his works on place-names 
 and weather lore, his medical treatise, and his collections of 
 songs, epigrams, epitaphs, jests, and railleries. Specimens of 
 
POLICHRONICON 
 
 his English verse are scattered throughout this volume, — the 
 most ambitious being Lo vat's Last Farewell — 
 
 ' Farewell, fond worlds so vofull, full of care ! 
 Map of all mourning, toil, trouble, and dispare. 
 
 Now my Yule royall I will keep above 
 'Mongst saints and angels with the god of love. 
 Farewell, fond world, all friends I bid adue 
 Till they and I in glore our loves renue.' ^ 
 
 The Mournful Elegy on p. 510 appears also to be from 
 his pen — 
 
 ' Farewell, dear soul, now fre'ed from haps and feares. 
 Whilst we doe writ thin Epitaphs in teares. 
 Alas ! unsavoury flowers bud their full prime, 
 Whilst the fragrant rose is pluckt before its time !' 
 
 Eraser, having rested for a time after finishing his course 
 at college, resolved to see something of the world. ' Travel,' 
 he writes, ' is by most men concluded to be one of the 
 main meanes and advantages, conducible to compasse outward 
 manners, to rectifie the judgement, enrich the mind with 
 knowledge, and polish mankind.'^ Imbued by these sentiments, 
 he, on 7th June 1657, and when he was in the twenty-fourth 
 year of his age, mounted his Highland pony, and, accompanied 
 by a Highland servant, left Phopachy on a tour through 
 Great Britain and the Continent. He carried a testimonial 
 in Latin from the Presbytery and Magistrates of Inverness, 
 and the following passport from the acting colonel and the 
 secretary of the English garrison of that town : — 
 
 ' Permit the bearer hereoff, Master James Fraser, Student in 
 Divinity, with his servant and horse, to passe to Aberdeen, and so 
 forward to England, without let or molestation, he acting nothing 
 prejudicial to his Highness or the Commonwealth. 
 
 ' Given under my hand and scale, at the Sconce near Inverness, 
 the 5 of June, 1657. Myles Man. . 
 
 'To all whom it may concern. Jo. Roklay.' 
 
 1 P. 311. 
 
 ' Triennial Travels. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xi 
 
 He that night lodged in the house of his uncle, Alexander 
 Fraser, in the East Street (now High Street) of Inverness, 
 to whom he next morning bade farewell in a pint of claret 
 and sugar, for which he paid one shilling sterling. Travelling 
 by Nairn, Forres, and Elgin, to Aberdeen, he there further 
 armed himself with a Latin testimonial from the principal 
 and professors of King's College. In Edinburgh he was 
 introduced to General Monk, from whom he obtained a 
 second passport : — 
 
 ' Permit the bearer hereoff, Mr. James Fraser, Student in 
 Divinity, with his servant, horse, and necessaries, to passe to 
 •Cambridge, Oxford, or any other part in England, without 
 molestation. 
 
 'Given under my hand and scale, at Dalkeith, the 17 day of 
 June, 1657 yeares. George Monck. 
 
 ' To all officers and sould"^^ and others q"^ these may concern. 
 
 Jo. Clerk, Sec' 
 
 From Edinburgh Mr. James travelled by Haddington and 
 Berwick to Tynemouth, where he took ship for London. He 
 arrived in the great city on 4th July, having called at the 
 principal ports on the way. Making London his head- 
 quarters, he thoroughly explored the city itself, and visited 
 Oxford, Cambridge, and other places of interest. On 8th 
 December he left London for the Continent, and, selling 
 his horse at Hastings, crossed to Dieppe, with other nine 
 passengers, in the good ship The Roe of Rye. In Dieppe 
 resided his uncle. Captain Hugh Fraser, who settled in France 
 many years previously, and whom our traveller had never 
 seen. The old skipper refused to believe that the young 
 man was his nephew — perhaps he had already been imposed 
 upon by wanderers from Scotland ; whereupon Mr. James 
 told him that he could do without his help, and started for 
 Rouen in the company of Henry Jordan, a young Englishman 
 with whom he had forgathered. The two travellers slowly 
 
xii 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 made their way to Paris, Orleans, Lyons, and Marseilles* 
 From Marseilles Fraser took ship for Spain, and passed some 
 time in that country. He then sailed to Minorca, and from 
 that island to Corsica and Genoa. In Genoa he came across 
 William Wait, in whose company he walked to Leghorn, 
 Pisa, and Rome. He arrived in Rome on St. Peter's Day — 
 Saturday, 29th June 1658 — and, going straight to St. Peter's 
 Church, had the good fortune to witness the Pope and seven 
 cardinals celebrating the Apostle^s festival. 
 
 In his wanderings hitherto Fraser had, when it suited his 
 comfort and convenience, passed as a Roman Catholic pilgrim,, 
 and he consequently received the hospitality of the monas- 
 teries. He played the same part in Rome, and had his feet 
 washed as a pilgrim, and ten days'* free quarters given him in 
 the pilgrims' hospital. Desiring to prolong his stay in the 
 Eternal City, he joined the Pope's Guards, ' getting my muscat 
 [musket] 7th July 1658.' He served the Pope until 4th 
 April following, seeing what was worth seeing, and making 
 many friends. On his departure from the city some of these 
 convoyed him northwards for eight miles, and he once more 
 had the good luck to fall in with a kindred spirit, Godfrey 
 Hartley, with whom he did not part until they arrived in 
 London. 
 
 Proceeding by Florence, Modena, Ferrara, and Padua, 
 the young men reached Venice, where they made the 
 acquaintance of John Scot, son of Captain George 
 Scot, who, in 1643, built at Inverness a ship of pro- 
 digious bigness which became the terror of Mahometan 
 navigators in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic.-^ He 
 there found free lodgings for three nights in St. Mark's 
 Hospital, and met so many friendly Scots, English, and 
 Irish that, as he records, ' I could have free bed and board 
 whole three months from them for nothing.'^ After seven 
 1 P. 297. 2 P. 298, note. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xiii 
 
 days he and Hartley left the interesting and hospitable city, 
 and, proceeding by Padua, Verona, and Trent, crossed the 
 Alps, and travelled through the Tyrol, Bavaria, Austria, 
 Hungary, Moravia, and Bohemia, visiting, among other 
 cities, Munich, Vienna, Prague, and Ratisbon, where he 
 was entertained for some days in the Scottish monastery. 
 Making their way down the valley of the Neckar, they 
 passed through Heidelberg, Spires, Mannheim, Worms, 
 Frankfort, and the Rhine cities, to Cologne. Leaving 
 Cologne on 8th September, they travelled through Holland, 
 Belgium, and the north of France, visiting the chief cities in 
 those countries. In Brussels they were gratified to see 
 Charles ii. and his brother, afterwards James ii. At Douay 
 they were entertained at the Scots College, where they found 
 sixteen Roman Catholic Scots students, two of whom were 
 Highlanders of the name of Macdonell. Having ' done ' 
 Arras, Amiens, Abbeville, St. Valery, and Boulogne, they at 
 last, in December, crossed from Calais to Hythe, where, 
 ' kneeling down, we kissed the very earth in gratitude to our 
 good God who brought us safe to our native soyle.' They 
 reached London on the 21st of that month; and Fraser 
 remained in England until 28th April 1660, when he sailed 
 from Gravesend for Scotland. His ship was the Mary of 
 Dundee, bound for Inverness — one of ' the Scotch fleet ' of 
 twenty-two vessels which sailed under the convoy of the 
 Government frigate Providence. ' Providence,' he reflects, 
 ' was still my convoy in all my travels and voyages.' To 
 Gravesend, ' the dearest hole in England,' came down his 
 London friends to pay their last farewell ; and, ' by a happy 
 providence,' his three fellow-travellers on the Continent also 
 met him there — Henry Jordan, William Wait, and Godfrey 
 Hartley. ' At Mr. Shushans Checker Tavern we cheere one 
 another with many aflectionat remembrances, and, after 
 bathing some choice healths in the best London liquors that 
 
xiv 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 place could afford, at last we part, and bid adue to sack and 
 the Checker at once.' Among his companions on board the 
 Mary were several Inverness merchants who were returning 
 from the Metropolis, bringing home their annual stock of 
 commodities for their Highland customers.^ And so, after an 
 absence of almost three years, Mr. James Fraser returned to 
 his native land, laden with notes and memoranda, which in 
 due time became the ' Triennial Travels."* That work, besides 
 personal experiences of an interesting nature, contains de- 
 scriptive and historical sketches of every city and town 
 through which he passed in the course of his tour, begin- 
 ning with Inverness ; and it is to be hoped that it will some 
 day be given to the public. 
 
 When Mr. James returned he found that his father was 
 dead, and that he himself was wadsetter of Phopachy. Next 
 year he was appointed minister of his native parish ; but 
 Presbyterianism was about to give place for a time to Epi- 
 scopacy, and the Presbytery of Inverness was by an Act of 
 Council prohibited from taking his ' trials ' until March 
 1662, by which time the bishops ruled. He filled the in- 
 cumbency until his death in 1709. Although he was a pro- 
 nounced Episcopalian, and heartily disliked the Covenanters^ 
 he cannot be said to have been a narrow or unreasonable 
 bigot. We have seen how he played the Roman Catholic on 
 the Continent. He studied divinity under the Presbyterian 
 regime, and, if the Act of Council had not intervened, would 
 have been inducted to his parish as a Presbyterian. During 
 the Episcopalian period he mildly resisted such feeble efforts 
 as were made by the Presbyterians of the North to spread 
 their principles. When the Revolution placed those Pres- 
 byterians in power he acquiesced in the change, but, in 
 common with the majority of his presbytery, adhered to 
 Episcopacy, and retained his charge. In this course he and 
 1 Pp. 428-30. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XV 
 
 his Episcopalian friends had the support of their flocks ; and 
 they were not interfered with in their ministry until they 
 were, one after another, removed by death. So far as the 
 people were concerned, it was difficult for them to see 
 wherein the two church systems differed. The Episco- 
 palians had their kirk sessions and presbyteries and other 
 church courts, as the Presbyterians had ; and practically the 
 same order of public worship was followed by both parties. 
 But at the Revolution the Episcopalians were the friends, 
 and the Presbyterians the enemies, of King James ; and the 
 Jacobite Highlanders continued to look with a friendly eye 
 on the bishops until the old order of things passed away in 
 the troubles of the Forty-five. 
 
 Few districts in the Highlands are more interesting 
 historically than the parish of Kirkhill, which was formed in 
 1618 by the union of the two older parishes of Wardlaw in 
 the west and Fernua in the east. Originally, the church of 
 the western parish stood at Dunballoch, but in the begin- 
 ning of the thirteenth century it was, under an agreement 
 between the Bishop of Moray and John Bisset of Lovat, 
 transferred to that beautiful hillock, which, looking down 
 upon the rich plain of Lovat, was its ward-law or watch-hill 
 in times when watch and ward were necessary.^ That agree- 
 ment gives the Gaelic name of the hill as Balabrach — pro- 
 bably the Town of the Malt. According to our author, the 
 old church of Dunballoch was dedicated to St. Mauritius,^ 
 and in this he is followed by Shaw, the historian of Moray, 
 who also states that the new church on the Ward-law was 
 dedicated to the Virgin.^ To this day the Gaelic people 
 call the eminence Cnoc MJioire—Msiry''s Hill ; and the fair, 
 which in the old days was held at Dunballoch annually on 
 11th November, was known as Feill Mauri — Mauri's Fair.^ 
 
 ^ Register of Moray (Bannatyne Club), p. i6. 
 ^ Hist, of Moray i p. 361. 
 
 2 P. 60. 
 ^ P. 275. 
 
xvi 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 But there is no trace among the people of Mauritius, who 
 would have been known to their ancestors in the thirteenth 
 century, not as Mauri, but as Machar, which was his Gaelic 
 name ; and it is pretty certain that Mr. Jameses Mauri was 
 not Mauritius, but Moire (Mary) ; that the Dunballoch 
 church bore the Virgin's name ; and that the name followed 
 the church to the Ward-law. Mons Mariae is the name by 
 which our author prefers to know the hill, and he delights 
 in describing himself as Ecclesiastes Montis Marios^ or Pastor 
 Montis Marice.'^ Air Moire V a' Chnoc, By Mary in the Hill, 
 was a form of oath in the district.^ 
 
 The church of Fernua, said to be derived from fearn^ 
 alder,* stood at Baile-na-h-Eaglais, or Kirkton, where the old 
 bui;ying-ground is still in use. It was dedicated to Curadan or 
 Kiritinus, who in the early days of the Celtic Church was 
 bishop and abbot of Rosemarkie, and who became the patron 
 saint of the churches of Corrimony in Glen Urquhart, Bona 
 on Loch Ness, and Struy in Strathglass. It had a good 
 glebe called Croit an Teampidll^ the Croft of the Temple or 
 Church.^ In Fernua also stood the cell of Bunchrew, whose 
 hermits kept a register of local events, which was known as 
 Scriptum Bunchrivice.^ 
 
 At the union of Wardlaw and Fernua in 1618, the name 
 of Kirkhill was given to the united parish. During that 
 century it is sometimes called Wardlaw and sometimes 
 Kirkhill. Since Mr. James's time the latter name has 
 prevailed. 
 
 The old church of Wardlaw stood in the present church- 
 yard. It was abandoned in 1790, when the present parish 
 church was erected on a less interesting site. Mr. James's 
 manse probably stood where the modern manse stands. 
 Church and manse were covered with thatch. In the church 
 
 ^ Title-page. See Catalogue, p. xliv. 
 
 4 Shaw's Moraj/, p. 361. ^ P. 185. 
 
 3 P. 112. 
 ' P. 3- 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xvii 
 
 he faithfully taught and preached in Gaelic and English 
 for the long period of forty-eight years, while the manse 
 witnessed the wonderful literary labours to which reference 
 has been made. The fragment of his session-book, still pre- 
 served at Kirkhill, records but one ' text ' for each Sunday ; 
 from which it would appear that he preached in both tongues 
 from the same passage. His sermons were written in English,, 
 and as he collected them into several volumes, we may assume 
 that they were prepared with care. At a presbyterial visita- 
 tion of his parish on 21st August 1677, his heritors and' 
 elders declared themselves satisfied with his doctrine, living,, 
 and conversation, and stated that he was so ' panefuU ' in 
 visiting the sick, catechising the people, and his other 
 ministerial duties, ' that they Avere affray ed that he should 
 thereby shorten his own dayes in all likliehood."' ^ In visit- 
 ing the sick he, doubtless, gave them the free benefit of that 
 medical knowledge of which he made use in the parish. 
 * Herbal and ' Experiments of Phisick and Chirurgery,' and 
 which he had probably acquired from his father. The session- 
 book tells that he provided so well for the poor of the parish, 
 that crowds of hungry strangers flocked to the church at his 
 annual distribution of money and meal. In discipline he was 
 firm, but just. The ' Bill of Mortality ' and PoUchronicon show 
 that he knew his parishioners and the inhabitants of the sur- 
 rounding districts by name and headmark ; and he went in. 
 and out among them, not only as their spiritual guide and 
 temporal adviser, but also as one deeply interested in their 
 manners and customs, and in their Gaelic legends and lore,, 
 which he noted mentally as he rested within their turf huts. 
 Notwithstanding the incessant demands of his charge and 
 his study, he was to the last ready to assist his neighbouring; 
 brethren. During the last eighteen months of his life, for 
 
 /Records of Invernesa and Dingwall (Scot. Hist, Society), p, 79, 
 
 h 
 
POLICHRONICON 
 
 •example, he, in spite of his age, preached in Kiltarlity, Dores, 
 and Glen Urquhart. 
 
 Mr. James's dust lies in the yard of his old church. His 
 grave is not known with certainty. His memory, however, 
 has not faded away, and one tradition — an echo of the 
 ^ Triennial Travels "* — tells how he travelled in foreign parts 
 for three years, during which he visited the Holy Land and 
 beheld the Holy Places, and how, when he unexpectedly 
 returned on a Sabbath morning, the bells of his church, which 
 had during his absence been silent, rang out a welcome of 
 their own accord. 
 
 In October 1669 Mr. James married Margaret Symmer, 
 daughter of Mr. Alexander Symmer, minister of DufFus — 
 Lord Lovat accompanying him to Morayshire on the occasion.^ 
 There were three sons of the marriage : Robert, who pre- 
 deceased him; Alexander, who succeeded to Phopachy ; and 
 Simon, of whom nothing is known. 
 
 The Polickrojiicon was Eraser's greatest work — how great 
 in the estimation of his friends is shown by the ' panagirick 
 ■eulogy ^ of one of his admirers — 
 
 Our great historians of a long time ar dead, 
 And yow to those brave heroes do succeed. 
 Long have we wisht, but all this time in vaine, 
 To see our ancient genious wake againe. 
 In spite of malice yow will still be great^ 
 And raise your name above the powr of fate. 
 Our sinking house^ which now stoops low with age, 
 Yow show with newborn lustre on the stage. 
 Thus candles, crumbling in their sockets, lye 
 And sally out in flams before they dye. 
 Goe on, brave man, advance quhat yow have begun, 
 Assurd of this to be by none undone.' ^ 
 
 Another friend gives his anagram — Facis hi orbe rarus,^ 
 
 1 P. 484. ' P. 28. 
 
 3 P. 29. The anagram contains the letters of the author's name in Latin, 
 Jacobus Fraserus. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xix 
 
 He himself writes : ' This work cost me time : it was a 
 serious subject, and I lookt or I leapt ; for heast makes 
 wast, and I remember the poet — Nonumque praeviatur in 
 annum : — 
 
 ' Eight yeares digest what you have rudly hinted, 
 And in the ninth yeare, let the same be printed.' ^ 
 
 The title-page tells that he began to write this volume in 
 1666; but page 120 must have been written after 1682, 
 and pages 496-497 not earlier than 1691. The Preface is 
 dated ' From my studdy at Mons Mariae, July 9, anno 1666 
 but the dedication which immediately follows is to Simon, 
 Lord Fraser of Lovat. The Lord Lovat of 1666 was Hugh, 
 and the first lord after him who bore the name of Simon 
 was Lovat of the Forty-five, who succeeded in 1699. The 
 explanation of the matter seems to be that the author had 
 the work in hand from 1666 until after 1699, and that the 
 volume which we possess is a clean copy, made after that 
 year, and dedicated to the chief who then ruled. 
 
 The volume has come down to us through (first) the 
 author's son, Alexander Fraser of Phopachy, who died about 
 1736 ; (second) Alexander's son, Robert, of Phopachy and 
 Wester Ballifeary, who died without issue, and probably 
 unmarried, after 1769 ; (third) Robert's brother, James, the 
 London apothecary, who purchased Torbreck in 1758, and 
 died in 1770; (fourth) James's son, Alexander of Torbreck, 
 who died in 1821 ; (fifth) Alexander's daughter, Anne, who 
 married Captain John Macdonald, of Springfield, Forres ; 
 and (sixth) her daughter, Anne, who married John Thomson, 
 of Springfield, Inverness, solicitor and bank agent in that 
 town, and latterly of Liverpool. In January 1870, and after 
 her husband's death, Mrs. Thomson sent the volume, and the 
 gold-headed cane which Lord Simon handed on the scaffold 
 
 1 P. 10. 
 
XX 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 to his solicitor, William Fraser, to London to be sold ; and 
 on the 22nd of that month they were purchased for Sir 
 William Augustus Fraser, baronet, of Ledeclune and Morar, 
 by Mr. Francis Harvey, bookseller, 4 St. James's Street, at 
 the price of ^£^140. On Sir William's death, in 1898, the 
 volume came into the hands of his trustees and Sir Keith 
 Alexander Fraser, the present baronet, who have, with great 
 courtesy, placed it at the editor's disposal. 
 
 Only a comparatively small portion of the work has hitherto 
 been made known. The Hon. Archibald Fraser of Lovat 
 (Gillespie Mac-Shimi), son of Simon of the Forty-five, drew 
 upon it in a small volume of annals of his family which he 
 printed in 1795 ; and so did Mr. John Anderson in his 
 history of the Frasers, published in 1825. Dr. Robert 
 Carruthers gave extracts from it in his Highland Note BooTc^ 
 published in 1843 ; and extracts were also made by Mr, 
 Lewis M. Mackenzie of Findon, who died in 1856. Findon's 
 transcript is now in the British Museum, and has to some 
 extent been utilised by Mr. Edmund Chisholm-Batten in 
 the Priori/ of Beauly^ printed by the Grampian Club in 
 1877. 
 
 The work is primarily a history of the Frasers ; but to Mr. 
 James the seat of his chief was the centre of Europe, and he 
 gathers around the family story historical sketches of Scot- 
 land, England, the Popes, France, Germany, and almost every 
 Continental state. The editor has, in preparing this volume,, 
 omitted all matter not properly connected with Scottish 
 history, and many pages have thus been discarded. 
 
 The author's sources are indicated on pages 3, 11, 79, and 
 128. The Records of the Priory of Beauly are now, with the 
 exception of certain copies, unfortunately lost ; and so is 
 Scriptum Bimchrivice, which, indeed, disappeared in Fraser's 
 own time. He obviously had access to the manuscript of 
 Sir Robert Gordon's Earldom of Sutherland, and he made 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxi 
 
 use of family charters, the Register of Moray, and the Scot- 
 tish histories which were available in his time. 
 
 From the time when Julius de Berry treated Charles the 
 Simple of France to ' curious sallats and fruites,** and so 
 acquired the name Fraise or Strawberry — whence Fraser — 
 down to almost his own time our author''s narrative is un- 
 scientific and inaccurate ; and he lets his imagination have 
 free rein. The harangues of his Highland heroes rival in 
 eloquence the speech which Tacitus puts into the mouth of 
 the Caledonian chief at the battle of Mons Grampius ; and, 
 considering how rare the Bible was, they reveal a praise- 
 worthy knowledge of its contents. The value of his book, 
 however, lies not in what it records of early history — although 
 that is not without a certain interest — but in what it tells 
 of the people of his own time, and the times of his father 
 and grandfather, and especially of the stirring events of the 
 reign of Charles i., the rule of Cromwell, and the early years 
 of Charles ii. 
 
 When the Troubles of the first Charles arose, and the 
 Scots ' clandestinly contrived plots against their good King,' 
 the Highland chiefs began to muster and train their men for 
 such services as might be required of them in his Majesty's 
 cause.^ Hugh, Lord Lovat, provided ' a good armory, 
 stored with muscats, firlocks, gunpouder, and amunition and 
 the young Master of Lovat, who, in 1636, won at Aberdeen 
 the silver arrow in a competition at bowmarks and rovers, 
 and was devoted to the trumpet and great pipe, made 
 a progress through the extensive lordship, enlisting the 
 * prettiest men, furnishing them with bows and arrows, 
 and training them in martial and manly exercises — archery, 
 shooting with firelocks, fencing with cudgels, running, jump- 
 ing, swimming, and throwing of the bar.^ 
 
 1 P. 31. 
 
 ^ P. 257. 
 
 3 Ibid. 
 
XXll 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 But the Master died before there was fighting to do, and 
 Lord Hugh, good and amiable, but ' sunk in melancholy,"^ 
 devolved the management of the estates on his own brother, 
 Sir James Fraser of Brey, an ardent and masterful Covenanter, 
 who carried the clan into the Covenanting cause. In this he 
 had the aid of a Deity offended by the introduction of Na 
 Leabhraichean Dearg — the Red Books — as Laud's Liturgy 
 was called in the North. The waters of the flood were again 
 upon the earth. The Beauly and the Conon overwhelmed 
 their neighbouring lands, and the Burn of Jack devastated 
 Easter Moniack, Drumchardny, Drumchrie, and Bogroy, sweep- 
 ing land, houses, cattle, and sheep into the sea.^ Montrose 
 had no more vigorous opponent than the Laird of Brey, who 
 not only led the Frasers against him, but for a time induced 
 other clans to follow their example. When the Marquis- 
 marched into the Highlands, Inverness, garrisoned by the 
 Covenanters, prepared to resist him to the utmost. ' To. 
 the great trouble and cost of the country, the towne was. 
 sconced round with an earthen wall, a deep trensh, rampards, 
 and pillasads, a strong port to the east, another to the south 
 in the top of the Castle street, another at the bridge, the 
 4 [fourth] low at the church. Every parish came in to the 
 town successively till all was finished and Inverness made a 
 considerable strength.' ^ 
 
 The Frasers strengthened the Aird and Strathglass by 
 constructing five sconces within their bounds,* and at Auld- 
 earn they so stoutly opposed the yellow banner of Colkitto, 
 that eighty-seven widows were left ' about the Lord Lovates 
 eares ; this we got for our dissloyall, rebellious covenent which' 
 we fought for.' ^ 
 
 The victories of Montrose at Tippermuir, Inverlochy, and 
 Auldearn brought him the support of the Macdonalds,, 
 
 1 P. 259. 2 p 272. 3 p, 287. * P- 315- !^ P. 296. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxiii 
 
 Macleods, Mackenzies, and Mackays ; but the Frasers con- 
 tinued to stand fast for the Covenant. For this they were 
 severely punished ; for when, in April 1646, Montrose was 
 unsuccessfully besieging Inverness, he allowed his army to 
 overrun the Aird and Strathglass, with the result that 'be- 
 tuixt the bridge end of Inverness and Gusachan, 26 miles, 
 there was not left in my countrie a sheep to bleet, or a cock 
 to crow day, nor a house unruffled/ The Inverness garrison 
 and the local sconces ' preserved thousands of soules, men, 
 women, and children, who had recourse for safety to these 
 fortes to preserve their lives ; other way es all had perished 
 in the fury of this surprise and onesett.' ^ 
 
 For other local incidents of Montrose's war the reader 
 must be referred to Mr. James's pages— such as the plunder- 
 ings and burnings of Lord Lewis Gordon and his master 
 burner ; ^ Highland William sitting astride a barrel of ale, 
 defying the enemy and calling upon passers-by to drink to 
 the King ; ^ Montrose and Middleton watching each other 
 for days from the opposite banks of the Beauly ; Dochma- 
 luag's attempt to seduce the Frasers ; ^ the meetings of 
 Colkitto and Foiness over a bottle of fraternity between 
 their rival camps ; ^ the mutiny of the Inverness Covenanters, 
 during which our author was bespattered with blood — and 
 the consequent surrender of the town to the Mackenzies and 
 the Mackays ; ^ the haughty conduct of those clans on their 
 march to Balvenie, when they would not eat without airgiod 
 cagainn, or chew money, and their miserable return, when 
 they were glad to lap water like dogs ; ^ the betrayal of 
 Montrose, and his appearance and bearing as he journeyed 
 southward to his doom.^ 
 
 1 P. 315. 2 3J3, 3 p. 314, 4 p, 316, 
 
 5 P. 325. 6 p. 329. 7 p. 337. 8 Pp. 339^ 340. 
 
 ^ P. 352 <?/ seg. It is the part taken by Inverness in Montrose's war that is. 
 probably referred to in the ' Prophesie made before the situatioune of Invernes,' 
 
"xxiv 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 The defeat at Carbisdale and the death of the great 
 
 Royalist leader were severe blows to the friends of Charles ii. ; 
 
 but, when his Majesty landed at Garmouth in June 1650, he 
 
 was still welcomed by the Scottish people. The incident of 
 
 the old Earl of Southesk drinking deocJi-an-doruis with him 
 
 illustrates the homely warmth of that welcome.^ The battle 
 
 •of Dunbar was another terrible blow ; but the Highland 
 
 chiefs continued to send their best men to carry on the 
 
 struggle. Mr. James beheld and admired the Highlanders of 
 
 Strathnaver, Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross, as they marched 
 
 southward through his parish. The Master of Lovat mustered 
 
 the men of the Aird, Stratherrick, and Abertarff at Tomna- 
 
 hurich, and, in April, four hundred of them marched south, 
 
 ' without rant or vanity, as pretty men as went from the 
 North.'2 
 
 In the camp at Tor wood the royal army had a pleasant 
 time. Charles was merry and gracious, and he gratified the 
 Highlanders especially by calling them ' the flower of his 
 forces.'' Competitions took place, at which Axell, Lord Home's 
 servant, was declared to be the best trumpeter, and the Earl 
 •of Sutherland's ' domestick,' the best piper. The King, 
 •observing old John MacCrimmon, the hereditary piper of 
 
 preserved in the collection of Gaelic poetry made by Macrae of Inverinate in the 
 seventeenth century {Reliquice Celtica, vol. ii. p. 90) : — 
 
 ' htvernish daill chlaisk 
 Dorire kaha tuirhghash, 
 i dig M'Pehaig i mach 
 Lea layn agas lea luhrick 
 Tiiitti ni Ghayle fna saigh 
 Ma voirlujnb toim nj hurich. 
 
 Inverness a-clashing [?] ! 
 
 A deadly battle will be fought, 
 
 In which MacBeth will come forth 
 
 With his blade and his mail ; 
 
 The Gael shall fall over one another 
 
 About the Bordland of Tomnahurich. ' 
 
 ^ P. 366. 2 Pp. 378-379. 
 
INTRODUCTION xxv 
 
 Macleod of Dunvegan, standing proudly in the midst of eighty 
 fellow-pipers, was informed, ' Sir, yow are our King, and 
 yonder old man in the midle is the Prince of Pipers.' 
 •Charles gave MacCrimmon his hand to kiss ; whereupon the 
 veteran played Thug mi pog do lamh an Righ, which has 
 •ever since been a favourite among lovers of the bagpipe — 
 
 ' Thug mi pog, is pog, is pog, 
 Gun d'thug mi pog do lamh mo righ ; 
 Cha do chuir gaoth an craicionn caorach 
 Fear a fhuair an fhaoilt ach mi. 
 
 ' I gave a kiss^ a kiss, a kiss, 
 A kiss I gave the royal hand ; 
 Who got such honour save myself 
 There is not piper in the land.' ^ 
 
 But these pleasant doings came to an end at Worcester, 
 ^'here there was great slaughter among the men of the kilt. 
 Many who survived were seized and transported to the 
 American plantations. Others were sent to Barbadoes, where, 
 a century later, their descendants may have exchanged tradi- 
 tions with the exiles of Culloden.^ Many more perished in 
 the attempt to reach their homes through an unfriendly 
 people, to whom they and their garb had been a terror, and 
 whose language they neither spoke nor understood. The 
 Commonwealth prevailed ; and such was the consternation 
 in the Lowlands that the clergy ' tooke the frey, and many 
 of them ran north to Inverness.'^ The ministers of the 
 parishes bordering on the Moray and Beauly Firths prepared 
 to seek shelter in the glens, and provided ' cloathes fitt for 
 their jurnay ' — trews, if not kilts.* They were, however, in 
 no danger. A marvellous peace suddenly fell upon the land. 
 
 ^ Fionn's Martial Music of the Clans, p. 123, where, as well as in Mansons» 
 Highland Bagpipe, p. 329, MacCrimmon's Christian name is given as Patrick. 
 
 ^ Pp. 388, 392. Certain exiles in Barbadoes married there notwithstanding 
 •that they left wives at home. — Records of Inverness and Dingwall, p. xliv. 
 
 ^ P- 392. P. 393. 
 
xxvi 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 ' All the North of Scotland are demure under a slavish calm^ 
 submitting their Voluntar unvoluntar necks to the present 
 swaying yock wreathed about their necks ' ; and so long as 
 the calm continued the Saxon soldiers who garrisoned Inver- 
 ness and the principal houses in the North did not harass- 
 pastor or people. 
 
 . The account of Colonel Fitch's English regiment in Inver- 
 ness — their sectarianism, and hangings to begin with ; ^ their 
 improvement during their ten years'* sojourn — 'they made 
 that place happy, and it made them so ' ; ^ their grief when 
 that sojourn came to an end ; * the glory of the citadel;^ 
 the imprisonment within its walls of chiefs and chieftains 
 who had hitherto been a law to themselves;^ the launching 
 of the first ship on Loch Ness ; the peace and prosperity 
 which had so strangely overtaken the Highlands — is a wonder- 
 ful story. 'It were a rant to relate what advantages the 
 country had by this regiment. Story may yet record it, but 
 r onely set down in the generall something of what I was 
 eyewitness.' ^ 
 
 One of these advantages, it has been thought, was that 
 the soldiers taught the inhabitants of Inverness English of 
 remarkable elegance and purity. 'The soldiers,' writes 
 Samuel Johnson, ' seem to have incorporated afterwards with 
 the inhabitants, and to have peopled the place with an 
 English race; for the language of this town has been long 
 considered as peculiarly elegant.'^ But is there reason to 
 suppose that the soldiers had themselves that elegance of 
 speech which they are said to have imparted to their children 
 and neighbours ? The rank and file were unlearned men, 
 drawn from all parts of England, and probably speaking as 
 r|;iany dialects as are still found between Northumberland 
 
 1 P. 396. 2 397^ 402. 3 447, 
 
 4 Ibid. ^ Pp. 399, 413. « Pp. 408, 416. 
 
 P. 415. ^ P. 416. . ^ Journey to the Western Islands. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxvii 
 
 and Devon. The elegance of the Inverness English in the 
 old days has been remarked by other travellers ; but its- 
 origin is to be found in the circumstance that the language 
 was acquired by a Gaelic-speaking people whose native tongue 
 was remarkably free from ' brogue ' or accent, not from 
 English or Lowland soldiers, but from educated school- 
 masters and good English books. ^ 
 
 The Highland chiefs who had supported Charles ii. were 
 taken bound by solemn bonds that they and their clans, 
 vassals, tenants, and servants should deport themselves- 
 peaceably under the government of the Commonwealth, and 
 should give all due obedience to the Lord Protector and his 
 successors ; and that they should not build houses of strength 
 on their lands, or suffer the enemies of the Commonwealth 
 to reside or remain within their bounds.^ These obligations 
 were respected so long as Cromwell lived, and the Highland 
 people enjoyed a greater measure of repose and security 
 under him than had been their lot for centuries. But the 
 king's Restoration was also the restoration of undesirable 
 customs ; and the bonfires which greeted the happy event 
 were the signal to many a veteran cattle-lifter, whose hand 
 had during the ' slavish calm ' nigh lost its cunning, to 
 resume the spirited work of harry and spuilzie. 
 
 How vigorously that work was carried on in the district 
 of Inverness during the years that immediately followed the 
 razing of the Citadel in 1662, the editor has had occasion 
 to tell elsewhere.^ As of old, it was connived at, if not. 
 encouraged, by the heads of the clans. ' The Lord Mack- 
 
 ^ Thomas Kirk, an Englishman who visited Inverness in 1677, wrote : 'All 
 in the town of Inverness do generally use that language [' Wild Irish' or Gaelic] 
 except some few of the better sort, that can speak Scottish.' — Tours m Scot/and^ 
 1677 and 1681, p. 28. 
 
 - See Tf-ansactions of the Gaelic Society of Jjtverness, vol. xiv. p. 74, for Glen- 
 garry's bond — an interesting specimen. 
 
 Urqtihart and Glenjfioriston, ^. 175. . . .'. 
 
xxviii 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 donel ' [Glengarry], remarks Mr. James, ' lives still at 
 Drakies, within a mile east from Inverness, and some do 
 construe that his stay there is to give the greater latitud to 
 his rude clan to sally out, sorn uppon, and pillage their 
 nighboures, for the Highlanders are now brakeing out to 
 prey uppon the Low Countries in robberies and depredations 
 everywhere ; the strick restriant which the English kept 
 uppon their necks being now taken off, there is no right 
 method as yet fallen uppon to punish or curb these ravage 
 courses at all/^ 
 
 The true Highland reaver had little in common with the 
 English highwayman, who made it unsafe for our author to 
 travel by land from London to Scotland,^ and whose demand 
 was, ' Your money or your life** ; and still less, perhaps, witk 
 the mosstrooper of the Borders, of whom it was sung : — 
 
 ' They spuilze puir men of their pakis. 
 They leif them nocht on bed nor bakis ; 
 Baith hen and cok, 
 With reil and rok, 
 The Lairdis Jok 
 All with him takis.' 
 
 Such petty larcenies were beneath the Northern cateran, 
 who was frequently the younger son of a laird or a large 
 tacksman, and who looked upon his profession as a gentle- 
 man^s calling, and upon a cattle-raid as legitimate warfare. 
 He stood high above the common masterful beggars whose 
 custom it was ' to sorrin from house to house, makeing merry 
 whilst provision lasts, and still carry the master of the last 
 house with them ; ^ and he was sometimes the protector and 
 supporter of the poor. Mr. James mentions several heroes 
 of the sort, but, being an inhabitant of the suffering 
 ' Low Countries,'' his references are neither generous nor 
 sympathetic. Mac Robert Straun, who flourished in the end 
 
 ' P. 457. 
 
 2 P. 428. 
 
 3 P. 205. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxix 
 
 of the sixteenth century, had eight hundred men under his 
 command, and ' all the Kingdom was afFraid of him.' In the 
 end he was seized, and executed at Perth ; while several of his 
 followers met the same fate at Inverness.^ The braggart 
 course of John Macleod, whose character was not worthy of 
 his standing as the Laird of Raasay^s brother, was brought 
 to a close at St. Bridget^s fair, Conon, in February 1597.^ 
 In the middle of the following century John Dow Gare — 
 Iain Dubli Cearr (Black John the Left-handed) — ' troubled 
 all the North with excursions, and never traveled without 20 
 stout fellowes attending him well armed, put a tax uppon 
 townes and villages as he went through, and made all compon 
 with him, bribing him with loane and soumes of mony.'^ 
 The most noted, however, of Mr. James's caterans was 
 Patrick Roy MacGregor, who, making the Cairn of Mounth 
 his haunt, kept the surrounding districts, including Moray, 
 Banff, Aberdeen, and Angus, in terror. The story of the 
 mock trial and the hanging of Alexander Lyon, and of 
 Patrick Roy's last fight, and death, is well told on pages 
 487-489. 
 
 Although Mr. James gives credit to the soldiers of the 
 Commonwealth for the undoubted benefits which they con- 
 ferred upon the North, the Restoration of the monarchy and 
 the establishment of Episcopacy were in his view an unmixed 
 blessing ; and he is unable to conceal the satisfaction with 
 which he spied Thomas Fitch, whom he had known in power 
 and grandeur as governor of Inverness and colonel of the 
 English regiment there, lurking in a private lane near 
 London Bridge, ' most dejected.' ' These happy changes 
 hath brought such snakes to skulc up and down the city 
 obscurly and in disguise.'* 
 
 Between the Restoration and the year 1674, when the 
 
 1 P. 129. 2 230. 3 p, 324. 4 p, ^28. 
 
x:xx 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Manuscript, as it has come down to us, closes, the author 
 <;hats and gossips about local events ; but of the tyrannical 
 proceedings in the Lowlands, which were undermining the 
 throne of the Stewarts, he has scarce a word to say. The 
 persecutions which disgraced the South did not much affect 
 or concern the North ; and he, at any rate, had no sympathy 
 for those ' wild and disaffected persons,"* ^ who were the 
 unhappy, but, in his estimation, deluded sufferers. 
 
 The Troubles, which began with Laud's Liturgy, and 
 may be said to have ended only with the establishment of 
 Presbyterianism after the Revolution, if not, indeed, with 
 Culloden, were heralded by strange and marvellous portents. 
 We have seen how the introduction of the ill-omened Red 
 Books was followed by the devastation of the fairest portions 
 of the Aird. As the Troubles developed, ' prodigious signs, 
 apparitions, spectraes, strange sights, were seen everywhere, 
 which presaged warr and revolutions, such as men fighting in 
 the aire, horse and foot, retreating, returning again, visibly 
 observed.' Ghostly armies, whose clothes and accoutrements 
 were plainly observed, went through their evolutions on the 
 hillside, and were taken for the forces of Montrose and 
 Colkitto ; ' yet all evanished again and again.' Two Kirk- 
 hill butchers, journeying to Inverness, found themselves 
 walking behind a spectre army, foot and horse, and heard 
 the rattling of their arms. Three men, who were known to 
 Mr. James, saw an army of marshalled horse and foot near 
 Beauly Ferry — ' the very collour of their horses and cloths, 
 kettledrums and ensigns, apparent, to the wonder and admira- 
 tion of many." On three several evenings two hosts fought 
 above Beauly, the glistening of their swords being seen by 
 men as they slashed at each other. Two great whales, one 
 representing the King and the other the Parliament, pursued 
 each other up the Beauly Firth until they both perished 
 
 1 P. 499. • ' 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxxi 
 
 on the shallow sands between Tarradale and Spittal.^ The 
 spring of Crois Beo — the Living Cross — near Beauly, ran 
 blood for three days ; and at the Virgin's Well at Kirkhill 
 men ' observed three ovall pieces of clotted bloud, as broad as 
 trenchers, flotting upon the water." ^ 
 
 The times were otherwise full of the supernatural. At the 
 battle of Blair-na-leine only four Frasers were left alive, 
 and the clan was saved from extinction by the providen- 
 tial circumstance that the widows of eighty of the fallen 
 heroes each ' brought forth a sone, and every one lived to be 
 ^ man.'^ When the tutor and ladies of Lovat sacrilegiously 
 attempted to remove the ancient Celtic bell of Kilchuimen, 
 Loch Ness, which in a previous age carried St. Columba'^s 
 coricle against the wind,^ lashed itself into a tempest, and 
 refused to be the bearer of the sacred relic : since which 
 the waters of the lake have been as good as medicine for 
 man and beast.^ Chancellor James Stewart was slain at 
 "Catslack, as he had been forewarned years before ; ^ and a 
 witch's warning was similarly fulfilled in the case of Sir 
 Lachlan Maclean.^ Second-sighted Donald Glashach saw 
 upon the shoulders of Lady Katherine Fraser the two lords 
 whom she was in the future to marry.^ Weird lights and 
 ^voices led to the discovery on the altar of Beauly Priory of 
 a, parchment written in Gothic characters, unfolding the fate 
 of the family of Lovat.^ A singular providence ruled the 
 proceedings, under the presidency of our author, for the 
 discovery of the murderer of Donald Mac William Chui ; 
 and, until he was found to be a woman, Paterson the 
 
 ^ At a later period the appearance of a great whale at Inverness was the pre- 
 cursor of the departure of the English garrison (p. 449). A sturgeon taken at 
 Drumchardny presaged death ; and three big whales taken at Ardersier were 
 followed by the accidental death of the Laird of Cawdor's brother (p. 443). 
 
 ^ Pp. 290, 291. ^ P. 138. Adamnan's St. Coluniba. 
 
 ^ P. 14.7. . ^ Pp. 197., 220. P. 233. 8 P. 284. 
 
 ^ P. 46S. . P. 516.* 
 
*xxxii 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Pricker was no doubt believed to be under divine guidance 
 in his search for witches.^ Even the storms had their element 
 of judgment. A wretched woman of Elgin, who blasphemed 
 when others prayed, was struck dead by lightning ; and a 
 Garmouth young atheist, who called upon the thunder to- 
 ' crack on and drown the corn the year as yow did fornyear,"* 
 met a similar fate. ' What dreadful! warnings are these,, 
 worthy to be regarded and recorded by all Christians ! ' ^ 
 
 The Polichronicon throws much light on the life of the 
 Highland chief of the olden time. His first duty, on coming 
 to his inheritance, was to make a progress through his estates,, 
 to ride his marches, to hold regality and baron courts, and 
 to settle tenants. On such occasions he was accompanied 
 by a strong body-guard — one hundred bowmen, for example, 
 when in 1589 the Tutor of Lovat visited Glenelg,^ and two- 
 hundred clansmen, besides strangers, when, fourteen years later,. 
 Lord Lovat made that journey to the same country which 
 occasioned such a ' take ' of herring that for many years 
 thereafter the people prayed, A Dhe, cuin a thig Mac-Shimi ?' 
 — O God, when will Lord Lovat come again ^ At the 
 baron courts rough justice was dispensed in civil and criminal 
 matters, and the tenants^ obligations were proclaimed — the 
 principal being to pay their rents in money or in kind, to 
 perfect themselves in the use of the bow, and, latterly, the 
 gun, and to protect the meiths and marches. According to 
 a Lovat maxim a gentleman^s first duty was to watch and 
 guard the chiefs territory, and * to live uppon the marches,, 
 skirts, and extremities thereof, to keep off theeves and 
 sorroners.'^ Alexander of Foiness, Colkitto's friend, fixed 
 a watch in the Heights of the Aird to keep back the sorners 
 and vagabonds who overran the Highlands, as they did the 
 Lowlands. ^ 
 
 1 P. 446. 
 
 * Pp. 221, 222. 
 
 ' P. 493. 
 ' P. 250* 
 
 P, 184. 
 « P, 328. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxxiii 
 
 The adjustment of boundaries was always a serious busi- 
 ness. In 1557 hundreds of armed Mackenzies and Frasers 
 met at Rheindoun over a dispute between their chiefs, and 
 a bloody conflict wa^prevented only by the good offices of 
 the Laird of Fowlis.^ At the settling of a march between 
 Mackenzie of Tarbat and Ross of Balnagown in 1664 eight 
 hundred Rosses appeared to support their chiefs claim. 
 ' Providence prevented a signall mischeefe that day.' ^ In 
 the same year there was a great congress at Inverness, at. 
 which a very old dispute between The Mackintosh and Lochiel 
 regarding their lands in Lochaber was closed. Mackintosh 
 was supported by a number of gentlemen, and by about five 
 hundred rank and file, who lay at the Haugh. Lochiel had 
 also his friends ; and his three hundred armed men lay about 
 Tomnahurich. ' Earth, water, aire, rebounded at the sound! 
 of bagpipes Martiall musick. At the sound of a trumpet 
 the meeting sits, at some distance, and my Lord Bishop of 
 Murray and the Laird of Alter, as arbitrators and trenchmen,. 
 passed betuixt them, and at last, the 3rd day, being 
 Thursday, maters were brought to an accommodation and 
 agreement, that it prevented litigation and cost in law.. 
 This was a noble sight of gallant gentlemen, and the clerg}^ 
 in decent grave garbs.' ^ 
 
 No opportunity was lost of displaying the chiefs ' tail." 
 When Queen Mary visited Inverness, she was met by the 
 Tutor of Lovat at the head of four hundred men.^ Later,. 
 Lovat met the Regent Moray at Inverness at the head of 
 two hundred gentlemen;^ and when, in 1661, the Fraser 
 chief returned from a visit to the South, he was met at the* 
 bridge-end of Inverness by sixty mounted gentlemen and six 
 hundred foot — our author being ' present at that pleasant 
 parade.' ^ 
 
 1 P. 179. P. 454. 3 Ibid. 4 P. 148. 5 P. 161. « P. 440. 
 
 c 
 
xxxiv 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Marriages, and the ' infers,'' or bringing home of the bride, 
 were also made the occasions of great gatherings. At the 
 wedding feast of Simon, Lord Lovat, and the daughter of the 
 Knight of Kintail, at Christmas 1589, ' the Yowell [Yule] was 
 royall and solemn, nothing wanting to make it a splendid 
 bridall, where all the clans in the North, in part or whole, 
 were concerned.^ This was followed by a ' great infare in 
 the house of Beauly — the ancient home of the Priory monks.^ 
 When in 1596 Lord Lovat brought home Lady Jean 
 Stewart, the young couple were attended by the prime and 
 flower of the Frasers of the shires of Inverness and Aberdeen. 
 They were also escorted by the Lairds of Mackintosh, 
 Kintail, Fowlis, Balnagown, and Cromartie, with their 
 retinues ; and the infer feast was ' sumptuous and extra- 
 vagant, for all maner of provision desireable that the King- 
 dom could afford.^ ^ The bringing home of Lord Leven's 
 daughter by the Master of Lovat, in 1642, was a triumphal 
 progress from Edinburgh to Inverness. Four hundred young 
 gentlemen met them at Inverness and conducted them to Lovat, 
 where the feast was ' splendid enugh."* ' Liquors of all sorts, 
 meat, mirth, musick, and good management of all things.'' ^ 
 The marriage and infer rejoicings continued for days. The 
 infer feast of the Earl of Sutherland and Lo vat's daughter, 
 in 1638, extended over eight days.* We learn something of 
 the manner in which the guests occupied the time from the 
 accounts of the wedding of Ross of Balnagown and Mary 
 Eraser of Lovat, in 1634, when, in allusion to the names 
 and native provinces of the young people, ' epithalamiums 
 and nuptiall panagiricks [were] made to the Rose and 
 Marigold, or the Rosemary of Murray and the Rosa solis 
 of Rosse," ^ and of the espousal of Sir Hugh Calder of 
 Cawdor to Lady Henrietta Stewart, in January 1662, at 
 
 . 1 P. 201. 2 224. 3 278. 4 p, 261. 5 P. 256. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 XXXV 
 
 which Mr. James was present. ' The gloves and contract 
 ribbans being distributed in state, we had a most solemn 
 feast, a wedding rather than a contract dinner. In the 
 afternoon the wits of the house gave anagrams and accros- 
 ticks in writ to the bride, and I judged Lovat gave the most 
 apposit of all, Henreta Stuart, an tru sweet hart : which, 
 with the accrosting pertinent verse, was applauded, the 
 bridgroome. Sir Hugh, the greatest poet in Murray, being 
 the most competent judge in that case. After a surfit of 
 sincere friendship and feasting, my Lord Lovat, the 4 day, 
 takes leave of the noble famely off Murray, and, in parting, 
 the finall complement was, my Lord Lovat takeing horse 
 rids up the Scale staires of Tarnaway, and in the great Hall 
 drinks the Kings health with sound of trumpet and pistoll 
 shot. The meanest drunk boales off wine, and snowballs 
 cast in for sugar ; and, after many a loath farwell, sounded 
 good night and God be with yow ! ^ -"^ 
 
 But it was at the funerals that the great display was 
 made. At that of Lord Hugh, who died in Mar, on 1st 
 January 1576, and upon whom the Gaelic elegy was com- 
 posed by Mactavish, the captain of Inverness Castle, upwards 
 of two thousand men convoyed the remains to Inverness. 
 ' In these rude times no such funerals ever known for 
 solemnity and magnificence.' ^ The funeral of the Lady 
 Lovat who died in 1636, and was buried in the then 
 newly finished ' Isle of Mons Mariae,' which still stands in 
 the old churchyard, was 'sumptuous and solemn.'^ In 
 1649 the great Covenanter, Sir James Fraser of Brey, had 
 ^ a most glorious funerall." ' The forces being here then 
 added very much to this show, haveing 13 trumpets sound- 
 ing at his interment in the Chappel of Kirkhill,' * that 
 is, the still standing ' Isle.' The Tutor of Lovat, who died 
 
 1 P. 452, .2 p. 175. 3 259. 4 348, 
 
xxxvi 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 in 1671, and on whom the Latin acrostic given on page 49 T 
 was made by the learned schoolmaster of Wardlaw, was 
 buried by torchlight. ' The grandeur and honorable conduct 
 of his burriall was exact in all things proper, with a vast 
 confluence of people, yet had not that show which it would 
 make were it in the day ; ^ and, next year, there were 
 present at Lord Hugh's burial, at which Mr. James officiated, 
 eight hundred horse, of which the town of Inverness con- 
 tributed sixty, and a large concourse of foot, of which the 
 Frasers numbered one thousand. Other chiefs and chieftains 
 were equally honoured in their last journey. Lord Lovat 
 attended The Chisholm's funeral in 1661 at the head of 
 eight hundred Frasers,^ and the funeral of Mackenzie of 
 Scatwell about the same time, at the head of one hundred 
 horse and five hundred foot.^ The bigger the muster the 
 greater the honour to the deceased ; and it is with a touch 
 of contempt that Mr. James, after recording the presence of 
 one thousand Rosses and six hundred Munroes at the funeral 
 of Sir Robert Munro of Fowlis, remarks, ' Seaforth came 
 there accompanied with a few horse, and no foote at all ; 
 and it is a thing I wonder off that nobleman that he makes 
 no figure at any time at burrialls.** * Mr. James'*s account 
 of the funeral of Fraser of Foyers in 1669 is picturesque. 
 ' My Lord Lovat, with many of his name, road over to 
 Urqhart, and was that night in Ballmackaan, Thomas 
 Grants house, who had married the Lady Glenmoriston,. 
 Culbokies daughter ; and sure her cheefe, with his train,, 
 were welcome to her. Here we leave our horse, and my 
 Lord, with many Grants, Cumings, Frasers, croassed the- 
 Lough Ness in 4 great boats, trumpets sounding, pipes play- 
 ing, with echoes rebounding, and convoying Foyers corps to- 
 his interment at Boleskin.' ^ 
 
 1 P. 496. 2 p. 444. 3 p. 447. 4 p, 475, 5 p, 484^ 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxxvii 
 
 Mr. Jameses pages throw considerable light on the domestic 
 arrangements of the old Highland chiefs. At Lovat there 
 was the major domo ov fear-an-tigh^ the chief gentleman, the 
 chaplain, the musician, the butler or steward, the wardrobe 
 woman, and grooms, pantryboys, cooks, and other menials.^ 
 The musical instruments were the trumpet, the great pipe, 
 the harp, the virginal, and the fiddle.^ Of flesh, fish, and 
 fowl there was no lack. Venison and other game were 
 abundant. Ale and aqua vitae were brewed at home, and 
 large quantities of wine were imported from France in ex- 
 change for the salmon of the Beauly.^ When health failed, 
 the doctor was called in. A branch of the great Highland 
 family of physicians, the Beatons or Macbeths, was settled in 
 the Aird. The Beaton doctors are known in history as early 
 as the reign of Robert ii., and as late as the eighteenth 
 century — their principal spheres being Islay, Mull, Skye, and 
 Sutherlandshire.* At what time they settled in the Fraser 
 country it is perhaps impossible to say ; but under the year 
 1589 our author records that they, along with the Race of 
 the Physician — their own blood, no doubt — and another sept 
 nicknamed the Race of the Mouse, had possessed a very old 
 davach in Glenconvinth, 'time out of mind.'^ In 1558, 
 one of them, James Beaton, attended Lord Lovat, whom he 
 ' transported to the Isle of Agis [Aigas] to a milk dyet and 
 for a frie aire.^ ^ This Beaton was known as Tolly Mullach 
 — An t-Ollamh Muileach, the Mull Doctor — showing that 
 he was of the noted physicians of that island. The race 
 declined in the Aird, and before the end of the sixteenth 
 century one of them, John M'Klich — John, son of the 
 
 ^ Pp. 245, 268. 2 pp 265, 483, 502. 3 Pp. 217, 218, 245. 
 
 ^ For notes on the history and Gaelic medical manuscripts of this remarkable 
 family, see the following articles in the Caledonian Medical Journal : by Dr. 
 H. C. Gillies, April 1902 ; by Professor Mackinnon, July 1902 ; by Dr. 
 George Mackay, October 1904. 
 
 5 P. J85. 6 P. 145.. 
 
xxxviii 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Doctor — who kept Lord Lovat's flocks, got into trouble 
 by helping himself to his master's muttons, and was saved 
 from punishment by his wit and skill in archery.^ By 
 1622 they probably ceased to practise the healing art, for 
 in that year Dr. Lovell, from Perth, attended Sir Simon 
 of Inverallochy at Dalcross, and 'had his feares of spells/^ 
 In 1636 a vile Irish varlet, vulgarly termed Doctor Sholes, 
 practised medicine in the Highlands, with disastrous results 
 to his patients.^ 
 
 But the people of the old days lived an active, open- 
 air life, and consequently seldom troubled the doctor. The 
 chase was their great recreation. The weaker sex frequently 
 joined in the sport ; and it was one of the ladies of Lovat 
 who cleared of wolves the mountain range of Caiplich, lying 
 between Loch Ness and the Aird.* At a hunting which 
 Lord Lovat had in Glenstrathfarrar in 1592 there was a 
 ' vast row, accompanied with 2 lords and 6 barrons, with 
 all their trains." ^ Next year he gave the Earl of Atholl 
 'hunting and sport fit for a King."^ In 1642 the Master 
 of Lovat and his bride, Anna Leslie, and a large number 
 of gentlemen, with about three hundred men in arms, had 
 'princly sport' in the forest of Killin — wilds whose old shieling 
 songs are still sung beside the peat-fires of Stratherrick.^ At 
 a great hunt in the forest of Monar in 1655, between six 
 hundred and seven hundred deer were sighted, and sport was 
 obtained ' fitter for kings than country gentlemen.' ^ Mr. 
 James was there, and so were two English gentlemen from 
 the Inverness garrison, who declared ' that in all their travels 
 they never had such brave divertisement, and if they should 
 relate it in England it would be concluded meer rants and 
 incredible.' 
 
 1 P. 164. 
 5 P. 219. 
 
 2 p. 246. 
 ^ P. 220. 
 
 3 p. 258. 
 7 P. 279. 
 
 4 p. no. 
 8 P. 416. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xxxix 
 
 There was in the old days much training of young men 
 in archery and other manly exercises. Lord Hugh, who fell 
 at Blair-na-leine in 1544, ' tooke pleasur to train his men 
 exactly at sword and bow, the onely arms then in use.' ^ 
 His grandson was noted for his skill in ' arching, either at 
 huts, bowmarks, or roaving.' Through his example ' all the 
 country turnd expert in arching, and the very sheepherds^ 
 could not want their bow, it being the onely arms in vogg, 
 and he oblidged every parish to have their bowmarks, and 
 set dayes of game, and himselfe went in circuit to see it put 
 in practice, and was present with them frequently. He was^ 
 a great wrestler and swimmer and jumper, nay, there was 
 gallant, manly exercise, but he used and brought all his. 
 young men to the dayly practise of.' ^ He also encouraged 
 football, putting the stone, throwing the bar, and tilting ; 
 and as a horseman he astonished the country by leaping*^ 
 over the rock of Clachnaharry. ' There the print and im- 
 pression of his horse shoes was noticed and kept clean by 
 a certain man for a yearly pension, and severals cam to 
 view the feat.'^ After the Castle of Inverness was placed 
 under his charge, in 1574, he had the young men of the 
 district 'dayly exercised upon the levell of the Castle-hill, 
 or down in the Links, by one Lieutennant Thomas Cerr, a 
 townsman and my Lordships own domestick servant, an 
 expert soldiour, bred abroad in the warrs of France and 
 Flanders.'* His successor, Lord Simon, while living at 
 Meikle Garth in Stratherrick, ' keept a weekly muster of 
 his men, training them to arching, hagbuting, jumping, 
 wrestling, putting the stone, throwing the barr, and all 
 manner of manly exercise.'^ We have already seen how 
 the young men of the North were trained for the wars of 
 Charles i. When, in 1669, the Lovat of the day paid a 
 
 ^ P. 129. 2 1^0^ 3 p, 165, 4 p, 171, 5 p, 255. 
 
xl 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 visit to Lord Reay in Strathnaver, the Mackay chief con- 
 trived all manner of sport and recreation for his brother 
 peer — ' sometimes out at sea in berges afishing, sometimes 
 haukeing and hunting, sometimes arching at buts and bow- 
 marks, jumping, wrestling, dancing — for my Lord [Lovat] 
 had his trumpeter, Hans Adam, and his expert fidler, Hugh 
 Chisholm, with him.' The visit was closed with superb 
 sport in the Reay Forest — * the finest and richest forest in 
 the kingdom for deer and reas/ Reay made Lovat a gift 
 of a curious, curled, black, shelty horse (probably a Shetland 
 pony), several firelocks, bows, and a sword ; while Lady Reay 
 presented him with 'a plaid all of silk, party colloured, her 
 own work, and a pare of truse of the same, neatly knit, and 
 a dublet of needlework.''^ 
 
 Horse-racing was also encouraged. The Lovat of the 
 Clachnaharry feat * at races often road horse, tint and wan 
 the prize." ^ For years races were annually run round the hill 
 of Tomnahurich, in which the peers and chiefs of the North 
 rode their own horses. They were discontinued during the 
 period of the Commonwealth, but were after the Restoration 
 re-established in their ' prestin consistancy.** The meeting 
 at Tomnahurich on 24th and 25th May 1662 was a great 
 affair. Earls, chiefs, barons, and a great concourse of country 
 people attended. 'The Provost and Magistrates of Inver- 
 ness, with the citizens, came in procession over the bridge to 
 their bounded march, and, with the usual ceremony, hung 
 the silver cup with blew ribbons uppon the hookes off the 
 painted port, the Sadie and the Sourd set uppon the top of 
 it." On the first day the cup, valued at ^7 sterling, and the 
 saddle, valued at £S, were won by Lord Lovat. On the 
 second. Bailie Fraser, one of the magistrates of the burgh, 
 carried the cup and sword, and the Laird of Grant there- 
 
 \ P- 483. 
 
 2 165. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xli 
 
 upon purchased his horse for ^13. The Magistrates 'gave 
 the nobles a sumptuous treat ; and men of judgment were 
 of opinion ' that if this race at Inverness were incurraged and 
 well mannaged, in process of time it would come litle short, 
 if not equal, Couper or Cavertonedge.** ^ For generations 
 races continued to be held — somewhat spasmodically, it is 
 true — in the neighbourhood of Inverness. After a long 
 period of suspension they were a few years ago re-established 
 at Dunain. 
 
 We gather a little from Mr. James about education in 
 the past. Among the institutions to which Highland boys of 
 position resorted before the Reformation for educational pur- 
 poses were the religious houses of Beauly, Rosemarkie, Fearn, 
 Kinloss, Kingussie, and Ardchattan. Early in the fourteenth 
 •century Lord Lovat's sons are said to have been educated at 
 Beauly.^ ' In that monastery, after the death of Prior 
 Duelius [Dugald] Mathison, succeeded William Cuming 
 prior, a man of great parts and noble descent, sone of the 
 Earl of Buchan, kept an academy for training youth in the 
 monastery at Beuly.' ^ Until the Reformation the Priory 
 continued to play an important part in the mental training 
 of the young.* Prior Dawson, who flourished in the early 
 part of the sixteenth century, and who invented the still 
 well-known parting drink Deoch-an-donm, was ' a man whose 
 hospitality was generally known, and most oblidging in educat- 
 ing gentlemen's children in the pryorie.'^ But these good 
 deeds did not save the ancient institution when the storm 
 of the Reformation burst. Lord Lovat and the High Chief 
 of Kintail had an amusing race to Edinburgh for the Priory 
 lands. ^ Lovat won, and they are still possessed by his 
 -descendants. 
 
 After the Reformation Highland gentlemen received their 
 
 ' Pp. 447-9- 
 4 Pp. 107, 147. 
 
 2 P. 76. 
 5 P. 124. 
 
 3 P. 81. 
 
 6 Pp. 161-6., 
 
xlii 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 early education at the grammar-school of Inverness, whence 
 
 they went to the university of Aberdeen or St. Andrews.^ 
 
 Parish schools were slow to appear in the North, but there 
 
 was one in Kirkhill at a comparatively early period, and it 
 
 prospered during our author's incumbency.^ 
 
 The following, among many occurrences mentioned by 
 
 our author, need only be referred to here : the meeting of 
 
 Macbeth and the weird sisters at Cullyburn, near Forres ; ^ 
 
 the destruction of the old bridge of Inverness — ' the famousest 
 
 and finest off oak in Brittain ' — by Donald of the Isles, and 
 
 the burning of the town;^ the discovery of a treasure trove 
 
 at Beauly, and its fatal consequences ; ^ the building of 
 
 Captain Scot's great ship at Inverness, and his exploits 
 
 with her against the Turks ;^ the strange plague among 
 
 the horses of Abriachan ; the fall of Inverness Bridge;^ 
 
 the feud between Glenmoriston and Inshes, and the burning 
 
 of the barns of Culcabock ; ^ the Keppoch murder the 
 
 capture of the Dutch ship Phoenix^ and the career of her 
 
 captain. Sir Andrew Forrester ; the fatal Battle of the 
 
 Cheese at Inverness ; and the drowning of the Laird of 
 
 Raasay and twenty-six followers, a fatality which drew forth 
 
 from the Macleod bardess one of our earliest surviving 
 
 Gaelic elegies, and from MacCrimmon, a noted lament.^^ 
 
 The drowning was at the time attributed to witchcraft,^* 
 
 but, says our author, ' drunkness did the mischeife.' Master 
 
 Gilbert Marshall's rhyme on the 'fatal year,' 1666, may 
 
 also be quoted : — 
 
 ' In this instant year you 'le see a great wonder. 
 Sex shall chase sexty, and sexty sex h under ! ' 
 
 - Pp. 242, 257, 260, 349, 379. 
 
 2 Pp. 489, 497 ; Inverness and Dingwall Records ^ pp. 80, 108. 
 
 3 P. 34. ^ P. 95. 5 268-270. 6 297. 
 7 P. 444. 8 p. 455. 9 Pp. 453, 455. 10 p. 461. 
 
 " P. 478. 12 p, 479. 13 p. 498. 
 
 Stewart's Lectui'es on the Mountains^ p. 192. 
 15 P.. 499. . 16 p. 464. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 xliir 
 
 Much more historical grain will be found in the volume, 
 mixed with a good deal of legendary chaff. But the reader 
 will himself do such further winnowing as he may find neces- 
 sary ; and he will not forget that even chaff has sometimes 
 its value. He will perhaps find amusement if not instruc- 
 tion in Mr. James's origins of surnames and names of places. 
 
 Two errors, if not more, have crept into the footnotes. 
 The old forest of Corricharby (p. 84) lay partly in Urray,, 
 but chiefly in the parish of Kilmorack. Ferry Unes (p. 406) 
 is not identical with Unapool Ferry, but is at the mouth 
 of the Fleet, near Golspie. 
 
 The editor has already expressed his obligations to Sir 
 Keith Fraser, Sir William Augustus Fraser's Trustees, and 
 Miss Hilda Paterson. He has also to thank Dr. Alexander 
 MacBain and Mr. W. J. Watson, Inverness, for suggestions 
 in connection with old and obscure place-names ; Mr. A. 
 Francis Steuart, Mr. W. B. Blaikie, Mr. Peter Macintosh,. 
 Inverness, and the Rev. C. D. Bentinck, minister of Kirkhill,, 
 for general help ; and Mr. Mill for the exhaustive Index. 
 Dr. Law, the editor's friend for a quarter of a century, is 
 now beyond the reach of this acknowledgment of the warm 
 interest which he took in the Wardlaw Manuscript. 
 
 WILLIAM MACKAY. 
 
 Craigmonie, Inverness 
 Christmas 1904. 
 
A Catollogue of Manuscripts being bookes 
 bound written and Hilled^ Be Master James 
 Fraser Pastor Montis Marise. In divers 
 volumns ab anno 1660» 
 
 1. The Survy of antiquity a manuscript in 4°. Written 1660. 
 
 2. Church History to century IS in 4°. Written 1665. 
 
 3. Triennial Travels, Part 1. in 4° dedicat to Mr. Al. Symur. 
 
 4. Triennial Travels, Part 2. in 4° dedicat to Lo. Lovat. 
 
 5. Triennial Travels, Part 3. in 4°. 
 
 6. The History of Britain to 1678, 4". 
 
 7. Meditations Moral, Divine, &c. in 4 4° dedicat to 
 
 Margret Symmur. 
 
 8. Funerall Sermons in 3 Tract, in 4°, dedicat to Mr. 
 
 Alexander Symmur. 
 
 9. Sermons preacht at Synods,in 4°,dedicat to Bishop Atkins. 
 
 10. Sermons uppon the Sacrament, 4°. 
 
 11. Sermons misselany on several texts, 4°. 
 
 12. Wiridarium Wardlaense Herbal., 4°. 
 
 13. Woorlds worthies. Tomb, i., in 4°, dedicat to Lo. Lovat. 
 
 14. Worlds worthies. Tomb. 2, in 4°. 
 
 15. Frasers Familiars Volum of letters, 4°. 
 
 16. Providentia passages of Provid. 4^, Tom. i. 
 
 17. Providentia passages of Provid. 4°, Tom. 2. 
 
 18. Christian Policy, T. i., in 4°. 
 
 19. Calendarium Catholicum in 4°. 
 
 ^0. Hibernilogia a volum of Irish verse, 4®. 
 
 21. An Irish Dictionary, in 4°. 
 
 22. Polichronicon, a General Geneology, in folio, Writen 1666 
 
 dedicat to Lo. Lovat. 
 
 23. Festival Sermons, in 4°. 
 
 24. Sermons of Humiliation, in 4°. 
 
 25. A of Sermons for the King, 4°. 
 [26.] Ministers Mirrour on Thes. 2, 7, 4°. 
 
 27. Lumbard, a book of sentences, 4°. Writen 1676. 
 
 ^ Hilled = covered, 
 xliv 
 
A CATALOGUE OF MANUSCRIPTS xlv 
 
 28. A volumn of epigrams epitaphs anagrams in folio. 
 
 29. A collection of songs and sonets, in folio. 
 
 30. A booke of Jests, Ralleries, in folio. 
 
 31. A booke of Profaces [Prophecies.], 4°. 
 
 32. Natures Treasur trjed, 4°. 
 
 33. Privacy preferrd to Publick, in 4°, dedicat to Mr. John 
 
 Fraser. 
 
 34. Itinerarium Scripturae, in 4°. 
 
 35. Theologia Cathollica, in 4°. 
 
 36. Homolies and exercises Theological, 4°, dedicat to Writen 1670, 
 
 Mr. G. Symmur. 
 
 37. A Dyary of Weather Contingencies, in 4°. 
 
 38. Anthologia his own life, in 4^. 
 
 39. Sermons upon the Lords Prayer. 
 
 40. Sermons upon the Creed. 
 
 41. Sermons upon the Commands. 
 
 42. Institutio Puerorum, instructions for Children. 
 
 43. CatoUogue of Bookes, 4^. 
 
 44. Penitent Prodigal, Luke 15, 4*^. 
 
 45. Fruitless Figtree, Luke 18, 4^. 
 
 46. Bill of Mortality, 4^, containing all yt died Natives 
 
 and Strangers in 46 years. 
 
 47. Catechumenoi, L. i., ah amio 1663 to anno 1683, twenty 
 
 yeares, inclusively. 
 
 48. Catechumenoi, L. 2, ab anno 1684 to anno 1700, sexteen 
 
 yeares. 
 
 49. Catechumenoi, L. 3, ah anno 1700. 
 
 The Benefit of these bookes is this to know exactly what 
 Heretor, tacksman, tenant, Master, servant man or 
 Maid, child or stranger, happened to live In every town 
 and famely within Wardlaw Parish since Anno 1662. 
 
 50. Nomenclatura ; calling and describing the and 
 
 Name of Countries, Cities,townes, villages, hills, dales. 
 Rivers, Mountains, Churches in all the Kingdom. 
 
 [51.] Index Universalis; containing a catollogue of Em- 
 perors Popes Kings of Europ Common walths &c. 
 
 [52.] Chirurgo Modicus including experiments of phisickand 
 chirurgery. 
 
 [53.] Vade mecum ; misselany. 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU POLICRATICA 
 TEMPORUM 
 
 many Histories In One, or nearer, 
 THE TRUE GENEALOGY OF THE ERASERS 
 Shouing clearlie their original rise in France under 
 CAROLUS II EMPEROUR 
 
 Anno creationis mundi 4874 Incarnationis Xristi 916 
 With their translations thenc and setlment in Scotland 
 under and in the reign off King Malcolm II in anno D. 1057 
 
 with their entry to and right in the Lordship of Twadal 
 more particularly the Kings donation and possession to & of 
 
 THE LORDS FRASERS OF LOVET 
 under King Alexaander the Second anno 1250 
 With their several successive matches, branches, allyes, 
 contemporary Kings, clans, countries, abyes, churches, convents, 
 changes, contingencies, alterations of government in Church &; 
 State, Popes, Princes, prelats, regents, conflicts, and battles intestin, 
 conflicts and Invasions, Purged off* error & Phoppish tradition 
 and writen in one Volume, By a lover of truthe & antiquity 
 
 Master James Fraser, Ecclesiastes Montis Marise. 
 
 Historici est, ne quid falsi audeat dicere, ne quid veri noii audeat. 
 
 Polybius in v. 2. 
 Gentium nunc floret fortuna, nunc senescit, nunc interiit. 
 
 Mat [? Paterculus ii. 11.] 
 Illi mors gravis incubat qui notus nimis omnibus, ignotus moritur sibi : 
 Nec potest quisquam beate degere^ qui se tantum intuetur ! 
 
 Senec. Epist. 48. 
 
 Entered and begun at the desire of The H. F R. 
 anno aerae Christianse — 1666. 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU POLICRATICA 
 
 TEMPORUM 
 
 PREFACE AND EPISTLE LIMINAllY 
 
 Genealogy and antiquity is the glory of a name or nation, y^veaXoyia 
 and seing nighbours and conatives seldom or never agree in Sermo de^o'ng- 
 the decision of what is debeatably controverted as to the ["o^fs^"^'^^' 
 originall antiquity and continued line of their own, much lesse 
 of our name and famely, it is most just that we all rest in the 
 determination of learned knoweing strangers who were exact 
 and impartiall antiquaries amongst us, for no history admits 
 nor requires a mathematical or legall proofe, but rests satisfied 
 with such moral certanty as is inferred from probable tradi- 
 tion, old manuscripts, credible historians, and persuasive 
 reasone, a proofe sufficient in such cases. 
 
 The Annals of our monks is a very good historicall founda- 
 tion to owre own history in lustur and splendour to all 
 succeeding generations and posterity. That we have a 
 vitum dominiu7n, a right conveyed to us by our ancesters, for 
 400 yeares preceeding anno 1650 bypast, and, Jtire prisco, 
 now ancient posesors here in the North of Scotland, and 
 tearmed Erasers of Lovat, by an uninterrupted succesion 
 from father to sone, never falling to a daughter or collaterall 
 line dureing the aforsaid space, is unquestionably evinced^ 
 and that in a punctuall, methodicall directory and description, 
 deduceing the true chronology or chronologicall legend, 
 pedegry, and lineal descent of the most honorable and ancient 
 famely of the Erasers of Lovat, without breach, or conveyance 
 to collaterall lines, nor femalls to bring in strangers, con- 
 tinuing in a streight and evin line, course, and trackt of 
 succession untill our dayes, from Sir Simon Eraser * 7e»^apxi's 
 Genearcha or cheefe of all that stock. And now, although cepT'^^ ^'^'"^ 
 
2 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 in processe of time the ancient Lord Fraser of Kinell and 
 Olivercastle (so tearmed) liis famely be decayed time out of 
 mind, we have set up a genarchy by ourselves, and, by the 
 ordinary rules of heraldry, our very armes do sufficiently 
 declare our cadency; the ancient arms of the house very 
 single, viz. three Phreezes, and, the interest of Lovat being 
 the King's immediat donation, he added three crownes^ to 
 make up a compleit shield and coat of armes to the Lord 
 Fraser of Lovat, to distinguish him from other famelys of the 
 name, such as the Thane of Coy, Dorris, Philorth, etc. Of old 
 and yet in our Irish [Gaelic] language, the Lord Lovat is called 
 MackHimy [Mac Shimi] i.e. the sone of Simon, and this for the 
 more quick and expedit delivery in the vulgar expression of 
 those who, without regard to true syrnames, are pleased to 
 design men by their patronymicall titles, a scurvy custom too 
 much cherrished in many parts of both Scotland, England, and 
 Wales, with their Macks, Aps, Fils, and Sones, etc., so that 
 under tlie designation of Mack before the name, as Mackdonald, 
 Mackdugal, Mackleud, M'Klean, Mackenzie, Mackinnon, etc. 
 which, either at christnings or lustrations, have been accord- 
 ingly given to their ancestoures of the male kind, for which 
 translatitiously both in England and Low Countries of Scot- 
 land we, by an inveterat custome derived from thence, doe say 
 as yet Anderson, Jameson, Johnsone, Donaldsone, Davison, 
 Robertson, Watson, Williamson, etc., and, vicecognomentally 
 distinguishing such persones by an especial syllable in the 
 reer of the word that represents the syre or progenitor, nott 
 much unlik the manner of the Greekes, whose fashion it was 
 to denominat the successores of Eacus Eacides, of Hercules 
 Herculides, Philippus Philippides, and such like patronimicalls. 
 Certain it is that our corrupted Diminutives of Hutchies, 
 Petries, Jamies, Wats, Willies, Renies, Norries, etc., and many 
 mo mongrels, have creept in among us thus. 
 
 It is beyond peradventur that the history of our nation was 
 first preserved by the Druids in time of paganism, and those 
 used to transmitt the historys of their own time in verse, 
 which was taught by them to their schollars, and those Druids, 
 being converted from the Pagan religion, whereof they were 
 then the priests, becam our first monks, being thereto much 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 3 
 
 inclined by the severity of their former disciplin, as the 
 Therapeutae did for the same reason become the first anchorits 
 in ^^gypt, so that it was easy for them to inform the monas- 
 teries of what they knew so well of former times. And also, 
 as the history of this nation was preserved by our priests and 
 churchmen Christians, so our churchmen the monachi ValUs 
 Collium of Beuly, to oblidge our lords under whom and upon 
 whom and our people amongst whom they lived, by writing 
 their annalls, actings, and genealogies, the deat of our lords 
 hurried and interred within their church and charnels, of which 
 they keept bills of mortality. 
 
 That sure we were very early Lords and great benefactors 
 to the church, we had our ancient history recorded and 
 written very acuratly by our churchmen, besids that which 
 we warrantably pretend to have been transmitted to us by 
 tradition, and the charters, contracts, and services of our lords 
 successively entered. And each monastery had three bookes, 
 the one called their Register or Chartularium^ containing the 
 records and rights relating their privat securities and mortifi- 
 cations ; the 2 was their Consistoriall Records of testaments, 
 confirmed onely of old witliin the Abby or priory and no 
 where else, for there were no commissary courts then ; the 3 
 was called their Codex Dkirnum or Diary, containing an exact 
 account of the most memorable things which occurred, con- 
 flicts, battles, sieges, death of great men, day, month and year, 
 as our Chronicles cite the Black Booke of Pasly and Liber 
 Pliiscardensis on such heads. Of the later I saw an old Anno 1440. 
 manuscript of an old date, Scriptum Bimchrivice, beareing the 
 exact date of the death of all our lords and gentlemen for ^00 
 yeares, for by tradition among us there was a cell at Bunch- 
 rive [Bunchrew, near Inverness] of heremits, of which I saw 
 some vestige, and the cawsay from the high road down to it ; 
 and who will question but these devout men, leadeing a recluse, 
 monastick life, haveing no occasion to be diverted, nor cause 
 to be corrupted, wrot ingenuously and without by ass, ex 
 incorrupta ajinalium Jide ? 
 
 He that hath the bloud and spirit of his ancestors running 
 in his veines cannot be so much turned into a statue or idle 
 spectator, to stand still and admire the different fortunes, this 
 
4 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 man's greatness or that man's lowness, so as not onely to 
 reflect on tlie tributary brooks of the former matches of a 
 noble famely, but also to looke to mater of fact, what our 
 predecessors have been, as well as what ourselves at present 
 are, lest, falling short of the imitation of their immortall 
 actions, we so strangly degenerat as not to understand what 
 we ourselves ought to be. The clear fontain, flowing from the 
 true nobility, of late being so disturbed, it is the office of an 
 honest and true historian, if not his duty, to have so much of 
 the herald as to register the descents, issues, worthy acts, 
 atchievements, managements, of our of late so litle imitated 
 Now degenerat ancestors ; of the several alterations in nobility we may observe 
 into D . . • principal actors on the theatre of great families, the 
 
 beginner, advancer, and ruiner; in all these our uncivil 
 troublesome times we have heard of more of the later than of 
 the other two, and truly it is no less than a prodegy that our 
 Scots gentlemen should of late be more exact and reflned in 
 knoweing the religion, lawes, government, genealogies, and 
 fashions of forreign countries than of their own wherein them- 
 selves are natives, wliich caused a deserving pen to sigh out 
 this expression — What pity is it for a proper gentleman to 
 have such a crick in his neck that he cannot so much as look 
 over his shoulder to know his own history, much lesse so farr 
 behind him on actions so long since performed, and so under- 
 Quid noscis si crQQ the blot of being perep'riims domi, and which is worse * 
 
 teipsum riescis. . o / o 
 
 se nescire. 
 
 Some men are so churlish they will not hear of genealogy 
 lest thereby yow reckon some relation to them and thereby be 
 a burden uppon them, which is a base and peevish temper, 
 unworthy of a man, much lesse of a gentleman. Another 
 sort there be who are so cowardly that they had rather have 
 history hurried with them than that the least part of civil 
 truth should be writ whilst they live, as if they deserved no 
 chronicle or were onely to be suffered in libellous pamphlets 
 which wise men scorn to cast their eyes upon : as Cato to 
 Ego meis j?tajor- Catalin SO say I * Ego meis mqjoribus prceluxi tic tuos defamasti. 
 'l^xUu^uf'' A third I find invidious that any other should be the relator 
 vita i defamasti. gf genealogy and not themselves, and thinks therefor it cannot 
 be well done since not their own. The wirp of the poet is for 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 5 
 
 these — Carpej^e vel 7ioli nostra vel edo tiia. A fourth, blown 
 with emulation or contempt, loath and vexed to hear of the 
 extract and honour or antiquity of other famelies which their 
 own can never reach to nor equal, when enquiry is impartially 
 made into their descents and origen, of whom it would be 
 found true what the poet doth observe in such a case : — 
 
 Majorum primus quisquis fuit ille tuorum, 
 Aut pastor fait aut illad quod dicer e nolo. 
 
 The first of all their ancestors of yoore, 
 Was but a sheepherd, or I say no more. 
 
 A fifth sort, and of these not a few, will criticise and carpingly 
 enquire, Where be those old manuscripts on which we found 
 our antiquity ? Sure no man is curious to preserve any old 
 record after he has formed his history by it, or else no historian 
 could ever be secure, if the not being able to shew their 
 warrand after many ages might discredit their history. 
 
 A sext will charge us with vanity and singularity to vent 
 our genealogy as an unusuall thing. To answeir this cavil. 
 I want not precedents in the best authors I ever read for my 
 warrand, 1. If we run to the fountain, the pure oracles of 
 sacred scripture,^ where we shall find the booke of the genera- 
 tion of Adam to Noah, the genealogy of the sones bf Noah to Gen. 5. i. 
 Abi^aham, and of Abraham to Moses^ exactly doon by him- Gen. 10. 
 selfe, inspired by the Holy Ghost, nay a booke of the Chronicles 
 of the patriarchs, priests, prophets, princes of Israel, nay more, 
 a Roll or Register, a catalogue or kalender, cyphering and 
 summing up the genealogies of . our Blissed Saviour, Jesus 
 Christ, touching his humanity which S. Mathew and S. Luke 
 writs, the one his naturall the other his legall extract, 
 tearmed in the Hebrew Cepher Toledoth, or 97 /9tySXo9 
 
 yev€<T€co<; say the Septuagint. 2. We find the same practice 
 also among the historians of all ages, ancient and modern. 
 The Babilonians, the Persians, the Grecians, and Romans, 
 contended who should be exacted in it, if we consult 
 Steidanus qiiatuor summis hnperiis ; nay, the Egyptians were 
 so carefull to preserve their antiquities, genealogies and 
 monuments that they slighted the Grecians, accounting them 
 no better than children for their neglect herein. History is 
 
6 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the generall treasury of times past, present, and a lively patern 
 of things to come, as it is rightly tearmed the work mistress 
 of experience and mother of prudence, reinforcing antiquity 
 from her ruins, and make the gray head of time whit again ; 
 and what more noble than this, nay what more pleasant, than 
 to look back on that which is not, and make my fathers 
 grand-sire tell me what he did ; also to see and know the 
 glorious acts of our renouned ancestors and imitat them, 
 as Alexander did Achilles, Caesar Alexander, Themistocles 
 Meleciades, and Selimus, the great Turk, caused translat the 
 actions of Julius Caesar for his coppy, and Alexander Severus 
 consulted with the historians of his time that could inform 
 him of the famous acts of the heroes? Stephanus sayes that 
 Laertius wrot the lives of the Philosophers iii aureo illo libello, 
 in that golden booke of his age, non loquimur de Us quantum 
 dehemus sed quantum possiimus, we speak not of them so much 
 as we might but so much as we can. And Paterculus Sipio, 
 Aurilius his life and ancestors, also Lamprid, the life of 
 Severus the Emperour and his descent, Sir Thomas Moore 
 wrot the life of John Picus Mirandula, and haveing wrot it 
 lived it; as Constantius sones did their fathers, preaching 
 forth his praises in their perpetuall practice. What esteem 
 had Pompei the great for Theophanes for writing the worth 
 of the famelies of Home ; and Titus Vespasian for Joseph us, 
 though before he was his deadly enemy ; and what honour did 
 Julian the Apostat conferr uppon Aurelius Victor, the Roman 
 genealogist ? All those lye on record. 
 
 For my part I expect not, I desire not, I deserve no sucli 
 reckoning or reward for my paines, it being sufficient for me 
 that I have fuUfilled the desire of those whose breath can fill 
 my sailes and blow me where they list; their request is my 
 rule and their command my conduct in maters of higher con- 
 sequence— sequi tarn velle mihi quam posse necesse est. 
 And thus — Non perdam prcemium tanto lahore qucesitum. 
 Meanwhile, in the whole course, my conscience cleares and 
 acquits me of partiality, credulity, vanity or flattery, so that 
 in frameing this tabula gentis, I fetcht not any feud, fabelus 
 antiquity, or traditional fables, it being below my spirit and 
 genius, and derogatory to the great subject, to depend upon 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 7 
 
 frivolus vagnes. And, as it is not my custom to condemn 
 another man's well meant design, so nor commend my own, 
 but refers it wholly to the examination, correction, censur, 
 and test of those who gave it birth and being. 
 
 And, as to the undertaking, I am not unacquainted that 
 judgement and signalised impartiality eternises an historian. 
 That oyl is judged the best that hath no tast, that author 
 should be the most preferred that hath the least tangue of 
 interested affections, considering the critical times we live in — ■ 
 Tempora novissima omni modo pessima — Some compatriot 
 clanes I know cope and compeat with their fellow collonies, 
 and that not onely in comparisones but disparisones and 
 derisiones ; yet, after search and inquery, I find nothing of 
 those recorded in story, but for villany, disloyalty, and mis- 
 cheefe. Others there are whom history thought not worthy to 
 name, or so much as mention; yet who will more vainely bragg 
 of their own antiquity then those ? But let them first agree 
 among themselves at home as to their originall and lineal 
 succession, or they come abroad to impose an implicit credulity 
 on others, and then I shall agree and concent to give them 
 some credit ; till then prohlema esto, for in such cases I am 
 still a 71071 liquet. 
 
 I could also condescend upon clans and famelies who now, 
 though great and numerous, yet have been mean and few for 
 a while, and fell upon no other course to advance their 
 interest and enlarge their territories but by force and fraud, 
 sword and scourge, expelled and disspossesset their nighboures 
 that themselves might succeed, like Ahab to Naboth's vinyard, 
 useing Matchavils maxim divide and impera^ divide and destroy, 
 and so raised themselves upon the ruins of others, quhom 
 they cruelly disspatcht, and so came in upon their breaches, 
 and may fear — dum peritura parcis per male partu peris. But 
 this honorable famely began great, remains so, and which 
 for 16 several descents and some hundereds of yeares have 
 continued in the same stay of estate, not incroaching upon 
 nighboures, nor acquireing ane foot of land either by match, 
 purchase, extortion, circumvention, or fraud, or any indirect 
 paction, gift or other wayes, to their ancient patrimonies. A 
 famely wherein the eminency hath equaled the antiquity 
 
8 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 thereof, being Lords in King Edgar^s days, anno 1098. Some 
 clans, like the Gibeonits, who though by their mouldy bread 
 and clouted shoes they did pretend to a long peregrination, 
 yet were but of the vicinage, so most of our gentry, not- 
 withstanding their specious claim to antiquity, will be found 
 to be but of yesterday, and of one descent low enugh in them- 
 selves, did not stand on the vantage ground of other men''s 
 interests, or hightned on the rubbish of the ruins of monasteries. 
 Some famelies, as to their sirnames, have deposed their old and 
 assumed new names on severall occasions. 1. For concealment 
 in time of civil warrs, a name being a kind of face whereby 
 one is known, therefore takeing a false name is a kind of 
 vizard by which men disguise themselves, and that lawfully 
 enugh when not fraudulently done to deceave others, but 
 discreetly in danger, and that to secure themselves. Thus, 
 dureing the contest tuixt York and Lancashire, Carrington in 
 Warwickshire assumed the name of Smith, La Blunt, the 
 name of Crooke, Vois tooke the name of Wotson ; so in 
 Scotland, in time of Edward Longshanks his invasion and 
 transcursions over the nation, as Rues who were Stuarts, 
 Whites were Lesslies, Cumins turned Buchans. 2, For ad- 
 vantage and advancement when adopted into an estate, as 
 Newport in Northamptonshire, the names of Hatton, Throg- 
 morton in Surrey, the name of Carrew, Seaton, Gordon in 
 Huntlyes famely, Sutherland also, Wardens, Ogilvies, Grayes, 
 and Gutheries, etc. 3. By slaughter they have removed into 
 other countries, where they altered their sirenames. 4. The 
 same sirname continued hath been variously altered in writing, 
 time teaching new orthography, altering spelling as well as 
 speakeing, but this holds not here, sirname and armes for 
 above 600 yeares being the same. 5. Some have surnames 
 (for sirnames they were not) or supernames, becaus super- 
 added to those given at the font, from the place of their 
 nativity, a good evidence to prove where they were born, as 
 if we had the deposition of the midwife, and such are 
 foundlins; as Turras, May, Milton, Midletoun, Aberdeen, 
 Newtoun, Threpland, Newland, Freeland, Dollas, Dalkeiths, 
 Lieths, etc., and hundereds whose originall I cannot warrand ; 
 but, wheresoever they fecht their life, here they found their 
 best livelihood. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 9 
 
 The Latins have a proverb, Non uhi nascor sed ubi pascor^ 
 makeing that place their mother, not which bred, but which fed 
 them. The Greekes have but one word Bios both for life and 
 livelyhood. The Hebrewes accounted that place was to give a 
 man his native denomination where he had his longest and most 
 visible abod from his infancy, by which common mistak Jesus 
 was intituled upon the crosse, of Nazareth, insted of Bethlehem. 
 Yea, I have observed in our history that, though generally 
 our English and Scots clergy were denominated from their 
 birthplaces, yet some few quited them to be nammed from 
 those places where they found their best preferment in con- 
 vents and dignities of signal note, as Henry of Huntington, 
 not born but being archdeacon there, Mathew of Westminster, 
 William of Malmsbury, John of Creil, Andrew of Pasely, 
 Duns Scotus, William Newbotle, not so much natives, but 
 monks of the monasteries therein. 
 
 So also we have many surnames of clans in Scotland from 
 the places of their abode or nativity, as Rosses from that 
 country, Sutherlans, Murrayes, Buchans, Mackullochs, Ferns, 
 Calders, Fordices, Denunes, Peebles, Abbrachs, Airds, Peebles, 
 Finlaters, Reedfoords, Causefoords, etc. Some others from 
 their trades, as Taylors, Cupers, Wrights, Smith, Collier, Cooke, 
 Masons, Macer, Weaver, Tenant; some from their compactions, 
 as Armstrong, Baines, Brounes, Reeds, Dunes, Blacks, Whites, 
 etc. Some from acts and accidents, as Hays, Scrimgers, 
 Kemps, Cloggies, Blacklock, Whitlock, Whitside, Bleareye, 
 Cenmores, etc. Some famelies there are whose nativities we 
 cannot recover, with any great probability, neither by help of 
 history, or heraldry, or tradition, or record, or registers, or 
 printed or writen bookes, which hitherto hath come to our 
 hands, for those who would trouble themselves with them. 
 Let obscurety evin goe to obscurety ; when we find no great 
 note in them we take not any notice of them. But in case 
 some of them appear men of much merit, though their nativity 
 be obscure and concealed by some casualty, we are loath, and 
 pitty it is their memories should, who, whilst liveing, were 
 worthy, and now dead, prove vagrants reposited in no certain 
 place. Other famelies there are of whose origen and nativities 
 we cannot give a list; they are so ancient I know not where 
 to begin, and so many I know not where to end. 
 
10 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Some think that an instance can hardly be produced of a 
 sirname made Christian in Britain save since the Reformation, 
 before which time the priests were scrupulous to admit any 
 at font except they were baptised with the name of a Scrip- 
 ture or legendary saint, such as Gilchrist, Gillse, <Gildonich, 
 Gilmichel, Gilmoir, GilBride, Gileaspig, GilPeuder, Gileandries 
 GillEan, Gileinan, Gillealan, Gilmartin, Gilcallum, Gilpadrick^ 
 GilCoane, etc.^ This indeed hath been a comon practice 
 among our ancestors, and, though some say they have noted 
 many of those unfortunat, yet the good success in others con- 
 futes the general truth of the observation ; and it is a maxim 
 amongst Italians, uno Jiore non fare prima vere^ one flour 
 makes no spring. 
 
 This work cost me time : it was a serious subject, and I 
 lookt or I leapt ; for heast makes wast, and I remember the 
 poet — Nomimque praornatur in annum : — 
 
 Eight yeares digest what you have rudly hinted. 
 And in the ninth yeare, let the same be printed. 
 
 If anything be wanting, according to my generall motto a 
 blank is better than a blot, for I resolved not to put in quid 
 pro quo^ nor would I bottom my profit upon another man"'s 
 prejudice as to what I have set down. I had rather my 
 reader should arise hungry from my booke than surfited 
 therewith, rather uninformed than missinformed therby, rather 
 ignorant of what he desireth than haveing a falsehood or at 
 best a conjecture for a truth obtruded upon him. A setled 
 position it is and warrantable, Frustra creditur quod sine 
 agnitione originis creditur. It is vainly beleeved which is 
 beleeved without the knowledge of the original thereof, for 
 properly it is no rational beleefe, but an easy, lasy, supin 
 credulity. For me to give in the particulars whence I have 
 
 ^ Gaelic names common in the Highlands in olden times. Gilchrist means 
 servant of Christ ; Gilise, servant of Jesus ; Gildonich, servant of our Lord ; 
 Gilmichael, servant of Michael; Gilmoir, servant of Mary; Gilbride, 
 servant of Bride or Bridget ; Gileaspig, servant of the Bishop ; Gilpeuder, 
 servant of Peter ; Gileandris, servant of Andrew ; Gillean, servant of John ; 
 Gileinan, servant of Adamnan ; Gillealan, servant of Fillan ; Gilmartin, servant 
 of Martin ; Gilcallum, servant of Columba ; Gilpadrick, servant of Patrick ; 
 Gilcoane, servant of Coan, a saint 'worshipped ' by the Macdonalds of Glengarry 
 and Knoydart. See Extracts from the Presbytery Records of Inverness and Ding- 
 zvall (Scottish History Society), p. xxxvii. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOKUM 
 
 11 
 
 derived my information, knowing full well qiiantus author tanta 
 fides, these may be referred to four heads. 1. Manuscripts 
 and charters in our own possession. % Church Registers and 
 Records in publick offices. 3. Printed history. 4. Instruc- 
 tions receaved from the Bards, and nearest nighbours and 
 allyes. I know not whither more to commend the care in 
 secureing, dexterity in finding, dilligence in peruseing, curtesy 
 in communicating, such coppies as my design and occasion 
 required. 
 
 All our historians rely most upon churchmens information, 
 these being the greatest secretaries and most carefull re- 
 searchers into and recorders of antiquity. Nay, our monks 
 being reputed men of best learning and most leasur, our 
 kings alwayes choose one of their order to writ the remarkable 
 passages of their time, passing by the name of historicus 
 regius, the kings historian. 
 
 I observe an omen generally true of many gentry in Scot- 
 land and England, that being i7i continuo fiuxu, lahitur et 
 lahetur in omne voluhilis cevum, where the stream thereof 
 runneth most rapid to make more speedy room for succes- 
 sion, so that some gentry seem to be sojourners rather than 
 inhabitants therein, accolce non incolce — Accola non propriam, 
 propriam colit incola terram. The brevity of such gentry is 
 imputed to the vicinity of London or Edinbrugh to them, or 
 rather of them to it, yet were men of known and grown estates 
 equally eminent for the rootes whence they sprang and from 
 the branches springing from them. 0 quantuin est in rebus 
 inane! O the uncertanty of all humane things! A famely 
 to sink down into a plebeian condition ! But the sparks of 
 their gentle blood, though covered for a time under a mean 
 estate, have since blazed again with their own worth and 
 vallour, yea, as if their currage had been hereditary, or, for 
 their martiall merit, advanced to a high degree, their motto, 
 Sub mole i^esurgo. But my eye cannot be entertained with a 
 more welcome, or more charming and lovely object, than to 
 behold an antient name, not onely still continueing, but 
 eminently flourishing too in our own age, on which account 
 I cannot but congratulat the happiness of this famely, ex- 
 pecting a dayly accession of repute from the hopefull branches 
 
12 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 thereof, for the merits of this ancient house are known to be 
 so many and great that ingrossed they would make ane country 
 proud, which divided would make two most happy. There- 
 fore Providence parted the name twht Tuadale [Tweeddale], 
 Gallaway, Buchan, Merns, Marr, Murray, and many mo ; and 
 though haply the name failed and decayed in one county yet 
 it flourished in another. Northern gentry, transplanted into 
 the south by marriage^ purchase, or otherwayes, do languish 
 and fade away within few generations, whereas southern men 
 on the like occasion removeing northward acquire a setle- 
 ment in their estates, with long continuance. This i& the 
 observation and experience of many, and Vitruvius tells it, 
 Aquilones ad orient em migr antes no?i possimt durare sed d'lsbl^ 
 vmitur; northerns transplanted southward cannot endure the 
 heat, but their strength melteth a^ay and are dissolved. 
 E contra orientales ad septentrionem non modo non laborant 
 immutatione loci valetudinihus sed etiam confirmantw ; sutherns 
 comming north are not onely not subject to sickness through 
 the change of place, but are the more confirmed in thejr health 
 and strength. Some peevish natures, delighting to comment 
 all things into the worst sence^ impute this to the position of 
 their country as secured from sale by their distance from the 
 metropolis, a staple place of pleasure ; whilst I would willingly 
 behold it as the effect and reward of the pure temperat air, 
 abstemiouseness, their discreet thrift, and moderat expence. 
 We were happy when our country was Terra suis contenta 
 bonis ; neither proud of the pelfe nor covetous of the court 
 gay tie, they enjoyed themselves and possesst it of a long 
 time. „ V 
 
 This being the genious of this great famely, liveing frugally 
 and thriftily, content with their own interests, never falling 
 upon that rude ravenous revenge and rapin which made up in 
 any of their barbarous nighboures, which signalised them in 
 the reput of all honest ingenuous persons with whom they 
 had dealeing, yet bred them enmity among others their 
 envyous opposers and supplanters who were npt a few, 
 emulating their grandeur and greatness, their gallantry and 
 generosity, their polit parts, reputation, and preferrments, 
 being in credit at court and still in favour with kings, very 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 13 
 
 loyall subjects. The Mackdonalds and the Cumings mainly 
 concurred together to ecclipse them and contrive mischeefe 
 against them, being still thorns in their sids, which moved the 
 poet to give the Lord Lovat this distich : — 
 
 Natus hyperboreoSf inter Fraserius Heros, 
 E spinis docuit surgere posse rosam. 
 
 So that it might be said of this famely what was said of a 
 greater, Ut lilium inter spinas it a arnica mea inter Jilias, as Cant. 2. i. 
 the lilly among thorns so is my love among the sisters or 
 daughters ; and even as our Saviour declared to his disciples 
 sent upon the mission, so might King Alexander say to Sir Mat. 10. 16. 
 Simon Fraser, sent north — Behold I send you forth as sheep in 
 the midst of wolves, be ye therefore wise as serpents and 
 harmless as doves. Christ was not in such danger from 
 Herod, that fox, as from those wolves, the Pharesies, who 
 would make it their work to worry the flock. Let meekeness 
 then be mixt with wariness, for as we must labour for columbin 
 simplicity, so for serpentine subtilty too, that we cast not 
 ourselves upon needlesse dangers. The Roman rule was 
 nec fugere 7iec seqni. Christianity calls us not to a weake 
 simplicity, but allowes us as much of the serpent as the dove; 
 the dove without the serpent is easely caught; the serpent 
 without the dove stings deadly. Religion without policy is /^ofa, 
 too simple to be safe ; policy without religion is too subtil 
 to be good. Their match makes themselves secure, and a 
 serpents eye is a singular ornament in a doves head. The 
 harmless dove neither provokes the hawke nor projects re- 
 venge, but when pursued they save themselves if they can 
 by flight, not by fight : — 
 
 Felle columha caret, rostro nec Icedit et ungues 
 Possidet inocuos, puraque grana legit. 
 
 It is notarly known, notwithstanding of many provocations, 
 their cautious proceedings prevented, and their prudent 
 practises preserved, them still from these men's r^ge, so that 
 for the first 300 yeares we never matcht nor mingled with 
 those Highland clans, which often galled and incensed these 
 cannibals against us ; yet it pleased God that we increassed 
 and they dayly decreased, like the chammomel, the more yow 
 
14 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 tread it the more yow spread it, our motto being Crescit sub 
 pondere virtus; and as it is said of the palm-tree under the 
 heaviest weight : — 
 
 Ponderihus genus omne mali, prohrique gravatus 
 Viocque ferenda ferem, palma ut depressa resurgo. 
 
 Evin like the palm which heaviest weig^hts doth trie, 
 Vertue oppresst doth stand more streight and highe. 
 
 Of mens memoires of fame I would faine see that booke of Boys 
 [Boetius] entituled a double immortality, whither intending 
 thereby the immortality of soul and body, or of the memory 
 here and soul hereafter. I could wish to deserve the name of 
 antiquary to transcrib and preserve the ancient names and 
 monuments in our country, and drain them from the deluge 
 and oblivion, and perpetuating their antiquity to posterity, 
 for I am very sensible of the prodigious antiquity of Scottish 
 
 judg. 8. i8. pedegrees, so that what Zeba and Zalmunna said of the 
 Israelits slain by them at Tabor, each of them resembleth 
 the children of a king, all our chiftens derive themselves from 
 kings and princes, as M'kdonels from Irish kings; M'kleuds 
 from Olaus, a Danish king ; M'kleans and M'kenzies from 
 Garrald, an Ulster king; Moncrifes from a Scotish king, 
 MackRhy, i.e. Moncrife; M'kintoshes from the great Thane 
 of Lochaber ; the Duffs from the famous M'kdufF, Thain of 
 Fife ; Murrayes from a prince of Moravia, etc. Many are 
 nohilitatis portenta, as in a tympany their very greatness was 
 their disease, boasted immoderatly of their high extraction 
 that it were needfull Helias Rubeus were Redevivus, who 
 wrot a booke conti'a nobilitatem inanem. Of many ancient 
 famelies in Scotland we may conclud, as one did of the 
 
 1336. Franciscans entering Bury, there hapened a hideous hurricane, 
 
 levelling trees and towres and whatever met with it ; the host 
 was though they came in with a tempest they went out with 
 a calm at the time of the dissolution. The aplication is 
 plain. A thing very strang that ancient names in famelies 
 who have stood hundereds of yeares, yet even in their prime 
 yow would not find 20, nay, of some hardly ten, of that 
 syrname in the kingdom, and some of them wholly evanished 
 in my time. The Turin, Scrimager, Olephant, Udney, Guns, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 15 
 
 Bards, Kinards, Gudge, Bbid ; this may reach the Cuming, 
 and the Chisholm also in a case. It is an epidemicall dissease 
 to which many ancient surnames are subject, to be ill spelled 
 and variously disguised in writing, such as Sinklar, Belfure, 
 Shives, Chisholm, Stuart, Steward, Rosse, Rose, Frazer, Fraser, 
 Frisel, Froisel, Thurslo, Frishel, yet but de caseiieto, a name 
 so noble in the catollogue and list of lords it is harder to 
 miss than find it in the Chronicles of Scotland. I have seen 
 a manuscript written by a monk of Melross, giveing an exact 
 account of all the mortifications, donations, bishopricks, 
 churches, chappells, cells, and the name and syrname of every 
 benefactor, no7fiina monasteriorum cum prioritatihus et coUis 
 monlalium claustris preposituris et aliis monachorum ordinihus 
 in regno Scotice una cum pjwinciis ubi sitce sirnt eorundemque 
 jfundatoribus ; and subjoines a tractat of all the ancient names 
 of Scotland, their original, etimology of the word, the sillabi- 
 cation and orthography of each name, citing each author from 
 whom he had his information ; and it is truely the commen- 
 dation of a historian, unicuique suorum authoritm honorem 
 integrum servare. In modesty to confess hiniselfe with Ruth 
 the Moabit, to have gleaned after the reapers, for we see by 
 other mens eyes, and what I writ \^ fide historici for Baleus 
 non vidit omnia. It is reported of our Boetius that he 
 destroyed the manuscripts after peruseing them ; God pre- 
 serve us from this impudent malice and envy, as the mind 
 of the Italian Polidore Virgil, who haveing first served his 
 own turn with them burnt all the rare manuscripts of history 
 he could procure, so to raise the valuation of his own works. 
 
 Though my pen and pains as a patriot and homebred 
 historian may be suspected of partiality, yet English authors 
 as Holinshad, H. Boys, John Major, Dempster, Lesly and the 
 brave Buchannan and Spotswood commandeth beleefe, who 
 all with one breath gives our name and famely their due 
 commendation in many heroick actiones ; and, as for the 
 Frasers antiquity, loyalty, and numerous ofspring, quher they 
 fixt non but fooles do question ; and indeed the earth hath 
 nothing more glorious than ancient nobility when it is found 
 with vertue. What barbarous mind will not reverence that 
 bloud which hath untainted run through so large a succession 
 
16 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 of generations ? Besids vertue adds a new splendour which, 
 together with the honour of his house, challengeth a respect 
 from all. But bad greatness is nothing but the vigour of 
 vice, having both mind and meanes to be uncontrollably lewd ; 
 a debauched sone of a noble famely is one of the intollerable 
 burthens of the earth and as hatefull a thing as hell, for all 
 know he hath made both example and precept floweing in his 
 education, both which are powerfull enugh to obliterate a 
 native illnesse, yet these are but auxiliaries to his shame that, 
 with the brightnesse of his ancestores, make his own darkenesse 
 the more palpable. Vice in the sone of an ancient famely is 
 like a clownish actor in a statly play ; he is not onely ridiculous 
 in himselfe but disgraces both the plot and the poet ; whereas 
 vertue in a man of obscure parents is like an unpolished 
 diamond lying in the way among pibles, which, howsoever it 
 be neglected of the uncivil vulgar, yet the wise lapidary takes 
 it up as a jewell unvaluable, it being so much the more 
 glorious by how much the other were baser. He that is good 
 and great I would sell my life to serve him nobly ; otherwayes, 
 being good, I love him better whose father expired a clowne 
 than he that being vicious in a lineal descent from him that 
 was knighted with Tubal-Cains fauchion, which he made 
 before the floud. 
 
 Finaly, as to the present desing in hand. 1. how honor- 
 able, laudable, and necessary a thing it is for kindreds and 
 clans to know their own originall and rise, and to have their 
 genealogie recorded by them, both for distinction and informa- 
 tion, I referr to the wise and judicious to determin. Num nosce 
 teipsum^ know thyselfe, is both a binding and trying maxim. 
 2. When amongst my observes we mention and bring in 
 nighbour syrenames and clans, it is becaus we march with 
 them, we match with them, and they with us, our burriall 
 and interment together, their antiquity and rise is mingled 
 with our own, and computation as well as competition herein 
 is expedient, and both ordinary and necessary. 3. That in 
 our genealogy and Tabula gentis we cite and record the 
 sentences as well as sentiments of historians and chronologers, 
 ancient and modern, forreign and domestick, is not so much 
 for confirmation of our assertion and vindication of the truth. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMFORUM 
 
 17 
 
 but their concord and assent in tradition being aparent, and 
 becaus histories may be out of print and quit decay, as 
 Raphael Hollinshad, Hec. Boetius, John Major, Bishop 
 Lessly, and Dempster, are all rare, truly, to be found, and no 
 hopes of ever reprinting them again, and in all the north I 
 never saw but one torn volume of Boetius, another of John 
 Major, a 3d. of Dempster, so that we expect not to see new 
 editions ; and how shall we have recourse to such bookes as 
 are not to be found? It is true George Buchannans history 
 is a compend of them all, and is reprinted in every age 
 becaus of jus regni apud Scotos anexed to it. 4. That we 
 mix with our history the transactions and occurrences of the 
 kingdom extrinsick to our corner, it is becaus severall heroes 
 of the name of Fraser have been engaged in the warrs and 
 expeditions of severall ages, civil and forreign, att home and 
 abroad, contemporary with themselves, so that upon either 
 account we could not omit to mention them. 5. That we 
 record the severall kings reigns, ages, and dates, coronations, 
 continuance, and close, is becaus we have had great trusts off 
 them, services severall times under them, frequent favoures of 
 them, oftentimes our blood relation to them, and unquestion- 
 able loyalty, and lives lost in their quarrells and concerns. 6. 
 That, in the whole progresse of this history, forreign kings, 
 princes, and popes are often named is to shue our frequent 
 traveling among them, our originall from their countries, 
 the leagues of our nation with them, popes bulles often sent 
 us for confirmation of our rights as superiours of our lands 
 holden of them. 
 
 Now to forbeare further apologie, and to bring all to a 
 period, who reads this volum with an impartiall and unpre- 
 judicat eye and mind shall find it both profitable as pleasant, 
 and may say of it as the poet legat — omne tiilit punctuvi nam 
 miscuit utile dulci. History being so germin and familiar to 
 men of all estates, age, quality, sex, and condition, so agree- 
 able to the inclination and suitable to the humor of all, so 
 delightfull in the perusall and profitable in the retention, 
 affording content to the aged, pleasur to the young, and 
 experience to both, comfort to the disconsolat, refreshment to 
 the weary, and ease to discomposed minds ; solaceing the 
 
 B 
 
18 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 tedious houres of pensive watchings, or otherwayes charming 
 anxious thoughtes into a sweet and gentle repose, being never 
 out of season whilst men have life and the world a being, that 
 among the many elogies it hath receaved from the learned 
 pieces of ancient and modern writers it may be justly accounted 
 rather the recreation than the application of a studious man. 
 It is indeed that telescope by which we see into distant ages, 
 and take up the actiones of our forefathers with as much 
 evidence as the newes of the last gazette. It is the mirrour 
 that represents the various transactions of times past, and 
 shewes us the dresse of antiquity according to which we may 
 rectifie or adjust our present fashiones. Its the products of 
 gentle and easie institutions and laws which ought to oblidge 
 us as much, if not more stricktly, than the perceptive sanctions 
 of princes, seing the authority of the one dos but inculcat our 
 duty, and the other gives us innumerable instances of the 
 several rewards of vcrtue, and punishments of vice. It is, in 
 a word, the last will and testament of our deceased progenitors, 
 which, thoug it dos not expressly leave every one of us a 
 particular legacie, yet it showes us how we may be possessed 
 of their inheritance, and, according as we follow their example, 
 live in reputation or ignominy. 
 
 In so much that the ruder ages of the world, who were unac- 
 quainted with letters, and consequently ignorant of refined 
 sciences, thought hystory, next to their religion, the onely 
 usefull and proper study of mankind ; and judging the forming 
 of the manners and regulating the actions of man to be the 
 chiefe duty and care of societies, they thought documents, 
 precepts, and lawes too weake a meanes to work so great 
 effect without they were confirmed and strengthened by the 
 examples of their predecessors, to which prone nature, even 
 amongst the most barbarous, dos willingly render an implicit 
 veneration ; and therefore, seing their liberaries were their 
 memories, and word their characters, so songs and rud rimes 
 were the onely bookes, whereby their bards and Druids in- 
 structed their children in the historys of former ages, makeing 
 the famous actions of their ancestours so much the more the 
 patern of their conduct and manners, as it was the subject of 
 their innocent melody and mirth ; and this custom is at this 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 19 
 
 day in practice amongst the incultivat heathens of Africa 
 and America. 
 
 But when the kind heavens was pleased to gratifie the in- 
 dustry of man with the invention of letters, no subject seemed 
 to the ancients so worthy of the prerogative of being trans- 
 mitted to posterity as that of antiquity in the relation of 
 their ancestors. And, indeed, the most ancient that can be 
 found of their writings is of that kind, whither it was that 
 they knew no immortality but that of fame, or found no 
 better way to provid with security for their ofspring, in whom 
 they were to live to posterity, than by handing down to them 
 the methods and honest courses by which some attained to 
 honour, wealth, and command, whilst others, by the contrary 
 wayes, lived and died in obscurity, poverty, and contemp. 
 And the desire of perpetuating the memory is such a glimer- 
 ing glance of the primitive but efFuscated light of nature that 
 some think it a convincing argument to prove the immortality 
 of the soul, it being a vain thing for any, especially a reason- 
 able being, to desire that to which it hath no naturall capacity, 
 and the rather that the greater and more elevated soules of 
 
 c? 
 
 all ages have aspired as much to the perpetuating of their 
 fame as they have to the purchaseing of the same : witness jsjota. 
 in ancient times the great Alexander, who envied no man but 
 Achilles for the happiness he had in having Homer for his 
 historiographer ; and since him Julius Cfesar, who, notwith- 
 standing he was tired out with the fatigues of a continued 
 and difficult war, yet, as he thought no man able to do what 
 he had done, so he judged no man wortliy to perpetuate his 
 memory, and to writ as he wrought and fought, but himselfe. 
 But what satisfaction soever dying men may have in the 
 prospect of a lasting name, it is certain the living reap great 
 benefit from the register of their actions. For would a prince 
 have measures to govern, a subject how to obey, a statsman 
 how to give consel, a judge and magistrat how to execut 
 justice, a husband and father how to command and cherrish, 
 a wife and child how to love, honour, and obey, and all con- 
 ditions of men how to perform mutuall good offices in every kind 
 of society, history, and especially the truest and most ancient 
 of all, the Holy Scriptures, is that repository from whence 
 
20 
 
 POLICHROiNICON SEU 
 
 they may draw the truest maxims for all duties, examplified 
 with the good or had successes of those who have followed or 
 transgressed the same. But as all histories are not of the 
 same nature, so neither are they of the same usefuUnes ; and 
 ancient poets are good in their way, fictitious Romanes, hesids 
 the satisfaction they give the authors inventing head, are of 
 very little, if of any, use at all ; others are reall histories, and 
 are either ancient or modern, universall or particular of states 
 or of privat famelies, forreign or domestick, and are all very 
 profitahle according to the severall qualities and capacities of 
 the readers. In the writing of an history some authors affect 
 an exactnesse of recounting maters with the niceties of the 
 minutest circumstances that attend them, and of omitting 
 nothing that can have any place in the booke, which looke 
 Uker the depositions of a witness in a triall, or the breviat 
 of a lawyer at the bar, than the annalls or chronicles of a 
 nation or ancient famely. For it is enugh for posterity to 
 know the memorable actions of a great person, and all his 
 expeditions and transactions, with such circumstances as rander 
 them most considerable in themselves and significant to the 
 reader, though they be not told what kind of beard or garb 
 the person wore on his wedding day. Many likewayes puzle 
 both themselves and the readers with a too nice inquiry into 
 the first originall of nations and famelies, and especially by 
 what new flight of coUonies or transmigration of people, 
 islands, and countries discontinued from the continent, became 
 first inhabited ; and in this search, so soone as they transgresse 
 the bounds of authentick records and monuments of antiquity, 
 the rest is no more history, but the conjecturs and pro- 
 babilities of the authors. It is true that, since we are taught 
 by our religion that all mankind descended from Adam, and, 
 consequently, as they increased in number by new generations, 
 so they successively enlarged their habitations into remoat 
 region^, untill the habitable world was possesst. It would be 
 very curious for men to know from what branch of the stock 
 they are descended, and not, with the ancients who understood 
 nothing of the creation, beleeve those people whose originall 
 was not known to be indiginae, that is, started out of the 
 country they inhabited, but that being impossible to be 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 21 
 
 attained to, since the memory of man cannot, and letters 
 were not invented to, preserve the knowledge of the various 
 changes and mutations of elder times, we should satisfy our- 
 selves as men with what we find in receaved records concernincj 
 the beginnings, progresse, and changes of kingdoms, countries, 
 clans, without troubling ourselves with our ancient prede- 
 cessors who were not one drop of blood in kinn to Fergus 
 or Achaius. 
 
 We therefor confin ourselves near home ; for the fountain of 
 civil honour is the king's majesty, which honour and priviledge 
 he hath receaved from the King of Kings ; and accordingly the 
 word of a king was. What shall be done to the man whom 
 the king delighteth to honour? Thus King Alexander the Ester 6. 
 in whose mind the Lord (who turns hearts as the rivers off 
 waters) did put to fix his heart and eye with his royall 
 favoures upon that deserving person, Sir Simon Fraser, who 
 convoyed his Queen, Mary of Caucy, over seas to her Scotish 1241. 
 thron, and soon after gave him his honors. And truly that 
 famely proved so gratfull for this dignity that it was demon- 
 strated in its loyalty, still improveing the same to the glory 
 of the giver, the advance of the king's interest, and the great 
 good of the nighbourhood to this very day. And what more 
 suitable reciprocation thatt the sone and heir of a royall con- 
 fessor and martyr King William, [than] to bestow his bounty 
 on him whose son and heir proved a royall martyr, even that 
 immortall hero, Simon, the second of that name, of whom 
 Buchannan gives the testimony and character — Simon Fraserkis 
 et G. Logarms duo cequites Londini capite plexi ; and John 
 Major sets it down in his history — Circa idem tempus Simon 
 Fraser et Galterus Logan aurati a^quites cum rmdtis aliis hella- Jo. Maj( 
 torihus ad Londoiiios ducuntiir uhi extremo supplicio mulctantur ^' ^' 
 ante aimum 1306. After this the very soul of this great 
 spirit lived eminently in his surviving sone, which began early 
 to shew its vigour for the king and his countrie in a confused 
 time, the broiles of Baliol and Bruce. 
 
 From this fatall blow of Simons death our ancestors 
 reckoned their aera. I say this without the imputation oft 
 laid uppon Scotsmen to reckon from an ill houre, but in the 
 account of time there must be ac^) ov and 6 the unde and 
 
22 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the quo. Accordingly chronology whatsoever fixeth it selfe 
 upon some certain term to which the recivoning shall referr. 
 The most naturall term would be the worlds creation, from 
 which the Jewes account their time, we Christians from the 
 Redemption ; si origo rimndi in homimim notitiam venisset hide 
 exordium sumeremus^ saith Censorinus. Some of those who 
 could not attain the worlds beginning reckoned from their 
 own. So the Romans ah urhe condita. Others respect some 
 great name or some notable event ; so the Greekes account 
 from their Olympicks, and the Assrians from Nabonassar. 
 These terms of computation are most usually known by the 
 names of JEras and Epoches, called Epoche airo rov eVe^^etz/. 
 Sisteijdo quod illis sistentur et terminentur inensurce temporum, 
 saith Scaliger. ^Era was first of all said off the JEra Hispanica., 
 respecting the time of Caesar Augustus recaving at that time 
 the Julian form under this style Annus erat Jugusti, or A. er. 
 A., which in time, for want of interpunction, was put together 
 and becam the word ^ra. Christman will have it Mram 
 ceris, that is, Ai^ris solveudi fisco Romano, meaning a certain 
 tribut imposed by Augustus, first upon the Spaniards, and 
 afterwards upon the whole Empire; but Calvisius and others 
 confirm that jEram, old Latin, signifieth as much as Numerus 
 and its manifest from Cicero himselfe. The ^Era of the 
 Olympiads was 808 yeares before the passione of our Saviour, 
 the 3173 year of the world ; the Olympick games were 
 instituted for the exercise of the Graecian youth by Hercules 
 to the honour of Jupiter Olympus, near unto whose temple 
 they were performed in the Olympian field. The exercise was 
 called Pentathlon or Quinquertium, from the fivefold kind. 
 The victor was cround with an olive, and triumphantly carried 
 in a chariot into his own city, and his name was publickly 
 recorded. The vEra of the Romans, JEra urbis co?iditce, they 
 counted their yeares from the time of their first plantation, 
 which was in the third year of the 6 Olympiad in the year 
 of the worlds creation 3198, and before the Incarnation 750 
 yeares. The first foundations JEra then is called from the 
 d Falilia, rites to Pales Pastorum dea, the sheepherds holyday, cele- 
 ertius, 1. 4. same day the city was built, as the poet : — 
 
 Urbifedus erat dixere palilia patres ; 
 Hie primus ccepit mcenibus esse dies. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 23 
 
 jfEra Dionisiana Philadelphi — this was set up by Dyonisius, the 
 
 astrologer, in Egipt, for the famous Ptolemy sirnamed Phila- 
 
 delpli, which began the 4 year of the 123 Olympiad 3665 of 
 
 the creation. jEra Hispanica, Julius Csesar, in the 4 of his 
 
 dictatorship, appointed the correction of the Roman year, and 
 
 in the beginning of the Julian account, called by Alphonso 
 
 jEra Ccesaris, and this Julian account began armo 3905 from 
 
 the worlds creation. Seven yeares after and 38 before the 
 
 Nativity of Christ, the Spaniards being brought under the 
 
 subjection of the Empire, makes their ^ra Hispanka. JEra 
 
 Nativitat'is Christi, we have unquestionable, which answerreth 
 
 to the 3950 from the worlds creation. Hegira Muchamodicf, 
 
 Mahomet haveing introduced a new superstition in compliance 
 
 with the Christians, jEra Martyrum was called Hegira 
 
 Muchamodis^ i.e. SLayvoo^, or the flight of the persecuted 
 
 prophet to Mecha, Friday, 16 of July of the Incarnation. 
 
 From JErafugoe Muchamodance^ the Turks reckon their yeares 
 
 to this very day. ^ra Danica from the date of the first 
 
 foundation under Gotricius, anno Xristi 797, and the 2 was 
 
 from the pacification betuixt Hemingus, King of the Danes, 
 
 and Carolus Magnus, anno 880. j^ra 1 Gallica, from Merovius 88c. 
 
 called the Merovignian Trib. which had its original, a7ino 449. 449. 
 
 ^Era 2. Gallica Caroloviniana, under King Pepin, began in the 
 
 751, and after this the 3 jEr-a Capetiiia, the Saxon from whom 751. 
 
 they becam Francks, under Hugh Capet, anno 985. And a?z. chr. 985. 
 
 then the Vallois end in King Henery 4 Burbon, anno 1589, in 
 
 which syrnam it now stands. 
 
 JEra Brittannica or Anglicana, from the Roman invasion 
 under Julius Caesar, anno Mundi 3912, and before the Incarna- a. m. 3912. 
 tion 60. 2. ^ra Britannica, under Constantius, anno Christi 
 433. jEra 3. Saxonica under Elba anno Christi 805. ^ra 4. 
 Normandica under William the Conquerour anno Domini 1067 Anno ChrisH, 
 which continued till the union of the kindomes under King 
 James 6 anno Domini 1602. JEra Tnitonica, the Germain 
 Empire begun and founded by Carolus Magnus, King of 
 France and Emp. aniio 801. ^ra Scoticana^ the most ancient 801. 
 of all, begun and was founded by Fergus 1, King of Scotland 
 anno Mundi 3641, befor the Incarnatio Xristi 330, the first An. m. 
 year of the 112 Olympead, and in the 421 year after the ^^^i 
 building of Rome, about the beginning of the 3 monarchy of 
 
24 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the Graecians, when Alexander the Great overthrew Darius 
 Codomannus, the last monarch of Persia. The Scots monarchy 
 stands now bv true and infallible computation upwards of 
 2000 yeares ; non else in Europ so ancient. Now the designa- 
 tion of time secundum hitervalla the chronologers call canon, 
 which, if it set the aeras down singly, is termed Canon KaOo/xaSa, 
 if it make a connexion of them, Kar']rXaTo<; ; so that the 
 creation fell out the 764 of the Julian period ; the Flood came 
 upon the earth ajino 1656 of the Creation; our Saviour, 
 Christ, was born anno Mundi 3949, anno Period Jul. 4713, 
 Olympyad 194. This connexion of things is called syn- 
 chronism ; an error committed herein is called anachronism, 
 and either saith too much and that is a prochronism, or too 
 litle and that is metachronism. And as there are known, 
 aeras of empyres, monarchies, and kingdomes, so also of 
 principalities, provinces, colonies, tribs, famelies, and persones ; 
 and ought we not to preserve our aera too from our first 
 originall and rise in France under Carolus 4, surnamed Simplex, 
 Emperour of the West, anno 900 ; or 2, our translation into 
 Scotland and our arrival here in King Malcolme Kanmore'^s 
 time, anno 1062 ; or 3, our setlement in the North, in Lovat, 
 by donation off King Alexander 2, anno 1250, the inlargement, 
 source, succession, and period regularly deduced shall Deo 
 Volente be the subject and substance of the following history, 
 which, with my intire respects to my candid reader, I offer 
 as a tender of duty and information, and remaines ever un- 
 alterably — Youres, Mr. J. Fjiasee. 
 From my studdy at Mons Mariae, July 9, anno 1666. 
 
 To the Highly honoured and truly Honourable, 
 the signall Embleme of Scotlands pristine 
 Gallantry, heroic Valour, and Braverie, 
 
 Simon, Lord Fraser of Lovat. 
 
 In and with this Dedication I wish all hapines, peace, and 
 prosperity, health, wealth, wit, felicity, temporal and 
 eternal. 
 
 My Lord, — The true splendor, noblenes, worth, wisdom, 
 vertue, graces, and antiquity of your renouned ancestors 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 ^5 
 
 prompted me, finding all these venerable accomplishments 
 centered in your excellent selfe, their surviving stem, to honor 
 your remembrance, and bring my tenders to the test of your 
 unbyassed and impartiall judgement, so that, my Lord, as I 
 designed you the person of my dedication, you also beare the 
 title of this ensueing tractat and history in your promising 
 yeares and bloud. There being none in this nation in whom 
 there is centered and running in your veines a nobler con- 
 fluence of so many loyal purple rivolets of true honor, so 
 that a mean herald, by the guidance thereof upward, 
 may be led to the fountain of the Scotish nobility in their 
 gi-andure and antiquity for many ages bypast before our 
 times. 
 
 As to history and genealogy it selfe, it is the study of the 
 Sacred Scriptures, and that becomes a divine; of ecclesiasticall 
 history, a Christian ; of the transactions and politicks of 
 nations, that becomes a gentleman and statsman; of the 
 British history, a Scotishman ; of particular noble famelies, 
 a peer and chiftan : of all which qualifications, in some 
 measure meeting in your Lordship, gives me assurance to 
 such a degree that this my undertakeing would not be un- 
 welcome to you. And, my Lordship, he that hath the blood 
 and spirit of his ancestores in his heart and veines cannot be 
 so much turned into a statue as to stand still and admire the 
 different fortunes, this mans greatness and that mans lowness, 
 so as to reflect upon the tributary brookes of the former 
 matches of the nobility, but also to looke back to mater of 
 fact, what our predecessors have been as well as what our- 
 selves at present are, lest, falling short of the imitations of 
 their immortall actions, we so strangly degenerat as not to 
 understand what ourselves ought to be. Of the severall 
 alterations in nobility there are three principall actors on 
 the theatre of great famelies, the beginner, advancer, and 
 ruiner; in all these our uncivil troublesome times we have 
 heard more of the later than of the former other two ; but 
 whoever hath raised our ancient famous famely, or whoever 
 ruined it, I am hopfull God may make yow the happy instru- 
 ment to restore and repare the same. Simon, I am sure, was 
 the first, and I see that Simon is the last on our stage ; it 
 
26 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 being resolved, and your destiny had decreed, to set yow an 
 apprentice in the schoole of affliction, and to draw yow through 
 the ordeal fire of triall, the better to mould, temper, and 
 fashion yow for rule and government. Thus, being seasoned 
 with adversity, I hope fortune meant no more than to shue 
 yow a piece of her variety and changeableness of her nature, so 
 to conduct yow to your desteny'd felicitie. Motto, Ut potiar 
 patiar, and, with Caesar, to conclud, Veni, vidi, vici. 
 
 My Lord, some names would be so ancient as to derive their 
 pedegree from Adam, the beginning and creation of history ; 
 but my triumphcs receave not their rise from so early an 
 original as the morning of time, but takes its levell from the 
 later ages, wherein I shall exactly follow and keep be Polibius 
 his precept, Historici est ne quid falsi audeat decere ne quid 
 veri non audeat. Here, then, according to my promise, the 
 desire and expectation of many, I shall set down the dawning 
 and first origin of the Erasers in France in the dayes of 
 Charles 4, surnamed Simplex, King of the Gaules, anno 900 ; 
 next, their first translation to and arrival in Scotland in the 
 dayes of King Melcolm 3, surnamed Canmore, anno 1062 ; 
 thereafter, their setlement in Twadale [Tweeddale] under suc- 
 ceeding 8 kings for the space of a 1 60 yeares ; and, lastly, the 
 comming of the first Lord Fraser of Lovat to the North, his 
 setlement, rights, and donations here; and, by a continued 
 uninterrupted line, to reckon the succeeding Lords of Lovat, 
 with their respective matches and ofspring, for severall hundered 
 yeares, with their collaterall branches descended from them, 
 as branches and tribs, with their cadents dispensed in privat 
 famelies up and down the kingdom, with their contemporary 
 relations, nighboures, correspondants, and contingencies for 
 many ages. It truly cost me considerable time, search, and 
 scruteny, travail, and toil, or I could put it in this regular 
 method, order, and due dresse, all which with my selfe I 
 humbly ofler to your Lordship approved censor. I cannot 
 
 say with Persius vein, Nec S metuent mea carmina 
 
 nec Thus. For the laboures of the greatest merit have met 
 with hard measure of severe and critick censorers, how then 
 shall mine escape ? To those I say, Carpere vel noli nostra 
 vel ede tua. The moral, — 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 Cum tua prcevideas oculis mala Lippus- inunctus I 
 Cur in amicorum vitiu- tarn cernis acuhmi ? 
 
 My Lord, all your predecessors are now off' the stage ; the sun 
 is set, for we are under a hesperus cloud. Sed rnira cano, Sol 
 occubuit nox nulla seaita est — Phosphere redde diem cur gaudia 
 nostra mororis. I have now ventered to let this lark fly out 
 into the world, Simoni ventu7'0, Phosphere redde diern, which I 
 am hopfuU your Lordship will take into your cage and volary, 
 my design being m olirn inutilis videar vixisse, that I would 
 not be construed uselesse unto my country, et ne videar 
 ignorasse quce scire debuissem, seem and apeare to be ignorant 
 of what I ought to know. 'Mongst all the maxims of the 
 ancient sages, Nosce teipsum was applauded, and peregiinus 
 domi, a stranger at home, exploded and condemned. I would 
 gladly learn off" and succumb to such as know more and can 
 do better than myselfe. Discat qui Jioscit, nam sic scientia 
 crescit. Had others ventured upon the stage this had never 
 seen the sun. With Elihu, Dayes should speake and multitud 
 of yeares should teach wisdom ; but there is a spirit in a man, 
 and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them under- 
 standing. Great men are not alwayes wise, neither do the 
 aged understand judgment, therefore I said, hearken unto 
 me, I also will shew min opinion. Behold, I waited for your 
 words. I gave eare to your reasones, whilst you searched out 
 what to say; yea, I attended unto yow, and, behold, there is 
 non of yow that convinced Job or that answeired his words. 
 Explicat f ? quare hactenus tacuerit et quare num loquatur. 
 Tacuit quia fuit junior et locum oportuerit dari senioribus. 
 Loquitur nunc qui vidi amices non posse refutare Jobum^ et quia 
 ipse habet quod respondat. Sed accidit ei quod protribet [?] 
 Horatius — Non fumum ex fidgore sed ex fumo dare lucem. 
 The same was my case and circumstance in adventuring 
 and undertakeing this great genealogy, which now is come 
 out to the light, and I must own it. Of our Simon I 
 hope it will happily prove what the prophet saith in be- 
 halfe of ... I will overturn, overturn, overturn it, and 
 it shall be no more untill he come whose right it is, 
 and I will give it him. Almighty Lord, bring his soul 
 out of trouble, preserve and prosper him in his just pre- 
 
28 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 tensions, and, with the prophetick poet in his behalfe, we 
 may conclud : — 
 
 NuUi animis nulliq amis nec Marte secundus! 
 Nec tihi Simoni Mayne, secundus eram ; 
 CcBdunt fata tihi patriae tu Maocimus Auctor ! 
 Invitis fatis conditor alter ego ! 
 
 A panagirick eulogy to the master of this 
 great task. 
 
 Now shall our syrnames bliss thee for this deed. 
 
 And with what envy shall our nighboures read ; 
 
 With home-bred wants opprest we were of late, 
 
 For low at home with forreignors grown cheap ; 
 
 Nor tread nor arms our antient fame maintain. 
 
 And we must sink if yow do's not regaine. 
 
 With admiration I have read thy booke. 
 
 Where art and sense appeares in every looke. 
 
 Each page hath something great and something new, 
 
 And I at first did guess its writ by yow. 
 
 Who forty yeares, by painfull search hath sought 
 
 What neVe before was to perfection brought. 
 
 Long we were silent, and our name forgot. 
 
 And we but read whom other clans had wrot. 
 
 Thus, when our ancient fame was almost lost, 
 
 Thow hast again made us to hear our ghost. 
 
 Yow did our dying patient to life restore. 
 
 And given that vigour it ne're had before. 
 
 Our name neglected, and by time oppressd, 
 
 Thow polish t hast, and fashionably drest ; 
 
 Thus whilst yow wait and other names make known, 
 
 You build a lasting trophy for your own. 
 
 Welcom to light, thow healer of our name, 
 
 To raise thy countries honour and thy fame. 
 
 Our great historians of a long time ar dead. 
 
 And yow to those brave heroes do succeed. 
 
 Long have we wisht, but all this time in vaine. 
 
 To see our ancient genious wake againe. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 29 
 
 In spite of malice yow will still be great, 
 
 And raise your name above the powr of fate. 
 
 Our sinking house, which now stoops low with age, 
 
 Yow show with newborn lustre on the stage. 
 
 Thus candles, crumbling in their sockets, lye 
 
 And sally out in flams before they dye. 
 
 Goe on, brave man, advance quhat yow have begun, 
 
 Assurd of this to be by none undone. 
 
 Omne tuUt pimctum qui miscuit utile didci. D. D. M. 
 
 Jacobus Fraserus. Anagram — Facis in orhe varus ! 
 
 M. D. F.i 
 
 Ad criticum lector em. — 
 
 Cum tua non edas, carpis mea, carmina Iceti : 
 Carpere vel noli nostra, vel ede tua. 
 
 Being to give an exact account of the birth and beginning of 
 the now numerous famely of the Frazers, I shall by way of 
 introduction set down the short description of France where 
 we had our first origin. Historians agree that this country 
 was first peopled by Gomer, Japhets eldest sone, frome whome 
 the Gaules are derived, whose ofspring were first called 
 Gomerians, afterward Cimerians, at last Cimbri, first planting 
 themselves in the mountainous places of Albania, where the 
 Montes Cimerini long preserved his memory. After change- 
 ing that unfruitfuU unpleasant soil for the plaines of Phrigia, 
 where the city Cimeris retaines his name, his posterity after- 
 wards filled the Lesser Asia and in long tract of time filled 
 Germany and Gaul and Britains with his numerous issue. 
 Anno Mundi 3500 one of their kings called Celtus haveing An?io Ahmdi 
 married Galata, daughter of Hercules, fixed a colony here. 35oo. 
 After this the aborigines or first fixed inhabitants hereof 
 called themselves Celtae, from the name of their king, et matris 
 ejus vocahulo Gallatas, and Gallatae from the name of his 
 mother Galata. 
 
 Afterwards the country was called Gallia and the people 
 
 ^ Probably the initials of the author's friend and neighbour, Master Donald 
 Fraser, minister of the parish of Kilmorack. 
 
30 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Galli by the writers of the Roman story, and vulgarly Gaules, 
 Celtes, Galatae. So that, being originally of the Cimbri, 
 haveing the bloud of Hercules, they proved a valiant and 
 warlik nation, without hose favor no king could secure him- 
 selfe from imminent danger. And to enumerat their atchieve- 
 ments, they invaded Italy with a numerous army, under the 
 conduct of Bellerosus, passed over the Alps, conquering tlie 
 nearest parts of Italy called afterwards Gallia Cisalpina, over- 
 running all Germany, followed their successes as farr as 
 Scythia, founded the potent nation of the Celto-Scythse, 
 and under the command of Brennius discomfited the Romans 
 at the river Allia, sacked the city, besieged the capitol 
 
 Anno Mundi auno MuncU 3577, iirhis conditce, and finally under the com- 
 
 W.c. 365. mand of Belgius ransackt Illyricum, Paunonia, Thrace, and 
 Greece, in which expedition they plundered the temple of 
 Delphos, for which sacrilege they were visited with the pestil- 
 ence. Such as survived the plague went into Asia, and there 
 gave name to that country now called Gallatia. Whereupon 
 the poet give this panagirick : Calvus the Bald succeeded to 
 him and reigned 38 yeares in broiles and wars in Italy. To 
 him succeed Luduvicus Balbus, or the Stammering, sone of 
 Charles for two yeares, and Lewis 3, base sone of Lewis the 
 
 AanoZ^e. Stammerer, usurped the thron for five yeares; and Charles 
 the 3, surnamed Crassus the Gross, called out of Germany 
 and elected king, and at the 5 yeares end Odo, sone of Robert 
 Earle of Aniou, by an opposit faction outed Carolus Crassus, 
 and Carolus Simplex, the posthumus sone of Charles the 
 
 Anno 900. Stammerer, is restored to the throne of his grandfather, 
 Charles the Great, and reignd 27 yeares. He met with 
 great troubles raised against him by Robert 2, Earle of Aniou, 
 whom he defeat and slew in batle, and then got some quiet. 
 
 About the year 916 Hugh de Aries, base sone to Lotharius, 
 king and duke of Burgundy, made a strong faction to be king- 
 in the minority of his brother, Rodolph, Duke of Burgundy, 
 beyond the mountain Jour in Savoy and Suitzerland, that the 
 two estates might be joined in one, that with Burgundy this 
 side Jour and the river Soan, comprehending Liones, La Bress, 
 Dauphin, and Provance. The debat and contest turnd hot 
 and very high, so that the countries were embroiled. In end 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 31 
 
 Pope John 10 of Ravenna, being incenced by this uproar, 
 threatenes them with interdiction and excommunication if 
 Hugh would not yeld to an accomodation. The French his- 
 tory declares that Clemens, Card, de Monte Alto, Legatu,s Nota. 
 ApostoUcus ultimo ecclesice mucrone Hugenoni fulminavit et 
 Burgundiorum regniim sub interdicto posiiit Donee pacem miret. 
 This sentence proved so terribly astonishing to Hugh of 
 Aries and his accomplices that a submission is given to Charles 
 Simplex, king of France and Emperor, to join with the 
 Cardinal Clemens and Albertus Bishop of Lions, who with 
 a vast force pitches their tents close by the Soan, near Lions. 
 Bodolph and Hugh de Aries hinc hide subscrib the submission, 
 which terminats in a decision in favoures of Rodolph, duke, 
 who is declared King of Burgundy upon the free resignation 
 of his b. Hugh, to be held of the Emperor. By this the 
 sentence is waved, and the agreement signed at Lions April 
 29 anjio 916. 
 
 The King returns home with his nobles and piers, a vast 
 retenue and convoy, and by the way at Auverc, near Burbon, 
 he prepars a treat for the Cardinall sumptuous enugh, and, at 
 the closur of the entertainment, one Julius de Berry, a gentle- 
 man liveing there, complements King Charles with curious 
 sallats and fruites, but the main was dishes of ripe strawberries 
 served in, which the Nuncio, Cardinal Mont Alto, haveing 
 seen and tasted, declared that such fruit would certainly be 
 a rarety in Italy, wondering to see such ripe strawberries, if 
 not heastned by art. The King was so highly pleased with 
 Julius service, done him so seasonablie, that he presently 
 knighted him before his nobles and court, changing his syrnam 
 Berry to Fraise, afterward turned to Frazer. The gentleman Fraise, a straw 
 had 4 sones, Thaddeo, Baruc, Jacomo, and Pedro, two of which 
 the King takes into his service, and parts with the Cardinal 
 and the Bishop of Lions, who return home with a generall 
 acclamation and joy for their success in the peace of Burgundy. 
 The King would gladly have Julius Fraise with him to 
 Paris, but the gentleman thanked his majesty in the words 
 of Barzillay the Giliadit to King David, How long have I 
 
 2 Samuel, iq. 
 
 to live that I should goe up with the King unto Jerusalem ? 34- 35. 36, 37- 
 I am this day fourescore yeares old, and whey should thy 
 
32 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Michel Mala, 
 rnarchant at 
 Diep, 1657. 
 
 Anno 1017. 
 
 servant be a burden unto mj lord the king. Thy servant 
 will goe a little way with the King, and \vliey should the king 
 recompence me with such a reward ? I shall turn back to 
 die in my own city, and be hurried with my fathers. Thy 
 servants my sones shall goe with the king my lord, and doe 
 unto them what shall seem good unto thee, etc. I referr my 
 reader further to that dialogue. This gentleman, Julius 
 Berrie, descended of the Bituriges in the division of Old 
 Gaul, by the Emperor Constantin ; but now he is Frazer, and 
 his two brothers, Antonio and Willelmo, 
 change their syrname also, the King giving 
 them three Fraizes or stalked straw- 
 berries for their arms. From thesse issued 
 a most numerous offspring up and down 
 the kingdom. One of these sones, Thadeo, 
 was governour of S. Denis, and his sone 
 Bishop of Amians, Alexander Frazer, one 
 of the daringest churchmen in All France 
 in the dayes of Robert 1, King of France, 
 of the Capetin race; this bishop, in his 
 own time, is said to have reckoned 200 Frazers in France. 
 One Jacomo Fraser, sub-marashall, purchased curious Lengovil 
 in Normandy. I saw the arms of the Erasers in an ovall 
 shield over the palace gate, and one Michel Male, whose 
 mother was Fraser, in my own heareing armo 1657,^ declared 
 this full story of their originall to Doctor Alexander Eraser^ 
 (very curious to know these things), ^nd averd moreover 
 that to his own certain knowledge there were 150 Erasers 
 in Brittany and Normandy, and that Duke Eulvio of Guyse 
 acknowledged himselfe lineally descended of Pedro Eraizer, so 
 called because he was born upon St. Peters Eve, devouted to 
 that saint. But I leave them now becaus they will fall frequently 
 in my way. 
 
 Canutus is sole king of England and Denmark, but Edmound, 
 
 ^ In which year, as he informs us in his unpublished 'Triennial Travels,' the 
 author was in France. 
 
 - Of the family of Durris. An eminent physician who practised in France, 
 and was thereafter physician to Charles li., by whom he was knighted. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 33 
 
 surnamed Ironsid, sone to Ethelred, a most valiant prince, 
 came over to England to possess himselfe of the kingdom, 
 but, not recovering his full title, at last divided with Canutus, 
 and next year was treacherously murdered by Edward, sur- 
 named the Outlaw, his eldest sone, and so Canutus married 
 the widow of Ethelred, Emma, daughter of Richard Duke of 
 Normandy, and reigned peaceably for 20 yeares. 
 
 In Scotland all this wheil maters went well, for to Con- Scotland, 
 stantin 3 succeeded Melcolm, sone to King Donald the Si^^"^ ^^^^ 
 valiant prince. He added Cumberland and Westmerland to 
 the kingdom of Scotland. This king, setling a profound 
 peace, and suppressing outrages, was treacherously killed in 
 Murray, the 10 year of his reign. Indulfus, sone to Con- Anno gs'^^ 
 stantin 3, succeeded ; he vanquished the Danes and Nor- 
 wegians under two princes of that nation, Hagen and Helrick, 
 and was killed by stratagem the 9 year of his reign, and, 
 after him, DufFus, sone to Malcolumbus, succeeded, a good 
 prince, traiterously killed by one Donald, Captain of the 
 Castle of Forres, and his wife, and hurried at the Bridg of 
 Kinloss, over quhich place sun nor moon never sheined for 
 6 months till he was found, and Culenus, sone to Indulfus 
 reigned 4 yeares, a vitious prince, killed by Rodardus of 
 Moffan for defloureing his daughter, and to him succeeded 
 Keneth 3, brother to Duffus, a most wise and valiant prince 
 and severe justiciar; in the 4 year of his reign a great fleet 
 of Danes landed at Taymouth, overrun all Angus, destroyed 
 Monross, besieged Perth where the King came against them Anno 970. 
 with a great army, and followed a cruel fight. The Scots 
 giveing way, a husbandman ploughing with his two sones 
 persues the Danes with yocks uppon their shoulder, which 
 incurraged the Scots to return, and renueing battle, vanquished 
 the Danes. The King gave this man the name Hay, and a The originaii 
 falcons flight of ground twixt Tay and Arroll, 6 miles long and 4 ^^y^' 
 in breadth, to the Falcons stone, and this is the originaii of the 
 famous famely of the Hayes, anno 980. This King appointed Anno<^%o. 
 the lawes of regencies in the Kings minority, and tutors and 
 curators for minors, who at 21 is a major. King Kenneth 
 was killed at Fettercarn by an engine image quhich Fanella, 
 lady of the place, had cuninglie set in the wall with a golden 
 
 c 
 
34 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 apple in his hand, quhich the King takeing was instantly 
 shot through the heart. 
 
 'AmioC^hr^^^^* To Kenneth the 3 succeeded Constantinus Quartus usurping 
 r. 994. crown anno Mundi 4967, anno Christi 994 ; he was killed 
 in battle at the town of Cramond in Louthian at 2 yeares 
 end, and Grimus Duffiis his sone succeeded. He was also 
 a vicious usurper of the crown, killed by his successor 
 Melcolumbus 2, sone to Kenneth the 3, anno Xr'isti 1004, a 
 wise and valiant king. He married Robert Duke of Nor- 
 mandies daughter; he repared the city of Aberdeen, and 
 was often victorious against the Danes south and north ; 
 he surprised their army once with a few of his courtiours, 
 and one pretty fellow near the King, heareing that a Danish 
 chyften lay in ambuish to kill the King, cried out in Irish, 
 Ca Ka Kate weil e, i.e. let me see him, quher, quher is he,^ 
 running forward heastely killed the Dane before the King, 
 who for this act knighted him, calling him Khe or Keth, 
 The^i-iginai of and this is the originall of the surname of Keith Marshall, 
 Robert. an ancient noble famely. This brave king was killed by a 
 
 Anno 1006. conspiracy of his nobles in the Castle of Glames, anno 30 
 regni, but the murtherers, flying in the night, happened to run 
 over the Loch or Pool of Forfar, frozen and covered over 
 with snow, thinking it to be firm earth, were all drowned 
 therein by the just judgement of God. 
 
 Anno 1034. After the death of Melcolme 2, succeeded Doncanus primus, 
 a7i7io Mundi 5004, an7io Xristi 1034, a just, good, and modest 
 prince, kept the kingdom in peace, and good lawes on foot. 
 He had two principall men whom he employed in all maters 
 of importance, Mackbeth, his own neare cousin, and Bancho, 
 generall of the King^s forces. These two being sent north 
 as farr as Inverness to setle maters there, in the return at 
 Forres, these two travelling together, through the wood a 
 mile be-east the town, at Cullyburn, as yow go for Elgin, 
 they were met by three fairies, or weird sisters as we call 
 
 ^ C^i Ca, Caite bheil e ? Where, where, where is he ? 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 35 
 
 them; the first, makeing obeisance unto Mackbeth, saluted him 
 Thane of Glames, the 2 saluted him Thane off Cawder, and 
 the 3 salutes him King of Scotland. This is unequal dealing, 
 saith Banquho, to give my friend all the honour and nothing 
 unto me ; to which one of the weirds made answeir that he 
 indeed should not be king, but out of his loines should come 
 a race of kings that should for ever rule the Scots, and, having 
 thus said, they all suddenly evanished. Upon their arrivall 
 to the Court Mackbeath was immediatly created Thane of 
 Glames, and not long after, some new service of his requireing 
 new recompence, he was honoured with the title of Thane 
 of Cawdor. Seeing then how happily the predictions of the 
 three weirds fell out in the former, he resolved not to be 
 wanting to himselfe in fQlfilling the third. As the historian 
 saith of him : Emt enirn Mackbethus acri ingenio animo 
 prorsus excelsor et magnarum reriim cupida mti si moderatio 
 accessisset, quamv'is magno imperio digims erat. Mackbeth 
 being a man of a smart profound "wit, ambitious spirit, aiming 
 at high maters, who, were he mod erat, was worthy of aii - 
 empire. Therefore he first killed the King, and after, by 
 reason of his great comnd among the souldiers and common 
 people, he succeeded in his throne ; but meanwhile called to Anjio Christi 
 mind the prediction given to his companion Banqho, quhom ^°'^°* 
 hereupon suspecting as his supplanter, he caused him to be 
 killed, with his whole posterity, onely Fleance, one of his 
 soones, escapeing with no small difficulty, fled into Wales. 
 ***** 
 
 Melcolumbus 3, surnamed Canmore (as Hugh Capet king King Meicoim 
 of France was so called) ex magno capita^ a great pate, a great ^' ^"^^ 
 wit ; he began his reign Aprile 20, anno Mundi 5027, anno 
 Christi 1057, after the reign 1387. He was great and good, 
 religious and valiant, and being cround at Scoone, 7nuUi nohiles 
 prceterea pro suis erga rem Scoticam meritis novis titidis 
 honorati. He changed the titles of Thanes into Lords, E arles, Intimite crux 
 Barrones, Knights. The Mackduff et merito from Thane is ^qii^reYum"^'' 
 Earle of Fife, so of Lennox, Monteith, Athol, Murray, Caith- ^tatuas et in- 
 nes, Anguis, Rosse. The first thing the King did was to erect )mberetf^^"^^^ 
 the Recross of pure stone standing in the midle of Stanmoor, 
 the onely monument in Britain with the King of England's 
 
86 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 image and arms on the one side, and the King of Scotland's 
 on the other side. This stone cross was a march between the 
 two realms, standing in the midle of Stanmoore as aforseid, 
 centricall. This excellent king, that came through many 
 tribulations and trialls, is now so universally respected and 
 beloved that King Henry i. of France sent over his ambassador 
 Count Chartere to congratulat his health and setlement in 
 his realm, with true gratitud for and sentiments of his 
 victory over and deliverance from his usurping predecessor 
 and cruel tyrant M^kbeth, now destroyed and suffering the 
 same stroake he shaped for others. 
 
 Ccedefurit, ccede ergo perit ; so7's ilicet cequa, 
 Ccedium et artifices arte perire sua. 
 Discite quam sceptris non tutumfidere, Princeps, 
 Esse volo, Jam de principe nullus ego. 
 
 In company with the ambassador. Count Chartre, from France 
 Fraisers, Boys, came Frasers, Boys, Beaton, Bothuel, Campbel, Boswel, 
 ^^isets, Beatons^ Moutray, Montgomery, Taylifer, Bisset, whom the King most 
 respectfully receaved and treated as pledges of his dear 
 brother King Henry's affection to him. King Edward of 
 England, his foster father, sent his ambassador, also with 
 intire wishes, and a complement of a massy heart of gold, 
 richely enameled, and, opening, had both their pictures live 
 draughts ; one on each side, closeing, kissed one nother. And 
 Pope Benedict 9 sent hither his envoy. Cardinal Camelo, with 
 his paternall benediction to King Melcolm, and a curious 
 coronet of gold and precious stone, with a golden chein, and 
 this verse : — 
 
 Petra dedit Romam Petro tibi Papa Coronam. 
 
 This good King erected the Bishop seas of Murray and 
 Cathnes, repaired the Bishop seas of St. Andrewes, Galloway, 
 anno 1060, and also Aberdeen. The King, being allarmd with 
 an insurection in Murray, and some Danes landing, repares 
 thither with his army, and, saith the historian, Faucis hide 
 castris ventum ad Spceam {omnium Scotios Jluminum rapidissi- 
 mum) they come to crosse the cruell rapid torrent of Spei, 
 and the ensign bearer who carried the standard seming there 
 to shrink, the King pulFd the banner from him and delivers 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 37 
 
 it to Sir Alexander Carron, who, as it is in Irish, Chaxv Greim 
 
 Geir,^ held it fast in his fist, and crosses the river, whence he 
 
 got the name Scrimger, from Greim Gere, by his new office 
 
 obtained the constablary of Dundee and his lands. The King 
 
 with his forces returnes through Murray, and sees at Forres 
 
 where the Danes had erected an obelise, with hierogliphicks, 
 
 would not suffer any to touch or demolish it.^ One Olaus, 
 
 who was their leader, being killed at Murthlack or Mortlich, 
 
 got its denomination thence, Murt Olaich, or Mortlich, Olaus 
 
 his death. There the King caused erect a monument of a 
 
 pretty church, and mortified a donation for it. 
 
 King Melcolm, returning home in peace and safety, gratefied 
 
 his faithfull friends who convoyed him, especially the strangers 
 
 who came out of France. To the Bisset he gave Hadonia in 
 
 East Laudian, to the Frasers much more, to John Eraser the 
 
 eldest of 3 brothers he gifted Tuedall, a vast estate, matching 
 
 him with Margret Sloan, the heretrix, with the title of Lord 
 
 Twadall. To the 2^ brother, Alexander, he gave Inver- 
 
 kething, and the 3^ brother, Francis, he kept in his retenue 
 
 and court, a great musician and poet, 
 
 and an expert swordman, and such indeed 
 
 JCing Melcolm loved with all his heart. 
 
 The shield and coat of arms he o^ave the 
 
 Frasers is azur, and triangle field with 
 
 the crown, as here yow see, beareing the 
 
 Freises within, the ancient and originall 
 
 coat. The Campbels and Montgomreys 
 
 seated in the west; the Boyes, Bothuels, 
 
 and Bosuels, in the Mers ; Moutries, 
 
 Beatons, and Taylifer in Anguis ; of all 
 
 these we shall have occasion to treat at 
 
 large hereafter. The King now vigorously sets himselfe to 
 
 promove peace and piety, vertue and good manners, throughout 
 
 the kingdom. He caused to be built from the ground the 
 
 great church and abby of Dumfermeling, his own palace there 
 
 being finished, and ordaind from thenceforth the same church 
 
 to be the sepulture of the kings of Scotland, as it continues. 
 * * ^ * * 
 
 ^ Ghabh greim geur : took a sharp or fast grip. 2 gj-ju standing. 
 
38 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 For princly exercise and recreations, manly acts of fencing, 
 riding, jumping, wrestling, arching, tilting, and all strangers 
 resorting to oures, quher was there such a court ? and whileas 
 former kings were rude and unpolished, never getting the 
 advantage of education, our King Melcolm was inferior to no 
 prince of the world, for he was 17 yeares at the court of 
 England, his queen an Englishwoman. Formerly, Latin and 
 Irish was the language spoken at our Scots courts; now a 
 nursery of all languages, arts, and sciences ; the French spoken 
 here as at Paris, the Latin as in Italy, the English scoole 
 set up, and yet the Irish still in esteeme at court. Franciscus 
 Fraiser was master of the languages at the Court; the Scots 
 who spoke onelly Irish called him Frishalach Francach;^ and 
 for musick he was a chorister, serving both the court and 
 convent vicissem. The hospitall being near the palace, the 
 Queen diverted herselfe visiting the sick, dressing their sores 
 with her own princly fingers, visiting widowes, orphants, poor 
 strangers, supplying them as their need required, and spent 
 third of the day in devotion privatly and publickly in the 
 great church quher the monks served. If we can trust Hector 
 Boyes, the historian, he declares that there were twantieth 
 surnames started up in the Kingdom under this King's reign, 
 such as Lessly, Locquart, Gordon, Calder, Seaton, Kenedy, 
 Lauder, Schaw, Meldrum, Waran, Straghan, Lermont, Liber- 
 ton, Cargil, Dondas, Ratry, Cockbourn, Menzies, Morton, 
 Abercromby, etc. This blissed religious Queen Margret bare 
 unto King Melcolm 10 children, viz. seven sones, 1. Edward 
 the Prince, 2. Edmund, 3. Etheldred, 4. Edgar, 5. Alexander, 
 6. David, 7. John; and 3 daughters, 1. Mathilda vulg. Maud, 
 2. Agatha, 3. Helena. 
 Anno loSg. Now after 20 yeares reign in England, King William the 
 
 Conqu^or^"^ Conquerour died in a great disturbance, leaving his sone 
 died. William Rufus to succeed him, who, having the same gum at 
 
 Scotland that his father hade, thinks it his onely game now 
 to pick a quarrell with Scotland, causam belli adversus Scotos 
 f evens ^ arcem Anvici cceso prcesidio fraude inter cepit, he 
 resolves by stratagem to take the Castle of Anvick in Nor- 
 
 1 The French P'rissel or Eraser. Friseil or Friseileach is still the Gaelic for 
 Fraser. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 39 
 
 thumberland, being now in the possession of the Scots, for 
 Northumberland, Cumberland and Westmorland were within 
 the Scots dominions. King Melcolm, haveing setled an uni- 
 versal profound peace in Scotland, invades England with a 
 mighty army which put William Rufus to his push, feareing 
 that London was his aim. The King besieges the Castle of 
 Anwick, the garrison within was brought to extream penury, 
 and no help or suply. As the historian declares, Custodes 
 arcis pene ad omnium reriim peiiuriam redacti de deditione 
 collocuti, and crying to rander the castle and calles the King 
 to receave the keyes, easdum ad lanceao cuspidem siispensas. 
 The governour, Robert Mouberry, reach the keyes (unarmed 
 uppon a light horse) with a lance in his hand, the keyes upon 
 the point of it ; the King uncontiously receaving them the said 
 Robert run the King through the left eye, and escaped into 
 the next wood. Brave Prince Edward, to revenge his father's 
 death, rushing inadvertantly forward, was killed in the croud. 
 Filius quoque ejus P. Eduardus dum salutis suae negligentior 
 viudictce cupiditate in hostem incautius irruit, ex vulnere 
 hrevi moritur. There followes a cruel slaughter, and non of 
 the English left alive except a few that got quarter to give 
 the Scots army intelligence. The King's funeralls are solemnly 
 set about, his own and the princes corps interred in Tinmouth 
 Abey. 
 
 The Scots army return, and the nobles, to setle affaires 
 after the King's death, the English prisoners being delivered 
 to on Captain Sinclar. Among other contingencies several of 
 the prisoners were Sinclars and Beatones, useing freedom with 
 their guard, told their names, and that they, with many mo 
 of their name, and of the Campbels, Bizets, and Erasers, came 
 over with William the Conquerour, and were now spread 
 through England. Well, saith the Captain, I see England 
 could not be conquered without us. Erasers, Sinclars, Beatons. 
 To confirm this, I remember in the 1657, when I was at 
 London, I met with severall Fraisers, and some call them 
 Froisels. One of them, Mr. Thomas Froysell, a preacher, 
 told me that his predecessors cam over with the Conquerror, 
 and their true name was Fraiser, but by the vulgar dialect of 
 Shropsheir, where they lived, they called them Froysels. He 
 
40 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 gave me a litle booke which I keep still in my liberary, 
 entituled rTniV or the Beloved Disciple and the Gate of 
 Oportunity, being sermon preacht at funeral Is by Thomas 
 Froisell, minister of the Gospel at Clun in Shropshire. 
 
 Famous Queen Margret called a convention of her peers at 
 Dumfermling, and ordered the King^s corps and the princes 
 to be transported a Ccpnobice Tincc to Dunfermlin church, 
 which was accordingly done in a most splendid and royale 
 maner, with a solemn funerall. 
 
 * * * * ^ 
 
 To King Melcolm 3 succeeded Donaldus Banus, usurping 
 the crown by a faction, and within the limits of the year was 
 expelled by Doncan 2, Bastard sone of King Melcolm. Had 
 Donald Bane been prudent to carry the Queen and nobles 
 consent with him, he would have been elected regent, being 
 the Kings brother, dureing the minority of Edgar the prince, 
 but precipitated himselfe to his ruin. Duncan enjoyed the 
 crown but a very short time, with great trouble from Eng- 
 land, quhen he is killed by M'kpeuder,^ Thain of Merns, by 
 the former Donalds procurement, who, to strengthen himselfe 
 in his kingdom, conduced with Sueno 2, King of Norrowy, for 
 assistance to recover the crown, he gave him the north and 
 west Isles, which his race possesses to this day, viz. the 
 Originaiiof Mackleuds. For Leodus, the sone of Oliverius Norwegie, 
 Mackieud. possessed the Lewes, called so from Leodus, who had 4 sones, 
 Torcil, Tormoid, Teah, and Teascil, who divided the country 
 among them, Torcil possessing the Lewis, Tormoid the Haris, 
 and the other two, parcells among them ; upon them 4 the 
 poet in that language gives this distich on 
 
 Shlichd Oliver shin nach duair baistig, tha buon maslig ; 
 Ta Tormodich, agus Torkil, Teah, is Teaskill.^ 
 
 1 MacPeter. 
 
 2 Sliochd Olbhair sin nach cPfhuair baisteadh, tha btian inasladh ; 
 Ta Tormodaich, agtis Torxuil, Teah agus Teascuil. 
 
 On the race of that Olvir who never received baptism there is lasting 
 reproach ; 
 
 They are the children of Norman, and Torquil, Teah and Tesquil. 
 See Skene's Celtic Scotland^ iii. 460, 482, for the Macleod genealogy. The 
 reputed descent of the Macleod chiefs from Olvir (a Norse name) was known 
 to the sixteenth-century bardess, Mary Macleod, who repeatedly refers to it. See 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 41 
 
 The clan Torkil in Lewis were the stoutest and prettiest 
 men, but a wicked bloody crew whom neither law nor reason 
 could guid or moddell, destroying one another, till in end 
 they were all expelled that country, and the M'Kenzies now 
 possess it. The poet gave them this satyr : — 
 
 She mi varrell er Chland Lcod gir cossvil edd re 
 
 ^ Pair i Duse * Picks [pikes] 
 
 The shin mis t is mu, Ichis i te is Olg Tuse. ^ ^ P°"^- 
 
 All this whil Prince Edgar was in England, and by the advice 
 -of his uncle Edgar, a great favorit with King William, 
 Rufus procures him men and mony, comes to Scotland, then 
 Donalds friends forsaike him, escapes to the Isles by flight, 
 being taken is brought prisoner to his brother sone. 
 
 [Here follows account of affairs in England, France, Ger- 
 many, Hungary, Bohemia, etc.] 
 
 To return to Brittain, England is in great peace under Anno 1108. 
 King Henry the 3. and Scotland most hapy under our blissed 
 King Edgar, who lived a celibat life, never married, and 
 left no issue, and finished his dayes in peace the 30 yeare 
 ■of his age and 10 of his reign, as the historian records, 
 Regnavit Edgar ms in summa pace annos decern bonis 
 omnibus cams et verendus^ obiit anno 1108, and was 
 hurried at Dunfermlin. Edgarus sine liberis defuncto successit 
 ejus f rater Alexander cognomento acer. Alexander 1, sur- 
 named Fierce, succeeded his brother anno Mu7idi 5077, 
 anno Christi 1108, after the reign 1437, vir sui nominis, a 
 
 Beauties of Gaelic Poetry , 22, 25, 28. Norman and Torquil are common Macleod 
 names. Teah and Teaskill are not known, but may refer to the Maclays and 
 Macaskills, connected with the Macleods. 
 
 ^ In part obscure. The following rendering is offered, not without doubt : — 
 
 '6" e mo bharail air Clann Leoid, gur cosnihuil iad ri pbir an t-uisge ; 
 An te is sine, tnas i is mb, ithis i an te is oige diubhs\ 
 
 It is my opinion of Clan Leod, that they are like pikes in water [literally 
 
 the water's progeny] ; 
 The oldest of them, if the biggest, eats the youngest of them. 
 
 Compare the Gaelic adage : — A* bheist is mo ag itJie na beist is lugha, ^s a' 
 bheist is lugha ''deanamh mar a dh^fhaodas i : the bigger beast eating the lesser 
 beast, and the lesser beast doing as best it can. 
 
42 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 man of a fierce and forward spirit, valorous and vertuous, 
 a great justiciary, striving above anything to suppress the 
 traiterous factions of his brother Doncan and his uncle Donald 
 Bane. He married daughter to William Duke of Normandy ; 
 he built the Castle of Beledgar in Anguis, to represse robbers 
 and theeves ; he minded often his mother Queen Margrets 
 advice, and his brother King Edgars, to gratify and own their 
 true loyall subjects and servants; he confirmed Sir Walter 
 Stuart in his great office, and gave him severall lands, especi- 
 ally the Isle of Boot, being the first interest of the Stuarts; 
 and to M'kduff he gave all Fife, and made him Earle of Fife. 
 He died the first yeere of the King's reign, leaveing a good 
 Originaii of ofspring ; of him descended the Weemeses, and Mackintoshes 
 MacSmos'h! the North, who after him were called M'kintoshich, the 
 
 Thanes sones. 
 
 MACKDUFFUS. 
 
 Baiedgar, Famous King Alexander lived at the Castle of Beledgar, 
 
 ?///a^Edgars being centricall in the kingdom. On a certain night a number 
 ^oMn-^hibernicd of traitors entering the Kings chamber by conduct of the 
 chamberlans, being bribed and corrupted, on purpose to have 
 killed the King in his bed, who by Providence started and 
 catching a sword, first killed his chamberlan, and by his 
 sino-ular manhood run fast after the rest and killed 6 of the 
 traitors ; the rest escaped, and, being persued and apprehended, 
 confessed that severall noblemen had conspired against the 
 King (hccc tragicavi cognominis caussam asserunt). This 
 tragicall act, it is said, was the cause of the Kings surname 
 Acer or Suift. The King raised an army and persued the 
 traitors. Cum ad Speam amnem constitissent ac freti rapidi- 
 tate flujn'mis transitu regem proJiihere conarentur. Comming 
 to the River of Spei, which was so impetuous that they in- 
 deavour to keep the King from passing, Alexander Carron 
 ventered the fluid, and with a crooked sword killed many 
 of the traitors. Alexander Carrojius, Aleocandri ciijus supra 
 meminimus filius. (This Alexander was sone to that Alex- 
 ander who passed through Spei with King Melcolm.) The 
 leaders were all taken, et ad regem aductl laqueo strangu- 
 late being brought to the King were all hangd. The King 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 43 
 
 proceeds i7i ultimam usque Rossiam fugere molientes eos et 
 secutus, persued them to the borders of Ross. Passing through 
 Murray land, the King fixed one Ramsay constable of the 
 great castle of Elgin, and one Barr governour of the King's 
 house at Eorres, on Sowles at Narden [Nairn] Castle, Boyes 
 constable of the Kings house at Invernesse, and Gillchrist 
 Mackilvarnich, Gkame, constable of the fort of Lovat; he 
 [Grame] digged the outer ditch or trench and the rampards, 
 the rud era of which we see 5 square yet extant about the 
 place, and built the tower and front wall and great gat of 
 Lovat, with his armes over it yet standing; whither he or 
 his sone was killed at Glachkillchrist in Ross, Connin per- 
 sueing the Mackdonels me latet. The King settled on Barregy 
 constable of the great castle of Douny, called Beufort, and 
 one Beaton governour of Dinguall. The King in his return 
 setled Calder of that Ilk, the old possession of Murrayes, and 
 afterwards Thane of Calder ; it is said that he discovered the 
 traitores and incendiaries to be Mackdonels, Murrayes, and 
 Cumings ; and as the historian saith, hcec expeditio ex illo 
 ad finem usque vitce pacem ei proestitit^ that by this valiant 
 expedition King Alexander was ever afterward all his life 
 feared by his subjects. Post has ad pads opera conversus 
 Fanum Michaelis ad Sconam a fimdament'is extricxit, he built 
 St. Michels Monastery in Scoone, and adorned the Abey of 
 St. Andrewes with donations. Once passing over the firth 
 of Forth, in (Ernojiam Insulam tempestate Delatus^ he was 
 cast upon a litle island called Emona, now St. Colms Inch ; 
 the tempest continued so long that the King was brought to 
 extream famin, but that there was an Anchorit cell there, 
 and the hermit suplied him with the scant victualls he had 
 by him. The Historian saith. Cum mdlum per aliquot dies 
 nec rex ipse nec comites victum habuissent nisi quern apud 
 solitaries vitas cidtorem i. e. eremitam invenerunt^ for this 
 singular delivery the King, out of gratitud to God, ihi fanum 
 in memoriam Divi Columbi extruxit^ built there a monastery 
 dedicat to St. Columbus [Columba] and mortified rents for it, 
 being to this day called St. Colms Inch, and the rudera of 
 that work seen there extant to this day. He finished the 
 edefices and monuments of Dunfermelin, begun by his father, 
 
44 
 
 FOLIC HRONICON SEU 
 
 perfected the great church, and set a famous marble tomb 
 upon his mother Queen Margaret, yet seen within the rudera 
 of that great fabrick. I went purposely to see it anno 1661, 
 and much grieved to see that princly magnificent monument 
 neglected. The King, much taken with the loyalty of his 
 good peeres, gratefied them with gifts at home and abroad. 
 The good Queen Sibilla was not wanting to prompt him to 
 it, seing these that convoyed the King in his expedition north 
 acquitted themselves gallantly, and such as were the Queens 
 guard and retinue at home pryed into the plot and discovered 
 Dunbars and the leading rebells. The Earle of March, Dunbar, was generall 
 mcfted^^ of the Forces, and the Queen being (as she thought) singularly 
 
 oblidged to her French friends, the Fraisers, she got the 
 Lord Twedall, Jo. Fraiser, made Chancelour at the meeting 
 and convention att Forfar, and Francis Fraser captain off the 
 Kings guards and principall chamerlan, so that now they have 
 served three kings successively and successfully. This great 
 king reigned 17 yeares, and died anno Xristi 1124. 
 
 * . * * * * 
 
 David gets an eulogium from the historian that, erat enim 
 cidvis regum in omnibus virtutihus par^ in augendis proven- 
 tibus ecclesiasticis huge super avit^ in all regal virtues he equaled 
 any of the former kings, but in promoving the church he ex- 
 celled all that went before him. For to the former 6 Bishop- 
 ricks he added other 4 which he erected from the foundation, 
 viz. the Bishop see of Ross, Brechen, Dunkelden, and Dunblain. 
 He also builded 7 abbyes, viz. Holyrood house, Kelso, 
 Jedburgh, Melros, Newbotle, Holmoultran, Doundrannan, 
 Camboskenneth, Kinloss, Dunfermlin, and Holme in Cumber- 
 land ; one nunnery at Carlile, the other at North Berwick ; 
 two monasteries at Newcastle, one of St. Benedicts Order, the 
 other of the Whit Monks of Cumaldulae. John Major the 
 historian concluds, cum reliqua hujus regis acta magnis 
 laudihus prosequatur hanc profusam ejus in monasteria 
 largitionem gravi oratione incessit, etc., when he commends 
 the king in all other laudable acts he condemns this profuse 
 expense upon religious houses and by inriching them ^ posteros 
 reges pene ad inopiam redeglt, he brought this successive 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 45 
 
 kings to extream penury ; so that King James First, visiting 
 his tomb, being canonized S. David, called him a Sore Saint 
 to the Crown. He secured his marches with England, and 
 was a great terror to King Stephen, for finding him approach- 
 ing with his forces to Newcastle, King David raised a formid- 
 able army and enters England, till King Stephen's ambassadors 
 met with him pleading for peace, which was soon obtained. 
 He settled all quarrells and commotions in Scotland, evin 
 among rude Highlanders, reformed the whole kingdom from 
 vice and excesse, nay, all extravagancie. AUncea Moravice 
 comite cum suorum magna multUudine cceso cojiquievit. 
 JEneas, L. of Murray, being mutinus, cut him off, and 
 Milcolm Mackbeth, attempting a new sedition, he commits 
 him prisoner to the castle of Roxbrugh in perpetuall restraint. 
 There arising stirrs in the W est, he calls for John Campbell 
 of Lochow, creats him knight and gifts him braid Albin, 
 committing to him the care and conduct of that countrie. 
 His greatest trouble on earth was the death of his excellent 
 Queen, Maude, as saith my author Quam vlvam unice amavit 
 et in astatis Jlore mortuam, ita desideravit, ut plus viginti 
 annis non modo ccelehi sed expers etiam veners superfuerit, 
 his greefe was so great for her that he would never mary, no 
 nor kisse a woman, but devouted himselfe wholly to piety, 
 charety, relieving the poor, that his court was rather an 
 oratory or religious house than a king's palace. At her own 
 desire the Queen was interred at Scoon anno 1142. By her 
 the king had but one sone, Prince Henry, an excellent 
 vertuous youth ; he married Adama, daughter to William, 
 Earle of Warren, who bare unto him 3 sones, Milcolm the 
 Maiden, William the Lion, and David, Earle of Huntingdon, 
 and two daughters, Adama, wife to Florentius, Earl of 
 Holland, and Margret, wife to Conanus, Duke of Britain. 
 This good prince died long before his father, to his great 
 griefe, as well as the lamentation of the whole realm in 
 generall. The King, being overtaken with melancholly three 
 yeares before his death, called for a convention of the estates 
 at Scoon, where he not onely told and exhorted each in his 
 station to their loyall dutys, but in particular thanked 
 each of them for their honesty in the trust put upon 
 
46 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 them, and gratified some of them with new honors and 
 benefices. Alexander Fraiser of Inverkithin, being his trusty, 
 and had gone in with him to England, being now dead, 
 and leving 3 sones, Peter, James, and William, he gave 
 the eldest a plat called the Newland for his interest and title, 
 and to the other two service about his court, and pensions 
 for each of them yearly. As for his brother, Francis Fraser, 
 he served 3 Queens successively as Master of the Languages 
 and Music Master of the Court, a person of a noble and 
 gallant spirit, died but a year before the Queen, haveing 
 lived a celebat life, and never married. If I were not my- 
 selfe of this name I could say much to the commendation 
 off these excellent persons, having deserved so well off all, 
 especially of their princess, serving both Kings and Queens 
 with singular loyalty and honesty. 
 
 The Lord Twedall, John Fraser, left good ofspring, 3 
 sones and two daughters. Simon, Lord Fraser, his eldest 
 sone, got his education at Court, a sollid wise man and a 
 gallant spark, married Anna Flava, surnamed the Grave, 
 Queen Sibillas halfe sister. The King finds the greatness of 
 his spirit fit for action, nam'd him the great Lord Fraser, 
 and made him custos cast?i, constable of Oliver Castle, and 
 Lord of differ i so were calFd afterward Lords of differ Castle; his second 
 Castle, sone, Andrew, was maid Laird of Freed or Froit, and the 3^ 
 
 sone, Peebles. The Earle of March married the eldest daughter, 
 and the youngest to Warren Graham in Merse, with very 
 good portiones. 
 
 This Lord Fraser could do much at king and queens hands, 
 and, besids his own worth and merit to deserve it, he had 
 two uncles, Alexander of Inverkithne, and Franc, still at 
 Court, to act for him besides. King David survived his queen 
 full eleven yeares, and died in peace and tranquility, haveing 
 reigned 29 yeares. 
 
 * . * * * * 
 
 Melcolm 4, surnamed the Maiden, because he never in- 
 clined to marry, he succeeded to his grandfather David 1. 
 anno Mundi 5123, anno Christi 1153 ; impubes magnam tamen 
 de se spent om7iibus prasbuit, all had hopes of him, being educat 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 47 
 
 with his excellent grandfather. In the beginning of his reign 
 a cruel famin overrun the whole land to the great loss of men 
 and catle. The 3 yeare Sumerledus, i.e. Sovirle ^ M'kdonalde, 
 Thain of Argile, takeing advantage of the calamity of the 
 times and the King's youthhood, makes an insurrection, and 
 raises an army to usurp the kingdom. Ciii et fortuna supra 
 genus et supra fortunam animus erat^ saith the historian ; his 
 spirit, above his fortun, did great mischeefe. Donald, the 
 sone of Melcolm M'kbeth, takes up armes also at this report, Dunbaris 
 but was apprehended by the Earle of Mers and Lord Fraser, Fraser. 
 and brought to the King, who sent him to the same prison 
 with his father. To compose those broiles Gillichrist, Thane 
 of Anguis, is sent with a great army against Sumerled, whom 
 he soone dispatcht with his force, and himselfe narrouly escaped 
 to Ireland, most of his rebells killed, so that it was a wonder 
 to many this sudden victory, as the historian saith, Hcbc 
 victoria preter omnium spem^ tarn lito parta, domi t^^anquili- 
 tatem for is invidiam peperit, as it bred envy abroad so peace 
 at home. King Henry of England begins to controvert about 
 the counties taken asaid of him. King Melcolm meets him at 
 Carlile. They agree that Cumberland and Huntingdon shall 
 remain in the Scotish possession, and Northumberland passed 
 from, for a vast sou me, to England. 
 
 At this time a turbulent man, Aneas Galovidianus, ho7?io 
 quidem potens, rises in rebellion, and the king instantly sends 
 out Gillichrist the Thane against him, but er they rancounter 
 in conflict a comission comes from the king calling him back 
 to conduct his forces north, to suppresse an insurection got 
 up in the North by the Murrayes and there accomplices geting 
 up in armes there; the historian words it thus — In septen- 
 trione parte regni Moravienses homines inquieto semper 
 ingenio se a rehus novis continuerufit, Gildominico Duce non 
 modo regiones omnes circum circa depopidati sunt sed feciales 
 ad se missos harharica crudelitate interfecerunt. In the North 
 a revenus rable, cruell with their leader, Gildominic Adversus 
 hos missus est Gilchristius majore quidem cum eocercitu (dispari 
 fortuna). Gilchrist is sent with a great army and cuts them 
 
 ^ Gaelic, Somhairle. 
 
48 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 of with a great slaughter, so that the Earle of March is 
 ordered with his concurrents to proceed against Eneas of 
 Murrayes killed Galloway, whose fate was no better. Thus ar the Murrayes 
 of MmTay.°^' killed and banished out of Murray, and, to be sure, it was not 
 for building churches. Thus had Melcolm peace all his time, 
 a peaceable mild prince and a severe justiciar, repressing very 
 many rebells all over the kingdom. He built the Abey of 
 Couper in Anguis, and founded the Abey of St. Andrewes, a 
 magnificent. He died in Jedbrugh the 12 yeare of his reign, 
 and was interred at Dunfermlin. 
 
 [Here follows account of affairs 
 Hungary, Bohemia and England.] 
 
 in France, Germany, 
 
 Anno Chris ti 
 1165. 
 
 Scotland. To return now to Scotland. King William, surnamed the 
 
 Lyon, succeeded his brother Melcolm 4, in the year of the 
 world 5135, in the year of Christ 1165. His first enterprise 
 was to send an embassy to Henry king of England to require 
 Northumberland back. Negotmm majoris momenti videretur 
 quam Northiimhriam ah Henrico Anglo repetisset. The King 
 of England invited King William to London for an accomoda- 
 tion herin, which being denyed, jarrs and warrs ensued. 
 English armies came to the Borders, and the Scots incursions 
 upon them made them retire often with losse. The Earle of 
 Marchs good conduct, and the forwardness of our brave 
 generalls Gillchrist and Holland, repulst them. The historian 
 saith, Angli Cumbriam invadunt sed a Gilchristo et Rolanda 
 Scotis ducibus acriter sunt repulsi^ and in end the French 
 affaires diverted Henry, and all terminat in peace. King 
 William in the interim married Emergerda, daughter to D. 
 Beaumont, by whom he had good children. At an instant 
 rebellions in the North alarums the King. Interea Gilielmus 
 eocpeditionem adornabat in Moraviam advei'sus latrones 
 jEbudenses, quoruvi princeps Donaldus Banus qui etiam 
 nomen regis assumpserat, saith the historian ; the king con- 
 vocats his nobles and barrons, the floure of all his clans, and 
 Donald Bane, makes up an army, his leading men Grahms, Keiths, Hayes, 
 defea?^^ Frasers, Weimes, Beatons, Campbells, and forward to the 
 
FOLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 49 
 
 North surprises the rebells and disperses them, takeino^ many 
 of their leaders and bringing them to justice, and for the time 
 composses this rebellion. At this time Haraldus, Comes 
 Orcadum et Cathanesiae, this barbarus cruel man apprehends 
 John, Bishop off Cathness, a favorit of King Williams, and 
 cuts away his tongue and pulls out his eyes. The King dis~ 
 patches his captain and guards by sea, surprises the Earle, 
 carries him to Inverness, causes pull out his eyes, and hangs 
 him near the Castle. Totamque stirpem ejus masculam emas- 
 culandam dedit, collisque a testicidis nominahis memoriam jri 
 gestco servat ; All the Earles ofspring male were guelded 
 there, and the motte everafter called the Bage hill.^ After this 
 the King erected the Bishop see off Ardgyle, enduing it with 
 sufficient rents ; and the Kings mother, Maude, built the Abey 
 of Hadingtown, and the King at the same time built the 
 Abbey of Balmerinoch. But nill omni paHe beatum, the King 
 is allarumed afresh with an insurection in the west : JEodem 
 fere tempore Rex diicem rehellium ad septentriones spectant'mm 
 Gothredum Makivilliam a suis proditum cep'it ; captus cibo 
 constanter ahstinult metu gravioris suplicij. This Gorry Gorry M'kWil- 
 Mackwilliam is betrayed and delivered up to the King, but J'^^;^.^ 
 whither for feare of further punishment or not he never eat 
 bit of meat till he died. This spread an universall terror 
 among rebels, so that the King had peace. 
 
 The King prepares now to build the great abbay of Arbroth, This Abbey 
 an extraordinary work, and all the while he was in erecting o^rdinis. ^ 
 of this abbey he lived himselfe and his famely and court at 
 Reed Castle in Anguis, near the shoare. This house was built 
 by the Auchterlonyes and is called Caistel Roy ^ in Lorian 
 in the Irish language then current, for if you observe that 
 bottom to the north it is all full of small pooles of water, 
 in Irish called Lonan,^ so that the Kirk is called Lunan Kirk, 
 and also the river Arbroth, called Aberbrothock, either 
 becaus the river Brothock runs there into the sea, for Abar 
 is a water mouth in Irish, but I think it rather Oir Bruach ^ 
 a bray or hill side. At this time David Earle of Huntingdone 
 
 ^ The Bag Hill : a name not now known in connection with the Castle Hill 
 
 of Inverness. ^ Caisteal Ruadh, Red Castle. 
 
 ^ Loji, a marsh ; lonatz, a little marsh. Literally, the Brae's Edge. 
 
 D 
 
50 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 sone to King David and brother to Melcolm the 4., a famous 
 worthy and great souldiour, returnd from the Holy Land, 
 and, in great danger upon the seas, arrived at length in Tay 
 without ruther or tackle, Providence putting him in at AJectum 
 now called Dundee, Ailleg ^ in Irish a cragg rocky place, and 
 now Dune Tay a promontory near Tay. It is said that in 
 gratitud he built the famous steeple and church off Dundee 
 and the Abby of Lundores. After the King had finished 
 all his great edifices and works of charety. Pope Calixtus 5 
 sent a legat to King William with a sword, and the sheath 
 with hilts of gold set full of precious stones, with a hat or 
 diademe, and termed him Ecclesise Catholicae Defensor, i.e. 
 Defender of the Church. Historians conclud his life, telling 
 that he called together the prime and flour of his nobility, 
 Campbels, Beatons, Grahms, Dunbarrs, Heys, Keith ts,Ogilvyes, 
 Frasers, Bizets, etc., and tooke a progress to England, and 
 met with King John at York, where he was graciously accepted, 
 and also himselfe and train admired for conduct and gallantry ; 
 there they renued their league and agreement. Nam Gulielmi 
 congressus cum janni fiierat Anglo ut fcedera essent renovata 
 et tandem foederis lUis congressihus fuerunt sanctita. Boethius 
 tells us that when King William was at York with King John 
 there happened a nobleman'^s child of singular beuty and 
 parts who of a long time laboured under contrary diseases 
 uncurable by any phisitiane, yet cured by King William as 
 appeared by miracle ; he was so pious holy a man. 
 
 That I may make up a history and account of the Frasers 
 under these 6 kings bygone, I shall breefelie resume in order 
 what is allrady recorded by takeing occasion to treat a litle 
 of King William their great patron and benefactor, being so 
 just and equall a man that he set doun methods for setling 
 rewards upon deserving persones of all sortes and well merited 
 men for their loyalty, trust, and honesty. He was a great 
 friend to the present Lord Eraser of Twadal, terming him his 
 trusty, his true and faithfull subject, dying in his quarrell 
 and cause, when many whom his predecessors gratified had re- 
 belled. About the year 1060 came the Frasers into Scotland ; 
 
 ^ From aill^ rock. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 51 
 
 3 brothers came to King Melcolm 3 his court viz. John, 
 Alexander, and Francis. This John shortly after married 
 Euphem Sloan, heretrix of Twadal and had with her 3 sones i. Lord Fraser 
 and two daughters, the eldest sone Simon his heir of Twadal, 
 his second sone Andrew, Laird of Frood, his 3 sone James, 
 Barron of Peebles. His eldest daughter Sophia married to 
 P. Dunbar, Earl of March, the 2 daughter Flora to Warram 
 Graham of that Ilk. This John, first Lord Twadell, for his 
 wit and great parts was created Chancelour under King Alex- 
 ander 1. and for his great conduct and authority was called 
 by the King the great Lord Fraser and Constable of OlifFer 
 Castle, as yow find at large before. 
 
 His brother Alexander got Inverkithin, with one Mavilda 
 widow and heretrix. With her he had two sones, Andrew, 
 who possest his interest and had office in the King's Guards 
 still, 2. William, whom he mad a marchant and rich trader 
 in the firth of Forth, going abroad as occasion offered. His 
 2 daughters, one setled at Allwa upon wealthy farm fewer, the 
 2 turned religious at Dunfermling, having attended Mathilda, 
 Queen Margrets mother, into the cloister of nuns. This 
 Alexander was Controuler to the King, and Custos Curiae, as 
 yow may find before. 
 
 The ofspring and successors of this Alexander possest 
 Inverkithin and the lands about Caschilis, now called Queens- 
 ferry,^ for many ages, as we shall find instanced in this history 
 afterward. 
 
 Frances the 3^ brother, a great schollar, a musitian, and 
 bold swordman, served Queen Margaret all her life, as musitian, 
 captain of the Guards at home and abroad, and continued 
 still at court, serving 3 kings successively and successfully, 
 lived a celibat life, never married. 
 
 The second Lord Twadall, Simon, married, as I set down 2. Lord Fraser 
 before, upon Anna Flava, halfe sister to Queen Sibilla, at 
 court with her, he had only two sones, John and Franc. This 
 Lord Fraser, in a turbulent time under King Melcolm 4., 
 surnamed the Maiden, employed to goe in that desperat Married Mar- 
 expedition with the Earle of March against the rebells in fo waker.^th^e^ 
 
 great Stuart. 
 
 1 Elsewhere the author refers to * Casschilis or Cilis Casse, i.e. Narrow 
 Firth, now Queens Ferry.' Cas Ckaolas, literally the Steep Kyle or Narrow. 
 
62 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Galloway headed be Malcolm Mackbeath. In this conflict he 
 receaved a wound, the continued mabgnancy of which proving 
 incurable, occasioned his death at last in the very prime of his 
 age, much bemoaned and desired, especially by his King and 
 sovereign, to whom he had done good service. His good lady, 
 Anna Flava, called by the Irish Ann ni Fla,^ continued a 
 widow all her life, notwithstanding of many suitors. She 
 educated her hopefull sones at a high rate untill King William 
 receaved them into his own court and service. He could never 
 forget that great Simon, their father, died in his quarrell. 
 Francis was very usefull to him as a souldier and. schollar, 
 but, being a great mechanick and architect, did him no small 
 curtesie and conduct in the building of Arbroat Abbey. They 
 both convoyed him to England with many mo, going to meet 
 King John at York, and his Majesty was pleased to give him 
 the Fenda of Kinnell, and married Christina Lunan heiress. 
 3. Lord Eraser Lord Bernard. Fraser married Marjory, daughter to the 
 of ivvadaii. Thane of Anguis, Gilchrist Ogilvey, and his Lady, her mother, 
 the Kings own sister. The historian is punctuall here. Non 
 ita multo post, GilUchristiis ciijus scepe meminimus uxorem 
 suam eandemqiie regis sororem aduoc'it, etc. With this Mary 
 he had many children, Alexander, Peter, Simon, William, 
 two daughters, also Fanella married to Campbell Lochow. 
 Helena coelohatam vitam vovit, lived and dyed a maide in the 
 nunnery Coldinghame. His sone, Peter, patriam reliquit in 
 Galliam peregrinatione aductus, the French said to him, J lie 
 vow Pere a France piir voi/er mon amis, Goe, Peter, to France 
 and se my friends. Simon 3 sone was married to the Bisset, 
 afterward Lord Lovat, and William was a marchant venterer. 
 Of these we shall have occasion to treat in King Alexander 
 the 2. his life, and under King Alexander the 3^^. We shal 
 now take leave of good King William, qui in periculum in- 
 expedatum Bej^tlice opidi ; traveling on the road to Perth 
 that night their chanced such an inundation of two rivers, 
 Tay and Almond, that, through violence of the streames, the 
 town walls were born down, and many people perished. King 
 William narrowly escaped, his youngest sone and nurse 
 
 Anna nam Flath : Ann of the Heroes. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 53 
 
 perished. The King bestowed great priviledges upon the 
 town, calling St. Johnstown, which before was called Ber 
 Tha from Ber Tai i7i vetustissima lingua^ Bar^ dorsum, Tai Bar, Tah, 
 Jluvius. Paulo post 74 annum agens vitce 7'egni 49 salutis ^^^^^ 
 himanas 1214 decessit. He dyed at Striveling the 74 year of 
 his age, of his reign 49, year of Christ 1214, and was hurried 
 in Aberbrothock Abbey. I have been at his tomb, being 
 grieved that by the wickedness of our times it was so de- 
 feaced that no vestige of it is seen but by tradition of 
 antiquaries demonstrated. 
 
 King William dying in peace, his sone Alexander 2. succeed Anno Mundi 
 in the 16 yeare of his age. Sedecirn erat aniiorum cum regnum Anto XHsti 
 iniit ; is turhidis temporibus imperium adeptus om7iia prudentius j^^^ 
 quam pro oetate composuit. He entered in turbulent times, 
 yet acted materes prudently beyond his yeares. 
 
 This same yeare [1220] Gilespic M'kdonald made an in- Giiespick R. 
 surrection in Rosse and prayed upon the country. The his- ^en^on^ cmsht 
 torian saitli, Rossiam Gilespicus indidem civis vicinas remones^y 
 
 0 -I 7 7 Cuming, Earl 
 
 joede populabatur^ Nessam amnem transgressus iLnnernessam of Buchan. 
 opidicm captum incendit. Recusantes in verba sua jurar, 
 crudeliter trucldabat, etc. He ransact and brunt Inerness 
 and cruelly treated every man that would not rise and range 
 with him. At last John Cuming, Earle of Buchan, is sent 
 out with forces against him, catcht him and both his sones, 
 and cut off their heads. Capita ad Rei gestae jidem ad regem 
 missa, there heads sent to the king. This is the first exploit 
 
 1 read of the Cumings. At the same time Adam, Bishop of 
 Cathness, was murthered and burnt in his house, which cruell 
 act the King caused punnish with fire and sword. 
 
 ***** 
 
 But the historian tells us, 7ion adeo dki post ejus mortem Anno 1239. 
 Rex C7im liberis ca7'eret Mariam higeh'arni Cucia7ii Franci 
 Jiliam accepit ua^orem anno a Christo 7iato 1239, in which year 
 the King married Mary, daughter to Ingelram, D. of Cauci 
 in France, This mariage was consumat at Roxburgh, where 
 the King treated the French courtioures with royall gifts ; 
 but not unmindfull of his own subjects, he knighted 9 of 
 his young nobles in one day, among which Sir Simon 
 
54 POLICHRONICOxN SEU 
 
 Fraser who convoyed the Queen out of France, was one 
 for whom the King had very great favour becaus of his 
 own and the great merits of his father's famely, the Lords 
 Fraser of Twedall, who had done him great service and 
 loyalty, active against the rebels of Galloway and Argil : for 
 about 4 yeares after the Kings return from France my authors 
 Jo. Majors/ sayes that, Exortus est alia in Argathelia tumultus duce Sumer- 
 Dempsterus. i^^q^ Sumerledi superioris filio, sed is intra paucos dies per 
 Patricium Dunharrimi et Johannem Fraserium victics, se in 
 potestatem regis dedit atque ah eo veniam prceteritoi icm accepit. 
 A tumult in the west raised by Sumerled, sone to the former 
 rebell, which was suppressed by P. Dunbar and Jo. Fraser, and 
 got the Kings reprive. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 King Alexander, as tradition hold, came north in devotion 
 to visit S. Duthus shrine at Thain, and in his return mortified 
 some lands to the CoUegiat Friars at Invernes, amongst which 
 was Markinsh,^ a pendicle of Kinmilies,^ and caused erect a 
 cross in the mid firth, near Kossock Ferry, fixed upon an oaken 
 great stock, whence that part of it was and is still called the 
 Rood Pool, or Hib. Poule-i-Rode.^ 
 
 About the yeare 1247 * * * the Earle of Athol, Peter 
 Cuming, an excellent youth, was burnt in his lodging house 
 att Hadington, the King being there at the time. The Bissets 
 were jealoused for this and persued criminally; the Cumings 
 would have no ransom but lives, yet the counsel of State 
 decreed to forfeit the Bissets and banish them all the kingdom. 
 Buchan. lib. 7. Buchauan saith, Et qua?iquam Gidielmtis fajniliw princeps teste 
 P- ^44- etiam regina probaret se ea nocte qua f acinus id patratum fuerat 
 
 Forfara^ fuisse, ultra sexaginta rnillia passuum ab Hadina ; 
 William Bizet instructed that himselfe, sone, and brother were 
 at Forfar 60 miles off that night, so that he had no hand 
 in it, and the fire might be accidentall ; id ininirne creditum 
 est fortuitum fuisse propter nobiles inimicitias Patricij cum 
 Bisetoi'um familia. Nothing would do, nor could trust be 
 given to Bissets, so that they turned universally under a 
 
 ^ On which Inverness is now partly built. 
 
 - A barony near Inverness ; belonged to the Church before the Reformation. 
 3 Poll an Roid. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 55 
 
 generall odium, all the heads of their famelies forfeited and 
 banished into Ireland, the very name of a Biset becam hate- 
 full, especially to Cumings, the leading men off the kingdom. 
 Major saith, A7ino seguenti Joannes Bisset^ Dominns de Achin 
 B. et T. simili fato pei^iit, the next year Jo. Biset infatuatly 
 falls in the same misfortun, the King being certainly informed 
 that he is ingaged in compact with the Macdonell of Isles 
 and had receaved a Charter from him paying him homage 
 for the lands of Achterles, Iden, and Moncoffer, the tenor 
 of the short charter given is as follows : 
 
 Ego Doiialdus Insolariim Rex tenore present'mm do dono et 
 concessio amico nostro dignissimo do. Joanni Bisset, D. de T, 
 totas et integras terras de Achtirless, Iden, et Moncoffer, cum 
 omnibus ad easque pertinentihus tarn infra quam supra terram 
 hasce in provincia Banice jacentes idque s'lhi et suis successoribus 
 in perpetunm chartamque hanc firmam et stahilem its tueamur 
 quam nostro sigillo et cliyrographo confirinamus et attestamur. 
 Apud Castrum nostrum de Dingual coram consanguineis et 
 consiliariis nostris cliarissimis Mackleod de Lewis et M'kleod 
 de Harise die decimo nono Idus Junij anno a Xristo noto 
 MCCXLV anno Pontificat. S.D.N. Gregorij IX. P.O.M. P 
 Pontificis Optimi Maximi. S.M.P. 
 
 King Alexander, upon this report, orders the Earle of Ross 
 to apprehend John Bisset and incarcerat him in the Castell of 
 Inverness, and thence to transport him prisoner to Edinburgh. 
 In the meantime Biset, getting some privat intelligence, 
 escapes clandestinly to Achterless, where he remained obscure 
 a whole yeare, till John Dempster, Laird of Muros, getting 
 notice that a somme of mony was put upon his head, being 
 his nighbour, convocats some armd men and apprehends John 
 Bisset in the wood of Achterless, and from shire to shire 
 carried him south, and, delivering his prisoner at CT8i\gaid\, Cmtsam suam 
 receaved a reward, and John Bisset, conveened and conwci, ^^^^ conditio 
 receaved his inditment, viz. an act of banishment into Irland, o accipere- 
 
 . I'll- tin- cu7n multts 
 
 with all his male relationes, his whole interest and q^\,qX^ propivqnarvm 
 confiscat and put into the Kings hands. ^huk^!^!". 
 
 Thus are the whole coucernes and leading men of the Bisets 
 put into the same category. The King disposes off their 
 lands, the Cumins and Campbels got 7 barronies; all John 
 
56 
 
 POLICHllONICON SEU 
 
 Bissets estate in the north was the royall gift of the King to 
 Sir Simon Fraser, 3 sone to John Fraser, Lord Twadall, and 
 also the fort of Lovat, then in the Grahms possession as con- 
 stables, is given to Simon for his title Lord. Thus is the old 
 error and tradition husted and confut, that Simon Fraser was 
 Lord Twadall, and his famely falling low and divided among 
 daughters, that the King gratified him with the title of Lord 
 Lovat for his good service done him, and the house of Twadal 
 extinct, a gross mistake, for in anno 1306 we find Jo. Fraser, 
 Lord Tuadal, fought the Batle off Roslin against the English, 
 as we shall show hereafter. So that of verity Sir Simon Lovat 
 was 3^ sone to John Fraser 3^ Earle (Laird) * of Twadall who 
 with his match and ofspring we mentioned before, and being 
 with the King in England died of a malignant fever, and 
 severall others beside. The fourth Lord Fraser of Twadal, 
 Alexander, match t Grasella, daughter to Alanus, Thane of 
 Galloway, with whom he had 4 sones and two daughters. His 
 eldest sone John, the 2. Alanus, 3. James, 4. Alexander, one 
 of his daughters died young, the other was married to Jo. 
 Campbell of Lochow, Alanus his sone married the heretrix of 
 Knockmillerward, and was called Laird of Knock; James was 
 prior of Melros ; and Alexander first a great marchant then a 
 souldiour and Captain of the Kings guard. The historian 
 saith, Cura hcec ternpora decessit Alanus Gallovidiamis Scotorum 
 Dotentiss'unus ^ decedens^ ires jilias reliqiiit, primo genita est 
 Alexandra Fraserio Twedelice Pot. rnatrimonio data^ 2d et tertia 
 posterius nobis er'it sermo. 
 
 Sir Simon, Lord Lovat, had got the gift of Kinnell from 
 his uncle Francis who married Christina Lunan heretrix 
 thereof, and, dying without sone and heir, but one daughter, 
 disponed of the Teind of Kinell to Simon, and after cost and 
 trouble gained litle by it, and for this onely title he was 
 called the Knight of Kinell. He came north anno 1249, and 
 had no time but onely to marry his lady Mary Biset when 
 he was called immediatly back by express from the King, 
 his majesty King Alexander, who, as the historian hath it, 
 anno a parto virgineo super milesimum Alexander % R. voti seu 
 peregrlnatione causa lonam petiit, King Alexander being under 
 a vow went in pilgrimage to Ih Collum kill, called lona, and 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 57 
 
 liaveing finished his devotiones died in his return at Karnari ^ 
 or Carnazeith, and was interred at Melros, in the 38 year of 
 his reign and of his age 58, sad death to the nation. 
 
 [Here follows account of affairs in France, Germany, etc., 
 and of Popes.] 
 
 King Alexander 3 succeeded his father anno mimdi 5213, Buchan. 
 /inno Xristi 1250, anno regni. . . . He was crownd at Scoona. ' ^' 
 Alexander 3"% eodem anno Sconos coronatur, puer annum 
 octavum egressus, saith. John Major declares, Rex ergo Alex- jo. Major H. 
 under licet puellus in solio cathedrali lapideo vertibus preciosis ^" ^' 
 cooperto sedem a Gamelino Archiepiscopo Sancti Andreas est 
 innuitus, et interim ecce quidam Scotus Mo?itanus quem Sylves- 
 trem vocant, venerandos Canitios in procerum present ia, Novum 
 regem Alexandrum sua lingua vernacula salutat his verbis^ 
 Beannachi De Re Alhin Allister MacAlister MacWilliam 
 Maclllchallim MacDavy MackEdgar Macllchallim Mac- 
 Donchy Mac Macllchallim MacGrimus MackKchinich 
 MacDufFus Maclndulphus Maclllchallim MackChonstantin 
 MacDonal M'kGrigor more MacEthus MacChonstantin 
 MacDonal MacKchinich more MacAlpin MacDougallus 
 MacCongallus MacAchainus MacSoluathins MacFergus 
 MacEwin MacElsinus MacMordacus MacEwin MacAmber- 
 cilothus MacEwin MacMalduin M'kFearchar MacDonal 
 MacFearchar MacEuin MacKchinich MacAidanus MacKina- 
 tillus MacCongallus MacEwin MacGorannus MacCongallus 
 MacChonstantin MacDougardus MacEuin MacFergus Mac- 
 Ewin MacTethelmachus Maclnnish MacRomachus Mac- 
 Frocormachus MacCrathiluithus MacDonal MacDonal 
 MacFindecus MacNathalocus MacAthrico MacAthodius 
 MacDonal MacSalvael MacEthodius MacConarus MacMo- 
 gallus MacLugathacus MacCorbredus MacDardanus MacCor- 
 bredus MacCaractacus MacMetalanus MacEuine MacEderus 
 MacEwin MacGillus MacEwin MacDurstus MacFine Mac- 
 Josina MacTherens MacReuth MacBeatherus MacNothatus 
 MacMainus MacFeritharus MacFergus Cead Rhi in Halbin 
 MacFerchus Erinach. 
 
 Kerrera. 
 
58 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 We may wonder how a mans memory and confidence in face 
 of a convention could serve him to rehearse those nams succes- 
 seively without hesitation, but that the custom of the Bardi 
 habituated them to it from their childhood. The historian 
 adds, Et sic regis genealogiam ad originem primam deduxit in 
 lingua Hihernica et non nostrum Scot ovum meridionalium Angli- 
 cana Latine erat dicere. Salve Rex Alhanorum fili Alexandri 
 fili Gidielmi etc. Fili Fergusii primi Scotorum regis in 
 Albania, dein dictam genealogiam ab homine in hominevi, dictus 
 Scotus Sylvicula continuanda peregit, donee ad primum Scotum 
 Hibernensem pervenerat, qui ab Hiherno Hispaniarum Jlumine 
 Hiberniam primus descendit. 
 
 And I was curious for the honour of our nation and lan- 
 guage to set this doun here, and also becaus not one of our 
 historians touches this but John Major in his chronicles, 
 which makes it the rarer and worth recording.^ 
 
 King Alexander being young remained still with his mother. 
 Queen Marie, sometimes at Scone sometimes at Dumfermling, 
 being universally beloved of all, with a court and guards as 
 royall as any king in Europ, but there was litle or no favour 
 place or preferment procured at court now but by the 
 
 Buchan. 1. 7. Cumings faction, as the historian avers, Omnium prope rerum 
 potestas penes Cuminiorum /actionem Juit, and another saith, 
 
 John Major. Cumingiorum familia erat in comitibus et cequitibits nimis potens 
 cui hodiernodie opinione mea in Britannia non est similis, which 
 moved most of the nobles to lurk at home, coming seldom 
 to court if not called by the King. Simon Lord Lovat was 
 in such favour with the Queen Dowager Mary, whom he con- 
 voyed out of France to Scotland, and her husband to his 
 grave, for being with King Alexander at lona, attended him 
 at his death in Carnary, and attended his royall corps to 
 Mellross, and the young King Allexander at his coronation, 
 those and other acts of his loyall attendance the Queen was 
 heard to say she would never forget, that as Sozomen said 
 of Apolonius, hie homo potuit apud Deum quod voluit, so might 
 Simon apud Reginam etiam et Regem quod voluit. He is 
 
 1 Fordun, earlier than Major, also gives the genealogy. Compare the list 
 here given with Fordun {Historians of Scotland, iv. 290), and with Major 
 (Scottish History Society's edition, p. 184). 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 59 
 
 forthwith created the King's free barron with all priveledges 
 thereto belonging; the title Thane was not judged so proper 
 for him, and he declined the dignity of Earle, his brother 
 Twadal being but Lord, and so tooke his patent, Simon Lord 
 Eraser of Lovat, to distinguish him from L Lord Eraser of 
 Twadal. Being weary of the Court, resolves to return home, 
 and in toaken of the Kings favour to him he gave him three 
 crowns to fill up his scutchion and coat of arms, with the 
 former three fraizes which he wore, and to distinguish him 
 from Eraser of Twadel, and for his strength and skill in 
 hunting, having cut off a deers neck befor the King with one 
 stroak of his shable, the deers head and neck from the shoulder 
 for his crest, with this motto, Je sii prest^ that is, I am readie, 
 which he beares still. The word Prest in Erench signifies 
 ready, full dight, furnished, prepared, provided, prompt, near 
 at hand, quick, nimble, fleet, wight; which, without vanity, he 
 and his successors well deserved as will be found a prohatum in 
 our after history. But we shall now leave him in peace at 
 Lovat, and return to King Alexander, who is troubled with 
 the politick contrivance of the Cumings, who as it was jealoused, 
 had a design to involve us in wars with England. 
 
 ***** 
 
 To introduce an entry to the first tract of my history of 
 settling the Erasers in Lovatt, I have formerly narratted that 
 in King Alexander the 1 time, comming north through Murray, 
 he fixed one Ramsay constable of the Kings house in Elgin, 
 one Barr constable of the fort of Eorres, one Soules at Narden, 
 one Boyes at Inverness, one Beaton at Dinguall, Gilchrist 
 M'kilvarinch, constable of Lovat, and lastly one Barregy 
 constable of the great castle of Beaufortt, called Douny,^ and 
 now in our writs termed Beufort in La Aird.^ One Thomas 
 de Eenton married this Barregies daughter, whose sone 
 Dominus Willielmus de Eenton married Cicilia, daughter to 
 
 ^ Dunaidk, the place of duns, or forts. Caisteal Dunaidh is still the Gaelic 
 name of Beaufort Castle. 
 
 La Aird, the Aird : an Aird. An Aird (a promontory) was originally the 
 low land jutting out into the sea between Bunchrew and the mouth of the 
 river Beauly ; but in time the name came to be applied to the wider district 
 now known as the Aird. 
 
60 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Mackrayes. 
 
 Church trans- 
 lated to Ward 
 law. 
 
 John Bisset, who had the interest of Lovat, though Grahams 
 possest the fort, and David de Graham and Patricius de 
 Graham his sone are termed in the charters, Domini de Loveth, 
 as the writes and rights given them by the Bishops of Murray, 
 which I set down at length, declare. The Bissets being con- 
 vict of treason, and all of them banisht in King Alexander 
 the 2. his reign, the Frasers came north, and Sir Simon Fraser 
 marrying Marry Biset, the eldest daughter of John, the King 
 stiles him by his royal donation, Simon Lord Fraser of Lovat, 
 as I have formerly set down in course. Patricius de Grahm, 
 the last we find stiled Dominus de Loveth, renounces his right 
 to Simon by the King's command, and is setled constable of 
 the King'*s house at Elgin, so that Simon Fraser is now heretor 
 of the lands of Lovat, as well as the fort, and is absolut, 
 being stiled D. Simon Fraserius, Dominus de Lovet, which 
 stile he and his successors to this day carry in their charters. 
 Some barrones were here contemporary with Simon Lord 
 Lovat, yet dependant one him, such as Arthur M'kchnun 
 Tomson, Barron of Farnway, Gilbert Corbett, Barron of 
 Tann Drumchardiny, Ewn Mackleod vick illeandris, Barron 
 of Moniak, Gaspar Cristy, Barron of Foynes, and Alanus 
 Haleburton, Barron of Cullbirnies; these vulgarly were called 
 the Bissets Barrones, but as we shall afterwards narrate all 
 their interests came in successively to the Lord Lovat ; the 
 Fenton, Lord Beufort, leaveing in fine but one daughter, 
 heretrix Lovat, married her and therby got his estate. The 
 Mackrayes, a numerous clan, possest the Clunes East and 
 West,^ Obriachan, Cillinan [in Abriachan]. Corrifoines [in 
 Abriachan] Cearrowgare, Cill St. Ninean, Drumbuy, and 
 Achmony, in Urqhart ; and by matching with the Mackrayes 
 the M'kleans cam first to Urqhart. The Mackrayes were 
 men of currage and conduct, very useful! to the Bisset in his 
 expeditions to Glenelg and getting in his duties there yearly. 
 
 John Bisset conduced with Bricius, Lord Bishop of Murray, 
 about the transplantation of St. Mauritius his church in 
 Dunbachlach to Fingasck ad locum qui Dicitur Wardlaw vulgo 
 
 ^ That is the Clunes lying to the south of Moniack. The other Clunes in 
 Kirkhill was known as Fingask until the late Mr. Donald Cameron gave it 
 its present name after his old home in Lochaber. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 61 
 
 Baitha^ and there erected into a mensall. This paction was 
 ratefied be the chapter of Murray and confirmed by the Kin^- 
 in these words, Convenit autem inter prcedictos Episcopurn et 
 Johannem Bizeth quod sepe dictus Johannes hanc compositionern 
 facial confirmari per chartam Domini Regis et Dominus Epi- 
 scopus praedictus eandem faciat confirmari per concessionem et 
 cartam capituli Cathedralis Ecclesias S. Trinitatis de Elgin^ etc. 
 This is at length in the charter, which may be read by itselfe, 
 and finally closed thus, Apud S. Cro. Capit. Frin: de Spinen : Priory of Beuiy. 
 Mai/ vii. anno Salutis, 1200.^ 
 
 After this we find the said John Bizet by vow and promise 
 erecting a priory of monks in Beuly, and granting a donation 
 and mortification, by charter and confirmation, of the lands off 
 Stratchhalvy, and Achinbadi or Beuly, to the monks of the 
 order Vallis Caulium there, in S. Durstan's Church, the limits 
 of their possession about the precinct specified and designd 
 from Inach tarridil [the moor or market place of Tarradale] to 
 the east adrividiim de Breckach [the Breakachie Burn] westward. Anno 1223. 
 This charter is signed be the said D. Joan Biseth apiid cella in 
 St. Durst^ die ioc mensis Jidii anno Xhristi^ miicxxiii. 
 
 I find also the donation charter and confirmation of the 
 halfe davach of Inach tarridil to the said monks Ord. Vallis 
 Caulium mortified by Gillichrist a Rosse. This charter is 
 granted and subscribed in hurgo de Invernish in mense martie 
 anno Xristi., miicxxxv. Anno 1235. 
 
 There is also a donation and mortification by charter of 
 the multurs of severall lands within the parochin of Wardlaw 
 and Kiltarlity, by John Bisset to the monks of Beuly, such as 
 Loveth, Lussnicorn, Finasck, Monchitech [Moniack], ex utraque 
 parte rividas FocJiinas [Phoineas] et d'miidie davach de Beufiort, 
 et duarum davachs de Muy [Moy], et de Bruchack [Bruiach], et 
 
 ^ This agreement, which is not accurately quoted here, is printed on pp. 1$, 16 
 oi Regi strum Moraviense. There, for the words 'Wardlaw viilgo Baitha,' we 
 have 'Wardlaw Scoticd [i.e. in Gaelic] Balabrach' — perhaps the Town of 
 the Malt (brath). Wardlaw, on which the transplanted church was built, is 
 a Saxon name meaning Watch Hill. The Gaelic people called and still call 
 the hill, Cnoc Mhoire, the Knoll of the Virgin Mary — a name which our author 
 latinised into Mons Maria. In English it came to be known as Kirkhill, 
 which is still the name of the parish.' '■ 
 
 ^ This date is not correct. Bricius did not become bishop till 1203. 
 
62 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 de Kinath, etc. And after this King Alexander the 2. his 
 confirmation of all these donations to the forsaid monks of 
 Beuly, anno 1231, as they are set downe at large be themselves.^ 
 
 1 find also a controversm orta inter Andream Episcopum 
 Moraviem et D. Graham de Loveth about the Esse et Jluvio 
 de Forn and Kiltarlety^ signed by the B. and chapter at Spiny 
 1242 yeares.2 
 
 Another controversie I find betuixt this Andrew, Bishop of 
 Murray, and Thomas Thirlsten anent the lands of Abertarfe, 
 signed and sealed by Bp. and chapter anno gratia^ mccxxv.^ 
 
 Another controversie I find betuixt the said Andrew, Bishop 
 of Murray, and John Bisset anent the right and property 
 of the davach of Convent and the davoch of Erchiles, anno 
 1228.^ These charters and decisions I have coppied out of 
 the records of Murray, which I had a long time by me, 
 and written in some slieduls apart for confirmation of the 
 preceeding assertions. 
 
 The Bissets being off the stage, as I told before, and Lovet 
 being the Kings gift to Sir Simon upon tlie forfetry of Jo. 
 Bisset, and created Lord Fraser of Lovet by a charter of 
 novodamus given him, signd and sealed at Dunfermelin as 
 afterward in its own place shall be more fully narrated, the 
 first enterprize of Lord Simon was to fix a march betuixt 
 himselfe and the monks off Beuly, therefore he convocats the 
 
 ^ Compare Compositio in Reg. Morav., 59, and Chisholm Batten's Pi-iory of 
 Beauly^ p. 14 ^/ seq. Achinbadi is elsewhere called Insula de Achinbadi 
 (see next page, and Priory^ p. 28). Chisholm Batten takes insula literally, and 
 renders it ' island ' ; and so does Cosmo Innes, who identifies Achinbadi with 
 Eilean Aigas ! Insula is, however, here a translation of the Gaelic innis, which 
 means not only 'island,' but also green pastureland, river meadow, inch. 
 The appropriate rendering of Insula de Achinbadi\% the Inch of Beauly. Beauly 
 itself is Beau Lieu, beautiful place, as Beaufort is beautiful fort, both names 
 given l)y the early French monks. 
 
 2 This Conveutio was entered into, not by Bishop Andrew, but by Bishop 
 Archibald (1253-1298). See Reg. Alorav., 135. The Esse (Gaelic Eas, a water- 
 fall) is the B'all of Kilmorack on the river Beauly. Forn or Farrar was the 
 old name of the river. Hence Ptolemy calls the Moray Firth Varar Alstu- 
 arium — the estuary of the Farrar. The modern Farrar, and its glen — Glen 
 Strath-Farrar, the glen of Strath-Farrar — recall the ancient name. 
 
 ^ See Reg. Morav., 20. 
 
 ^ Apparently the Ordinatio, dated 1258, between Bishop Archibald and 
 Bisset. See Reg. Morav. ^ 133. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 63 
 
 whole country, and erects crives of wood and stone from one 
 side of the river to the other above the foord at Dunballach, 
 as a division betuixt himselfe and the monks. All that part 
 of the river which was belowe the crives to the sea was termed 
 vulgarly Avin ni Mannach or the Monkwater,^ and as a tax 
 upon the tenants of that barony off Beuly, tuixt Innach tarri- 
 dell and River of Breckach, they keep up these crives yearelie. 
 The Lord Lovat also fixes a ferry boat below these crives as 
 the sea enters into the foord upon the land of Dunballach, 
 which is called vulgarly Port ni Mannach or the Monks ferry. 
 These monks came out of France, Ordinis Vallis Caulium, anno 
 1222, 6 of them in number, and one P. Jarom Baptista their 
 prior with them. They landed at Lovat, and the country 
 provided for them dureing the erection of the monastery ; John 
 Jiisset in his time takeing care of that edifice, which after- 
 wards was industriously carried on in Insula de Achinbady. 
 
 Simon Lord Fraser brought it a great length in his time, 
 designing its march to the north at the brook Boitock near 
 Ord, in the evidence termed Rivulus uhi mterfectus f iter at 
 Joannes M'lclvir^ in the Irish Alt Boiteck, the marches in the 
 mouth of Corricharby to the river of Connin. He went in 
 person to Glenelg and was infeft in that country, giving .tacks 
 and possessions to very many. His only dwelling was Lovat, 
 where he reseeded. All the interest and estate he had was 
 Morvin or Lovet,^ Dochinbunach, Bailbrea, Fingasck, Lussni- 
 corn, Cingily, the two Moniaks, Fochiness, the two davachs 
 of Muy, Dunins, and Glenconventh, and Glenelg, with the 
 good river of Forn and fishing. This Lord had with Mary 
 Bisset S sones, Simon, Andrew, and Alexander, 3 daughters, 
 Mary, Anna, and Isabell. Simon, a great spirit, called south 
 to Court with his sister Mary the Queen^s goddaughter, who 
 is setled at Court and married to Alexander, Thane of Fife 
 Weemes. Simon was knighted by King Alexander the 3, at 
 
 ^ The Gaelic name is still Abhainn nam Manach. The district of Kilmorack 
 to the east of Bleakachy Burn is called Lethoir nam Manach — the Monks' 
 Hillside. Beauly is A' Mhanachainn^ the Monks' Place, or the Monastery. 
 
 ^ Lovat is still in Gaelic A^ Mhor'oich, the Sea-Plain. See MacBain's 
 Gaelic Dictionary^ v. Mor'oich. Lovat is the older name, and appears to be an 
 appropriation by the Gaelic of a Pictish word, meaning * watery-place,' from the 
 root lov or lou^ wash. 
 
64 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 a tilting in Dounfarmling. Isabella was married to John 
 Randalph ; Anna vitam ccclehatam rovet. His sone Andrew 
 traveled abroad and at his return marryed Jean Sower, here- 
 trix off' Glenugh, Lithgow : and Alexander, a brave youth,, 
 being about 17 yeares of age, hunting in the forrest of Corri- 
 charby, after a burst, of running, decaying dayly, dyed, anna 
 1269. King Alexander, as we told before, dyed by a fall 
 from his horse at Kingorn. The newes of his death broak 
 my Lord Lovat's heart, who dyed soon after him at Lovat,. 
 anno 1287, and was most solemnly interred at Beuly before 
 the great altar which himselfe had erected, a stone off* a 
 prodigious length which I myselfe measured and found it 22 
 foot square. It was broken in 4 pieces by the fall of the 
 oaken roofe of that church, and [was as long very near as the 
 church was broad, a noble monument. Willielmus Domin. de 
 Fenton D. de Beufort married Cicilia the 2 daughter of the 
 Bisset, and Andreas de Bosco, a Rubro Castro [Redcastle] in 
 Rosse, married Elisabeth the youngest, and after this Andrewes 
 death, Hutchen Rosse of Geddas married her, and with her 
 the barony of Kilravock. 
 
 Lord Simon Eraser is now off" the stage ; he was indeed by 
 a singular providence siice fortuim fabrum^ the smith that 
 hammered out his own fortune without patrimonial advan- 
 tages ; indeed he lived in an age which might be called the 
 harvest of wealth, wherein any that would work might gett 
 wages. His personall worth and valour purchased him ^ 
 suitable value and esteem from his sovereign and all his fellow 
 subjects. The Court was uneasy to him, for the camp was 
 his proper element. We owe and must pay a great tribut of 
 respect to this noble persons memory, being so highly endued 
 with merit, and is wwioi^tali dignus memoria. I am not so 
 accomplished an antiquary in record-heraldry as to give him 
 his due as being so worthy a nobleman made up of all honor- 
 able accomplishments. He died in the 70 yeare of his age. 
 
 Alexander Dei Gratia Rex Scotomm Omiiihus prohis homin- 
 ibus terre sue clericis et laicis Barones jiistitiarii Vicomites 
 Prepositis presentes et faturi Salutem Clare sciant me dedisse 
 et hac presente charta confirmasse Domino Simoni Frazerio 
 militi et heredibus suis de me et heredibus meis in perpetnum 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 65 
 
 totum et integram terram de Loveth vulgo Morv'm tenendam in 
 hereditate per rectas divisas siias cum omnibus suis rectitudin- 
 ibus et demandis quae in dictam terram de Morvin in aliquo 
 tempore predicto veil meis Jieredihus possunt demandari, et etiam 
 cum omnibus suis pertinentibus libertatibus et asiamentis quibus- 
 cumque accommodatis aut quae dejure in aliquo tempore pertinere 
 potuissent in bosce et piano in pratis et pascuis et pasturis in 
 moris et maresiis in aquis et stagnis in piscariis et molendinis in 
 foeris et avibus in et mo7itibus, etc., ita liber e et quiete 
 
 plenarie et lionorifice sicut alii milites quictcmque liberius quietius 
 et honorific, terras suas in aliquo tempore posidunt vel tenere 
 possunt, Nos insuper et successores nostri dictam terram de 
 Loveth dicto Simoni Fraserio et heredibus suis co7itra ornnes 
 homines et varrantabimus et perpetuo defendamus 
 
 in cujus rei testimonium et p. Donum hoc nostrum regium 
 
 est signatum et sigillum nostrum est etiam appensum coram 
 hisce iestibus Doncanus comes de Fifa, Gilbertus Abbas de Dun- 
 fermelin, Jacomo Capellano meo. Thoma Forfar, Angusio 
 Camerario, et multis aliis. Apud Diiirfermelin anno gratias 1254. 
 mccliiii. 
 
 Simon Lord Fraser of Lovat the second of that name married Simon 
 
 1 • p 1 t 1 rraser of Lovat. 
 
 at Court long before his fathers death to Anna Weemes f ^ j^^^gj^^^j. 
 Thane of Fifes one daughter, with whom he had 3 sones and iJ^f Laird of 
 
 T O' TTiA T»/r -\r Weems and not 
 
 4 daughters, Alexander, Simon, Hugh, Anna Margret, Mary, Thane of Fyfe. 
 and Jean. This Lord was served and retoured to his father 
 in the convention at Forfar, anno Xristi 1288. His eldest 
 sone Alexander dyed at his return of a malignant fever in 
 Lovat about the 7 year of his age. 
 
 We must now leave off this subject a little and treat of the 
 affaires of the kingdom, which will gradually introduce us 
 again to my Lord Lovates concerns being ingaged in the Kings 
 quarrell with the Baliol, an usurper. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Here follows account of affairs in Scotland, England, and 
 the Continent.] 
 
 After this unhappy fight of Fakirk, W. Wallace came to 
 Perth and dismissed his army, giving place to that envy which 
 he knew he could not resist, and from that day forward never 
 
66 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Jo. Cumin 
 Simon Fraser at 
 Rosslin 1302. 
 
 Jo. Major 
 
 Dempster 
 1. 4. p. 300. 
 
 Monipenny 
 P- 93- 
 
 Buchan. 
 1. 8. p. 264. 
 
 acted as a generall, yet ceased not, with a few of his friends 
 who stuck to him, to take oportunity to destroy the English. 
 Things remained about two yeares in this maner till in end 
 John Cuming, Earle of Buchan, and Simon Fraser were elected 
 gbvernoures, who mustered 8000 valiant men together, when 
 King Edward sent Ralph Comfrey to Scotland with 30,000 
 men divided into three armies, who pillaged all the country 
 without resistance, and at Roslin in Lothian, 5 milles eastward 
 from Edinbrugh, where Fraser and Cuming encountered the 
 first ten thousand and defeat them, the next ten thousand 
 advancing they defeat them too, the 3d ten thousand ad- 
 vancing the Scots, arming their servants with the spoil of the 
 slain, made a formidable show and, being encurraged by their 
 leaders and the glory of the former two victories, tooke fresh 
 courrage and I'outed all the English. This victory and fight 
 was the more famous that it was obtained by one army over 
 three in one, and the same day, February 24, 1302. 
 
 What this Simon Fraser was, or if he was John, historians 
 do not agree among themselves. Boetius, Major, and Dempster 
 conclud him Simon, and onely Buchannan names him John. 
 For it is certain that King Edward in rage resolved to ruin 
 Scotland, and Jo. Major, tlie historian, saith, Edzmrclus eligit 
 novum exercMum xxx milliurn virorum quern Rodulpho Com- 
 phrigo viro strenuo commandav'it et ad Rosslin pervenit quod 
 cum Johannes Cuminius re gens intellexit, secum Simon Fraserius^ 
 liahens turn octo mille vivos; unam Anglorum aciem vidt^ 
 secundo alteram aciem, et postea eodem die cum viris fatigatis 
 ter pugnavit, et sic omnes xxx mille vivos fudit. These are 
 John Majors words, that Edward choose 30,000 men in an 
 army, and committed their conduct to Ralph Comphrei, a 
 valiant stout man, and came to Rosslin, which when John 
 Cumin, the regent, understood, took with himselfe Simon 
 Fraser, who had 8 thousand men, with whom he foiled and 
 defeat the first front of the English army, secondlie the next 
 front, and afterwards the same day, the men being weary and 
 faint, he fought three times and defeat the whole xxx thousand. 
 
 But Buchannan hath it thus, Joannes Cuminius adjuncto sibi 
 Joanne Fraserio Twedie huge potentissimo collectis ad octo 
 milia hominum ad hostem ducit ut vel ah effusa populations 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 67 
 
 cohiberent vel si qua rei bene gcrendcc occasio se obtulisset for- 
 tunce non deessent, etc. John Cumin, with the assistance of 
 John Fraser, the most potent man in all Twedale, gathered 
 8000 men together, and marched toward the enemy to abridge 
 the limits of their plundering excursions, or otherwise if an 
 happy oportunity offered it selfe for action not to be wanting 
 to fortune, etc. 
 
 I am not resolved to controvert much uppon the mater 
 whither he was Simon or John, but the oldest historians and 
 nearest the time conjunctly conclud the first definitly, then 
 certainly he was the Lord Fraser of Lovat, there being no 
 Simon then of the house of Twedel ; but by the former true 
 computation of time the Lord Lovat was Simon, yet my 
 being so positive is not to derogat from or ecclipse the 
 famous Frasers of the famely of Twedal, who were valorous, 
 loyall, and still renound for famous actions in former times, 
 nor will I (as the Scots proverb saith) tirr the kirk to thack 
 the cure, take from the one to give to the other, being in- 
 terested in both, but may referr the final determination of it 
 to the impartial reader, colating the series of the antecedent 
 and consequent story of the Frasers of Lovat. 
 
 King Edward, to blot out the ignominy of his defeat at 
 Fakirk, enters Scotland with a vast army, resolving to run 
 over and subdue the whole kingdom, and meanwhile courts 
 William Wallace by great promises of preferment to come 
 over to his party ; but his answeir was stout and steady as 
 the historian words it : Una ejus ad omnes erat oratio, se vitani 
 quam patriae Debebat ei devovisse, cut si aliam opem afferre uon 
 posset piis erga earn conatibus immoriturum. His constant 
 tone was that he had devoted his life to his country to which 
 it was due, and if he could doe it no other service yet he 
 would die in its defence. For he remember his school lesson, 
 Dicto tibi verum liber tas est optima rerum : nunquam servili sub 
 nexic vivit O fili. 
 
 King Edward, following his fate and fury, overrun the 
 whole kingdom with his forces, destroyed all our forts, the 
 castle of Forfar, Dundee, Aberdeen, Elgin, Forres, Narden, 
 Inverness, Beufort, Dinguall, all demolished. The last that 
 resisted him with valour was the great castle of Vrqhart. 
 
68 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 which he took in and leveled with the ground, putting all 
 within to the sword. The English forces went west the length 
 of Glenelg, there being a hill there called Inach Sassin^ to 
 this day, quher they retired. They long besieged Beufort or 
 Downy Castle in the Ard, the bottom on this side being yet 
 named Lag in Loncart, i.e. the leagger bottom.^ Reteering, 
 carried away all our records and histories with them, all our 
 men of learning, and all memorable monuments, tooke away 
 the marble stone and chair out of Scoon, in which, as it was 
 said, the fate of the kingdom was contained. Edward, re- 
 turning, left one Ailmer Valentin as regent behind him, and 
 garrishoned all the prim forts in the kingdom. Now began 
 Bruce and Job Cuming, Ruber, the Reed, to discover the 
 fraud and fallacy of Edward, who flattered them both apart 
 with the hopes and vain expectation of the kingdom, being 
 both equally related to the royall stock, and they deplored 
 the lamentable misery of the kingdom in which they both 
 had too greatt a hand, and therefore pactioned together to 
 revenge the perfidiouseness of that king who cheated them 
 both, that Bruce should enjoy the kingdom and Cuming 
 should be the second next him ; this, with other conditiouns 
 covenanted, sealed, and swor betuixt themselves as a secret. 
 Bruce, remaining secure, went to London ; meantime Cuming, 
 repenting of his agreement, acquaints King Edward of the com- 
 bination and treason. Bruce is put under guard at court to be 
 tried and execut ; the Earle of Gloster Montgomry [apprising 
 him] of his danger, [he] caused shoe his horse backward, and came 
 to Scotland, yet hotly persued, but escaped ; at his coming home 
 he found the perfidious Cumin ^ in the Franciscan cloister in 
 
 ^ Aonach Sasan, the Saxon's Height. 
 
 2 Lag an Lo7igairt, the Hollow of the Fort or Encampment. 
 The Gaelic has it— 
 
 Fhad's bhios maide anns a' choill 
 
 Cka bhi Cuitneanach gun fhoill. 
 
 (So long as there is a stick in the wood 
 
 There will not be a Gumming without treachery.) 
 
 Which the Gummings have rendered — . 
 
 Fhad^s bhios maide anns a' choill 
 
 Cha bhifoill an Cuimeanach. 
 
 (So long as there is a stick in the wood 
 
 There will not be treachery in a Gumming.) 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 69 
 
 Drumfreece, and confronting him with his own letters killed 
 him in the church, and his kinsman Robert Cumins. This 
 hapened February 10, anno 1305. At that same time was 1305. 
 William Wallace treacherously betrayed by his own intimat 
 friend, John Menteith, lurking in Glasgow waiting the event 
 of things, and, sent to England, is execut in Smithfield. A 
 pretty fellow called Alexander Buys, killing a boar by singular 
 manhood, Bruce called him Fear Buys, whence is the originall Forbes and 
 of the Forbes, and his sone Ihe gave origin to M'Kyes.^ Mackye. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 Robertus Brussius, by descent he was nepos Isahellce^ Comitis King Robert 
 Huiitonice filice: of Isabell second daughter to David, Earle King 1306^'' 
 of Huntington, King Williams brother falls in by line to the 
 crown of Scotland. He lay under many imputations, such 
 as siding with King Edward of England against his native 
 country, his opposing and jealousing the famous and renouned 
 Wallace, and the killing of Jo. Reed Cumin in the holy 
 church. These and other things he was heard to bemoan 
 and regreet ; he was justly under ecclesiastick sentence by 
 Pope Clement 5, till at length he obtained absolution from 
 him, and in April 1305 he was crownd at Scoon. 
 
 ***** 
 
 King Robert, notwithstanding of their [the Cummings'] 
 power joining with the English forces, yet with a small party 
 ventured at Methven upon the River Amon near Perth to 
 try his fortun, and was defeat by Ailmer Edward July 20, yet 
 with litle losse ; again, at a place called Dalree, in his journay 
 to Argile, the Cumins discovered him and was defeat by them, 
 but with no great [loss]. After this the vulgar, upon his 
 double discomfitur, drew thence discourraging omens, deserted 
 him, and so went in disguise with 3 or 4 with him ; Melcolm, 
 Earle of Lenox, and William Hay of Arrill never deserted 
 him; all the Brucian party friends and allyes taken or 
 banished, his brothers Neile, Thomas, and Alexander taken 
 and execut, his castle at Kildrumy betrayed by the governour, 
 the King himselfe wandered here in the north and lurked a 
 while. The report of his death then spread, so that they 
 
 ^ See the editor's Urquhart and Glenmoriston, pp. 11-13, for the origin of 
 the Forbeses and Mackays. 
 
70 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 John Major 
 1. 4. p. 80. 
 
 Simon Fraser, 
 Walter Logan. 
 
 * Buchanan 
 here calls the 
 same man 
 Simon whom he 
 had formerly 
 called John of 
 Twedale. 
 
 Jo. Dempster 
 1. 10. p. 16. 
 
 searched no longer for him. In end he made some appear- 
 ance, tooke the castle of Inerness and Dingual, with severall 
 others ; then his old friends began to flock to him, and the 
 prid, imperious cruelty of the English had raised him up new 
 ones, and in end tooke and secured all the castles in the 
 kingdom benorth Esk, and came with his army to the heart 
 of Merns, quher Jo. Cumin, Earle of Buchan, appeares in arms, 
 but, seing the good management and conduct of his camp, 
 durst not approach, but sent a herald to Bruce to treat off 
 terms of peace. Meanwhile, under this truce he sent to the 
 English for help, becaus the hearts of his Scotish souldioures 
 were inclined to King Robert. Jo. Major hath it thus, 
 Rohertus Brucms partes boreales Scotia' petit, arcevi Inver- 
 nessce vi capit, custode superstite i^elicto, paulo post Johannes 
 Cuminius, Buchanioe Comes, Angless et Scotess colligit et contra 
 Rob. Bruseum apud amnem Esk vadit, nhi Simon Fraserius 
 et Gait ems Loganus Aurati equites cum midtis aliis hellatoribus 
 ad Londonios ducuntiir, nhi supposio extremo siiplicio midc- 
 tantur, etc. After that the King had returned from secureing 
 the Highlands, came and secured the castle of Invernes, and 
 at the water olF Esk John Cuming with his English and Scots 
 invads him, where Simon Fraser and Walter Logan, knights^ 
 with many more, were taken and sent to London, where cruelly 
 execut.* Buchanan gives this account. Circa hcec tempora 
 Simon Fraseiius et Valterns Loganus equites strenui, et summa 
 in patria, caritate a factionis Cuminance hominibus capti et 
 Anglis traditi Londini supplicio sunt affecti, etc. That at this 
 time Simon Fraser and Walter Logan, brave soldiers both, and 
 lovers of their country, were taken by some of the Cuminian 
 faction, delivered over to the English, and put to death at 
 London. And John Dempster saith. Tunc Simon Fraserius 
 qui regem Robertum Brussium a boriali parte Scotiae conduxit 
 dolo Joannis Cuminij Comitis Buchanice est captus et cum aliis 
 Londini est capite plexus, etc. At that time Simon Fraser, who 
 had convoyed King Robert Bruce from the north of Scotland, 
 by the deceit of John Cumin, Earle of Buchan, was taken and 
 with others execut at London. 
 
 No doubt this was the Lord Lovat who waited upon and 
 attending the King here in the north, for whom the King had 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 71 
 
 ^reat favours, and the Cumins envyed all such, but especially 
 Simon was hated by them for his vallour at Rosslin battle, the 
 conduct of that day being wholly the Frasers, of whom it 
 might be said in competition and comparison as once in 
 the Sacred Volum of two famous men, Saul hath slain his 
 thousands and David his ten thousands; indeed, if John 
 Cumin slew his thousands Simon Fraser slew his ten thousands 
 at the battle of Rosslin. 
 
 At this time William Cumin acted a vassalage. When 
 Isabella, King Robert Bruce his Queen, had gone in pilgrimage 
 to St. Duthus his shrein at Tain, this William takes her cap- 
 tive and delivered her to the English, and kept prisoner till 
 Banackburn fight, an act that should be recorded. 
 
 Now are all sorts flocking in to King Robert, among others 
 one John Williamsone, coming out of France to visit friends, 
 stayed at William Lambert, Bishop of St. Andrewes, being 
 his relation. One night he tooke away Lamberts horse and 
 some money, and came to Bruce quhom he served in many- 
 sharp stormes. In an onset where he behaved gallantly he 
 was commended to the King under the name of Gill Dow ghlas, 
 the blackish gray boy, and this was the first of the name of Douglasses 
 
 , original!. 
 
 Dowglass. 
 
 Rumors run to England that King Robert was prosperous. 
 King Edward, alarmed, gathers a vast army and comes 
 forward to Scotland. John Major saith, quaciixa grandern 
 exercitum Edivardus Anglus coegit quatenus Rohertum Brucium 
 a Scotia ejiciat, sed prope Scotice limites veniens in morhum 
 incidit, per quern universcB carnis viam iiigressus est. Tyiginta Jo. Major 
 annis Tyrannus hie Edwardus cum longis Tibiis nostri vul- ' ^' ^' °' 
 gariter vocant regnavit. King Edward comming with his 
 army forward, he died at Lancaster, after this tyrant had 
 reigned 30 yeares entered the way of all flesh. Thus Edw^ard, 
 vulgarly named Longshanks, is of the stage, and his sone 
 Edward of Carnarvan his sone succeed, and forward he comes Carnarvan, 
 for Scotland, but pretending great afl"ai res returnd w'ithout pi^ce of his 
 any deed of honor. King Robert Bruce, heareing of King 
 Edward's death, encurraged himselfe strongly. Meantime, 
 John Cuming, being greedy of glory, gathers an army, place- 
 ing hope in the sickness of his enemy, King Robert, but 
 
72 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the King, to encurrage his men, caused put himselfe a horsback 
 in the midest of his malady, supported by two men, which 
 gave such heart to his men that they fought manfully and 
 jun. 7. T309. carried the day at Inverury in Garioch. John Cumin fled, 
 and all his men came in to the King, who, as this victory 
 recovered him from his disease, so it was the omen of his 
 future proceedings, for, from that day forward he succeeded 
 in all that he attempted, for God was with him. July after, 
 he carried the battle of Die in Galloway, quher Donald the 
 1310. Islander was taken prisoner. Next year he marcht twice to 
 
 England, returnd with great spoiles without any rancounter 
 at all. The next two yeares he recovered all the strong 
 garisons in Scotland — Drumfrice, Lanrick, Aire, Boot; Sterlin 
 Castle capitulats under Philip Mowbrey ; Thomas Randolph 
 recovers the castle of Edinbrugh ; Roxbrugh was taken by 
 James Douglas ; the Isle of Man, a receptacle of the English, 
 surrendered. King Edward 2. comes in to Scotland, with an 
 army of 100,000 men. 
 Bannackburn King Robert prepares an army farr inferiour in number, 
 but in heart and courrage beyond them, being about 30,000, 
 inured to hardship, and who carried the hope of their lives 
 and fortunes on the point of their swords. With this army 
 he sat down on the left bank of the River Banock two miles 
 from Sterlin. The King, how much the weaker and fewer, 
 adds art and policy to make the passage o^er the river 
 more difficult. He caused digg deep trenches 
 Cast a caltrop ^/^^^ caused iron *caltrops to be casten in the 
 
 batle. 
 
 as ye will one /^^^ rode in convenient place for piercing the horse 
 
 spike turns ^ i.iti , j.i 
 
 upwards. foot, both which did great mischeete to the 
 
 English. The Scots army was divided in three brigads ; the 
 King led the midle main batle, his brother commanded 
 the right wing, and Randolf the left. This battle was fought 
 with such forwardness, manhood, and gallantry that 50,000 
 English fell in the field ; two hundred of English nobles fell, 
 and as many taken. King Edward first tooke the flight, and 
 persued be Douglas, and had he not been receaved into the 
 The first castle of Dunbarr by the Earle of March, and sent in a skiffe 
 know^i^'Jothe Barwick, he had not escaped Douglas fingers, following 
 Dunbarrs. hard with 400 horse. This victory was not unbloody to the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 73 
 
 Scots also, for they lost about 4000 men and 2 knights. I 
 will set down Majors words anent the batle, Fluvioliis sive 
 magnus torrens est in Fortha nohile Jlumen cadens ; super hunc 
 torrentem sunt molendina in quihus nonunquam, panes sub 
 cineritios quos banocks vocitant conficiunt, propterea torrens 
 ille dicitur terreus Bannock prope Sterlinium. Edwardus 2. 
 higentem eocercitum collegit ut Scotiam intraret et anno Strive- j 
 lingum adivit cum in quadem planitie Robertus Brussius occurrit, 
 a quo Edwardus victus est et Angli multi illustres viri illic 
 cecidere. Hoc prelium in festo Joannis Baptistas commissum 
 est. A brooke with a great torrent falling into the noble river of 
 Forth upon which there are many mills set, in which sometimes 
 there is a sort of bread beaken in the embers called Banocks, for 
 which the litle river is called Banockburn, near Sterlin ; here 
 King Edward 2. with a mighty army flxt in a certain plain e 
 where Robert Bruce came and in a pitcht batle gave him the foile 
 and overcame him, and very many of the illustrious Englishmen 
 fell. This batle was fought upon S. John Baptists day. 
 
 The next exploit was the takeing of Barwick from the 
 English, after they had possest it 20 yeares. The Irish 
 heareing of King Roberts fame sent him ambassadors to put 
 themselves and their kingdom under his protection, and so 
 sent over his brother Edward to Ireland, and by universall 
 consent was saluted king. He drove the English out of 
 Ulster, and King Robert himselfe went over thither in person, 
 which the English heareing, King Edward sent his army to 
 invade Scotland, and were defeat by Douglass shamfully upon 
 the Borders. And their naval force, which came into Forth, 
 upon which the Earle of Fife ceased with 500 horse, yet not 
 able to encounter so great a multitud, retreated. William 
 Sinclar, Bishop of Galloway, accompanied with 60 horse, 
 meeting them and reproaching them for their cowardish, 
 returnd with him, and valiantly repulsed the English with 
 so brisk an assault that they fled to their ships, and 500 of 
 them dround; and ever after King Robert called him his 
 bishop. King Edward besieges Berwick, and Sir Thomas 
 Randolf marcht another way into England, wasting all 
 with fire and sword, upon which Edward basely brakes up 
 his siege and retreates to York. 
 
74 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Anno 1316. At the request of England (as is thought) Pope Clemens 5. 
 
 sent his legates to compose dissentions here betuixt the 
 kingdoms. Duo cardiiiales a Roma in Britanniam pacem 
 inter Britanniw Reges constituturi devenenmt, qui rebus suis 
 prope Durem a Gilherto Miltone aurato equiti angi spoliati sunt, 
 qui propterea capite mucltatus est et quadri fariam sectus, et 
 ejus quar . . . ad quatuor regni primores urhes rnissce, etc. 
 Major tells that two Cardinalls came from Rome to Brittain 
 to agree the two kings, and were robbed of all their Jewells 
 near Durham by Gilbert Milton, a knight, for which he was 
 hangd and quartered, and his quarters sent to the principal! 
 cities. These legates excommunicated the Scots, forbid ing 
 them the use of publick Divine service ; but King Robert,, 
 valuing so litle the Popes thundering curses, gathers an army 
 and invades England, following the legats at the heeles, and 
 made havock with fire and sword. King Edward, to revenge 
 this affront, entered Scotland with a great army, but for want 
 of provision, and diseases raging in his camp, lost more men 
 than if he were overcam in battle. At his returne he burnt 
 the monasteries of Driburgh and Melross, killing the poor 
 old monks. There King Robert Bruce, after him with his 
 army, trod upon his heeles, makeing havoke as he went, and 
 in a tumultuarry battle put him to flight at Malton, near 
 York, and all his baggage taken. 
 
 King Robert Bruce becomes so famous that all Europ 
 esteemed him ; he is courted by France, who renue the ancient 
 league with him, and is the subject of newes in England. At 
 the King's Court, one Hampton, of noble parentage, spoke 
 honorably of the valore and fortune of Bruces. T. Spencer, 
 bedchamerman to King Edward, to curry favour with the 
 courtiers, gave Hampton a slight wound in the body; next 
 day Hampton tooke his oportunity and ran Spencer through 
 the body and killed him, for which he fled to Scotland. King 
 Robert courtiously receaved and rewarded him with the lands 
 The originaii of Cadyow upon Clyde. Hence the Hamiltons are syrnamed^ 
 HamihoT' °^ a^^d their lands also named Hamiltone. 
 
 King Edward 2. died of a course sort of death (Jwdo mortis 
 genere interemptus est), his wife and sone, said to be the actors 
 of this paricid, thrust a pipe of horn into his fundament, and 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 75 
 
 a hot iron convoyed through it, by which his bowells were 
 burnt up, as his epitaph declares — 
 
 A redhot spite my bowels through did goare. 
 Such miserye no slave endured more. 
 
 After the death of King Edward, his sone Edward 3. Anno 1327. 
 ambassadors came to Scotland for a pacification, but treacher- 
 ously and by fraud they contrived a warr against us, which, 
 King Robert discovering, sends an army of 20,000 brave 
 horse to England, and no foot, under conduct of Sir Thomas 
 Randolfe and James Stuart, who so wearied and wasted the 
 English, not being able to fight or follow them, that they 
 never met with harder mesure and affront, by the skirmishes 
 and attakes made upon them by the Scots for a whole yeare, 
 and lost more men by famin and sicknes than by a set batle. 
 The Scots army returnd home, and the next yeare a peace in 
 conclusion tuixt both nations. 
 
 King Robert reteered to Cardrosse upon Levin, where he 
 made his last will and testament, left the affaires of the 
 kingdom upon Sir Thomas Randolfe, his sister sone, and 
 James Douglasse his good friend. He rewarded Robert 
 Fleming, who assisted him in killing the Cumin, with the 
 lands of Cumbernald, the heritage of the Cumings. John 
 Baliol in France transferred his right of the crown of Scot- 
 land unto King Robert and his heires as most deserving. 
 This king married first Isabel, daughter to the Earle of 
 Marr, who bare to him Margret, married to Walter the 
 great Stuart of Scotland. After her death he married 
 Anna, daughter of Haymerus de Burk, Earle of Aulster 
 in Ireland, who bare to him David the prince, Margret, 
 Countess of Sutherland, and Maud, who dyed young. King- 
 Robert Bruce, a man of most illustrious parts, every way a 
 person who can hardly be parallelld for his vertues and valure 
 in the most heroick times, he departed this life at Cardrosse 
 July 9, amio 1329 and of his reign the 24, all men bevaileing Anno 1329. 
 him as being deprived not only of a just king, but of a loving 
 father too. In his life he made a vow to goe over to Syria 
 and there to undertake the cause of Christendom in the holy 
 warr against the common enemy thereof, which, becaus of 
 
76 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 homebred seditions, then broken with age and sicknesse, he 
 could not performe. He left upon Douglass to carry his 
 heart after his decease to Jerusalem and burry it there in 
 Christ our Savioures sepulchere, which the gallant Douglass 
 did, accompanied with Sir William Saintclare, Sir Robert 
 Logan, and a great many nobles besids, and at his return 
 assisting the King of Arragon in Spain against the Sarazens, 
 1330. being taken in an ambuscad he and most of his men were 
 
 slain ; but for his valorous expedition the Douglas beares the 
 bloudy heart in their arms and coat. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 After this long digression and account given of the inter- 
 vall betuixt King Alexander 3. his death and John Baliols, 
 and after him King Robert Brusse his contest and debate 
 with King Edward, and his own reign for 24 yeares, I will 
 now return to treat of the Lords Fraser of Lovat and their 
 concerns as the line of our history leads me. I declared 
 formerly that Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, the 2. of that 
 name, married at Court long before his fathers death, and 
 with whom, what children he had, and how he was ingaged 
 in the Kings service, that with John Cumin he fought the 
 
 Anno 1302. batle of Rosslin, and after that how he was betrayed by 
 the Cumins with Sir Walter Logan, carried to London and 
 
 Anno 1306. execut, about the 49 year of his age. Left his lady a widow 
 with 6 children, and also bigg with child and near her time 
 at his death. King Robert knowing what good service my 
 
 % Lord Lovat had done him, and how much the Erasers merited 
 
 of the Crowne by their loyalty, he recommends the Lady 
 Dowager of Lovat to Hugh, Earle of Rosse, his care, the 
 conduct also and management of her affaires, and indeed he 
 proved a kind and noble tutor to that famely. The September 
 after her Lord's death she was deliver of a 3 sone whom she 
 called Hugh after the good Earle of Rosse his godfather, and 
 perhaps this is the first Hugh Fraser we read off. This good 
 and vertuous lady educats her children suitable to their blood 
 and birth ; Jean and Margaret were sent south to Weemes, 
 Margret dyed a maid soon after, and Jean was married to 
 James Fraser, barron of Knockmiller in Twadal ; Alexander, 
 a brave youth, educat a while with the monks at Bewlen 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 77 
 
 [Beauly] and afterwards inclined to follow the warrs, of 
 whom we shall have occasion to treat in another place ; and 
 Hugh, fostered with the Barron of Foynes, and afterwards 
 taken to the custody of the Earle of Rosse, who matched him 
 with Euphem Dinguall, Barron of Kildins^ one daughter, 
 and got a good interest in Rosse near himselfe about Thane 
 [Tain], quher his ofspring continued. This Lady Lovat, con- 
 tinued still a widow, lived all her time at Lovat, which she 
 bettered both in planting and building. She laid the founda- 
 tion of the north tower at Lovat, a costly worke laid uppon 
 a firm brander of oake towards the river, and saw it finished ; 
 it was called the Weemes Tower after Anna Weemes the 
 builder, and she well deserved that memorial monument and 
 more. There is nothing extant of it now but the vaults, which 
 the late Lords of Lovat made their pits and prisones for male- 
 factors, the one vault is called Gormack, the other Bridag, 
 being the least of the two, nor was it out of vain glory that 
 this building got this name, which the Psalmist challanges 
 and condemns in the prosperous wicked — Their inward Psai. 39. ii. 
 thought is that their houses shall continue for ever and 
 their dwelling places to all generations ; they call their lands 
 by their own names, etc. The tradition confirms her being 
 at Lovat now above 350 yeares agoe. 
 
 We shall here mention also the continuance of the Lord 
 Eraser of Twadall yet. For, besids that Buchannan mentions 
 Johannes Fraserius Twedelicc longe potentissimus anno 1302, I 
 find that anno 1314 Alexander Eraser, a second sone of that 
 Lord Twadall, married the heretrix of Mernes, Arthur Fraser Than 
 Mackpeuder, Thane of Merns, his only daughter, a very Mern^l. ^"'^ 
 excellent woman, with whom he had many children, a flourish- 
 ing famely and ofspring; and, besids the great estate of 
 m'kpeuder, Alexander purchased the great barrony of Couy, 
 Fetteresso, KinnefFe, Dunotter, Stonhive, Glenmuick, Glenshie, 
 Glentanner, Forlin, Glenbervy, Feddes, Newmills, and Monis, 
 and was stiled Thane of Coy, a very great and mother famely, 
 but of no long standing. Branches of this great house were, 
 the Lairds of Dorris and Lairds of Philoroth. Erasers matcht 
 
 ^ Kildin, near Dingwall. 
 
78 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 also with Huntly, Gordon, and Pitsligo Forbes, who got much 
 of this great interest divided among them, and beares the 
 Frasers arms in their shields. Of all this we shall treat again 
 in its own place. Meantime, sones of this Alexander, Thane 
 of Couy, were John, James, William, and Alexander, the 
 daughters, Mary, Fanella, Janet, and Isabell, the younger 
 after her mother, Isabel m'kpeuder. 
 Succhronism. Now to treat of our correspondants and contemporaries 
 abroad. 
 
 *|t ^ ^ ^ 
 
 [Here follows an account of affairs in France, Germany, 
 Bohemia, Denmark, and Hungary, the Popes, England, and 
 Scotland.] 
 
 Now after this long continued history of King David Bruce 
 his reign and contest with his competitor Edward Baliol, the 
 regency of Sir Thomas Randall, Earl of Murray, and his 
 death, untill the death of King David, in all 40 yeares, I shall 
 now return again wher I left formerly, treating of the Lords 
 Eraser of Lovat, and that honorable family concerns. After 
 the first Simon Lord Lovats death, his sone, the second Simon, 
 succeeded, who, as we told, was taken by the deceit of the 
 3. Lord Fraser Cumins, and execut at London anno 1306. The 3. Lord 
 Lovat, Simon, being about 20 yeares of age, served and 
 retoured to his father, married Julia Ross, sister to Hugh, 
 Earl of Rosse ; they were truly Saintclares or Sinclares, but 
 now from the heritage country they assume the name Rosse. 
 With this lady the Lord Lovat had 4 sones. 1. Hugh, by the 
 godfather, Hugh Earle of Ross, who was fostered with the 
 Mackrayes in Clune. 2. sone John, died in 6 yeares of age. 
 3. sone Alexander, proved an excellent spirit, traveled abroad, 
 a great souldiour. 4. sone Andrew, educat with the monks 
 in Beuly. The two daughters, 1. Julia, a hopefull child, dyed 
 young. 2. Janet, married Patrick Dunbarr of Gantry. This 
 Lord Lovat was in great favour with King David Bruce ; and 
 frequently with him, after his return from England, in most of 
 his expeditiones, and it was said that the Lords of Lovat gaind 
 nothing by their loyalty but honor and credit, which they 
 ever studied to preserve. At his 2 expedition south he met 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 79 
 
 with his brother Alexander latly returnd from France and 
 knighted by the king, and some thinks he was that Sir Alex- 
 ander Fraser that was killed in that unhappy day of Duplin, 
 but I must not contradict myselfe, having already asserted 
 that this Sir Alexander was a sone of the Lord Twadalls. But 
 it is sure, by true computation of time, that he was the Sir Alex- 
 ander Fraser that accompanied Sir William Douglas, Sir 
 Alexander Ramsay, Sir Thomas Waus, Sir William Saintclar, 
 and Sir John Gordon, valiant knights who entered Eng- 
 land with a vast army, tooke the town of Barwick, and re- 
 turned with great vassalage and spoile. Whither he went, or 
 •quher he satled after this, is not certain, but sure he never 
 returnd, and it is beyond peradventure that his brother Lord 
 Simon was with King David at the batle of Durham and Anno 1346. 
 narrowly escaped with his life ; for he went south with the 
 Earles of Sutherland, Ros, Murray, who were all at that fight ; 
 iind it is sure he would never part with Sir John Randalfe 
 Earle of Murray, who died in that field. But it is sure my 
 Lord Lovat returnd home, was cured of his wounds, yet died 
 young, in the 47 yeare of his age, and his lady Julia never 
 married, and was the first dowager of Lovat that lived at 
 Kirkhill, Mons|Maria^ called be the monks of Beuly. And, to 
 add to what I said of my Lord Lovat, my old manuscript 
 declares that it was he that Simon Fraser who went in that 
 •expedition with William Douglas of Liddisdail and Sir John 
 Randolf, with a 1000 horse, and surprised the Baliol at Maufett. 
 Mair and Buchanan relat the story. As for his brother Buchan. 
 Andrew, he went also south, and perhaps we may yett meet l- 9- P- • • • 
 with him in story. 
 
 As to the great house of Twadel Fraser, it is now low, for 
 it was much weakened by the slaughter and death of these 
 three excellent gentlemen, Andrew, John, and Simon Erasers, 
 rsones of the family, that fell in the battle of Hallidonhill near 
 Barwick amw 1333, or as John Major, the historian, dates it, 
 4inno 1334; and now that great estate falls to the daughters, 
 for, as it came by a woman to the Erasers, it is like by a woman 
 to leave them ; for a sone of the house of Arrol Hay matcht 
 
 1 See footnote, p. 61. 
 
80 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 with that famely in King Davids time, for William Hay, 
 princeps Haiorum, as he is named by the historian, fell in the 
 day of Duplin, and left non of his ofspring, but his lady great 
 with child, and that shee boar twins, John and Alexander, and 
 that this Alexander, 2, sone of the house, married Helena 
 Fraser, daughter of John Fraser, Lord Twadall, and heretrix 
 to the estate. Others say that it was Alexander, brother to 
 the forsaid Earle William of Arrol, that married her. But 
 parvo discrlmine refert. And now two scruples arising in 
 tradition may be solved here. 1. whey the interest of Twadall 
 might not rather fall into the Thane of Couy, a sone or grand 
 child of the famely, and a portion to be given to the daughter 
 with a stranger ? But it is like in these dayes the law for heires 
 male was not in force, or it fell out by the Kings word or 
 favour, and the merit of the person who got her. 2. Whey the 
 Hayes of Twadall do not carry the Frasers arms in their coat 
 and scutchion. I am sure they once did it, and also fixt courts 
 in the name of Lord Fraser of Twadall. The unworthy 
 fabulous tradition that Simon Fraser of Lovat was the heir of 
 Twadall, and, being abroad, the estate was divided among 
 daughters or he returned, and, to gratifie Simon at his return, 
 he disposed to him the estate of Lovat, but herein no truth 
 but a fallacy, nor is there any but the ignorant or prejudicat 
 that will averr or trust that forgery ; it is so ridiculous a folly 
 and error, nor is it worth my while to refute it, but refers my 
 impartiall reader to the tract of the former unbyassed story. 
 But to return to Lovat, this good lady of it, now dowager and 
 widow, lived long, and spent her time in piety, vertue, and 
 charety. She caused make that easter window in the church 
 of Wardlaw, a well cut work, now closed up since the chappell 
 is joined to that end, which is the burriall place of the Lords 
 of Lovat. She also designd to erect a bridge of stone upon 
 the water of Beuly, and in order to that she amassd a heap of 
 great stones in the midle of the river, which is yet seen and 
 is vulgarly called Cam ni Baintearn, the Ladies Pillar ; and 
 the Earle of Rosse was to join his assistance to promot that 
 good work also, if death had not prevented both. She con- 
 tributed liberally for building the second and midle part of 
 the church of Beuly begun by Duvellus Mathewson, vulgarly 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOllUM 81 
 
 Duell Mackrory, Prior of that monastery after Jacomo Dueilus 
 Baptista, and saw it finisht. The beholder may discern if that Prior of Beuiy 
 work different from the first, which is eastward. She was also 
 at the expense of glasing the great window in the east gavell 
 with baken glass, a very costly work. In this that good lady 
 imitated her ancestors, the Earles of Ross, as if charety were 
 hereditary to that noble famely, for Farqhuar Earle of Rosse 
 founded the monastery of Fern in Rosse, anno 1230, and his 
 sone Hugh finished it. The records declare Fern in Rossia 
 Proemonstratorum ord'mis a Farquhardo Comitis de Rosse anno 
 1230 ; and this Hugh Earle of Rosse intended to build a 
 cloister for nuns in Dinguall, if the towne had not hindered it. 
 Nor was Julia Lady Lovat inferior to any of them in point of 
 charety, according to her power, a pious holy woman, according 
 to these dark dayes, of whom I shall conclud what S. Paul 
 saith of Timothy, calling to mind and remembrance the un- 2. Tim. i. 5. 
 feigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grand- 
 mother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am perswaded 
 that in thee also. But I must now leave this subject and 
 proceed to our contemporaries abroad. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Account of affairs in France, Germany, Bohemia, Denmark, 
 Hungary, Greece, and Scotland ; and of the Popes.] 
 
 I am now landed from the ocean upon the shoare, from the 
 court to the country, from maters abroad to treat of truths 
 at home. I treated formerly of Simon, the 3. Lord Eraser of 
 Lovat, who died young, and his surviving lady, no discredit to 
 him nor discurragement to his ofspring, with whom she long 
 lived and sincerely loved. Hugh, 4 Lord Eraser of Lovat, 4- Lord Fraser 
 who entered young to his interest, I find him served and ° 
 retoured to his father anno 1349 at Edinburgh, being at court 
 with King David 2. At his return he married Jane Calder, 
 daughter to Laurence Calder, Thane thereof. With her he 
 had 4 sones and 3 daughters, his eldest sone Alexander, 
 2 Hugh, 3 James, 4 William ; all well educat with the monks 
 in Beauly. In that monastery, after the death of Prior 
 Dueilus Mathison, succeeded William Cuming, prior, a man ^^^"^^^ 
 off great parts and noble descent, sone of the Earl of Buchan, prior ot Beuiy. 
 
 F 
 
82 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 kept an accademy for training youth in the monastery at 
 Beuly. The Lord Lovats daughters were 1. Sicilia, who 
 married Alexander Innes of Innes and Invermarky, 2. Mary 
 was matcht with Andrew, brother to the Earle of Rosse, and 
 3. Isabel was married to James Hay, brother of Arrall. Lord 
 Hugh being called by the Earle of Rosse, his uncle, to convoy 
 Eufem his daughter south to be married to the King, went 
 with other nobles in that retenue, and returned cloathed with 
 a commission of Lieutenant of the North, the first of that 
 nature that perhaps was bestowed upon any subject; and 
 there was great need of it becaus of the feuds and commo- 
 tions here among clans, and he well managed it as we shall 
 declare. This was a vigorous man, full of sprightly currage 
 and resolution. It was observable of him when with the King 
 that his nature would not bow to courtly complyance, he 
 could maintain what he spoke, and spoke what he thought, 
 think what he apprehended true and just, though sometimes 
 dangerous, and distastfull; one of an excellent temper, it 
 being true of him what is said of the Caspian Sea that 
 doth never ebb nor flow, observing a constant tenor, neither 
 elated nor depressed with success. Had one seen him return- 
 ing from- a victory he would by his silence have suspected 
 that he had lost the day, and had he beheld him in a retreat 
 he would have collected him a conquerour by the cheerfullness 
 of his spirit. This man improved his estate to admiration ; the 
 King, Kirk, and Country befriended him in his rights. I find 
 Hugo Eraser Dominus de Loveth his homagium to John Pilmor, 
 Episc. Moravien., anno 1367;^ the same year I find the Bishop of 
 Murrayes gift to Hugo Eraser Dominus de Lovat of the fishing 
 of the Linn, de Pise, de Esse, etc.,- and, though Lovats records 
 were lost, yet all are recorded in the chartularies and Register 
 of the see of Murray, being truly the nonsuch of the Kingdom. 
 
 This was the Lord Lovat that suppressed the insolencies of 
 the Maclinnans, and drove them out of Rosse, and, in the 
 absence of Hugh, Earle of Rosse, they had convocat in a 
 
 ^ The homage was to Bishop Alexander Bur. Pilmore died in 1362. See 
 J\e^. Morav., 368. 
 
 2 Compare No. 287, Reg. Morav., 368. The fishings of the Ess were already 
 Lovat's property. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 83 
 
 hostil maner, with others of their accomplices, and haveing 
 pillaged Chanory and Thain they encamped near Cessack 
 [Kessock], where they lay secure in a leager. Lord Hugh, 
 surprised them in a morning, killed most of them ; the rest 
 fled, and, setting upon them at Drumderfat, it is said to have 
 got the name of Drum-dear, the hill of teares and cries. In 
 the year 1374 there was an insurection made against Hugh, 
 Earle of Rosse, by the highlanders inhabiting the Armanoch 
 mountaines^ called Clanivir, Clangalrigh, and Clanleave ; all 
 these combining together resolved to sease on the Earle at 
 Dinguall, who being awarr of the design, made such sudden 
 expedition and search that he apprehended their captain and 
 leader, Donald Garve M'kivir, and imprisoned him in the 
 castle of Dinguall, which so incensed these highlanders that 
 they persued the Earle of Rosse his second sone Alexander, 
 and apprehends him at Ballnagown, and carried him captive 
 along with them, thinking thereby to get their captain re- 
 lieved by a fair exchange ; the Earle acquaints my Lord 
 Lovat, who by vertue of his place and authority in the 
 North might have influence on them. He convocats 200 
 men, who, with the Monroes and Dingwalls and other vassalls 
 of the Earl off Rosses, made up considerable forces, and per- 
 sued the rebells with all possible expedition, and, overtakeing 
 them at Beallach in Broig, betuixt the hight of Ferrindonil The battel of 
 and Lochbroome, where they had encamped, and yet in ex- bro/g^^'^ '''^ 
 pectation of a persuit, so that there ensued a cruel conflict, 
 valoursly fought on each side. The Clanivir and Clanleve were 
 almost utterly cutt off ; the Monroes had a sorrowfull victory 
 of it, with a great losse of their men, but carried back the 
 Earl of Ross his sone ; the Laird of Cildin [Kildin] William 
 was there slain, with sevenscor of the name of Dingwal and 
 others ; and divers of the most eminent of the Monroes fell in 
 that conflickt. And among the rest there were killed eleven 
 of the house of Forbes, that were to succeed one another, so 
 that the succession of Forbes fell into a child at that time in 
 the cradle at home. For this eminent stout service the Earl 
 of Rosse gave diverse lands to the Monroes and Dingwalls, as 
 
 ^ Ardmanach, in the Black Isle. 
 
84 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 their charters bear to this day ; and the conflickt ever since 
 called in our Irish language Blare Beallach in Broige.^ 
 
 In the beginning of the next year a fragment of the former 
 clans, with some surviving M'klinnans, to the number of a 
 100, lurcked in Coircharby forrest,^ sallying out upon the 
 adjacent nighbourhood, pilching and robbing, at last fell 
 doun upon Beuly barrony in absence of the Lord Lovat at 
 south. Their main design was to catch the Master of Lovat, 
 then tabled with the monks in the monastery. The young 
 youth Alexander, with the concurrance and conduct of William 
 Cuming, the prior, a dareing bold man, convocats a number 
 of pretty nimble fellowes on both sids tlie River, and, knoweing 
 where these vagabounds lurcked, set upon them at Ardin-chrosk 
 [Ardnagrask], killed many, persued the rest to Bearn-ni- 
 skallag, south from Beuly, quher their captain, Gilbiid Mac- 
 kivir was killed and sex more, the Carn quher they were hurried 
 known to this day, and the very place named Bearn ni scallag, 
 that is, the Servants Gap, becaus the men who did the slaughter 
 were servants and scallags.^ From thence the remainder of that 
 rout were persued towards Kilmorack, and a little bewest the 
 church 7 of them got up in a thick tree in the face of a rocke ; 
 one of the persuers (a strock fellow) with a Danes ax cuts 
 the bough, and down drops the seven in the Linn, and were 
 drowned in the river ; the same very place of the rock to this 
 day is called the Beam-Ercis,* that is, a charitable stroake, it 
 being a work of charety to destroy the wicked. 
 1378. About the year of God 1378 John Monro, Tutor of Fowles, 
 
 haveing been at Edinburgh about his affaires, in his return 
 home in June, he tooke a short cut over the hills through 
 Strathardel near Athol. In his journay he happened to rest 
 himselfe there, and to refresh his horse upon a meadow or lay 
 ground near hand. The owners of the grasse, without any 
 regard had to strangers or a person of his quality, convocated 
 in a rude hostil manner, and, without reasoning or reckoning, 
 cutts off his horses tailes, the custom then being to ride on 
 
 ^ Blair Bealach-na- Broig, the Field of the Pass of the Shoe. 
 
 - In parish of Kilmorack. 
 
 2 Sgalag, a farm-servant ; from old Gaelic Scoloc. 
 
 ^ Bewn-Ercis, the mercy blow ; coup de grace. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 85 
 
 long tailed horses, as their ornament. This dissaster and 
 affront the gentleman is not able to resent at the time, not 
 being equall party, but, after some rational altercations and 
 variance, escape their fure [fury], dissembling his anger at the 
 time, and went forward on his journay. Comming home to 
 Rosse he appointed a day of meeting with his friends and 
 kinsmen, and declares to them the mater how he was abused 
 by the Strathardell men on the rode, and requires their advice, 
 aid, and concurrance how to revenge his wrong. Instantly 
 (nemine declinante) all una voce ingage to own and espouse his 
 quarrell. So, mustering all the Monroes and his followers 
 and clan, he singled out 350 of the stoutest and most resolut 
 men among, and, with these himselfe in person, with necessary 
 provision, marches south and over the hills, meeting neither 
 stop or let in his expedition untill he came to the hart off 
 Strathardel, and, declaring the cause of his comming to that 
 people, he wasted and spulied the whole country, carrying 
 away a vast spreath of their strongest cattle, such as horse, 
 oxen, and cowes ; and some men killed in the resistance. 
 Returned home with his pray peaceably, without any resistance 
 or persuer. In the common rod, as he was passing by the 
 Isle of Moy, the Laird of Mackintosh, cheefe of the Clan- 
 chattan, dwelling then within the Isle, and at a meeting with 
 his friends sent out two or 3 gentlemen to enquire what those 
 were, and to require part of their purchase, which he craved 
 and challanged as due to him by the country custom, going 
 through his bounds. The Laird of Foules very discreetly and 
 nighbourly ordered to chuse out of all the cattle a shear of 
 each kind for the Laird of Mackintosh as a compliment and 
 Stige-chrich ^ as it is termed. All these being set apart, of 
 horses, oxen and cowes to near the third part of the whole, a 
 present sufficient enough for the greatest peer in the realm, 
 which being offered to the Laird of m'Kintosh, by some shrud 
 advice he flattly refused to accept of it, and would have no 
 lesse than the equal halfe of the whole pray for his share. To 
 tliis impertinent and irrational demand John Monro replied 
 that if m'kintosh would not rest content with what was 
 
 ^ Stiog-chrich^ the boundary ' cut ' or portion ; a tax payable on crossing the 
 march of an estate. 
 
86 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 rational and practicable among clans in the like case, Quod 
 potuit capere capiat^ seing he slighted his good will and offer. 
 Thus, without more parly ing, he sets forward on his journay, 
 with his people and pray. The unhappy Laird of m'kintosh, 
 yelding to the bad advice of a few furious fellowes (which 
 proved Rehoboams counsellours by the fatall event), convocats 
 all his friends and followers, not a few, by a firie crosse, and 
 persued the Monroes hotly and in hostility, and at the crossing 
 of the foords of Ness, a title above the Isle, perceaves an host 
 of men in armes at their heeles. John Monro, being once over 
 the river, and haveing short time to dallye or deliberat, sends 
 off fifty men with the spreath over the hill of Kinmilies into 
 the Lord Lovats country. These being dispatcht he marches 
 slowely forward with his 300 men and pitches on a litle levell 
 near Clachniharry about a short mile bewest Inverness, where 
 he drawes up in martiall postur, takeing advantage of the 
 ground with convenient conduct for fighting, and in a short 
 
 The battle of harrang to incurrage his soldiers expressed himselfe as a 
 chiften and commander, finding them all resolut and forward, 
 carrying as they all expressed their fortun, honor, and lives 
 upon the point of their swords ; so that in a trice there ensued 
 betuixt the Monroes and Mackintoses a most bloody battle 
 in which at the first ino^agement the Laird of Mackintosh 
 himselfe fell, his brother and second sone slain with him, with 
 the prime and most part off his host, and shamefully got the 
 defeat withall. Diverse of the Monroes were also killed, but 
 carried the day ; it was computed that the M'kintoshes lost 200 
 men, the rest fled. John Monro, sorely wounded, was left for 
 dead among the slain, but by a good Providence next morning 
 
 Maiid M'kray, was found in life by a woman, one Maild m'kray owt of Clunes, 
 
 John Monroes 'ji* Ja. 
 
 foster sister. and alter some reireshment given nim, was carried lorward to 
 Lovat, where he was well cared for and cured, being well re- 
 covered of his wounds, was ever after surnamed John Bach- 
 klawach,^ becaus he was mutilat of one arm, never able to 
 stretch it straight ; this accident laid a foundation of intire 
 kindness betuixt the Frasers and Monroes to this very day. 
 
 ^ Bac-lamhach, the * lame-handed.' 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 8T 
 
 The battle of Clach-ni-Harry, i.e. the Repentance or Pennance 
 Stone/ happened June 27, 1378.2 
 
 About the year of God 1369, Anguis Macky of Strathnaver 
 married Shivak M'kleud, Torkiloig^ of the Lewis his daughter, 
 by whom he had two sones, Anguis Dow and Rory Gald ; 
 Anguis M'ky dying he leaves the management of that estate 
 and sol goverment of the country to his brother Hugh Dow, 
 named Husten Du M'Kye ^ vulgarly. A flying rumor runns 
 to the Lewis, and Torkill Mackleud, apt to beleeve it that his 
 sister, the widow of Anguis Mackye, was unkindly treated by 
 the Tutor Hutchendw, in Strathnaver, and so takes journay 
 thither to visit her, accompanied with the primest persones of 
 his country. At his comming to Strathnaver he finds by her 
 own declaration that she is not friendly dealt with all ; without 
 challanging the Tutor Huchen (who gave him civil entertain- 
 ment) he returnes home in a pet, malcontent, and in his journay 
 he falls uppon the hights of Strathnaver and Breachatt, which 
 most rudly he spulies and pillages, they not being able to 
 make resistance. The report of this depredation presently 
 spreading, Hutchen Dow is alarmd, and to his arms instantly. 
 Robert Earle of Sutherland sent Allexander Sutherland of 
 Skelbow with a company of resolut undoubted men to the 
 assistance of Hutchen Dow, and all in pursuance of M'kleud 
 of Lewis to recover the booty, joining together in one body 
 followed the chase so suddenly that they overtakes them 
 within two miles of the West Sea at Tivodale, in a glen, and 
 invades them with great currage. Alexander Murray (whom 
 I named Sutherland before) and Hutchen Dow, knowing that 
 oportunity is as sone lost as acquired, fell furiously upon them, 
 and, no doubt it being unexpected by the M'kleuds, the 
 advantage was the greater to the Mackyes ; the conflict was 
 long and sharp, but rather desperat than resolut, with conduct 
 in end the booty is all recovered, and John M'kTorkil vickleud 
 with all his company are all killed upon the spot, non 
 
 ^ C/ack na h-aire^ the Stone of the Watching. ' The Repentance Stone ' 
 would be Clack na h-aithreachais. 
 
 2 The fight is said to have taken place in 1454. — Shaw's Hist, of the Mac- 
 kintoshes and Clan Ckattan, p. 147. 
 
 ^ Torquil the younger. Black Hugh Mackay. 
 
88 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The batle of escaping to bring home newes. This conflict gave the name 
 Tarvach, 1369. to this glen where it was fought, then called in derison 
 
 Tuittim-Tarvach, a fertill or plentiful} fall, and so named 
 
 to this day. 
 
 We have here a clear indication of the barbarity and in- 
 humanity of our Highlanders, noted to be duri^ horrid'^ 
 immanes, omnium denique pessimi; rough, harsh, theevish, 
 pevish people, and as bad as those that are worst, as if 
 they were sine rege sine lege^ without liege without law, 
 which may be seen in their rude rapins and ravenous revenges, 
 bloody, insatiable, and cruel, ane against another, whom 
 neither King nor law, reason nor religion, could mannage or 
 rule. The good Earles of Rosse are weary of their own situa- 
 tion near and among them, and the Lords of Lovat uneasie in 
 such a bad nighbourhood — Natus Hyperhores inter Fraserius 
 heros^ e spinis docuit surgere posse rosam was well said by 
 the poet in our behalfe, who live as roses among thorns, and 
 may say with David, Wo is me that I sojourn in Mesech, 
 that I dwell in the tents of Kedar, my soul hath long dwelt 
 Psal.^120, with him that hateth peace. I am for peace, but when I 
 speake they are for war. 
 
 Men now may apt to wonder as well as censor how the 
 Lords Fraser of Lovat, being now of so ancient a standing, 
 about 140 yearcs in the north, and yet did not spread their 
 Reasons whey branches hereabouts. I can, indeed, give severall unansweir- 
 fjon^spread"in^ reasons, though this might be a main one, the uneasiness 
 the North. their nighboures, this was no tempting or charming 
 
 countrie for them to live into. Moreover, I shall add (1) 
 their great relations at south induced them alwayes when 
 they got wings to take a flight thither where they were well 
 treated, regarded, and advanced, as yow find clearly in the 
 tract of my former history. (2) The singular afl'ection which 
 the severall successive kings had for this noble famely, and 
 how well they deserved favour at their hands, is known to 
 any verst in the history of Scotland; also being allyed and 
 related to the royall famely so often, instance the late King 
 Robert his offspring, and the Lord Lovat that now is being 
 cousen germains out of the Earle of Rosse his famely, a very 
 strong tye and obligation. (3) Their own inclinations to 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 89 
 
 travell abroad, and their warlik genious, the Erasers born 
 travelers and warrioures, as may be verified in their severall 
 ^expeditions, without any further reason or addition. (4) The 
 many occasions, diverting incursions, intestin warrs, and con- 
 fusions, inviting and calling them and all brave martiall 
 spirits from their country to the center in defence of King 
 and kingdom, as now at the corronation of King Robert 3. 
 Alexander, Master of Lovat, is gone to be present there, and 
 brings his brother James along with him, whom he setles at 
 Erendraught, of whom w^e shall treat hereafter ; his second 
 brother Hugh waiting upon his old father ; and William, very 
 i\t for bussiness, keeps home, where we shall leave them till 
 we return to them again. 
 
 King Robert the iii succeeds his father, anno Christi 1390 ; Robert, 2. of the 
 he was crowned at Scoon June 2, under the surname of John Stewarts and 
 
 ' ^ the loi King of 
 
 Fernyear ; he was christned John, till now that the decree Scotland. 
 
 of the estates turned his name to Robert ; whither it was for 
 
 the misfortunes and calamities of two kings called John, one 
 
 of France, the other off England, or for the eminent vertues 
 
 and felicity of two Roberts both in peace and war, lately 
 
 reigning in Scotland, I forbeare to determin. After King 
 
 Robert the firsts death tumults burst out quher they were 
 
 least expected, for Alexander, Earle of Buchan, the Kings 
 
 youngest sone by Elizabeth Moor, fell into a deadly fewd 
 
 with the Bishop of Murray, Alexander Barr, upon a light 
 
 occasion, and, when he could not come at him to kill him, 
 
 he vented his furry upon the cathedrall church of Elgin, then 
 
 one of the fairest of all Scotland, and burnt it down to the 
 
 ground. One historian saith, Aleocander Bnchanios comes oh Buchan. 1. o. 
 
 levem causam Episcopo Morav'iensi erat incensus : cum ipsum ad ^' 
 
 ccedem nancisci non possit, iram in sacram Elgini hathedralem 
 
 omnium quae turn in Scotia erant pulcherrimam convertit eamque 
 
 incendio delevit. Another historian words it no worse, Alex- 
 
 under Stuartus, Buchaniw Comes, Jlagitiosus admodum anno 
 
 a partu Virgineo 1390 ecclesiam cathedralem Moraviw de Elgin jo. Major i. 5. 
 
 totius patriae tunc decus incendio delevit dirum /acimcs, etc. ^' 
 
 That which was said of the Barberini at Rome takeing away 
 
 the brazen cover off the Pantheon, which Goths and Vandals 
 
 spared, Quod non fecerunt Barhari fecere Barharini^ so of the 
 
90 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 cathedrall of Elgin the ornament and glory of all the kingdom 
 of Scotland, Quod non fecere Dani quod non fecere Angli fecit 
 Scotus, Alexander Stuartus Roherti regis JUius. This flagitius 
 cruel man was ordinaiiy called the Wolfe of Badenoch, a fit 
 name for him ; this wickedness cost him paines and pennance, 
 teares and heart racking tortur, and was in end reconciled to 
 the church and died of meer griefe. 
 
 But his soneDoncan Stuart, every jot as fierce as his father, 
 his grandfather being dead, thought he had now a fit opor- 
 tunity for rapin and pillage, got a band of roisters about him, 
 and descending out of Badenoch upon Anguis, spoiled all like 
 an enemies country ; but the Earl of Craford by the Kings 
 commission was sent to restrain their insolence, many of them 
 killed, severalls fled, most of them taken and put to death : 
 these and others tooke advantage of the Kings mild and good 
 temper of whom the historian saith, Rohertits Tertiiis cum 
 vitiis magis careret qicam virtutihus esset illustris, penes eum 
 regkun nomen, penes Rohertum ejus fratrem^ rerum guberna- 
 culum permansit. The excellency of this Robert was that he 
 rather wanted vice than was illustrius for any vertue, so that 
 the name of king was in him, but the management of all 
 publick affaires rested on Robert his brother. The King 
 married Anabil Drummond, daughter to Sir John Drummond 
 of Stobhall, who bare to him David the Prince, and James 
 his second sone. 
 
 A strange act fell out aimo 1396 tuixt the two clans of 
 Cahonus [Colquhouns] and Clanchattan, who of a long time 
 exercised rage and cruelty one against another, refuseing to 
 end their feuds by course of law or referr them to indifferent 
 arbitrators. At last the King orders them to disceed it before 
 him by a duell. So upon the North Inch of Perth they 
 fought 30 for 30, with sharp swords, without armour. All 
 the Cahounes were killed except one man who swam over Tay 
 and so escaped, ij of the Clan chattans escaped with life but 
 sore wounded ; the rarest decision recorded in story. 
 
 Anno 1398 an Assembly of the Estates indicted by the 
 King at Perth, who made his eldest sone Prince David, being 
 18 yeares of age, Duke of Rothsay, and Robert his brother 
 (a vain ambitious man) being Earle of Monteith and Fife,. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 91 
 
 Duke of Albany. This was the first time that title of honor 
 was celebrated in Scotland ; we have many such now, a great 
 encrease to vanity and ambition, but non at all to vertue, 
 neither did it often thrive, nor any who enjoyed it, for grave 
 and sollid persones absolutly declin it, being a nominall 
 shaddow of empty honour to vice. 
 
 Anno 1399, Richard 2. King of England was enforced to 
 resign the Crown, and Henry 4. succeeded him. August 13, 
 King Henry of England came with a great army to Scotland, 
 besieged the castle of Edinburgh in ostension onely with 
 slight onsets, then raised his siege, returned home and did 
 no dammage in his marches both backward and forward, 
 gaining the commendation of a clement, mild enemy. 
 
 After this, great heates and jarrs about the Borders ; Archi- 
 bald Douglas with 10,000 men enters Northumbeland with Homeidon 
 fire and sword, Henry Piercy and George Dunbarr overcome ^'^°^* 
 them in a pitcht field, many nobles slain, Douglass himselfe, 
 Murdo Earl of Fife, Thomas Earl of Murray, George Earle 
 of Angus, so that the strength of Scotland was never weakned 
 more in any battle as this fought at Homeidon, May 4, 1401 ; 
 this defeat a forruner of a sad fate to Scotland, for after 
 the death of Archibald Douglas folio wes the decease of the 
 Queen Anabella and of Walter Trayl, Archbishop of St. 
 Andrewes, which presage sad mutations. For the splendor 
 of military disposall and maters wer upheld by Douglas, the 
 ecclesiasticall authority and resemblance of ancient disciplin 
 by Trayl, and the dignity of the court by the Queen, as hapend a'^?^«. 
 sadly after her death. Then did David, the Kings sone, take 
 loose raines to all lasciviousenes and licentiousenes ; the King 
 recommends him to his own brother the Regent to oversee his 
 conversation. The governour had now an opertunity put in 
 his hand to effect that he most desired, to destroy his brothers 
 issue and sate his ambition for the Crown, shuts up Prince 
 David closse prisoner in the Castle of Falcland, and starves 
 him basely to death. The King, overpressed with greefe and 
 weakeness, reteeres to Boot, consults with his trustie friends 
 how he might preserve James ; the result was he is sent for 
 security into France, and, with him, Henry Sinclar, Earle of 
 Orknay, as his governour. The ship cast on up the pro- 
 
92 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The Kings 
 death. 
 
 A regent 
 settled. 
 
 The battle of 
 Harlaw, 
 June 24, 1411. 
 
 montory of Flambrugh, King Henry of England cause bring 
 him to his court, ther detained and well disciplind in all 
 learning. His father, heareing of his captivity, shutes him- 
 selfe up in his chamber, and in S dayes died of hunger and 
 griefe, at Rothsay, April 1, 1406, and at his own desire is 
 inhumd at Pasly. The character given to this good king by 
 an acurat pen was, Fuit Rohertus et proceritate et totius 
 corporis forma et compositione nulli fere suorum cequalium 
 secundus. Summa vitce innocentia, et in qua milium hominis 
 privati virtutem desiderares ut vere de illo did possit meliorem 
 vii'um quam regem eum fuisse. This King Robert, for tallness 
 of stature and for the beuty and composition of his whole 
 body, was inferior to non of his contemporaries. His life was 
 very harmless, and there was no vertuous accomplishment fit 
 for a privat man wanting in him, so that it may truly be 
 said of him that he was a better man than a King. Poor 
 Scotland, great is thy loss in the death of both thy King 
 and Queen. 
 
 The government is now by the decree of the estates entaled 
 upon Robert the King's brother, haveing many things in him 
 worthy of that office and dignity if out of a blind greedy 
 ambition to rule he had not used many indirect course to 
 heasten to the throne; but is now annoyed on each hand. 
 Henry of England invades Scotland for the vexing incroach- 
 ment of the Borderers ; Piercy, suspect of a conspiracy, is 
 taken and execut in England. The next yeare Donald of 
 the Isles, pretending a right to Rosse, and that the governour 
 detained it unjustly of him, convocats and rises in arms to 
 maintain his own right, made a descend with his army into 
 Ross who rise with him, reduce Murray to his obedience, 
 proceeds in depredations through Strathbogy, threatens Aber- 
 deen, alarmes the kingdom ; Alexander Stuart, Earl of Marr, 
 with many of the nobles, gather a formidable army and gives 
 him batle at Harlaw in Garioch, a cruel and bloody day, 
 quherin fell so many eminent and noble personages as scarce 
 ever perished in one battle against a forreign enemy for many 
 yeares before, and yet an uncertain victory. 
 
 At this time St. Andrewes is erected into an university. 
 Henry the 4. of England dyed in March, and his sone Henry 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 93 
 
 the 5. succeeded and settles a truce with Scotland, being 
 ingaged in the warrs of France. Auxiliaries sent to France, 
 and John Earl of Buchan, the governors sone, is made generall 
 of the forces sent over, and many eminent nobles with him; they 
 are very successfull in France and overcom the English at the 
 batle of Clarence, upon which Charles the Dolphin created 
 the Earl of Buchan High Constable of France. September 3, 
 anno 1420, the Governour of Scotland Robert died, and Murdo 
 his sone succeeded in his place ; the Duke of Clarenc dying 
 in France Henry of England sent over John, Earl of Bedford, 
 his other brother, thither in his place with 4000 horse and 
 10,000 foot, and tooke with him James, King of Scots, in the 
 expedition, where we shall leave him in great credit and 
 
 repute, and treat a litle of other maters. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Here follows an account of affairs in France, Germany, etc.] 
 
 Now it is time we return home and treat again of the 
 Erasers, and begin here where we left formerlie. We shewed 
 that Hugh, Lord Eraser of Lovat, went south in company 
 with the Queen, and, not finding the Court agreeable to his 
 conscience or constitution, he returnd home and lived in 
 peace and quiet in his countrie, for he was very active him- 
 selfe to promot the peace of the Highlands, supprest the 
 insolencies of the roisters and robbers that opprest the country, 
 hence he was called Latronum Malleicm, send Jicrorum Jlagelluni ; 
 it was ordinarly said he was feared and yet favoured of all. 
 I need not add to the character I gave of him formerly. 
 Now he goes of the stage, and died in peace in the 78 year 
 of his age, 1397. Solomon, the wisest of men, declares. If a Eci. 6. 3. 
 man beget many children and that he live many yeares and 
 his soul be not filled with good, and also that he have no 
 buriall, I say that an untimly birth is better than he. This 
 could not be verified of Hugh, Lord Lovat. He lived happily 
 in prosperity and honour, and had truly the buriall of a 
 prince, and that which made his funeralls solemn and splendid 
 was the concurrance of the clergy, whom he ever respected 
 and relieved. The Bishop of Murray, Alexander Bar, and 
 Thomas TuUoch, Bishop of Ross, with their dignities the 
 
94 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Abbots of Kinloss and Fern, the Prior of Pluskarden and 
 Beuly, with all their orders, were present at his interment, 
 so that his burriall was a procession of churchmen, and it 
 should be so, being inhumed in a monastery, and Beuly Church 
 dignified with his ashes in urne. His good lady survived him 
 but halfe a yeare — requiscant in pace. 
 5. Lord Fraser Lord Alexander steps now uppon the sta^e and in a turbu- 
 
 of Lovat, 1400. . 1111 1 1 n • 
 
 lent time ; he had been at court and yet wearied of it, and 
 his fathers condition heastened him home, haveing setled 
 his brother William very happily at Dundee, matcht with a 
 rich heiress of the name of Scrimger. Of him descended all the 
 Frasers there ; one Alexander Fraser (or Frissell as they ar 
 called), a substantiall marchant there, gave me an account of 
 this anno 1657, and William Thursla, a skipper there, with 
 whom I cam from London, told that he was Frisol, and his 
 grandfather changed his name for an accident of slaughter. 
 
 Lord Alexander served heir to his father Hugh, 1400, at 
 Invernish.^ In June the Earl of Murray, as judge competent, 
 was substitut by the King in that place for severall emergents 
 of consequence. This Alexander was a man of a profound 
 wit ; he might be a statsman or a churchman. He resolved 
 to begin where his father ended, in reforming the country ; 
 he assisted the Prior of Beuly much in adorning the church 
 and cloister, and was at the cost and expence of the famous 
 speer steple set up upon the wester pinacle, made up of carved 
 oake, and a curious bell put there. He was offered great 
 matches, but resolved never to marry. The Lord Fenton had 
 such respect for this excellent man that he ofFerd his onely 
 daughter to him, entail his estate upon him, and live with 
 him. We find him in an old evidence chosen baliofe when 
 Anno . . . William Fenton, Lord Beufort, gave the right of Moniak 
 ex orientali ripa rivuli de Fechines, of 2 aughten parts to 
 Leod M'Killeandris, Barron of Moniak. Of this mans ofspring 
 we shal have occasion to treat afterwards. 
 
 In this Lords time Donald of the Isles made an insurec- 
 tion, terming himselfe Lord of ^Ebudoe ^ and Earl of Ross, as 
 the next heir being unjustly taken away from him by the 
 
 1 Inverness, as pronounced in Gaelic. 
 
 2 The Hebrides. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 95 
 
 Oovernour. And when he could get no right, he levied a 1000 
 I.slanders and made a descent on the continent, and so easely 
 seased on Ross, the whole country being willing to return to 
 the subjection of their own just master; but this facility in 
 the Rossians, in submitting to him whose mind was greedy 
 of prey, gave him incur ragement to attempt greater maters ; 
 comming to the plain of Urray, drawes up his men, and, getting 
 an addition to his number, musters at Killchrist in view of 
 l^ovat, sends an embassy of peace to Lord Alexander to rise 
 with him and assist him in his just quarrell and pretence. 
 He declined to be illegall, and disswads Donald to proceed 
 further now after the Kings death, the young king in exile, 
 the realm under a regency, England ready to step in uppon 
 the least breach of our intestin jarrs, and withall that it 
 was hazarding his own right by unseasonable timing, and 
 especially by the sword. He, in a fury, on the contrare 
 rejects the Lord Lovats advise and sets siege about Lovat, 
 hut all in vain, for it was well fortified and able to resist a 
 ilying army. M'kdonel, fearing to be seased on by other 
 clans, who would espouse Lovats quarrell, and also that he 
 would loose his oportunity by dallying, marches through, 
 pillages and plunders all before him, attacks Inverness, burns 
 the bridge, the famousest and finest off oak in Brittain, burns 
 most of the town, becaus they would [not] rise and concurr 
 with him. John Cuming, a gentleman burger in the town, 
 putting on his armour and head piece and two handed sword, 
 made such stout resistance at this nearest end of the bridge 
 ^igainst the M'kdonels that Jo. Major the historian saith. 
 Si essent decern tales in Invernesia nec pons nec urbs com- 
 hurerentur^ and if there were ten more like him in Inverness 
 neither bridg nor brugh had been burnt. But they prevailed, 
 and proceeded through Murray over Spey with fire and sword 
 Against all that would not rise with them, came to Garrioch, 
 -and there fought the battle of Hardlaw as I related before, 
 and shall doe afterwards. But neither my Lord Lovat here 
 nor yet the Lord Fenton stirred not for all his threatnings, 
 and so were rid of that ingagement. I would say much of 
 this Lord Alexander were he not my cheefe, and fearing to be 
 taxed of flattery and dissimulation. He was a man memorable 
 
96 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 in his generation, who for person, parentage, grace, gestur,. 
 vallour, worth, martiall feats, and many other excellent parts- 
 meet to accomplish a nobleman, one of the first rank in court 
 or country, so that he by his vertue added worth to his extrac^ 
 tion. In end, weary of the world, withdrew himselfe from 
 all secular concerns, and spent the remainder of his dayes in 
 privacy, without issue or ofspring, save one nothus a boy^ 
 who was called Gill Rewach Vickhimi,^ of whom is come all 
 the many M'kilrevich about us. It is pitty this choice person 
 had not been a churchman, having often avowed that he would 
 wave all worldly preferment and choose serving at God's alter 
 before State employment. So pious his life that, as he was 
 a coppy of primitive piety, so a patern of severity and sanctity 
 to posterity, testifying his independancy on all others, he never 
 mentioned the name of Jesus Christ but with this respectfull 
 addition Mon Matre, my Master; next God the Word he 
 loved the Word of God, being heard often to protest that 
 he would not part with one line of lyturgy for the whole 
 world. He was none of the nobles of Teko, who at the 
 building of Jerusalem would not put their necks to the worke 
 Neh. 3. 5. of the Lord, a lamentable complaint. 
 
 This Lord Alexander was of great age before his father 
 died, and long before his own death he had divested himselfe 
 of all secular concernes, and divolved the whole upon his 
 brother Hughs shoulders, who succeeded him in the estate. 
 Lord Alexander died at Beuly, where he had reclused himselfe 
 of a long time. 
 
 Hugh Lord Lovat entered anno 1417, who in his brothers 
 6. Lord Fraser time, and at his own earnest desire, married Margret, daughter 
 of Lovat. William Fenton, Lord Beufort, and was retoured as heir 
 
 to his brother, Lord Alexander, in Brayes of Aird, Strath- 
 glaish, Erchles, the halfe of Glenelg, which the Lord Fenton 
 1430. had got before with Sicilia Bizet as patrimony in the division 
 
 of the Lord John Bizets estat ; and with this Margret Fenton 
 he had 3 sones, viz. Hugh, Alexander, and James ; Alexander 
 married Janet Hey, with whom he got the lands of Gowart, 
 Kinstary and Kinudy in Murray, and of him came the house 
 
 1 The Grizzled Lad of Mac Shimi. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 97 
 
 of Farralin in Stratliarick, and the numerous trib of Shlick Barony of 
 Homais vickean vickallister,^ a brave people. James married MuTmy.^" 
 Anna Sinclar, sister to the Constable of Dingual Castle ; of 
 him came Alexander in Craigroy, and all the Frasers of Brea- 
 Murray in the parochin of Edinkilly ; of all which famelies, 
 and this Lord Hugh, we shall have occasion to treat hereafter, 
 and also we shall take occasion to declare how and when the 
 
 Frasers of Philorth and Dores cam out of Couy, etc. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Here follows contemporary Scottish and Continental his- 
 tory.] 
 
 After this long digression, which was certainly of necessity, 
 and not of choise or fancy, I now return from Italie to Scot- 
 land, and from Rome to the Aird, and give the connection 
 quher I left of the Frasers. I treated formerly of the 6 Lord 
 Lovat, being the 2. Hugh of that name. I spoke of his Lord Fraser 
 offspring and how they were settled, being himselfe contem- 
 porary with King Robert 2. first of the Stuarts, King 
 James the 1. and King James the 2., and all their Regents. 
 He was a man medled litle with state affaires, had no fancie 
 for the Court in confused times. He improved his estate, 
 and added the Lordship of Fenton to his own, nor was he 
 unmindfuU of the Church. He was at the expence of build- 
 ing the north work of the church of Beuly, erected that edifice 
 called the Chappell of the Holy Cross, called vulgarly Sheppin 
 Croish Nev, and got the right of a faire there May 3. called 
 usually Cross fare. He also erected a famous cross bewest 
 Beuly, above halfe a mile one the rode, which afterwards was 
 translated to the town, where we now see it standing. He 
 went in person with his kindred and followers to Glenelg^ 
 the M'krayes being his guids and guard de core, and fixt his 
 marches with the M'kleods, takeing infeftment and ceasing 
 [sasine] in his interest there, and he was so oblidging and 
 universally beloved that non would, nay, nor could, inchroach 
 upon him. He is in the records by charter from the Bishop 
 of Murray tearmed portionarius de la Aird, D. Hugo Fraser, 
 
 The race of Thomas, son of John, son of Alexander. 
 
 G 
 
98 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 and that becaus the Cliisholms were then possessors there, as 
 I find Willielmus Chiesholm portionarius de la Aird ; the 
 Forbes also were in Glenstrafarrer, his contemporaries, a 
 numerous civil clan, did hurt to non whatever: hurt they 
 suffered of others. The Frasers owned and defended them, 
 keeping good nighbourhood with them. There was a most 
 intimat correspondance and fraternity betuixt Lord Hugh of 
 Lovat and Thomas Dunbar, Earle of Murray, that they made 
 a mutuall compact thought upon deliberatly, and so farr 
 ingaged ut causa tua causa mea est, the one mans cause and 
 quarrell was the others, as may be seen by the following con- 
 tract drawn up betuixt these two noble peers at Elgin 1422. 
 bemix^Thomas Elgin the 19 day of the month of August the year 
 
 Earl of Murray of God MCCCC and XXII betuixt an noble Lord and mighty 
 Lova^ifz^:''''^ Thomas Dunbarr, Earle of Murray, on the ta part, and an 
 nobleman Hutchen Eraser Lord of the Lovets, on the other, 
 that is tretit concordit and appointed in form and manner 
 after following, that is to say, that the said Lord of the Lovit 
 is oblisht, and by thir letters oblishes him that his sone and 
 heir shall marry and take to wife an daughter of the said 
 Lord the Earl of M. gotten, or to be gotten on Isabell of 
 Innes, and the daughter to be gotten between the said Lord 
 the Earle and the said Isabell of Innes failzand, as God forbid 
 that doe so, the said Lord of the Lovit is oblist that the said 
 his sone and his aire shall marry and take to wife an daughter 
 of the said Lord the Earle to be gotten betuixt him and his 
 spoust wife, and his eir the sone of the said Lord of the Lovit 
 failzand as God forbid he doe, but that he have an daughter 
 air or daughters eires, the said Lord off the Lovit is oblist 
 as before to give that daughter his eir or his daughters eires 
 to the said Lord, the Earle his sone or sones to be gotten 
 betuixt him and his spoust wife, and that eirs male or female 
 sones or daughters of the said Lord of the Lovit failzand as 
 God forbid they doe, then the said Lord of the Lovit is oblist 
 and by thir letters oblises him that his eires whatsumever 
 they be shall hold and fullfill this treatty concordance and 
 appointment as is before written to the said his Lordship 
 the Earle of Murrays, the whilk marriage lellely and truly to 
 be kept in form and manner as is befor specifeit to the said 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 99 
 
 Lord the Earl but fraud or guile, and the said Lord the Earl 
 has given and granted to the said Lord of the Lovet and till 
 his heirs the Barronich off Abertarch [AbertarfF] in blanch 
 fiew after the tenor of his charter propost and even in it selfe, 
 and the reddend and the relieves of wmqhil AVilliam off 
 Fenton, Lord of the Baky, and of Alexander of Shiesholm 
 Lord of Kincossy, pertainand to the said Lord the Earl within 
 the Aird, Strathglaish, the Shirrefdom of Inverness, within 
 the Earldom of Murrasses, after the tenor of the said evident 
 made to the said Lord Lovit hereupon, and fifty marks of the 
 monny usual off Scotland, after the tenor of his obligation 
 made thereupon ; in wittness of the whole that the scales of 
 the said Lord the Earle and the said Lord of the Lovets 
 interchangeably are to be put, the place, day, month and year 
 before written. The wittnes I saw at the principall paper 
 were John Lines, Bishop of Murray, Henry Lighton, first 
 Bishop of Murray and then translated to Aberdeen, Patrick 
 Dunbarr, prior of Pluskarden, James Kinard servant to the 
 Earl, and Jo. Rachin writer. 
 
 We see now all along the tract of our genealogy that the 
 Lords of Lovat have still matcht with the best in the kingdom, 
 if Lords and Thanes and Earles be such. They never inclind 
 to curry the favour of the Highland chiftans and clanns so as 
 to seek wives from them, but yet in their correspondance, 
 carriage, and nighbourhood with them strive alwayes to polish 
 and reform them in their manners and moralls, but all in 
 vain. They could never tame nor train them, guid or gain 
 them, and what the lawes of the kingdom could never effect 
 it was an idle task for them to undertake ; who can think to 
 prevail with rude ruffians and barbarous bruits, to civilise 
 them, either by precept or practice; the children proving 
 every jot as fierce as the fathers, waiting oportunities for 
 rapin and pillage. To this end they still keept bands of 
 roisters about them, with which they descend into the plaincs, 
 so as that it is hard restraining their insolencies; and, if at 
 any time the law restraint stop the current and wickedness 
 of those unquiet and turbulent men from brakeing upon the 
 plain and champion countries, they fall out most grievously 
 among themselves, refuseing to end their fewds by course of 
 
100 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 law, or referr them to indifferent arbitrators, but achilborn ^ 
 ane competition tuixt chiftens as Mackleuds, Mackdonels, 
 Mackyes, Mackleans, Mackenzies, as in the following instances 
 appear. 
 
 A?ino 1426, AngLiis dow Macky, sone to Anguis Macky of 
 Strathnaver, and his son Nile entered Cathness with great 
 hostility, abuseing the country people, not onely in sorening, 
 but depredation and plunder, and stayed a long time there, 
 pretending for the ground of their quarrell that it was some 
 Cathness men, the Beths, that informd and instigated the 
 Mackleuds of Lewis to enter Strathnaver and occasion the 
 battle of Tuitim Tarvach, a meer pretext to pick a quarrell. 
 However, when they turnd insolent beyond measur, the in- 
 habitants of Cathness assembled with all speed and expedition. 
 The battle of and fought with Anguis Dow at a place Lem-Hairpisdall, 
 in^Cathnes!^*^'^' where hapened a sharp bloody slaughter; and very many 
 ^426. killed on either sides; the defendants being more just and 
 
 innocent in their own defence, God succeeded their attempts 
 so that Anguis and his train is forced to fly forst in hasard 
 of life. At this time King James 1. came to Inverness in 
 progress to preserve the peace of the Highlands, and to 
 persue Anguis Dow Macky for that and other gross enormities 
 and ryots committed be him. Upon the first rumor of issue- 
 ing out the King's pleasur before any citation was fixt upon 
 him or any else, Angus Dow came the length of Invernes 
 with the greatest deference and dejection imaginable, and 
 submitted himselfe to the Kings mercy, knowing that nohilis 
 est via levius, and delivered up his sone Nile in pledge to 
 the King of his good carriage and legall obedience in time 
 comming, which submission the King accepted, and sent Nile 
 Macky south to remain captive, and as prisoner in the Basse, 
 where he was kept for some yeares, at last [released] upon bale 
 and strickt conditions, and was ever after that dureing life 
 called Nile-Wasse i.e. Neil of the Basse. 
 
 In the yeare of God 1427 Thomas Macknil Macky, then 
 possessor of the lands of Creich, Spanzadell, and Pulrossy, in 
 Sutherland, had harboured ane old jealousy against Alexander 
 
 1 Compare acherspyre^ to germinate : Jamieson's Dictionary. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 101 
 
 Mowat, Laird of Freish-week in Cathness, a pretence of 
 slaughter made upon a certain Macky landing there forlorn, 
 off which Mowat was free, yet the jarr and threatnings con- 
 tinued and non to intermediat. The wicked man still waiting 
 oportunity till that this All. Mowat, returning from the south, 
 and coming by Thane, would pay his vow to St. Duthus, and 
 being at his devotion Thomas M'kneil surprises them, and 
 killed him in the very chappell, which he also burnt, to which 
 Alex. Mowat retired as to a very sanctuary. The King, 
 heareing of this cruel, barborous deed, causes denounce and 
 proclame Tho. Macknil rebell, and promises all his lands and 
 possessions to any that would apprehend him. Anguis 
 Murray, sone to Alexander Murray before mentioned, under- 
 standing the weight of the Kings proclamation, kept secret 
 correspondance and conference witli Morgan and Neil Macky, 
 brothers to this Thomas, and promised them that if they 
 would assist him in apprehending Thomas (whom no man 
 should own under perril of damnation) that he would give 
 them his own two daughters in marriage, and procure them 
 the peaceable possession of their Dowch [davach] in Strath- 
 naver, ane old possession which, saith he, with litle or no 
 resistance may be obtained, seing Neil Macky, the sone of 
 Anguis Dow, their opposit, was prisoner in the Basse, and 
 Anguis himselfe, being debilitat in body, was unable then 
 to withstand them. Morgan and Neil closes with the bargain 
 cordially, and without demurr they apprehend their brother 
 Thomas, being secure in Spanzadel in Sutherland, and de- 
 livered him to Anguis Murray, who delayed not to present 
 him to the King, is presently sentenced, and execut upon the 
 Castlhill of Invernes, and his limbs dispersed, his right hand 
 set up at Thain, a horrid spectacle ; and the lands of Pulrossy 
 and Spanziadel, which he did possesse, were by the Kings 
 donation given to Anguis Murray for his service, which his 
 successors possess into this day; and, according to his paction, 
 gave Morgan and Niel his two daughters in marriage, and 
 deale with Robert Earl of Sutherland for his attollerance 
 to conveen a few pretty men in the county to accompany his 
 two sones in law to enter their just possession in Strathnaver. 
 Earle Robert grants his just demand, and so Anguis convocats 
 
102 
 
 POLICHROxNICON SEIJ 
 
 a few resolut fellowes with which he accompanied his two 
 sones in law into Strathnaver. Anguis Dow Macky, heareing 
 of their approach, and being himselfe unable to resist them, 
 employes his bastard sone, John Abrach, to conveen the country 
 and be their leader, which he forthwith did, and encounters 
 The battle of them at Drumincub, two miles from Tongue, M'kyes cheefe 
 Stra'Snaver! dwelling place, and there ensued a cruel and sharp conflickt, 
 1427. and valourously fought a long time with great slaughter, till 
 
 there remained but few alive on both sids. Nile Macky, 
 Morgan his brother, and their father in law, Anguis Murray, 
 were there slain ; John Abrach, having lost all his men, was 
 himselfe left as dead in the field, yet recovered, but was 
 mutilat all his life after. Anguis Dow M'ky, being brought 
 there to view the place of the conflict, and searching for the 
 corps of his cousins Morgan and Niel, was there killed himselfe 
 by the shot of an arrow from a Sutherland man lurking in a 
 bush, and sent after his dead relations. This John Abrach 
 was so hotly pursued by the Earl of Sutherland that he was 
 constrained for safety of his life to flye into the Isles, where, 
 as some say, he dyed. 
 
 Niel Macky, sone to Anguis Dow of Strathnaver, was con- 
 fined for 7 yeares in the Bass. Good and clement King 
 James 1. thinking that by his long confinement he was not 
 onely polisht but sufficiently tamed, upon his solistation and 
 humble supplication to the King, he sets him in end at liberty. 
 His releasement also granted under the Kings hand anno 1434, 
 his father now being dead, the country in peace, and non 
 from any place to mollest him ; yet the cub of the old fox 
 will retain his kind, and so waits his oportunity to do mis- 
 cheefe, for, aiino 1437, good King James 1. being traiterously 
 slain by Walter, Earl of Atholl, and Robert Graham, with 
 their bloody accomplices, Niele Wasse Macky takes occasion 
 now in the interregnum, and invades Cathness that same 
 summer with a band of loose villans, spulied all the country. 
 In end the leading and courragious among that people con- 
 vocats with their resolut followers to oppose, and if possible 
 to expell him the country. His pretext at first was that it 
 behoved to be a Cathness man who killed his father at Drum 
 in Cube out of an ambuscad. The Cathness forces mett him at 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 103 
 
 a place called Sanset, where there ensued a severe skirmisli and Ruoig Hanset. 
 
 a considerable slaughter on every side. At last the country sTnset"^^ 
 
 about being alarmd conveened from every quarter, and Niel 
 
 necessitat to retreat. This battle was called Ruoig Hanset 
 
 i.e, the Chase of Sanset. Niel, returning home with litle 
 
 gain, and farr less credit, died of his wounds next October, 
 
 no that, considering his strength of body, vigour of mind and 
 
 spirit which he was endued with, he could have outlived many, 
 
 but the Spirit of God informs that the wicked will not live 
 
 halfe their dayes, and fared Niele. 
 
 In the year of God 1438 the continued jarres betuixt the 
 Benes and Budges and other clans in Cathnes was now come 
 to an hostile hight. The Beathes were the oldest natives in 
 that country, and, mistrusting their own force and strength, 
 they sent to Anguis Macky, sone to Niel Wass of Strathnaver, 
 to come to their aid and assistance, which they easily yelded, 
 so that Anguis, accompanied with Jhon More Mackean 
 Rewich, and a great band of men, went in to Cathness 
 and invaded the county, so that all the natives and in- 
 habitants conveened in heast and manfully rancountered the 
 Strathnaver men and the Beaes at a place called Blair Tanny, The battle of 
 where ensued a cruele feight with considerable slaughter on caThnessl^sS, 
 either sides. The Beas indeed had the victory by the means 
 of John More Mackean Rewich, their leader. He was an 
 Assin man born and very famous in these countries for his 
 manhood often shown, especially at this conflict, where two 
 chiftens of the Cathness men were slain, with divers and many 
 mo, the finest in the country, and the Baths got a sore stroake, 
 but maters were at last conserted and agreed betuixt them 
 and their nighboures. This Anguis Macky, not content with 
 what outrages he had formerly committed, and the slaughter 
 at Cha blair Tajinie^ but resolves from thence to invade Rosse 
 er he returned home, and, marching through Sutherland, crost 
 at Port in Culternach, or the Meikle Ferry, with a company 
 of rather desperat than resolut men, and, notwithstanding of 
 the threates and interdictions of the monks of Fern (terrible 
 enugh in these dayes to deterr any, nay the most barbarous, 
 
 . ^ Cath Blair Tanai, the Battle of Blair Tannie. 
 
104 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 from outrages) he runns over the whole country, purposeing 
 to make a prey of all in a peaceable time ; but he was briskly 
 mett with by the Rosses, who, killing all his men, persued 
 himselfe to the church of Tarbit, takeing sanctuary in the 
 temple, quher they killed and burnt him. Thus the Rosses 
 requitted him whom he often molested with incursions and 
 invasions. 
 
 Now, haveing given an account of some exorbitant feates 
 of our highlanders contemporary with our Hugh Fraser of 
 Lovat, it is now high time I close with his character, and 
 give him his due praise and comendation, er he goe of the 
 stage. He was a man of a wonderfull thrift and success in 
 all his attempts. He kept intire what his father left him, 
 and enlarged his territories by the addition of the 10 davachs 
 of Abertarfe in his paction with Thomas Earl of Murray. 
 He was a man of an insinuating, winning, prevaileing temper 
 with all men with whom he had business; non had confidence 
 or countenance to deny his suit. It might have been said of 
 this man, what was true of Henry 8 King of England, a man 
 of an incontrollable spirit, carrying a mandamus in his mouth 
 sufficiently sealed ; when he put his hand on his hilt he awed 
 all into obedience, which I might imputt to his skillfullness 
 to rule or his subjects feeblenes to resist. His homebred 
 abilities, travell perfected with forraign, and a sweet nature, 
 set a glosse upon both. He was essentiall to the Court and 
 country that they seemed maimed without his company. Being 
 a compleit master of mater and language non did better know 
 the secretary craft to get counsel out of others and keep them 
 in himselfe ; and this brought trouble as well as trust to him 
 from his successive sovereigns, being their intelligencer in the 
 north. Marvelous his sagacity in examining suspect persones, 
 either to make them confesse the truth or confound them- 
 selves by denying it to their detection. Cunning his hands, 
 who could unpick the cabinets in the Kings conclaves ; quick 
 his ear, who could heare at Lovat what was whispered at 
 Holyroodhouse ; numerous his spies and eyes of this Argus^ 
 as dispensed in all places ; concluding that gold might, but 
 intelligence could not, be bought too deare. This man lived 
 to a good age, past his great climaterick, and died at Lovat 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 105 
 
 1440, cetatis 64 yeares, and was interred at Beuly, and that 
 with a vast concourse of people, universally beloved, generally 
 bemoaned. 
 
 Hugh Lord Lovat entered instantly after his father's inter- The 7 Lord 
 nient, a mild pleasaint youth, and might well be surnamed Lovat, 1440 
 Hugo Sanctus. His father would often say that he was 
 shapen for the churche. It seemes the monks of Beuly had 
 made such impressions upon him, being educat with them from 
 his childhood, for then there were no schooles of learning any- 
 where but in the cloisters and monasteries, and Prior James 
 Reed, his contemporary in Beuly, had a singular care of him, 
 for he made him a good schollar, and a saint too. I find 
 him served and retourd heir to his father in all the lordship, 
 particularly in terris de la Ahd et Ahertarfe^ which was his 
 fathers purchase ; and in the Bishop of Murrayes Records and 
 charters to him he is termed Hugo Fraser D. de Lovat por- 
 tionarius de La Aird, becaus others shared with him. 
 
 He married Janet Dunbarr, daughter to Thomas, Earle of 
 Murray. His father. Lord Hugh, contracted with this Earl 
 as I declared before, and had the contentment to see the same 
 concluded in his own time ; for he was at his sons wedding in 
 the great hall of Tarnway, the nonsuch lodging of Scotland, 
 for to this day that house hath no paralell within the kingdom. 
 It was built by the Regent, Earl Thomas Randolph. Kings 
 have been in it, and King James said that he had no such 
 court or castle of his own. This marriage feast of the Master 
 of Lovats in Tarnway was a rant indeed ; for, besids the nobility 
 and gentry present, there were 3 bishops present also, viz. Robert 
 Strackbock [Strathbrock], Lord Bishop of Cathness, James 
 Wood,^ Lord Bishop of Ross, and Columba Dunbar, Lord Bishop 
 of Murray, who solemnised the marriage. The Bishop of Cath- 
 ness happened then to be in Murray, the Bishop of Rosse was 
 our own, and the Bishop of Murray, Columba, was a great 
 instrument in the contract and agreement made up tuixt theEarl 
 of Murray and Lord Lovat, for whom the Bishop of Murray 
 had a singular love, nay, he was heard to say that he had more 
 of his heart than his own cheefe, for he was a true hearted 
 
 This bishop does nol appear in Keith's Scottish Bishops. 
 
106 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Fraser, and no wonder, his mother being a Frisell, and perhaps 
 the inferr at Lovat was litle less when the master brought 
 home his lady ; and his father, Lord Hugh, lived with him: 
 till the day of his death, his own Lady, Margaret Fenton,. 
 being dead long before himselfe. Lord Hugh had ofspring 
 and isue with Janet Dunbar his lady, viz. two sones and twa 
 daughters. Thomas, his oldest sone, by the godfather Earl 
 of Murry, dyed young a child ; Hugh survived ; his eldest 
 daughter, Elison, died about 6 yeares of age ; and his second 
 daughter, Isabell, was married to David Cuming of Earnsid^ 
 a gallant gentleman with whom she had great issue. It was 
 John Cuming, this David's brother, who, as I said before, 
 defended the bridg of Inverness against the Mackdonalds, 
 being newly fixt at Inverness, and married therewith. 
 
 This excellent nobleman, Hugh Lord Lovat, the third of 
 that name in tlie famely, and the seventh Lord, died young, 
 did not reach 28 yeares, and great was the loss by his untimely, 
 death, being so happily married, so honorably allyed, and so 
 holily inclind ; but piety priveledges not from death, the 
 righteous perish, and mercifull men are taken away, the 
 prophets do not live for ever, and your fathers where are 
 isai. 57. i. they ? This sprig was cropt in the blossom, a youth of as 
 great hope and expectation as any of his noble ancestors, but 
 snatcht away of a sudden ; and the immature death of this 
 peer, in respect of the term to which by naturall possibility 
 he might have attained, and in his innocent age, was the 
 regreet of many. True he had not that favourable success 
 in many attempts that was expected, so that his fortunat 
 father might say of him what ^neas said to ^Escanius in. 
 the poets language, 
 
 Disce puer virtutem ex ine veruinque laborem — 
 Fortunam ex aliis. 
 
 Virtue and labour learn of me thy father, 
 
 As for succese^ child, learn from others rather. 
 
 Its true he mispent nothing, kept together what he got, and 
 that is praiseworthy among the nobles, for the poet is plain 
 and determines that 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 107 
 
 Non minor est virtus quam querere parta tuere 
 Casus , t * ? ? * » » illic hie erit artis opus. 
 
 It proves a man as brave and wise — 
 To keep as far to get the prise. 
 
 This good man died at Kirkhill, and was hurried at Beuly, 
 left his good lady a widow, and one sone, Hugh, of whom 
 we shal treat at large in another place. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 [Here follow contemporary events in Scotland and on the 
 Continent.] 
 
 We are now returned home and arrived in our country, and 
 in course concerned to treat of the Frasers off Lovat. After The 8 Lord 
 the death of Lord Hugh, surnamed Sanctus, succeeded his lov?[, 1450 
 sone, Hugh, the 4 of that name, and the 8 Lord Fraser of 
 Lovet, amio 1450. He went south at the call of King James 2, 
 and was educat a while at Court by meanes of his uncle, 
 Alexander Dunbarr, Earle of Murray, in great favour with 
 the King, by whose advice he marryed Margret, daughter to 
 John Lyon, Lord Glames, and at Edinburgh served heir to 
 his father Lord Hugh, amio 1458. This Margret was one of 
 the Queens Marries, a woman of great witt and singular for 
 currage and magnanimity, so that she was Lyon, nomine et re. 
 With her the Lord Lovat had issue 4 sones and 3 daughters ; 
 his eldest sone, Hugh, bred at Court, with his relations the 
 Lyons. King James 4 had great respect and favour for him, 
 and, as he lived with him, so he diyed with him in the bloody 
 battle of Floudon. Hathornden, the author of the history 
 of the 5 King Jameses, saith that the Lord Lovat was slain 
 with the King in that batle, litle difference it being the Master 
 of Lovat for the Lord. The 2 sone, Thomas, who afterward 
 succeeded Lord, of whom I shal treat at large afterward. The 
 3 sone was Alexander, educat with the monks of Beuly, and 
 dyed young about 14 yeares of age, a most hopefull youth. 
 His 4 sone, John, a man of great partes, educat at Oxford, 
 where he got and passed his degrees, and after his return 
 was Rector of Dingwall. The Lord Lovats eldest daughter, 
 Margaret, died young, being a child ; his 2. daughter, Agnes, 
 
108 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 married to Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord of Kintail, of whom we 
 shall have enugh to say afterwards.- His "S- daughter, Janet, 
 was married to Allan M'Kintosh, Laird of Torcastle, off whom 
 there came a numerous ofspring, the house of Killachy 
 Mackintosh, and his predecessors. 
 
 This Lord Lovat planted the first orchard in Lovat, have- 
 ing brought with him several species of peares and aples from 
 south, and helped to plant and inlarge the monks orchard in 
 Beuly. He also planted good ashes about the palace of Lovat, 
 one of those formidable called Crive Weaden,^ the meadow tree, 
 out of which was sawen in square 8 great tables, all which I 
 saw, as they were severally dispersed among the gentlemen 
 here, and one gifted to Sir James Stuart of Kilcopy, two in 
 Lovat, one in Moniak with Strachin [Strichen], one in Struy, 
 and severalls besids. 
 
 Donald of the Isles turnd loose in King James 3. minorety, 
 and, in his descent to the Lowlands, did great hurt to all the 
 countries he passed through, raging everywhere untill he came 
 ^464- to Athol, tooke the Earl of Athol and his lady prisoners, 
 
 pillaged the whole country, burnt St. Brids Church, after 
 which the Mackdonels never prospered. Alexander M'kdonel, 
 the forsaid Donald his brother, was left with a party besieging 
 Lovat, and their number dayly increasing, and destroyed the 
 adjacent countries. Hugh, Lord Lovat, sallyed out upon 
 them with the Mackrayes and Forbeses, and persued the 
 retreat to the Mount Caplach and fought the batle of Mam 
 Cha^ where many were slain ; but the Mackdonells came no 
 more here to trye their vassalage upon the Erasers. 
 
 This Lord Hugh keept peace afterward in this country. 
 George, Earl of Huntly, resolving to setle at Invernes, makes 
 his friendship with him, knowing how usefull such a nighbour- 
 hood as the Lord Lovat and the Erasers would be to him ; 
 and meantime Lord Hugh contracted with the Earle for his 
 daughter to his sone Thomas, Master of Lovat, that after- 
 wards their allyance might be the stronger; and in this contract 
 a renunciation of the lands of Stratharick, which verbatim yow 
 
 ^ Craobh ' Mhiadahi. Miadan, a meadow. — MacBain's Gaelic Dictionary, 
 - Mhm a' Ckath, the Moor of the Battle. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 109 
 
 see here — Be it kent till all men by thir present letter us 
 George Gordoun, Earle of Huntly and Lord Badenoch, foras- 
 mickle as we delivered two hundered marks Scots silJer to an 
 noble Lord, Hugh Lord Fraser of the Lovet, for marriage 
 that should have been compleited between Thomas Fraser, 
 apearand heir to the said Hugh Lord Fraser of Lovet, and 
 Margret Gordon, our daughter, and now, for the great love 
 we have to the said Lord Lovat, and the great favour we have 
 till our brother, Alexander Gordon of Achindown, and the 
 compleiting of marriage betuixt the said Thomas Fraser, 
 Master of Lovat, and Janet Gordoun, daughter to the said 
 Alexander Gordoun, our brother forsaid, we quitclaim and 
 discharge the said Hugh, Lord Fraser, his eires and executors, 
 and assignayes, of the said two hundered marks, together 
 with all right and title of right we the said George Gordoun 
 had, has, or may have, or our heires, to the land of Stratharick, 
 with their pertinents, lying within the shirrefFdome of Inver- 
 ness; and especially we the said George, Earl of Huntly, dis- 
 charges and renounces all right and title of rights we had or 
 has or may get fra Pitflures, or his eires, of the saids lands of 
 Stratharick, for now and ever, together with the two hundered 
 marks, as said is ; and to thir our acquittance of the two 
 hundered marks, and renounciation of the lands of Stratharick, 
 with the pertinents of the same, we have affixed our proper 
 seal at Newwark uppon Spey, together with the subscription of 
 our hands the xi day of January, the yeare of God an thousand 
 four hundred nintieth and three yeares, before thir wittnesses 
 Alexander Cults of Wauchtoune, Laurence Cults his father 
 brother, John Ogilvy, sone to Walter of the Boyn, and Peter 
 Gordon, our servant, writer hereof, and divers others. — George, 
 Earl of Huntly. 
 
 By this we may see the true nighbourhood and corespondanc 
 begun and continued firm betuixt these two noble persons, 
 Huntly and Lovat ; for Thomas, Master of Lovat, long before 
 his fathers death was contracted with Margaret Gordoun, the 
 Earles daughter, who haveing dyed in the very week of the 
 marriage, the Earle, glad to match with the Lord Lovat at 
 anyrate, ingages him to marry his own brother daughter. 
 
110 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Janet Gordoun, Sir Alexander Gordon of Achindownes, the 
 farr prettier woman by Providence, and to incurrage him 
 keeps the . . . ? of the former contract with him, and withall 
 procured the right of Stratharick from the Laird of Badshores, 
 which the Erasers formerly possest, but as tacksmen ; now 
 they got it in heritage, and have improven it to purpose, 
 spreading their branches in it, and purgeing out all others. 
 For there were many strangers then in that country, the 
 Cearans, Grants, Thushes, Thrilstans, Cumins, Gordons ; and 
 in our time not one man of that name from Aid Aill to 
 Comeinhine in Abertarfe. 
 
 This Lord Hugh had base born sones besids his legittimat 
 children, viz. Thomas roy Macvaister, of whom are issued a 
 numerous tribe up and down this low country, of whom we 
 shall treat in another place ; this sone was born to him, being 
 a youth in his fathers house before he traveled south. Another 
 sone he had about the time of his marriage born to him, 
 called Hugh ; some would averr that he begot this son after 
 his lady Meg Lyons death, which is not probable, for we find 
 that his lady survived himselfe. This Hugh, by an accident, 
 escaped over to France, where he aboad near 7 yeares, and 
 after his return he was surnamed Huchen Franckach,^ of him 
 came that numerous famely, the house of Foyer. 
 
 This Lord Hughs lady was a stout bold woman. A great 
 hunter, she would have traveled in our hills afoot, and perhaps 
 outwearyed good footmen. She purged Mount Capplach of 
 the wolves ; there is a seat there called EU'ig ni Bainfearn.^ 
 She lived in Phoppachy, near the sea, in a stanch house, the 
 vestige whereof remains to this very day. 
 
 Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail married Donald of the Isles his 
 daughter, and after a while, for some emergent, did repudeat 
 
 1 French Hugh. 
 
 2 Eileag na Baintearti^ the Lady's Hunting Place. Eileag appears to have 
 been specially applied to great V-shaped enclosures, open at both ends, into 
 which deer entered by the wide opening, and were shot down as they were 
 driven through the narrow opening. The ruins of such a contrivance is still to 
 be seen at Eileag Bad-a'-challaidh, in the parish of Kincardine, Ross-shire. Lady 
 Lovat's Eileag probably at or near the place now known as Cam na Baintearn 
 (Lady's Cairn). Caiplich. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 111 
 
 her, and, about the year 1476, made suit of love to Agnes, 
 this Lord Hugh of Lovats daughter, and, being a handsome 
 pretty man, prevailed with the young lady and gained her 
 affection , but cross to the inclinations of her father and her 
 bi other Thomas the Master, yet, by a privat intrigue betuixt 
 the two lovers by a civil rape convoyed her away over to 
 l^inellan, and married her. But afterward by the law and 
 practice ut sic ferehant tempora my Lord Lovat was necessitat 
 to send Sir Androw, his own chaplain, and priest of Mons 
 Mariae, to Rome, and procured Pope Sixtus 4 his Bull to 
 legittimat the marriage and also the ofspring. 
 
 This Lord Hugh was a man of mettall, a great spirit ; and, 
 to give him his true character, his going to Court brought 
 him home well accomplished, and what he did at home and 
 abroad his prudent genius consulted his own profit as well as 
 the enlargement of the Kings authority and power. I am not 
 so accomplisht an antiquary in record heraldry as to give him 
 his due being so worthy a nobleman made up of all honorable 
 ^nduements. He, without the least selfe attribution, might 
 say as to the Kings side of northern actions Pars ego magna 
 Jid ; and, as for his raiseing the M'kdonald siege, fealt before 
 seen by the enemy, it will sound romanze-like to posterity, 
 with whom it wil find plus famoe quam fidei. He was daubd 
 knight by King James the 2, and got St. Andrewes bage of 
 the Temple of Honour, being of due open to him who had 
 passed through the temple of virtue. He was contemporary 
 with 4 Kings, saw many Court and country changes, dyed in 
 peace at Lovat in the 74 year of his age, and was hurried at 
 Beuly, a multis desideratus. 
 
 After that the Lord of Isles had resigned the Earldom of 
 Ross into the Kings hands, the year of God 1478, that pro- 
 vince was continually harassed with the incursions of the 
 Islanders. Gilespig M'kdonell, nephew to Donel of the Isles, 
 gathering together a great company of his vassals and folIoAvers, The battle of 
 invaded the hight of Ross with great hostility. Kenneth ^'^^^* 
 Mackenzie of Kintail, living then in Kinellan, convocated 
 tlie country people about him such as Dingualls, Denuns, 
 Mackullochs, who came freely for their own defence. Lord 
 Thomas Eraser, then Master of Lovat, sent over one Glashen 
 
112 
 
 POLICHRONICOxN SEU 
 
 Gow Smith, in Donaldstoun or Ballbra, with a 100 bowmen^ 
 to assist his brother in law, Kenneth M'kenzie of Kintale,. 
 which, with the other clans forsaid, made a considerable body- 
 The Islanders camped about Contain, near Park, two miles 
 above Braan, and, very numerous, being allarmed with the 
 sight of the country people, got to their arms and made some 
 formidable show. Kenneth Mackenzie asked Glashen Gow in 
 Irish, Glashen, if yow had the conduct of the day how would 
 yow carry ? Glashen replies. Sir, if I had, be St. Mary in 
 Kirkhill, I would be among them : Er vioir si chrock, Viins 
 ant sracJc ; ^ so he got the front, et merite, a dareing fellow^ 
 instantly made the first breach with bowmen (having also 
 the advantage of the ground) upon the enemy, which confused 
 the Mackdonells, unacquainted with the country, were at a 
 sad losse, and, surrounded with the country people on all 
 hands, were so hard put to it that Gileaspy Mackdonel, 
 being wounded, gave way, and was defeat, being so hotly 
 persued that most of his men were drowned in the River of 
 Connin, and a considerable slaughter made upon them besids ; 
 the heat of the skirmish was soon over, the Mackdonels being 
 infatually dispersed and never rallied. This conflickt was 
 called ever after Blare ni Pairk, becaus it happened at a litle 
 town upon the north side of the river Connin belonging to 
 the Mackulloch. After this rufle given to the Mackdonels 
 the Clanhinich [Clan Kenneth, or the Mackenzies] (a surnam 
 till then mean and few in Ross). 
 
 Anno 1479 Mackdonel of the Isles, accompanied with some 
 of his kinsmen and followers to the number of 600 men, made 
 descent to the bottoms and invaded Sutherland and encamped 
 The battle of closse by the Castle of Sibol [Skibo], whereupon Niel Murray, 
 Skiboi?^^^ ^"^ sone to Anguis Murray killed at Drumincoub as aforsaid, was 
 sent by John Earl of Sutherland to resist them in cace they 
 did offer any harm to the inhabitants, or at least to enquire 
 what their bussiness might be to mollest a peaceable country. 
 Niel Murray, perceiving them pillageing the places thereabout, 
 surprised them unawarse with a number of resolut fellowes 
 
 ^ Air Moire a' Chnoc, bhithinn^s an t-srachd : By Mary in Kirkhill, I 
 would be in the attack. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMFORUM 
 
 113 
 
 with him, and in the first rancoimter killed one Donald Dow 
 Phide, one of their chiftens, with 55 more of his soldiers. 
 Mackdonell himselfe being alarmed with this onset, escaped, 
 and rallying the rest of his men, and retired to the hills bagg 
 and baggage till that frey was over, and, the people still 
 increasing, sent back 500 men of the most resolut he could 
 pick and chuse, who, comming to Strathfleet in Sutherland, 
 pillaged all that part of the country, thinking thereby to 
 repare, and reveing his former losse received by them and 
 purposing to make a total! purchase of the spoil of that 
 corner, but Robert Sutherland, Earl Johns brother, with Niel 
 Murray aforsaid, convocats a parcell of pretty men, and un- 
 expectedly rancountered them upon the sands of Strathfleet, 
 so that after a cruel and sharp skirmish the Mackdonels were 
 defeat, and in the overthrow the most of them were killed, 
 and but few of the country men ; so that this was cast still 
 in the Mackdonels teeth Strachk Shiholl agiis Strath floid, the 
 stroak of Skibol and Strathfleet ; after which they made few 
 incursions on Sutherland, whence conclud the misfortune of 
 the Mackdonels dayly increasing. 
 
 The very same yeare, in August, the groweing dissentions and 
 competitions in Cathnes betuixt the Bethes and Clangun came 
 to that consistency that a meeting was appointed for their 
 reconciliation, and the Chappell of St. Tayre, uppon the coast chappeii St. 
 near Girnego, to be the place, and twelve horse on each side lyres conflic 
 to be the stint of their number on each side, which they could 
 not exceed, sub poena causes. One Cruner Gun, the cheefe of 
 that clan, with the most of his sones and cheefe kinsmen to 
 the number of 12 persones, came first to the Chappell, and, 
 finding none there before them, they went in to their devotion. 
 In the meantime, while they are within church, the Laird 
 Dunbeth of Invering and Acrigill alighted with twelve horse 
 also, and two men riding uppon each horse, each rider haveing 
 one behind him, thinking it no breach of paction to come 24 
 men, seing they had but 12 horse according to appointment, 
 a meere trappan. The clan Gun bein within the chappell, the. 
 24 gentlemen ruished in uppon them, invading the Cruner and. 
 his company at unawars, rudly and inhumanly. They never- 
 theless made manly gallant resistance and defence, yet after a 
 
 H 
 
114 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 bloody conflict the Clangun were all slain, and the Baiths to 
 sex who went away wounded, and, as it is averred by eye 
 wittnesses, their blood is to be seen yet upon the chappell 
 walls of St. Tyre where they were slain. A long time after 
 this William M'kheamis, Cruner Guns grandchild, in revenge 
 of his grandfathers death at St. Tyres chappell, waited still 
 an occasion which Providence put in his way, rancountered 
 George Baith of Acrigill and his sone Alexander, with ten 
 more attendants with them, at Drummoy in Sutherland, as 
 they were traveling from Invering in Cathness, and fell upon 
 them. The thing more remarkable in the meeting is that 
 the Baithes, expecting nothing but death, desired as much 
 time as to commend their soules to God, which William Gun 
 flatly denied them, telling that his father interrupted his 
 grandfather at his prayers in Gods house, and would grant 
 him no time to close his devotion, and such mesur as they 
 gave they should have, so cutt them all off*. I find litle or 
 no memory off* Baiths in Cathnes now. 
 
 That year also happened to be fatall for a bloody conflect 
 
 La Aitcharrish fell out at Altcharrish in Brea Rosse upon this occasion. 
 
 Akcharrfs? Anguis Macky being slain at Tarbut, anno 1438, by the 
 Rosses, as was reported, John Reavach M'ky his sone came 
 to the Earle of Sutherland, upon whom he depended, and 
 desired his Lordships aid and concurrance to revenge his 
 fathers death, to which the Earl of Sutherland as a bad 
 nighbour, and a worse judge, yelds, and sent his own uncle, 
 Robert Sutherland, with a company of men, along with John 
 Revach to invade Rosse, they joining together, being furious 
 and forward enugh, they fell upon Strathoikell and Strath- 
 charron with fire and sword, brunt, plundered, and laid wast 
 divers lands appertaining to the Rosses, the Laird of Ballni- 
 gown, cheefe of the Rosses, getting sudden advertisement of 
 the attempt, a great losse, convocats all his fensible men, 
 and at a randivous near Edderton, piled out 400 men, with 
 quhom he marcht in person, and met Robert Sutherland and 
 John Revach at a passe in Strathoickel called Altcharrish, 
 and there ensued a dreadfull conflict which continued hot a 
 full day with incredible currage and furry and much blood on 
 both sids. In end the Rosses were worsted and put to flight. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 115 
 
 Alexander Ross, Laird of Ballnigown, was there slaine, with 
 70 other landed gentlemen of his name, besids a considerable 
 number of comone soldiers; also Robert Sutherland fell in 
 that field and merito qho came theire to court his death. John 
 Revach Macky escaped alive, and dyed soon after of his wounds. 
 The manuscripts of Fern and Beuly nameth those following, 
 150 Mackyes and 6 genlemen of that name, Mr. William 
 Ross, Anguis Mackulloch of Tarrall, John Vans of Lochslin, 
 Thomas Vaus, John Mickle Fern, Alexander Denune, Pitogarty, 
 John Denun his uncle. This bloody day of Altcharish, where 
 the Mackyes gaind so litle that they came not again to Rosse 
 for vassalage. 
 
 A Fragement of the Fraseus of Fruid 
 IN THE North 
 
 After the death of famous John Guthery,i Bishop of Ross, The^fameiy of^ 
 
 anno 1485, that see vaiked about halfe a year, then John Fruidt came 
 
 Fraser, sone to James Fraser, Laird of Fruid in Twadal, and ^'^''^ 
 ... 1490. 
 
 Abbot of Melross in Tividall, ordi7m Cistertiensis, succeeded 
 Bishop of Rosse. This John Fraser was elect of Galloway, 
 but, seing his name and famely decaying in those parts by the 
 rigour and oppression of Twadall, chused rather to goe north, 
 where the Frasers flourished, and so was preferred by King 
 James 3, to the Bishoprick of Rosse, where he setled Jan. 
 1486. His first wark was to finish the Cathedrall, and next 
 to build the Bishops house. It is certain that, haveing pre- 
 pared materials for that fabrick, he payed a visit to the Lord 
 Lovat, his cheefe, and offered to build a castle in Lovat upon 
 his own cost and expense, onely to set up his name and arms 
 for a memorial. Whether it was Lord Hugh, or Thomas, the 
 Master, that declined it becaus of the * miter set over their * ^ liter, 
 arms, whoever or however the miss, a free heart offered it, 
 and a fool refused it. This great and good man continued^^^^^^^^^ 
 above 20 yeares bishop of that see, saw that colled£]r of canons tuniccB 
 
 1 1 •! ^ n ' ^ ^ ,^ e r^\ i ii tnanicas et 
 
 advanced, built and finished the castle 01 Cnannory, a ^XdXv^ habent Kidivit- 
 
 cula Mi tree 
 
 Virg, 
 
 ^ Not mentioned in Keith's Catalogue of the Scottish Bishops. 
 
116 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 well contrived commodious house. Anno 1492, by the cruel 
 and fraudulent useage of William Hay Lord Twadal, Anna 
 Wallace, widow of John Fraser off Fruidt, came north by the 
 invitation of John Fraser, Bishop of Rosse, with her 7 sones 
 and one daughter, the youngest of all. The sones were 1 
 Paul, 2 Almond, 3 Alexander, 4 John, 5 James, 6 Duncan, 
 and 7 Robert. The Bishop, by Bull of Pope Innocent 8, 
 Popes Knights, being translated to Ross, and a priveledg to knight Priests, 
 he placed Sir Paul at Roskin, and Sir Almond ^ at Alnes, both 
 chaplanries of dignity, quher they were incumbents, and 
 quher they lived and dyed, men of singular good lives, and 
 eminent parts. 4 John Fraser the Bishop fixt as chamberlan 
 at Nuig [Nigg] and lived in the Bishops house, married 
 to Jean MackuUach onely daughter of John MackuUach Laird 
 off Catpoole [Cadbol] with whom he had 4 sones and two 
 daughters, his sone Alexander dyed a youth, Donald was 
 Archdean and Theasaurer of Rosse, married Elspit daughter 
 to John Ross, Ballivet, with whom he had 4 sones, John, 
 in Inshrory, of quhom came Donald Fraser in the Leyes, 
 [Leys near Inverness] married to Barbra Lindsay, who boare 
 to him John Fraser, Watrish Moore, and Androw Fraser 
 of Bannanie, and 6 daughters, Anna, Helen, Janet, Margret, 
 Kate, Mary. How these were setled and macht will come in 
 to be treated off alibi. 
 
 Mr. Donald his 2 sone James Fraser, in Tamach, who 
 married * Agnes Downy, and had one sone, James Fraser, 
 in Dunballach, married first to Mary Fraser, daughter of 
 Alexander, Barron of Moniak, who had issue to him, Alex- 
 ander, and two daughters Isobell and Anna. James married 
 again Margret Fraser, daughter to Belladrum, who boare to 
 him 4 sones, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Andrew, Mr. Hugh,^ and 
 William, also 5 daughters, Kathrin, Elisabeth, Magdalen, 
 Janet, Mary, all married honestly here, of whom afterward, 
 5 sone James, Mr. Donald his 3d sone Hugh, his 4 son Alexander, vulgarly 
 called M'knargidiches, here in the Aird, men off good reput, 
 whose ofspring are spread at home and abroad. 
 
 The 4 sone 
 John setled 
 first at Nuig, 
 
 John married 
 Anna Dingual 
 
 *Agnes Bouer 
 man. 
 
 ^ Sir indicated that the person so styled had taken the degree of Bachelor of 
 Arts, a lower degree than Mr. or Master of Arts. 
 2 Mr. = Master of Arts. 
 
rOLICRATICA TEMPORUM 117 
 
 5 James Fraser lived in Thain a wealthy pretty man 
 who married Anna Hay with whom he had *Mr. William, *provost of 
 John, and Agnes. Mr. William married Anna Carr, with 
 whom James and Andrew. James married Janet Denun 
 daughter of John Denune of Pittogarty, with whom 2 
 daughters onely, Elison, who married Mr. William Fraser of 
 Phopachy, and Elspit, who married Mr. James Mackullach, 
 minister at Fern. James died young at Inverness, left the 
 tutory to Andrew Fraser, his brother, who was provost, 
 commissary, and shirref clerk of Invernes, and married Janet 
 Cuthbert, with whom Mr. Thomas, who married Kathrin 
 Gordon, Sir Robert Gordon off Anbolls [Embo] daughter, 
 who boare to him John Fraser, chamberlan to the Earl of 
 Sutherland, Mr. Michel, minister at Daviot,^ Mr. Robert, 
 advocat, and 3 daughters Jean, Anna, Isabel, of whom we 
 shall treat alibi. 
 
 Andrew Erasers 2 sone Andrew, his 3 sone Doncan, his 4 
 sone William, all went abroad. James Fraser in Tain his 
 ^ sone John died young, and his daughter Agnes married 
 John Ross of Arly who had no issue but one sone, John, 
 who went to England. 
 
 3 Alexander lived with the Bishop all his lifetime. After The 3d sone 
 the Bishops death he married Anna Oliphant, who boar ^ 
 to him James, John, Alexander, and two daughters, Janet 
 and Anna. His eldest sone James married Janet Dunbar, 
 daughter to George Dunbar of Avach, and lived in Golspy 
 in Sutherland; his sone James lived with his aunt Janet, 
 spouse to Andrew Monro off Miltoun, and, anno 1590, came 
 to Lord Simon Fraser off Lovat his service, and, anno 1599, 
 he married Elisabeth Fraser, daughter to William Fraser 
 of Struy, tutor of Lovat, and then purchased Phoppachy. 
 With Elisabeth he had 8 sones, Mr. William, Thomas, Hugh, 
 Alexander, who died a child, and 2 Alexander, John, James, 
 Abraham, and three daughters, Agnes, Margaret and Isabell. 
 Mr. William, his eldest sone, was minister at Kilmorak, 
 Killernan, and Inverness, successively from 1630 to 1659, 
 
 ^ For Mr. Michael Eraser's career, see 'A Famous Minister of Daviot,' Trans- 
 actions of Gaelic Society of Inverness, voK xii. 
 
118 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 and married, as aforsaid, Elison Fraser, daughter to James 
 Fraser in Thain, who boar to him 24 children, of whose 
 names and setlement we shall have occasion to treat again. 
 Alexander his 2 sone, John, married Anna Gordon, and lived 
 still with Earl John of Sutherland, and then came to the 
 Aird, and married Mary Fraser, daughter to Kilboky,^ with 
 quhom no issue. Alexander his 3 sone, Alexander, traveled 
 over to France, and died abroad. Alexander his two daughters 
 Janet married John Murray off Vppet in Sutherland, and 
 his daughter Anna, who married John Sinclar, and lived with 
 Alexander Gordon, Earl of Sutherland, all their dayes. 
 
 James Fraser of Phopachy his 2 sone, Thomas, married 
 Janet Fraser, daughter to Mr. William Fraser, minister at 
 Kiltarlity, and lived in Inshbery, had a numerous issue, and 
 died there, «7zno 1664. James Fraser his 3 sone, Hugh, was 
 a sea captain in France, never married, never returnd home. 
 James Fraser his 4 sone, Alexander, died a child. His 5 sone, 
 Alexander, married Mary Fraser, daughter to Donald Fraser, 
 Leies, with whom he had issue, and both lived and dyed 
 I have the last at Inverness. James Fraser of Phopachies 6 sone, John, was 
 senrfrom ^^^^ a Dutch captain, and died in Arlena in East Indies. James 
 EasTindies^^ Eraser his 7 sone James, a most statly yowth, served Lord 
 1644- Lovat, and died at Lovat, anno 1644. James his 8 sone, 
 
 Abraham, died at the birth, and his mother, Elisabeth, died 
 of him, an7io 1632. James Fraser of Phopachys eldest 
 daughter, Anna, was married to Mr. John Houstoun, minister 
 at Kirkhill, Margaret married to Alexander Fraser, Foines, 
 6 sone Doncan Isabel married to James Cuming in Inverness. 6. Doncan 
 Fraser, a strong, vigorous, witty man but no good man, 
 1. married Janet Irving, relickt and widow of Andrew 
 Juner, of Monlochy, with whom he had 4 sones and 2 
 daughters. His eldest son, John, dyed a youth, his 2 sone 
 *Agnes Mac- William, being heir, married * Janet Kosse daughter of Hugh 
 daughter to Rosse in Fern. His 3 sone, James, lived in Channory, and 
 John M'kuUoch married Anna Williamson, whose ofspring is there successively 
 yet. His 4 sone, Alexander, a stout souldiour, went abroad 
 to Germany. William of Monlochy, Doncan^s eldest sone, 
 
 Fraser of Guisachan and Culbokie, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 119 
 
 lived there happily, and got that few confirmed by law, and 
 
 had with Agnes M'kull 3 sones, William, Doncan, and Donald, 
 
 two daughters, Janet and Isabell, both married with Vrqharts 
 
 in Cromerty, and had issue but none of them extant. William 
 
 his eldest sone married Anna Rosse, Invercharrans daughter, 
 
 with whom he had William, Doncan, Andrew, and James, 
 
 and one daughter, Anna, who married John Innes in Chanory. 
 
 Doncan, 2 sone to William off Monlochy, a wicked, vicious, 
 
 man, married Kate M'kenzie, daughter to Rory M'kvurchy, 
 
 in Loggy, who drew up so with the Mackenzies that he 
 
 betrayed his own brother, William of Monlochy, a well 
 
 natured man, and supplanted the interest out off his hand, 
 
 and Mr. Alexander Mackenzie of Cilcovy bought the right 
 
 of Monlochy from William at a low rate.* But Doncan "killed in 
 
 perisht and no memory or issue living of him. William Sud o7[?john] 
 
 of Monlochyes 2 sone, Andrew, lived still in Monlochy, 
 
 married Anna Sinclar, and James, the youngest, was in 
 
 Cromarties service, and went south with him and no account 
 
 of him. 
 
 William Fraser, the 3d Monlochy, after he sould the right 
 of that land to Kilcovy, came over to Lord Simon of Lovat, 
 and wodseted the lands of Daltulich in Strathnarn, wher he 
 lived, and had with Anna Ross two sones, Hugh, and Alex- 
 ander who died in his youth, and 4 daughters. Hugh, his 
 eldest sone, married Janat Innes, daughter to Culrossie, and 
 lived in Daltulich ; with her he had only one sone, and one 
 daughter, Janet, who died a virgen, in Vrchart, with friends ; 
 his sone, this William, who now lives in Daltulich, and married 
 J. Forrester, daughter to John Forrester of CuUinald, with 
 whom he hath a numerous issue. 
 
 7 and last sone of Anna Wallace was Robert, who lived 7 sone Robert 
 
 . at ream. 
 
 with the Abbot of Fern, as chamberlan, a very pretty, wise 
 fellow. He married Janet Fyde, with whom Andrew, John 
 William, and James, and two daughters, Anna and Janet. 
 Andrew married Janet Sympson, and had the mills of Fern. 
 He lived till the Reformation, and had a numerous ofspring 
 spread there. John served the Earl of Cathness, and married 
 there. John went to St. Andrews, and was educat there at 
 schooles, a very learned man, never married. William turnd 
 
120 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 seaman in Cromerty, and James dyed young. Anna served the 
 good good wife of Miltoun, where she settled and married, and 
 Janet dyed a maid. Andrew, Roberts eldest sone, had with 
 Janet Sympson 4 sones, Robert, William, James, and Alex- 
 ander, and two daughters, Isabell, and Janet. I saw myselfe 
 sex brothers in Fern, Andrews grandchildren, and were called 
 John MackandreWjWilliam Mackandrew, Robert Mackandrew, 
 James M'kandrew, etc.; of those descended the M'krob Frishels 
 which we have here very many, and are numerous at Invernes 
 to this very day. 
 
 One John Fraser, a grandchild of Andrew forsaid, was a 
 great mason, a sharp schollar, and exact historian; I had him 
 here at Kirkhill master masson at the building of the wester 
 gavell of our church, anno 1682 ; he gave me this account of 
 his predecessors, but they are now decayed much. 
 
 John, Bishop off Ross, a famous man, off whom all the 
 John Fraser, Frasers have much credit, he lived happily and dyed desired 
 ^s^dTath.^.so^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ of Channory, the 78 yeare of his age, 
 
 February 5, 1507. 1 found the exact account of his death 
 in the Abbacy book of Fern : how much good he did, his 
 charitable offices, the generall greefe and lamentation for his 
 death ; interred in my Lady Ross her chappel, and his statly 
 tomb extant still on the north side of that church opposit to 
 the great doore. 
 
 Janet Fraser, the only daughter of James Fraser of Fruidt, 
 who came north with her mother, Anna Wallace, was married 
 to Andrew Monro off Miltoun as aforsaid. She was both 
 witty and virtuous, a most fortunat person, successfull in 
 promoveing the good of that interest. The reverend old 
 minister, Mr. William Fraser of Kiltarlity, told me that when 
 he was a young schollar with his own eldest brother, Mr. John 
 Fraser, parson of Roskin, and illtreated with his wife, M. 
 Ross, that certanly he had starved but for the subsistance he 
 had with Janet Fraser, Fruids daughter. Mistress of Miltoun, 
 who would feed him with her own hands, and cheid liim that 
 he came not oftner to visit her ; her food and rayment was his 
 support. This reverend man told me also that in repareing 
 of the church of Roskeen, Sir Paul Frasers bones were raised, 
 and that he measured the thigh bone, which reacht from his 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 121 
 
 sole to the bench joint, such was the prodigious length of it, 
 and the tradition run there among old men that when Sir Paul 
 lived in Roskine his method of trying the teindlambs was by 
 tying his 4 feet and throwing the lamb over the chappel, 
 which if he could not reach then the lamb was current, and 
 was receaved by the cook for Sir Pauls table, who kept an 
 ■open house, and livd splendidly, more like a bishop then a 
 mean chaplen, which the clergy of Ross found in their circular 
 visitations, his hospitality was singular, his wit had no paralell, 
 a gyant for strength. He guided the whole clergy of Ross, nay 
 of the North, nor could the Bishop and Earles of Ross do 
 anything without Sir Paul being the column or rather Atlas 
 of the Church and State ; kept peace and good order among 
 the clans, and by his prudence prevented processes and suits 
 •of law, as well as feuds among nighboures ; and the very 
 Councel of Scotland would require his advice and concurrence 
 to maters of their greatest concerns. Many strange things 
 are reported of famous Sir Paul Fraser, which least my reader 
 should deem fabulous or very rants I forbear to record. A 
 modern gave him this epigram or eulogium : — 
 
 Per parvi sunt arma /oris, stratagemmata parvi. 
 Sit nisi consilium Fraseriusque Domi. 
 Fraserius velut alter Atlas, divinitus ortus : 
 Hie humeris ccelum sustinet ; ille statum ! 
 
 Ja. Broun, 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 [Here follow Scottish contemporary history and European 
 contemporary events.] 
 
 We are now returned back to the kingdom and our native 
 country, to treat in course of the Fraseres, and to begin where 
 we closd and left of last, viz., at the death of Lord Hugh 
 Fraser of Lovat, the 4 of that name and 8 Lord, who died at 
 Lovat in the 74 year of his age, his eldest sone, Hugh, the 
 Master, and 5 of that name, successively fell in the fatal 
 field of Flodden, and Lord Thomas, the first of that name and The 9 Lord 
 9 Lord Lovat, he was 40 yeares of age at his fathers death, 
 and a good whil before was married to Janet Gordon, daughter 
 to Sir Allexander Gordon of Achindoun, Master of Huntly, ♦ 
 
122 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 with whom he had 3 sones, Hugh the Master, William Teachars, 
 and James of Foyness, and 3 daughters, Margret, Lady 
 Macky, Isabell, who married Allan Mackdonell, Lord of 
 Mudeart, and Janet, a saint devoted to S. Bridget : she dyed 
 young. Of all those sones and daughters of Lord Thomas we 
 shall treat afterwards at length, God willing. This Lord 
 Thomas served heir and retoured to his father, at Inverness, 
 April 1501, Earl of Huntly being judg competent at the 
 time. This Lord Thomas repared the palace of Lovat round,, 
 inlarged the orchard, planted all the great elms, plaines, and 
 ashes, which we have seen, and digged the famous draw-well 
 in the midle of the court. But for the most part he lived at 
 Beufort, for his divertisement and goodness of the aire. This 
 Lord was very frugall, he added to his estate the barony of the 
 Leyes,and Dalcross from Alexander Paterson, and the barrony 
 of Kinmilies in feude from William Tulloch, Bishop of Orkney, 
 translated to Murray 1488, but confirmed to him by Bishop 
 Andrew Steward, anno 1507. This Lord Thomas lived some- 
 times at Kinmilys, and kept his courts at Tom ni Fyrich.^ I 
 saw a decreet of his court there, anno 1514, anent the regula- 
 tion of victuall in its price, servants wages, cloath, shoes, 
 cattle, timber, etc., and the town of Invernes moddeld their 
 prices conforme, whither to gratefy the nobleman, or were 
 glad to have such a powerfull patern to patronise them, me 
 sane latet. This paper, and the acts of Lord Thomas his court 
 at Kinmilies, I saw with Provost Finlay Fraser at Invernes, 
 and one Andrew Patersone being his baliefe, and Pat Guthery 
 being his clerk. 
 
 Jean Gordon, his lady, was short-lived ; she dyed at Beufort, 
 being but 9 yeares Lady Lovat, anno 1510, and was interred 
 at Beuly. Lord Thomas was 3 yeares widower, and lived 
 most at Kinmily, and in the intervall begot a sone nothus (sed 
 tamen notus) named Hugh, vulgariter Huchen Bane, from his 
 flaxen complexion. Of him came the Barrones of Moniak, or 
 the famely of Rilick, which we shall meet with afterwards, and 
 have occasion to describe this man's numerous ofspring here. 
 
 ^7inol514,the Lord Gordon, Grant,Murray,Sutherland,Rosse, 
 
 ^ Tomnahurich, near Inverness. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 123 
 
 and Lord Lovat, with many mo of the nobility, were called 
 south as privy councellors, and in a full assembly of the piers at 
 Holyroodhouse, created a new regent John, Duke of Albany, 
 who had arrived from beyond seas, and had a large revenue 
 setled upon him. He was made Duke of Albany, Earl of 
 March, and Regent till the King came to be of age. f At 
 this time Lord Thomas of Lovat married Janet Gray, Lord 
 Gray -ef Naimoa ^ daughter ; and Andrew Foreman, Bishop of 
 Murray, afterwards translated to Saint Andrewes, made this 
 match. He had a great love for the Lord Lovat, his halfe 
 cheefe, a Eraser being Bishop Andrewes mother, and after 
 setling state affaires, the Bishop of Murray came north with 
 my Lord Lovat and his lady, and delivered her as it were with 
 a sanction in her own dwelling house. 
 
 Lord Thomas had issue with Janet Gray, viz. Robert, 
 Andrew, and Thomas. Robert, the eldest, went south and by 
 advice of his friends the Grayes he purchased the estate of 
 Brakye, and also the interest of Kinell with Janet Gelly whom 
 he married, and lived still there, and his ofspring. Andrew 
 married Morella Grant, the Laird of Grants daugliter; he 
 was vulgarly called Mr. John, of him descended a numerous 
 tribe, of whom in another place. And Thomas married Anna, 
 daughter to Mackleud, of Harris. Of him [Mr. John] came 
 ShlicJik ean vick Thomas.^ Lord Thomas had also two 
 daughters, Janet, who went south with her brother Robert 
 and married John Stuart, a relation of the Regent, a very 
 gallant man, Isabel, the 2 daughter, still with her mother, 
 nor would she ever be inclined to marry. 
 
 Lord Thomas his natural brother Hugh, after the slaughter 
 of one Murray, escaped to France, where he remained in good 
 credit and repute, is now setled at home in Foyer, under the 
 name of Hutchen Franckach being 7 yeares abroad and well 
 pollisht ; possesses his portion naturall left him by his father 
 
 t [On the margin in another hand.] Relicke Family. There is a Bond 
 of Provision to Robert and James and Andrew, Anna and Janet by 
 Th[omas] Lord Lovat and Janet Grey his lady, dated Nov. 1511, so that he 
 married her long- befor 1514. The paper is in Lord Lovat's charter chest. 
 
 Apparently erased in MS. 
 
 ^ The race of John, son of Thomas, 
 
124 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 in Stratharick. But there arose some debeatable difference 
 betuixt my Lord Lovat and him anent the lands off Dun- 
 turkett. Att length there was a submission drawn up with 
 both their concents, and the persones named therein were 
 John Mackenzie of Kintail, Alexander Chisholm of Commer, 
 Master John Fraser, Rector of Dingwall. In this arbitration 
 the oversmen were John Fraser, Bishop off Rosse, and Will. 
 Sinclar, Constable of the Castle of Dingwall, the place of 
 meeting Beuly, the date June 1505. Of this submission, and 
 of Hugh Foyer and his ofspring, we shall treat in a more con- 
 venient place hereafter. But at this time George Dawson 
 was prior of Beuly. A man of authority, ripe wit, and 
 gravity, he was very active in the agreement betuixt Lord 
 Thomas and his brother Hugh Franckach; and I find that 
 Mr. John Fraser forsaid was prior of Beuly a short time in a 
 vacancy, it seemes, ad commendam, and Prior Dawson suc- 
 ceeded him, a man whose hospitality was generally known, 
 and most oblidging in educating gentlemens children in the 
 pryorie, which then was the onely school in our north. There 
 is a certain story runns upon this Prior Dawsin, who at a 
 time falling sick of a flux, he sent for the Laird of Fowles, 
 his mothers cheefe, shee being a Monro, and his design was to 
 make a disposition to Fowles off the monastery lands of Bewly, 
 for churchmen then could delapidat att their pleasur. The 
 right of disposition was written, and subscribed, and delivered 
 to Fowles, being present with the prior and many of his 
 kindred, sharp gentlemen. One of their number, seing the 
 paper delivered, made a desperat bitter satyr upon the Prior 
 in Irish, wherein something of his good fellowship and drink- 
 ing were touched, especially that ordinary farewell drink, a 
 parting called Deoch i Dorrish, which, as it is said. Prior 
 Dawson had invented.^ The Prior desired to writ the satyr, 
 and commended the sharpness of his mother kin the Monroes, 
 for which, saith he, I will help some clause in my disposition 
 to Fowles which will anger twenty. The paper being given 
 him he teares it in pieces and casts all in the fire, saying, 
 this is to learn yow to reflect upon and calumniat a church- 
 
 The well-known Deoc/i-an-Dorttis, the door drink. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 125 
 
 man in your Irish Bithins, and take yow this for your 
 paines. By this trick the Pryory off Beuly escaped the fingers 
 of the Monroes. 
 
 It happened about this same time that by a shrud neglect 
 a fire kendled in or about a nursery in Lovat, which was like 
 to consume the whole court ; indeed, there was great loss, but 
 the worst was prevented at the first flash of the flamm. Rory 
 M'kenzie, afterwards Farburn, Lord Thomas sister sone, with 
 Kenneth Mackenzie, being in the house, a tall bare-headed 
 boy, most curragiously though somequhat desperat tooke out 
 a curious table, the charter chest, and other fine things, which 
 he preserved from the flamms ; a fatall furious fire. The first 
 thing promised him by his uncle, Lord Thomas, was a new 
 bonnet and shooes, but I think this his manly service was 
 rewarded with better gifts and wages afterwards, and merito. 
 Lord Thomas Frasar of Lovat lived long and happy, fortunatus 
 et pacificus; he never had occasion to try his sword, but he 
 was wont to say that his heart and hand were as good mettall 
 if put to the touch ; an excellent country man, a good instru- 
 ment in Church and State. He kept his nighboures right, 
 and they him, being the file of his fortunes ; he kept intere 
 and augmented what his ancestors left him : a wholsom, 
 strong bodied, statly person. It is judged he died of a 
 peripnewmonia, or inflamation of the lungs, in Beufort Castle, 
 the 66 yeare of his age, 1526, and was interred at Beuly ; and 
 his eyes did not see the evils which God brought upon this 2 King 22. 20. 
 place. 
 
 In the yeare of God 1516 Eyh Roy M'Kye of Strathnaver 
 dying there, arose an intestin dissention in that country 
 betuixt John M'kye, the sone of Eyh Roy and Neil-na- 
 Werigh his fathers brother ; John M'ky excluds his uncle, 
 Neil, who was judged to be the rightious heir, and takes 
 possession of Strathnaver. Neil, again alleadging that his 
 nephews John and Donald were bastards, doth claim the 
 lands as his proper heritage by blood, and makes his refuge 
 of John, Earl off Cathness, of whom he obtaind a company 
 of men, who were sent with Neiles 4 sones to invade Strath- 
 naver, entering the country by force of armes, tooke possession, 
 and secluds John Mackye, who, being unable to resist their 
 
126 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 forces, retires himselfe to the Lord Lovat and Clanchattan 
 to seeke aid and assistance, and leaves his brother, Donald 
 Mackye, to defend the country as he might in his absence. 
 My Lord Lovat, being now concernd in that country, wrot to 
 the Earle of Cathness; tenders his mediation to take away 
 differences betuixt so near relations before it came to the 
 worse. Meanwhile, Donald, though weake, wanted not weales, 
 but boldly in the night convocats a few resolut fellowes, 
 a desperat attempt, and surprises his cousin germains in the 
 dawning of the day at a place called Dail Reawich, and killed 
 many of them, especially two sones of Neil ni Warich, with 
 the most of his company, and scattered the rest, whereupon 
 John Macky returnd home and tooke peaceable possession of 
 Strathnaver. Afterward Neile na Werigh came in reverence, 
 and willingly rendered himselfe to his nephews John and 
 Donald, who clandestinly caused apprehend the said Neile, 
 their uncle, and beheaded him in a place they call Claish ni 
 Gap in Strathnaver, if a just, yet most inhumane act. This 
 was the skirmish of Dail Reawich. 
 
 In the year of God 1517 Adam Gordon, the first of that 
 syrname Earl of Sutherland, married Elisabeth Sutherland, 
 heretrix of that country, and, takeing journay the same yeare 
 to Edinburgh, to setle his interest or selling his estate elswhere, 
 leaves the government of the country in his absence to Alex- 
 ander Sutherland, base brother to his lady Elisabeth, and to 
 John Murray of Aberscorse. John Macky of Strathnaver, 
 understanding the Earles expedition, haveing now settled and 
 appeased his own civil discords at home, by the death of his 
 uncle Neile, takes his occasion in the interim of the change 
 of syrnames in Sutherland to trye if he could gain anything 
 by ravage in that country, and so convocats all the forces of 
 Strathnaver, Assin, and Edirachilis, with all that he could 
 prevail with in the north and west Isles of Scotland, and 
 invaids Sutherland, clandestinly but with great hostility. 
 Upon the allarm all the country of Sutherland conveen 
 from one end of the country to the other under the com- 
 mand of Allexander Sutherland, John Murray forsaid, and 
 William Mackheamis Chattich, and they rancounter John 
 Mackye and his forces at a place called Torrandow neare 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 127 
 
 Roffart in Strathfleet, where ensued a fierce and cruel conflict. 
 In end the Sutherland men beat off and defeat John Mackyes 
 vanguard, and forced them to retreat in his own breast back, 
 where he stood in battle array. Uppon this John Macky 
 selects out the flour off all his host, of a sudden with which The batie of 
 he returns upon the enemy, leaving his brother Donald the saiiach in 
 •conduct of the reer guards and to suply him as necessity 
 required. Hereupon the battle begins again more fierce and 
 forward than before, manfully fought on each side; in fine, 
 after a long resistance, the Sutherland men carried the day, 
 few of the Strathnaver men escaped, onely John Macky him- 
 selfe, and that very narrowly, escaped in life ; Neil M'kean vick 
 Anguis of Assin was their slain, with the most of his men, 
 and 216 men of the prime of Strathnaver forces were lost 
 in that feight, besids those that were killed in the chase, and 
 a 100 of the Sutherland men fell upon the spott. The Strath- 
 naver men, in reveing, rallied again at home, and inimediatlie 
 John Macky sent his two brothers, William and Donald, back 
 with a company of stout, resolut fellowes to invade John 
 Murray, Abirscorse, at unawarse, but he being awarr met 
 them at a place called Loch Sallachy in Sutherland, and after 
 a sharp skirmish both the chiftens of the Strathnaver men, 
 William and Donald, were slaine, with diverse others of their 
 trainband, and the rest shamfullie put to flight. Neither was 
 this victory profitable nor pleasing to John Murray, having 
 lost there his brother, John Roy Murray, and diverse pretty 
 men besids. Thus continued the inhabitants of these countries 
 infesting one another with incessant depredations pell mell, 
 most desperatly, untill the year of God 1522, that Alexander ^^/^c 1522. 
 Gordon, Earl Adams eldest sone, overcame John Macky at 
 Lairg, and forced him to submit himselfe to Earl Adam his 
 father, unto whom John Macky gave his band of manhood 
 and service, dated June 20, 1522, and so continues good 
 friends ever since. But the battles of Torrandow and Loch 
 Sallachye are memorable and fatall to the Mackyes to this 
 very day. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Here follows account of affairs in Scotland and on the 
 Continent.] 
 
128 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 We now return in course to treat of the Frasers where we 
 The lo Lord formerly finislit our genealogy. After Lord Thomas Fraser 
 1224. of Lovat his death his sone, Lord Hugh, succeeded who served 
 
 heir to his father and was retowred in January anno Christi 
 1524. This spring he went to Glenelg, where he met with 
 John Makleud of Haris, and Rory his sone, and, after clearing^ 
 some difference, tliey convoyed him home to Lovat. This 
 stirring great spirit. Lord Hugh, took a circular course over 
 all the lordship, and w^s personally infeft in every plat of 
 ground, having a noble convoy upon whom he spared no cost 
 or expense ; for Lord Thomas bought severall lands which till 
 now were not possesst, and there is an old evidence extant 
 quherin Walter Heleburton, Barron of Culbriny, wodsetted 
 from William Forbes of Kinaldy two Struyes, Culgarany, 
 Deames, Killwoddy, two Crochells, Commers, Ochterbrau, for 
 1417- 200 libs, anno 1417, which lands William Forbes redeemed, 
 
 and sould them to Lord Thomas anno 1420. This Walters 
 wife, Janet Shesholm, was infeft in those lands, and it is 
 specified that this Walter Heleburton procured the superiority 
 of the saids lands from Alexander Mackdonald of the Isles, 
 Earl of Ross, and now Lord Hugh hath these lands confirmed 
 under the great seal ; and I find Lord Thomas in an old 
 manuscript specified Andreas nunc etiam de Lovat^ which name 
 he received in confirmation from Columba Dunbar, Bishop of 
 ^ . Murray, and wore still St. Andrewes Cross, which I 
 ' ^ ' have seen in the manuscript scriptum Bunchrivio^^ 
 which book is now miscarried; the old Cumings at 
 Inverness had it. 
 Lord Hugh was born at Lovat in March 1489. His name 
 in confirmation given him by Henry Sinclar, Bishop of Rosse^ 
 was Mourice, for the good Lady Lovat Janet G., his mother, 
 being bigg of him, dreamed that St. Mauritius awoke her one 
 morning and told her that she had a sone in her womb who 
 would prove famous, and a man of singular manhood and 
 authority. This aparition assaulted her again and again, 
 which occasioned this name to Lord Hugh in his confirma- 
 tion, which by their principles in those dayes was a sacrament 
 and of solemn account amongst them. This Lord Hugh 
 married Kathrin Grant, the Laird of Grants daughter, being 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 129 
 
 then a pretty young widow, relickt of John Heliburtoun, Laird 
 of Pitcurr. With her he had one daughter, Isabel, wlio died 
 young, and one sone, Simon, the master, who was bred in 
 France. This lady lived but short, and for divertisement 
 my Lord Lovat her husband lived in Abertarf, being a great 
 hunter and a man of the field, lovd sport, and tooke pleasur 
 to train his men exactly at sword and bow, the onely arms 
 then in use ; by which he was a terrour to his bad ravaging 
 nighboures, and by the fatall consequence he got imploy for 
 his men in the battle of Lochy, as we shall show hereafter. 
 His lady, Kathrin Grant, turnd hectick, and dyed in Ellan- 
 wirrich, and was interred in Beuly Abby. 
 
 The cheefe robber of those times was one Mack Robert 
 Stran, who committed most of his outrages in Atholl and 
 Badenoch, and threatned the north as haveing his relations 
 among our Highlanders. King James 5 sent a commission of 
 Lieutenantry to Hugh, Lord Lovat, who immediatly sent a 
 herauld among the Mackdonals and Camerons, inhibiting 
 any sturr or insurection amongst them under pain of rebellion, 
 and his takeing possession of their countries in the King's 
 name ; this quelld them to purpose. This Straun aforsaid 
 had 800 men and sometimes more under his command, so 
 that all the kingdom was affraid of him. At length, being 
 lodging secure at his uncle John Crichtouns house, upon 
 Tay, he was apprehended, and publickly put to death at 
 St. Johnston, and his men dispersed ; severalls of them appre- 
 hended here and execut at Inverness, which occasioned great 
 peace in the north, so that the Lord Lovat managed his place 
 of Lieutenant very well. Lord Hugh next marryed Janet 
 Ross, daughter of Walter Ross of Balnigown, and with her 
 he had 3 sones, Alexander, William, and Hugh, and two 
 daughters, Marjory who dyed in her virginity, devouted as 
 is found to St. Mary; and Agnes, who married Mackleud, 
 1541, whose daughter, Anna, was married to Achinbreak. 
 This Agnes, after Mackleuds death, married Jo. Bain of 
 Tulloch, so that of this vertous gallant woman came M'kleuds, 
 Cambels, and Baines; she built this stone house of Tulloch, 
 as her name uppon the chimnay with the date declares. Of 
 this Lady Lovat and her sones, Alexander, William, and 
 
 I 
 
130 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Hugh, we shall have occasion to treat at length in a more fit 
 place hereafter, and here I will transcrib the double of 
 that contract which was betuixt Lord Lovat and M'kleud, 
 verbatim, the principle paper comming to my hand, becaus 
 men may be curious to know the stile of those times : — 
 
 Anno 1541. Double Coxtract of Marriage retuixt Alexander M'kleud 
 
 [1^40?] . -r^ 
 
 AND Agnes r raser. 
 
 At the Lovat the xiij day of April the year of God an 
 thousand five hundered forty yeares it is appointed staited and 
 finally agreed betuixt an noble lord Hugh Lord Fraser of 
 Lovet and taking burden uppon him of Agnes Fraser his 
 daughter on that one part and Allister M'kleod of Doun- 
 veagan as takeing the burden upon him of William Mackleod 
 his eldest sone and appeirand air on the other part in manner, 
 form and effect as after folio wes ; that is to say, the said 
 William Mackleod appearand of Donveagan shall, God willing, 
 marry and take to his wife the said Agnes Fraser and shall 
 celebrat the hail band of matrimony with her in face of Haly 
 Kirk betuixt the day and date hereof and the last day of July 
 next to come but any furder delay, fraud and guil, and the 
 said Alexander M'kleod of Dounveagan bind and oblishes him 
 and his aires to duly and sufficiently to infeft vest and cease 
 the said Agnes Fraser now in her virginity in all and hail his 
 thratty penny land of Midganies lyand within the Isle of 
 Sky and shirrefdom off Inverness to be brooked by the said 
 Agnes all the dayes of her lifetime as conjunct fee. For the 
 which marriage swa to be performed the said Hugh Lord 
 Fraser of Lovat binds and oblishes him his aires and assigneyes 
 to renounce all jure title of right and property and possession 
 that he has, had, or may have to the hail lands and barrony of 
 Glenelg with the hail war^s grasins and pertinents thereof 
 lyand within the shirrefdom of Invernes, in our sovereign lord 
 his hands in favour of the said William M'kleod and Agnes 
 Fraser now his futur spouse, to be brooked, possest, set, used 
 and dispond be the said William M'kleod appearand of Doun- 
 veagan and Agnes Fraser his futur spouse the longest liver of 
 them twa and the heires meal lawfully to be begotten betuixt 
 him and the said Agnes Fraser halden [?] off our sovereign 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 131 
 
 lord, even as the same is now halden be the said Hugh Lord 
 Fraser of Lovat, and that betuixt the day and date hereof and 
 the first day of July next. Providing alwayes, as God forbid 
 it shall happen, the said William nocht to have eires meale 
 betuixt him and the said Agnes in that case the hail rights of 
 the said lands and barrony of Glenelg to return to the said 
 Hugh Lord Fraser of Lovat his eires again as well as give the 
 present contract had never been made or granted. And baith 
 the said parties bind and oblish them to . . . and abid hereat 
 firm and stable under the pain of four thousand mark usual 
 mony of this realm, and in case this contract be not sufficient 
 they are both content and consents that the samen shall be 
 amplified be men of leaw in the most ample form that can be 
 devised keepand still the substantiall heads abovewritten. In 
 witness whereof baith the said parties have subscribed thir 
 presents as foil owes day, year and place foresaid before thir 
 witnesses William Fraser of Gusachan, John Schiesholm of 
 Commer, Allan Mackintosh, Ranaild MackAllan vick Rory 
 of Mudort, Hugh Fraser of Foyr. William Mackleod of 
 Dounveaggan with my hand. Agnes Fraser wt. my hand. 
 Hugh Fraser of Lovat with my hand. Alister M'kleod of Doun- 
 veagan with my hand lead by a notar underwritten becaus 
 I could naucht writ my selfe. Ita est Jacobus Hay notarius 
 publicus mandato dicti scribere nescien. teste manu propria. 
 
 This Lord Hugh fortified the pall ace walls of Lovat, caused 
 make up the pendant portcullies, and the great oaken gate 
 and wickat, with locks and barrs, firm, famous work, which 
 I saw intyre anno 1650 and 1660, till taken away afterwards 
 by violent hands, which truely proved fatal and ominous to 
 the owners. He surrounded the great wide green with a ram- 
 part earthen wall, and planted it with aspin trees, which we 
 have seen till destroyed, the vestige yet extant, to be seen 
 from the rode to the great gate and intended an avenue by 
 cutting the Brea streight line to the gate, but prevented by 
 death. He repaired St. Laurence Chappell in the east corner 
 of the palace which was ruined by the burning in Lord Thomas 
 time, all that is extant of it now is the east window, closd up 
 in time of the warre. He setled Cross faire in Beuly, which 
 
132 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Lord Thomas had tabled and purchased act of Parliament in 
 favoures of the Monkes there for a Wednesday market also. 
 As for the old faires of his country they were beyond debat 
 of an ancient date, such as Coans fair in Convents, S. Mauritius 
 in Dounbachlach, All Saints faire in Kilmorack, and Michael- 
 mas faire in Beuly, all which markets he usually did ride with 
 a noble train at their proclamation. He once had 3 lords 
 and 6 barrons with him at the rideing of a faire in Beuly, 
 with all their retinue, a very fair sight. 
 
 In the year of Christ 1542 Adam, Earl of Sutherland, dyed, 
 and left his grandchild, John, very young to succeed him ; and 
 Donald Macky of Strathnaver at that time haveing succeeded 
 his brother, John, pretending some dissobligements done him 
 by the Sutherland men, takes occasion in this childs minorety, 
 with a considerable force to invade the country, and, comming 
 to a village called Knockartol, burnt the same and carried 
 away a considerable spreath and prey of goods with him out 
 of Strath Brorah. Sir Hug Kennedy of Griffin, haveing 
 married the dowager, John, Earl of Sutherlands mother, after 
 the death of Alexander the Master his father, happened at 
 the time in the country, and being advertised of Macky es 
 comming and carriage, advised with Hutchen Murray of 
 Aberscorse, Gilbert Gordon of Gorty, and AUexander Eraser 
 off Golspy, what was best to be done. They being resolut 
 men advised him to persue the enemy, and haveing gathered 
 a company of right hardy fellows together, overtooke Macky 
 unawares at a place called Altan-Beh, where they surprise him 
 of a sudden, haveing passed by his spies unseen. And after 
 a hot and sharp skirmish the Strathnaver men fled, very many 
 killed, and most of the booty recovered ; and in the persuit 
 John M'Kean vick Anguis, one of the Mackyes chiftens, was 
 slain, and diverse gentlemen withall. Meanwhile, Donald 
 Macky, haveing a party of his men lying in ambuish, and 
 playing the part of a good souldier in the flight, recurred 
 upon the Sutherland men, and with his own hand killed one 
 William Sutherland, who most eagerly persued him in the chase, 
 and wounded Alexander Eraser, who brake Mackyes sourd, 
 fighting hand to hand, and worsted him withall, giving him 
 a desperat cut in the head. He is taken of, and the Strath- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 133 
 
 naver men give way and retreates. The Sutherland men 
 retire, haveing got their design wrought though with con- 
 siderable losse. Thus the inhabitants of these two countries, 
 Sutherland and Strathnaver, in regard of Earl Johns minority, 
 did continually vex one another, untill, in end, by the speciall 
 command and authority of Queen Mary of Lorrein, then 
 Regent and governess, Donald Macky was apprehended and 
 imprisoned in the Castle of Fowles in Rosse, where he con- 
 tinued a considerable time in captivity, in end turnd peace- 
 able, and, by the Monroes kindness and. civility to him, there 
 is to this day a linked correspondance tuixt Monros and 
 M'Kyes. 
 
 After the death of King James, anno 1543, the affaires of Mathew, Earie 
 the kingdom being cloudy, James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, is out^oTr^ai^ce"^^ 
 chosen regent, and the same yeare the Earl of Lenox came out ^543- 
 of France of design to ballance the Hamiltons, and makes up 
 a strong faction with the Douglasses against the Regent, who, 
 along with the power of the Queue Dowager, Mary of Lorrain, 
 Cardinal Beaton, and the power of the French turnd, and 
 King Henry of England upon this rupture enters Scotland 
 with an army ; the Regent and Councell were in a feare that 
 such a leading man as the Earl off Argile would join the 
 Highlanders and Islanders, who would make a strong party 
 and stand neuters or join with either. Uppon this an order 
 is sent to Lord Hugh Eraser of Lovat, as lieutenant of the 
 north, to raise forces, and letters of concurrance sent him to 
 call Gordons, Forbeses, Mackintoshes, Camrons, Stuarts of 
 Appin, and other clans to rise in arms and make a strong 
 body in a centricall place to prove their joining. George 
 Gordon, Earle of Huntly, is highly incensed at this, that any 
 should be employed but himselfe in such an undertaking and 
 honorable expedition, being Kock off the North; and there- 
 upon contrived all the malicious methods imaginable against 
 Lovat, who was very indifferent of all the fead or favour of 
 such a changable man as Huntly, and so proceeds in his pro- 
 ject by aid of the Regent and Councel, raises forces, marches 
 to the hills to accommodat the . . . and bring the Highlanders 
 to subjection, by force or fair meanes to compose it betuixt 
 them. Lord Hugh did it so prudently and providently, 
 
134 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 having written to Argil previouse to his . . . that he might 
 advert to his own concern and prevent hazard, to which he 
 wisely yelds and agrees, so that Huntly saw himselfe both 
 affronted and ecclipsed in the conduct of Lovat, and therefore 
 most basely in a clandestin way instigats the Mackranald 
 against, and to lye in ambuish against [his] return from the 
 West Seas, when all the other clans would desert him and 
 
 so wast their cut him off with 
 
 his men, as by the event and consequence apeares .... 
 
 story commences, as I shall hold 
 
 out afterwards. 
 
 Lord Lovats In June 1544 My Lord Lovat convocated his host much 
 ho< June about 400 valiant and resolut men, and the most of these the 
 floure of the gentry of his own name; his sone, Simon the 
 Master, having come home from France but the year befor^ 
 him he left at home, enjoining him the care of tlie country, 
 and diverting himselfe in hunting and other recreationes, and 
 himselfe marches forward through Urqchart and Glenmorison 
 into Abertarfe, and legured at Cilchuimmen, [now Fort 
 Augustus] where he tristed with the other clannes, the Grants, 
 Mackintoshes, and others, some of which were incamped there 
 before him. When all were conveened they march in a con- 
 siderable body through Abertarf, Glengary, into Lochaber 
 unto the West Sea ; and at Inverlochy Argil and other 
 chiftens meet with the Lord Lovat, to whom he tenders his 
 advice, and sets down rules for their peaceable deportment, 
 and accommodats the mater so that he left impressions of 
 respect and great esteem in their hearts afterward to him and 
 his famely. After some stay and perambulation of those 
 bounds the forces return, and by the way they surmises of a 
 convocation and muster of the Mackranalds, as was thought 
 to wait upon my Lord Lovat, who entered his nephew, Ranald 
 Mackdonel, into the peaceable possession of Mudard, being 
 the true heir male of that estates. This, among other gums 
 and picks harboured against the Lord Lovat, exasperated the 
 Mackdonalds further, which brought them together in a body 
 marching another way to obviat Lovat, who, whil on his 
 march the very way he came at Lettirfinlay, the Laird of 
 Grant, his brother-in-law, Mackintosh, and others advised 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 135 
 
 him to divert another way, to dissapoint these miscreants, 
 or, if he went forward the streight way home, they would 
 convoy him in to his own country. This kindly motion and 
 offer might be intertaned, but James Fraser of Foynes, a head- 
 strong man, disswaded his chiefe from that, saying that it 
 would be deemd coward is in the Lord Lovat to seeke a 
 convoy, and that they were party strong enough for all that 
 could contradict them in the rod. Upon this all the chiftens 
 and clans take leave of my Lord Lovat, and so they part. 
 His way was directly down the south side of Loch Lochy, and 
 halfe way he sent off one Bean Clerach, with a hundered 
 bowmen, to guard a passe, and if need were to assist him if he 
 mett with danger, and strive to be within sight of him. Bean 
 Clerk goes on, and, mistakeing his direction, keept out of 
 sight beyond Drumglach most inadvertantly, so that he was 
 off no use to the host. At Laggan Achildrom, near the end 
 of Loch Lochy, they espy the Mackranalds marching down 
 the north side of the loch a body off 7 banners, which could 
 not be under 5 or 600 men, and Lord Hugh had but 300 of a 
 convoy, but prime and proof, yet, as the old proverb is, More 
 then Master mawes the meadow. Their opposits were more 
 in number, malicious and desperat. Lord Lovat sets a councel 
 off warr, heares masse ftom Sir Robert S . . . his own table 
 chaplein and priest, takes their refreshment, and Lord Hugh 
 gives them a short incurraging harrang to this purpose. Yow Lord Lovats 
 are my guard de core, whom I have chosen out of many to 3Q|'^^iefs^° 
 accompany me in this honorable expedition for my sovereigns 
 service ; yow are most of yow my flesh and blood, the ofspring 
 of the heroes of their time ; have regard to the honor of your 
 noble ancestors of whom yow are descended, some of which 
 signall emblemes of Scotlands pristin gallantry. The severall 
 branches of our ancient famely, as they have distinguished 
 themselves by their own illustrious merits, so they often made 
 a figure suitable to that great name. Time is too short, and 
 the designed compasse of this my narrative too narrow, to 
 speake of each off them in particular ; methinks I view them 
 all before me when I see yow about me a litle handfull to 
 fight and graple with yonder formidable crew. They are but 
 rebels, yow are loyall subjects, free leages. I goe on before 
 
136 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEIJ 
 
 yow as CfEsar eamus n. . ite, I will hazard my life with and 
 for yow, and had rather chuse a noble death than survive a 
 disaster and enjoy my life, tho opulent and secure, after the 
 admission of so foul a fact as a base retreat. Yow, my friends 
 and fellow soldiers, consider what we must do. We are under 
 the repute off stout resolut men and of known vallour, carry- 
 ing our lives and fortunes upon our swords points. Let us 
 then act like men, fall on, and referr the event to Almighty 
 God, for the battle is the Lords, who can save with few as well 
 as many. 
 
 As he closed his discourse, the enemy was upon them at the 
 very end of Loch Lochy, and there, upon the plain, followed 
 The cruel a liott ingagcmeut, fought more like lyons than men, with 
 July ^1544^'^'^'^^ ' -'^^^shes and stroakes, their armes two handed swords and 
 Dence axes, front to front, forceing upon each other, so fierce 
 and forward that they seemed to fell one another like trees 
 falling in a wood, cutting and consumeing down each other 
 till some roome at last was made by the benches on each side, 
 and then true currage, strength, and vallour was known ; such 
 as boar armour, liead pieces and coats of meale knockt down 
 their opposits without resistance lik tender tuiggs of shrubs, 
 till at last they came to closs combating, and, fighting hand 
 to fist, that hardly was any found without his mate and 
 marrow to encounter him ; many seen to fall, non found to 
 flye ; all fight for victory, and yet uncertain for a long time. 
 One passage I must not omit, that the Master of Lovat, 
 Simon, being left at home to look to the country, hunting one 
 day in the forrest of Corricharby, and bringing home abound- 
 ance of venison to Lovat, the Lady Janet Ross, his step- 
 mother, bitterly reflected upon him thuartly, telling him that 
 the old men were fighting in the fields and young men loiter- 
 ing at home with their wives. This bitter sarcasme so darted 
 his heart that he instantlie got off with halfe a score off pretty 
 men, resolving to find out his father or fall by the way ; so 
 that by Providence he happened to enter the field in the 
 afternoon about the hottest of the battle, and, though the 
 sight of him dampt and dispirited his father Lovat, yet he 
 acted the man so that each of his ten men was worth ten men, 
 and fought afresh to the uttermost. At length, in their heat 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 137 
 
 and fury two and [two] runn into the Loch, grapling and, 
 
 lik wrestlers, sticked on another with their durks, many, nay, 
 
 most fought in their shirts, running at each other like mas- 
 
 tives ; till in end all fought in bloud and goare, few or non 
 
 -escaping to carry newes home. Remarkable that my Lord 
 
 Lovat fought so cruelly with his own hands, hammering 
 
 down all that came in his way, that he was named by his 
 
 •enemies Cruoy Choskir,^ a hardy cutter ; and, when he fell 
 
 dead in the field, it animated the few that survived of the 
 
 Mackrannalds, crying with joy huit Cruoy ChosMr, hiiit Cruoy 
 
 {Jhoskir^'^ and as they cried they were killed ; nay, such as were 
 
 thought to ly dead among the slain, their swords lying by 
 
 them, when they saw an enemy pass they made a shift to 
 
 -catch the sword and cut off legg or limb, so eager they were 
 
 for the mastery. This was the most unparallelled batle that 
 
 ■story records; I never read, never heard, of such another. It 
 
 was called Blair Lochy becaus at and in that Loch they fought 
 
 so that the stream from the lake run blood for many dayes ; 
 
 it was also called Blare Lein becaus they fought in their 
 
 shirts. Here famous Hugh Lord Lovat fell dead, and his 
 
 hopefull sone and heir, Simon, a youth of such expectation as 
 
 I cannot sufficiently commend. As King David lamented for 
 
 Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam. i. . . .) the beuty of Israel is 2 Sam i. . . . 
 
 slain upon thy high places, how are the mighty fallen. Tell 
 
 it not in Gath, publish it not in the streetes of Askelon, lest 18. 
 
 the daughters of the Philistins and uncircumcised rejoice and 
 
 triumph. Yow mountaines of Gilboa, let there be no dew, 19. 
 
 neither let there be rain upon yow, nor fields off offering, for 
 
 there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away. From the 20. 
 
 blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of 
 
 Hugh turned not back, and the sword of Simon returned not 
 
 not back, and the sword of both not empty. Hugh and 2 Sam. i. 
 
 Simon were pleasant in their lives and in their death they were 23. 
 
 not divided. They were swifter than eagles, they were 
 
 stronger than lyones. Yow daughters of Israel weep over 24. 
 
 Saul who cloathed yow with scarlet, with other delights and 
 
 Cniaidh Chasgair, or Qhosgair^ the hard slayer. 
 - The hard slayer has fallen. 
 
138 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 26, ornaments, the beuty of our Israel is slain upon the high 
 places, the mighty are fallen in the midest of the battle. O 
 Jonathan, thou wast slain upon thy high places, I am dis- 
 tressed for yow, very pleasant were ye, your love wonderfull 
 to your kindred etc. Many things made this batle rare and 
 singular. 1 two to one of the Mackranald fell, if not 3 to- 
 one of the Frasers. S they can hardly tell whey they set 
 ambuish for my Lord Lovat returning home peaceably after 
 an honorable exploit, except malice and emulation, and to 
 fix a polisht youth among them his own sister sone, Ranald 
 Gald. 3 it is thought that but one of an hundered escaped on 
 either sides ; of the Frasers onely 4 came alive out of the 
 field, of which Hugh M'kwilliam, Foyer, of whom in another 
 place. 5 of the Frasers 80 gentlemen fell, each of whose wives- 
 was left big at home, and at their delivery each and indivadual 
 woman brought forth a sone, and every one lived to be a man. 
 6 the Master of Lovat came in last into the field and first 
 slain, which put his father into such a fury and rage that he 
 soon revenged his death with many a mans death. The 
 Mackdonels deliberated their preparation, and chuse the floure 
 of their numerous clan to fight this battle, and lost it both in 
 credit, conduct, and slaughter, which made them often say 
 they fought with gentlemen that did not design to fight but 
 to take their recreation and divertisment, and were surprised 
 on their journey at unawars, yet the Mackranalds commended 
 their vallour in their Bithnies, Cha ho clan Timmi vand, ack 
 Chlan Scoltig ni Ceand, they were not soft hearted and curtious, 
 but the cleavers of heads and skulls to cutt.^ The Frasers got 
 all their prime gentlemens corps out of the field, without any 
 to resist them, in token that they had the mastery, and 
 Andrew Roy Frasers of Kirkhill his corps was taken out of 
 the field in a mistake for Lovats corps. But afterwards they 
 found my Lords corps and brought it to Beuly to burial, also 
 the masters corps, and Ranald of Mudart, who died with his 
 uncle. The chiftens who fell in Lochy field we shall describ 
 afterward in their own due place. 
 
 ^ Cka bu chlann tiamhaidh bli unnd, ach clann sgoUadh nan ceauji, they were 
 not a spiritless clan, but a cleaving-of-heads clan. Clan Timmi (a spiritless 
 clan) is a pun on Clan Simmi (Simon's clan). 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 139 
 
 Let us now finaly find out what the Scots history record of Buchanan, iib_ 
 this battle, and of the Frasers who fought it. Circa hoc tern- ^" ^^'^ 
 pora fraude ut creditiir Georgii Gordoni Comitis Huntilei cer- 
 tamen commissum est in quo tota fere Fraseriorum familia est 
 extincta, Erat inter eos et Reginaldines ; vetus odium. Scepe 
 multls utriusque partis cladibus iiohilitatum : et Huntilueus 
 occulta indignatione aestuabat quod inter vicinas Geniei^ soli 
 ah ejus clientela ahhorrehant^ nam cum vicini insulam ad versus 
 Cojiiitem Afgathellce quicquid virium poterant cogerent^ nemo 
 fere in ilia terrarum tractufuit qui non in alterius castrisfuturus 
 esset sed re sine certamine composita inter redeundum cum diverso 
 itinere ah eo separati reverterentur. Reginaldini admoniti cunctis 
 populai'ihus coUectis atrocissimo praelio eos adoriuntur. Fraserii 
 pauciores a plurihus victi atque ad uniim ccesi. Ita gens nume- 
 rosissimo et scepe de re Scotica hene merita tota interierat, nisi 
 Divino {ut credi par est) coiisillo exfamiliocpri7icipihus octoginta 
 domi reliquissent gravidas uxores quae suo quceque tempore mares 
 pepererant singulos qui omnes incolumes ad virilem pervenerunt 
 cetatem. 
 
 About this time, by the fraud, as its thought, of George 
 Gordon, Earl of Huntly, a contention arose, in which almost 
 all the famelies of the Frasers were extinguished. There was 
 betuixt them and the Mackranalds an old grudge which had 
 been often manifested, to the losse of both parties. And 
 Huntly was inwardly filled with indignation that they alone 
 of all the nighbouring famelies refused to come under his clan- 
 ship, for when the nighbour Islanders gathered together what 
 strength they could against the Earl of Argile, there was 
 hardly any man in all that tract of the country but boare arms 
 in one side or other. But the mater being composed without 
 blowes, as they were returning severed from him another way. 
 The Mackranald, haveing notice of it, got their clanship to- 
 gether, and set upon them most furiously ; the Frasers, being 
 fewer in number, were overcome and all slain to a man. And 
 thus that numerous famely, which had so well deserved off' 
 their country, had been wholly extinguished, unless by Gods 
 good providence (as we have reason to beleeve) 80 of the cheefe 
 off the famely had left their wives at home great with child, 
 all of which in due time brought forth male children, and they 
 
140 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 all lived to mans estate. This bloody batle fought 15 July 
 1544. 
 
 This great and good man, Lord Hugh Fraser of Lovat, is 
 now off the stage, gathered to his fathers in the 55 yeare of his 
 age, his worth and vertues truely such that he was very much 
 lamented even by his very enemies, for, besids the splendor of 
 his ancestry, and the statliness, bravery, and comliness of his 
 personage, he was master of a great deal of wit and singular 
 prudence, providence, and provesse in very troublesom times. 
 His authority and conduct in his great trust reacht farr, his 
 intelligence farr and neare wonderfull, non could surprise his 
 country without an allarum ; he could read men as bookes, 
 could not abid baseness ; had a great esteem for men of in- 
 tegrity and spirit, though never so mean, being himselfe a man 
 of undoubted vallour and currage. 
 
 ***** 
 
 Thus the noble famely of the Frasers is almost quit extin- 
 guished by this fatal fight and bloudy batle, in which so many 
 heroes and heads of famelies fell, the sone and heir of Lovat, 
 hopefull Simon, slain with his father, the next heir, Alexander, 
 now Lord, born aimo 1527, but 17 yeares of age at his fathers 
 death; William the 2., born armo 1537, is now about 7 yeares 
 of age, and Hugh, the youngest, entering now in 5 yeares. 
 The management of them and the estate left to widow, weake 
 but wise. Of this Lady Janet Rosse and her sones their affaires 
 and conduct we shall treat afterwards in a more convenient 
 place. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 [Here follow a comparison of the Frasers with the Fabians, 
 and an account of affairs in Scotland and on the Continent.] 
 
 We are now come nearer home, and in course will treat of 
 the Frasers, begining where we ended our genealogy. After 
 the death of famous Lord Hugh, who dyed in the bloudy 
 batle of Lochy, his sone, Lord Alexander, being 17 yeares of 
 aofe, succeeded. Whatever need there was of a tutor non is 
 extant to officiat, being all cut off in the battle. His mother, 
 Janet Rosse, now Lady Dowager of Lovat, an active woman, 
 undertakes the management of the estate, which she did 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 141 
 
 well and wisely, as by the event will be found. Lord Alex- 
 ander, by advice of his factors, served heir to his father, 
 October 9, 1547, in the 20 yeare of his age. This was a 
 religious, pious youth. Robert Reed, Bishop of Orkney, was 
 his great patron and tutor, they being related ; the Bishops 
 mother being Rosse, and was commendatory off Kinlosse and 
 Beuly,and tooke the whole guiding of Lord Alexander, and owed 
 all his education to the good bishop, having him still with him 
 the yeare before his entry and service. The Bishop confirmed 
 him, assuming the name Robert for his love to that good and 
 great man, his ghostly father. Aniio 1550, the Bishop built 
 the great house of Beuly, and the New Work at Kinloss called 
 the Queenes Lodging. His name and arms upon both, but no 
 date. This Bishop had not his paralell amongst all church- 
 men for generosity and hospitality ; he kept noblemens children 
 with him for table and lodging, and, which was best, his con- 
 ference and advice. The Lord Lovat, his brother William, 
 Mackeny [of Kintail], Foules, Ballnigown, Cromarty, and the 
 Shirref of Murray, were all with him at once. He had his 
 barge or pleasur boat to transport him tuixt Beuly and Kin- 
 losse, and those with him. It is reported of this great man 
 that tuixt Kirkwall and Edinburgh in his journay he might 
 lodge every night in his own mannur house. He cround his 
 kindness to my Lord Lovat in makeing the match betuixt 
 him and Jean Campbel, daughter to John Cambel, Thane of 
 Calder. This John was Argyles 2 sone, and married Morella 
 Calder heretrix, with whom he got that interest, and continues 
 to this day in the Cambels possession. Lord Alexander had 
 with this Jean, his lady, 3 sones and one daughter ; his eldest 
 sone, Hugh, afterwards Lord, 2 sone Thomas, afterwards 
 Strachin [Strichen], 3 sone James, Ardachig [Ardachie, near 
 Fort Augustus], and his daughter, Anna, who married John 
 Eraser, Dalcros, viilgariter John More Mackvaister,^ of whom 
 we shall have occasion to treat afterwards in their proper 
 places. In June 1555 the Queen Dowager, Mary of Lorrain, 
 being regent, came in progress to Inverness to hold assises. 
 Lord Alexander waited upon her with a considerable retinue ; 
 
 ^ Big John, son of the Master. 
 
142 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 she condold the sad fate of the Frasers in the field of Lochy, 
 and would employ Lord Alexander against Jolm Mudertach 
 [John of Moydart], then an outlaw, to revenge his own quarrel, 
 but the Bishop of Orknay, who introduced my Lord Lovat to 
 the Queen, disuaded that, and so John Stuart, Earle of Athol, 
 was imployed in that expedition. Janet Ross, Lady Dowager 
 of Lovat, and her daughter in law, Jean Cambel, came in to 
 attend the Queen. Shee much commended the civility and 
 integrity of the people here, as equal to the polisht south. 
 Lord Alexander convoyed the Queen with 200 men through 
 Murray to the river of Spay, and would have him no further, 
 giving him thanks and much commending his men. 
 
 I will set down here the extract of a considerable passage I 
 coppied out of an old manuscript, thus : ^ The Queen Regent 
 haveing gotten the government from the Earl of Arran, she 
 made her progresse into the north, anno 1555, fixing at Inver- 
 ness, whither she caused summone Igh Macky, the sone of 
 Donald, to compeare before her in the castle of Invernes, his 
 accusation being that he spoiled and mollested the country of 
 Sutherland dureing Earl John his being in France with the 
 Queen Regent. Macky refused to compeare, wherupon there 
 was a commission granted to John, Earl of Sutherland, against 
 him. Earl John instantly invaded Strathnaver in all hostile 
 methods, and besieged the castle of Barv, the principle fort 
 of that country, which he tooke by force and caused hang the 
 captain over the wall, and demolishted the fort. Afterwards 
 he so beset Igh Macky on all sides that he compelled him to 
 rander himselfe captive, and the Earl delivered him to Sir 
 Hugh Kennady, who convoyed him south and committed to 
 ward in the castle of Edinburgh, quher he was kept a very 
 considerable time. Whilst this Igh remaind in captivity his 
 cosin german, John More Mackye, takes uppon him the 
 government of Strathnaver, and, finding that John Sutherland, 
 the Earl, was absent at south, invads Sutherland with a com- 
 pany of the stoutest fellowes he could command in Strathnaver. 
 They burnt the chappel of St. Ninean in Navdell, where the 
 inhabitants of the country, uppon this sudden tumult, had 
 
 ^ Probably Sir Robert Gordon's Earls of Suthei'land^ which our author 
 follows pretty closely here and elsewhere, sometimes using Gordon's very words. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 143 
 
 secured their best goods, and, having pillaged that part of 
 
 the country, retired homewards. The inhabitants of Sutherlat 
 
 Gonvocats and persued them hott foot under the command and 
 
 conduct of John Mackhowmish Chattich and James M'kwilliam, 
 
 and overtakes the Strathnaver men at the foot of the hill 
 
 called Bin-More in Berrydale, sets upon them neare tlie water The battle of 
 
 of Garwarry, where happened a cruel conflickt betuixt them, ^""^^'^ ' 
 
 fought with' singular currage on both sids. The Strathnaver 
 
 men were worsted and sexscore of them slain and drowned in 
 
 Garwarry river, the rest escaped empty with life. That which 
 
 made this fight so remarkeable, that the Earl of Sutherland 
 
 was absent at south, and Igh Macky, their chiften, a prisoner. 
 
 This is the last conflict that ever happened betuixt Sutherland 
 
 and Strathnaver. 
 
 Lord Allexander Eraser of Lovat was a bookish man, and 
 his sedentary life did him prejudice, nor would he willingly 
 travell abroad, but when great affaires oblidged him ; he was 
 universally related, universally beloved, and that brought a 
 great resort to him, and the frequent visits of persones of 
 quality proved very uneasy and troublesome to him, but indeed 
 lie being of a debonair, sweet, compliant temper, made him 
 too often a slave to society, and his father in law, Sir John 
 Campbel of Callder, was one of the finest gentlemen in the 
 kingdom, nay one of the refinedest men of his time and age, 
 and yet he was wont to say, my beloved Lovat exceeds me 
 farr, for he is such an accomplisht person and receaves men 
 with so singular a humanity and friendship that in all his 
 deportment he gives proofe of a disposition worthy off his 
 character and the bloud that runs in his veines. Anno 1557 
 they both undertooke a progress to the Highlands, went to 
 Glenelg to see Lovats interest there, and kept severall dayes 
 of hunting, tooke thence a voyage by sea to lona or Ih 
 CoUimcill ; and, having payed their vowes and devotion to 
 that sacred place, returnd by sea again to Glenelg, thence 
 to Abertarfe and through Stratharick. But Lord Alexander 
 never recovered that journay; it bred a rhumatism in the 
 masse of his bloud, and the subtile potint falling upon the 
 lungs gave him an ashma and couch which in end terminated 
 in a ptisis or consumption, and cast him in a totall decay. 
 
144 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 We gave an account formerly of the conduct of that bloody 
 batle of Lochy, and that Lord Hugh dispatcht one of his 
 captaines, Bean Clerach, to another post separatly from his 
 own host that day of the ingagement with the M'kranald, 
 and that he was expected to fall in upon their reere, or at 
 least to join batle at a set time with the Frasers, yet came 
 not till the fight was finished and over, and this was judged 
 cowardish connivance, or a treacherous correspondance with 
 the enemy ; but that there was nothing of that chargable 
 upon him my Lord Lovat gave him a discharg of all his 
 intromission in friendly terms, which he would never have 
 done had he been guilty of any basenes. I have seen the 
 originall authentick, and here I have set down an exact double 
 of it verbatim : — Be it kend to all men by thir presents 
 we Alexander Lord Fraser of Lovat to halfe discharged and 
 quitclamed and be the tenor of thir presents discharges and 
 quitclaimes my luifed friend and servantt Bean Clerk in 
 Dulcraig [Dalchrag, Stratherrick] of all manner of dewities 
 intrometted with or restand be him of the rents and dewities 
 of Stratharick and Abertarfe such as male, marts, and tyen, 
 and all other manner of dewities restand be him since the death 
 of my fader (whom God asolze) who deceast the x5 day [of July] 
 in the yeare of God one thousand five hundered forty four yeares» 
 ay and to the Witsunday in the yeare of God one thousand 
 five hundered fifty three yeares exclusive ; And becaus I have 
 tane compt and reckoning of the forsaid Bean fra the said 
 XV of Ju[ly] to the forsaid Whitsunday in that year of God 
 exclusive hailand me content and payed of the said Bean of 
 all time before forsaid as said is and discharges him his eires, 
 exequutors and assignayes for me my eires, exequutors and 
 assignayes of all maner of duties, debts, or persoits that may 
 follow by this my ticket in the sted of an obligation. Sub- 
 scribed with my hand at the Lovat the xviiij day of this July 
 the year of God an thousand fife hundered fiftye and seven 
 yeares, before thir wittnesses, John Fraser Williamsone, John 
 Ranaldsone, John Stewart, Sir William Dow, with oders 
 diverse; and before the said witnesses has afiixed my signet 
 to thir presents — Lord Allexander Fraser of Lovat. 
 
 Lord Alexander sickned in September at Lovat wher he 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 145 
 
 delighted much to dwell, and wintered there, expecting with 
 great impatience the season which overspreads the gardens 
 with flowers, the fields with grasse, and crownes the trees with 
 blossomes, and brings back the pretty birds who publish the 
 jojfull newes of the springs approach, that being the time 
 quhen he expected his health ; but then another malady 
 seased him as an addition, which was his melancholy for 
 his dear patron, the Bishop of Orknay, who was sent over 
 ambassador to France anent the marriage off Frances, the 
 Dolphin, with other nobles of great qualety delegat with 
 him, and our Queen Mary, now about 15 yeares of age, was 
 a great match for him, and he aimed at the Crown of Scot- 
 land, also to be heir of it, and she was sent over to France, 
 being a child, to her uncle, the Duke of Guyse, with whom • 
 she now is. Robert Reed, being one of the ecclesiasticall 
 dignities in this embassy, and certainly the greatest and richest 
 churchman in the kingdom, he made his legacy er he went ofi\, 
 leaving his brother Sir Walter Reed exequitor and factor to 
 uplift his revenues in his absence. This Sir Walter Reed 
 lived at Kinloss, and had built a house in Moortoun near 
 the Abby. I remember to see it and his name Sir Walter 
 Reed and Dame Margret Collosh in capitall letters upon the D. 
 chaires cupboards and windowes off that house. Sir James ^' ^ 
 Reed, his sone, lived there also in my time. My Lord 
 Lovat bemoaned the want of his great friend, Bishop Reed, 
 and would often say, Would God I had or were with thee, my 
 dear father, Robert Reed, my patron, my patern, my priest, 
 my bishop ; he was all that he could desire to him, cast upon 
 his care from his childhood, nor needed he miss a father whilst 
 the good Bishop lived. Lord Alexander would often say, 
 Alas, I will never see him, he will never return. No more 
 he did, for he dyed in Diep, at his return ; and Lovat sur- 
 vived him but a short while, for that summer by the direction 
 of his doctor, Tolly Mullach,^ James Beuton, he was trans- 
 ported to the Isle of Agis, to a milk dyet and for a frie aire, 
 
 ^ An t-ollamh Muileach, the Mull doctor. The Beatons of Mull were noted 
 physicians for generations. Members of the family settled as physicians in 
 various parts of the Highlands including the Aird. 
 
 K 
 
146 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Lord Alex- where he died July 1558, in the 31 yeare of his ao:e, being but 
 
 anders death, TJ ll -J'-Ql 
 
 1558. 14 yeares Lord, and burned in Beuly. 
 
 This Lord left two widowes after him, a great burden upon 
 the estate, his mother, Janet Rosse, and his own lady, Jean 
 Campbell, and his brother, William Fraser of Struy, being 
 now about 21 yeares of age. Alexander Stuart, Bishop of 
 Murray, was his good friend and councellour, and also Henry 
 Sinclar, Bishop of Rosse, two good men, but alas he wants his 
 trusty true friend. Bishop Robert Reed, uppon quhom he 
 might solely rely for councell and concurrance in the conduct 
 and management of his present post and honorable employ, 
 and might say of him as Joash the King of Israel said to 
 Elish when he came down to see him, and weeping over him. 
 Kings 13. 14, O my father, my father, the horsemen off Israel and the 
 chariotes thereof. Currus et auriga Israelis videbat enim facile 
 quid regno impenderet mali mortuo tanto et pio propheta; so 
 may it be said of Robert Reed for the good of this great 
 famely in a turbulent time. 
 
 The Lady Dowager, Janet Ross, lived in Kirktown of 
 Farnuay, with her children, quher Lord Alexander had built 
 her a good lodging, and setled her there near the church of St. 
 Corridon,^ and father Thomson her priest and chaplain. As 
 for Jean Campbel, Lord Alexanders widow, the tutor allowed 
 her to live at Lovat with her court and retinue ; her father, 
 John Cambel off Kalder, could not neglect her setlement. 
 Annoxss9- the beginning of the next summer the tutor tooke a 
 
 progresse to the Highlands through Stratharick and Abertarfe, 
 and fixed chamerlanes, himselfe sitting as baliefe in the courts, 
 he substitut John Fraser of Farlin baliefe in Stratharick. The 
 two ladies, Janet Ross and Jeane Cambell, went up be boat 
 upon Loch Ness a pleasant divertisement, and att Cilchuimmen 
 [Fort Augustus] tristed with the tutor, quher he made pro- 
 vision and got accomodation for them. The Lady Dowager, 
 Janet Ross, was curious to see Loch Lochy, quher Lord Hugh 
 her husband was slain. The tutor convocated a considerable 
 number off very pretty men and convoyed his mother the 
 
 ^ Curadan, or Kiritinus, of Rosemarkie, to whom many churches in the 
 Highlands were dedicated. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 147 
 
 Lady thither to view the fields thereabout, yet she was litle 
 the better off that sight, as by the sequel will be evident. 
 At their return back to Abertarfe the tutor left the ladies in 
 the fort at Cillchuimmen, and went himselfe to Glenelg with 
 about a 100 men of convoy, setled the interest there, and returnd 
 back in a short time to Cilchuimmen quhair he left the ladies, 
 and in his rode he got certain intelligence that Mackdonell 
 had a design upon the young dowager of Lovat, Jean Cambell. 
 She had other sutors besids, yet it was thought by probable 
 conjectur that her affection led her to Donald Gorm of Slait, 
 as afterward appeared. Meantime, the tutor and the ladyes 
 returnd home to the Aird in September in health and peace. 
 But an accident is reported to have happened there at their 
 departure thence by water, the bell of Cillchuimenn, called the 
 Buyen or Bouacli,^ is put aboord their boat to be carried 
 over to Conventh or Corridon, whither at the ladyes desire 
 or not who knowes, but it is certainly rumord that a cruel 
 tempest arose and blew uppon the loch so as they could neither 
 row nor saile, and lick to be sunk or set, one of the number 
 desired to throw over the bell in the loch, and so a sudden 
 calm enswes. Whither they turnd back with the bell to set 
 it ashore quher they found it, or if it was cast in the loch, I 
 got no certanty, or whither the lady desired to put it in the 
 loch, I'm as uncertain, but it is a tradition that ever since 
 the water (or as the vulgar calls it) the wine of Loch Ness is 
 medicinall, and beasts carried to it or the water of the lake 
 brought to beasts to drink, which I have often seen, and asked 
 the reason, which was told me as aforsaid. 
 
 Whilst these ladyes came down be water, with their retinue, 
 the tutor came be land in circuit courts to the farr end of 
 Stratharick, Leyes, Dalcross, Inverness, Kinmilies, and so home 
 again to Beuly, where he had left young Lord Hugh, his 
 brother sone, with the monks, who had taught him his 
 catechism, as well as his constructions and grammar, nor 
 would they churl him any thing that might accomplish him 
 in his learning and education, as they did to many mo besids. 
 
 The next year, 1560, Jean Cambel, late Lady Dowager of 
 
 Am Btiadhack, the victorious, or full of virtue. 
 
148 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 LoVat, with concent of her father and brother, Lairds off* 
 Calder, was marryed to Donald Gorm Mackdonel of Slait, a 
 very pretty, well-bred gentleman, and the tutor of Lovat did 
 wisely in buying off the jointer, and giving a piece of mony 
 as so many yeares purchase, as the contracts and discharge 
 declare, at Beuly written be John Barklaius, a Benedictan 
 monk there. Ail these papers I saw in the Laird off Stracliins 
 eharter chest, wlio was concerned to keep these and many of 
 that sort, too tedious here to be insert or recorded, for my 
 volume and genealogy swells allready, and is too bigg. 
 
 Anno 1561, William Fraser off' Struy, tutor off Lovat, was 
 married to Janet Grant, the Laird of Grants daughter, a 
 tvoman of grace and good parts. How long she lived with 
 him, and what issue and ofspring came of her, we sail after- 
 wards shew in the particular genealogy of the house of Struy. 
 
 In May, anno 1562, Queen Mary, in her progress and 
 expedition north, came the length of Invernes, where the civil, 
 respective clans about waited uppon her. What trouble and 
 hazard she met with there by meanes of the rebellious, dis- 
 loyall Gordons I formerly gave account off particularly. The 
 tutor of Lovat, William, came in to Inverness with 400 men 
 to wait upon the Queens service, and they were truely prime, 
 expert men, most of them gentlemens children, the flour of 
 the clan. Yong Lord Hugh of Lovat, Cornel by birth, and 
 now about 17 yeares off age, came in upon their head, which 
 was his first publick compearance upon the stage. The Queen 
 was much taken with that muster, and the young Lord was 
 not a litle vain of his ensign displaied before his sovereign and 
 her court of nobility, some of which had never seen so many 
 Highlanders mustered randivouz, which gave them a singular 
 satisfaction and show. Severall ladyes came in to Inverness to 
 see the Queen, the old and now onely dowager of Lovat and 
 the tutors lady waited upon her Majesty, also the oki lady 
 told the Queen that her Majesty was the 2. now she had seen 
 and attended upon the place, her mother and herselfe also, the 
 one Queen Mother and Regent of Scotland, the other Regent 
 and heir of the same. The next day her Majesty removed 
 back again from Inverness throwgh Murray, with her royall 
 train of Highlanders. The Lord Lovat, with his host, con- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 149 
 
 voyed tlie Queen to the banks of Spey : she thanked her loyall 
 subjects heartily and told the Tutor of Lovat that she would 
 be content to employ his men in her expedition against the 
 Gordons to revenge his father bloud and great loss in Lochy- 
 field by the fraud of George, now in arms against her person, 
 but loath to give occasion off kindling a new quarrell betuixt 
 these two clans, rather wisht them peace, but perhaps shortly 
 they would hear newes off their enemies fall which were the 
 instruments of the Frasers fall before. And it is worthy our 
 observe, and a singular Providence it is, that the same very 
 day 18 yeares on which Lochyfield was fought, quher Lord 
 Hugh Fraser of Lovat was slain and his kindred, old Georg 
 Gordon off Huntly, was basely and unworthily slain in Corrichie 
 feight by James, Earl of Murray, Regent, his forces, and this 
 to add, that the Frasers fought for, the Gordons against their 
 sovereign. This short account, which is here set down of the 
 Queens expedition north with all the contingencies and con- 
 comitants I saw in an old manuscript amongst Struyes papers, 
 whence I excerpted this paragraph, and moreover the mony 
 which William Fraser, the Tutor off Lovat, spent in this jour- 
 nay was borrowed from one Patrick Guthry, burges of Invernes, 
 the authentick bond of 200 marks retired I saw and read ! 
 
 The next spring after, George, Earl of Huntly, was killed 
 in the batle of Craigchonachan, his sone John execut at 
 Aberdeen ; maters were now setled at Court, the Queens 
 marriage with Prince Henry of Darly, Duke of Lenox his 
 sone, broach t and going on. Young Lord Hugh of Lovat 
 designs to goe south and take a view of the Court for his 
 further accomplishment, encurraged thereto by the Bishop of 
 Murray, Patrick Hepburn, an ambitious man and politick, who 
 was labouring to make a party in the North for his brother 
 Bothwel, now under cloud, and imprisoned for an insurection 
 at Edinburgh. The Lady Dowager of Lovat concented that 
 her child should goe south, and so did the tutor, providing for 
 his journay men and money; yet he suddenly wearied off the 
 Court, considering the cost and expense of it, therefor returnd 
 home in the closur off the year, and on the rod, the Highland 
 way,^ fell in company with John, Earl of Athol, and, after 1563. 
 
 1 The Highland Way, by Athol and Dalwhinnie ; the Lowland Way, by 
 Aberdeen and Elgin. 
 
150 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 a whiles discourse and drawing up acquaintance, the Earl 
 brought Lovat to his own house, the Castle of Blair, that 
 night, where he happened to be entertained with a very 
 charming society of young ladies to pick and chuse, and 
 perhaps Afchol was well pleased to get such a sone-in-law, 
 which shortly thereafter fell out, which oblidged my Lord 
 Lovat, after takeing leave next morrow, to return again to 
 Athol to pay a visit to his Lady mistress at Blair. 
 
 After this young Lords return he got diversions enugh, for 
 he tooke a progress into the Isles to see his mother and be 
 acquaint in that country. His uncle, young Calder, went 
 with him, accompanying all the way one or two gentlemen 
 of the Rosses, and the prime of the young youths of his own 
 name ; there he learned to be a bowman, and in a short time 
 few or none could compeat or cop with him in arching, either 
 at buts, bowmarks, or roaving, and perhaps afterwards had the 
 better of some who gloried much and were masters in that 
 manly art, which now is wearing away by degrees, and the 
 gun takeing place. But as the old adage concluds Regis ad 
 examplum totus componitur orhis^ and magnates sunt magnetes, 
 by the Lord Lovats example all the country turnd expert in 
 arching, and the very sheepherds could not want their bow, it 
 being the onely arms in vogg, and he oblidged every parish to 
 have their bowmarks, and set dayes of game, and himselfe 
 went in circuit to see it put in practice, and was present with 
 them frequently. He was a great wrestler and swimmer and 
 jumper, nay, there was gallant, manly exercise, but he used and 
 brought all his young men to the dayly practise of. 
 1564. But all the winter, 1564, he becam most indisposed, 
 
 feverish, and somequhat ashmatick, which the phisitians 
 imputed to violent exercise, and his grandmother, my Lady 
 Dowager of Lovat, had him still with her, being his best 
 doctrix, and dyeted him well, and had him at the sea aire, 
 and would often oblidge him to divert himselfe be boat up and 
 down the firth, and herselfe with him, yet often and often 
 would she say that her dear child Hugh was gone and was 
 certain he could not be a long liver, and alas, said she, I have 
 outlived my noble husband and also my sone, and I feare shall 
 outlive my grandchild also. Apprehensions of this nature 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 151 
 
 affected her much, her concerns were such in this excellent 
 young nobleman, her grandchild. But by Providence he 
 recovered to a great degree off health and strength, and she 
 weakened still more and more, extream ill all the summer, but 
 the fall of the leafe brought her fall and totall decay, and fore- 
 told her own death and end. The Bishop off Ross was often Bishop Henery 
 with her, came up be boat and landed at Phopachy; he loved 
 her dearly. Nicolas Rosse, Commendant of Fern, her cousin, 
 never left her. Her tender care off the interest of Lovat was 
 her dayly theam, she promoved the good of that estate dayly, 
 nor would she ever marry, though many suitors accosted her, 
 the Shirref off' Cromarty, the Laird of Culbin Kinard, and the 
 Laird of Grant, yet declined them all. She minded her first 
 love, nor should any ever succeed to him in her affection. She 
 was a very active, vertuous, frugall, prudent woman, and Qualis 
 vita finis ita, and as shee lived so shee dyed, beloved, bemoaned, 
 in fame and repute, in favour with God and man. She departed Anno 1565. 
 this life in peace, att Kirktoun in Farnway, September 7, and 
 buried in Beuly, cetatis 76. She survived her husband 21 
 yeares, departed the 23 year of Queen Marys reign. Accord- 
 ing to the command of the Spirit of God she set her house in 
 order, knowing that she should dye and not live, and this by a isai. 37. 2. 
 formall legacy and latter will, which for the rarety of rates in 
 it, and manner of confirmation, I have set it down here at 
 length, haveing the authentick, originall testament by me, 
 there being no Comissary Courts then in the north, but 
 ordered by the Councel and CoUedge of Justice to goe in 
 circuit through the Kingdom. 
 
 The Testament testamentar and inventar off the guiddis Testamient 
 geir soumes off monny and dettis pertaining to wmquhill an {fady Lovat, 
 noble Lady Lady Janet Ross Lady Lovat relict of wmquhill ^565 
 
 J J J ^ ^ yeares. 
 
 Hugh Lord Fraser of Lovat made and faithfully given up by 
 William Fraser of Strwy, Hutchen Fraser his brother german, 
 and her sones, quhom the said noble Lady constitut, nominat, 
 and made her exequitors at Downy the xiiij day of October 
 yere off God j"^ v° threscore five yeares to whom she geff* power 
 to make inventar of her guids as is within written before thir 
 witnesses Allan Mackranald of the Leyis, Alexander Bain 
 
152 
 
 POLICIIRONICON SEU 
 
 of Tulloch, Hutchon Mackean vick Alexander and William 
 Tidings notar publict with others dywerse. Imprimis the said 
 wmquhill Lady the time of her decease forsaid had the guiddis, 
 geire, sommes of mony and debts following pertaining to her 
 as her own proper guiddis and debts, viz., upon the town 
 lands of Bailna haglis^ xvij oxen price of the pice iij Kbs. vj s. 
 viij d. inde Ivi. vj s. viij d. Item thair vx sheip price of the pice 
 yowng and aid overhead vj s. viij d. inde vij Kb. xiij s. iiij d. Item 
 their twa lambs price of the pice iiij s swa viij s. Item sown on 
 the said lands in the year of God j™v4xiiij Iiij boles oates 
 estimat to the second corn price of the bole with the fodder 
 viij s. swa xlij libs, viij s. Item sown of beare there xxv holies 
 estimat to the third corn price of the bole with the fodder 
 xiij s. iiij d. swa 1. Item upon her terce lands of Lo vat five 
 oxen price of the pice iij libs, vj s. viij d. swa xvj libs, xiij s. 
 iiij d. Item upon the lands of Downy vj oxen price of the 
 pice iij Kbs. vj s. viij d. sWa xx Kbs. Item thair xxiij kye 
 price of the pice Is. swa Ivij Kbs. xs. Item vj quyis price of 
 the piece xx s. swa vj Kbs. Item vij stirks off yeir awlds price 
 of the pice xiij s. iiij d. swa xij Kbs. Item vj calfes price of 
 the piece x s. swa iij Kbs. Item xxxvj sheep price of the pice 
 vj s. viij d. swa xij Kbs. Item their twa lambs price of the 
 pice iiij s. swa viij s. Item sowing there xxxvj boles aitis 
 estimat to the second corn, price of the bole with the fodder 
 aught s. swa xxviij Kbs. xvjs. Item an gray horse price thereof 
 X Kbs. Item sowing thair off beare nyn boles estimat to the 
 third corn price of the bole witli the fodder xiij s. iiij d. swa 
 aucteen libs. Item upon the lands of the Camald five oxen 
 price of the pice v marks swa xvj Kbs. xiij s. iiij d. Item three- 
 score sheep price of the pice vj s. viij d. swa xx Kbs. Item 
 thair twa lambs price of the pice iiij s. swa viij s. Item sowing 
 there xxxvj boles aitis estimat to the second corn price of the 
 bole with the fodder forsaid xxviij Kbs. xvj s. Item sawn off* 
 beare there vj boles twa fi riots estimat to the third corn price 
 of the bole with the fodder forsaid swa xiiij Kbs. Item vij 
 fedder beds price of the piece xxiiij s. swa viij Kbs. viij s. 
 Item aucht bousters price of the pice v s. swa x Kbs. Item 14? 
 
 Baile-na-h-Eaglais, Kirktown. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 153 
 
 pair of blankets at xiiij s. the peice is nine Kbs. xvjs. Item 
 X codds price of the pice iij s. swa xxxs. Item xviij pair of 
 slieets price of the piece xx s. inde xviij Kbs. Item iij green 
 courtings of plaiding price of the pice vj s. viij d. swa xx s. 
 Item three green coverings of plaids price of the pice x s. swa 
 XXX s. Item twa sewit coverings price of the pice xx s. swa 
 xls. Item the rest of the utensiles and domicill in vessels and 
 other small things extended be good estimation to the value 
 of X Hbs. Item in clothing and abuliment estimat to xl libs. 
 Jtem in numerit mony intrometted with be the exequitors 
 jij ^'li Hbs. Item intrometted with by Nicolas Ross, Comen- 
 datour of Fern, and Jespart Waus, an c crownes of the sown, 
 price of the piece xxxs. swa vijxxix libs. Item xx angels 
 nobles price of the pice 1 s. swa 1 Hbs. Item iij Rose nobles 
 price of the pice iiij Hbs. vjs. swa xij Hbs. xviij s. Item li piece 
 pf gold of cross duccats of King James struck price of the 
 piece overhead fourty s. swa j^ii Hbs. Summa of the Inventor 
 of the guiddis and geir forsaid is xxxiij Hbs. x s. Followes 
 the debts awing to the dead. 
 
 Item awing be wmqhual Alexander Lord Fraser of Lovat and 
 his aires thre thousand sax hundered xx aught Hbs saxteen s. 
 Item be Alexander Schesliolm of Commer for the terce lands 
 of two Erchless and ^ be the space of ^ 
 
 yeates fra the year of God ^ to this present yeare of God 
 
 Iw. extending yearly to five marks male and twa martis price 
 of the pice four pounds thrattin s. iiij d. with twa mutowns 
 yeady price of the pice thratin s. iiij d. four kids or lambs 
 pric6 of the pice sax s. aught d. Aught poutry price of the 
 pice xijd. Aught boles farm price of the bole fifty three s. 
 Item awand be Elisabeth Irwing, Lady Bobegno, sex hun- 
 dereth fourty aught Hbs five s. Item be Nicoalas Rosse, Com- 
 mendator off Fern, xl Hbs. Item be Alexander Rosse in 
 Palcross xx Hbs. Item be the Ladys tennants viz. Hutchen 
 Fraaser off Gusachan, Thomas Fraser in Bunchrui, umqhil 
 John Fraser in Belladroum, Donald M'khutchenroy in Litle 
 Struy, and sundry other tenants, of byrun males and farmes, 
 mairtis, muttons and uther de.wtis for ^ lands of 
 
 1 Sic. 
 
154 
 
 POLICHROiNICON SEU 
 
 the lordship of Lovat extending be guid estimation to * 
 pounds. Item be Alexander Ross in Dalcus xx libs. Item be 
 Robert Fraser aught pounds. Summa of the debts awing to 
 
 the dead summa of the inventar and debts 
 
 Summa of the debts awing be the dead — 
 
 Item awing be her to the Quens Grace Controlar for the few 
 males of Bewfewrd the soume off forty pounds. Item awing 
 to the Bishop of Murray for the few males of the Brigend and 
 Cinmilies twa yeares dewties extending yearly to xxvj Hbs. 
 vs. summa lij. libs, x s. Item awing to him for the few males 
 of Kiltarlity for the space of twa yeares yearly sax Hbs. sua 
 xij libs. Item to Mr. William Fraser sone to the Laird of 
 Philorth xviij Hbs. off* lent silver. Item to Allan Macdonald 
 for his tocher guid with Margret Fraser iiij xx,xiij libs, vj s. 
 viijd. Item xxxvj kye price of the pice Is. — iiijxx,x libs. 
 Item to Alexander Bain of Tulloch of his tocher with Agnes 
 Fraser, iijxx,vj libs, xiij s. Item to William Fraser and Hugh 
 Fraser his brother for bairns part of gere ilk ane of them the 
 soume of vj^ marks, resting awing be the ^ for 
 
 ^ and intrometted with be the Lady extending to 
 marks. Item resting to Margaret the nurris of fee xxvj s. viij d. 
 Item to Andrew Davidson and to Alexander Murray for the 
 tiend fish xxx s. Item to John Rolland xxxij s. for tiends. 
 Item to Finalay Maason for fees xx s. Summa of the debtis 
 awing be the dead j™lvij tibs. xix s. viij d. — summa of the free 
 guiddis the dettis being deduced — iiij™viij^ iiijxx. xiij Kbs. 
 xviij s. — Followes the deads letter will and legacy. — Inprimis 
 the said noble lady Janet Ross, Lady Lovat, being seek in 
 body bot hail off mind, nocht compellit nor be errour fallin or 
 be deceit cuntwemit but of her awn free motiwe will and 
 deliberat mind, be all best maner and law, quhairbye she best 
 might, constitut, nomenat, creat and made and nominatly 
 ordaind William Fraser of Strwy and Hugh Fraser his brother, 
 germain her lauchfuU sones, her executors testamentars, givand 
 and grantand to thame faculte and power to dispone her 
 guids and gair and make inventor thairupon and siklik con- 
 stitut an reverend father Nicol, Comendator of Fern, in cais 
 
 ^ Sic. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMrORUM 
 
 155 
 
 or adventure of discord betuixt the said Wiliam and Hew 
 Eraser superiore, quhills the said umqhil lady left to her 
 bairnes all and sundry her guids and geir mowabils, with 
 sowmes of mony pertaining to her bairnes, to be dividit 
 amongst them, and also left to her daughters Agnes and 
 Margret Eraser her claithing and ornaments of her body ; 
 quhairupon the said Hew Eraser askitt instrument in the 
 hands of William Cuming, clerk of Erie of Murray, and notar 
 publik. We Maisters Robert Maitland, Dene of Aberdeen, 
 Edwart Henderson, Doctor in the lawes, twa of the Senatoures 
 of our soverannis College of Justice, Clement Litle and 
 Alexander Sim, commissars of the commissariot of Eden- 
 burgh, constitut thereto be the Queens Majesty for confirma- 
 tion of testaments, be thir presents ratifies, applaud, conferms 
 this present testament testamentarie and inventar of the guids 
 and geir abovewriten alenarly as farr as the samen is truely 
 and lauchfully niaid, and giffis and committs full intromission 
 with the samen guidis and gair to the said William Eraser, 
 ane of the executors forsaid, with power to him to call and 
 persue thairfoir as accordis of the law and be entered creditor, 
 reservand compt and reckoning to be made be him qhane and 
 qhair he is requirit ; and the said William executor forsaid 
 being sworn has made faith that this present testament and 
 inventar be just and trew according to the will and conform to 
 the mind oft' the said wmqhil daitive, and naithing omittit nor 
 left furth off* the samine, as the act made theruppon of the 
 dait the xxij day of Marche the yeir off' God j"^ v^ threescoir 
 five yeirs at more length proportis. Extractit fworth of the 
 Register Buikes of the Testament of the said Commissar be 
 me Michael Marjoraybankis clerk thairto witnessing to the 
 samen this my hand wreit and singne manual : Mychael 
 
 M A IIJOR YB ANKIS. 
 
 Lord Hugh vulgarly surnamed Husten Roy [Red Hugh] The 12 Lord 
 from the collour of his hair was born at Bunchrive anno ^^^^l ^^^55 
 . ... of whom I gave some account formerly, both as to 
 parents and his own education. Now that his mother is 
 married with Donald Gorm Slait, his grandmother dead of 
 late, he enters now as Lord upon the stage anno 1565, in the 
 
156 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 18 year of his age, with consent of his speciall friends, especi- 
 ally John Campbell, Laird of Cathell [Calder or Cawdor]. 
 He went south and married Elisabet Stuart, daughter to John, 
 Earle of Athol, and at his return Jan. 16 anno 1566 he was 
 served and retoured heir to his father Lord Alexander, which 
 service I saw myself in our charter chest. When he considered 
 the broiles and troubles of the land, factions and divisions 
 among the nobles, religion and reformation pretended and 
 nothing lesse intended by many, he resolved to stay at home 
 and looke to his own affaires and medle as litle as possible 
 with the publick. The next thing he dos was to call his uncle 
 and tutor, William Eraser of Struy, to an account, and in 
 order to this convocats curators, Collin M'Kenzie of Cintail, 
 John Carxipbel of Calder, William Rosse] Balnigown, John 
 Monro of Foules, and Donald Gorm of Slait, who were the 
 men mentioned to take the tutors accounts at Lovat, Eebruary 
 
 1566. I saw the authentick scrolls, the method and manner 
 set down and subscribed by these forsaid 4, and Lord Hew his 
 own discharge upon the accounts, all these too tedious here to 
 be recorded. 
 
 This Lord Hugh, for his divertisement, lived at Bunchrive 
 and Kinmilies, sometimes at Dalcross on the extremities of his 
 estate and lands, and was punctual in keeping his marches, and 
 his Lady, Elisabeth Stuart, being an Athol woman, loved 
 motion and sport as well as hee, yet too much of that did her 
 no good att last, for, though shee was prolifick enugh, and her 
 lord had issue by her, yet she aborted of a male child anno 
 
 1567, and it was imputed to violent exercise and motion. 
 She soon conceaved after, and had a boy ; a great heat about 
 his name, she would have him called John after her father, 
 but the churchman gave him Alexander, and whither in dis- 
 pleasur and passion or otherwayes she imprecated God 
 Almighty, soon deprived her of that excellent child also, 
 which queled her high spirit and made her mourn many 
 dayes, and it was very like to have turnd her melancholy, but 
 by Providence she conceaved again, and att or about the 
 quickning, being then at Lovat, she saw or dreamed of an 
 aparition (for her unquiet, restless mind was much troubled 
 with dreames in the night) but one more notar and remarkable 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 157 
 
 than the rest in her sleep she saw one in white long robs come 
 in at the window, and, calling her by name, desired not to be 
 anxious, for she had a sone in her womb, and to call him 
 Simon, for that name was almost worn out of the famely, and 
 it was a kindly native name to the Frasers, and that he 
 would prove a credit to his kindred and a comfort to her in 
 her straites ; which cam to passe in earnest, as the event mad 
 manifest to her experience. April 4, 1570, she was delivered 
 of a sone, whom she desired to be called Simon, at which many 
 wondered ! And it is observable that Simon was commonly a 
 happy name in the Scriptures: there was Simon Zelotes, either 
 Christ found him or made him a zelot when he called him to Luke 6. 15. 
 the apostleship, a zealous man. Simon of Syrene, that helped Matthew 27,32. 
 Christ to bear his crosse, a compassionat man. Simon a Acts 10. 6. 
 Tanner, Peters host, a charitable man. And Simon Peterj a John i. 42. 
 sanctified man. Nott that grace is tyed to names, for the 
 favour of God makes any name as happy, no man hath now 
 the mysterie of his fortun writen in his name. Names are not 
 propheticall, much lesse magicall, the civill use of names is for 
 distinctions, nomen quasi notamen. The religious use hath by 
 good antiquity been observed at our baptism. So oft as thow 
 hearest thy name, call to mind the covenant between God and 
 thy selfe, geting this holy seal; and again renued in con- 
 firmation, whatever thy name be, let thy heart be Simons 
 which signifies heareing or obeying. Obey, confesse, prof esse, 
 love Thy Master and Maker. Confesse him ore^ with thy 
 mouth, professe him opere, with thy life, love him corde^ 
 with thy heart, so thow shalt have Simons omen though not 
 Simons nomen. 
 
 This lady, after Simon, had a daughter, Mary, afterwards 
 Lady Alter ; next to her a sone called Thomas, who dyed a 
 youth ; and last of all she boar Agnes, who was married to 
 Master Hector Monro, Laird of Fowles. 
 
 In the yeare 1567 John, Earl of Sutherland, together with 
 his lady, were both poysoned at Dounrobbin, and his sone 
 Alexander succeeds unto him, and, being young, George, Earl 
 of Cathness, had right to his ward and marriage, and withall 
 gets the custody of the child dureing his ward ; at which Earle 
 Alexanders trusty friends, especially the Murrayes of Suther- 
 
158 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 land, being grieved and vexed, they lay down a plot privatly 
 to convoy the young Earle from Cathnes his conduct ; which 
 at length they effect uat, and delivered him to the Earle of 
 Huntly his cheefe, with whom he stayed untill his ward was 
 expired in anno 1573, dureing which time the Earl of Cathness 
 kept possession of the estate, which occasioned diverse animosi- 
 ties and troubles tuixt the two countries, the Earle of Cathness 
 haveing violently removed the Murrays of Sutherland from 
 their possessions there, which nevertheless they strugled hard 
 to keep. Hutchen Murray, with diverse of his friends, possessed 
 themselves with the town of Dornach, with the adjacent lands 
 which formerly were theirs by law. The Earle of Cathness, in 
 end, sent his sone John, Master of Chatness, accompanied with 
 Igh Macky and considerable forces, to remove the Murrayes 
 from Dornach ; so that Cathness and Strathnaver ingaged both 
 in the expedition. Arriving there in fury, they besiege the 
 town of Dornach, and for severall weekes, the Murrayes often 
 sallying out, made considerable slaughter upon the enemy by 
 their set skirmishes. In end, the Master of Cathness ordered 
 to burn the town, which his followers, especially Mackyes, were 
 ready to do, so that the brave cathedrall, St. Barrs church, was 
 also burnt, which the inhabitants could no longer defend ; yet, 
 after the town was lost, they kept the castle, the enemies still 
 assaulting them, yet in vain, without any successe, for a whole 
 month, together. At length, by the mediation of Andrew 
 Stuart, Bishop of Cathness, and other friends, they surrendered 
 the castle, and gave 3 pledges, viz. two Murrayes and a Suther- 
 land, that within two monthes they should depart the country ; 
 which in effect they did, and retired themselves to the Earl of 
 Huntly, with whom they stayed untill the limited law of the 
 ward elapsed, and then returnd with Earle Alexander, at which 
 time they recovered and were repossest in their ancient interests 
 there. Yet, though the Murrayes removed according to paction 
 with Cathness, no sooner went they off but the 3 pledges were 
 hanged above Dornach, a most inhumane, cruel act, contrare to 
 the law of nations. But dureing the time that these Suther- 
 land men stayed with Huntly they served him in his warrs 
 against the Forbesses, mainly at Crabstone, quher they behaved 
 manfully against the foot supply sent be the Regent to assist 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 159 
 
 the Forbesses. The burning of Dornach and cathedrall 
 happened in July anno 1570. This act so incensed the see of 
 Rome against these accomplises that joined in such an atro- 
 cious wickedness, that Pope Pius 5, emitting his thundring 
 Bull, ordering Bishop Stuart to excommunicat them all, which 
 sentence he exsecuted nemine excepto. The Earl of Sutherland 
 and his vassales meanwhile live peaceably in their own country. 
 God in his just judgement sending divisions, jarrs, and jealouses 
 betuixt Cathness and Mackyes, falling upon clandestin con- 
 trivance one against another, till in end George, Earl of Cath- 
 ness, discovered all that his eldest sone John, the Master, and 
 Igh Macky had contrived against his person ; for quhich he 
 caused apprehend his sone, and imprisoned him closly in the 
 castle of Girnego. Igh Macky, seeing the Earles severity 
 against his own sone, the Master, claping him in closse ward, 
 he expected litle or no favour from him, and, therefore, retired 
 home, and within halfe a yeare dyed of meere griefe. The 
 same yeare, without releasement from the sentence, John, the 
 Master of Cathness, died in that captivity ; and Gods hand 
 most visibly seen on both famelys ever since. 
 
 Anno 1569 Lord Hugh Eraser of Lovat, with a select number 
 of his friends, went south be Athol, who, being then at Edin- 
 burgh, made his acquaintance with the Regent, James Earl of 
 Murray, who proved his great friend in all his affaires. His 
 uncle, John Campel of Calder, was there at the time, and also 
 made friends for him at court, and with the clergy, and Colledge 
 of Justice, and withall made him intimatly acquaint with Sir 
 Walter Reed and his lady Dame Margret Collaice, a most 
 witty, active woman. And Sir Walter, becaus of the great 
 intimacy that was betuixt his brother Robert Reed, Bishop of 
 Orknay, and Lord Alexander Eraser of Lovat, his father, 
 promised Lord Hugh all the service and kindness prestible by 
 him, south and north, nor could any be of greater use to Lovat 
 than Sir Walter, being in effect Abbot of Kinloss and Prior of 
 Beuly, by an act of Parliament in his favoures, when the Bishop 
 of Orknay was sent in the embassy to France, and was com- 
 mendator of those two monasteries ; and Lovat now, by speciall 
 advice of his trusties, had a design upon Beuly, to buy that 
 barony and make it a purchase, nor wanted he competitors who 
 
160 
 
 POLICHRONICOiN SEU 
 
 were makeing friends, and forking for that curious fertil plat 
 of ground. And now that the Reformation prevailed through 
 Scotland, they had made an act for demolishing all religious 
 houses, after the death of Cardinal Betton : and to be sure the 
 next act will be to annex these rents to the Crown or set 
 them to scale [sale]. In the interim my Lord Lovat takes 
 occasion to draw up a familiarity with Sir Walter Reeds lady, 
 and broaches his resolution to her of fewing the barony of 
 Beuly. She assured him that his lordship would be preferred 
 to any whatsoever in that bargan, and that she would secure 
 her husband against all importunities that might assault him 
 upon that head ; which she actually effected, and guarded him 
 so as that the next time when Lovat payed a visit to Sir 
 Walter, they came to such an agreement that a minut of scale 
 was drawn up betuixt them of the pryory, and subscribed hinc 
 inde before John, Earle off Atholl, and Sir John Campbel off 
 Calder, who both were wittnesses in the paper ; so that all was 
 out of any doubt and hasard for the future. Be this time Lord 
 Hugh becomes so generally acquaint with and beloved among 
 the nobles that he goes under the notion of a courtiour and 
 gallanter of ladyes. This rumor running north, it breeds some 
 generoues jelousy in my Lady Lovats brest; but I think Sir 
 Walter had no tongue of that mallady. Lord Hugh, spending 
 that winter in Edinburgh, returnd home in March, takeing 
 his leave of his noble friends and acquaintances there, and at 
 his departure complemented Sir Walter Reed and his lady 
 Dame Margret Collace with a generous toaken of his respects, 
 being allwayes noble and free hearted. At his arrivall in Lovat, 
 April 7, 1570, his lady, it seemes, out of excess of joy gave him 
 a sone, being brought to bed the 6 day after, and told him she 
 had reserved that new yeares gift for him, seing he was not at 
 home in the feast off the Nativity. 
 
 Many persones of qualety present at his baptism ; but non 
 of his godfathers got the name, and whey he was called Simon 
 I narrated before, a name pretty rare in Scotland, south or 
 north, allthough kindly to this famely, being the first name it 
 had, and whence the Lord Lovat is called M'Khimy. 
 
 Now the broyles of the kingdom are increaseing, the Kings 
 faction called the Royalists, and the Queenes faction termed 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 161 
 
 Rebels, in armes against one another, strugling like twins in 
 the womb for priority ; at last maters are quelled, and the good 
 Regent Murray, active in it, resolves this May north, and, with 
 two bands of sowldioures and a great number of his friends, came 
 first to Aberdeen, then to Elgin, at last to Inverness, and setled 
 the north. Such as were suspected gave in sureties. Huntly, 
 a great instrument in the rebellion, put in hostages for his 
 clanships. Lord Hugh PVaser of Lovat came in with 200 
 gentlemen, and waited upon the regent, who, becaus he would 
 not goe further north, his cousin. Dame Elizabeth Stuart, 
 Lady Lovat, payed him a visit also, and congratulated her 
 wellfare and recovery. He returned again to St. Johnston, 
 and Lovat convoyd him over Spey, and there parted with the 
 good Regent at his own desire. But, alas ! this joy lasted not 
 long, for next January he was murthered in Linlithgow by a 1571. 
 conspiracy of the Hamilton faction. Thus had Lovat, as well 
 as the whole kingdom, lost his best friend, and Mathew, Earle 
 of Lenox, is chosen regent in his place, being the King's grand- 
 father ; but, alas ! he enjoyed his honors a short while, for he 
 was killed at Stirling in a scuffle betuixt the Royalists and 
 Rebells, and immediatly, a Convention of the Lords being 
 called in a hurry, John Erskin, Earl of Marr, is elected regent. 1573- 
 
 The Lord Lovat, with his Lady Elizabeth Stuart, designing- 
 south in May, in the very interim off prepareing and makeing 
 ready for the journay a sudden distemper and undisposedness 
 ceased upon my lady, so that she could not travel, yet she 
 urges her lord to goe on in his project ; he was loath to leave 
 her, but she told him she might recover but occasiones lost 
 were irrecoverable. He wondered what might be under this 
 reply and ambiguous sentiment, and asked her seriously what 
 she meant. She told him that Collin, Laird of Kintail, was 
 still his competitor, and he might be too cunning for him, 
 and she feared that he and the Grants were contriveing a plot 
 to apply to and prevail with the Regent, their relation, anent 
 the rights of Beuly ; the Court was changable, churchmen 
 flexible, donations and pactions alterable, and therefore not 
 to dally in his affairs. He yelds to her advice, and presently 
 takes horse and at Inverness is informed that Collin Came^ 
 
 ^ Cam^ one-eyed. 
 
 I. 
 
162 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Kintaile liad taken the start of him, and went on his journay 
 south. Lovat, being well acquaint in the rode, cuts short, 
 and is a dayes journay before him at Edinburgh. Some say 
 they were a night in one and the same lodging, or perhaps in 
 one towne, be the way, unknown to one another ; but be sure 
 Lovat had his intelligence of the others motion, and made 
 but short stop or stay in any part till he came to his journayes 
 end ; and, in short, he secured Clianclour Carr, and gott his 
 right of Beuly through the scales before Mackenzie came to 
 Edinburgh ; and the day thereafter met together upon the 
 open street, the whole mater being then above boord and 
 made publick, so that Kintale found himselfe outwitted. 
 There were severall providences I discover attending the 
 conduct of this affaire of Beuly : 1 That my Lady Lovat 
 turnd unwell at the nick of time when they were to take 
 journay, for had she gone along with her lord, and he must 
 order his journay according to her motion, and so by that fall 
 short. 2 That my Lady Lovat discovered Collin Kintailes 
 contrivance, whither by guess or intelligence, and was in 
 tollerable disposition to tell her husband of it, and posted him 
 away to looke after his bussiness. 3 That all this while Kintail 
 was secure and knew^ nothing of Lovats resolution, intelligence, 
 or journay. 4 That Lovat had formerly secured Sir Walter 
 Reed, had closed in a minut with him, and this kept secret. 
 
 This Lord Hugh Eraser of Lovat was truely, without vanity, 
 the glory of his clan and country; nay, his enemies bearing 
 witness he was the glory of the north ; and, as Solomon saith 
 of the virtuous woman, many daughters have done vertuously. 
 Pro. 31. 29. but thow excells them all. Many that I have recorded, and 
 shall yet, God willing, record, have done well and wisely, but 
 thow exceeds all. Floruit hirvi suo tempore ; in that short 
 time Hugh Lovat flourist in, he was the nonsuch of his age, 
 a wise sollid man in letters not having advantages he exceed ; 
 for learning he could be a divin, for wit a statsman, for policy 
 a judge, for grandure and generosity a prince, for contrivance 
 an artist and mechanick, for courrage a soldiour, for humanity 
 and humility the meanest farmer, and for fatigue, travel, and 
 motion a groorae of the stable. He would often say Eoc omni 
 aliquid, though not ea: toto nihil. Put him in any society, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 163 
 
 he was their wonder for eloquence and sharp sentences; he 
 carried all the discourse. His brother, Calder, would often 
 say to him Hugo nimium sapis ; and not to be measured by 
 the yard, but weighed in the ballance. Admlrahar homiiiem 
 ejus cctatis, tarn argute tarn soUde, tamque significanter scribere 
 et loqui, I admire much that a man of his age could writ so 
 smartly and speake so fluently and significantly, living in such 
 a barren, ignorant, and superstitious generation, and could reap 
 but litle of the priests and churchmen of his time. That, as 
 Erasmus sayes of them, Isti quicquid non inteUlgimt Hehraicum 
 vacant, counted all things Hebrew which they could not 
 understand. But this Lord Hugh is said often to have argued 
 the priests out of their very principles, and reasoned them 
 out of their reason. Among the pieres he was patron and 
 patern, and, to strain the word no higher, precedent of all 
 his fellowes, having ingenkim fecundum et amplum, and pity it 
 was that he had vita^ institutao, sterile et angustum. 
 
 This Lord Hugh supprest all ravagers, thift, and robbery 
 in this corner, so as that a man might lye as safe upon the 
 high rod as in his lodging and inn. He wrot and also sent 
 to all the severall respective chieftens of clans, declareing that 
 if a sheep were stollen out of his country he would persue it 
 himselfe in person to their outmost bounds and borders, and 
 carry back, not sheep, but men, as his pledge, conform to the 
 power which his predecessors had from former kings, and 
 which the late good regent had conferred upon himselfe. He 
 caused tye a golden chain to the oaken beam at the Stock 
 Foord of Rosse,^ to try if any durst attempt to steale it. The 
 country was so free from all manner off thift and pilching, 
 and every man had peace and plenty; as Israel wer happy 
 under Solomon, so wer his people under Hugh of Lovat; as i Kings 20, 25 
 the Scripture phrases it. And Juda and Israel dwelt safely, 
 every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to 
 Beersheba, all the dayes of Solomon ; they increased and were 
 many as the sand by the sea, etc., so also did this country 
 flourish under Hugh ; nay, this man was such a survyer, 
 traveling up and down the country, all allone under silence 
 of night, that he would know what subject of discourse, and 
 
 ^ See footnote, p. 176. 
 
164 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 what meat was at most mens table, from the gentleman to 
 the yeoman. Uppon a certain night he came to his owne 
 shepherds window in the Muyes, and heard him say grace 
 after he had fed upon good fleshes at his cost, and called in 
 to him, saying, Remember, John M'klich, to count for that 
 tomorrow to the Lord Lovat whose mutton yow have been 
 eating this night with yowr wife and bairns ; and away he 
 rids. The fellow, driven out after him with his elm bow 
 ready, and shot an arrow at him, which stuck fast in the 
 tippet of his monutire cape which hung behind his back. My 
 Lord carried home the arrow, and laid by his cape that night. 
 Next morrow calls a court at Lovat ; many compeares, among 
 the rest the sheepherd compeared ; the cap was laid upon 
 the table, and the arrow sticking in it. My Lord says, John, 
 whose arrow is that ? He replied with an asseveration, S. Coan,^ 
 it is mine, and yow may be glad it went no nearer ; and, my 
 Lord, said he, would yow trust your sheep coat to a man that 
 could not shoot after that manner. All the censir was, he 
 caused give him one of the best yew bows in Lovat, and 
 bade him arch better. Another night he was traveling from 
 Bunchrive westward, and, riding down the narrow shouch of 
 Corbet Bray, he heard a lamentable moan below him, and, 
 comming to the bottom, he finds that it was a man carrying 
 a sack of corn upon a horse, and it fell off in the brook and 
 the fellow could not lift it alone. My Lord lights and sales, 
 man. hold my horse till I help yow ; he lifts the ponderous 
 sack and puts it up flat ahorseback, and, taking his own 
 horse again, as he mounted the man cryed, God bless yow, 
 Mackhimmy ; he replied, Hust, do nott tell yow saw me; 
 and away he goes. Such condescendance was rare in a noble- 
 man. Hugh, Lord Lovat, went over to view his marches 
 about Rihindown and Ardnicrask, and, dissmissing his com- 
 pany, he rides towards Connin River to the north, and in the 
 twilight he rode the foord and came to Brahan ; it happened 
 to be some festival about the close of spring ; he calls his 
 groom, gives him his horse, haveing lighted, and bids him keepe 
 closse and tell no man what he was, for he was resolved to 
 
 ^ See p, lo. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 165 
 
 try what fare Collin Cam of Kintail had that night on his 
 table. He saw the dishes carried in, and every man bussy. 
 The falconars lodge being neare hand, and getting some food 
 for the hawkes use, my Lord stops near in the dark and 
 seeks the hawke off his hand. The pore blind fallow thinking 
 it was his own master, the Laird Kintaile, he delivers up the 
 facone to him, and he goes away with her, calls his boy, 
 takes horse, and away home to Lovat, and secures the hawke. 
 Collin of Kintale, after supper, calls the fackoner, and asked 
 if he had supt his hawke; the fellow answered, did not your 
 honor take her from me a while ago, where laid ye her, for 
 yow seeme to scorn me. Presently the Laird of Kintaile 
 concluds that it was the Lord Lovat, who used to play such 
 pranks. It seemes they were like one another in features, 
 which guild the faconer. 
 
 At solemn meetings and convention of the sheir at Inver- 
 ness, the Lord Lovat frequently tristed with the nobles and 
 gentry, diverting themselves with manly exercises of arching, 
 football, putting of the stone, throwing of the barr. In all 
 such he was singular, and never wanted 10 or 12 of his yowng 
 kinsmen with him, each more expert than another, for so he 
 had trained them at home. The chappell yard at Invernes 
 was their gameing place. If it was football be sure he had 
 the first and last hale over the roap ; if arching, he carried 
 the arrow; at races he often road horse, tint and wan the 
 prize ; for he was wonderfull nimble, and the onely rider in 
 the north. One day at tilting Lovat dismounted the Laird 
 of Grant and Shirref Murray successively, two very stout 
 men, laying them flatt upon the spott. The affront was so 
 notar that in revenge they persued him, being supernumerary, 
 for Lord Hugh but a single horseman with him, and at the 
 edge of Clachniharry he jumpt with his horse over the edge 
 of a rock, and outrunn them ; for they stopt and durst not 
 follow. There the print and impression of his horse shoes 
 was noticed and kept clean by a certain man for a yearly 
 pension, and severals cam to view the feat ; it was so very 
 rare. I knew an old man that saw it kept visibly clear till 
 the Lord Hughes time, 1636 yeares. The monks of Beuly 
 were very strickt keepers of their own part of the river below 
 
166 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the croves at Dunballach, nay, so cliurlish and near that they 
 would not permit any to angle with hooke and line upon 
 either sids. Sir Walter Reed, haveing both the fishings of 
 Kinloss and Beuly, spent liberally upon them ; he sent a gun 
 north to the priory of Beuly that the canons might fright 
 away such as would offer to angle upon the river, which 
 kept of severals for a long time; but it happened that one 
 Alexander Fraser Mackean vie Thomas ^ was fishing with an 
 angling rod at Mealach foord, below Dumballach, and one 
 of the priors servants lying in ambush tother sid of the river, 
 shot a gun and killed the gentleman starke dead upon the 
 bank, a sad accident, the losse of a pretty man, and a loss to 
 the monks afterwards. Sir Walter, getting notice of this, 
 was afFraied that my Lord Lovat would persue him for the 
 bloud of his kinsman, seing whatever miscarryage might hapen 
 among the monks would be charge upon him ; and indeed 
 this slaughter helped my lord a put in the bargan of the 
 priory, there being another competitor contending for Beuly 
 at the time; Kintail, like Cushi, cunningly runs apace, but 
 ^3- Lovat, like Ahimaas, came first to the King, becaus he ran 
 by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi. 
 
 I shall now give an account of some contingencies which 
 happened contemporary with Lord Hugh; anno 1572 the 
 dismal ruptures betuixt the Gordons and Forbeses burst out. 
 These two great names, and of power and authority where 
 they lived, valiant, wisC; and wealthy ; the Gordons lived in 
 great concord and amity amongst themselves, and, enhansing 
 often the favour of the royal famely, became poten, and for 
 feare gat the following of their nighboures. But on the con- 
 trare, the Forbeses were at variance, entertaining animosities 
 amongst themselves, ruining one another by pick and prid, 
 contending with the Gordons wrought their ruin. Those 
 two famelies lived near, mingled and matcht together, but 
 their secret emulation long hid, and rooted rancor now burst 
 out, not only by following contrary factions dureing the civil 
 war betuixt the King and Queens parties, but mainly becaus 
 John, Master of Forbes, had deserted and repudiat his lady, 
 
 Alexander Fraser, son of John, son of Thomas. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 167 
 
 Margret Gordon,^ eldest daughter to G. Gordon, Marques of 
 Huntly, and this by the instigation of his uncle, Black Arthur 
 Forbes, who mortally hated the Gordons, and was a man of 
 singular currage and resolution, as well as prid and ambition. 
 By his advice and contrivance the Forbeses appoint a day of 
 meeting, as well for their own generall reconciliation, as also 
 to contrive something against the Gordons. Whereof Adam 
 Gordon of Achindown, haveing secret intelligence, his brother 
 Huntly being then at Edinburgh, conveened a considerable 
 number of his friends and followers to crosse the proceedings 
 of the Forbeses, who were all conveened then at Tulli Anguis The Tuiiy of 
 abow Druminnor, March 2, 1572. The Forbesses, perceiving Jnguis! 1572 
 the Gordons approaching near up the hill, entrenched them- 
 selves within their camp, which they had pretty well fortified, 
 dividing their men in two severall bands, whereof Black Arthur 
 Forbes commanded that which lay next to the Gordons. Adam 
 Gordon, far short in number of the Forbesses, invads the 
 first company most fiercly, which the Forbeses receave ; the 
 Gordons, running desperatly upon their enemies, speares and 
 brakeing their trenches, had a sharp and cruel conflict, 
 couragiously fought on both sides a long time. Mr. Robert 
 Gordon, Adams brother, assaulted the other bragad of 
 Forbesses with no less courrage and success. At last 
 Black Arthur Forbes, with diverse of his famely, were there 
 slain, the rest put to flight, and pursued to the gates of 
 Druminor. John Gordon of Buck was there slain, Adam 
 Gordon desperatly wounded, and many of his men slain, a 
 dear bought victory such as it was. 
 
 John, Master of Forbes, Black Arthurs nephe, resenting the 
 reproach, repares to Court, where the Earl of Marr, now 
 Regent, reseeded, and, makeing application to him, gives him 
 five companies of foot and some horsemen, with letters to 
 the adjoining nobility to concurr with the Forbesses in their 
 just proceedings. The Master of Forbes thinks himselfe now ^ 
 sufficiently furnished against the force of his adversaries^ 
 approches to Aberdeen where Adam Gordon then reseeded, 
 who, geting notice off the Forbesses comming, convocats as 
 
 ^ See Macfarlane's Genealogical Collections (Scottish History Society), vol. ii. 
 p. 215. 
 
168 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 many of his friends and followers there as he could readily 
 randevouz off a sudden, and sallise out of the town, sending 
 a company off muskateers under the conduct off one Captain 
 Thomas Carr to lye in ambush at a place which the Forbesses 
 must passe, and wait the joining of the batles. 
 
 Next he ordered a company of Sutherland bowmen (these 
 were with [him] since the jarres with Catheness) to take a 
 compasse and come in upon the enemies riere ; and then Adam 
 himselfe went out with his brother Master Robert unto a 
 place neare the town called Crabstone, and put his forces in 
 order there, to wait the aproach of the Forbesses, who, when 
 they appeared in sight of the Gordones, the Kings souldioures 
 being trained, advised, to digress in a compass to old Aber- 
 deen, and there leagur, that by degrees they might mollest the 
 new town, and weary Adam Gordon thence at last ; but the 
 too forward Forbesses would not yeld to that rational advice, 
 but a present onset, and so advanced with currage and 
 audacity. The Gordons receaved them with the like resolu- 
 tion, and so a cruel batle ensued, with violence on both sids. 
 At the first rancounter Achindownes muskatires, who lay in 
 ambuish, surprised the Forbeses, and killed a great many. 
 Two brothers of Pitsligo, with severall gentlemen of that 
 name, were there slain ; the foot soldiours sent be the 
 Regent were put to flight by the bowmen of Sutherland, 
 conflicT"^ persueing them wth great slaughter, and Captain Chisholm, 
 with 3 other captaines, were slain there. The Forbeses in 
 end fled apace ; their leading men were all taken captive, with 
 their generall, the Master of Forbes, whose aged father lay 
 then sick and dying at Druminor, expecting the sorowfull 
 newes of the overthrow. Adam Gordon used this victory 
 with great discretion, and suffered no man to be killed after 
 the fury of the fight was over ; then returnd with his men 
 to Aberdeen, setting up the ensigns and banners in the high 
 church as trophies off his victory, and giveing solemn thanks 
 to God for his happy success. Alexander Forbes of Strath- 
 garneck, the author of all those troubles betuixt the two 
 clans and the cheefe instigator of Arthur Forbes against the 
 Gordons, was taken captive in the conflict, and, suffering a 
 councell off war, sentence past justly upon him, was to be 
 beheaded next day at Aberdeen ; but Achindown stopt the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 169 
 
 execution. He entertained the Master of Forbes and the 
 other gentlemen prisoners with great civility and curtesy ; 
 afterwards brought the Master of Forbes with him to Strath- 
 boggy, and in end gave him and all the rest off his fellow 
 captives liberty to depart home, or whither they pleased. 
 
 In the year of God 1573, after the former conflict at Crab- 
 stone, Adam Gordon of Achindown, weareing the palms of 
 his former victories, and being well cured of his wound re- 
 ceaved at Tully-Anguis and Crabstone, resting and recruiting 
 himselfe and his men, takes his next expedition south in June, 
 entered the Mernes, and set siege to the house of *Glenbervy, »Dougias 
 and appeared so formidable to his opposits that he put all house, 
 the Regents party in that province into a pannick feare. The 
 report and fame off his victory had spread all the kingdom 
 over. The Earle of Crawford, the Lords Gray, Ogilvy, and 
 Glames, takeing part with the King against the Queen, con- 
 vocated all the forces of Anguis and Merns to resist Achin- 
 down, and to stop his passage to Brechin, where they 
 encamped. Adam Gordon, advertised of their projects, left 
 the most part of his men at the siege of Glenbervy, and went 
 from thence himselfe in the dead of the night, with the most 
 resolut men of his company, to attacke those Lords ; and, 
 comming to Brechin, he killed the watch, with severall others? 
 surprised the town, set upon the Lords, chassed them, and 
 made himselfe master of the town and castle of Brechin. The 
 next morning these Lords, haveing intelligence of Achin- 
 downes small forces, convocats their forces, and approacht 
 near Brechin to fight him. Adam, alarmd, rusht out to 
 meet them with resolut currage and conduct, and, at the first 
 assault, the Lords, not being able to resist his violent charge, 
 takes sudden flight, with all their forces ; so that there were 
 slain in that skirmish fourscore men and upwards, and very 
 many taken prisoners, amongst whom was the Lord Glames 
 and several gentlemen of the name of Lyon. This conflict 
 was in derision called the burd of Brechin. Adam Gordon The Burd of 
 returns back again, with his prisoners, to the siege of Glen- ^57: 
 bervy, and, takeing it, gave them noble quarters. From thence 
 he went to Monross, and tooke in that town also. Afterwards 
 he tooke the Castle of Dunn, belonging to the Regents cousin, 
 and thence marcht through Anguis without resistance. The 
 
170 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The Castle of 
 Inverness com- 
 mitted to the 
 Lord Lovat's 
 custody, 1574. 
 
 town of Dundee, heareing of his approache, and judging them- 
 selves unable to resist him, sent to Fife for supply. But 
 Achindown, haveing done his pleasure, rambling through 
 Anguis all the summer, thinking it time enugh to retire er 
 winter came on ; but, feareing the convocation of the south 
 forces, returnes home in September to the north, loadened 
 with spoil, satisfying himselfe for the time with quhat he had 
 alrady done against his enemies, came to Strathboggy, where 
 haveing detained and entertained the Lord Glames a com- 
 petent time, set him at liberty with the rest of his kinsmen, 
 and convoyed him on his journay to Garioch with 60 horse, 
 and there civilly parts with him. By this good success of the 
 Gordones in the north the Queens favourits in all the kingdom' 
 were highly encourraged. 
 
 The Regent, much perplext and amused in this confusion of 
 affaires, getting together a valorous band of horse and foot^ 
 heas tens towards Sterling, the King being there in the custody 
 of John Erskin, governour of that castle ; whilst the Regent 
 stayed there severalls of the Royalists flock to him from all 
 partes, and, by advice, he reinforced that garrison for the 
 greater securety against the force of the rebels. Recommend- 
 ing the young King, now about 9 year old, to the speciall care 
 of tlie governour, and then returnd to Edinburgh, where^ 
 heareing that Athol and Huntly, two leading men of the 
 rebells, were gone north, he apprehended that there main 
 design was to corrupt the Highland chiftens and clans, and 
 therefore sent expresse to Lord Hugh Eraser of Lovat to secure 
 tiie castle of Invernesse against the Gordons, and use his 
 influence and authority with all his nighbour chiftens to keep 
 closse to their alleadgeance against the rebells now in arms 
 against their sovereign. But the Regent needed not be so 
 anxius or doubtfull, for Huntly and his clan were universally 
 hated in the north, Mackintosh and Grant his mortall foes, 
 the Mackenzies, Monroes, and Rosses, most loyall clans, never 
 corresponded with the Gordons, nay, at distance with and 
 undefended upon Huntly, and, as for the Mackdonels, they were 
 now tamed and burnt sore with insurections and rebellion. 
 Lord Lovat went in to Inverness with a guard of 200 pretty 
 young men, all of his own training ; he sets a garison in the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 171 
 
 Kings house, aiid one Alexander Fraser M'ktaus^ captain off' 
 it ; the town welcomed him with all their heart, being loyall 
 and honest. The provost, Thomas Paterson, a gentleman of 
 parts and currage, and owned my Lord Lovat as his cheefe, for 
 most of the Patersones acknowledge themselves Frasers. Now 
 is this part of the north secured and in peace. Mackintoshes 
 and Grants keep good nighbourhood with Lovat ; the Mon- 
 roes and Rosses are his own ; Collin of Kintail his near rela- 
 tion ; but this trust put upon him by the Regent renues the 
 old feud and pick which Huntly had ever against Lovat and 
 his kindred ; that the greatest trust which ever the Gordons 
 hatl to be constables of the Kings house, the Castle of Inver- 
 ness, should by publick order be committed to the care and 
 custody of a nighbour nobleman ecclipses Huntly very much ; 
 but that he now ownes an unjust, disloyal cause will appeare 
 by the bad consequence. 
 
 My Lord Lovat hath now a very happy occasion to train 
 his young kinsmen and clan with martiall disciplin, as well as 
 to divert himselfe with recreations among them ; for he caused 
 the countrymen to come in to Inverness jo^r vices 50 or 60 at 
 a time, and were dayly exercised upon the levell of the Castle- 
 hill or down in the Links, by one Lieutennant Tliomas Cerr, a 
 townsman and my Lordships own domestick servant, an expert 
 soldiour, bred abroad in the warrs of France and Flanders. So 
 that not onely the young men of the name of Fraser got good 
 occasion of disciplin and education by this meanes, but many 
 mo of the adjacent clans out of emulation flockt in, the 
 Monroes, the Rosses, Mackenzies, M'kintoshes, Cerr keeping 
 set dayes of exercise weekely, and the whole muster tearmd my 
 Lord Lovats train-band. At intervalls they used swimming, 
 arching, football, throwing of the barr, fencing, dancing, 
 wrestling, and such manly sprightly exercises and recreations, 
 very fit for polishing and refining yowth and to keep them 
 from effeminacy, baseness, loitering, and idleness, which fosters 
 vice and inclines men to all evil. Its observable that when 
 Hannibal, that famous Roman [sic] general, had intermitted 
 
 ^ The Mactavishes of Stratherrick are still considered to be a sept of the 
 Frasers. 
 
 « 
 
172 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 his warlick martial disciplin and loitered in Campania it 
 blunted the souldiours and turnd them soft and effeminat. 
 The pleasures of Capua quit altered the genius and grain of 
 the gallant Romanes, and made them sullen and sillyly simple 
 by supin sloath and negligence. The historian tells us that 
 Capua, that famous city of Campania, in the Punike warre fell 
 off from Rome to the Carthaginians, and there Hannibal, 
 wintering his souldiers, did so effeminat them that they left 
 their former valour, et quid Romanis Cannes hoc caput Hanni- 
 hali ; an example for all chiftens of clans to keep their infantry 
 bussied and imployed in virtuous frugall exercises fit for them, 
 that they be not rusted with sullen idlenes and sloth. It was 
 very observable that the Lord Lovat, mustering his men at 
 Tomnifirish,^ near Invernes, this July, he had fourscor pretty 
 yowthes who were in their mothers womb when the battle off 
 Lochy was fought, July 1544, thirty yeares before, which con- 
 firmes the assertion of the historian anent the women left with 
 child when the field was fought. Gens Fraseriorum numerosissima 
 Buchan, lib. 15, et dc re Scotica bene merita tota interierat^ nisi Divino (ut credi 
 ^' par est) consilio exfamilios principihus octoginta Domi relinquis- 
 
 sent, gravidas uxores^ quce suo quceque tempore mares pepereant 
 singulos. A singular providence it was that, by God's blessing, 
 these 80 widowes, whose husbands were killed in that bloudy 
 battle of Lochy, should in their season be safely brought to 
 bed, and each bear a boy, and those same male children to 
 come to perfect age and survive many mo of their kindred, 
 and happily meet together at a muster 30 yeares after, with 
 their cheefe. Digitus Dei, the hand of God is here. 
 
 The confusions of the kingdom ar now increasing after the 
 Murray, Lenox, death of three regents, and the minority of a king. The con- 
 test betuixt the royall and rebellius factions at a great hight, 
 and all the north of Europ ingaged in the quarrell. The 
 Hamiltoun head the rebells, Argile and Huntly; the one 
 haveing a wife, the other a mother, of the House of Hamilton. 
 William Murray of Tillibarden in Strathern is joined with 
 them, the Earle of Hume, Seaton, Maitland, Athol, Craford, 
 Ogilby, Boid, etc. all linked in that party. The Earl of Athol 
 
 ^ Tomnahurich. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 173 
 
 laboures with all his might to draw over his sone in law, the 
 Lord Lovat, to that side ; his strongest argument is the equity 
 of the cause, to espouse the quarrell of a distressed Queen, now 
 prisoner, and no way to release her but by takeing the Castle 
 of Sterling by siege, and getting the young king into their 
 hands and custody ; by this meanes the English would restore 
 our queen back to us again. Argil sets Sir John Cambell of 
 Calder a work to prevail with Lord Lovat, being his nephew, 
 to join with them upon the old relation between Cambels and 
 Eraser, and judges if they had him to yeld, all the clans in the 
 North were theires. Nay, my Lady Lovat is corrupted also by 
 her father, Athol, to set upon her husband ; and she is turnd ill- 
 natured upon the head. Yet all that they were able to do 
 could not prevail with the Lord Hugh to betray his trust and 
 loyalty in the least, secureing his nighboure clanes more and 
 more, and acquainting the Regent dayly as maters went. In 
 the closur of anno 1575 Lord Hugh is necessitate to goe 
 south, partly to accomodat maters betuixt the Regent and 
 John, Earl of Athol, his father-in-law, and his own privat Anno 1575. 
 affaires urgeing him besids ; and was successful in both, for 
 he convinced Atholl of the folly and madness of their projects, 
 owning an exild queen in opposition to the King and the 
 lawes ; withall that he saw many of his party deserting him 
 and coming in daylie to the Regent, and he, being the Kings 
 near relation, would not misse to meet with more favour and 
 clemency than any who had yet secured the peace. Nay, he 
 so farr prevailed with Athol as to bring him to the King at 
 Stirlin, the Regent being also there and privy to the plot ; so 
 that Athol is now in Court, secures the peace, and returns 
 home about his bussiness. The next was Argile, and many 
 mo followed their example, being two of the most leading 
 piers of the Queen'^s party. 
 
 They spent some time together in Blair Castle, and Lord 
 Hugh, being called to Edinburgh, left his father-in-law^, who 
 promised to be at him in the closur of November, but came 
 not after he had waited so long that the dead of the winter 
 approacht er he had closd his bussiness, and takes journay 
 north, purposing to pay a visit to the Lady Dowager of Marr, 
 his great friend at Erskin, in his rode, where he kept Christ- 
 
174 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 mas; and the night he parted with that noble lady he sickned, 
 and comming to Towy, was forced to take his bed, and dyed 
 the 2 day, being January 1, 1576. Some said it was a 
 pleuresy, others a peri -pneumonia or inflammation of the 
 lungs, others wanted not their suspition of malefice, but he 
 dyed in the Lord and rested from his laboures, and his good 
 works follow him. He soon and early learned to number his 
 dayes, and applyed his heart unto that wisdom that is from 
 Psalm 90. above; and what shall be said, but the will of the Lord be 
 Job 14. 5. done, who hath determined his dayes, the number of his 
 moneths are with thee, thow hast appointed his dayes that he 
 cannot pass. This great hero and worthy Lord Hugh Fraser 
 of Lovat is now dead and off the stage. He was a man of 
 mettall, wonderful! parts, witty, and sturring, and, to give him 
 his due, without flattery, an accompiisht young nobleman in 
 all enduements, both of body and mind, and inferiour to none 
 of his age in Scotland, of which he often gave proofe ; and, 
 were I to inlarg, I could writ a volume upon this mournfull 
 theam. This noble piere was one of Jehosophats judges ; lie 
 took heed to what he did, for the fear of the Lord was upon 
 him, knowing that he judged not for man but God. He "was 
 2. Chro. 19. a terror to evil doers, and a comfort to them that did well, 
 haveing no respect of persones in judgement ; he espoused the 
 King's quarrell so strongly that he would never suffer an 
 incroachment to be made uppon the royal authority ; so he 
 continued still the same, living legall to his country and loyal 
 to his king. 
 
 [Follows account of affairs in Britain and on the Continent.] 
 
 The 13 Lord We uow return home after this lone; digression abroad, and 
 
 Fraser of » o ' . 
 
 Lovat, 1577. treat of the Frasers of Lovat quher we left off. Hugh Lord 
 Fraser of Lovat dyed at Tolly in Marr, January 1, 1576, in 
 the 29 yeare of his age. At the report of his death the tutor, 
 Strwy, conveened the whole numerous name of Fraser, and 
 randivouzd at Tomnihurich, near Invernesse, and out of 8 or 
 9 hundered men 500 are chosen to march on forward from this 
 randivouz, and 24 gentlemen heads of families as officers to 
 manage them with good conduct in the rode ; the Laird of 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 175 
 
 Strachin, called Thomas of Knocky, and William Fraser off* 
 Struy, cheefe leaders. The Laird of Foulis sent a 100 Mon- 
 roes, well appointed, to join with them. The 7 of January jan. 7. 
 they marcht from Inverness south through Strathspey and 
 Badenoch into Marr, where many gentlemen of the name of 
 Mackintosh and Grant met with them and accompanied the 
 regiment to Tolly, where all the gentlemen of Marr were con- 
 veened with the young Earle to wait their comming ; and the 
 wether beyond expectation serene and faire, without storm or 
 tempest. The 18 of January they tooke journay from Tolly, 
 and 26 day they were at Lovat with the corpes. In these 
 rude times no such funerals ever known for solemnity and 
 magnificence ; upwards of 2000 men convoyed the corps to 
 Inverness ; and uppon Candlemass even interred at Beuly before 
 the great alter. All the nobles and gentlemen in the North 
 were present there. Never was nobleman more bemoaned, 
 more lamented ; he was universally beloved and universally 
 bewailed. When his foster brother, Alexander M'ktaus 
 «(whom he substitut captain of the castle of Inverness) got 
 the first report of his death, be sighed out this distigh in his 
 own vernacular language — 
 
 Beag inih chose vi bocht, 
 Smure locht rind orm Ded ; 
 Ski7i Challig i ToUi More 
 M'Khimmi sear hanig reave} 
 
 And I may give him this epitaph : — 
 
 Heic jacet ante diem lachri?noso fimere raptus, 
 Flos patrice, et gentis splendor Furaseriorum, 
 NuUo umquam tantum gavisa est hospite Tollas. 
 
 Responsio : — 
 
 Ante diem quamvis preperarunt funera parcce: ' 
 Stat tamen in nato fama fecunda meo. 
 
 ^ Beag ioghnadh dhotnhsa bhi bochd, 
 '6" mbr lochd j-inn orm Dia ; 
 GtCn chailleadh an-Tolli Mor^ 
 Mac-Shimi fhearr a thainig riamh. 
 
 Little wonder that I am poor, 
 
 Great is the bereavement God has sent me ; 
 
 That at Big Tolly has been lost 
 
 The best Mac-Shimi who ever arose. 
 
176 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 This great man had the deepest designs and vastest projects 
 that ever any Lord Lovat contrived, and had set down fease- 
 able methods to compass and accomplish them. He was by 
 patent Shirrefe Principal! of Inverness, a post fitt for him and 
 he for it, which none could so easily manage ; and was also 
 Constable of the Kings Castle there, and at his death had his 
 lieutenant and garrison in that house. He was to possess all 
 the fiew lands which the King had in West Rosse, from Beuly 
 to Chanory, and north to the Shirref Cromarties march, and 
 the river of Connin his boundary limit, and was to close with the 
 Laird of Grant for the barony of Urquhart and Glenmoriston, 
 And, then, where was there any peere in the north more 
 absolut and happier stated, omni modo ? He left a sone, 
 Simon, now 7 years old, for Thomas dyed young, and two 
 daughters, Mary afterwards Lady Alter, and Agnes, who 
 matcht Mr. Hector Monro, Laird of Foules. He had also a 
 naturall sone, one Alexander in Achingarn, who married 
 Janet Fraser, daughter to the Barron of Moniak. His lady 
 and dowager very honorably left, secured in 7000 per annum. 
 
 This May there is a generall meeting of the leading men of 
 the name of Fraser, appointed for regulating the great affaires 
 of the Lordship, and settling a tutor dureing the minority of 
 the young Lord ; which the Lady was still urgeing, and per- 
 haps more for her own securety than the good of the state of 
 Lovat, for she was an ambitious, avaritious woman. When 
 the prefixt day, May J^4, came, the friends conveened fre- 
 quently at Glasscham in Foyness, neare the Stockfoord of Ross ;^ 
 
 1 This fixes the site of this ancient ford by which King Alexander i. crossed 
 into Ross in pursuit of the ' multitude of Scottys men ' who sought his life, as 
 Wyntoun tells in The Cronykill of Scotland, Bk. vii. ch. v. 
 
 ' The bak thai turnyd rycht swne, and flede, 
 And cure the Mownth rycht fast thame spede, 
 The Kyng wytht hys court symply 
 Folowyd on thame rycht fersly 
 Owre the Stokfurd into Ros. 
 
 Quhill he oure-tuk thame at the last, 
 And tuk and slwe thame or he past 
 Owt off that land, that fewe he lefft 
 To tak on hand swylk purpos efift. 
 Fra that day hys legys all 
 Oysid hym Alysandyr the Fers to call.' 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 177 
 
 there came present AVilliam Eraser of Struy, late Tutor, 
 the young Lord's great granduncle, Thomas Eraser of Knocky, 
 afterwards Strachin, my Lord's uncle, Hugh Eraser of Cul- 
 boky, William Eraser of Eoyer, Hugh Eraser of Belladrom, 
 some of the house of Earrelin and Rilick ; and all with 
 their followers were not under 300 men. Thomas Knocky, 
 being the nearest be line, declared to all met that the first 
 thing meet to be stated in that convention was anent the 
 tutory; that being once settled other things consequential! 
 would naturally and genuinly succeed. William Eraser of 
 Struy replied that the mater needed no debat who should be 
 tutor, for, seeing my Lord Lovat did not determin that point 
 at his death, nor named any for that office, it would follow of 
 will that he should be tutor, haveing managed that trust so 
 well before, as his subscribed accounts present did clearly con- 
 firm ; and as he should so, he would be tutor now also. 
 Thomas Knocky replied that the reason whey he fell tutor to 
 Lord Alexander, his brothers sone, was becaus he was nearest 
 of line, and that same reason a pari would authorise him, 
 being brother to the late deceased Lord, and uncle to the 
 young minor, and that in point of conscience, grace, and 
 nature would oblidge him to be more kindly and dutifuU to 
 his nephew than any else. Culboky and Eoyer seconded 
 strongly what Strachin had averred, and that it was legal 1, 
 besids being naturall, that the nearest of kin, being a man of 
 credit and honor, should enter tutor, and that the contrare, 
 which was urged, would be of very bad and dangerous conse- 
 quence, and therefore no such prepertive should be allowed. 
 A great heat of unbeseeming altercations ensued, and the 
 meeting split into factiones, and the worst was feared that 
 the two factions should fall in blud. At length those of 
 Strachins faction fall serious with Struy, telling him that it 
 was most injourious to deal so with his relation, nor would he 
 suffer to have his own right so bailed or questioned by a farther 
 off relation when he was tutor to the late Hugh Lord Lovat, and 
 that he would do well not to insist in it seing we had enemies 
 might step in at the breach, and at last the la we would deceed 
 the mater in Strachins favour; quhich would make a lasting 
 ruptur, and it was no time of fead betuixt so neare relations. 
 
 M 
 
178 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Whilst the gentlemen hinc inde were striveing to compose 
 maters and bring the two antagonists to an amicable agree- 
 ment, Donald Dow, the priest and after minister at Wardlaw, 
 with his brother Andrew, wisely repared to Beufort Castle, 
 where my Lady Lovat reseeded, and told her the issue of the 
 meeting, and what factions and parties were made, tuixt Struy 
 and Strachin and that the worst was feared ; therefore it was 
 her interest, for her own good and the great advantage of her 
 children, to mediat and cast in overtures of agreement betuixt 
 them. Whither these men were suborned or urged to this 
 message it is not known, but there was much wit in it. My Lady 
 replied that she had a great regard and veneration to them as 
 churchmen, but she would neither goe nor send to their meeting, 
 becaus they had not that due respect to her which they ought in 
 craveing her advice and concurrence in a mater of such conse- 
 quence, it being also her own concern, and if the worst should 
 fall out that the sword should deceed it, there would not a 
 drop of Stewarts blood be spilt in the quarrell. When this was 
 related be the churchmen to the meeting, it put them all in 
 an astonishing consternation, every one putting his own glosse 
 and censur upon the fine ladies expression, but the wisest con- 
 cluded that she would be indifferent though all of them should 
 perish so she might get the ball at her own foot, and her 
 friends to rule the rost, and step in to be tutors to Simon. 
 In fine, any man of reason and wit may see the hand of God 
 was wonderfully in it, it being a mean to cement them 
 together; so that at length Struy succumbd, and Strachin 
 succeeds tutor by the unanimous conscent of all present. Had 
 maters gone wrong to a further litigation, it was thought that 
 Foyer and Belladrom would side with Struy ; but at best it 
 would make a sad rupture, and play a dismall game to our 
 enemies, who were wishing as well as waiting such occasiones 
 and oportunities. When they dissolvd, and came jointly to 
 pay a visit to my Lady, she welcomed them, and seemed to be 
 very well pleased, intreating them to keep unity and amity 
 among themselves, as it well becam them. 
 
 This grand affaire being closed successfully and in peace, 
 the first thing that the tutor proposed was the keeping of a 
 regality court in Beuly, where all the friends were present, and 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 179 
 
 there the patent which Lord Hugh had under the great seal 
 of being herittable constable of the regality was read, and 
 instrument taken be the tutor in the minors name, and also 
 ordered that the feu-duty of 300 marks annuatim out of the 
 barrony and pryorie should be ready at the tearm, that it 
 might [be] advanced to the collector as a confirmation of a right 
 and possession. But the monks of that pryorie, haveing been 
 formerly, by order of Parliament, dispossessed and excluded the 
 monastery, the good tutor, with advice of the friends, allowed 
 them to keep their dormitories within the great house, and 
 appointed so much victuall for their aliment (5 in number 
 alive) now after the alienation of the rents of the priory of 
 Beuly, Next day he went in progresse to perambulat the 
 bounds and marches of Corricharby, and the graseings, mosses, 
 woods, glens and shealings pertaining to the pryory surround- 
 ing all from top to bottom by the river of Orrin down to Ord 
 and to Alt Boitteg, termed in the rights and donation Rivulus 
 uhi interfectus fuit Johannes M'kivir, and thence to Inach 
 Tarvidil, takeing instrument at every competent place as 
 accords of law and justice. The same course the tutor 
 followed in the bounds of Glenstrathfarrar, Strathglash, 
 Urqhart, Abertarfe, Stratharrick, Leyes and Dulcross to 
 the east, also Caplach and Kinmylies towards Nesse river, 
 and, last of all, an expedition to Glenelg, and setling a 
 chamberlane there. 
 
 I cannot omit here to give a breefe touch to an unexpected 
 surprise that allarmed the tutor and the whole country and 
 clan. The Mackenzies, whither out of jealousie that thev had lost 
 the priory, or suspition that there was a design to incroach upon 
 their own marches, of which they as yet had no legall designa- 
 tion, they convocated about 200 men in arms, and came the 
 length off Bothmouth, quhere they leagered ; the tutor, being 
 suddenly advertised, made no great noise, butt sent privat 
 intelligence to Stratharick and other places about, to be in 
 readiness upon a call, and put 60 pretty resolut fellowes in the 
 house of Beidy, with two field pieces, pretty gunnes, set to the 
 north, and appointed John Mackranald in Teachnouk, a resolut 
 chiften, to govern that place. This being done, the country 
 people were flocking from every corner, as from the circuni- 
 
180 
 
 POLICHIIONICON SEU 
 
 ference to the center, whilst, meanwhile, some of the M'kerizies 
 scouts are seen uppon the top of Riindown, but came no nearer ; 
 the tutor, as if he had not known of their motion (yet had 
 his intelligence from their own camp) ordered John M'kranald 
 to let off two or thre shot, as if he were to try or scbure 
 the gunns. This allarmd the whole country, but did no hurt, 
 save that it discourraged and deterred the otlier people from 
 approaching nearer. This was not so privatly convoyed but 
 newes thereof comes to the Laird of Fowles eares, who 
 instantly convocats his kinsmen, and, with 300 men very well 
 appointed, marched the length of the River of Connin, and 
 sent two of his cheefe and prime gentlemen to J. ^ M'Kenzie 
 of Kintaile, desireing to know if he had any design uppon the 
 Frasers, or if tliere was any difference at all betuixt him and 
 them, and, if any such mater was, he had come that length to 
 adjust the point friendly, nor would he suffer any incroachment 
 to be mad upon that clan or country in the minority of the 
 Lord Lovat, whose interest and quarrell he would espouse 
 whilst he had men to follow him or bloud in his veins. Kin- 
 tail is surprised, as it seemed, with this message from his 
 nighbour, and avers that there was nothing in his mind 
 against Lovat, his cousen, but much kindness, and, if any 
 rash young men had run in the hills for sport, they had no 
 warrand from him to approach the limits of that country 
 under scugg of hostility or surprise. 
 
 These two chiftens had a whiles intercourse upon this and 
 some other subjects, which I purpose not here to narrate, and 
 parted in peace. The Laird of Fowles dissmissed his men home, 
 and went forward himselfe with a competent convoy to Lovat, 
 there to pay a visit to the Earle of Athols daughter, and to the 
 young Simon Lord Lovat, and gave his kind advise to the 
 Tutor how to carry for the future. 
 
 In October, the Lady Douager of Lovat prepares for their 
 journay south, the Earle of Atholl, her father, haveing sent 
 two gentlemen of his own name to convoy her to Blair. There 
 were also three or four of the name of Stuart, who had come 
 north in Janwary with the Lord Lovats corps and stayed here 
 till now, viewing the country. One of whom, John Dow 
 
 1 Sic. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 181 
 
 Stuart, a pretty, prudent gentleman, who declared that he was 
 leaving this place with a great reluctancy, and never was his 
 feet in a more civil place, amongst a good discreeter people and 
 a better governed country. My Lady takes journay with a 
 noble retinue ; the Tutor, haveing affaires at south, convoyed 
 her to Atholl, and about the Christmass time she was marry ed 
 to ^ Stuart, Earle of March ; and truly prevento termino. 
 
 But her father and friends contrived this match for her; and, 
 let her goe ! this country was happily rid of her, and the good 
 luck which we missed whil she was with us Providence may 
 now poure upon us. She was truely an ambitious, avaritius, 
 ill-natured woman, haveing no love or affection for Frasers, 
 and they had as litle for her, which made all without regreet 
 dispense with her. 
 
 And is she gone then ? farewell shee ; 
 Adue to all our new nobility. 
 
 At her departur hence she signified some faint affection for 
 her children, and expressed a counterfit desire of haveing her 
 sone Simon along with her, pretending such education and 
 accomplishment as was suitable for a young nobleman, and 
 could not be attaind in the north. But the Tutor would not 
 here of any such motion, and the whole name unanimously 
 denied her that courtesy, telling plainly that the care and conduct 
 of such a great and good father sone, and onely sone, should 
 not be intrusted to any forreigner, being so young, but to his 
 friends alone and his nearest kinsemen ; and so the goodman 
 of Foyer pleaded for that priveledge to have the child in his 
 house and custody untill the Tutors return, which j^ro tempore 
 was granted. 
 
 This Lady Elizabeth Stuart, after she was married to the 
 good Earle of March, wholly wild and wanton, pretend visits 
 to her father and friends that she might have the attendance 
 of her gallants along with her. There was one Captain James 
 Stuart, a relation of the famely, newh^ come home, being 
 abroad, whom the Earle, out of mere charety, brought to his 
 famely ; him she fancied onely for her attendant, which her 
 husband, dreeding no ill, concented to. Meantime, this 
 Captain Stuart, finding the Earl of Morton, late Regent, out 
 
 1 Sic. 
 
182 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 of Court, curries the favour of his mortall enemies about the 
 King, and among them contrived his ruin as accessory to the 
 Kings murder with Bodwel. Upon this account the King 
 favoures him with the title of Lord Arran. So, in end, with 
 his cruel accomplices about the Court, brought the great Earle 
 of Morton under a jury, is assised, convict, sentenced, and 
 execut publickly, as I formerly narrated to the full. 
 
 Arran, getting this grand design thro ugh t, and Morton out 
 of the way, concluds it easy for him to do anything else; so 
 that his next contrivance was in his intrigues with the Lady 
 March, Elisabeth Stuart, to procur her a divorce from her 
 husband, as frigid, that so he might enjoy her to himselfe. 
 The course of law is followed to the full in every point, divorce 
 obtained before the judges competent, att Halyroodhouse, and 
 in earnest Arran obtaines Elisabeth Stuart for his wife, and 
 wer married next morrow. And, that what I aver uppon this 
 head may be sustained and beleved as truth, I shall set down 
 here for my warrand the expresse paragraph of a very famous 
 historian on it. 
 
 Spotswoods In June 1581 the Earle of Arran made a discourse of his 
 History, p. 315. proceedings in the triall of Morton, declaring what he had 
 done, and how to come to the knowledge of the fact for which 
 he had suffered. He was forced to use some rigorous dealeing 
 towards his servants, and put certain of them to the torture ; 
 lest this should be imputed to him as a crime, his desire was 
 to have his Majesties and the Councels approbation. This 
 was easely obtained, and an act made ratefying all that he had 
 done in that bussiness as good service to his Majesty and the 
 Estate. Yet was it well known to all that the inquisition he 
 made upon Morton^s servants was to find out where his gold 
 and mony was hidden, and for no purposes else. Neare about 
 the same time he tooke to wife the Earl of March his lady, a 
 woman intoUerable in all the imperfections incident to that 
 sexe. She had forsaiken her husband not long before, and 
 obtained sentence against him for alleadged impotency ; yet 
 was she known to be with child even then by Arran, which 
 made the process on her part shamefull ; nor was his part a 
 whit better, nay, rather much worse, haveing been a long time 
 entertained in the noblemans house, and furnished by him in 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 183 
 
 everything necessary whilst his estate was yet but mean ; to 
 have repayed the nobleman so dishonorably was accounted a 
 vile ingratitud. The marriage, alwayes in end, went on, and 
 their unlawfull love held that way legittimated. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Follows account of affairs in Britain and on the Continent.] 
 
 Now it falles here in course that we treat of the Lord Thomas Fraser, 
 Lovats famely and his concerns these ten yeares bygon. ^ °^ ° 
 When the Tutor of Lovat, Strachin, returnd north after 
 convoying the Lady Dowager to Atholl, differences not being 
 fully settled betuixt him and William Fraser of Struy, the 
 former tutor, the Laird of Foules, a true friend of the famely, 
 offers his suffrage, and brings along with him John More 
 Monro of Miltoun. Their meeting held at Beuly, Thomas of 
 Knocky, the tutor, called Patrick Grant, Laird of Glen- 
 moriston, and John Dow Cameron, Locheel, his two trusties, 
 who, all joining together, componed maters so amicably that 
 there was no vestige left of any scruple betuixt Struy and 
 Strachin. The former, being nott by law setled secured infeft 
 and seased in his own estate, that he passt from all his former 
 pretentions of tutoring the estate of Lovat, but was setled 
 principall baliefe, and officiated still, either by himselfe or 
 Deputs all the lordship over. 
 
 The next design was to dispose of the young Lord as to his 
 aliment and education. The Tutor, thinking (as truly it is) 
 that Beufort was the better aire, setles the children there, with 
 such attendants as he judged competent for them, and calls 
 Mr. John Noble out of Inverness to be my Lord Lovats 
 governour, a grave, wise young man of good parts and learning. 
 To him he committs the full care of his puple. At this time 
 there was no setled incumbent preacher at Kiltarlity ^ or Kil- 
 morak.^ Donald Dow was minister at Wardlaw,^ and, having 
 
 ^ Readers served in Kiltarlity till about 1624, when it got its first ordained 
 minister, William Fraser. 
 
 2 Donald Fraser, admitted about 1649, appears to have been the first minister 
 of Kilmorack. 
 
 ' Donald Dow Fraser (Black Donald Fraser), the first minister of Wardlaw, 
 was admitted about 1574. 
 
184 
 
 POLICHIIONICON SEU 
 
 fully conformd, and as reformd, was institut and ordained, 
 lived in Finask, there being no setled mans at Kirkhill ; and 
 had married Agnes Maid, out of Lovats famely. 
 
 The Tutor, calling a regality court at Beuly, charged all the 
 possessors within the lordship to compcare there, and gave 
 each a 7 yeares tack without grassum or entry mony, oblidging 
 them to punctuall payment of their duty tearmly, to be 
 frugall, laborious, mantain their respective marches exactly, 
 and keep off strangers and ravagers ; that, besids their bowes, 
 every tennant should have a gun, and be ready whenever called 
 to give attendance at randivouzes (when called) and exercise 
 of arms. 
 
 He settles Alexander Fraser (vulgarly Sandy More Frishell) 
 at Dalcros, giving him a take of that maines and the care of 
 all the Leyes to keep marches against Rosses and M'kintoshes, 
 being both apt to incroach. 
 
 In Stratharick and Abertarfe the Frasers were numerous, 
 and few or no strangers among them ; there keept courts, 
 giving every gentleman his own particular post to maintain 
 marches, liberties, and properties contra quoscunque, and 
 setled Alexander Fraser of Farlin baliefe, a man of currag and 
 conduct, and universally beloved and related. To Alexander 
 M'ktaus he gives the custody of Ellanwirrich as constable. In 
 Buntait near Urchart he fixes Alexander Macklean, vulgarly 
 called AUister M'konil vickneil, to keepe these marches; the 
 Mackleans of old being possessors of all that country were of 
 great authority and command among them. The tutor went 
 personally to Glenelg with a 100 bowmen, setled that country 
 June 1589. in tacks and assedation 7 yeares leace, and told them that if 
 they keept not their own meaths and marches all over old use 
 and wont sibi imputet, the losse would be much more their own 
 than his, and therefore to stand in aw of non ; he would 
 defend them. At his return he setles Strathglaish and Glen- 
 strathfarrar, setling the forrest of Affarick,^ Coirincuillan, etc. 
 upon tenants M'klenans and Chiesholms ; the inner country of 
 Gusachan, Hugh Culboky possessed. 
 
 In the barrony he secures Vrchany and Fairly upon Alex- 
 
 ' ^ Only a part of Strathglass belonged to the Lovats. Affaric was never theirs, 
 being part of The Chisholm's barony of Comarmore. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 185 
 
 ander M'kthomas vickallister, a stout fellow, to keep these 
 marches, and to the north, to secure Corricharby and the 
 marches down the river off Orrin against the Stratchounin men, 
 lie gives Ardnicrassk to Donald M'kivir and his brother John, 
 that, when the one stayed at home the other might be in the 
 hills traversing J9^r vices. 
 
 In Glenconvinth Clan-i-luch,^ Beatons, and M'kintliggichs,^ 
 had a very old douch [davach] in time out of mind and, that 
 was the tutors temper, he would never dispossess an old native 
 whilst he was able to labour. In Kinmilies the M'killvichels ^ 
 were so numerous that they possest all that plat from Dunean 
 to Clachniharrih, wester and easter Kinmilies, Moortoun, and 
 the bottom of the green to the River of Nesse, also Merkinsh ; 
 and were burgers of the town of Inverness besids. In Obri- 
 aclien the clan Illeulans^ and Mackillroyes were old possessors, 
 had the forrestry of the wood and Corrifoiness. In Bunchrive 
 there were low commodious buildings quher the Lords of Lovat 
 lived often for divertisement, and the tutor had the maines in 
 labouring, and also the Mains of Lovat, quher he setled over- 
 ■seers. Englishtoun, Kirktoun, and Inshbary, the old posses- 
 sion of the Thomsons, the Mackwilliam oiges ^ and Mackallister 
 leas ^ were now for a long time tennants, quhom he confirmed 
 with tacks. 
 
 The parsonage of Farnway, possest by the missionary priests Farnway. 
 serving at the alter in Corridon Church,^ is now by the care of 
 the good tutor filled up with a reformed incumbend, Andrew 
 Mackphaile, who is setled there ; the small pittance of a stipend 
 was payed him iit slcferehant tem/pora^ but he had a very good 
 gleeb called yet Crait i Teample,^ the church field ; and the 
 same Andrew Mackphail lived in Kirktown till anno 1606.^ 
 
 ^ Claim an Luch, the clan of the mouse. 
 
 2 Mac an Lighich, son of the physician ; a branch of the famous Beaton family 
 of physicians. See note p. 145. 
 
 ^ Mac Gille Mhicheil, son of the servant of St. Michael. 
 
 Maclellan. ^ Son of William the younj^er. 
 
 ^ Son of white-headed Alexander. 
 
 ^ St. Curidan's Church: the church of Farnua. Seep. 146. ^ The Temple Croft. 
 
 ^ There were two ministers of Farnua of this name. The first, presented 1569, 
 died before 1575 ; the second, presented 1575, translated to Kingussie in 1581, 
 to Dores in 1590, and to Boleskine in 1607. 
 
186 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Erection. 
 
 Inverness. 
 
 The year 1614 tlie anexation of the two parishes happened 
 under Bishop Alexander Douglas, who, jure devoluto, presents 
 Mr. John Howison [or Houston] to the same ; for Kirkhill being 
 a mensall the Bishop is undoubted patron, but annexing Farn- 
 way to it saith in plain tearms m gremio : — Haveing presented 
 our brother, Mr. John Howison, expectant, to our mensall 
 church of Wardlaw, we also present him to the benefice of the 
 parsonage of Farnway now fallin, devolute, in our hands, salvo 
 B^uce^one^of"^'^^^^ right honorable the Lord Spiny, patron of that 
 
 the Lords of parsonage. 
 
 As for the Church of Inverness, to which the Lord Lovat 
 pays stipend, it was served still by the Doctors of Divinity 
 there. Also the Gray Friars assisted the cure, and missionary 
 priests. I find one Sir David Cuthbert priest. Sir William 
 Duff priest. Sir John Lauder priest, Sir James Duff priest ; the 
 Popes knights,^ served at Inverness and in the country about. 
 But about the year 1578, the reformation prevaileing here in 
 the North, the town of Inverness calls one Mr. Thomas Howi- 
 son [or Houston], formerly in orders, and now reformed, to be 
 their minister. The Tutor of Lovat, Strachin, haveing got the 
 patronage of Bonah in his own person confirmed under the 
 great seale, concurrs with the town of Inverness to call and 
 install Mr. Thomas Howison to be minister there, and payed 
 him stipend out of the barrony of Kinmyly and Obriachan. 
 
 The parish of Dorris, being also within the lordship of 
 Lovat, the Tutor urges upon the parishioners of Doris to call 
 a minister ; but, finding non qualefied for that charge, they 
 were served with catichists and readers for a long time, which 
 the Tutor incurraged freely.'^ 
 
 The parish of Boliskin, being also within the lordship of 
 Stratharick, got no minister for a long time, and were served 
 with catichists and readers, very much incurraged by the 
 Cilchuimmen. tutor.^ The church of Cilchummen in Abertarfe is well pro- 
 vided ; as a viccar at this time there is one Sir James Duff, a 
 priest, serving there, and, comming to yeares of great age, 
 finding the Reformation comming on, and having no inclina- 
 
 Dorris. 
 
 1 6'z> indicated the degree of B.A. ; Mr. the higher degree of M.A. 
 
 ^ Andrew Macphail became minister of Dores in 1590. 
 
 ^ Andrew Macphail was appointed minister of Boleskine in 1607. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 187 
 
 tion to reform or conform, he conduces with the Tutor of 
 Lovat, and sells him the Viccarage Tack of Abertarf for a soume Abertarf. 
 of mony, and away he flies.^ This right of the viccarage the 
 Tutor of Lovat got confirmed, along with his patronage, 
 under the great seal : this is the worst act I find the good Tutor 
 guilty off, a Simoniacal paction by a base priest, and sacriledge 
 in him to have bought it in detrimentum ecclesi(E\ but then 
 there were no Acts of Regulation or Restriction, and church- 
 men might do what they pleased ; as we find Bishop Hepburn 
 had, a litle befor, delapidat the revenues of Murray by fewes 
 and mortgages." But the poor church of Abertarf was after- 
 wards served by catechists and readers ; and, when our church 
 government was settled, the Bishop of Murray, for want of a 
 benefice, annexed it to the church of Boleskin, and one man 
 ever since is incumbent, and serves the cure in both places. 
 
 The Lord Lovat payes stipend to the Church of Leyes, called 
 Croy, near Dalcross. The Tutor incurraged the readers and Croy, 
 catechists there, but I find no setled minister there till about 
 the year of God 1598 ; ^ nor was ther mans or gleab designed 
 for the incumbent, much against the Tutor s will. 
 
 About the year of God 1574 Thomas Fraser, sone to the 1574. 
 Laird of Philorth, married the widow of Strachin, Isabel! Action of 
 Forbes, daughter to John Forbes of Corsindee. She was 
 formerly matcht to William Chamber, who had a pretension 
 to the estate, his brother George being abroad and no hopes 
 of a return. He lived but two yeares with her, and, dying, 
 left her well ; and, soon after Thomas of Philorth, as he was 
 called, marryed her, a handsom young woman, had but one 
 daughter to William. The Chamers being weake, and pretend- 
 ing right to the interest of Strachin, threatens Thomas, as 
 having no right but by his wife, that they would get him out 
 by law and give her but a tocher. Thomas Fraser is content 
 to compone with them, and give them a cut to close there 
 mouthes; but his friends unhappily dissuaded him. He had 
 severall meetings with them about this bargan, but the Cham- 
 bers, finding him come no length, concluded that Thomas w^as 
 
 1 Dufif appears to have conformed. See Scott's Fasti, ' Abertarff.' 
 
 2 See J?e£. Morav. for these dilapidations. 
 
 ^ According to Shaw's history of Moray, Patrick Ladell was minister in 1585. 
 
188 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 triffling with them, which thej took as a dissaster and ignominy. 
 They draw up with the Gordons of Gight, in effect the wickedest 
 famely of that name ; they pretend a paction with the Chalmers, 
 and sends Thomas of Strachin message that they had bought 
 the action from his antagonist, and threatens him more than 
 they. Thomas, having good friends, and the law besids, told 
 them that in justice he was not in their reverence, yet con- 
 descends to a commiininfj with them. The meeting held at 
 Aldeere,^ where Frasers, Gordones, Chalmers, meet and con- 
 veen, and, after long reasonings, and no hope of agreement, 
 they part. The madd Gordons, taking it as a reflection upon 
 tliemselves, undertakeing an agreement, John Gordon, younger 
 off Gight, persues Thomas of Strachin, and, near the bridge of 
 Aldeer, kills him dead with one shlash of a too-handed sword, 
 which then they mostly used ; comming behind him unawars, 
 which perhap before his face he durst not do. The poor widow 
 of Strachin, now at her utmost plight, the Laird of Philorth 
 being young, knew not whither to have recourse, at last is 
 advised to make application to the Tutor of Lovat, a very 
 active, prosperous man. In sheort, going south, the Tutor 
 payed her a visit, takes the action in his own person, tables 
 this dreedfull oppression before the Councell ; he had Argile 
 and Atholl to espouse his quarrell, and the Earl of Marr. The 
 Marques of Huntly takes it high that any in the North durst 
 medle at that rate with his kinsemen and famely. The King 
 at last considers it, and, knowing what a leading, potent 
 famely the Frasers were in the North, is affraid this would 
 make a sad ruptur, and knowing quhat gumms had been 
 before betuixt them, wisht that this might be composed. 
 
 It made two factions in the Councell, and the Marques of 
 Huntly, a proud, ill-natured man, spurned at the Tutor of 
 Lovat, and said that he had litle a doe to buy ployes in this 
 nature, he might be better employed. The Tutor replyed. 
 My lord, I but own the just cause and quarrell of an oppressed 
 widow and a kinswoman, and have more credit of that than 
 yowr predecessors had to own and assist rebellious robbers, 
 the Mackranalds, and that his lordship would not find this 
 
 ^ Allt-Eire, Auldearn. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 189 
 
 like the day of Lochlochy, of which we had renown, but his 
 famely reproch, and the King should notice that there is not 
 a broil in the North but is brocht by the Gordons, which the 
 King and law should look to, else there would be no liveing by 
 their nighboorhood. For his own part he represented a noble 
 famely now, and, though his cheefe and puple was young, yet 
 he would head them, and if there were no law in the kingdom 
 but clublaw (which the Gordones licked) he would be regard- 
 less of their fead or favour, for at any time he could make as 
 many Joustons as lie had Jordons,^ and would gett many 
 mo clans in the North to own ten to on, than his lordship. 
 But God blis the King ! and keep the law on foot. This per- 
 tinent reply bread a great hust in the Councell, and many were 
 well pleased at it, but how soft soever Huntly carried he never 
 digested this sarcasm. 
 
 At last the mater is remitted and cast over to a criminall 
 court, and the Marquess of Huntly, oblidged to present his 
 kinsman, John Gordon of Gight, before the court at a limited 
 day, under the pain of forfetry. At this time Huntly was not 
 well beloved in the country or at court, and had been a late 
 listed and charged among the criminall rebell Lords, and but 
 newly patcht up a peace. In fine, the day of compeareance, 
 and Gight presented, and instrument taken be Huntleys 
 advocat. By the Justice Generalls order he was convoyed to 
 prison untill the Kings mind were known, who would have the 
 mater brought to a triall. The Gordons advocats pleaded 
 strongly that it was not murther or slaughter, but chance 
 medling. The Tutors advocats made it out malice and fore- 
 thought felony. At late and last John Gordon of Gight is 
 convict and sentenced for manslaughter, and cast into the 
 Kings hands ; who never liked bloud, and in his Privy Councell 
 instanced the like done in the streets of Edinburgh, one Kerr 
 to another, and by the Chancelour got a remission for the 
 guilt, he advancing a soume of mony to the behoofe of the 
 wife and children ; and, if the Tutor of Lovat could be pre- 
 vailed with, he could wish it might terminat there, and that a 
 
 ^ A pun insulting to the Gordons — ^Jouston from jotist ; and Jordan, a 
 chamber-pot. 
 
190 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 soume of mony might do more good to the widow of Strachin 
 than John Gight's blood, who by a deserved sentence and 
 confession was as good as executed allrady ; and this might 
 prevent much ill among these two clanns for the future. At 
 last the good Tutor was prevailed with by Athol and Argile ; 
 others, such as the Earl of Murray and Marr, had gained much 
 ground upon him ; in end John Gordon of Gight is but 
 reprived, and still at the Kings mercy, and five thousand 
 marks to be advanced to the Tutor of Lovat to be given to the 
 widow, Isabell Forbes, and Gight to remain in prison untill 
 the monny was delivered and reckoned in specie, which the 
 Marques of Huntly got done the 4 day. Thus the Gordones 
 were somequhat tamed, and the Tutor of Lovat in very great 
 esteeme. 
 
 The King and nobles tooke some care to reconcile the 
 Marques and the Tutor; Lovats interest, indeed, requeired a 
 man of such a spirit as the Tutor was, for he lived amongst 
 his enemies, the Highland clans on each sid of him, and he a 
 stranger casten there, iit rosa intei' spinas^ as a rose among 
 thorns. So the poet of old gave it in this distich : — 
 
 Natus Hyperhoreas inter Fraserius heros : 
 E spinis docuit surgere posse rosam. 
 
 The Tutor of Lovat, takeing leave of the King, told his 
 Majesty before the nobles that he was a poor subject who now 
 represents a noble, ancient famely, which now upwards of 400 
 yeares were loyall, true subjects, and faithfull in their trusts ever 
 to the Crown and royall familie, non of them ever stained with 
 any base, disloyall act, even in the loosest and most rebellious 
 times; still suffering for the King, and, if his Majesty had any 
 service at the time for Erasers, they would spend, their fortunes 
 and lives in his concerns; which he presumed, as he was 
 oblidged. to show his Majesty in presence of his peers. The 
 Kings Majesty was pleased to thank the Tutor, and said. 
 Moreover, I wish that I might say and heare the like of every 
 clan and great famely within my dominions; were it so, 1 
 would have more peace than I have, and my subjects farr more 
 happy than they are ; and pray have a speciall care of Simon, 
 the young Lord Lovat, whom I wish well ; he is great and 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 191 
 
 good father sone, although, as I must confesse, bad mother 
 soiie. 
 
 The Tutor of Lovat, weary of the Court, takes leave, kissing 
 the Kings hand, and takes journay north to Buchan, comes to 
 Strachin to visit a mournfull widow, and, calling all her 
 friends together, declares to them the good success of his 
 negotiation and expedition south, who were well pleased with 
 all the legall decision of the process betuixt them and the 
 Gordons, giving many thankes to him for mannaging the mater 
 so exactly. The next step was to secure the lands of Strachin 
 by law in lifrent to the widow and in fee to the ofspring. 
 The nearest of line among the Chamers were called, especially 
 Gilbert Chamber, late provost of Aberdeen, who had the 
 strongest pretensions as heir male, but had no children ; he 
 being mean and low in his estate, for a small piece of mony 
 compones and gives over his right to the Tutor ; so did Alex- 
 ander his brother sone, living in Tochens lands. There being 
 non else to put in their clame, the Tutor payes off all the 
 debts resting, and the lands of Strachin, holding in fiew of the 
 Earle of Buchan, who then was forfeit, the Tutor agrees with 
 the Exchequer, alters the rights, gets a novodamus^ and now 
 holds it in capite of the King. He marries Isabell Forbes, the 
 widow, and takes the title of Thomas Eraser of Knocky,^ Laird 
 of Strachin ; ads to the estate ten chalder more of Kindroch 
 and Wester Tyree, that in anno 1599 he made the interest of 
 Strachen near 60 chalders of victuall; erects it into a parish, 
 builds a neat church, and plants one Mr. John Reed minister 
 there, call the presbetry to meet, he designs his gleeb and 
 mans for him, and procures the patronage in his own person 
 under the great scale, so that now the whole parish of Strachin 
 is his own, except three ploughs of land that my Lord Marshall 
 possesses. The next minister that succeeded Reed was Mr. 
 William Scot, whom I remember to see anno 1651. Thus have 
 I in breefe deduced and narrated to my reader how the Tutor 
 of Lovat, Thomas of Knocky, purchased the right off Strachin, 
 which now his posterity possesses in prosperity and peace to 
 the 6*^^ generation.^ 
 
 ^ Knockie, in Stratherrick. 
 
 2 Fraser of Strichen, whose representative the present Lord Lovat is, suc- 
 ceeded to the Lovat estates in 1815. 
 
192 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 It now falls in course that I give an account of Simon Lord 
 Lovat. The Tutor takes speciall care of his education, keept 
 him with himselfe, sometimes at Strachin, where lived often, 
 other times at Beufort and his governor with him, and, though 
 he had no inclination nor genious to letters, sent him to 
 Aberdeen, committs him to the care and tutelage of Mr. 
 William Rate, subprincipall of the Kings Colledge, but, to his 
 loss, was a very bad proficient. At last he becam stubboi n 
 and unruly, wandering about with loose and debauch young 
 men ; so the regent acquainted the Tutor of his bad courses, 
 and that he would not undertake that trust any longer. 
 Whilst the Tutor is in his journay, resolving to bring him 
 home and keep him still under his own tutelage and jurisdic- 
 tion, Simon,' knowing that his louse reines would be curbd, 
 away he runs to Athol with a comerad of his called John 
 Route, an Irish youth that had been at university, and now 
 was turning home. He takes a madd fancy to goe to Ireland 
 and see that country, and, as it was supposed that the Earle 
 of Antrum was his cousen by the mother, he resolves to pay 
 him a visit, and so they both set forward on their journay in 
 July 1586, in the 16 year off Lord Simon his age. The 
 Tutor of Lovat, inraged and under no small trouble and care 
 about his pupil, comming to Aberdeen, misses him, which adds 
 to his feare and vexation, searcht everywhere, sent south and 
 north, but no account could be had of him. In the closur of that 
 yeare letters from Ireland give an account that he was in the 
 Earle of Antrums famely in Lonindary, and well cared for as 
 one of his own children. The Tutors mind is at rest, and 
 presently sent over two pretty men to attend him, on John 
 M'ktaus, and Hugh M'kallister Eraser, and rids south him- 
 selfe to Falcland to acquaint the King with the mater, that 
 one of his peers had taken such bad courses : and therefor his 
 Majesty, to interpose his authority with the Earl of Antrum, 
 that he might send him back to his native country, being his 
 fathers onely sone, and a peer of the nation, and so near a 
 relation of the royall famely. 
 
 The King was not slow to prosecut this project, dispatch t 
 his post for Ireland, and wrot expresse to the Earle of Antrum 
 his cousin desireing that he might, without delay, dispatch the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 193 
 
 Lord Lovat for Scotland, and whatever convoy were sent with 
 him they should be very liberally rewarded, besids of that 
 obligation his lordship would put upon himselfe for such a 
 piece of service done him ; and his return he expected without 
 delay. 
 
 The return of these letters came not to Scotland untill June 
 1587, the discreet Earle of Antrum makeing such apology as 
 was proper and pertinent for him for this delay after the reset 
 off his Majestys letter; but that the young Scots Lord had taken 
 a circuit through most of the kingdom, to visit friends, and divert 
 himselfe with persones of qualety in manly sports of hunting and 
 hawking; and seing it was the Lord Lovats pleasure to pay 
 him a visit, which wonderfully surprised him at his arrivall, he 
 thought it his duty to entertain him according to his quality, 
 and make him acquaint with the best of the gentry, and also 
 give him a sight of the finest parts of Ireland. 
 
 The Tutor, with all other the Lord Lovats freinds and 
 relations, full of doubts and anxiety at this return, and their 
 chiefes demurr in Ireland, bugan to feare the worse, consulting 
 with lawyers as to the hazard of his stay, and also jealousing 
 that he might run in debt, morgage lands, delapidat much of 
 his interest by those foolish, extravagant courses ; concluds it 
 the safest way for prevention of this to get him interdicted, 
 and the rather and better if it could be gotten done with his 
 own concent and free inclination and choice. To this end 
 they procure the Kings letter to the Lord Lovat, shewing 
 him that it was his advice and command, with the advice of 
 his curators and friends, in speciall to concent to an inter- 
 dictment and voluntary inhibition of himselfe for his futur 
 good and setlement. To this the Lord Lovat concents, and 
 here I have set down an extract coppied of the principall. 
 
 Interdiction Lord Lovat 
 
 At Edinburgh the twentie sevent day of October the yearc 1587. 
 of God an thousand five hundered and four score seven yiers, 
 in presens of the Lords of Councell comperit personally John 
 Halyday procurator specially constitut for Simon Lord Eraser 
 of Lovat and his curators be vertue of the interdiction under- 
 
 N 
 
194 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 written, and gave in the same subscrivit with their hands 
 desireing it to be insert and registrat in the Bookes of 
 Councell and an decrit of the Lords thereofF to be interponit 
 thereto and letter of publication to be direct thereupon, the 
 quhilk desire the saids Lords thought resonable and there- 
 fore has ordaind and ordains the said interdiction to be insert 
 and registrat in the saids Bookes of Councell and therefore 
 has interponit and interposes their decreet and authority 
 thereto and ordaines letters of publication to be direct there- 
 upon, of the whilk interdiction the tenor followes, Be it kend till 
 all men be thir present letters me Simon Lord Fraser of Lovat 
 with expresse consent, assent, and advice of my curators under- 
 subscriband for eschewing of the craft and desseit of sic per- 
 sones as for their own profit might . . . ? or move me to dispone 
 any part of my lands and living and for keeping thereof 
 together whil sic time as I may haife sufficient experience 
 of worldly affaires, to be boundin and obleist, and be the 
 tenor hereof bindis and oblises me, that I shall neither sell, 
 amort, dispone, or put away naine of my lands, barronies, 
 rowmes nor possessions quhilkis aither directly pertaines and 
 succeeds to me through decease of umqhil Hugh Lord Fraser 
 of Lovat my father or ony other my predecessors, or that has 
 been conquest and purchast to me in my minority sen their 
 deceass, or qhilk may fall and appertain at any time hereafter 
 by the deceise of ony other quhatsomever person or persones or 
 whairunto I haife or may haife right be quhatsumever manner 
 of way quherever the same lye within the realm ; and that I 
 shall neither make assignations, resignations, reversions, bands, 
 contracts, nor obligations quherby comprisings redemptions or 
 any other inconvenients may follow thereuppon, nor that I 
 shall neither renounce nor otherwayes discharge any reversion 
 grantit to me or any my predecessors for redemption of what- 
 somever other lands or possessions, nor that I shall no wayes 
 renounce nor discharge na actions that ar or may be com- 
 petent to me aganis quhatsumever persones for quhatsumevei- 
 caus or occasion ather bygon or to cum, nor make na other 
 dispositions, rights, nor tytlis directly nor indirectly be the 
 whilks my landis and leving or any part thereof may be 
 evicted fra me or whairby ony way be hurt or prejugit in 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 195 
 
 the peaceable bruiking thairoff, and forder that I shall neither 
 set nor make na langer takes, rentallis, nor assedationes of my 
 saids lands and leiving nor na part thereof bot for the space 
 of fyve yeares allanarlie, and that always but diminution of 
 the aid rentall that was payed of before to me and my prede- 
 cessors, and shortlie that I shall neither directly nor indirectly 
 doe nor perform na fact nor deed that may hurt me and my 
 aires anent our saidis landis and leiving or that onywayes 
 may dimeneis the rentall thairof without speciall advise con- 
 sent and assent of my honorable friends after nominat viz. 
 James, Lord Stewart, late Chancellar of this realm, Dame 
 Elisabeth Stewart, Lady Lovatt his spouse, James, Lord of 
 Down, Thomas Kennadie of Barganye, Patrick Gordon of 
 Achindoun, Alexander Eraser of Philoroth, Sir William 
 Stewart of Caverston, knight, Thomas Eraser off Knockie, 
 and William Eraser of Strwy, at the least of three of them 
 had and obtanit therto, the said James, Lord Stewart, lait 
 chancellar, or his said spouse, beand alwayes ane of the three, 
 sua that it shall not be lesim to me to make ony security, 
 nor to do no fact nor deed except the same be expeid with 
 speciall advice either of the said James, Lord Stewart, or his 
 said spouse, and subscribed with their handis as the first of 
 the three friends consentant therto ; and to that effect I am 
 content to be interdytit at the instance of my honorable 
 friends before namit and be the tenor heirof interdytis my- 
 selfe fra all dispositions and makeing of other rights of my 
 landis and living otherwayes than is before specifeit wheil I 
 be threttie yeares of age compleit, and whatsomever fact or 
 deid that shall happen to be done be me contrare the premiss 
 shall be null and of nane avail for strenth nor effect with all 
 that may folio thairupon. And for the better observing of 
 the premesse, I maist humlie beseek the Lordis of Counsall 
 and Session to receaive my said interdiction and to cause 
 register the samin in thair buikes and to interpone thair 
 decreet and authority thairto, and to direct letters of pub- 
 lication thairupon, and makis and constitutis John Halyday, 
 etc. conjunctly and severally, my irrevocable procurators thair- 
 upon to compeare for me and in my name before the saidis 
 Lordis and concent to the registration heirof in manner forsaid 
 
196 
 
 rOLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 ferme and stabil, etc. In witness whereof I haife subscryvit 
 thir presents as followis. At Air and Glamornie in Ireland the 
 X) and third dayes of September and October rexive [respective] 
 the year of God fourscore and seven yeares before thir wit- 
 nesses Robert Cuninghame of Kirkstile, Daniel Strang, sone 
 to Capitain Strang, Sorill M'konil, Lord of the Rocot, Mack- 
 anguis Mackonill of the Glenn is, and Master James Spense 
 servitor to the said Lord Chancelour, with others diverse — 
 Sic suhscribltur^ Simon Lord Fraser of Lovatt ; James Lord 
 Chancelour, curator; Sir Robert Melvil of Mordocairin, 
 knight, curator; David Strangg witnes ; Mr. James Spens 
 witnes. Ext r actum de Lihro Actorurn i^er me Alexandrum 
 Hay de Ester Kenneth Cler'icum Rotulormn Registri ac ConsU'ij 
 S. D. N. Regis sub meis signo et suhscriptibhe manicalibiu<i. 
 Alexander Hay. 
 
 In June Captain James Stuart of Arran gave in a delation 
 against Thirlesten and others, as being in accession to the 
 Queen Mothers death, and, fealeing in point of probation, a 
 process of forfeiture was laid against him, July 20, and the 
 office of Chancellary, of which till now he kept the title, was 
 declared void, and that office bestowed uppon the Lord Thirle- 
 stane; and Captain James, running for it, came north that 
 winter, sheltering himselfe and his lady in remoat corners of 
 this country, and, as it was judged, the King winked at it. 
 In June 1588 Lord Simon Fraser of Lovat returned for Scot- 
 land, haveing been neare two yeares in Ireland, and, comming 
 to Edinburgh, was introduced by his uncle, the Earle of 
 Athol, to the Court at Halyrood house, and, kissing the 
 Kings hands, returned North, being now about 18 yeares of 
 age. The joyes and acclamations all this country over was 
 solemn enugh among all degrees for the Lord Lovates safe 
 arrivall into his native soil ; but the tutors expressions of 
 gratitud to God for him were singular and beyond all, so 
 that the o^reat ffriefe and disscontent which he had sustaind 
 formerly for him was now fully compenst in his cordiall and 
 joifuU reception of him, as the father to the prodigall sone, 
 getting him in his paternall embraces alive who on some 
 account was dead. The tutores next care was to send off" 
 mony for paying and cleareing his expenses during his abode 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 197 
 
 in Ireland, which was not above the halfe of what might be 
 expected to amount to. 
 
 The late Chancloiir being now in the country, my lord 
 spent most of his time in hunting with him, and waiting upon 
 the great though not good lady, his own mother; and, being 
 under continuall feare, their residence was in the Isle of 
 Lochbruyach,^ a fort as remoat from any roade, so also 
 obscure, very commodious for fishes, fowle, and venison ; and 
 shee, haveing a tearce of tlie lordship, was well furnished by 
 her tennants with all manner of provision fitt for a great 
 famely. I remember to have spoken with two or three old 
 men who had seen those great persones here anno 15cS9, their 
 carriage, converse, method of living. Especially, old Struy, 
 Thomas Eraser of Bruyach, told me exactly of their famely 
 keeping, their garb and retinue ; and I went myselfe of purpose 
 to Loch Bruyach, upon which there was a litle old coble boat, 
 and, rowing near the Isle, I saw the trests and supporters of 
 the oaken table which that Lady Lovat had, being sunk in 
 the 'bottom of the Loch, and also the boat which ferried 
 them over sunk in another corner. What their fancy was 
 of sinking table or boat in the loch quhere they lived I could 
 not learn. 
 
 But to satisfie my reader, as well as my selfe, I have here 1589 yeares. 
 set on record a bond that this Lady Lovat had given to one 
 Duncan M'kulloch in Alter ^ for the soume of 300 marks 
 borrowed from him with conjunct consent of her husband 
 James Steward, Chancelour, with a tack of land, March 1589. 
 
 Be it kend till all men be thir presents me Dame Elisabeth 
 Stewart, Lady of Lovat, with consent of my beluifit spouse, 
 James, Lord Chanclour, for his interes, to have set and lattis 
 and by the tenor hereof sets and lattis to my lowit Doncan 
 M'kculloch in Alter all and haile my terce whilk I presently 
 possesse of the town and lands of Dunballach, except sa 
 mikle as is occupiet of the same be John M'kfinlay vickivir, 
 for the space of an yeare next and immediatlie following the 
 term of Whitsunday in the yeare of God j"^ v^ fourscore nine 
 yeares, whilk term shall be the entry of the said Duncan to 
 
 ^ Loch Bruiach, in Kiltarlity. 
 
 2 Altyre, in Kilmorack. 
 
198 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the said terce, and to endure aye and qhill the said yeare be 
 compleitly outridinge, to be peaceably usit, bruiked, occupiet, 
 labourit, manurit, set and disponit to the said Duncan and 
 his servants and tennants in his name as he shall think it 
 expedient dureing the said yeare, freely, quietly, well and in 
 peace but any revocation, obstacle, impediment, or again 
 calling qhatsomever, payand therefore the said Doncan Mac- 
 kullach to me my chamerlans and factors in my name the 
 soume off seventeen holies farm victuall at the terms of pay- 
 ment usit and wont, allenarly, during the said space of the 
 said yeare, and I the said Dame Elisabeth Stewart with 
 consent off' my spouse underwritten and above specifit will 
 warrand, acquit, and defend this present tack to the said 
 Duncan M'kulloch in Alter against all mortalls whatsomer 
 as law will for now and ever. And also I the said Dame 
 Elisabeth Stewart grant me be thir presents to have reservit 
 from the said Duncan Mackulloch in numerit mony all and 
 hail the soume of three hunderit marks Scots in borrowing 
 and for the len of the quhilk soume I bind and oblish% me 
 my aires, exequitors, and assignayes to unto the said Doncan 
 or his eires, executors, and assignayes the soume of ane boll 
 victuall one firlot 1 peck p^ victuall betuixt this and Whit- 
 sunday next, at the quhilk term I intend, God willing, to pay 
 and deliver again to the said Duncan the said soume of three 
 hundred marks, and gif it shall happen that the said soume 
 be unpayed to the said Duncan than in that case the said 
 Duncan shall have for the profit of the same to Martimas 
 next the soume of aught bolls victuall in case of non payment 
 of the said soume of three hundred marks to the said Duncan 
 his eires, exequitors, and assignayes at the said Martimas, in 
 that case the said Duncan Mackulloch his eires, exequitors, 
 and assignayes sail have the soume of aught holies victuall 
 to the term of Whitsunday next and immediat following the 
 said Martimas terme, viz. Whitsunday in the year of God 
 jm yc fourscore ten yeares, at the which term of Whitsunday 
 forsaid I the said Dame Elisabeth Stewart, with consent of 
 my said spowes, bind and oblishes me my eires, exequitors, 
 and assignayes to pay the said soume of three hundered 
 marks mony to the said Duncan Mackulloch his eires, exequitors. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 199 
 
 and assignayes without any forder delay, fraud, or gyle, and 
 for fullfilling of the premisses and thankful! payment to be 
 made to the said Duncan M'kculloch of the said three hundered 
 marks at the term above specifeit I have found Donald Roy 
 Mackynleich,^ and Donald M'konilroy his sone, in Faynblare, 
 John M'konildui in Ardblair, Donald M'krobie and Donald 
 M'konilvickrobby, his brother, in Kirktoun of Convents, and 
 John Frisel in Culmullen, cationers and full souerties to the 
 said Doncan, quhilk they have accepted willingly, and sub- 
 scrivit thir presents as after followes, and I the said Dame 
 Elisabeth Lady forsaid, with consent of my said spous, bind 
 and oblisis me my eires, exequitors, and assignayes to relife 
 the above specifit cationers at the hands of the said Doncan 
 M'kulloch and his forsaid s of the said soume of three 
 hundered marks as is above specifeit, and be thir presents 
 consentis that the said Doncan Mackulloch have in his 
 owne hands of the farmes of Dunballach in payment of the 
 profeit that I have promised for the said three hundered 
 marks conform to the rate of time that the said soume 
 shall be unpayt to him as above explainit, quhilk shall be 
 allocat to him and his forsaids as payment to us of the 
 farmes containit in the assedation above written butt fraud 
 or gyle. In witness whereoff I the said Dame Elisabeth, 
 with consent of my forsaid spouse, has subscribit thir presents 
 with my hand at Bewlie the xxvij day of March the year of 
 God j"^ \^ fourscore nyne yeares before thir wittnesses, John 
 M'kranald in Tachnoch, Alexander Cuik our officer, and 
 Donald Dow minister at Wardlaw, and diverse uthers — James 
 Stewart, Chancelor; Elisabeth Stewart, La. Lo.; Jo. M'kranald, 
 Alex"" Cuik ; Donald Dow minister at Wardlaw w* my hand. 
 
 I happend uppon a time in John M'kuUoch of Teawigs 
 house, and searching out some papers of his, I ligted uppon 
 this old bond among them. He seemed not to care much for 
 it, and my curiosity prompted me to preserve it, and to this 
 purpose that I might record it verbatim, not onely for the 
 style of those times, but also becaus it confirmes to us the 
 time and date of the Chanceloures being in our country with 
 
 ^ Red Donald, son of the Physician. See note pp. 145, 185. 
 
200 
 
 POLICFIROxNICOxN SEU 
 
 his lady, agreing with our own tradition, and history ; and it 
 was rare to see a tennant command so much mony as 300 
 marks in those dayes, and be so readdy to lend it to persones 
 of their quality. The soume was certainly advanced, but 
 never again payed to the honest man, and his cautioners not 
 bound in law or not able to pay it. Who had writ the bond 
 is not known, not being insert in the evident. Some think 
 it was Donald Dow minister of Warlawes hand though not ex- 
 pressed in the body of the writ, yet like it, and whey he should 
 conceal it, or if it was the custome of the time, me latet} 
 
 Anno 1589, the Lord Lovats curators and neare friends 
 resolve together for a match to him, there being no more 
 males extant of the famely (and consequently weake) but 
 himselfe, and therefore, for propogation of his ofspring, and 
 to confine him at home, as also to make an agrement, concord, 
 and sound harmony betuixt the two clans of Fraseres and 
 Mackenyies, they conclud to marry tlie young Lord Lovat 
 with Margret, daughter to Collin of Kintaile, a handsom, 
 gentill young lady, ut sic ferehant fempora^ such as the educa- 
 tion of those rude times could afford ; and truly she was very 
 good and vertuous, but short lived; the short lace [lease] we had 
 of her was to our sad loss, as the sad consequence of her airly 
 death, and Lord Simon's costly 2^ match sufficiently evince 
 and confirm. 
 
 His uncle, the Earle of Athol, was farr against Lovat his 
 match with the Mackenyes, as he signified by his frequent 
 letters to the Tutor ; his whole design was to get him allyed 
 with Argile or Marr, leading men of the times, rich and 
 potent, and which would bring him in court with the King, 
 and procure him preferment. But his mothers influence pre- 
 vailed with him, and the Chancelours onely work was to get 
 this match throught, and, indeed, it was his interest being out 
 of Court, lost the Kings favour, and all his friends at south 
 at variance with him, had no title given him now but reduce 
 him to his first origen Captain Stewart. This galled him so 
 that he strive to make friends among the clans in the North, 
 frequently visiting the Mackenyies, Monroes, and Rosses; and 
 
 ^ The insertion of the writer of a deed was first made necessary by the Act 
 I593» c. 179- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 201 
 
 certainly his great partes, currage, and good carriage would 
 procure favour and respect for him anywhere. 
 
 All doubts being laid asid, the match goes on tuixt Lovat 
 and Kintaile, for Simon had a great fancy for the young lady ; 
 a set day is appointed and the marriage celebrated at St. 
 
 ^Church in Dingwall be Mr. Alexander Graham, 
 Dean of Rosse, a relation of the Chancelour. Thus is Lord 
 Simon Fraser of Lovat married with Dame Katharin M'Kenye, 
 Kintaile's daughter, or the Knight of Kintail, whither Katharin 
 or Margret were her name in confirmation is uncertain, but 
 she liad both. The wedding feast was kept at Braan house, 
 and it being at Christmas, December 24, 1589, the Yowell [yule] 
 was royall and solemn, nothing wanting to make it a splendid 
 bridall, where all the clans in the North in part ore whole were 
 concerned ; for Grants daughter being Lady Kintail the brids 
 mother, M'kleud her grandmother, Fraser her great-grand- 
 mother, so that Lord Simon and his lady were within the 5th 
 degree in bloud relation. In January he brought his lady 
 home, a great infare in the house of Beuly, where for building 
 there was very great accomodation, the fore court surrounded 
 with all needfull office houses, and the back court, called the 
 priors court, with severall leach ^ lodgings, especiall the painted 
 chaniber called Shamerbrea^ which was the priors prime lodg- 
 ing, a strong, curious, well contrived building with lofts and 
 parloures. 
 
 In April 1590 Lord Simon is served heir and retoured to 
 his grandfather and father, late Lord Hugh, at Inverness, 
 <juher they had a most princely treat, rare enugh in that 
 place and in those dayes ; and at one and the same time the 
 Tutor of Lovat, Thomas, Laird of Strachin, gave up his 
 accounts in singular good order, to the wonderfull satisfaction 
 of all present, piers and persones of qualety called to that 
 effect, viz. the Earl off Atholl, the Earl of Murray, the Earle 
 of Arran, chancelour, the Laird of Grant, the Laird of 
 M'kintosh, the Shirref Murray, Laird M'kenyie, Laird of 
 
 ^ Sic. - Laich, 'low.' 
 
 3 Sebniar Briadh, the beautiful chamber ; but elsewhere called by our author 
 Sebmar Breac, the speckled or chequered chamber, and, on p. 202, the 
 painted chamber. 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Foules, Laird Ballingown, Glenmorriston, Milton Monro, 
 William Fraser Struy, Hugh Fraser Cubboky, William Fraser 
 Foyres. 
 
 These accounts were so exact and regular that the stricktest 
 critick could not quarrell and challange any informality or 
 error, yea, beyond expectation, not a farthing debt ; freed all 
 mortgages, localities, and adds to the old estate 5 thousand per 
 annum ; so that Lord Simon that and next year was entei ed 
 to and infeft in fourscore davachs of land without fiew or 
 morgage, and in good monny 30,000 marks rent and more, as 
 is thought nearer 40,000. This made King James the 6 say 
 that he noticed 3 singular tutors in the North all at one time, 
 who had made great and free estates to their puples, and some 
 of them near as great to themselves, viz. the Tutor of Lovat, 
 the Tutor of Kintail, and the Tutor of Cromarty. Of those in 
 particular I may, God willing, have occasion to treat in their 
 own proper places. But, as to Lovat, Lord Simon had but 
 two children with this lady, Lord Hugh the Master, born 
 September 1590, and Miss Elisabeth, born in November 1591. 
 She was married to Alexander Dunbarr, Shirref Murray. 
 Of both these I shall have occasion afterwards to treat. This 
 good Lady Lovat lived but 3 yeares, to our great loss. She 
 died at Beuly, in the painted chamber, quher she boar all her 
 children, December 1593 yeares. 
 
 Now I shall in common course inform here, and treat of 
 contingencies in the country contemporary with Lovat. In 
 1584 the year of God 1584, George, Earle of Cathness, Anna, 
 George Earle of Huntlies onely sister, at that infair, by 
 Huntlies mediation, the Earles of Sutherland and Cathness 
 were fully reconciled, and concluded it was among them that 
 the Clangun [Clan Gunn] in Cathness should be invaded and 
 persued vigorously by both these Earles, as justly jealoused to 
 be bad instruments, or rather the authors of all the troubles 
 which formerly happened bot nixt these two countries ; and to 
 that end it was contrived that two companies of pretty men 
 should be instantly by both the Earles sent out instantly 
 against these Clanguns in Cathness, to come upon them 
 unawars, so as to allarum and hem them in, that no place off 
 retreat should be left for them there ; which accordingly was 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 203 
 
 done. The Earl of Sutherlands men were conducted by John 
 Gordon of Backyes and James M'kRory. The Earle of 
 Cathnes company were conducted by his cousin, Henry Sin- 
 clar, a very resolut fellow. So it happened that this Henry 
 Sinclar rancountered first with the Clanguns, who were convocat 
 in a body at a hill called Bingrim, and one William Macky, 
 brother to Hugh M'ky of Strathnaver, their chiften. He was 
 nephew to Henry Sinclar. This William brought with him 
 some Strathnaver men to help the Clangunnes, by which it 
 appeares that they were advertised of the design against them. 
 No sooner came the parties in sight one of another but they 
 both prepared to fight, and the ingagement undertaken with- 
 out delay or feare on either side. The Clangun, though fewer 
 in number, yet got the advantage of the hill, the more favour- 
 able ground, by reason of which the Cathness men came short 
 with their first flight of arrowes; and the Clangun spared 
 their shot till they came hard at the enemy, which they than 
 scattered among them with great advantage, to the losse of 
 very many. Then ensued a sore and desperat conflict at a 
 place called Aid Gawn. There Henry Sinclar was slain, with Conflict of Aid 
 six score of his men; the rest toke the chease, put to a shame- 
 full flight, who had all destroyed if the darkness of the night 
 favoured their escape. The report of this defeat comming to 
 John Gordon and James M'krory, with Niel Mackean vick 
 William, who had the conduct of the Sutherland men, they 
 persued the Clanguns, following them hot foot to Lochbroome 
 in the hight of Rosse. Thither they retired to recruit them- 
 selves, yet were not secure, expecting an onsett. The Suther- 
 land men thought but doubt to surprise them, but they were 
 awar of their aproach, and rancountered at a place called Lechkmaiim, 
 Leachkmailm, where there hapened a sharp and hot skirmish. 
 The Clangun behaved manfully, yet, overpowered, were worsted, 
 32 of them slain, and double the number of the Sutherlanders, 
 and James M'krory, one of their chiftens, slain uppon the place; 
 the other, called Niele sorely wounded ; the captain of the 
 Clangun, Georg Oige,^ wounded also, who, being taken prisoner, 
 was carried captive to Doun Robbin,and presented to Alexander, 
 
 ^ George the Younger. 
 
204 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Earle of Sutherland. This sorv victory was dear bouglit, with- 
 out gain or credit in the attempt; two Earles to joine again a 
 poor handfull, and a mean famely sheltered under their patron- 
 age, as George Oig told the Earle in his face and freer language. 
 This conflict happened upon the 10 of September 1586. 
 
 The next account is of a commotion that happened in the 
 West and South Isles between the Mackdonalds and M'kleans. 
 Upon this head, Donald Gorm More M'kdonald of Slait, 
 traveling from the Isle of Sky to visit his cousin, Anguis 
 M'kdonell of Kan tyre, in his voyag landed in the Isle of Juray, 
 driven thither by contrary winds. This island, being divided 
 betuixt M'kdonald and M'kleans, and he happened to light 
 upon the M*kieans part of it ; where no sooner ashoare then 
 two outlawes, Alexander Macdonell Tearreach,^ and Hugh 
 M'illeaspig, lately at varriance with Donald Gorm, arrived there 
 also, with a company of men, and, understanding that Donald 
 Gorm was there, secretly, by night, away takes a number of 
 cattell out of the M'kleans part of the isle, and to sea they 
 drive ; hereby to leave the blot and blemish upon Donald 
 Gorm, and by this breed a ruptur tuixt him and M'klean ; 
 which accordingly happened, for the Mackleans being allarmed, 
 Sir Lachlin M'klean convocats his men, and, under silence of 
 night, invads Donald Gorm and his men, beleagured in a place 
 called Invir-Chnock-Avrick, expecting no harm, are surprised 
 suddenly, and 60 of M'Donalds men killed upon the place. 
 Donald Gorm and the residue of his men escaped into a ship 
 which lay in that harbur for a wind. 
 
 Anguis M'kdonell of Kintyre, heareing of this lamentable 
 accident, fallen out betuixt his own brother-in-law, whose 
 sister was his wife, and his cosin Donald Gorm more, he taketh 
 journay into the Isle of Sky to visit Donald Gorm, and to con- 
 trive a reconciliation betuixt him and Macklean upon the 
 mistake. Staying a while in the Isle of Sky, takes his voyage 
 home again to Kintire, and in his return lands in Mull, and 
 went to Dowart, M'kleans cheefe dwelling place there. This 
 he did unadvisedly, for his two brothers. Coll and Ranald, and 
 others dissuaded him, adviseing him rather to appoint a meet- 
 ing witli M'klean, and declare to him how much Donald Gorm 
 
 ^ Alexander Macdonell from Tyree. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 '205 
 
 More, his cousin, was injured, and yet how inclined to a recon- 
 ciliation. But Anguis, trusting so much in liis brother-in-law^ 
 Sir Lauchlin, he would neither harbour a jealousy of him, nor 
 hearkin to their advice ; whereupon his two brethren left him, 
 but his cousin, Ranald, accompanied him to Dowart, where he 
 was at first welcomed with a great shew of kindness, but at 
 last he and his men were seased and secured as prisoners by Sir 
 Lauchlin. But that night Ranald M'kcoll escaped narrowly, and 
 Anguis was there detained captive untill he renounced his right 
 and title to the Rinnes of Ila, which was the heritage of the 
 Mackdonald by donation from the King, for their personall 
 service. Anguis, in end, was forced to yeld or die ; for per- 
 formance of which he gave his eldest sone, James, and his 
 brother Ranald, as pledges, to remain in Dowart till Sir 
 Lauchlin got the right of the Rinnes made over to him ; all 
 which being done they are set at liberty. But not being able 
 to digest this wrong now dubled, first to Donald Gorm More, 
 his cousin, and now to himselfe, he studdied by all meanes to 
 be reveinged ; and that he lighted upon was trist Sir Lauchlin 
 and give a kind invitatione from Mull to Isla, there to close 
 their agreement and give him seasing in theRinnes. Sir Lauchlin 
 yeld and comes to Ila, leaveing Ranald, one of the pledges, in 
 fetters at Dowart, and brought the other pledge, James, and 
 his own nephew along with him, and arrives in Ila at Ellan- 
 Loch-Gorm, a ruinous fort in the Rinnes, where Anguis waited 
 upon him, and invited him heartily to his own house, where he 
 needed dreed no harm, and be as welcom as his heart could 
 make him as long as his provision lasted ; and then they would 
 goe to the next house, and so all along through the country, a 
 custom usuall among Hilanders, to sorrin [sorn] from house to 
 house, makeing merry whilst provision lasts, and still carry the 
 master of the last house with them. This invitation Sir 
 Lauchlin doubted, telling Anguis that he could not nor would 
 he venter to goe with him, knowing that he could not misse 
 to revenge his former injury done by him. Anguis replied that 
 he needed not mistrust him in the least, having alrady in his 
 possession the dearest pledges he had in the world to impigno- 
 rat, and, withall, that it was his own sisters house, who would 
 not countenance or suffer the meanest wrong done to her 
 
206 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 relations, especially her bloud concerns; and, for his own 
 part, God knew his heart, he intended nothing against him but 
 to keep up that brotherly relation that was ever betuixt them, 
 and, if he should be, knew well enugh that he was no party 
 against him. Sir Lachlin, upon this protestation, rests con- 
 tent, and, void of all suspition, goes along with Anguis to his 
 house at Millintrea, accompanied with fourscore sex of his 
 kinsmen and servants, keeping still his pledge, James, Anguis 
 his sone, in his bedchamber with him, to save himselfe from 
 danger, if any violence w^ere offered. Here they come in July 
 1586, where at their arrivall they were entertaind with all the 
 solemnity, and civility, good faire and feasting. Meanwhile, 
 Anguis prively premonished all his friends and followers within 
 the Isle to be at his house about midnight, well armed, and 
 there to wait his cashmachk^ and sign, concluding with him- 
 selfe to kill them all the first night of their arrivall. After 
 supper, M'klan, with all his men, were lodged in a long, strong 
 house, remoat from all other building in the town, which \vas 
 his owne choice, keeping still with him his pledge, James, before 
 mentioned. About midnight, when they were all asleep, as 
 was judged, Anguis, assembling his men about the house to the 
 number of 400, came himselfe to the door and called upon Sir 
 Lachling to let him in that he might give him his collation or 
 repeting drink, which was forgot to be given \um before he 
 went to bed. Sir Lachlin thanked him, saying that he desired 
 non at that time. Anguis replied that it was his will he should 
 rise and come forth to receave it. Macklean, suspecting the 
 worse, arose in heast with his nephew James in his amies, 
 resolving that, if present killing was intended, he would safe 
 himselfe as long as he could by the guard of the boy, who, 
 seing his father standing with a bare sword in his hand, and 
 a number of armed men in like posture with naked swords, 
 with a lowd voice cryed for mercy to his uncle, which was 
 granted, and M'klean removed to a secret chamber till the next 
 morning, at which time Anguis called all the rest to come 
 forth, such as would have their lives to be saved. All the men 
 cam out; Alexander Mackdonell Tearrach, and another whom 
 
 Caismeachd, war-cry. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 207 
 
 he named, excepted onelie. These two, feareing danger, and 
 refuseing to come forth, Anguis caused set fire to the house, 
 and these two cruelly burnt within it. This Mackdonald 
 Tearrach was the author of all these troubles. The other was 
 a near kinsman of Mackleanes, and the oldest of that surname 
 for councell and currage. The rumor is spread all Ila over 
 that Ranald, the brother of Anguis Mackdonald, and the 
 other pledge given to Sir Lachlin, were both killed at Duart 
 by M'kleans friends ; which false report was raised by Allan, 
 that thereby Anguis M'kdonald might be moved to kill his 
 prisoner. Sir Lachlin, that so Allan might succeed heir in his 
 vice ; yet it wrought this effect, that how soon the report came 
 to Anguis his eares that his brother Ranald was slain he re- 
 veinged himselfe to the full, causing threescore of M'kleans 
 followers to be beheaded by cuples the day following by Coll, 
 the brother of Anguis. This bloody cruel fact at Mull com- 
 ming to the Earl of Argyles eares, he convocates his men 
 instanter to release Sir Lachlin out of Anguis M'donells hands ; 
 but, considering that this could not be done so safe by force, 
 he acquaints the King and Councel herewith. So a herald is 
 presently sent to charge Anguis M'kdonell in the Kings 
 majesties name to deliver up Sir Lachlin into the hands of the 
 Earl of Argile; but the haven port quher the herald should 
 land is blockt up, and so returnd back re hifecta. But after- 
 wards, by a great deal of paines and travell taken by Sir James 
 Stewart, the Chancelour, and many weighty conditions granted 
 by Sir Lachlin to Anguis M'kdonel, he was at last released, 
 Ranald, Anguis his brother, the pledge restored, and, for per- 
 formance of the heads agreed upon, Macklean gives his own 
 sone, and a sone of M'kleud of Haris, to Anguis Mackdonald ; 
 so that maters was at a full close the next summer. 
 
 The year after, Anguis, upon some emergent, weighty, and 
 peremptor, went over to Ireland, which M'klean understand- 
 ing, invaded Ilia, burn and killed all over, regarding neither 
 the safety of the pledges, nor his faith before plighted at his 
 own deliverance. Anguis M'kdonald, returning out of Ireland, 
 never troubled the innocent pledges left in his hand for what 
 was done in his absence, but in fury and rage conveened all 
 his men, and, in a hostile way, enters Tirye, belonging to 
 
208 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Macklean, and with fire and sword killed all the inhabitants 
 without exception, and all maner of cattle serving the use 
 of man, and thence came to the Binmore in Muil 
 killing and destroying the M'kleans at his pleasur ; thus 
 revenging himselfe of his former wrongs in Muil and Tirye. 
 Meantime, Sir Lachlin enters Cantyre, spoild and wasted 
 and brunt all over. Thus for a while they ruined one 
 another, untill both their countries were wasted. In end, Sir 
 Lachlin entises John M'kean of Ardnimurchag, a Mackdonald,^ 
 and then a widower, to come over to Muil, promising to make 
 up a match betuixt him and his mother, to whom the said 
 John had been formerly a sutor. John came to Muill, the 
 marriage concluded and celebrated at Torloisk, M'klean hereby 
 thinking to draw Andnimurchig to his side, to party him 
 against Anguis M'kdonell ; but, it being whispered that Ardni- 
 murchig declined to assist Sir Lachlin against Anguis, behold 
 the same very night John M'klanes chamber was forced, him- 
 selfe taken from his bed out of M'kleans mothers armes, and 
 eighteen of his men slain. These were and are to this day in 
 a proverb called M'kleans nuptialls. John Mackean is de- 
 tained a whole yeare in captivity there, and was denied in 
 exchange for M'klean his sone and the rest of the pledges 
 which Anguis M'kdonald had in his hands. The next yeare 
 these two islanders, M'klean and Anguis M'kdonell, were both 
 charged by a herald at arms to compeare before the King and 
 Privy Councell on a set day under pain of forfeitry. At their 
 compeirance they were both committed to ward in the castle 
 of Edinburgh, at last were reconciled under bail and a great 
 mulct enacted upon the first breach, a remission is granted to 
 them both and remitted home safely, but their eldest sone left 
 pledges for their future good behaviour and obedience to the 
 Kings lawes ; and O what barbarous rude times were those ! 
 i5?7 In the year of God 1587 there happened a new dissention 
 betuixt the Earles of Sutherland and Cathness. Uppon this 
 occasion one George Gordon of Marten in Sutherland, base sone 
 to Gilbert Gordon of Crarty, had done severall contempts and 
 indignities to the Earl of Cathness and his servants, by the 
 
 Mac Iain of Ardnamurchan. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 209 
 
 neareness of George Gordon his dwelling place to the borders 
 of Cathness, which occasioned his incroachments ; so that these 
 insolencies of his the Earle of Cathness resolve no longer to 
 endure, and so convocates a company of men, liorse and foot, 
 and, comming under silence of the night, invades George Gordon 
 in his own house at Marten. He made all the resistance he 
 could against, and killes a speciall gentleman of Cathness, 
 called John Sutherland, and so issued out of the house, and so 
 runs to the river of Helmsdale, thinking to escape by swim- 
 ming ; but he was shot with a shower of arrowes, and slain in 
 the river. This happened in February, forsaid yeare. Alex- 
 ander, Earle of Sutherland, most grivously resents George his 
 death, and resolves upon a revenge ; whereupon he corresponds 
 with his friends at court, and procures a commission against 
 the slayers of Gordon, so that next February he sent two hun- Feb. 1588. 
 dered men into Cathnesse under the conduct of John Gordon of 
 Golspy Tower and John Gordon of Backies, who invade the 
 two parishes of Dunbath and Leathron with great hostilitie, 
 spoiling and burning. One John James sone, a Cathness 
 gentleman, and some others were slain in the attack ; and so 
 re turn d again. This was called Creach-Lairn.^ At this time Chreach lairin. 
 John M'kye was recomitted to his superior the Earle of Suther- Creach Lairn. 
 land, and accompanied him with all his men, and entered 
 Cathness the 2^ time with no small fury and hostility, spoileing 
 all before them till they came to Girnego Castle, where the 
 Earl of Cathness then reseeded, thence to Weeke, tooke that 
 town and burnt it; they then besieged Girnego for a fort- 
 night, and Earl Alexander of Sutherland, perceiving that 
 Girnego could not be gained with[out] a long siege and loss, he 
 sent his men abroad through the country of Cathness to persue 
 such as had been about the slaughter of George Gordon ; and, 
 haveing slain diverse of them, the Earl returnd with all his 
 host and great spoil into Sutherland, and this was called La ni La ni Crich- 
 Crich-moir.^ The Earl of Cathness, to reveinge the wrongs, "^°'^* 
 conveened all his forces next May, and entered Sutherland ^^^^* 
 under the conduct of his brother, the Laird of Murkle, and 
 came to Strathuillie, and burnt Ciriboll, killing many of the 
 
 ^ The Spoil of Latheron. 
 
 " The Day of the Great Spoil. 
 
 O 
 
210 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 inhabitants. Thence through the country, spoiling all before 
 him. The Sutherland men conveend under conduct of John 
 Gordon of Backies and Hugh Mackye, and rancountered the 
 Cathness men at a place called Cuissalich, and skirmishing 
 with some slaughter on both sides, then seperated June inde. 
 Alexander, Earl of Sutherland, convocats his men, about 300, 
 and sends them under the conduct of the same chiftens, 
 Mackye and Gordon, who entered Cathnesse, with great cruelty 
 Creach in Cain- spulies all within 6 miles of Girnego, killed about 30 men, 
 fcss, 1590. returnd home with great booty ; this was called vulgarly 
 
 Creach ni Cainkesh, Whitsunday spoile. The Earle of Cath- 
 ness, to repair this wrong, enters Sutherland in person, the 
 same with his host, and encamped at Backies, spoiling the 
 country all along, and returnd carrying a great prey of Cattle 
 before his host ; 400 of the Sutherland men persue them, and 
 upon the sands of Glentreduall attack them near Cline, and 
 there hapened a sharp conflict till the night parted them. Of 
 Sutherland, John Murray and 30 souldiers were slain ; of 
 Cathness, Nicolas Sutherland of Forie and Anguis MackTermat 
 were slain, severals wounded. Next morning the Earl of Cath- 
 ness betimes returnd in heast, heareing that Hutchen M'Ky had 
 invaded his country and spoiled all along to the town of 
 Therso ; but before the Earl could overtake him he returnd into 
 Strathnaver with a great booty. Thus hither and thither these 
 countryes infested one another with yearly spoil and slaughter, 
 till at length, by the mediation of the Earl of Huntley, they 
 were finally reconciled, appointing a meeting betuixt these 
 two Earles at Strathbogy, March 1591, and a setled peace is 
 concluded betuixt Cathness and Sutherland to this day, and 
 so an end is put to their fewds. 
 
 The emulations and factions at Court among the nobles 
 increase. The Earl of Huntly, being in favour with the King, 
 got the place of captain of his guards, which the Master of 
 Glames formerly possest. For this cause the Master of Glames 
 and his associats draw up with the English ambassador. Sir 
 Robert Sidney, resideing then at Edinburgh, and surmise to 
 the King that some letters of the Earle of Huntlyes, sent to 
 the King of Spain, were intercepted in England. Huntly is 
 conveened to make his defence, denied these letters to be written 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 or sent be him, but onely devised by his enemies to bring him 
 
 in disgrace with his master the King ; yet is he warded in the 
 
 Castle of Edinburgh in February, and, being tryed by a 
 
 comitty conveened, is cleared before them, and released in 
 
 March following ; whereupon the Earles of Huntly, Craford, 
 
 and ArroU takes journay towards the north be St. Jonston, 
 
 where they were advertised that the Earles of Athol, Morton, 
 
 and Master of Glames, had convocated forces to intrap them 
 
 within the town of St. Jonstoun. Meantime, Huntly, Arrol, 
 
 and Craford sally out of the towne with such small companies 
 
 as they could convocat, and rancountered with the Master of 
 
 Glames near Perth, w^hom they persued and apprehends him at 
 
 a place called Kirkhill, and carried him prisoner with them to 
 
 the north. Chancelour Maitland and the rest of the Master 
 
 of Glames his faction at Court, hearing of this bold attempt, 
 
 instigat the King highly against Huntly and his accomplices, 
 
 and persuads his Majesty to enterprise a journay north. 
 
 Huntly in the interim convocats all his friends and vassalls to 
 
 the number of a thousand men, and so came forward towards 
 
 the Bridge of Dee, with a resolution to resist and fight his Bridge of Dee, 
 
 enemies ; but, being certainly informed that his Majesty was 
 
 comming in person against him, to composse these tumults 
 
 and suppresse animosities amongst his subjects, he disolves his 
 
 forces, submitts himselfe to the King, and delivers up the 
 
 Master of Glames to his Majesty in Aprile. The town of 
 
 Aberdeen in a body waits upon liis Majesty, and attends him 
 
 into their city, and treats him most magnificently ; where 
 
 Huntly is presently secured and transmitted prisoner to the 
 
 Castle of Edinburgh ; the Earl of Arroll was apprehended and 1590. 
 
 sent prisoner thither also ; where they were both confined untill 
 
 they payed a considerable amert soume of mony, which was 
 
 uplifted for the use of Chancelour Maitland. 
 
 The dismall contention betuixt the Earles of Murray and 
 Huntly burst out now in open rupture. The instruments of 1590. 
 this mischeefe were the Laird of Grant and Sir John Calder 
 Campbell, who had spent the most part of his time at Court, 
 and very familiar with Chancelour Maitland, who prompted 
 Sir John as a fit instrument to engender jarres tuixt Huntly 
 and Murray, which he accomplished very wittily, and incensed 
 
212 
 
 POI JCHRONICON SEU 
 
 the one against the other by meanes of the Laird of Grant, 
 thus. James Gordon, eldest sone to Alexander Gordon of 
 Lusmore, accompanied with some of his friends, came to Ballin- 
 dallach in Strathspey to assist his aunt, the widow of that 
 place, against the tutor of Ballindallach, who detaind her 
 rents from her. By James his comming there all was advanced 
 to her to a small mater which James would needs have cleared 
 to the least farthing of her due. After some altercationes and 
 blowes betuixt their servants and followers, they parted pretty 
 faire ; and James Gordon returns home, and prompts John 
 Gordon, brother to Sir Thomas Gordon of Cluny, to marry the 
 widow off Ballindallach, which accordingly he doth. The Tutor 
 of Ballindallach, grudging that any Gordon should dwell among 
 them, falls soone at variance with John Gordon by the Laird 
 of Grants persuasion, that after some jarres he killed a servant 
 of John Gordones at a rancounter upon the high roade, for 
 which John Gordon pursued the Tutor so vigorously that he 
 got him denounced rebell and outlaw, and all who would 
 harbour or assist him by the lawes of the kingdom ; and further 
 he moved his own cheefe, the Earle of Huntly, to persue him 
 Novr. 1590. by vertue of a commission as shirrefFe of the shire. Huntly 
 besieges his house of Ballindallach, takes it by force ; but the 
 Tutor escaped. Then began Sir John Cambell Kalder and 
 Grant to worke their premeditated plot, stirrs up the Clan- 
 chattan and M'kintosh to join with the Grants ; they perswad 
 the Earles of Athol and Murray to assist them against Huntly, 
 who now was insolent, and that they with all their friends and 
 followers would assist Murray to the uttermost of their power, 
 and Chan clour Maitland would work for them against Huntly, 
 and that this occasion should not be slipt, lest afterwards the 
 lik might not offer. Hereupon the Earles of Atholl, Murray, 
 Dumbars, Grant, M'kintosh, and Calder, met at Forres to 
 consult of the affaire, and in end are all sworn and linked in a 
 league together as one man in the quarrells. Huntly, under- 
 standing of their meeting, convocats his men in heast, and 
 with all his friends away to Forres. Athol and Murray, heare- 
 ing of Huntlies approach, they remove in heast to Tarnway. 
 Huntly followes them hotfoot thither ; but before his comming 
 Athol, Grant, Kalder, and Mackintosh leave Tarnway and 
 
POLICRATK^.A TEMFORUM 
 
 213 
 
 remove to the mountaines to escape him ; Murray onely stayed 
 in his own house, haveing it well provided with all necessaries. The read of 
 Huntly, comming in sight of the Castell, sent John Gordon Novir24'i5 
 before him to view the place, who, comming to neare, more 
 hardy than warry, was shot from the leads, and killed uppon 
 the place. Huntly, perceiving Tarnway furnisht for a siege, 
 and that the rest of his enemies were fled to the hills, disolved 
 his company, and heastens to Court, and reconciles himselfe to 
 Chanclour Maitland, who shortly thereafter purchased a com- 
 mission for Huntly against the Earles of Athol [and] Murray, 
 Grant, Mackintosh, etc., and this not so much for any favoures 
 he boare to Huntly as for the hatred he had conceaved against 
 Athol and Murray for Bothuels cause, careing litle in the mean- 
 time what should become of Huntly or Murray, or how the 
 mater should goe with them. Next yeare Huntly sent Allan 
 M'konilduy^ into Badenoch against the Clanchattan, and, 
 after a sharp skirmish, they fled and killed 50 of them, with 
 the loss of as many of his own. He also sent Alexander 
 Mackdonel Mudard [Moidart] against the Grants, who invaded iSQi* 
 Strathspey, killed 18 of them, with no small loss to himselfe, 
 but he spoiled all Ballindallach his lands. In that December 
 did Bothuel enterprise the design upon the King at Halyrood- 
 house, but, faileing of his attempt, was forced to flee for it and 
 escaped ; and the Duke of Lenox and Huntly are sent to the 
 West with a commission against Bothuel and such as did 
 harbour or own him ; but he got off before their comming. 
 
 In January did the Earl of Murray take his fatall and last 
 journay south from Tarnway to Dunibisle, where he unhappily 
 harboured and reset the Earl of Bothuell. Huntly, being 
 then at Court in Halyroodhouse, urges Chanclour Maitland 
 for a commission against the Earl of Murray, and, having 
 obtained the same, he takes journay with 40 gentlemen 
 towards the Queens ferry from Edinburgh, and came to 
 Dunibissle, sending Captain John Gordon, brother to Gight, 
 before to desire the Earle of Murray to give up the house, and 
 to rander himselfe ; which was not onely denyed, but shot at 
 
 ^ Cameron of Lochiel — Mac DhoinJmuill Duibh, Son of Black Donald; the 
 patronymic of Lochiel. 
 
214 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 John Gordon, and wounded him deadly at his first approach 
 to the gates. The Earle had non with him within but the 
 Shirrefe Murray and a few of his own retinew, lying secure 
 within Dunibisle upon Forth, a house belonging to his mother, 
 the Lady Downe. Thereafter Huntly caused set fire to the 
 house, and forced the entry. They within by the violence of 
 the smoake and flame forced to come forth. Huntly com- 
 manded the Earle of Murray to be taken alive, but the Laird 
 of Cluny, whose brother was slain at Tarnway, and Gight, 
 who had his brother deadly wounded before his eyes, would 
 not. Meanwhile, the Earl of Murray, in the dark night 
 brakeing through the midest of his enemies, outrun them all, 
 as they supposed he was escaped ; yet, searching him among 
 the rocks, he was discovered by the tip of his head -piece, which 
 had taken fire before he had left the house, and in their fury 
 unmercifully killed ; and James Innes of Innermarky killed the 
 Feb. 7, 1591. Shirref Murray close by the Earle. Huntlies friends, feareing 
 that he should disclaim the fact (having bidden take him 
 alive) made him alight from his horse and give some stroakes 
 to the dead corps. This done, Gordon of Bucky was dispatcht 
 to advertise the King what had happened, and Huntly him- 
 selfe tooke journay northward in such heast that he left 
 Captain Gordon at Inverkethen, who was brought next 
 morrow to Edinburgh, and publickly executed ; yet would he 
 not live one week after receaving his deadly wounds. The 
 universall lament and clamour of all sorts was so great for 
 the good Earle of Murray's death that the King thought 
 it not safe to stay at Edinburgh, but removed with the Councell 
 to Glasgow. Huntly was immediatly charged by the Lord 
 Saint Colm, the Earl of Murrayes brother, to undergo the 
 censure of the law for the ryot and slaughter at Dunibissle. 
 He compeared the set day to undergoe an inquest of triall 
 and assise, and by the Kings order is enjoined to enter 
 prisoner in Blackness. The corps of the Earl and Shirrefe 
 of Murray were brought to the Church of Lieth in two 
 coffins, quher they lay diverse moneths unhurried, refusing to 
 committ their bodies to the earth till the slaughter was 
 punished; nor was any so much interessed in that fact as the 
 Lord Ochiltry, who had pers waded the Earl of Murray to 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 215 
 
 come south, whereupon he fell afterwards away to Bothuell, 
 and joined with him, for revenge of Murrayes murther. 
 
 Huntly in April is admitted out of prison uppon caution to 
 answeir before the Justices whensoever he should be called. 
 This made many jealous that the hand of Joab was in it, quhen 
 the King was not forward. In March thereafter Sir John 
 Cambell of Calder, who was dreeded to have a hand in all these 
 broills, was basely killed by a shot of a firelock, sitting in his 
 chamber in the night time, nott knowing who or for what ; 
 some think it was by the Cambells of Aigile, suborned, as was 
 said, thereto. 
 
 ***** 
 
 In May after the Earl of Murrayes death, the Clan- 
 chattan, who of all that faction endeavoured to revenge his 
 death, convocated their forces under the conduct of Anguis 
 M'konil vick William, ^ in Lonny, and entered Strathdee 
 and Glenmuick, where they spoiled and wasted the Earl of 
 Huntlyes lands, and, besids commons, killed four gentlemen 
 of the name of Gordon, amongst which was the old Barron of 
 Breachlich, the manner of whose death was much lamented, 
 being an aged man and much given ever to hospitality. He 
 was basely killed in his own house, after he had provided 
 aboundance of good fare, and entertained them most discreetly; 
 which inhumane ingratitud aggravated it. In September 
 thereafter the Earl of Huntly, haveing gotten a commission 
 against them, conveened all his forces, and with vile hostility 
 entered Petty, which was then in the Clanchattans possession, 
 and there he spoiled and wasted thorrowly, and killed severalls 
 of the M'kintoshes there. Meanwhile, to divert him, 
 William M'kintosh, with 600 men, went to Cabrach, and 
 there made havock of Huntlies lands, and killed many mo 
 than he did in Petty, all that country over. Huntly returns 
 with all his men, and Sir Patrick Gordon of Achindown with 
 him, and marches heastily to Cabrach, and overtooke the 
 Clanchattan returning thence, and there was a hott conflict on 
 both sids, many gentlemen of the Gordons killed, and more 
 sadly wounded, besids 50 common souldiours, and in all 
 
 Angus, son of Donald, son of William. 
 
216 
 
 FOLIC HRONICON SEU 
 
 1592. there were 60 of the Mackintoshes slain. In the begining of 
 the next yeare the Earl of Huntly orders Alexander Gordon 
 of Abergeldy, his baliefe in Badenoch, to conveen all his 
 Highlanders in Strathdown, Badenoch, and Lochabber, and to 
 meet him att Invernes, which accordingly was done, and thence 
 all Huntlys forces invades Petty the second time, wasting, 
 spoiling, and burning all before them. Meanwhile Angiiis 
 and William M'kintosh, with all their forces, fall down uppon 
 Strathboggie, where they did mor ill at once than the Gordons 
 at severall times, overrunning the whole country, killing and 
 burning and carrying all their cattell away in spreathes. Thus 
 Huntly is diverted with incredible losse, so that for shame he 
 is forced to truce with the Clanchattan ; and both parties, 
 wearried with ranging and revenging, are forced Mnc inde to 
 desist. 
 
 The origen of those sad broyles was the hellish desperat 
 attempt of Bothwell uppon Halyroodhouse. A plot and con- 
 spiracy is laid that Bothwell might make himselfe master of 
 the king, envying the Chanceloures credit with the King. 
 Divers were privy to the conspiracy, especially CoUonell 
 William Steuart, John Neswith, chyrurgion to the King, and 
 James Douglas of Spot. The contrivance was so ordered that 
 Bothuell with his followers should, under night, be let in at a 
 back passeg that lay through the Duke of Lenox stables, and 
 then sease uppon the gates, take the keyes from the porter, 
 and then goe to the Kings chamber and make him sure. 
 When they had entered, and was come to the inner court 
 of the palace, the King was then at supper, and, being told 
 that armed men were in the nether court, he removes, and 
 went up to the Tower as to a place of greater surety. Bothuel 
 haveing enclosed the Chanceloures lodgings, lest he should 
 escape, made towards the Queens roomes, quher he expected 
 entry, but, finding all shut upon him, called to bring 
 fire; but er any could be found Sir James Sandilands, 
 one of his Majesties chamber, haveing supped without 
 the palace, with a number of resolut fellows from Edin- 
 burgh, entering by the Church of Haly Roodhouse, beat 
 Bothwell and his company from the doores, and might have 
 taken them all had there been any light ; but Bothuell and 
 
POLICllATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 9A1 
 
 his company escaped in the dark the same way they came, and 
 in the entry met John Shaw, gentleman of the guard, quhom 
 he killed with a pistoll, but lost nine of his followers, who, 
 after examination, were all executed nixt morning. The 
 enterprise thus defeated, Bothwell went into the North, looke- 
 ing to be supplied by the Earl off Murray, his cousin german ; 
 which the King suspecting, sent Andrew, Lord Ochiltry, to 
 bring Murray into the south of purpose to work a reconcile- 
 ment betuixt him and Huntly. But a rumor was raised mean- 
 time that the Earle of Murray was seen in the palace with 
 Bothwell on the night of the enterprise. This was intertaind 
 by Huntly, then at Court, to make Murray suspected of the 
 King, and prevailed so fair as he did purchess a commission to 
 apprehend and bring Murray to his tryal. I have set down 
 this short paragraph and narrative to undeceive the credulous 
 and discover the source of all. 
 
 [Here follows account of affairs in Britain and on the 
 Continent.] 
 
 To return now where we closed last anent Lord Simon Eraser Lord Simon 
 of Lovat, we formerly gave an exact account of him from his Lov^at'^^^'' 
 birth to his bridall with Lady Kathrin M'kenzie, a woman of 
 grace and vertue, a woman of piety, humanity, and affability. 
 She had so much respect to this country that she kept no 
 servants about her but Erasers ; she brought none home with 
 her but a single maid, her own foster sister, Agnes Dinguall, 
 and at her comming invited all the gentlemen about and their 
 wives, being once acquaint with them, desired the favour to 
 suffer their children to be often at her court ; and such of their 
 daughters as fancied to attend her she would welcom them and 
 use them as her own children. She so incurraged and indeared 
 all the country to her, high and low degree. She had Elisa- 
 beth, daughter to William Eraser of Struy, the year she died, 
 and her death was sad to her whom she never called but cousin. 
 Lord Simon kept a great famely, vast expense, and spending 
 at home and abroad ; his wine in great [quantities] brought to 
 his dore out of Erance, in exchange of his salmon fish sent 
 abroad. It is a rant to speake of meal and malt spent in his 
 
218 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 famely, for he kept an open table, his hospitality singular, 
 lying in the center tuixt two clans ; 5 holies meale and five 
 boles malt a weeke, beside floiire, was the minimum quod sick, 
 and oftener 12 holies ; for fishes, foule, wild and tame, beefe, 
 mutton, venison, kid, lamb, and veale, quhat table in the 
 North equaled his, ut tunc ferchant tempora ? I find, the year 
 he married, one James Fraser, afterwards Phopachy,^ came out 
 of Andrew Monro of Miltounes famely to my lord, and was his 
 chamberlan 1590, 1591 ; and the year after he entered his 
 pursemaster, who gives a most exact account of his weekly 
 expense at home and abroad. One John Cooke, Alexander 
 Bain, Alexander Fraser, wer servants in ordinary about him ; 
 and John M'ktaus, an expert souldiour. Master of his Horse. 
 His beer and ale cellars were seldom closed ; yet few or none 
 ever known to be drunk about his houshold famely. My Lords 
 method still was when he went upon journay and called his 
 friends and servants that were to accompany him, he would 
 tell the gentlemen that if any of them were seen drunk in his 
 company they should never ride with him again ; and, for his 
 servants, any one of them that were discovered in drink or 
 debauch, he would instantly call his pursemaster, pay him his 
 wages, never to serve him again. 
 
 I shall set down here a few of his expeditions dureing his first 
 ladyes time, which I have read in my grandfathers accounts, 
 who was his purser. At his wedding and marriage, which was 
 at Dinguall and Brahan, his expense was truely noble and 
 generous, not extravagant. Again, going to the Chanory of 
 Ross with the Laird of Muthel, his cousen, called the friends, 
 June 1591, and convoyed him like a lord home and abroad ; 
 going with the same Muthol to Kilravock, Calder, and Tarn- 
 way in August 1592, his expense and retinue was high. I 
 find him at another time going for Brahan, Foules, and Ballin- 
 gown, with a great train and convoy. Going to Chanory, 1592, 
 in November, accompanied with two tutors, Struy and Strachin, 
 with other friends, he was admired. In December he accom- 
 panied the Earle of Athol to Chanry and all Rosse over, with 
 his journey to Elgin to meet the Earl of Anguis, and convoy- 
 
 The author's grandfather. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 219 
 
 ing him to Tarnway forward, was a noble parrade, as the 
 Lowland crew cryed out. He went to Tarnway to wait uppon 
 Athol and Murray in February 93 ; and his expedition to 
 Aberdeen in March thereafter was noticed by all the court 
 in his retinue ; thence to Muthel, to Castle Forbes Druminnor, 
 back to Buchoin, Watertoun, Philorth, and kept a meeting in 
 his return at Elgin betuixt Garloch and Hugh Fraser of Foyer 
 to compose some differences; yet his expense in that journey 
 was but 369 libs, a considerable soume in those dayes. His 
 hunting at Brolin ^ in September after was a vast row, accom- 
 panied with 2 lords and 6 barrons, with all their trains. 
 July 19, 1593, he went to Ballnigown to young M'kenzies, 
 Kinnach oges bridall, with a very princely retinue; and, 
 December thereafter, to Sutherland to see that Earl and his 
 Countess, was much noticed by all that country. Next spring 
 he went south ; I find his expense to be about 454 libs. His 
 journay the next harvest to Chanroy to meet Fowles anent his 
 tocher gear, and, meeting there withM'klean his true friend, 
 the congress was very splendid. His journay to Buchan, to 
 speake the friends and to wait the Kings comming to Aber- 
 deen, the account given up by his purser at home and abroad 
 was 3000.^ My Lords plain method after every journey was, 8o libs, 
 when he came home, counted and reckoned with his purse- 
 master, and in the count booke, subscribed the account before 
 Hutchen Fraser Culboky, Thomas Fraser Moniak, William 
 Fraser Struy, subscribands, and Donald Dow, minister at 
 Wardlaw, with my hand. This I find often in that old scroll 
 which I have by me. 
 
 Katharin Lady Lovat boar to Lord Simon Hugh, the 
 Master, 1591, and Elisabeth, ShirreffMurrayes lady, 1592 ; and 
 in December 1593 died of an abortion, in the painted chamber 
 in the old Priory of Beuly, called Chamber breachk.^ This 
 good lady dyed desired, beloved, bemoaned of all. Her 
 funeralls were very splendid and sumptuous, and was interred 
 at the north end of the great alter. I sawe that tombstone 
 intyre, with her armes and mottos richly carved. 
 
 ^ BrauHn, in Glenstrathfarrar. 
 
 2 Apparently half-merks, equal to about /8o Scots. 
 ^ See note, p. 201. 
 
220 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The Earl of Athol was made Lieutenant of the North anno 
 Athoi cami; 1593; he came to Lovat and got hunting and sport fit for a 
 King, and was convoyed back with a train band of Erasers over 
 the hills. Anno 1595 the Duke of Lenox came north as Lieu- 
 tenant to persue the Popish rebel Lords, Arrol and Huntly, 
 who fled to Strathnaver. Lenox is called back, and left a 
 deputation Avith my Lord Lovat, in which he carried so man- 
 fully and prudently that by his conduct then he gained the 
 Earle of Huntlies heart ever after, haveing a hand in his recon- 
 ciliation with the King. At this time Captain James Stuart, 
 who had been Chancelour, lurked here all this while with his 
 lady, and tooke occasion infatuatly to goe south with the Duke 
 of Lenox, and was unfortunatly killed in a pitifull maner, as 
 I shall give it yow here in the very words of the impartiall 
 historian, who omits not one circumstance. 
 
 A litle before these stirrs of the Church, Captain James 
 Stewart, who had been sometimes Chancelour, and carried the 
 title of the Earle of Arran, was a grand enemy to James 
 Dowglass of Tothorald. This man, after he was put from 
 Court, had lived some yeares obscurely in the North partes, 
 being often entertained by the Lady Salton, his sister-in-law, 
 and was still in hope to come again by the office of Chancelary, 
 which was yet void by the death of the Lord Thirlestan. He 
 came south with Lenox, who acted for him, and had some 
 conference with the King, which had greatly encourraged him ; 
 but till maters had been better prepared he took purpose to 
 visit his friends in Kyle. Takeing his journay by Symington, 
 nigh unto Douglasse, he was advised by his friends in those 
 partes to look well to himselfe, and not ride so openly, becaus 
 of Torthorald, that lived not farr off, whose uncle he had 
 followed to the death. Steward, being a man proud and dis- 
 dainfull, his reply was that he would not leave his way for him 
 nor for all the name of Douglasse. Being overheard by a fellow, 
 and reported to Torthorald, did so inflame him, the old ulcer 
 remaining uncured, as he avouched to have his life at any 
 hazard whatsoever ; so, getting sure intelligence that he had 
 taken horse, he made fast after him with three of his servants, 
 and, overtakeing him in a valley called Catslack, after he had 
 stricken him from his horse did kill him without resistance. It 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 221 
 
 is averred for truth that when Captain James saw the horsemen 
 persueing, he asked how they called the piece of ground on 
 which they were, and when he heard the name of it he com- 
 manded the company to ride more quickly to be out of that 
 bottom, for of a long time he had gotten a response to bewarr 
 off Catslack, which he ever kept in memory. And, for con- 
 firmation of this, when he abode here in the North, riding by 
 the orchard of Lovat, there is a litle den upon the left hand 
 called Carnslack, and he, hearing the designation by the sound, 
 he would never in his life ride that way again ; so full of 
 suspition ar those who seeke and get responses, and relye on 
 them. Of this Captain Stuart sve gave an account before, 
 when he was in the Earle of March his house, and how he 
 married that Lady Elisabeth Stuart, formerly Lady Lovat, a 
 leud, wicked woman ; and how he came to promotion by the 
 Court faction. True he was a pretty man, a great spirit of 
 bravery and currage ; but he was a man full of violence, and, 
 quhen he was in place of rule, executed it with much cruelty, 
 which was now payed home in the end by Torthorald, whose 
 uncle he had rigidly sentenced. 
 
 The former tract of our history showes when and whey this 
 Chancelour Stewart came North, and lived here with his lady, 
 who had a great jointur of the estate of Lovat; and without 
 doubt it was against my Lords will that he went away south 
 with his cousen the Duke of Lenox the yeare before ; but he 
 must have followed his fate, being, as he was, still infatuat and 
 forward. His unhappy lady, Elisabeth Stewart, haveing gone 
 south with him, after his death lived obscurely, and died 
 miserablie in September 1595. The Lord Lovat went in person 
 to Glenelg, haveing 200 gentlemen of his name in his retinue, 
 besids strangers; his brother-in-law, Kinnach oge Kintail,^ 
 accompanied him. Sir Hector Fowles, Calder, Glenmoriston, 
 and many of the Grants. His expedition to that country was 
 not for feare off opposition or any resistance in payment of his 
 yearly rent, but to see the country, and be known to officiat in 
 his deputation of Lieutennantry from Lenox, and to meet with 
 Mackleud, and to give the gentlemen sport of hunting and 
 
 1 Young Kenneth of Kintail. 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 fishing as perhaps they had never seen such in their whole life. 
 Nay, it is knowen and reported that in Lochurn there was 
 never such a tack of herring seen, so good, so great, and such 
 plenty, so that in Glenelg, for many yeares after, the country 
 people would pray, Dhea cum Mg M'khimmie? — O God, when 
 will my Lord Lovat come again ? — implying that they had no 
 such luck as accompanied him. 
 
 The next winter Lord Simon, called to Court by the King, 
 takes journay from Beuly, November after, and came to Falk- 
 land ; thence convoyed the King to Dumfermelin, where the 
 Convention mett to consult the reception and reconciliation 
 Novr. 1595. of the banished rebell Lords. The Church opposed it with all 
 their pith, but the King was very desirous and bent to have 
 them reclaimed ; and most of the nobility advanced it, and the 
 Lord Lovat was very instrumentall in it, and so forward that 
 he used the most forcible argument of all with the King on 
 their behalfe, viz., that Arroll and Huntly were the greatest 
 and most leading men in the North, and would get many to 
 follow them, and that of late he had tried the Islanders and 
 found out their designs, especially the Mackdonels and 
 Mackleuds, who had a noated ruptur among them, and no 
 doubt they would yet fall foule one of another, and glad to 
 have such as Huntly to head and arme them in their desperat 
 courses, which was necessarly to be prevented. The King 
 superseeded this grand affaire, with other maters weighty 
 enugh to be deliberat in, untill a Parliament was called, and 
 returned to Haliroodhouse, where his Queen and Court re- 
 seeded, and wher he might more maturely fall upon methods 
 to setle the Borders, which were now in broyles, and there 
 have a more frequent convention of the estates, and to overaw 
 the Town of Edinburgh, which he feared as much as any part 
 of the kingdom, by the factious tumultuous commons and 
 clargie which had need to be bridled, nor was there more 
 danger threatned from any more than they. The Lord Lovat 
 parts with the King, and returns with his uncle, Atholl, to 
 Blair, where he was to keep Christmas with other noble per- 
 sones who were invite by the Earle at that solemn time. 
 He spent this winter most cheerfully with his relations, and 
 in the beginning of the spring repares to Court, accompanied 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 223 
 
 with the Earle of Athol, who all this while was contriving a 
 match for his nephew the Lord Lovat. Now there were at 
 Court severall ladyes of honor, noblemen's childrin, vulgarly 
 termed the Quens Maryes : the Earl of Marrs daughter, late 
 Bothwels sister, the Earl of Mortons sister, and the Lord 
 Boyds daughter, and the Lord Douns daughter. 
 
 When my Lord Lovat came to Court the King welcomed 
 him most cordially, telling him freely that he was one of his 
 best and most loyall subjects, that the Erasers never failed in 
 their duty to the royall famely, and over the nail told him 
 that he was providing a match for his Lordship, and therefore 
 frankly to pick and chuse without ceremony or delay which 
 of the ladyes at Court he fancied. Lovat thanked his Majesty 
 for so great a complement put upon him, and told him plainly 
 that he pitcht upon Jean Stewart, Lord James of Downes 
 daughter, now in his Queens service at Court. The King told 
 him she was the nearest relation he had among them all, and 
 thought he had the disposeing of her as his own ; but it was no 
 ill sport when the King proposed marriage to Lady Jean for 
 Lovat. She replyed that his Majesty had theDisposall of her, 
 and that my Lord Lovat was a great and honorable match ; 
 but, Sir, he is not bonny. The King laughs heartely,and told 
 her: Jean, Jean, though Lord Simon be not bonny, yet Lovat 
 and Beuly are bonny. At length the Queen takes Jean to 
 task, and flouted her out of that scruple, telling her that shee 
 was a fool, the Lord Lovat was a match for any lady in the 
 Kingdom of Scotland, nor was there any about her Court but 
 would be glad and well content with such an offer. Maters in 
 end were brought to a faire agreement ; yet my Lord would 
 proceed no further till his tutor, Strachin, was sent for to be 
 present at the contract. The King told Lovat he was well 
 pleased at the motion, and it was fit his consent were had to 
 such a great and important an affaire, being so honest and 
 good a friend to his interest, and that he was one of the tutors 
 he wondered at within his realm. The tutor is sent for, and, 
 glad of the occasion, is at Edinburgh in the midle of March, 
 and instantly all was brought to a fair period. The terms of 
 the contract in general} was that my Lord Lovat Simon was 
 to have 20,000 Hbs. Scots of tocher, and Lady Jean Stewart, 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Lord James of Dounes daughter, should have 10,000 Kbs. per 
 annum of jointer, and liferent provision to children conform. 
 The King was pleased to complement my Lord Lovat with no 
 less protestation than that himselfe would be cautioner for the 
 tocher, and cause advance count and reckon every penny of it 
 at Invernes or Lovatt. This, indeed, was a very honorable 
 match to be married to so great a father daughter, and withall 
 out of the Kings own famely, and so near a relation ; but, as 
 the King said of St. David that mortified so much to the 
 Church, a sair saint to the Crown, so this was a sair and sad 
 match to the house of Lovat, as by the consequence will after- 
 wards plainly appear. 
 
 The marriage day is appointed, and the wedding to hold at 
 Falkland for conveniency and privacy, whither the Kings 
 Court was transplanted thither in the closur of March, and the 
 April 4, 1596. 4 of April the Lord Lovat was married to Dame Jean Stuart 
 in St. Peters Church. G. Gladstanes, Bishop of Saint 
 Andrewes, solemnised the marriage, and the feast solemn 
 enugh, for it was a royall wedding where King and Queen 
 were both present, so that I need add no more. About the 
 beginning of May the Lord Lovat returned home with his 
 lady, nobly convoyed ; and besids the prime and flower of the 
 Frasers in the North that waited upon them, the Lairds of 
 Filorth and Mucholl and Dorris attended them. There was 
 no debate then about cheefeship, for all the Frasers in 
 Scotland acknowledged Lovat for their stock and cheefe of all 
 their famelies, without any controversie. In their journay 
 north they came be Marr and Much el, and Philorth and Tarn- 
 way, Calder, Kilravock, and so to Inverness, where nothing 
 was deficient in splendor and solemnity that might contri- 
 bute to the grandure of their receptions, and kindly welcome 
 in treats and intertainment everywhere. 
 
 Lord Simon, comming to the country, kept his inferr feast 
 in Beuly ; and that sumptuous and extravagant, for all maner 
 of provision desireable that the kingdom could afford. The 
 Lairds of Kintail, Foulis, Ballingown, Cromerty, with their 
 retinue, met him at Invernes, the Laird of Mackintosh being 
 with him before. And the house of Beuly then was singular 
 in the North for accommodation and stowing in its two courts. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 225 
 
 besids the great building called the Abbots house ; and, indeed, 
 this Lord Simon was but too prodigall in his expense upon 
 buildings, for he repared Beufort and the palace of Lovat, 
 built a good stone house in Bunchrive, had a great manure 
 [manor] house at Inverness, and also [built] the Castell of 
 Dalcross from the foundation. Here were sex severall dwelling 
 places, with all necessary appartments and conveniences, to 
 either of which he might repare at his pleasure for com- 
 modious residences. 
 
 Lord Simon of Lovat, being now about 26 yeares of age, 
 had with Dame Jean Stuart 6 children ; the first a daughter 
 named Anna, after the Queen ; the next was Sir Simon of 
 Inveralochy ; the 3d was Miss Mary, after her own mother, 
 this was Lady Arbuthnot; the 4 was Thomas, a hopefull 
 youth, dyed of the stone ; the 5, Sir James of Brey ; the 6, 
 Jean, who dyed a child ; and Anna, the eldest, dyed in her 8 
 yeares of age. There were two abortion es, for this lady 
 turning gross and too fat (kindly to the house of Doun) left 
 oft' beareing too soon. Of all those children and their setle- 
 ments, life, and death, I shall have occasion afterwards to 
 treat in their proper places ; and here give an account of con- 
 siderable contingencies in the contemporary country affaires 
 thir bygone yeares. 
 
 About the yeare 159^3 the Spanish blanks were discovered, 
 and Mr. George Cerr, Doctor of the Lawes, was apprehended 
 in the Isle of Combrey and brought to Edinburgh, and incar- 
 cerat as writer of the Roll. Then, at the earnest desire of 
 the English ambassador, the Popish Lords, Arrol, Anguis, and 
 Huntly were forfeited in that Parliament, at Edinburgh, in 
 May ; and the Earl of Argile made his Majesties Lieutennant 
 in the North, and appointed to apprehend the forsaid Earles. 
 He was glad of the occasion, thinking thereby to revenge his 
 brother-in-law, the Earl of Murrayes death ; immediatly 
 makes preparation, and a progress northward, accompanied 
 with Tillibarden, Sir Lachlin Macklean, Cambels, Clan- 
 gregors. Grants, Mackintoshes, and other pretty clanns whom 
 either greed of prey or malice against the Gordons had 
 prompted forward to that expedition, about a 10,000 men, 
 marcht through the mountanous countries, arrived at Ruthven 
 
 p 
 
226 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 in Badanoch in September, a garrison of Huntlies then 
 manned be the Mackphersones ; so that Argile, after setting 
 siege to that place, was forced to give it over and descend to 
 the Lowlands, where the Forbesses, Lesslies, Irvings, and 
 Ogilvies were to join him ; and from the North the Frasers, 
 Rosses, Monroes, Mackenzes,and other clans were to wait upon 
 him as the Kings Lieutenant, and join forces, as the Kings 
 host, against Huntly and other rebells. Argile comes forward 
 to Drum Ine in Strathdown, October 2. Arrol and Huntly, 
 heareing of this great preparation, makes ready and comes 
 forward against them with all their forces, lakeing neither 
 currage nor resolution. Arroll joines Huntly in Strathboggy, 
 and marches forward in a body of 1200 horse and above to 
 Carnborrow, thence to Achindown, whence Huntly sent 
 Captain Thomas Cerr and two sonnes of Tullich Lessly to 
 spy the fields and discover the enemy, and, accidently falling 
 upon their scoutes, killed them all except one to carry intelli- 
 gence. Hereby Huntlies men are incurraged, takeing this as a 
 presage of an cnsueing victory, the first bloud, and march 
 forward, resolving to fight Argile before Forbeses and others 
 joined him, who by that time was at Glenlivet in Strathaven, 
 judging that Huntly durst not face such an army as he had, 
 yet would gladly have delayed the battle till the Forbeses 
 came up. But, perceiving them to draw neare, ordered his 
 batallions, encourraging his people, being numerous, and his 
 enemies small force to resist them. He gave the conduct of 
 his vanguard to Sir Lachlin Macklean and Achinbreack, con- 
 sisting of 4000 men, quherofF 2000 were hagbuters. Argile 
 himselfe and Tillibard followed, with the rest of the army. 
 The Earl of Arrol and Sir Patrick Gordon of Achindown, with 
 the Laird of Gight, Captain Cerr, and Bonnytoun wood, led 
 Huntlyes vanguard, with 300 horse gentlemen. Huntly him- 
 selfe followed with the main body, having Cluny Gordon 
 upon the right and Abergeldy uppon his left hand, encour- 
 rageing his men with no small rethorick, showing that 
 onely courige would now do, and the enemy four to one ; that 
 all which they had deare to them on earth lay upon this day, 
 and now no remedy, but obtain the victory or dye with their 
 swords in their hands. Argyles men, being all foot, had the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMFORUM 227 
 
 advantage of the ground, upon the top of a rough hill, the lowe 
 ground mossye and full of peat pots and niyres, dangerous for 
 horses, of which all Huntlyes men consisted, and oblidged to 
 ride throus^h that mossy ground er thev came to the foot off 
 the hill, where the opposit army lay seated. Huntly ordered 
 Captain Andrew Gray (afterward Collonel of our Scots forces 
 in Bohemia) to shoot off 3 field pieces of ordnance at the 
 enemy, which, indeed, confused them by the slaughter of 
 M'kneil of Barrey, one of the most valiant men of that party. 
 Huntlies men, seing some confusion among them, presently 
 gave the charge. Arroll and most part of the vanguard were 
 necessitat to take a circuit, becaus of the steepness of the hill, 
 and made straight toward Argile, leaving Macklean and his 
 vanguard uppon the left hand, and, indeed, receaved the thick 
 volly of the enemy. Achindown, being the first that assaulted 
 them, was instantly slain upon the place, haveing lost himselfe 
 by his rash forwardnesse. The fight continued cruel and 
 bloudy a long time. Achindouns relations, seing him fall 
 dead, raged among their enemies, resolut to revenge his death, 
 and rather dye with him than live after him. Sir Lachlin, 
 acting the part of a good commander, compassed Huntlies 
 vanguard, and inclosed them tuixt himselfe and Arguil, and 
 had all been cut of if Huntly himselfe had not come speedely 
 to their rescue, and was in danger of loosing his life in the 
 adventur, his horse being slain under him ; but Innermacky 
 horsed him afresh, and so the battle began again with greater 
 fury than before, for full 3 houres, till Argile, with his main 
 battalian, began to draw back and retreat, leaving Macklean 
 still ingaged in the field, fighting valiantly ; at length, seing 
 himselfe deserted of all, his men in danger to be all slain or 
 flye, retired in very good order, fighting and flying towards 
 the hill top, quher non could reach him, and so preserved him- 
 selfe and people by that slight. He truely behaved himself 
 manfully and with good conduct in this battle, not only like a 
 good Commander, but as a bold, resolut souldiour. Huntly The battle of 
 persued the main body of Argile, killing of them, and they as Aidchomchan 
 many of his, as he went, till night and the steepness of unac- 
 cessible hills stopt his course, and the brooke Altchonichan 
 seperat them ; and so they retired with very great losse. 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Argil's ensign, being found in the field, was carried to Strath- 
 boggy. The Earl of Argile in this battle left his two cosins, 
 Archibald Campbell of Lochinneal and his brother James, 
 with diverse of Achinbrakes friends, and Macknil of Barray, 
 with 500 common souldioures; neither was the victory profit- 
 able to Huntly, the Earle of Arrol being deadly wounded, 
 Gight and most part of his company killed and wounded. Sir 
 Patrick Gordon of Achindown, a resolut expert souldiour, 
 killed, and 14 of his prime friends, and 200 horsemen and 
 soldiers more, killed upon the spot. All the wounded men 
 were transported that night to Achindoun, and a 150 dyed 
 after off their wounds ; so that there was no ods on either 
 side, save that Huntly had the bare title off victor. Had 
 Argiles main body stood but one houre more, with M'kleans 
 conduct, he had carried the day, or, had he by Sir Lauchlins 
 advice rallied and persued his enemies, had all been put to 
 Anno 1594, route ; but most of Argiles men were unexpert foot, and 
 Octobti 3. Huntlys most part resolut horsemen, and most of them gentle- 
 men. This battle was fought on Thursday, October 3, 1594, 
 and was still stiled by the vulgar Lad Aldchonkhan^^ or Blair 
 Aldchonachan} 
 
 About this very time the Lord Forbes had convocated all his 
 friends, and with him joined Irvins Lesslies and the Lairds of 
 Buchan in one body ; but, heareing of this dismall defeat, it 
 diverted their course and resolution of joining with Argyle, 
 and concluded to take their progress another way north to 
 joyn with the forces of Murray and Ilosse, and so make a great 
 body, and so advertise Argyle that he might rally and return 
 again, and attacque Huntly and his accomplishes, to give them 
 a totall defeat, which, indeed, then were easely done. But, 
 as they are marching forward near Druminnor, Lord Forbes 
 dwelling, a gentleman of the name of Irving was killed with 
 the shot of a pistoll, in the dark twilight ; the author of which 
 shot, after all inquiry, could never be discovered to this very 
 day. This surprising unfortunat accident put all in a con- 
 fusion, lookeing upon this as a shrud omen, which bred 
 jealousies in the Forbeses and their followers, being now justly 
 
 ^ The Day of Allt-Choineachan. 
 
 2 The Field (Battle) of Allt-Chomeachan. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 229 
 
 affraid one of another, so that next morrow they dissolved, and 
 returnd every one to his own home. 
 
 Meanwhile the rest of the clans of the North, Frasers, 
 M'kenyes, Monroes, Rosses, Toshes,^ conveened at Forres in 
 Murray, waiting orders, but were stopt there by the policy off 
 John Dunbarr of Moyness, then tutor to the young Shirref 
 Murray, who favoured the Earle of Huntly, and Sir Patrick 
 Gordon of Achindown, being married to his mother. 
 
 Whilst these things were in course of Argyle against Huntly, 
 the King came to Dundee on his progresse north, where he got 
 a certain account of the conflict of Altchonachan and its suc- 
 cesse, which put him in a great rage that any subject durst 
 resist his commission. His Majesty goes forward through 
 Anguis, demolishing severall castles, the house of Baray in 
 Anguis belonging to Sir William Lyndsay, the house of Craiges 
 belonging to Sir John Ogilvy, the house of Coulsamond apper- 
 taining to the Laird of Newton Gordon, the house of Slaines in 
 Buchan belonging to the Earl of Arroll, and the castell of 
 Strathbogy, Huntlyes dwelUng. The King came to Aber- 
 deen, where he conveened his Councell, and declared the Earles 
 of Arrol and Huntly rebels and fugitives, with all other their 
 accomplices and followers. While the King remaind at Aber- 
 deen, the Earle of Huntly, with his speciall friends, fled north 
 to Sutherland and Strathnaver, where he lurked, and, by 
 the Kings order, the northern forces were disbanded and sent 
 home. Simon, Lord Eraser of Lovat, the Laird of Strachin, 
 Mackenzie, and Fowles Monro, came to Aberdeen to wait the 
 Kings motion, who in December following went south to 
 Edinburgh, all maters in the North being composed. 
 
 In the beginning of 1595 the Earle of Huntly left the king- 
 dom and run over to France. In the interim Arrol and Anguis 
 were, under cloud, forfeited, but had many friends at Court 
 endeavouring to make their peace. The King, to pleasur the 
 Queen of England, keept them still at distance by severe im- 
 prestible conditiones tendered to them. Winter 1595 Huntly 
 came to England to make friends at the English Court, which 
 would not doe. In the spring he came to Scotland. Good 
 
 Mackintoshes. 
 
230 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 King James, who iiicJined to have all his dominions and sub- 
 jects at peace, iippon their humble addresses to his Majesty 
 were at last all put under bail at Skune ; so that Arrol 
 Huntly, and Anguis were restored to their former honors and 
 dignities ; and further the King honored the Earl of Huntly 
 with the title of Marques ; and by the Kings mediation all 
 quarrells betuixt him and Arguile and Earl of Murray were taken 
 away by the marriage of the Earle of Argyles oldest daughter 
 to George Gordon, vulgarly Lord Gordon, Huntlyes eldest 
 sone, and the marriage of Lady Anna Gordon, Huntleys eldest 
 daughter, to the Earl of Murray, whose father was killed at 
 Dunibisle. 
 
 In the yeare of God 1597, the 4 day of February, there 
 happened a dreedful slaughter at the Candlemas faire, called 
 Bridfaire,^ in a town called Lagy Vrud,^ in Ross, upon the 
 river of Connin, which was like to ingage that whole country, 
 and clans round about, in factions and parties, like to put all 
 Ross in a combustion. The quarrell began betuixt John 
 Mackillchallim, a Mackleud, and brother to the Laird of 
 Rasey, and another gentleman, John Bain, brother to Doncan 
 Bain, Barron of Tulloch, near Dingual. This John Mackill- 
 challim was a vile, flagitious, proflagat fellow, and ravageing 
 robber, picking quarrells with all men every quhere, frequented 
 marcats of purpose to defloure mens wives and take advantage 
 of poor chapmen and marchants, pillaging and robbing their 
 shops and packs without resistance ; and non durst challange 
 him, being a relation of the M'kenzies and patronised by 
 them. At this faire he had 6 or 7 bold fellowes wdth him, and 
 avowedly he followed his wonted rapin, non having the currage 
 to check or oppose him there. This John Bain, a gallant, 
 courragious gentleman, seing him abuse a marchants wife and 
 take away his goods by violence, measuring his linnan by his 
 bow, not onely challanged but threatned him, commanding 
 him to rander back poor mens gear and commodities, else he 
 would make him do it ; bold language indeed ; who or quhat 
 was he that durst ask him what he did ? After verba verhera^ 
 from words to sw^ords, John Bain draws uppon him, and 
 
 ' Feill Brighid, St. Bridget's Fair. 
 Logy, Conan, Sir Kenneth Mackenzie's seat. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 231 
 
 fought him hand to fist, mad him so seek his ground that he 
 soon put him from his postur, and gave him two or three 
 deadly wounds, at last dung him dead to the ground, and also 
 killed two of his fellowes. Thus the Hector and Golia of Ard- 
 manoch is vanquisht in view of his votaries. John Bain had 
 non to second him but one Donald Fraser M'kallister, his 
 foster brother, who laid so about him that none durst come 
 near or touch his master. A bold, stout associat of John 
 Mackillchallims, one John Mack Murchy vick William, was 
 slain upon the spot, and three Mackenzies. The Monroes 
 espoused John Baines quarrell as a common good ; the M'kenzies 
 owned John M'killchallim. Upon John Baines side was killed 
 John Monro of Cularge, and Hugh, his brother, and John 
 Monro Robertson. The black broile increased, the markets 
 all confused, non knew who was friend or foe, many innocents 
 killed, the husbands in the lap of their wives. The chase run 
 down the firth towards the mill of Arkaig and the wood of 
 Milchaich, where many were wounded, some slain ; hardly can 
 it be remembered what mischeefe was done at this fare and 
 fray ; a fury rather, that for aught I know had no parallell in 
 story from such an origin. John Bane, with his armour- 
 bearer, withdrawes and deliberatly escapes to Lovat without a 
 wound or scrat upon either their skins, the wonder of all the 
 conflict. Lord Simon Fraser of Lovat ownes John Bain, and 
 non durst persue or seek after him, being within his sanctuary. 
 Next morrow my Lord dispatches his faithfull servant and 
 trusty James Fraser of Phopachy to King James, being then 
 in Falkland, with the full, impartiall account of the whole 
 mater. His Majesty, upon this true information, sent John 
 Bain his full remission and personal protection immediatly 
 with the bearer, and a warrand and power to him to charge 
 the Laird M'Kenzie of Kintail with intercommoning, and all 
 the accomplises of John Mackilchallim, and all under the great 
 seal, which is kept in Tullochs charter kist to this day ; which 
 charge is renued arimiatim against the heir of Mackenzie at 
 his entry, and which Mr. John Bain of Delnies executed 
 against the last Seaforth, Lord Kenneth, as his own mouth 
 told me at his house, and withall that he and his famely 
 owed me and my predecessor their life and fortun for the 
 
232 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 careful, faithfull expedition, and that my said grandfather, 
 James, put off neither shew or stocking, coat or shirt, 
 from the time he was sent out of Beuly till his return again 
 to Lovat. 
 
 About the yeare 1598, Sir Lachlin Macklean, an aspireing, 
 ambitious man, at last this revengfull spirit thrust and 
 prompted him to strick at the root of the M'kdonalds of 
 South Isles interest and inheritance, and that by a pretended 
 or borrowed action against the whole Isle of Ila, the ancient 
 and first possession of the M'kdonel ; and Sir Lachlin thought 
 it an easy task to compasse this design. Sir James M'kdonald, 
 his own nephew, the rightious inheritor of it, being now young, 
 and his father Anguis Mackdonel an aged, old, decreaped man, 
 not able to resist. Sir Lachlin M'klean conveens all his forces, 
 and, in a most martial maner, in hostility invades 11a, thinking 
 of nothing but to take present possession be vertue of his new 
 right which he had now acquired. Sir James M'kdonell, being 
 informed of this, convocats all his friends and followers, and 
 enters into the same isle, his forbeares just property, indeavour- 
 ing if possible to resist his uncles unj ust, illegall proceedings. 
 M'klean and he being both arrived into the Isle, severals who 
 wisht them both well and their peace do mediat a long time 
 betuixt them, and striveing by any meanes to agree them. Sir 
 James, being the more reasonable of the two, was content to 
 let his uncle, Sir Lachlin, possess the equall halfe of the island 
 dureing his lifetime, although he had no just clame or title 
 thereto, providing he would take it in the same maner that his 
 predecessors, the M'kleans, had it before his time, viz. holden 
 in capite of the M'kdonels ; and, moreover, he offered to submit 
 the controversy to the Kings Majesties arbitriment, thereby to 
 eshew all debat with his uncle; but M'klean, runing precipi- 
 tant to his own mischeefe, much against the advice of all his 
 friends, who willed him to the contrare, refused all offers of 
 peace unless his nephew would instantly resign to him the title 
 and possession of all that island ; whereupon they split and 
 prepare both of them to fight. Sir James being farr inferiour 
 in number of men, but some of them well trained in the wars 
 of Ireland ; so there ensued a cruel, sharp conflict at the head 
 of Lochgruingart, and curragiously fought on either side a good 
 whoil. Sir James then caused his vanguard make a compasse 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 233 
 
 in fashion of a retreat, thereby to get the sun at his back, and 
 the advantage of a hill hard by. Sir James, thus having forced 
 the enemies vantguard and repulsed them, assault the main 
 body, and instantly M'klean was slain and fourscore of the 
 primest of his kinsmen, two hundered common souldioures 
 lying dead about him. His sone, Lachlan Barrach M'klean, 
 sore wounded, was chased to there very vessells. Sir James 
 M'kdonel was dangerously wounded, being shot with an arrow 
 through the body, and was left most of the ensueing night for 
 dead among the slain. There were slain of the M'kdonels 60 
 in all, and as many sorely wounded. Thus the warr, begun by 
 M'klean without any ground in anno 1595, ended now this yeare, 
 anno 1598, by his death. Sir Lachlin had three responses 
 from a witch before he undertooke this expedition into Ila : 
 first, desireing him not to land there uppon a Thursday ; 
 % desireing him for his life not to drink of a well of water 
 near Gruingart ; the 3, haveing forbideen him the two first, 
 she told him lastly there should be one M'klean, Laird of 
 Gruingard. The first he transgressed unwillingly, being driven 
 upon that island by a tempest on a Thursday ; the 2, he 
 transgressed negligently before he knew the name of the place; 
 and so he dyed at Gruingart as was fortold him ; but such 
 responses be commonly doubtfull and ambiguous, dangerous 
 and unlawfull. Those broiles and uprors so insensed the King 
 against the M'kdonals that afterwards, finding the original 
 rights of Ila and Kintyre to be at his own disposall, he gave 
 all the lands in few to the Earl of Argile ; whereupon ensued 
 all the trouble that arose since betuixt the Cambels and 
 M'kdonalds in Ila and Cantyre. Afterward Sir James 
 M'kdonel was warded by Argiles meanes in the Castle of 
 Edinburgh, and kept there a long time, from whence at last 
 he escaped by the contrivance of his cousin, ^ M'kdonel, 
 
 who fled with Sir James into Spain and Netherlands, where 
 they were entertained by the Spaniards a long time, from 
 whence, upon the Earl of Argiles flight into Spain, they 
 returnd, being recalled by his Majesty anno 1620, and were 
 kept there by the King, who gave Sir James a yearly pension 
 of a 1000 merks Sterling, and a pension of a 100 mark sterlin 
 
 1 Sic. 
 
234 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 to ^M'kranald, together with a remission for all their 
 
 bygon offences. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 [Follows account of affairs in Britain and on the Continent.] 
 
 We shall now return where we left, to treat of the affaires of 
 Lord Frasei of the house of Lovat. After Lord Simon his marriage with 
 Lovats famely, j^^^^ j^^^ Stewart, Dounes daughter, amio 1596, in the 26 
 yeare of his age, he kept home for two or three yeares in good 
 health and lookeing most narrowly and providently to the con- 
 cerns of his estate and country, without any considerable avoca- 
 tion to divert or withdraw him abroad ; nor did his genious or 
 inclination ingage him to forrein incumbrances, saveing what 
 was consequential to his honour, place, and reputation. His 
 Anna, born lady was brought to bed in Beuly of a daughter, named Anna 
 after the queen, in March 1597, a hopefull, wholsom, curious 
 child, and well nurst within the house. In April 1598 the 
 Simon, born Lady Lovat was brought to bed in Beufort of a sone, named 
 Simon at her own earnest desire, although my Lord was 
 earnestly inclined to call him James, after the King; but she 
 would not condescend to it, as some thought, becaus the 
 Jameses of that famely wer ramp and unruly. I find that my 
 Lord had this year fewed the davoch land of Fanellan to 
 William Fraser of Struy, where he built a fine dwelling house, 
 and a stone chamber uppon which I remember to see the very 
 date. My Lady Lovat loved the air of Beufort better than 
 Beuly, and kept intimat correspond ance with Elisabeth 
 Urqhart, goodwife of Struy, living besid her at Fanellan, for 
 An?w 1599, by whom she had great kindness and intimacy, takeing her eldest 
 daughter, Elisabeth, into her service, and married her at last to 
 James Fraser of Phopachy, her own great trusty ; and though 
 this lady had brought severall servants north with her. 
 Stewards, Buchannans, Belfoures, Grigors, yet she inclined 
 much to have the Erasers about her, and so, when she had 
 setled Elisabeth aforsaid, she took Kathrin Fraser, daughter 
 to Mr. William Fraser, provost of Taine, into her service, a 
 smart, handsome, well bred gentlewoman, and matcht her very 
 well to one George Dunbar, cousin german to the Shirref 
 
 contract. 
 
 ' Sic. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 235 
 
 Murray, a great merchant, and very servicable to the house ^^^o i^oi, by 
 
 contract 
 
 of Lovat uppon many accounts. Thus did Dame Jean Stewart 
 strive to oblidge the country by educating the gentlemens 
 daughters one after another successively. I find one Andrew 
 Noble chamberlain then to my Lord Lovat, and after him 
 John Reed. I have severall discharges of these two, with other 
 bonds and papers beareing their subscriptions. This year Lord 
 Simon morgaged the barrony of Kinmilies to the late tutor, 
 Thomas Fraser of Strachin, who advanced 10,000 marks Scots 
 to my Lord for some speciall use ; which mony continued in 
 his hand untill his sone Thomas payed it back in Lord Hughs 
 time. The reason I shall show afterwards. Old Culbock,^ 
 agnamed Hutchin Oge,^ morgaged the lands of Kingily, which 
 before he had in tack, becaws of Teacharse being upon the 
 bounds of that land which his predecessors long ago possest. 
 James Fraser in Fhoppachy morgaged that halfe davach, also 
 anno 1599, quhich he had in tack. My Lady Lovat, in some 
 heasty journay, getting some bad newes of the King, lay sick 
 at Bunchrive comming from Inverness, where she aborted, and 
 was in hazard of her life under that fitt. 
 
 This harvest my Lord Lovat, haveing got the newes and 
 account of Gowries conspiracie, and the Kings wonderfull 
 escape and preservation, went south ; my Lady being impatient 
 till shee saw her royall cousin the King. They traveled be the 
 coast to Aberdeen, Cowy, Montrose, Dundee, and over Bruchty 
 through Fife, and came to Edinburgh in October, the King 
 living in Holyroodhouse then. The Parliament held at 
 Edinburgh, November 15, in which the Earl of Goury was November 15, 
 forfeit by sentence, and all his famely. This was a most 
 frequent generall convention of lords and pieres, quher a 
 great old piere was forfeited ; and Lord Simon Fraser of Lovat 
 tooke his place in this Parliament as 5 Lord in cite roll and 
 rideing, there being none before him in course but 4, viz. the 
 Lord Forbes, the Lord Oliphant, Lord Elphinston, and Lord 
 Gray, with whom he compeated. I have the account of my 
 Lord Lovats expense in this journay, which was considerable, 
 but compensed by the gifts and gold which Queen Anna 
 gave to Dame Jean Stewart, and a godmothers gift sent to 
 
 Fraser of Culbokie and Guisachan. 
 
 2 Hugh the younger. 
 
236 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Miss Anna. I sawe the silver basin and laver quhich they 
 brought home. 
 
 A plague, 1601. This sumer, 1601, the plague burst out, and none knew 
 how or whence. Some suspected it to have had its rise uppon 
 the Buchan Coast out of a Dutch cask with onyons and hops 
 cast ashoare ; but, not to disput, the pestilence spread from 
 Forth to the North, and raged here the length of Glenelg. 
 Non dyed there nor in our farr Highlands and north isles; 
 most of our people run to the hills, the purer aire. I have 
 spoke with severalls who remembered the manner of their 
 death, and some upon which it broak and escaped, and the 
 several pits in which many were hurried, as yet covered over 
 with stones. 
 
 1602, a famin. The next yeare, 1602, was a dearth and famin all the North 
 and Highlands over ; a mildew blasted the barley, and the 
 oates and peese never filled to any perfection, the straw blancht, 
 and such corn as it afforded yelded no male [meal] but lick- 
 dusted trash, without any aliment or food for man or beast. 
 This was called by the vulgar Blean in Chad, the sidd yeare,^ 
 becaus the corn yelded no meale, but seeds [sidds]. There 
 ensued a great mortality all the north highlands over, but that 
 milkness gave them some subsistance. 
 
 In September my Lady Lovat was brought to bed in Beuly 
 of a daughter, named Mary, a strong, hopeful child ; she was 
 sent out and nursed with the Clan Liech Beatons^ in Glen- 
 convinth, near their hand ; all the other children, Hugh the 
 Master, and Miss Elisabeth, now of good age, and Simon, still 
 keept within the house; and my Lady now begins to agree 
 with his country aire as her native soil, and boar children 
 thick. June 1603 she was brought to bed in Bunchrive of a 
 sone, named Thomas, a very tender, sickly child, and con- 
 tinued so notwithstanding of meanes and medicaments used to 
 recover him, as the event proved in his chronick mallady, 
 Dolor Niphriticus, of which I shall give account again. 
 
 Anno i6o/\. Aimo 1604 the tennants of Finisk^ incroaching too much 
 
 uppon the churchmen, ministers at Kirk hill. Lord Simon 
 begins to hem them in ; and, becaus the lands about the 
 
 ^ Bliadhna a' chath, the year of the corn husks. 
 
 - See note, p. 145. Clann ati Lighich, the Doctor's Clan. 
 
 ^ Fingask, now Clunes. See note, p. 60. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 237 
 
 church, 20 holies, pay hold of the Knights of Rhods in cap'de, 
 and so of a different holding from the land of Finask, my Lord 
 take it into his own hands in laboureing, and sets march stones 
 up north and east quher there might be any scruple or question 
 made be nighbouring tenants ; and, to be in possession, he sets 
 cotters and servants there, and repares the house near the 
 church eastward upon the hill, called then my ladys jointer 
 house, and dwelt there himselfe for his divertisement that 
 summer. This land vulgarly is termed St. John the Baptists 
 crofts ; for which the Lords off Lovat payes yearly ten shilling 
 Scots to the Lord Torfichen Sandilands in few tack duty, who 
 had gotten a right of the Temple lands all the kingdom over 
 from Queen Mary, mino 15 And my Lords design of takeing 
 that land into his own hands, besids, was to possesse the in- 
 cumbents serving the cure at Wardlaw Church with gleebs 
 conform to the present establishment all the kingdom over, as 
 the plat and provision run by the Kings appointment; and 
 my Lord Lovat incurraged his ministers competently, as after- 
 wards appeared. 
 
 The next ensueing year, 1605, began mournfully to this 1605, Miss 
 
 *' ALnnc died 
 
 great famely by the death of the eldest daughter, Anna, a lady 
 of great expectation and promising goodnesse, about 8 yeares 
 of age. She was singular for wit, gravity, piety, and com- 
 posedness of nature ; more could not be desired in a child. She 
 dyed of a malignant fever, which bleeding and frequent breath- 
 ing of a vein might have prevented in a great sanguin ; but 
 that was not then so practicable as now it runs in custom. 
 However, God denyed that mean as his providence thought 
 fit ; but her death made that noble famely a Bochin or house 
 of mourning, and that which added much to my ladyes melan- 
 choly was the King's sudden unexpected call for England to be 
 heir of that Crown, becaus she had not occasion to see him 
 and his good Queen, her great patroness, nor was she in any 
 circumstance for journay or travell at the time; and few of 
 the nobles were then called to Court, and the peeres of the 
 North were at great distance, and the King resolved to be 
 privat. This year also was Hugh, Master of Lovat, sent to 
 the University of St. Andrewes for his education and accom- 
 
 1 Sic. 
 
238 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 plishment, his governour, Mr. Isack Reed, and John Fraser 
 M'kvaister Shean,^ his page, a very excellent yowth, sober, and 
 vertuous, ut sicferehant temj^ora. 
 
 This yeare also my Lord bought a house in Inverness from 
 one Alexander Paterson, a great burger who had fallen low 
 and mean after his great extravagancies, for it is reported that 
 haveing masones upon task, building a stairecase to the sowth- 
 ward of his dwelling house, he called for his wife in heast to 
 get some of her m aides to carry water for his morter ; she a 
 vertuous woman, keeping her servant maids close at their 
 task, peremptorly denied him the use of her maides for that 
 use. But of meer humor he caused carry out a hogshead of 
 claret wine and poured that amongst his morter ; for which 
 abuse God punnished him and brought him to poverty and 
 want, was necessitat to sell that great house, which Lord 
 Simon agreed to buy. It lyes upon the south sid of the 
 cross, 4 storryes high, with oaken forstaires or balkonies all 
 round about ; a great ^ or staire case to the south, and a 
 
 great geat entring from the street, many conveniencies in it, 
 and great accomodations. The Lord Lovat lived in this 
 house, the Marquess of Huntly in the Castle ; the tutor of 
 Lovat lived in Kinmilies, for the air of Strachin did not 
 agree with his constitution; the Lairds of M'kintosh and 
 Grant had hired houses in Inverness ; and most pleasant was 
 their correspondance together. 
 A rebellion in Now to Set doun the contemporary affaires of the kingdom 
 Ireland. course. In Summer 1601 the Irish rebels drew in some 
 
 Spanish forces into Ireland, to fortifie themselves in their 
 rebellion. The King gives commission to the Duke of Lenox, 
 then at the Court of England, to show Queen Elizabeth that 
 if her Majesty thought judged that his aid should be thought 
 necessary he would instantly employ the same for their expul- 
 sion. The Queen, giveing the King many thanks, said that if 
 those troubles continued she would take his help and hire some 
 of his Highlanders and Islesmen men ; but she trusted to hear 
 other newes shortly, and not be vexed long with those 
 strangers ; as also it came to passe, for the very next moneth 
 
 ^ John Fraser, son of the elder Master (of Lovat?). 
 
 2 Sic. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 239 
 
 the Lord Mount joy, her deputy, did, in a set batle fought 
 near Kinsaile, defeat the Irish utterly, and afterwards forced 
 the Spaniards that had taken the towne to rander uppon con- 
 ditions of their lives saved, and to be transported again into 
 their country. 
 
 In summer 1602, that being a scarce time of dearth and The Isle of 
 famin, the Highlanders brakeing out in excursiones and depre- sesred.^^^ 
 dations, the King resolved to plant lowland men in the Isles, 
 in imitation of Queen Elisabeths course for civilising Ireland. 
 He thought it fit to transport the natives into the mainland, 
 where they might learn civility ; so he made a beginning at the 
 Isle of Lewis. The undertakers were Patrick, Abbot of 
 Lindores, Collonel William Stewart, Captain William Murray, 
 Mr. John Lermonth of Balcomy, Mr. James Spens of Wor- 
 miston, Sir James Anstruther of that Ilk, and James Forret of 
 Fingask. These gentlemen, furnishing themselves with amies 
 and shiping and a great number of soldiers, tooke sea at Forth, 
 and, in the 4 day with a brisk gale, arrived in the lake of 
 Stornway in Lewis. Murdoch M'kleud, base sone to old 
 M'kleod of Lewis, who carried himselfe as Lord of the Isle, 
 at first made some resistance ; but after a litle conflict, dis- 
 trusting the people whom he had used with great tyrany, 
 fled, and forsooke the Isle, leaving the indwellers to the dis- 
 cretion of the invaders, who, as soon as he was gone, did all 
 submit themselves, and accepted such conditions as were offered 
 by the undertakers. Being thus peaceably possesst, the Laird 
 of Balcomy, to make preparation against winter to setle his 
 affaires, purposed to return home, and, haveing launched from 
 the coast, by reason of the calm is forced to cast anchor, is 
 suddenly invaded by the forsaid Murdoch M'kleod with a 
 number of Birlins,^ the ship boarded, the mariners all killed, 
 and himselfe made prisoner ; the gentleman, hourely threatned 
 with death, is ransomed by his friends, convoyed to Orkney, 
 quher, contracting a fever, he dyed. 
 
 The rest of the gentlemen, to repaire this injury, conduced 
 with Neil M'kleod, brother to the said Murdoch, to betray and 
 deliver him in their hands ; which he performed shortly after 
 
 ^ Birlinn, a galley. 
 
240 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 by an ambush laid for his brother, apprehends him and 12 men 
 with him in company ; the twelve men he presently beheaded. 
 Murdoch, conform to paction, being delivered to the gentle- 
 men, was transported to St. Andrewes, and there executed. 
 The undertakers, now thinking themselves secure, began to 
 build, and made a partition of lands, setling it upon the 
 country people who had swore fidelity to them. Whilst they 
 expected no trouble, Norman M'kleod, sone to old M'kleod, of 
 a sudden beset them, put fire to their lodgings, many of them 
 killed, forced them to these conditions: — 1/ that they should 
 purchass to them from the King a remission for all the crimes 
 and offenses past ; 2/ that they should resign to Norman all 
 the right that they had acquired of the Isle of Lewis ; 3/ that 
 Sir James Spence, with his sone-in-law, Thomas Monypenny of 
 Kinkell, should remain as pledges untill the remission was 
 brought unto them, and such a surety given of the Isle as 
 he devise. This condescended unto. Sir James Anstruther 
 departed with the whole company that was left; and, for 
 reliefe of the pledges, obtained of the King a remission and 
 the security of the Isle that was desired ; all which was sent to 
 Norman by James Larmond, sone to the Laird of Darcie. ^ By 
 this meanes were the pledges freed, and for that time the whole 
 enterprise defeated. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 In August (1605) the enterprise of the Lewis was again set 
 on foot by Robert Lumbsden of Ardry, and Sir George Hay 
 of Netherliffe, to whom the first undertakers had made over 
 their right, takeing journay thither, and by the assistance of 
 Macky, Mackenzie, and Donald Gorrum,^ forced all the inhabi- 
 tants to remove forth of the Isle, and give surety not to return. 
 Ardry and his partners, judging all made sure without danger, 
 returnd south in November, leaving their companies to main- 
 tain their possessions, which they made good that winter, save 
 now and then some assaults by the Islesmen. In Spring Ardry 
 went back with fresh provision, fell to build and manure the 
 land ; but, in end, money faileing, the companys of workemen 
 diminishing dayly, the natives assosiating many Islesmen, 
 
 ^ Donald Gorm Macdonald of Sleat. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 241 
 
 made a new assault and invasion, and at last outwearied the 
 possessors, who gave over their enterprise, and content to make 
 away their right to Mackenze for a litle soume of mony. This 
 turned to the ruin of diverse of the undertakers, being ex- 
 hausted in means, not haveing the language, wanting power to 
 manage such an enterprise in a strange place farr off; so that 
 Highlanders wer fittest to grapple with Highlanders, and one 
 divil, as the proverb is, to ding out another, the M'klouds in 
 end expired. 
 
 ^ ^ 
 [Follows account of affairs in Britain and on the Continent.] 
 
 I return now to treat of the famely of Lovat, and Lord simon Fraser, 
 Simon Fraser, whom we left dwelling at Invernesse, aimo 1605, Lovat. 
 about the 35 yeare of his age, haveing married Dame Jean 
 Stuart, Lord Downs daughter, anno 1596, with whom he had a 
 numerous ofspring, some living and some dyed young. Aniio 
 1606 my lady was brought to bed at Inverness of a sone named 
 Alexander, named after the good Shirref Murray, then present. 
 This child lived but short, dyed of a squarame, in Bunchrive, 
 1608, in which yeere by greefe or surprise my lady aborted, 
 after which shee continued tender and sickly a long time, so that 
 non expected more children of her. But it pleased God she 
 conceaved and boar a sone, at Beuly, September 1610, named Sir James bom, 
 James. This year my Lord repaired Lovat, and built the new 
 work within the Palace, called Stewart Hall, becaus of the 
 Earles of Atholl and Murray being both in the country and 
 both present at the christening of James, who both would have 
 him called so contrare to my ladys inclination. This spring 
 the good Lady Strachin died at Kinmiiies, and was interred at 
 Beuly, a sad surpriseing death to the famely, but no fear of a 
 successor, for the tutor Strachin never married, and survived 
 her but a short time, who after his journay from Buchan 
 sickned in his lodging at Invernes, and dyed there in the 67 
 year of his age, bemoaned of all, that was good and great, and Anno 1612. 
 under the highest commendation of any mortall, as appeares by 
 his epitaphs and panagirickes in Latin and English, which I 
 have set down in their own proper place, to which I recom- 
 mend my reader. 
 
242 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The next thing that happened about this noble famely was 
 Thomas died. Thomas his death, who being fostered in Abertarfe with the 
 M'kgrewers,^ and used too much with a grosse milky dyet, 
 turnd dull and sullen under a complex of malladies, a stran- 
 guria, and nephietick paines in kidnies and bladder, and so in 
 end next September was cut of the stone in his bladder by one 
 Gilleandris Beatton,^ at Lovat, in the ninth yeare of his age, 
 to the great grief of his parents. He was interred at Beuly. 
 Simon is now educat at university in the Kings Colledge, and 
 Mr. Andrew Sample his governowr ; a very hopefull yowth and 
 of great partes, his mothers onely comfort and joy. Hugh, the 
 Master of Lovat, being at Edinburgh, anno 1613, had occasion 
 to fall acquaint with his cousin, Master of Weemes, to whom 
 he payed a visit in his return home, and, being a while yet, 
 transiently fell in fancy with Miss Isabell, the Lord Weemes 
 daughter, and his affection was entertained with suitable 
 returns of respect both be the young lady and her noble 
 parents; so that there was nothing wanting but his father 
 my Lord Lovats concent, which at the first motion was soon 
 attained, and the match approven. The next summer the 
 marriage of these two young lovers is solemnized at the 
 Weemes, his father, Lord Simon, being present, to the singular 
 satisfaction of all persones concerned. 
 Anno i6i c;. In anno 1615 the Master brought home his lady, and the 
 
 inferr keept at Beuly, which dwelling was now sequestred for 
 his use, the two famelies being so numerous that they could 
 not live together ; so that Lord Simon and his lady lived at 
 Lovat for some time. This excellent lady, Isabell Weemes, 
 proved a singular comfort to this noble famely, a pious, vertu- 
 ous, sober, human woman, and the mother of fine children — 
 Mary, Lady Ballnigown, born 1617 ; Ann, Lady Sutherland, 
 born 1619; Simon, the Master, born 1621; Kathrin, Lady 
 Mucholl, born 1622 ; then, an abortion, being a daughter ; 
 next, Hugh, born 1624; Alexander, born 1626; then, a 
 daughter, Isabel, who died young, two year old ; the next was 
 Thomas, born 1631 ; Mr. James, born April 1633 ; and 
 William, born May 1635. Of all these, in their matches. 
 
 ^ MacGruer. 
 
 2 See note, p. 145. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 S43 
 
 actiones, lives, death, and ages, I shall, God willing, have 
 occasion to treat afterward sua loco. In this summer the Lord 
 Arbuthnot comeing here designedly to visit this noble famely 
 the second time, at length carried his design and married Miss 
 Margret, Lord Simon of Lovats onely daughter of the first 
 marriage ; the wedding held at Lovat. This good woman 
 lived most comfortably with this nobleman and heired his 
 famely ; and after his death was married to Gleneggis Haddon,^ 
 and heired his house ; and after his death lived most contently 
 a happy, fortunat woman. I had occasion to see her in her 
 own hospitable house at Arratsmill in the Mernes. 
 
 Anno 1617 my Lord Lovat, with his lady, Dame Jean 
 Stewart, went south to wait uppon the King, who had then 
 come down out of England to visit his native soil Scotland, 
 and kept a Parliament at Edinburgh in June, the last that 
 ever he had here in person, and perhaps the last at which my 
 Lord Lovat ever sat. The Earldom of Athol was now fallen 
 in the Kings hands by the death of the late Earle, 1615,^ with- 
 out heires male ; this vast estate was freely offered to the Lord 
 Lovat in donation by the King, to possess all the rights and 
 honoresin his oun person, and the children of the second marriage 
 with his cousen Jean to be Stewards, and the earldom entaild 
 upon the eldest, Simon, after his death. My Lord humbly 
 thanked his Majesty, but declined to accept the offer; whither 
 it was suggested in him that Athol was ever an unfortunat 
 purchase, and possessed a people very ill to mannage, the debts 
 vast, some competitors to contend, some such reason disswaded 
 him, so that the King urged it no more. Severall conjectures 
 and censures were vented upon Lovat for casting so great an 
 offer and royall gift, judging it timorouseness and simplicitye 
 in a noble peer to reject a step of such promotion ; others con- 
 strued it, as truely they might, to his temper of mind, content 
 with his own competent estat, being free from any ambitious 
 
 ^ Haldane. 
 
 - The earl did not die until 1626. It probably means that he, falling into 
 embarrassed circumstances, was ready, in 1608, to resign his earldom into the 
 king's hands, or dispose of it for a price. In 1618 he is styled merely 'James 
 Stewart,' and his wife Lady Mary ' Countess of AthoU,' in the Frhy Council 
 Register, vol. xi. 1616. 
 
244 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 designs to involve or incumber himselfe in intricacies ; but I 
 am sure had he embraced this offer it would have saved ten 
 thousand a year which he bestowed uppon the heires and 
 ofspring of the 2d marriage, by which he hath quit crackt and 
 broken the Lordship of Lovat evin to this very day. For me, 
 I am witness, not a judge, of great mens actings, but this great 
 estate is low, and declining every day. 
 
 It was at this time that Simon, afterwards Inveralochy, was 
 knighted at Halyrud, the 19 yeare of his age, or 20 current ; 
 and the King gave a patent of knighthood to James also, then 
 about 7 yeares of age, and a godbarn gift, a good soume of 
 gold. The Lady Lovat, parting with the King, never (as she 
 said) wanted her sigh to the day of her death. One good 
 bargan was concluded in this voyage, viz. the marrying of Sir 
 Simon to Jean Moncreefe, the Laird of Moncrefes daughter, 
 in Monteith or Perth sheir, a pretty lady, and good substance 
 with her. My Lord Lovat returning north, he sold the estate 
 of Glenelg to Mackleod, and bought the lands of Ferrintosh 
 from Calder Cambel and 3000 good per annum, and 50 chalders 
 of victuall in Inverallochy from the Earl of Buchan. This he 
 infeft Sir Simon and his young lady into, giveing him the 
 house and lands of Bunchrive for a dwelling near himselfe; 
 thus in all, the heir of the second marriage, Sir Simon, possesst 
 8000 a year of the Lordship of Lovat, but the great pitty 
 was he enjoyed it but short time, for he dyed anjio 1620 ; ^ and 
 his lady in her widdowhood married to the Laird of Le'yes 
 Burnet, which was a burden uppon Inveralochies interest all 
 her dayes. Of this famely and its ofspring I shall happily 
 have occasion to treat hereafter siio loco. 
 
 My Lord Lovats first expedition after his return north home 
 from the south was to goe the length of Inverallochy in Buchan 
 to see and settle his new purchase there, and once, putting the 
 house and interest in good order for all accommodations 
 needfull, left his sone Sir Simon and his lady there to enjoy 
 their rents and duties, and returnd north again that summer ; 
 and now all this year sets masons and wrights awork in quarries 
 and woods to provide materialls of all sorts to build the houses 
 
 ^ There is confusion here and on the next few pages about the date of the 
 death of Inverallochy and his mother. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 245 
 
 of Bunchrive and Dalcross ; his lady very anxious and im- 
 patient untill they were perfected. All the freestone was 
 taken out of Caucy quarry in Murray, his lime from South 
 Coast, and all his beames and sparroofe out of Dalcattaig woods; 
 and perhaps there is not a better timbered house in Murray 
 than Dalcross Castell, as may be seen to this very day. The 
 great motive that induced Dame Jean Stewart to build at 
 Dalcrosse was to be near her cousin, the Earle of Murray, in 
 Castle Stewart, who, in the meantime, was building that 
 statly house, and were all finisht at once, for my Lord Lovat 
 began the worke of these two brave houses of Dalcross and 
 Bunchrive anno 1619, and had them both perfected anno 1621, 
 as we find by the dates. 
 
 Sir Simon of Inveralochy cam north with his lady and 
 famely in the close of J 619, and lived with his father in Lovat, 
 sometimes at Beuly, and for their greater conveniency and 
 satisfaction all the three families lived together, my Lord 
 Lovat, the Master, and Liveralochy ; and as I had it from 
 severalls of their surviving servants, they kept a happy harmony, 
 especially the good ladyes among themselves, with their sweet, 
 pleasant children, and servants — Mr. John Spence, chaplain; 
 David Carr, musitian ; James Eraser of Phoppachy, cheef 
 master houshold ; John Burt, buttler ; Agnes Ferguson, his 
 wife, cheef wardrop woman ; all the servants PVasers, the good 
 ladyes design being to educat the gentlemens children upon 
 succeeding occasions. The spending of this noble famely 
 extravagant — seven bolls malt, seven boles meale, one bole 
 floure, every weeke ; 70 black cowes in the year, besids venison, 
 fish, pullet, kid, lamb, veale, moorfoule, partridge, seafoules, 
 wild goose, duck and mallart, etc., with all the presents and 
 kists unaccountable ; the wines in great [quantities] yearly 
 from France, with sugar and all manner of spices, that it is 
 incredible how any house could spend this store and provision 
 yearly. For my own part I have been amused, nay, amased, 
 in reading my grandfathers bookes of accounts, where he sets 
 down the exacte particulars of the vast spending of this noble 
 famely ; and many would conclud it a very rant. 
 
 I find that Sir Simon of Inveralochy nor his lady had any 
 great inclination to stay in Buchan, which moved them to 
 
246 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 live with my Lord their father ; and it hath hardly a paralell 
 to see 3 ladyes of different tempers keep such an unseperable 
 union and concord, as Dame Jean Stewart, Dame Isabel 1 
 Weenies, and Dame Jean Moncreefe ; nor do I see that they 
 did part untill death divid them. In September, anno 1622, 
 my Lord Lovat and his lady were invit to a feast in Castle 
 Stewart, and Sir Symon and his lady accompanied his father 
 and sickned there, so that he could not be brought west to 
 Lovat, but carried to Dalcross, where he was confined to his 
 chamber and under physick for a halfe year, still decaying ; it 
 began with a very moderat fever, and, relapsing again and 
 again, became hectick. There was one Doctor Lovell, out of 
 Perth, attending him, who had his feares of spells, so that 
 after all the care and cost imaginable to the utmost skill of 
 several consultations, this brave spirit was in end given over, 
 put under a milk dyet, in February and March yet still worse, 
 dyed most perfectly in senses and intellectualls as ordinarily 
 hectik persones doe ; and, as he was universally beloved, so 
 universally bewailed. His excellent mother, as being most 
 sensible of the loss, so under the deepest sorrow untill the day 
 of her death, which was soon after. They designed to have 
 interred him in Beuly, the buriall place of his ancestors, but 
 the river of Ness turning bigg beyond ordinary, and the bridg 
 also broken, there was no safe transport for the vast multitud, 
 horse and foot, my Lord procured by attollerance from the 
 Cumings of Inverness to interr him in their chappell, called 
 St. Kathrines Isle, in Rood Church at Inverness, where there 
 is an excellent tomb erected; the inscription, armes, and date 
 I have set downe in its own proper place, where my reader may 
 find it. 
 
 Anno 1622, in June, Dame Jean Stewart, Lady of Lovat, 
 sickned in her house at Bunchrive, where she delighted most 
 to dwell, and, without any fear or hazard of her mallady, 
 beyond all mens expectation dyed July first, and, being most 
 sensible, ordered all her affaires deliberatly (sure haveing taken 
 death to herselfe), and her last request and command craved 
 of my Lord her husband was to burry her besid her dear child, 
 Sir Simon of Inverallochy, which according to her just desire 
 was very splendidly done. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOKUM 247 
 
 I cannot omit here what a wonderful! concord and corre- 
 spondance was betuixt my Lord Lovat and all his nighboures, 
 the Marquess of Huntly, living in the Castle of Inverness ; the 
 Lard of Grant, in the Bridge Street ; Earl off Murray, very 
 near at Castle Stuart ; Seaforth, in Chanry ; besids other Lairds 
 and barrons. So that there was an annuall race run every yeare 
 about the promontory of Tomnihurich : the cup and silver 
 spurr was still provided be Earle George of Huntly, and, gain 
 them who will, he ordered Lord Symon of Lovats name and 
 arms to be ingraven uppon the silver cup, for he never called S 
 him but Father in his ordinary speech, my father Lovat. It ^ ^ 
 was observable that, except one of the 7 yeares, my I^ord 
 Lovat and his famely carried the race, for he kept a stall of 
 singular choice race horses. The Laird of Inveralochy without 
 doubt was the nimblest rider and best horseman in the North, 
 and his frequent riding did him hurt ; he gaind the race 3 
 yeares successively ; the Master of Lovat, tweice ; the Laird of 
 Grant, once ; and Collin, Earl of Seaforth, once ; and by this 
 meanes these noble persones mett chapterly at Inverness once 
 a year, and would not part of a sudden. The Marques of 
 Huntly being Protestant, and the other Lords of Murray, 
 Seaforth, and Lovat, of the same persuasion, made them more 
 unit, aindJv7'tio7' est copula cordis qiiavi corporis. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Here follow account of affairs in Scotland ; summary of 
 events in France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Bohemia, Den- 
 mark, Poland, Sweden, Russia, Moscovy, Hungary, Turco- 
 mania ; and lives of Popes.] 
 
 I judge it now high time to return to treat of the Erasers 
 and Simon Lord Lovat, after his ladyes death at Bunchrive, Simon Fraser, 
 anno 1622, and carry the line of our history and genealogy Lovat. 
 along with us, and what happened to and about that famely 
 and clan till Lord Simons death, and Lord Hugh his entry 
 into the estate. In October 1622 William Fraser of Culboky 
 was to be married with Mary Grant, daughter to Mr. James 
 Grant, Laird of Moynes in Murray, and invites his cheefe to 
 the wedding. My Lord was then a widower and in his mourn- 
 ing, yet would not declin his kinsmans suit, for, saith he, 
 
248 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 marriage is honorable in all, and should be countenanced by 
 s. John, 2. persones of honor. Jesus was called to a marriage in Cana of 
 Galily, and that was the way to have all sanctified, and 
 dissorders prevented ; and great mens example and authority 
 at feasts is influencing. Cave special Cato was the old watch- 
 word at Rome; and therefore enjoined all his friends and 
 servants to be cautious and temperat at such occasiones among 
 strangers, and therefore to bewarr of any miscarriage or intem- 
 perancy there under the hasard of his displeasur. 
 1622. At this time, a meeting was kept betuixt my Lord Lovat 
 
 and the Laird of DufFus, Alexander Sutherland, anent the old 
 clame which Lovat had against that part of the barrony of 
 Gonfurd which belonged to Duffus, viz. Kinstery, Kinudy, 
 and Boghole. This action was of old standing. The Earl of 
 Murray was sole arbitrater and umpyre in the affaire, yet not- 
 withstanding of all his persuasiones he could not prevail with 
 Duffus to agree amicably with my Lord Lovat, who was in end 
 induced to enter into a reduction of his whole interest, yea the 
 very riggs of Duffus ; such hazard brought his willful litigious 
 temper him to, when the Earl of Murray had the ballance in 
 his hand to disceed it, and a great composition offered be my 
 Lord Lovat ; yet they parted re infecta, and Lovats too good 
 humor and lenity occasioned the dissapointment and dilatur. 
 It is unaccountable what great love the Earle had for Lord 
 Simon, whom he never called but brother; this is the Earl of 
 Murray who was termed my noble Lord and Master, a name 
 very suteable to his princly genious. All that I find on record 
 of this action of Lovats against Duffus that there is a summons 
 of wakening raised by every Lord Lovat at his entry to the 
 Estate ; and Duffus in the long day may be in hazard by it. 
 1624. Lord Simon, a7i7io 1624, about the 54 yeare of his age, 
 
 married Dame Katharin Ross, Lady Moynes. This was con- 
 trare to all his friends and relations genious and advice; a 
 match by which he had neither credit, contentment, nor profit, 
 and proved a moth in his famely and interest all his life, and 
 after his death a burden of 30 yeares great jointur upon his 
 estate, which to my certain knouledge was the marrow of his 
 Low Country rent, the barrony of Farnuay and Goine and 
 Finask, for I find her liverentrix in my decreet of plat of the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOHUM 
 
 249 
 
 benefice of the parish of Wardlaw, named Dame Kathrin 
 Rosse, anno 1644. My Lord lived all her time at Bunchrive, 
 a pleasant, wholsome dwelling; and Hugh, the Master, with 
 his lady, Dame Isabell Weemes, lived at Lovat, and the govern- 
 ment and regulation of all the affaires of the Lordship laid 
 upon his shoulders, which he mannaged with a gread deal of 
 discretion, Thomas Fraser of Struy being his heritable baily, 
 a man of prudence and moderation. 
 
 An7io 1625 Sir Alexander Fraser, Laird of Dorris, came 1625. 
 north to visit his friends ; his lady, Elizabeth Abernethy, had 
 dyed the same yeare, and he took this progress to divert his 
 deep melancholy. The Lady Cromerty, being his sister-in-law, 
 brought him thither sometimes, and Thomas, Laird of Strachin, 
 living at Kinmilyes then with his lady, ingaged Dorris to be 
 with him frequently, being his intimat cammerad and rela- 
 tion. But for the most part his residence was at Bunchrive, 
 for my Lord delighted much in his society, being a great 
 historian and smart schollar, and, which was above all, a pius, 
 devout man, much mortified to the world, for his famely was 
 low, and had discovered the vannity of the world in the many 
 changes that befell himselfe and it. He sickned May 1626, 
 and died in September after. My Lord deservedly gave him a 
 very solemn burriall, and was interred in St. Kathrin s Isle in 
 Beuly Church, within the Priors Tomb, the buriall place of 
 my Lord Lovats children ; and as he was beloved of all, so 
 universally bemoaned. 
 
 The Master, to improve Beuly, the seat of regality, resolves 
 to set up ins and maltkilns in it, and set his marcats in toll 
 and tribut. The 3 prime men in Beuly, William Fraser, 
 Patrick Anguis, and John Whit, undergo the regulation of 
 the faires, and ingages for a set soum for a tack of the faires 
 yearely ; and the Hallowmas marcat being then at Kilmorack, 
 there happened a great riot betuixt the Erasers and M'kenzies, 1628. 
 and severalls wounded ; therefore by Act of Court, wherin the 
 Master sat personally, the Hallow faire is transplant to the 
 town of Beuly for the future, and the Cross which stood west- 
 ward from the Town, in the spiggadach ^ near Teawigg, is 
 
 An obsolete Gaelic word, the meaning of which is uncertain. 
 
250 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 carried to Beuly and erected where now we see it, fixed in the 
 midest of the town. It was called the Reed-Cross, either 
 becaus Abbot Reed, Bishop of Orknay, built it, or becaus of 
 its collowr, I will not determin ; but it is a necessary ornament 
 Mays. now in a marcat town wherein stand 3 fine faires yearely — 
 
 Sepr. 29. 1 / Crose Beoday, May 3 ; 2/ Michaelmas day, Septr. 29 ; 3/ All 
 Novr. I. Saints or Hallowmas day, the first of November ; and Beuly 
 
 lyes in a fit place for faires. 
 
 This noble Lord had a singular temper never to set a rent 
 or rate upon his yearly salmon fishing of the water of Beuly, 
 though many advised to set it aiinuatim for a liquidat duty to 
 tacksmen. He said usually that rivers were casual and con- 
 tingent things, depending upon a speciall Providence, which the 
 overvaluing of a fishing might blast upon the common blissing 
 which attends such casualties ; therefore he erected a cirphouse 
 [corf-house] and fixed one John Whit cainer and overseer of 
 the water, who would yearly give away more fish to gentlemen, 
 ministers, tenants, and the pore in charety, then perhaps the 
 whole salmon fish in our time amounts to. 2/ He would not 
 set his orchards under a rent or duty, but had his gardiners, 
 to whom he gave sett sallaries, and comprised his fruit ; and 
 the men he chused to that effect were the keepers, and he 
 usually observed that those same men were most honest than 
 if he had called strangers. He has often got 6 chalders of 
 good fruit out of his Orchard of Beuly, and I heard old men 
 declare that one tree in that orchard payed the teind, that is, 
 carried ten bolles of peares which were shaken and measured 
 with peck and firlot, good ripe fruit. Nay, I spok to a gentle- 
 man who bought the gleanings of this same tree from David 
 Belfure the garner, and when he had shaken the same it 
 amounted to above 3 ferlets of good peares. 
 
 A 3d property this nobleman had, that he was never known 
 to raise a tennant for any mans pleasure for brib or grassom, 
 which he never sought nor tooke ; and, if a gentlemans sone 
 would seeke to raise a tennant in the incountry, he would 
 flattly deny him, telling that he would give him land in the 
 Highland, for gentlemen are appointed to watch and guard the 
 country, and therefor ought to live uppon the marches, skirts, 
 and extremities thereof to keep of theeves and sorroners. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 251 
 
 A 4th excellent temper this good man had, that he could 
 not hear a shrud tale or report of any, and if he had got any 
 account of an absent friend he would confront both and put 
 every word to the touch, which bred peace and concord from 
 Dan to Bersheba within the Lordship of Lovat. He would 
 often say that a resetter made the theefe, and a credulous 
 receaver made the Iyer ; his rule was the 23 and the 101 Psai. 23. 3. 
 Psalmes, he that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doth 
 evil to his nighbour, nor taketh up a reproach or report 
 against his nighbour, and saith as he thinketh in his heart. 
 
 Two yeares before his death he was induced to make a 
 dissadvantagious bargan and paction about the victuall and 
 salmon fishing of the Lordship, and might be called circum- 
 vention and overreaching indeed. There were two cuning 
 fellowes, John Yeoman, merchant in Dundee, and Doncan 
 Forbes, marchant in Invernes, who got my Lord to conde- 
 scend to a forehand Block (as it was called) that for advancing 
 of a great soume of mony prevento termino they were to have 
 the bole of victuall at such a rate, and the barrell of salmon 
 at such a soume; and the next ensueing yeare both victuall 
 and fish arose to about 3d more, and another yeare, to almost 
 duble, which may be seen to be a vast losse to my Lord Lovat. 
 Some base mercenary servants were bribed to draw Lord Simon 
 to this unhappy agreement. James Glendinning, his master 
 houshold, was blamed, and one John Burt ; and it was thought 
 that his Lady was no good instrument to carry it one ; but the 
 shame and greefe of it no doubt bred his chronick mallady, 
 of which in end he dyed. He was often heard to report and 
 repeat the words of the apostle S. Paul, That no man goe 
 beyond and defraud his brother in any mater, becaus that i Thess. 4. 6. 
 the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have forewarned and 
 testified, etc. 
 
 About the close of May 1632 Lord Simon fell into a dull 
 melancholy, and laboured all the yeare under it ; at last it 
 seased the splen in a strong inflamation, and, not adverting to 
 it by speedy cure, it turnd into a scirrus or hard swelling of 
 the splen, for the mater of the splen, causing obstruction by 
 continuance, grew thicker, and made a scirrus, Avhich increased 
 all the harvest and winter. At the same time Earl Collin of 
 
252 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Seaforth lay under a consumption, and had one doctor, John 
 Philp, of Dundee, attending him, whom becaus of his singular 
 love to Lord Simon he sent over to him, being at Bunchrive, 
 the onely dwelling and aire he loved best. This Philp stayed 
 and waited uppon him all March, but could do him no good, 
 for he said he came too late. The poett tells us — Sero medicina 
 paratur^ cum mala per longas mvaluere moras. At length this 
 great man dyed the 15 of Aprile, to the incredible greefe of 
 all his clan and kindred. The Erasers of Lovat, resolving to 
 desert their buriall place in Beuly Minster, interred Lord 
 Simones corps in Kirkhill, at the easter end of the church, 
 with a pale of curious timber work above his grave, and erected 
 that Isle and steeple there as their tomb which now we see 
 joined to the church. 
 
 This great mans funerals were sumptuous and splendid : 
 nothing was wanting to make it singularly solemn, regular, 
 and orderly, the season being very inviting to the nighbouring 
 clans to conveen. M'kintosh had 6 hundered men well ap- 
 pointed ; the Grants 800, the M'kenzes 900, Rosses of Balni- 
 gown alOOO pretty men, the Erasers a 1000 and more; Camerons, 
 Mackdonels, Monroes, were not under a 1000, well ordered. 
 Such a buriall was never seen or heard of in our country, com- 
 puted to be above 5000 foot and horse. The arable ground all 
 under breer, but trod like a common foot rode all betuixt 
 Bunchrive and the church of Wardlaw ; yet it was observable 
 that no such fertil, fruitfuU crop was ever known to grow upon 
 thet raced land as Gods Providence sent here that yeare. His 
 funerall sermon was preacht be Mr. William Fraser, minister 
 at Kilmorack (for Mr. John Houston, minister of the place, 
 flattly declined it) ; the pertinent, apposit text pitcht upon was 
 2 King. 22. that of Hulda the prophetess to King Josiah — Behold there- 
 ^' fore I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thow shalt be 
 
 gathered unto thy grave in peace, and thine eyes shall not see 
 all the evil whicli I will bring upon this place ; and, as the text, 
 so the sermon was no lesse a preaching than a prophesy. The 
 Laird of Grant got the minister in his armes at the church 
 door and told Lord' Hugh that he would be vain of and glory 
 in such a kinsman. 
 
 * * * * , * 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 253 
 
 Perhaps men may be apt and ready to censor and reflect 
 upon this noble peer and great hero, imputing severall acts 
 derogatory to his wit, honor, aud dignity, as 1/ the rejecting 
 of the Kings offer and royall gift of the Earldom of Atholl. 
 This hath been already determined, nor would he embrace that 
 tender for many just reasons, especially the debt resting as an 
 unaccountable burden upon that great estate, and what un- 
 warrantable shifts of rigor and oppression hath been falln 
 upon by the late possessor to support their grandure is too 
 well known to all the kingdome. 2/ Lord Simons extravagant 
 provision for the heires of the 2d marriage with Dame Jean 
 Steward, giveing Inveralochy, an estate of 8 or nin thousand 
 a yeare, which was more than the Earles of Cathnes, Suther- 
 land, or Seaforth benorth us ever did, nor the ^Earles of 
 Murray, Huntly, or Marr besouth us reacht in the best of times. 
 The answeir is ready, that if Dame Jean had survived her lord 
 she had devoured much more in joint ur by either living a 
 widow be herselfe or marrying a stranger ; and who knowes 
 not what a sway second ladyes ever had with their lords in 
 such cases ? 3/ as to the bargan of the 3 davachs of Drum- 
 chardny. Holm, and Craggag, with the Laird of Mackintosh, 
 whose heritage it was ; whey Lord Simon suffered that to goe 
 by himselfe, it being in the heart of his own country ; there 
 was indeed a motion of an excambion betuixt Lord Simon and 
 Lachlin More of Torcastell ; and my Lord, willing' to have 
 given him land in the Leyes equivalent to these 3 davachs, 
 and employed his two kinsmen, LIutchen oge of Culboky and 
 Hutchen of Belladrom, to treat with Mackintosh uppon that 
 head, but they betrayed their trust, and, finding the bargan 
 easie and cheap, made it for themselves, and divided the land 
 among themselves, which was beJow the Lord Lovat ever to 
 challange, but fraud and senistrous purchase non gandet tertius 
 heres. 4/ As to the many morgages (called wadsets) given 
 out by him in Stratharick, Strathglaish, Abertarfe, and Aird, 
 there was no earthly thing he put in ballance with his kindred, 
 whom he would still keep by him within the country, nor 
 would he ever suffer any of them to setle among nighbour 
 clans ; and, since he had now and then need of mony, he rather 
 take his kinsmens mony than borrow of strangers or sell land ; 
 
254 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 so that by morgage he kept the mony within his country, made 
 them frugall, indeared their hearts to him, and his to them, 
 being wont to say that his men wer his ammunition, his guard, 
 his glory and honor, and few could compeat with them. 5/ As 
 to his last match, Kih'avocks daughter, the Lady Moynes, men 
 may reflect upon him for marrying below himselfe, which was 
 dishonorable to his famely ; true, but had he married one 
 above her qualety and a young woman, being himselfe but 53 
 yeares of age, he might have burdened his estate with many 
 children to be provided suitable to their birth, and have left a 
 great jointur to her, and perhaps proved proud, ambitius, 
 vain, slight and despise him in his old dayes ; but he married 
 a modest, humane, vertuus, humble woman ; she gave him 
 satisfaction, had great care of him, loved his children and 
 friends, kindly to the country. He lived ten yeares with her, 
 nor could he in honor or generosity have left her lesse than he 
 did; and she lived 30 yeares after him. 6/ I must not omit 
 the sentiments which many high and low had of his unadvertant 
 paction and bargan (called vulgarly forehand block) which he 
 made with John Yeoman and Doncan Forbes, two sutle and 
 greedy fellowes, to have his fishing and victuall for severall 
 yeares at so easy a rate. This was the great mans infirmity, 
 giveing eare to sycophant, flattering courtiours, bribed by these 
 brockers to work my Lord Lovat to a condescendance ; which 
 put him to his after game sad sense of his folly. He had 
 kinsemen of his own far more active men then these to do his 
 bussiness, and there was mony enugh in the cuntry, and the 
 gain should rather fall with them than with strangers; besids 
 he had wise men of his relations and acquaintance to consult 
 with ; it was his weakness and omission too not to have doun 
 it, in such a weighty mater. But what needs inlargement upon 
 such a topick ? His own trouble of mind, his melancholy 
 mallady occasioned by it, was too deare a sacrifice and ransome 
 for such a loss, biding us not to pore uppon a remediless evil. 
 
 To bring this paragraph to a period, this noble peere, as he 
 was great, so he was a very good man, generous, free, and 
 hospital, much given to charety ; as he keept and maintaind 
 peace within his country, so a continued concord and corre- 
 spondance with all his nighbours, and beloved of them. His 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 255 
 
 house was a harbour to good men, whose doore was seldom 
 shut ; and, as his house, so also his heart was patent to enter- 
 tain them. The Lord Lovat was called the Common Cooke 
 of the North ; at the serving in of his dishes he would invit 
 the meanest stranger to dine with him, but not the greatest of 
 his kinsmen, but if they stayed unintreated he made them 
 most welcome. He kept singular order and government in 
 his famely, quher there was never any seen drunk ; yet seldom 
 or never was his ale and beer cellars closed, and sometimes not 
 his wine cellar ; and for his liberal large expense and spending 
 I spoke of it before, and non could know his housekeeping 
 better than I, for my grandfather, James Fraser of Phoppachy, 
 was above 30 yeares his major domo, and I have often seen his 
 accounts. This noble peer was a great incurrager of arts and 
 arms ; for, as the Lords of Lovat usually spent a quarter of 
 the yeare or more in Stratharick, all that time Lord Simon, 
 living at Mickle Garth, keept a weekly muster of his men, 
 training them to arching, hagbuting, jumping, wrestling, 
 putting the stone, throwing the barr, and all manner of manly 
 exercise. 
 
 Lord Hugh Fraser of Lovat succeeded his father, Lord Hugh Fraser, 
 Simon, in the 43 year of his age, and in May 1633 was served H^^^^ 
 and retoured to his father, the Earle of Murray, Lord Weemes, 
 Laird of Foules, Barron of Kilravock, Lord George Seaforth, 
 and Laird of Grant, being invit and present at that solemn 
 service, for he was universally beloved and in very great 
 esteeme amongst all his relations and acquaintances, south and 
 north ; and my Lord resolves now to live constantly at Lovat, 
 it being the onely place which shee fancied, and kept a noble 
 house. Her master houshold, one Master George Fraser, 
 David Cer, musitian, and Mr. James Tarras, chaplain. She had 
 her ten children with her at home, and her famely a nursery of 
 piety, vertue, and learning, the very ornament, patern, and 
 example to all the North of Scotland. 
 
 Now are our young gentry again getting commissiones, and 
 providing recruits for the Swedish warrs, where many of our 
 Scottish spirits have formerly gained honor; and there is 
 here one Thomas Fraser, sone of the house of Belladrum, a 
 commissionat officer, gathering voluntyres up and down this 
 
256 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 country, and my Lord Lovat, by his concurrance and autho- 
 rity, was very helpfull to him, and in a Court att Beuly got a 
 list of severalls young men to be reased for that service. One 
 Donald Donald M'kwilliam, being persued, fled from Beufort up the 
 Vicicean/i hills of Conventh and beyond Bobleny; Alexander Urqbart, 
 my Lord scheefe gentleman, overtakes liim on horseback. The 
 fellow being courragious and desperat, turns and desires Alex- 
 ander by adjouration to keep off and let him allon ; the gentle- 
 man, too forward and non with him, layes hold off him, and 
 he runs him through the body, and falls dead uppon the spot. 
 The rogue escaped to the hills, great lamentations made for 
 that excellent gentleman Alexander Urqbart, and a soume put 
 upon the murtherers head ; many thereabouts were dayly 
 searching for him. At last Thomas Fraser of Bobleny, being 
 very intimat with him, told that he needed not feare danger, 
 and so trained him to his ruin, brought him to his own house and 
 treated him, and then called in two gossips protesting kind- 
 ness, cut off his head, which they brought to Lovat ; but blood 
 cries litle or no memory of either of them. 
 
 A71710 1634 the long courting betuixt D. Ross, Laird of 
 Balnigown, and Miss Mary, Lord Hughs eldest daughter, is 
 now finally closed in a voluntar mutuall contract and agree- 
 }une 1634. ment, and the marriage day set ; the wedding, solemn enugh, 
 held at Lovat, and these two lovers at length enjoyed one 
 another; with epithalamiums and nuptiall panagiricks made 
 to the Rose and Marigold, or the Rosemary of Murray and the 
 Rosa solis of Rosse : a very loyal soule. At his time the Bishop 
 of Murray, Mr. John Guthery, kept on his circular visita- 
 tions of every church within the diocesse, came up through 
 all Strathspey, Badenoch, Stratharick, to Cilchummen in 
 Abertarfe, through Glenmoriston, in to Kilmore S. Durstan in 
 Urchart,^ and to Kiltarlety, and thence to Kirk hill in Wardlaw 
 parish, where he bald a visitation, my Lord Lovat and his 
 kinsmen of all ranks present, selling very good order and 
 disciplin. After examination it was found that Mr. John 
 
 1 Donald, son of William, son of John. 
 
 '•^ Kilmore, the parish church of Urquhart in Inverness-shire, known in Gaelic 
 as Urchudainn mo Chrostain, St. Drostan's Urquhart. 
 
POLICKATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 257 
 
 Houston, incumbent here, had marryed the Laird of Balni- 
 gown and the Lord Lovats daughter upon two proclamations, 
 for which Mr. John was suspended apud acta^ and Mr. William 
 Fraser, minister at Kiltarlity, appointed next Lords day to 
 intimat the sentence and preach here, a severe censure for so 
 small a fault, hut my Lord Bishop declared in judicio it was 
 for breach of a strickt canon of the church, and the eyes of 
 criticks lookeing on, and it was more deserving he should 
 censor the minister of the place than himselfe be censured by 
 the Presbiterians, now a very prevaileing party in the King- 
 dom. From this Bishop Guthery goe for Invernesse, and kept 
 a solemn visitation there, where himselfe preacht, his text in 
 the Acts: Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us goe again and Act: 15,36- 
 visit our bretheren in every city where we preacht the word 
 of the Lord, and see how they do. I heard churchmen and 
 laymen commend that sermon as learned, wise, and seasonable. 
 
 The Scots now being (as Sleiden terms them like their own 
 rivers rapidlssimi ingenij^ violent and rapid) clandestinly con- 
 triveing plots against their good King, all chiftens of clans are 
 resolved to muster and train their men and put them in exer- 
 cise of arms. My Lord Lovat provids a good armory stored 
 with muscats, firlocks, gunpouder and amunition. The brave 
 young Master of Lovat, Simon, loyal at heart, being now 1635. 
 about 15 yeares of age, takes a progress in circuit all the lord- 
 ship over, and er he returnd to Lovat listed all his fencible 
 men, furnishing them with bowes, the onely arms he loved, 
 setled fledgers to make ready store of arrowes, and at burrialls 
 (lest convocations should be spoke off) he always noticed the 
 prettiest men, and oblidged every parish to set up huts for 
 arching, and caused the young gentlemen to draw on bonspales 
 and wagers to ingage the youth to martiall manly exercises, 
 runing, jumping, swiming, throwing of the barr, fencing with 
 common cudgells, shooting at marks with firelocks, till at 
 length he needed not feare if his Majesty required to set out a 
 regiment of well trained souldioures for his service, and defence 
 of his country. 
 
 In January 36, when the festivals wer over, Simon, Master 
 of Lovat, well appointed with a noble retinue, goes to univer- 
 sity, chuseing the first yeare to studdy at the Kings Colledg of 
 
 R 
 
258 
 
 rOLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Aberdeen, and by the rode seing his friends the Lairds of 
 Philorth and Mucholl, attending on him, convoyed him to 
 Aberdeen in considerable state ; and all the while he stayed 
 there not one young nobleman in both colledges was in greater 
 esteem, beloved of all that converst with him, the ornament of 
 the university, as he was termed, singular at all exercises and 
 recreations, ballown, cachpole, byars, bowles, the gofFe, and 
 artching. And it is observable that att the strickest rate he 
 Anno 1636. carried the arching that yeare at bowmarks and rovers, gain- 
 ing the silver arrow, of all the collidgeners there, and had a 
 100 gentlemen of his name out of Marr and Buchan present, 
 and joined a vast silver plat to the arrow, the frame of it a 
 heart, and a crown over with the Kings arms upon the one 
 side and his own upon the other. This same rich fancy I saw 
 hanging to the arrow, 1652. In June the Master of Lovat 
 returnd home, convoyed at the same rate with which he went 
 abroad. 
 
 In June, at the Master's return, his mother, excellent Isabel 
 Weemes, sickened, which began with a weakness and undigestion 
 in the stommack, a great obstruction in the liver, an universall 
 heat, and men could hardly know what to make of it ; for 
 doctors and persones of skill we had not then in the North, a 
 few common chyrurgeons, and traversing sharltons out of 
 Ireland. There was one Mr. John Sholes, an Irish man 
 vulgarly termed Doctor Sholes, that had past some experi- 
 ments in the country. This fellow was called to Lovat be my 
 Lords and ladyes desire, and at first view he confidentlie 
 ingages to cure her ; but quit contrary, after his long stay in 
 the famely and useing potions and topicall applications she 
 grew worse and worse. The good ladys curious collour and 
 complexion altered to admiration, dim yallow like a jaundice, 
 which I judge might be her mallady, but the unhappy fellow 
 had no skill by proper evacuations to expell the morbifick 
 mater. Drugs and forreign medicins could not be had, nor 
 non of skill to consult so much as her constitution, yet by Gods 
 blissing, with simples she might be recovered ; yet the vile 
 varlet, mistakeing and misapplying quhat was administrated, 
 she was perfectly poisoned, her body after death spotted. She 
 was a pure, sanguin, clear complexion, a great beauty as any 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 259 
 
 could be. She departed July 10, 1636, in the 48 yeare of her 
 age, being 22 yeares married, and but 4 yeares current Lady 
 Lovat. 
 
 After this good ladyes death, O what a Bochim of mourning 
 becam the whole country, the face of affairs altered, all faces 
 black with weeping and sorrow, the joy of all hearts ceased, 
 our dancing turnd into groning, our musick into mourning, our 
 songs into sadness. It is incredible and unexpressible what 
 greefe ceased upon all ranks of people ; those who knew her 
 not as well as those who knew her wer sunk in sorrow. Her 
 body being dissected and embalmed, coffined and laid in a 
 vault untill lier friends at south were acquainted. Her brother, 
 the Earle of Weemes, with a fine train of his relationes, came 
 north. Her funerals sumptuous and solemn, and her corps 
 interred in the Isle of Mons Marife,^ now compleitly finished ; 
 the great Bell, put up in the steeple the summer before, with 
 this inscription, michakl bvrgekhovs fe( it Anno d. 1634.^ It 
 was the greatest in the North, being the pryory bell off Beuly, 
 and judged too bigg for an ordinary steeple; for that cause 
 Lord Hugh sent it to Holland andcasten be the founder forsaid 
 de and a large hand bell besids. This good lady got the 
 
 hansell tolling chaimes of this new bell, accompanied to her urn 
 with unfeigned lamentations, which she well merited of all 
 pious, sincere hearts ; whom we commit to the sacred dust in 
 the words of the evangelick prophet, the rightious perisheth Isai. 57. 1,2. 
 and no man layeth it to heart, and mercifull men are taken 
 away non considering that the rightious is taken away from 
 the evil to come, he shall enter into peace, they shall enter 
 into peace and rest in their beds, each one walking in their 
 upprightness. The Holy Spirit tells us that the voice from Rev. 14. 13. 
 Heaven saith, Blissed are the dead which die in the Lord from 
 henceforth, yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their 
 labours and their works do follow them. Amen. 
 
 We leave this mournfull famely melting in teares. My Lord 
 Lovat, sunk in melancholy which continued and convoyed him 
 
 1 See pp. 252, 266. 
 
 ^ There is still a fragment of an old bell at Kirkhill. See paper read by Rev. 
 C. D. Bentinck, the present minister of the parish, before the Gaelic Society of 
 Inverness, to be printed in the forthcoming volume of the Society's Transactions. 
 
S60 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 to his dying minut, quit gives over all worldly secular affaires, 
 fasts two dayes in the week, the Wednsday on which his lady 
 dyed, and the Saturday, not seing any in the face those dayes 
 all his lifetime, and a set day every weeke for distrihutions to 
 the poor. His sone, Simon the Master, is virtually Lord 
 Lovat, mannages all things without and within doores, governs 
 the country and all alFaires in it, and that with the wit and 
 prudence of the sages ; and a wonder it was to all that a young 
 youth of so few yeares and experience was endued with such a 
 heroick spirit in the exact, grave, and sollid conduct and con- 
 veyance of all the concerns of this coimtry and great famely. 
 In the closur of the yeare Sir James Eraser, my Lords only 
 1637. brother of the second marriage, went south and matcht with 
 Beatrix Weemes, daughter to the Laird of Fernies in Fife, and 
 returnd home about Hallowmas; and, seing it was not meet 
 to keep distinct famelies, they lived with my Lord at Lovat. 
 This good woman was carefull of the children, moderat, sober, 
 pious, and vertuously inclined, their great advantage to be so 
 near the church, and the ordinances so regularly administrated. 
 
 This winter the Master of Lovat tooke another toure and 
 progress south, stayed a quarter of a yeare in the University 
 of St. Andrewes, in the Leonardin Colledge, to try the different 
 methods of learning there from Aberdeen, where he had spent 
 his former course. In the spring he returnd north, and 
 passed another quarter at Kings Colledge, quher, as he said, 
 there was more profit to be hade, where he best liked the grain 
 of the students and genuin temper of the masters. By this 
 time he is master of some philosophy, and, after seing the 
 solemnity of the graduation, he returnd home in July; and 
 now is the marriage of John, Earle of Sutherland, with Miss 
 Anna Fraser, the Lord Lovats daughter, going on. And it 
 was notar that, two yeares before, the Earle, passing this way 
 with his wife, Lady Jean Drummond, to pay a visit to my Lord 
 Lovat, that at the church stile of Wardlaw, rideing by the 
 Earle, catcht a fall with his horse flat uppon the slippry 
 rock ; his lady gave a shout, saying, God safe yow, my heart, 
 July 27, 1638. yow will be either married or hurried at this church; and so 
 now it happened by a good providence that he was married to 
 Lady Anna Fraser in this church of Wardlaw, and consumat 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 '261 
 
 with a solemn wedding feast at Lovat ; Mr. Jolin Maxuel, 
 Bishop of Ross, passing the cerenionys. 
 
 In September thereafter the Earl of Sutherland, with a noble 
 traine, brought home his lady to Dunrobbin, and prevailed 
 with my Lord Lovat to convoy his daughter home, for his 
 divertisment. Sir James of Brey and good Simon, the 
 Master, with some prime gentlemen of the name of Eraser, 
 went also with them. By the way they pay a visit to Fowles, 
 and came that night to Ballnigown ; they rode thence over 
 the Large,^ and the Gordons and other gentlemen vassalls of 
 Sutherland meet them at the Mickle Eerry of Portnicouter to 
 convoy them forward to Dornach, where they were treated by 
 [John Abernethy], Bishop of Cathness, dwelling there in his own 
 house then, and in the evening down the shoare to Dunrobbin, 
 where they were receaved with acclamations of great joy, and 
 entertained with an inferr feast which continued eight dayes, 
 such as perhaps was never before holden or seen in that place, 
 the account of which, with other contingencies that happened 
 (too tedious here to insert), I had from an eyewitness. 
 
 Now it is that the Bishops begin to be an eyesore to such 
 as draw up with the Puritanical secte, of which some seeds are 
 sown in Murray. Some of the famous prelats at south being 
 rudly treated, a commission is sent north from the leading- 
 faction to impose upon that sacred order here also ; and some 
 Churchmen, makeing defection with the Murray Lairds at a 
 meeting in Eorres, sent Captain Thomas M'kenzie of Plus- 
 carden, William Ross of Clavah, tutor of Kilravock, and Mr. 
 David Dunbarr, minister at Narden [Nairn], the triurmmi^ as 
 messengers to famous Master John Guthery, Bishop of Murray, 
 living then att his own Castle of Spiny. The good man, most 
 hospitable to strangers, entertained them heartily. At length 
 they broacht their errand, introducing the same with a pre- 
 amble of the broiles and comotions at south, and what had 
 happened in St. Geiles Church at Edinburgh against the 
 Bishops, and the Covenanters being increased to a formidable 
 faction, it was very desirable that his Lordship should looke 
 
 ^ Lairg in Sutherland shire. Gaelic, An Lairig, the lairig — moor, or sloping 
 hill. 
 
262 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 to his own safety, and remove out of this great house, which is 
 an eyesore to that people. At the entry of their discourse 
 Mr. John Hay, parson of Raffan, came in, who was plainer and 
 more peremptor, telling the Bishop downright of a sentence 
 and design upon him. The good man heard them calmely, 
 and then replied that he forsaw the storm and knew quhat was 
 design d, and that needed not dissemble their comission ; and 
 they would be all unmasked and discovered er long; and 1/ for 
 yow, Captain Thomas of Pluskarden, yow are my vassall, and 
 to add, a reformation from the Highlands, especially in religion, 
 is somewhat rare, but in this is a hazard of your loyalty, and 
 in a short time there will be litle memory of you in Murray. 
 2/ for yow, William of Clavah, if I had clapt the Taylor too 
 close to your back I had not got this needle to stab me, mean- 
 ing Kate Tailor whom they indulged as his whore in the pres- 
 betry to cohabit with him. 3/ for yow, Mr. John Hay, yow 
 were ever a bussy factious body, and if I had not kept yow in 
 the ministry out of meer charety I had been free of your din 
 this day ; but your time will be short. 4/ as for yow, petulant 
 Davy Dunbarr, the ink of your perjury is not yet dried up 
 (meaning his canonicall oath lately given) ; but yow will repent 
 the change er 20 yeares, and will yet read your punishment 
 and sin in your barren ofspring. All the four men I saw and 
 knew, and Gods hand upon them all, which I mind not to 
 record. Good Bishop Guthery was a blissing in his diocess ; 
 he married a daughter to Mr. David Collase, Treasurer of 
 Bishop Guthery Murray, at Kinedor, a 2. daughter to the Laird of R ^ Hay, 
 leaves Murray. ^ daughter to Mr. Joseph Brody, Archdean of Murray, 
 a 4. daughter and the youngest to the Laird of Guthery, and 
 freed that estat, where notwithstanding of all their sentences 
 he lived and died in peace. 
 The generaii In May 1639 there was a generall meeting appointed at 
 Aberdeen anent Aberdeen for carrying on the Covenant, and severall commis- 
 the Covenant, sioners sent thither from their councell at Edinburgh to try 
 the pulses of the nobles and cheefes of clans in the North, to 
 that effect such specious pretexts and a platform laid for 
 reformation in Church and State for religion and loyalty, 
 that men wer charmed to concurr and contribut all that was 
 
 1 Sic. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 263 
 
 possible in their power to promove so good and so great a 
 work. Among others, Simon, Master of Lovat, convocatcd 
 the prime and floure of his kindred, and so set forward on his 
 journay to Aberdeen with about 50 horse; and at Turreff, 
 Philorth mett him with 15 horse, all well appointed ; and, as 
 he was envyed entering that city for his convoy, so was he all 
 the while he stayed there for his carriage, councel, and conduct 
 in that numerous assembly. The Marques of Montross was 
 a very leading man then, and a forward Covenanter, litle 
 knowing or considering what a snare and fallacy lay hid 
 under that idol mistery of the times, for men were hood- 
 winked and carried headlong under a mask and vigor of 
 religion, and we may say. Quid non religio potuit suadere 
 malorum^ and pudet hcec opprobria nobis hcec diet potuisse et 
 non potuisse repelli. Many ministers were forward in the 
 work, Mr. David Dick, Mr. G. Henderson from Edinburgh, 
 Mr. Andrew Cant at Pitsligo, a firy instrument. Betuixt the 
 severall sederunts and intervalls of their sessions, it was 
 observed that the Marques of Montross and Master of Lovat 
 were often serious together, and at times embraceing one 
 another, and with teares parting. I heard my own father 
 often averr that he heard the marques protest that among 
 all the barrons and gentlemen mett at Aberdeen he found not 
 so sound an advice nor so deep a fetch and discovery as the wise 
 Master of Lovat had ; for his own part he admired that youth, 
 and owed him more than to all his adviseres ; and it seemes they 
 both proselited one another, and it is known that next yeare 
 Montrose declared himselfe ante-covenanter, and if the Master 
 of Lovat had lived, no Eraser in the North durst, or would be, 
 a Covenanter. 
 
 This great meeting gave up the last of June, and the June 1639. 
 Master of Lovat returnd North over the hill of Tyrebeger, 
 be Kintorr and Inverury, where he quartered Saturdayes 
 night, and most of his company about Leggersdenn, resolving 
 to hear sermon at the Church of Kill Samen upon the Lords 
 day. About 10 of the clock they came all thither, the people 
 conveening about the ordinary time, and the first bell rung ; 
 but, as I had it from severalls of the masters train, a sad diss- 
 apointment ensued, for the minister of the parish either was 
 unwell or found himselfe undisposed, and so he declined to 
 
264 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 preach to such an unaccustomed auditory, and upon this they 
 were like to want sermon ; hut by a good providence the 
 Master of Lovat had his chaplain witli him, Master William 
 Fraser, minister at Kilmorack, whom God furnished and 
 iuabled so that he preacht to the great auditory there pre- 
 sent. It seemes the sermon, if extemporaneous, yet most 
 pertinent and seasonable, and the subject apposit for the 
 times. He tooke his text out of Deboras song in the Judges. 
 Judg: 5. 8. They chose new gods, then was war in the gates ; was there 
 a shield or speare scene among forty thousand in Israel ? The 
 Master of Berridell, comming in to church at the reading of 
 the text, being an auditor, told the Master of I.ovat, Truly, 
 truly, master, yow haife credit of yowr minister, and I protest 
 the discourse might be delivered before the King ; a very 
 sound and loyall sermon, and be sure er this wark be at an end 
 he tells a preacher and a prophet too. 
 The Master of The Master of Lovat returnd home through Strathbogy, over 
 from Aberdeen. ^P^J? ^1^^ payed a visit to Sir Robert Innes at Innes, the Laird 
 of DufFus, the Shirrefe Murray, Culbin, Brody, Kilravock, and 
 the Earle of Murray at Stuart Castle, and through Invernes, 
 the Master of Berridale never parting with him all the way till 
 they came both to Lovat together. I doe well remember the 
 good Master of Lovats face and features coming in to Phop- 
 pachy by the way to pay a visit to James Fraser, my grand- 
 father, upon his deathbed, quhom he loved dearly. The 
 Master of Berrid[ale] went through Rosse to visit his allyes 
 the Mackenzies, being married to Earle Collin of Seaforths 
 daughter, good Lady Jean M'kenzie. The Master of Lovat 
 followed him next weeke to Braan, and convoyed him on his 
 road to Cathness, over the great Couter ferry, and through 
 Sutherland to Doun Bobbin, quher they parted, and never 
 mett again. These two saints (as I may term them) had not 
 their parallell in the kingdom for wit, prudence, grace, good 
 partes, religion and loyalty, too, too good for those corrupt 
 times. They were linked together in their life, and dyed in 
 one and the same yeare ; for Simon returnd from Sutherland 
 in August, it being his last visit and expedition abroad or 
 at home. In September William, my Lord Lovats 4 sone 
 sickened, and, being cut off the stone, dyed of a malignant 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 265 
 
 fever, which added to his fathers greefe and melancholy ; he 
 
 was about 13 yeares of age, a beutifull, choice youth, his 
 
 mother and fathers darling. Now, alias, we find it mater of 
 
 our universall sorrow, this noble famely is decaying dayly, one 
 
 dropping off after another ; no sooner is brave William laid in 
 
 his grave than his elder brother, Simon, the master, finds his 
 
 indisposition begin, and was very uneasy all that winter, 
 
 though the conjecture was that it flowed from fatigue and The Master of 
 
 frequent travels, journaying hither and thither south and sickned!^ 
 
 north. But his singular sobriety and good dyet qualefied his 
 
 distemper ; and his own cheerfull, facetious disposition keept 
 
 him up to an incredible degree. His own maxim was : — 
 
 Si tibi deficiant inedici ; medici tibi fiant, 
 Ha'c tria, mens Ida, requiem, moderata dicta ! 
 
 In the spring his mallady recurred with greater violence, and 
 was discovered to be a hectick. Old Doctor Clerk, a Highland 
 phisitian of singular skill, attended him, haveing also consulta- 
 tiones from Aberdeen and Edinburgh ; yet nothing would do. 
 Dyet and cordialls, milks and clarefied whey, was his own 
 prescript. He had a wonderful! fancy for musick, variety of 
 which he had still by him, the harp, virginels, base and trible 
 viol in consort. He would say oft that musick was an emblem 
 of heaven, besids that it cheered a melancholy mind. Musica 
 mentis medicina moestis. The trumpet and great pipe, both 
 most martiall, he would have a mornings, and vocall musick 
 was his delight, of which he had enugh. Mr. John Houstoun, 
 the minister of Wardlaw, and his sone Mr. Thomas, were great 
 musitians, vocall and instrumental!, who frequently attended, 
 besids James Tarras and David Cerr, l)oth domesticks ; and 
 for prayers, reading, and devotion that famely was an oratory. 
 Besids the chaplans, the ministers round about came there 
 successively and in course; but the master delighted much in 
 the minister of Kilmorack, Mr. William Eraser, whom he 
 could not want, and was his sole secretary, to whom he com- 
 municated his whole mind. As he was drawing near his 
 close his heavenly seraphick sentances and ejaculations were 
 wonderful!, and, as he would say, God so assisted him with his 
 wonderfull influences that he was above himselfe, and continued 
 
266 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 perfect to the last ; and, like Jacob in his legacy, he called the 
 whole famely, told his father, Lord Hugh, the very houre of 
 his death, comforted him to admiration, blissed his brothers 
 and sisters, being all about him, giving them toakens, exhorting 
 the servants, and then, geting his last prayer and absolution, 
 departed Saturday. His funeralls were deservedly solemn, and 
 was interred in his chappell at Kirkill. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Here follows an account of the Civil War, and of affairs on 
 the Continent, etc.] 
 
 After this long intervall and digression in forreign king- 
 domes, we now return home to our native country, and treat 
 in course of the Frasers off Lovat, from the death of Lord 
 Simon forward to the death of Lord Hugh, his sone, and the 
 contingencies that happened in this nation cotemporary with 
 the intestin warrs. Lord Simon, expiring in Aprile 1633, the 
 first thing that Lord Hugh Fraser of Lovat undertooke was the 
 building of the tomb and chappell at Kirkhill, where his father. 
 Lord Simon, was interred. The Church of Beuly wholly decayed, 
 the Lords of Seaforth and Lovat deserted their buriall places 
 there, the one being interred in the Cathedrall of Channory, 
 the other at the church of Kirkhill. Their first design was to 
 have erected the chappell at the wester end of the church, but 
 the hight of the rock impeded that, so that they chused the 
 litle bottom at the easter end of the church, which of old was 
 the buriall place of the Mackrayes in Clune, who now had 
 removed to Kintail. The Lord Lovat kept a meeting with 
 his friends, the heads of famelies here about, viz. : Thomas 
 Fraser of Strachin, Thomas Fraser of Struy, William Fraser of 
 Culboky, and Hugh Fraser of Belladroum, and agreed that each 
 of those famelies should have a share in the said buriall place, 
 to be divided after the chappell was built ; and so a competent 
 soume of mony was stented and contributed among them, and 
 John Ross, the master masson, called and agreed with, who 
 undertooke the work, and finished the same anno 1634. 
 
 When the Priory of Beuly was demolished Lord Simon 
 caused bring over the great bell of that church, called Clag 
 ni Mannachi, the Monksbell, and made a frame of wood for 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 267 
 
 it, which was erected uppon the hill south-east the church, 
 
 called hence Tome-Chluig, the bell hill. This bell was of vast The great bell 
 
 bigness, and servefl to ring in to sermons on the Saboth, and 
 
 towle at funeralls ; but this yere it was sent over to Holland 
 
 and made less, being now in dimensions fitter for our steeple 
 
 of Kirkhill ; it was set up there that yeare ; a large, shaply 
 
 bell, which were it in a wooden steeple would be both louder 
 
 and sweeter in the sound.^ 
 
 After Lord Simons death, the solemnity of his buriall and 
 other contingencies being over. Lord Hugh Fraser, his sone, 
 steps uppon the slippery stage of state, condoling by true 
 conjecture the casualties and contingencies he forsaw to be 
 grappled with. His father left him under insuperable debt, 
 and his three matches overburdined this great estate, especially 
 by the vast provision he had made for the ofspring of the 
 second, viz. Dame Jean Stewart, is very notare, which broke 
 the Lordship of Lovat in snatching from it 10,000 a yeare 
 solid rent ; besids the streames of Lord Simons bounty in the 
 splendure of his house-keeping, and gratefying his friends, had 
 so drained his coffers that he left his sone onely an empty 
 purse to encounter with full bagged creditours, who were now 
 to crave their own with gapeing greed ; nor could his interest 
 at the time furnish him to the full, and his kinsmen could not 
 be perswaded to come off roundly with their supplyes. Some 
 I know were very prompt to give without delay ; others would 
 give, but in convenient time, not then ; but the most part 
 agreed not to give, and to make a remonstrance, declareing the 
 reasones thereof. And, alas, the originall cause of this had its 
 source from the bowels of his own famely ; and his resentment 
 of it thus : That when yow find me inevitably entangled, as I 
 have no honorable or safe retreat, yow make my necessity 
 your priveledge, and set what rate yow please uppon your 
 courtesies, a practice not very oblidging uppon a superiour and 
 cheefe. And I now resolve, as more honorable for me, to be 
 destroyed, by a forreigner than to be despised at home. 
 
 In June Lord Hugh, haveing settled his affaires here, and 
 committing the government of the country to Thomas Fraser 
 
 ^ See p. 259 and the paper by Mr. Bentinck therein referred to. 
 
268 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 of Stray, his heritable baliefe, removed with his whole faniely 
 Lord Hugh to Stratharick, where he stayed all the rest of that yeare, and 
 stratharick. next winter, living at Mickle Garth, where he had his own 
 dwelling house, suplyed dayly with his own customes, and 
 furnished with beefe, mutton, kid, and veal, venison, and wild 
 foule, fish and poultry, to the admiration of his servants, and 
 strangers in his retinue. His good lady was much in fancy 
 with that country, and, though she wanted the language, yet 
 gained the love and respect of all that knew her there and 
 elsewhere, flocking. My Lords major Domo or master hous- 
 hold was James Fraser of Phoppachy, whom he stilled Fear in 
 tea,^ the goodman, give this to the goodman, call the good- 
 man, take the goodmans advice and councell, etc. ; Mr. Patrick 
 Fraser, his cheefe gentleman ; James Tarras, chaplain ; David 
 Carr, musitian ; Jo. Reed, stuart ; groomes, pantry boyes, 
 cooks, all countrymen ; and the principall famelies of the name 
 had each a sone in his Court, to educat, polish and accomplish 
 them, and be sure they were exchanged at the yeares end, and 
 others taken home in their place in course every yeare, which 
 oblidged them to learn and improve their time well. In 
 March 1634 my Lord returned home to Lovat, and there were 
 6 gentlemens children unchristened till his coming, some of 
 them a month, some two month old. I myselfe was born 
 January first, and was not baptised till March, that my Lord 
 might be present and his good lady, my father resolving to 
 call me Hugh, but my Lord would not suffer but to have 
 me called James after my grandfather; nor would my Lord 
 Lovat nor his good lady take a childs name unless Hugh and 
 Isabel were the genuin proper names of the famely in their 
 parents and ancestors. 
 
 This summer my Lord and his famely flitts to Dalcros, 
 where he remained all the yeare, untill the marriage of his 
 eldest daughter. Miss Mary, with Balnigown oblidged him to 
 return to Lovat. But this harvest happened a rare providence, 
 of a large pott of gold found neare the orchard. The smith of 
 Donaldstoun, ^, vulgarly called Gow Roi,^ 
 
 1 Fear an Tigh, literally the ' Man of the House,' still applied to the head of 
 the house. 
 
 Blank in ms. An Gobha Riiadh, the Red Smith. 
 
 \ 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 ^69 
 
 a politick, wealthy fellow, and boare a great sway in the country. 
 In September he desired one of his servants, Donald M'kallis- 
 ter, to goe down to the Arn buish bewest the orchard of Lovat 
 to cut some withes and bring home a burdin of them. The 
 copsy buish was thick, and the fellow got up into the first tree 
 to cut his wands, and his knife falling out of his hand upon 
 the ground made a clinking sound as if it had fallen uppon 
 mettall. Down he leaps and found his knife sticking in the 
 ground closs by an earthen pott, which when he discovered 
 found it full of gold, covered with mosse after a rare manner 
 as if it were platted. The foolish fellow tooke nothing out of 
 it but one ring of gold, and, cutting all his burden of wands, 
 came streight home; and, being very hungry, said to one of 
 the smiths daughters bakeing bread at the fire. Pray, Janet, 
 give me a bannack or two and I will give a bonny ring fit for a 
 maid. She spared not to give him bread enugh, and he gives her 
 the golden ring which he had found in the pott. Home comes 
 the smith and, seing the ring upon his daughters finger, asked 
 how shee cam by it ; she declared that Donald M'kallister had 
 given it her. The smith examined his man Donald, who told 
 him the plain truth anent the pot; he saith to him, Donald, 
 keep all close, and at even we will goe down and yow will let 
 me see quher it is ; meantime, do your work and task. The 
 smith slips away allone and down to the buish, and, finding 
 the fresh sneaded branches, makes search under the tree and 
 discovers the earthen pott full off' gold, a good prey indeed. 
 He raises the same and carries all home, and securs the pot in 
 a locked chest ; and in the evening calls his servant Donald 
 M'kallister, and down they goe to the buish that he might see 
 the pot, but after all their search, nothing found there but a 
 small pit quher the pott lay. His master told him it was a 
 fallacy and dream, nor had he seen any such thing as a pot 
 with gold. The fellow averred the truth stoutly, and told he 
 might trust his own eyes that saw it, and after he had taken 
 out the ring covered the pott again with mosse and left it so 
 till he might have a fitter occasion to take it away. The smith 
 threattened him, telling him that it were busted, and never to 
 speak of it to any body, lest it might bring them both to 
 trouble. But it was hardly possible to conceale it ; the rumor 
 
270 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 of the gold spread abroad, and comming to my Lord Lovats 
 eares, he calls for the fellow, Donald M'kallister, examined the 
 mater before his court, confesses the whole mater of fact ; the 
 smith also conveened, denyed any accession to that mater, nor 
 was he in the knowledge of anything relating that pot of gold 
 save the ring which his daughter got from his boy, Donald 
 M'kallister. The ring is presented to my Lord, which he wore 
 uppon his finger all his life after; the fancy and frame of the 
 ring was like a scale, two hands clasped and a cross above. 
 The Reed Smith is committed to prison, and confined untill 
 he made confession, which the stubborn fellow never did, 
 and Donald M'kallister was nicknamed Donil i Noire ^ to his 
 dying day, whom I remember to see frequently after about my 
 Lords house in Lovat. The smith, after all the trialls and 
 tortures that were invented and inflicted, could never be 
 brought to any confession, carryed from the pit of Lovat called 
 Gormag, and secured in the irones in the vault of Beuly, quher 
 in process of time he dyed. Marryed 6 daughters, one to 
 Thomas Fraser in Croftblair, another to John M'keanroy vick 
 himmy^ in Englistoun, a third to M'kdonell oig in Conventh, 
 a 4 to Farqhar oge in Dunballach, who got most of the gold 
 and was the main instrument of makeing the smith deny the 
 clame and rendering him obstinat; this Farqhar, with his 
 wife, went to Lettir iu,^ where the English had a forge and 
 ironworke under Seaforth. Among these Farqhar changed 
 his gold and was cheated ; the duble pistolets, Spanish royal 
 gold, duble duccats, Florentin and Hungers gold, and our 
 Jacobuses, were pieces rare and antick, whose value he knew 
 not, and finding himselfe trappanned and gulled in the gold, 
 he crackt and afterwards in his light fits he declared and dis- 
 covered the truth when it was too late ; litle or no memory 
 of all the generation this day. 
 
 Common tradition carry that Lord Hugh, who dyed in 
 Touy, when he married Athols daughter, she brought north 
 with her a great quantity of gold and jewels, chaines, rings. 
 
 1 Dojnhnul an Oir, Donald of the Gold. 
 
 John, son of Red J ohn, son of Simon. 
 ^ Letterewe in Gairloch. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 271 
 
 and bracelets, besids forreign golden coine, and got enugh of 
 Scots gold in gifts, so that she had a rich treasure, but one 
 Kennady, a maid of hers, had got her hands uppon her 
 coffers, stole most of it if not all, and hoarded it in an earthen 
 pot, hiding it in a secure bank. Being suspected, was appre- 
 hended and uppon some presumptions sentenced to be drouned 
 in Poul ni Park,^ and after a duck or two for confession 
 she reacht her hand with signs to the place where she had 
 secured it, but death prevented the full discovery of it ; and 
 this is thought to be the same which the smith had found be- 
 west the orchard. This is a conjectur, but it is sure the gold 
 was found. 
 
 Anno 1635 Lord Hugh finished the oakden loft in the Church 
 of Wardlaw, and made also a stare up to it, and a small gallery 
 to enter in, but in cielering above was not entered uppon be- 
 caus of the death of the carpenter, Rory Bain, after all the 
 materialls were provided, and so delayed it pro tempore; and, 
 the trouble ensueing in the kingdom, neither Lord nor Tutor 
 ever minded it to this very day, and pitty to neglect such a 
 convenient seat. Formerly Lord Simon 
 sat below in a dask of James M'kthomas 
 in the south-east corner of the church, 
 carying his own name, which I saw, 
 but now removed and an oaken desk of 
 Thomas Fraser of Beuforts put in its 
 place, built in anno 1680. The Bishop 
 of Murray, Falconar, removing doubts 
 anent it, now my Lord hath some troubles 
 throught by matching his daughter Mary 
 of Balnigown, and his sone, Simon the Master, sent to the 
 University, as I declared at length before. But, alas, his 
 troubles increased afterwards by the death of his excellent 
 lady. Dame Isabel Weemes, the vertuous daughter of a famous 
 father, a lady incomparable for beuty and vertue, in whose 
 breast centered a school of all liberall sciences ; her house and 
 famely a nursery of piety and good order; her honorable 
 qualefications might have expiated the covenanted guilt of all 
 
 1 The Pool of the Park. 
 
272 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the Wemeses ; holy, mild, modest, prudent, humble, charit- 
 able — Sicut spina romrn geiiuit Wimese Isabellarri — 
 
 From prickled stalk, as sweetest rose^ 
 
 So Isabell faire, from Weemeses growes ! 
 
 1637. In July the Booke of Liturgy is sent to Scotland and. read 
 
 first at Edinburgh. The commotions about ceremonies in 
 England flowes hither also. And such an inundation happened 
 here that harvest that all rivers and brookes run over there 
 banks, to the great loss of many. The river of Connin did 
 great hurt uppon bordering lands ; the water of Beuly much 
 more up about Maines and Agasis, The burn of Jack came 
 down with such a torrent that it run through Easter Moniak, 
 destroying houses and cattell, especially sheep ; it run down 
 to Drumchardny, tooke away the very halfe of Culbokys yard 
 in Drumchri, then a pretty fruitfull orchard, supplanted his 
 dwelling house, riui down through the bottom of Bogroy, 
 which land never recovered to this very day. The dissaffected 
 and unsound suborning the vulgar heads with notions that this 
 was inflicted as consequence to the Reed Bookes, termed be 
 them Leurichin Dearg,^ such whimsees were now put in the 
 rabies heads, for our Scots had petitioned against the Liturgy 
 or Service Book, entered into a Covenant, and the Marques of 
 Argile heads them and declares for it ; all tlie northern clanes 
 are ingaged in it, the Earles of Cathness, Sutherland, Seaforth, 
 Rosses, Monroes, Erasers, Eorbesses, M'kintoshes, Lairds and 
 Barrons of Murray, are all embarked ; the Marques of Huntly 
 and the Lord Bamph arme for the King to the number of 1000 
 horse, with their accomplices ; and all the north convocat, 
 Cathness, Sutherland, Rosse, Murray, makeing up forces of 
 5000 in an 5000, and set forward, coming to Elgin, and neare Spey in a 
 Spey.^°^ vast body of foot and horse. The Gordons and Ogilvies, find- 
 ing themselves no competent party for such a vast number, and 
 fearing more forces from south, they retire and dissapeare ; 
 and the northern forces uppon this return home and disband. 
 
 The next year, anno 1639, a vast confluence of nobles, earles, 
 lords, barrones, meet at Aberdeen about the Covenant, to the 
 
 ^ Na Leabhraichean Dearg^ the Red Books. 
 
POLICRATICA TP:MP0RUM 
 
 vast expense and disturbance of the North of Scotland ; but 
 the fire is once kendled, Church and State engaged, intestin 
 broiles feared, as the sad consequence since hath confirmed. 
 All the meetings now in Scotland have their warrands flowing 
 from the Generall Assembly which sat at Glasgow 1638, and 
 pretend to have their power derived from the Kings Majesty, 
 thus — 
 
 The Generall Assembly and Solemn Convention of the 
 Kirk of Scotland, indicted by the Kings Majesty, 
 and met at Glasgow the 21 November 1638. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Follows the narration of the Acts and proceedings of this 
 Assembly, with Mr. Eraser's comments.] 
 
 This Assembly in their proceedings occasioned a wonderfuU 
 commotion throughout the kingdom, such as were sound and 
 loyally inclined feareing the worst by the alteration in Church 
 and State in the fatall consequences which ensued. Those 
 that inclined to innovation keept their meetings in several 
 places south and north to carry on the Nationall Covenant, 
 called then the Solemn League and Covenant. Most of the 
 nobles corrupted, the gentry byassed, churchmen amused and 
 amazed, and such as were sound among them overawed that 
 they durst not vent themselves among their bretheren, feare- 
 ing to be betrayed and discovered, and therefore lurked with 
 a seeming compliance, judging Qui bene latuit bene ne vixit. 
 
 The Earle of Sutherland was deeply ingaged in the time? 
 serving faction to carry on the common cause, and indeavoured 
 to influence his father-in-law, my Lord Lovat. Several 
 messages and meetings betuixt the Frasers, Mackenzies, 
 Monroes, and Rosses ; Cathnes demurrd ; our Highlanders 
 were at a great distance, and were not yet reacht, the maxim 
 holding true, Procul a Jove^ procul a J'ulrnine. 
 
 Meanwhile a Generall Assembly is indicted at Edinburgh, Assembly at 
 August 17, 1639, in which Mr. George Graham, Bishop of ^639.^"^^^' 
 Orknay, gave in an abjouration of Episcopacy subscribed with 
 his hand, which publickly read in audience of the Assembly, John, Earl of 
 and thereafter ordained to be registrated in the Assembly commtssi 
 Bookes, ad perpetuam rei memoriam. This stumbled many, 
 
 imissioner. 
 
274 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Mr. David 
 
 Dickson, 
 
 Moderator. 
 
 Assembly at 
 Aberdeen, 1640. 
 
 Master of 
 Berridels 
 death. 
 
 Assembly att 
 St. Andrewes, 
 July 20, 1641. 
 
 Mr. Andrew 
 
 Ramsay, 
 
 Moderator. 
 
 Acts of Asi 
 P- 34. 
 
 and weakened the hands of many a faithfull churchman to see 
 the adversary get such advantage; this abjuration and recanta- 
 tion of Mr. Graham was subscribed at Breeknes in Stromnes, 
 the ij day of February, anno 1639, and before thir witnesses, 
 Master Walter Stewart, minister at South Ronaldsay ; Master 
 James Heynd, minister at Kirkwall ; Master Robert Person, 
 minister at Firth ; and Master Patrick Graham, minister at 
 Holm, my sone. In this Assembly an act approving the 
 deposition of the ministers by the Commitees, and another act 
 anent receiving of deposed ministers next yeare. 
 
 An Assembly is conveened at Aberdeen, July 28, 1640 ; 
 they acted nothing the first day in attending of his Majesties 
 Commissioner, and, finding there was none, they proceeded 
 according to their liberties. 
 
 The sad surpriseing newes of George Sinclar, Master of 
 Berridell, his death affects many, and my Lord Lovat is so 
 much the more concerned that there was such an intire amity 
 betuixt him and his own sone Simon, Master of liOvat, these 
 two excellent hopefull youths being the ornaments of the 
 North, and surely their untimely deaths portend ruin to both 
 their countries, as the sad event hath verefied. And now my 
 Lord Lovats deep melancholy increases to a degree, being 
 deprived of his onely propp, his hope and stay, his eldest sone, 
 so that he sequestrates himselfe more strickly than ever from 
 all worldly affaires, and his brother. Sir James, hath got the 
 mannagement of the whole lordship, and had fixed James 
 Fraser in Finask,and Thomas Fraser in Donaldstoun, conjunct 
 chamberlaines, and Alexander Fraser of Foynes, constable of 
 the Fort of Lovat, j^ro tempore. The Master of Lovat, Hugh, 
 is sent to the University of Aberdeen, and his uncle convoyes 
 him thither to see him well setled in the CoUedge, and 
 honorably tabled according to his degree and qualety. 
 
 In July the Assembly is indicted to sit at Saint Andrewes, 
 and John, Earle of Weenies, the King's Commissioner to that 
 meeting, who reading his majesties letter to the Assembly, 
 they were not a litle vain to get anything of the royall assent 
 and approbation to their proceedings, as appeares by their 
 aiisweir to his majesty, and subscribs themselves Your 
 Majesties Most humble Subjects and faithfull Servants. The 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 275 
 
 ministers and elders mett together in the venerable Assembly 
 at St. Andrewes. They but sat here for one day, and are 
 translated to Edinburgh, whence they date their letter to the 
 King, July 27. Hugh, Master of Lovat, being then at St. 
 Andrewes, his uncle, the Earle of Weemes, brings him along 
 with himselfe in very good order to Edinburgh, and there 
 made his acquaintance with Lady Anna Lessly, daughter to 
 the Earle of Leven, Generall Lessly. This lady he married 
 next spring, which match proved fatall enugh to our great 
 and ancient famely of Lovat, as shall afterwards be declared in 
 its convenient place. 
 
 This November, my Lord, with advice, transplanted Saint 
 Mauritius marcat from Dunbachlach to Beuly for pretended 
 conveniency of accomodation to strangers; and, indeed, Alex- 
 ander Eraser of Eoynes, whose dwelling was in Dunbach- 
 lach, was content to be rid of it, haveing more trouble than 
 profit by it, for ten load of firr was all the custom that this 
 faire afforded to him yearlie. And Beuly may now be properly 
 called Nundinarmm, a place of faires, there being four there ; 
 1. is Cross day, May 3, called Inventio B. Cmcis; the 2. is 
 Michaelmas Market, Sept. 20, called Dedicatio Sancti Michaelis 
 Archang: the third is Hallowmas, Novr. 1, the feast of All 
 Saints, Omnium Sanctorum^ which of old was at Kilmorac, a 
 very unfit place for a faire ; and now the 4. is Sancti Mauricij, 
 vulgarly called Eail Mauri ,^ which holds upon the 11 off 
 November, all one with Martini Episcopi et Confessoris. 
 ***** 
 
 [Follows account of the General Assembly of 1642,] 
 
 This spring [1642], the Master of Lovafs marriage with 
 Levins daughter is in agitation, some for it, some against it, 
 most of his best friends displeased at it, and his father, my 
 Lord Lovat, so discontented with the design, that he will not 
 heare of it, and it bred a ruptur betuixt his Lordship and Sir 
 James, his brother, that he seemed too forward for this match. 
 There is some demurr in the mater, the terms of agreement 
 difficult without my Lord's concent. At last. Sir James Eraser 
 
 Feill, a fair. 
 
276 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 of Bray and Hugh Fraser of Struy are sent forth, commis- 
 sionat be the Lord Lovat if possible to get the Master 
 dissuaded, there being other more honorable matches in his 
 offer, the Earl of Murrayes daughter, the Earle of Cathness, 
 the Earl of Seaforths daughter, a young widow, being 
 Dowager of Berridell, then living in Chanory, and a vast cut 
 and composition overturd for renouncing her jointur. What 
 greater incurragement, credit, and honour could a young 
 nobleman desire then such allyes, and excellent hopfull ladyes, 
 near nighboures, ancient famelies, vast wealth, and monny in 
 aboundance ; but there is an infatuation in it, and its ingraind 
 in mans nature. Nitimur invetitum semper cupimusqiie negata. 
 It is mater of greef we consider not our happy occasions til 
 they are over, nor good offers till they are lost and gone. 
 'Tis a true saying, Blissings appeare not till they be vanisht ; 
 the com median was then serious when he wrott, Tuvi denique 
 homines nostra intellig'imus bo7ia, cum quce in potestate habiiimus 
 ea amisimus. Fond men till we have lost the good we had — 
 we understand not what their vahies made ! And we are apt 
 to see and advise the good of others more then our own, and 
 that which we would perhaps envy others for, and count them 
 happy in the enjoyment, we neither project nor purchas that 
 for ourselves; so that Aliena melius ut videant et indiceid quam 
 sua. This is a fault which is to all men known, that they see 
 more of others than their owne. 
 
 This appeares but too palpably and patent in this too, too 
 forward enterprise of the match that he is now intending with 
 the Earl of Levins daughter; but the Master of Lovat hath 
 all his great friends at south for it, the Earl of Weemes, his 
 uncle, the Lord Begony, the Earle of Kingorn, and Sir James, 
 his uncle, and Struy, quit byassed by them. The strong 
 faction of the times, aboundance of ready cash, power, and 
 preferment — Lessly being Generalissimo — were very prevalent ; 
 he was to get 50,000 marks of tocher. 40,000 of which was 
 to be immediatly advanced for cleareing off the pressing debts 
 uppon the estate of Lovat, now impendent ; and this young 
 lady infeft as to joinctur in the barronies of Dalcross and 
 Kinmilies, and in case shee survive her husband, the Master, 
 she liverents ten thousand a year ; the Earle of Weemes, Bute, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 277 
 
 and Sir James Fraser, tutor of Lovat, back cautioner; this 
 soume to be yearly and termely advanced at Leith, sub luicna 
 et periculo. 
 
 The marriage betuixt Hugh Fraser, Master of Lovat, and Master of 
 Anna Lessly, Lord Alexander of Levens daughter, is at length Aprfi^sa^"" 
 solemnised and consumat at Holyrood House, April 30, 1642. 
 It is an extravagant rant to speake of the glory and expense 
 of this sumptuous wedding feast where 11 peeres were present, 
 besids General Persones, barrones, and gentlemen. All May 
 and most of June was spent in visits and treates in city and 
 country ; these great persones, invited and regald by all sorts, 
 relations, and acquaintances, even to the nausious astonishment 
 of such of their retinue who accompanied them from house to 
 house, quo tendit sava libido. About the close of June this 
 new married cuple came off from Edinburgh, accompanied 
 with a noble train of peeres and gentlemen, the Earle of 
 Weemes, Lords Leven and Begony, Ruthven, Lord Saintclar, 
 etc. Comming through Murray, they were punctually attended 
 and treated by all the lairds and gentry. They payed a visit 
 to my old Lady Lovatt, Dame Kathrin Rosse, at Moines, and 
 that night to Dalcross, where they lodged, well entertaind 
 and accomodated. This castle being the ladyes own joinctur 
 and mannur house, it was proper she should see it, and abid a 
 night in it in t?^ansitu; and herselfe was heard to say to her 
 friends and convoy that they were welcome to her habitation, 
 and most cheerfully treated them at a great rate. Here the 
 gentlemen of the name of Fraser, Stratharick, Leyes, and Aird 
 met them, convoying their young cheefe in state through 
 Invernes, quher they were sumptuously treated with all sorts 
 of wines at the Cross, and tables covered ; it is to be remarked 
 that Provost Forbes acquitted himselfe to purpose, being 
 formerly a servant of the famely of Lovat ; his carriage and 
 conduct att this occasion was gratefull, and obsequious to the 
 full. The Cuthberts now were great at Inverness ; they 
 mustered the train bands of the town in the streetes to keep off 
 the rable, and attended these noble persones to take a view of 
 the castle, which was then in good order indeed. 
 
 After this complement payed to tlie Master of Lovat and His inferr at 
 his croud of convoy at Inverness, through the streets and over ^^'^ 
 
278 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the famous wooden bridge, there arc 400 young gentlemen in 
 armes well appointed uppon the green to conduct them 
 forward ; its true, some of the Lowlandcrs never saw such a 
 sight of Highlanders in armes; and all present declared that 
 the best peer in the nation might be vain of and glory in such 
 a brave guard and attendants, all of his own name. At Bunch- 
 rive, Inveralochy, gave them a welcome and gentil treat. 
 Thence to Lovat, where they arrived as at their journayes end 
 in health and safety. At the gate my Lord Lovat, with 20 
 grave gentlemen of his name, met them, and pray what could 
 be wanting here for preparation and feasting splendid enugh, 
 an inferr, all things considered, that of a long time there was 
 none such in the North ; liquors of all sorts, meat, mirth, 
 musick, and good management of all things. 
 
 This was a wonderfull fruit yeare, and aboundance of all 
 kinds, field and garden fruits, berries and cherries, summer 
 peares, and pipens, such varieties and plenty, that the Laudian 
 and Fife gentlemen declared they came not to visit the rude 
 Highlands, but the cultivat Canaan. They admired the 
 orchards off Lovat and Beuly, the fishing of the river and 
 linn ^ was charming; hunting, fishing, fouleing, arching, good 
 divertisments ; nor was tilting, riding, jumping, combating, 
 wanting; for men began now to learn the use of armes, and, 
 alas, soon after they got sad triall of such. The Earl of 
 Sutherland, Balnigown, and Fowles, came here to visit the 
 Lords; and, as there was good fare and cheere, so there was 
 merry, joviall, facetious society. 
 
 In the closur of August, young Thomas, Laird of Strachin, 
 and his lady. Lord Pitsligos daughter, came north for a visit ; 
 the old Laird and his lady, Dame Margret M'kleud, living 
 still in Moniak ; Inveralochy lived at Bunchrive, Culboky at 
 Drumchrie ; all these, and many mo circularly situat near 
 Lovat, kept a charming correspondance. About the beginning 
 of September, the Master takes a progress to Stratharick to 
 divert his young lady with hunting, and brings along with him 
 both the Lairds of Strachin, Simon, Laird of Inveralochy ; Sir 
 
 ^ The fishings of the Linn (i.e. the pool, at the foot of the Kilmorack Falls) 
 are early mentioned in grants. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 279 
 
 James Fraser, his uncle, living then at Beuly ; Hugh Fraser of 
 Struy ; William Fraser, Culboky ; Hugh Fraser of Belladrum ; 
 and Major Hugh Fraser, Culbokies brother, newly returnd 
 from the Swedish warrs. These and a great many more off the 
 young gentlemen of the country, a gallant, noble convoy, well 
 appointed, and envyed be many, went with them, and 300 off 
 the Stratharick and Abertarff men in armes mett them att 
 Dorris, and thence forward to the country, conducted by these 
 spritly swift footed guids. The first night they lodged at 
 Farralin, and next morrow to the Forest of Killin, where they 
 got fallow deer hunting to their mind, and such princly sport 
 as might alleviat the dullest spirit, and such as perhaps most 
 of them had never seen before, and fed that night uppon fish 
 and venison, evin to a fouth caro ferina and cam cervina in 
 such plenty, that if Diana were there, she might have got a 
 sufficient sacrefice, as the poet sings of her : — 
 
 ' QacB semel est triplici pro virgine ccpsa Diance, 
 Nunc quoque pro moUi virgine cerva cadit!' 
 
 After varieties of divertisements and recreations in the 
 Forrest of Killin, they descend to Mickle Garth, and there take 
 up their residence in my Lords manure [manor] house, the whole 
 country contributing all manner of necessaries for the famely ; 
 and then, shortely after, they go all up to Abertarfe, where 
 the M'ranalds, their old deere friends, wait upon the Master, 
 and welcomed him and his court 07^e tenus, to take sport in 
 these fields, where deer and roe, hart and hare hunting, was 
 now in prime and plenty. All the wheil Providence ordered 
 the weather so favourable, that it seemed rather like the 
 summer solstice then the autumn equinox. After a short stay 
 in Oberchallider [Aberchalder of Glengarry], they return again 
 through Stratharick, surfited with all the rarities which that 
 place could afford, and traveled home be Inverness, and so 
 home to Lovat in October, where my good Lord Lovat waited 
 to welcom them. 
 
 About the 20 of October, a gentleman with letters and 
 mentall message arrived at Lovat from the Generall, Earl of 
 Leven, heasting the Master of Lovat and his lady south uppon 
 weighty emergents, that himselfe was called up to England, and 
 
280 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 withall that he had provided an honourable post for his sone, 
 the Master, a Lieutennant Colonel 1 place being in his offer, a 
 lucrative imploy for saveing his estate and interest. This was 
 a sad as well as sudden surprise upon my Lord his father, who, to 
 dissemble his trouble off mind, called a meeting of his friends, 
 mainly the three great pillars of his famely — the Lairds of 
 Strachin, Inveralochy, and Sir James of Bray, his own brother — 
 to consult of the whole course and sum of his affairs ; accord- 
 ingly, all met freely and frequently, nemine ahsente. The first 
 thing which my Lord proposed was how his sone, the Master 
 of Lovat, and his lady, a stranger, should be furnished with 
 mony for their journay. All being mute for a while, old 
 Strachen reply, I hope, my Lord, your revenues and rents are 
 not all exhausted nor missapplyed, but that the tutor and 
 administrator of your estate can provid so much as may carry 
 and cleare their expenses south with. Sir James declared that 
 paying of debt, and interest advanced, had drained all the 
 mony he could gather ; the furnishing of his nephew, the 
 Master, at colledg and Court, and providing my Lords famely, 
 had exhausted much. The Master of Lovat, too hot and 
 heasty, told his uncle plain language. Sir James, yow have 
 extreamly injured this noble famely, haveing wrested the helm 
 of government as well as the estate out off my Lord my fathers 
 hands ; yow have in hand men and mony to yourself ; yow 
 are like to involve yourselfe and all my name in intricacies 
 and precipices ; the differences of the times and intrigues of 
 government, maters of State and religion, as maters run now 
 betuixt King and Kirk, Sovereign and subject, is too hard a 
 pill for yow to swallow ; do not ingage my brave kinsmen and 
 followers needlessly ; keep home and looke well to my fathers 
 concerns; be not courting nor currying the favor of too forward 
 statesmen, that have now declared themselves for a covenant 
 against the King's Majesty ; this will have a fatal close. God 
 prevent our feares. Meanwhile, uncle, let me know before 
 my Lord my father and my honorable friends what yow have 
 done with my rent thir severall yeares; the chamerlans are all 
 accountable to yow and non else ; theres litle or nothing rest- 
 ing be the tenants ; I am now major, and must looke to my 
 interest ; give me an account of yowr intromission, or by all 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 281 
 
 that is good (drawing his whinger) I will make this compell 
 yow to give an account. This with reverence to my honorable 
 father and friends now present, called here to wittness what 
 trust yow got, and to examin liow yow have discharged your 
 intromission. I am now called south ; I must goe, though 
 against my inclination; therefor, presen tly provid monyfor my 
 journay; I will not goe begg nor thigg amongst my friends, 
 whilst my own interest can beare my charges ; dispatch, and in a 
 few dayes clear all sub perkido. There was a good providence 
 that this great confluence of friends mett in the orchard and not 
 within doores, where noise and altercations might be heard, and 
 a clamor made of it amongst enemies. But what was said was 
 pertinent and seasonable, and the true mind and meaneing of my 
 Lord Lovat and the sentiments of all present. The old Laird 
 of Strachin used great freedom with Sir James uppon this 
 head ; Inverallochy also and others joined their suffrage on 
 the affaire, but to litle purpose. Seing the expedition 
 required heast, it terminated in a contribution amongst the 
 friends, and truely they concurred cordially and instantly, 
 made up a considerable soume. I remember my own father, 
 Mr. William Fraser, sent twelve pieces to Lovat, for which 
 I have a reset in hiinc diem. 
 
 About the beginning of November, the Master of Lovat and 
 his lady take their journay south, and the Lairds of Inveralochy 
 and young Strachin convoy them. Sad and melancholious was 
 the parting farewell betuixt him and my Lord his father. With 
 many teares he expressed himselfe in the words of old Jacob, I Gen. 42. 36. 
 am now bereaved of my children, Simon is not, and yow must 
 take Benjamin away; all these things are against me; the Gen. 43. 14. 
 Lord God Almighty give yow mercy and favour before the 
 man, that he may send yow back ; if I be beraved of my 
 children I am beraved ; but it is born in with a strong impulse 
 uppon my spirit that we will never meet again. And in this 
 prediction he was a prophet, declareing with St. Paul to the Act 20. 25, 
 elders of Ephesus that he should see their face no more. And 
 he prayed for and blissed them, and they all weept sore, and 
 fell uppon his neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most for this 
 that perhaps they should never see one anothers face no more, verse 38. 
 Nor count I now my life deare to me singula quo(]uc verba 
 
282 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 spiram mortem et amor em, as one saith ; O verum valcdiscendi 
 morem Christia7iis dignum; now it is no parting without 
 potting and healthing, quce turpissima tcoKXoTToaia ; pr'mcipum 
 derisio a parasitis traxit oiigmem, which cursed custom had 
 its beginning from court parasits. With much adoe, they 
 kept Alexander from going along with his brother the Master, 
 they were so linked in love one to another; but my Lord, his 
 father, would by no meanes part with him, being now a pretty 
 youth about 16 yeares of age, and was his fathers onely comfort. 
 
 The Master of Lovat is now gone from us, leaving all his 
 friends in a deerfull despondancy, and his old father in deep 
 melancholy. He spent that winter at Edinburgh, a place 
 unfit for him, considering the aire and misdyet he was ingaged 
 to grapple with among a croud of ranting gallants and officers, 
 and many of his acquaintances and relations flocking about 
 him, and himselfe being of an easy sweet plyable temper, 
 yelded too much to their insinuations. In February there 
 happened a competition of arms and allyes to fall betuixt the 
 Master and one Major Hume, a Swedish captain. They fell 
 hot, and maters terminated in a duell, quher tlie Master, after 
 a thrust or two, had the better of him, and afterwards a recon- 
 cilement was made up betuixt them, and, after a rant of an 
 excessive botle of wine with his commarads at Lieth, the 
 Master sickned, fell in a fever, which, notwithstanding of the 
 care and contrivance of phisitians, proved malignant, and dyed 
 of it about the midle of April, the same time twelvemonth 
 that he married. Ah voluptates^iumiumfugaces^cuncta caduca. 
 This was truely an excellent youth, and off signall promising 
 goodness, wit, and vallour. His antagonist. Captain Hume, 
 with teares, said of him that if he had gotten dayes and triall 
 in the warrs, he would have acquired parts and preferment to 
 adorn his martiall vertue with honours, rewards, and splendur, 
 and his name among the surviving gallantry of his actions 
 might be transmitted with credit to posterity; but, alas, in 
 his journay from the north, he brought back with him such an 
 indisposition of body that he was never throughly well after. 
 Phisitians were not freed from the suspition of heasting his 
 death, although his own too great latitud in the extravagancy 
 of a misdyet might be the principal cause. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 283 
 
 The sudden unexpected newes of his death comming to his 2 Sam. 19.33. 
 fathers eares, sighing, said, in the words of David for Absolom, 
 going to his chamber weeping, O my sone Hugh, my sone, 
 my sone Hugh, would God I had dyed for thee, my sone, my 
 sone ! I shall now mourn all my dayes, and my grey haires 
 shall be brought with sorrow to the grave. Hadst thou attaind 
 to the dayes of thy ancestors, for valour thou hadst proved a 
 hero, for wit a worthy, an ornament of Mars and the muses ; 
 but, farewell, I sliall goe to thee, thow shalt not come to me. 
 The Master's lady, Miss Anna Lessly, was left with child, and 
 seing it was uncertain whither male or female, Alexander was 
 tearmed Master of Lovat, which title he ever after kept among 
 the vulgar. 
 
 ***** 
 The Master of Lovats funerals were deferred till May. The Master 
 From the North, the gentlemen that went to attend them were funeraiis. 
 Sir James Fraser of Bray ; his uncle, Hugh Fraser of Struy ; 
 and his brother, Thomas Fraser of Eskdall ; Hugh Fraser of 
 Foyer ; James Fraser, younger, of Culboky ; Hugh Fraser, 
 younger, of Belladrom. Those went be Buchan to waituppon 
 Sir Simon Fraser of Inveralochy, Sir Alexander Fraser of 
 Philorth, Lord Andrew Fraser of Mucholl, Hugh Fraser, Laird 
 of Tyrie, who went all in one body to Edinburgh. The 
 funeraiis were very solemn, splendid, and costly, and the corps 
 interred within the Abby Church of Holyrood house. This 
 young nobleman died bemoand and desired, universally valued 
 and beloved, regreeted of all. 
 
 This summer the Marques of Huntly and the Laird Drum George, 
 Irving, haveing taken a flight to Sutherland and Strathnaver Huntiy%on- 
 for security and divertisment the yeare before, are now by [^e country 
 order and command of the Privy Councel to return, and the 
 shirrefes of every sheir to convoy them south. In the close of 
 May, Thomas Fraser of Strachin, Sherref Principall of the 
 shire of Inverness, with a select number of Erasers and many 
 other gentlemen of this shire accompanying him, went in pro- 
 gress through Ross to Portincouter or Mickle Ferry, where 
 they receaved these nobles, convoyd them through this shire, the 
 Earle off' Sutherland and the Laird of Balnigown accompanying 
 them this length ; and it was the Marques of Huntlyes earnest 
 
284 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 desire to see my Lord Lovat, so that they came by Dingwall 
 and over the Ferry of Beuly, where my Lord met him, and 
 waited uppon him to his own house, where he entertaind him 
 that night; he dined next morrow with Strachin at Moniak, 
 and thence to Inverness, and so forward to Narden, where the 
 shereff' off* that sheir receaved them. 
 My Lord Lovat My Lord Lovat, to divert himselfe, w^ent now to Sutherland 
 fo Suthedand, accompanied with both his sones in law, the Earle of Suther- 
 land and Bailnagown, whither they came the first night, and 
 so forward to Doun Robbin, where Sir John Sinclar of Dun- 
 bath, knight, waited their comming, having a design uppon 
 Lady Katharin in marriage, and had often proposed it to 
 herselfe and others concerned ; but neither the Earle of Suther- 
 land, who loved her as his own child, nor the Countess, her 
 sister, prevail with her to close with that offer, nor could shee 
 give any reason but that Dunbeath was a harsh, unpleasant 
 man, and shee could not love him. He was a widower at the 
 time, and had no children, and was to secure her in 30 chalder 
 of victuall, besids monny, and that in Ross or Cathness, and 
 never asked what portion she had, for the gi eat respect he had 
 for herselfe beyond any, and his affection to the house of Lovat. 
 Yet the young lady would not yeld, but weept and mournd 
 continually, full of greef and melancholy, and would often say 
 she rather dye than marry Dunbeath. One day she walkt out to 
 the fields, and James Clerk, the Earles scrivener, with her, who 
 used many arguments with her of the greatness of the match, 
 the goodness of the country, the riches and antiquity of the 
 famely ; yet the more he urged the more averse she was, 
 weeping still whenever that w^as motioned. They are descend- 
 ing down the Breaside from the Castle, and meets with a 
 fellow called Donald Glasshach,^ a common servant about the 
 house, who accosted Lady Kathrin, checking her severly for 
 her willfuUness, speaking in Irish to her (haveing no other 
 language) Catluin, hd tu toishach, yow are unwise,^ marry the 
 great Laird of Dunbeath, he will make yow a w^ealthy woman 
 and leave yow happy, for I see a lord uppon each shoulder of 
 
 ^ Donald from Strathglass. 
 
 - 77ia thu 'na t-oinnseach, You are a foolish woman. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 285 
 
 yow, whom yow will marry after Dunbeaths death. This man 
 had the second sight, and could forsee anything that happened 
 about the place. This same story the forsaid James Clark 
 told me verbatim, besids the other casual tes that befell that 
 gentlewoman ; and, besids, for confirmation, she should have 
 two lords after Dunbeaths death. I was in her house at Bervy, 
 being Lady Arbuthnot, and after his death she married the 
 famous and renouned Lord Fraser of Muchel, for I payed her 
 a visit, living in the great house of Carnbuilg in Buchan, 
 being then Lady Fraser. So that Donald Glashachs prediction 
 came to passe, and Lady Kathrin was at last induced by a 
 good Providence to marry the Laird of Dunbeth, Sir John 
 Sinclar; and my Lord Lovatt stayed at Dunrobbin till the 
 marriage was consumat, and returnd home again in September. 
 ***** 
 
 [Account of the General Assembly of 1643.] 
 
 In October [1643] the Scots Covenanters muster their army, 
 and forward to the Borders. James, Marques of Montross, 
 siding at first with them, they pretending nothing less than the 
 preservation of religion, the honor and dignity of the King, 
 the lawes of the land, the freedom of the nation. But 
 discovering these false pretexts to draw people to their side, 
 yet all to supplant the King, and join the sectarians in 
 England, he for a while dissembled his intents, seemed forward 
 for, and went with them, in their army, which were convented at 
 Duns, consisting of 18,000 foot and 2000 horse; and suspect- 
 ing Montross, whose letters sent to the King were detected by 
 false courtioures, they sent Duke Hamiltoun to kisse the 
 Queens hands, and, with intent to overthrow Montross his 
 councels, perswading the Queen there was no fear off an army, 
 and that the King had many mo friends in Scotland, telling her 
 of Montroses youth, his rashnes, his ambition, the hatered he 
 bare unto the Hammiltons, even for their fidelity, honesty, 
 discretion, their power and loyalty. So that Montross was 
 not regarded, and their malice against him spread, and 
 laboured all they could to render him odious to the people, 
 and thereby unserviceable to his Majesty, and oblidged to 
 themselves fit instruments; the preachers throughout the 
 
286 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 kingdom using their mercenary tongues to rail against the 
 King and his faithfull subjects as the enemies of Christ, 
 being themselves the while the very scandall and shame of 
 Christianity. Meantime, Montross, on a sudden, quhen he 
 suspected nothing, with Lord Napier, Lord Marchiston, and 
 Sir Sterling Ker, were committed prisoners to the Castle of 
 Edinburgh ; and in Februar the Scots army crossed the Tyne 
 and marched forward. 
 Montross visits Shortly after, a Treaty ensued, and, a pacification being 
 Oxfo^d"^ made betuixt both kingdomes, he, with his friends, were set 
 at liberty, and now the King, when it was too late, seing 
 himselfe grossly abused, sent for Montrosse and askt his advice 
 quhat was best to be done. He told his Majesty the desperat 
 estate Scotland was in, and wowed fealty to his Majestic, if he 
 were pleased to give him commission and trust, he hopt God 
 would assist him in so rightious a cause, and therefore would 
 ventur his power and person in his Majesties quarrell. The 
 King, applauding his magnanimous resolution, thankt and 
 incurraged him, recommending him to the Marques of New- 
 castle, who supplied him in mony ; and so, with Sir William 
 RoUock and one Sibbald, entered disguised into Scotland. 
 Montross, passed for Sybbald's man, came to Sir Patrick 
 Grham of Inshbrakies house, near Tay in Perthshire, there 
 got newes of ij hundred Irish sent over be the Earl of Antrum 
 under command of Colonel ' Alexander Mackoll,^ who soon 
 undertood of Montrosses commission, marched to him, and 
 submitted to his command. Next day 800 out of Athol in 
 arms joined with him ; impatient of further delay, haveing 
 gotten this hand full of men, desires to be in action, and 
 marcht to Buchinty, quher the Lord Kilpont, sone to the Earl 
 of Taith, joined him with 500 men. Now resolves to set 
 uppon his enemies, and, understanding that the Covenanters 
 randivouzd at Perth to the number of 6 thousand foot and 
 700 horse, he made all the speed he could thither. These 
 were commanded by the Lord Elcho ; hearing of Montross his 
 approach with that few, contemning the paucity of their 
 
 ^ Alasdair Mac Cholla Chiataich — the famous Colkitto of Milton. He was 
 Alexander Macdonald, son of Coll Macdonald, an equally noted leader of men. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 287 
 
 enemies, they grew to a foolish confidence of victory, but Montross his 
 Montross so well ordered his army, that their confidence failed at penh.^'^^ 
 them, for, ioinins: battle, they were overthrown, two thousand Tipper Moore 
 being slam and more taken prisoners. 
 
 We may now think Montross furnisht his Irishes and 
 Highlanders with cloaths, arms, and ammunition ; and Perth 
 submitted herselfe to the con(|uerour, to whom he did no hurt, 
 but stayed there three dayes to refresh his souldiors, and turns 
 down towards Esk, whither came to him the Lord Ogilvy, with 
 his two sonnes. Sir Thomas and Sir David. And now receav- 
 ing intelligence that an army of the Covenanters, under the 
 command of the Lord Burleigh, lay at Aberdeen, with long 
 marches he hies thither, sets uppon them, and after a long 
 fight, puts them to the rout with the loss of almost all their 
 foot, who, flying for refuge into the city, Montroses men cam in 
 thronging amongst them through the gates and posterns, and Thebatteii 
 laid them on heapes all over the streets. This battel was ^^p^j^^^""^' 
 fought September 14, 1644. After this defeat, Montross, 
 calling his souldiers back to their colloures, entered the city, 
 and allowed them two dayes rest ; and then, feareing a sur- 
 prise, and that his men might turn secure, he removes to 
 Kintor, a village ten miles north from Aberdeen, where he ex- 
 pected some of the Gordones to join him, but, none comming, 
 he removes his forces up to the mountaines and fastness, feare- 
 ing to be beset, and not able to hold out alwayes without 
 reliefe ; and, hiding his ordnance in a mosse, he leagurs uppon 
 Spey river banks apposit to the old Castle of Rotliimurchus, 
 and sheltered among the flrr woods. 
 
 At this time the Covenanters garrishond Aberdeen, and Forts and 
 sent the Laird of Lares TLawersI and Lothian Kerrs reo-iment g^^^fons up 
 
 L J ft. and down. 
 
 to Inverness, where they garrislioned ; and, to the great trouble 
 and cost of the country, the towne was sconced round with 
 an earthen wall, a deep trensh, rampards, and pillasads, a 
 strong port to the east, another to the south in the top of 
 the Castle street, another at the bridge, the 4 low at the 
 church. Every parish came in to the town successively till 
 all was finished and Inverness made a considerable strength. 
 The Castle and Kings house they abused, cutted down the 
 planting, statly ashes, and plaines about the Gray Friars 
 
288 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 and St. Maryes chappell yard.^ In the country, Culboky 
 made a sconce on the Carse off Kingily ; Major Fraser, his 
 brother, comming home, anno 1642, as I told before, drew this 
 draught in the frame we see it, corners and bastians, a very 
 pretty fensible strength.^ Lovat also was fortified with a deep 
 trench and ditch, a strong bulwark of earth within that, and 
 a garrishon put there, and Alexander Fraser of Foyness made 
 captain and constable of it that yeare. The house of Beuly 
 was also fortified, and John Fraser of Clunvacky, captain there, 
 who also built a neat sconce eastward from the orchyard uppon 
 the edge of the plain carse. Such apprehensions of intestin 
 wars possest mens spirits, every nighbouring country jealous 
 of another, all affraid of future evills ; relations, affinity, con- 
 Hose. 4. I, sanguinity, cannot secure men. God Almighty beginning to 
 
 2. have a controversy with the laud, becaus there is no truth, 
 
 3. nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land ; by swearing 
 and lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery 
 they burst out, and bloud toucheth bloud, therefore shall the 
 land mourn. I can say now by experience, with the affected 
 
 Mica 7. I. and afflicted prophet, the good man is perished out of the earth, 
 2. and there is non uppright among men ; they all lie in wait for 
 6. bloud, they hunt every man his nighbour with a net. Trust 
 ye not in a friend, put no confidence in a guide; keep the 
 door of your lips from her that lieth in thy bosom ; for the 
 sone disshonoreth the father, and a mans enemies are those of 
 his own house, etc. Non socer a genero fratrimi guoque gi'atia 
 vara est. Non Jiospes ah hospite tutus, etc. Non pater a 
 genero. 
 
 My Lord Lovat This spring my Lord Lovat tooke a progress through Ross 
 to Sutherland. Sutherland to visit his friends, and had a select number of 
 the prime and flour of his kinsmen with him. Some of his 
 ill natured M'kenzies instigat Seaforth to set an ambush for 
 
 ^ St. Mary's was of old the name of what is now the High Church. The 
 chapel, which stood in what is still known as the Chapel Yard, appears to have 
 been attached to St. Mary's. Remains of the Grey Friars Church are still to be 
 seen. 
 
 ^ There are slight traces of this sconce in a field, called * the Fort Field,' on 
 the home farm of Kingillie. Mr. T. R. Biscoe, the proprietor, writes that there 
 is still ' a story of Sir James Fraser of Brea getting hold of a gun, and saving 
 the lives of a number of women and children by getting them into safety there.' 
 
rOLICRATICA TEMPOHUM 
 
 289 
 
 him, such was the gum and suspitious temper of nighbours 
 at that time ; but his Lordship was very well guarded to defy 
 such designs. In this journay he visited Foules, and thence 
 would needs see his good friend Mr. David Monro, minister at 
 Kiltern, who convoyed his lordship to Roskeen. Here Mr. 
 Robert Monro was minister, who gave my Lord an account 
 that at the reparation of that church the bones of Sir Almond 
 Eraser were raised, and being kept here in the charnell, his 
 shin bone being set uppright on the ground reacht the mid- 
 thigh of a tall man then in my Lord's retinue. Tradition 
 run of this Sir Almond, prebend of the chaplanry of Roskeen, 
 that when his viccar brought his teind lambs he would cause 
 tye his 4 feet with a garter to know be the weight good or 
 badd, and such as was light he could heave and throw over the 
 chappell roofe. Famous Bishop John Fraser settled 4 church- 
 men of his own name within his diocess of Ross, viz. Mr. John 
 Fraser, rector of Dingwall ; Sir Paul Fraser, in the Chaplenry 
 of Alnes; Sir Almond, at Roskeen; and Sir Andrew Fraser, 
 at Kilmoor Wester.^ 
 
 There is nothing heard now up and down the kingdom but 
 alarms and rumores, randevouzes of clans, every chiften muster- 
 ing his men, called weaponshowes. Montross and Mackoll in 
 every manes mouth, nay the very children frightned with ex- 
 pressing Boocy Tross ; and if a few goates be seen uppon the 
 topps .of hills in a twilight its concluded to be Coll Coll 
 Mackoll [Colonel Alexander MacColl]. This spring, in May, 
 the M'kdonels regiment quarter about Beuly ; the M'kleuds Mackdonelis 
 regiment in the parishes of Kilernan, Killmoor Wester, and Be^^Sy'^^^ 
 Siddy ; the M'kenzies regimented quarters in the parochins off Mackenzies and 
 Urray, Contain, Dingwall, and Fotterty. True it is all were J;!^'!^^'^' 
 carrying on the same common cause and interest together; yet, 
 like fiends and foes one to another, the Mackdonalds, with 
 spuUying and rapin up and down the cuntry, killing sheep, 
 cowes, and oxen, to the shame of their profession in a civil 
 country, that Alexander Fraser, governour of Lovat, told 
 them plainly they had forgot their former flight out of this 
 country quhen they got the retreat and forced to leave their 
 
 ^ See pp. 116-121, There is confusion between Sir Almond and Sir Paul. 
 
 T 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 querns and bowes and baggs, whence tliat place near l.ovat is 
 to this day called Craft-ni-balgan.^ After this M'kdonell 
 himselfe came over to Lovat and made his appology to my 
 Lord for his peoples misdemeanour and rudness. My Lord 
 told that he had ordered quarters and competent provision for 
 his camp ; and sometimes my Lord would order some wheat 
 bread, barrells of beer and ale, and bottles of aquavitae, to be 
 sent to M'kdonalds quarters, besid the civil entertainment he 
 sometimes gave him at his own house in Lovat. 
 
 This spring and summer many prodigious signs, apparitions, 
 spectraes, strange sights, were seen everywhere, which presaged 
 warr and revolutions, such as men fighting in the aire, horse 
 and foot, retreating, returning again, visibly observed. People 
 mustered in rank and file uppon our hills, that the spectators 
 observed their cloaths, armes and stature, and have often 
 alarmd the country that Montross and M'koll were invading 
 us, yet all evanished again and again. Two of our fleshers 
 going one morning in to Invernes saw an army, foot and horse, 
 marching before them, and heard the ratling noise of their 
 armes till they came and entered into the wood of Bunchrive, 
 and then dissappeared. Another evening three men whom I 
 know, going to the ferry of Beuly, saw an army of marshalled 
 horse and foot in Blarenicuilich, the very coUour of their 
 horses and cloths, kettledrums and ensigns apparent, to the 
 wonder and admiration of many. There was also two pro- 
 digious whales came up this firth with a high spring tide, the 
 one persueing the other, and fastned both uppon the lee 
 shallow sands tuixt Tarridell and Spittle, where Rory M'kenzie 
 of Redcastle might pretend a property and sease them, but he 
 permitted the whole countrys on both sids to make pray of 
 them, and, to my certain knowledge, they were so bigg and 
 high that the people made use of small ladders to reach their 
 top ; the like never seen or heard off' in the Murray firth. 
 These I saw myselfe, being present about them often. There 
 were also two purpoises or spout whailes that ran up the River 
 of Ness and under the bridge, and reacht the Isle a mile above 
 the town, where they were killed. Some vented by conjectur 
 
 ^ Croil iia»i Baigan^ the Croft of the Bags. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 291 
 
 that those two bigg whailes were an emblem of the King and 
 
 Parliament, persueing one the other ; but, alas, those things 
 
 portended no good. Another wonderfull accident happened 
 
 above Beuly ; three severall evenings two parties fighting, that 
 
 men saw the glistering of their swords shlashing at one another; cross Beo fon- 
 
 this I had from an eye witnesses. There was also another rare of^ioud^^'"^ 
 
 thing ; the spring well ^ above the town of Beuly had the 
 
 stream of it running blond 3 dayes. It appeared like the 
 
 washing of carrion or intralls of a beast. This hundreds came 
 
 to see as a wonder and prodegy, and I run among others in the 
 
 croud to view it; and the ministers adjacent were sent for to see 
 
 it, but non could know or conjectur what to make of it. Also, 
 
 in Mary well near Kirkhill, they observed three ovall pieces of 
 
 clotted bloud as broad as trenchers flotting uppon the water. 
 
 My Lord called Mr. John Houstoun, the minister, to see this 
 
 sight also, and men conjectured that some waggish person had 
 
 cast such things in the water to frighten the gasers. 
 
 This spring Montross thought it not safe for him to stay Montrossein 
 in the woods of Spay. Heareing of convocationes he retires into strnthbogy 
 Badenoch, whence he sent Alexander M'kDonell, who com- 
 manded the Irish, with a party into the Highlands to invite 
 them to take up arms with him. Meanwhile, he descends 
 himselfe to Strathboggy, and, waiting the Gordons and 
 Ogilvies, he removes to Fivy Castle and possesses it, where 
 indeed his confidence had well nigh destroyed him, for Argile 
 and Lothian, with 2500 foot and 1200 horse, came within two 
 miles of him, but Montross, with 1500 foot and 50 horse onely- 
 got up to a cragg hill above Fivy and kept them off, so that 
 though Argile severall dayes attempted to assault him he 
 carried away nothing with him but loss and disgrace. At last 
 he tooke the advantage of the night, returns to Strathbogy, 
 thence to Ballveny, and so to Badenoch ; thence he heasted 
 unto Athol, and joines witli M'kdonell, and so made a good 
 company. Argile being then in Dunkellden, and frighted 
 with the report of Montross his comming, though 16 miles off, 
 bids his men shift for themselves, and he himselfe fled as fast 
 
 ^ That is, the spring at Wellhouse, at which the Beauly cross at one time stood. 
 The marginal note indicates that the cross was known as Crois Beo, the Living 
 Cross. 
 
292 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 as he could to Perth. Hereuppon Montrose passes into the 
 country of Argile, and harasses the same with fire and sword. 
 But heareingthat Argile had gathered a considerable army of 
 Lovvlanders and Highlanders and were marching up through 
 Lochabber, he heastens thither, and got intelligence that they 
 The battle of Jay at Inverlochy, about 3000 foot and 500 horse, marched 
 
 Inverlochy. / i i i i • 
 
 Feb. 4- 1644- night and day ; they being secure were on their backs ere 
 they were awarr, and giving them battle defeats them with 
 a great slaughter, no less than 1500 being killed in the chasse 
 and retreat for 10 mills, mongst which were many gentlemen 
 of the Cambells whose deaths were answeirable to their names, 
 dying '171 campo belli, in the field off warr. Earle of Argile him- 
 selfe was neare to be taken, but narrowly escaped be boat. 
 Argil had with him in this ingagement a thousand of the 
 Murray and Mearns militia, and many of them that escaped 
 engaged very cordially with Montrosse, finding him, as truely 
 he was, very successful! . 
 
 And now heareing that all the clans benorth him, such as 
 M'kenzies, M'kdonels, M'kleods, Mackyes, etc., were ingaged 
 dayly randivoiizing and at head in the fields, he thought it 
 not safe to go thither, but down through Abertarph and 
 Stratharick quher he had friends and got good intelligence 
 among them, marcht thence through Strathern ^ and Strath- 
 spey, to Balveny, quher the Lord Gordon joined him, and 
 now made up 2000 foot and 200 horse, and marches to 
 Brechin. There lay Sir John Hurry, Generall of the horse 
 for the Covenanters, with a great party, and neare hand 
 was General Baily, a commander of great account, who had 
 been fetcht out of England to withstand him. He onely 
 allarmd them, and marches through Anguis to Perthshire, and 
 there made up his army. Baily, understanding where he was, 
 intends to surprise him, but he found Montross provided for 
 him, who so valiantly repulsed his assault that he, killing some 
 and routing others, he forced them to a retreate with shame 
 and reproach. 
 
 Assembly, The 1 of Juue the Generall Assembly sat at Edinbrugh, 
 
 June 1645. Robert Douglas their moderator. But the Kings 
 
 ^ Stiatheni, now Strathdearn. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOIUIM 
 
 293 
 
 Majestie liaveing now discovered their dismall designs sent no 
 comissioner this year to them, being left to themselves. The 
 first thing I find presented is a letter from the Tresbetry with 
 the army in England unto the Generall Assembly; next. 
 Master Robert Dowglass is sent to the army in England, and 
 Mr. James Bonar elected Moderator of the Assembly. 3. A 
 petition from the distressed Christians in the north of Ireland, 
 subscribed your distressed bretheren and supplicants. 4. Act 
 concerning the Declaration subscribed be the Scottish Lords 
 then at Oxford with the King's Majestie. 5. Act against the 
 rebels in the north and south and all dissaffecters of the Cove- 
 nant. 6. The letter from the Commissioners at London to 
 the Assembly with their answeir to it, and to the Presbetry 
 with the army. 7. The letter from the Divins of the Church 
 of England to the Generall Assembly, subscribed Westminster, 
 May 17, and subscribed William Twiss, prolocutor ; Cornelius 
 Barges, assessor; Hen. Robruh, Adoniram Byfild, scribes. 
 8. The Generall Assemblies answeir to the right reverend the 
 Assembly of Divines in England, June 1644. 9. The Assem- 
 blies letter in ornate Latin to the Kirk of the Netherlands, 
 Ecclesiis Dei quce sunt in Unitis Hollandiae^ Zelandice^ al'ijsqiie 
 fdoderati Belgii provinciis ; and subscribed Vestrce dignitati el 
 fraternitati adictissimi pastor es et seniores nationalis sinodis 
 Scoticanoo et nostra omnium nomine et jnandato^ Ja. Bonar, 
 moderator. 
 
 In all this Assembly not a word off nor to the Kings 
 Majesty in their proceedings, as if he were now out of date, or 
 not worth their while. But I find a commission for visitation 
 of Orknay, Zetland, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross, to Mr. 
 William Falconar, Mr. Murdo Mackenzie, and Alexander 
 Brodie of that Ilk. 
 
 Edinburgh is now in a muse, heareing of Montrosse his 
 great success, and therefore a day of humiliation and fast is 
 appointed, especially that their Generall Baily was so trappand 
 and baffled be him. But Generall Hurry, haveing thus before 
 missed his mark on Montross, intended to make it up on the 
 Lord Gordon. Montrosse, feareing he should be overmastered, 
 thought it necessary to oppose Hurry as soon as possible, as 
 well to secure so dear a friend from so eminent danger as to 
 
294 
 
 POLTCHRONICON SEU 
 
 be nibliiig at the enemies forces now assunder, and to cutt off 
 that power by peecemeal, which he well knew if it were all in a 
 body would be above his strength. Ikily is now called south ; 
 Hurry left in Fife and Anguis. Montross acquaints the Lord 
 Gordon of Hurys design, who is now on his guard, and send 
 All. M'kdonnell [Mac Coll] through Athol, Badinoch, Loch- 
 abber, to secure the Highlanders, and to winter among them, 
 seing now all the forces had gotten to their quarters, and 
 Montross himselfe lurks in Pierthshire all that winter amongst 
 his true friends, and the Lord Gordon is very bussy in the north 
 to provid men and amunition for spring. In April Generall 
 Hurry goes north, marching slowely with his few troupes to 
 Aberdeen, intending to secure all he could thereabouts, whilest 
 meantime Montross, by continued journayes, marches into 
 Marr, and there M'kdonald [Mac Coll] comes to him, and soon 
 after they join with the Lord Gordon, who had raised a thousand 
 foot and 200 horse. Hurry at this time is within 6 miles of 
 him, who, understanding of Montrosses comming, retires with 
 all speed northward to Inverness, and Montross as hcastily 
 followes after in his reer to Speysid, and so over to Murray. 
 Now is all the North in feare ; detachments from Cathness, 
 Sutherland, Ross, repair to Inverness, Rosses, Monroes, 
 M'Kenzes, Frasers, as thinking that Montross and his forces 
 was besieging that garrison. At this time Major Fraser, 
 having been in Ireland with many mo, suppressing the rebel- 
 ion there, is now returnd home Collonel, and offers his service 
 to my Lord Lovat, his cheefe, as fittest to have the conduct of 
 the Frasers now uppon their march. But Sir James Fraser 
 would not hear of this, which was after repented. The post 
 scout bring account to Inverness that Montross came over 
 Spey, so that the forces all there are readdy to march. May 3, 
 Generall Hurry goes over be boat from Inverness to Kessok, 
 where he and Earl George Seaforth were closse together that 
 night; the intrigues betuixt them hatcht may yet appear 
 openly by the event, but, after tossing some bottles off good 
 wine, parted the next morning, and Hurry came to Invernes. 
 May 4. May 4, in the morning, all the forces march, the Laird of 
 
 Lares his regiment, a detashment of Lothians, the Frasers 
 under Struyes command, Lieutennant Collonel, the M'kenzies, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 295 
 
 Rosses, Monroes, M'kintoshes, all march in a body Ibrward ; 
 Hurry, commander in cheefe, with his troupes also ; and no 
 stop till they came to Narden River,^ 12 miles eastward from 
 Inverness, quher they are certified that Montross lay with his 
 army at Aldern, who, feareing to be overpowered, had a great 
 mind to retire, for, not onely Hurry pressed so vehemently 
 uppon him that it was scarce possible for him to retreat, but 
 Baliy also, with a southern army much stronger then Hurrys, 
 was gotten betuixt the mountaines and him, so that, feareing 
 to be hemm'd in betuixt two armies, he resolves to try the 
 fortun of war without delay, and commit the success to God. 
 To gain all the advantage he could he marshalls his army in 
 the bottom, westward of Aldern. Hurry and his Covenanters 
 drawes up opposit to him about Kinudy, a farr greater number 
 than he. Montross and the Lord Gordon sat both uppon the 
 Castlehill ; Allexandei' M'kdonell [Mac Coll], with his men in 
 both woods northward, made the first approch with his yallow 
 banner and fired uppon the enemy, and they give him a reparty, 
 so that his ensign was killed, the yallow banner fell 3 or 4 
 times, and he retires for recruites. The Strathboggy regiment 
 to the south set forward, quhen, meantime. Hurry gives a word 
 of command, whither wrong given or mistaken. Captain Drum- I'he battle of 
 mond whiles [wheels] his horse to the left for right hand, ^^'^^ 
 and confuses the foot. The troopes in dissorder, the foot 
 regiments in no less, gives way to Montrosses forces to advance 
 uppon them. AUexander M'kdonell in a furry, with his 
 Irishes and Highlanders, run throw them, killing and goaring 
 under foot. Montross, seing him so forward, he saith to the Lord 
 Gordon, Fy, my Lord, sturr or Mackdonnell will carry the 
 honnour of the day. Uppon this the Gordons run forward, 
 horse and foot, crushing all before them as they went. Lairs 
 and Lothians regiment stood in their ranks and files, and were 
 so killed as they stood. True this battle was fought with 
 much eagerness on both sides, each party striving to outvy 
 the other in vallour. At length the Covenanters were over- 
 thrown, 3000 of their foot souldiers being slain, but most of 
 their horse escaped by a more timely than honorable flight. 
 
 The river Nairn. 
 
296 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEIT 
 
 Very many killed among the banks and buishes about Kinudy, 
 Kinstary, Brightmony. Hurry, with his broken troups, fled 
 forward to Invernes, that as well commanders as souldiours 
 hastily and dissorderly betook themselves by night over the 
 how-foord when non persued them ; so that now is Thomas 
 the Rymour his ambiguous prophesy fullfilled and discovered : 
 
 Betuixt Arr, Both, aiul the See 
 Manny a corp shall burried he. 
 
 In this fatall, unfortunat fight fell the brave Laird, of Lairs, 
 Colonel James Campell, and 5 captaines, 4 lieutennants, Major 
 Cashore, Captain Bruce, Captain Wood. The forsaid Captain 
 Drummond, comming to Livernes with his broken troup, was 
 set up in the main guard, and a councell of warr called, which 
 condemned him by martiall law, and was shot at the post 
 uppon the high rodde as yow go to Tomnihurich. Here dyed 
 a gallant gentleman and a stout soldier, not for any bad con- 
 duct of his own but the false word of command which Colonell 
 Hurry had given him to marr the whole battell. The Frasers 
 and M'kenzies suffered most; in our country there were 87 
 widdowes about the Lord Lovates eares ; this we got for our 
 dissloyall, rebellious covenant which we fought for. That, as 
 Jocusta told her two sonnes with terror and teares, to stay our 
 quarrels and lay down the cause at her foot — Bella geri placuit 
 nullos liahitura triurnphos. 
 
 Here Fraser Eraser kills, a Brown doth kill a Brown, 
 
 A Boid a Boid, and Lieth 's by Lieth overthrown, 
 
 A Forbes gainst a Forbes here doeth stand, 
 
 And Drummonds feight with Drumonds hand to hand. 
 
 There doth Magill cause a Magill to die. 
 
 And Gordon doth the strength of Gordon try. 
 
 O Scotland, wert thow mad } Off thine own native gore 
 
 So much till now thow never shedst before.^ 
 
 ATyLordLovats The newes of this fatall bloudy battell spread soone over all 
 th?s battell^ the North, the M'kdonells and M'kleuds, on their journay, but 
 
 ^ In the margin against the above paragraph is : ' The Laird of Lares fell in 
 the field and was burried att Calder Church, with 4 captains, Bruce, Cashore, 
 Campbel, Shaw ; and 5 lieutenants and 200 soildiours. Fam[ous] Captain 
 Crichtoun and Captain Bernard Mackenzies have monuments set over them in tbe 
 Cure of Aldern Vale.' 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 297 
 
 comming, were hi tuto, and glad they appeared not against the 
 King so openly, for every man was now concluding that the 
 Covenant would have no success. God would blast upon mens 
 disloyall designs; the King would yet gain his just point; 
 and his brave Generall Montrosse would carry all before him. 
 Ever and anon the cry and grones of men and women for their 
 lost friends were universally heard. My Lord Lovat had his 
 own sad share, for many of his kindred fell in this battle ; how 
 often would he cheid and challange his brother, Sir James, for 
 his forwardness in this quarrell, that he forsaw the sad event 
 quhich now is come to passe by mens sudden precipitancy and 
 furious zeal. Ne quid nimis. I am, saith he, in deep mourn- 
 ing for my great relations who died a natural death by the 
 hand of God, and now must renue the same for such of them 
 as are killed by the hand of men ; and I forsee that I shall not 
 long survive them. God will in mercy close my eyes in peace, 
 and shall not see the evill that is to come. Thomas, the 
 young Laird of Strachin, being taken away out of his own house 
 by the Lord Gordon to the C'astle of Strath bogy, and riding 
 all the way in single stockings, the weather being sharp, dyed 
 shortly after his return. My dear cousin, old Strachin, dyed 
 this March, being sick of the times that we live in, and I am 
 sure the time of my departure is at hand. God prepare me 
 for my latter end. 
 
 Two yeares before this one Captain George Scot came to captain George 
 Invernes and there built a ship of a prodigious bignes, foi' '^^verness^'^'^^ 
 bulk and burden, non such ever seen in our north seas. The 
 carpenters he brought with him north, and my Lord Lovat 
 gave him wood, firr and oake, in Dulcattack woods [in Glen- 
 moriston]. I myselfe was aboord of her in the rode of Kessock, 
 April 1645, and many mo to whome she was a wonder. She 
 set sail the very day before the battle of Aldern, and among 
 other passengers that went in her south Collonell Eraser and 
 his lady Christina Baily were there. Hugh Eraser younger of 
 Clunvacky, and Andrew Eraser in Leyes, John and William 
 Erasers in Leys his attendants. This ship rod at Ancer in 
 the river mouth of Narden, when the battell was fought in 
 view. This Captain Scot inlarged the ship afterwards as a 
 friggot for warr, and sailed with her to the Straights, and his 
 
298 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 brother William with him, who was made Collonell at Venice, 
 whose martial atchievements in the defence of that state 
 against the Turks may very well admit him to be ranked 
 amongst our worthies. He becam Vice-ad mirall to the Venetian 
 fleet, and the onely bane and terror of Mahumetan navigators ; 
 whither they had gallyes, galeoons, galeasses, huge warships, 
 it was all one to him, he set uppon all alike, saying still the 
 more they were the mannier he would kill, and the stronger 
 that the rancounter should happen the greater should be his 
 honnor, and his prise the richer. He oftentimes so cleared the 
 Archipelago of the Musselmans that the Ottoman famely and 
 the very gates of Constantinople would quake at the report of 
 his victoryes ; and did so ferret them out of all the creeks of 
 the Hadrrattick Gulfe, and so shrudly put them to it, that 
 they hardly knew in what port of the Mediterranean they 
 might best shelter themselves from the fury of his blowes. 
 Many of their mariners turnd land souldicrs for fear of Scot ; 
 and of their maritim officers many tooke charge of caravans to 
 escape his hand, which for many yeares together lay so heavy 
 uppon them that he was cried up for another Don John of 
 Austria or Duke de Orea by the enemies of that Scithian 
 generation. In spight of which and the rancor of all their 
 unchristian hearts he died in his bed of a fever in the Isle of 
 Candy, January 1652. He was truly the glory of his nation 
 and country, and was honored after his death with a statue of 
 marble, which I saw near the Realto of Venice, April 1659.^ 
 Montrosse his This May the Earl of Lindsay, the prime ringleader of the 
 new lesoiution. QQyg|^£^j^|-gj.s next uuto Argil, had raised a new army, and 
 
 ^ In his unpublished ' Triennial Travels' our author gives a long account of 
 Venice, which he visited in April 1659. ' I staied full 7 dayes in Venice, 
 and truelie I never slurred more in so much time all my life. I could have a 
 fresh hospital everie night. I lodged 3 nights in St. Marks hospital, and verie 
 well treated. But there were so manie English, Scots, and Irish in Venice that 
 I could have free bed and board whole 3 months from them for nothing. Mr. 
 Gieles Johnes was our great friend : we were recommended to him, living in 
 Gala Longa at St. Maria Formosa ; John Moore, an English Lieutenant ; and 
 one John Scott, sone to Captn. George Scot who died in the Venetian service. 
 I saw his effigie sett up in Murina, and an description declaring that he had 
 built a ship in his owne countrie in Scotland, and, like a free noble spirit, sptnt 
 himself and itt in the States service.' The statue or * efifigie ' does not now 
 exist. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 299 
 
 passed over with his forces into Anguis, intending to he a 
 
 reserve unto Baily. Montrosse, resolving to quell this new 
 
 army, marches against him with such speed that the newes of 
 
 his approach was not so swift as himselfe, whilst Lindsay was 
 
 within 7 miles of him and all things ready for an assault, when 
 
 most of the northern men privatly run away from their 
 
 culloures, and, going back the way they came, returnd into 
 
 their cuntry, by which meanes that victory slipt through his 
 
 fingers, which he had almost grasped in his hand. Montross, 
 
 thus tristed, takes up new resolutions; he sendeth the Lord 
 
 Gordon and Mackdonell to leavy more forces ; and now 
 
 Lindsay, pretending to do some famous exploit, takes a 
 
 thousand old souldiours from Baily, and, leaving him as many 
 
 new leavied men in their [stead], marches north. Montrosse, 
 
 haveing notice hereof, desires to fight him, and sends a trumpet 
 
 to offer a set battell, but Baily answeires that he would not 
 
 receave orders to fight from an enemy. Yet, at last, through 
 
 the rashness of the Lord Balcarise, a Colonel of horse, who 
 
 precipitated himselfe and the troopes under his command into 
 
 danger, he was forced thereunto, whereuppon a bloody fight 
 
 ensued, wherin Baily was overthrown with the loss of the 
 
 greatest part of his army, and a considerable losse uppon 
 
 Montrosse his side also. Mackdonnell and the highlanders 
 
 behaved bravely, running down the horse with their bowes and 
 
 arrowes. The brave Lord Gordon fell in this battell, to the 
 
 great greefe of all that knew him, his death being universally 
 
 bemoned and bevailed, even off his enemies as well as friends. 
 
 The plounder here of horse, arms, amunition, mony, and 
 
 cloaths so considerable that all Irish, highlanders, and others 
 
 were charmed to follow Montross everywhere. This battell 
 
 was fought at Alford, July 2, 1645, vulgarly called Blare The battel of 
 
 Aford.^ It lyes in a brave plain near the river of Done, below ^l^^^^' ^"^^ ^' 
 
 the church, a common passe where they hade conveniency of 
 
 burialls. 
 
 Montross, haveing obtained this great victory, marches into 
 Anguis, where he met his cousin Patrick Grahame with his 
 Athol men ready to live and dye with him. Shortly therafter 
 
 1 The Field of Alford. 
 
300 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The battel of 
 Kilsith, the 17 
 of August 1645. 
 
 M'kdonnel [Mac Coll], with a great power of Highlanders new 
 levied, came to him, so that, being reinforced with such an 
 army, he resolves to make his way into the very heart of the 
 kingdom ; and, passing over the Tay at Dunkelden, encamped 
 in Methfen Forrest. The Covenanters at that time held a 
 Parliament at Saint Jhonstoun, but, heareing of Montross his 
 approach, secures themselves by flight. He, to increass their 
 terrour, drew near to the town, and made a formidable shew. 
 The town of Pierth would have advanced him a good soume of 
 mony were it his pleasur to seeke it, but he thought it not safe 
 to descend into the champion [champaign] ground further, 
 haveing such want of horse, which was soon supplyed by a 
 party from the north by a party under the Earl of Airly and Sir 
 David his sone, also the Earl of Aboin, and Collonel Nathaniel 
 Gordon, and many mo. Being thus recruited he thought it not 
 good to lose any time, but marched forward through Monteith, 
 Buciiannan, Sterlinshire, and over Forth to Glasgow, streight 
 towards the enemy ; and, haveing many brave voluntiers joined 
 with him in this journay, pitcht his camp, refreshed his army, 
 and, having in vein proffered them battle, at last it came to a 
 pitcht field in a place called Kilsith, where the Covenanters 
 under Generall Baily and Hurry overmatcht him in number, 
 yet came so farr behind him in valor that he obtaind over 
 them an absolut victory, haveing the killing of them for 14 
 miles ; so that of all their foot it is said there did not an 
 hundred come off", nor did their horse escape very well, of 
 whom many were killed, some taken, the rest disperst. Their 
 ordnance, their arms, their whole spoiles, came clearly to the 
 conqueroures, who by report lost not 20 men ; on the other 
 side were slain 6000, a great disproportion in number; and 
 did not the effects which followed this victory make it the 
 more credible it might seeme to some a falshood, if not an 
 impossibility. The Covenanters were 3 for one, and trained 
 men, horse and foot, and looked uppon Montross his army as 
 greenhorns and unexpert in martial theatres ; but they found 
 themselves Scots men, wise behind hand, sero sapiunt Phrigi. 
 This fatal day was fought in the plaines of Kilsith neare 
 Glasgow, and any man may judg what pannick feare possest 
 that city. 
 
POLTCRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 Now presently after this great, unexpected victoi y there was a aii our nobles 
 great alteration all the kingdom over ; the cheefe of the nobility ^^^^ nation, 
 who sided with the Covenanters, some fled to Barwick, some to 
 Carlile, some to Newcastle, others into Ireland. The Marques 
 of Douglas, Earls of Twadall, Annandale, and Heartfild, the 
 Lords Seaton, Drummond, Fleming, Maderty, Carnegy, and 
 Johnston, with many others of great qualety, submitted them- 
 selves. Such as formerly did but privatly wish well to the 
 King now expressed it openly. The cities and cuntries that 
 were further off began to dispatch their commissioners to 
 profess ill their names their alledgiance to their king, their 
 duty and service to his vicegerent, and freely to offer him men, 
 arms, provision, and other necessaries of war. The city of 
 Edinburgh, to ingratiat themselves with the conquerours, they 
 released their prisoners, of whom the cheefest were the Earl of 
 Crawford, and James, Lord Ogilby, sone to the Earl of Airly, 
 whom, with their delegats, they sent to Montross (being yet 
 in his camp near Glasgow), promising obedience for the time 
 to come. Yea, from all the cities and countries benorth Tay 
 the verv same. Thus the whole kingdom everywhere sounded 
 nothing but Montross. 
 
 Meantime, before he would proceed further, he sent tuo Com- Glasgow a 
 missioners into Glasgow with a trumpeter, telling; the citizens tHbutary to 
 
 , . ^ . 1 , . Montross. 
 
 that he w^as loth to sufier his army to enter within their walls, 
 for that they would prove but a prey to them ; therefore ordered 
 the Magistrats to stent the whole incorporation, for he would 
 have a fine of them. This w^as immediatly obeyed, and in less 
 than 48 houres there is the soume of ten thousand libs col- 
 lected ; the provest and magistrats goe out and invits his 
 Excellency the King's Generall to come in to the city with his 
 cheefe officers. Montross was not nice, enters the city with a 
 great retinue, is nobly treated with all his officers and this 
 vast soume delivered to his deputies, and takes leave of them 
 and departs, with an acclamation of joy accompanying him, 
 ringing of bells, sound of trumpets and drumms, the whole 
 town in arms to accompany ; and I heard it said by an ear- 
 witness that had he sought duble the soume it w^ould be 
 granted. Edinburgh was preparing to advance the same 
 exaction. But the infatuation was, when he should have 
 
302 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 His officers 
 desert him. 
 
 The plague in 
 Edinburgh. 
 
 generously distributed the most of this mony to his deserving 
 commanders, he said that plunder might well serve, and inhanct 
 all to himselfe. Thus was he puft up with ambition, and vain 
 of his victories, and proud of his conquest, which was his bane 
 and brack — Eheu quo tendit soeva libido! Thus he lost the 
 affection of his dearest sw^orn friends ; so that what thing 
 on earth is permanent — ah voluptates mmium fugaces cuncta 
 caduca! Many of his souldiers, being loaden with spoil, ran 
 privily away from their colloures, and returnd home. Presently 
 after, their very commanders desired furloghs for a litle while, 
 pretending that the enemy had no army witliin the borders of 
 the kingdom, and therefore their service for the present might 
 be well spared. The Earl of Aboin, whither the governour 
 would or no, carried away with him not onely his own men 
 but all the rest of the northern forces. Yea, Alexander 
 M'kdonell, who had hitherto continued so faithfull, departed 
 into the Highlands with more than 3000 stout men, and 
 sexscore of the best Irish, promising faithfully their sudden 
 return ; yet he never saw Montross in the face again. 
 
 Montross, now deserting and deserted, and seing it would 
 be no better witli his small party, passing by Edinbrugh (into 
 which he would not enter, the plague then rageing in the city), 
 led them through Lothianshire, and in Strathgate joined with 
 some forces, joined with the Marques of Douglas, and then 
 marches to Nidsdale and Annandale and the country of Ayre, 
 that he might there raise what horses he could, and, comming 
 to Selkirk, a great free brugh, he quartered his horse in a 
 village, and his foot in a wood closs by, his army consisting 
 of 500 foot and a weak party of new raised horse. Now, Sir 
 David Lessly, being sent for out of England to help the 
 Covenanters in their exigency, knew well Montross his weak 
 condition, that er he was discerned by his scoutes he was within 
 less than a mile of him with 6000 horse, Montross at the 
 time being bussy in dispatching letters to the King ; but 
 uppon newes of Lesslies comming he mounts the first horse 
 he could light on and gallops into the field appointed for the 
 randezvouz, where he finds a great deal of noise but no order, 
 the cavalry being litle acquainted with duty, and being dis- 
 persed into their quarters, dreaming more of baiting their 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOKUM 
 
 303 
 
 horses than maintaining their lives and honour ; yet a good 
 party, and these for the most part noblemen and knights, 
 who made all speed thither, and gallantly undertooke to 
 make good the right wing; but they not being above 150 
 in all, and being assailed by so potent an enemy, multitud 
 overcomming valour, haveing tweice repulsed their enemy with 
 loss, at last they betooke themselves to flight. The foot, 
 fighting a good while stoutly and resolutly, were forced to 
 yeld, but found litle mercy from the Conquerour, putting 
 them all to the sword. Montross, seing his men routed (which 
 he never saw before), rallying about 30 horse whom he had 
 gathered up in that confusion, he desperatly charged through 
 the enemy, who, hotly persuing him, to make his flight the 
 more honnorable he chargeth his pursuers, routs them, and 
 carries away one Bruce, a captain of horse, and two cornets 
 with their standards prisoners. Thus by his vallour and 
 courrage, though defeat, there was a kind of victory on his 
 side. This is the battle of Philiphaugh, so much noised ; it 
 was fought the 13 of September, mmo 1645. 
 
 Now let any rational man judge, if Montross had carried 
 his army with him whom he had at Glasgow when he fought 
 Kilsith, what figure he would have made here at Selkirk. I 
 am truly of the mind he had made a prey of Lessly and his 
 6000 horse; then without doubt all Scotland would have been 
 his, and then England had yelded to the King ; for certainly 
 there was never so great a probability. But there was too 
 much stress laid uppon the arm of flesh, and we were vain 
 of our victories, and God blasted uppon them all. Therefore 
 thus saith the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his strength, isai. 9. 23. 
 vallour, or wisdom, but let him that glorieth glory in the 
 Lord who exercise judgement and rightiouseness, for the race Ecies. 9. n. 
 is not to the swift nor the battel to the strong, but time 
 and chance happeneth to them all. The King's interest in 
 Scotland is now wholly lost. But Montross will yet venter ; he 
 heasts north, crosseth the Forth, came into Leven, where 
 Aboin bringeth him 1500 foot and 300 horse, but his forces 
 too weake to resist so powerfuU an enemy as were then in the 
 field to oppose him, for Fife and Anguis were blockt up 
 against him ; and the Convention of the Estates was now 
 
304 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 A Convention held at St. Andrewes, wherein were condemd Jo. Ogilby, Earl 
 at St. Andrews. «f Airly, and was to be execut, but the night before the 
 execution his sister, Lady Anna, came to pay him a visit and 
 take her last farewell of him ; and being a while privat 
 together she exchangd garbs with her brother. She stayed 
 within, and Airly came out in the ladys garb, never suspected 
 becaus he was of equal pitch with his sister and like one 
 another in features, and so escaped. At that time also were 
 condemned and execut Sir William Rollock, Sir Philip Nisbit, 
 Alexander Ogilby of ... , Colonel Nathanael Gordon, Sir 
 Robert Spotswood, Andrew Guthery, sone to the Reverend 
 the Bishop of Murray, and Andrew Murray, brother to Tilli- 
 barden. The crimes objected against them was no less than 
 high treason ; the facts they were guilty off* was loyalty to 
 the King. 
 
 M'Kenzies and Moutross comes to Stratlibogy, and conduces with the 
 Mackdoneiis. young Lord Gordon to come north through Murray to try 
 the pulses of the clans and barrons, whilst himselfe ventered 
 to the Highlands to raise men and prepare his forces. Most 
 of our chiftens of clans are now hankering ; the M'kdonels and 
 M'kleuds are resolved to join Montrosse ; also the M'kenzies 
 and M'kyes are above boord. My Lord Lovat, now tender 
 and valetudinar, can do nothing openly, yet his heart is 
 honest ; but all the power over and conduct of the Erasers 
 were in Sir James the tutor his hands, now at the south and 
 deeply engaged with Argile and the Covenanters, and is their 
 onely factor in the north; and in November returns home 
 with commission to fortify and reinforce the garrison of Inver- 
 ness, and was more active in this then became him, as he had 
 cause to repent him too late afterwards. My Lord Lovat 
 thus expostulats with him, Alas, brother, I am this day 
 2 Sam. 3. 39. weake and ye sones of Zeruia be too hard for me, as David 
 said to Joab. Is there no medium, no mediocrity in your pro- 
 The Lord cedings Yow are so biggot and tenacious in your principle, 
 Lovats expostu- SQ Hnckcd with Argile and that faction that there is no 
 
 lation with his . -rtixiii • l ' ii n i 
 
 brother Sir separation. i3ut I tell yow it is a bad quarreli and cause 
 James, Brey. yvhich yow espousc, aiid, besids conscience, quhich should be 
 a Christian guid, yow will draw the odium of your nighboures 
 uppon us. The M'kdonnills and the Mackenzies will declare 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 ^305 
 
 openly for the King, and, like the Senenses, in the Florentin 
 warr, we shall be a prey to both. Not that I ever feared any 
 neighbouring clan, for my kindred and followers are numerous, 
 active, vallarous, warlick, and curragious, both gentlemen and 
 commons, and can cope and compeat with any one clan ; but 
 no Hercules contra duos. And the Frasers were never dissloyall, 
 and that is the stain and imputation that we shall lye under 
 for the future, and it is the sin and stain of the nation in 
 generall, yet in this it is not solatium miseros multos habere 
 pares. I have indeavoured in my own time to train and 
 incurrage my people ; they are also well furnished with arms, 
 and I have an arcenal at Lovat stored with all manner of 
 arms which I have bought at a good rate from Collonel Fraser 
 when I gave him the quarter land of Kiltarlity in excambion 
 of the 200 muscats, firlocks, guns, and picks which he brought 
 to the country, besids the field pieces and artillary which I 
 had before ; and there will be need of all to defend the country 
 from incursions, for, if ever we found it true it is now, that 
 we have thorns in our sids, and confirm the old adage and 
 panagyrick the poet gave us : — Inter hyperhoreos 7iatus, 
 Fraserius heros. Espinis docuit surgere posse rosam. 
 
 I have drunk deep in the cup of sufferings, and non hath His sore 
 pledged me. I have swame through a see of sorrowes. I am ^^^^'"'"ss- 
 the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath, and Lament. 3. i. 
 God allone supported me ; and, besids the deaths of an excel- 
 lent wife and good children, my father hath left me plunged 
 in difficulties and debt ; and, considering what was given off 
 to the sones of this famely, second marriages and others, 1. to 
 Culboky, Foyer, Struy, Strachin, Inveralochy, Brey, the very 
 halfe of my rent and revenues remaines not intire, and the 
 greatest burden that now lyes uppon this estate is my daughter 
 in lawes jointer, 10 thousand a year, to be advanced at Lieth 
 every Whitsunday. This was a bargen partly of my brothers 
 makeing ; and the broust that yow have brewn, drink now 
 your fill of it. My mind lay not to that match, though 
 driven to it by the parsuasions of a prevailing party. Litle 
 contentment or credit have I of it any maner of way ; none 
 to represent my sone and heir now dead but that poor child 
 Hugh, born May 2, 1643, now with his mother at Edinburgh. 
 
 u 
 
306 
 
 POLICPIRONICON SEU 
 
 She will soone think of another husband, and I must pay her 
 dury [dowry]. I have not troubled the estat of Lovat, nor 
 burdened it with a groat these ten yeares bygon, but my bare 
 aliment; three of my sones are dead, William, Simon, and 
 The Master of Hugh ; 3 I have alive to survive me, Alexander, Thomas, and 
 Ma.yi6[sic], James. ProvidehH Deus^ God Avill provid for them; the seed 
 ^^43- of the rightious will not want ; I cast them uppon Providence. 
 
 They have three sisters, setled and well to live ; I shall re- 
 commend one to each of these for their subsistance till the 
 His reflection world setle. All Brittain is now in a confusion ; England is 
 upon the times. Aceldama or field of blood, and Scotland is following 
 fast uppon the tract ; bloud is terrible, and who can think 
 on it and not quake, that our land is defiled with bloud, 
 and not shed by an aliens hand. God hath been pleased 
 talem nobis avertere pestem, to free us from this plague ; 
 but intestin, civil, uncivil broiles, O, who shall wash our land 
 from these aspersiones ! It is not a condition but sanction 
 of nature parce civiuvi sanguinis to spare the bloud of citizens, 
 connatural, colateral, conational with our selves. But parce 
 siii sanguinis spare thy own bloud, thy brothers, thy bone 
 and flesh, with pain born, with expense nurtured, must fall 
 in a moment, and by whom ? One son of Adam by another, 
 one Scots man by another ! The proverb is now exploded, 
 Exod. 7. I. Homo homirii Deus ; nay, homo homini Dcemon. Sir James, 
 brother, yow are shortly like to come to that honour yow 
 never expected, and perhaps not shaped for, to be Lord 
 Lovat, an honourable station indeed; when I am gone 
 yow will neglect the country, run to Edinburgh, and be 
 Jackmanizing Argil, put your kinsmen uppon expeditions, 
 let them run your errands, inhance them to your trifling 
 bussinesses, to carry on the grand cause, and so neglect 
 their own aflkires, turn spendthrifts, then give them louse 
 reins and turn theeves to repaire their loss. This is my 
 suspition of yow, nay, my prediction of them. I have all 
 my time kept them in order and unity, peace and industry, 
 supprest all outrages, nipt vices in the bud, and was a good 
 example of prudence, providence, piety, and sobriety before. 
 Now I adjure yow before God, mannage well the great trust 
 I leave uppon yow ; be a good chiften, governour, councellor, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 307 
 
 and examplar to my kinsmen and people whilst they have 
 yow, for nil veJiernens dnrahlle^ nothing violent is permanent ; 
 therefore prepare to dye young, for yow will not come an old 
 gray head. God direct yow. 
 
 About the beginning off December my Lord Lovat sickned, My Lord 
 and, takeing death to himselfe, he could not want his ministers andtast^cUs-^ 
 per vices successively by him, for he loved their converse and 
 conference. His own minister and pastor was frequently with 
 him (viz. Mr. John Houstoun), but he had a great affection 
 for Mr. William Fraser, minister at Kilernan, though in 
 another diocess, for, he said, that is my friend, for he always, 
 tells me truth and conceales nothing from me ; he flatters not, 
 he dissembles not, he would have me a terrour to evil doerss, 
 a comfort to such as do well. He was a true prophet, and 
 fortold me what is come to pass in my famely, and I must 
 trust his predictions. My Lord called his children before the 
 ministers, and gravely declares with Jacob, I call yow together, Gen. 49. i. 
 mv sones, gather yourselves together that I may tell yow that 
 which shall befall yow in the last dayes. I shall say with 
 Joshua, Behold I goe this day the way of all the earth. I Josh. 23. 14. 
 am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departur IS 2 Tim. 4. 
 at hand ; I have fought the good fight, finished my course, 
 kept the faith, now is laid up for me a crown of rightiouseness, 
 etc. Now is my death to me more welcom, and my departur 
 hence more pleasant, seing I must leave my unaccomplished 
 actiones to be performed by yow in whose persones I question 
 not but that my memorial shall be retained as in a monument 
 of eternall fame. Many things which are be death prevented, 
 see yow accomplish ; let your place and power be swayed and 
 governed by justice, protecting the innocent from the tyrany 
 of oppressoures, wiping away all teares from the eyes of the 
 afflicted, for then above all things have I esteemed myselfe 
 happy. Bewarr of the raging sin of the times, places, and 
 persones quher yow live. Be sober and temperat, chast and 
 continent ; as yow would wish others to doe, even the same 
 doe ye. Fear God, honor the King, and medle not with P^'ov. 24. 21. 
 those that are given to changes. The way to reform others 
 is to reform yourselves ; keep up the honour, the antiquity, 
 the true history of your ancient famely ; incurrage vertue in 
 
308 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 every one ; countenance vice in none. These will be day of 
 liberty corrupted and corrupting times; God preserve from 
 being tainted with them. I was wont to say that he dissallowed 
 the too forward fury of our reformation and the present re- 
 volution. Ne quid nimis, my motto. Both these have not 
 onely destroyed our noble monuments, but manuscripts; and, 
 among the fatal overthrowes of many more, this of Beuly yow 
 see is altogether rased and ruined, at the dispose of some then 
 in commission, whose overheasty actions in those behalfes hath 
 left us a want of many truthes, which otherwayes we might 
 have had. My sone Alexander, thow wilt be great and have 
 many advantages, and a happy, peaceable, flourishing time ; 
 but its my feare thow le want mannagement and improvement : 
 easiness and credulity is the bane of many. Give a deafe eare 
 to sicophants; let not those gloworms hang on yow; what 
 was your brothers ruin I am affraied may be thine ; prepare 
 to dye young, for yow will never reach my dayes. My sone 
 Tome, thow wilt wrestle with the world, but thowle be the 
 man yet, live long and see many dayes. Since Lord Thomas 
 his time thow wilt live longest; thow shalt have the name 
 and honor, but litle or no profit; but from thy loines shall they 
 come who will do great things. I see yow will die a violent 
 death ; but thy temperance and moderation shall lengthen thy 
 dayes, for thow wilt not incline to excess. My sone James, 
 thow art my youngest, thow wilt have projects, and currage 
 to prosecut ; thow wilt take a flight ; thowl appeare uppon 
 the stage, and evanish, films noctis, or unius diei oriens et 
 moriens ; thow'l be seperat from thy bretheren. But Tomm 
 shall survive yow all, and be the last of my famely. The 
 very line wil be almost [extinct ?], yet at length their [line ?], 
 which had long lain hurried in their own ashes, will yet begin 
 to revive and flourish, being wearied of the insulting tyrany 
 of O. C.,^ begin to take fresh spirit, and to seeke one of their 
 own native race to rule over them. I must go, but leave 
 yow my sones, a ball to be tossed about in fortunes tennis 
 court, but, which of yow shall unravell the web which your 
 brother Hugh hath woven ? Yow will see happy, serene, 
 
 ^ Oliver Cromwell. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 309 
 
 halcion dayes yet, when the sword is sheathed which now 
 rages. 
 
 ***** 
 After all these sentiments, reflections, expostulations, and Lord Hugh 
 declarations to his famely and friends, and many other excel- his^death,^645^ 
 lent advices, which I had and heard from an eye and ear 
 witnes, this good man dyed in peace at Lovat the 17 day of 
 December, being Tusday, in the 55 yeare of his age, anno 
 Domini 1645. 
 
 ***** 
 To give Lord Hugh Fraser of Lovat his due character, now Hugh Lord 
 
 ,. Ill P 111 Lovat his char- 
 
 being dead: he was a man oi sound wit, a good wholsom acterand 
 
 constitution, a man off currage and resolution, a great justi- description, 
 tiary, pious, prudent, religious, humble, modest man. When 
 master he went circuit, condingly keeping courtes once a year 
 in person through his lordship ; he would heare the meanest, 
 redress wrongs and injurries, sufter no oppression, enjoin his 
 chamerlanes and baliefes to do all kindness possible to his 
 poor people. So exact in genealogy that he could give an 
 account of the meanest tennants origen and parentage once 
 hearing his name, whither stranger or native in all his country. 
 Would not suffer one man, gentleman or tenant, once he came 
 to 18 yeares off age, but to have armes suitable for him, which 
 made him advance 2000 marks to Collonel Fraser for muscats, 
 firlocks, and picks in the begining of the warrs. Arching he 
 preferd to all martiall arts, saying that it was a manly exer- 
 cise. In his time the country was throng'd with pretty men 
 of all sorts, gentleman and yoman. He was singularly just in 
 his promise and paction, a word was enugh, and would have 
 that done by all men quhatsomever. To this end he kept one 
 Alexander Dunbarr, a nottar,^ still near his gate at Lovat, 
 and another in Stratharick. He was punctuall and strickt in 
 keeping ordinance. I heard his minister say that still my 
 Lord Lovat was his second bell upon Sunday, never missed 
 sitting in session to carry one disciplin, saying that it was the 
 first court within the kingdom, and never dine or suppe upon 
 
 ^ See notarial instruments by Dunbar, in connection with Montrose's war, in 
 Urquhart and Glenmoriston, pp. 156-158. 
 
310 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Sunday without bis minister, and would often send his horse 
 for him. His famely was an accadamy for arts, learning, and 
 devotion, and hospitality was his delight ; orderd once a weeke 
 so mucli victual for the poor, and monny uppon the Saboth. 
 He would regreet that ministers had too mean stipends, and, 
 by his atturnay, voted for an augmentation to them anno 
 1640. And, when decreetes of platt were procured, he gave 
 localities of land to all his ministers, and would not suffer 
 customs, carriage, or any exaction to be imposed uppon these 
 platts of ground ; for, saith he. In Egipt, evin under Pharaoh 
 Gen. 4722. and a famin, the lands of the priests was free, for they had a 
 portion assigned them without any trouble or bondage ; nay, 
 when the yearly tribut of 40 thousand Hbs gathered by the 
 name of Dane gilt, imposed for 40 yeares in England together, 
 and payed out of every man^s lands except onely the clergy, 
 who were exempted from the same, this shall be my 
 rule in this case tuixt me and my pastors. Severall weighty 
 reflections he had uppon the transactions, omissions, and 
 commissions of both his predecessors and his own: 1. Their 
 neglect of the Church, having so much of its revenues in their 
 possession for severall ages, and never compendit to God by 
 mortification, erection, or reparation of churches, hospitalls, 
 bridges, or pious uses ; so that he lookt upon the paction 
 made by his predecessors anent the priory of Beuly litle better 
 than simoniacall and sacrilegious, and a moth in the estate of 
 Feudum, et fide Lovat, and alas what can atton this guilt or expiat tliis crime 
 Dominium and imputation. 2. The feudary lands of Rindown and Ard- 
 Vassahum. nichrask to the Mackenzies, Garloch and Redcastle, which he 
 looked upon an omen or introductive presage of their getting 
 all that barony at last, this he could not digest or win over. 
 3. The manner of wodsetting the 5 davachs of Abertarph to 
 the M'kdonalds, very enemies to the famely and Erasers, 
 takeing their mony, which was but 10 thousand marks, to 
 redeem the wodset of Kinmilies then in his cousin Strachins 
 hand, and meerly for a triffling jarr between the two ladies 
 for the use of a scurvy chariot, anno 1634 ; putting a diss- 
 oblidgement uppon a near relation, and doe a curtesie to a rude 
 rascall and stranger of whom he could never expect a favour ; 
 and God knowes when that land shall be redeemed, if ever. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 311 
 
 4. The feudary tack given to Tommy Shives of the lands of 
 Moortoun, which was a pendicle of the barrony off Kinmilies, 
 a plat very capable of improvement, and no marches made or 
 designed betuixt that and Bunchrive, which gave him way to 
 incroach at his pleasur, there being no bounded evidence to 
 limit him, as is very clearly seen this day. 5. That there was 
 no paines taken in the controverted marches betuixt Doun- 
 chea and Dulcromby to the east, and Bochrubin to the west, 
 lands belonging to Mackintosh and interjected within the 
 lordship, and as it hath so may yet breed strife and contention 
 betuixt nighboures, and may terminat in fead and bloud ; 
 and he was ever a man of peace, and a good nighbour, medi- 
 ating and composing differences, a singular arbitrator. 6. 
 The dividing of the mosses betuixt Farnway and the 3 
 davachs of Corbet, now in Culbokies and Belladrums posses- 
 sion, giving them so large a share to the detriment of his own 
 lands and tennants, what infatuation or simplicity made him 
 condescend to this without deliberation, but feasted and 
 insnared in the house of Rinmany. 7. That ever he yelded 
 or concented to his sone the Masters match with Lessley of 
 Levins daughther ; such as sprang out of the dunghill and 
 kennell, bad blood, bad principles, bad purchase, bad prac- 
 tices, which act posterity will repent and rue. This he could 
 never heare off with patience. Nulla fides pietasque viris qui 
 castra seqiiimtur. Venalesque manus, ibifas ubi maorima merces. 
 
 No faitli or conscience common souldiers carry, 
 Best pay is right then, bands are mercenary. 
 
 Hugh Lord Fraser of Lovat, his last farewell 
 to this fond world ! 
 
 Farewell, fond world, so vofuU, full of care ! 
 Map of all mourning, toil, trouble, and dispare 
 The Race is run of mine abode with thee. 
 With joy I change to heavens eternity. 
 Cease, poets proud, min *Eulogies to frame. 
 From Elegies let all my friends refraine, 
 
 honestas sermo 
 praise. 
 
312 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 *Christmas, for 
 he died 8 dayes 
 before the feast 
 of the Nativity. 
 
 For epitaphs and panagyrick verse 
 
 The [?] eth one of Job doth well rehearse ! 
 
 And doth declare in some degree my life. 
 
 How I did live 'mongst nighbours still but strife. 
 
 Not an o[ppre]ssor, nor covetous with greed. 
 
 But aye relieving orphants in their need ; 
 
 Boath rich and poor may now declare with groanes, 
 
 I did not eat my morsel all alone. 
 
 Nor gold my god, nor yet my confidence. 
 
 But faith and truth my surest evidence. 
 
 The Churche I guarded, was the clergies stay. 
 
 The law I ownd, kept justice from decay. 
 
 A terrour to the evil, and a comfort 
 
 To rightious men whom I did still support. 
 
 No cries shall rise 'gainst my posteritye 
 
 But that my lands are conquest faithfullye. 
 
 I hope that God, my good and glorious Prince, 
 
 Shall care for them and still be their defence 
 
 Gainst graceless, godless rebels and all others. 
 
 For countrys ruin flocking aye together. 
 
 Send to the King, send to your friends along, 
 
 For help and aid for to revenge your wrong. 
 
 But as for me, to Heavens Im in the throng. 
 
 To God and angels there to sliew your wrong ; 
 
 And I assur yow all that are in griefe 
 
 Shortly from thence to yow shall come reliefe, 
 
 For to solace sad soules; yet confident, 
 
 And will reward neutralls indifferent, 
 
 And send a foil unto our mortall foes, 
 
 I say Amen, Amen, Lord, be it so. 
 
 Now my *Yule royall I will keep above 
 
 ""Mongst saints and angels with the god of love. 
 
 Farewell, fond world, all friends I bid adue 
 
 Till they and I in glore our loves renue. 
 
 Montross his 
 project. 
 
 Now the Kings great generall, haveing his feathers this 
 while bygone plumed victory (except the ruffle he got at 
 Philiphaughs), flies forward amain, and, going to the Castle of 
 Strathbogy to pay a visit to the Marques of Huntly, haveing 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 313 
 
 by messengers often fruitlesly solicited him, now invites him 
 in smooth and gentle language to associat with him in the 
 war for the safety of the King and kingdom, and gave him so 
 full satisfaction in all things that, as being at last overcome, 
 he gave him his hand and promises that not onely all his men 
 but he himselfe would come in person in the head of them, 
 and wait uppon him with all possible speed next April; and, 
 for the better management of the war, they agreed that 
 Huntly, then wasting over the Spey, should make his way on 
 the right hand by the sea cost of Murray, and Montross was to 
 goe round about on the left hand through Strathspey, and so 
 to besiege Inverness, a strong garrison of the Covenanters, on 
 both sides. Haveing thus pactioned, they both part, and 
 Montross goes to the Highlands to prepare his men for the 
 enterprise. 
 
 At this time Lord Lewes Gordon was Governour of the Lord Lewis 
 castell of Rothes, and, with a number of flight fellowes, horse ^rudty"^ 
 and foot, ravaged up and down the country uppon all suspect 
 persones, burning cornyards, and pillaging all townes and 
 villages as he went through, putting taxes and stents uppon 
 the people at his pleasur, still makeing his garrison at Rothes 
 his center, for thither he sent his prey and pillage of cattell, 
 cloaths, wool, flax, poultry; plunder of all sort fit for portage 
 was carried away, so that all Murray betuixt Spey and Nesse 
 was wasted by his flying party. Few fencible houses kept out, 
 only the castell of Innes, Burgy, Inshochy ; to these three Castie of 
 severalls retired for safety. Sir Robert Gordon of Gordons- 
 toun was a good friend to many about him, and prevailed with 
 Lord Lewis to spare the corns, especially in the parish of Burning the 
 DufFes, Aves, and Cinedward. Some they favoured as their Murra^'°"^^ 
 own, such as Innes of Most, Duncinty, Laird of Kocstoun, 
 Captain Thomas [Mackenzie of] Pluscaden, and Tannachy 
 Tulloch. Those indeed were loyall, but the Innesses, Brodyes, 
 Dunbarrs, Kinards, nay the Stuarts and Rosses, were made a 
 prey, for Lord Lewis was a merciless cruell man, and had his 
 master burner with him, who uppon the sign given him would 
 instantly set fire to the cornstacks, and put all in a flame. 
 The barnyards of Geddes, Brody, Calder, Clava, Kilravock, 
 and Castle Stuart, were all burnt to ashes ; and the very 
 
314 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 April 1646, 
 Montross came 
 over Spey. 
 
 Besieged 
 Inverness 29, 
 
 They sallye 
 out to the 
 countries 
 round about. 
 
 instant time in which Lord Hugh Fraser of Lovats corps wer 
 interd at Mons Mariae Chappell his great cornyardat Dalcross 
 was all in a fire to our view. Of this inhumane fact I myselfe 
 was eye and hundereds witnesses at that solemn buriall. 
 
 In April Montross marched with his army over Spey to 
 besiege Invernes, the most considerable garrison of the 
 north, and the haven there most commodious for entertaining 
 forreign forces. Now, had Huntly with his army come up to 
 have blockt in that side of the town he undertooke to do, the 
 garrison, for want of provision, had been forced to yield, nor 
 durst other forces persue them. But he, triffling away his 
 time in Murray without honour or profit, gave Major Generall 
 Miedtown [Middleton] time to raise two regiments of horse 
 and foot, and provid to march north. Montross, disparing of 
 the Gordons, sat closs siege to Invernes the 29 of April 1646, 
 fixt his gunns uppon the top of the old castlehill, called 
 Castrum vehis^ under a hathorn tree due east, and batters hot. 
 The river foordable and litle, severalls of his horse and foot 
 rallied out in scouts westward to the Aird, and surprised the 
 people of Farnway, sowing their seed. Manny of the Mac- 
 kenzies joind with Montross at this siege, and Mackdonalds 
 too. I remember that Rory M'kenzie of Dochmiluag, with 
 6 horsemen, sallied out through the parish of Wardlaw, 
 pillaging all along. He basely killed one John M'kgeorge, 
 tennant in Phoppachy, and Thomas M'kthomas, an old man, 
 miller to his own father in law, Hugh Fraser of Belladrum, at 
 Rindowy. By providence the sea being at low ebb, all the 
 people escaped through the lakes, thither no horse could 
 venter, and so tooke refuge in Culbokyes sconce ^ and Lovat, 
 two convenient forts and strongholds. Lieutenant William 
 Fraser, vulgarly William Geilach,^ stopt the passe and common 
 rode above Rindowy in Blarnigale, having 4 men in arms with 
 him, takes out a great barrell of strong ale out of the drinking 
 house, and sets it on the high rode and rids stradling over it, 
 broaches the vessell and calls to all going by to drink the 
 King's good health. Not a man, horse or foot, came near him 
 for two dayes ; some road by below him, some above, and 
 
 1 See footnote, p. 288. 
 
 Highland William. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 315 
 
 never any came neare him ; all the while he appeared so for- 
 midable to Montross people. When he drunk a health it was 
 accompanied with a shot ; and there he continued like a 
 centinell for some dayes untill the fury was over and all was 
 setled and every man called back to his post at the siege of 
 Invernes. Meantime, I shall say that betuixt the bridge end 
 of Inverness and Gusachan, 26 miles, there was not left in my 
 countrie a sheep to bleet, or a cock to crow day, nor a house 
 unruffled ; so severe was the depredation, onely the garrishones 
 were safe and preserved mens lives : 1. the garrishon of Inver- 
 ness; 2. the sconce of Wardlaw, built be William Fraser of 
 Culboky ; 3. the fort of Culboky ; 4. the fort of Beuly ; 5. the 
 Isle of Ages [Aigas] ; 6. the Doun of Litle Struy ; these 6 
 preserved thousands of soules, men, women and children, who 
 had recourse for safety to these fortes to preserve their lives, 
 otherwayes all had perished in the fury of this surprise and 
 onesett ; proh dolor. 
 
 Meantime, the siege of Inverness continues, the garrison Montross sur- 
 defending most valiantly, securing the skirts of the city, burn- fhe^si^'ge^^^^^ 
 ing the stone houses and kills [kilns] near the bridg end south- 5- 
 west, to prevent shelter for the enemy. They were well stored 
 within, and as well without, yet enemies in both their . . . [?] 
 Montross, a wise and valiant generall, acted his part stoutly, 
 but had no supply, and therefore full of feare, and zealously 
 advertising Huntly often (who had notice of his straites) yet 
 receaved no answeir from him but what relisht of scornfullness. 
 Nay, so farr off were the Gordones from afFoording him assist- 
 ance, that Montross, haveing sent three troops of horse to lie 
 at the foords of Spey to observe the motion of the enemy, and 
 if they came, to send him often and certain intelligence. Lord 
 Lewis, Huntlies sone, who then commanded the castle of 
 Rothes, invited the captaines to a banquet in his castle, 
 persuading them to leave off their needless guards, and that 
 the enemy lay very farr off, where with dainty cheer and store 
 of wine he detaind them so long till G. Ma. Midleton, with 
 600 horse and 800 foot had got over the Spey, and marched 
 through Murray; so that if Montross had not got notice 
 another way, he would have a sharper bout now than he had 
 at Selkirk and Philiphaugh. But, whither by Midletounes 
 
316 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Setles his 
 camp at Farly 
 in Ross. 
 
 G. Midlton 
 marches to 
 Ross. 
 
 gentill connivance, or some other chance, the trumpets 
 sounded two miles or more beyond Ness, the nearest end of 
 Petty, wliich allarmd Montrosse his camp, that he escaped 
 beyond the Ness, and mannaged his retreat so well, that 
 with little losse, he came to the Capplach, and so marched 
 with his few forces safe over the Stock foord of Rosse, and 
 leagured two miles above Beuly, in the Wood of Farly, 
 May 7. 
 
 The great Montross, the Kings Generall in Scotland, is 
 forced thus to raise his siege at Inverness, knowing his enemies 
 too strong for him in horse, leaving his camp open for his 
 foes, with all provision and ammunition ; but that ^vhich 
 troubled him most, his two brasen ordnance cannons, which he 
 got in gift from the Earle of Newcastle, lost also uppon their 
 rests, which were taken in to Inverness, and lay uppon the 
 street near the cross and Court of Guard for 6 yeares there- 
 after; which I have often seen and handled; never removed 
 till the English came there 1651. I shall not deny but 
 Midletoun was well content that Montross escaped his fingers. 
 He rides in to Inverness with his victorious train, horse and 
 foot, welcomed and well treated there ; and, after refreshing 
 his forces, without delay marches out, and forward through 
 the parish of Wardlaw, and leagured that night in the Moore 
 of Blair ni Cuinligh, a litle above the Stockfoord of Ross, and 
 Montross in his view opposit to him, encamped in Strachines 
 wood in Fairle. Next morrow they treated and corresponded 
 one with another by their messingers and trumpets. The two 
 camps, directly in view one of another still, Midletoun as 
 much afFraied of Montrosse as Montross was of him; dallying 
 time thus for two dayes, and nothing threatned less than a 
 set day for a pitcht battell betuixt the two generalls. Mean- 
 time, Montross, after refreshing his forces, timous in a morning 
 fireing his camp, escaped to the mountaines. The first thing 
 that alarmd Middleton was the great smoake appearing, and 
 an account that he was gone. I set down this to satisfy my 
 reader, being myselfe present, and an eyewittness of all tliis 
 account which here I have written. 
 
 Sir James Eraser of Brey, tutor of Lovat, after giving enter- 
 tainment to Midletoun and his cheefe officers at Lovat, con- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 317 
 
 voyed him in great state over the ferry of Bewly, and so 
 forward down through Ross, 600 horse ; Brahan Castle was 
 fortified, and alsso Reedcastle, fit enugh for a flying army ; 
 and I remember that going by Redcastle, Rory M'kenzie, 
 landlord there, came out with a few friends and waited uppon 
 Midltoun, takeing a drink in the green, and no more ; and a 
 single horseman came to the gate of the castell and called out 
 for Mr. William Dun., an Aberdens man, schoolmaster there, 
 and, after a shoort discourse, both parted. Midltown, march- 
 ing forward, and Sir James Fraser with him, came that night 
 to Chanry with his forces, quher they quartered; and finding 
 that the Bishops Castle there, a brave strong house, was 
 possessed by the M'kenzies, ordered them to deliver up that 
 house, which presently they did ; and the generall delivered 
 the keyes to Sir James Fraser of Brey, which he keept for 
 some yeares, putting a garrison therein the next spring, which 
 bred emulation 'tuixt the two clans, as hereafter I shall 
 declare and discover in its own place. G. Middleton, diverting 
 himselfe a while there, went to Cromerty to see that castle, Reiurnd again 
 and then returnd back the way he went, doing no great hurt ^^^^^ ^^^^^ 
 in an enemyes country, and with a very slow march went 
 forward to the south. 
 
 Here we may see and behold a bitter and unnaturall A reflection 
 contest. It is not so much Scotus contra Scotum^ one Scotsman contention 
 against another, but one nighbour against another, brother 
 against brother, the sone in law against the father in law, 
 Ephraim against Manasse, and Manasse against Ephraim. 
 Israel is not true to Judah, the renting of the ten tribs from 
 the two hath made both the two and the ten miserable. We 
 are all bretheren, both by fathers and mothers side ; it is more 
 than enugh that both our fallings out hath been a greefe to 
 both our parents, proceeding yet our bretheren shall smart for 
 all. Whither we be victors or vanquished, we may beshrew 
 ourselves. Let us think we may behold our mother calling to 
 us to stay our quarrells, and to lay down the cause at her feet, 
 otherways as Locusta told her two sones : — Bella geri placuit 
 nullos hahitura tr'mmphos. We undertake a war whose victory 
 shall have a sorry triumph ; let every starr in our orb know 
 his station, and run his course without erring. O, let us pray 
 
318 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Mackenzies 
 join with 
 Montross in a 
 Remonstrance. 
 
 Strathbogy 
 Castle sur- 
 rendered to 
 Midletone. 
 
 Generall 
 Assembly at 
 Edinburgh, 
 June 1646. 
 
 for the peace of Jerusalem ; pray we that the deceaved may 
 find their erroures, correct their opiniones, and submit their 
 judgements and affectiones to the rule of truth ; yea, that the 
 wandering sheep may return, the goates become sheep, and be 
 brought into one fold under one sheepherd. God, that is able 
 to turn a stony heart into a heart of flesh, work this change 
 uppon us all, unit all our hearts to himselfe, to one another, 
 make up the breach tuixt sovereign and subject. 
 
 Now, the Mackenzies, haveing joined openly with the 
 Kings generall at the siege of Invernes, and that Ma. Gen. 
 Midlteoun raised the siege and persued Montross the forsaid 
 generall, they begin to avow their engagements with him ; 
 therefore, George, Earl of Seaforth, with a select number of 
 his name, in the meantime that Midletoun was in Ross, went 
 to the hills to meet Montross in a remoat secret place, where 
 they entered in a bond off association, and formed a Remon- 
 strance against the Solemn League and Covenant and all the 
 owners thereof, from the highest piere that sate in the Councell 
 of State to the lowest subject, and sent a coppy thereofF 
 to the Mackdonels, Mackleods, Mackyes, Cathnes, Sutherland, 
 Grants, M'kintoshes, Gordons, etc., Erasers, Camerons, etc. A 
 duble also of this Remonstrance was sent to the Councell of State 
 then sitting, and to the Comittee of the Kirk. This bred a 
 great jealousy and commotion throughout the whole kingdom ; 
 the Steates, feareing that Montross would now convocat the 
 Highlanders, and make up formidable forces and enter again 
 into the heart of the kingdome. Major Generall Midleton is 
 called south in heast, but be the way he besieged the Marques 
 of Huntlyes two castles of the Bogg and Strathboggie, both 
 which were surrendered to him ; and, planting garrisones in 
 both, he repares south again with his army. 
 
 June 3, a Generall Assembly met at Edinburgh, and in the 
 2 Session the Kings letter is presented by Master Robert 
 Douglass, minister at Edinbrugh, and openly read, showing 
 them that, seing he could not conveniently send a commissioner 
 to be present with them, assures them that his constant 
 endeavour is to maintain religion as it is establised, in doctrin, 
 worship, and church government, within this kingdom, recom- 
 mending himselfe and the distracted of our kingdom to their 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 319 
 
 most earnest prayer to God in our behalfe, expecting their 
 faithfullness and loyalty in their respective charges, which is 
 the duty of every faithfull Christian, especiall ministers of the 
 Gospel], biding them farewell, from Newcastell, May 28, 1646 ; 
 for our trusty and well beloved the Moderatour and other 
 members of the Generall Assembly of the Kirk of our kingdom 
 of Scotland. 2. A strang act concluded uppon in their 
 1. Session concerning publick satisfaction of married persons Act for excom- 
 
 n p • 'ij^ 1 T n • n L> ' A munication of 
 
 for lornication committed beiore marriage. 6. feessio. An the Karl of 
 ordinance for excommunication of the Earle of Seaforth. Seafort. 
 
 The Generall Assembly, haveing taken to their serious con- 
 sideration that perfidious band, made and contrived in the 
 North lately under the name of an Humble Remonstrance 
 against our National Covenant and the League and Covenant 
 of the 3 kingdoms, which tendeth to the makeing of division 
 and fomenting of jealouses between both kingdomes to the 
 prolonging of those unnaturall wars, to the impeding of the 
 intended uniformity in religion, and to the subversion of all the 
 happy ends of our Covenant; and, finding that George, Earl 
 of Seafort, has not onely most perfidiously himselfe subscribed 
 the said wicked band, contrary to his solemn oaths in the 
 Covenants aforsaid,and most arrogantly owned the same under 
 his own handwritings in his letters to the Comitteeof Estates, 
 and to the commissioners of the preceeding Assembly, but also 
 hath seduced and threatned others to subscrib that divisive 
 band, and to join with him in prosecution of his treacherous 
 and wicked designs therein masked with the pretences of 
 religion and liberty ; boasting also his pursuance of that 
 Remonstrance against all deadly the opposers thereof whither 
 King or Parliament. This, with another treacherous band of 
 union which the said Earl treacherously entered, into with 
 that excommunicat rebel, James Grhame, after the sentence of 
 forfaultry and the dreedful sentence of excommunication were 
 pronounced against him, oblidging himselfe therein, under 
 solemn oaths, to join with that forfaulted rebell against kirk 
 and kingdom, and to oppose all their publike resolutions for 
 persuance of the happy ends of our said Covenants. All 
 which, with his vile, reproachfuU aspersions and calumnies 
 against the kirk and state, and their publik and lawfull 
 
320 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 endeavoLires and resolutions, with his other wicked and per- 
 fidious practices at length discovered in the proclamation of the 
 Committee of Estate and the declaration of the Commission 
 of Assembly against the said perfidious band and Remon- 
 strance, together with his base treachery to the Estates, being 
 intrusted by them with ample commission, and incurraged for 
 discharging thereof with mony, ammunition, and arms in a 
 good measur, notwithstanding whereof, contrary to the great 
 trust put uppon him, it is notor that not onely he did not 
 joyn with the forces raised for defence of this kingdom, but 
 rather on the contrary actually joining himselfe and his forces 
 with that excommunicat rebel, James Grahame, and these 
 unnatural bloody rebells, his followers, did beleager Invernes, 
 a town garrisoned by the Estate for defence of that part of 
 the country, and, though all fair meanes have been used for 
 reclaiming the said Earl from that wicked and perfidious 
 course by publick declarations and proclamations, and parti- 
 cular letters sent to himselfe from those that had power in 
 that behalfe, as also of summonds direct against him to 
 answeir to the premisses, often called, he appeard not, but still 
 remains obstinat in his wicked courses : and, after mature 
 deliberation, having found his frequent, fearefull, and gross 
 perjuries, his perfidious and wicked perjuries, by band and 
 oath, with the publick enemies of this Kirk and kingdom, and 
 his other treacherous and wicked practices so contemptuously 
 and pertinaciously persisted unto, to be hynous offences 
 against God, and high contempt against all ecclesiastical and 
 civil authority ; therefore the Assembly, moved with the zeal 
 of God, do, without a contrary voice, decern and ordain the 
 said Earl of Seaforth, George M'kenzie, to be summarly 
 Sentence of ex- excommunicat and declared to be one whom Christ com- 
 pron^unced'°" maudeth to be h olden by every one of the faithfull as an 
 fonh^june 14 ^thnick and publican, and appoints the sentence of excommuni- 
 1646. cation to be pronounced by Master Robert Blair, Moderator, 
 
 in the East Kirk of this city, uppon the next Lords day, 
 being the 14 of this moneth, and that thereafter publick 
 intimation be made thereof upon a Saboth day, before noon, in 
 all the kirks of this kingdom so soon as advertisment shall 
 come unto them. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 321 
 
 In this Assembly also an Act for censuring the complyers 
 with the publick enemies of this Kirk and kingdom, and 
 carried charge with the rebells, and accepted commissions for 
 raiseing horse and foot unto them ; those that have been 
 penners, contrivers, publishers, of James Grahams proclamation 
 for indicting a pretended Parliament, the same being full of 
 blasphamies against the Solemn League and Covenant of the 
 3 kingdomes, and of vile aspersions of treason, rebellion, and 
 sedition, most falsly imputed to the Estates and most faithfull 
 and loyall subjects of this kingdom ; and also those that pro- 
 cured protections from the rebells, executed their orders, to 
 have invited them to their houses or given them intelligence, 
 to have drunk James Grahames health, or to be guilty of any 
 other such grosse degrees of complyance ; that all and every 
 one of them shall humbly acknowledge their offence upon their 
 knees, first before the Presbitry, and thereafter before the 
 congregation uppon a Saboth, before the pulpit, and in case 
 of contumacy, and not satisfying in manner forsaid, that they 
 be processd with excommunication, besids the civil punnishe- 
 ment inflicted uppon all such by the estates in their persones 
 and meanes, forthwith to be executed. 
 
 Act for renovation of the Commission for prosecuting the A letter to the 
 Treaty of Uniformity in England; and the Assemblies ^'"^ ^ 
 Answeir to the Kings Majesty subscribed in name of the 
 National Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland by the Moderator, 
 Master Robert Blair ; the Assemblies letter to the Right 
 Honorable the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of 
 England assembled at Westminster, subscribed as forsaid ; 
 the Assemblies letter to the Right Honorable the Lord Mayor, 
 Aldermen, and Common Counsell of the City of London ; the 
 Assemblies letter to the Right Reverend the Assembly of 
 Divines in the Kirk of England assembled at Westminster, 
 subscribed by the Moderator aforesaid ; Act recommending Committee 
 all persones of integrity who suffered by the rebels, to the°^^°^^^^- 
 Commitee of Losses. 
 
 The Kings Generall, the Marques of Montross, haveing now 
 retired to the Highlands with his forces, there is a profound 
 bust and silence in the north, a cessation of armes among clans 
 and cuntries; the proceedings of the Estates and Assemblys 
 
 X 
 
322 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 being so rigid against loyall persones (now termed rebels and 
 malignants), that, though many of them would willingly rise 
 and act for the king, are forced to lurk and be quiet, haveing 
 so powerful! an adversary to graple with, a heavy yock uppon 
 their necks, and enslaved to a submission ; garrisones every- 
 where over their heads, troupes of horse quartered up and 
 down the country, ministers for most part trumpeters, thunder- 
 ing threates from their pulpits against all noncompliers with 
 Covenants and the Estates of the kingdom. The Earl of Sea- 
 forth, being under the sentence of excommunication, and 
 severe censures sent out against all who correspond with him, 
 appeares not openly, non conversing with him except some few 
 of his own name. The Mackdonels and M'klods keep abstract 
 at home ; Ross, Sutherland, and Cathness, complying with the 
 government in Church and State; Erasers, M'Kintoshes, and 
 Grants, swayed by their chiftens and superiors, linked in the 
 
 The famelie of 
 
 Association and Covenant ; Sir James Eraser, tutor of Lovat, 
 Lovattdisperst. gjves up his famely, being to goe south, purposeing to be at 
 a point and agreement with Dame Anna Lessly, Mistress 
 Dowager of Lovat, and also to give up the losses sustaind in 
 this country by armies and incursions, knowing that others are 
 getting reparation. 
 
 Meantime, there is a great mortality within that nobil 
 famely at Lovat ; for, besids the death of the brave Master 
 Simon, his brother William, Hugh, late Master of Lovat, Lord 
 Hugh, his father, one every year successively, most of the 
 servants dyed, 5 or 6 in one month, viz., James Eraser, Master 
 Hector Eraser, John M'khimmy, John Eraser M'kjames, 
 William Clerk, and Alexander Mackjames. Thomas Eraser, 
 sone to my Lord Lovat, to divert himselfe (being now 15 
 yeares of age), is gone to Ross and Sutherland, and, resolving 
 to setle a while with his sister Kate, the Lady Dunbeth. James 
 Eraser, younger sone to my Lord Lovat, being now 13 yeares 
 of age, is tabled with Alexander Eraser, Eoines, Governour of 
 Lovat, and to be at school with Mr. John Houstoun at Kirkhill. 
 Alexander, the Master of Lovat, is called south to his uncle 
 John, Earl of Weemes, a very leading peer off the times, whose 
 Sir James^ project it was to procure him a post in the army, being now 
 goes south. 20 veares of age. Sir James of Brey, having obtained the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 323 
 
 concent and concurrance of all the curators of the Estate of 
 
 Lovat for selling the barony of Kinmilies to Collonell Hugh 
 
 Eraser of Kinaries, purchases an act of Parliament in his own 
 
 favoures also to that effect, for strengthening his right, and 
 
 so agrees with Collonell Eraser, giveing over the heritable 
 
 right of that barrony to him, and also the heritable right of 
 
 the lands of Kingily to William Eraser of Culboky, and the 
 
 heritable right of Belladrum to Hugh Eraser, then tacksman 
 
 of the saids davach of land ; sold the davach of Buntait to the 
 
 Chisholm of Commer ; and made up 50 thousand marks. 
 
 And now Sir James of Brey is tutor of Lovat, sole superiour of 
 
 the country, sways in grandeur beyond any lord we ever had? 
 
 is a great minion at Court, the Marques of Argiles creatur, 
 
 carressd by all ; the Kings cause weak, the Covenanters carry 
 
 all. When he came to Edinburgh is attended like a prince? 
 
 calls a meeting with the Lord Leven, agrees with him anent The Master of 
 
 his daughters jointur, and, with the concent of all concernd, Jj^^^^^^^ ^^"^l^^j. 
 
 curators and others, gave her present advance of 45 thousand ;^25oo sterling. 
 
 marks in a cut for her jointur, a very considerable soume 
 
 indeed ; but as the proverb is, Better finger off than ay 
 
 bleeding, far more profitable for the estate off Lovat to 
 
 dispense with a skirt of the lordship to clear that lady off at 
 
 once, than the yearly advance of 8 thousand marks jointur, 
 
 which in 20 or 30 yeares might consume all. Whatever 
 
 character men might put uppon other actions and undertakeings 
 
 of Sir Jameses, this was weisly doon, and appro ven of all. So 
 
 that this dowry is cut off, and the next month thereafter Lady 
 
 Anna Lessly is married to Sir Ralph Sidden off Dalavill, a 
 
 considerable knight, liveing near Newcastle. This grand affair 
 
 being brought to a happy period. 
 
 The next thing that Sir James pursues was to make applica- The losses of 
 tion to the Lords of the Commitee of Losses, and, haveing J^^p^^°^^^'"y 
 good friends there, he is soon heard, and, giving up a list of 
 the losses which this country sustained by the flying armyes 
 under Montross and others, it amounts to the soume of 
 10,000 Hbs, and, by the major vote of the Committee, there 
 was 10 thousand marks alloted for him to be distributed 
 amongst the Lord Lovats tennants that suffered the loss of 
 cattell and goods, and a bill drawn uppon the Exchequer for a 
 
324 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The young 
 Lord Lovat 
 setled in 
 Weemes. 
 
 The Master of 
 Lovats contriv- 
 ance to gett a 
 captaines 
 commission. 
 
 ready advance. This soume lay in Argiles hands, well enugh 
 secured, and Sir James, at his return home, agreed with the 
 persones leased, leaveing localities in their own hands of their 
 dutys to compense their losses, and the monny continued in 
 Argiles hands untill the yeare 1659, in which the Lord Lorn 
 advanced it to Major Beatman, who had married Miss Jean 
 Fraser, Sir James his eldest daughter, who had no offspring ; so 
 that portion and parties perished. 
 
 Hugh, Lord Lovat, a young child of about 3 yeares of 
 age, is now taken to the Earle of Weemes, his grandfathers 
 custody, who most kindly cared for him, his mother, the Lady 
 Dalavil, being now gone for England with her husband. Sir 
 Ralph, and the Estate of Lovat most happily free of her 
 trouble by the forementioned agreement; so that now, if God 
 send peace and good administrators, this great famely may yet 
 flourish. 
 
 The Master of Lovat, Alexander, haveing gone south also 
 this summer, and his good friend and cousin, Mr. William 
 Fraser of Phoppachy, with him, he stayed for the most part in 
 his uncles famely at Weemes, and, being wearried with long 
 delayes and fruitless expectations of a setlement, he at last ex- 
 postulated with the Earl of Weemes, whey he was sent for to 
 the North, and after his tedious stay about his famely, betuix 
 your Lordship and my other uncle, Sir James of Bray, I am 
 frustrat of my hopes, slighted and neglected by yow all, and 
 nothing done for me nor kept up according to my quality ; and, 
 though yow were not my uncle but one of the noble curators 
 of the house of Lovat, yow are concerned to care for my credit 
 and contrive some way of honourable living for me, and if I be 
 thus used any longer, and that yow provoke me to return north 
 again, I will purchase for my selfe, and turn John Dow Gare 
 among yow at last. My Lord Weemes could not understand 
 what he meant by John Dow Gare, and asked Mr. William 
 Fraser who this was.^^ He told his Lordship that this John 
 was a notorious leading robber and outlaw that troubled all 
 the North with excursions, and never traveled without 20 stout 
 fellowes attending him well armed, put a tax uppon townes and 
 villages as he went through, and made all compon with him, 
 bribing him with loane and soumes of mony ; and, my Lord, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 325 
 
 yovv will do well to mollify his temper and prevent his youthly 
 forward and froward designs, for if he once take it in his head, 
 being my Lord Lovats sone, he will get manny to follow him, 
 and if he join with the rebels, he may creat trouble enough, 
 and anger yow all. The Earle of Weemes, takeing this 
 seriously to heart, called for the tutor, Sir James of Bray, and, 
 consulting together, they procured the Master of Lovat a 
 commission to be captain of a troop of horse in Sir David 
 Lesslys regiment, where he wanted for nothing, a statly horse, 
 good garb, gold, and mony. It is true the hand of Joab was 
 with him in this, but afterwards it was neither remembered 2 Samuel 14: 
 nor requitted by him to the forsaid Mr. William Fraser, who 
 brought him south uppon his own cost and charges. 
 
 Now is the Kings Generall, Montross, takeing fresh currage 
 uppon some hopes which he hath of recruits and reinforct 
 again from the M'kleans, Camrons, M'kdonells, Stuarts of 
 Appin,and Athol men, so that he is induced again to advertise 
 the Earl of Seaforth and his M'kenzies of his resolution, and 
 to make use of his artefice to influence his nighboures round 
 about to be in a readiness forthwith to rise at a call to 
 accompany the General and make a body, join the Gordons, 
 and carry all along with him southwards. Seaforth sends 
 message to the Mackdonalds of the Isles, Mackleuds, and 
 Macky,and meantime sent Rory M'kenzie of Dochmiluag over Rory M'kenzie 
 to Lovat to meet with the Erasers, now in absence of Sir senVmesTerTgei- 
 James of Bray, their tutor, if they could be inclined to join to Lovat. 
 with them in this jointur. I happened to be att Lovat then, 
 the 20th of July. Dochmiluag crossed in a litle coble at the 
 Barnyards, where Thomas Fraser, Struy ; the balief, Hugh, 
 younger of Struy; Culboky, Belladrom, Clunvacky, Rilick, 
 Foyer, Boblenzie, and many mo walkt east out of Lovat, and 
 mett him upon the banck, who delivered his message to them 
 with great freedom. Old Struy, being the cheefe and prime 
 person there, gave him this answeir : 
 
 Sir, yow are sent to us with a message, as it seemes, from Thomas Fraser 
 your cheefe. I hope he doth not question us, who were anfwdn ^ 
 ever kindly nighboures to him and all round about us, and we The batteii of 
 were ever known to be faithfull, loyall subjects, and who dare be°Fmse?ifoJ. 
 doubt us now in this juncture, the Erasers haveing given proofe 
 
326 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 of their loyalty in the worst of times when the two kingdomes 
 were in open warr in the quarrel of King Robert the Bruce, 
 quhen the Fraser fought 3 battles in one day, and carried them 
 at Rosslin, and soon after Lord Simon of Lovat lost his life at 
 London, with Sir John Logan, for his loyalty ; and if now the 
 League and Covenant be a test of dissloyalty, the whole king- 
 dom is ingaged with us, and the Mackenzies first urged as well 
 as joined with us in that oath ; and now to desert us, as it is a 
 surprise uppon us, so it is too late. 2. To invit and call the 
 Frasers to join with yow in a Remonstrance, a band of that 
 nature is against the civil and ecclesiastick constitution. The 
 Earle of Seaforth being now under the sentence of excom- 
 munication pronunced against him by the Church, and publick 
 intimation made thereof in all the churches of the kingdom, 
 and also under the censur of the civil magistrat, itts no way 
 safe for any subject, but rather great danger and hasard, to 
 concurr, nor yett to commun, with him uppon any mater. 
 3. That yow say the Kings cause and interest is now weake 
 and at stake, and therefore fit to give it a lift. Our rising and 
 appearance for him may well ruin us and not raise him at this 
 instant time, and shortly it willappeare if Montrosse, the Kings 
 Generall, prevail, we as well as others will not onely be free but 
 forced to rise and join him, and a very short time will deter- 
 min the event and sucess of his project. 4. And finally, the 
 Frasers at this time want a head, and so can do nothing rashly 
 of or by themselves, the Lord Lovat but a young child, 4 yeares 
 current, Sir James Fraser of Bray, tutor of Lovat, the superiour 
 of the country, ingaged at south, and also Alexander Fraser, 
 Master of Lovat, absent there. So that we can give no positive 
 answeir to any proposition untill their return, but wish well to 
 the royall interest, and pray God prosper and preserve the 
 King. Allexander Fraser of Foiness, Captain of the garrison 
 Job 32 : 7, 17, of Lovat, being impatient, expresed himselfe thus. I will 
 ^ ' declare with Elihu that dayes should speake and multitud of 
 
 yeares should teach wisdom. I saia I will answeir also my 
 part, I also will shew min opinion, for I am full of mater, the 
 spirit within me constraineth me, behold my belly is as wine 
 which hath no vent, it is ready to burst like new botles. I must 
 speake that I may be refreshed, I will open my lips and answeir. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 327 
 
 let me not I pray yow acceptt any mans person, neither let me Job 32 : 20, 21. 
 give flattering titles unto man, for I know not care not to 
 flatter. Then he applied himselfe in Irish : Ruory cJiuoillich 
 hanig tu le teachterachti sJiimd aggis ta gaulis aggid duiii, 
 Rory, yow are come with a message to us, and yow have malice 
 at us.^ It is a bold impudence, nay, insolence, in yow to under- 
 take a commission to us whom yow love not, and we care very 
 litle for yow ; we cannot trust yow, for few of your own friends 
 do. Your sword but latly dropt with the bloud of our poor, 
 innocent nighboures in your transcursiones through this coun- 
 try, and your tongue now drop flattering compalations to us. 
 I am limited by the law of nations to have a respect to embassies 
 and messingers that passe betuixt countries and clans, other- 
 wayes, as Samuel did to Agag, I would with my own hand hew 
 yow in pieces before the Lord as your reward, that yow might i Sam. 15. 33. 
 confesse with Adonibezeck, as I have done so God hath requitted J^dg. i. 7. 
 me. Yow openly avowed and owned the common cause and 
 quarrel at Aldearn, and clandestinely joined with Montrosse at 
 the siege of Inverness, that yow might ravage as a rageing wolfe 
 throught his country, and kill poor, old, harmless and armies 
 men in a flight to save their lives : egregium vera laudem et 
 spolia ampla rejfertis ! Yow may glory in and be vein off" your 
 vassalage ; do yow think, Rory, that the great Montross trusts 
 yow ? He sees now that he hath very bad success since the 
 Mackenies mingled with him, lapsus in initio mali augiuij est^ 
 a bad omen to the cause. Yow were stout Covenanters last 
 yeare, and quhat are yow now ? That oath lyes upon yow, 
 but God will not be mocked, nor juggled with. If the design 
 of the Covenant be wrong and a pretence, God will judge, 
 discover, and revenge it ; nor do I think that Montross doth 
 court yow, knowing yow so well alrady ; and came yow here to 
 pump us ? I hop we are not so shallow ; is this your kindness 
 to your friend ? haveing got a wife from us did yow plow with 
 that hiefer ? Your father-in-law here is an Achan in our camp, 
 betraying us, discovering our secret intrigues to yow, but he 
 shall do so no more perhaps. We had litle confidence in yow 
 
 ^ A Ruadhraidh ghaolaich^ thainig tu le teachdaireachd thugainn, agus tha 
 gamhlas agad dhtiinn : Rory, niy beloved, you have come with a message to us, 
 but you bear malice toward us. 
 
i 
 
 I 
 
 328 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 before, but now being excommunicat we cannot correspond 
 with yow. True, yow M'Kenzies are my mother kin, and I 
 should love yow, but it is doing good for evil, for I expect non 
 from yow. Your name have ever jealoused the Frasers, becaus 
 time out of mind they have done greater acts of loyalty than 
 ever yow were capable off; yow envy our strongholds and 
 forts, haveing non such yowr selves ; but they were not built 
 in rebellion, but for the safety and preservation off the country 
 against supplanting nighboures. Now go home, Rorv, and 
 looke to your cowes in Glen Orrin, a fit employ for yow ; 
 but forget not to give an impartiall account of quhat was told 
 yow here. 
 
 I was myselfe present at the time, eye and ear wittness to 
 what passed betuixt Captain Alexander Fraser of Lovat and 
 Rory Dochmiluac, whom he made as mute as a maide, and 
 turnd as peale as a peach, and under a pannick feare, his leggs 
 trembled under him going in to his boat ; so that I can judge 
 he came not back with such a message. This Alexander off 
 Foines was a bold, dareing man, feared no flesh, and had the 
 sole government of the fort of Lovat, and of all other fortes of 
 the country up and down, to regulat them all at his pleasur, 
 and also commendant of the forces, muster master of the men 
 in armes, haveing a wonderfuU dexterity to mannage all those 
 posts successively when occasion offered, and had so much awe 
 and authority that all persones of whatever degree were 
 obedient to him and ready at his call. He fixt a watch in the 
 hight of the country, the first that ever we had, and had his 
 deput captain under him, so that sorrners and vagabounds 
 durst not incroach uppon us. His brother, Collonel Fraser, 
 wondered at his conduct, and oft averred that he had as much 
 Alexander skill in warlick maters as if he had been a traind soldier in 
 Fotnes a martial France or Germany. In a word, he had as much sway and 
 ^P''"^^' superiority no less absolut then if he were lord or master of 
 
 Lovat, keeping a house and table as hospitall as any barron, 
 and a rettinue conform ; nor could any man observe that he was 
 vain of his place or power. At Craig Ellachy, uppon the 
 banks of Spey, when the host lay there, and Montross his high- 
 landers opposit to them on the south side, the scoutes in the 
 reflecting on upon a troch would ask Who is your chiften? 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOHUM 
 
 329 
 
 they reply ed Alexander M'Koll. The other party would ask, 
 And who is yowres ? Alexander Roy Fraser Mackoll would say, 
 truly there are not two such Alexanders in the King or Cove- 
 nanters camp, and that was no lye ; the one would invit the 
 other to meet at a certain place ; at last they stole an opor- 
 tunity of a congress, and tooke their bottle of fraternity, and 
 parted intimat friends, keeping closs correspondance ever after. 
 This I had from C. Alexander Fraser his own mouth. 
 
 Till now we have beheld the famous Marques of Montross 
 ascending the zenith of power and promotion ; but casualties 
 falling out, parasits and batterers stepping in, occasion changes 
 at Court, and the favourits of great Princes find often cause of 
 feares. Some buzing into his eares that his deserts were farr 
 greater then his rewards ; but rtieritum sihi parit mercedem. 
 Without suscitation, scruple, or stint he resolves to make his 
 progress over all the North Country, and compassed the High- 
 lands, and had er the closur of June secured most of the chiftens 
 of clanns, marching through with a considerable party, dayly 
 listing souldioures, to incurrage the well disposed and to 
 reduce those that were refractory. But whitest he was bussie 
 about his designs, being in Cro Marr, there came a herald unto 
 him from the King (who, I kno not by what missfortun, had 
 cast himselfe uppon the Scotish Covenanters at Newcastle) 
 whereby he was required forthwith to lay down his arms, and The Kings 
 disband and depart into France, and there to wait his Majesties Montross. 
 further pleasur. He, being astonished at this unexpected 
 message, bitterly bevailed the sad condition of the King, that 
 had forced him to cast himselfe uppon the mercy of his deadly 
 enemies ; yet, not to be guilty of that crime, especially lest the 
 Covenanters should put his actions uppon the Kings accounts 
 and use him the worse for them, seing they had him in tlieir 
 power, he, according to the King's command, disbanded his 
 army, and disposes of his affaires and himselfe another way. 
 
 This renowned James Graham, Marques of Montross, was a short descrip- 
 extracted from the ancient and famous famely of the Scot- Marques of 
 tish Gramij, whose valiant and loyal actiones have eternised Montross. 
 their names to all posterity. His grandfather and father 
 were advanced by King James 6. and King Charles the 1. into 
 places of the greatest honnour of the kingdom, which they 
 
330 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 most happily discharged with the love and good affection both 
 of King and people. This honorable person, whose life we 
 relate, persisting in his predecessors steps, may give us cause 
 to think that vallour and loyalty were entailed on that 
 famely. The first honor the King conferred upon him was 
 to be his high Commissioner to the Parliament in Scot- 
 land ; shortly after emitted his declaration for the King 
 against the Covenanters, and, joining with the Irishes, and 
 the addition under Kilpont, and for his vindication he caused 
 Mr. Sibbald preach upon that text of the Reubinits and 
 Josh. 22. 22. Gadits : The Lord God of Gods, the Lord God of Gods 
 he knoweth, and Israel he shall know, if it be in rebellion, 
 or if in transgression against the Lord, save us not this day. 
 Where, at Tippermoor, near Pierth, he obtaind a great 
 victory, his souldiers for want of arms and ammunition make- 
 ing use of the stones lying advantagiously on the fighting 
 ground, killing no less than 2000 men of the Covenanters 
 under the command of Tullibarn, Elcho, and Drummond ; 
 quherupon Pierth city opend her gates to the Conquerour. 
 Then makes an incursion into Argyle, quher he makes miser- 
 able havock, and next February fought the battle of Inver- 
 lochy, routes Argyl, killing 1500 uppon the place. Next he 
 defeats the other army, quhich he defeated at Brechin under 
 the comand of General Hurry ; afterward offers battle to 
 Baily ; then marches after Hurry, who had recruited, and, 
 having taken Dundee in his way, discomfits him at Aldern in 
 May, killing 1800, and dispersing the rest. Seekes out Baily, 
 to whom was joind Earl of Lindsay, and at Alford hills forced 
 them to fight, utterly routed them, and obtaind a remarkable 
 victory, and 1200 killed. After this comes to St. Johnston, 
 where he alarmd the Parliament there sitting, and so forward. 
 At this time very strick acts were made against the Gypsies, 
 being so numerous and uneasy to the kingdom, so that the 
 prime of them offer their service to Montross, who accepted of 
 them, being pretty men. Browns, Balifs, and Faas ; and at a 
 place called Kilsith sets uppon the great army under Baily, 
 and, after a very cruel battle, in conclusion success and victory 
 cround Montross's head, and 6000 of his enemies were slain in 
 this fight. The Covenanters fought very resolutly, but the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 331 
 
 fortun of Montross still prevailed. The nobility now every- 
 quher assist him, the towns and cities declare for him, so that 
 the kingdom which afforded men and assistance for the invasion 
 of another kingdom was not now able to defend itselfe. Mon- 
 tross, being seased of all places of strength even as farr as 
 Edinbragh, where the royall prisoners were delivered to him, 
 going forward to England, at Philipshaugh was surprised by 
 David Lesly, who fell upon him before he could retreat ; but 
 Montross resolutly charged through, brought the flying re- 
 maines of his army safe into the Highlands, quher he began 
 new levies. Besieged Invernes in May 1646 yeares. But 
 now the fortun of the King failing everywhere, he was that 
 August ordered by the King, then in the Scots custody, to 
 disband and depart the kingdom within a month, as it was Montross 
 articld betuixt the King and the Covenanters, and that they banc[and°de-^ 
 should find him shippino; with provision and all things neces- pan out of the 
 
 iir & I ^ o ^ kingdom. 
 
 sary. But they, seekeing to circumvent him, sent him no ship 
 for his transportation untill the last day allowed for his stay ; 
 the ship itselfe ill victualled and worse rigged. So that, when 
 Montross shewed himselfe ready to depart, the master of the 
 ship told him that he must have some dayes allowed him to 
 pitch and rig his ship before he durst venter himselfe to the 
 wind and waves. Moreover, there lay great English ships of 
 war every day in sight about the mouth of the River Esk, 
 by which he was to pass, attending there in favour of the 
 Covenanters, for their much desired, prey and booty, that by 
 no meanes he might escape their hands. 
 
 Montross, now smelling out their designs, had sent some 
 beforehand to search diligently the havens in the North, who 
 by good fortun in the haven of Stanhiv found out a small 
 bark of Bargen in Norway, the master whereof was soon agreed 
 with ; thither sent Montross severall of his friends whom he 
 knew could not be safe for never so short a wheil in that 
 country; and they, on the 3 of September 1646, haveing a 
 good wind, put forth to sea for Norway; and that same even- 
 ing Montross himselfe, accompanied onely with one James 
 Wood, a worthy preacher, by a small cockboat got into a bark Montross saiies 
 which lay at anchor without the haven off Montross; and, ^° 
 being clad in a course suit, the Lord and patron passed for 
 
332 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the chaiplains servant. This great loyall general, haveing 
 cleared himselfe out of his enemies hands, went over to 
 France safely, where, by the generall concent of the princes 
 of the blood and the rest of the nobility, he was designed 
 Captain Generall of all the strangers in that kingdom, a 
 pleace of great honour and trust; but Cardinal Mazarin, 
 a professed enemy to Scots in France, thuarting his designs, 
 he tooke his journay into Holland, where the Prince then was 
 in pursuit of his former intentions. But Duk Hamilton, a 
 name fatall to the house of the Stewards, who formerly was 
 his irreconcilable enemy, was now his competitor ; so that 
 Montross, seing no good to be done, traveled up into Ger- 
 many, and so to Austria, and at the Court of Vien he was 
 courtiously entertaind by his Emperiall Majesty Ferdinand 3; 
 and, among other severall honours conferred on him there, he 
 profered him freely the command of ten thousand men for a 
 standing army against the Swede; but, peace being concluded 
 betuixt these two potentates, this was prevented ; and so he 
 traveled over the Alps into Italy. 
 
 Now the King's affaires, breathless and gasping to death 
 in Scotland, this great soul of it being gone, all the loyal- 
 ists disprited, designs on foot for forfaulting, imprisoning, 
 banishing the leading peers, a sad bondage and heavy yock 
 now wreathed about honest mens neck, troops of horse dis- 
 Garrisons pcrsed all over the north, and the time serving clargy praying 
 planted in the f'Qj. success to the forccs, all strickly noticed who reflect uppon 
 the Covenant. Garrisones planted up and down the kingdom 
 by order of the states ; a garrison planted in Dounfarmlins 
 house at Fivy, another in the Marques of Huntlies castle of 
 Bogg of Gight and Strathbogy ; a garrison planted in the 
 Castle of Braan uppon Seaforts nose, one Captain Scott, 
 governour. The Earl of Seaforth designing to leave Rosse and 
 goe to Lewis, the remoatest of all his interest. Sir James 
 Eraser of Bray, governour of the garrison of Inverness, and 
 also of the Bishops Castle in Chanory of Rosse ; his commis- 
 sion to both these is to commense the current year 1647. 
 The fort of Lovat strickly kept yet, and all the gentlemen in 
 the country had their particular apartments within the great 
 house, Struy, Belladrum, Bobleny, Rilick ; and Alexander 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 333 
 
 Fraser, the governour, lodged in the great low Hall, with his 
 numerous train. The M'kenzies are become so ill-natured to 
 Frasers that Mr. William Fraser, minister at Killernan, was 
 forced to leave his parish and come over to Lovat, and got 
 the masters chamber, quher he bestowed his domicells, con- 
 tinueing there untill there was some setlement in the countries. 
 
 Now, the King being with the Scotish army at Newcastle, 
 and no forces standing out for him in all the three kingdomes 
 in field or garrison, the last who stood out for him were the 
 Marquis of Ormond in Ireland, and the Marques of Montross 
 in Scotland ; and both these by the King's command desisted 
 their hostilities. The Scots, in the next place, to draw the 
 King in the last snare, they tender their Covenant to him, 
 pretending that unless he would take that they durst not 
 bring him to Scotland. This the King refused not if they 
 would first satisfie those scruples concerning church govern- 
 ment which lay uppon his conscience ; which to effect, they 
 employed Mr. Alexander Henderson, one of the ministers of 
 Edinburgh, the oracle of the Kirk, to converse with the King. 
 The first paper that past from his Majesty to Henderson The disput 
 anent the reformation of the Church of England was at New- ^'J,^^^^^^ ^i^"^ 
 castle. May 29, 1646 ; jNIaster Hendersones reply to the Kins^, ander Hender- 
 highly approving his tenet, was June 6 the same yeare. The castle, July 
 Kings 2 paper was June 6, Mr. Hendersones duply to the 
 King June 17; his Majestys 3d paper was June 22, Mr. 
 Hendersons 3 paper concerning the authority of the Fathers 
 and practice of the Church was July 2. His ]Majesties4 paper 
 was July 3, and his Majesties 5 paper was July 16, in all 
 which the King mannaged the disput from Scriptur, primitive 
 fathers, and practice of the Church, so accuratly, to Mr. 
 Hendersons admiration, that his Majesties parts being so 
 great and cause so good which made all Mr. Hendersones 
 attempts successless, and so succumbd in the disput, and 
 might be called a royall proselit. These papers that passed 
 betuixt the King and him may be seen at length in the closur 
 of eUcov PacTLXiKT]^ the Kings book, to which I recommend my 
 reader. 
 
 Whilst the Kino^ is att Newcastle the bargan was struck at 
 London betuixt the Parliament and Scotch Commissioners ; 
 
334 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Propositiones and for 200,000 £ the Scotch delivered up the Kiiiff to the 
 
 presented by . . i o 
 
 the Parliament English Parliament ; yet, to mask their perfidy, the Scots 
 Jui}^24^'"^' added this caution, that there should be no attempt made 
 uppon the Kings person, but, being entertaind at one of his 
 own palaces, he should be there treated with uppon pro- 
 positions from both nations, which should be spedely sent 
 to him. 
 
 [Here follows the further history of Charles i. till his death. ] 
 
 Irelyand being now under a deep chon [?] are up in armes, 
 under the conduct of the Marques of Ormond ; and Scotland 
 in the same circumstance, which breeds terror to the Juncto 
 at Westminster. Duke Hamilton being prisoner in England, 
 the Marques G. Gordon of Huntly retreates to Strathdown, 
 and there lurks, expecting that all the loyalists will instantly 
 covocat. M'kleuds, M'kdonells, M'kleans, are waiting adver- 
 tisement. As for the Erasers, Grants, M'kintoshes, the troopes 
 are continually lying upon their necks, so that they dare not 
 budge. The Earle of Seaforth takes shipping at Cromarty, 
 escaped over into Holland, and is now with the king,^ and 
 hardly survived his woyage when he sickned at Roterdame, 
 where his ague and a complex of malladies seased and confined 
 him all this year. Sir James Eraser, tutor of Lovat, being 
 now at south, and haveing man'd the Bishops Castle at 
 Chanory Chanory in Rosse by putting a garrison there to his small 
 credit, deriving his power from the State, the M'Kenzies 
 invites Lieutenant Hugh Eraser, the governour, to a treat, 
 surprised the centinells, ceases the house and possesses it, dis- 
 missing the souldiers and their officers, who came over to 
 Inverness, the said town being garrisond at the order of the 
 States by Sir James Eraser, governour off the same. At the 
 same time the Marques of Huntly, being now at Dallin Boo 
 [Dalnabo] in Strathdown, sine timore non sine fraude^ without 
 feare, not without fraud, is betrayed by his supposed trusty 
 friend, Alexander Innes of Condraught, and Major Menzies, 
 
 Castle taken. 
 
 ^ Charles il. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 335 
 
 a base villan, by order of the State takes him prisoner, and 
 convoyes him to Edinbrugh, and delivered him, knowing 
 whose errand he went to get mony, the wages off iniquity, to 
 himselfe. At this time there is a printed proclamation thrown 
 about the streets of London, showing there were loyalists 
 through England that would keep the old path. The tenour 
 was this : We the Noblemen, Judges, Knights, Lawyers, Gen- 
 tlemen, Ministers, Freeholders, Citizens, Marchants, etc., and Proclamation 
 other freemen of England, doe according to our alleageance and cha^ies^2. in 
 covenant by these presents do heartily, joifully, and unani- England, 
 mously acknowledge and proclame the illustrious Charles, 
 Prince of Wales, next heir of the blood royall to his blissed 
 father King Charles, whose late wicked and traiterous murder, 
 we do from our soules abominat, and all parties and consenters 
 thereto, to be by hereditary birthright and lawfull succession 
 rightfuU and undoubted King of Great Brittain, France, and 
 Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, and that we 
 will faithfully, constantly, and sincerly, in our severall places 
 and callings, defend and maintain his royal person, crown, 
 and dignities, with our estates, lives, and last drop of our 
 bloud, against all opposers thereoff, whom we do hereby 
 declare to be traitors and enemies to his Majesty and king- 
 domes : In testimony quherof we have caused and ordered 
 these to be published and proclaimed through all countries 
 and corporations of this realm, the . . . day of February, the 
 first year of his Majesties reign. God save King Charles 
 the II. 
 
 The Estates and Parliament of Scotland representing the Proclamation in 
 nation, receaveing this proclamation, do now, with all mani- 
 festation and expressions of sorrow, bewail and deplore the 
 Kings murder, and on the 10 of February testify the truth of 
 their constant alleadgeance to the crown, did in most solemn 
 manner proclame his sone. King Charles the 2, at Edinburgh, 
 the Cross there being hung with tapestry, and their Parlia- 
 ment Lords in their robs, the Chancelour himselfe reading the 
 proclamation to the King-at-Arms. The night concluded the 
 same with all usuall demonstrations of joy and gladness. 
 
 At this instant the Lord Loughborrow, brother to the Earl King at Hague, 
 of Huntington, Collonel Tuke, Collonel Hammond, Sir Frances 
 
336 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Heath, gave them the slip from Windsor, and so escaped to 
 Holland. The King, now keeping his Court at the Hague, 
 furnished with blacks and other mournfuU emblems of his 
 fathers death, at the charge of the Prince off Aurange, whose 
 most signall kindness to the royall famely must not passe 
 without a due commemoration. The Kings attendance here 
 were the Marques of Montrosse, the Lord Hopton, Lord 
 Wilmot, Lord Culpepper, Lord Wentworth, Sir Edward 
 Nicolas, Sir Edward Hide. 
 
 At the sorrowful! and murnfull tidings of the King^s death 
 in Holland, Marquis of Montross wrot these lines with the 
 point of his sword on the sands : — 
 
 Great^ Good, and JuvSt, Could 1 but rate 
 
 My greef'e, and thy so rigid fate, 
 
 I 'd weep the world to such a straine 
 
 As it should deluge once again ! 
 
 But since thy loud-tongued blood demands supplies. 
 
 More from Briareus hands then Argues eyes, 
 
 He sing thy obsequies with trumpet sounds. 
 
 And writ thy epitaph witli blood and wounds ! 
 
 Some writ that though the Kin^j had not the courteous 
 invention of an epitaph by any of his friends to memorize 
 him, that he [Montrose] was so zealous of the fame of his 
 great master, Charles i,, that with the point of his sword he 
 wrot those lines. 
 
 Feb. 22 [1649], the Mackenzies and Mackyes and others 
 got to a head, haveing mustered 700 horse and foot for the 
 Kings service, in a compleit body crossed over the Ferry 
 Kessok, and randivousing at Markinsh, in view of Inverness, 
 about 9 in the morning CoUonell Hugh Fraser, living then in 
 Kinmilies, joined them with his retinue, and so they march 
 forward towards Kill Baine,^ and crossed the foord above the 
 Isle of Inverness, the river being extream litle (a good provi- 
 dence to their cause), then they drew up in a battallian above 
 the town at Aldniskiach, whence they directed a trumpet and 
 two single horsemen very martially with a message to the 
 garrison to surrender. Major Murray, deput governour under 
 
 * The ancient name of the western part of Baliifeary, Inverness. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 337 
 
 Sir James Fraser of Bray, now at south (who was Collonell) 
 goes about to secure the portes aud put the fort in a fensible 
 postur. The whole town in a confusion, not knowing whom 
 to owne. The Major in the first place sets uppon secureing 
 the castle street gate towards the south, where the besiegers 
 lay, and, being bussied ordering the pillisads, a beame of wood 
 fell uppon his brow and wounded him sore, which raised his 
 passion and rankled him, a bad omen and introduction. A 
 muteny was made in the streets by his souldiers as he return d 
 from the port. One Sarjant John M'Kenzies, a pretty man, 
 having a sword in his hand, obviates the Major, who, drawing Inverness garri- 
 his pistoll, shot him dead through the heart, and fell instantly Ind uSen.^Feb 
 uppon a dunghill midding, and expired gasping. I can averr ^^49- 
 this for truth, being myselfe, with one John Cuthbert, my 
 schoolfellow, closs by him, and got sparkles of his bloud 
 uppon our cloathes, a mark of loyalty. The Major cryed out. 
 Take thow that for heading a muteny. One Lieutennant 
 Eneas M'kdonell was another of the muteiners who nar- 
 rowly escaped the Majors fingers ; haveing got one to 
 appologiz for him, being the Cornols foster brother, bearing 
 his liverey. The Major steping down the street met Lieu- 
 tenant William Forbes, who told him that the magistrates 
 had obscured themselves to shift him, and were not to be 
 trusted, and therefore to look to himselfe and escape. Uppon 
 the east side of the Court of Guard stood Captain Cranstown 
 ahorseback, with his troop drawn up in the street, who called 
 with a loud voice. Major Murray, instantly horse and be gone, 
 else yow are betrayed. In a trice they all road away in heast, 
 and out at the east street, leaving the town as a prey to the 
 invaders. The magistrates caused open the castle Port, 
 making it patent to them whom they welcomed as loyall 
 persones. My father, Mr. William Fraser, one of the ministers, 
 was called wast the country, and I with him. Bewest Bunch- 
 rive we meet Lieutenant Hugh Fraser with a 100 men out 
 uppon a party for deficiency in Urqhart, who instantly 
 uppon the report returnd to Lovat, and stayed in that 
 garrison till his master the Collonell returnd. There was 
 another Lieutenant with a 100 men in Strathspey quartering, 
 which made the garrison weak. Thus the dissloyall fort and 
 
 Y 
 
338 
 
 FOLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 ramparts of Inverness are demolished and leveled to the 
 ground. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Here follows account of the executions of the Duke of 
 Hamilton and others, and of various confiscations.] 
 
 A Parliament In this same month [March 1649], that Scotland might not 
 in Scotland. come short of Westminster trophies, they set up their shembles 
 Marques of in Edinburgh. George Gordon, Marques of Huntly, being 
 Marclf 30^1649 ai'i'aigned before their Parliament, it needed no long process, 
 loyalty being the plea, got his sentence, and a day affixed for 
 his execution, to have his head cut off uppon a scaffold betuixt 
 the Crosse and the Tron. The day being come, by the solemn 
 declaration of famous Phisitians, his fever was malignant, yet 
 no delay ; his sister my Lady . . . pleaded uppon her knees a 
 respit, but Argil and his party opposed it. He is carried out 
 to the scaffold in his sick cloathes, and execut in the open 
 streets, to the galling greefe of all Christians concernd ; yet 
 dyed a resolut royalist. His corps were coffind and carried 
 over the Firth of Forth to be interrM at Huntlye. Meantime, 
 Duke Hamiltons corpes being transported out of England to 
 his interment in Scotland, the two berges or barks met closse 
 in the Firth ; here was a providence to fulfill Thomas Rithmer 
 [Rymer] his prophesie now discovered and applyed. 
 
 Two headless Lords in Forth shall meet — 
 The one cannot the other ^reet. 
 
 This I set down for the rarety as well as the verity of it. 
 
 April 7. the members at Westminster, for the better supply 
 of their army, and takeing away of free quarter, passed 
 an act for the levying of 90,000<£^. a month uppon England 
 for six monthes, and then they tooke into their consideration 
 the sale of dean and chapter lands. Now no Bishop no King, 
 insurection in There happened an Insurection in the North of Scotland 
 in arms May 3. May 3, being Cross day, for Lieutenant General Midleton, 
 haveing made his escape out of Barwick into these partes, the 
 Lord Ray and the Mackenzies mustered and made a body of 
 1500; and comming over, some at Cessock, some at Beuly, 
 crossed the bridge of Ness uppon the Lords day in time of 
 
FOLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 339 
 
 Divin service and allarmd the people of Inverness, impeding 
 Gods worship in that town ; for, insted of bells to ring in 
 to service, I saw and heard no other than the noise of pipes, 
 drumms, pots, pans, ketles, and spits in the streets, to provid 
 them victuals in every house and in their quarters. The rude 
 rascality would eat no meat at their tables untill the land- 
 lord laid down a shilling Scots uppon his trencher that sat, 
 terming this arg'id cagging^'^ cheawing mony, which every 
 soldier got ; so insolent they were. And here indeed they 
 fealed of their conduct by a rupture among themselves. Some The battle 
 were for giving the ordering of the battallians to Collonell p^Weny. °^ 
 Hugh Fraser, and the whole command of the forces to him 
 as an expert soldier; others gave it to the Lord Ray and 
 Captain Thomas Mackenzie off Pluscaden, and this carried 
 by the major vote. Moonday, about 10 of the clock, they 
 marcht from Inverness, well appointed and furnished with 
 ammunition, mony, all maner of arms, provision in abound- 
 ance, nothing wanting that might incurrage men in a good 
 cause. Forwards the army goe, and advanced through Mur- 
 ray, crossed the river off Spey, and encamped at Balvany 
 Castle, where Donald Lord Ray had the ordering of the camp ; 
 and, after a consultation, Captain Thomas M'Kenzie and 
 other officers, with a party, are sent off southward to meet 
 Midleton, and the Gordones to join with them. In the interim 
 these green heads, unexpert, shakeing off all care and feare, 
 lay in their leggur eating and drinking, and rose up to play ; 
 like Laish, a people that were at quiet and secure, ready to jud. i8. 27. 
 be smit with the edge of the sword. Whilst unawarse, about 
 morning light, Collonell Kerr and Collonell Strachan, with 
 but two troops of horse, surprised this great number, attackt 
 them in their camp, trod them underfoot, without any manly 
 resistance ; 400 are killed uppon the spot, a 1000 made cap- 
 tives, all dissgraced, the Lord Ray and 20 officers, making no 
 escape, no resistance, are taken prisoners, sent to the Castle of 
 the Bogg. The croud off captives, like cowes in a fold, are 
 kept in a litle bottom, and a guard about them ; hard fate 
 and misluck it may be called, a dissastrous defeat, the ground 
 
 ^ Airgiod cagainn, chewing silver or money. 
 
340 
 
 POLICHKONICON SEU 
 
 being so advantagious for hedges and ditches that one hundered 
 might defie five, yet in a trice basely baffled and taken almost 
 sleeping. Next there are 20 horse and 3 companies of foot 
 ordered to convoy this captive army back over Spey and 
 through Murray to Inverness, where I saw them pass through, 
 and these men, who in their former march would hardly eat 
 their meat without monny, are now begging, and, like doggs, 
 lapp the water which was brought them in tubs and other 
 vessells in the open streetes. Thence conducted over the bridge 
 of Ness, and dissmissed every man armless and harmless to his 
 own home. This is mater of fact, which I saw and heard ! 
 
 This wofull defeat and dissapointment in the North dis- 
 prited all others in the south and west who owned the Kings 
 quarrell, turnd the opposite sectarian party insolent, all 
 flockt in to that faction, pulpits ringing with sermons and 
 prayers for prosperity to that litle handfull who subdued the 
 mighty, defended the country, setled peace in our borders, 
 that every man might now sit under his own vine and figtree 
 from Dan to Bersheba. Such tampering flatterers were not 
 wanting amongst us. Major Generall Midleton seemeingly 
 submitted untill he got his oportunity to leave the kingdom 
 and go over seas to his master the King. The shame and 
 dissaster of this defeat at Balvany filled most mens mouths 
 with scorn, so that songs and satyres were vented up and down 
 the country uppon that expedition. Mr. Gilbert Martiall at 
 Crombdale, a merry droll, made an invective on it (nameing 
 it the Bourd of Baveny), 
 
 And heard ye the Bourd of Boveny — 
 The route of Macky and Mackenye, 
 
 and such like stufi^e. At this same time, as if there hade been 
 a correspondance between Scotland and England, divers troopes 
 of the army mutinyed, and were surprised by Fairfax at 
 Burford in Northampton, where some few of the ringleaders 
 shot to death, and the rest disbanded. There were of that 
 party a people called Levellers, who in those times of distrac- 
 tion would have all things in the commonwealth ordered accord- 
 ing to their wild humores. Lieutenant Collonell Lilburn, 
 the ringleader of them, emitted a booke entituled Englands 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 341 
 
 new chaines discovered, which was the bottom and foundation 
 of the levellers design, for which he and one Johne Lokier 
 were seized and secured in the Counter P. 
 
 Now we have a generall mortality among our nobles and Mortality of 
 gentry in Scotland. Old loyall M'klean dead ; John Laird of fand^^ie^^.^^^^ 
 M'kleod, universally beloved and bemoaned, after his return 
 home died of meer greefe ; Stuart of Appin died suddenly ; 
 the Earl of Marr given over as dead be the phisitians ; the 
 Earl of Murray, going to horse in Elgin, found an akeing in 
 his great toa, forced to return to his lodging att Andrew 
 Annands, and dyed within 24 houres ; notwithstanding of his 
 many noble palaces expired in a privat cell. The Earle of 
 Lowden dyed after he alighted from his horse. George, Earle 
 of Seaforth, died of a malignant fever in Roterdam in Holland, 
 and interd at Skidam Dike by the care and at the cost of 
 Doctor Alexander Eraser, phisitian in ordinary to our King 
 Charles 2. I was at his tomb anno 1659, and got an account 
 of his death and burriall from John Huton, a tailor in Skidam Mackenzies 
 Dike. All his kinsmen who were at unhappy Balveny in frs^ranJomed!"" 
 slavery ; each pro capite ransomed : Captain Thomas Mac- ^ay 27. 
 kenzie Pluscarden, Keneth of Siddy, Rory Dochmiluack, 
 H. of Farburn, Colin Culcovy [Kilcowy], Rory Reedcastell, 
 who, while he was prisoner at Bogg Castle, his own new strong 
 house of Redcastle kept out against the troopes by a madd 
 crew, one Lieutenant John M'klain was shot dead out at a 
 window, for which in a rage they brunt the castle to ashes, 
 with all the good furnitur, two of the defendants shot at the 
 post, his own 2^ sone Kenneth the flour [of] all his ofspring 
 by a fall off the wall top was braind dead ; himselfe comming 
 home, and seing all this dismall loss, with greefe and melan- 
 choly dyed of a malignant fever, lying in a killbarn, haveing 
 no other lodging left him. Of all these cross casualties I 
 myselfe was eye witness. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Account of affairs in England and Ireland.] 
 
 In Scotland the corrupt, dissloyal Parliament sits still, and 
 the Generall Assembly conveened att Edinbrugh, July 4, with 
 
342 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The Assembly their subtil moderator, Mr. Robert Douglas. Their first Act 
 
 met at Edm- i.' m ^ r-A •• itt-- 
 
 burg, July 4, was Approbation oft the Commissioners sent to the Kings 
 1649- Majesty at the Hague ; their next solemn act was concerning 
 
 the receaving of ingagers in the late unlawfull war against 
 England to publick satisfaction, together with the declaration 
 and acknowledgement to be subscribed by them. The tenor 
 off this act is astonishing ! The Generall Assembly, consider- 
 ing the great offence against God, scandall to His people, 
 arising from the late unlawfull engagement in war against 
 England, contrarie to the law of God and Nations, contrary to 
 the Solemn League and Coovenant, contrary to the petitions to 
 and protestations in Parliament : 1. that such as are guilty be 
 censured by the Church, makeing publick repentance before the 
 congregation in churches — continueing obstinat, be processt 
 with excommunication ; 2. that they, after publick repent- 
 ance, subscrib the declaration ; 3. that they be sent to make 
 repentance in such churches as the presbetry shall enjoin 
 them to stand; 4. that non of them shall be admitted elders 
 in any church judicatory, but according to the Act of the 
 Generall Assembly thereanent. Now what a mocking of God 
 and religion this was, let any judge; nay, what a compliance 
 with and acting the very designs of the sectarians against the 
 King, and approving of all they did first and last, let God 
 Almighty be witness, to whom we must all answeir quhen he 
 Psai. 9. 12. makes inquisition for bloud ! It was a fine knack of on 
 CoUonell Stuart, who was in the unlawfull engagement (so calFd) 
 with Hamilton, being now set uppon the stool of repentance at 
 Edinburgh by the Kirk, Mr. Dickson, askeing him gravely 
 and seriously whither he was not convinced by his malignancy 
 Nota. ofpen- that he went out of the way, suddenly replied. Yea, for we 
 en"a^emVr!t^to ^^^^ ^ wroug way through Westmerland and Cumberland, 
 England. when we should have marcht for York, and so to London. I 
 myselfe saw the Laird of Fluscardeen, Coul M'Kenzie, Kenneth 
 of Siddy, Dochmiluag, and many moe gentlemen stand before 
 the pulpit at Inverness ; and Sir George Monro satisfied at 
 Elgin, and being asked by the minister. Master Murdoch Mac- 
 kenzie, if he was not sorry for his gross sin of malignancy and 
 that unlawfull ingagement, he answeired that he was sorry for 
 all his sins; and, being urged again, said he was sorry for all 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 343 
 
 his sins. So ridiculus a mock was made of their repentance ; 
 and not only pennance, but were under sequestration and 
 excommunication. 
 
 This Assembly also sent a flattering gratulation to the high 
 and honorable Court of Parliament for their Act of abolishing 
 Patronages, and highly commended their piety and zeal in 
 promo veing so necessary a point of reformation in the Kirk. 
 Another dissembling Act of a brotherly exhortation from the 
 Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland to their bretheren 
 in England, a tedious religious rapsody; a commision for a 
 conference of ministers, lawyers, and phisitians concerning the 
 tryall and punishment of witches, charming, and consulting; 
 besids all other, there is a long, tedious letter written to the 
 Kings Majestic, terminoj him Most Gracious Sovereign, that The Assemblies 
 
 4.U • 4- U ' A I letter to the 
 
 they express their great sorrow, havemg expected at this King, August 6. 
 meeting a gracious and satisfactory return to these humble 
 representations made to his Majesty at the Hague by the 
 Commissioners of this Kirk, yet got non. That his Majestic 
 was abused and we suspected, yet not conscious to ourselves 
 of any disloyall affection or undutifull thought to his Majesty, 
 but we do from our hearts abominat and detest that horrid 
 fact of the Sectaries against the life of your royal father, our 
 late Sovereign, it being the desire of our souls that the ancient 
 monarchial government may be established within these king- 
 domes in his Majesties royall person and posterity, for which 
 we earnestly solicit heaven in our love and affection to your 
 Majestic. Yet our trouble is, that not considering our former 
 calamities, your Majestic cleaves fast to such as your trustiest 
 counsellors who never had the glory of God nor good of these 
 his people before their eyes, that he owned and entertaind 
 the person of that flagicious, and justly excommunicat, perverse 
 rebell, James Grhame, who exercised such horrid cruelty 
 uppon your best subjects in this kingdom, which cannot but 
 bring uppon your thron the guiltiness of all the innocent 
 bloud shed by him and his complices ; and, that quhich we 
 cannot think on without trembling hearts and horrour of spirit, 
 your setling a late peace with the Irish Papists, the murtherers 
 of so many thousands of your Protestant subjects; and quhat 
 yow granted them contrary to the standing lawes of your 
 
344 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 royal progenitors, and commands of God, etc. So return to 
 God, lament after him, repent of the sins of his famely and 
 iniquities of his fathers house, the approbation of and royal 
 consent to the Covenant of those 3 kingdomes, and many 
 other urgent fancies, professing there is nothing we desire 
 more than your Majestys long life and happy reign over us 
 who are. Most Gracious Sovereign, your Majesties most loyall 
 subjects, and humble servants, ministers and elders conveened 
 in this Nationall Assembly. 
 
 In this tedious Assembly many rigid Acts and od proceed- 
 ings, part of which I understand not. 1. the approbation of the 
 sentence of deposition against Mr. Henry Guthery, notwith- 
 standing of his appeal ; approbation of the deposition of Mr. 
 Alexander Monro, Mr. David ?/Ionro (a famous man at Tain), 
 and Mr. Thomas Ross, Mr. Donald Ross, Mr. William Ross, 
 Mr. John Hossack ; Deposition of Mr. Patrick Graham at 
 Holm for malignancy, i.e. loyalty. Committe for conference 
 with the officers that were uppon the engagement. Deposition 
 of Mr. James Aitkins, minister at Olra in Orknay, it seeems 
 for conference with and relaxing of the Marques of Montross ; 
 this Doctor Aitkins was banisht to England, and after Lord 
 Bishop of Murray. Order for Generall i\Iajor iVIidleton 
 appeareing, with certification. Reposition of Mr. William 
 Couper to the office of schoolmaster of Chanry, an honest, loyal 
 Remonstrance, man, deposed for being clerk to Seaforth. Reference Laird of 
 Innes, younger, to the presbetry of Tain ; it seemes he lived 
 then att Miltoun in Rosse. Deposition, Mr. William Colvill. 
 Deposition, Mr. Andrew Ramsay. Deposition, Mr. Patrick 
 Durham, Dean of Ross, all famous loyall men. Deposition, 
 Mr. Gilbert Hanna, for marrying the Lord Gordon to Grants 
 daughter. Reference, William Innes of Tipperty, to the 
 Presbitery of Allan to be relaxt, being excommunicat for his 
 loyalty. Reference, Mr. Collin M'kenzie and Mr. David 
 Monro to the visitation of Ross. 
 
 These were two severe summers in Scotland, for dearth and 
 scercity succeeding one another, and next to a famin, a just 
 punishment with which God scurges our disloyall Sectarian 
 schism. The poor suffers sadly, the bole of victuall at a high 
 
 Scarcity of 
 victuall in the 
 North. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 345 
 
 rate at 10 tibs Scots, 12 Hbs this summer, and could hardly be 
 hade, so much of it transported beyond seas ; the country 
 oppresed with quartering, especially the loyalists, termed malig- 
 nants. The Highlanders were well on it, had store of milk, their 
 cattell thriving, all manner of store grass in plenty, their pastures 
 in glens fertil beyond beleefe, such aboundance of sea and fresh 
 water fish that almost men lived by, such sholes of hering in 
 our firths that a 100 was sold for two farthings. The Lord 
 Lovats salmon fishing on the water of Beuly run so thick that 
 all the fatts in the county wer called in to the corphhouse to 
 salt them, and besids what was sold of salmon fresh there were 
 50 last salted and sold. One Paul Collison, marchant at 
 Aberdeen, bought the Beuly salmon this year and advanced 
 9000 marks, which I saw reckoned upon a table in the Lord 
 Lovats house at Inverness, for Sir James Fraser, the tutor, 
 lived there with his famely, being one of the States new 
 Collonells, but most infatuat, to undertake a garrison at 
 Inverness, which lie did not mannag well, being slavishly 
 diverted at south, attending Argile, his idol patron ; by which 
 meanes he basely lost his two forts, the Castle of Channory 
 and Invernes, as I related before; and which is worse, if 
 worse can be, he lost himselfe, for he sickned this August at 
 Edinburgh, being a hot sanguin, his plethoriness came to such sir James 
 a hight that from spitting it flowed to vomiting of blood, and, ^ckn^ecL ^ 
 being under a long course of physick, the doctors concluded 
 that the food and air of Edinburgh wer both his bane, and 
 repaireing to his native aire would be his first recovery. 
 
 There was now a motion in Parliament, and it came to 
 voting, that Inverness should be garishoned again, but was 
 waved, concluding that for this time the troopes quartered in 
 the North might suffise to keep that country in subjection. 
 It was again moved that it was necessary that a garishon 
 should be setled in Inverlochy uppon the Highlanders Nose ; 
 but that was judged too costly, and so that notion dyed in 
 the birth. In the meantime some shroud accidents fell out in 
 this corner. One Captain Andrew Wood, comming north Captain Wood 
 with a party uppon some expedition, takeing the foord heastily, Findorn. 
 <lrownd uppon the river of Findorn; two or three of his 
 cammarads, following hard after, were like to runn the same 
 
346 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 fate indeavouring to rescue him, but all in vain. His corps,, 
 carried to Forres, got very respectfull interment. Another 
 sad accident fell out nearer us. One Major John Scott,. 
 Governour of Braan Castle, rideing to Clianory in Ross, he 
 and another trooper in sight of the town undertakes a race,. 
 Major Scot and halfe way, not adverting; to a slunk or breach in the sea 
 
 dead of a fall 
 
 burried in ' bank, his horse tumbled and Scot, falling over his head, brock 
 Chanry. j^-^ j^qq]^^ not speakeing so much as a word, being sober 
 
 without any excess. This was a gentleman deservedly beloved 
 of all that knew him, most oblidging, a great schoUar, sound 
 and loyall at heart, often bemoan d the ruptures of the raging 
 times, and tumults of the people, a subject which I often 
 heard him uppon with my father, being well acquaint with 
 him. He was the best rider and skillfuUest mannager of a 
 horse in the whole kingdom, of which he often gave publick 
 Ecies. 9. II. proofe. But we see under the sun, saith wise Solomon, that 
 the race is not to the swift nor the battel to the strong, 
 neither yet bread to the wise nor yet riches to men of under- 
 standing, nor yet favour to men of skill, but time and chance 
 happeneth to them all. 
 Captain John A third accident of the same nature happened to Captain 
 by a shot. John M'kblain of Strachans troop, approaching too near the 
 fort of Reedcastell to parly with the defendants, was shot out 
 at a window and killed. The holy party thought it not fit to 
 bury his corps among the malignant Mackenzies, but trans- 
 ported them with sound of trumpets, and interred them in the 
 churchyard of Wardlaw, and a pretty neat tombstone over 
 him with this inscription under the cipher of his name : Here 
 lyes John M'kblain, one of Davids worthies. 
 
 Being uppon this sad subject of casualties and contingencies,, 
 we had one of that nature nearer home. Collonell Hugh 
 Fraser married his second time with Jean Gray, a daughter 
 of Krich [CreichJ and liveing in pretty grandeur at Kinmilies,. 
 in one of my Lord Lovats houses, now his own heritage, he 
 found himselfe undisposed, and, being now in the autumn and 
 fall of the leafe, and a proper time for phisick, he resolves and 
 set himselfe for it to take his purge, and with good govern- 
 ment, but what medicin or drug it was, what dose or weight, 
 whence he had it or by whose direction, I could never be 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOKUM 
 
 347 
 
 rightly informed ; but within less than an houre after the 
 takeing of it, he fell in a high distemper and rage, could 
 hardly suffer any near him, no, not his beloved spouse, reaved 
 in a high degree, all he spoak was high Dutch or Slavonick, 
 knew few or none. The ministers of Invernes, Mr. John 
 Annand and Mr. William Fraser, comming to see him and 
 pray over him, he had little sense to consider what was said ; 
 we found him somewhat composed at singing of psalmes, sex or 
 8 men about him, holding him fast by armes and feet, yet 
 could hardly fix him, or keep him in bed or chaire : he sleept 
 non, drunk much, and impatient after it. I was myselfe often Coiionei Hugh 
 by him, and it was terrible and astonnishing to behold so interd at Kirk- 
 dismal a sight, and his sad, disconsolat famely : nothing heard jg^'^^^^" ^' 
 or seen but dejected faces, murning eyes, weepeing lamentation 
 and woe. The 3^ day he calmed a litle. I heard him say once 
 to my father, Good Mr. William, stay by me, pray to God for 
 me. That night, about one o'clock in the morning, he expired, 
 Sept. 30, and was interrd in the Lord Lovats Isle at Kirkhil. 
 The forces, horse and foot, being quartered here, with the 
 numerous nighbourhood and relations, gave him a splendid, 
 solemn funerall, with very noble conduct. 
 
 This September, Sir James Fraser of Bray, tutor of Lovat, 
 came north under a chronick malady. His lady and children 
 lived at Invernes then, but he haveing no inclination to stay 
 in that place, all the famely flitted to Lovat, where he spent 
 some months laboureing under this Anastomosis or vomiting 
 of blood, and after all rational methods of phlebotomy, 
 frictions, cuping gloses, phisick, and good dyet, all threatning 
 symptomes apeared, at last turnd cacoclinnick, and a dropsy 
 feared, which is incurable in this case, floweing from a dissipa- 
 tion of naturall heat which cannot be repaired ; at last he was 
 given over by all men of skill and experience. His advantage 
 was that God gave him a raspit and a long time to repent 
 and make his peace with his Maker through the merits of 
 Christ his Redeemer. He found at last, in the beginning of sir James 
 November, there was no hopes of recovery, put his affaires in futor^of°Lovar 
 some order, telling his lady that there was 8 or 9 yeares intro- died Deer. 6. 
 mission to cleare, when accounts was taken. He had by him 
 a great deal of cash, and desired her to reckon with a full 
 
348 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 hand. It is certain he had strong convictions uppon his soul ; 
 for, running too much with the streame of the times, and too 
 great a madler with state affaires, being a sharp wit, a preg- 
 matick head, tenacious enugh in his principles, a very leading 
 man and of no small authority in the North, feared of all, 
 beloved of few. Argile was his bane and brackneck from first 
 to last ; and quhat shall his posterity gain by that ! Perhaps 
 had he lived in better times he had been a better man. He 
 leaves the kingdome in confusiones, his country with loose 
 reines. Collonell Fraser and he were still in direct opposition 
 one to another, and the CoUonels joining with the Mackenzies 
 to attack the garrison of Inverness, of quhich Sir James was 
 governour, broak his heart and was the source and fountain 
 of all his evil. He dyed at Lovat the 6 of December 1649, 
 and had a most glorious funerall, the forces being here then 
 added very much to this show, haveing 13 trumpets sounding 
 at his interment in the Chappel of Kirkhill. 
 
 The present I desire not nor ought I be tedious in descanting upon 
 Lord*Fraser of persones, stations or conditions; it is not my genius and it is 
 Lovats fameiy. nausius to my reader. This man whom now we convoyed to 
 his urn. Sir James Fraser, tutor of Lovat, was born anno 1610, 
 and died within his 40*^ yeare. He had a happie time, would 
 he have improven it better ; for to his naturall propension of 
 wit and smartness he had the addition of good education at 
 home and abroad. But had he not too soon casten anchor at 
 Court, the haven of hope for all aspireing spirits, he had 
 lengthened his days, secured his tranquility, enlarged his 
 estate, procured the love and favour of all his nighboures and 
 relations, and confirmed that of the poet, Felix qui procul 
 iiegotiis^ etc. 
 
 The exit of one great man is the entrance of another ; this 
 man is off' the stage, and leaves it open and patent for others. 
 The curators must now looke to the concerns of this great 
 fameiy, the Lord Lovat being but a child of about 6 yeares of 
 age, and with his granduncle the Earl of Weems, who will 
 care for him. Alexander, my lords uncle, vulgarly called the 
 Master of Lovat, is well posted at south, having a captain 
 place. Thomas, his brother, is in Cathness, with his sister the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 349 
 
 Lady Dunbeath, in very good circumstance ; and James, the 
 youngest, at school in Invernes, about 16 yeares of age, and 
 myselfe his school fellow tabled in John Robertson, a Pope, his 
 house, where we must content ourselves to remain sub ferula, 
 praying dayly for the prosperity and happy settlement of 
 Lovat's famely. 
 
 [Account of affairs in Ireland and England] 
 
 The Marquess of Montrosse sent a declaration before him Montross his 
 to Scotland this winter wherein he recited the greatness of 
 the Kings condescensions, and what confidence his late 
 Majesty had of them in putting himselfe in their hands at 
 Newwark, both which some wicked persones of that kingdom 
 and nation had treacherously abused, even to the murder of 
 that blissed prince, and therfor would impose conditions and 
 limitations to their present sovereign, and desired all honest 
 and loyall subjects, who had been misled, to appeare with him 
 in the vindication of those injuries, as well as reproach of the 
 Scots nation. The King was now at Jersey, where arrived 
 Nov*^ last with his brother, the Duke of York ; but the New 
 Year threaten the Juncto, for upon the 4 of January there 
 happened a most terrible blow by gunpouder in Tower Street 
 out of a ship chandlers cellar, who, going down at 8 of the Pouder blow in 
 clock about some bussiness there with a candle, it unfortun- ^^5^^^*' 
 atly sparkled into the pouder, which blew up and spoiled 
 above a 100 houses, and 60 persones killed, the most of which 
 were slain as they were drinking in the Rose Tavern, in whose 
 mines they were overwhelmed. Shall we say that the treason 
 committed that time twelvemonth was followed with this to 
 point out a suitable attendant in the likness of their villany ? 
 but whatever that dissaster signified, the death of Alderman 
 Hoyle of York, a great Rumpier, who hang'd himselfe on the 
 same day and hour that the King was murthered, plainly 
 shewed the vengence and displeasur of God against that 
 monstruous and abominable fact. 
 
 Feb. 18. — The Lord Liberton return with letters from the ATreattyat 
 King at Jersay, which satisfied our Scots State, and Commis- t^g^j^irig^^^^ 
 
350 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 sioners forthwith appointed to go for Holland to commence 
 a treaty appointed by the King at Bredah ; the Prince of 
 Orang being to mediat and also moderat in that affair. The 
 King, in his departur from Jersay, being in a litle bark, was 
 by a sudden gust of wind near to overset had not one of liis 
 retinue with his knife cut the cordage that held the main 
 slieet, and let it flye in the wind, so the good hand of Pro- 
 vidence tooke care of and preserved him to most glorious and 
 wonderful! revolutions. The commissioners names who were 
 sent over are the Earles of Cassiles and Lothian, the Lord 
 Liberton, Sir John Smith, the Lairds Brody, Jeffris, Liviston, 
 Wood, and Hutchison, with strick instructions. 
 Universities Now they begin in England to proceed with the old vizor of 
 purg'd^"*^ piety, voting some expedients for the propogation of the 
 Gospell. They visited the University of Oxford, unwelcom and 
 destructive to the fellowes and senators. The loyal students 
 ejected, particularly Doctor Keynold and Doctor Fell, famous 
 divins, putting in one Owen, an undependant, famous for his 
 primer, and his better lesson of flattery with Oliver, who causd 
 make [him] Doctor of Divinity and Dean of Christs Church. 
 And we must, like apes, imitat them in Scotland, purging our 
 universities. The Kings Colledge at Aberdeen was visited, 
 Doctor Guild, principal, Mr. John Gordon, and Mr. George 
 Midleton, turnd off. Rule and Brody put in. We may now 
 call to mind that God's visitation uppon these two townes thir 
 two last yeares ; the pestilence raged in them, so that the 
 grass was in the streetes, and not a smoake in both townes, but 
 one in old Doctor Duns Chamber. The report of its arrise was 
 that a packman carrying a box chest of flax from Stonehive 
 harbour that came from Holland ; this being opened and 
 loused, the pest spred. Sure it was in that house it began, 
 but Gods hand was in it to punnish a vitious, lascivious, 
 dissloyall people. The Kings Colledge was removed to Erasers 
 Burgh, the New Colledge to Peterhead, where they continued 
 two yeares, viz. 1647-1648 ; and hardly without reluctancv 
 could the masters be inclined to return last winter, the gates 
 and windowes of the University being shut up all that time. 
 Lam. 1, 4. The way to Zion mourn because non come to the solemn 
 feasts, all her gates ar desolat, her priests sigh, her virgins are 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 351 
 
 afflicted, and she is in bitterness. O vain, wanton Aberdeen, 
 
 art thou awakened by this visitation ? art thow reformd ? 
 
 pure and penitent, say with Job, what shall I doe quhen he Job 31.14. 
 
 riseth up, and quhen God shall visit, what shall I answeir 
 
 him.? 
 
 Now we shall come in course to treat of glorious Marquess 
 of Montross, whose most lamentable fate and catastrophe we 
 will here sume up in this no way competent, compendious 
 narrative. In February he sent two ships to Scotland well 
 mand and furnished with ammunition before him, but by the 
 cruel storm of wether, dangerous in Northern Islands, they 
 were lost, with all the men and arms. This was a check and 
 warning, nay, a forerunner of the sad event that followed ; Montross in 
 but, the bussiness being fatall, he must needs contribut his own ^^^^^y- 
 indeavoures towards that destruction which his cruel fortun 
 had provided for him. Yet, nothing terrified with this success, 
 sends out another party, which, makeing a more prosperous 
 voyag, landed at Orkney, enters the island without any resist- 
 ance, he himselfe following after with the rest of his com- 
 pany, who were resolut and resolved to partake of his fortun. 
 Mongst whom were persons of note, Collonell Hurry, a man 
 who had ingaged in all quarrels, but never prospered in 
 any ; the Lord Frendraught, Collonell Jonston, a brave old 
 souldiour, Collonell Gray, a Germain soldier, Harry Graham, 
 his natural brother, Collonell James Hay of Naughtoun, 
 Sir Francis Hay of Dalgety, George Drummond of Ballach, 
 Collonell Sihbald, etc. The Marques stayed in Orknay all 
 ]\Iarch, and got up all the forces he could in the Island ; and 
 in April, gathering all the boates in that Island, shipped 
 all his men, and landed safely uppon the nearest point of 
 Cathness. 
 
 All the world was now amazed at this invasion whilst the Montross lands 
 King was uppon a treatty ; but the Marquese, that he might 
 not be mistaken, emitted and published a 2 Declaration, and 
 presently summoned the Castle of Dunbeth. The Laird being 
 at Edinburgh, the Lady, Dame Kathrin Eraser, caused open 
 gates, and entertaind the Marques at a high rate, but that 
 country, not being loyall, came not in to second him as he 
 expected ; for the Earl of Sutherland raised all his friends and 
 
35S 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 followers indeavouring to hinder all that were willing to join 
 with him, and stop all entercourse tuixt him and his friends. 
 The kingdom was allarmd, the Parliament now sitting, the 
 States ordered to make readdy the standing forces, and 
 randevouz. Collonell Strachan, then extolled for his zeal to 
 the presbiterian cause, got an ample commission granted, un- 
 dependant uppon General Lessly, to engage and fight with 
 the enemy at his best advantage. David Lessly with the 
 , horse, and Holbar with the foot, marcht after. The Marques, 
 
 heareing off' the enemies approach, made his army march at a 
 great trot to recover a pass near hand, himselfe being in the 
 vanguard, and seing Strachans forlorn hope advancing, com- 
 manded his 200 of a forlorn hope to fire uppon them, and put 
 The battel of Strachans horse to dissorderly retreat. Strachan himselfe, 
 Apr?r29,^^i65o being in the 2 party, and Collonell Kerr in the reer, advanced 
 and made good their charge, which terrified the Islanders and 
 made them [?], but the Dutch Companies a valiant volly or 
 two, and then retiered among the shrubs, and most gallantly 
 defended themselves a while, makeing great slaughter, but at 
 last were all taken. There were killed in this fight 200, and 
 1200 taken prisoners. Of Strachans men were killed 130. The 
 Sutherland men were here in arms, and came not for expedi- 
 tion, but execution. In this skirmish was taken the Royal 
 Standard, which the Marques caused make on purpose to 
 move the afl'ection of the people, in which was portrayed the 
 head of King Charles i. lying ableeding and severed from the 
 body, exactly done to the life, with this motto. Judge and 
 revenge my cause, O Lord. The standard-bearer Alexander 
 G., a gallant gentleman, was killed after he had often refused 
 quarter. Ther were taken also Collonell Hurry, Lord Frendrat, 
 Sir Francis Hey Delgety, Colonell Hay Naughton, Col. Gray, 
 and 20 inferior officers, and 2 ministers, Mr. Sibald and 
 Mr. Guthry. This fatal fight happened to fall uppon the 
 29 of April, being St. Peeter Martyrs day, at a place called 
 Carbsdale. 
 
 Montrose con- The Marquess, finding the day quit lost, made his way by 
 S?to^Lovlt force through the enemy; forsaikeing his horse, threw away 
 his sword and clock, which had the starr on it, being knight 
 of the garter, betooke himselfe to his feet, exchanged garb 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 353 
 
 with a highlander, in quhich habit he escapt up the country, 
 and by Lochshin went in to Asson [Assynt], and onely one man 
 with him. Nile M'kleod, Laird of Assin, by the instigation 
 of Lumlare Monro, and the reward of the Councel of State, 
 moved the greedy wretch to betray him ; yet this Asson was 
 the Marques his follower before, and much oblidged. May 4 
 he was taken, and 4 day after delivered to Sir David Lessly at 
 Tain (Strachan having run south to have his reward of bloud 
 from the State), quhich did not a litle gall Lessly to see an 
 upstart rival risin to honor, and have so great a success : a 
 vanity. The town of Kirkwall in Orknay, where Collonell 
 Johnson and Collonell Hary were lost, getting notice of the 
 defeate, tooke ship and returnd to Holland ; the arms which 
 Montross brought thither, with two piece of brave ordnance, 
 the Queen of Swedens present, with a friggot of 16 guns, all 
 ceased. The victory being compleit, a solemn day of thanks- 
 giving throughout the kingdom, with bonefires, shooting of 
 guns, and other testimonies of joy. Montross, being now in 
 the custody of his mortall enemys, from whom he could expect 
 no favour, yet he expressed a singular constancy, and, in a 
 manner, a carelessness of his owne condition. He was con- 
 voyed with guard over the River of Connin towards Beuly ; 
 crossing that River, refresht them at Lovat. Such scurvy, 
 base indignities put all along uppon him as reacht the hight 
 of reproach and scorn, which confirms the poets dixi and 
 ditte : — 
 
 Nescia mens hominum fati, .sortisque fidurce, 
 Et servare Modum, rebus sublata secundis ! 
 
 We are now to set doun the fatall preludium and parrad of Montross con- 
 one of the noblest and gallantest generalls this age saw in L°ova1 tcT"^ 
 Brittain, whose unexampled atchievements might frame a Inverness, 
 history ; were its volume farr biggar than mine, it would yet 
 be disproportionat to the due ipraise of this matchless heroe. 
 But now I set down that which I was myselfe eyewitness off. 
 The 7 of May at Lovat, he set uppon a little shelty horse without 
 a sude, but a quilt of raggs and straw, and pieces of roaps for 
 stirrops, his feet fastened under the horse belly, with a teather 
 and a bit halter for a bridle, a ragged old dark reedish plaid. 
 
354 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 and a Montier cape called Magirky on his head, a muskatire 
 on each side, and his fellow prisoners on" foot after him. Thus 
 conducted through the country, and near Inverness, uppon the 
 rode under Moortoun, where he desired to alight, and calld for 
 a draught of water, being then in the first crise of a high 
 fever, and here the crowd from the town came forth to gase, 
 the two ministers [Mr. William Fraser and] Mr. John Annand 
 wait here uppon to comfort him, the latter of which the 
 Marques was well acquaint with. At the end of the bridge, 
 stepping forward, an old woman, Margret Nin George,^ 
 exclaimed and brauled, saying, Montross, looke above, view 
 these ruinous houses of mine quhich yow occasioned to be 
 burnt down quhen yow besieged Invernesse. Yet he never 
 altered his countenance, but with a majesty and state beseem- 
 ing him, keept a countenance high. At the cross, a table 
 covered, the magistrates treat him with wines, which he would 
 not tast till allayed with water: the statly prisoners, his 
 officers, stood under a forestare, and drunk heartely. I 
 remarked Colonell Hurry, a robust, tall, statly fellow, with a 
 long cut in his cheek. All the way through the streets he never 
 lowed his aspect. The provost, Duncan Forbes, takeing leave 
 of him at the towns end, said. My Lord, I am sorry for your 
 circumstance. He replied, I am sory for being the object of 
 your pitty. The Marques was convoyed that night to Castle 
 Stuart, where he lodged. 
 The Marquess From Castle Stuart the Marquess is convoyed through 
 Murnay and^° Murray, and be the way some loyall gentlemen wait upon his 
 to Elgin. Excellency, most awouedly and with grieved hearts, such as 
 the Laird of Culbin Kinard. Old Provost Tulloch in Narden, 
 Tannachy Tulloch, Captain Thomas Mackenzy Pluscaden, the 
 Laird of Gockstoun, and old Mr. Thomas Foulerton, his 
 acquaintance at colledge. He was overjoyed to see those about 
 him, and were his guard forward to Forres, where the Marques 
 was treated; and thence, afternoon, convoyed to Elgin city, 
 where all those loyall gentlemen waited on him, and diverted 
 him all the time. With allowance of the Generall, in the 
 morning Mr. Allexander Symmer, parson of DufFus, waited on 
 
 Margaret, daughter of George. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 355 
 
 him at Elgin, being colledge acquaintance with the Marques, 
 
 4 yeares his condisciple at St. Andrewes. This cheered him 
 
 wonderfully, as the parson often told me, and thence convoyed 
 
 him all the way to the River of Spey, and a croud of Loyalists 
 
 flockt about him unchallanged. Crossing Spey, they lodged all 
 
 night at Keith, and next day, May 10, being the Saboth, the 
 
 Marques heard sermon there, a tent being set up in the fields heard sermon 
 
 for him, in which he lay, and the minister, Master William 
 
 Kinendmond, altering his ordinary, and chused for his theam 
 
 and text the words of Samuel the prophet to Agag, the King i Samuel, 15. 33. 
 
 of the Amalakits, comming before him delecatly: And Samuel 
 
 said. As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy 
 
 mother be childless among women, etc. This unnatural, 
 
 merciless man so rated, reviled, and reflected uppon the 
 
 Marquess in such an invective, virulent, malicious manner, 
 
 that some of the hearers who were even of the swaying side 
 
 condemned him. Montross, patiently heareing him a long 
 
 time, and insisting still, he said, Rail on, Rasoke ; and so turnd 
 
 his back to him in the tent; but all honest men hated 
 
 Kinendmond for this ever after. Montross desired to stay 
 
 in the fields all night, lying upon straw in the tent till 
 
 morning. 
 
 Moonday after, they march through the Mearnes south. Montross con- 
 By the way the Marquess came to his father in laws house, uie Merns ito^ 
 the Earle of Southask, where he visited two of his own Dundee, 
 children; but neither at meeting or at parting could any 
 change of his former countenance, or the least expression heard, 
 which was not suitable to the greatness of his spirit and the 
 fame of his former actions, worth, and vallour. In transitii 
 his Excellency stayed one night at Dundee, and its memorable 
 that, though this towne suffered more losse by his army than 
 any else in the kingdom, yet were they so farr from insulting 
 over him that the whole town expressed a great deal of sorrow 
 for his condition, and furnished him with cloathes and all 
 other things suitable to his place, birth, and person. At 
 Lieth he was receaved by the magistrates of Edinburgh, and Then to Lieth. 
 thence convoyed up to the city by the water gate of the 
 Abby, and with him all the prisoners of qualety on foot, 
 about 40 persons ; but according to the sentence of the Parle- 
 
356 
 
 POLICHKONICON SEU 
 
 ment the Marquess himselfe had the favour to be mounted on 
 a cart horse. Haveing ended this part of his journay with as 
 much state as in tryumphs is accustomed to be, he was met 
 To Edinburgh, at the end off the Canongate under the Netherbow by some 
 other officers, and the executioner hangman in a liverey coat, 
 into whose hands he was dehvered. Tliere was framed for 
 him a high seat in fashion of a chariot, uppon each side of 
 which were holes, and throwgh these a cord being drawn 
 crossing his breast, and arms bound, his [person ?] fast down in 
 that mock chaire. The executioner then tooke of the Mar- 
 ques's hat, and put on him his own bonnet, ahd this chariot 
 being drawn with 4 horses, mounted of the first, and solemnly 
 drive along towards the tolebooth. By this conduct was 
 confirmed and fullfilled Thomas Rithmers prophesys, never 
 understood till now : 
 
 Fzsa la fin, Visa la fin 
 
 Respice finem. On an ouler tree green 
 
 Shall by many be seen_, etc. 
 
 Visa la fin^ looke to the end, is Montross or Grahm's motto ; 
 and this cart was made of green owler, alder timber which 
 hapened to be brought in, newly cut, to the marcat place, and 
 there sold. 
 
 The vast croud of people who assembled to gase uppon 
 this noble peer, who before wished to see this spectacle, and 
 wisht him all vengence and misfortun, could not now refrain 
 teares, wringing their hands, began to be shaken with the first 
 sheue of his tragedy. Then, being incarcerat in the tolebooth, 
 so closly shut up that non of his dearest friends were suff'ered to 
 come nigh him, being now in the mercy of his implacable foes,, 
 not satisfied with his calamities, reviled him with all possible 
 spit, objecting to him his former condition and present 
 misery, pronouncing heavy judgements against him, and, 
 being asked whey they could not otherwayes be satisfied but 
 by so ignominiously handling of him, replyed that they knew 
 no other way to humble him and bring him home to God. 
 
 The sentence 
 
 The Committy apointed be the Parliament to draw up a 
 Montross^^"^* Sentence against him did it in these words : that he should be 
 hanged on a gibbet at the Cross of Edinburgh untill he dyed. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 357 
 
 his history and declaration being tied about his neck, and so 
 hang 3 houres in publick view of all the people, after which 
 he should be beheaded and quartered, his head set upon the 
 prison house of Edinburgh, his legs over the gates of Sterling 
 and Glasgow, his arms at Pierth and Aberdeen, the trunk of 
 his body to be hurried in the Gallow Moore, under the 
 common gallows. 
 
 The Parliament sent some of their members and ministers 
 to examin him, but he disdaind, refusing to give them answeir 
 any till he knew and was satisfied uppon quhat tearmes 
 they stood with the King, his royall master. They told 
 the King and they were agreed ; then saith the Marquess I 
 desire to be at rest, for I am weary with a long journay, and 
 the complement yow put uppon me is somquhat tedious, and 
 I desire to be rid of yow, for I set no great value uppon your 
 converse. Yow punies, yow thought ye had affronted me the 
 day before by carrying me in a cart, but yow are much mis- 
 taken, for I judged it the most honorable and joifull cavilcade 
 that ever I made, God having all the most comfortably 
 manifested his presence to me, and furnisht me to overlook 
 the reproaches of men, and behold him for whose cause I suf- 
 fered. And so yow may be gone ; I have enugh of yow. 
 
 Moonday 19. he was brought before the Parliament, a long Montross 
 penned discourse delivered by the Chanclour quherin he de- {he iSiiamem 
 clared to him his miscarriages against the first Covenant, the 
 League and Covenant, his invasion, and joining with the 
 Irish rebells, and bloudguiltiness, for which God had now 
 brought him to just punishment. The Marques desired leave 
 to speake, which being granted, said, Since yow have declared 
 to me that yow have agreed with the King, I looke uppon 
 yow as if his Majesty were sitting among yow, without whom His first 
 yow have no power, and in that relation I onely appear with 
 this reverence bareheaded. My care hath been alwayes to walk 
 as it becam a good Christian and a loyal subject. I ingaged 
 in the first Covenant and was faithfull to it untill I perceived 
 some privat persones, under collour of religion, intended to 
 wring the authority from the King, and to seize on it for 
 themselves ; and then it was thought fit for the cleareing of 
 honest men that a bond should be subscribed wherein the 
 
 ;t 
 
 answe.r 
 
358 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 security of religion was sufficiently provided for ; this satisfied 
 my conscience, and I subscribed it. 
 His 2'ansvveire. As for that yow call the League and Covenant, I thank 
 God I was never in it and so could not brake it. But how 
 farr religion hath been advanced by it and the sad conse- 
 quences that followed on it these poor distressed kingdomes 
 can now witness, for, when his late Majestic had by the blissing 
 of God almost subdued those enemies that rose up against him 
 in England, and that a faction of this kingdom went in to the 
 assistance of them, his Majestic gave commission unto me to 
 come into this kingdom and to make a diversion of those forces 
 that were going from hence against him. I acknowledge the 
 command most just, and I conceived myselfe bound in con- 
 science and duty to obey it. What my carriage was in this 
 country many of yow beares witness. Dissorders in any army 
 cannot be prevented, but they were no sooner known than 
 prevented ! Never was any bloud spilt but in battel, and even 
 then many thousands live which I preserved ; and, as I came 
 in uppon his Majesties warrant, so uppon his letters did I lay 
 assid all interest, and retreated; and for my comming in at this 
 time it was by his Majesties command in order to accelerat the 
 treaty betuixt him and yow, his Majesty knowing that quhen 
 ever he had ended with yow I was ready to retire uppon his 
 call. I may justly say that never subject acted uppon more 
 honorable grounds, nor by a more lawfull power, then I did in 
 this service ; and therefore I adjure yow to lay asid prejudice, 
 and consider me as a Christian in relation to the justice of the 
 quarrell, as a subject in relation to my royall masters com- 
 mand, and as your nighbour in relation to the many of your 
 lives I have preserved in battle ; and be not to rash, and let 
 me be judged by the lawes of God, the lawes of nations and 
 nature, and the lawes of this land. If yow do otherwayes I 
 do here appeale from yow to the rightious judge of the world, 
 who one day will judg yow and all, must be your judge and 
 mine and we must both answeir, and gives allwayes rightious 
 judgement. 
 
 Montrosse This discowrse he delivered with such gravity and without 
 
 priva't'^^^ " p ission as was much admired even of his enemies whom he 
 dasht and confounded with his confidence and undaunted 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 359 
 
 curraofe. The Chancelour desired the sentence to be read, 
 which he heard with a setled and unmoved countenance, and 
 desireing to be further heard, was presently stopt by the 
 Chanclour who commanded he should be presently convoyed 
 back to prison, where he was no sooner come but the ministers 
 assaulted him afresh, aggravating the terrour of the sentence, 
 therby to fright him. He acknowledged himselfe much be- 
 holding to the Parliament for the honour they had put upon 
 him, saying he tooke it for a greater grandur to have his 
 head stand uppon the prison gate for his quarrel then to have 
 his pictur set up in the Kings bedchamber; and, lest his 
 loyalty should be forgotten, they had highly honored him in 
 designing lasting monuments to 4 of the cheefest cities of this 
 realm to beare up his memoriall to all posterity, wishing he had 
 flesh enugh to have sent a piece of the same to every city in 
 Christendome, to witness his loyalty to his King and country. 
 
 That night none of his friends were suffered to come neare Hisgesturand 
 him, but a rude guard still in the chamber with him, so that ntghfand^going 
 he had neither time nor place for his privat devotions but in ^° scaffold, 
 their heareing : cruel barbarity. The fatall day being come de- 
 signed to put a period to all his troubles, there was erected in 
 the midle of the marcat place, tuixt the Cross and Tron, a 
 large 4 square scaffold breasthigh, in the midest of which was 
 planted a gibbet of 30 feet height. He was convoyed out be 
 the baliefe out of the gaile, cloathed in a scarlet cloake richly 
 shammaded with golden lace. He stept along the streets 
 with so great state, and there appeared in his countenance so 
 much beuty, majesty, and gravity, as amazed the beholders ; 
 and many of his enemies did acknouledg him to be the bravest 
 subject in the world, and in him a gallanty that braced all the 
 croud, more becoming a monarch than a mean peer; and in 
 this posture he stept up to the scaffold, quher, all his friends 
 and well wi Hers beino^ debarred from commino- neare, thev 
 caused a young boy to sit uppon the scaffold, by him designed 
 for that purpose, who wrot his last speech in brachography as 
 followes ; the young mans name was Mr. Robert Gordon, sone 
 to Sir Robert Gordon of Gordstoun, from whom I got the Mr. Robert 
 
 ,1 ^ Gordon Cluny, 
 
 same tnUS : my cammerad, 
 
 I am sory if this manner of my end be scandalous to any 
 
360 
 
 rOLICHROxNICON SEU 
 
 Montross his good Christian here. Doth it not often happen to the rightious 
 theTcaffoid°" according to the way of tlie unrightious? Doth not some- 
 times a just man perish in his rightiouseness, and a wicked 
 man prosper in his wickedness and mahce? They who know 
 me should not dissesteem me for this; many greater than I 
 have been dealt with in this kind. But I must not say but 
 that all God^s judgements are just, and this measur for my 
 privat sins I acknowledge to be just with God, and wholly 
 submit myselfe to him. But in regard of man, I may say they 
 are but instruments ; God forgive them, and I forgive them. 
 They have oppressed the poor, and violently perverted judge- 
 ment and justice ; but he that is higher than they will reward 
 them. What I did in this kingdom was in obedience to the 
 most just command of my sovereign, and in his defence in the 
 day of his distress, against those who rose up against him. I 
 acknowledge nothing ! but feare God and honour the King 
 according to the commandements of God and the just lawes of 
 nature and nations ; and I have not sinned against man but 
 God, and with him there is mercy, which is the ground of my 
 drawing near to Him. It is objected against me by many 
 even good people that I am under the censor of the Church. 
 Seing it is onely for doing my duty by obeying my princes 
 most just commands for religion, his sacred person and 
 authority, yet I am sorry they did excommunicat me ; and in 
 that which is according to Gods lawes, without wronging my 
 conscience or alleadgeance, I desire to be relaxed ; if they will 
 not do it I appeal to God who is the rightious judge of the 
 world, and who must and will, I hope, be my Judge and 
 Saviour. It is spoken of me that I should blame the King. 
 God forbid ! for the late King, he lived a saint and dyed a 
 martyr. I pray God I may end as he did ; if ever I would 
 Avish my soul in another mans stead it should be in his. For 
 his Majesty now liveing, never people, never any people, I 
 beleeve, might be more happy in a King. His commands to 
 me were most just, and I obeyed them. In nothing that he 
 promiseth will he feale ; he deales justly with all men. I pray 
 God he be so dealt withall, that he be not betrayed under 
 trust as his father was. I desire not to be mistaken as if my 
 carriage at this time in relation to your wayes were stubborn. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 361 
 
 I do but follow the light of my conscience, my rule, which is 
 secoLinded by the workeing of the Spirit of God that is within 
 me. I thank him I goe to heaven with joy, the way he paved 
 for me; if he enable me against the fear of death, and furnish 
 me with currage and confidence to embrace it even in its most 
 ogly shape, let God be glorified in my end, though it were in 
 my damnation. Yet, I say not this out of any fear or mistrust, 
 but out of my duty to God and love to his people. I have no 
 more to say, but that I desire your charety and prayer ; and I 
 shall pray for yow all. I leave my soul to God, my service to 
 my Prince, my goodwill to my friends, my love and charety to 
 yow all ; and thus breefly I have exonered my conscience.^ 
 
 The ministers, becaus he was under the sentence of excom- 
 munication, would not pray for him, and even on the scaffold 
 were very bitter against him. Being desired to pray apart, he 
 said, I have already poured out my soul before the Lord, who 
 knowes my heart, and into whose hand I have committed my 
 sprit, and he hath been pleased to return to me a full assure- 
 ance of peace in Jesus Christ my Redeemer; and therefore, if 
 yow will not join with me in prayer, my reiterating it again 
 will be but scandalous to you and me. So, closing his eyes 
 and holding up his hands, he stood a good space with his 
 inward, devout ejaculations, being perceived to be mightily 
 moved all the while. When he had done he called for the 
 executioner, and gave him 4 pieces of gold, who, weeping, 
 tooke his booke and declaratioun and other printed papers 
 which he had published in his life, and, being all tied in a 
 string, hangd them together about his neck ; when he said, I 
 hug this more than my badge of being Knight of the Garter 
 which his Sacred Majesty was pleased to make me; nay, more 
 niy honour than a chain of gold. Then, his arms being tied, 
 he asked the officers if they had any more dishonour as they 
 conceived it to put uppon him, he was readdy to receive and 
 accept of the same ; and so, with an undaunted currage and 
 gravity, in spit of all their affronts, uncivil and barbarous 
 usage, he went up to the top of that prodigious gibbet, where, 
 having freely pardoned the executioner, desired him that at 
 
 ^ Compare Wishart's version of the speech in Deeds of Montrose^ by Murdoch 
 and Simpson, pp. 331-333. 
 
B62 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Montross 
 
 May 21, I 
 
 (Ttatis 44. 
 
 650. 
 
 the uplifting of his hand he should tumble him over, which 
 was accordingly done by the weeping hangman, who, with his 
 most honest teares seemed to revile the cruelty of his country- 
 men, which may serve for a test of the rebellius and diabo- 
 licall spirit of that malicious consistory. After 3 houres he 
 was taken down and had his head cut off, which was fixed on 
 the iron pin, west end of the toleboth ; his quarters sent to- 
 be placed and set up in the several cities ; and the rest of his 
 mortall parts hurried under the gallows. John Taylor the 
 water poets honest verse will serve for this dishonorable Scotch 
 expedition : — 
 
 In a good cause to dye it is no shame, 
 Although a halter do procure the same I 
 
 Thus fell that heroicall person by a most malicious and 
 barbarous sort of cruelty, but sequitur uUor a tergo Deus — 
 there is a fury at hand ready with a whip of snakes to punish 
 this viperous brood off men. One that detested the harsh 
 dealeings of the Scots to this loyall and martiall Earle wrot 
 these two Latin verses uppon the Roundhead Rout off P- 
 Whigs : — 
 
 A dolor inferni fraudes capitisque rotundi 
 Et Judce suavium, det Deus ut caveam ! 
 
 The pensive poet gave him this eulogy : — 
 
 Hoc Decus Heroum non uni insistere palmo'. 
 
 Fama sed asfiiduo parta lahore venit ; 
 
 0 Felix animi juveniii prosperque laborum. 
 
 Res tantum fatis ohfait una tuis 
 
 Justified vindex, et amans patrice, hostibus horror, 
 
 Civemque, patres inter, jure feras patrice. 
 
 Imperium sine fine Regi dum quero suisque, 
 
 Imperij fines, finiit atra dies ! 
 
 Ah Decus 0 patrice cecidisti ? funere in uno, 
 
 Ipso quoque infracto, robore toto jacet. 
 
 Vincere pro patria, aut vinci. virtute decorum, 
 
 Dulci pro patria, prodigit ergo animam. 
 
 Quod potuifeci, quis tantis hostibus obstet ? 
 
 Quis potis imperio sors superesse tuo ? 
 
 Ni medio in cursu fatis prcsreptus iniquis 
 
 Et si magna dedit, plura daturus erat ! 
 
 Marte tuis fatis ! fati modo victor atrocis. 
 
 Nunc patrice ceternas et tua fata simul! 
 
POLICIIATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 363 
 
 Now that I have run out so much uppon particulars in the The Marques 
 life and actings of this renouned heroe, it is to give himselfe ^^^^'^^^^^ 
 his due praise, and to satisfie my reader, who perhaps will not 
 find so an exact account of him in any story ; and, if it please 
 not him, I have done enugh to please myselfe, and to propogat 
 his fame, seing such another person, such another subject, 
 consideratis consider andis^ and ceteris paribus^ is not to be 
 found in all my chronology, and being my selfe eye and ear 
 witnes of this great mans proceedings in part, and, haveing 
 got the impartiall information from his own soldiers and 
 followers, I was the freer to record it as uncpiestionable truths. 
 True, indeed, the history of his life is very well done in a small 
 volume by the famous Doctor Jo. Wishart, R. of Lieth,^ and 
 also by William Winstaunly in his English Worthies, who 
 sayes. It may seem strange in such a scarcety of Scotch 
 worthies, there being so niany English, that I should goe 
 about to borrow one from that country, where, if Diogenes 
 the Cinique, with his lanthorn, were to make in(juest after 
 such an impossibilitye would infallibly conclud a nonsuch in 
 Scotland to be found. Heath, in his history, gives him 
 impartiall })raise, and so doth Alednlla Historical AvgUcana'. 
 Hut I have compendized the marrow of what they all say, and 
 added what they touch not at all, which I well knew in my 
 owne time, haveing seen him when taken prisoner, convoyed 
 him to Invernes, and through Murray, and got a very sure 
 account 'of him thereafter in his imprisonment at Edinburgh, 
 and his execution there. I saw his arm uppon the Justice 
 Port of Aberdeen, another uppon the south port of Dunde, 
 his head uppon the tolebouth of Edinburgh ; also I saw it 
 taken down and Argiles head put up in the place of it. 
 
 There is a noble poem made by the forementioned Dr. 
 Wishart uppon the death of the Earle of Strafford, Deputy of 
 Ireland, the death of Archbishop Laud, Primat of England, 
 and King Charles the Martyre his death, of which the famous 
 English poet Cleveland averrs that he would renounce all his 
 art of poetry providing he were master of these 30 lines 
 
 ^ The ' small volume ' was by Dr. George Wishart, afterwards Bishop of 
 Edinburgh. ¥ox confusion regarding the authorship, see Deeds of Montrose ^ v. 
 
364 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 which, for their rarety, curiosity, ambiguity, and appositness 
 to our times I have here set down as I found them : — 
 
 The world 's a tennis court, man is the ball — Toss 't 'gainst the wall ! 
 
 High soareing hopes and languishing dispare — the rackets are ! 
 
 Contents the cords, extreams are over and under — like claps of thunder. 
 
 Bids all that builds their hopes one towers of aire — 
 
 Since fall they must, take heed their fall be faire ! 
 E. Strafford. Last night I lookt up to Prometheus's skye— and there did spye 
 *The house of A starre whose greatness was with glory mixt — But was not fixt ! 
 Commons. For when the ^Pleiades begun to play — It shrunk away, 
 
 Which teaches all astrologers for to know— 
 
 Tliat meteors are no substance but a show I 
 
 From thence I went to church thinking to pray — 'Twas holy day, 
 Bishop Laud. Where from afarr, our high priests ghost did cry — O come not nigh, 
 
 Our sanctuary with bloud 's defil'd ; and truths exil'd. 
 
 Bethel, Bethaven is, Doeg treads downe— 
 
 Our high priests myter, and emperiall crowne. 
 
 Affrighted with such horrid sights at last — Mine eyes I cast 
 
 Up to great Charles Waine and there I find — That Boreas wind 
 Charles Wain Had blasted Atlas's hoj)es and made him cry — The uncertantye 
 
 Tnones Palu- humaine glory, which with flattering smiles- 
 strum, a con- , ^ : ) 6 
 stellation near At first embraces, and at last beguiles, 
 the North Pole. strange to see the spider finely spin — a pretty ginn 
 King Charles. ^^^^ catch a gnat, whilst man with anxious care — contrives a snare 
 
 For his own feet, and whiles that wracked he — strives to get free. 
 
 In vain he toils, for who can shun a fall — 
 
 When heaven writes Mene Tekel on the Wall. 
 
 A due then brain sick pleasures, get yow gone, — let me alone. 
 
 I'le drink of the brooke and eat of the hony comb — In peace at home. 
 
 Not striveing to be great but good, for lo — the event doth show 
 
 That outward gildings cannot serve to hide — 
 
 The ruins off an inward rotten side. 
 
 Cromueifrom June 1. Cromuel, uppon letters out of England inviting 
 iriand. thither by the Parliament, went to sea, and left Ireton 
 
 in cheefe command behind to subdue the rest of that miser- 
 able, wasted kingdom. The remaining Irish war was now 
 utterly defensive, and of such weake, dying efforts that all was 
 given over there for desperat and lost. And now who cannot 
 must not here but acknowledge the unerring certanty of 
 divine justice uppon that bloody and pitiless people. Crom- 
 uel at his arrivall in England is courted and made Generall 
 of the Forces, being now the idol of the state. For Thomas 
 Lord Fairfax had now laid down his commission, as loath to 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 365 
 
 engage against his presbiterian bretheren in Scotland ; but too 
 late, for he might with greater honour and credit have done 
 this before ; but now he expected no such sudden rivalship to 
 his command, which gave him no time of mature considera- 
 tion of the design. 
 
 An agreement now being concluded betuixt the King and 
 the Scots at Bredah, when his Majesty came to the Hague, 
 and shipt himselfe at Terheyden harbour, aboord an excellent 
 sailor friggot, commanded by young Van Trump, and two 
 other men a war, carrying his goods and retinue. Old Van 
 Trump, being abord with the King, charged his sone to do his 
 utmost indeavour for the Kings preservation, and, parting 
 with teares, haveing intelligence of the English fleet lying to 
 intercept him, soon after a tempest drove the Kings ships 
 uppon a Danish isleand, where they were most civilly and 
 humanly treated. Thence with a brisk gail landed at Garmach King landed 
 in Speymouth with a great many noblemen and knights, and ju 1^^^27,^1650. 
 two English, Collonel Graves and Captain Titus, to attend his 
 person. Heres a Providence that but the same morning the 
 English King catchers were set sail from the same place under 
 their admiral Popham to seeke after him ; but the Lord pre- 
 served him for greater designs. The King sets on in his 
 progress; treated at the Bog;^ thence forward to Aberdeen, 
 where all the country and city attended him, and a harrang Comes to 
 given him at the Kings Colledge by one Master John Strachan, 
 Regent ; a pulpit of wood erected at the wester end off the 
 colledge church, whence he delivered that noble panagirick 
 oration, closeing the paragraphs — Neu sinas Anglos eqiiitare 
 imcltos, te duce, Carle} The King was so much taken with his 
 deport and oratry that he gave him a ring off his own finger. The King from 
 
 The King from Aberdeen, attended in great state by the (hmuglTMerns 
 nobility, through Mearns and Anguis, royally feasted at s"'^joi"nston° 
 Southask, old Earl David declareing to his Majesty that he 
 had treated his grandfather. King James, there, 1616, and his 
 
 ^ Bog-of-Gight, now Gordon Castle. 
 - An adaptation of Horace, i, 2 : — 
 
 ' Neu sinas Medos eqtiitare inultos^ 
 Te duce^ Casar. ' 
 
366 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 royall father, King Charles, 1633, and now himselfe ; and at 
 the door drawes out the bolt out of the wall with his legg 
 stradled over it telling the King that he must drink Doch 
 in Dorris, a homely drow which the Highlanders takes with 
 their familiars.^ He made every nobleman and knight drink 
 a moucking bowle of sack in that postur. This and the 
 account of the Kings noble treat there I had from Sir Alex- 
 ander Sutherland of DufFus, one of the Kings knights at table. 
 Thence the King goes to St. Johnstoun, and so to Striveling, 
 complemented and presented in the way with very great gifts 
 according to the ability of the nation now over all in arms. 
 The Estates of Scotland had notice before of the Kings 
 comming into the kingdom, the Earl of Dumfermeling, Mr. 
 Murray, and Sir AVilliam Flemming, who were sent before the 
 King to acquaint them thairwith. His Majesty, a while 
 before, haveing receaved the detestfull intelligence of the 
 murther of his faithfull servant the Marques of Montross, 
 which, as cases then stood, he was forced to pass by, haveing 
 expostulated very sorrowfully thereof with the Parliament, who 
 bv all meanes endeavoured to collour and smooth over that 
 perpetration with the vowes of their alleadgance, in order 
 whereunto they said they executed that nobleman and some 
 others with him, viz., Sir William Hay of Dalgety, Sir John 
 Hurry, Sir John Spotswood, younger of Darcy, Colonell 
 Ogilvy, Collonell Sybald, Captain Charters. A very inauspi- 
 cious entrance and begining betuixt his Majestic and them 
 of an understanding cemented with such loyal bloud. 
 Cromueito Now Fairfax being inscrupled by some of the then presbi- 
 
 juiy'1650 terian ministers, who were highly incensed at this war, which 
 Cromuel haveing cuningly forseen (finding that the generall 
 had laid down his commission) therefore the long expected 
 military Supremacy, by a vote of the Parliament, is transferred 
 to Olipher, who very zealously accepted the charge, and with 
 all readiness prepared for the expedition, which makes the 
 second trophy or garland of these strangly and wonderfully 
 prosperous free State of England. He marches with his army 
 into Scotland, and, July 21, quarters at Barwick, from which 
 he sent a letter and declaration to the Committy of State, 
 
 1 See p. 124. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOKUM 
 
 367 
 
 fraught with hypocriticall canting expressions, which they 
 
 suppresst, returning answeir that they would reply to it by 
 
 messingers of their own, and meantime prepars to oppose him. 
 
 Now the Parliament of England was busy about their High 
 
 Court of Justice, makeing act for the seale of delinquents 
 
 lands, and voted so many estates to be sold as would make up 
 
 security for 200,000<£', for their present expedition at home 
 
 and abroad. At this time one Doctor Levens, formerly My ^^-.^^ 
 
 Doctor of the Civil Law, who had all along served the King executed. 
 
 most faithfully, was apprehended in his lodging, long set by 
 
 the state spies, and severall commissions from the King and 
 
 such papers found with him, was brought before a court 
 
 martiall and there sentenct to be hangd ; so was accordingly 
 
 executed on July 18 against the old Exchange in Cornwall, 
 
 quher he triumpht in his sufferings, which was in all honest 
 
 mens opinions a confirmation of the goodness of his cause. 
 
 July 25, Cromuel, with his army, consisting of 18,000, The skirmish 
 
 marcht from Mordington to Hadington 12 miles from Edin- f ,^"^,1^^^"^^' 
 
 .... J^^y 
 burgh, and the Scotch scouts on the hills in their view, 
 
 scirmishing uppon one another. That afternoon a small party 
 
 of 200 of the Scotch horse fell in their rear with such fury and 
 
 vigour that they wholly dissordered it, and, fresh recruits 
 
 comming on, persued this advantage, which being perceaved 
 
 by Major General Lambert and Colonel Whaly, who had the 
 
 reer guard and repulst them, in this action had his horse shot 
 
 under him, and run the arm with a hoe and taken prisoner. 
 
 The English army, wet and weary, came to Musleburgh July 
 
 28. Next morning, about sunrising, a party of 1500 horse 
 
 of the Scots veteran blods, under command of Colonell Mont- 
 
 gomry and Colonell Strauchan, fell with great fury and more 
 
 exact valour uppon them, and brought the whole English 
 
 army into a terrible fright and dismay, charging almost clear 
 
 through uppon the sands ; and, had their foot been with them, 
 
 they had but doubt routed all that strong army, but were 
 
 repulsed by Colonell Oky, lost about a 100, some officers slain 
 
 and wounded, and thrice more to the English, and came off 
 
 with honour en ugh, giveing the invaders litle hopes of so 
 
 easy a victory and conquest as the fates decreed surely 
 
 for them, and their invincible fortun, and, as one of them 
 
S68 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 told myselfe (a loyal heart), vvisht they were back again 
 in Eno'land. 
 
 o 
 
 See we next at London a piece of the High Courts Justice 
 uppon an unanimat stone : the late King Charles his statue in 
 the Royal Exchange, which first they had ridiculously but 
 cruelly decollated, and, ashamed of that impudent revenge,, 
 ordered to be taken out of its nich altogether and thrown 
 down to pieces, and this inscription set under it in golden 
 letters : Exit Tyr annus Regnm Ultivius Anno Libertatifr 
 Anglice Restitutce prlmo Aimo Dom. 1648. This I noticed 
 with no small griefe, and coppied it off, being at London, Anno 
 1657. This a testimony of their guilt and a memorial to 
 strangers of their impudent and boldfaced treason, which gave 
 not onely truth but even time itselfe the lie ; for never was there 
 such a thing as the first yeares of the peoples liberty under 
 their anarchical usurpation. The other famous statue of the 
 King, at its fall from the gallery at the west end of St. Pauls's 
 Church, lighted uppon its feet, which was taken as a good 
 and sure omen and presage of his Majesties glorious memory,, 
 and that his posterity should recover and dure maugur all 
 the designs and present prosperous successes of his and their 
 enemies. Then also were the Kings arms ordered to be erazed 
 in all publick places, and in lieu of them the States arms,, 
 being St. Georges Crosse and the harp, were set up in Courts 
 of Judicators and all publick places ! 
 
 The Duke of York, haveing now of a good while after the 
 Kings departur stayed at Jarsey Island till August, thence 
 to France, arived at the Luvere in Paris, bringing with him a 
 considerable soume of mony, the value of such prizes as his 
 Jarzy friggots had brought him, intending speedily to go 
 thence to Holland. Mvn Heir Joachim, resident here from 
 the States Generall, is now sent home without audience, have- 
 ing limited his time and dyet becaus the said Estates had 
 refused to give audience to Mr. Strickland, the English agent, 
 now reseeding at the Hague. 
 
 August 16. Collonell Eusebius Andre wes was brought ta 
 tryal before the High Court of Justice, a loyalist and secretary 
 to Lord Caple, haveing a commission from the King, being 
 trepand by one Bernard, formerly his majorr. He haveing 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 369 
 
 made a most acurat and formal plea against the lawfullness 
 and authority of this High Court, and notably defended him- 
 selfe, was, notwithstanding, sentenced as a traitor, and execut 
 on Towerhil, quher he died like other niartyres before him, 
 full of joy and blissed hope. New jealousies, animosities, and 
 discontents beginning among the Scots, some for limiting the 
 King that he should wholly depend upon the Kirk, and be at 
 the disposall of the rigid Covenanters, Cromuel knew well, 
 who never ceased scribling, divulging the English armies gooti 
 intentions for the Scots ; and now, haveing got good recruits 
 for his army by sea, and plentifull provision, and the fleet 
 saileing in equal pace with is in tuto, encamps in Penthland 
 hills, the Scot army in view of them. The Kirks declaration Deciaraiton of 
 now comes out, and runs. That the King, stumbling at and 
 refuseing to subscribe unto the Declaration offerred him by 
 the Committy of Estates and Commissioners of the Kirk, 
 concerning his former carriage, is cause of just greefe and 
 offence in reference to the cause of God, friends thereof, and 
 therefore do declare that they will espouse any malignant 
 party or quarrell, but that they fight meerly uppon their 
 former ground and principles in the cause of God and the 
 kingdom, nor will they own the King or his interest further 
 then he owns and prosecuts the cause of God ; and this per- 
 emptory Kirk resolution by their clerk subscribed Alex. Ker. 
 one of their coll. 
 
 Cromuel meantime, his provision growing scarce, retiers to 
 Musslebrugh, and a few dayes after to Dumbarr, intending if 
 need be to get into England by sea, being closely followed bv 
 the Scots army in the reer, who had great advantage to fall 
 uppon the English, now weary with long march and want of 
 victualls, and them pent up on a neck of land not a mile and a 
 halfe from sea to sea, also in straites, and many of their 
 soldiers sick, and the whole army shut up in a pound, 
 resolved to force their way through their enemy. Tusday 
 morning, September 3, Lambert, Whaly, and Lilburn, with 
 a strong party of horse, gaind the Pass of Coperspath, and 
 so David Lessly, the Scots General, got down the hill with 
 his braggad, and to it. The English word was The Lord of The battel of 
 Hosts ; the Scotch, The Coovenant. Lambert crved, Doe or tember'^3,^i65o. 
 
 2 a 
 
370 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 dye ; the whole English army charged. The Scots horse, 
 being broke, confused the foot, who lay down their armes and 
 run for it ; the heat of the batle continued 'tuixt 7 and 10 
 a^clock ; the English followed the chase beyond Hadingtoun. 
 Of the English were killed about 2000, of the Scots 300 ; 9000 
 Scots prisoners taken, 10,000 arms, ammunition baggage, 
 200 horse and foot colloures, which were sent to be hung as 
 trophies in Westminster Hall. Prisoners of note, Sir James 
 Lumbsden, Lieutenant Generall of the Army, Lord Libertoun, 
 died of his wounds in Dunbar, Adjutant General Bickerton, 
 Sir William Douglass, Lord Cranston, Colonell Gordon, 12 
 Thomas Fraser. lieutenant Collonels, 6 majors, 42 captains, 75 lieutenants. 6 
 majors died of their wounds, mongst quhom was Major Alex- 
 ander Fraser and Major Lessly. This defeat was signified by 
 Cromuel to the States in his usual strain of devout zeal. The 
 glory of the victory was ascribed to the conduct and valour 
 of Colonell Monk. The Kirk ran to her old trick of humilia- 
 tion, assigning their vain confidence in the arm of flesh and 
 trust not in his word and the Sword of the Spirit to be the 
 sole and just cause of their defeat, not treachery and disloyalty 
 to which they might solely imput this and all our losses and 
 shamfuU defeates. 
 
 The next morrow after the fight old Leven and Lessly and 
 100^ more quat Edinburgh, and, with bagg and baggage, by 
 Queensferry away to Sterling. Cromuel advanced, fortified 
 Leth, fixing Colonell Paul Hobson governour there, and 
 Colonell Overtoun at Edinburgh. The Presbiterian mini- 
 sters in England were summoned to appear before the Com- 
 mittee of the militia, and charged to observe the thanksgiving 
 day for this success. September 8. the vertuous Princess 
 Princess Elisa- Elisabeth died in her confinment in Carrisbrook Castel, and 
 Carrisbrok. was interd at Newport in the Isle of Wight, being 15 yeares 
 of age. Now the Undependant ecclesiasticall government set 
 up in England, presbitry and lay elders turnd out of doores; 
 and the Mock Parliament, to free England of the royal blood, 
 sent over the Duke of Gloucester to Heidlburg, ordering him 
 an allowance of 1500 JB per annum. October 1, some cavaliers 
 took up arms in Noffblk, for which about 20 of them were 
 executed. About the midle of October the Prince of Aurange 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 371 
 
 had some contest with the chiefe cities in Holland, and was 
 
 upon the reduceing of some of the stubborn ringleaders. In 
 
 the conclusion of that affair, as he was hunting near Arnham, 
 
 a distemper ceased him, which, turning to the small pox and 
 
 a flux of putrid blood, presently killed him, not without Prince of 
 
 suspition of poyson, leaving behind him the Princess Royall q^^"|^ *^'^^' 
 
 near her time, who, to the great joy of the Low Countries, 
 
 was delivered of a young prince, November 5, as a cordiall to 
 
 that immoderat greefe her highness and famely took from this 
 
 sad providence, the Prince being the most sincere and absolut 
 
 friend his majesty had in the greatest difficulties of his own 
 
 and fathers affaires at home and abroad. 
 
 The war now in Ireland went prosperously on with the 
 Parliament, the success being much facilitated by the miss- 
 understanding and divisions that were among the Catholicks 
 and the Protestant loyal party. Iretown, left governour in 
 that country, was very sturring, the military power by general 
 concent being devolved upon the Marques of Clanrickard, a 
 papist and native of most ancient and noble extraction, and 
 this by the good likeing of the Marques of Ormund, who had Marquis of 
 long experience of his fidelity to the King and his interests, heiand^t^^"^ 
 and himselfe meantime resolves to depart the kingdom, the 
 Irish giving him thanks for the many unwearied services he 
 had done his country, desireing him to be their advocat with 
 his majesty and forreign princes for aid and suplies to them 
 for the defence of that gasping realm that now strugled with 
 its last fate. December 1. the Marquess of Ormond tooke 
 shipping from Galloway in a litle friggot of 4 guns called the 
 Elisabeth, with Inchqueen, the noble Collonel Voughan, 
 Colonel Voyan, and Warren, and some 20 persones of honor 
 more, and landed at St. Mallos in France, 16 dayes after, 
 whence they went to Paris, and gave the Queen mother an 
 account of that kingdom; thence to Flanders and Holland. 
 
 The English army in Scotland not able to effect anything Divisions in 
 against the Kings forces in Sterling, Cromuel maintaind an ^^o^^^"^- 
 open entercourse with Colonells Kerr and Strachan, thereby 
 to subdivid the nation in parties ; for now there were 3 
 different factions in Scotland. David Lessly and his army 
 were for King and Kirk ; the Marques of Montrose and 
 
372 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 his followers were for the King without the Kirk ; and 
 Collonells Kerr and Strachan were for the Kirk without the 
 King. Strachan in end was taken and made prisoner in 
 Dumbarton, and after in Blackness, but escaped and came over 
 to the English to Edinburgh ; but it was the sacred hunger 
 of gold, not zeal for religion, made that rogue first betray his 
 King, and his country after ; for all Cromuels prosolits of this 
 nation, Dundass, Warriston, Giffen, and Swinton, to love 
 nothing so much as the mammon of presbetry. 
 
 Strachan removed, Lambert persues Ker, or prevail with 
 him, but Kerr, being awarr, fell uppon the Major General 
 most resolutly at Hammilton, with considerable slaughter 
 on both sids. Kerrs arm almost cutt off, and taken prisoner, 
 the rest of his party, 5 regiments of horse under Casles and 
 Kirkubricht, escaped to Aire; in end these two villans, Kerr 
 and Strachan, complying with the English, for which the 
 Kirk excommunicated them. Afterwards Strachan turnd 
 furious, and was kept closs and fettered, dyed mad ; and Ker 
 shortly after dyed of hypochondriack melancholly. 
 
 December 24. the strong castle of Edinburgh was yelded 
 unto the English be that traitour Dundas after long treaty, 
 though not without suspition of some treachery, as afterward 
 was discovered ; for the castle was besieged 3 months with 
 litle loss on either side, onely some mischeefe done in Edin- 
 burgh streets, and one Captain Hammilton shot through the 
 head as he was viewing the castle. At last the personated 
 The Castle of hostility came to a period, and C. Dundas, old Levens son in 
 ren^dered^be^^'^ pretending want of water, came to parly, and, haveing 
 
 Dundas, Deer, premised a collourable request of 10 dayes time to send to the 
 Committee of Estates by whom he said his trust flowed, which 
 he knew was to be denyed, and after several missives betuixt 
 Cromuel and him, concluded the rendition of that important 
 place for the Kings service. It was alwayes before called the 
 Maiden Castle, but henceforth term it the Prostitut Whore. 
 That it may appeare a piece of the vilest treachery any Scot 
 ever committed there was no want off provision, oatmeal, 
 butter, cheese, fresh water, saltmeat ; and, though Cromuel 
 in his letter to the Speaker ascribed it to the alone wisdom of 
 God beyond all humane power and accomplishment, for the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 373 
 
 gunner, John Areskin, declared that he had so placed his 
 pieces that the enemy could plant none without losse and very 
 murther of all without, and that Ahernethy often went forth 
 on pretence of intelligence, hut it was to correspond with 
 Cromuel. Sir James Stuart, provost of Edinhurgh, kept 
 close lest the wives in the street should stone him. Captain 
 Dundas, Captain GifFan, Ahernethy, Swinton, Andrewes, Mr. 
 James Guthery, Earl of Lotiiian, Generall Hohorn, Warriston, 
 Rutherford, and Gilespy, a traiterous train, though Cromuel 
 term them in his letter, came out on Articles : — 1. that the 
 Castle should be delivered up to his Excellency Oliver 
 Cromuel, with ordnance and magazin, December 24 ; 2. that 
 the officers and souldiers march out in military postur, and go 
 qulier they please ; 3. the publick movables, privat writes and 
 evidences, to be removed to Sterling ; 4. by proclamation all 
 that had goods to come and receave them, and all sick persones 
 there to have liberty to stay in Edinburgh. 
 
 The King is now at Scoone, in order to be crownd the first 
 day of the New yeare. The Kirk fell boldly and impudently 
 solicitous with his Majesty to concent to some other con- 
 ditions unbecomming the supremacy of a sovereign ; which the 
 King generously and disdainfully refusing, being in his princely 
 rob, was conducted from his bedchamber by the Constable on 
 his right hand and the Marashall on his left, to the chamber 
 of presence, and there placed in a chair under a Cloath of 
 State, by the Earl of Angus, chamberlan ad hunc actum. The 
 Commissioners of Barrons and Burroughs entering the Hall The King 
 before his Majesty, the Chanclour delivered his short harrangue ^ound^aV 
 to the King, showing his welcom to his ancient kingdom, the ^' 
 willingness of his loyall subjects to have him cround as their 
 lawfull sovereign by the lawes of the kingdom, to defend them 
 in their rights and liberties by his royall power, offering them- 
 selves humbly to his Majesty, with their vowes, lands, lives, 
 and all their power to maintain religion, the safety of his 
 sacred person, and mantenance of his crown, which they 
 intreat his Majesty to accept, praying Almighty God he may 
 enjoy it many yeares, etc. The King made answeir, I do 
 esteem the affections of my good people more than the crownes 
 of many kingdomes, and shall be ready by Gods assistance to 
 
374 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 bestow my life in their defence, wishing to live no longer than 
 
 1 may see religion and this kingdom flourish in all happinesse. 
 Thereafter, tho King entered the Church, accompanied with 
 nobles and commissioners in order and rank according to their 
 qualety, two and two. The spurrs were carried by the Earl of 
 Eglinton, the sword by the Earl of Rothes, the scepter by the 
 Earl of Crawford, the Crown by the Marques of Argyle, the 
 Great Constable upon tlie Kings right hand, the Marshall on 
 his left, his train carried by the Lord Erskin, Montgomry, 
 Newbotle, and Macklelen, the canopy of crimson velvet sup- 
 ported by 6 Earles sones, viz., Lords Drummond, Carnegy, 
 Ramsey, Jonston, Brechen, Yester. Thus the King enter the 
 Great Church of Scoon. He is set in a chair of stat opposit 
 
 Sermon ^o the pulpit, and sermon preacht by Mr. Robert Douglas ; 
 
 PrcT-^s^'i i6 kings reign and princes decree justice, by me 
 
 by Mr. Robert princes rule, d la mode the Coovenant. There was a theater 
 Douglas. erected 24 foot square, 4 foot high, covered with carpets, and 
 two staires, one from the east, another from the west. Another 
 small theater uppon this, 2 foot high, ascended by two steps, 
 on which the throne was set, and a table before it whereon the 
 honors were laid; and round about was a bench decently 
 covered, and seats for noblemen, barrons, burgeses. After 
 sermon, the King, in his chair, receaved the Crown from 
 Argiles hand, with which he ascended the theatre and sat 
 on the thron. God preserve him from the malice of his 
 enemies ! 
 
 At this time Oliver Cromuel was at Edinburgh, and, heare- 
 ing the great guns at Scoon at the solemnity, was heard say, 
 They are now crouning the Black boy, but I may get croun 
 and head yet. God made him a manifest Her ! The Castle 
 in possession of the English, Cromuel fixt Collonel Fenwick 
 governour of it for the Parliament. In the Castle were 5 
 French cannon, 8 Dutch halfe cannon, 2 culverins, 2 demir 
 culverins, 2 minions, two falcons, 28 brass drakes or monkeys, 
 
 2 potaros, 800 arms, 80 barrell of pouder, and a like store of 
 cannon shot. What villanous, cowardish traitors surrendered 
 such a strong fort, so well furnished! P. dolor. The King 
 diverts himselfe after his corronation at his house of Falkland, 
 whence the nobility and gentry convoy him north to Aber- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 375 
 
 deen, to order the heasty levying of the northern forces. The 
 Highland chiftains promiseing to effect that affair with all 
 expedition, the King returns again to keep up, if possible, the 
 now recemented friendship and prevent ruptures. Duke 
 Hamilton is receaved into the army, Craufurd made governour 
 of Sterling, Midleton Lieutenant Generall, and other loyal 
 lords in offices and commands befitting their qualety,and took 
 their seates in Parliament, which was to sit at St. Johnston, 
 February 15, 1651. At this time the young Prince of Orange 
 was christened, at which celebration the States Generall of 
 Holland, Amsterdam, and Delph were his godfathers, the 
 Queen of Bohemia and the old Princess of Orange his god- 
 mothers, and named William Frederic Henry. 
 
 The Quakers now made their first appeareance, one George 
 Fox named by them the Elder (there being another of a later 
 date of that name among them). He was the origen of them, 
 and their beginning was very prodigious, viz., being first 
 taken with swellings in their bodyes, as if ready to burst, with 
 shakeing and tremblings, thence called Quakers, and many 
 times strange ridiculous crotchets in their brains. And what 
 is their religion ? Immorality, no civil respect amongst men. 
 Would this were the worst ! John Trey, one off the journay- 
 men of the Court of Justice and Kings judges, had wrot a 
 booke against the Trinitye, but purposly against the divinity 
 of Christ, a blasphamous pamphlet, a Socinian, was by a vote 
 disbanded the house, and his book ordered to be burnt by the 
 Shirrefs of London (as himselfe deserved to be) ; not a word of 
 the hangman in the order, for that would have sounded 
 ominous to the whole pack of them, now in pomp and great 
 splendor. Again their sprung a sort of men too much 
 amongst us from Roomward, that are of Matchavile mind, 
 Divide et Impera, divid and rule. When Spanish invasion, 
 powder, treason, etc., will not do their worke to ruin us, 
 division will do it, as they suppose, at the last. Vis iinita 
 Jhrtior, O, may we be at unity amongst ourselves, the onely 
 bulwark of preservation for Protestants. 
 
 February 27, the Prince of Orange was hurried in great 
 state at Delph, in Holland, interred in the wault of his famous 
 predecessors. Our King finisht his progress north at Aberdeen, 
 
376 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 King Charles 2. Dunde, and came to St. Johnston, accompanied with Argil, 
 T4?]kment!'°"^ raising forces for him in his country, and, March 2, 
 
 waits the Parliament there, where he gave audience to a 
 Dutch envoy, who came to complain of the takeing of 20 of 
 their marchant ships by Sir John governour for the King 
 in the Isle of Scilly, to whom the King [gave] a favourable 
 answeir, and returnd him well satisfied. Sir Henry Hid, 
 cousin to Sir Edward Hid, Chancelour, being at Constanti- 
 nople, and takeing uppon him the qualety of ane ambassador 
 for his Majesty to the Grand Signour, and demanding audience 
 in his name, it was aggravated with imputation of his design 
 of seazing the English marchants estates there, and affronting 
 Sir Thomas Bendish, old resident there, with his new com- 
 mission from the Commonwealth of England ; for which Sir 
 Henery was sent to London, his name being enogh of guilt, was 
 sentenced, and beheaded before the Royal Exchange; and 
 Captain Brown Bushell, an expert seaman, who delivered 
 Scarrborrow to Sir Hugh Cholmly, being prisoner at Hull, 
 was beheaded under the scaffold on Towerhill, and that with 
 great courrage, ownning his loyalty to his sovereign, and is 
 justly inscribed to the roll of martyres. 
 
 Cromuel makes another expedition and marcht for Sterling, 
 and in tempestuous weather reach t his intended passes, but 
 the approaches to them so impassible, that in the same stress 
 of weather, his army halfe spoiled with cold and other discom- 
 modities, he was forced to retire again as he had done tweice 
 before; only alarmd the Scots army that if there had not 
 been treachery among them, on regiment might easily cut of 
 his ten. Now is Hoom Castle taken by Colonell Fenwick, the 
 garrison having held it out to extremity. The governours 
 answeir to the summonds is a fine droll, quhich I here insert : — 
 Right Honorabill, I have receaved a trumpeter of youres, as he 
 tells me, without your pass (which he forgot behind him uppon 
 the table), to rander Hoom Castle to the Generall Cromuel). 
 Please yow, I never saw your Generall. I know not your 
 Generall. As for Hoom Castle, it stands uppon a rock. 
 Given at Hoom Castell this day, before 7 a''clock, and so 
 i5i'?ered" resteth, without prejudice of his native country, your most 
 Feb. 27. humble servant, Jo. Cockburn. Tantallon Castle, which was 
 
 Home Castell 
 vandered 
 Feb. 10. 
 
FOLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 377 
 
 very prejudicial! to the English sea-traders, and had taken 
 more than all the Scotch garrisones, and Sir James Seaton 
 Oovernour, Monk had besieged it a long time, and was 
 randered, and Monk used them very civilly. Generall Ruthven, 
 Earl of Brentford and Forth, nominated to be the Kings 
 Oenerall, deceased now, and left that command without any 
 •competition further to David Lessly. Old Leven also, haveing 
 retired both from Councell and service as superrannuated, and 
 is disregarded. 
 
 Now are 2 ambassadors sent by our new States to Holland, 
 Cheefe Justice St. Johns and Sir Walter Strickland, stiled in 
 their credentialls The Lords Ambassadors Extraordinary from 
 the Parliament of England, and were the first they ever sent to 
 any forreign princes. The [ambassadors] landed at Roterdam 
 the 12 and 24 of March, got audience quher St. John, in a 
 well composed speech, declared that notwithstanding several 
 injuries receaved by the English Commonwalth from that 
 State, yet the Parliament had sent first to make a firm league The English 
 and friendship with them if they thought fit, etc. But the ^^{'eTrea^eT' 
 States Generall showed no great readiness to embrace this new in Holland, 
 friendship from their rival States, for the Prince of Orange 
 interest was yet very potent in their assemblies, and the people 
 were very averse also to any accommodation with traitors and 
 murderers, as they termed these ministers ; which clamoures 
 were hightned by the Royallists reseeding there in great 
 numbers, the Duke of York being then in that country with 
 his sister, the Princess of Orange, as also the Quen of Bohemia, 
 and Prince Edward her sone, who first gave these ambasadors 
 an affront as they chanct to meet him in their coach, takeing 
 the aire near the Hague, with his sister the Princess Henrieta 
 in his hand, quher in indignation he gave them the oprobrious 
 name of Dogs and Traytors. Next day several uproares were 
 made about their house, with advices given of attempts uppon 
 their persones ; of all which affronts and injuries they complaind 
 to the States, which, after a long and tedious delay, summoned 
 Prince Edward to appear and answeir; but he pleaded that 
 he was a Prince of the Empire, and subject to no other juris- 
 diction. A proclamation then was emitted prohibiting all 
 maner of injuries or violence to be done unto them ; yet 
 
378 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 North forces. 
 
 Mackys. 
 
 Sinclars. 
 
 Roses, 
 
 Frasers. 
 
 indignities were frequently comitted. St. Johns, takeing leave 
 of them, gave these parting words. My lords, yow have an eye 
 uppon the event of the affaires of Scotland, and therefore do 
 refuse the friendship we have offered ; but yow shall soone see 
 that bussiness ended, and then yow shall come and seek of 
 us quhat we have freely offered, qulien it shall perplex you 
 that yow have refused our offer. And it fell out as he had 
 divined., for at his return he ceased not to aggravat to the 
 Parliament the rudnesses done him, and exasperated them 
 against the Dutch, and the angry effects of his councel 
 appeared soon. 
 
 The Kings army now at Stirling, recruits and reinforcements 
 comming in dayly. In the North all the Cheeftens randevouz 
 and send their prime men detasht away. I saw Strathnavers, 
 Cathness, Sutherland, Ross, regiments, and Mackenzies goe 
 by here. The Frasers have no head. Sir James being dead a 
 year before. Alexander, the Master of Lovat, captain of a 
 troop of horse, came north, and, being representative of my 
 Lord Lovat, got a lieutenant colonells comission, and in March 
 mustered his men in a mediat place at Tomni Firach^ near 
 Inverness. Stratharick and Abertarph joind them, to the 
 number of 800, very well appointed ; Hugh Fraser of Struy, 
 major; Thomas Fraser, sone to the Lord Lovat, first captain ; 
 Hugh Fraser, Foyer, 2 captain ; Alexander Fraser, governour 
 of Lovat, captain ; Thomas Fraser, Struyes brother, captain ; 
 William Fraser, Rilicks brother, captain ; Lieutenant Daniel 
 Fraser and Lieutenant Sherer, who had been traind soldiers 
 with Colonell Fraser in Ireland, these two are appointed to 
 train the militia, and exercise every day per vices ; and Hugh 
 Fraser, younger of Clunvacky, Captain Lieutenant, an exact 
 soldier ; Andrew Fraser of Leyes, ensign ; and Alexander 
 Fraser,^ sone to Phopachie, quartermaster. The Master of 
 Lovat is now in debate with the curators anent the tutory. 
 They knew it was his by right of bloud, yet they pretend 
 debts and clearing accounts with the last tutor. Sir James, his 
 executors; a great r^mora, and his own uncle, John, Earl of 
 Weems, the greatest stickler in his way. The next pretext 
 
 ^ See footnote, p, 122. 
 
 The author's brother. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 379 
 
 was the warrs in which the Master was ingaged in point of 
 honour, and when the confusions of the nation were settled 
 they would consert all maters. Dame Beatrix Weemes, Sir 
 James Frasers widow, was urgent to receave her husbands 
 accounts dayly ; and uppon that account she lived at Inver- 
 ness with her children in my Lord Lovats house, haveing a 
 speciall occasion of education for her famely. 
 
 My Lord Lovats sone, James, now 18 yeares of age, being 
 last winter and spring at university, his uncle, the Earl of 
 Weems, procured him a lieutenants commission, desiring to 
 divert himselfe at Lovat dureing this summer vacants, seing 
 his two brothers were ingaged to be in the warrs, and two of 
 a famely were enugh to venter. In the close of April the 
 Aird regiment, Frasers, 400, marched through Inverness, and, 
 without rant or vanity, as pretty men as went from the North, 
 and could compeat ceteris paribus with so many of a clan in the 
 Kings army, and, traveling through Badenoch, through Appin 
 [Atholl ?], came to Stirling the beginning of May, and, haveing 
 veteran officers, they were exercised once a day, traind enugh 
 ere they came at the Kings camp. Never was Prince more 
 taken up with an army as our King was, especially with the 
 Scotch Highlanders, whom he tearmed the flour of his forces, 
 and still sounded their praise in every society, especially before 
 the generall officers, which bred no small gum and emulation 
 among the Lowlanders, judgeing themselves the farr finer men. 
 There was great competition betuixt the trumpets in the army : 
 one Axell, the Earl of Hoomes trumpeter, carried it by the 
 Kings own decision ! The next was anent the pipers ; but the 
 Earle of Sutherlands domestick carried it of all the camp, for 
 non contended with him. All the pipers in tlie army gave John 
 Macgurmen [MacCrimmon] the van, and acknowledged him for 
 their patron in chiefe. It was pretty in a morning [the King] 
 in parad viewing the regiments and bragads. He saw no less The King in 
 then 80 pipers in a crould bareheaded, and John M'gyurmen P^*^^^^ 
 in the midle covered. He asked What society that was ? It 
 was told his Majesty : Sir, yow are our King, and yonder old 
 man in the midle is the Prince of Pipers. He cald him by 
 name, and, comeing to the King, kneeling, his Majesty reacht 
 him his hand to kiss ; and instantly played an extemporanian 
 
380 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 part Fuoris Podge i spoge i Rhi^^ I got a kiss of the Kings 
 hand ; of which he and they all were vain. The army lay 
 encampt in Torwood and Stirling Park all the summer, over 
 18,000 foot and 800 horse ; never a better appointed army, 
 better conduct, more currage and life, that ever was mustered 
 in Brittain ; but treachery amongst the false Scots, which alas ! 
 ensued, and the good King suspected. But the King never 
 left the camp; and O, with what pleasur he would goe from 
 one regiment to another, from one guard to another, and for 
 most part on foot, to notice their order, and view their motion 
 and metliod. Major Hugh Fraser of Struy was appointed 
 Captain in course of the Kings lifeguard upon a day ; and one 
 of the Kings chaplaines in ordiner, Mr. Thomas Colvill, in the 
 tent with the King, after the morning service, his Majesty 
 asked Dr. Colvill, an old experienced man, what he thought 
 of the camp, and what clan judged he most loyall and true to 
 their King. He replied. Sir, I find in history the Frasers to 
 come short of none, the most unalterable and constant to the 
 Crown among clans for many ages; nay, without a flaw or 
 stain of dissloyalty known to them : 1. as to the Court, froift 
 King Melcom the 2. his time non mor loyall ; 2. as to the 
 camp, their currage and martiall conduct, instance Simon 
 Fraser with the Cumin in the day of Roslin ; 3. as to the 
 Church, instance William Fraser, archbishop of St. Andrewes, 
 Regent, after King Alexander the 3 his death, and John 
 Fraser, bishop of Ross, most famous men ; 4. as to the city 
 and country, instance Andrew Fraser his stratagem in gaining 
 the Castle of Edinburgh from the English, and the great 
 Lord Fraser of Twedall in defence of the Borders, the great 
 Thain Fraser of Coy, Fraser Lord Lovat, Frasers of Philorth 
 and Dores, in the jawes of the highlanders, still a brazen warr 
 and o^uard of core to the Kino: his interest and concerns ; the 
 historian gives them the encomium, Familia Fraseriorum^ 
 gens 7iumerosissima et de re Scotica bene merita! etc., so the 
 poet saith — 
 
 Natus Hyperhoreos inter Fraserius Heros, 
 E Spin is docuit surgere pos.se Rosam 
 
 ^ Fhuaireas phg o sphg an Righ : a pipe-tune still kn6wn by the name of Thug 
 mi pog do lamh an Righ, * I gave a kiss to the King's hand.' 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 381 
 
 All this while neither the King nor Dr. Colvill knew that 
 Major Hugh that was overhearing had been a Fraser untill he 
 himselfe had discovered it ; who, makeing his humble obeisance 
 to the King, thanked the doctor most heartily for his good 
 character of the Frasers, who very well deserved the same, 
 and declared confidently to his Majesty tliat there was a 
 parcell of brave forward fellowes of the Frasers present at the 
 time in the Park of Stirling that could confirm what Colvil 
 said; and, Sir, your royal famely since the martyrdom of your 
 father, King Charles of blissed memory, had 3 collonels, 4 
 lieutenant collonels, 10 captains, and 12 lieutenants, besids 
 ensigns and sarjants and mean officers, in your own service 
 the while, Collonel Hugh Fraser in Ireland, Collonel Sir James 
 Fraser, tutor of Lovat, Colonel William Fraser now in England 
 or abroad, Lieutenant Collonel Thomas, Lieutenant Collonel 
 Alexander, Master of Lovat, Major Thomas, killed at Dumbar, 
 Major John now abroad. Major Hugh Fraser Foyer, and my 
 selfe a major, present captain of your Majesties guard ; and do 
 but command us in any service prestable, we shall compeat 
 with any clan within your Majesties camp. And if there was 
 any compliance chargable uppon us under the late rebellion 
 it was an epidemick evil. Shew me who was free of it in some 
 degree or other, etc. IncUtce Fraserioriim genti toties de re 
 Scotica bene meritce. 
 
 In the latter end of April the Lord Montgomry, sone to Lithgow sur- 
 the Earl of Eglinton, and Lord Jo. Cranston, with 500 horse, p^'^^^' 
 marcht from Stirling, and in a mist resolutly charged into 
 Lithgow, to the very marcat place, where a garrison of 
 English lay; and, takeing what prisoners and pillage thev 
 pleased, retreated, and, being persued by Major Sydenham 
 of Sir Arthur Haslrigs regiment, then governour, the Scots 
 faced about and routed him, killing most of his men, himselfe 
 mortally wounded in the groyn, whereof he shortly after died ; 
 that government being tweice vacated already, and now by 
 the death of the third, the Lord Register Archibald Warriston Warriston 
 getting a pass from Stirling to come to Edinburgh about some ^"^^^^^^ 
 records, but after a conference with Cromuell had no more mind 
 to return again to his post. In May an agent from the Duke 
 
382 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Cromuel in 
 an ague. 
 
 The Assembly 
 meeting are 
 raised by force. 
 
 of Florence came to England and owned them as a free State, 
 a base introduction. The King continues encamped at Sterl- 
 ing, Lesslies foot quartering on the south side, and Midltoun 
 on the north side of the Park, encompassed with a strong wall, 
 and great store of provision brought in dayly. Cromuel, 
 supposeing they would march, drew all his forces from the west 
 with as great care and conduct as could be, in readiness for 
 them, whither to march or fight ; but in the meantime was 
 taken extream ill of his angry ague, and some anxious discourse 
 of his death, as either parties wished. But Doctor Wright, a 
 concaled royalist, as appeares by a polit piece of his written a 
 litle before entituled, Elenchus rnotimm Nuperoriim in Anglia, 
 he, with Dr. Bates, was sent down to attend his cure, which in 
 some measur they did efFectuat ; but a root of [it] stuck still 
 to him. The Parliament of Scotland had now passed an Act 
 of Oblivion for all things done thitherto, inviting therby all 
 parties to join in carrying on the service of King and kingdom ; 
 and a new engagement be taken be all. Cromuel is now bussy 
 drawing up with the Kirk, and in his old chanting hypocriti- 
 call tone scribling to some leading men, so that in June the 
 Assembly met at Edinburgh, incurraged as they thought by 
 CromueFs protection. Their appointment was to meet the 
 year before, but the King denied them a Commissioner, and 
 they were advised to meet at Saint Andrewes ; but by a 
 major vote they meet at Edinburgh, thinking they were in 
 tuto ; but at the 2. sederunt one Major Scroop, with a strong 
 party, surprising them, commanded them in the name of the 
 Commonwalth and army to rise and hold no judicatories 
 after their former fashion. They presently obey and came 
 forth. The major led them through the city in rank and file, 
 and out to the Borrow Moore, and there dissmissed them, 
 discharging all further meetings of that nature henceforth. 
 
 The High Court of Justice are now turnd very cruel and ill 
 natured. Sir John Stawel was now the 3^ time conveened before 
 them, an old and resolut Royalist, who so gravelled them that 
 at the 3^ heareing they were forced to desist from the persuit 
 of his bloud, and voted the sale of his estate again June 1, 
 giving him sad cause to complain with Job, With the skin of 
 my teeth am I escaped, makeing an exception to that generall 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 383 
 
 rule, Vestigia cerno ovinia te adversuin, spectantia nulla re- 
 
 trorsum. For such a collaterall design at the same time one 
 
 Mr. Benson was execut at Tyburn ; and, now being entered 
 
 into the tragicall scene of blood, Mr. Love, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. 
 
 Drake, Presbiterian ministers, were ceased be order of Councell 
 
 of State, and brought to triall. Mr. Love first and principally 
 
 charged with high treason against the State for holding cor- Mr. Christopher 
 
 respondance with the King and his party, supplying them ^'^^^ 
 
 with mony contrary to an act of Parliament in that case; 
 
 in all which Mr. Love very undauntedly disputed the Court; 
 
 the occasion being at last proved and proceeded to sentence, 
 
 which was that he should be beheaded on Towerhill with one 
 
 Mr. Gibbons ; which accordingly was done. Mr. Love most 
 
 resolutly enugh, and who should not be loath to prejudice 
 
 his worthy memory, for his design was proofe enugh of his 
 
 loyalty. His tryall, with his speech and maner of his death, 
 
 are in a large printed wolumne, to which I referr my reader ; 
 
 onely shall add that there was a monstrous storm at the very 
 
 instant of Mr. Loves sufferings, a sign of Heaven's displeasure. 
 
 The English army now at Lithgow, from whose Castle 
 batlements they might espy the tents of the Scotch army 
 encamped in Torewood, 4 miles this side Sterling, haveing 
 cast up a regular and well fortified line with bullworks, 
 mounted with guns, awaiting the English, who came up July 
 3. The Scotch, planting their cannon uppon the brow of a 
 hill, saluted Cromuel with 50 great guns, which made great 
 execution, and made him quickly march back again and give 
 over his resolutions. The English army, haveing eaten up all 
 at Glasgow and thereabout, treading down all corns, that the 
 Scotch might find no maintinance that way ; so that from 
 Kilsith they went back again to Torwood, Cromuel follow- 
 ing, and in their view stormd Calendar house and tooke it, 
 also Newwark house, before Dumbarton Castle was taken, and 
 there himselfe encamped, awaiting the success of his design for 
 Fife, which was effected July 17. Colonel Overton, with 1400 
 foot. Colonel Daniels regiment and 4 troops of horse of Colonel 
 Lydcots, with great loss gained the North ferry, quher they 
 entrenched ; and Major General Lambert passed over, the 19. The battel of 
 Then Sir John Brown, Major Generall of the Scotch forces, ju"y2o!^j62^j 
 
384 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 drew down uppon them, and, finding them too strong, wheeled 
 about to Inverkeething, expecting more forces. Lambert came 
 on, committing the right wing of the horse to Okey, Colonel 
 Lydcot in the left wing and Overton in the reserve. A furious- 
 fight began. Okey couragiously charged up the hill, and was as 
 gallantly charged by the Scotch Lanciers, with great slaughter. 
 The burnt of the battle continued about 3 houres. The Hiffh- 
 land foot did great service, and the greatest slaughter was 
 upon them, most justly imputed to command, for hellish 
 Hoborn came not up, which if he had the Scotch had carried 
 it but doubt. There were 2000 slain, and a 1000 taken 
 prisoners. The English had near as great losse, but were 
 double in number ; for the Scots were but 4000 in all. Major 
 Generall Sir John Brown, Colonel Buchan, Colonel Scot, were 
 taken prisoners ; M'klean and all his regiment were cutt oft\ 
 standing in their ranks, without help, treacherously ; and 
 brave Brown dyed shortly after at Leith. 
 
 The English army in Fife advances toward St. Johnston 
 under Cromuels conduct. The town, dispareing of help, and 
 St. Johnston, not able to hold out against so prevalent and numerous an 
 taken August 3. ^j^g^-j^^^ randered. The Lord Duffus being there got the honor- 
 able military articles of going out with flying colloures and 
 drumms beating. Now was Burnt Island and Inshgarvy Castle 
 The King in the Firth surrendered. August 1, tlie King raised his 
 StirHn^ camp at Stirling and marcht for England. Cromuel, haveing 
 
 August I. notice of the Kings removal, he marches his men with all 
 heast to Burnt Island, and ferried over to Leth, leaveing 
 Generall Monk to command in Scotland, with 7000 men. 
 Major General Harrison, haveing attended in Cumberland to 
 stop the Kings advance, is now come to Lauthian, and the 
 charge of the forces that side committed to his command. 
 Cromuell, now being 3 dayes march behind the King, repents 
 his loitering at St Jonston through a proud humor of not 
 The King at rising without it. The King came to Carlisle, August 8^ 
 Carhsie. ^1^^^. pj-Q^lamd rightful heir of Great Britain, and ther 
 
 uppon publisht his declaration, quherin he offered his full 
 grace and pardon to all his English subjects, of quhatever 
 natur or crime their offences were, excepting Cromuel, Brad- 
 shaw, and Cook, the more immediat murtherers of his father ; 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 385 
 
 and so prosecuted his march, being proclaimed the same manner 
 through all the townes he passed. The English of note that 
 followed him were Duke Buckingam, Earl of Cleveland, Lord 
 Wentworth, Lord Wilmot, Colonel Boniton, Major General 
 Massay, Colonel Groves, Colonel Wogoun, Titus, Major 
 Ashurst ; severall others, tedious to set here. 
 
 The King marcht to Lancashir, where some of Lamberts The King at 
 men had got before him to stop his passage att Warrington ; Lancashire, 
 and some of the new forces raised, amounting to 4000 ; but 
 CoUonell Massy set them a sorrnning with greater speed, 
 giving them a total defeat at Warrington, which much dis- 
 courraged the rebells then. The King marcht thence with 
 speed through Chesheir to Newport in Shropshire ; there were 
 many ingraind rebels. August 22, the van of the Kings army 
 entered Worcester, some resistance being made by Colonell 
 Jams and Barron Wild, which the city presently quelFd, and 
 joifully welcomed these weary guests. The Mayor and his 
 brethren did the King the customary obeisance of tendering 
 the keyes uppon their knees, biding him take all that his 
 ancient and loyall city could aford ; and the same day he 
 was with grail [general] solemnity proclamd, and the tired The King at 
 souldiers most aboundantly provided, being in all about 16,000, ^®^*^«ster. 
 which had marched 300 miles outright in 3 weekes time. 
 
 August 26, the King randivouzed on Pitzfodder Heath, near 
 the city, quher the Lord Talbot, Earl of Shreu sherry, Collonel 
 Howard, Sir Edward Broughton, and Captain Bonbow, but 
 no considerable forces, save for the gallantry and noble loyalty 
 of such as in these crushing dissad vantages owned his Majesties 
 cause and fortunes ! Still, Cromuel, by long marches through 
 Newcastle, Rippon, Doncaster, Mansfield, Coventry, joined 
 with the army at Kenton; the gross of all his forces, militia 
 and all, amounting to 40,000 foot and horse ! 
 
 The truely honorable Earle of Darby, that was left behind 
 to raise that country, got together 1200, though a litle more 
 time had randered him formidable. With those he marcht 
 with a design to fall upon Cromuels own regiment at Lan- 
 caster, quhen in the nick comes Colonel Lilburn, with 10 
 troopes of horse and 2 regiments of Cheshire foot. The Earl 
 in the midest of those, but, finding his men curragious and 
 
 2b 
 
386 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 desirous to engage, charged them so furiously that he totally 
 routed their first troops, and made such an impression uppon 
 their bod [body ?] that they began to run, and, though new- 
 forces came in, renued the charge again, and, had they any 
 Earl of Darby reserve, the day was theres ; and, if new suplies had not 
 resisted the torrent of their vallour, there had been a total 
 defeat; which left undeniable proofes in the death of those 
 stout courragious sparks in and after the batle, viz. the Lord 
 Windrington, Major General Sir Thomas Tildslay, Colonel 
 Matthew Brunton, Sir Francis Gamul, Lieutenant Collonel 
 Galliard, Major Trollop, and Chester. 300 prisoners taken, 
 amongst whom Sir William Throgmorton, Colonel Richard 
 Leg, Roberson, Bayns, Gerard, Lieutenant Colonel Rigby, 
 Major Gower; but 60 slain. The Earl of Derby, having 
 lost his George and Garter, escaped with 30 horse, and 
 sheltered himselfe that night in a house called Boscobell : 
 of which again. 
 
 Cromuel by this time had surrounded Worcester with his 
 numerous host. Major General Lambert had attempted the 
 first pass, which was Upton Bridge, wrested from Colonel 
 Massy after a brife disput, and a wound in his head to boot. 
 This place possest, made way for the advance of the army ; 
 but the Scotch broke down 2 or 3 bridges uppon the River 
 Team. The ominous day, September 3, being arrived, Cromuel 
 resolved to venter the event uppon its auspicia, and to that 
 end made ready a bridge of boates, and about 3 acklock, with 
 his lifeguard and Colonel Hackets regiment, and Engolsbyes 
 horse, passed over this river uppon the Severn, and after him 
 General Fleetwood, Colonell Goff, and Major General Dean ; 
 so they jointly advanced to the city, the Kings forces en- 
 countring them at the hedges, disputing every field with them 
 The^fatai fight with such gallantry that if they had not got reserves the hot 
 service had quit repelled them, the Highlanders proving such 
 excellent firemen that if not weary with pulling down bridges, 
 and their amunition spent, they had defeat them. The King 
 himselfe in person set uppon them at Povvick Bridge, quher 
 Colonell Haynes regiment stood, and were entertaind with no 
 lesse manhood and slaughter, that, though [they] had reserves, 
 yet did the Scotch foot fairly drive them from their ground. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 387 
 
 They stayed not long there, but, as their pent spirits had 
 broke out with greater furry, they sallied out in great bodies 
 uppon the Generals side, that the veterans wiselly shifted the 
 storm, and brought the militia forces into play. It was ob- 
 served that the King upon the head of a squadron charged 
 with that gallantry which would have becom our admiration 
 in other men, and shewed he had not forgot the disciplin of 
 war, in which he had been brought up from his youth. In 
 one of these charges he made, Duke Hammilton, a better 
 soldier than his brother, receaved a shot in his thigh, quherof 
 presently after he died. The fresh brigads and reserves rein- 
 forcing, but with their great loss, assaulted the Scots, who, 
 being overpowered by the multitud, "were driven into the city. 
 Lesly, with 20,000 horse, uppon quhat account non knowes, 
 never stirred out of the town to relieve them. 
 
 The enemies foot was now got into the town and fell 
 aplundering in a most barbarous maner, as if Turks were 
 again sacking Constantinople, and giveing quarter to non 
 that they found in the streets ; and the gates fast, and so, as 
 God would have it, favoured the Kings escape, a strong party 
 of Scotch got into one of the churches, held it out till morn- 
 ing, and then got quarter for life. There were slain in the 
 field 2000, and 8000 taken prisoners. Most of the English 
 escaped by their Shiboleth. Quhen the enemy entered in 
 crouds pell mell, and gaind the Fort Royall at 7 acklock at 
 night, in which time the King left the toun, it being dusk, 
 accompanied with 60 horse of the cheefest and most confident ^/^^^^^^^^^"^ 
 of his retinue, and made their way by force through the enemys 
 bragads wonderfully, having got out at St Martins gate ; and 
 it was reported that Cobbet very narrowly missed of him. 
 The cheefe prisoners : — the Earl of Lauderdale, Rothes, 
 Carnwath, Kelly, Cle viand. Darby, Lord Spiny, Sir John 
 Packington, Sir Ralph Clare, Sir Charles Cuningham, Lieu- 
 tenant Colonel Eraser, Colonel Graves, Mr. Richard Fanshaw, 
 secretary to the King, 6 Colonels of horse, 8 lieutenant 
 Colonels of foot, 6 majors of horse, 13 majors of foot, 37 
 captains of horse, 72 captains of foot, 9 quartermasters, 80 of 
 the Kings servants, the Kings standard, coach and horses. 
 In this fatal fight there was 3 for one killed of the enemy. 
 
388 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Never was gallanter army put together of so many men then 
 the King had here, and fought with more conduct and currage, 
 as the Romans in their triumphs ; but sad was the dissad- 
 vantage they got, being but one for 8 of the enemy. Had 
 they been two for foure never braver defeat had been seen ; 
 but as it was, great is the glory their nation had of their 
 bravery and spirit. That cursed traitor Cromuel was heard 
 to say that the vanquished had the greater honor than the 
 conquerors. Victi potius qiiam victores beati. I had this exact 
 account of all those accidents from two actors and eye- 
 witness, besides that I read it in many histories; nay, ten of 
 my relations and acquaintances who escaped and survived their 
 wounds and imprisonment, and lived happily after the Kings 
 restauration. 
 
 Immediatly after the batle was over Cromuel marches to 
 London to be regald, and receave his reward from the Rump ; 
 and, by their Act and Proclamation emitted, they promise 
 500 L. sterling to any that should detect the Scotch king, 
 a price proper for a Princes head. Then all the common 
 prisoners, Scotch and English, taken at Worcester were con- 
 voyed up to London, and that they might no further trouble 
 the States, they were transported to forreign plantations; and 
 all the banners and ensigns taken in the battle were hung upp 
 in W estminster Hall as lasting trophies of their vallour and 
 victory till a change deface them. 
 An exact ac- By a wonderfuU providence the King safely escaping his 
 Kin'g's^escap enemies hands, one Collonel Carlos was in his reer to keep the 
 villans in disput till he was oneward in his journay. Then 
 at a consultation all persones about him were appointed to 
 speake French. Befor morning he reached Whitladies, 25 
 miles from Worcester, one Giftbrd and one Walker, a stout 
 master of the Kings. Gifford at 4 in the morning knockt at 
 the door, and one George Pendrell, knowing his voice, came 
 down in his shirt and opened the doore, where the King and 
 his retinue entered, and his majesty disguised himselfe, cutting 
 his hair, and putting on a course country habit. Buckingham 
 and the rest with teares take leave, and leave him, it not 
 being impossible that so many could keep secrecy, knowing 
 the fidelity of the Pendrellss, committed him to their trust, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 389 
 
 who immediatly conducted the King with a wooden bill in his 
 
 hand into a copce near hand, borrowing the name of William 
 
 Jones, a woodcutter newly come there for work, counterfiting 
 
 his tongue and behaviour. That day proving wet, he got a 
 
 blancat to cover him. That night the goodwife, a widow, 
 
 provided a country supper; then, with his guid Richard, 
 
 resolves for Wales. They came that night to one Mr. Wolfes, 
 
 who, for fear of a search, put the King in a barn for bed and 
 
 supper. Next morning in his wollen accutrements about his 
 
 leggs got away timous, and Fridayes night to Boscobell, quher The King 
 
 Colonel Carlos came for shelter. The foords over Severn being 
 
 all guarded, and not safe to venter over into Wales, that 
 
 Saturday the King went into the wood to work, which for the 
 
 pleasantness of it gave name to that house. The Collonel 
 
 boar him company a while, laying down his head and sleeping 
 
 a litle in his lapp, and by his assistance ascended into the 
 
 topp of that celebrated oake quhich, being so thick of branches, The King 
 
 and by its shaddow, was altogether impervious to the sight ; 
 
 and at night came to the house to refresh themselves. At 
 
 last the Lord Wilmot sent John Pendrill to conduct the King 
 
 to Mr. Whitgraves at Mosely, and, getting a millers horse, 
 
 came there Moondayes night with a guard of the 5 bretheren, 
 
 the Pendrells, quher the Lord Wilmot joyfully welcomed him, 
 
 and consultation had for a further progression in this happy 
 
 escape. To this end one Colonell Lane of Bentley is sent 
 
 for by them. It is agreed that Mrs. Jean Lane, on pretence of 
 
 assisting at her sisters childbeareing, should rid to Bristoll, and 
 
 the King as her servant to ride before her, with Mr. Lassies 
 
 and his wife behind him. A pass being procured they goe 
 
 forward on the rode, as off chance the Lord Wolmot haveing 
 
 a hawk on his fist. They journayd together to Broomsgrav, 
 
 quher the Kings horse loosing a show forced [him] to lead 
 
 him to ferrier himselfe, enquireing newes off the King, who 
 
 told him the success of the fight at Worcester, and that the 
 
 King had escaped to Scotland ; replied that no doubt he 
 
 lurked somequher in England, and wished he knew quher, for 
 
 that he could have a 1000 1. for takeing of him. Thence 
 
 going on, they meet some troopers at a village, but were civily The King 
 
 past; and so goe on to Bristoll, and lodged. Bnstoil. 
 
390 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Three mile from Bristoll was the place of Mr. Norton ; at 
 Leigh there designed journayes end. Here the King feigned 
 himselfe sick, and tooke chamber by the order and care of 
 Lane. Next morning coming in to the cellar he was 
 noticed by one John Pope, butler, a souldier formerly in his 
 Majesties army, and, discerning him in all dutifuU maner, 
 declared his trusty discovery of the King, which gaind his 
 majesties beliefe so farr as to employ him in getting a ship 
 for his transportation. Thence he was conducted by Lord 
 
 The King at ^ Wolmet to one Colonell Windoms, a Trent [sic] in Dorcet- 
 
 shire. shire ; and its rare that, though to the knowledge of 7 persones 
 
 of that houshold, there [he] continued 3 weekes for passage 
 from Lime. Here M^ Lane, with Mr. Lassies, parted. The 
 King goes forward to Chayrmoth, quher Lord Wolmett, with 
 Colonell Windham, attended him for his shipping, and Mr. 
 Hen. Peters his guid, quher an hostler and a smith discovered 
 by the horse shooes that the gentlemen were come from the 
 north parts, and raised a report of the Kings being there- 
 about ; but his majestie was convoyed privatly to Bridport, 
 quher an hostler, as he was setting up the horses, welcomd 
 him as haveing seen him formerly at Exeter ; but the King, 
 
 The King at promising to drink with him, shifted this. Hence to Salisbwry ; 
 
 Sahsburry. ^j^^ More, at Christopher Pliilps sign of the George, 
 
 one drinking in the cellar, and seing the King stand off as a 
 servant, said, Thow lookes like a good fellow ; heres a health 
 to the King. Then he is introduced to a secret place and 
 secured ; and here Doctor Henchman, after Bishop of Salis- 
 burry, waited uppon the King to Sussex, quher they were inter- 
 taind by that worthy loyal lady. That night takeing leave of 
 the noble matron, accompanyed with the Lord Wolmot and. 
 Captain Philps, they came to Portsmouth. 
 
 At this place one Mr. Mannsel, the marchant that hired the 
 ship, and Tottershall, the master of the ship, and at supper 
 sat down together with the King ; and the master presently 
 discovered his majesty, having seen him in the Downes, 
 beckoned to the King, and, conferring secretly, wrought upon 
 by mony and his own loyalty, agreed to perform the bargan, 
 calling out his marriners then on shoare, pretending his 
 ship halfe loaden with coales ; and, comming home for a 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 391 
 
 bottle of waters, his wife witli the unseasonableness of 
 
 the night suspected the truth, incurraged him to the 
 
 undertakeing, not careing, said shee, if herselfe and litle 
 
 ones begged their bread so the King were transported in 
 
 safety. The in-keeper also, guessing at the mater, gave his ^^pp^j'^fj 
 
 majesty an apprecation, and himselfe hopes of being some- Portsmouth, 
 
 body hereafter ! 
 
 About 5 acklock in the morning dark, October 10, the King Shoram Creek, 
 embarked with the Lord Wilmot, and keeping the shoar all 
 that day, and in the evening hoisd sail for France. In their 
 passage the King sitting uppon the deck, an unmanerly 
 marriner blowing tobacco in his face, the master Tottershel 
 bid him goe farther off the gentleman, who, grumbling, un- 
 wittingly replyed that a Cat might look upon a King. That 
 nio'ht they arrived at Freccam P. in Haver de Grass, or New- J^^"^ landed at 
 
 , . . Newhaven in 
 
 haven, in Normandy, where the King got his cloathes changed Normandy, 
 by two English marchants at Roan ; and there Doctor Earles, 
 after Bishop of Worcester, waited uppon him. At the very 
 notice of his Majestys arrival, the Queen mother, Duke of 
 Orleans, and most of the Court, went out to meet him, and 
 congratulats his wonderful deliverance, a providence truely 
 not parallelled in history, and able to have convinced the 
 rebels, if their rage had not blinded them ; but it cheered the 
 minds and hopes of his subjects by this pledge of their sal- 
 vation in the most marvelous protection of Gods anointed, no 
 less than 50 persons, men and women, privy to his escap. 
 
 Multiferucit Fati Leges, Quce vincere durum, 
 Qucsfortis, sapiens, effugere haud potis es, 
 Providus an quisquam est adeo, qui talia cernat, 
 Aut vilet? Fati stat sua Criare Dies, 
 Victus, non victus, felioc, miser, omnia, nullus, 
 Quidnam hoc ? humanum non capit ingenium 
 Fatis hella gerit. Sed Fatis robore major 
 Est Deus. Hoc vincit fata, sequens, fugiens ! 
 
 In the beginning of October David Lessly and Lieutenant- 
 General Midleton were taken in Lancashire and carried 
 prisoners to Chester. The Earls of Lauderdale, Kelly, Rothes, 
 Carnwath, Crawford, Lindsay, Lord Spiny, Saintclar, Lindsay, 
 
392 
 
 POLICHROiNICON SEU 
 
 were committed to the Tower, and after sent to Windsor 
 Castle, where they continued till the Restauration. Cromuel 
 came to London, where he was met by the Speaker and the 
 members, with the Lord Mayor and Recorder Steel, who in a 
 Psalm . . . speech congratulated his great successe, and by his rethorick 
 as an orator, but a false prophet, by a mistaken prolepsis 
 applied these words of the Psalmist, To bind their Kings in 
 chaines and their Nobles in fetters of iron, in an arrogant 
 exultation of his atchievements. Next day the prisoners like 
 a flock of sheep carried through Westminster, and sold to 
 severall marchants, and sent to Barbadose. The coUoures 
 taken were hangd up in the hall with those of Preston and 
 Dunbar, where I myselfe saw them to my great greefe, being 
 Dundee be- at London 1657. Stirling Castle rendered uppon articles, not 
 tS^en, Sepr. being meet to suffer a storm or siege. Then General Monk 
 ^^51- went to the siege of Dunde, and after 6 days stout resistance 
 
 mastered the place, putting all they found in armes to the 
 sword, plundering the town of all its wealth. All the best 
 goods of Edinburgh, Lieth, the tounes of Fife and Anguis, 
 were convoyed thither as the securest repository, unaccount- 
 able the plat, mony and fine things, being the richest place 
 absolutly in the kingdom. There wer 800 men in garrison, 
 60 sail of ships in the harbour, all taken. St. Andrewes payd 
 500 1. for not surrendering uppon the first summonds ; yet, 
 being but a receptacle of schollars, Monk in generosity re- 
 mitted all. The other universities, Glasgow and Aberdeen, 
 the like. Eliot, by treachery, was surprised by Colonell 
 Mathew. There was old General Lesly, Earles of Marshall, 
 Crawford, Arrol, Ogilvy, Ramsey, Huntly, and Lee, Sir James 
 Fowles, Sir James Lockhart, 20 more knights and gentlemen, 
 Mr. James Sharp, after Archbishop, Mr. Robert Douglas, 
 Mr. Mungo Law, leading presbiterians, all shipped for London; 
 onely old Lessly obtained the favour of Sir Arthur Haslrig to 
 stay with his sone-in-law. Sir Ralph Dalavil, at Newcastle. 
 All the other south country ministers tooke the frey, and 
 many of them ran north to Invernes, Mr. Hutchison, Mackell, 
 Dickson, Rutherford, and many mo. I heard Dickson preach 
 Isa. 27. 4. at Inverness uppon that text. Fury is not in me, who would 
 set briers and thorns against me in batle, I would goe thorrow 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 393 
 
 tliem, I would burn them together. All the ministers here^ 
 were prepareing to retiere for the Highlands,^ and were pro- 
 viding cloathes fitt for their jurnay. The factious Unde- 
 pendents, being in direct opposition to the Presbiterians, 
 shued no mercy to them, but an open persecution. 
 
 Now is the Kings royall robs, the Cloath of State, and all 
 the Scotch Records, taken out of the Castle of Sterling, secured 
 till farther order, and feared to be carried to England. Major 
 General Midletoun at the time had escaped out of the Tower 
 of London, and for Scotland. The mock Parliament att west 
 [Westminster] had the welcom newes of reduceing the Isle of 
 Man, the Barbadoes, the Isle of Jersey, and Garnet Castle in 
 Guernsey ; but, a litle to alley their transport, they had the 
 unwelcom newes off the death of their Admirall Popham, and 
 Iretoun, their Deputy of Ireland, who died of the plague under 
 the walls of Limbrick, but was hurried in great state in West- 
 minster Abby. Yet a Court Marshall was now established 
 ^t Chester, whither the prisoners taken at Newport after the 
 fight wer brought, and 5 of them sentenced. The famous 
 Earl of Darby was [at] once adjudged to dye, at Bolton, The Earl off 
 Oct. 15. His sufferings was to the publick greefe and lamenta- october'i^s"* 
 tions of the inhabitants, who refused to lend a nail or stick to 
 tiie building of the scaffold, which was all taken from his own 
 liouse at Latham. He, most Christianly and worthy of all 
 memory, gave up his soul to his Redeemer, being a litle 
 troubled at the executioners missing the sign, but submitted 
 his head to the block, he had it severed from his body, his 
 sorrowfull sone, being a sad spectator of this wofull tragedy, 
 out of filial duty convoy his corps to Wiggan. Captain 
 Sympkins, a gentleman that carried the Kings letter to Sir 
 Thomas Midletown, was also executed there; Sir Timothy 
 Fotherstonhaugh, at Chester by the ax; Collonel Benbow shot 
 at Shrewsberry ; all for the crime of honouring their King. 
 
 James Hind, the famous highwayman, at last, for robbing Captain Hind 
 the Parliament party, was betrayed in Fleet Street in his 
 lodging ; secured in Newgate, thence carried to the next assises 
 
 ^ That is, in and about Inverness. 
 
 ^ That is, the more mountainous country, as distinguished from the machair 
 •or low land on the shores of the Moray, Beauly, and Cromarty Firths. 
 
394 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The Union 
 betuixt Eng- 
 land and 
 Scotland. 
 
 Setlement of 
 Lovat. 
 
 in Worcester, quhen none would come in to sweir against him 
 either to fellony or treason in the late invasion by the King ; 
 betrayed by a minister of their sending, and by his evidence 
 convicted, and hangd, drawn, and quartered in that city ; and 
 so dyed famous Captain Hind for no crime but loyalty. 
 
 The Union with Scotland is the main thing now on design 
 projected. The Lord Bacon in King James's time wrot an 
 elaborat discourse of it with much paines, and endeavoures 
 used by the King about the draught and accomplishment of 
 an Union ""tuixt the kingdomes ; but all come to nothing then.^ 
 The Scotch nobility thought the English union a diminu- 
 tion to their greatness, and disdainfully rejected all tendency 
 therto ; but one weekes work finished that mighty mater in 
 a short vote and resolution that England and Scotland shall 
 be incorporated into one Commonwalth ; and Commissioners, 
 were nam'd to go into that kingdom, viz. Oliver St. Jones,, 
 Sir Henry Vain, Alderman Tichburn, Major General Dean,. 
 Major Sal way, Collonel Fenwick ; General Monk, now in Scot- 
 land and a good friend to all men, and out of generosity the 
 late Marques of Montross his children were honorably taken 
 into protection by him, being kind also to the suffering famelies- 
 of this kingdom. The Master of Lovat, haveing now laid 
 down his commission, and resolving to come north, made 
 application to Monk for a passpoort ; all which he gave him 
 under his hand and scale, and was a good agent to compose 
 the difference 'tuixt him and his uncle, the Earle of Weems. 
 
 Allexander, tutor of Lovat, came north cloathed with fulll 
 power and title to see the accounts cleared betuixt the curators^ 
 and Dame Beatrix Weemes, Sir James Eraser of Brayes lady,, 
 of all his intromission since the [year] 1644 of the estate of 
 Lovat. The Earl of Sutherland, Ballingown, with the leading 
 men of the name of Eraser, Struy, Strachin, Culboky, Bella- 
 drum, Foyer, met att Inverness, and two lawyers of the ladyes 
 concerns, to revise the accounts, which terminated at length 
 in remitting all the papers south to the Earl of Weemes and 
 
 ^ Bacon wrote two articles on the subject, ' A Brief Discourse of the Happy- 
 Union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland,' and 'Certain Articles or 
 Considerations Touching the Union of the Kingdoms of England and Scotland/ 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 395 
 
 the rest of the curators in Edinburgh, which tooke a long time 
 er the mater came to a finall period and closure. 
 
 Meanwhile, Alexander, Master of Lovat, setles himselfe 
 tutor quo de jure^ intromets with the estate, sets chamerlans, 
 keep courts, and, seing old Struy, Thomas Eraser in Bruyach, 
 heritable balief, was not able to travel abroad becaus of age 
 and weaknes, he devolves the office in his sones person, Hugh, 
 younger of Struy, a very active pretty man, who now sits as 
 baliefe in this country all over, and deputed Jo. Eraser off 
 Earralin baliefe in Stratharick. And Alexander the Tutor, Tutor of Lovat 
 after a short courtship, is married to Sybilla Mackenzie, Laird 
 of Macleods widow ; with her got 3 thousand a year of the 
 mony rent to Glenelg, in which she was infeft. This was 
 judged by all a great match and good bargan becaus shee was 
 the Earle of Seaforths daughter, and it might be a mean to 
 indeare and unit both the famelies. 
 
 Now is Thomas, the Lord Lovats sone, chamberlan to his Laird of 
 sister, Dame Kathrin, in Kathnes. Her husband, Sir John Jea^h.^^^ 
 Sinclar of Dunbeath, dying without heires, and divided his 
 great, estate amongst his relationes, leaves his lady a good 
 joinctur, and she is now married the second time, to the Lord 
 Arbuthnot of that Ilk. This is now affaire [a fair] introduc- 
 tion to the fullfilling of the prediction made on her behalfe, 
 that marrying Dunbeath might be a mean to get her two 
 Lords afterwards, which certainly came to pass ; and this is 
 the first of them. James, my Lords youngest sone, is now 
 at south in order to a setlement. My Lord himselfe, being 
 young, about 9 yeare old, and under his grand uncle the Earle 
 of Weemes conduct and care, hath not yet appeared, uppon 
 the stage for action. All our Highlands are now quiet and 
 cahn ; the Laird of Macklean minor, Mackdonell very young, 
 the Laird of Mackleod minor, the Earle of Cathness minor, 
 under curators. The Earle of Seaforth minor; the Castle of 
 Brahan deserted, and his great estat by concent of curators 
 put in 4 prime gentlemens hands of his own kindred, for 
 satisfying of creditors and paying off debt. The widow dowager 
 of Seaforth, Dame Barbara Eorbes, living at Chanry, and all 
 her sones at school. The young Earl Kenneth setled at Elgin 
 with Mr. George Cuming, professor of humanity there. The 
 
396 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Lord Lovat is minor, and his estate under tutory. The Earle 
 of Murray very young; the Lairds of Grant and M'kintosh 
 quiet peaceable men ; the Marques of Huntly young and deeply 
 in debt, so that the Marques of Argyie haveing obtaind the 
 law against him in a vast action is to set chamerlans uppon 
 his estate, and himselfe prepareing to dwell in the Bogg, his 
 cheefe house. So that all the North of Scotland are demure 
 under a slavish calm, submitting their Voluntar unvoluntar 
 necks to the present swaying yock wreathed about their necks, 
 untill Almighty God bring us Post Nuhila Phcehus, light after 
 darkeness, and order out of confusion. Vivit post funera 
 virtus. 
 
 Edniound Generall G. Monk lives at Dalketh in great state, being 
 
 of^frdanci^"^^ ^^^^ Governour of all the Kingdom, and well deserves his pro- 
 motion, a very good kindly Scotshman, and beloved of all ; 
 and in Ireland Edmound Ludlow, lieutenant generall of the 
 army in that kingdom, is setled Deputy in place of Iretoun 
 by the Parlement and States. His temper farr different from 
 the former, and is like to make a full setlement there, the 
 broiles among the Irish being now almost over. December 17, 
 Iretouns carcass was landed at Bristoll, and thence to London, 
 where it was for a time exposed in state at Sommerseat House, 
 all hung in black, and a scutchioon over the gate with this 
 motto — Dulce est pro patria mori; and most suiteable was 
 the exposition that one gave of it, It is good for his country 
 that he is dead. Afterward he was interred in King Henry 
 the 7. his chappell,and since found a more fitting and deserved 
 sepulture ; a man of great parts and abilities, but natured to 
 mischefe, and the evil of those times he was born to make 
 worse, and most prodigiously infamous ; no man came suited 
 with so great capacity to the overthrow of the Government, 
 reckoning his impiety, or rather vizarded piety, into his in- 
 S. S. dowments ; and this is the character that most off that faction 
 A reflexion. deserve, till they have run down and ruined all before them, 
 so that griefe had overcom the currage of many a brave spirit. 
 Into such distractions dos the continued stroake of persecuting 
 fortun drive the most resolut minds that the most constant 
 magnanimity is at last depressed, and forced to submit to 
 arbitrary and incontrollable tyrany. In the closur of the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 397 
 
 year, the English Commonwalth, being now setled, resolves 
 to fix garrisones in Scotland. To this purpose Colloncl Garrisons in 
 Overtoun, setling part of his regiment in Aberdeen, landed ^ 
 himselfe with some forces in Orknay, planted a garrison in 
 Kirkwall. Collonel Thomas Fitch and his regiment came 
 down to Scotland, marched through Aberdeen in December, 
 a rude, rageing rable of a Sectarian new regiment, running- 
 down men in the streets, I being myselfe there at time, witness 
 of their extravagancies. Thence they marcht north to Inver- 
 ness, where they were garrishoned till the Revolution. 
 
 In January 1652, the Declaration called the Tender of 1652. 
 Union came down to Scotland as their New Yeares gift, union!^ 
 smoothed with that time serving complement of Olivers, 
 The good people of the Nation of Scotland that we to pre- 
 served [sic] with their rights, civil and spirituall. This 
 gratifyed the Kirk into a compliance, though the act of union 
 run in setling of a Commonwalth, abolishing monarchicall 
 government, for punishing all such as should counterveen or 
 off'end against the meaning and purpose of the said act, and 
 that writs should no longer run in Scotland, as in England, 
 in the old stile, but Commonwalth of England. The Kings 
 armes defaced at Holyroodhouse, Netherbow, Parliament house. 
 Castle of Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen, onely the arms at 
 the Kings Colledg wer plaistered over and hid ; the same at 
 Inverness, as I saw done, and generally all the kingdom over, 
 muttatis mutandis omnibm. 
 
 Dumbarton Castle is now randered by Sir Charles Erskin Dumbarton 
 uppon Articles, January 5. After this Bass Island, the most surrender, 
 dangerous place in the Firth to the English navigation, came 
 also to a surrender ; so that all was now in a calm, the 
 3 kingdomes haveing almost subjected to the English Estates, 
 when suddenly a warr brake forth with Holland, begun onely 
 at first uppon points of honnor, Van Trump, the Dutch 
 admirall, refuseing to vaile his flagg, a ceremonial hommage 
 which the English appropriat to themselves as Lords of the 
 narrow seas. The Dutch calling into question the English Ambassadors 
 sovereignty, the State resolve to beat them into better and Holland, 
 manners; uppon which two ambassadores from Holland, J^"* 
 Meyn Here Catz Shaep, and Van de Perre of Zealand, came 
 
398 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 over to London and got audience. The Queen of Sued com- 
 missioned Monsieur Spereing ambassador that she might not 
 be the last would own the Commonwalth ; arrived here and 
 was accepted. Base, mercenary, mean spirits. 
 Act of Feb. 1 . the Parliament published an Act of Oblivion, takeing 
 
 uppon them now to pardon when they needed it onely them- 
 selves ; but most men accepted it. Thus nothing remained of 
 all the British Dominions, either of honnour, profit, or security 
 to the nation, which their handmaid Success had not attaind 
 to, and that in as short a space of time as the most indulgent 
 fates ever apportioned to their greatest and whitest favourits, 
 whose glory of conquest they increased by spareing and lessen- 
 ing their sweat and travel in the atchievement and purchase. 
 In Ireland nothing held out but Galloway ; yet the Act of 
 Surrender took no effect there, seing no plenipotence was set 
 up in that kingdom. Lambert was nominated, but by Cromuel 
 mockt of the honnour of Lord Deputy, a person too brisk for 
 that imployment, it being reserved for Fleetwood after his 
 marriage with Olivers daughter and Iretouns relickt. At 
 this time one William I^illy, that lying astrollogue and a man 
 infamous for his prognosticks and divinations against the 
 King, allarmd the world with a most dreadfull expectation of 
 an approaching ecclipse such as never was, occasioning making 
 influences and vapors. This mans wild presages were the 
 oracles of the vulgar, for on his fatidicall lips they depended 
 who never failed of pronouncing success to those worthes of 
 Westminster whose Balaam he was, being hired by them to 
 detract from the Kings majesty. Indeed this was a great and 
 dreadfull ecclipse on March 29 ; it continued above two 
 houres, from 9 to 11, a totall ecclipse, for which this was 
 called the Black Moonday, the starrs being visible, birds 
 frighted and fluttering, so astonishing that such as were sur- 
 Biack Moonday prised with it ou the rode or by sea thought that it was the 
 29^1652^^^^^ Day of Judgement; story hardly relates such another. I was 
 
 myselfe at the time in Kings CoUedge. 
 Citadaies This spring Major General Dane [Dean] was appointed to 
 
 Scotland. spy out the most commodious situated places for forts within 
 the kingdom. In April he laid the platform of a cittadell in 
 Ayre as being most convenient for the trade either of France 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORU:\I 
 
 399 
 
 or Ireland, lying in the most westward part in Scotland in 
 the Highlands. Thence he came for Aberden and Lieth to 
 order other citadels there, and in the end of May one Mr. 
 Hanes, a Germain ingenire, came to Inverness and laid the line 
 of that citadell, which was non of the least of tliem.^ I was 
 present at the first draught cut in that ground. In this month 
 Oliver Cromuel tooke uppon him to put a period to the siting 
 •of those long winded members at Westminster, objecting to 
 them, when he came to displace them, that they delayed if 
 not utterly neglected the redressing of publick grivances, that 
 they designed their own interest and perpetuating themselves, 
 therefore they were to sit there no longer; and, insted of these 
 members turnd out of doores, Oliver and his officers constitut 
 
 Councell of State, to rule the Commonwealth, though they 
 resolved to rule the Council of State ; brave government ! 
 In the close of May Dunotter Castle, after the cannon had Dunotter 
 played two dayes against it, was randered to Collonel Morgan, ^"^^"^r^^- 
 with severall regalia and goods belonging to the Crown, 
 though the chair of state and sceptre supposed to be there 
 -could not be found, the Crown and Scepter being secured bv 
 the ministers wife of Fetterresso.^ May 19 was the first scafight 
 betuixt the States of England and Hollanders in the Downes. 
 The fight continued about 4 houres, till night parted them 
 -without much cause of boasting on either part; the victorv 
 was so uncertain. At this time the Statliouse of Amsterdam 
 was brunt, much mony and writs lost, with incredible goods. 
 Ac the mouth of the Maze, seafights were seen in the aire at 
 noonday, with Dutch and English colloures, with other the 
 like prognosticks, which much amazed people every quher now 
 intent uppon the issue of the war. 
 
 Admirall Blake had another rancounter with Van Trump, May 26, a fight 
 who had 40 sail, and ingaged in Dover Rod, one Dutch ship 
 sunk, another ship taken with 30 guns, and the captains of 
 both and many killed uppon both sids. General Blake, with 
 70 men of war, went to the Northward of Orknay in June to 
 
 * See for descriptions and plans of these various forts, Scotland and the Pro- 
 tectorate (Scottish History Society, vol. xxxi.). 
 
 2 Now in Edinburgh Castle. See Sir Walter Scott's Account of the Regalia 
 of Scotland. 
 
400 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 cease the Dutch Bushes, and to meet their east India men, 
 but missing these he tooke the 12 men of war that guarded 
 them, haveing made a stout and gallant resistance, and killed 
 many English. In August the French fleet, takeing part 
 with the Dutch, and going to the reliefe of Dunkirk, most of 
 them were taken by General Blake, and then pursued the Dutch 
 fleet into their very harbour. But sone after Blake was worsted 
 by the Dutch in the Downes, losing the Garland, Bonaventur, 
 and two merchantmen. But Captain Pen took 6 Dutch 
 ships uppon the coast of France as they were returning from 
 the Venecian richly laden, all men of war. In November the 
 navies engage at a place called the Kentish Knock, wherein 
 the Dutch wer worsted, but eleven of the Dutch set uppon 
 4 English in the Streight, tooke the Phenix and other two, 
 and sunk the 3d. The next engagement was at the back of 
 Goodwin Sands, wherin the English wer worsted, 4 ships 
 taken, and a considerable loss of men. But the greatest fight 
 of all was near the Isle of Wight and Portland, quherin the 
 Dutch receaved a great overthrow, 50 marchants being taken, 
 and nine men of war, above 2000 slain, and 1500 prisoners 
 taken. But this great victory soon after receaved a check, 
 the English fleet in the Levant seas being again worsted by 
 the Dutch, with the loss of most of their ships. 
 A fight by sea, In April 1653 the English and Dutch fleets engage again, 
 when, at the very first shot made by the Dutch, General 
 Richard Dane was slain. Yet the disput turnd hot and 
 bloudy ; of the Dutch were taken 6 captains, 1200 soldiers, 
 11 men of war, 6 of their best ships sunk ; and the English 
 sustaind a very great losse. 
 
 July 4. A Parliament conveend at Westminster, to whom 
 General Cromuel made a long speech, declareing how mindful! 
 they ought to be of the wonderfull mercies of God towards 
 this nation in the progresse of aflaires since the famous victory 
 at Worcester, and the clearness of the call to them of takeing 
 the supream authority, intermixt with smooth phrases of 
 Scripture to make it the more plausible. But the Councell of 
 officers, his own creatures, mingled with them, concluded it 
 fit to consult about the setlement of a government, and these 
 at length, after great pretences of seeking Gods mind herein. 
 
 i6S3 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 401 
 
 determined to have a siilgle person again to be the head of 
 the Comonwalth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, with the 
 Territories thereto belonging ; and Oliver Cromuel must be 
 the man, who, though a while seeming unwilling, yet at length 
 yelded, and accordingly was installed Lord Protector of the 
 Commonwalth of England with much formality and ceremony Cromuei 
 in the Chancry Court at Westminster, before the judges, Lord tector.^ 
 Mayor and Aldermen, officers of the army. Immediatly after 
 which all publick writings changed their stile from that of 
 the Keepers of the Liberties of England to that of Oliver, 
 Lord Protector of England, etc. ; and the City of London, to 
 manifest their likeing of this government, invites the Protector 
 to a magnificent treat at Grocers Hall, and the Protector, to 
 gratefy them for this favour, knighted Thomas Vines, then 
 Lord Mayor of London. Now hath Oliver got that prey his 
 fingers itched after. 
 
 July 20, the active Dutch were again put forth to sea with 
 120 men of war, and before the Texel were encountered with 
 the English fleet, July 28. The fight was vigorously main- 
 tain d on both parts, till the Dutch Admirall, Van Trump> 
 fighting in the midest of the English fleet, was shot with a 
 muskat ball into the left pape and slain out right, which so 
 discourraged their fleet that they made speedely to the TexelL 
 The Dutch in this fight lost 30 men of war, and about 1200 
 men slain. The English had a formidable losse, having slain 
 on their side Graves, Owen, Chapman, Newman, Taylor, Crisp, 
 Cox, and Peacock, all captains, and 500 seamen, besids soldiers. 
 The ship called the Oak was brunt, and 6 more disabled. 
 For this eminent piece of service the petty Parliament with 
 Cromuels concent [ordered] that chaines of gold should be 
 presented to the Admirals Blake and Collonel G. Monk, Vice 
 Admirall Pen, and Reer Admirall Lawson ; medals to flag- 
 captains and other officers. 
 
 In August the Scots under Generall Major Midletoun, Scots army 
 Earle of Glencarn, Lord Kenmor, Sir George Monro, 
 Glengarry, Camerons, Mackenzies, Erasers, raised an army 
 off 4000 horse and foot, and at Lochgarry in Athol 
 Lilburns forces surprised a braggad of them, where under 
 Morgans conduct a 100 of the Scots were killed, and 
 
 2c 
 
402 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 more of the English, though the Scots were defeat. 
 Suspicions are necessary alarms, as they at least suffer 
 persones not to be overtaken with too much security of 
 their affaires. 
 
 A fatall accident falls out this June, neare Inverness. One 
 Alexander Bishop, sone to Frances Bishop, burgess at Inver- 
 ness, and two with him, viz., Alexander Dunbarr, a sone of 
 Granges, and Robert Gordon, a young burges there, walking 
 about the fields, surprised 3 souldiers that were attending 
 Collonel Fitch his horses grasing in Wester Kinmilies. They 
 killed two of the English ; a third escaped. Alexander Bishop 
 and his commarads tooke away 3 of Fitches horses, and run 
 away to the Highland army. But innocent bloud God avenges. 
 One Jo. Kinard betrayes Alexander Bishop, being with Glen- 
 gary, and, with both his commarads, are taken and brought 
 into Invernes, sized and convict. Robert Gordon was hansr 
 on a gibbet set up at Achig ni boddach in Kinmilies,^ wher 
 the English were killed ; Alexander Bishop and Alexander 
 Dunbarr are hang on a gibbet set up at the Cross of Inver- 
 nes ; and afterwards Alexander Bishops body was hung up in 
 chaines on a gibbet at the Blew Bridge,^ north side of the 
 Sconce of Invernes, being ringleader of the three, a sad 
 spectacle to behold. 
 An Assembly In July a Generall Assembly conveened themselves at Edin- 
 in Scotland. burgh, with as much authority as they did heretofore when 
 they began the war; but such a chatter there was of re- 
 monstrances and protestations and such like knacks amongst 
 these crumms of the kirk, which was now in a 100 fractions, 
 that for very quietness sake, and some small considerations 
 of the common and publick peace, one Lieutenant Collonel 
 Cotterel was sent to dissmiss them from their seates ; which he 
 roundly did, charging them uppon their perrill not to attempt 
 any further meetings, and that to the said purpose not any 
 three of them should presume to meet or be seen together; so 
 that what the King by proclamation, by the force of lawes, 
 
 ^ Achadh nam Bodach, the Field of the Bogles, or of the Old Men. The 
 Torvean wood is, in Gaelic, Coille nam Bodach. 
 ^ The Blue Bridge ; the drawbridge of the Sconce. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 403 
 
 by his viceroyes, or governours generall, could not effect, an 
 armed rebell officer quickly speeded, to the perpetuall shame 
 of that leud convention. EPISCOPACY had the honour to 
 proceed, nor could Monarchy be abolished while it stood, and 
 Presbetry had the disgrace of following ro3^all ruins; so, to 
 our griefe, after King, exit Kirk. 
 
 At this time were great discontents among the United Pro- 
 vances concerning their chuseing of a Statholder and Captain 
 Generall, most owning the Prince of Orange. Zealand and 
 Fluishing, still adicted for the Prince, stood now for his 
 interest ; some muteny among their soldiers for pay ; two of 
 them were executed at Amsterdam, and some burgers shot 
 uppon a sudden surmise of a rescue, a very bad omen of the 
 war, and the consequence like to be ill. 
 
 In October the Lord Hopton, that most renouned generall Lord Hoptons 
 in the west for the King, departed this warfare of life at Bridges. 
 Bruges in Flanders, a heroe worthy of Pompeys distanced 
 Urus, that each region of the world should have inhum'd a 
 piece of him, that his interment should have been as large as 
 his fame, which hath told the universe the glory of his actions ; 
 but what is envyed him was deerfully indulged to the royal 
 cause and the assertors of it. Eheu jacere uno non potuit 
 tanta ridna loco. 
 
 Long was Sultan Cromuels fingers itching to be mannageing a plot against 
 a scepter, but sees sorrow with it shortly after his installment. Decr.'^i653°'^' 
 Heavens bliss us ! Immediately follows a plot, miraculously 
 discovered, eleven of the grand conspirators are committed to 
 the Tower, whence after a while they were again set at liberty. 
 This web was not well spun. His spies and informers, which 
 he entertained at a vast expence, put on their specticles, and 
 saw another plot. The cheefe conspirators wer, Mr. Thomas 
 and John Gerard, John Jones, Thomas Fender, and Peter 
 Rowel, who were all condemned, but two onely suffered, 
 Rowel and Fox, who were both liangd at Tyburn. 
 
 In Ireland the High Court of Justice was erected in 
 December; sat at Kilkenny; thence to Waterford, Cork, 
 Dublin. The President, Justice Donelan, an Irish native; his 
 assistant. Justice Cooke, the infamous solicitor against the 
 King. Many officers were condemned. Collonel Bagnel, 
 
404 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Colonel Tool, Colonel Mackhiigh escaped, yet execut. Lord 
 Clanmallur and Vicunt Mayn freed. Sir Phelim Onil, that 
 threat and prime ringleader of the rebellion, was betrayed by 
 his own party and brought prisoner to the Lord Caufields 
 house, whose father he had treacherously murthered ; by that 
 Court sentenced, hangd, and quartered. In so much that all 
 Ireland was now wholly reduced ; never were any Christian 
 people or nation in such a wretched condition. 
 The fate of Those Irish who from a vain conceit of obtaining their 
 
 reiand, 1653. ^^^^ shakeing off the English yoak by their rebellion, 
 
 now found it set closser and harder on, suffering the very 
 extremity of revenge and the degrees of rage from a merciless 
 conquering enemy, to whom 1, the crying sin of their bar- 
 barous massacres, and 2, the contempt of the King's authority 
 when receaved amongst them, and 3, their fatal divisions 
 among themselves, caused by the Friars and Nuncio party, 
 had given them over as to the Priests, they were, by pro- 
 clamation, upon pain of death, banished for ever out of the 
 nation, and many of them snapt by the Irish High Court of 
 Justice. The nation was so generally scarrd and in such a 
 fright that happy was he that could get out of it, for no 
 articles were pleadable here, and against a charge of things 
 done 12 yeares agoe litle or no defence could be made; and 
 thereby quhat was made of bloud, aggravated with the ex- 
 pressions of so much horrour, and the no less daunting aspect 
 of the Court, quit confounded the amazed prisoners, so that 
 they came like sheep to the slaughter, which before had* been 
 such ravenous wolves in preying upon the lives of the poor 
 unarmed Scots and English. Observable it was and ominous 
 that 3 suns were seen at Dublin by 500 spectators, near noon 
 time of the day, to all knowing mens admiration ; prodigious 
 it was indeed, but astrologues were pusled what it might 
 portend. 
 
 Anno i6s4. It were tedious to reckon up the swarms of severall opinions 
 
 springing up in England successivly like Hydras heads, one 
 uppon another, a task it were ad infinitum, tollerated or 
 winked at. 1, Some for imposition and anointing with oyl 
 and washing of feet ; 2, some arguing against all this ; 3, some 
 for auricular confession ; 4, some for Revelation only ; 5, some 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 405 
 
 for baptism in 30, after Christ. Levellers and famelist to 
 have all thing''s common ; some Brownists, others Millinaries, 
 Arminians, Seekers, Ranters, Enthusiasts, Arrians, Pelagians, 
 Quakers, Anabaptists, cum rnultis aliis^ God in His judge- 
 ment confusing the unlawfull State with confused unlawful! 
 opinions in religion. The Lord knowes his own time, who Mat. 13. 
 suffers the tares and the wheat to grow together till the 
 harvest. There ought to be a great care lest in plucking up 
 the tares we pull up the wheat ; we ought not to invade mens 
 consciences, but to wait God Almighties leasur. 
 
 In February the Dutch peace is concluded by their ambas- The Dutch 
 sador Van Heime, and this privat article was agreed betuixt cimie(L°" 
 them, that the Prince of Orange should never be restored to 
 his dignities, offices, and charge his ancestors had and enjoyed ; 
 and this urged for the better conservation of the peace, which 
 would by his restitution be endangered becaus of his relation 
 to the King ; other articles, as the taking in the Danish King 
 into the treatty, and the right of the flagg was acknowledged 
 to be given to the English in all rancounters. Cromuell was 
 the willinger to conclud this peace by reason of his new setle- 
 ment in the thron, and the Dutch friendship necessary for 
 his establishment ; and all added reputation to him and his 
 parasiticall party, pratling in his eare that he might bring 
 the Dutch to anything. 
 
 The 8 of February, being Ash Wednesday, the Lord Pro- 
 tector was feasted by the Lord Mayor in Grocers Hall, a very 
 unsuitable day for any festivall, but his entertainment, who 
 inverted all things. The streetes being railed from Temple 
 Barr thither, and met at the said gate by Alderman Viner, 
 Lord Maior, who delivered him his sword, boar it on horsbak 
 before him all the way, and a deep silence in sign of reverence 
 all along, as if a funerall had been en passant, not so much as 
 How doe ye being given dureing the whole cavilcad. After 
 dinner he knighted Alderman Veiner, who, returning home, 
 angered his wife with this addition to his honour, a great 
 loyalist who had great and real worth and honor both in her 
 name and nature. Oliver, at his return, had the second course 
 of a brickbate from the top of a house in the Strand, by 
 St. Clements, which light uppon his coach and almost spoiled 
 
406 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 his digestion with the dareingness of the affront. Great 
 search was made, but in vain ; the person could not be found, 
 and vengence was not yet ripe to rain upon him from heaven, 
 he for it or it for him. 
 
 Now is Oliver ambitious to have his progeny promoted, and 
 therefore his second sone is created Lord Hendry of O., and 
 sent him over into Ireland to shew himselfe there in state 
 against his approaching viceroyship there, so that he had 
 made sure of the 3 nationes, if Richard C. were ready to 
 march for Scotland. But now nill omni parte beatum. Oliver 
 gets disturbance from Scotland. General Midleton, in March, 
 geting his commission from the King, landed in Sutherland, 
 at Ferry Unes,^ with the Lord Napier, Maior Generall Dalziell, 
 Colonel Lodwick Drummond, and 200 more, tryed the pulse 
 of all the clanes, and many joined with him, marches west to 
 meet with his majesties forces, now under the command of 
 Glencarn, Kenmor, Athol, Seaforth, Sir George Monro ; 
 Morgan in their reer, and Collonel Brayn, ordered from 
 Ireland with 2000 foot by sea, to hem them in to an ingage- 
 ment, and General Monk, commanding in cheef in Scotland, 
 under Cromuel, is up in arms to persue the Scots, now in the 
 hills, the Royall party being reinforced in Abertarfh to the 
 number of 4000. But their animosity and divisiones wronged 
 them, the commanders contending for place, the Earl of 
 Glencarn, stomacking the supream command to be conferd 
 upon Midleton, which was thought the best expedient to unit 
 them. But the ruptur began betuixt Glencarn and Sir George 
 Monro, whither for competition or conduct, is concealed, but 
 they fought a combat at Evich,^ and Sir George carried the 
 mark in his hand, which I often saw. General Monk and 
 Colonel Morgan, in distinct bodies and severall wayes, pursued 
 them, but still gave them the slip, for it was not advisable to 
 give them an encounter, but tire their enemy out ; and nothing 
 but invincible patience and resolution could endure that toil 
 and want of provision, through rocks, hills, precipices, glens, 
 and bogs, evin incommodious to the natives themselves ; but 
 all the whil no engagement, but skirmishes betuixt their 
 
 Unapool Kerry, Kylesku, - Evelix, near Dornoch. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 407 
 
 scoutes. The body of the forces under Midleton and the 
 other nobles crossed over Abertarph into Glenelg. General 
 Monk, pursueing them the length of Kintail, at last was 
 forced to reteere, lest he should be starved and cut off, or his 
 army disabled. The 19 of July he came in to Glenstrafarrar, 
 and that night leagured in the plaines of Brolin, weary and in 
 want, and full of feare, so that the Generall himselfe confessed 
 that 200 men might have cut of his whole camp. Next 
 morrow down through Strathglaish, and bated at Struy and 
 Erchiles, where I happened to be among them, and had the 
 full account of their march and circumstances.^ General 
 Midleton went north to Ross ; Glencarn went south, and, at 
 Dumbarton, with 500 men, submitted. Some puny skirmishes 
 happened, such as Captain Elsmores takeing of Sir Arthur 
 Forbes; the routing of Macknaughton in Glenlion ; Collonel 
 Cobbet, Governour of Dundee, defeated the Earl of Kinoul, 
 and tooke him prisoner, with the Lord Didop and Lieutenant 
 Colonel Mercer, the Lord Forrester, and Kenmore. The Earl 
 of Athol and Marques of Montross capitulat. Lord Lorn 
 now flew again into arms to collour those late treacheries and 
 treasons he had underhand mannaged from Cromuel. He 
 joined with Macknaughton, and surprised Colonel Bryan and 
 Captain Nicholas in Inverara, and made his prim tearmes 
 by that lucky surprise to his advantage ! The noble General 
 Monk, giveing oblidging conditions to all that capitulat with 
 him, showed all the favour that could be expected in point 
 of fines and forfeiture, which firmly engaged the nobles and 
 gentry to him for the futur, which no doubt he had the 
 principally in his eye. He then invited Generall Midleton to 
 enter into treaty with him, which was at the time mannaged, 
 and in a manner concluded by Major Generall Drummond ; 
 but Midleton rescinded as proceeding from a principle of 
 honor and right, lest his takeing conditions as the Kings 
 Lieutenant obtaind from the enemy might be construed a 
 
 See for Monck's route, Highland Monthly, May 1892 ; and Scotland tinder 
 the Protectorate (Scot. Hist. Society), pp. xxi-xxiii, map at p. 148. See 
 generally, for the events of this period, that work ; Glencairn's Expeditioti ; 
 Scotland a7id the Commomvealth (Scot. Hist. Society) ; Gardiner's History of the 
 Commonwealth and Protectorate ; and Keltic's History of the Highlands. 
 
408 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 cessation of that kingdom to the usurper, as the Lord Ormond 
 had with great punctilio given him a very noble precedent to 
 follow. 
 
 General Monk then got in the Tutor of Lovat, Captain 
 Thomas and Captain James, his brothers, to pass bale to him, 
 and then the Tutor himselfe secured for all the rest of the 
 name of Fraser who were then in arms for the King. Seaforth 
 treated and entered prisoner in the cittadel of Inverness, Sir 
 George Monro, Mackleod, and Mackonilduy^ got the same 
 Articles; also Eneas M'kdonell of Glengary had the honor to 
 rander the last armes that were taken up for his Majesty in 
 the kingdom of Scotland, and enter his person prisoner in the 
 citadell of Inverness ; General Monk, having quartered his 
 army abroad in the country, and himselfe tarried at Inverness 
 till all was finished. At this time he was pleased to accept 
 of a supplication given up to him by Jean Gordon, whose sone 
 Alexander Bishop had been hung up in chaines on a gibbet 
 opposit to the blew bridg of the citadell now near a twelv- 
 month past. He generously ordered his corps to be taken 
 down and delivered to his friends to be brought to christian 
 interment. After settling all things successfully in the North 
 to all mens contentment he marciit through Murray south, 
 visiting all the garrisones in his way forward to Edinbrugh, 
 giving strait commands to all the governoures to keep in their 
 souldioures from doing any hurt to Scotchmen.^ 
 
 I now dismiss that long continued war with this valedictory 
 elogy to both these honorable generals. The one of them 
 just ceased his indefatigable industry for the recovery of the 
 Kings rights, and had a royal conge and write of Emeritus est ; 
 and the other, like an altern luminary, began or rather renued 
 his auspicious aspect uppon the Kings restitution, so that the 
 brightness of the majesty off Scotland was never totally 
 
 ^ Mac Dhomhnuill Duibh, the Gaelic patronymic of Lochiel. 
 
 ^ Monck's own ' Narrative of Proceedings in the Hills, from June 9 to July 
 1654,' shows that he was at Dunain, near Inverness, on 3rd July, and at Faillie, 
 in Strathnairn, on his way south, on the 6th. He was, therefore, not more 
 than three days in Inverness. From Faillie he proceeded by Strathdearn, 
 Strathspey, and Badenoch, into Perthshire. See Scotland and the Protectorate^ 
 p. 148, et seq. . . 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 409 
 
 obscured ; and long may they now shine together, without 
 diminution to each others lustur, in this glorious and per- 
 petuall firmament of his Majesties present and perpetual 
 empire. 
 
 In England Monsieur de Boas, the French embassador, had The King from 
 heareing, prosecuting the treatty amain, and our Sovereign, ^^^^ 
 King Charles 2, withdrew, and departed from Paris to the 
 Spaw by Liege, quher he was magnificently treated by that 
 <;ity ; and so onward on his jowrnay to meet his sister, the 
 Princess of Orange. The Duke of York is still at Paris, 
 motioned to be Lieutenant Generall of the French army in 
 Italy. In August, upon a Friday, Prince Cromuel being now 
 out of action and secure, being desirous to divert himselfe with 
 driving of his coach and 6 horse in hide park, with his secretary 
 Thurlomit, like Mephistophelus and Doctor Faustus, carriet 
 in the air to try how he could govern horses, since rationall 
 creatures were difficult to be reined ; like another Phaeton he 
 fell in the experiment from tlie coach box, which was presently 
 posted into the city, and many ominous conjectures made of 
 his catastrophy, one of the ingenious songs dropt at Whithall 
 ^ate ending in this presagious rithm : — 
 
 Every day and hour hath show'd us his power, 
 
 But now he hath show'd us his Art ; 
 His first reproach was a fall from his coach, 
 
 His next will be from a Cart. 
 
 The army is now wholly by the millenary principle, and 
 that was to be purged. Harrison and Rich were laid asid ; 
 Harrison and Carrew committed into several remoat castles. 
 General Monk had order to seaze Major General Overtoun, 
 and the Majors Brainston and Holms, and cashier them, after 
 fines and good secure ty for their behaviour. Overton was 
 sent up to the Tower, and his regiment conferrd on Colonel 
 Morgan. Colonel Okeys regiment was also given to the 
 Lord Howard. Colonel Joyce likewayes layd aside, male- 
 content; signified so much to Cromuels face, quhom he 
 upbraided with his own service and his faithlessness ; but 
 escaped any other censur than a biding. Begone ! as one of 
 the made men who would say or do quhat they were bid. 
 
410 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Major Wildman, a great leveller, was taken at Marlborrow, 
 indicting declarations against the Protector, and was com- 
 mitted to Chepstow. Lockhart, one of the Scotch judges, 
 married Olivers niece in December, and grew famous thereby 
 in the process of the Rebellion, being sent Ambassador to 
 France. 
 
 terfnjm Parir King is now at Colon uppon the Rhein, quher he was 
 
 most amply and with more than custumary honors welcomed 
 from the Spaw in Germany. Then the Marques of Or mound 
 conducted and brought away the Duke from the Jesuits 
 Colledge in Paris, though the Queen Mother had sent the 
 Marques of Praslin and the Lord Abbot Montague to perswad 
 him to stay and not displease his mother, and follow her 
 advice, which was to have him trained in the Romish religion. 
 Yet the young prince, good Glocester, understanding his 
 brothers pleasur, answeired, as his blissed father had enjoined, 
 that he was to obey his father before his mother ; and so came 
 away with the Marques to the King, then at Collon on the 
 Rhein. 
 
 In December died Cromuells aged mother, the unhappy 
 parent of this usurper, who lived to see her sone through such 
 a deluge of bloud swim to a perplexed throne ; in the share of 
 whose greatnesse she was concerned, as to the princly accom- 
 modation of her maintenance, and her burriall, at in death 
 being laid in King Henry 7. his chappell in great state. O, 
 the insensible and unregarded grouth of all heresie and errour 
 in this licentious toUeration which invaded the church and 
 disturbs her peace, which all Christians mourn for. In this 
 sad sickness I leave her, to take fresh air abroad ! 
 
 ^ ^ ^ 
 
 [Follows Account of Affairs in France, Germany, Sweden, 
 Poland, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Rome.] 
 
 1655. To return to Brittain. Anno 1654, an ordinance passed for 
 
 England. Uniting Scotland in one Common walth with England, and 
 the amies thereof to be quartered, as were the Irish, with one 
 crosse, and harp, and Olivers lion saliant placed in the midle, 
 which is as good heraldry as this escutchion deserves ; that 
 kingdom to be no other way es charged in assesment and tax 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 411 
 
 then proportionally to England, and to pay no more excise. 
 This is the two whimsies of this vain Union ! In the begining 
 of March, Monk, haveing the power in Scotland, proclames 
 Oliver in great state in Edinburgh, and then Argyle, takeing 
 off* his vizor, plainly and openly sids with the English and 
 foments divisions among the Scotsh, his sone, the Lord Lorn, 
 departing in a discontent and quarrell from the Earle of Glen- 
 cairn, and returning to the old fox, his father, for more witt. 
 At this time a ship on Suthwick side tooke accidentall fire as 
 she lay at anchor, which, being cut, was driven near the 
 bridg, quher she stuck and blew up her powder ; 8 persons 
 were kild, and had the blow been higher it would have broake 
 that famous pile. Another ship in fresh wharfe near the 
 bridge. Another terrible fire in Threednedle Street, to the 
 loss of 200,000 £. and upwards ; hardly a sader loss to London 
 of a long time ; and generally there were very many and sad 
 conflagrations, that attended this bontefeu and his usurpa- 
 tion, and as many memorable unruly accidents ended it, as by 
 the sequall will yet appear to the surviver. 
 
 In April the noble Duke James of Lenox and Richmond 
 died of a quartan ague that held him about a yeare, contracted 
 as was supposed from a continued consumptive griefe of the 
 King and his affaires ; nor was he ever in any healthful! con- 
 dition since the martyredom of King Charles the First. 
 
 Now do the Spaniard at Dunkirk declare open war against Peace with 
 England, and thereupon immediatly was a peace concluded 
 betuixt France and Britain, one of the articles of which was 
 that the King of France should exclud Charles Stuart, King 
 of England, and all his relationes and adherents out of his 
 dominions; and accordingly the Duke of York was comple- 
 mented to depart France by such a time, nor was his retinue 
 to stay behind him ; and had his majesty himselfe been there 
 he must have expected the same dealeing, who by Providence 
 was then in Flanders. This month also died that learned 
 prelat. Doctor James Usher, Archbishop of Armach and 
 Primat of all Ireland, and was solemnly interred in AVest- 
 minster Abbey. 
 
 September 20. Our King went up to Frankfort. A great 
 faire with other affaires invited him thither, royally convoyed 
 
412 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 by water, saluted with ample ceremonies in every city and 
 town they passed ; his train, the Prince of Orange, the Duke 
 of Glossester, Marques of Ormond, Earl of Norwich, Lord 
 Neuburgli, CoUonell Daniel Oneal, Doctor Alexander Fraser, 
 Dorris, Lord Stanhop and his lady, with many knights and 
 gentlemen. Christina, Queen of Sweden, after the publick 
 ceremonies were over, at Kingston an enterview happened 
 betuixt her and our King, and had an houres conference with 
 her there. Thence she went up through Germany for Italy, and 
 liighly treated by the Duke of Tyroll at Inshburgh, and there 
 she professed herselfe Roman Catholick. His Majesty haveing 
 continued sometime at Frankfort, where the States and Depu- 
 ties of the Empire were assembled, to finish what was left at 
 the Diet, where he got a pressing invitation from the Elector 
 of Mentz, and there he entered with all the state which that 
 place could afford and that Prince could set forth or furnish 
 his entrance with, and entertaind with an expence befitting 
 his dignity, and diverted with all honorable recreations; and 
 with the same grandure departed for CoUon, for greater 
 honnores were not done to any Prince in the world, so much 
 did the injuries of his condition advance those peoples civility, 
 especially his great friend, the Duke of Neuburgh, who con- 
 voyed his Majesty back and forward in great grandur. In 
 October Signiour Paluzi, the Venice ambassador, was recalled, 
 and Signiour Fransesco, that had lain a while at London 
 incognito, appeared in that qualety in his room, and did 
 notablie complement Cromuel with his puissance, valour, and 
 prudence, and offered the respects and service of that Signyorie. 
 Argyle, also, from Scotland came to kiss his highness hands. 
 
 Now Cromuel will have his supream authority to be known, 
 and therefore begins this yeare with tyrannical proceedings 
 against the royalist layty and clergy. To this end he erected 
 a new military authority in all the counties of the 3 king- 
 domes, with an unbounded power. Their commission was to 
 take a roll and account of all suspect persones of the Kings 
 party, and bind them to the peace ; to reveal all plots ; to 
 suppress all horse races, cockmatches, and other confluence of 
 people ; to secure the high wayes, take engagements from 
 royalists for their children and servants, and such as did not 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 413 
 
 give securety to commit to prison ; to raise and receave mony 
 rising from sequestration and decimation, that no royalist 
 should keep or weare either armes, defensive or offensive, but 
 streightway deliver them, so that they lay at the mercy of 
 whomsoever they met, and at the descretion and charety of 
 whosoever resorted to their houses for quhat they had lost. 
 In short there was nothing which they might not doe, such an 
 arbitrary vast power they had from the Protector. In Scot- 
 land new commissioners were added for the sale of delinquent 
 lands ; and, to prevent their fraud in the purchasing thereof, 
 a new great and privy seal was sent down from England. 
 In March the Earl of Glencarn, uppon suspition of a plot, 
 was taken, and secured by Monk in Edinburgh Castle. 
 
 In the close of this month the Princess of Orange went by 
 the way of Antwerp and Peroun in Erance to visit her mother, 
 the Queen of Britain, at Paris ; and our King came to the 
 royal mansion off Trevour in Brisils in order to a nearer com- 
 munion of counsels, for the Spaniards embrassed and shook 
 hands with his interest as their own affaires governd them. 
 
 In April a sad accident happened. The Abby of Spalding, 
 being let out into chambers, in one off which as the people 
 were prophaning by dauncing and makeing merry, the roofe fell, 
 and was the death of 23 persones, and 20 dangerously hurt and 
 bruised. A 2. accident. Sir Thomas Ascock cut his own 
 throat, a paper being found in his chamber where he had 
 reckoned 20 severall preservations, yet God gave him up to this 
 dreadfull temptation. A 3^. was Freeman Sonds, the younger 
 sone of Sir George Sonds in Kent, killed his elder and onely 
 brother in bed, and was immediatly hangd for it. The 
 instigation was his brother having got a new excellent suit of 
 cloathes for Court, and he not getting the like, reveingd it by 1655. 
 fratricid ; which sad and strange story had almost past obser- 
 vation. Clerk, in his examples, gives it at large, which my 
 reader may peruse. A 4. accident the Cittadell of St. John- 
 ston was fired and almost consumed, but the provisions saved. 
 
 The Citadel of Inverness is now on a great length almost The Citadel of 
 finished. They had first built a long row of building, made 
 of brick and planks, uppon the River side, of a great length, 
 to accommodat the regiment, and ramparts and bulwarks of 
 
414 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 earth in every street in the town, and also fortified the Castell 
 and the Bridge and the main Court of guard at the Cross. 
 They bought a large plat of ground from the burgers called 
 Carseland, where they built their cittadale, founded May 165^, 
 and now finished, a most statly sconce. It was 5 cornered, 
 with bastians, with a wide grast or trench, that an ordinary 
 bark might sail in it at full tide. The breastwork 3 storys, 
 built all of hewn ston, lined within with a brick wall, Centinel 
 houses of stone on each corner, a sally port to the south lead- 
 ing to the town, and on the north the great entry or gate 
 called the port, with a strong drawbridge of oake called the 
 blew bridge, and a statly structur over the gate, well cut with 
 the Commonwalths arms and this motto togam tventvr arma. 
 This bridge was drawn every night, and a strong guard within. 
 Ships or shallops sailing in or out, the bridge was heaved to 
 give way. The entry from the bridge into the Citadell was a 
 statlie vault about 70 foot longs, with seates on each side, 
 and a rod of iron hooks for picks and drums to hang on. In 
 the center of the citadel stood a great foursquare building, 
 all hewn stone, called the magazin and granary ; in the 3 
 story was the Church, well furnished with a statly pulpit and 
 seates ; a wide bartasin at top, and a brave great cloak with 4 
 large guilded dyalls, and a curious bell. Southeast stood the 
 great long English building 4 story high, so called being built 
 by English masones ; and Southwest the Scotch building of 
 the same dimensions, built by Scotch masones ; Northwest and 
 northeast lower stories for amunition, timber, lodgings for 
 manufactories, stables for horses, provision, brewing houses, 
 a great long tavern quher all manner of wines, viands, beer, 
 ale, cider, was sold by one Master Benson ; so that the whole 
 regiment was accommodat within these walls. A cinquport or 
 conduit run under ground from the on to the other side, with 
 grates of iron at ends, which at flowing and ebbing carried 
 away the filth and odor of all the citadel. All their oake 
 planks and beames was carried out of England in ships to 
 Cessock rode ; all their firr, logg, spar rofe beames, sold ther 
 out of Hugh Eraser of Struyes woods. I saw that gentleman 
 receave 30 thousand marks at once for timber. Most of their 
 best hewn stone was taken from Chanory, the great Cathe- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 415 
 
 drall and Steeple, the Bishops Castle, to the foundation, rased, 
 the church and Abby of Kinloss and Beuly, the Gray Friars 
 and St. Maries chappell at Inverness, and many mo ; so that it 
 was a sacrileorious structure and therefore could not stand. ^ 
 
 At the digging of the trenches, every man got a shilling 
 sterling wages a day, so that all the country people flockt 
 in to that work, and hardly could yow get one to serve yow ; 
 and the soldiers made more mony attending it than their 
 dayly pay amounted to. This great work was finished in the 
 5 yeare ; and commissary Coup, who advanced the mony to 
 masones, carpenters, and others, told me that the whole ex- 
 pense of it amounted to about 80 thousand libs, sterling. 
 
 There were a 1000 men in the regiment. Collonel Thomas 
 Fitch, governour, Lieutenant-Collonel Jo. Ditton, Major 
 Anthon Bird, Captain Miles Man, Captain Georg Blunt, 
 Captain George Bateman, Captain Will. Langrige, Cap- 
 tain John Wilks, Captain Alexander Osberry, Captain Jo. 
 Hill, Captain Henry Spuner, etc. Lieutenant Colonel Ditton 
 dround on Findorn River, and Major Bird dyed in Orknay, 
 and Colonel Fitch called to England ; so that now Miles 
 Man succeeded collonel, and Blunt lieutenant collonel, and 
 Hill major. Mr. Hery Gee was regiment minister, a presbi- 
 terian who succeeded Gosle, an Undependant who came first 
 here. Mr. Thomas Rockby was secretary. They brought 
 such store of all wares and conveniencies to Inuerness that 
 English cloath was sold neare as cheape here as in England ; 
 the pint of claret win for a shilling ; set up an appothecary 
 shop with drugs, Mr. Miller their chyrurgion, and Doctor 
 Andrew Monro their phisitian. They not onely civilised but 
 enriched this place. They fixt a garrison at Inverlochy,^ and 
 carried a bark driven uppon rollers of wood to the Lochend of 
 
 1 The author gives a similar description of the citadel in his * Triennial 
 Travels,' adding: ' The row of buildings betwixt the Sconce and the Chappell 
 yard was called the Line, for sick soldiers to lodge in, and several ale houses 
 and taverns, and good accommodation for strangers to lodge. . . . On the 
 banners was St. Georges Cross only, and ebenezer in gold.' During opera- 
 tions on the Inverness harbour in 1900, some of the oak beams of the fort and 
 part of the chain of the Blue Bridge were dug out. 
 
 - See Scotland and the Protectorate^ for plan of the citadel of Inverlochy. 
 
416 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 A curious ^ Ness, and there enlarged it into a statly friggot, to sail 
 on Loch Ness, with provision from the one end of the loch to the other; 
 
 one Mr. Church governour, and Lieutenant Orton captain of 
 this friggot, and 60 men aboord of her to land uppon expedi- 
 tions where they pleased. I happened myselfe, with the Laird 
 of Strachin, near Portclare, to be invited aboord by Orton, 
 where we were gentily treated. It were a rant to relate what 
 advantages the country had by this regiment. Story may yet 
 record it, but I onely set down in the generall something of 
 what I was eyewitness. 
 
 The law here is strick against loyalists ; so that the Earl of 
 Seaforth entered his person prisoner in the Sconce, as also the 
 Lord M'kdonel,^ and had their respective lodgings within the 
 Citadell. Seaforth procured a forloph this year [1655], puting 
 himselfe under bail to Governour Miles Man, and went to visit 
 his friends the length of Kintail ; and, resolving to keep a 
 A hunting in hunting be ther way in the Forrest of Monnair, he prevaild 
 Monnar. with the Master and Tutor of Lovat to goe along with him. 
 Captain Thomas Eraser his brother, Hugh Eraser of Struy, 
 Hugh Eraser younger Culboky, Hugh Eraser of Belladrom, 
 Alexander Eraser, barron olf Moniak, Thomas Eraser, Eskidel, 
 and with them the flower of all the youth in our country, with 
 a 100 pretty fellowes more. We ^ traveled through Strathglaisb 
 and Glenstrafarrar to Loch Monnair. The Tutor pi tcht liis 
 tent upon the north bank of the river, and Struy his tent upon 
 the south. Next day we got sight of 6 or 700 deere, and 
 sportt off hunting fitter for kings than country gentlemen. 
 The 4 days we tarried there, what is it that could cheere and 
 recreat mens spirits but was gone about, jumping, arching, 
 shooting, throwing the barr, the stone, and all manner of 
 manly exercise imaginable, and every day new sport ; and for 
 entertainment our baggage was well furnished of beefe, mutton, 
 foule, fishes, fat venison, a very princly camp, and all manner 
 of liquors. The 5 day we convoyed Seaforth over the moun- 
 
 ^ Angus or yEneas Macdonell of Glengarry, a noted Royalist chief, created 
 Lord Macdonell and Aros after the Restoration. See his bond to Cromwell, 
 dated 'at the Sconce, near Inverness,' I2th March 1655, in Trans, of Gaelic 
 Society of Inverness^ vol. xiv. p. 74. 
 
 2 Our author was evidently one of the party. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 417 
 
 tain in sight of Kintail, and so returnd home, with the Master 
 of Lovat, a very pretty train of gallant gentlemen, that Mr. 
 Hill and Man, two Englishmen who were in company, declared 
 that in all their travels they never had such brave divertisment, 
 and if they should relate it in England it would be concluded 
 meer rants and incredible. 
 
 This yeare the Lord Cranston haveing gotten a Cornels ^^^-^ ^ ^ 
 Commission levyes a new regiment of voluntiers for the King ston his new 
 of Poles service, and it tristed well for his incurragement and 
 advantage ; for the royalists chused rather to goe abroad, 
 though in a very meane condition, than live at home under a 
 yoke of slavery. The Collonel sent one Captain Montgomry 
 north in June, and had very good luck, listing many for the 
 service ; and himselfe followed after in August, and, reseeding 
 at Invernes, sallied out to visit the Master of Lovat, and in 3 
 dayes got 43 of the Erasers to take on. Among the rest 
 Captain James Eraser, my Lord Lovats sone, engages, and 
 without degradation Cranston gives him a Captains commission. 
 Hugh Phaser, young Clunvacky, takes on as lieutennant ; 
 William Eraser,^ sone to Mr. William Eraser of Phoppachy, 
 an ensign ; James Eraser, sone to Eoyer, a corporall. The 
 Lord Lovats sone, Captain James, had 22 young gentlemen 
 with the rest, who ingaged be themselves out of Stratharick, 
 Abertarph, Aird, and Strathglaiss, that I heard the Collonel 
 say he was vain of them for gallantry — not so much that they 
 wer free and willing, but valorous. I saw them march out of 
 Invernes, and most of the English regiment lookeing on with 
 no small commendation as well as emulation of their bravery. 
 
 [Eollows account of affairs in England, etc., till the death 
 of Cromwell.] 
 
 In the closur of August [1658] Olivers fatall end and period 
 was ushered in by an extraordinary dreedfull tempest and 
 violent gust of weather, which blew down many houses, tore 
 the trees up at the rootes, one in the old Palace yard by the 
 Parliament house, which by the event hath signified no other- 
 
 1 Brother of the author, 
 
 2d 
 
418 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 wayes then the eradicating of the root and branch of his 
 cursed government. It was a horrid tempest or whirrycane, 
 as if nature would have the Protectors death to be accom- 
 panied with a generall fright and horrour. August 24, the 
 Protector was removed in a whirry by night from Hampton 
 Court to Whithall, where his chaplaines and others of that 
 pious famely kept privat meetings and fastings for his recovery, 
 of which they were so vainly confident that they obtruded 
 their unseasonable thanks to God for the certanty of it, and 
 with the same unseasonable flattery and pickthank with Oliver 
 himselfe, deluded him into the like persuasion, so that he told 
 his phisitians he should not dye this bout. But his fits 
 growing worse and worse caused him talk idly and faint often ; 
 whence the conclusion was that he would scarce survive another 
 paroxism. His Privy Councell, astonished, immediatly repared 
 to him about setling a successor, and, he being scarcely him- 
 selfe, interrogat him if he appointed not his sone Richard, 
 replyed in a sume. Yea : but in his ultimat thoughts itt was 
 judged truely he designed Fleetwood. But the distraction of 
 his choice betuixt his sone and sone in law made him leave 
 it undetermined. But a privat will anent his famely he made 
 at his first sickness at Hampton Court. September 1. at night 
 he roared and bellowed, nay, blasphamed, that his chaplaines 
 deserted the roome ; and Parson Peters, that counterfit impos- 
 ture, was not to be found, leaveing him at Hampton Court. 
 His roaring and blustering like a bull frighted men, blowing 
 with a will, God have mercy, am I damned? Many things 
 reported that 1 terrify to rehearse; but Captain Johnstoun 
 and Miss Jean Monro, who still attended him, gave me tliis 
 account.^ 
 
 The Protectors It is certain that those tampering chaplaines of his, Manton, 
 noisom death, q^^.-]^ Calamy, Owen, Ash, Peters, Undependants, run away 
 into obscurity, that non could be found to pray, God have 
 mercy upon him ! He continued in that dreedfuU, desperate, 
 deplorable condition Thursday night, with spectras, appari- 
 tions, ulings, about the roome, till Friday, September 3, about 
 
 1 The author was in London from 2 1st December 1659 till 28th April 1660.— 
 ' Triennial Travels. ' 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 419 
 
 3 a''clock in the afternoon, he marcht off from his earthly 
 honoures, and receaved his bill of ease, though it had been 
 rumord that he was carried away in the tempest the day 
 before. His body being opened and dissect, his milt was 
 found full of corruption and filth, which was so strong and 
 stinking that after the corps were embalmed and filled with 
 aromatick odors, and wrapt in cearcloaths, sex duble, in an 
 inner sheet of lead and a strong cemented woden coffin, yet 
 the filth broke through all, and raised such a noisom stench 
 that they feared a contagion might be occasioned, and so had 
 no shift but to sand the coffin deep in a vault. But his name 
 and memory stinks worse, leaving a lasting stain to stick to 
 his unhappy posterity. What character can be given this 
 catife who is now gone to his place ? 
 
 To say truth, the fortun off this usurper, by its constancy 
 and confluence of successes in so many desperat hazards and 
 adventures in which his ambition had ingaged, made the nation 
 give him over for impatible, and as one exempted from these 
 conditions to which other mortalls were oblidged, and with a 
 setled terror to expect the extremity of all mischeefes, and 
 that it would come at last to that calamity and tragical 
 slavery of delivering our children tributary and vassalls to the 
 lust and dominion of his new found famely. Nothing was 
 concluded on more than this, that certainly before we should 
 arive at our liberty and foundamental rights and lawes, we were 
 to pass and wead through another reed sea, and its like 
 colloured elements of fire ; such his intractable obstinacy, and 
 fixed resolution of uncontrollable empire or vast ruin, that 
 Neros lambick would better and more amply have fitted 
 Oliver — 
 
 'E/xoC ...... TTVpl 
 
 Since whil I lived all fate I did defie, 
 Blend fire and earth together quhen I die ! 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Follows account of Cromwell's character and funeral, 
 Richard CromwelPs rule, and Monk's March to London.] 
 
 March 1 [1660] he [General Monk] came with his army to 
 Westminster, and, haveing conveened all the secluded members 
 
420 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 at Whithall, went with them to the House of Commons, and 
 set them in Parliament, who presently vacated many orders 
 made by the aforsaid remnant, in reference to the Kings 
 death, their own seclusion, all votes lately made by them 
 touching new members, released prisoners. Sir George Both 
 and others ; constituted the Generall Captain and Comander 
 in Chiefe of all the forces in England, Scotland, and Ireland ; 
 suspended the power of the Council of State till they had 
 erected a new one of which the Generall was made one ; 
 ordered the gates and portcullises of London to be repaired 
 uppon the publick charge, the militia to be secured in honest 
 hands, all places of trust and power taken away out of the 
 hands of the Sectarians hands ; and voted a free and full 
 Parliament to be chosen and sit at Westminster April 25. 
 And as the General was universally and deservedly courted, 
 the City especially shewed themselves most afFectionat admirers 
 off those great services he had done his country. All the 
 12 companies haveing invited him successively to their halls, 
 quher he was feasted with all sumptuous magnificence love or 
 charge could shew or offer to any person, the Parliament had 
 no less resentment of his glorious undertakeings. He was 
 constitute one of the Generalls at sea. Colonel Montague, Earl 
 of Sandwich, the other, setled on him the stewardship of 
 Hampton Court. 
 
 In Ireland Sir Charles Coot declares for a free Parliament, 
 possesses himselfe of Dublin Castle, and imprisoned all the 
 Anabaptists and Sectarian officers ; and immediatly all Ire- 
 land and the army there declared themselves satisfied in this 
 most happie change, offering their lives and fortunes in the 
 maintenance and defence of the Parliament and his Excellency; 
 all which was signified to the General. 
 
 In Scotland there was never greater joy and acclamations 
 heard in every honest mans mouth and heart. The Generall 
 ordered the Scotch Lords that were imprisoned at Windzor 
 Castle since Worcester battell, to be released, such as Earl of 
 Crawford, Earl of Lauderdale, Earl of Rothes, Annandal, 
 Lord Colvil, Lord Sinclar; for 7 yeares bygon they were 
 confined. I happened, with D. Leonard, Mr. Liddel, Kineire, 
 Blair, and many mo, to accompany them by water to Somerset 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 421 
 
 House, to kisse the Generalls hands. The garrisones and 
 cittadells in Scotland, whither formall or real, keept their 
 solemnities and thanksgiving for the Generalls safe arrival 
 and the setlement. The Castle off Edinburgh and Lieth 
 Citadell gave signall demonstration of joy by their voUy of 
 guns, small shot, and bonfires ; the Citadell of Air the same. 
 The sectarian officers imprisoned in Tantallan, the Bass, and 
 Sterlin, were releast and dissmissed. The sting of power was 
 now taken away, so that they could do no hurt. 
 
 In the North all things regular and quiet. The Citadell 
 of Aberdeen declares for the Generall and the Parliament; 
 and the Citadell of Inverness, though their leading officers 
 were sectarians, yet they could make no noise or sturr for 
 feare of the Highlanders uppon their nose. There is altera- 
 tiones in this g-arrison also. The death of Leutenant Colonel 
 Blunt, the Anabaptist, living in the castle, quher he died, 
 gave others promotion. Captain Hill is made Lieutennant 
 Collonel, and sent to be Governour at Inverlochy. Captain 
 Beatman is made Major, and sent to Cathness to be Governour 
 of Sinclar Castle in Thurso East, where he lived like any 
 prince, for place and respect ; no Earle could exceed him for 
 grandur, spending provision and priveledge, the splendur 
 of his court answeirable ; the man being of an oblidging, mild 
 temper gaind him the affection of the Cathness people of all 
 ranks and degrees. The prisoners confind in the sconce of 
 Inverness were set at freedom uppon bale, viz. Glengary, after- 
 ward Lord Mackdonel, went abroad with his lady, stayed a 
 while in Spain, and came home in the revolution and restaura- 
 tion of King Charles. The Earle of Seaforth keeps home, and Kenneth, Earl 
 is matcht with a kinswoman of his own, a daughter of the ^^^^^f/g^'^^' 
 Laird Tarbuts ; after all mens hops of him debases himselfe 
 mean sprited to marry below himselfe, geting neither beuty, 
 parts, portion, relation. 
 
 Lord Hugh Eraser of Lovat, being at the Colledg of Saint Hugh Lord 
 Andrewes, is sent north by his granduncle, the Earle ot'^^^^^^^^ 
 Wemes, to see what circumstance his estate was in under 
 tutory. His uncle Alexander, vtdgo Master of Lovat, had 
 been now intromettor and administrator these ten yeares 
 bygon, and litle good done with the rents of the Lordship all 
 
422 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the while. Nor would the tutor give up his trust untill his 
 nephew were major. Sybilla M'keiizie, the tutors lady, an 
 ambitious and avaritious woman, turnd a very Hector and 
 ]5angster, would not suffer my Lord to intromet, nor let her 
 husband give up accountes unto any till the legall yeares 
 of his minority were elapsed ; and this was like to breed 
 trouble. But my Lord Lovat had chosen his curators in 14, 
 so that the Tutor is charged south and at their instance; and, 
 for further confirmation, they contrive a match betuixt the 
 young Lord and Miss Anna M'Kenzie, Tarbuts daughter. Her 
 brother, Sir George, being a smart pregmatick man, and also a 
 lawyer about the Colledge of Justice, he was very fit to mannage 
 the Lord Lovats affaires against the Tutor, and prove Sybillas 
 Scurge, which in a short time he did ; and so M'Kenzie contra 
 M'Kenzie; and to this end Sir Georg M'Kenzie of Tarbut 
 My Lord Lovat comes north and solemnisd the marriage betuixt liis sister 
 tembS^i659. Lovat in Miltoun of Ross, his own dwelling house, and so 
 
 privat that none of the friends knew of it till it was consumat, 
 September 27, 1659. Thus were we bought and sold, my 
 Lord Lovat, our Cheefe, betrayed, being but 17 yeares current, 
 when he ought to be kept at schooles and colledges to be 
 educat, is put under the yock of marriage, was unaccountable, 
 and the onely thing that broke him, which, alas, proved too 
 true, in our sad experience, et ad natos natorum et qua^ nas- 
 cuntur ah illis. 
 
 In October the Lord Lovat and his Lady went south, 
 accompanied with his uncle, the Tutor, and several of his 
 kinsmen. He stayed all the winter at the Weemes with the 
 Earle, his granduncle, and in the spring tooke up his lodging 
 at Edinburgh, and differences being composed and agreed 
 betuixt him and his tutor. In March John Orak of Fuly, in 
 Fife, was sent North with a messenger, the keyes of Lovat and 
 Dalcross and Beauly delivered to him in my Lord Lovats 
 name, and a court kept, to that effect entered Chamerlane, 
 and called the tennants to an account, settling the affaires 
 of the country, and, with Struys concurrance, secured the 
 rents, silver duty and customes, for the behoofe of the minor ; 
 and so returnd to the south again, giveing the cureators great 
 satisfaction in all his proceedings. In June my Lady Lovat 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 423 
 
 was delivered of a daughter called Anne, and the Tutor i-ady Lovat 
 necessitat to perform the part of a parent, and present the daughter. ° ^ 
 child to the font of baptism, the Lord Lovat declining that 
 duty, being so young that he was ashamed to countenance the 
 christning of his own daughter, imitating the Church of 
 England, giving it to the godfather. Lovat stayed all that 
 year in Edinburgh untill preparationes were made for his living 
 in the North, and his lady not being fitt for traveling so farr 
 a journay, with other things which intervened. 
 
 The Master of Lovat (as he was termed), being now under 
 bale to the cureators to clear his accounts with them tuixt and 
 Whitsunday 1661, returns home, and by his ladys instigation 
 charges all the tennants within the lordship before a baliefe 
 court, obtaining decreets in there contrare to make punctuall 
 payments of all bygon run on duties under the pane of poind- 
 ing, so that if they had not been solvendo and in bonis by these 
 happy opulent times his rigour in the exaction might have 
 broken many of them irrecoverably. Lady Sybilla was heard 
 to make use off that Scriptur, Give an account of thy steward- 
 ship, for thou canst be no longer steward. Shee concluded Luke i6. i. 
 that, seing the Tutor her husband was to be severly handled, 
 shee would spare none, as the event proved ; being so bad a 
 tutrix to so bare a young Lord. Masters had need look well 
 to the chuseing of their servants. Solomon saw that Jeroboam 
 was industrious, and therefore, without respect at all to his 
 religion, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house 
 of Joseph, but to his singular dissad vantage, as it fell out by i Kings n. 28. 
 Sybillas reckoning after so long a delay. Villicus rationem ^■ 
 cum domino suo crebro putet, said Cato ; Stewards should often 
 account with their masters, else polecy and ploting prevail 
 not, but the fox is wise in his generation, the serpent subtile ; 
 so is the divil, too ; when he was but young he evicted our 
 first parents. Subtile Sybilla thought to supplant, but she 
 was supplanted, and to have reckoned with herselfe, but it was 
 before the host ; and concluded that she had cast a knot too 
 hard to loose, but mains nodus malus ciu'rens ; she met with 1660. 
 hard heads and hands, but a hard hap. This tutory did much 
 ill to the Lord Lovat, no good to themselves, and it begins 
 now to be the fate of that famely to trist with bad tutors. If 
 
424 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Sir James was ill, Tutor Alexander is no better ; yet this 
 woman compast sea and land to proselit, to purchase, and had 
 many advantages for ten yeares, yet left nothing. And besids 
 the incumbs of the rents yearly, she labourd Tommich, where 
 she lived, and the great Mains of Lovat : Bunchrive also, 
 quher her grasing was, and Dalcross, which was non of the 
 worst. She payd stipend to ten ministers, and gloried in this 
 that shee trappand some of them ; for shee got Mr. John 
 Houstons discharge in her hand to know the quota, and, 
 whither by his forgetfullness or her falshood, when he sought 
 his 300 marks the discharge was presented in for and the 
 honest minister cheated. My own causa scientice of this 
 makes me relate it, but it proved a moth in her mony. 
 Grea mortality This and last yeare happened a sad mortality, and this 
 in e or . j^^^gg famely of Lovat had its fatal share, by the death 
 of D. Ross Balnigown and his lady, Mary, a daughter of Lord 
 Hughes ; Anna Fraser, Countess of Sutherland, a daughter 
 of the famely; the Lord Arbuthnot, as sone in law of the 
 famely, and Katharin Fraser his lady was shortly after married 
 to Andrew Lord Fraser of Mucholl, one of the prettiest 
 noblemen in the kingdom. Hector Monro, Laird of Foules, 
 a brave youth, died in Strathnaver this yeare, not without 
 suspition of malifice. Alexander Chisholm of Commer died 
 in Brackach this harvest. But the severest stroak reacht the 
 clergy, viz., Mr. Patrick Dunbar, minister at Dorris, died this 
 1659. spring; Mr. John Houston, minister at Wardlaw in October; 
 
 Mr. William Fraser,^ minister at Invernes, in November; 
 Master Alexander Rosse, minister at Daviot, next spring, 60 ; 
 Mr. John Annand in November 1660; Mr. James Wans, 
 minister of Croy, just then; so that in the whole presbitry 
 of Invernes remaind but 4 ministers, Kiltarlity, Petty, Moy, 
 and Boleskin ; and William M^'kintosh, Laird off Torcastle, died 
 at Phaly, going home from Mr. John Annans burrialL And 
 that same summer Captain James Fraser, my Lord Lovats 
 sone, who had gone abroad with the Lord Cranston, 1656, 
 died up at Torn in Pomer, and three more of his name with 
 him ; and onely Lieutenant Hugh Fraser, Clunvacky, returnd 
 home alive. 
 
 ^ The author's father. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 425 
 
 The next September a formidable big whale came up the a monstmous 
 firth, and stuck upon the Ihie shoare be-east Inverness, a mile. 
 It was 70 foot long. I was present at the measuring of her. 
 The debate began whither it was uppon Cullodens March or 
 the Townes ; butt the Burgers of Inverness ceased the whale 
 under appretiation, John Forbes of Cullodden being then at 
 south. The English offered to buy her at a high rate, and 
 they should have got her be right, for all men concluded the 
 whale to be a presage of the garrisons expiration, and transla- 
 tion from Inverness, which happened shortly after. There 
 was also a monstruous sturgion fish of ten foot long taken in 
 the Yarr of Rindowy at the same time. This fish, well 
 dressed and pickled, is meat and medicin. The English 
 bought it at the rate of 4tibs sterling, and after bringing it in 
 to the Cittadel, whispered among themselves that it could not 
 be had in England under 10 pounds. 
 
 About the beginning of April the inscription under the 
 Statue of King Charles the i. in the Royall Exchange was 
 expunged and blotted out by a privat hand : no Ejcit Tyrannus 
 to be seen. Next morrow it tristed that the City of London 
 emitted a declaration quherin they clear themselves of the 
 guilt of the Kings death and the crimes of the usurpation ; 
 after which it was observed that the General looked more 
 cheerful, and his well governed impatience of the Kings return. 
 April 11 CoUonel Lambert escaped out of the Tower, being 
 the last dying efforts of those monstruous violences which had 
 so long prevailed against the barrs of law and authority. 
 Instantly a proclamation is emitted requireing him to rander coioneiiLam- 
 himselfe within 24 houres at his highest perril, prohibiting any ^^^^ escapes, 
 to conceal him, and a 100 L. to any who should take him. 
 The Lords Brook and Convoy persue him. At Daventry he 
 made 700, and in a short time would encrease to a formidable 
 power, proposeing the readmission of Richard to be Protector ; 
 but Colonell Ingolsby, with his troopes, approaching and ready 
 to fall on, betook himselfe to flight, Lambert loosing here the 
 name of that vallour which he had purchased throughout the 
 war, crying out tweice. Pray, my Lord, let me escape ; what 
 good will my life or perpetual imprisonment do yow ? Then 
 was taken by Ingolsbys own hand. Thus secured, he was sent 
 
426 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 up to the Tower on Tusday, April 24, by Hid Park, where 
 the City forces, exceeding for gallantry and number all former 
 showes, mustered before the General!, the fields resounding 
 with the cry of King Charles 2, pleasant musick to Lambert 
 in the passing by, whose escap was imputed to Colonell Morlys, 
 Lieutenant of the Tower, his connivance, in whose place Major 
 Nicolace, of whose faith the general had experience, was sent 
 Free Parlia- to be Lieutenant. April 25, the free Parliament sat down in 
 mentof Eng ^^^^ Houses, haveing first met at St. Margrets, where Doctor 
 Reynolds preacht before them. The Lords choose the Earl 
 of Manchester for their Speaker, the House of Commons Sir 
 Harbotle Grimston, and the Lord Generall chosen Knight 
 of his own county of Devon. The first thing fallen upon was 
 an appointed day of thanksgiveing to God for raiseing up his 
 Excellency and other eminent persones as instrumentall in 
 delivering the kingdomes from thraldome and misery ; the 
 thankfuU acknowledgement of the Parliament tendered to his 
 Excellency for the unparalleld services he had doon the nations 
 in delivering them from slavery. Thanks also was given to 
 Colonell Ingoldsby for retakeing of Lambertt. The next thing 
 was the apprehending of the severall officers of the Army, and 
 others ill affected people, and secureing them in prisones for 
 the strengthening and establishing of the peace, happiness, 
 rights, libertys of the kingdoms, so well begun, and after 
 quhich we had so long laboured in vain. 
 The Bishops How great our happiness, and no less ground of gratulation^ 
 of England. Church and State like to be settled uppon its true old 
 
 basis. The Bishops, who formerly lived obscurely, appeare now 
 openly in the streetes, crouded with afFectionat salutations, 
 and accosted for benedictions ; such a veneration ther people 
 have for that holy order, now so long ecclipsed. I saw 8 
 Bishopes in London at the sitting of the Parliament, viz. 
 Doctor William Juxon, Lord Bishop of London, consecrated 
 1633, he lodged at Westminster; and Doctor Brian Dippo, 
 Lord Bishop of Sarum ; they were inseperable ; he was con- 
 secrated 1638. And the third was Doctor Accepted Frewn, 
 Lord Bishop of Coventry and Liechfield, consecrated 1644; 
 Doctor Mathew Wren, Lord Bishop of Heriford, consecrated 
 1634; Doctor Robert Skinner, Lord Bishop of Oxon, con- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 427 
 
 secrated 1638 ; Doctor William Roberts, Lord Bishop of 
 Bangor, consecrated 1637; Doctor John Warner, Lord Bishop 
 of Rochester, consecrated 1637 ; Doctor Henry King, Lord 
 Bishop of Chichester, consecrated 1641. All these were 
 present at London when Lord Generall Monk arrived there ; 
 and Doctor John Cousines, Lord Bishop of Dureham, was 
 absent. Those are the 9 surviving Bishopes of England 
 (being all 26 in numheT) now favente Numine to be restored. 
 They patiently boar their sufferings these 20 yeares bygon 
 under a desperat rebellion, liveing privatly and contentedly 
 uppon their own mean interests, though deprived of and 
 sequestrat from their revenues. I often waited uppon them 
 as they went to see the Generall ; two or three at a time in 
 their gounes and Episcopal habits, and their suitable retinue, 
 the very nobles and gentry reverently attending them, and 
 kneeling to receave their benedictions in the very streetes 
 they passed. 
 
 We have a society of loyal true hearted Scotch in London 
 at present. Doctor Alexander Eraser,^ our Kings phisitian 
 in ordinar, living in Kings Street, and goes under the name of 
 the French Doctor; Mr. Doncan Liddel, Professor of the 
 Mathematick, once at Aberdeen, now exiled and keepes school 
 in Thames Street, hath many disciples, and myselfe one of the 
 number. Mr. Samuel Crichton, a great traveler, set up an 
 accademy in St. Paules churchyard for the breeding of young 
 gentry; he is one of the compleitest men in our age. Mr. 
 Gaan Ogilvy, a great poet ; he hath set out an English 
 Hebrew grammar, followeing an easier method of learning that 
 language than any yet hath done, a rode which none have ever 
 yet trod. Thomas Sidserfe, sone to Bishop Sidserfe, the one 
 onely surviving prelat in Scotland, is here, setting out fine 
 pamphlets to gratify the gentry. Mr. Samuel Eraser, a great 
 grand gramarian, hath a school in Black Friars. Jack Renny, 
 a marchant tailor, in the Round Court, a discreet oblidging 
 man. Mr. Anderson, called the Universal traveler, hath been 
 now 4 times at Rome as governour to the English gentry. 
 Mr. James Mowat hath been twice over the Alps as governour 
 
 Afterwards Sir Alexander Fraser. 
 
428 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 to the gentry. Mr. Andrew Collace, an exild minister, officiats 
 at Wapping. Mr. Blair, a marchant taylor in Rudlan, our 
 landlord. Mr. Gordon and John, his nephew, marchant 
 tailors in that Lane. Mr. Mowat, a taverner in that lane. 
 Mr. Kinire in Blackfriars, factor for the Scotch. Mr. William 
 Mitchel, a great student. Mr. William Chalmer, my intimat. 
 Mr. Arthur Stratton, a depend on Doctor Owen. Mr. Ludo- 
 vick Burnet, Usher to a school in Sudrick. Mr. Robert 
 Farguison, a pregmattick head, who kendled a fire in our 
 University at Aberdeen anno 1654; he is shapen certainly for 
 mischeefe. Captain James Jhonston, though in Cromuels 
 guard, yet a true hearted gentleman. Mr. John Gordon 
 Arlogy come from Pole. Mr. William Robertson, factor here 
 for the Polonian Scotts. Mr. Shiesholm, Mr. Ratry, Scotch 
 marchants. Mr. Andrew Forrester, my cammarad, etc. I 
 might fill a volum with the names of Scotch at London ; 
 marchants, schollars, trads, souldiours, whom I leave to follow 
 their fate. 
 
 We ar now to leave London, the Scotch fleet lying at 
 Gravesend waiting for a convoy, ready to set saile. The rode 
 by land for Scotland is now so pesterd with highway men, 
 robbing all travelers, so that there is no safe journaying, and 
 so we make ready for the voyage. Meantime William Trent 
 and I, comming one day from London Bridge, we remarked 
 Thomas Fitch, once governour and colonel to the English 
 regiment at Invernes, whom I saw in grandure and state 
 there. We spy him in a privat lane, most dejected; all 
 alone, but he knew not us. These happy changes hath 
 brought such snakes to skulc up and down the city obscurly 
 and in disguise ; such a cloud hangs over the Sectarian crew, 
 and have no confidence to appeare openly nor avowedly before 
 Saint George any. April 23, the feast of St. George, patron of Ingland, 
 his day. ^^^^ never kept with greater joy and solemnity then at this 
 
 time in city and country, a presage of greater mirth in the 
 Kings restau ration, which all hearts are wishing, all mouths 
 praying; and who will not join his suffrage to the design? 
 In Thames Street we take leave of Mr. Sheuzan, a ribbon 
 weaver, married to on Betty Fraser. At parting he bowed a 
 large shilling sterlin in his teeth, and gives it to me for a 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 429 
 
 toaken to drink with his cousin Shuzan in Gravesend, at the 
 sign of the Checker, to whom he recommends us ; and so we 
 glid down the river Thames in a pair of oares, and my two 
 cammarads, Godfrey Hartly and Henry Jordan, convoy us 
 that 20 miles be water to Gravesend ; quher landing and one 
 the staires I meet my 3^ cammarad Will. Wait, haveing a lady 
 by the hand, convoying her aboord of a friggat, her husband 
 Captain Wait being master; but, behold, he lets goe the lady, 
 and got me in his arms, to the admiration of all present who 
 discovered not the intrigue. 
 
 I am now at Gravesend, the dearest hole in England ; and 
 I record this passage for the rarety of it, that my three 
 cammarads and fellow travelers abroad should, by a happy 
 providence, rancounter and trist together in one place, and 
 no design in it. Henry Jordan, my first fellow traveler through 
 France ; Will. AVait my second through Italy to Rome ; my 
 3d and last, the best off all the three, Godfrey Hartlay, with 
 whom I traveled a tedious but pleasant pilgremage from Rome 
 to London, where now I must leave him, and much of my 
 heart with him, pars animoe dimidiata mece, and infinitly 
 deserves that praise of the pleasant poet — O mihi post mdlos 
 nunquam memorando sodales. That night we lodge with 
 Shusan at the Checker, who treated us heartily, nor left he 
 anything at our hand. We drunk our bowed shilling with 
 him, remembering our true friends at London. This afternoon 
 intimation was made throughout the harbour that the Pro- 
 vidence friggat was appointed to be the convoy of the Scotch 
 fleet ; and indeed Providence was still my convoy in all my 
 travels and voyages. Next morrow betimes Mr. Wishart, Mr. 
 Blair, Mr. Gordon, Liddall, and severall others came down 
 the river in a pair of oares from London, to give us their last 
 farewell ; and at Mr. Shushans Checker tavern we cheere one 
 another with many afFectionat remembrances, and, after bathing 
 some choice healths in the best London liquors that place 
 could afford, at last we part, and bid adue to sack and the 
 Checker at once, and after many repeated sweet embraces, I 
 shall conclud with the poet — 
 
 How oft our numbered kisses did we tell ! 
 How loath was our sad tongue to say farewell ! 
 
430 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 In fine we take our last farewell, never to meet again till 
 Heaven joine us, never to part, never to seperat ; and April 
 28. we went aboord of the Mary of Dundee, lying in the rode 
 off Gravesend, and bound for Inverness in Scotland ; the master 
 of the ship, Scipper William Thurslo ; his mate, John Row. 
 We were ten passingers in the ship, besids the crew, viz. 
 Doncan Forbes, William Trent, Alexander Clunes, and John 
 M'kfarquhar, marchants in Invernes ; Henry Bain and James 
 Dunbarr, apprentices to Patrick Ruthven, factor in Inverness ; 
 John Jameson, marchant in Bruntisland ; James Wulson in 
 Dundee ; Mr. Charles M'kulloch, appothecary chvrurgion in 
 Thain [Tain], and Mr. James Fraser, student and traveler. I 
 have set myselfe last, as recorder of all the rest. A sign was 
 given of a great gun shot out of the Providence friggat, our 
 convoy, at which all the fleet, 22 ships, weighed anchor, and 
 set sail with a prospei-ous gale for the coast of Scotland, 
 whither God conduct and pilot us all in safety to our respective 
 harboures and homes. Amen. 
 King Charles 2. The King is all this April at Bruizles, in a quiet expectation 
 at ruses. Parliaments proceeding, the Spaniards haveing alloud 
 
 him yearly the soume of 900 L., besids the pay of his forces 
 kept there. Meanwhile the Prince of Orange prepares his 
 palace at Bredah for him, whither the King departed, the King 
 of Spain haveing sent a complement to him by an envoy, 
 entreating him to return that way, and to take shipping at 
 one of his ports of Flanders quhen he was to goe for England, 
 and he had ordered his forces to attend him. His Majestic 
 thanked his Catholick Highness for this and his former 
 curtesies. From Breda he sends his letters by Mr. Mordant 
 The Kings let- and Sir John Greenwall to the Parliament of England respec- 
 luon ?eidln^'' tively, to the Lord Generall, City of London, Lord Mayor, 
 Parliament. Aldermen and Common Council, containing his Majestys free 
 and generall pardon to all his subjects quhatsoever who shall 
 within 40 dayes after publication thairof lay hold uppon that 
 grace, such excepted quhom the Parliament thinks fit, and as 
 to tender consciences non shall be called in question for dif- 
 ferences in oppinion which disturb not the peace of the nation. 
 This declaration, with the Kings letter to his Excellency, were 
 read in both Houses with extraordinary ceremony and reverence 
 
POLTCRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 431 
 
 as if some strange awe had ceased uppon the minds of the 
 Parliament, every man at the Speakers nameing of the King 
 riseing up and uncovering himselfe, desireing forthwith the 
 letters to be read. 
 
 The Parliament now declare that according to the ancient 
 and foundamental lawes of the kingdom the government is 
 and ought to be by Kings, Lords, and Commons; and having a Act for the 
 deep sense of the miseries and destruction in which, this kingdom tion^oted and 
 hath been involved since the violent attempts to dissolve the earned, 
 •established government, the best way to make up these breaches 
 is by all meanes to obtaine the restauratioun of the King to 
 his people. Nor were the souldery wanting to this concourse 
 and streame of generall affection and loyalty to his Majesty, 
 who drew up a generall adresse to the Lord Generall Monk, 
 wherein they declared their ready and willing submission to 
 him in all transactions as formerly, mainly in this their duty 
 and respect to the King. This was seconded by the Navy 
 under Generall Montague, the sea rageing with the pale of 
 guns uppon the communication of the said papers ; and the 
 Governour Collonell Harlew, and Governour of Dunkirk, did 
 the same by an adresse to his Excellency. His Majestys papers 
 being speedily made publick, and the City in a kind of extasy 
 for two dayes together, the press never cease to print them, 
 and all persons haveing nothing else to do but to read them 
 with joy and solemnity. 
 
 [Follows an account of proceedings in England in connec- 
 tion with the Restoration, and reflections on that event.] 
 
 At this time Archibald Campbell, the Marques of Argile, Marques of 
 came to London, and lurcked a whil untill he might steal an ^^Londonr 
 occasion to see the King, and had the confidence and hope to 
 have inveigled and obtained pardon for all these base treasones 
 he had acted so covertly in Scotland since his Majesties depar- 
 ture, and that the King would passe by these many undutifull 
 irreverent usages of him by him and the Kirk, while he was 
 there among them. But such was the generall hatred and 
 detestation of that people, especially of the nobility, against 
 
432 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 him, that the King gave order for his commitment. It was 
 generally reported that Argil had got a responce importing 
 that if he got but a sight of the Kings face there was no feare ; 
 but while he was waiting at court, and pleaded to speake to 
 the King, and faire for it, yet could not be admitted, Sir 
 Oliver Flemming, Knight of the Black Rod, is sent to usher 
 him to gaole. He desired to speake to Mr. Calamy in his way 
 to the Tower, but was refused that curtesy. At length is 
 secured prisoner in the Tower, and from thence by sea the 
 next month he was convoyed to Edinbrugh, where his processe 
 was makeing ready, the Earl of Midleton, the Kings great 
 commissioner, following him thither att the heeles; which will 
 give subject to a larger paragraph in its own place, 
 January 1661. In January Generall Jo: Midleton, being created Earl of 
 Cleremont, is sent high commissioner for Scotland; and to 
 endict a Parliament there in the Kings name, and setle maters 
 in that nation. The 7 of January Charles, sone to the Duke 
 of York, is born, and created £arl of Cambridge. The happy 
 English Parliament, which had rebuilt the glorious structur of 
 the ancient renouned government on its foundation in the 
 establishment of our soveraign, came now to its period ; and, 
 that no revoulution of time should obliterat its worthy acts 
 his Majesty gave a speech to both Houses, and out of his 
 Royall mouth used these memorable expressions : That this 
 Parliament should be called to all posterity the healeing and 
 blissed Parliament, and that it should be a rule to his actions 
 and his Councils to consider of this. What is a Parliament ? 
 A patern to posterity* 
 
 1661. 
 
 Parliament sat 
 in Scotland. 
 Jan. 10. 
 
 [Further account of events in England.] 
 
 In Scotland General Midletoun haveing come down Com^ 
 missioner, being created Earl of Claremont, the history of this 
 convention will be ever on record for the wealth, grandure, 
 solemnity, and popularity of it ; no such Parliament ever met 
 in Scotland. But, alace, for vice, wickedness, debording, 
 lewdness, debauchery, excess, and profanity, it had no paralelL 
 Every person tooke loose reines to do as he would. They sat 
 in January, and the first act was to rescind the Solemn League 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 433 
 
 and Covenant, which was burnt at the cross by the hand of 
 the piiblick hangman ; and, the next act, the power of the 
 militia off the whole kingdom is put into the Kings hands by 
 open proclamation. January 25. an Act passed in Parliament 
 for the trial of the Marques of Argyl, Archibald Campbell. 
 The first of February, an overture in Parliament for dividing 
 the vast shire of Invernes in two adjournd. Feb. 13. Archibald 
 Campbell, Marques of Argyle, is brought before the Parliament, 
 and his tryals begun. He chuse his Advocats, Sir George 
 M'Kenzie of Rosehaugh, his cheefe advocate, who pleaded 
 vigurously for him, but the Kings Advocat, Sir John Flesher, 
 was too hard against him, bringing in severall points of treason 
 in his contrare which he offered to prove, and at last did so. 
 Argile was very bold and confident in his own defence, with 
 some reflections uppon severalls, especially the Kings Advocat, 
 who told him openly, Archibald, it is not with yow now as 
 when yow set up the flesh stocks betuixt the Cross and the 
 Tron. All that Argil replyed was, A flesher dog bittes sore. 
 
 Argiles tryalls continued all March and April, and, after 
 hot and vigorous pleading, to the wonder and admiration 
 of all lawyers, maters were clearly and justly carry ed in his 
 contrare, and Chancelour Cunningham, Earl of Glencarn, pro- 
 nounced the sentence of death against him : That Archibald 
 Cambel, late Marques of Argil, for many treasonable acts 
 proven in his contrare, should be hangd upon a gibbet at the 
 cross of Edinburgh, and his head cut off and set up upon the 
 same iron pinn on which the Marquess of Montross his head 
 was set in 1650, now to be taken down : this sentence pro- 
 nounced May 18, 1661. It is observable that in that very a Reflection, 
 individuall chamber and lodging in which Argyle lived at 
 Edinburgh, anno 1650, when the Marques of Huntly was 
 sentenced, his daughter, the Lady Roxburgh, came in to plead 
 with him for a prorogation or mitigation of the sentence 
 against her father, the Marques of Huntly, and was per- 
 emptory denyed be Argile in his grandur. In this very 
 chamber lodged Glencarn, the Chanclour, when the Lady 
 Cathnes and her sister came in to him and the Commissioner 
 together to plead with them for the same favour at their 
 hand to their father, Argile, now under sentence and in a 
 
 2e 
 
434 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Marques of 
 Argile his 
 speech uppon 
 the scaffold. 
 
 fever; and the same was point blank denyed them. So that 
 what he denied to another, in his straigt another denyes now 
 to him. Thus, as Adonibezek said. As I have done so God 
 hath requitted me. Argil might say within the compass of ten 
 yeares. There are changes in the right hand of the Almighty 
 to put in execution quhenever he will. 
 
 May 27. My lord Marques of Argyle was brought to the 
 scaffold at the Cross of Edinburgh, and upon it spoke this 
 speech openly, and written in shorthand by one that was 
 present, from quhom I had it. Many will expect that I 
 should speake of many things, and according to their severall 
 opiniones and dispositiones so will their expectationes be from 
 me, and constructions of me. But I resolve to dissapoint many, 
 for I am not come hither to justify myselfe but the Lord, 
 who is holy in all his wayes and rightious in all his works ; 
 holy and blissed is His name. Neither came I to condemn 
 others. I know many will expect that I will speake against 
 the hardness of the sentence pronounced against me; but I 
 will say nothing to it. I bliss the Lord I pardon all men, as 
 I desire to be pardoned of the Lord myselfe. Let the will 
 of the Lord be done ; that is all I desire. I hope that ye will 
 have more charety to me now than yow would have had at 
 another time, since I speake before the Lord, to whom I must 
 give an account very shortly. I know well enugh that my 
 words have had but very litle weight with many, and that 
 many have mistaken my words and actings both. Many have 
 thought me to be a great enemy to these great works which 
 have of late been brought to passe ; but do not mistake me, 
 good people — I speake it in the presence of the Lord — I entered 
 not uppon the work of reformation with any design to 
 advantage myselfe, or prejudice to the King and his govern- 
 ment or person, as my will, which was written in the yeare 1655, 
 and thereafter was delivered to a friend in whose hand it yet 
 remaineth, can shew. As for these calumnies which have gone 
 abroad oil me, I bliss God I know them to be no more ; and, 
 as I goe to make a reckoning to my God, I am free to any 
 of these. Concerning the Kings person or government, I was 
 real and cordiall in my desires to bring the King home, and in 
 mv indeavours for him when he was at home ; and I had no 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 435 
 
 correspond ance with the adversaries army, nor any of them, 
 the time his Majestie was in Scotland ; nor had I any occasion 
 to his late Majesties horrid and execrable murder, by councel 
 or knowledge of it, or any other manner of way. This is a 
 truth, as I shall answeir to my Judge. And all the time his 
 Majestie was in Scotland I was still indeavouring his advant- 
 age ; my conscience beareth me witness in it ; that is, for that. 
 Then he turnd about and said — 
 
 Gentlemen, ye will all remember these, I hop ; I confess 2 Part off 
 many will looke uppon my condition as a suffering condition ; "'^^^^^^^ speech, 
 but I bliss the Lord that he who hath gone before me hath 
 troden the wine press of the Fathers wrath, by whose sufferings 
 I hope that my sufferings shall not be eternall. I bliss him 
 that hath taken away the sting of my sufferings. I may say 
 that my chariot was sealed the day, for the Lord hath said to 
 me, Sone, be of good chear, thy sins are freely forgiven thee ; 
 and so I hope my sufferings shall be easy. And ye know the 
 scripture saith that the Captain of our salvation was made 
 perfect through sufferings. I shall not speake much to these 
 things I am condemned for, lest I should seeme to condemn 
 others. It is well known it is only for compliance, which is the 
 epidemicall fault of the nation. I wish the Lord may pardon 
 them. I say there was never any expression [of] my submis- 
 sion, and sent to the Parliament of the contagion of the 
 times ; which may by some be construed as if I intend thereby 
 to lay an imputation upon the work of reformation. I declare 
 I intended no such thing ; but it was onely in relation to the 
 corruptions and faileings of men occasioned by the prevalency 
 of the usurping power then swaying. 
 
 Now, gentlemen, I think there are three sorts of people 
 that take up much of the world and of the nation. 1 . there 
 are the openly profain, and truly I might say, though I was a 
 prisoner, yet I have not had mine eares shut. I heare assuredly 
 that swearing, drinking, and whooring were never more common, 
 never more countenanced, than now they are ; and truely, if 
 magistrates were here, I would say to them, if they lay freely 
 forth their power for the glorifying of God by the restraining 
 of those, they would fare the better ; if they continue in not ^661. 
 restraining of it, they will fare the worse. I will say np more, onihe scaffoW. 
 
436 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 but either let people shun profanity, or magistrates restrain it, 
 or assurredly the wrath of God will follow on it. 2, others 
 they are not openly prophane ; every one will not allow that, 
 but yet they are careless in that mater. If things goe well as 
 to their privat interests, they care not whither religion or the 
 Kirk of God sink or swim ; but, whatever they think, God hath 
 laid engagements uppon Scotland. We are tied by covenants 
 to religion and reformation. Those that were then unborn 
 are engaged to it, and in our baptism we are ingaged to it, and 
 it passeth the power of any under heaven to absolve any man 
 from the oath of God ; for which oath I am presently brought 
 here this day. They deceive themselves, and it may be would 
 deceave others otherwayes (but I would caviat this, lest people 
 would think this an instigation of rebellion from me) ; but they 
 are very far in the wrong that think so, and that religion and 
 loyalty are not consistent; if any man think otherwayes 
 religion is not to be blamed, but they. It is true it is the duty 
 of every Christian to be loyal ; yet I think the order of things 
 is as well to be observed as their natures ; the order of religion, 
 as well as the nature of it. Religion must not be the coak- 
 boat, it must be the ship — God must have what is his, as well 
 as Cesar what is his. And those are the best subjects that are 
 the best Christians ; and that I am looked on as a friend to 
 reformation is my glory. There are 3. another sort that are 
 truely godly ; and to those I must say what I feare, and truely 
 every one hath reason to fear, it is good to fear evil. It is 
 true the Lord may prevent it ; but if he doe not, I see litle 
 probabiHty of it. These times are very like to be suffering 
 times, or very sinning times ; and let Christians make their 
 choise. There is a sad dilemma in the bussiness, sin or suffer ; 
 and truly he that would choise the better part will choise to 
 suffer. Others there are that would choise to sin, will not 
 escape suffering : they shall suffer, but it may be not as I 
 do here (turning him to the maiden when he spoke it) ; but, 
 worse, mine is temporal, but thers shall be eternal ; and when 
 I shall be singing, they shall be howling. Beware, therfore, 
 of sinning, whatever yow are aware of, especially in these 
 times. Yet, I cannot say of my own condition but the Lord 
 in His providence hath mind mercy to me, evin in this world ; 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 437 
 
 for, if I had been more favourably dealt with, I fear I might 
 have been overcome with temptations as many others are, and 
 I fear many more shall be. I wish the Lord may prevent it ; 
 and so should have gone out of the world with a more polluted 
 conscience then, through the mercy of God, now I have. And 
 hence my condition is such now as when I am gone will be 
 seen not to be such as many did imagin. It is fit God take 
 me away before I fall in these tentations ; yet blissed be His 
 name that I am keped both from present evils and evils to 
 come. Turning about he spoke thus to Mr.* Hutchison. *Mr. George 
 
 Some may expect that I may regrate my own condition, minister au 
 but truly I neither grudge nor repine ; nor do I desire any Edinburgh, 
 revenge. And I declare I do not repent my going to London ; 
 for I alwayes rather had suffered anything than lye under such 
 reproaches as I did. I desire not that the Lord should judge 
 any; nor do I judge any but myselfe. I wish, as the Lord 
 hath pardoned me, so he may pardon them in this and other 
 things ; and what they have done to me may never meet them 
 in their account. I have no more to say, but to beg the Lord 
 that, since I goe away, they may be blissed thatstayeth behind. 
 Befor he laid his head uppon the block, his dublet being off, 
 these were his last words : I desire yow. Gentlemen, and all 
 that heareth me this day, to take notice, and I wish that all 
 that seeth me might hear me, that now, when I am entering 
 to my eternitty, and am to appear before my Judge, and as 
 I desire salvation and happiness from Him, from my birth to 
 my scaffold I am free from any accession by my knowledge 
 concerning Councels, or any other way, to his late Majesties 
 death ; and I pray the Lord preserve his present Majesty, 
 and to pour His best blessings upon his person and govern- 
 ment ; and the Lord give him good and faithfull councelloures. 
 Then, turning about to his friends, he said these few words : 
 Many Christians may stumble at this, and my friends may be 
 discontented ; but, when things are rightly considered, my 
 friends have no discredit of me, nor Christians no stumbling 
 block, but rather an incurragement. 
 
 The 4 friends, with a scarlet cloath, receaved the head. It 
 lay uppon the scaffold untill the dead body, being put in a 
 coffin, was taken away ; and one cried. Deliver the head of 
 
438 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Argyie Archibald Campbell, late Marques of Argil, into the hands of 
 
 May 27, 1661. the common hangman to be set up uppon the midle iron pin 
 on the top of the wester gavel of the tolebooth of Edinburgh ; 
 the said Archibald being sentenced to be beheaded this day 
 for his former dissloyall practices, proven against him, and the 
 mitigation of the sentence, that his corps be carried away by 
 his friends to be interred at pleasur. It is observable that 
 Pet. Grham of Morphy, glad of the occasion, stept up the 
 leather to the gavel of the tolebooth, and, with his own hand, 
 took down the Marques of Montross his head off the pin, and 
 set up Argiles head in its place. There being an order of 
 Parliament to take up the Marques of Montross his body 
 hurried in the gallow moore, and gather his dispersed quarters 
 and limbs, and to give them honourable interment ; which was 
 solemnly done by his friends. But its reported that the for- 
 said Morphay Graham, by the excessive joy dyed soon after. 
 Much about this time came out Argyles book, in 8% entituled 
 Maximes of State, by the late Marques of Argile, and Advice 
 to his sone, and these four lines writ uppon the title page — 
 
 Lo here the genious of the Great Argyie ! 
 Whose Politicks and ^Ethicks in one Pyle, 
 Like Anchor Buoys, appear to teach thee wit 
 To shun the Rocks, on which himselfe did split. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Follows list of the Acts of the Scottish Parliament of 1661 ; 
 and account of affairs in England and Ireland.] 
 
 At this time few of the Scots nobility were gone up to 
 Court, the itch of English traveling being somewhat now 
 blunted. Duke Hamilton is young, yet resolved not to goe 
 up till he were called ; yet got a pension. The Earl of Craw- 
 ford had both a place and pension, et merito, his epithet. Loyal 
 Lindsay. The Earl of Lauderdale was Secretary of State for 
 Scotland. Kenmoor and Kinoul were to goe up after the 
 Parliament. The Lord Didop had been with the King abroad, 
 as also the Earl of Eglintoune. The Earle of Marr carried 
 faire under the Rebellion ; and the Earle of Casles, who it is 
 said never saw an Englishman in the face, is now content to 
 see them march home. The Marques of Montrosse, very 
 
 1661. 
 
 Lauderdale, 
 Secretary. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 439 
 
 young, is recommended by the King to the Parliament. The 
 Marques of Huntly, but a schoole boy, lived with his lady 
 mother at Elgin, very mean ; whilst the Earl of Lorn possesses 
 his estate, and lives at the Bogg of Gith. I saw his lady, the 
 Earl of Murrays daughter, and famely there, 1661. The Earle 
 of Murray lives privatly at home, a sober, vertuous man. The 
 Earle of Seaforth is now at Lewis, and the Earl of Sutherland 
 is no courtiour. The Earl of Cathnes, married to Argyle''s 
 daughter, is a youth of great worth and esteeme ; no subject 
 keeps a greater port and grand ure; his table and dayly fare, 
 with variety off services, equalls any prince in Britain. The 
 Laird off Glengary, who, after his releasement from his confine- 
 ment in the citadel of Invernes with the English, went over to 
 Spain, is now returnd home, and in great favour with the 
 King ; is created Lord Mackdonell, and a pension intaild uppon ^neas, Lord 
 him ; he sat as a peere in Parliament at this time. M'kdoneii. 
 
 My Lord Lovat, being young, stayed at Edinburgh since his Hugh, Lord 
 marriage, anno 1659, till now, that he might be acquaint with 
 the nobles and others his relations in Edinburgh, see the 
 Convention of States and the statly riding of the Parliament ; 
 and, seing there were severall protestations by some noblemen 
 commissioners from shires and burghs concerning their prece- 
 dencies in the Rolls of Parliament, Alexander Eraser, tutor of 
 Lovat, and Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbut tooke protestation 
 on the Lord Lovats behalfe for his place and precedency, 
 proving that of old he was 5 lord in the Rolls, non stepping 
 before him but 1. the Lord Forbes, ^. Lord Salton Abernethy, 
 3. the Lord Gray, and 4. the Lord Oliphant ; for the Lord Lovat 
 compeated with Stuart Lord Ochiltry and the Lord Elphin- 
 stone, who tooke place of him in course though it was neither 
 of their dues; for the Lord Lovat was nobilitat in King 
 Alexander the 3d his time, about anno 1260, before there was 
 a Stuart in Scotland : so that Ochiltry may hold his peace ; 
 and Elphinston was created Lord by King Robert the Second, 
 surnamed Bleareye, the first of the Stewards, anno 1374, at 
 the convention in Perth ; so that he comes short of precedency. 
 My Lord Lovat and his lady came north, July 27, 1661 ; were 
 most sumptuously treated at Invernesse by the magistrates, 
 John Forbes off Culodden being provost ; and at the bridge 
 
440 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 end of Inverness was waited uppon with 60 horse gentlemen of 
 his own name, and 600 foot well appointed, and Hugh Fraser 
 of Struy, his lieutenant colonel, Hugh Fraser off Foyer, major. 
 I myselfe present at that pleasant parade. 
 My Lords Mv Lord came to Lovat in the evening:, with his friends and 
 
 setlement at . . 
 
 Lovat. retinue, and I can say there was nothing wanting that could 
 
 be necessary for a sumptuous feast and noble entertainment ; 
 and that which made that infare splendid was the convocation 
 of my Lords friends and allyes to welcom him home to his 
 country. His Domestick servants and attendants were, John 
 Allans, his chiefe gentleman, and William White, his page : 
 Robert Carr, master houshold, and James Fraser, Stuart ; John 
 Card, groome ; William Innes, groome ; John M'kall, stabler ; 
 John Dason, brewer ; William Glasse, cooke; John M'kleod, 
 his servant ; Farquhar Fraser and Alexander Peddison, cham- 
 berlains ; John Mackal lister, a Fraser, porter, etc. ; Isabel 
 Fraser alias P'orbes, maid of honor; Isabell Dempster, Marjory 
 Reed, Anna Dinguall, nurses; Anna TuUoch, Anna Hay, 
 maides. I am the more punctuall to set down the servants 
 names becaus I had the conduct and government of the famely, 
 being Chaplain in this noble famely for two yeares untill I 
 entered minister at the church of Wardlaw. My Lord spent 
 the remainder of July and most of August in visits, went over 
 to Brahan, Coule, Farburn, Dochmiluag ; went to see Fowles, 
 and Balingown, and Tarbut ; and then visited the Chisholm 
 of Strathglasse in Erchless, [and visited] Struy, Culboky, and 
 Belladrom ; and afterwards, with his Lady and train, went to 
 Stratharick, visiting Foyer and all the numerous famelies in 
 that country. This I was witness to as being his domestick. 
 
 This nobleman, to give him his due, was generous, humane, 
 and affable, oblidging and curtious to all. His love and 
 affection was such that he might well be termed, with Titus, 
 the sone of Vespasian, delicice generis huma?ice, the delight of 
 mankind. Take him in the complex, as to his personall, 
 domesticall, relational capacitys and concerns his accomplish- 
 ments were singular, and all his actions mixed with discretion 
 and prudence; but ah, Ah, voluptates nimium fug aces cuncta 
 caduca, all things fade, and short is the lace we had of him 
 as the consequence confirms. He is now but about 19 yeares 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 441 
 
 of age current, being born anno 1643. Alas for his too soone 
 appearing uppon the stage of affaires, his too early marriage, 
 before he knew either the world or himselfe, and got no time 
 to purchase or polish his partes or person, to gain the education 
 which was fit to accomplish a nobleman, a thing too fatall 
 to that famely, and portends no good omen to his country or 
 us his kinsmen. If I were able or in capacity to foretell 
 events, as Astolfos Logistilla shewed the race of the house of 
 Este in Modena before their conception, I should not keep 
 others or myselfe in the mist, but I clame no pretences to pre- 
 dictions or delphick divinationes, and resolves to shut the eyes 
 of my reason, since she must look through a false perspective. 
 Time is big with child of many things, which we are to expect. 
 
 In the closur of July, by an Act of the Parliament, an order 
 is issued out to slight and demolish the cittadels of the kingdom, 
 which were built by the English. This of Invernes had not 
 stood ten yeares. The first part they cease uppon was the 
 centinell houses, neat turrets off hewn stone, curiously wrought, 
 and set up uppon every corner of the rampart wall. These 
 were all broken down in pieces by the souldioures themselves. 
 The next thing was the Commonwalths armes pulled down and 
 broken, and the Kings arms set up in their place, the blew 
 bridge slighted, the sally port broken, the magazin house 
 steeple broken, and the great bell taken down. All this done 
 with demonstrations of joy and gladnes, the souldiours shouting 
 with God save the King, as men weare of the yock and slavery 
 of usurpation which lay so long about their necks. I was 
 eywitness now of the first stone that was broken of this famous 
 citadell, as I was also witness of the first foundation stone laid 
 in the same, anno 1652, in May. This sconce and cittadell is 
 the Kings gift to the Earle of Murray, to dispose of it at his 
 pleasure. The citadell of Aberdeen and Lieth are both 
 slighted ; that of Aire also, the finest in all the kingdom, a 
 statly worke, for curious stoone contrivance, carving and situa- 
 tion. A rare thing fell out here, that was notarly known to a 
 thousand spectators, that the Commonwalths armes set up 
 above the most conspicuous gate of the cittadell, a great 
 thistle growing out above it, covered the whole carved worke 
 and arms, so as not one bit of it could be seen, to the admira- 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 tion of all beholders. This was a presage that the Scots thistle 
 should ecclipse Saint Georges Crosse and the harp, being now 
 to succeed, and to be set up in the place of it by the Kings 
 restauration. This sentiment severalls of English and Scotch 
 conjectured of it. 
 
 In April the Tutor of Lovat, dwelling then in Invernes> 
 near the bridge, in one William Patersones house, just as he 
 was takeing horse to goe south, his eldest daughter, Isabel, 
 died of a chronick decay. She was but 11 yeares of age, a 
 hopeful, wise, pious child, but his peremptor appointment 
 could not permit him to wait her buriall. He convoyed the 
 Lady M'^kleod, and Mary M^kleod, 2 daughter to the Laird of 
 M^kleod, south for Edinburgh, where the said Mary was 
 married to Sir James M^kdonald at their arrivall there. 
 
 August 3, being Saturday, Mr. Alexander Eraser, school- 
 master at Invernes, haveing given his scholars the play, he 
 waited uppon them himselfe in the Links, his school being 
 A sad accident numerous. Meantime, the sea being full some of the boyes 
 Invernes!"^ bathed themselves in the river, and two of them ventered in 
 Aug. 3. further into the Dock, viz. Donald Bain, sone to Tulloch 
 
 Bain,^ and Hugh Eraser, eldest sone to Alexander Eraser of 
 Rilick, whilst of a sudden they began to sink. The loud cry 
 allarms the schoolmaster, reading uppon the bank ; he starts, 
 slips off his cloathes, and, being a suimmer, ran into the Docks, 
 gets hold of the boyes, and seperates them. Donald Bain. 
 Hotted down the river and was brought in safe. Mr. Alexander, 
 thinking to rescue Hugh Eraser, put him from suiming, sink- 
 ing him down with his weight, and were both drowned. They 
 were both instantly taken up warm, but no life, though hung 
 by the heeles till a great deal off water sprung out at their 
 mouths. A most dolefull accident, the master drouned rescu- 
 ing his schoUar; severe providence to Mr. Alexander'^s wife 
 and children, and also to Hugh Eraser his parents, the eldest 
 and best of their children. This Mr. Alexander Eraser was a 
 great schollar, and a preacher ; was presented be Kilravock to 
 the Church of Croy, where he was to preach next morrow. 
 This youth, who escaped wonderfully, is this same Sir Donald 
 Bain of Tulloch, a good fate attending him. 
 
 1 Bain of Tulloch. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 443 
 
 The 7 of August a sturgion fish was taken in the Yarr of 
 Drumchardeny within our paroch of Ward law. It was 12 foot 
 in length, a monstruous creatur. In all nly travels I never 
 saw so big. Severall English came out from Inverness, who 
 had not seen such another. They bought it at a very great 
 rate, to preserve it pickled, this fish being meat and medicin ; 
 they barrelled it, and sent it to London, wher it will sell 
 very deare. The report is that such fishes coming ashore is 
 ominous, and presages the death of some eminent person. The 
 7 of September were 3 big whales catched at Ardersire, uppon 
 the Laird of Calders ground, and Alexander Campbel, the 
 Lairds 2 brother, an excellent youth, comming to the coast 
 with severall others to watch and oversee those whales, a great 
 many sea foules flockt about them. This Alexander Campbell Mr. Alexander 
 drawes out on of his hulster pistolls to shoot at a big sea maw ; ^cidentaUy.'^^ 
 which misgiving him S severall times, he at last sits down 
 uppon the shoare, and, setting the pistoll to his boot toa fast, 
 and the barrell mouth to his breast to draw out the rammer, 
 the shot gat off, and two balls run through his heart, killing 
 himselfe stark dead, without ever speaking one word; a dread- 
 full dismall accident, sad blow to that famely : the prettiest 
 man that ever came of it and the floure of all the Campbells in 
 the North, a youth of wonderful! expectation, my trusty, true, 
 and real friend, universally beloved, and universally bemoand. 
 
 June 166L The Lord Cranston, being newely returnd from Lord Cranstoun 
 beyond sea, killed Ja. Scrimgeor, the Lord Didops brother, !^^^^?^ 
 
 ' ' . . Scnmgeor. 
 
 and Governour of Dumbarton, in a loan neare St. Paules in 
 London, and escaped ; for which an act of banishment is 
 emitted by the King against Cranston to leave Brit tain ; but 
 apparently the law made but chance medling off it, and so 
 obtaind a reprive. In October thereafter, this same Cranston 
 killed an Italian in combatt at London, who had gone over all 
 the Courtes of Eurp, and gaind the mastery as a fencer and 
 swordman of all that everywhere grappled with him, and would 
 needs dare the Brittish Court also, till at last his hard hap 
 drew him to London, where he got his last thrust, which he 
 could not ward : for this and other feates the Lord Cranston 
 was renouned. This sumer, William Sutherland, Master of 
 Duffus, died att Towres in France, and his governour, famous 
 
444 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Doctor Andrew Monro, with him, and John Sutherland his 
 page ; all 3 successively of a plague, poison, or malignant fever. 
 This youth was the hope of his famely. I know [not] who 
 was more bevailed and missed himselfe or the Doctor. 
 
 This September died 5 horse in a toune near us called 
 Obriachan, of a kind of plague not aparent or perceptible to 
 the eye : some run mad ; some fell suddenly dead ; and as 
 lusty as any horse could be. Men knew not what to make of 
 it, the whole country being in a terrour, feareing that it might 
 overrun all ; but Gods Providence stopt it. September 24, 
 dyed Alexander Schesholm, Lord of Commer,^ at Brackach, 
 and hurried in Beuly. Here my Lord Lovat had occasion to 
 muster his men, for at this burriall he led 800 brave fellowes. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 [Account of affairs in England.] 
 
 In Scotland Episcopacy, which had been so long banished 
 thence, is now to be reduced with all gladness, and testimonies 
 of a welcom reception after the experience of so many miseries 
 and confusions which had befallen that nation through the 
 fury and zealotry of the Kirk, the whole sacred order being 
 there defunct, to one single person, by the long usurpation of 
 the Presbiterian disciplin. To the reestablishment of the same 
 there were 2 Scotsh Bishopes consecrat at Lambeth in Decem- 
 ber, viz. Mr. James Sharp, minister at Crail, Archbishop of 
 St. Andre wes, Metrapolitan of Scotland ; Master James Fare- 
 full, minister at Duns, Archbishop off Glasgow. Meanwhile, 
 there is an Act of Council emitted, and a printed coppy sent 
 to every shirref in Scotland, inhibiting all ecclesiastical meet- 
 ings, presbitries, Commissary Courts, Church Sessions, etc., 
 untill the setlement of Episcopacy. My owne tryall before the 
 Presbetry of Inverness as probationer was stopt from October 
 1661 till March 1662 thereafter ! 
 
 In January [1662] the Lord Commissionar of Scotland, in 
 order to the confirmation of the sacred resetled authority of 
 bishops, with most of the nobility and gentry, accompanied 
 the Archbishop of Glasgow thither, where the Kirk Rebellion 
 
 The Chisholm, who held the barony of Comarmore. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 445 
 
 was first hatched ; and the face of affaires quit altered in 
 that city. No person or occasion ever welcomer or more 
 acceptable then this, as their bells and bonefires declared ; and 
 here the Lord Commissioner put forth a proclamation prohibit- 
 ing the payment of any ecclesiasticall rents, or tyth, or profit 
 of the ministry whatsoever, to any who in a short time limited 
 should not acknowledge and owne their Diocesan Bishop and 
 his authority, and receave induction from him. Some few 
 grand factious predicants stood out, and were outed of their 
 livings, and others, the more unquiet and refractory, commanded 
 to Depart the kingdom, now happily cleared of that clergy, 
 the originall and fountain of these bitter waters and rivers off 
 blood which overflowed the three nations ! 
 
 The Bishopes of Scotland consecrated in the Abay 1662. 
 Church of Halyroodhouse. 
 
 1. Master James Sharp, minister at Crail, being Commis- 
 sioner from the Presbiterians of Scotland to the King for 
 continuation of Presbetry, was won by the Bishops of England 
 to their side, came down Archbishop of St. Andre wes. 
 
 2. Master James Fareful, minister at Duns, consecrat in 
 England, came down Archbishop of Glasgow. 
 
 3. Doctor William Wishart, minister at St. Andrewes, 
 suffered tortur and extremity by Presbetry, con[secrated] 
 Bishop of Edinburgh. 
 
 4. Master William Michell, minister at Edinburgh, trans- 
 lated and consecrat Bishop of Aberdeen. 
 
 5. Master Murdoch Mckenzie, minister at Elgin, consecrat 
 Bishop of Murray. 
 
 6. Master Robert Laury, Dean of Edinbrugh, translated 
 and consecrat Bishop of Brechin. 
 
 7. Master Robert Lichton, minister at Newbottle, translated 
 and consecrated Bishop of Dunblain. 
 
 8. Master John Paterson, minister at New Aberdeen, trans- 
 lated and consecrat Bishop of Rosse. 
 
 9. Mr. John Forbes, being abroad with the King, livd in 
 Holland, consecrat Bishop of Cathnes, 
 
446 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 10. Mr. Thomas Sydserf, the onely surviving Bishop exild 
 with the King, continues Bishop of Orknay. 
 
 11. Master James Hamilton, minister at Camslang, con- 
 secrat Bishop of Galloway. 
 
 12. Master David Flesher, minister at Melross, consecrat 
 Bishop of Argile. 
 
 13. Master Robert Wallace, minister at [Barnwell, Ayr- 
 shire], consecrat Bishop of the Isles. 
 
 14. Master George Haleburton, minister at St. Johnstoun, 
 consecrat Bishop of Dunkeld. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 [Account of affairs in England.] 
 
 March 1, the magistrates of Inverness set up the port and 
 pillars for the annuall horse race about the Hill of Tomni- 
 hurich, to be run next May, and advertisement sent abroad to 
 that eff'ect ; the silver cuppes, sadles, and suord prepared be 
 the toun. There came then to Inverness on Mr. Paterson, 
 who had run over the kingdom for triall off* witches, and was 
 ordinarly called the Pricker, becaus his way of triall was with 
 a long brasse pin. Stripping them naked, he alleadged that the 
 Triall of spell Spot was seen and discovered. After rubbino; over the 
 
 Witches. 
 
 whole body with his palms he slipt in the pin, and, it seemes, 
 with shame and feare being dasht, they felt it not, but he left 
 it in the flesh, deep to the head, and desired them to find and 
 take it out. Itt is sure some witches were discovered, but 
 many honest men and women were blotted and broak by this 
 Isabel Duff [^/V] trick. In Elgin there were two killed ; in Forres two ; and 
 one Margret Duff*, a rank witch, burn in Inverness. This 
 Paterson came up to the church of Wardlaw, and within the 
 church pricked 14 women and one man^ brought thither by 
 the Chisholm of Commer, and 4 brought be Andrew Eraser, 
 chamerlan of Eerrintosh. He first polled all their heads and 
 amassed the heap of haire together, hid in the stone dick, and 
 so proceeded to pricking. Severall of these dyed in prison, 
 never brought to confession. This villan gaind. a great deale 
 
 ^ See for the names of these^ and the extraordinary means taken to prove 
 their guilt, the editor's paper on the *Strathglass Witches of 1662,' Trans- 
 actions of Gaelic Society of Inverness^ \o\.\y.. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 447 
 
 off' mony, haveing two servants ; at last was discovered to be a 
 woman disguised in mans cloathes. Such cruelty and rigure 
 was sustained by a vile varlet imposture. 
 
 [Account of executions in England.] 
 
 In the beginning of April the garrisones of Scotland, were 1662. 
 given up, the regiment at Invernes ordered to muster and be JfTnverne°" 
 ready to march. April 11, 400 of the English removed in remov'd. 
 arms, rank and file, with wives and children, for Lieth. Next 
 morrow, other 400 marcht, with their arms, commanders, and 
 colloures, to the great griefe of all the English souldery ; never 
 people left a place with such reluctancy. It was even sad to 
 see and heare sighs and teares, pale faces and embraces, at 
 their parting farewell from that town. And no wonder; they 
 had peace and plenty for 10 yeares in it. They made that 
 place happy, and it made them so. The cittadell was slighted, 
 all the country in course called in to rase it. I saw it founded, 
 I saw it flourish, I saw it in its glory, grandeur and renoun, 
 and now in its ruins. Sic transit gloria mundi. Mors etiam 
 saxis lapidihusque cluit, etc. Now the fragments of the 
 Commonwalth breathes out its last gasp, and prosperous 
 wickedness is now precipitat to its period. April 10. Kenneth 
 M'Kenzy of Scattuall died, a gallant and great spirit ; he was 
 interred in St. Clemens Chappell in Dinguall. My Lord Lovat 
 paraded there with near a 100 horse and 500 foot. 
 
 [Account of the King's marriage.] 
 
 The horse race at Invernes, which had turnd into a desuetud 
 for many yeares before, is now restored and brought to its 
 pristin consistancy ; the Port set up at the end of the Reeds 
 uppon the edge off* a march closs uppon the rode, and the stage 
 posts also round about the hill [Tomnahurich], along the plain. 
 The 24 of May, the concourse of people flockt to Inverness to ^^^^ 
 behold the course. The Earl of Murray, with his vassalls, J^^emess, 
 
 " Mav 24. 
 
 came in that morning ; the Earl of Seaforth and my Lord 
 Lovat, being the night before at Kinmilies and Moorton dyeting 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 their race horses, came to the place. The Lairds of Grant, 
 M'kintosh, Fowles, Balingown, the Barrouns of Murray, the 
 Lord M'kdonnell [Glengarry], and the English officers of 
 Inverlochy, and many mo. The Provost and Magistrates of 
 Inverness, with the citizens, came in procession over the bridge 
 to their bounded march, and, with the usual ceremony, hung 
 the silver cup with blew ribbons uppon the hookes off the 
 painted port, the Sadie and the Sourd set uppon the top of it. 
 The matches that run the first day were the Lord Lovat, Laird 
 of Grant, Kilravock, and. Captain Man ; all the riders in whit, 
 their distinction blew, reed, yallow, and green ribbons. The 
 Lord Lovat rode in person, as also Mr. Man. The sign given, 
 near ten of the clock, they start, and closed at 11 houres. The 
 compeating riders got off first, and a great number of gentle- 
 men riding after in their reer. At first Mr. Man seemed to 
 carry ; the Laird of Grants horse outran him quit in a short 
 time. Lovat, who came short of no rider in Brittain, cunning 
 enugh for them all, kept closs in the reer of all till within halfe 
 a mile of the port, and then, to the admiration of all the 
 beholders, takeing the start of them, like a bird uppon wing 
 outran them a full quarter of a mile neare, and rideing back 
 gave them his conge. Mr. Man was next, the Laird of Grant 
 S^, and M'kintosh 4*^. I heard Captain Man avow that all 
 England over he never saw a better horseman than Lovat, nor 
 a snifter fourfooted beast than his brown mare he rode on. 
 Thus my Lord Lovat carried the race, and the best cup, valued 
 at 7 pound starling, and the sadle at 3, both which were 
 dillivered to Will White his page ; and the magistrates gave 
 the nobles a sumptuous treat, and so this dayes sport was at 
 an end ; the rest of it spent in visits and recreations. 
 The second The next dayes competition was tuixt the Master of Lovat, 
 
 race, May 25. i{;iii.avock. Laird of Innes, and Balife Finlay Eraser at Invernes, 
 who had the best horse off all the foure. Thomas Eraser of 
 Bewfort, the Tutor of Lovats brother, rode his bay horse, a 
 light nimble horseman. They set off about halfe an houre 
 after ten, and closed the race near 12. They all 4 ran almost 
 equal, hardly such a match seen, riding all abrest, and at the 
 close there was so litle ods tuixt the two formost, Bewfort and 
 Balife Eraser, that it was scarce discernable ; so that they cast 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 449 
 
 lots, and Balife Fraser carried the cup and sword with approba- 
 tion and applause : and that afternoon the Laird of Grant 
 bought that horse, paying 13 pound for him, and, to my know- 
 ledge, carried the race in the same place next yeare. Men of 
 judgment conclud that if this race at Inverness were incurraged 
 and well mannaged,in process of time it would come litle short, 
 if not equal, Couper or Cavertonedge. The 29 off May the 
 remaines of the English regiment at Inverness went off, and 
 the officers of Inverlochy. The souldiours there were all Scotch 
 men who remaind behind, and one Captain Hammiltoun sent 
 governour to that fort. I remember there was a great whale 
 of a 116 foot long cast in be-east Inverness uppon the lee shoar. 
 A debat fell out tuixt the town and Culodden about the whale, 
 but the citty carry ed it. We all conjee tur that this prodigious 
 creature was a presage of the expiration of the garrison of 
 Invernes, haveing tristed so neare with their removall. It 
 came in the February before, a monstruous big beast, non like 
 it ever seen uppon that cost ; and men wondered that it was 
 cast in alone without its mate. 
 
 The 29 day of May, being the anniversary thanksgiveing for 
 His Majestyes restauration, was solemnly kept here by preach- 
 ing, singing of psalmes through streetes, ringing of bells, bone- 
 fires, small and great shot, and all other demonstrations of joy 
 imaginable, and no difference observed tuixt presbiterian and 
 Episcopalls. All are seemingly loyall, the lawes so strick and 
 observant that non appeare to dissent. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Account of affairs in England, and proceedings of the Scots 
 Parliament, 1663.] 
 
 In this Parliament the overture made in the first session The shire of 
 anent the division of the shire of Ross from Murray, and being ^a^ch^es!'"'^^'^ 
 erected in a shire be it selfe, was unanimously concluded and 
 determined ; and the result was that an act establishing the 
 shirrefdom of Ross and the bounds of it should be expressly 
 recorded, and the commission sent by his Majesty to Kenneth, 
 Earl of Seaforth, to be Shirref principall therof to be insert. 
 And it canot be omitted nor forgotten that, when the commis- 
 
 2f 
 
450 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 sioner Midletouii had motioned the bounds of the shire of Ross, 
 marcht betwixt the Stockford to the south and Portincouter 
 to the north, he asked quhat place the Stockford of Ross lay 
 in. A gentleman unadvertantly replied that it lyes a litle 
 below the moore where his Grace leagured his troupes when 
 he gave Montross the chass over the river of Beuly, a mile be- 
 west Lovat.^ The reply gave occasion of laughter enugh in 
 the House, but the person meant no ill by it, being simply 
 and not subtily spoken, nor satirically to reflect uppon the 
 Commissioner, being purly mater of fact. In this Parliament 
 many acts were past of rescinding the forfeitures against the 
 Laird of Glengery, M'klean of Lochbuy, and M'klean of 
 Kingarloch. Acts rescinding the pretended forfiture of the 
 Marques of Huntly, the pretended forfeiture of M'kdonald of 
 I^argy, of Sir John Gordon of Haddo, and many mo tedious 
 to relate. 
 
 * « * * * 
 
 [Account of affairs in England and on the Continent.] 
 
 Lord Lindors. James Lessly, Lord Lundores, a good as well as loyall man, 
 was confined to the towne of Thain, and limited to the extent 
 of 3 miles ; the farthest he could goe was to his own sisters 
 house at Katpole. This Lady was so loyall that she never saw 
 an Englishman in the face, and would curse her own brother, 
 Generall Lessly, and hopt to see him hangd. The Lord 
 Lundors went to London to his royall master the King, but 
 got not his bare expense. All I got, said the good Lord, 
 was a kisse of the Kings hand, a very great complement. 
 
 Lord Ray. The Lord Ray is now at Court with his excellent lady, 
 
 Barbara Macky ; and all he gaind by his going there was that 
 his Lady was admired for sharpness and eloquence. Indeed 
 shee was the mirrour of our north bred ladyes, the prettiest, 
 wittiest woman that I ever knew here ; a great historian, a 
 smart poet, and, for virtue and house keeping, few or non her 
 paralell. 
 
 Caihnes. The Earl of Cathnes stayed at home. It was enugh to 
 
 scarr him from the Court that Argyles daughter was his lady. 
 
 ^ See note p. 176. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 451 
 
 They lived in very great splendor in Thearso East ; but all 
 complain she brought ill luck with her to that country. 
 
 Old Earl John of Sutherland lives still unmaried, after the Sutherland, 
 death of the Lord Lovats daughter. It is enugh for him that 
 he got his sone well matcht at south with the Weemes, and 
 lives very happily upon that jointur. 
 
 Kenneth, Earl of Seaforth, was prevailed with to goe up to Seaforth. 
 Court, expecting some favour for the service quhich himselfe 
 had done for the King. As for his father, Lord George, he 
 ruined his interest in the civil wars, in the Royall quarrell. 
 though all he did had bad success, till at last he was forced 
 to take banishment, and died in exile, at Skidam in Holland, 
 where he is interred. Yet, all that Seaforth gaind at Court 
 was the Kings countenance, and the complement of carrying 
 the Sword of Honor before the King uppon some solemn holy 
 day from the presence to the Chappell Royall, and, after service? 
 back again. A farthing of the Kings mony he never saw, not 
 so much as to repaire his castle of Brahan, which the rebells 
 spoild. And what could he expect, when Lautherdale, the 
 universall enemy to all loyalists, stood in his way, and a profest 
 enemy in particular to the Mackenzies, for it was the Maitlands 
 motto to be APlcenio mastix, the Scurge of the Mackenies ; 
 and himselfe was heard to say that to be a Mackenzy was a 
 mortall sin ! 
 
 The Laird of Glengery had the best luck of any chiften in Lo. M'kDoneii 
 the North, for he got the title of Lord JEneas Mackdonel, and 
 a pension, proportionable to that stile, to keep up his spending, 
 still at Court. 
 
 As for the Marques of Huntly, the King was generous to M. of Huntiy. 
 him, giving him the gift of his own great estate, and restoreing 
 him free to all his revenues, without the burdin of a farthing 
 debt. If this was in odium of Argile, who comprised his whole 
 estate and possessed it, who knowes ? but there were many 
 poore famelies broke by this donation, who had all their stock 
 in Huntlies hands, haveing their annuelrents duly payed them 
 before. 
 
 All this while the good Alexander, Earl of Mun-ay, kept Earl of Murray 
 closse at home, living for most part at Stuart Castle, which 
 aire agreed better with him and his children than Tarn way. 
 
452 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 and though he be a Steward yet hath not yet payed a visit 
 to his King these 5 yeares current. His estate is mean, but 
 lives handsomely. His mother, the Earl of Humes daughter, 
 living at Dunabissle, liverents 15 thousand a yeare. 
 1665. My Lord Lovat, though often invit to Court both by his 
 
 t^Mu??ay^°'''' mother, the Lady Dalavill, and Sir Alexander Eraser, the Kings 
 phisitian in ordinar, yet moved not as yet ; and this year his 
 indisposition impeaded that expedition. In January 1662, he 
 was invit by Sir Hugh Calder to witness his espousalls and 
 contract at Tarnway, and, though the storm was great, would 
 not declin the call. So he got his uncle Alexander, the Tutor 
 of Lovat, Thomas Bewfort, and his own train, and we were the 
 first night at Dalcrosse, the Tutor haveing a labouring there, 
 where we were very well treated. In the morning set forward, 
 and came to Tarnway to dinner, quher we got a generous 
 welcom ; stayed all night. The Earl waited uppon Lovat to 
 his bedchamber, telling him that this was the Kings apartment 
 and bed where he was to lodge while he stayed at Tarnway. 
 Next morrow, the Lady Henrietta Stewart was solemnly 
 espoused to Sir Hugh Calder of Calder, and I deemed that she 
 Sir Hugh loved my Lord Lovat better, and had he not been married 
 espousals'^ alrady this had been a meeter match be farr. The gloves and 
 contract ribbans being distributed in state, we had a most 
 solemn feast, a wedding rather than a contract dinner. In the 
 afternoon the wits of the house gave anagrams and accrosticks 
 in writ to the bride, and I judged Lovat gave the most apposit 
 of all, Henreta Stuart, an tru sweet hart : which, with the 
 accrosting pertinent verse, was applauded, the bridgroome, 
 Sir Hugh, the greatest poet in Murray, being the most 
 competent judge in that case. After a surfit of sincere friend- 
 ship and feasting, my Lord Lovat, the 4 day, takes leave of 
 the noble famely off Murray, and, in parting, the finall comple- 
 ment was, my Lord Lovat takeing horse rids up the Scale 
 staires of Tarnaway, and in the great Hall drinks the Kings 
 health with sound of trumpet and pistoll shot. The meanest 
 drunk boales off wine, and snowballs cast in for sugar ; and, 
 after many a loath farwell, sounded good night and God be 
 with yow ! 
 
 Takeing horse at Tarnway, Mr. Frances and Sir Hugh 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 45f3 
 
 Calder and others convoyed my Lord Lovat off to the high 
 road, and at parting excambd servants, my Lord Lovat 
 leaveing Thomas Fraser, Teanikill, with Calder, who sent his 
 servant, John Campbell of Achindown, with Lovat to attend 
 him at his own house of Calder, where we were treated at a 
 sinocLdar rate. The kinf^dom could not afford better wines than 
 was drunk, and musick of all sorts. Edam Smith, master of 
 the musicians in Murrav, for virginall, violins, harp, and organ, 
 was Calders domestick ; Mr. William Cuming, an excellent 
 learned youth, chaplen in ordinary; and varieties of divertise- 
 ment in all things ; the entertainment was princly, Saturday, 
 Sunday, and Moonday. Sir Hugh Calder himselfe came to us 
 with an addition at what was wanting, if any at all, of good 
 cheer and fare. AVe spent that day in a charming converse of 
 sport, gamming and singing. Next morning Calder convoyed 
 my Lord from his own house over the river, a fair braggad to 
 visit the Barron of Kilravock, and his lady ; thence to Coule to 
 see the Shirrefe Bain. He at last added to our train, and rode 
 forward to visit Cullodden, and thence to Drakies to pay his 
 respect to the Lord ^neas Mackdonell ; and thence to Inver- 
 ness in no small state, few or non parting with my Lord Lovat 
 that once met with him on his journay ; he was so universally 
 beloved and respected of all ranks and degrees of persones. 
 Such a progress and parrad as this of Lovats was in the limits 
 of ten dayes through Murray, all things considered, was so 
 singular that such another I saw not since I came to my native 
 soil from abroade ! 
 
 March 20, 1664, the great barnyards of Culcabock belong- Cuicabock corn 
 ing to Inshes, and 3 more, w^ere all set on fire, 11 stacks, about t>urnt. 
 10 at night, all irrecoverably burnt. It made such a dreed full 
 flame as put Inverness in a consternation, being so neare. This 
 was jealoused to be done by Glenmorriston men for some old 
 quarrells with Inshes.^ 
 
 May 7, a meeting and congresse tuixt Mackintosh and 
 Locheal about their marches and rights of Lochabber, happened 
 at Kilvain, south [north .^]sid of Nesse River. Uppon Mackintosh a meeting tuixt 
 his side were the Earl of ]\Iurrav, Laird of Pluskaden, Alexander Mackintosh. 
 Cuthbert, provost of Inverness, Lachlin Kinrara, Mackintosh 
 
 ^ See Urquhart and Glentnoriston^ p. 1 79, et seq. 
 
4^54 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 his uncle, and young Connadge. Upon Locheal his side were 
 Hugli Lord Fraser of Lovat, Alexander Fraser the Tutor, 
 Hugh Fraser of Struy, Hugh Fraser of Foyer, Hugh Fraser 
 of Belladrom, etc. M'kintosh his men, about 500 in rank and 
 file, lay on the east side of the river at Haughs ; Locheals 
 men, 300, about Tomnifirich. Earth, water, aire, rebounded 
 at the sound of bagpipes Martiall musick. At the sound of a 
 trumpet the meeting sits, at some distance, and my Lord 
 Bishop of Murray and the Laird of Alter, as arbitrators and 
 trenchmen, passed betuixt them, and at last, the S"^ day, being 
 Thursday, maters were brought to an accommodation and 
 agreement, that it prevented litigation and cost in law. This 
 was a noble sight of gallant gentlemen, and the clergy in 
 decent grave garbs. 
 
 May 23. A debat and perambulation of mosses happened 
 tuixt Balingown and Tarbut, quher 800 Roses were in rank 
 and file ; Rose of Invercharran was Collonel. Providence 
 prevented a signall mischeefe that day ! 
 
 Cruel thunder. June 22, was such thunder and lightning 24 houres, signall 
 and non such. In our hills, the hight of L^rqhart, and 
 Strathglash fell such pieces of ice, inch thick and 3 inch 
 broad; and our newes letters report that in France was such 
 hail this spring as brake glass windowes, killed young store, 
 and destroyed the vines. 
 
 ciavas buriaii, August 12. William Ross of Clavah, tutor of Cilravock, was 
 hurried ; his funeralls at a vast splendor and expence. The 
 corps carried from Narden, quher he died, to the Chappell 
 of Geddes ; vast convocation, men in arms and horse. To 
 this burrial came the Lord Lovat, with 80 horsemen; no 
 
 Dr. Forbes at couvoy there to equal him. Here I happened to see Doctor 
 
 Pisa, 1658. William Forbes, whom I left at Pisa in Italy, being the Grand 
 Duke of Florence his pensioner, preferred by him before 
 Italian phisitians. He is now come to Scotland, and would 
 setle at Inverness; but the contest tuixt the two factions 
 Cuthberts and Forbesses is so strong that the fine man cannot 
 enter in peace. 
 
 ii^shes ceased August 23. A meeting happened tuixt Glenmorison and 
 ton. Inshes, at Lochend of Ness. Differences referred to Cullodden 
 
 Forbes, Provost Ross, P. Cuthbert, Connadge, and things like 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 455 
 
 to close. Glenmoriston, for some harsh expressions of Irishes, 
 caused 4 men to dismount him, carried him into a boat, con- 
 voyed him to Glenmorrison, quher he kept him till October. 
 A desperat ryot, so barbarous undercommuning that no law 
 can sit with it.^ 
 
 September 17, 1664. Margaret, daughter to the Lord 
 Lovat, was born at Lovat ; within two dayes baptised, the 
 witnesses, Earl Seaforth and his lady, Lord Tarbut and his 
 lady, Sir James Foules CoUintoun and Margret his lady, 
 Margaret Grant, widow of Struy at Bruiach, Kathrin 
 M'^kenzie, mistress of Culboky, all godfathers and godmothers. 
 My Lord Lovat his eldest daughter Anna born at Edinburgh, 
 May 1660. Isabel born at Lovat September '*62, and Margaret 
 the 3*^ now. 
 
 September 28. The great old wooden bridge of Invernes The bridge of 
 repaireing, and by the unadvertancy of a carpenter cutting a 
 beame that lay fast 'tuixt two cuples, to set up a new one, the 
 bridge tending that way ten of the old cupples fell flat on the 
 river, with about 200 persones, men, women, and children 
 upon it. 4 of the townes men broke leggs and thighs ; some 
 16 had their heads, arms, and thighs bruised ; all the children 
 safe without a scart ; and, by Providence, not one perished, a 
 signall instance and dreadfull sight, at 10 houres forenoon. 
 Immediatly, a great inundation happened, that the river run 
 over the banks ; the passage all that winter by a great coble 
 over it. 
 
 Tusday, October 4. John Grant, Laird of Glenmorison, 
 met the Earl of Murray at Narden water, being a head 
 court day, to parly with him anent his ryot against Inshes. 
 The Earl causd him ride with him to Invernes, the next 
 morrow intending to present him in the Tolebooth. The 
 unhappy man made his escap that night, and away ; quhich 
 gross carriage of his aggravates his former guilt, and quhat 
 can appease it? Qtios Jupiter vult per dere^ etc. This harvest 
 and forewinter was fair, soft pleasant wether, non like it. In 
 December, the terrible storm of snow fell which continued but 
 alteration till the 15 day of March following. 
 
 * -* * * * 
 
 ^ See Urquhart and Glenmoriston, p. 184. 
 
456 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 [Follows account of the war with Holland, etc.] 
 
 1665. The spring, 1665, was so unnaturall that men despared 
 
 of any tillage. The old winter storm continued till March 20, 
 mens cattel perishing, young store all died. The snow so 
 excessive in Strathspey, Badenoch, Atholl, and Stratharick 
 that the dear and rooes died in great store, comming to barn- 
 yards and houses as tame as sheep ; flocks and heard s off cattle 
 lost. In Gerloch one man had 60 cowes dead in one night in 
 a glen. The midle of March, like December, a new storm 
 with blowing such as I never remember to see, about the 16 
 of Marcli. The calme good thaw came seasonably, and then 
 good, dry, warm weather all April ; so that plowing and sowing 
 continued, and, to admiration, the bear seed closed about the 
 12 of May, to the admiration of all men, and an excellent 
 fertil crop ensued ; the harvest closed October 10, notwith- 
 standing of the rainy summer ; and a great rate for cattell, and 
 corn plentifull. 
 
 Seaforth to This spring, the Earle of Seaforth went to the Lewis to 
 
 Lewis. live, for the more convenient way of living, and improveing 
 
 his interest in the Low Countries. This summer died Rory 
 Laird of M'kleod, a prodigall, vitious, spendthrift ; and his 
 brother John succeeded Laird, a most hopeful, excellent, wise 
 youth. Sir James Mackdonell married Mary, Mackleods sister, 
 to his second wife, giving her an extravagant jointur, 8000 
 marke per annum. He delighted much to live in the Low 
 country, at Balcony. For his divertisement he came to pay a 
 visit to my Lord Lovat, and, haveing seen the rareties of the 
 country, one James Lundy, Chamerlan, told him that the 
 greatest rarety was yet unseen, and Sir James here it is, a 
 Quern milston set here in the pavement before my Lord 
 Lovats entry into his house ; this among other things was 
 taken from your predecessors besieging Lovat ; and takeing 
 the retreat their bagg and baggage was all taken, which they 
 left, and this being one of their quern stones was laid here as 
 a monument of its memoriall ; and the town above the gate 
 is called Croft ni Balgan, from the many baggs left there, 
 which yow are concerned to notice.^ Among many there 
 
 ^ See p. 290. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 457 
 
 present I was one ; and, indeed, the reflection altered Sir 
 James his countenance, and knew not how to resent it ; and it 
 was remarked that he never came to Lovat afterwards for a 
 visit. The Lord Mackdonel lives still at Drakies, within a 
 mile east from Inverness, and some do construe that his stay Depredations, 
 there is to give the greater latitud to his rude clan to sally 
 out, sorn uppon, and pillage their nighboures, for the High- 
 landers are now brakeing out to prey uppon the Low Countries 
 in robberies and depredations everywhere ; the s trick restriant 
 which the English kept uppon their necks being now taken off, 
 there is no right method as yet fallen uppon to punish or curb 
 these ravage courses at all. 
 
 This February, my Lord Lovat went for England on design My Lord Lovat 
 to salut his sovereign, the Kings Majesty, being convoyed 
 with a statly train and retinue from Inverness. His two 
 uncles, Alexander the Tutor, and Thomas Beufort, and severalls 
 of his kinsmen, with his brave servants, Peeter Forbes, Mr. 
 Simon Eraser, and William White, his page. At Edinburgh 
 his friends take leave of him, and return ; onely the Master 
 of Salton, Philorth, goe with him all the way. Near Newcastle 
 my Lord payed a visit to his mother, now Lady Siddn Dalivel, 
 where he was welcomed with extraordinary care and respect. 
 Tarrying there but two dayes. Sir Ralph Dalivel his stepfather 
 (waiting him all this while) takes horse and convoyed my Lord 
 Lovat all the way to London, makeing a very considerable 
 companie of good horse, so that they were not afFraid to be 
 sett uppon by highwaymen in the rode ; and, by a good Pro- March i8, 
 vidence, they all arrived safe at London uppon St. Edwards i^-^^ards. 
 Eve, March 18. 
 
 Thursday, March 20. Sir Alexander Eraser (who then 
 had taken the title of Dorrs), waited uppon my Lord Lovat 
 and convoyed him to Court, accompanied with the Master 
 of Salton and Sir Ralph Dalavil, and most oportunlie intro- 
 duced them to the King as his Majesty was going out to 
 St. James's from Whithall, and not many of his Court with 
 him. His Majesty was pleased to give them a most gracious 
 reception, and after the ceremony of kissing his hand, followed 
 him fast at the heeles, untill they arrived at the Park. The 
 King then used his ordinary freedom of his inquery into the 
 
45S 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 State of affaires in Scotland and in the North of England ; and, 
 having heard all their narrations most attentively, after a long 
 pause the King was pleased to direct his discourse to Lovat, 
 saying, My Lord, I call to mind that being with my army at 
 Torwood, in the Park of Stirling, anno 1650, falling in dis- 
 course with one of my chaplaines, Mr. Colvill, and asking him 
 what lie thought of the camp, and what clan he thought most 
 loyall, he truely gave me a most singular account and com- 
 mendation of the fidelity off the Erasers, and their loyalty to 
 the Crown. I hope they continue so, and after that some 
 corruptions hath creept in among clans dureing the late 
 rebellion, that now the Erasers, with others, have returnd to 
 their duty, being fully convinced of the evil of rising in armes 
 against their sovereign, and that in time the universall and 
 usuall character of a treacherous Scot shall be worn off, and 
 loyal impressiones receaved by them, and insisted long upon 
 the subject to this purpose. My Lord Lovat replyed. Sir, I 
 had the same account from one of my kinsmen who was 
 Captain of your ^Majesties guard that morning att Torwood ; 
 and I wish we may deserve the encomium given us by that 
 reverend divine ; and may we never surceise to doe dayly what 
 may confirm it, and pray God non of my name be ever tainted 
 with the least suspition of dissloyalty, but that I with them 
 may ever prove true and faithfull subjects to your Majesty, 
 and that with our lives and fortunes, et etiam ad natos natorum 
 et qui nascuntiir ah iUis, 
 
 The King had a great respect and favour for my Lord 
 Lovat for his candor, good carriage, and currage. As for 
 tilting and riding the great horse, non about Court could 
 compeat with him. He would and did often mount the 
 statliest horse in the Kings stable, putting his left hand on 
 his mean, jump in the sadle, and not touch or take the help 
 of a stirrup. He affronted a Erench fencing master before the 
 King by a secret thrust most dexterously mannaged, to the 
 wonder of many, and carried the dauncing in a balle in 
 presence of King and Queen, yet had litle or no art but pure 
 nature. The Bishops had more than ordinary kindness for 
 him, being a great Church of England man, and could argue 
 most acuratly uppon that point against dissenters. The Duke 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 459 
 
 of Albimarle ^ made him his domestick, being so frequently with 
 him at djet, reflecting uppon the discretion and civility of the 
 Frasers towards him marching from the hills towards Inverness 
 in anno 1654 ; and the Duke of Monmouth used my Lord 
 Lovat as his cammarad and would very often mention him to 
 the King. I would say much more of his carriage at Court 
 were it not construed flattery, for Sir Andrew Foster gave me 
 a particular relation of his conduct and contingencies while he 
 was at London; and, had not the pestilence interveened, and 
 could have stayed in England, he would no doubt have got 
 some place about the King, for Lauderdale (which was rare) 
 became his great friend uppon the account of some relation, 
 and Sir Alexander Eraser gave him a coach with 4 pretty 
 pybald horses, very remarkable, and was known with respect 
 through the city off* London under the notion of Doctor 
 Eraser his chiefe ; which was no small complement in that 
 place. 
 
 The onely thing which hindered my Lord, being now ready My Lord 
 to return for Scotland, was that he waited his Royal Highnes for Scotland, 
 and Prince Rupert comming from the Elect, who in the 
 beginning of June landed at Gravesend. My Lord, with the 
 Master of Salton and Sir Ralph Dalavile, accompanied with 
 Doctor Eraser and Sir Andrew Eorrester, slipt down the river 
 be barge, and, kissing his Highness the Duke of Yorks hands 
 and Prince Ruperts, convoyed them up the river to Lambeth, 
 where, visiting the Archbishop, and there receaveing his Graces 
 benediction and the Dukes commands for Scotland, take 
 farewell and depart. The Doctor haveing provided their 
 antidotes, cordialls, and phisick for the contagion of the 
 pestilence, with suitable directions thereanent, he gave his 
 Cheefe 50 libs, sterling to beare his charges down to Scotland, 
 with mutuall embraces tooke their last adue, and went on 
 their journay, without the least touch of the infection all the 
 time of their abode in and about London ; and its observed as 
 a singurall Providence that dureing the rage of the pestilence 
 and the continuance of it, and many thousands dying in and 
 about the city, not one person dyed within the precinct of 
 
 ^ General Monck. 
 
460 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Westminster Abey, or Lambeth House, as if some sacred spell 
 had preserved these consecrated places. 
 
 The season of fair June favouring, my Lord Lovat had 
 a pleasant journay through England to York, without the 
 least distemper or hasard be the way. My Lord, the Master 
 of Salton, and Sir Ralph rode in coach, their retinue a horse- 
 back. The 27 of June they arrive at New Castle. My Lord 
 going thence to Siddon Dalavil, he rested and refreslied himselfe 
 4 or 5 dayes with that good lady, his mother. At last, with 
 many embraces and loath farewells, they parted, never to meet 
 (no more they did) again. Sir Ralph convoy them to Morpat, 
 leting them go on with a hearty adue. In two dayes they 
 came to Edinburgh, quher, staying but short, came over the 
 Firth to Weemes, where my Lord got a kindly welcom from 
 his granduncle the Earle, whence they needed make no heast, 
 that being the place of his production and education. Att 
 last they leave Fife, and through Anguis, payed a visit to his 
 grand aunt, my Lady Arbuthnet, living at Geres Mill in 
 the Mearnes, went forward to Muchall in Marr to pay their 
 respects to my good Lord Eraser, his Lady, Lovats aunt, being 
 but dead the year before, and, notwithstanding of the old gum 
 and discord in law betuixt Mucholl and Philorth, yet the 
 master and he kept kindly correspondance. Thence through 
 Garioch to Buchan, they salut the good famely off Udney, and 
 so in course to Inveralochy, and forward to Philorth, where 
 old Salton, now above 80 yeares of age, waited and longed 
 for them comming, and gave them a freehearted Erasers 
 welcom, with a devout reflexion uppon the words of the 
 Psal. 90. 10. Psalmist, The dayes of our yeares are threescore yeares and 
 ten, and if by reason of strength they be fourscore yeares, yet 
 is their strength labour and sorrow ; for it is soon cut off 
 and we flye away. Meditatio senectutis est meditatio virtutis. — 
 Prcecipitat tempus^ mors atra impendit agenti — Ars longa est 
 ars bene moriendi. My Lord Lovat, not weary of his great 
 friend, yet posts over Moremount to Strachin, where words 
 could not expresse his welcom, and the good luck was that the 
 Laird of Strachin and his good lady, Marion Irving, were 
 uppon wing going North, and that one night determind them, 
 and next morrow tooke journay together, and, not resolving 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 461 
 
 to digress off the rode, payed onely two visits, viz. one to 
 James, Earl of Finlater, at Cullen, and the other to Alexander, 
 Earl of Murray, att Tarn way ; and, without any more adoe, 
 save a hie sum at Inverness, they came to Moniak, the 10 
 of July, and thence to Lovat, where he found his lady and 
 children all in good health and peace. 
 
 In April, Thomas Eraser of Beufort was married to Sybilla Thomas Fraser 
 M'^kleod, be Mr. William Fraser, minister at Kiltarlity, being marked, 
 the last act as well as publick appearance of that good man 
 in his sacred function. The Tutor off Lovat lived now at 
 Tommich, and sutle Sybilla, his lady, pretended an aversation 
 to this match of her daughter with Beufort, and, yet, cordi- 
 citus, the thing on earth she was most desirous off. So that 
 my Lord Lovat found his uncle Thomas at his return a 
 married man, whom he had left a batchelour in March, it being 
 now the 34 year of his age. 
 
 This May came in so rainy and continued so till 21, such inun- 
 dations as if we were to expect a deludge ; the wether so stormy 
 that almost all cattel were destroyed in our months, and June 
 so rainy and cold that scarce 3 day dry in it ; and July came 
 in rainy, and the 17 day was such hail that scarce in winter 
 the like was ever seen ; and the end of the month and August 8 
 was such dreadfull thunder, and of so long continuance, that 
 none liveing ever remembers to hear such claps. September 2, 
 Saturday, was such a dreadfull frost as did great hurt to barly 
 and peese, that men feared a derth to ensue, and raised the 
 rate of victual. 
 
 The 25 of September, that horrid murder of Cappoch 
 Mackranald happened, for ^Eneas Mackdonald,^ a good youth, 
 who to his naturall propensions of wit and smartnes had the 
 addition of good education at home and abroad, he married 
 an Englishwoman, with whom he had two sones, Donald and 
 Alexander.^ Himselfe dyed att London, and left the two 
 children to the tutelage off Sir James M^kdonel, who fostered 
 
 ^ Donald Macdonald. 
 
 ' Alexander and Ronald (?). For the story of the murder of Keppoch, see The 
 Clan Donald, vol. ii. p. 635. See also Beauties of Gaelic Poetry, p. 36, for 
 poem on subject by John Lom Macdonald, the bard through whose efforts the 
 murderers were brought to punishment. 
 
46S 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 them in his own house till fit for letters, then sent them to 
 Inverness to school. About 19 yeares the eldest goes up to see 
 his interest at Cappach, repaires the building, hires servants, 
 and laboures the maines, and above all things, being piously 
 inclined, resolves to reform that rude country. Archibald 
 [Allan?] his uncles sone, living near hand, incurrages him dis- 
 semblingly, and clandestinly conduces with one Alexander 
 Roy M'kdugel in Inverlair to kill the two boyes, and then 
 Cappach should fall to himselfe, and Alexander M'kdougall 
 The horrid should have Inverlair. The paction and contract is writt and 
 Cappach,^ signd : this witty but wicked Archibald in a subterfuge is to 
 Septr. 25. Inshgall [Hebrides], and meantime the murder was to 
 
 be mannaged. Friday, September 25, Alexander M'kdugall, 
 with 6 accomplises sworn to him, came to Cappoch, the reapers 
 sheareing, and Cappach and his brother with them, counterfits 
 an expedition that required his recommendation. The young 
 yowth, suspecting no ill, goes with them to the house, and his 
 brother followed after. Alexander M'kdougall, finding them 
 both within, began to be joviall, telling he had got two new 
 fine daggers, and would gift each of them with one. When 
 the daggers are drawn, Alexander Roy saith to Cappach, it is 
 fit we exchange or hansel this new knife. A centry watching 
 at the door meantime reaches a thrust at the youth and stabbs 
 him, and successively the other sex gives each his wound, like 
 Caesar in the Senat house. The youngest, seing his brother 
 murthered, he pleads for his own life with an asseveration to 
 goe off the nation never to return. This would not be heard, 
 but dispatches him with as many stabs as his brother got, 
 leaveing them both dead flat uppon the floor, escape, locking 
 the door, and away. The shearers, fearing no harm, challanged 
 nothing, till, waiting long, and seing none of the brothers 
 come forth, run to the new chamer, opening the door, found 
 Capach and his broather streached dead in their bloud uppon 
 the pavement. The hue and crye goes, but to no purpose. 
 Law cannot reach these fugitive murderers. Sir James Mack- 
 donell sends a party of pretty men to the country to apprehend 
 them. Alexander M'kdugel makes a stronghold near a linn, 
 impregnable as he thought. They assault the fort, and, after 
 a long siege and slaughter, they smoake him out, wearied with 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 463 
 
 shot ; being wounded deadly, is cacht and his assassines their 
 7 heads cut off and sent to Edinburgh, set uppon poles on the 
 gallowes at Lieth. Archibald, the cursed contriver, returns 
 home, catches a gangren in that finger which subscribed the 
 paper paction with Alexander M'kdougall ; it turns incurable; 
 he is advised to cut of that arm, delayes, in end spreads cancrous 
 and runs over his body and kills him ; the just judgement and 
 finger of God is here. I saw this paper and contract. I 
 knew most of these men ; the circumstances were tedious to 
 set down : ex ungue leonem. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 [Account of wars with France and Holland, and of the 
 Great Fire of London.] 
 
 In Scotland a ryot happened at Drumfrice in September, Pemhiand hills, 
 where 200 of the nighbouring parishoners, gathering together, 
 armd with clubs and syths, tooke Sir James Turner, generall 
 collector, to the marcat place all naked, and like to cut him in 
 pieces for exacting fines uppon nonconformists. Nor was this 
 contemptible number long agrowing and increasing to a con- 
 siderable force. At last in all 1600 convocats in a body and 
 marcht within 4 miles of Edinburgh, where they were met and 
 set uppon by Lieutenant General Dalyell and Major General 
 Drummond, near Penthland Hills, and were there totally 
 defeated, 500 slain uppon the place, a 100 taken prisoners ; 
 severalls of the rebells afterwards sentenced and executed ; 
 among the rest Corson,^ who began the muteny, and Makell,^ 
 their minister, a main incendiary of the people ; so that in a 
 short time all was husht into quietness. This was called by 
 phanatticks the fatall year, frightned the people with predic- 
 tions of the Day of Judgement to fall in it, or an utter ruin of 
 Monarchy and Hierarchy ; nothing but that Bishops should 
 be down, and that the last yeares comet presaged no less. For 
 me, I saw nothing that fell out but the plague, fire in London, 
 the seafight tuixt England and Holland. From the year 1660 
 till now Presbiterians united with us, frequented churches and 
 ordinances without distinction or objection. Captain Beatman 
 
 John Neilson of Corsock. 
 
 2 Hugh M'Kail. 
 
464 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 and his brother in law, James Fraser of Brey,^ lived in my own 
 parish at Moniak, heard and wrot my sermons. Mr. Hary 
 Forbes, minister at Aldern, a Presbiterian, sat in our Sinods as 
 Dean of Murray. Many joined south and north without 
 scruple of Episcopall government, all haveing closed with it, 
 took oaths of alleadgance and canonicall obedience; now they 
 must nicely desert us, keep field conventicles, and foment 
 rebellion and seism ! 
 1666. It was a pretty jest and droll of a minister in our diocess of 
 
 Murray, Master Gilbert Marshall at Cromdell, usually termd 
 Jupiter for his flights and nimbleness, heareing often of the 
 wonderfull fatall year 1666 and many prodigies to happen on 
 it, would seemingly assent to it and flatter men in their humor, 
 telling it would prove so by this verse : — 
 
 In this instant year you 'le see a great wonder. 
 Sex shall chase sexty, and sexty sex hunder ! 
 
 This proves true in the figures of 1666, sex being last, sexty 
 next, and sex hunder first, retrograd. Besids there is a verse 
 runs this yeare in mens mouths as a presage of omens ; many 
 repeat it, few or non understand it, and I as litle. The dis- 
 tich is : — 
 
 Bartholomeus flet, quoniam deest Presbiter Anglo, 
 Adventu leta, Sancta Maria tua est. 
 
 What to make of these two lines I leave it arbiter to any who 
 reads it, and I think it may be applied to any other year as 
 well as this. Though many have had wild notions of this year 
 I discovered nothing in it but ordinary contingencies. I heard 
 that some in the north of England crost Twid into Scotland ; 
 and some on the Borders and Mers went into England. Sir 
 John Urqhart of Cromarty and Sir George Mackenzie of Tar- 
 but, with their ladyes and famelies, went up to York, and 
 reseeded there till the closur of the year at a considerable cost 
 and expense. Whey they went and what they did I cannot yet 
 learn. I know they were out of publick place and trust, for 
 the Earl off Lauderdale keeps still his gall at Mackenzes : for 
 
 ^ Rev. James Fraser, son of Sir James of Brey, and a noted Covenanter. He 
 was minister of Culross, and suffered imprisonment in the Bass and other places. 
 
POLICRATIC A TEMPORUM 465 
 
 he cannot get over with the act of billeting ; it is a pill of so 
 hard digestion. 
 
 This spring was so wet and rainy that men dispared of sow- 
 ing, and frosts in April impeded the bear seed. Then came 
 the summer in so hot that from the beginning of May to the 
 midle of July I remember not to see one shour of rain, so that 
 men dispared of reaping. About the 10 of July there came a 
 deludge of rain. This refreshed the corn wonderfully ; yet the 
 harvest was so aire and straw so scarce that we feared a generall 
 death of cattle for want of provender ; but God was gracious, 
 for the forewinter was like summer, and continued mild all 
 over ; but the grain universally scarce and dear, 8 tibs the boll ; 
 but the highlands prospered. 
 
 In the closur of May my Lord Lovat tooke journay to i666. 
 Glenelg, and, being a nimble footman, resolves to go in high- wemtoGieneig. 
 land cloaths as agreeing best with the place and genious of the 
 people, and a garb very becomming the eras [?] and proportion 
 of his person. He brought with him as convoy both his uncles, 
 Alexander the Tutor, and Thomas Beufort, and one out of 
 every famely of the name of Fraser, the flower of the gentry, 
 very well appointed for gallantry ; and he gloried very much 
 in his men, and encurraged them as it becam a chiften every 
 way. When he came to Glenelg, good John, the Laird of 
 Mackleod, kept his appointment with him, and gave him a 
 noble welcom, telling his Lordship that he must give him a 
 cheerfull reception with his whole retinue, for his people would 
 do it, the Master of Lovat being married to his mother and 
 had her jointur there. Beufort was maried to his sister, and 
 my Lord Lovat was once superiour of Glenelg, and kindly for Entertaind by 
 him to visit that country. They diverted themselves with Ba^rnorTh^ 
 varieties of sport and recreation, such as hunting, haukeing, 
 fishing, and arching, which manly exercise they both liked well. 
 There was that year a vast tack of hareing in Loch urn, and 
 many ships in the harbours waiting to be fraughted (both 
 Scots and English vessells) with that curious fish, which brings 
 a vast traffick and mony enugh to that country ; and this is 
 judged to be the best and greatest herring in the kingdom, as 
 Lochfine and Dunbarr barring ; and no fish sells better abroad 
 than this does, especially with the Dutch and French. It is 
 
 2 G 
 
466 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 called in High Dutch ein Haring^ and in French Haran^ in 
 Latin Halec, caret numero plurali genus piscis qui sola aqua 
 nutritur dicitur etiam a quibusdam Halex. 
 
 Martial L. ii. Cut portat gaudens Ancilla, paropside rubra 
 
 Halecem, sed quam protinus ilia voret ! 
 
 My Lord Lovat returnd from the Higlilands the beginning of 
 July, and then got a sudden call from south, which he kept 
 secret. Some thought it was from the Earl of Weems, his 
 granduncle ; some said from Sir Ralph Dalavill, his stepfather ; 
 either or both; had no convoy with him but Mr. John Mac- 
 kinnon and Peter Forbes, two pretty men, his prime servants, 
 and Will Innes, his groom. Being a litle indisposed, he road 
 in coach through Murray, but at Spey sent back his coach and 
 hoarses with Richard Holmes his coachman ; and after this we 
 had no account of him for three months, which put all his 
 friends in a wild fright. He left his lady big with child, in 
 continuall feare. It pleased God she was safely brought to 
 bed of a sone, September 28, being Michaelmas eve ; and the 
 child being tender by his mothers former indisposition he was 
 
 Hugh, Master presently christened Hugh. 4 of his kinsmen godfathers? 
 
 September^28? ^ugh Struy, Hugh Culboky, Hugh Foyer, Hugh Belladrum. 
 
 The midwife, Janet Fraser Nindonilvickrobby,^ an honest 
 widow in Finask, told myselfe instantly. Take well about 
 your young cheefe, the Master of Lovat, for his mother will 
 never bear another. He was born with a large black spot 
 uppon his upper right lip. When Kathrin M'kenzie, Mistress 
 of Kingily, on of the godmothers, got him in her lap, and 
 spying the mark, she said to the midwife Berwom E Berwom E,^ 
 take him, away with him, he will do no good (and alas futur 
 events proved it true). His mother, my Lady Lovat, whither 
 by apprehension or naturall contingent histerick fit, was like 
 to passe ; but besids the skillfull midwife. Doctor George 
 Mackenzie was domestick, and Jean TurnbuU, her own maid, 
 had good experience and practices of such maladies, which 
 made us fear the lesse. Now is our old predictions confirmed 
 of 4 considerable chiftens in the North born with signall marks, 
 
 ^ Daughter of Donald, son of Robbie. 
 
 ^ Beir nam e. beir nam e, Take him from me, take him from me. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 467 
 
 of which the Master of Lovat is one. 1. M'kchinnich Glundow ; 
 2. M'khimmi Baldow ; 3, Mackintoshich Cline ; 4. Shissolach 
 Came : that is, Blackneed M'kenzie ; Blackspotted Lovat ; 
 Squint Mackintosh; and Shiesholm blind off an eye. All four 
 are so, and whither for good or evil, to raise or ruin their 
 famelies, they are signally marked and remarked. I shall not 
 ominat ; let future contingences verify the truth of it. 
 
 Now are our feares commenct of the decay of this famely. a reflection 
 The present lady like to be barren, and short lived ; my Lord Seiyfo^f^'^^* 
 Lovat hectick ; the Tutor of Lovat alrady cacochimick, and Frasers. 
 no hopes of his ofspring ; Sibilla aged and will outlive him ; 
 "thomas Beuforts children droping off as they are born, and 
 his lady too fatt and corpulent ; and non extant but they two 
 threatnes the worst. What a famous flourishing famely was 
 this ! Lord Hugh, this mans grandfather, had 6 sones, all at 
 once lively and hopefull enugh; now all centers in this poore 
 infant boy and suckling. God dissappoint my feares ; but the 
 same fatality followes all the leading famelies of the Frasers. 
 Lord Lovat hath but one sone ; the Laird of Strachin but one 
 sone ; the Lord Salton but one sone ; Laird of Inveralochy but 
 one sone; Sir Alexander [Fraser of] Dorris one sone; and the 
 Lord Fraser of Much ell but one sone. AcJi ! Voluptates nimium Surguntque 
 fiigaces cuncta caduca ! Alas, if we have formerly gloried in our ^^nihi^magnt^ 
 goodly, gallant, heroick family we have now cause to grieve; but iame?i/ 
 all is not lost that is in hasard. In all my straights, troubles, 
 trialls, horrours, hope never failed me ; nay, where there was 
 litle appeareance of reliefe. D^gnus vindice iiodus ; Gods 
 finger was found ; he solved my scruples. I will never dispare, 
 becaus I have a God ; I will never presume, becaus I am but a 
 man. Seneca, the Roman poet, hath a councill which I hold 
 as a wonder so worth the following : — 
 
 Nemo confidat nimium secundis 
 Nemo desperet meliora lapsus ! 
 Miscet hoic illis, prohihetque Clotho 
 Stare fortunam ! 
 
 Let none fallen despaire to rise 
 Nor trust too much prosperities, 
 Clotho mingling both command 
 That neither stand ! 
 
468 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 It is a sollid undeniable truth ; blissings appeare not till they 
 be vanisht. The commedian was then serious quhen he writ, 
 
 Turn denique homines nostra intelligimus bona. 
 Cum qucB in potestate habemus ea amisimus. 
 
 Fond men, till we have lost the goods we had. 
 We understand not what their values made. 
 
 Further, to confirm that fatall aspect of a critick constellation 
 whose influence hangs over our head, I will here set doun a 
 prediction or prophecy relating this great famely, found in the 
 Priory Church of Beiily, and the manner how Alexander, Tutor 
 of Lovat, liveing still at Tommich, a halfe mile north east from 
 it, in the beginning of October current, about 11 at night, a 
 clear light was seen in every roome, chamers, hall, and office 
 house about that close of the building. Non noticed it much 
 the first night. The 2 night severalls observed it, which put 
 them in a consternation. A voice desired the servants to 
 intreat their master to goe to the church off Beuly, and there 
 he would find a response as to what troubled his mind often. 
 The voice increased their fright, and, being in a doubtfull 
 commotion, midnight was over and the light evanished er they 
 had the currage to waken the Tutor. They told him the 
 message, but he heeded it not. The 3*^ night the light and 
 voice both surprised his own apartment about the same hour ; 
 a voice heard, no spectra seen. It commanded him, and on 
 his perrill not neglect it, to goe to S. Dunstance Priory Church 
 in Beuly, and on the Alter he would find a parchment writt in 
 Gothick character, unfolding his famelies fate; toilet lege^ tone 
 et iace. With this the light dissapeared. The Tutor arose, 
 put on his cloaths, called his servants ; in companie all rise, 
 puts on fires, lights candles, sits up reading the Scriptures till 
 morning; and, in the very dawning, himselfe, with his two 
 A prophesy Servants, Mr. John Fraser and Alexander Rose, go all 3 to 
 of^Fmsers^'^^^* I^^^^J? g^^^ ^^om the officer, who goes in with them, 
 
 and uppon the alter they find a piece dark antick parchment, 
 with these lines, the Capitall letters rubrick : 
 
 X Reall ofspring, O Duke off Guys, Let not g-uilded g-losses blind 
 
 Draw your forces to a head, Your judgement about land de- 
 
 Now act the men, for otherwayes bates ; 
 
 Your renouus for ever dead : Mark bosom foes, love yourselves. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 469 
 
 Your ruins are contrived all Lay aside intestine jarres, 
 
 That join with Bizets for your arms, That loose sinewes brake the 
 
 The flammins^ hills will work your nerves 
 
 fall Of the best devised warrs ! 
 
 Iff courrage prevent not your My ghost is grieved at the lot 
 
 harms. Of my ofsprings currage beaten ; 
 
 Quit, credulous and facil mind, Rouse yow ! beleeve them not ; 
 
 Childish foolish vain conceit ; Observe the distich underwritten ! 
 
 Sed mora damnosa est, nec spes dubiture remittitf 
 Dum super est aliquid, cuncti coeatis ad arma ! 
 
 The very next morrow the Tutor of Lovat had occasion of 1667. 
 affaires near my house, payed me a visit, and his two servants, 
 Mr. John Fraser and Alexander Rose in company with him. 
 He was pleased to narrat the whole mater to me as it happened, 
 and as I have written verbatim. The parchment he gave me 
 to read, written in two columns as I have set them down, 
 drawn in course Gothick character, the first letter of every line 
 rubrick, the Latin distich ad longum underneath, without 
 alteration of the letters, a St. Andrewes X set before the first 
 line. The two gentlemen, my own relations, declared all the 
 circumstances forsaid with an asseveration. I was oblidged to 
 beleeve them without this confirmation. The Tutor left the 
 parchment with me, and could have kept it still, but I returnd 
 it to confirm others of this truth. The lines were dispersed 
 all the North over ; it kept men in a mist, knew not what to 
 make of it. Ridles will unfold themselves. Rymers prophesies 
 were clear when fullfilled : so may this. Men had odd con- 
 jectures who the author could be. Some jealoused Doctor 
 George M'kenzie ; others. Master Donald Beaton in Suther- 
 lands service ; Spiny Douglas was suspected ; also the Kings 
 Colledge at Aberdeen : yet, after all search and enquery, no 
 detection ; no confession to this very howre. 
 
 About the midle of October, Seaforth came from the Lewis, a contrivance 
 and, paying a visit to his sister in law, my Ladye Lovat, he of my Lo"rd"*^^^ 
 sent for the Tutor ; and Strachin happened to be in the Lovat. 
 country. Struy and severall others of the name were present 
 in the great Hall ; and in a storm he began to challange all 
 the name of Fraser present whey they were not more dutifull 
 kinsmen as to send in search of their cheefe, who was amissing 
 and absent of a long time, and nothing heard from, nor no 
 
470 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 account of him ; much more to this purpose, in a very surly 
 stile. The master answeired, My Lord, we know our own duty 
 without your direction ; nor were we wont to crave or stand in 
 need of your councell in what concernd our credit. My Lord 
 Lovat is but your nighbour, and at most your brother in law% 
 and he is my nephew in particular, and our cousin and cheefe 
 in generall. We know what is fit for us to doe in reference to 
 his Lordships good, and shall do it when we judge it seasonable. 
 And Strachin told liim plainelie, My Lord, if this was your 
 errand to Lovat yow might have stayed at home. We are not 
 fooles or children to be taught be any what is proper for kins- 
 men to act for their cheefe and superiour. I know where my 
 Lord Lovat is at present, and will goe or send to wait uppon 
 him. Things were like to grow to a heat. Seaforth found 
 them all rankled, began to smooth maters, and retreat 
 hansomly, mixing his discourse with another subject ; and so 
 parted somequhat abruptly. For the Tutor and Strachin had 
 before then appointed a meeting att Dochnici age, the east end 
 of Lochnes, where the Stratharick gentlemen. Foyer, Farlin, 
 Erchit, Culduthell, and many mo, conveened at the appointed 
 time; so that all concernd being present, after consultation 
 the result of their meeting terminated in sending two gentle- 
 men of the name in quest of the Lord Lovat, whereever he be. 
 The first they pitcht uppon was Hugh Fraser off'Kinaris living 
 in Kinmilies, and he chused for his mate Simon Fraser,-^ sone 
 to Mr. William Fraser of Phoppachy, then at Invernes ; two 
 batcheloures, and pretty men very fit for the expedition. To 
 this end the prime of the gentlemen present road into Invernes, 
 such as the Tutor, Strachin, Struy, Beufort, Foyer, Belladrum, 
 etc., and at Balife Fraser house near the Bridgend concluded 
 what soume to be given these commissioners for the journay. 
 But as Providence still disposes of mens proposales, the very 
 next day Strachin^s post comming from Buchan broucht us 
 certain account of my Lord Lovats being at Carnbuilg when 
 he came off* ; which put a stop to this design at present. 
 My Lord About the close (the very last day) oft' October my Lord 
 
 and v^isUs^^'^^^^ Lovat arrived here gratus et optatus, longed and wisht for. 
 
 1 The author's brother. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 471 
 
 He tristed indeed with the feast of All Saints, where many of 
 his great friends toke occasion to wait uppon his Lordship, 
 and congratulat his safe and happy return. This faire of 
 Hallowmas at Beuly was signall for number, goodness, and 
 rate of cattle was hardly ever seen : which brought a great 
 deal of mony to the country, and the Highlanders went home 
 well pleased. This November my Lord tooke a progress in 
 circuit to visit his friends and nighboures, through Ross and 
 Sutherland ; his two uncles, the Tutor and Beufort, along with 
 him. Begins at Chanry, giving his first complement to the 
 old Countes of Seaforth, Barbara Forbes; and theEarle, living 
 there, waited uppon him next. Thence, next morow, payed 
 his duty to my Lord Bishop of Ross at his own lodging, who 
 carressed him with his paternal benediction. From thence to 
 Cromarty, visiting Sir John Urquhart, who convoyed him over 
 that ferry to Milton, where his brother in law, Tarbut, lived 
 for the time ; who next morrow waited upon my Lord to 
 Balnigown, who was newly married to the Earl of Murrayes 
 daughter ; and thence over the Larges [Lairg], crosst the 
 Mickle Ferry, Portincouter, and streight by the coast to 
 Dornach, the Bishop of Cathenes living then there, and got 
 his hearty blissing. Biding him farewell, went forward to Doun 
 Robin, to visit kind Earl John, his uncle in law, who gave 
 him a most cordiall reception, and sent for all his friends about 
 to entertain my Lord Lovat at a singular rate. A weekes 
 generous noble treatment being over, takes leave of the Earl 
 of Sutherland and returnes home through Rose, visited old 
 Presbiterian Foules, who protested his affectionat passion for 
 him and his noble famely, and begged of his Lordship to 
 keep up the old rooted correspondance tuixt the Erasers and 
 Monroes, blood relation being the late cement which con- 
 firmed it. My Lord replied that while he lived nothing 
 should be wanting on his part ; so after a hearty botle Fowles 
 commands his 3 sones and two of his kinsmen present to wait 
 uppon my Lord Lovat, and convoy him home to his own 
 house, where arriving the 4 of December, his next project was 
 to send express to his friends, appointing and inviting them i^vites°his 
 to be with him in Lovat at their Christmas, and, it being jj^^^rfy Chnst- 
 Yewel Royall falling uppon Sunday, most of the gentlemen mas. 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 being at sermon convoyed my Lord from church home, the 
 Tutor and his lady, Beufort and his lady, Struy, Culboky, 
 Foyer, Rilick, Achnigarn, etc. ; a confluence and convocation 
 of hearty good fellowes, and nothing was wanting for their 
 suitable entertainment. This I can say without flattery : I 
 never saw a more solem, handsom, opulent Christmas feast, 
 my Lord telling them with their welcom that this might be 
 the last Yewel he would ever keep with them, blissing God for 
 bringing the fatall year to a happy period. What I here say 
 as well as formerly of this famely is ex certa scientia, being eye 
 and eare witness of all those transactions. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Account of affairs in England.] 
 
 A sad drowning This year, on February 6, a dismall accident fell out at the 
 Ferr)°"Feb. 6 Caudlmas marcat in Dingwall. A great croud of people 
 1667. comming to the ferry, and but one boat, they press in so 
 
 thick into her that the ferrier told them he would not launch 
 out from the bank untill they would disburden the boat, and 
 most of them goe out again. There was no heareing: he 
 could not prevail. Well, then, since yow will not, I resolve 
 not to drown myselfe — and so leapes out of the boat uppon 
 the bank ; some of them followed out, two men and a woman. 
 He calls again that the boat was overloadned. They did not 
 regard, but sets her off*, and immediatly oversets and sunk ; 
 all the loadning of people, men and women, floating upon the 
 water lick dukes, and, no doubt, many of them in drink could 
 not escap; those uppon the shoare could not reach to re- 
 cover them ; some casting out their plaids, others long poles, 
 pulled some of them to shoar. Such as kept the midle of the 
 river sunk or carried down the stream ; two men onely swam 
 in to the other side ; 22 persones, men and women, drownd 
 outright. The most of them, out of Ferrintosh, madly im- 
 patient to be home, thrust themselves, being so late, into seen 
 danger. Mr. George Cuming, minister at Urray, heasting to 
 the boat, was like to be in with the rest, but Providence stopt 
 him, calling to his boy to take his hoarse, as himselfe told me. 
 My brother in law, William Monro, was uppon the bank, and 
 rescued 6 persones by casting out roapes and plaids which they 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 473 
 
 laid hold on and were draggd ashoare. Down the streame, 
 quher the water grew shallow, men wead out, and brought in 
 many, but drownd, and some irrecoverable. The water was 
 thick, the stream strong, and people clasping together in their 
 cloaths, sunk and drownd most of them. The loss was great, 
 so many soules perishing in our view, 13 widowes known in 
 one parish. 
 
 This spring was very stormy ; great losse by sea uppon all 
 the British coast ; thunder and lightning did much hurt in 
 England. The summer very dry, straw scarce, all our corn 
 ripe and our fields reapt before the 10 of September; the close 
 of harvest and forewinter so faire that we might conclud it 
 was two summers in one yeare. This summer my Lady Lovat, 
 finding her indisposedness increaseing, resolves to trye the My Lady Lovat 
 Spaw Welles att York, and tooke journay in June from Lovat. totheSpaw. 
 She went by sea to Chanonry, where her horse was to meet 
 her. In company to attend her went Dr. George M'Kenzie, 
 Mr. John Eraser, James Londy, chamerlan, who pretends 
 bussines of consequence to lead him south, and substitutes 
 James Ritchy, burges vintner in Inverness, chamberlan in his 
 vice, and I conceave he gives him trouble enugh, with litle 
 gain ; for all the creame of the milk he hath lickt off these 
 7 yeares bygon, with a great sallary, and is now indifferent 
 who take the employ. My Lady had many relations to see 
 by the way, and at Edinburgh. She stayd long in Sidden 
 Dalavel, near Newcastle, with her mother-in-lawe, going for- 
 ward, and longer at her return ; so that in all she was away 
 3 months, June, July and August, and returnd to Lovat 
 September 6. All the alteration I found on her by her 
 phisicall water was that her collor is more lively, and her 
 stomach sharper ; all which might be procured by her motion, 
 travel, change off aire, though drinking oft water were not in 
 the bargan at all. 
 
 All this while my Lord Lovat and Strachin tooke a progress 
 to Abertarph, Foyer and other Erasers joining with them at 
 hunting ; and after his return, his Lady being away, he was 
 induced to goe to Buchan and Marr to visit friends who longed 
 for him, and loved to have him with them. He diverted him- 
 selfe there all harvest, and in his absence my Lady deserts 
 
474 
 
 POLICHRONlCON SEU 
 
 Lovat, and chusd the house off'Beuly for her dwelling. Whither 
 her own inclination or bad advice caused this I never examined, 
 but the better house, more conveniency, a purer aire, and 
 haveing necessaries nearer and easier, and to be beside her 
 friends. All these pretended reasons prevailed, though all 
 false ; but the main was she went their to dye : so ominous 
 was her flitting. 
 
 i668 [sic]. Now this great famely is flitted from this parish with mine 
 
 and the regreet of many. They were my parishioners 7 yeares. 
 I was my Lords chaplain and pastor ; nor was it his choice to 
 leave me. The Lord preserve them where now they reseed. 
 Tiiis I must say, they were a good example amongst us, 
 hospitable, charitable and discreet. I had never scandall or 
 delation before my session out of that noble famely, notwith- 
 standing of what extravagancy and liberty it was chargd 
 with. And the main incurragement was their countenancing 
 the ordinances of God uppon his day. It was a pleasure to 
 see that famely come to church, especially at a sacrament 
 time. The last Easter the Holy Eucharist was solemnly cele- 
 brated at Mons Mariae ! for besids our own numerous gentry, 
 the old and young Countesses of Seaforth were here, the Lady 
 Cromarty, and many mo. Lord, make thy seales and sacra- 
 ments effectuall for that great end thow hast appointed them 
 for, and grant whilest we have Gods seales there be not 
 unmarcked soules. 
 
 My Lord Lovat came home to attend his fares about the 
 closur of harvest, and, finding his lady and famely in Beuly, 
 never challanged her deserting of Lovat, or whey she came 
 hither. He was ever wont to give her her will in every thing, 
 and in this would not stint her. He spent that winter at 
 home demurr and melancholy, a temper that set him ill, and 
 to be confined no better. I mind the old Kitchin Latin, 
 mitte hoc vadere sicut vadit nam vult vadere sicut vadit, modo 
 hie sit bene, said the old monck in his cell ; but when a man 
 wants contentment at home all is wrong ! 
 MyLadyDuffus This January 1667 died Lady Margret Stuart, my Lady 
 Duffus, the Earl of Murrayes daughter, at her own house in 
 Elgin. She was safely brought to bed, but a hysterick malig- 
 nant distemper dispatcht her ; a most excellent woman. She 
 
 sudden death. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 475 
 
 made up that famely ; yet generous, liberal!, charitable, hos- 
 pital ; who could surprise her in city or country ? I happened 
 to be a night in Duff'us at a Synod time, with Mr. James 
 Sutherland, my alter ego. We payed this good lady a visit, 
 and she would not part with us, assureing us that she lickt 
 our character well, no company was more welcom to her than 
 the clergy. We spent that night most pleasantly. This was 
 a lady of singular parts, loyal, sound, and a true Church of 
 England woman. She was malleus schismaticorum, a hammer 
 of phanaticks; they must be musled in her presence; she banterd 
 them out of their persuasions with strong reason. Her husband 
 was wont to say that he would turn her louse against the 
 stoutest of them. Alas ! we want a true patroness. I could 
 run out in her praise, but it were to light a candle to the 
 sun. Give her of the work of her hands, and let her works 
 praise her in the gates. She lyes now in the silent grave ; Pro : 31. 31. 
 it should not be closed. So many of her ofspring posted after 
 that her husband might be written childless; non extant of 
 them this day. 
 
 [Account of Affairs in England.] 
 
 Leaveing these great actors uppon the stage of the world, The Laird of 
 let us now come to those who have made their exit. The 
 Laird of Foules, Monro, being under a decay, dyed on 
 
 the 24 of January. I will not say off [ ? ] being lame, 
 tarn curvus corde quam cruribus. I will judge none. I have 
 learnd that de mortuis nil nisi honmn. He was interd at 
 Kiltern, 28; and, indeed, there was nothing wanting to make 
 his funerals compleit and solemn. The Rosses were there in 
 a body of a 1000 foot, under the conduct of Ross off Iner- 
 charran and verry well appointed. The Monroes would be 600. 
 Seaforth came there accompanied with a few horse, and no 
 foote at all ; and it is a thing I wonder off that nobleman 
 that he makes no figure at any time at burrialls. My Lord 
 Lovat being farr off the season, would not allow him to bring 
 foot, but as it was still his [ ? ' ] he had a good convoy 
 off gentlemen, 50 horse very well appointed; I am sure non 
 like him there. [ ] funeral! feast it was to purpose, and 
 
476 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 the foot in the fields well noticed. It was a most pleasant 
 sunshein winter day, and truely the parad of horse and foot, 
 the church being so neare, was a noble show. 
 1668. The next who parted this life was Sir Robert Innes of 
 
 Moortoun, commonly called the Generall Quarter Master, being 
 ingaged in the late rebellion. He sould the reversion of 
 Cromy, and bought the lands of Moortoun and Leuchers, 
 about Kinloss, a bad purchass, church land, borrowd monny 
 to buy it, could not extricat himselfe, turn melancholy after 
 his ladys death, and died himself in March, and left a poor 
 unsolved ofspring. He thought to leave the care of all uppon 
 my Lady Duffus, but her death crusht him, and all evanisht. 
 Many deaths at south this year. Lord Kingorn, Lord Sinclar, 
 Fife, and Angus, whose names I leave to be enrolled in the 
 Bill of Mortality where they lived. 
 The Earl of A remarkable Death this yeare was that of John Steward, 
 Traquars fall. Earl of Traquar, time, place, and manner. This man 
 
 was King James the 6 his cousin and courtier. King Charles 
 the 1 sent him Lord High Commissioner down to Scotland, 
 and sat viceroy in the Parliament, June 1639. He early cast 
 anchor at Court, the haven of happiness for all aspireing 
 spirits, and this broke him ; at last turnd the tennis ball of 
 fortun. What power and sway, place and preferrment, he 
 had then I need [not] mention ; onely this copping then with 
 the reverend bishops, and tampering under boord with the 
 Covenanters, he acknowledged to be his bane. But whither 
 by his own malversing, or by paction and resignation of his 
 interest to his sone, or the immediat hand of God upon him, 
 I search not ; but he provd a true emblem of the vanity of 
 the world, a very meteor oriens et moriens and, as many more, 
 Tollimtur in altum ut lapsu graviore ruant. I saw him anno 
 1661 begging in the streetes of Edinburgh. He was in an 
 antick garb, wore a broad old hat, short clock, and pannien 
 breeches ; and I contributed in my quarters in the Canongate 
 at that time, which amounted to a noble, which we gave him 
 standing, and his hat off, the Master of Lovat, Culboky, Glen- 
 moriston, and myselfe ; which piece of mony he receaved from 
 my hand as humbly and thankfully as the poorest supplicant. 
 It is said that at a time he had not to pay for cobling his 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 477 
 
 bootes, and died as we hear in a poor coblers house ; so that 
 of him we may say with the poet, who describs him well, 
 
 FortuncB speculum, Tracuerus scandit in altum 
 Ut casu graviore ruat, regisque favor e 
 Tollitur ; hinque cadit ! 
 
 In April a providence happened at Culodden, two miles Gold found in a 
 eastward from Inverness. A tenant, John Anderson, had den. 
 plowed a field near the shore, lay land, causing digg about the 
 stones in mearins, and, casting many up, especially one 
 remarkable stone stand in the west end of the field; but 
 whenc it came non knowes ; but a servant harrowing the field 
 over and over found two or three pieces of bright mettall, gold 
 as he thought. This comes to John Forbes, Laird of Culodden, 
 his eares, calls for the tennant, gets the gold, being informed 
 of the place where it was got, convocates a number of persones 
 to search throw that field, and they found very many various 
 slices and cuts of gold through the harrowed ground, and near 
 that standing stone they digged round the old ground, and 
 there found more yet, and at last a neat frame of curious wood 
 crusted with gold uppon a pedestill standard, curious work. 
 It seemes that in this box the gold had been preserved, which 
 was found scattered up and down the field, being now broaken 
 to pieces. The rumor running, it was discovered that one 
 John Taylor, merchant in Invernes, had bought a ponderous 
 piece of this gold from a servant boy. Him Culodden chargd 
 before the townes court, who confessd and delivered up the 
 same, as did every one who had got the least od bit of it. 
 After a while John Forbes invited myselfe to Culodden, and 
 present all that was found of this hoord in a basin. We set 
 up all the frame to a very litle that was wanting, and found 
 by the composur that it was a capsula or cistellula in which 
 some rich jewel had been kept by the cavety of the casket. It 
 might be capacious of above a pint of liquor. There were bits 
 of chaines, clasps, smal joints, ribs, cuts, some ponderous oval 
 and foursquare pieces, and another bit like a wilk, which I 
 judged to be the winding top of the casket. If it was a gold 
 image, the head was wanting, the fingers and toes and other 
 purtenances disfigured might be there. Such another casket 
 
478 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 The Phoenix 
 prise at Inver- 
 nes possest by 
 Sir Andrew 
 Forrester. 
 
 like this, containing an image, I saw in Luca, which the Pisani 
 had impignorat with them for a soume of mony quhen accosted 
 by the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and this might be St. Andre wes 
 or St. Kathrins image, hiden here by the priests at Invernes in 
 time of the broyles with Mackdonels. Culodden uppon the 
 report was chargd before the Councell, but came off. 
 
 There was a great prise, 1666, taken from the Dutch, which 
 lay at Monlochie mouth, a vast hulk of about 500 tun, so bigg 
 that it could not be carried up to Cassack [Kessock] rode. At 
 last the Earl of Crafort, Chancelour, got the gift of this ship 
 from the King, and he substitut Sir Andrew Forrester to come 
 north this June and cause carpenters sight the vessell, who, find- 
 ing her sound and strong, sent for a crue of seamen south to 
 mannage her, and stayed at Inverness untill they came to him. 
 They considered her burden, and faddoms of water she requird, 
 brought her up to the Road off Cassock, and compleated her 
 with all necessaries and provision for a voyage. After this he 
 went abord of her, and feasted some cammarads in Inverness, 
 and with the usuall solemnity baptised this prize under the 
 name of the New Phenix Borealis; and thence Mr. James 
 Sutherland, Will Trent, and my selfe convoyed my dear Foster 
 down by sea to Cromarty, where after paying some visits, and 
 exchanging toakens of true fraternall affection, we leave him 
 in porta salutis ; and with the first faire wind next morow they 
 sett saile, and came very safe to Sherise in Spain, whence I 
 had his letters, in one off which he made his latter will dis- 
 poning all he had to me, a sign of his sincere love, which I 
 keep still by me as a singular thing amongst cammarads. In 
 Porta Nova the Phoenix was loadned with Scheris sack, Kinary 
 Rice, rasins, oyle, olive, and spices, and by Gods blissing 
 returnd safe with a prosperous gale to London in September 
 thereafter, and being at anchor in Wapping rode, the King in 
 his berge from Greenwich came abord of the Phoenix, and 
 after a magnificent treat, knighted Sir Andrew Forrester uppon 
 the deck, with a volly of shot, sound of trumpet and haut- 
 boyes ; and after this honour done to a poor Scotch student 
 the King chusd him for his under Secretary when Lauderdale 
 came down to Scotland as Commissioner to indict a Parliament 
 the next summer, 1669. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 479 
 
 To finish this yeares accounts and observations among several a rude ryot and 
 forrunninff accidents, one shrud one is to be noticed which rl^"?^l^'^ ^ 
 
 o ' lair in Invernes, 
 
 happened at Invernes at a grand faire, August 15, being the called theCabog 
 
 feast of the Asumption of the Blissed Virgen. Uppon the hill 
 
 south of the castell the horse mercat stands, and there being 
 
 some women uppon the edge of the breay selling of cheese and 
 
 bread, readdy for such as could not go farr to fetch it, one 
 
 Finlay Dow,^ a townes man, takeing up a cheese in his hand, 
 
 asked what the rate of it was. This being told him, whither 
 
 designedly or by negligence, he let the cheese drop out of his 
 
 hand, and down the hill it runns into the river. The woman 
 
 told him she would oblidge him to pay. He (a crabbed fellow) 
 
 gave her cross language of defyance. One that stood by, 
 
 espouseing the quarrel, held him fast, and tooke off his bonnet 
 
 in pledge untill he should pay the woman. A relation of 
 
 Finlayes challanged this man as non of his concerns. Yes, said 
 
 he, I am concerned as a wittness to see just things. To 
 
 threatning words and as goods, they goe from words to blowes, 
 
 till at length most of the hill markat is ingaged to a confusion. 
 
 This allarms the whole town. The guards are called, who 
 
 come in arms, and John Reed, a pretty man, their captain, 
 
 runs in betuixt the parties to seperat them. Severall other 
 
 gentlemen present offer their mediation; no heareing, but 
 
 swords drawn, guns presented, some vounds given. Provost 
 
 Alexander Cuthbert is told that his guards are not regarded, 
 
 puts on a steel cap, sword, and targe, caust ring the alarm bell, 
 
 comes up streight to the hill, and many pretty fellowes with 
 
 him. The people cry for justice. The guard, being opposed 
 
 and abused, let off some shot. Two are killed outright, and 
 
 above ten wounded. The noise busted, maters examined, the 
 
 guard blamd. If the Provost in a fury said he allowed and 
 
 avowed quhat was done, for who durst disturb the kings free 
 
 burgh at a markat time ? is debated ; but it is alleadged he 
 
 said so, and manet alta mente repostum judicium Paridis. The 
 
 Highlanders keep a grudge ; two Mackdonels were killed ; one 
 
 Cameron and a Philan dyed of their wounds. The open 
 
 ruptur was honested on both sides with a punctilio of honour, 
 
 ^ Black Finlay. 
 
480 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 but a revenge was promised and vowed. A great many 
 gentlemen, Frasers, Grants, Mackintoshes, offered to compose 
 the mater, calling it chance medling, extenuating hinc inde, 
 the cause of the furry. The leading men of the Mackdonells 
 present were invit by the magistrats and civily treated, with 
 a promise of strick examination, and execution for the bloud ; 
 but, alas ! it was post nmifragium, or a pardon after execution, 
 as the losed party thought. Tetra venena hibens, et naufragus 
 ehihat undas ! a wound may be hid, that is, though not healed, 
 and covered that is not cured. This rupture burst out after- 
 wards, as the consequence will confirm. But this unhappy 
 fellow who occasioned the frey was shapen for mischeefe, being 
 marked like a stigma, having naturally one halfe of his beard 
 whit, the other halfe black. Meanwhile, the wounded men 
 and the dead corpses were all carried over to this sid the bridge 
 of Ness, as an odium to the town. Thomas Fraser Beufort 
 concerned himselfe; our parishioners of Wardlaw went into 
 A mournfuii the town and transported the corpses to their interment at 
 Kirkhill very decently, and the other wounded men, also quhen 
 dead ; of all which I was an assisting eye witness. 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Account of public affairs and events in England.] 
 
 In the North the Marques of Huntly haveing gottin a full 
 ratification of his Majesties gift to him in Parliament returnd 
 home, settling all his vassalls, according to his promise and 
 their expectation. In February the good Earl of Marr 
 sickned, and no great hopes of his recovery after his return 
 home. The Lord Marshall, after a chronick mallady, dyed in 
 his own house of Dunnotter in March, age 63. This May the 
 Earl of Seaforth tooke a progress through his own highlands, 
 and to setle old differences betuixt his clans, and to give new 
 laces of lands and tacks, which till now was omitted. My 
 Lord Lovat this June tooke a progress north to perform his 
 long promised visit to Strathnaver, haveing appointed a select 
 number of his kindred to wait uppon him, such as young 
 Struy, Culbokie, Culduthell, and many of his vassalls. The 
 convoy was honorable and splendid, and were suitably re- 
 spected all allong the roade in their jurnay. He was treated 
 
 Earl Mar. 
 Marshall. 
 Seaforth. 
 
 Lovat, 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 481 
 
 the first night at Fowles, a true-hearted Eraser ; from thence- 1669. 
 forward the Laird of Foules convoyed him through his own 
 country, and was treated to a high degree in every famely of 
 the Monroes, to the Brig of Alnes, and every gentleman con- 
 voying him from his own house to Sir George Monroes at New 
 More, who told him at his own gate, My Lord Lovat, yow are My Lord Lovat 
 now in your own country ; the Laird of Foules is a Fraser, ^° 
 and be sure I am one too ; yow are welcom to my house, and 
 be sure my wife will welcom yow and all your train. We 
 will deliver yow tomorrow to the Rosses, and if they fail in 
 any duty to your Lordship we will wait uppon yow over the 
 Large [Lairg] into Sutherland. I am a souldier, my entertain- 
 ment will be course but very cordiall, and yow are sure of the 
 hidden dish : a free welcom. The Presbiterian Lady, Christina 
 Hamilton, seconded her husbands invitation, telling Lovat 
 that her house was his own, and to take it so, and that he 
 would find in every step of his entertainment a confirmation 
 of the real affection which the Monroes had for his person and 
 kindred, and to make use of his own chaplens within her 
 famely ; and this was the greatest complement of all, which 
 myselfe was wittness off. The next morrow my Lord went to 
 Ballnigown, and Sir George Monro waited uppon him thither, 
 and in the afternoon tooke leave of Lovat, returning home 
 again with his friends. Balnigown and a select number of his 
 friends waited uppon my Lord Lovat over the Lairg and 
 Mickleferry of Portincouter, and so to Dounrobbin ; and, paying 
 his complement to his cousin, the Earle of Sutherland, went in 
 to Cathnes, and at Scrabster visited Doctor Patrick Forbes, my 
 Lord Bishop, and stayed with him that night and next morrow, 
 who at parting told Lovat, My Lord, your person and parts 
 are so charming that I wish to have enjoyed yow longer, known 
 yow sooner or never — In quo viro — Iiigenmm pietas artemque 
 modestia vincit — Cui hlanda in vultu gravitas et mite serena — 
 Fronte miper ilium sed pectus mitius ore^ etc. Such a high 
 epithet, given by the good Bishop to a young nobleman of so 
 short acquaintance, was an evidence and indication not onely 
 of his ripe judgment, but also of his true affection and respect 
 to him, for which he signified his deep resentment and heartv 
 thanks to his Lordship, and so parted with his blissing; and, 
 
 2 H 
 
482 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 My Lord Lovat takeing hoi'se, his next stage was to Thearso East to visit the 
 nes' Earle of Cathnes, where he got a noble reception. My Lady, 
 
 being Argiles daughter, told my Lord Lovat that a Fraser was 
 most welcom to a Campbell; and there, with no less than 
 officious kindness, not with umbrages, but a substantial! enter- 
 tainment, this Earl keeps a splendid port as Princes table 
 use to be. Few in Scotland have such grandeur, all manner 
 of recreation and divertisment without and within, gameing 
 and play, and one of the finest liberaries in the nation. Both 
 those Lords, haveing strong impressions of learning and educa- 
 A serious reflec- tion, their duty to God and loyalty to their King ; both being 
 under alleadgeance leatly contracted as very leading men in 
 the North, considering that as obedience in subjects being the 
 princes strength, so is the same their own safety, therefore 
 they who weaken the Sovereigns power weaken their own 
 security. For our peeres now have a true prospect that, as 
 rebellion is a weed of too heasty a grouth, so it uses to decay 
 as suddenly, and that knot which is united in treachery is 
 now as easely dissolved by jealousies. These two young 
 noblemen, after a whole weekes converse together, they part 
 with some reluctancy, urbanity and civility being the compass 
 of society, for a mans conversation ought to be with those by 
 whom he may accomplish himselfe best, for vertue never returns 
 with so rich a cargo as quhen it sets sail from such continents; 
 company, like climats, alter complexion. My Lord Lovat now 
 heastens for Strathnaver, as his ne plus ultra, though it did 
 not reach so farr as Ultima Thide. The modern name is 
 Strathnavern, signifying a vally by Navern, the river giveing 
 it true denomination and title. The Earl of Sutherland was 
 superiour of this country, and his eldest sone is designed from 
 it Lord Strathnaver. The chiefe inhabitant here are the 
 Mackyes, who are designed from their lands in Farr, but, anno 
 1625, Sir Donald M'kye was designed of Strathnaver, and 
 made a baronet by King James, and in the year 1631 was 
 created Lord Rae by King Charles i. from a place belonging 
 to him in the county of Cathness holding of the King. He 
 went abroad, and was Collonel under Gustavus, King of 
 Sweden, in his warrs, where he died. This present Lord 
 Donald Ray is his sone, who first married the Earl of Cath- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 483 
 
 ness daughter; his present lady, Lady Barbara, daughter to 
 Scaury, a relation of his own, of whom I spoke formerly, and 
 cannot say enugh in point of commendion for vertue and 
 true smartnes. They live now at Dureness, whither my Lord My Lord Lovat 
 came, longd for, and got a most freed welcom, especially to my Stiathnaver 
 good Lady, who for her true affection to our name might well 
 be named Barbara Fraser. The Lord Ray contrived all maner 
 of sport and recreation to divert his dear Lovat, as he tearmd 
 him ; sometimes out at sea in berges afishing, sometimes 
 haukeing and hunting, sometimes arching at buts and bow- 
 marks, jumping, wrestling, dancing — for my Lord had his 
 trumpeter, Hans Adam, and his expert fidler, Hugh Chisholm, 
 with him. At last, the season approacliing, they went to the 
 hills. All the gentlemen of the name of M'ky conveend, and 
 so to the deer hunting, for my Lord Ray hath the finest and 
 richest forest in the kingdom for deer and reas, their number 
 and nimblenes ; and some of them thought their luck was 
 singular, becaus Lovat was there, and highlanders observe 
 that short lived men have great luck of venison ; and alas ! so 
 it appeared, for [he] lived short after this. 
 
 My Lord Lovat, haveing stayed a whole month and more in My Lord Lovat 
 Strathnaver, and, we may say, wearied with excess of pleasure, se'pte^ber'^5 
 thinks of returning home the beginning of September, loadned 
 with curtesies and obligations. My Lord Ray gifted him a 
 curious, curled, black, shelty horse, severall excellent firelocks, 
 bowes, and a sword that perhaps for goodness and antiquity 
 might be called the nonsuch, and two deer greyhounds. My 
 Lady gifted him a plaid all of silk, party colloured, her own 
 work, and a pare of truse of the same, neatly knit, and a 
 dublet of needlework, all which might be a present for the 
 High Commissioner his Grace, and would needs see all these 
 garbs put on, and in a droll called Lovat her Joseph with a 
 coat of many coUours ; so that whatever society he happened 
 to converse with, he was, as Titus Vespasian, deUcice generis 
 humance, a very darling. My Lord Ray in end, after a most 
 kindly but melancholious farewell, convoyed Lovat out of his 
 own bounds with twenty gentlemen in train, and set him on 
 Sutherland ground ; and arrived at Beuly September 20th, 
 where many of his friends happly chanct to meet him, and non 
 
484 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 longd more for him than my selfe, who waited his Lordship 
 comming to put me out of a single life and put on bonds and 
 the chaines of wedlock ; and in the beginning of October he 
 was pleased to convoy me to Murray, and countenance the 
 celebration of marriage in St. Peeters Church of DufFus;^ and 
 how much he was respected among nobles and gentlemen at 
 that wedding feast were flattery in me to magnify. There are 
 many living witnesses can confirm and say more than is fit for 
 me to declare or descrive. 
 
 Cuicovies There happened a great mortality in the North this winter, 
 
 spring, and harvest. Mr. Alexander Mackenzie of Culcovie 
 [Kilcoy] died at Moortoun, a privat dwelling two mile eastward. 
 This gentleman, being a sone of Kintailes, got Culcovy by 
 marrying Janet PVaser, Lady Culcovy. He turnd somequhat 
 imperious and harsh to her, and after her death he married 
 J. Dunbarr, a daughter of Blaryes, and she reveingd good Janets 
 quarrel, broake his spirit. He dyed in the 67 yeare of his age, 
 and, being concernd in Erasers, my Lord Lovat convoy him 
 with a noble train to his interment at the Church of Killearnan. 
 
 Foyers death, Hugh Fraser of Foyer, a very gallant gentleman, dyed in his 
 
 cetatis house at Foyer, March 16, of a chronick mallady, univer- 
 
 sally beloved, bemoaned. My Lord Lovat, with many of his 
 name, road over to Urqhart, and was that night in Balmackaan, 
 Thomas Grants house, who had married the Lady Glenmori- 
 ston, Culbokies daughter, and sure her cheefe with his train 
 were welcome to her. Here we leave our horse, and my Lord, 
 with many Grants, Cumings, Frasers, croassed the Lough Ness 
 in 4 great boats, trumpets sounding, pipes playing, with 
 echoes rebounding, and convoying Foyers corps to his inter- 
 ment at Boleskin. We all return after the funerall, and over 
 the Loch Ness to our good quarters we had the night before 
 at Ballmackaan. In September, William Fraser of Bobleny 
 died at his own house, and was interred at the Priory Church 
 
 Kinaris death, of Beuly. November 2, Hugh Fraser of Kinaris died at his 
 own house in Kinmilies, an excellent youth, cetatis 26, and was 
 interred in the Capella Montis Mariae ; and I can averr that 
 
 ^ The author's wife was Margaret, daughter of the Rev. Alexander Symmer, 
 minister of Dufifus. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 485 
 
 M'kenzies 
 death. 
 
 his uncle, William Fraser of Culboky, got his dead stroake at 
 his burriall. He sickned going home, and died of a flux, Cuibokies 
 December 26, cetatis 73, and was interred witli a great funerall 
 solemnity among his ancestors at Kirkhill, in Capella Montis 
 Mariae. His mother, Kathrin M'k enzies, a woman of action, Kathrin 
 vertue, fortun, and luck, died of meer age, near 90 yeares, at 
 her own house in Kingily the year before, and might say she 
 was taken away from the evil to come ; and as Hulda pro- isai. 57. i. 
 phesied, I will gather thee to thy fathers and grave in peace, 
 and thy eye shall not see the evil that I will bring uppon this 
 famely ; for shortly afterwards great was the change, near a 
 totall decay happened to that great house. 2 King 22. 20. 
 
 At this time Captain Phineas Pot came down from London 1670. 
 by sea to trye all the firr woods in the North for masts. He Tam^e foremasts, 
 had visited the woods of Straboickle, and found few there; went 
 then to Struy and Glenstrapharrar, and that old wood pleased 
 him. He hath alrady loaded a great ship with masts in Kessock 
 rode, and is providing to load another. Himselfe, wife, and 
 famely have lived at Inverness thir two yeares, and is now weary- 
 ing. He is a very oblidging man, kindly to the clergy, hath 
 brought much mounny to the country ; his uncle. Commissioner 
 Pott, overseer of the navall provision at Shattim [Chatham], 
 hath employed and is like to be his heir. Uppon a certain 
 night, comming down the firth and some comarads with him 
 in his painted great cockboat, he was castin with a northerly 
 blast uppon the shoar of Phoppachy, under the kill. I 
 happened to be there and some friends with me, and hearing 
 the cry we run out and rescued the boat. Mr. Trent, Charles 
 Macklean, marchants in Inverness, were with him, and invited 
 him into my house, very disstressed and wett ; got a good fire 
 and provision for them that night. In the morning it calmd 
 and away they went, but to consider a gratfull man he could 
 never sufficiently requit me that nights guesting ; never saw 
 me afterwards at Invernes, but still I was of a booke or two, 
 papers, of mace, nutmug, cinnamon, cloves, ginger. I could 
 aver one way or other that I had 7 Hbs sterling worth of 
 spiceries from that gentleman ; and, going away this summer, ,, 
 gifted a trunk, carpet, and Cambdens great History. Capincr aiven 
 
 Now is Brittain at peace with all the world ; our .sea safe up, and peactv 1 
 
486 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 for navigation, free from pirates. Formerly there was no 
 peace to him that went out or came in. The Holland capers 
 had done us great loss ; many merchants broake by the Dutch 
 warr; and be sure we did them much harm. Not a sea cost 
 town but rickt a capper out ; the Fife towns all over ; and in 
 the North, Dundee, Monross, Stonhive, Arbroath, Aberdeen, 
 Fraserbrugh, Peterhead, Bamph, and Inverness. Severalls in 
 Cathness too ; and many rich commodities and a number of 
 excellent vessells taken from the Dutch ; instance the Phoenix 
 that is now in Spain with Sir Andrew Forrester. The Arch- 
 bishop of St. Andrewes had a stout caper under Captain 
 Fleming at sea, which did much mischeefe. A smart waggish 
 poet gave his Grace this pretty sarcasm, which for the quick 
 fancy I here insert to make my reader lauch : — 
 
 At first apostles fishers were of men : 
 
 Oures catch by caping, thers by preaching then. 
 
 Those in old times did by a happye hand 
 
 The gospell preach almost in everye land ! 
 
 But the wid Ocean shall hereafter be 
 
 The great Archbishop of Saint Andrews see : 
 
 His Grace is James by the mercy off God 
 
 Whilst he uppon the land makes his abode. 
 
 But when a caping on the sea he posts. 
 
 He is the hight priest of the Lord of Hosts. 
 
 Here Saint Andrewes is turnd a Boanerges, 
 
 Thundring with cannon, burning ships and berges. 
 
 Some take him for Ferrara, 'tis but a rant ; 
 
 When it turns peace, he 'le quickly turn a saint. 
 
 Here Peter walks once more uppon the sea ; 
 
 From Saintes great wonders may expected be ! 
 
 And they are tempt to work, then when they think. 
 
 That they may justly marchants cape or sink ! 
 
 But he 'le advise, Boates onely take, youl hear 
 
 Our Peter will cut off but Malchus eare : 
 
 And then the King will say, to end this meeter, 
 
 If't please your Grace put up your spurtle, Peter ! 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Account of affairs in England.] 
 
 There happened in those louse times in the North a plague 
 and scurge upon the country, one Patrick Roy M'kgrigor, a 
 vile Scithian rude outlaw. He first drive a clandestin course 
 
 1670. 
 
 Patrick Roy, 
 Mackgrigor, a 
 pestiferous 
 robber. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 487 
 
 in Cromarr and Glentanner, winked at by severalls for feare of 
 his outrage. At last he tooke a latitud by the patronage and 
 under the protection of the wicked Lord Aboin Gordon, find- 
 ing this villain fit for his designs, and harboured him in Glen- 
 shell, and Aford, sallying out avowedly uppon the nighboures 
 about in rapin and ravage, that Craigmile Burnet challanged 
 the oppression, and was silenced uppon his own cost. This 
 notorious robber made the Carn of Mounth his haunt, so that 
 all travellers made him homaore. Fettercarn and that side of 
 Anguis, till yow come to Eoagel and Forfar, payed him tribut, 
 quhen he pleasd. He frighted Bervy and Monross, that they 
 were forct to set out a watch at a vast cost. At last he got a 
 crew of Grigors and Gordons about him, so that he commands 
 all that country. The Laird of Murns, John Lyon, had an 
 interest of 5 or 6 chalders of victuall there, called Glenbymore 
 Haboin, and came thither to exact his rent, and his sone, 
 Alexander Lyon, his second sone, a pretty gentleman, with 
 him. Petry Roy, with his train of robbers, surprisd and 
 seasd the gentleman, alleadging that Alexander Lyon came 
 there to dare the Lord Haboin, and said he would take up his 
 fathers duty in spit of his Lordship. This bold villain fixes a 
 court of his vile crue ; appoints a balife, one Askin ; chuses a 
 fiscall, a clerk, and nottar ; calles an inquest ; leads for good 
 probation ; conveens, convicts, sentences this gentleman (a 
 most hopefull youth), Alexander Lyon ; sets up a gallons, and 
 within 24 houres hanges him ; and in the interim takes an oath He causes hang 
 off the poor old father never to reveal, never to pursue, this Lyon"^^^ 
 liorrid, attrocious fact, which no history can paralell or 
 instance. 
 
 The last year when the gentlemen of Murray went south to 
 Laderdales Parliament, that bottom betuixt Garmach and 
 Findorn was in such a fright for Petry Roy as Rome was with 
 her Hanniball ad portas continually. This winter he descended 
 to Baveny ; but there he met with some opposition, and, have- patry Roy in- 
 ing an old pick at the town of Kaith, he falls down there in 
 January with his whole party, and most insolently enters and 
 marches through that town, his piper playing before him, over 
 the bridge, and up to William Frasers house on Coupper hill, 
 of purpose to impose a tax off'a 100 marks uppon the inhabitants. 
 
488 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 presently to be advanced in toaken off fealty ; but this fealed, 
 haveing got resistance — for Glengarrack, and 8 or 9 men in 
 arms with him, came to Kaith, prevailed with the towns men to 
 join with him, and made up a resolut party. Petry Roy, hearing 
 off a convocation, rushes out and in a hostile fury runs down, 
 possesses the churchyard as his best fence. Sir James Strachan, 
 parson off Kaith, sends to him adviseing him to escape and 
 remove out of the town, and there should be no more of it. 
 No, this was cowardish. The gentleman would fight ; lets off 
 two or three shott which did no hurt. Glengarocks men gave 
 them a faire volly of halfe a score sound shot ; foUowes a 
 desperat ingagement. Petry Roy is shot through the thigh 
 and through the hollow of the body under his shoulder ; 
 his baliefe and lieutennant had his right arm brock with 
 a shot ; and 4 of his men killed outright ; ten of them 
 woundedc Meantime, by an unexpected providence, the wind 
 turns easterly, which blew the smoake in the enemies faces. 
 This dasht and discurrages them ; next they get to their 
 swords, and were soon beat back by the townesmen; the 
 dispute continues untill the night and fogg parted them. 
 Some few carried off their captain, Petry Roy, and his lieu- 
 tenant, and put them in a litle barn halfe a mile from the 
 town, where they had sad quarters for that night. 
 
 Let us observe how the hand of God brought this villain 
 into a snare where he least thought of it. Had he stayed on 
 Pat. Roy Couper hill with his men he would have been inaccesible, but 
 prehended^and William Fraser had a good hand in the descent to expose him 
 carried prisoner to his mischeefe, and also gave him the first wound for not 
 to Bamph. paying his reckoning at his inn. Glengarrack kept out a 
 watch all the night, and in the morning all the gentlemen in 
 circuit conveened to Keith. Lemcarn Ogilvy and his brother, 
 the Captain, though they shifted the action and ingagement 
 the night before, yet concurred with others to give in their 
 resentment and due applause to Glengarrack for his great 
 conduct in manageing this expedition against a cruell robber. 
 After search and inquisition Petry Roy is found in a poor 
 widowes house near Kaith, lying with his lieutenant in their 
 desperat wounds. Sir James Strachan, the minister, convinced 
 him of his lewd wicked life and qualis vita finis ita ; he lived in 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 489 
 
 blood and rapin, and so he ends. This varlet, who in his 
 health was bold and impudent as a lyon, lyes now dasht and 
 disprited on a wisp of straw ; and he who passed a merciless 
 unjust sentence uppon others is now under Gods severe sen- 
 tence reaping the fruit of his debauched desperat deedes, 
 deserted of all persons who prompted him to his perverse 
 practices. There are 6 of his wounded soldiers taken, and 
 brought before him for his further aggravation ; a chyrurgion 
 brought present to pause all their wounds ; and then himselfe 
 carried in a sledge. Others, some on horsback, some on foot, 
 convoyed to the town of Bamph, a sad spectacle of Gods 
 vindictive justice, to suffer deserved sentence. 
 
 This January my Lord Lovat, resolving for abroad and My Lord Lovat 
 travel beyond seas, conveenes a select number of his friends to chamerians. 
 witness the setlement of his affaires ; and first, although he was 
 limited to an aliment, yet he gives a locality to every one of 
 his ministers. He disposes off Dalcross to Major George 
 Beatman for that soume he borrowed from him when he went 
 to England. I told before that this Major Beatman was 
 married to Sir James Erasers eldest daughter Jean, who now 
 live in the castle of Dalcross, that land being given him in 
 morgage and wodset, which was never after redeemed ; accord- 
 ing to the ancient vulgar prophisy, Dealginross chuir i g'eal, 
 Dealginross chuir er Chale, Dalcross wodset, Dalcross lost.^ 
 In the next place he wodsets the lands and 3 townes of 
 Pharnway, Englishtoun, Kirketoun, Inshbary and the mill, to 
 AVilliam Eraser of Belty, for the mony Avhich he borrowed 
 from Doctor Eraser, Sir Alexander, when he was in England ; 
 and now this William Eraser and his wife, Agnes Lauder, live 
 at Kirketoun. My Lady Lovat lives at Beuly with her famely, 
 liaveing fallen into her sickness whenever she came there, and 
 is now under a chronick mallady these 3 yeares current, and 
 Doctor George Mackenzie attending her. James Ritchy, 
 chamerlan, haveing lived at Lovat with his wife, Agnes Cock, 
 and famely, his sone, Mr. Charles, being schoolmaster at 
 Wardlaw, cleares his account with my Lord, and is gone for 
 
 ^ Dealganross chuir an geall^ Dealganross chuir air chall, To pledge Dalcross 
 is to lose Dalcross. 
 
490 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Invernes. James Lundy and his wife, Elizabeth Henderson, 
 living at Lovat, not in the quality of a chamberlan, but to 
 take in his debts and arriers, to wax his wings and make up a 
 stock uppon the Lord Lovats cost and loss, as that sutle fellow 
 did, and so begon with a full hand. But de male quesitis non 
 gaudet tertius heresy and this I was therafter witness off. 
 
 My Lord Lovat, takeing leave at Beuly of his lady and 
 children, begins his journay, February 22, with a grand convoy 
 of his friends to Inverness, where many parted with him, 
 haveing sad hearts sinking in sorrow, never thinking to see 
 him again. His design is to goe over to Holland by sea, and 
 thence up to the Palatinat, being promised a place from the 
 Palsgrave there to passe time to divert himselfe untill his estate 
 were freed by the localities he had given out to creditors, and 
 expecting better days. Duraho et niemet rebus servaho secundis. 
 From Inverness we convoyed his Lordship through Murray, 
 and was a night att Culbin, quher Broadley, our cosin, waits 
 uppon him, and next morrow Clava, Broadley, and Culbin con- 
 1670, voyed him over to Findorn. There Captain Fisher was at 
 
 ancor, and, going aboord of his ship the Orion, we were heartily 
 welcomed and generously feasted. My Lord diverted himselfe 
 with these gentlemen and the skipper, a noble good fellow. 
 In the evening the marchants came, Alexander Seaton and 
 Thomas Noble, Elgin citizens, who had loaded the ship. Next 
 My Lord Lovat morrow, takeing our hearty Foye, we parted with teares and 
 F^iidom.^^ feares. My Lord had non with him but Mr. John Fraser, his 
 servantt, and Tom Noble, halfe a Fraser, his guide and trusty,, 
 to whose care and conduct we recommended our chiefe in the 
 voyage and after landing in Holland. The 26 of February,, 
 about 10 of the clock, a brisk gail serving, they set saile ; and 
 we commit them to the powerfull pilot who sits at the helme — • 
 
 Thow glorious guid of heavens starr glistering motion ; 
 Show thou true Neptewn, tamer of the ocean, etc. 
 
 Poor marchants venter their persones and portions to the 
 raging sea, with toile and fatigg. Impiger extremos currit 
 mercator ad Indos : pauperiem fugiens vadit per saoca per ignes : 
 but we trust our best cargo to this bottom; as Caesar said to his 
 shipmaster, Cossarem etfortunam Ccesaris geris, so we to Captain 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 491 
 
 Fisher, our dearest friend and fortun, our alter ego : Pars animce 
 dimidiata mew. 
 
 This October came to the country my brother germain, Ensign Fraser 
 WiUiam Fraser. He went abroad with Captain James Fraser, "^^""^ 
 my Lord Lovat sone anno 1656, in the qualety of an Ensign 
 in the Lord Cranstons regiment, for the service of Carokis 
 Gustavus, King of Sweden ; and after the peace he went up to 
 Pole with other Scotshmen, and settled -at Torn, where he mar- 
 ried, as a marchant. He had given trust and long delay to the 
 Aberdeens men, and was necessitat to take the occasion of a 
 ship and come to Scotland to crave his own. He and yong 
 Clunvaky, Hugh, are the onely surviving two of the gallant 
 crew who ventered over seas with their cheefes sone. Captain 
 James, and he is glad of this happy occasion to see his old 
 mother and bretheren ; continued here among his friends all 
 the winter, and returned back in the spring, never to see his 
 native country again. Two of his foster brothers ventered 
 with him, Farqhar and Rory, very pretty boyes. We were 
 sex brothers mustered one day together uppon a street, and 
 sex sisters waiting us in my uncles house, a pleasant sight; we 
 were not vain of it but willing to se one another in one society. 
 But let never my friends do so, for we never mett chapterly 
 conveened again. We are here in this world planted in order 
 to our transplantation quher we shall, I hope, one day meet, 
 never to seperat. Till we all come, in the unity of the faith Eph. 4. 12. 
 and of the knowledge of the Sone of God, unto a perfect man, 
 unto the measur of the statur of the fullnesse of Christ, there 
 is that honum et jucundum. Unitas fratrum. 
 
 This was an unnaturall cold, frosty spring, the summer too 
 scorching, our reaping harvest closed September 16, all grain 
 scarce, corn and cattle at a high rate ; a famin feared, but God 
 prevented it. My Lady Lovat, Dame Anna Mackenzie, after My Ladye 
 a long chronick decay, dyed at Beuly, November 10. She will- ^ 
 fully flitted thither 1667, in October, and never had a health- 
 full contented day under these roofes. Nitimur in vetitum 
 semper cupimusgue negata, whats forbidden we fancy. The 
 House of Lovat had litle luck in these mansions, Semel Deo 
 Dicata ei Sacra maneant. Solomon tells us that it is a snare Pro. 20. 25. 
 to a man to devour that which is holy, and after vowes to 
 
492 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 make enqiiery. This Lady in her prime, within her 40*^ yeare , 
 she left behind her 4 orphans, 3 daughters and one sone, her 
 Lord being off the nation in Holland, a mournfull, desolat, 
 disconsolat famely. Sir George M'kenzy of Tarbut, her 
 brother, wrot a letter to myselfe, being then at Duffus ; 
 intreating me to hasten north to preach this good ladies 
 funerall sermon, which I was free to doe, being 6 yeares my 
 parishioner, and I her pastor and chaplain. It was a very 
 frequent solemn burial, all Ross and Murray gentlemen, and 
 their two bishops present. The day proved fair, the wind very 
 high, west. The corps carried over in a berge, which the 
 strength of wind and streame carried down to Lovat, and 
 receaved uppon the bank ; and now is the prophesy fullfilled 
 that her corps should be carried from Lovat to Kirkhill 
 Chappell. Then it calmd like an inchantment. Here was 
 an excellent show and sight of people, horse and foot. Att 
 one of the clock the corps was carried in to the church, plact 
 before the pulpit, and the mourners almost filled the floor, 
 leaving all the lofts for Lords and gentry. The mournful 
 
 Heb. 9. 27. funerall sermon preacht: text. It is appointed for all men once 
 to die, and after deatii comes judgement. Here lyes now 
 interd amongst the noble ancestors of this ancient honorable 
 
 Eel. 12. 7. famely, a lady of great grace, vertue, piety, patience, and per- 
 severance. Dust returns to the dust ; the spirit returns unto 
 God who gave it, under hopes of a glorious resurection. 
 
 [Follows narrative of affairs in France, Germany, Sweden, 
 Denmark, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Rome, and England.] 
 
 A cruel yeare. This was a very afflicting yeare [1671] in many places ; great 
 losse by raines, winds, frosts, the Spring too drye, snow and 
 hard frost, the seed time cold and wett, the summer and fore- 
 harvest constant rain ; then ensued tempestuous winds, that 
 all our costs south and north had incredible losse by shakeing; 
 and many parts in our Highlands rotting, blasting, and 
 mildew destroyed corns. Lightning did much hurt to oates on 
 our hights, and many persons thunderstruck. I knew a pretty 
 man who, going in an evening tuixt Boleskin and Mussaty in 
 Stratharick, found dead in the morning, killed with a thunder- 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 493 
 
 bolt. A number of women washing at the river bank of 
 Lossy near Elgin, the thunder rageing about them, two or 
 three cryed out with feare, Lord God be with us, God blisse 
 us. Another wretch replyed Blisse min arse : the word was 
 hardly uttered but she was instantly struck to death in the 
 midest of them, and non hurt but herselfe. One Balife John 
 Dunbarr in Elgin had a labouring two miles above the town ; 
 his sone and servants being within a kill barn, tuisting roapes 
 of straw, quhen a blast of lightning sprung in at a window on 
 the east end of the house and killed the young man, the sone, 
 standing on the floor, and toucht none but himselfe ; taken 
 up stark dead. Another servant man on Speyside near Gar- 
 mach, heareing the cruell thunder roareing about him, the 
 atheisticall fellow cryed, Crack on and drown the corn the 
 year as yow did fornyear. Gods judgement lighted on him 
 deservedly, being instantly chockt with lightning, and fell 
 dead uppon the ground. What dreadfuU warnings are these, 
 worthy to be regarded and recorded by all Christians ! 
 
 There was this year sad losse by sea, severall ships cast away Shipwracks. 
 and brock about Lewes and Inshgall, North Wist and Slate ; 
 Dutch and French fraughted with fish, hearing and salmon ; 
 the Dutch doggers were sadly disperst. Aberdeen, Mont 
 Ross, and Dundy lost severall shipes, and the dareing 
 English, uppon reckoning, had very dreadfull shipwrack. A 
 Dutch marchantman of 250 tun, loadned with wines, brandy, 
 spices, iron, salt, etc., a very rich cargo, was cast in uppon the 
 coast of Strathnaver, where Admirality is not much regarded. 
 All the country flockt about the shore. The people, not 
 knowing then the strength of brandy or such forreign liquor, 
 drank to excess of it, and I heard it say that this very 
 ships loadning debaucht Cathnes and Strathnaver to that 
 degree that very many lost their lives by their immoderation. 
 Mr. Robert Gordon, the Earl of Sutherlands sone, being but 
 newly married to Miss K. Macky, Lord Rays daughter, a high 
 blooded saguin, fell accidentally with some camarads, and tooke 
 a great latitude, drinking liberally even to excess. At length 
 he got free of them, escapeing with his life to take some rest. 
 Shortly after, these cupvullid villans came in to the gentlemans 
 chamber, being in bed with his bride, oblidges him to rise and 
 
494 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 drink so many healths in his shirt standing. The poor, 
 modest, bashfull lady had not the confidence (lest critickly 
 construed) to challange them, or call her husband to his bed. 
 With reluctancy they parted. Robin went away, laid him 
 down, but never rose ; for the sweat being formerly obstructed, 
 rising naked, the pores being open, could get no sleep, fell 
 into a high distemper, and within five dayes thereafter died, 
 to the regreet and greefe off all who knew him, being truely the 
 prettiest Gordon alive. Shee, poor creature, left a young 
 widow, weept out her eyes ; lived desolat and disconsolat all 
 her dayes : the effect of debauched drunkenness. 
 
 ***** 
 [Reflections on intemperance, unbelief, etc.] 
 
 This continued tempestuous wind brought store of heareing 
 into our lochs. The firth of Beuly was never more full, 
 varieties small and great heareing; nor were there lesse in 
 all our Highland Kiles, rather more. Lochbroom to the 
 north, Loch Carron, Lochuirn in Glenelg, Lochfine and 
 Dunbarr, all great hearing, and as great a tack and as rich as 
 ever. I was wittness of it, living then by the shoare at Phop- 
 pachy, that 40, 50, boats and more were every day fishing 
 uppon our loch, and needed but make a sign to one of those, 
 and come at your call. The greatest heareing sold for twopence, 
 at last a penny, the least, two farthings, the hundered. No 
 such pennyworth in the world. They had wisely made wide 
 nets for the great hearing, as well as the narrow common nets 
 for the small ; and these boates, when loaded and full, some 
 would land at Lovat, some at Reedcastell, some at Kessock, 
 some at Bunchrive or Clachnihary, as the Highlanders flockt 
 with their horses to buy them. Some halfe score of boates set 
 saile for Avoch, Monlochy, Chanry, Altirly, Nesse, Petty, or 
 Invernesse, to sell their fish, and back againe next morrow ; 
 and this rich tack and shoal of heareing continued without 
 abatement in our Firth from August till March ; the lick 
 never heard or known here before, men concluding that it must 
 have been a presage and fatall forerunner of some plague, 
 dearth, mortality, or intestin warr ; but no such thing ensued. 
 Men had salted so many barrels of heareing this year as might 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 495 
 
 be provision for many, the Inverness merchants loadning ships 
 of them to England, France, Holland, and East Countries, to 
 their great gaine. Captain Phineas Potts painted boat was 
 bussied at this heareing drive, and happly with a north blast 
 was cast in uppon our shoar full of great hearing and broken. 
 With difficulty and by a Providence we preserved the crew from 
 drowning, brought the men in to my house, toasting them at 
 a good fire till they recovered, and for a requittall of their 
 entertainment we got the fraught free, so that er nixt morrow 
 not one vessell fatt or tub within my house but were full of 
 great heareing, besids thousands that were divided among the 
 poor. 
 
 My Lord Lovat haveing shipped at Findorn in February My Lord Lovats 
 1670, landed at Midlburg in Zealand, where the Scottish ^^^^^^^ 
 stapple stood for the time ; staying here a short time for Zealand, 
 diversion, sailed from Finishing towards Holland, and landed 
 at the Brill, and thence to Rotterdam, w^here he mett with Rotterdam. 
 Frances Miller, the Scottish factor, who answered his bill. 
 ***** 
 
 [Long account of Lovat's travels, and descriptions of the 
 following places visited by him : Rotterdam, Delph, Hague, 
 Leyden, Harlem, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Arnhem, Nimighen, 
 Cleve, Dusseldorp, Coloigne, Bonn, Coblenz, Mentz, Frankfort, 
 Darmstadt, Heidelberg, Prague, Worms, etc. Most of those 
 towns were visited by the author himself in 1659.] 
 
 My Lord Lovat, haveing spent a tedious winter in Low 1671. 
 Germany and Utrecht, hath thoughts now of returning home 
 in the spring — Cum zephiro, primisque veris^ et Hyrundine 
 prima and, saluting Amsterdam, tooke occasion of the scout 
 or berge along the Roden Zea, to the Texell, a rare harbour, 
 where yow may espy a thousand rootes of oaken trees at low 
 water, but at full sea ships of the greatest burden goe out and 
 in under saile ; and here my Lord shipped in a Monross bottom, Lord Lovat 
 and with a fresh fortunat gale landed at Stonhive April 14, stonehhe. 
 and without stop road to Aberdeen, and so to Udny, Strachin, 
 Inverallochy, Carnbuilg, visiting his great friends. His cousin, 
 Thomas Eraser of Strachin, convoyed him north ; arrived at 
 Lovat April 20; welcomed with the joifull acclamations of all 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 his kindred, who longd for him ; and, resolving to live at 
 Beulye, imployed workmen, masons and wrights, for building 
 of a stone house there neare his own gate, as a Tilly soule for 
 accommodating off' strangers resorting to that place, a lodging 
 very soon finished. All the fault was that Lovat was deserted, 
 and that house dissmantled to furnish this, the roofe and oakeD 
 beames, hewn stone, and furnishing carried over the Beuly be 
 boates; and, what was this but according to the Scottish pro- 
 verb, Tirr the Kirk to thack the quire ; rob Peter to cloath 
 Paul. This act was condemnable in this great man, and he 
 lived but sheort to reap the profit. 
 
 Allexander, the Tutor of Lovat, lived all this spring and 
 summer at Invernes, sick under a chronick mallady. He 
 laboured long, phisick prevailed litle, and quit given over by 
 men of skill. Sero medecina paratur — Cum mala per' longas 
 invaluere moras. He was a man of an excellent constitution, 
 pur, sanguine, fair, and full, statly tall person ; now caco- 
 chimiel^:, the jaudice prevailed, and lost hopes. We carried 
 Alexander, him west by sea to his house at Tommich, where he expired, 
 diecrjuiy^4!'^^' J^^J Perfect to the last minut, gave us all great content- 
 ^^71- ment att death, leaving a lusty lady, and but one daughter as 
 
 sole issue. Ah voluptates nimium fugaces^ cuncta caduca. He 
 was forty sex yeares current, and 20 yeares married, twelve of 
 which he was Tutor of Lovat. The method and manner of 
 his funeralls being put to the touch, it prevailed that it should 
 be with torches in the night, which accordingly was performed 
 Monday, August 1, Lambes day. It was splendid and sumptu- 
 ous, but unusuall. His corps laid in the Chappell of Kirkhil 
 1671. close by his father. The grandeur and honorable conduct of 
 
 his burriall was exact in all things proper, with a vast con- 
 fluence of people, yet had not that show which it would make, 
 were it in the day. The first course of the numerous links 
 and torches, kendled at the house, convoyed the corps to the 
 river ; the next course, kendled at the river bank, convoyed 
 him to the church; and the third course at the interment. 
 The corps was laid in his uncle Sir James Fraser of Brayes 
 grave, buried here, December 1649, twentieth two yeares 
 before. My uncle, Alexander Fraser, being Sir Jameses ser- 
 vant when he died, told me that he was coffined with eare 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 497 
 
 rings, which prompted me to make a narrow search when the 
 head was taken out of the coffin with his closse nightcap on ; 
 but I found nothing but one small Inauris or earring, and no 
 pendants at all. It was truely the purest gold I ever saw, and 
 I kept it above 20 yeares for his sones use, to whom I gave it 
 afterwards as a rarety. Among all the epitaphs made uppon 
 the Tutor of Lovat, I set down but this one for the singularity 
 of it in the maner, and maker being a young boy, my own 
 schoolmaster.^ 
 
 In prceproperum, prcematurum et nunquam satis 
 dolenduvi viri virtutum Culturce, spectatissivii Herourriy 
 celeberrimi perhonorifici ac augusfissimi A lexandri 
 
 Fraserij Lovatice Analogisti, obitum, qui fatis 
 concesserat, die 24 JuliJ anno salutis humance, 1671. 
 
 Acrosticon. 
 
 A tra dies veniens, trista succincta colorem. 
 L CBtitiam mortis signa canendo negat. 
 E heu quid referam, memoratu quam fuit ista. 
 X enia digna viris, usque petita tua ? 
 A spera qui colitis^ Muscosaque rura tenetis, 
 N unc sinite admisso, corda dolore, Premi 
 D icat amara quidem, suspensus verba viator, 
 E t nunc Purpureas corpora fundit humi 
 R eddat et omne genus, pecorumque, aviumque, luguhres. 
 
 F unera deplorans, proh dolor usque sonos ! 
 Re* memoranda quidem, si quern penes esset in orhe 
 A ut famam ingenio, vel tua facta loqui. 
 S temmate Fraserio prcsclarum et gente propago 
 E xhihuit. (Fluctu heu Scotia mcesta jacet) 
 R estrinxit quoniam, mors execrahelis arete 
 I Hum se squalidum gaudeat esse chorus 
 V t salehrosa maris timidus vada nauta relinquit 
 S ic portum accipiens, tu petis astra Dei. 
 
 Mcestitia luctuque consectus posuit. — 
 
 Alexander Eraser. 
 
 Now is Alexander gone, leaveing no male ofspring to repre- 
 sent him, and neither brother or sister of Lord Hughs ofspring 
 
 Master Alex- 
 ander Fraser, 
 schoolmaster at 
 Ward law. 
 
 ^ That is, schoolmaster at Wardlaw. 
 
 2 I 
 
498 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 but Thomas Beufort ; and it is an odd fate which followes the 
 Mackenzie matches in this famely. Lord Simon married 
 Mackenzies daughter, and had but one sone by her, viz. last 
 Lord Hugh. This Alexander, the Tutor, married M'kenzies 
 daughter, and had no sone at all by her ; and this present 
 Lord Hugh married Tarbut Mackenzies daughter, and had but 
 one sone by her viz. the present Master of Lovat, Hutchen 
 Baldow, about 5 yeares of age, and but of small expectation ; yet 
 a wonder it is how much his father dottes uppon him alwayes. 
 My Lord, being confined all the summer, by his uncles sickness 
 and death, to divert himselfe, takes a progress to Stratharick 
 and Abertarf, att deere hunting and other sport, and, surround- 
 ing Lochness, payed a visit to his cousin, Glenmorison, a man 
 of charming converse, and his lady, good Helen, much more, 
 and had a wonderfull love for her cheefe, my Lord Lovat, with 
 whom shee would hardly part, apprehending never to see him 
 again; and, alas! so it happened according to her conjectur, 
 and to all our sorrow and greefe. After his circular course in 
 the hills he returnd home to Beuly at the midle of September. 
 Sad harvest. This was a sad harvest for wind and rain, an incredible 
 shakeing of all cornes, cruel tempest by sea, many a ship lost, 
 Store of hearing sad inundations, loss of men and cattell ; yet plenty of all 
 everywhere. things, especially such a tack of barring as never was known ; all 
 our great lochs crouded. Loch Fine, Loch Urne, Lochcarron, 
 and Lochbroome full of ships, so that the Highlanders made 
 more mony by their fish than any other commodity ; and our 
 small loches also of Dingwall and Beuly had such store of 
 barring that er Hallowmas yow could buy a 100 great barring 
 for a penny, the small barring for two farthings, a horse load 
 for a grot; but, as its observed, a great mortality ensued 
 afterwards ; and strange how this year and the last answeired 
 to this in the universall store off hareing every quher, and 
 generall mortality. 
 
 The Laird of This April the Earle of Seaforth duelling in the Lewes, a 
 inThe\.ewes"^ dreedful accident happened. His lady being brought to bed 
 . . . with 26 there, the Earle sent for John Garve M'kleud, Laird of 
 
 . . . persones, ' ^ _ ^ ' 
 
 Rarzay, to witness the christning ; and, after the treat and 
 solemnity of the feast, Rarsay takes leave to goe home, and, 
 after a rant of drinking uppon the shoare, went aboord off his 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 499 
 
 birling and sailed away with a strong north gale off wind ; and 
 whither by giveing too much saile and no ballast, or the 
 unskillfullness off the seamen, or that they could not mannage 
 the strong Dut[cli] canvas saile, the boat whelmd, and all the 
 men dround in view of the cost. The Laird and 16 of his 
 kinsmen, the prime, perished ; non of them ever found ; a 
 grewhound or two cast ashoare dead ; and pieces of the birling. 
 One Alexander Mackleod in Lewes the night before had voice 
 warning him thrice not to goe at [all] with Rarsey, for all 
 would drown in there return ; yet he went with him, being 
 infatuat, and drownd [with] the rest. This account I had 
 from Alexander his brother the summer after. Drunkness 
 did the [mischeife].^ 
 
 ***** 
 
 [Account of affairs in England etc.] 
 
 In Scotland a profound peace and quiet ; onely the discourse 1672 
 and disputation muttered and murmured among wild and 
 dissaffected persones was a tolleration from the uniformity 
 which the agents for Presbiterians solicited to the utmost, but 
 to no effect, so that these factious, turbulent spirits could not 
 be quiet, but keept their field conventicles on foot in severall 
 places in the West, especially the masqued Priests and Jesuits, 
 preaching up rebellion among them under the notion of Presbi- Masket jesu 
 terian ministers; which a certain srentleman in Galloway dis- p^'^^^^ 
 
 ^ . Presbiterian 
 
 covered. Being one day at a field sermon near his own house, conventicles 
 the docterin did not please him, and pumping his memory, 
 found that this was a Jesuit whom he had known abroad 
 beyond sea, who preached to them that day, who personated 
 the canting tone, gestures, and demonstrations off that gang 
 to the life. Sermon being ended, the gentleman invited the 
 preacher to his house, and, after some entertainment, urged 
 that he had seen him formerly in a certain city in France. 
 After some insinuations and convincing instances he brought 
 him to a confession of the Jesuiticall design of incurraging 
 
 ^ John Garbh Macleod of Raasay was noted for valour and strength. Elegies 
 were composed on him by his sister, and the Macleod bardess, Mairi Nighean 
 Alastair Ruaidh. The pibroch * Raasay's Lament ' was also composed to his 
 memory by MacCrimmon. 
 
500 
 
 FOLIC HROXICON SEU 
 
 Crafoi d and 
 Cassils and 
 Mar, dead. 
 
 Salton. 
 
 Lord Lovat, 
 
 faction and keeping up rebellion among the dissaffected 
 Nonconformists. The gentleman threatned a discovery and 
 information against them if they insisted, which prevented 
 further spreading off the tares; this much good it did, that it 
 prevailed with the gentleman to desert the Presbiterian per- 
 suasion and turn Episcopal! in his judgement, and had great 
 influence upon many of his relationes and acqaintances by the 
 spreading of the report, and brought those under an odium. 
 
 The Earl of Craford, a very loyall peer, dyed this yeare, and 
 the Earl of Cassles also ; and the good Earle of Marr haveing 
 dyed the year before, his Lady Dowager is now marryed to 
 Andrew, Lord Eraser of Mucholl, a very meet match, Andrew 
 being one of the finest noblemen in the kingdom for a 
 statesman and orator. Yet the old debate is still on foot 
 Phiiorth, Lord tuixt him and Alexander, Laird of Philorth, who, haveing 
 gained his action of precedency against Arthur Eorbes of 
 Blacktown, his nephew, is now by act of Parliament declared 
 Lord Salton, and got the Kings patent, by the death of 
 Alexander, Lord Abernethy, last Lord Salton, to whom Sir 
 Alexander Eraser of Philorth succeeded by due right of his 
 mother. Lady Margaret Abernethy, daughter to the Lord 
 Salton, now being 2 Lord in the realme, and hath place of his 
 cheefe, my Lord Lovat, who in the old list was 5 Lord, tho 
 severals sureptitiously got in before him. I gave an account 
 formerly how he spent the summer after his return home from 
 Low Germany, haveing keept health tollerably well all the 
 yeare ; but being universally beloved he was rapt and ravished 
 from one famely to another, which proved uneasy to him, 
 though indeed his Lordship loved company, and diverted him- 
 selfe frequently with visits among the Erasers and his allyes, 
 M'kenzies. My Lord had a wonderfull affection for his cousen, 
 Hugh Eraser of Struy, who was a man of great experience, a 
 singular historian, and condescended to take his Christmas 
 with him, which was keept solemn and sumptuous enugh. 
 The Mistress of Struy, Mary Lindsay, the famous Bishop of 
 Ross and after Archbishop of Glasgow his daughter, had a 
 wonderfull faculty off entertaining strangers, and indeed she 
 tryed her skill and art at this Christmas to entertain my Lord 
 Lovat, haveing the Laird of Glenmoriston and his lady, the 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 501 
 
 Chisholm of Commer and his lady, with them also. And the 
 Chisholm prevailed with my Lord to take his New Yeare with 
 him at Earchles, where they keept the feast of Circumcision 
 splendedly. 
 
 My Lord Lovat at his return home to Beuly ordered 
 preparations to be made for the feast of Epiphany, called 
 Uphallyday, to be keept at his owne house, January 6, haveing 
 invited the Chisholm, Laird of Glenmoriston, and Struy, with 
 their Ladyes and children, to be with him at that feast, 
 perhaps the last which he resolved to keep in this the last 
 though not the least of the holy dayes ; when in the meantime 
 the Earle of Seaforth came to Beauly, and, knowing that 
 Lovat was alone, invited him to his house in Chanory at the 
 said Epiphany, where and when he was to have the prime of 
 his kinsmen with him, especially the Laird Tarbut, who was 
 then out of Court with his prince by Lord Lauderdales procure- 
 ment, a prevaileing faction powerfull enugh at the time. But 
 Lovat excused himselfe at Seaforths hands, showing his Lord- 
 ship that he was prevented, and he preingaged with persones 
 of quality and his deare friends who were to be with him that 
 day, and whom he had of a while invited, and could not passe 
 from his word of honnour, not knowing if ever he could enjoy 
 such an occasion again of treateing his friends and good nigh- 
 boures at his own house. The Earl of Seaforth applauded his 
 Lordships project, and declared that if he had not been 
 ingaged under promise to Cromarty and Tarbut at his own 
 house that day, he would not seek an invitation to be with 
 him at Beuly, for the Earl had a singular kindness for Struy 
 and Chisholm, his cousens ; and so parted good friends. 
 
 At the time appointed, the happy providence that attended Epiphany or 
 my dear Lord Lovat, non was absent, nor pretence of excuse '^P^^^^y^^y- 
 with any who were invited to be with him at the Epiphany or 
 Uphollyday feast; and many mo then I mentioned. The 
 Tutor of Grant, Patrick, was here, being then in suit of Sybilla 
 M'kenzie the late Tutor of Lovats lady, living then at Tom- 
 mich ; and my Lord would needs have her that day at dinner, 
 although he cared little for her, being, as he observed, a 
 woman of great parts but bad practices and farr worse prin- 
 ciples. Yet he dissembled his purpose, becaus of his good 
 
502 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 friends whom he was very glad to have with him that day, 
 and entertaind them cheerfully and generously, there being 
 nothing [spared] to make that treat sumptuous, great fare, 
 good wines (for the claret was sold in the tavern for a shilling 
 sterling the pint), brave musick. His trumpet, Hans Adams, 
 a German, was singular; Hugh Chisholm, with basse and trible 
 viol the best in the North ; and the great Pipe. Martiall 
 musick my Lord licked well. His Master Houshold, George 
 W ane, served at south in the greatest famelys in the kingdom ; 
 and his servants and attendants, for conduct and mannagement, 
 men of breeding and education, being with my Lord abroad, 
 viz. Mr. John Fraser, Allan Fraser, and White. There were 
 3 tables in the Great Hall for the gentry in their order and 
 degrees; and German Hans, the trumpet, being a Lutheran, 
 to make them merry, would ask him what his religion was. 
 Aha, saith Hans, a faith, my Lord, my religion is gone. Fye, 
 whey so ? Tush, my religion was five shillings, a crown a 
 day, when I was dallyed among generall persons at tilt and 
 parades. 
 
 ***** 
 [Follows a disquisition on the lawfulness of feasts.] 
 
 In January my About the midlc of January my dear Lord Lovat turnd 
 turnd melan- pensive and melancholius, and would frequently vent his vexa- 
 choiye. tion for want of good company to divert him. He could not 
 
 away with airy light company. His chamerlan, James Lundy, 
 was a smart pretty man, but prophane and scurrilous. William 
 Fraser of Belty was no better, if not worse. He dearly loved 
 Hugh Fraser, old Struy, but he was farr off, and could not be 
 frequently with him. Belladrum was tender, goutish, and 
 gravelish. Culboky was no good man, rude and unpolisht. 
 He could give every one his character, the Levits as well as 
 Laicks of his name. Often would he condole the degenerat 
 temper of his clan and kinsmen, and reflect on those glorious 
 dayes wherein the Scotish yowng gentlemen endeavoured to 
 outvy their elder brothers by undertakeing farr and dangerous 
 journayes into forreign parts, to acquire honour and glory by 
 feates of armes, and experiencing themselves in the military 
 disciplin and warlick affaires. Some served abroad, some at 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 503 
 
 home, some schollars, some souldiours, some marchants, some 
 mechanicks, some lawyers, some churchmen ; but now, alas ! 
 the famelies of my name strives to outvie one another in vice, 
 luxury, drunkness, thieving, idleness, ignorance. I shewed 
 them the example of a good chiefe and superiour. My last 
 expedition to the Netherlands and Low Germany was not so 
 much out of fancy and humor as to exceet my countrymen, 
 kinsmen, and others to the like attempts of travel, seing litle 
 honour or credit can be gained at home ; and though some 
 persons perhaps may say I purchassed litle by my going abroad, 
 I reply that I lost as litle, and my advice might have been 
 without prejudice to the great Caesar, Veni, vidi, redii. I had 
 no time, and farr less power and meanes to add luster and 
 glory to my famely, my ancestors haveing dipt my wings quit 
 crusht me, nipt my designs in the bud, and stopt my towering 
 flight, and finds and present my losses nothing lesse than I had 
 cause to feare they would prove, which hath reduced me to 
 the condition I am now in. 
 
 ***** 
 
 All January and February my Lord Lovat kept close at 
 home, not able to goe out of doores ; and that was a well spent 
 time in reading and discoursing of divinity and history. He 
 had his uncle, Beufort, and John Fraser of Clunwaky, an old 
 experienced gentleman, still with him. The later entertained 
 him with history and genealogy : and, for my part, I never left 
 him but on Fridayes nights or Satturdayes morning, to attend 
 my charge ; being in another parish, and the river interjected, 
 was uneasie to me. Mr. John Mackray, his own pastor, sup- 
 plyed my absence. In the long nights I wrot the History of 
 his own travels in the Netherlands and Low Germany from 
 his own and servants mouth, which I set down m mundo in this 
 volumne; and also I read over to him my own Trienniall 
 Traveles abroad, in 3 tombes ;i and often would he passionately 
 expresse himselfe, I wish God I had travelled with yow, Jacob, 
 O, that I had been your fellow traveller, for strong sollid 
 reasones, which I forbeare to impart; travels abroad had 
 polisht me, prevented my numerous inconveniencies, yet had 
 
 See footnote, p. 415. 
 
504 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 made me a manja wholsom man, a long lived msir\,Nosce teipsum. 
 It would have put me from being peregrinus domi — he would 
 sigh, and say difficile est se nosce sed heatum ; tecum hahita te 
 consule^ tihi predica^ die tibi guis sis. I will be shortly over my 
 troubles, discontents, toiles, and trialls. I will shortly end my 
 pilgrimage; God fit me for my journay to another world; 
 and often would mention Seneca, whose councell is worth fol- 
 lowing in these choice lines which he would repeat — 
 
 Nemo confidat nimium secundis 
 Nemo desperet meliora lapsus ! 
 Miscet hcBc illis prohihetque 
 Clotho stare fortunam. 
 
 Let non fallen dispare to rise, 
 Nor trust too much prosperities ; 
 Clotho minghng both command 
 That neither stand. 
 
 And often repeat these heavenly lines — 
 
 Aonij Palearij 0 fortunati quorum mens conscia recti, 
 
 de animaru77i Salvete (Btemum Heroes, quos aurea Divum 
 
 Regna manent, nunquam casm'a jtuentious anms ; 
 Nusquam illic curcB, nusquam dolor, omnia losta. 
 Omnia tuta, animus tenet omnes una voluptas ! 
 
 Lord Lovat About the closure of February my Lord sensibly sickned, 
 sickened. found by certain symptomes that his death drew neare, 
 
 and would often reflect uppon what Doctor Trail in Heidle 
 Berg had forwarned him off, which appeared daylie in his 
 hecktick decay ; nor would he be prevailed with to take any 
 phisick, but condescended to cordialls, emulsions, ptisans, 
 Doctor George Mackenzie being frequently with him, a most 
 knowing rationall man, who knew his constitution, yet would 
 tender him no medecin nor forreign drugg, onely simples and 
 method of dyet. He would often say. Doctor, Doctor, yow 
 laid my wife in her grave, and so will yow me shortly. I have 
 strong apprehensiones of death, and am prepard for it ; this 
 March will make an end of me ; but I was born in April, and 
 perhaps my death may trist with the time of my birth ; and 
 am very sure, Jacob, yow will preach my funerall sermon, and 
 yow ''I have a long summers day to do it. Non else will be 
 called to that work ; non knew me so well as yourselfe ; non 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 505 
 
 can speake so freely and franckly of me as yow. My wifes 
 
 funerals yow preacht uppon a short advertisement; yow have 
 
 a long time to think of and fit yow for mine. No more of this. 
 
 Its a great bussiness death ; its a weighty work ; a mater of 
 
 moment to die, and die well. Semel tantum moriendiim semel 
 
 pie moriemur. Its appointed for all men once to die — omnibus 
 
 semel plerisque his — for there is a second death, and blissed are 
 
 they that share in the first resurection, over which the second Rev. 20. 6. 
 
 death shall have no power. He lovM to speake of death, and Currage in h 
 
 look uppon it without feare — death. 
 
 Qui vultus Acherontis Atri — 
 
 Qui Styga tristem, non tristis videt — 
 
 Audetque vitcB ponere Jinem, 
 
 Par ille Eegi, par superis erit. 
 
 He that smileiiig' can gaze on 
 Stixj and black wav'd Acheron, 
 That dares brave his ruin, he 
 To Kings, to Gods, shall equall be. 
 
 In March there was a meeting of the clergy at Invernes. The Bishop 
 The Bishop came this way going to Rosse, and many of the JfeTgy visit^ 
 ministers of Murray accompanied him, payed my Lord Lovat Lovat. 
 a visit in transitu ; but Master Alexander Symmur, parson of 
 DufFus, and Sir James Strachan of Thorntoun, parson of Keith, 
 stayed two night in Beuly to divert my Lord, who loved such 
 converse dearly. He would averr that there was non that wore 
 a gown in Scotland whom he respected beyond Mr. Symmur, 
 and I am sure that respect was reciprocal!. Sir James Strachan 
 was my Lords school commarad, being together att Saint 
 Andrewes in Leonardin Colledge, anno 1657, 1658. He tooke 
 great delight in Sir James Strachan his converse, a sharp man, 
 learnd, and of great memory. He would tell my Lord that 
 his famely was ancient, honest, as well as honorable, free from 
 oppression, extortion, fraud, and greed ; and that though they 
 lived among bad nighboures, they were good themselves, 
 singular examples, ornaments in the rud North. 
 
 ***** 
 
 All the month of March and the beginning of April, my Lovat croudr 
 Lord was crouded and oppressed with visits, and this proved ^^'^^ 
 uneasie to him in his weakeness, but could not shift off friends. 
 
506 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 being universally beloved, he was universally bevailed, being 
 rumored abroad that he was irrecoverable. The Earl of 
 Murray came once to see him, and much resented his sickness, 
 and his own loss in such a true friend. The Earl of Seaforth 
 was often with him, for they were brothers-in-law. The Lairds 
 of Tarbut and Cromerty came but too oft. The Lairds of 
 Fowles and Balnigown were much concernd, and condold him. 
 The Lairds of Mackintosh, Calder, Kilravock, and Lochell, 
 came and sent often to know his condition. The Lairds of 
 Glenmoriston and Chisholm had him in great veneration. 
 Often would he with them condole and regreet the weakness 
 of his famely, the imbecillity of his kinsmen, which will be a 
 great help to their enemies, with the infancy of his heir, their 
 great advantage, and non, like myselfe, too nice in resentments 
 of honor. He would also reflect uppon the loss of records and 
 registers. God would yet visit the kingdom for the cry of 
 these sacred ruins, especially on Beuly and Fern. That noble 
 monument, amongst the fatal 1 overthrowes of many mo within 
 the nation, were altogether razed at the dispose of some then 
 in commission, in the fury of our confused Reformation, whose 
 over heasty actions in these behalfes hath left us a want of 
 many truthes which otherwayes we might have had, but sacri- 
 legiously broken down, and by purloining transferred to far 
 prophaner uses. 
 
 His children. About the beginning off April he had his frequent faintings, 
 and made a motion to myselfe off bringing his children to him, 
 whom he longd to see that he might blisse them ; but especially 
 most desirous to have his sone, of whom he would sometimes 
 sigh and say, O poor Hugh, what art thow by thy spot and 
 mark marked for ? As I found with David, so wilt thou that 
 the sones of Zeruiah are too strong for us. But I thought it 
 sometimes an effect of great prudence to lay asid all bitterness 
 when I treated with them, unless we would have that wound 
 which perhaps would heale of itselfe, to become incurable by 
 oft rubbing of it. I did sometimes in my passion flye out into 
 stinging bitter satyres, and injourious expressiones against 
 that party in the sensible resentments of my wrong, discovering 
 what I had with art concealed so long before ; but it proved 
 ineffectuall, so now I must conclud with the addage, To a 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 507 
 
 cause past cure, care is a corrosive. What after times may 
 produce for thee lyes in the womb of Providence : de futurls 
 quid contigit. But the onely leader of these lurks now at 
 home, haveing created grand enemies to himselfe without any Tarbut. 
 design of showing himselfe much in publick, where till those 
 evil impressions be taken off or forgotten, he will not be looked 
 uppon with any great good will. But I have my feares when 
 I am gone the effect of the prophesie and prediction found 
 uppon the Alter of Beuly will appeare. The flamming hills 
 mentioned there may prove a Vesuvius to the nighbourhood, 
 sparks may reach far and kendle a fire, if not quencht, put 
 out, or prevented. 
 
 [One or more leaves of the Manuscript amissing, the record 
 of Lovat's death being thus lost. The next remaining leaf 
 begins in the middle of the burial ceremony.] 
 
 Att the Ferry (as if they had come with tideings from the 
 Tomb) starts up two statly horses in their groomes hands, all 
 covered over with black mantles, and in this mourning postur 
 step forward, following the man in armour all the way, 
 vizarded. Everything here extorts teares from the beholders. 
 To give a further account of this parrade : from the west end 
 of the moore to the church stile, a mile in length, marcht the 
 armed bragads, computed to be 300 in rank and file, well 
 appointed, makeing two divisions south and north, from reer 
 to front, like an avenue through which the Pale [pall] and 
 mourners marcht slowely in the manner before mentioned 
 forward to the church yard, round about which within were 
 the Murray Militia in mourning planted, their drums covered 
 over with black. The Earle of Murray being their Cornell 
 ordered 400 to attend my Lord Lovats funeralls, a very 
 martiall muster, so that in the whole conduct of this burriall 
 there were 200 mourners of the defuncts relations ; and scarce 
 any gentleman that came here but in mourning. We reckoned 
 ten clanns of surnames, mourners ; and yow may think the 
 convention could not be under eight hundered horse, of which 
 the town of Invernesse were 3 score ; the Erasers being a thou- 
 sand foot, Thomas Eraser of Beufort their Cornel, Struy, 
 
508 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 elder, lieutenant Collonel, and Foyer, major; and what a 
 great muster must Mackenzies, Monros, Rosses, Mackintoshes, 
 Grantes, Mackdonells, Camerons, and others make ; the whole 
 confluence very considerable. At the church stile the Pale is 
 set up, the coffin receaved by Seaforth, Tarbut, Foules, Ballni- 
 gown, Strachin, Cromerty, and others, the prime allyes of the 
 famely. The trumpets and murning bells or mort bells usher 
 them in through a brazen wall of 200 gentlemen guard on 
 each sid. The corps is planted before the pulpit, covered over 
 with black ; my Lords and Strachins lofts in the same livery. 
 In the whole floor of the church stand the croud of murners 
 from the one end to the other, a most dolefuU spectacle. 
 
 After singing of psalms, and prayers to Almighty God, the 
 funerall sermon was preacht by my Lord Lovats own pastor. 
 Master James Fraser, minister at Wardlaw, his text appositly 
 taken from King Davids words to his Court concerning Abner, 
 
 2 Samuel, 3. 38. And the King said unto his servants, know yow not that there 
 is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel ? Of 
 which text a man may conclud, as Bishop Latimar said of his 
 text in his ultimiim vale to the Court, Take heed to yourselves, 
 etc. If I should do no more but read over my text, my 
 sermon, though it might be called importunat, yet not im- 
 pertinent, all the whole hour. Meanwhile, every person in 
 the church was a preacher, every sorrowfull eye and sighing 
 spirit a sermon ; the present scene of sorrow is acted by a sad 
 concourse of people before us ; and who can be here and not 
 be sad ? A great man and a good man is fallen this day ; he 
 lived amiable and died desireable. Stay but a few dayes, and 
 such a day as this will be]thy day. We are now to perform our 
 last office to this noble person. We have brought him from 
 his house to his house ; I mean his grave, which must house 
 him up till the great day off* the resurection. Leaveing his 
 seraphick soul in the bosom off' his Maker, joind with the 
 Spirits of just men made perfect, we commit his body to his 
 
 Heb. 12. 23. urn, Requiescat in Pace. And now looking upon ourselves all 
 as dying creatures, let us carry hence sincere thoughts of our 
 latter end. The consideration of our last end should be the 
 exercise of our first thoughts ; to consider our end would be the 
 end of our sins, and the resurection of our repentance. Ashes 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 509 
 
 keep fire alive ; so this consideration that we are dust and 
 ashes will keep our graces alive. Its appointed for all men 
 once to dye, is our way, and after death the judgement, our Heb. 9. 37. 
 journayes end. To him who is Alpha and Omega the begin- 
 ning and the end, be ascribed due praise, honour, and glory, 
 now and for ever more, Amen and Amen. 
 
 -r- Since death of all must be the latter end. 
 Let our preventing thoughts first thither tend. 
 Bravely resolv'd it is, knowing the worst, 
 What must be done at last, as well as first ! 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 [Follows a selection of ten Latin and English ' epitaphs ' on Here are some 
 Lord Lovat. It is sufficient to give two of them.] made^^P^on^m/ 
 
 Lord Lovat, yet 
 p 1 -r-v 1 ^ but on of ten. 
 
 In Commemoration or the Death of my most 
 deare and Noble Prince and Patriot 
 That Peerless Peer, Hugh Lord Fraser 
 of Lovat, who departed in 
 the Pryorie of Beuly 
 April the 27 
 1672 yeares. 
 
 The spring it was, and flowers were in contest 
 
 Whose smell should first reach heaven and please it best ; 
 
 Then did great Frasers sweetness so surpasse 
 
 All rivall Lords that so he sent for was. 
 
 'Twas April when he dy'd, no month so fit 
 
 For Heaven to be a mourner in as it. 
 
 'Twas Easter too ; that time did death devise 
 
 Best for this lamb to be a sacrifice. 
 
 It was the spring ; the way tuixt heav'n and earth 
 
 Was sweetned for his passage by the birth 
 
 Of early flowers, which burst their mothers womb, 
 
 Resolv'd to live and die uppon his tomb. 
 
 It was the spring ; between earth and sky 
 
 To please his soul, as it was passing by. 
 
 Birds filled the air with anthems ; every nest 
 
 Was on the wing to chant him to his rest. 
 
 Not a penfeathered lark who ne'r try'd wing 
 
 Nor throat, but venturd then to fly and sing. 
 
 Following the saint toward heaven, whose entrance there 
 
 Dampt them and changd their nots, then pensive air 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Disolv'd to teares, which spoiled the feathered train. 
 And sank them to their nests with griefe again. 
 Meantime, me thought I saw at heaven's fair gate 
 The glorious chorists meet and kiss their mate ! 
 They stood a whil his splendor to admire I 
 Then led him to his place in their own quire. 
 Which seem'd to be defective, until he 
 Added his sweetnes to their harmony ! 
 
 B. L. Ray [Lord Reay ?] 
 
 A mournfull Elegy uppon the deerfull and 
 untimely death of that floure of true Nobility 
 Lord Hugh Fraser of Lovat, who departed 
 this life in the 29 year of his age, April 27. 
 In the year of our redemption, 1672. 
 
 Here hath the fates enriched Vestas bosom 
 
 By this fresh flower, nipt in his very blossom. 
 
 Nature in this small compend was about 
 
 To perfect what in others was left out. 
 
 Alas ! to see a peece so well begun 
 
 Ending his course er the race was but halfe run. 
 
 Here is that fruit pluckt off er it was ripe ; 
 
 A fragrant rose, just snatcht when it did peep. 
 
 Here was a morning never saw the noon, 
 
 A summer faire wanting soltitian June. 
 
 Here was that entring, starting, saluting Spring 
 
 Which mature harvest nor winters here do bring. 
 
 Here was a tale begun but never told, 
 
 A hopfuU graft cut down er it was old. 
 
 Here was the subject of an ample theame. 
 
 When we awake is found to be a dream. 
 
 Come, mournfull eyes, now shed your trickling tears. 
 
 Let sorrowes streames o'erflow your spangled speares; 
 
 Forbeare your mirth, all pleasures, for a while. 
 
 Divorce all joyes, yea, more, let not a smile 
 
 Appeare ; let not an eye be seen to sleep 
 
 Nor slumber ; onely let them serve to weep 
 
 For this unparalelled loss ; both sex and ages 
 
 Bevail not onely youth but the stern grave sages. 
 
 Death sure mistook, and thought he had been old. 
 
 Else he had spard this sprig mongst worthies rold. 
 
 But what of this, we'r sure death speareth none. 
 
 And if it could, I 'm sure he had not gone. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 511 
 
 Farewell,, dear soul, now fre'ed from haps and feares. 
 Whilst we doe writ thin Epitaphs in teares. 
 Alas ! unsavoury flowers bud their full prime, 
 Whilst the fragrant rose is pluckt before its time ! 
 
 P. P. J. F. 
 [James Fraser, our 
 author?] 
 
 Let my reader consider with candor it was not out of vanity 
 or superfluity that I recorded these few epitaphs made uppon 
 my Lord Lovat. There are but one of ten insert that were 
 writ ; there are but ten here, thats the tiths, for I am sure 
 there were an hundered composed. Observable that round 
 about the chappell there was not one foot of the wall without 
 an epitaph pind on, besids scutchons and coates of armes. I 
 think there was a poetick vein invockt and obtained by all 
 poets, and truly they had an ample subject. It was observed 
 there were 80 churchmen at this interment, and non came 
 without an epitaph ; some perhaps two or three. The Bishops 
 of Murray, Ross, and Cathness were present, which made a 
 dash and figure. The ceremonies of the funeralls were all 
 finisht with the interment about 4 houres afternoon, and the 
 retreat sounded by the trumpets. When all got off, made a 
 most splendid show. The militia first marcht of with dis- 
 played banners, and shot, rank, and file. My Lord Lovats 
 men, drawn up in battalia uppon a field before the church, 
 and stood till all were gone. Every particular clan marcht of 
 in a body, the foot be themselves, the horse be themselves, to 
 the last man ; and at length with sound of trumpet and tuck 
 of drum the foot regiment of the Erasers marcht westward to 
 thefarrend of the moor. Colonel, Lieutenant Collonel, Major, 
 and Captains, on their heads, and above the ferrie dismissed. 
 We find triffles and mock makrs this day put in gazets and 
 newes letters. This were a fitter flourish to fill a shedall. 
 ***** 
 
 [Follows ' An Exact Character of the late Lord Hugh Eraser 
 off Lovat.**] 
 
 It was the late Lord Lovats observe that it was the prepos- 
 terous practice of the nobility in the north, especially Seaforth 
 and Lovat, to bring in strangers to be their servants, and get 
 
512 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 John Forbes 
 of Culodden 
 buyes Ferrin- 
 tosh. 
 
 {^Another hafid- 
 
 Culloden 
 
 Family 
 
 Extraction. 
 
 Sir Mungo 
 
 Murraye's 
 
 fraud. 
 
 that mony which our own kinsmen should have. These prove 
 but spyes amongst us, discovers our weakness, takes all the 
 advantage of us they can, jfledg their wings with our wealth, 
 and so fly away and fixes it in a strange country, and we get no 
 good of it, whereas if a country man got it he would make 
 his purchas amongst — and it would fall into the house some 
 time or other. Instances of this we have enugh. Instances, 
 Doncan Forbes of Culodden, who has gotten the marrow of 
 the Laird of Inveralochies estate here in the North. For this 
 Simon off* Inveralochy, being to marry the Lord Buchans 
 daughter, they will sell his interest here, and pay off" debt, 
 and secure her in Buchan land. Sir Mungo Murray, his uncle, 
 bought his ward and marriage, putting in to the Exchequer 
 for it under pretence of friendship. Good Chancelour Cun- 
 ningham takes an obligation of Sir Mungo that the ward 
 shall be for the minors behoofe, and this he caused put in the 
 Register, ad futuram rei memoriam. Sir Mungo comes north, 
 and, as a vile jugle and cheat, by vertue of his right resolves 
 to sell the lands of Ferrintosh. Hugh Dollas, writer in 
 Chanory, another like himselfe, is bribed to get the land for 
 the Mackenzies, being now in the markat. The Laird of 
 Strachin, being at Edinburgh, makes application to the Chan- 
 celour, and tells him the fraud and trapan. The Chanclour 
 orders his clerk to give Strachan an extract of Sir Mungo 
 Murrayes obligation. This indeed blew Sir Mungos design 
 blind, and he is jauked off* with a piece of mony, and the 
 lands of Ferrintosh and Bunchrive is sold to John Forbes off* 
 Culloden, which he now possesses, an interest above 4 thousand 
 a yeare, good rent. So that Doncan Forbes, who was but the 
 Laird of Strachins pantry boy, and brought him north as his 
 servant, turnd burges in Inverness, and made up there, and 
 bought Culodden from the late M'kintosh William, and lives 
 now in his ofspring, possessor of the barony of Culoden, the 
 barony of Ferrintosh, dwels in one of the Lord Lovats houses, 
 and in the Laird of M'Kintosh his principall house. It were 
 tedious to set down all the intrigues and particulars of this 
 transaction; onely this, that a poor mean stranger, and a 
 follower oft' the Erasers, should now possess so much of the 
 Lord Lovats interest is a great change ; and all this happened 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 513 
 
 in my time, being privy to and witness off it all, from first 
 to last. 
 
 John Forbes of Culodden being now a Laird and Barron of 
 the shire, there is a difficulty at the riseing to greatness to learn 
 Thales his lesson. Nosce Teipsum ; for [sic] asperius nihil est 
 humili cum surgit in altum. I wish it be not verified in him. 
 Humility is a great grace, and to be selfe denied is the first 
 step to heaven. Et patriam soloe et certos novere penates. 
 One insolent act of this mans: when he set measones to repaire 
 the house of Bunchrive, he defaced the Lord Lovats name and 
 armes off the storm windowes, and causd set and ingrave his S. 
 own ; where Simon Lord Fraser of Lovat and Dame Jean ^iJ' 
 Stuart were before, now John Forbes and Jean Dunbarr. He 
 also built a mill uppon the Burn of Bunchrive, quheras that i- F. I. D. 
 town and lands were formerly tied and restrickt to the Lord 
 Lovats mill of Farnway. But he mett with shrud handling 
 for revenge of this incroachment. Alexander Mackwilliam, a 
 Fraser, Captain off our Watch, with his brother, John Fraser, 
 and halfe a score desperat yowng men, came disguisd to Bun- a riot in 
 crive in a morning, and brake down all the glass windowes of 
 the house, the carved names and stones, then puUd down the 
 mill, brake the millstones to bits, levelling all to the ground 
 as if there had been no house there. This atrocious riott galls 
 Cullodden to the heart. The shirref of Inverness, or the Lord 
 Lovats balife, were judges competent for such villanies : there 
 he could expect no favour nor justice. My advice to him, 
 being at my owne house, was freely to pass it over uncon- 
 cernedly, for if he should persue it legally he could have no 
 reparation of these meanes, not being solvendo, nor off their 
 persones, being desperat and would soon turn outlawes and doe 
 him and his lands considerable mischeefe (for Highland fewds 
 never dies); and moreover it were no small difficulty (if 
 possible at all) to instruct the deed or fix uppon the actors. 
 Uppon mature thoughts he quit gave it over, and settes a tack 
 of his maines in Bunchrive to Alexander Chisholm, ShirrefF 
 Deput off Inverness, who now lives in that town, and laboures 
 the land. 
 
 There is an old prophesie runns concerning the PVasers, viz, p^^g^^^g^^^^'^^ 
 that some great and fatal 1 change will happen to fall out others. 
 
 2 K 
 
514 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 when every leading famely of the name hath but one sone ; 
 and this casualty is now observed among them, for my Lord 
 Lovat hath but one sone, the Lord Fraser of Muchol hath 
 but one sone, the Lord Salton Philorth but one sone, 
 the Laird of Strachin hath but one sone, the Laird of In- 
 veralochy hath but one sone, Sir Alexander Fraser of Dorris 
 hath but one sone. This is the sentiments off thoughtfull 
 men amongst us at present. Another prediction of some great 
 alteration uppon the famelies quhen Mackchinnich Glondow, 
 MackkHimmy baldow,M'kintosich Cline,agus Shissolach Came, 
 lives in one age, that is black-kneed Seaforth, blackspotted 
 Lord Lovat, squinteyed Mckintosh, and gleied or a Chisholm 
 blind of an eye ; and those four ar just now contemporary : ^ 
 and though much stress should not be laid uppon such pro- 
 phesies, yet they ought not to be vilified or contemnd ; and, 
 seing these things were observed before they came, we can do 
 no less then remark them when they fall out, as now they doe. 
 And I remember to heare a very old man, Eneas M'kdonell in 
 Craigscorry, relate these two predictions to Sir James Fraser, 
 tutor of Lovat, anno 1648 ; and as I heard the observe then 
 with my eares, so I now see it with my eyes. God Almighty 
 turn all to the best ! 
 
 Whatever falls out among the lay tie of the name of 
 Fraser, the clargy were never so numerous then at the late 
 Lord Lovats death ; and, as I reckoned them by name, so I 
 also knew them in particular, viz. 1. Mr. Farqhar Fraser, 
 Dean of the Isles ; 2. Master James Fraser, minister at Tire 
 eyh [Tiree] ; 3. Mr. John Fraser, minister at Coll ; 4. Master 
 Lachlin Fraser, minister at Inverlochy and Lochabber ; 
 5. Master Hugh Fraser, minister at Killtarlity; 6. Master 
 Donald Fraser, minister at Urqhart; 7. Master Thomas Fraser, 
 minister at Siddy ; 8. Master James Fraser, minister at Ward- 
 law ; 9. Master Alexander Fraser, minister at Petty; 10. Mas- 
 ter Alexander Fraser, minister at Daviot ; 11. Master William 
 Fraser, minister at Slaines ; 12. Mr. James Fraser, minister at 
 Arbroth ; 13. Mr. Thomas Fraser, minister at S. Michells in 
 the west; Mr. Michel Fraser, Deacon at [ ]; Mr. 
 
 See footnote, p. 467. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPOllUM 
 
 515 
 
 James Fraser, Brey ; Mr. James Fraser in ... on ; ^ Mr. Hugh 
 Fraser, Eskidell ; Mr. Simon Fraser, Finask ; Mr. William 
 Fraser, Pitcali . . . ; ^ Mr. George Fraser, governour to Sea- 
 forth ; Mr. William Fraser, Kilmorak ; etc. 
 
 The settlement of the Lord Lovats famely, by the Tutors, 
 is now fallen uppon Sir George M'Kenzie of Tarbut, being the 
 uncle, takes the young Lord in his own custody. Mistress My Lord 
 Anna, the eldest daughter, being now 13 yeares of age, is sent disptm^nd^^" 
 south to be educat. Mistress Isabel is now about . . . yeares disposed, 
 age, is at Channorys School, intrusted to the care of her aunt, 
 the Countess off Seaforth. Mistress Margret, the youngest, 
 now about 9 yeares of age, is sent to the Lady CoUintown, her 
 grandmother and godmother. Thomas Fraser of Beufort, the 
 onely uncle and granduncle extant of the famely, seing he is 
 secluded from any intromission with the estate, the lest that 
 can be allowed him is to have his choice of any labouring 
 within the Lordship, and he chuses Tommich, where his 
 mother-in-law, Sibilla, lived, where now he setles, passing his 
 time privatly and contentedly without the croud, care, and 
 confluence of any worldly concern, and may sing with the 
 poet, BeahLS ille qui procul negotiis, Paterna Rura Rebus 
 ejcercet suis ^ — 
 
 Felix qui suus est, animi propriique monarcha, 
 
 Laus est Imperij ponere Jura sibi ; 
 
 Maximus internum quisquis superaverit hostem. 
 
 Major Alexandro, Ccesare, major erit. 
 
 Ecquid hahent reges, nisi membris tegmen et escaem ? 
 
 Qu<B vel 7iobiscum, vile inappale tenet, 
 
 Happy who art thy own ! and monarch of thy mind ; 
 Its praise to limit thee ; and have thy will confind ! 
 Great victory 's this to vanquish an inward foe. 
 What more could Caesar, great Alexander, doe ? 
 Lo what hath Kings but their grand courts and food, 
 The same have we in our cottages for need ! 
 
 1 Ink faded. 
 
 ^ Adapted from Horace, Epodes ii. : — 
 
 ' Beatus ille qui procul negotiis^ 
 Ut prisca gens mortalium^ 
 Paterna rura bobus exercet suis, 
 Solutus omnifenore.^ 
 
516 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 A horrid murder There happened a horrid murther within this parochin of 
 parish. Wardlaw, tedious to relate in all its circumstances. The 
 
 manner in short was thus. Mr. Simon Fraser in Finask had 
 the Maines of Lovat in labouring, and one John M'keanvore,^ 
 his foreman, threshing straw for his oxen in one of the barns, 
 usually made great botles of straw to carry uppon his back 
 home ; and the rogue kept a linning satchell about him and 
 filled it with barly, and secured it in the heart of the botle of 
 straw, that none might see or suspect him. One night going 
 off* with a burding uppon his back, the satchell dropt out of 
 the bottle, full off* barly, which Donald Mackwilliam Chui,^ 
 one of Mr. Simons boys, remarking, said, John this is not 
 honest ; yow abuse the trust which your master gives yow and 
 us all ; if this be your constant practice, its a great losse to the 
 honest gentleman, who cannot attend his barns. Being thus 
 challanged, and feareing to be discovered, he contrives a plott 
 to dispatch Donald Mackwilliam Chui after this manner. He 
 came up to Finask in the evening late, and told the young man 
 that he would putt him uppon a secret, which he wisht him to 
 conceal ; for, saith he, 1 have found a great selch at the shore,, 
 and we will make a good piece of monny by him, and I have 
 not revealed this to any but to my brother-in-law, John 
 Mackeanire,^ in Donaldston, who is just going down with me 
 to the place that we may flea the selch and secure the fatt 
 in such a place. The poor innocent yowng man, Donald 
 M'kwilliam Chui, dreeding no harm, runns after him, and in 
 the bottom near the carse closs by the rode, John M'keanire 
 was lurking till they came. Immediatly John Mackeanvore 
 drawes his durk and stabs Donald Mackwilliam Chui to the 
 heart, who haveing fallen to the ground, John Mackeanire,. 
 frightned, and clapt his hands with an Oh, oh ! Mackeanvore 
 saith to him, John, give yow him the next stab that yow may 
 be as deep in the guilt as I, conform to paction, else, by God,. 
 I will give yow a stabb as deep as my hand can reach. The 
 fellow, fearing the worst, reaches a thrust through the dead 
 body, and so another and another till he was killed outright ; 
 
 ^ John, son of Big John. 
 ^ John, son of Dun [?] John. 
 
 2 Donald, son of Black William. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 517 
 
 and then carried away the dead corps to the carses shore, and 
 laid it uppon a piece of the broken bank in the lake, thinking 
 that the next flowing of the sea would carry it away ; and 
 there left the body, and returnd home in the dark night. 
 
 The signall providence that appeared in this mater was, that 
 though the dead body had layn uppon the sodd within the 
 floud mark, and the sea ebbed and flowed sex times dureing its 
 being there, yet not taken away. Uppon the day the herds- 
 men bringing by their cattell discovered the dead man, heasted 
 in to the place, found it was their nigh hour, Donald Mack- 
 william Chui, murthered, instantly allarmed the townes round 
 about. All the people presently flockt to the place, and, 
 perceiving that he had been three dayes missed, and his corps 
 lying uppon a flatt piece of the bank within the flood, wondered 
 that the sea ebbing did not drive him away, the wind being 
 southerly all the time. But the hand of God was in it to 
 discover the murther off* the innocent. The corps is carried 
 to the churchyard, and laid in the common reer with the 
 chappell, and a dispatch sent expresse for the Shirref Deput, 
 Alexander Chisholm, living in Bunchrive, who peremptorly 
 conveens the whole parish, causes strip naked the corps, and Search made 
 lay it exposed uppon a broad plank at the entry of the chappel, discover the 
 and chaines set round ; and all the gentlemen of the S parishes "i^^der. 
 present, concluding that this murther was an act of malice 
 and revenge, and not of gain or lucer, the poor young man 
 being but a servant and had no great trust. The list of the 
 parishioners being read, every one as he was called toucht the 
 bare body, laying his hand on it, non of quhat degree soever 
 excepted, men and women to the number of 6 or 700. At 
 length the murtherer, John Mackeanvore, laid his hand most 
 confidently uppon the bare breast, and I narrowly observed 
 (sitting at the head of the coffin) that the greatest wound 
 oppened, and a drop of bloud guished out. I desired he should 
 lay on his hand again, which he did, and men observed a drop 
 of blood issue from the nose. He is suddenly ceased and 
 fettered, brought in to the church, and, after serious prayer 
 for the discovery of this horrid wark of darkness, he is 
 examined, and a torture threatned ; but no confession. His 
 mittimus signd, and sent in to the vault of Inverness and 
 
518 
 
 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 secured. Not one man or woman within my parish of 
 Wardlaw, after reading the catollogue, was missed but John 
 M'keanire who was seen to goe heastily through Kingily and 
 over the burn, as the people were conveening for triall, and so 
 escaped. He was seen and known at the bridge end of Inver- 
 ness, buying ground tobacco in papers, and so away through 
 Strathnarn, and over the bridge of Dulce in to Strathspay ; 
 and no account of him for 2 yeares. 
 
 John Mackeanvore, the capitall murtherer, being in the pit 
 at Inverness, laid fast in the stocks, continued there but about 
 a fortnight, and both his feet down from the ancles dropt off 
 as if by amputation ! When he is brought forth he had a foot 
 in every hand like a shoe last, cursing and imprecating, and 
 praying God to reveing his cruel usage ; so that many con- 
 demned the judge as too severe, and seemed to vindicat this 
 villan, who is carried away in a sledge through the streets and 
 over the bridge home to his own house in Finask, where his 
 wife and friends attend him ; falling in a fever, is every Saboth 
 prayed for as for death, and that God would discover this 
 murther. Meanwhile, men had harsh and doubtfuU appre- 
 hensions of the mater, untill the Lords time, who discloses the 
 
 Ecies. 12, 14. hidden works off darkness, and brings to light and unto judge- 
 ment every secret thing, whether it be good or whither it be 
 
 Deut. 29. 29. evil ; for the secret things before to the Lord our God, but 
 the things that are revealed belong to us and our children for 
 ever. In fine, I myselfe, out of charety, cured this John 
 M'keanvores wounds, untill at last his stumps were as strong 
 as mens fists, without feet ; and a contribution made for buying 
 him a horse, and goes up and doun the country confidently as 
 an innocent, begging, and no account of John M'keanire, who 
 is reputed by all men to be the murtherer, haveing run for it 
 as guilty ; and we are in suspense for two yeares ; the land of 
 Finask (interim patitur Justus) blasted uppon, neither crop nor 
 cattell thrive : Inocuus clamat sanguis ; blood cries : Mr. Simon 
 Fraser would give . . } that act for a discovery of this murther, 
 becaus of the clamour and the place seeming to suffer. 
 
 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait 
 
 MS. destroyed. 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 
 
 519 
 
 the salvation of the Lord, saith the mournfull Prophet; nec Lam. . , 
 
 Deus intersit nisi dig^ucs vindice nodus ! By a rare providence 
 
 this murder was discovered. We were at the Synod of Murray [Horace, Ars 
 
 in April, and accidentally I happened to be in company with ^' ^^^-l 
 
 Sir James Strachan of Thorn toun, parson of Keith, and he 
 
 inlarged uppon the judgement of God uppon murderers. I 
 
 tooke occasion to tell him of this murder in my parish, and 
 
 our precedours to discover it, and how one suspected had 
 
 escaped and fled we knew not whither; and, after I had 
 
 described John Mackeanire to him in his pitch, complexion, 
 
 features and lineaments, Truely, said Sir James, that same 
 
 man is in my parish under the name off Donald Gailach, 
 
 Highland Donald, and ordinarly he serves William Fraser of 
 
 Couper hill, neare the bridge of Keith, bring him in coales of 
 
 heather, and waites uppon his kettle and brewing. We parted, 
 
 and I was impatient to be home, and declard to Mr. Simon 
 
 Fraser, my nighbour, all that passed betuixt me and Sir James 
 
 Strachan anent Highland Donald, and he was as impatient 
 
 untill he sent away a country boy that had both languages to 
 
 Keith, with a line to Couper hill, who presented Hiland 
 
 Donald openly to his view. The boy knew very well it was 
 
 John Mackeanire, with whom he was intimatly acquaint ; yet 
 
 never discovered himselfe to him, but came immediatly back 
 
 with a return to Mr. Simon, and a full account of the murderer, 
 
 how William Fraser of Couper Hill had put him in an obscure 
 
 angle, and presented John M'keanire to his view. 
 
 Master Simon Fraser dallyes no longer, but getting 6 or 7 
 pretty men together, and goes forward to Keith, and late at 
 night came to Couperhill, William Fraser, being at home, who 
 ripely contrives a way to bring Highland Donald to them, and, 
 knowing his haunt to be in a poor womans house within halfe 
 a mile to the town, he sent one of the maides about the house 
 thither and desired Donald to be at Couper hill once that day, 
 or when his conveniency did allow, becaus he had 3 or 4 dayes 
 work for him. He, dreeding nothing, comes along with the 
 woman to Couperhill. The house was quiet, the chamber The murderer 
 windowes shut ; getting him once within the hall, door is shut ; ^PP^^^^"^^'^- 
 the guard issues out of their ambush, layes hold of Donald, 
 and presents him within the chamber. The windowes are 
 
520 POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 , . . opened, and Master Simon saluts him by the name of John 
 Mackeanire, and welcomes him to his chamber, where he had 
 been a stranger of a long time. Yow may think John was in 
 a surpriseing astonishment to be thus catcht cunningly in a 
 net. He is delivered to a guard, their reckoning cleared off, 
 and. they march away ; and it was strange that all the rode, as 
 they came, he never confessed anytliing, notwithstanding off 
 their convincing arguments against him, as to the murder of 
 Donald Mackwilliam Chui ; but which is rare, when he came 
 in view of Invernesse and saw the very church steeple thereof, 
 he came to a cleare confession, and^of his own accord declared 
 every particular how he and John Mackeanvoir contrived the 
 killing off M'kwilliam chuy, and every act and step of the 
 murther from first to last. 
 
 At their arrivall to the towne with the prisoner, they make 
 application to the Shirref Deput, Alexander Chisholm, who 
 receave him off their hands, commits him to the gaile under 
 guard, calles an inquest and size, sits himselfe as judge com- 
 petent, conveens John Mackeanire first, who makes a clean 
 brest, confesses all and every point and passage of the murther 
 of Donald Mackwilliam chui, and how John M'keanvore instigat 
 him to it, and made him accomplish and socius crimims against 
 his genious and inclination. Then John M'keanvoir is called, 
 stood long to his deniall, till threatned with tortur, and both 
 confronted as to time, place, cause, and reson of the murther, 
 and at length came to a clear confession ; but continued an 
 obdurd dog to the last. Being both convict, the sentence of 
 the judge was that John M'keanvore showld be brought to the 
 The two mur- Castle hill of Inverness, his head cut off uppon the block by 
 derers executed. hands of the common hangman, and his body hurried 
 under the gallons, his head put upon one of the pins of the 
 toll bootli of Inverness, his right arm cut off and sent to 
 Wardlaw parish, and put uppon a pole near and in view of the 
 church. 2. John M'keanire is to be brought to that parish 
 and his head to be cut off there on a block fixt uppon the bell 
 hill of Wardlaw, and that head, being cut off, to be fixt uppon 
 a pole, set uppon the top of Leminech, and then his right arm 
 to be cut off and fixt uppon the pole belowe the church, with 
 M'keanvorcs. The which was exactly and accordingly done 
 
POLICRATICA TEMFOliUM 
 
 521 
 
 to the great astonnishment of all tlie parishioners off Ward- 
 law, beholding the same. Thus is Gods law executed : Whoso 
 sheddeth mans bloud by man shall his bloud be shed. God, Gen, 9. 6. 
 who is a long suffering but not an eversuffering God, hath 
 now in his own due time avenged Donald Mackwilliam chuis 
 bloud uppon Mackeanvore and Mackeanire, now both executed. 
 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death, 
 and ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled. So yow 
 shall not pollute the land wherein yow dwell, for bloud it Num. 35. 3. 
 •defileth the land, and the land cannot be cleansed but by 
 the bloud of him that shed it ; no expiation but bloud 
 for bloud. 
 
 This was a singular good year, fertil enugh, but rainye, 
 which made harvest late, for from lambess to hallowmasse we 
 had not 3 continued dry dayes ; much heated corn ; in Sep- 
 tember great and tempestuous winds; the 11. of September 
 was the sadest shakeing that ever man living heard off or 
 saw ; it is unexpressible and the losse incredible : so that 
 Thursday 11. of September turnd into a proverb. Yet it is 
 observed that a shakeing yeare was never a scarce yeare, and 
 so it happened, for there was great store of victuall all the 
 kingdom over ; the boll within sex mark, or about 5, all the 
 year till spring after. A great deal of old corn, and litle 
 gone out of the country, keept it cheap all the yeare; and 
 how may the abuse and contempt of plenty provoke the Great 
 and Almighty God to deprive us of it: And when I haveLevit: . . . 
 broken the staff of your bread it shall be delivered to yow by 
 weight, and ye shall eat and not be satisfied. This was threat- 
 tened then, and inflicted also, as the prophet complains. And 
 I will take away from Juda and Jerusalem the whole stay and 
 staff of bread. Quid Deus avertat. Man, apprehending future 
 happiness, hath hope given him for the sustentation of his 
 drooping soul, who would live wounded with calamities did not 
 smileing hope cheere him with expectation of deliverance, as 
 the Poet Tibull: 
 
 Jam mala finissem ; sed credula vitam 
 Spes fovet, et melius eras fori semper ait, 
 Spes alit agricolas ; spes sulcis credit aratris, 
 Semina, qucB magno fenore reddit ager. 
 
POLICHRONICON SEU 
 
 Hcec laqueo volucres, hcec capiat arundine pisces 
 Cum tenues hamos aldidit ante cihus. 
 Spes etiam valida, captivum compede vinctum 
 Crura sonat ferro, sed canit inter opus. 
 
 Hope flatters life, and sayes she'll still bequeath 
 Better ; else I had cur'd all ills by death. 
 She blyths the farmer ; do's his grain commit 
 To earth, which with large use replentieth it. 
 She snares the birds ; and fishes, as they glide, 
 Striks with small hooks that consuming bates do hide ; 
 She cheeres the shakled prisoner, and whil his thigh 
 Rings with his chaines he works and sings on high. 
 
 This year begins with a Parliament endicted at Westminster^ 
 where his Majesty was present in person, and made a gracious 
 speech to them. The greatest mater in hand was the thoughts 
 of peace with the Dutch, and all indeavoures tending there- 
 unto vigorously persued. At this time his Majesty causd a 
 farthings coined ^^^^ brasse halfepence and farthings to be coind and 
 for all England, to passe current through all England, minted in the Tower, 
 and issued forth a proclamation for the suppression of the 
 particular farthings and halfepence of privat shopkeepers; 
 and, being informed that some of these did continue to utter 
 halfe pence and farthings of their own stamping, he caused 
 them to be proceeded against according to law, which was so 
 effectually done that many were convicted and fined, but, 
 uppon submission, by the Kings mercy pardoned, so that now 
 one coin of brasse passes all England over. I remember, anno 
 1660, when I was at London, the constables appointed one in 
 every lane and street in the city to coin farthings with his own 
 name on it ; and they bought this priveledge, so that the 
 brasse mony which passed in one lane did not in another. 
 
 In the close of January the Dutch sent their Embassador to 
 England with their letter to his Majesty pleading for peace. 
 In end a Treaty was concluded uppon between the King of 
 England and the Dutch. The place appointed was Collogn,. 
 where the Plenipotentiaries of the severall confederats were to 
 meet: for the King of Great Britain, Sir Joseph Williamson 
 and Sir Leonel Jinkins ; for the King of Spain, Count Areschot^ 
 and Done Emanuel de Lyra ; for the Emperour, Count Con- 
 
 1674. 
 
 Brasse hallc 
 pences and 
 
POLICRATICA TEMPORUM 523 
 
 ningfech and the Barron de Isola ; for the Crown of Sweden, 
 Count Totti ; for the French, the Count de Chausues. The Peace with Hol- 
 newes were receaved with cordiall joy in the Low Countries ; j^^^j^^jfj^^*^ 
 the peace ratified and publickly proclamed at London. 
 
 In February her Royall Highness was brought to bed of a Feb. 4. Princess 
 daughter, christened at St. Jameses by the Lord Bishop of 
 Durham by the name of Katharina Laura, the Duke of Mone- 
 mouth being godfather, the Lady Mary and Lady Anna 
 godmothers. In March the Parliament of England is pro- 
 rogued till the 10 of November. In the beginning of April 
 the Court goes for Windsor, where the Earl of Mulgrave was 
 insitut Knight of the Garter. And now there are grudges and 
 discontents that the King favours rebels. The Lord Loquart, 
 haveing presented the King with a brave coach and 6 horses, 
 and is sent Ambassador to offer his Majesties mediation 
 between the King of France and the Queen of Spain to com- 
 pose the differences between them ; and that he might no way 
 be concerned in their difference, by proclamation forbids any 
 of his subjects to enter into the service of any forreign prince. 
 In May Sir Leonel Jinkins and Sir Joseph Williamson return 
 to London from Colloign, and the Barron de Reed, van Ben- 
 ninghen, and van Heren, extraordinary Embassadors from the 
 States of Holland, made their solemn entry to London May 30. 
 The King and the Duke of York goe for Portsmouth, June 10 ; 
 and, uppon resignation of the Duke of Buckingham, the Duke 
 of Monmouth is made Chancelour of the University of Cam- 
 bridge. The solemn ceremony is performed at Worcester 
 House. The Earle of Arlingtown is created Lord Chamerlane 
 of his Majesties houshold, and at the same time Sir Joseph 
 Williamson created principall Secretary of State. June 10, a 
 strick proclamation is issued against the Jesuits and Priests, 
 commanding their discovery and apprehension, and 5 tibs. for 
 each that would be taken and presented ; and uppon the 22 of 
 September his Majesty published a proclamation prorogueing 
 the Parliament till the 13 of Aprile ensueing. The Earles of 
 Ossery and Arlington are sent to Holland, and in November 
 arrived at the Hague, er they payed their respects to the 
 Prince off Orange, now State holder and Captain. In October 
 his Majesty, being royally feasted when Sir Robert Veiner was 
 
POLICHRONICON 
 
 created Lord Mayor of the city, condescended to the accep- 
 tance of the freedom of London in the Chamberlans office from 
 the hands of Sir Thomas Player, Chamberlan, beyond the 
 example of any of his royal predecessors. The said Sir Robert 
 Veiner presented his Majesty in the name of the city with a 
 coppy of the freedom, in a large square box of massy gold ; the 
 seal appendant also in a box of gold set all over with diamonds 
 and other precious stones, a rich present. In December his 
 Majesty translated the Right Reverend father in God, Doctor 
 Jo. Crowe, Bishop of Oxford, and Clerk of his Closet, to the 
 See of Durham, and made choice of the Honorable Doctor 
 Compton, brother to the Earle of Northampton, to succeed in 
 his place. 
 
 ***** 
 [Here follows a synchronism of events on the Continent. 
 The record, as now existing, closes abruptly at the foot of 
 page 373, and in the year 1674. It is almost certain that, as 
 left by the author (who survived till 1709), it came down to a 
 much later period.] 
 
INDEX 
 
 Aberbrothock. See Arbroath. 
 
 Aberchalder (Oberchallider), 279. 
 
 Aberdeen, 67, 219 ; repaired by Mal- 
 colm III., 34; James vi. in, 229; 
 meeting anent the covenant at, 
 262, 272 ; meeting of the general 
 assembly at, 274 ; garrisoned by 
 covenanters, 287 ; the plague in, 
 351 ; Charles II. in, 365 ; fortified, 
 399, 421, 441. 
 
 university, 257-258, 260, 350, 
 
 392. 
 
 Abergeldy, laird of, 226. 
 Aberneihy, 373. 
 
 Elizabeth, wifeofFraser ofDorris, 
 
 249, 
 
 John, bishop of Caithness, 261. 
 
 lady Margaret, 500. 
 
 Abertarfe, 62, 99, 105, 129, 134, 144, 
 
 146, 147, 179, 184, 186, 187, 242, 
 253» 279, 292, 310, 406, 407, 473, 
 498. 
 
 Aboyne, earl of, 300, 302, 487. 
 Achinbadi or Beauly, q.v. 
 Achindown, 226. 
 Achraony, in Urquhart, 60. 
 Achterles, 55. 
 Act of Oblivion, 382, 398. 
 Adam, Hans, trumpeter to Lovat, xl, 
 483, 502. 
 
 Adama, daughter of William, earl of 
 
 Warren, 45. 
 wife of Florentius, earl of Holland, 
 
 45- 
 
 ^neas Galovidianus, 47. 
 ^neas, lord of Murray, 45. 
 Affaric, 184 and n. 
 Aigas, Isle of, 315, 
 
 Aird, the, xxii, 59 and 96, 99, 105, 
 
 147, 253, 314. 
 
 Airly, James, earl of, 300. 
 
 John, earl of, 304. 
 
 Aitkin, James, minister at Olra, in 
 
 Orkney, deposed, 344. 
 Alan, thane of Galloway, 56. 
 Albany, duke of, 90, 92, 123. 
 Aid Aill, no. 
 
 Aldchonichan, battle of, 226-228. 
 Aid Gawn, battle of, 203. 
 Aldniskiach, 336, 
 Alectum, now Dundee, 50. 
 Alexander i., 41, 42. 
 Alexander 11., 53, 56, 57. 
 Alexander iii., genealogy of, 57; his 
 death, 64. 
 
 Alexander M'kthomas vickallister, 
 185. 
 
 Alford, battle of, 299. 
 Alnes, 116. 
 Allan, John, 440. 
 Altan-Beh, iDattle of, 132. 
 Alt Boitteg, 179. 
 Altcharrish, battle of, 114. 
 Altirly, 494. 
 
 Anderson, Mr., 'the universal traveler,'' 
 427. 
 
 John, finds gold at Culloden, 
 
 477. 
 
 Andrew, of Pasely, 9. 
 
 Andrewes, colonel Eusebius, executed 
 
 on Tower Hill, 368-369. 
 Angus, earl of, 91, 218, 225, 229, 230, 
 
 373- 
 
 Patrick, in Beuly, 249. 
 
 Mack Termat, 210. 
 
 Mckonil vick William, 215. 
 
 Annabella, queen, 91. 
 Annand, Andrew, 341. 
 John, minister of Inverness, 347, 
 
 354, 424- 
 Annandale, earl of, 301, 420. 
 Anstruther, sir James, of that ilk, 239^ 
 
 240. 
 
 Antrim, earl of, 192, 286. 
 Arbroath abbey (Aberbrothock), 49,. 
 52, 53- 
 
 Arbuthnot, lord, 243, 395, 424. 
 
 lady, 284, 285, 460. 
 
 Archery in the Highlands, xxxix, 150. 
 Ardachie, 141. 
 Ardchattan, xli. 
 Ardmanach, 83 and n. 
 Ardnicrask, 84, 164, 185, 310. 
 Areschot, count, 522. 
 
526 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Argyle, Archibald, 4th earl of, 133, 
 
 134, 139. 
 
 5th earl, 172, 173. 
 
 7th earl, 207, 225-228, 230, 
 
 233, 272, 291, 292. 
 8th earl, 324, 374, 376, 411, 
 
 412; a prisoner in the Tower, 431 ; 
 
 his trial, 433 ; his speech on the 
 
 scaffold, 434-437 ; his Maximes of 
 
 State, 438. 
 Arkaig, 231. 
 
 Arlingtown, earl of, 523. 
 
 Arran, James Hamilton, earl of, 133. 
 
 James Stuart, earl of, 181, 182, 
 
 I95> 196, 200, 207 ; killed by Douglas 
 
 of Tothorald, 220. 
 Arratsmill, in the Mernes, 243. 
 Arrol, earl of, 80, 211, 220, 222, 225, 
 
 226, 228-230, 392. 
 Ascock, sir Thomas, commits suicide, 
 
 413- 
 
 Ashurst, major, 385, 
 Assynt, 126, 353. 
 
 Athol, earl of, 108, 142, 149, 156, 160, 
 172, 180, 196, 200, 201, 211-213, 
 218, 220-222, 241, 243 and n. 
 
 John, earl of, 407. 
 
 Peter Cuming, earl of, 54. 
 
 Walter, earl of, 102, 
 
 William, 2nd earl of, his earldom 
 
 offered to, and refused by Lovat, 243 
 and n. 
 
 Auldearn, 188; battle of, xxii, 295, 
 
 296, 330. 
 Aves parish, 313. 
 Avin ni Mannach, 63 and n. 
 Avoch, 494. 
 
 Axell, trumpeter to the earl of Home, 
 
 xxiv, 379. 
 Ayr (Aire), 72 ; the citadel of, 398, 
 
 399 n, 421, 441. 
 
 Bacon's treatise on the Union with 
 
 Scotland, 394 and n. 
 Badenoch, 291. 
 Badshores, laird of, no. 
 Bage hill, Inverness, 49 and n. 
 Bagnel, colonel, 403. 
 Bailbrea, 63. 
 
 Baily, Christina, wife of colonel Fraser, 
 297. 
 
 general, 292-295 ; defeated at 
 
 Alford, 299 ; and at Kilsyth, 300. 
 
 Bain, Alexander, of Tulloch, 151-152, 
 154. 
 
 servant, 218. 
 
 sir Donald, of Tulloch, 442. 
 
 Duncan, barron of Tulloch, 230. 
 
 Henry, 430. 
 
 Bain, John, of Delnies, 231. 
 
 of Tulloch, 129. 
 
 kills John Mackillchallim, 
 
 230. 
 
 Rory, carpenter, 271. 
 
 Baith, Alexander, 114. 
 
 George, of Acrigill, 114. 
 
 Baky, lord of the, 99. 
 Balabrach, xv. 
 Balcarise, lord, 299. 
 Balcony, 456. 
 
 Balfure, David, gardener at Beuly, 
 250. 
 
 Baliol, Edward, 78. 
 John, 75. 
 
 Ballindallach, in Strathspey, 212, 213. 
 
 Ballingown, 218. 
 
 Balmackaan, 484. 
 
 Balmerinoch abbey, 49. 
 
 Balnagown, 83, 261. 
 
 Balveny, xxiii, 291, 292; battle of, 
 
 339, 341. 
 Bamph, lord, 272. 
 Bane, Donald, 40, 42, 48. 
 Bannockburn, battle of, 72. 
 Banquho, 34 ; killed by Mackbeth, 35. 
 Baptista, Jacomo, prior of Beuly, 63, 
 
 81. 
 
 Barclay, John, a Benedictine monk, 
 148. 
 
 Baron courts, xxxii. 
 
 Barr, Alexander, bishop of Murray, 
 
 82 n, 89, 93. 
 governor of the king's house at 
 
 Forres, 43, 59. 
 Barray, house of, demolished by James 
 
 VI., 229. 
 
 Barregy, constable of Douny castle, 43, 
 59. 
 
 Barv castle, 142. 
 
 Bass island, 397, 421. 
 
 Bateman, captain George, 324, 415, 
 421, 463, 489. 
 
 Baveny, 487. 
 
 Bayns, 103, 386. 
 
 Beallach in Broig, battle of, 83. 
 
 Beam-ercis, 84 and 7t. 
 
 Bearn-ni-skallag, 84 and n. 
 
 Beaton, cardinal, 133. 
 
 governor of Dingwall, 43, 59. 
 
 Donald, 469. 
 
 Gilleandris, 242. 
 
 James, xxxvii, 145 and n. 
 
 Beatons, xxxvii, 185 and w, 236 ; their 
 origin, 36, 39. 
 
 Beaufort castle, 43, 59, 62 67, 68, 
 122, 225, 234. 
 
 William Fenton, lord. See Fen- 
 ton. 
 
INDEX 
 
 527 
 
 Beauly, xxii, xli, 6i, 62 «, 63, 76, 80, 
 81, 97, 107, 124, 141, 159, 160-162, 
 165, 166, 179, 184, 201, 219, 224, 
 242, 249, 259, 266, 288, 496, 506. 
 
 fairs at, 249, 275, 471. 
 
 prior of, 94. 
 
 • salmon fishing, 250, 345. 
 
 Bedford, John, earl of, 93. 
 
 Begony, lord, 276, 277. 
 
 Beledgar castle, in Angus, 42. 
 
 Benbow, colonel, 385 ; executed, 393. 
 
 Bendish, sir Thomas, 376. 
 
 Benedict ix., 36. 
 
 Benninghen, van, Dutch ambassador, 
 523. 
 
 Benson, Mr., executed at Tyburn, 
 383. 
 
 vintner in Inverness citadel, 414. 
 
 Berridale. See Sinclair. 
 
 Berry, Julius de, the first of the Frasers, 
 
 xxi, 31, 32. 
 Ber Tha, now Perth, 53. 
 Bervy, 487. 
 Berwick, 73, 79. 
 
 Bethes' conflict with Clangun, 113. 
 
 Beuly. See Beauly. 
 
 Bickerton, adjutant -general, taken 
 
 prisoner at Dunbar, 370. 
 Bingrim hill, 203. 
 Binmore, 208 ; battle of, 143. 
 Bird, major, 415. 
 
 Bishop, Alexander, executed at Inver- 
 ness, 402, 408. 
 
 Frances, burgess of Inverness, 
 
 402. 
 
 Bishop's castle, in Ross, 317, 332, 334. 
 
 Bishops becoming obnoxious to the 
 puritans, 261 ; again in favour, 426- 
 427 ; consecration of, at Holyrood, 
 
 444-445- 
 Bisset, Cicilia, 59, 64, 96. 
 
 Elisabeth, 64. 
 
 John, of Achin, 55, 60-63. 
 
 Mary, wife of sir Simon Fraser 
 
 of Lovat, 56, 60, 63. 
 
 William, 54. 
 
 of Lovat, XV. 
 
 Bissets, origin of, 36, 39 ; receive lands 
 in East Laudian, 37 ; banished, 54, 
 60. 
 
 Black Monday, 398. 
 
 Blackness castle, earl of Huntly a 
 
 prisoner in, 214. 
 Blair, Mr., merchant taylor in Rudlan, 
 
 428. 
 
 Robert, moderator, 320, 321. 
 
 Blair Beallach, in Broige, 84. 
 Blair castle, 173. 
 
 Blair Lochy, battle of. See Loch Lochy. 
 
 Blair Tanny, battle of, 103. 
 
 Blake, admiral, his engagement with 
 van Trump, 399; defeated in the 
 Downs, 400; defeats the Dutch off 
 the Texel, 401. 
 
 Blarenicuilich, 290. 
 
 Blunt, lieut.-col, George, 415, 421. 
 
 Boas, M. de, French ambassador, 409. 
 
 Bobleny, 256. 
 
 Bochrubin, 311. 
 
 Boethius, Hector, 14, 15, 17, 38, 50. 
 Boghole, in Duffus, 248. 
 Bog-o'-Gight, 318, 332, 365 and n. 
 Bogroy, xxii, 272. 
 Bohemia, queen of, 377. 
 Boitock brook, 63. 
 Boleskin, 186, 187, 484, 492. 
 Bona, on Loch Ness, xvi, 186. 
 Bonar, James, moderator, 293. 
 Boniton, colonel, 385. 
 Bosco, Andreas de, 64. 
 BoscoTdcI house, 386, 389. 
 Boswells from France, 36. 
 Both, sir George, 420. 
 Bothmouth, 179. 
 
 Bothwell, earl of, 149, 213, 215, 216. 
 
 Bothwells in France, 36. 
 
 Bouerman or Downy, Agnes, 116. 
 
 Boyes, constable of the king's house at 
 Inverness, 43, 59. 
 
 Brachography, the last speech of Mon- 
 trose taken down in, 359. 
 
 Brahan castle, 164, 218, 264, 317, 332, 
 
 346, 395. 451. 
 Brainston, major, 409. 
 Braky e, 123. 
 
 Brass money, regulation of, 522. 
 
 Brayn. See Bryan, 
 
 Breachett, 87. 
 
 Breakachie burn, 61, 63. 
 
 Brechin, battle of, 169. 
 
 Breda, treaty of, 349-35o» 365- 
 
 Brentford, earl of, 377. 
 
 Bricius, bishop of Murray, 60, 61 n. 
 
 Bridfaire, 230 and n. 
 
 Brig of Alnes, 481. 
 
 Brigend, 154. 
 
 Brightmony, 2gi6. 
 
 Brodies, 313. 
 
 Brody, 313. 
 
 of Brody, 350. 
 
 Alexander, of that ilk, 293. 
 
 Joseph, archdean of Murray, 262. 
 
 Brolin, 219, 407. 
 Brothock river, 49. 
 Broughton, sir Edward, 385. 
 Brown, major-general sir John, 383, 
 384. 
 
 Bruce, Alexander, 69. 
 
528 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Bruce, Edward, defeats the English in 
 Ireland, 73. 
 
 Neile, 69. 
 
 Thomas, 69. 
 
 captain, killed at Aldern, 296 
 
 and n. 
 
 303- 
 
 Bruiach, 61. 
 
 Brunton, colonel Matthew, 386. 
 Bryan, colonel, 406, 407. 
 Buchan, 191, 219. 
 
 Alexander Stuart, earl of, de- 
 stroys Elgin cathedral, 89. 
 
 James Erskine, earl of, 244. 
 
 John Cuming, earl of, 53, 66, 68, 
 
 70-72, 76, 93, 106. 
 
 Robert Douglas, earl of, 191. 
 
 colonel, 384. 
 
 lairds of, 228. 
 
 Buchanan's 15, 17. 
 
 Buchinty, 286. 
 
 Buckingham, duke of, 385, 388, 523. 
 Budges, 103. 
 
 Bunchrive, 155, 156, 164, 185, 225, 
 241, 244, 245, 249, 252, 278, 311, 
 424, 494, 512, 513; Bunchrew her- 
 mits, xvi, 3. 
 
 Buntait, 184, 323. 
 
 Bur, Alexander, bishop of Moray. See 
 Barr. 
 
 Burges, Cornelius, 293. 
 Burgy, 313. 
 
 Burk, Haymerus de. See Ulster, earl of. 
 Burleigh, lord, defeated by Montrose 
 
 at Crabstone, 287. 
 Burnet of Craigmile, 487. 
 
 of Leyes, 244. 
 
 Ludovick, 428. 
 
 Burnt Island, 384. 
 
 Burt, John, butler at Lovat, 245, 251. 
 Bushell, captain Brown, beheaded, 376. 
 Bute (Boot), 72, 91 ; bestowed on sir 
 
 Walter Stuart, 42. 
 Buys, Alexander, originator of the 
 
 Forbesses, 69. 
 Byfild, Adoniram, 293, 
 
 Cabrach, 215. 
 
 Cadzow lands bestowed upon the 
 
 Hamiltons, 74. 
 Caithness, Adam, bishop of, murder of, 
 
 53- 
 
 John, bishop of, 49. 
 
 George, 5th earl of, 157, 158, 
 
 159, 202, 208-210, 272, 273. 
 
 6th earl, 439, 450, 482. 
 
 John, earl of, 125. 
 
 Calder, 218, 224, 296 313. 
 of that ilk, 43. 
 
 Calder, sir Hugh, of Calder, xxxiv^ 
 452. 
 
 Jane, wife of Hugh Eraser, 4th 
 
 of Lovat, 81. 
 
 Laurence, thane of Calder, 81. 
 
 Morella, 141. 
 
 Calendar house taken by CromwelL 
 383. 
 
 Calixtus V. sends a legate to William 
 
 the Lion, 50. 
 Calvus the Bald, 30. 
 Camald, 152. 
 
 Cambridge, Charles, earl of, 432. 
 
 Cambuskenneth abbey, 44. 
 
 Camelo, cardinal, 36. 
 
 Cameron, Allan, of Lochiel, 213 and n. 
 
 sir Ewan, 408, 453, 506. 
 
 John Dow, of Lochiel, 183. 
 
 Camerons, 252, 325. 
 
 Campbell of Achinbreak, 129, 226. 
 
 Alexander, brother of Calder, 
 
 accidentally shot, 443. 
 
 Archibald, of Lochinneal, killed at 
 
 Aldchonichan, 228. 
 
 Hugh, of Calder, 506. 
 
 colonel James, of Lawers, 294^ 
 
 295 ; killed at Aldern, 296. 
 
 James, brother of Lochinneal^ 
 
 killed at Aldchonichan, 228. 
 
 Jean, daughter of John Campbell 
 
 of Calder, and wife of Alexander, 
 lord Lovat, 141, 142, 146, 147 ;. 
 marries Mackdonel of Slait, 148. 
 
 John, of Achindown, 453. 
 
 sir John, of Calder, 141, 143, 146, 
 
 156, I59» 160, 163, 173, 211, 212,, 
 215, 221, 244. 
 
 John, of Lochow, 45, 56. 
 
 Campbells in France, 36, 39 ; feud 
 
 with the Macdonalds of 11a, 233. 
 Cant, Andrew, minister at Pitsligo, 263.. 
 Canute of England, 32, 33. 
 Caplach, 179, 316. 
 Carbisdale, battle of, xxiv, 352. 
 Card, John, groom, 440. 
 Cardrosse, 75. 
 Carlile nunnery, 44. 
 Carlos, collonel, 388, 389. 
 Cam of Mounth, 487. 
 Carnborrow, 226. 
 Carnbuilg, 470, 495. 
 Carnegy, lord, 301, 374. 
 Carnslack, 221. 
 
 Carnwath, lord, taken prisoner at Wor- 
 cester, 387, 391. 
 Carr, Anna, 117. 
 
 — or Cerr, David, musician at Lovat, 
 245, 255, 265, 268. 
 
 — George, doctor of laws, 225.. 
 
INDEX 
 
 Carr, Robert, Lovat's master of the 
 
 household, 440. 
 captain Thomas, xxxix, 168, 171, 
 
 226. 
 
 Carron, sir Alexander, constable of 
 
 Dundee, 37. 
 Alexander, son of the preceding, 
 
 42. 
 
 Carse of Kingily, 288 and 314. 
 Caschilis, now Queensferry, 51 and n. 
 Cashore, major, killed at Aldern, 
 296. 
 
 Cassillis, earl of, 350, 438, 500. 
 Castle Forbes, 219. 
 Castle Stewart, 245, 313, 354. 
 Catslack, 220. 
 
 Caucy quarry, in Murray, 245. 
 Cavertonedge races, 449. 
 Cearans, 1 10. 
 Cearrowgare, 60. 
 Celts, origin of, 29. 
 
 Chamber, Gilbert, provost of Aberdeen, 
 191. 
 
 William, 187, 428. 
 
 Chanory of Ross, 83, 218, 219, 317. 
 
 castle, 115, 345. 
 
 cathedral, 266. 
 
 Chapman, captain, killed in action, 
 401. 
 
 Charles the Simple, 24, 26, 31. 
 Charles i., interview with Montrose 
 . at Oxford, 286 ; ignored in the 
 general assembly, 293 ; letter from, 
 to the general assembly, 318; with 
 the Scots army, 329-333 ; orders 
 Montrose to disband, 329, 331 ; his 
 interview with Mr. Alex. Henderson 
 at Newcastle, 333 ; delivered up to 
 the English, 334 ; his execution, 
 335-336 ; poem on the death of, 
 363 ; his statue at the Royal 
 Exchange ordered to be destroyed, 
 368. 
 
 Charles II., proclamation in favour of, 
 335 ; at the Hague, 336 ; letter to, 
 from the general assembly, 343 ; in 
 Jersey, 349 ; lands in Scotland, xxiv, 
 365 ; crowned at Scone, 373 ; visits 
 Aberdeen, 375 ; reviews the army at 
 Stirling, 379 ; marches to Carlisle, 
 384 ; at Worcester, 385 ; defeated, 
 387 ; his escape, 388-391 ; at Cologne, 
 410 ; at Liege, 409 ; at Frankfort 
 fair, 411 ; his interview with the 
 queen of Sweden, 412 ; letter from, 
 to parliament, 430 ; his restoration, 
 xxvii, 431 ; receives the freedom of 
 London, 524. 
 
 Charters, captain, executed, 366. 
 
 2 
 
 Chartre, count, French ambassador to 
 
 Scotland, 36. 
 Chattich, John Mackhowmich, 143, 
 
 William Mackheamis, 126. 
 
 Chausues, count de, 522. 
 Chisholm, laird of, 501, 506. 
 
 of Strathglasse, 440. 
 
 Alexander, of Commer, 99, 124, 
 
 I53> 424, 444, 446. 
 sheriff depute of Inverness,, 
 
 513, 517, 520. 
 Hugh, fiddler to Lovat, xl, 483, 
 
 502. 
 
 Janet, wife of Walter Haleburton,. 
 
 128. 
 
 John, of Commer, 131. 
 
 William, portioner of Aird, 98. 
 
 captain, killed at the battle of 
 
 Crabstone, 168. 
 
 Mr., merchant in London, 428. 
 
 Chisholms, 184. 
 
 Cholmly, sir Hugh, 376. 
 
 Christina, queen of Sweden, interview- 
 
 with Charles li., 412. 
 Church, Mr., 416. 
 
 Cilchuimmen( Fort Augustus), 134, 146,. 
 
 147, 186, 256. 
 Cill St. Ninean, 60. 
 Cillinan, 60. 
 Cingily. See Kingily. 
 Ciriboll, 209. 
 
 Clachniharry, xxxix, 165, 185, 494. 
 battle of, between Monroes and 
 
 Mackintoshes, 86, 87 and n. 
 Claish ni Gap, in Strathnaver, 126. 
 Clanchattan, 212, 213, 215 ; battle witk 
 
 the Colquhouns at Perth, 90. 
 Clangalrigh, 83. 
 Clangregors, 225. 
 Clan Gun, 202, 203. 
 Clan-i-luch, 185 and n. 
 Claniver, 83. 
 Clanleave, 83. 
 Clanmallur, lord, 404. 
 Clanrickard, marquis of, 371. 
 Clare, sir Ralph, taken prisoner at 
 
 Worcester, 387. 
 Clarence, battle of, 93. 
 
 duke of, death of, 93. 
 
 Clava, 313. 
 Clement v., 74. 
 
 Clerk, Bean, in Dulcraig, 135, 144. 
 
 James, scrivener, 284, 285. 
 
 William, servant of Lovat, 322. 
 
 Dr., a highland physician, 265. 
 
 Cleveland, earl of, 385, 387. 
 Clunes, Alexander, merchant in Inver- 
 ness, 430. 
 the, 60 and n. 
 
 L 
 
530 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Cobbet, colonel, governor of Dundee, 
 407. 
 
 Cock, Agnes, 489. 
 
 Cockburn, Jo., governor of Hoome 
 
 castle, 376. 
 Cockburnspath (Coperspath), 369. 
 Coirincuillan, 184. 
 Coldinghame nunnery, 52. 
 Collace, Andrew, exiled minister, 428. 
 
 David, treasurer of Murray, 262. 
 
 or Collo5h,dame Margret, wife of 
 
 sir Walter Reed, 145, 159. 
 Collison, Paul, merchant in Aberdeen, 
 
 345- 
 
 Colquhoun's feud with Clanchattan, 
 90. 
 
 Colvil, lord, 420. 
 
 Colvill, Thomas, chaplain to Charles 11., 
 380, 458. 
 
 William, deposed, 344. 
 
 Comarmore, 184 n. 
 Comeinhine, in Abertarfe, no. 
 Comfrey, Ralph, 66. 
 Commer, 128. 
 
 Compton, Henry, bishop of Oxford, 
 524- 
 
 Conanus, duke of Britain, 45. 
 
 Conningfech, count, 522. 
 
 Conon river, xxii, 63, 112, 164, 176, 
 
 180, 272, 353 ; drowning accident at 
 
 the ferry, 472. 
 Constantine iv., 34. 
 Contain, near Park, 1 12. 
 Conventh, 62, 147, 256. 
 Conventicles, 499. 
 
 Convention of estates at St. Andrews, 
 304. 
 
 Cooke (Cuik), Alexander, 199. 
 
 John, servant, 218. 
 
 justice, 403. 
 
 Coot, sir Charles, 420. 
 Corbet, 164, 311. 
 
 Corbett, Gilbert, barron of Tann 
 
 Drumchardiny, 60. 
 Corricharby, xliii, 63, 64, 84 and 
 
 136, 179, 185. 
 Corrichie, battle of, 149. 
 Corridon, 146 and 147. 
 Corrifoines, 60, 185. 
 Corrimony, in Glen Urquhart, xvi. 
 Coulsamond, 229. 
 
 Couper, William, schoolmaster of 
 
 Chanory, 344. 
 Couper in Angus, abbey of, 48 ; races, 
 
 449. 
 
 Couperhill, 519. 
 
 Cousines, John, bishop of Durham, 
 427. 
 
 Couy or Coy, 77. 
 
 Couy, thane of. See Fraser, Alexander. 
 
 Covenanters gaining power, 261 ; 
 meeting anent the covenant at Aber- 
 deen, 262 ; convention in Aberdeen, 
 272 ; the army at Duns, 285 ; in 
 Perth, 286; defeated by Montrose 
 at Tippermuir, 287 ; at Inverlochy, 
 292 ; at Aldern, 295-296 ; at Alford, 
 299, and Kilsith, 300; deliver up 
 the king to the English, 334 ; 
 defeated at Dunbar, 369-370. 
 
 Cox, captain, killed in action, 401. 
 
 Crabstone, 158. 
 
 battle between Gordons and 
 
 Forbeses at, 168 ; defeat of cove- 
 nanters at, 287. 
 
 Craft-ni-balgan, 290 and w, 456. 
 
 Craggag, 253. 
 
 Craigadi, 55. 
 
 Craigchonachan, battle of, 149. 
 Craig Ellachy, 328. 
 Craiges, house of, 229. 
 Cramond, 34. 
 
 Cranston, lord, 381, 491 ; taken 
 prisoner at Dunbar, 370 ; recruits 
 for the Polish, service, 417 ; kills 
 Ja. Scrinigeor and an Italian, 443. 
 
 captain, 337. 
 
 Crawford, David, earl of, 90. 
 
 loth earl, of 169. 
 
 nth earl of, 172, 211, 301. 
 
 John, earl of, 420, 438, 478, 
 
 500. 
 
 Ludovic, i6th earl of, 301, 374, 
 
 391, 392. 
 
 governor of Stirling, 375. 
 
 Creach-Lairn, 209. 
 Creich, 100, 
 
 Crichton, captain, 296 n. 
 
 John, 129. 
 
 Samuel, 427. 
 
 Crisp, captain, killed in action, 401. 
 Cristy, Caspar, barron of Foynes, 60. 
 Crochell, 128. 
 Cromar, 487. 
 Cromerty, lady, 249. 
 castle, 317. 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver, 308, 364 ; marches 
 into Scotland, 366 ; defeats the Scots 
 at Dunbar, 369-370 ; in possession of 
 Edinburgh castle, 372, 374 r takes 
 Perth, 384 ; marches after the Scots 
 army into England, 384 ; at Kenton, 
 385 ; defeats the royalists at Wor- 
 cester, 386-388 ; his reception in 
 London, 392 ; dissolves parliament, 
 399 ; his speech to the 1653 parlia- 
 ment, 400 ; made lord protector, 
 401 ; discovery of a conspiracy 
 
INDEX 
 
 531 
 
 against, 403; entertained by the 
 lord mayor, 405 ; meets with an 
 
 , accident in Hyde Park, 409 ; death 
 of his mother, 410; proclaimed by 
 Monk in Edinburgh, 411^ his 
 tyranny, 412 ; his death, 417-419. 
 
 Cromy, 476. 
 
 Cross Beo fountain runs blood, 291 
 , and n. 
 
 Crowe, Jo., bishop of Durham, 524. 
 Croy, church of, 187. 
 Cuissalich, 210. 
 Culbin, 490. 
 
 laird of. See Kinnaird. 
 
 Culboky fort, 315. 
 Culcabock barnyards burnt, 453. 
 Culcovie. See Kilcoy, 484. 
 Culenus, king of Scotland, 33. 
 Culgarany, 128. 
 Cullen, 461. 
 
 Culloden, find of gold at, 477. 
 Cullyburn, 34. 
 Culpepper, lord, 336. 
 Culternach, 103. 
 
 Cults,. Alexander, of Wauchtoune, 
 109. 
 
 Laurence, 109. 
 
 Cumberland to remain a Scottish pos- 
 session, 47. 
 
 Cumbernald, 75. 
 
 Cuming of Alter, 454. 
 
 . Pavid, of Earnsid, 106. 
 
 George, professor of humanity at 
 
 Elgin, 395. 
 
 minister at Urray, 472. 
 
 James, in Inverness, 118. 
 
 John. See Buchan, earl of. 
 
 ; Peter. See Athol, ear] of. 
 
 William, delivers the queen of 
 
 Robert i. to the English, 71. 
 
 prior of Beauly, xli, 81, 84. 
 
 chaplain, 453. 
 
 notar publik, 155. 
 
 Cumings, 43, 58, 59, 75, no, 246. 
 
 Cuningham, sir Charles, taken 
 prisoner at Worcester, 387. 
 
 Robert, of Kirkstile, 196. 
 
 chancelour, 512. 
 
 Curadan, abbot of Rosemarkie, xvi. 
 
 Cuthbert, Alexander, provost of Inver- 
 ness, 453. 
 
 David, priest, 186. 
 
 Janet, 117. 
 
 John, 337. 
 
 Cuthberts, 277, 454, 
 
 Dalavil, sir Ralph, 392, 457, 459, : 
 
 460, 466. 
 Dalcattaig woods, 245. 
 
 Dalcross, 122, 147, 156, 179, 184, 
 . 245. 268, 276, 277, 314, 424, 452, 
 
 489. 
 Dallrevich, 126. 
 .Dalnabo, 334. 
 Dalree, 69. 
 Daltulich, 119. 
 
 Dalyell, lieut. -general, 406, 463. 
 Dane, general Richard, killed in action 
 
 at sea, 400. 
 Danes overrun Angus, 33 ; and raid 
 
 Murray, 36, 37. 
 Dason, John, brewer, 440. 
 David I. builds the abbeys of PJolyrood, 
 
 Kelso, etc., 44 ; his death, 46. 
 David II., 78, 81. 
 Davidson, Andrew, 154. 
 Dawson, George, xli, prior of Beuly, 
 
 124. 
 Deames, 128. 
 
 Dean, major-general, 386, 394, 398- 
 399- 
 
 Declaration of the kirk anent Charles 
 
 II., 369. 
 Dempster, Isabell, 440. 
 
 John, of Muros, 55. 
 
 Denune, Alexander, 115. . 
 
 Janet, 117. 
 
 John, of Pittogarty, 117. 
 
 115. 
 
 Denuns, in. 
 
 Deoch-an-Doruis, 124 and 366. 
 
 Deposed ministers, 274. 
 
 Derby, earl of, defeated by Lilburn, 
 385-386.; taken prisoner at Wor- 
 cester, 387 ; his execution, 393. 
 
 Dick,. David, minister in Edinburgh, 
 263. 
 
 Dickson, David, moderater, 274, 392. 
 Didop, lord, 438. 
 Die, battle of, in Galloway, 72. 
 Dingwall, 67. 
 
 castle, 55, 70, 83. 
 
 Agnes, 217. 
 
 Anna, 116, 440. 
 
 Euphem, wife of Hugh Eraser, 
 
 77. 
 
 Dingwalls, in ; at the, battle of Beal- 
 
 lach in Broig, 83. 
 Dippo, Brian, bishop of Sarum, 426. 
 Ditton, lieut. -colonel John, drowned in 
 
 the Findhorn, 415. 
 Dochinbunach, 63. 
 Dochnicrage, 470. 
 
 Dollas, Hugh, writer in Chanory, -512. 
 Dolor nipkriticuSf 23. 
 Donald of the Isles, 55, 72. 
 
 captain of Forres Castle, 33. 
 
 Glasshach, xxxi, 284. 
 
532 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Donald McKallister, 268-270. 
 
 Mckhutchenroy, in Little Struy, 
 
 Mckonilvick Robby, 199. 
 
 Mackwilliam chui, murder of, 
 
 xxxi, 516-521. 
 Mckwilliam vickean, murdered 
 
 for the slaughter of Alex. Urqhart, 
 
 256. 
 
 Dom ldstoun, 112, 268, 274. 
 Donelan, president of the high court 
 
 of justice in Ireland, 403. 
 Donibrisle (Dunabissle), 213, 214, 
 
 452. 
 
 Dornach, siege of, 158, 159. 
 
 Dorris, 186, 279. 
 
 Douay, Scots college at, xiii. 
 
 Douglas, the marques of, 301, 302. 
 
 Alexander, bishop of Moray, 186. 
 
 Archibald, 4th earl of, 91. 
 
 James, of Spot, 216. 
 
 sir James, takes Roxburgh castle, 
 
 72 ; defeats the English on the 
 Borders, 73 ; leads an army into 
 England, 75 ; carries Bruce's heart 
 to Jerusalem, 76; his death, 76. 
 
 James, of Tothorald, kills the 
 
 earl of Arran, 220. 
 
 Robert, moderator, 292, 318, 
 
 342 ; sent to the army in England, 
 293- 
 
 preaches at the coronation of 
 
 Charles il., 374. 
 
 sir William, 79, 370. 
 
 Douglasses, origin of the, 71. 
 Dounchea, 311. 
 
 Douny castle, 43, 59 and ;z, 68. See 
 
 also Beaufort. 
 Dow, Andrew, 178. 
 
 sir William, 144. 
 
 Dowart, 204, 205. 
 
 Down, James, lord of, 195. 
 
 Downy or Bouerman, Agnes, 1 16. 
 
 Drakies, 457. 
 
 Drumbuy, 60. 
 
 Drumchardny, xxii, 253, 272. 
 Drumchri, 272, 278. 
 Drum-dear, 83. 
 Drumderfat, 83. 
 Drumglach, 135. 
 
 Drumincub, battle of, in Strathnaver, 
 102. 
 
 Druminor, 167,219, 228. 
 Drummorid, lord, 301, 374. 
 
 Anabil, queen of Robert III., 90. 
 
 George, of Ballach, 351, 
 
 lady Jean, wife of John, earl of 
 
 Sutherland, 260. 
 sir John, of Stobhall, 90. 
 
 Drummond, colonel Lodwick, 406. 
 
 of Hathornden, 107. 
 
 captain, at the battle of Aldern, 
 
 295 ; shot by order of a court-martial, 
 
 296. 
 
 major-general, 407, 463. 
 
 Drummoy, 1 14. 
 
 Duff, James, priest, 186, 187 and n. 
 
 Margret, burnt for witchcraft, 
 
 446. 
 
 William, priest, 186. 
 
 Duffs descended from the thane of 
 
 Fife, 14. 
 Duffus, king of Scotland, 33. 
 lord, 384. 
 
 Dulcattack, in Glenmoriston, 297. 
 Dulcromby, 311. 
 Dumbarton castle, 383, 397. 
 Dumfries (Drumfreece), 69, 72. 
 Dun, William, schoolmaster, 317. 
 Dunballach, xv, 60, 63, 166, 197, 199, 
 275. 
 
 Dunbar, battle of, xxiv, 369 ; castle of, 
 72. 
 
 Alex. See Murray, earl of. 
 
 sheriff of Murray, 165, 20 r, 
 
 202, 214, 241. 
 
 a nottar, 309 and n. 
 
 executed at Inverness,' 402. 
 
 Columba, bishop of Murray, 105, 
 
 128. 
 
 David, minister at Nairn, 261, 
 
 262. 
 
 George, of Avach, 117. 
 
 . 91, 234. 
 
 J., daughter of Culcovie, 484. 
 
 James, 430. 
 
 Janet, daughter of Thomas, earl 
 
 of Murray, and wife of Hugh Fraser, 
 
 7th of Lovat, 105. 
 
 daughter of Avach, 117. 
 
 Jean, wife of John Forbes of 
 
 Culloden, 513. 
 
 John, of Moyness, 229. 
 
 in Elgin, 493. 
 
 Patrick. See March, earl of. 
 
 of Gantry, 78. 
 
 dean of Ross, 344. 
 
 prior of Pluskarden, 94, 99. 
 
 minister of Durris, death of„ 
 
 424. 
 
 54. 
 
 Dunbars, 313. 
 Dunbath, 209. 
 
 castle of, 351. 
 
 oflnvering, 1 13. 
 
 Duncan i., 34. 
 
 Duncan 11., 40. 
 
 Duncinty of Koestoun, 313. 
 
INDEX 
 
 533 
 
 Dundas surrenders Edinburgh castle to 
 
 the English, 372. 
 Dundee, 67 ; the earl of Huntingdon 
 
 arrives at, 50 ; honours Montrose 
 
 while a prisoner, 355 ; plundered 
 
 by Monk, 392. 
 Dundrennan abbey, 44, 
 Dunean, 185. 
 
 Dunfermline, 222 ; abbey, 37, 40, 41, 
 44, 48. 
 
 Gilbert, abbot of, 65. 
 
 earl of, 366. 
 
 Dunkellden, 291, 300. 
 Dunn castle, 169. 
 
 Dunotter, 77 ; surrender of the castle, 
 
 399 and n. 
 Dunrobin (Doun Robin), 261, 264, 
 
 284, 471, 481. 
 Duns, 285. 
 Duns Scotus, 9. 
 Dunturkett, 124. 
 Duplin, battle of, 79. 
 Dureness, 483. 
 Durham, battle of, 79. 
 Patrick, dean of Ross, deposed, 
 
 344. • 
 
 Dutch ambassadors in London, 523. 
 
 Earles, John, bishop of Worcester, 
 
 391. 
 
 Edderton, 114. 
 
 Edgar, king of Scotland, 41, 42. 
 
 Edinburgh, meeting of the general 
 assembly in, 273; general assembly 
 of 1645, 292 ; release of royalist 
 prisoners in, 301 ; the plague in the 
 town, 302 ; meeting of the general 
 assembly of 1646, 318; delivery of 
 • prisoners to Montrose, 331 ; general 
 assembly of 1649, 341-344 ; Mon- 
 trose enters Edinburgh a prisoner, 
 356 ; the castle surrenders to the 
 English, 372 ; the solemn league 
 and covenant burnt at the cross, 432 ; 
 general assembly of 1653 dismissed 
 by colonel Cotterel, 402. 
 
 Edinkilly, 97. 
 
 Edirachilis, 126. 
 
 Edmound Ironsid,. 33. 
 
 Education in the Highlands, xli. 
 
 Edward I. invades Scotland, 66, 67 ; 
 his death, 71. 
 
 Edward 11., 71 ; defeated at Bannock- 
 burn, 72 ; his death, 74. 
 'Edward, ill., 73. 
 
 Edward, prince, son of the queen of 
 Bohemia, insults the English am- 
 bassadors, 377. 
 
 • Ailmer, 69. 
 
 Eglinton, earl of, 374, 438. 
 
 Eikon Basilike^ 333. 
 
 Eileag na Baintearn, no and n. 
 
 Eilean Aigas, 62 n. 
 
 Elcho, lord, 286. 
 
 Elgin, 67. 
 
 castle, 43. 
 
 cathedral, destruction of, 89. 
 
 Elisabeth, princess, death of, 370. 
 Ellan-Loch-Gorm, in Isla, 205. 
 Ellanwirrich, 129, 184. 
 Elphinston, lord, 235, 439. 
 Elsmore, captain, 407. 
 Emergerda, queen of William the Lion, 
 48. 
 
 Engagers, repentance of, 342. 
 Englishtoun, 185, 489. 
 Eoagel, 487. 
 
 Episcopacy, re-establishment of, 444. 
 Erchiles, 62, 96, 407, 501. 
 Erskine, lord, 374. 
 — ' — John. See Mar, earl of. 
 
 • governor of Stirling castle, 
 
 170. 
 
 gunner in Edinburgh castle, 
 
 373- . 
 
 Ess fishings, 82 and w. - 
 Evelix (Evich), 406. 
 
 Fairfax, general, 364, 366, 
 F^airly, 184. 
 
 Fairs, xv, 131, 132, 275, 471. 
 Falconar, Colin, bishop of Murray, 
 271. 
 
 William, 293. 
 
 Falkland (Falcland) castle, 91. 
 
 Family names, origin of, 9. 
 
 Famine of 1602, 236, 239. 
 
 •Fanellan, 234. 
 
 Fanshaw, Richard, 387. 
 
 FarefuU, James, archbishop of Glasgow, 
 
 444, 445- 
 Farly, in Ross, 316. 
 Earn way, 146,248, 311, 3I4» 4^9, 5 1 3- 
 
 parsonage, 185 and «, 186. 
 
 Farqhar oge, in Dunballach, 270. 
 Farralin, in Stratharick, 97, 279. 
 Farrar or Forn, 62 and n. 
 Fearn, xli, 81, 103. 
 
 abbot of, 94. 
 
 Feddes, 77. 
 
 Fell, Dr., 350. 
 
 Fender, Thomas, 403. 
 
 Fenton, lordship of, 97. 
 
 — r- Margaret, wife of Hugh, 6th lord 
 
 Lovat, 96, 106. 
 
 Thomas de, 59. 
 
 William de, 59, 64, 94, 95, 99. 
 
 Fenwick, colonel, 374, 376, 394. 
 
534 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Ferdinand iii., 332. 
 Ferguson, Agnes, 245. 
 
 Robert, in Aberdeen, 428. 
 
 Fernua, xv, xvi. 
 Ferrindonil, 83. 
 
 Ferrintosh sold to Fraser of Lovat, 
 244 ; bought by John Forbes of 
 Cuiloden, 512. 
 
 Ferry Unes, xHii, 406. 
 
 Fettercarn, 487. 
 
 Fetteresso, 77. 
 
 Fife, Duncan, earl of, 65, 73. 
 
 Murdo, earl of, gi. 
 
 Fingask (Finask), 60 and 61, 63, 
 236, 248, 274. 
 
 Finlater, James, earl of, 461. 
 
 Finlay Dow causes a riot at Inverness, 
 479-480. 
 
 Fire in London in 1655, 411. 
 
 Fisher, captain, of the Orion, 490. 
 
 Fitch, colonel Thomas, governor of In- 
 verness, xxvi, xxix, 397, 415, 428. 
 
 Flava, Anna, wife of Simon, lord Fraser, 
 46, 5i» 52. 
 
 Fleetwood, general, 386. 
 
 Fleming, lord, 301. 
 
 sir Oliver, conducts Argyle to the 
 
 Tower, 432. 
 
 Robert, obtains the lands of Cum- 
 bernauld, 75. 
 
 sir William, 366. 
 
 captain, 486. 
 
 Fletcher (Flesher), David, bishop of 
 
 Argyle, 446. 
 ( Flesher), sir John, king's advocate 
 
 in the trial of the marques of Argyle, 
 
 433. 
 
 Floods in 1637, 272. 
 Florence, duke of, his agent in Eng- 
 land, 382. 
 Fochiness, 63. 
 
 Forbes, Alexander, of Strathgarneck, 
 168. 
 
 sir Arthur, 407. 
 
 Arthur, of Blacktown, 500. 
 
 slain at the battle of Tulli 
 
 Anguis, 167. 
 Barbara, countess of Seaforth, 
 
 395,471. , . ^ 
 Duncan, merchant m Inverness, 
 
 251, 254, 430. 
 provost of Inverness, 277, 
 
 354. 
 
 of Cuiloden, 512. 
 
 Hary, minister at Aldern, 464. 
 
 Isabell, wife of Fraser of Philorth 
 
 and of Fraser of Strachin, 187, 190, 
 
 191. 
 
 John, lord, 228, 235, 439. 
 
 Forbes, John, bishop of Caithness, 445, 
 471. 
 
 master of, 166-169. 
 
 of Corsindee, 187. 
 
 of Cuiloden, 425, 439, 454, 
 
 477 ; buys Ferrintosh, 512. 
 
 Patrick, bishop of Caithness, 481. 
 
 Peter, 457, 466. 
 
 William, of Kinaldy, 128. 
 
 lieutenant, 337. 
 
 Dr. William, 454. 
 
 Forbesses, 83, 98, 108, 158, 166-168, 
 
 226, 272, 454 ; origin of, 69. 
 Foreman, Andrew, bishop of Murray, 
 
 123. 
 
 Forfar castle, 67. 
 
 Thomas, chamberlain of Angus, 
 
 65. 
 
 Forfeitures, rescinding of, 450. 
 Forlin, 77. 
 
 Forres, 67 ; Danish obelisk at, 37 and n. 
 
 Forrester, lord, 407. 
 
 sir Andrew, 428, 459, 478, 486. 
 
 J., daughter of John F. of Cul- 
 
 linald, 119. 
 
 John, of Cullinald, 119. 
 
 Forret, James, of Fingask, 239. 
 
 Fotherstonhaugh, sir Timothy, executed 
 at Chester, 393. 
 
 Foulerton, Thomas, 354. 
 
 Foules, 218, 261. 
 
 Fowles, sir James, 392. 
 
 of CoUintoun, 455. 
 
 Fox, George, quaker, 375. 
 
 hanged for conspiring against 
 
 Cromwell, 403. 
 
 Fransesco, signor, Venetian ambas- 
 sador, 401. 
 
 Fraser, lord, of Kinnell and Oliver- 
 castle, 2. 
 
 Abraham, son of James F. of 
 
 Phopachy, 117, 118. 
 Agnes, daughter of Hugh, 8th of 
 
 Lovat, 107, III. 
 daughter of Hugh, loth of 
 
 Lovat, 129, 130. 
 daughter of Hugh, 12th of 
 
 Lovat, and wife of Hector Monro, of 
 
 Fowles, 157, 176. 
 daughter of James Fraser in 
 
 Tain, 117. 
 wife of John Ross of Arly, 
 
 117. 
 154. 
 
 Alanus, of Knock, son of Alex- 
 ander F. , 4th of Twadal, 56. 
 
 — — Alexander, 4th of Twadal, 56. 
 
 son of Alexander F. , 4th of 
 
 Twadal, 56. 
 
INDEX 
 
 535 
 
 Fraser, Alexander, son of lord Bernard, 
 52. 
 
 : — son of Simon, 2nd of Lovat, 
 
 63-65, 76. 
 
 brother of Simon, 3rd of 
 
 Lovat, 79. 
 
 son of Simon, 3rd of Lovat, 
 
 . 78. : . 
 
 . 5th of Lovat, 81, 84, 89, 94, 
 
 .. 96. 
 
 son of Hugh, 6th of Lovat, 
 
 96. 
 
 — ^ son of Hugh, 8th of Lovat, 
 
 107. 
 
 nth of Lovat, 129, 140, 143, 
 
 i45» i53> 159- 
 
 son of Hugh, 1 2th of Lovat, 
 
 156. 
 
 r-^ illegitimate son of Hugh, 
 
 I2th of Lovat, 176. 
 ■:— son of Simon, 13th of Lovat, 
 
 241. 
 
 son of Hugh, 14th of Lovat, 
 
 242, 282, 306, 308, 322, 324, 348, 
 
 378, 395' 421, 423, 442, 452, 457, 
 
 467, 469, 496, 497. 
 
 of Coy, 77. 
 
 son of Alex. F. of Coy, 78. 
 
 sir Alexander, of Dorris, physician 
 
 . to Charles li., 32 and ?i, 249, 341, 
 
 412, 427 and n, 452, 457, 459, 467, 
 
 489, 514. 
 — — Alexander, of Farlin, 184. 
 of Foynes, xxxii, 77, 118, 
 
 274, 275, 288, 289, 322, 326-328, 
 
 332. 
 
 of Golspy, 132. 
 
 of Inverkething, 37, 46, 51. 
 
 of Moniak, 116, 416. 
 
 of Philorth, 283, 500. 
 
 bishop of Amiens, 32. 
 
 tutor of Lovat, 394, 395, 
 
 416, 439, 452, 454, 457, 461, 465. 
 
 467, 468, 472, 496, 497. 
 -. son of John F. of Fruidt, 
 
 116, 117. 
 
 : son of William, 3rd of Mon- 
 
 lochy, 119. 
 
 of Phopachy, xviii, xix. 
 
 son of Phopachy, vii, 378. 
 
 ■ son of Fraser of Twadall, 79. 
 
 of Torbreck, xix. 
 
 : minister at Daviot, 514. 
 
 minister at Petty, 514. 
 
 in Craigroy, 97. 
 
 — ' in Dalcross, 184. 
 
 ■ merchant in Dundee, 94. 
 
 major, mortally wounded at 
 
 Dunbar, 370. 
 
 Fraser, Alexander, called M'knargi- 
 
 diches, 116. 
 
 Mackandrew, 120. 
 
 Mackjames, servant of Lovat,, 
 
 322. 
 
 Mackean vie Thomas, shot 
 
 while fishing at Beuly, 166. 
 M'ktaus, 171 and 175, 
 
 184. 
 
 MackwilUam, 513. 
 
 schoolmaster at Inverness, 
 
 drowned in rescuing a scholar, 442. 
 ■ schoolmaster at Wardlaw, 
 
 his epitaph on the tutor of Lovat, 
 
 497. 
 
 servant, 116-118, 218, 496. 
 
 Alison, wife of William P'raser of 
 
 Phopachy, vii, 117, 118. 
 
 Allan, servant, 502. 
 
 Almond, son of John F. of Fruidt, 
 
 minister at Koskeen, 116, 289 and n. 
 Andrew, son of Simon, 3rd of 
 
 Lovat, 63-64, 78. 
 son of Thomas, 9th of Lovat, 
 
 123. 
 
 ofBannanie, 116. 
 
 of Fruidt, 46, 51. 
 
 of Kirkhill, 138. 
 
 of Leyes, 378. 
 
 son of Alexander F., of 
 
 Inverkeithing, 51. 
 
 of Monlochy, 118. 
 
 of Mucholl, 258, 283, 285, 
 
 424, 500. 
 
 son of William F. of Mon- 
 lochy, 118, 119. 
 
 chamberlain of Ferrintosh, 
 
 446. 
 
 ^ minister at Kilmoor Wester, 
 
 289. 
 
 provost of Inverness, 117. 
 
 in Fern, 119. 
 
 in Leyes, 297, 
 
 116, 380. 
 
 Anna, daughter of Simon, 2nd 
 
 of Lovat, 63, 65. 
 daughter of Alexander, nth 
 
 of Lovat, 141. 
 daughter of Hugh, 14th of 
 
 Lovat, and wife of the earl of Suther- 
 land, 242, 260, 424. 
 • daughter of Simon, 13th of 
 
 Lovat, 225, 234, 236, 237. 
 daughter of Hugh, 15th of 
 
 Lovat, 423, 455, 515. 
 daughter of James F. of 
 
 Phopachy, 117, 118. 
 daughter of Alexander F. of 
 
 Torbreck, xix. 
 
536 
 
 POLICHROxNICON 
 
 Fraser, Anna, daughter of Donald F. 
 
 in the Leys, ii6. 
 wife of John Innes in 
 
 Chanory, 119. 
 daughter of Robert F., 
 
 chamberlain of Fern, 119. 
 
 wife of John Sinclair, 118. 
 
 — — daughter of James F. in 
 
 Dunballach, 116. 
 
 wife of Macdonald of Spring- 
 
 - field, xix. 
 
 Antonio, 32. 
 
 hon. Archibald, of Lovat, xx 
 
 Bernard, 3rd of Twadal, 50-52. 
 
 Daniel, lieutenant, 378. 
 
 Donald, son of William F. of 
 
 Monlochy, 119. 
 
 theasurer of Ross, 116. 
 
 in the Leyes, 116. 
 
 minister of Kilmorack, 29 «, 
 
 183 
 
 minister at Urquhart, 514. 
 
 minister of Wardlaw, 178, 
 
 183 199, 20D, 219. 
 
 M'kallister, 231. 
 
 Duncan, son of John F. of Fruidt, 
 
 116, 118. 
 
 son of William F. of Mon- 
 lochy, 119. 
 
 r Elizabeth, daughter of Simon, 
 
 13th of Lovat, 202, 219, 236. 
 
 daughter of Struy, 117, 217, 
 
 234- 
 
 wife of Mr. Sheuzan in 
 
 London, 428. 
 
 daughter of Dunballach, 1 16. 
 
 — — Elison, daughter of Hugh, 7th of 
 
 Lovat, 106. 
 daughter of James F. in 
 
 Tain, and wife of William Fraser of 
 
 Phopachy, 117- 118. 
 Elspit, wife of James Mackullach, 
 
 117- 
 
 Fanella, daughter of lord Bernard, 
 
 52, 56. 
 
 daughter of Alex. F. of 
 
 Coy, 78. 
 
 Farqhar, dean of the Isles, 514. 
 
 ^ chamberlain to Lovat, 440. 
 
 Finlay, provost of Inverness, 122. 
 
 in Inverness, 448. 
 
 — — Flora, wife of Graham of that ilkj 
 51. 
 
 — — Francis, courtier of Malcolm ill., 
 
 37, 38, 44, 46. 
 son of Simon, lord Twadall, 
 
 51, 56. 
 
 — — George, master of the household 
 at Lovat, 255. 
 
 Fraser, George, governor to Seaforth, 
 515. 
 
 -. Hector, servant of Lovat, 322. 
 
 Helen, 1 16. 
 
 daughter of lord Bernard, 152. 
 
 Helena, daughter of John F., lord 
 
 Twaddall, 80. 
 
 Hugh, son of Simon, 2nd of 
 
 , Lovat, 65, 76, 77. 
 
 son of Simon, 3rd of Lovat, 
 
 78. 
 
 • 4th of Lovat, 81-83, 93' 
 
 •: son of Hugh, 4th of Lovat, 
 
 81, 82, 89. 
 6th of Lovat, 96, 98, 104, 
 
 105. 
 
 7th of Lovat, 96, 105. 
 
 8th of Lovat, 106-108, 121. 
 
 son of Hugh, 8th of Lovat, 
 
 killed at Floudon, 107, 121. 
 
 illegitimate son of Hugh, 
 
 8th of Lovat, 123, 124. 
 
 loth of Lovat, 122, 128, 129; 
 
 attacked by Mackranalds at Lochy, 
 134-136; his death, 137; his char- 
 acter, 140. 
 
 son of Hugh, loth of Lovat, 
 
 129, 140. 
 
 I2th of Lovat, 141, 148, 149, 
 
 155, 156, 159, 161 ; purchases Beuly, 
 162, 166; anecdotes of, 162-165; 
 Inverness castle garrisoned by, 170; 
 his loyalty, 172-173; death, 174- 
 175- 
 
 14th of Lovat, 202, 236, 237, 
 
 242, 247, 249, 252, 255, 256, 259, 
 260, 266, 267 ; urged to take the 
 covenant, 273 ; progress to Suther- 
 land, 284-285, 288; expostulates 
 with Fraser of Brea on his covenant- 
 ing sympathies, 304 ; his sore suffer- 
 ings, 305 ; his reflections upon the 
 
 . times, 306 ; his prophetic discourses, 
 308 ; death and character, 309-311. 
 
 son of Hugh, 14th of Lovat, 
 
 242, 274-277, 282, 306, 308, 322. 
 
 15th of Lovat, 324, 326, 
 
 348, 421, 422, 439, 440, 444, 447, 
 448, 452-460, 465-474, 480-484, 489, 
 490, 495, 498, 500-509. 
 
 i6th of Lovat, 466, 495, 498, 
 
 515. 
 
 of Belladrom, 177, 253, 266, 
 
 279, 283, 311, 314, 323, 325, 332, 
 
 416, 454, 466. 
 of Clunvacky, 297, 378 ; in 
 
 the Polish service, 417, 424, 491. 
 of Culboky, 177, 184, 202, 
 
 219, 235, 253, 416, 466. 
 
LNDEX 
 
 537 
 
 Fraser, Hugh, of Foyer, xxxvi, 219, 
 . 283, 381, 440, 454, 466, 472, 473, 
 484. 
 
 ,M*k William, of Foyer, 138. 
 
 of Gusachan, 153. 
 
 •r of Kinaries, colonel, 279, 
 
 288, 294, 297, 305, 323, 328, 336, 
 
 339 ; his death, 346-347. 
 470, 484. 
 
 : of Knocky, after of Strachin, 
 
 177, 178, 181. 
 
 — of Strachin, 470. 
 
 of Struy, 276, 279, 283, 325, 
 
 ' 373, 380, 381, 395, 414, 416, 440, 
 
 454, 466, 500-502. 
 
 of Tyrie, 283. 
 
 , illegitimate son of Hugh, 
 
 8th of Lovat, no. 
 : illegitimate son of Thomas, 
 
 9th of Lovat, 122. 
 son of William, 3rd of Mon- 
 
 lochy, 119. 
 sea captain, son of James F. 
 
 of Phopachy, xi, 1 18. 
 
 son of Rilick, 442. 
 
 son of James F. in Tamach, 
 
 116. 
 
 minister at Kiltarlity, 514. 
 
 '■ ^ — in Eskidell, 514. 
 
 governor of . the bishop's 
 
 . castle at Chandry, 334, 337. 
 
 117, 154. 
 
 M'kallister, 192. 
 
 Isabell, daughter of Simon, lord 
 
 Fraser of Lovat, 63. 
 .'daughter of Hugh, 4th of 
 
 Lovat, 82. 
 — — daughter of Hugh, 7th of 
 
 Lovat, 106. 
 
 daughter of Thomas, 9th of 
 
 ' Lovat, 122. 
 
 daughter of Hugh, loth of 
 
 Lov^t, 129. 
 daughter of Hugh, 14th of 
 
 Lovat, 242. 
 daughter of Hugh, 15th of 
 
 Lovat, 455, 515. 
 daughter of Alex. F. of Coy, 
 
 78. 
 
 daughter of William F. of 
 
 Monlochy, 1 19. 
 
 - — daughter of James F. of 
 
 Phopachy, 118. 
 
 — T 116, 117, 442. 
 
 or Forbes, 440. 
 
 — — Jacomo, of Lengovil, in Nor- 
 mandy, 32. 
 
 — James, prior of Melros, son of 
 
 Alexander F. , 4th of Twad^l, 56. 
 
 Fraser, James, son of Hugh, 4th of 
 
 Lovat, 81, 89. 
 : son of Hugh, 6th of Lovat, 
 
 96, 97. 
 
 — of Ardachie, son of Alex- 
 ander, nth of Lovat, 141. 
 
 sir James, of Brey, xxii, xxxv, 
 
 225, 241, 244, 260, 261, 274, 275, 
 279, 280, 283, 288 71, 294, 297, 304, 
 306, 316, 322, 324-326, 332, 334, 
 345» 347-348, 381, 496, 514. 
 
 James, of Brey, minister of Cul- 
 
 ross, 464 and n. 
 
 son of Hugh, 14th of Lovat, 
 
 . 306, 308, 349, 379- 
 
 son of Alexander F. of Coy, 
 
 78. 
 
 — - yr. of Culboky, 283. 
 
 son of Foyer, a corporal in 
 
 the service of Poland, 417. 
 of Foyness, son of Thomas, 
 
 9th of Lovat, 122, 135. 
 
 of Fruid, 115. 
 
 son of John F. of Ftuidt, 
 
 116, 117. 
 
 barron of Knockmiller, 76. 
 
 barron of Peebles,. 46, 51. 
 
 of Phopachy, vii, 117, Il8, 
 
 218, 231-235, 245, 255, 264, 268. 
 
 r author of the Polichronicon 
 
 andministeratKirkhill, parentage, vii; 
 education and literary labours, viii-x, 
 349> 398 ; his ' Triennial Travels,' ix, 
 xiv,4i5 n\ his tour on the continent, 
 x-xiii, xviii, 298 n ; history of the 
 
 , Polichronicon, xviii ; catalogue of his 
 MSS., xliv ; a witness of the indig- 
 nities heaped upon Montrose, 353 ; 
 sees the rise and fall of the citadel of 
 Inverness, 447 ; chaplain to Lovat, 
 474 ; sees the earl of Traquair beg- 
 ging in the streets of Edinburgh, 
 476. 
 
 minister at Arbroath, 514. 
 
 minister at Brey, 515. 
 
 minister at Tiree, 514. 
 
 son of Alexander F. of 
 
 Inverkeithing, 46. 
 
 in Channory, 118. 
 
 ; in Dunballach, 116. 
 
 in Finask, 274. 
 
 — ^ in Tamach, 116. 
 
 son of lord Lovat, in the 
 
 service of Sweden, 417 ; his death, 
 
 424, 491. 
 
 apothecary in London, viu, 
 
 xix. 
 
 student and traveller, 430. 
 
 servant of Lovat, 322. ; 
 
538 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Fraser, James, 117, 119. 
 
 M'kandrew, 120. 
 
 • Janet or Jean, daughter of Simon, 
 
 2nd of Lovat, 65, 76. 
 daughter of Simon, 3rd of 
 
 Lovat, 78. 
 daughter of Hugh, 8th of 
 
 Lovat, 108. 
 — ; daughter of Thomas, 9th of 
 
 Lovat, 122, 123. 
 • • daughter of Simon, 13th of 
 
 Lovat, 225. 
 daughter of Hugh, 14th of 
 
 Lovat, 324. 
 daughter of Alexander F. 
 
 of Coy, 78. 
 
 lady Culcovey, 484. 
 
 daughter of James F. of 
 
 Fruidt and wife of Andrew Monro 
 
 ofMiltoun, 117, 120. 
 
 daughter of Moniak, 176. 
 
 daughter of William F. 
 
 of Monlochy, 119. 
 • wife of John Murray of 
 
 Vppet, 118. 
 
 wife of major Beatman, 489. 
 
 wife of Thomas Fraser, in 
 
 Inshbery, 118. 
 116, 117, 119, 120. 
 
 ■ ' Nindonilvickrobby, 466. 
 
 John, lord Twadall, 37, 44, 46, 
 
 5I> 56. 
 
 3rd of Twadall, 56. 
 
 son of Alexander, 4th of 
 
 Twadal, 56, 66, 77, 80. 
 son of Simon, 3rd of Lovat, 
 
 78. 
 
 son of Hugh, 8th of Lovat, 
 
 rector of Dingwall, 107, 124, 289. 
 
 of Clunvacky, 288. 
 
 502, 503. 
 
 son of Alexander F. of 
 
 Coy, 78. 
 
 of Dalcross, 141. 
 
 ofFarlin, 146. 
 
 son of John F. of Fruidt, 
 
 116. 
 
 bishop of Ross, 115, 116, 
 
 120, 124, 289, 380. 
 
 parson of Roskin, 120. 
 
 minister at Coll, 514. 
 
 — chamberlain to the earl of 
 
 Sutherland, 117. 
 
 in Belladrum, 153. 
 
 in Culmullen, 199. 
 
 in Inshrory, 116. 
 
 in Leyes, 116, 297. 
 
 sea captain, son of James 
 
 F. ofPhopachy, 118. 
 
 Fraseri John, mason and historian, 120. 
 
 117-119, 381, 468, 469, 473» 
 
 490, 502, 513. 
 
 Mackallister, 440. 
 
 Mackandrew, 120. 
 
 M 'James, servant of Lovat, 
 
 322. 
 
 • . M'khimmy, servant of 
 
 Lovat, 322. 
 
 M'ktaus, 184, 192, 218. 
 
 M'kvaister Shean, 238. 
 
 Julia, daughter of Simon, 3rd of 
 
 Lovat, 78. 
 Kathrin, daughter of Hugh, 14th 
 
 of Lovat, 242, 322. 
 daughter of Lovat, and wife 
 
 of Sinclair of Dunbeath, 349, 351, 
 
 395- 
 
 • wife of lord Arbuthnot, 
 
 424. 
 
 116,234. 
 
 Lachlin, minister at Inverlochy, 
 
 514. 
 
 Magdalen, 116. 
 
 Margaret, daughter of Simon, 2nd 
 
 of Lovat, 65, 76. 
 daughter of Hugh, 8th of 
 
 Lovat, 107. 
 daughter of Thomas, 9th of 
 
 Lovat, 122. 
 r- (or Mary) daughter of Simon, 
 
 13th of Lovat and wife of lord Arbut- 
 
 not, 225, 236, 243. 
 daughter of Hugh, 15th of 
 
 Lovat, 455, 515. 
 daughter of F. of Bella- 
 drum, 116. 
 daughter of James F. of 
 
 Phopachy, 118. 
 
 116, 117, 154. 
 
 Marjory, daughter of Hugh, loth 
 
 of Lovat, 129. 
 Mary, daughter of Simon, 2nd of 
 
 Lovat, 63, 65. 
 daughter of Hugh, 4th of 
 
 Lovat, 82. 
 daughter of Alexander, nth 
 
 of Lovat, 176. 
 daughter of Hugh, 12th of 
 
 Lovat, 157. 
 daughter of Hugh 14th of 
 
 Lovat, and wife of Ballnagown, 242, 
 
 256, 268, 271, 424. 
 daughter of Alexander F. of 
 
 Coy, 78. 
 
 daughter of Fraser of Kil- 
 
 boky, 118. 
 daughter of Donald F.^ 
 
 Leyes, 118. 
 
INDEX 
 
 539 
 
 Fraser, Mary, Ii6. 
 
 Michael, minister at Daviot, 117 
 
 and n, 
 deacon, 514. 
 
 — Patrick, 268. 
 
 Paul, son of John F. of 
 
 Fruidt, 116. 
 parson of Roskeen, 120; 
 
 elegy on, 121. 
 in the chaplenry of Alnes, 
 
 289. 
 
 Pedro, 32. 
 
 Peter, 46, 52. 
 
 Robert, of Brakye, son of Thomas, 
 
 9th of Lovat, 123. 
 son of John F. of Fruidt, 
 
 116, 119. 
 
 advocate, 117. 
 
 viii, xviii, xix, 154. 
 
 Mackandrew, 120. 
 
 Samuel, schoolmaster in Black 
 
 Friars, London, 427. 
 Sicilia, daughter of Hugh, 4th of 
 
 Lovat, 82. 
 • "- sir Simon, i, 21. 
 Simon, 2nd of Twedale, 46, 47, 
 
 51, 54. 
 
 1st of Lovat, son of John 
 
 F., 3rd of Twadall, 56, 58-64. 
 
 <- 2nd of Lovat, 63, 65, 66, 70, 
 
 71, 76, 78. 
 
 3rd of Lovat, 65, 78, 79, 81. 
 
 son of Hugh, loth of Lovat, 
 
 129. 
 
 son of Hugh, nth of Lovat, 
 
 killed at the battle of Lochy, 137, 
 140. 
 
 13th of Lovat, 157, 160, 176, 
 
 192, 193,200-217,218,221-224, 229, 
 231, 235, 238, 243, 244, 250-255. 
 
 '•^ of Inveralochy, son of Simon, 
 
 13th of Lovat, xxxviii, 225, 234, 236, 
 242, 244 and «, 246, 278, 280-283. 
 
 of Inveralochy, 467, 512, 
 
 514. 
 
 son of Hugh, 14th of Lovat, 
 
 257, 258, 260, 261, 263, 265-266, 
 
 - 274, 306, 322. 
 
 son of Phoppachy, xviii, 
 
 470. 
 
 in Finask, 515, 516. 
 
 Sophia, wife of the earl of March, 
 
 ' 51. 
 
 Thaddeo, governor of St. Denis, 
 
 32. 
 
 Thomas, son of Hugh, 7th of 
 
 Lovat, 106. 
 • 9th of Lovat, 107-109, III, 
 
 121, 125. 
 
 Fraser, Thomas, of Strichen, son of 
 Alexander, nth of Lovat, 141, 176. 
 
 son of Hugh, 1 2th of Lovat, 
 
 157. 
 
 son of Simon, I3lh of Lovat, 
 
 225, 236, 242. 
 son of Hugh, 14th of Lovat. 
 
 242, 283, 306, 308, 322, 348, 378. 
 of Beufort, 271, 448, 452, 
 
 457, 461, 465, 467, 480, 498, 503, 
 
 507,515- 
 
 of Bobleny, 256, 325, 332. 
 
 ofBruyach, 197. 
 
 of Eskidel, 416. 
 
 of Knocky, afterwards of 
 
 Strachin, 186, 187, 190, 191, 195, 
 
 201. See also Fraser, Thomas, of 
 
 Strachin. 
 
 of Moniak, 219. 
 
 ofPhilorth, 187, 188, 195. 
 
 son of James F. of Phopachy, 
 
 n8. 
 
 of Strachin, 175, 229, 235, 
 
 241, 249, 266, 278, 280, 281, 283, 
 284, 297, 495. 
 
 of Struy, 249, 266, 267, 
 
 294, 325, 332, 394, 395, 472, 507- 
 
 preacher, 39, 40. 
 
 minister at, S. Michells in 
 
 the west, 514. 
 
 minister at Siddy, 514. 
 
 — in Bunchrui, 153. 
 
 in Croftblair, 270. 
 
 in Donaldstoun, 274. 
 
 in Teanikill, 453. 
 
 major, killed at Dunbar, 
 
 381. 
 
 captain, 255, 416. 
 
 116, 117. 
 
 William, son of lord Bernard, 52. 
 
 son of Hugh, 4th of Lovat, 
 
 81, 89, 94. 
 teacher, son of Thomas, 9th 
 
 of Lovat, 122. 
 son of Hugh, 14th of Lovat, 
 
 242, 264, 306, 322. 
 
 of Belty, 489, 502. 
 
 of Bobleny, death of, 484. 
 
 of Couperhill, 519. 
 
 son of Alexander F. of Coy, 
 
 78. 
 
 of Culboky, 247, 266, 278, 
 
 279, 288, 311, 315, 323, 325, 485. 
 
 of Foyer, 177, 202. 
 
 of Gusachan, 131. 
 
 son of Alexander F. of 
 
 Inverkeithing, 46, 51. 
 
 of Monlochy, 11 7- 119. 
 
 son ofPhilorth, 154. 
 
540 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Fraser, William, of Phopachy, vii, 115, 
 117, 252, 264, 265, 281, 307, 324, 
 
 325, 333, 337, 347, 354, 424. 
 
 son of Phoppachy, 417 
 
 and n. 
 
 of Strachin,.2i8, 223, 394. 
 
 of Struy, 117, 129, 140, 146, 
 
 148, 149, 151, 154-156, 174, 175, 
 177, 178, 195, 202, 217-219, 234. 
 
 archbishop of St. Andrews, 
 
 380. 
 
 minister at Kiltarlity, 118, 
 
 120, 183 n, 257, 461. 
 
 minister at Slaines, 415. 
 
 provost of Tain, 117, 234. 
 
 in Beuly, 249. 
 
 in Daltulich, 119. 
 
 in Keith, 487, 488. 
 
 • in Kilmorak, 515. 
 
 — in Leyes, 297. 
 
 brother of Rilick, 378. 
 
 colonel, 314, 381, 387.. 
 
 ensign in lord Cranston's 
 
 regiment, in the service of the king 
 
 of Sweden, afterwards in Poland, 
 
 491. 
 
 —32, 116, 119, 154, 515- 
 
 Mackandrew, 120. 
 
 of Achnigarn, 472. 
 
 of Belladrum, 394, 502. 
 
 of Clunvacky, 325. 
 
 of Coy, 380. 
 
 of Culboky, 118, 394, 472, 476. 
 
 ■ of Foyer, no, 325, 394, 508, 
 
 of Muchell, 467, 514. 
 
 of Philorth, 258, 263, 460. 
 
 of Rilick, 325, 332, 472. 
 
 of S^lton, 457, 459, 460, 467. 
 
 of Strachin, 460, 467, 508, 512, 
 
 514- 
 
 Frasers of Brea-Murray, 97. 
 
 of Dorris, 77, 97. 
 
 of Philorth, 77, 97, 380. 
 
 of Rilick, 122. 
 
 - — arms, 2, 32, 37, 59, 78; their 
 origin in France and settlement in 
 Scotland, 24, 26, 31, 36; obtain 
 grant of land from Malcolm ill., 37; 
 in Scotland, 50 ; great slaughter of, 
 at Loch Lochy, 137-139; their 
 loyalty, 249, 458 ; at the battle of 
 
 / Aldern, 296; their country devas- 
 tated by Montrose, xxiii, 315 ; enlist 
 for service in Poland, 417; their 
 decay, 467 ; prophecies regarding 
 the clan, 468, 513. 
 
 Frendraught, lord, accompanies Mon- 
 trose to Scotland, 351 ; taken prisoner 
 at Carbisdale, 352. 
 
 Frewn, Dr. Accepted^ bishop of 
 
 Coventry, 426. 
 Fulvio of Guyse, duke, a descendant of 
 
 the Frasers, 32. 
 Funeral customs, xx^v, 175, 259, 348. 
 Fyde, Janet, 119. 
 Fyvie (Fivy), 291, 332. 
 
 Galliard, lieut. -colonel, 386. 
 Gamelin, archbishop of St. Andrews, 
 57- 
 
 Gamul, sir Francis, 386. 
 Garmach, in Speymouth, 365, 487, 
 493. 
 
 Garwarry water, 143. 
 
 Gaules, the descendants of Gomer son 
 
 of Japhet, 29. 
 Geddes, 313, 454. 
 
 Gee, Hery, minister at the citadel 
 
 of Inverness, 415. 
 Gelly, Janet, wife of Robert Fraser, 
 
 123. 
 
 General assembly meets in Glasgow, 
 273; in Edinburgh, 273, 292, 318, 
 341, 382, 402; at Aberdeen, 274; at 
 St. Andrews, 274. 
 
 Gerard, John, 403. 
 
 Thomas, 403. 
 
 386. 
 
 Gibbons, Mr., beheaded on Towerhill, 
 383. 
 
 Giffen, captain, 372, 373. 
 Gilbert, abbot of Dunfermline, 65. 
 Gilbride, servant of Bridget, 10 and n. 
 Gilcallum, servant of Columba, 10 
 and n. 
 
 Gilchrist, servant of Christ, 10 ^nd n. 
 Gilcoane, servant of Coan, 10 and v. 
 Gildonich, servant of our Lord, 10 
 and n. 
 
 Gileandris, servant of Andrew, 10 
 and n. 
 
 Gileaspig, servant of the bishop, 10 
 and n. 
 
 Gileinan, servant of Adamnan, lo and n. 
 Gilise, servant of Jesus, 10 and 11. 
 Gillchrist Mackilvarnich, 43, 59. 
 Gillealan, servant of FjUan, 10 and n. 
 Gillean, servant of John, 10 and n. 
 Gillichrist, thane of Anguis, 47, 48. 
 
 a Rosse, 61. 
 
 Gill rewach vickhimi, 96. 
 Gilmartin, servant of Martin, 10 
 and n. 
 
 Gilmichael, servant of Michael, 10 
 and n, 
 
 Gilmoir, servant of Mary, 10 and n. 
 Gilpadrick, servant of Patrick, 10 
 and n. 
 
INDEX 
 
 541 
 
 Gilpeuder, servant of Peter, lo and 
 n. 
 
 Girnego, 113, 209. 
 Glachkillchrist, in Ross, 43, 
 Gladstanes, G., bishop of St. Andrews, 
 224. 
 
 Glames, John Lyon, lord, 107. 
 
 master of, his plot against the 
 
 earl of Huntly, 210, 211. 
 
 castle, 34. 
 
 lord, 169, 170. 
 
 Glasgow, meeting of the general 
 assembly at, 273 ; furnishes Mon- 
 trose with money, 301. 
 
 university, 392. 
 
 Glasscham, in Foyness, 176. 
 
 Glasse, William, cooke, 440. 
 
 Glenbervy, 77. 
 
 house, siege of, 169. 
 
 Glenbymore Haboin, 487. 
 
 Glencairn, earl of, 401, 433 ; his 
 quarrel with sir George Munro, 406 ; 
 a prisoner in Edinburgh castle, 
 413. 
 
 Glenconventh, 63, 185, 236. 
 
 Glendinning, James, 251. 
 
 Glenelg, 60, 63, 68, 96, 97, 128, 130, 
 
 131, 143, 147, 179, 184, 244, 395, 
 
 407, 465. 
 Glengarrack, laird of, 488. 
 Glenlivet, 226. 
 Glenmoriston, 176, 256. 
 Glenmuick, 77, 215. 
 Glen Orrin, 328. 
 Glensheil, 487. 
 Glenshie, 77. 
 
 Glenstrathfarrar, 179, 184, 407, 416, 
 485. 
 
 Glentanner, 77, 487. 
 
 Glentreduall, 210. 
 
 Gloucester, duke of, 370, 410, 412. 
 
 earl of, 68. 
 
 Gockstoun, laird of, 354. 
 Goff, colonell, 386. 
 Goine, 248. 
 
 Gold found at Lovat, 268-270; and at 
 
 CuUoden, 477. 
 Gonfurd, barony of, 248. 
 Gordon, Adam. See Sutherland, 
 
 earl of. 
 
 of Achindown, defeats the 
 
 Forbesses at Tully Anguis and Crab- 
 stone, 167-168; takes Brechin, 169; 
 returns home spoil-laden, 170. 
 
 Alexander, son of Adam, earl of 
 
 Sutherland, 127. 
 
 son of John, earl of Suther- 
 land, 132. 
 
 of Abergeldy, 216. 
 
 Gordon, Alexander, of Achindown, 109, 
 121. 
 
 of Lusmore, 212. 
 
 Anna, sister of the earl of Huntly, 
 
 202 ; married to the earl of Murray, 
 
 230. 
 
 wife of John Fraser, 118. 
 
 George, lord, son of the marquis 
 
 of Huntly, 230; joins Montrose, 
 
 292 ; menaced by general Hurry, 
 
 293 ; at the battle of Aldern, 295 ; 
 killed at Alford, 299. 
 
 Gilbert, of Gorty, 132, 208. 
 
 James, son of Gordon of Lusmore, 
 
 212. 
 
 Janet, wife of Thomas Fraser, 9th 
 
 of Lovat, 109, 121, 122. 
 Jean, wife of Francis Bishop, in 
 
 Inverness, 408. 
 John, son of the earl of Huntly, 
 
 execution of, 149. 
 
 of Arlogy, 428. 
 
 of Backyes, 167, 203, 209, 
 
 210, 214. 
 
 younger of Gight, murders 
 
 Thomas Fraser of Philorth, 188 ; 
 his trial, 189. 
 
 sir John, 79. 
 
 of Haddo, 450. 
 
 John, brother of Cluny, 212, 213. 
 
 brother of Gordon of Gight, 
 
 213; mortally wounded at Doni- 
 bristle, and executed in Edinburgh, 
 214. 
 
 of King's college, Aberdeen, 
 
 350. 
 
 merchant tailor in London, 
 
 428. 
 
 of Golspy Tower, 209. 
 
 Kathrin, daughter of sir Robert 
 
 G. of Embo, 117. 
 
 lord Lewes, governor of Rothes 
 
 castle, ravages Murray, 313 ; his 
 treachery to Montrose, 315. 
 
 Margaret, daughter of the earl of 
 
 Huntly, 109, 167. 
 
 col. Nathaniel, 300, 304. 
 
 sir Patrick, of Achindoun, 195, 
 
 215, 226-229. 
 
 Peter, servant, 109. 
 
 Robert, son of the earl of Suther- 
 land, 493. 
 
 of Cluny, 359. 
 
 — — sir Robert, of Embo, 117. 
 
 of Gordonstoun, 313. 
 
 Robert, burgess of Inverness, 
 
 executed, 402. 
 
 167, 168. 
 
 sir Thomas, of Cluny, 212, 226. 
 
542 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Gordon of Breachlich, murder of, 215. 
 
 of Gight, 226, 228. 
 
 colonel, 370. 
 
 Gordons, no, 166-167, 261, 272, 295. 
 of Gight, 188. 
 
 Gosle, Mr., independent minister at 
 
 Inverness citadel, 415. 
 Gowart, 96. 
 Gower, major, 386. 
 Gowrie conspiracy, 235. 
 Graham (Grame), constable of the fort 
 
 of Lovat, 43. 
 
 Alexander, dean of Ross, 201. 
 
 David de, dominus de Loveth, 
 
 60, 62. 
 
 ^. George, bishop of Orkney, ab- 
 jures episcopacy, 273-274. 
 
 Harry, natural brother of Mon- 
 trose, 351. 
 
 Patrick de, dominus de Loveth, 
 
 and constable of the king's house at 
 Elgin, 60. 
 
 sir Patrick, of Inchbrakie, 286. 
 
 Patrick, minister at Holm, 274 ; 
 
 deposed, 344. 
 
 T Pet., of Morphy, removes the 
 
 head of Montrose from the Tolbooth, 
 and places there that of Argyle, 438. 
 
 Robert, 102. 
 
 Warram, of that ilk, 51. 
 
 Warren, in Merse, 46. 
 
 earl of, 255. 
 
 James, of Moynes, 247. 
 
 Janet, v^ife of William Fraser of 
 
 . Struy, 148. 
 
 John, of Glenmoriston, 455, 476, 
 
 500, 501, 506. 
 Kathrin, vi^ife of Hugh Fraser, loth 
 
 of Lovat, 128. 
 - — - Margaret, vi^ife of Fraser of Struy, 
 
 455. 
 
 — — Mary, wife of Fraser of Culboky, 
 . 247. 
 
 Morella, wife of Andrew Fraser, 
 
 ! 123. 
 
 Patrick, of Glenmoriston, 183, 
 
 202, 221. 
 
 T -r^- — tutor of Grant, 501. 
 
 Thomas, of Balmackaan, 484. 
 
 of Ballindalloch, 213. 
 
 of Grant, 134, 165, 201, 211, 212, 
 
 238, 247, 252, 448, 449, 
 Grants, no, 213, 225, 252, 322. 
 Graves or Groves, colonel, 365, 385, 
 
 387. ■ 
 
 T- — captain,' killed in action, 401. 
 Gravesend, 'the dearest hole in Eng- 
 land,' xiii, 429. . 
 Gray, lord, 169, 235, 439. 
 
 Gray, captain Andrew, 227. 
 
 Janet, wife of Thomas Eraser,. 9th 
 
 of Lovat, 123. 
 Jean, wife of colonel Hugh Fraser, 
 
 346. 
 
 colonel, 351 ; taken prisoner at 
 
 Carbisdale, 352. 
 Greenwall, sir John, 430. 
 Grimston, sir Harbotle, speaker of the 
 
 house of commons, 426. 
 Gruingart, battle of, 232-233. 
 Guild, Dr., principal of King's college, 
 
 Aberdeen, 350. 
 Gun, Cruner, chief of clan Gun, 113. 
 
 George oige, 203. 
 
 William M'kheamis, 114. 
 
 clan,, their conflict at the chapel 
 
 of St. Tyre, 113. 
 Gusachan, 184, 315. 
 Guthery, laird of, 262. 
 — — Andrew, son of the bishop of 
 
 Murray, 304. 
 
 Henry, deposed, 344. 
 
 James, minister, 352, 373. 
 
 John, bishop of Ross, 115 and n. 
 
 bishop of Murray, visitation 
 
 of, . 256 ; disposes of a deputation, 
 
 261. 
 
 Pat., of Inverness, 149. 
 
 clerk, 122. 
 
 Gypsies join Montrose, 330. 
 
 Hadington abbey, 49. 
 Haldane (Haddon), of Gleneggis, 243.. 
 Haleburton, Alan, baron.of CuUbirnies, 
 60. 
 
 — — George, bishop of Dunkeld, 446. 
 
 John, of Pitcurr, 129. 
 
 (Heleburton),. Walter, of Culbriny, 
 
 128. 
 
 Hallidonhill, 79. 
 Hallow faire at Beuly, 249., 
 Halyday, John, procurator, 193. 
 Hamilton, Christina, wife of sir George 
 Monro, 481. 
 
 — James, bishop of Galloway, 446, 
 Hamiltoun, James, duke of, 285, 332, 
 
 334, 338. 
 
 ■r- William, duke of, 375, 387. 
 
 duke of, 438. 
 
 — — captain, killed at the siege of 
 
 Edinburgh, 372. 
 
 r governor of Inverloc^iy, 449. 
 
 Hamiltons, their origin, 74. 
 
 Hammond, coUonel, 335. 
 
 Hane, Mr., engineer of Inverness fort, 
 
 399 and n. 
 Harald, earl of Orkney, 49. 
 Harlaw, battle, of, 92, 95. 
 
INDEX 
 
 543 
 
 Harlew., colonel, 430. 
 
 Harrison, major-general, 384, 
 
 Hartly, Godfrey, xii, xiii, 429. 
 
 Hay, Alexander, 80. 
 
 • Anna, wife of James Fraser, in 
 
 Tain, 117. 
 
 servant, 440. 
 
 sir Francis, of Dalgety, 351 ; taken 
 
 prisoner at Carbisdale, 352. 
 
 ^ sir George, of Netherliffe, 240. 
 
 col. James, of Naughtoun, 351 ; 
 
 taken prisoner at Carbisdale, 352, 
 
 James, notary public, 131. 
 
 brother of Arrol, 82. 
 
 Janet, wife of Alexander Fraser, 
 
 96. 
 
 " John, parson of Raffan, 262. 
 
 , 80. 
 
 William, earl of Arrol, 69, 79 ; 
 
 killed at Duplin, 80. 
 
 lord Twadal, 116. 
 
 sir William, of Dalgety, his execu- 
 tion, 366. 
 
 family, origin of the, 33. 
 
 Hayes of Twadall, 80. 
 
 Haynes, colonel, 386. 
 
 Heartfield, earl, 301. 
 
 Heath, sir Francis, 336. 
 
 Helmsdale, 209. 
 
 Henchman, Humphrey, bishop of Salis- 
 bury, 390. 
 
 Henderson, Alexander, minister in 
 Edinburgh, 'the oracle of the kirk,' 
 
 ' 333. 
 
 Edward, senator of the college of 
 
 justice, 155. 
 
 Elizabeth, 490. 
 
 George, minister in Edinburgh, 
 
 263. 
 
 Henry of Huntington, 9.- 
 Hepburn, Patrick, bishop of Murray, 
 149, 187. 
 
 Heren, van, Dutch ambassador, 523. 
 Herring, great takes of, xxxii, 465, 494, 
 498. 
 
 Heynd, James, minister at Kirkwall, 
 274. 
 
 Highlander's Nose, Inverlochy, 345. 
 Hill, captain Jo., 415, 421. 
 Hind, James, highwayman, executed, 
 393- 
 
 Hoborn, general, 373, 384. 
 
 Hobson, colonel Paul, governor of 
 
 Leith, 370. 
 Holland at war with England, 397-400 ; 
 
 treaty of peace, 465, 522. 
 
 Florentius, earl of, 45. 
 
 Holm, 253. 
 
 Holme abbey, Cumberland, 44. 
 
 Holmes, Richard, coachman, 466. 
 Holmoultran abbey, 44. 
 Holms, major, 409, 
 Holyrood house, 44. 
 Homeldon, battle of, 91. 
 Hoom castle taken by Fenwick, 376. 
 Hopton, lord, 336; dies at Bruges, 
 403- 
 
 Horse racing in the north, xl, 247, 446, 
 447- 
 
 Hossack, John, deposed, 344. 
 Houston or Howison, John, minister 
 
 of Farnway, 186. 
 minister at Kirkhill, 118, 
 
 322. 
 
 minister at Wardlaw, 252, 
 
 256, 257, 265, 291, 307, 424. 
 
 Thomas, 265. 
 
 Howard, lord, 408. 
 collonel, 385. 
 
 Hoyle, alderman of York, hangs 
 
 himself, 349. 
 Hugh de Aries, 30. 
 Hume, earl of, 172. 
 
 major, in the service of Sweden, 
 
 282. 
 
 Huntingdon, 47. 
 
 David, earl of, 45, 49. 
 
 Huntly, George, earl of, 108-109, I33> 
 
 139, 149, 158, 170, 171, 188, 189. 
 earl of, 210, 211, 214, 216, 
 
 220, 222, 225-228, 230, 238, 247, 
 
 272, 283, 312-313, 334-335. 338. 
 marquis of, 439, 450, 451, 
 
 480. 
 
 Lewis, earl of, 392. 
 
 Hurry, general sir John, 292, 293, 294 ; 
 defeated at Aldern, 295 ; at Kilsyih, 
 300 ; accompanies Montrose to Scot- 
 land, 351 ; taken prisoner at Carbis- 
 dale, 352, 354 ; his execution, 366. 
 
 Hutchison, George, minister at Edin- 
 burgh, 437. 
 
 Hutchon Mackean vick Alexander, 152. 
 
 Huton, John, tailor in Holland, 341. 
 
 Hyde (Hide), sir Edward, 336. 
 
 sir Henry, 376. 
 
 Iden, 55. 
 
 Ila, invaded by Macklean, 232. 
 Inach Sassin, 68 and n. 
 
 Tarvidil, 61, 63, 179. 
 
 Indulfus, king of Scotland, 33. 
 Ingoldsby, colonel, 425, 426. 
 Innes, castle of, 313. 
 
 of Innes, 344, 448. 
 
 of Most, 313. 
 
 Alexander, of Innes and Inver- 
 
 marky, 82. 
 
544 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Innes, Alexander, of Condraught, be- 
 trays the marques of Huntly, 334. 
 
 Isabell, wife of Thomas, earl of 
 
 Murray, 98. 
 
 James, of Innermarky, 214, 227. 
 
 Janet, daughter of Culrossie, 
 
 119. 
 
 John, bishop of Murray, 99. 
 
 in Chanonry, 119. 
 
 — — sir Robert, of Innes, 264. 
 
 of Moortoun, 476. 
 
 William, of Tipperty, 344. 
 
 groom, 440, 466. 
 
 Innesses, 313. 
 Inshbary, 185, 489. 
 Inshgarvy castle, 384. 
 Inshochy, 313. 
 
 Inverallochy, 244, 253, 460, 495. 
 
 Inverkeithing, battle of, 384. 
 
 Inverlochy, 134, 345, 415 and w, 449 ; 
 battle of, 292, 330. 
 
 Inverness, xiv, 67, 95, 147, 148, 225, 
 238, 304, 332 ; burnt by Gilespic 
 M'kdonald, 53 ; convention at, 165 ; 
 besieged by Montrose, xxii, xxiii 
 and n, 314, 331, 336-337; fortified, 
 287, 398 and n, 413-415 and «; 
 fortifications demolished at the Re- 
 storation, 441 ; the garrison with- 
 drawn, 447, 449 ; horse-races, xli, 
 446-449 ; fall of the wooden bridge, 
 455 ; rioting in, 479. 
 
 castle, 55, 70, 170. 
 
 church, 186. 
 
 Inverury, battle of, 72. 
 
 Invir-Chnock-Wrick, in island of Jura, 
 204. 
 
 lona, 56, 143. 
 
 Ireland, rebellion in, 238 ; Irish high 
 court of justice, 403 ; sufferings under 
 the Protector, 404. 
 
 Iretoun, Henry, death of, 393 ; his 
 * carcass ' landed at Bristol ; his 
 character by a royalist, 396. 
 
 Irving, of Drum, 283. 
 
 Elizabeth, lady Bobegno, 153, 
 
 Janet, iiS. 
 
 Marion, wife of Strachin, 460. 
 
 Irvings, 226, 228. 
 
 Isabell, daughter of David, earl of 
 Huntingdon, 69. 
 
 • queen of Robert I., Jl, 75* 
 
 Isle of Man, 72. 
 
 of Moy, 85. 
 
 Isola, baron de, 523. 
 
 Jack, the burn of, xxii, 272. 
 James I., 100, 102. 
 James iv., 107. 
 
 James vi., 211, 216, 222, 223, 229, 
 
 235, 243. 
 
 James MckThomas, 271. 
 
 Mckwilliam, 143, 
 
 Jameson, John, merchant in Brunt* 
 island, 430. 
 
 209. 
 
 Jams, colonell, 385. 
 
 Jedburgh abbey, 44. 
 
 Jesuits preaching at presbyterian con- 
 venticles, 499 ; proclamation against 
 Jesuits and priests, 523. 
 
 Jinkins, sir Leonel, 522, 523. 
 
 John of Creil, 9. 
 
 Dow Gare, xxix, 324. 
 
 Mackhowmish Chattich, 143. 
 
 M'Keanvore, commits a murder 
 
 in Wardlaw, 516 ; his execution, 
 520. 
 
 M'keanroy vick Himmy, 270. 
 
 M'kfinlay vickivir, 197. 
 
 M'klich, xxxvii, i64. 
 
 Mackurchy vick William, 231. 
 
 More Mackean Rewich, 103. 
 
 Tohnston, lord, 301. 
 
 Archibald, of Warriston, 372, 373, 
 
 381. 
 
 captain James, 428. 
 
 colonel, 351. 
 
 Jones, John, 403. 
 Jordan, Henry, xi, xiii, 429. 
 Joyce, colonel, 408. 
 Juray, isle of, 204. 
 
 Juxon, William, bishop of London,. 
 426. 
 
 Keith, 355 ; invaded by Patrick Roy 
 M'Grigor, 487. 
 
 family, origin of, 34. 
 
 Kelly, earl of, taken prisoner at Wor- 
 cester, 387, 391- 
 
 Kelso abbey, 44. 
 
 Kenmore, lord, 401, 407, 438. 
 
 Kennedy, sir Hugh, of Griffin, 132,, 
 142. 
 
 Thomas, ofBarganye, 195. 
 
 Kenneth III., 33. 
 
 Kerr, colonel, 339, 371, 372. 
 
 sir Sterling, a prisoner in Edin- 
 burgh castle, 286. 
 
 Kerrera (Karnari), 57. 
 
 Kessock (Cessack), 54, 83, 294, 336,. 
 478, 485, 494. 
 
 Kilchuimin, Celtic bell of, xxxi. 
 
 Kilcoy, 484. 
 
 Kildin, laird of, 77, 83. 
 
 Kildrumy castle, 69. 
 
 Kill Baine, 336 and n. 
 
 Killearnan church, 484, 
 
INDEX 
 
 545 
 
 Killin forest, xxxviii, 279. 
 Killwoddy, 128. 
 
 Kilmorack, 62 «, 63 84, 183, 249, 
 275. 
 
 Kilmore, 256 and n. 
 
 Kilpont, lord, joins Montrose, 286. 
 
 Kilravock, 64, 218, 224, 313. 
 
 Kilsyth, battle of, 300. 
 
 Kiltarlity, 61, 62, 154, 183, 256, 305. 
 
 Kilvain, 453. 
 
 Kinard, James, servant, 99. 
 
 Jo., 402. 
 
 Kinards, 313. 
 Kincossy, laird of, 99. 
 Kindroch, 191. 
 Kinellan, in. 
 
 Kinendmond, William, minister of 
 
 Keith, 355. 
 King, Henry, bishop of Chichester, 
 
 427. 
 
 Kingedward (Cinedward), 313. 
 Kinghorn, earl of, 276, 476. 
 Kingily, 235, 288 and«, 314, 323. 
 Kings' pedigrees, 57. 
 Kingussie, xli. 
 
 Kinloss, xli, 33, 44, 141, 145, 166, 476. 
 abbot of, 94. 
 
 Kinmilies, Inverness-shire, 54 and n, 
 86, 122, 147, 154, 156, 179, 185, 
 23s, 238, 249, 276 310, 311, 323, 
 346, 402 and n, 484. 
 
 Kinnaird of Culbin, 264, 354. 
 
 Kinneffe, 77. 
 
 Kinnell, 52, 56, 123. 
 
 Kinoul, earl of, 407, 438. 
 
 Kinsaile, Irish rebels defeated at, 239. 
 
 Kinstary, 96, 248, 296. 
 
 Kintor, 287. 
 
 Kinudy^ 96, 248, 295, 296. 
 
 Kirkhill, xv, xvi, xlii, 60-61 and «, 
 79, 80, 120, 183 184, 186, 237, 249, 
 252, 256, 259 and n, 260, 266, 271, 
 314, 346, 496, 516. 
 
 Kirktoun, xvi, 185, 489. 
 
 Knockartol, 132. 
 
 Knockmillerward, 56. 
 
 Ladell, Patrick, minister of Leyes, 
 187 n. 
 
 Lag, in Loncart, 68 and n. 
 Laggan Achildrom, 135, 
 Lagy Vrud, in Ross, 230 and n. 
 Lairg, Sutherlandshire, 261 and 471, 
 4&1. 
 
 Lambert, William, bishop of St. An- 
 drews, 71. 
 
 major-general, 367, 369, 383-386, 
 398. 
 
 colonel, 425. 
 
 2 
 
 Lane, colonel, of Bentley, 389. 
 
 Jean, 389. 
 
 Langrige, captain Will., 415. 
 
 Lanrick, 72. 
 
 Larmond, James, 240. 
 
 Latin and Irish, the languages spoken 
 
 at the Scottish Court, 38. 
 Laud, archbishop, 363. 
 Laud's Liturgy, xxii, 
 Lauder, Agnes, wife of William Fraser 
 
 of Belty, 489. 
 
 John, priest, 186. 
 
 Lauderdale, earl of, 387, 391,420, 438^ 
 
 459, 464, 478, 487, 501- 
 Laury, Robert, bisliop of Brechin, 445. 
 Law, Mr. Mungo, 392. 
 Lawers, laird of, 287. 
 Lawson, rear-admiral, 401. 
 Leachkmailm, 203. 
 Leathron, 209. 
 Leg, colonel Richard, 386. 
 Leggersdenn, 263. 
 
 Leighton (Lighton), Henry, bishop of 
 
 Murray, 99. 
 
 Robert, bishop of Dunblane, 445. 
 
 Leith citadel, 370, 399, 421, 441. 
 Lem-Hairpisdall, battle of, 100. 
 Lenox, duke of, 213, 220, 221, 238. 
 
 James, duke of, 41 1. 
 
 Malcolm, earl of, 69. 
 
 Mathew, earl of, 133, 161. 
 
 Leodus of the Lewes, 40. 
 Leonard, D., 420. 
 Lermonth, John, of Balcomy, 239. 
 Lesly of TuUich, 226. 
 
 bishop, 15, 17. 
 
 Anna, daughter of general Lesly 
 
 and wife of Hugh, master of Lovat, 
 
 xxxviii, 275, 277, 283, 311, 322,. 
 
 323. 
 
 sir David, 303, 352, 353, 369, 370, 
 
 377, 391, 392. 
 
 James, lord Lindores, 450. 
 
 major, 370. 
 
 Lethem castle, 313. 
 Letterewe, 270. 
 Lettirfinlay, 134. 
 Leuchers, 476. 
 Levellers, 340. 
 
 Leven, Alexander Lessly, earl of, 277^ 
 
 279, 370, 377- 
 Levens, doctor of civil law, executed, 
 
 367- 
 
 Lewis, island of, to be civilised, 239; 
 the scheme defeated, 240. 
 
 Leyes, 122, 147, i79, 187. 
 
 Liddel, Duncan, professor of mathe- 
 matics at Aberdeen, 427. 
 
 .Lilburn, colonel, 340, 369, 385-386. 
 
 M 
 
546 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Lilly, William, a * lying astrollogue,' 
 .398. 
 
 Lindores, Patrick, abbot of, 239. 
 Lindsay, earl of, 298, 330, 391. 
 
 Barbara, 116. 
 
 Mary, 500. 
 
 sir William, 229. 
 
 Linn fishings, 278 and n. 
 Lithgow, 381. 
 
 Litle, Clement, commissar, 155. 
 Little Struy, 315. 
 
 Liturgy opposed in the Highlands, 272. 
 Lochaber marches, 453. 
 Lochbroome, 83, 494, 498. 
 Lochbruyach, 197 and n. 
 Loch Carron, 494, 498. 
 Lochfine, 494, 498. 
 
 Lochgarry, defeat of Midleton at, 401. 
 
 Lochgruingart, battle of, 232. 
 
 Loch Lochy, battle of, xxxi, 135-139, 
 
 144, 146, 1:72, 189. 
 Loch Monnair, 416. 
 Loch Ness, ix, xxxi, 147, 416, 484, 
 
 498. 
 
 Loch Sallachy, skirmish at, 127. 
 
 Lochshin, 353. 
 
 Lochurn, 222, 494, 498. 
 
 Lockhart, sir James, a prisoner in 
 
 London, 392, 
 Sir William, marries Cromwell's 
 
 niece,. 410. 
 Logan, sir John, executed at London, 
 
 326. 
 
 sir Robert, 76. 
 
 sir Walter, 21, 70, 76. 
 
 Lokier, Johne, 341. 
 
 Loquart, lord, 523. 
 
 Lorn, lord, 407, 41 1, 439- 
 
 Lothian, earl of, 291, 294, 350, 373. 
 
 Loughborrow, lord, 335. 
 
 Lovat, 43, 56, 61, 63 and n, 65, 77, 95, 
 
 108, 122, 125, 131, 152, 185, 225, 
 
 241, 288, 314, 332, 353, 496. 
 Love, Christopher, beheaded, 383. 
 Lovell, Dr., in Perth, 246. 
 Lowden, earl of, death of, 341. 
 Ludlow, lieut. -general Edmond, 396. 
 Lumsden, sir James, taken prisoner 
 
 at Dunbar, 370. 
 
 Robert, of Ardry, 240. 
 
 Lunan, in Angus, 49. 
 
 Christina, 52, 56. 
 
 Lundie, James, chamberlain to Lovat, 
 
 456,, 473, 490, 502. 
 Lussnicorn, .61, 63. 
 Lydcot, colonel, 383, 384. 
 Lyon, Alexander, son of Mums, mur- 
 
 derd by Patrick Roy M'Grigor, 487. 
 r John. See Glames, lord. 
 
 Lyon, John, of Mums, 487. 
 
 Margret, daughter of lord Glames, 
 
 and wife of Hugh Fraser, 8th of 
 
 Lovat, 107, no. 
 Lyra, Emanuel de, 522. 
 
 Maason, Finalay, 154. 
 
 Macbeth (Mackbeth), thane of Cawdor, 
 
 34, 35, 36. 
 
 Donald, 47. 
 
 Milcolm, 45, 47. 
 
 Mac Crimmon, John, ' prince of pipers,' 
 
 xxiv, xlii, 379, 499 n. 
 MacCulloch (MackuUoch), Agnes, wife 
 
 of William Fraser of Monlochy, 118, 
 
 119. 
 
 Angus, of Tarrall, 115. 
 
 Charles, apothecary chyrurgion in 
 
 Tain, 430. 
 Duncan, in Alter, 197 and n, 
 
 198. 
 
 James, minister at Fern, 117. 
 
 Jean, 116. 
 
 John, of Cadbol, 116. 
 
 of Park, 118. 
 
 of Teawigs, 199. 
 
 MacCullochs, in. 
 
 M 'Donald, ^neas, of Glengarry, 408, 
 416 and n, 421, 439, 448, 451, 453, 
 457, 461 and n. 
 
 of Kantyre, 204 ; treacher- 
 ously treated by Maclean, 205 ; his 
 revenge, 206-207; his country ravished 
 by Maclean, 207.; lays waste Tyree, 
 207-208. 
 
 in Craigscorry, 514. 
 
 lieut., 337. 
 
 232. 
 
 Alexander, of the Isles, 108, 
 
 128. 
 
 of Cappoch, murder of, 461 
 
 and n, 462. 
 'Colkitto,' xxii, 286, 289, 
 
 291, 294,295, 299, 329. 
 
 of Moidart, 213. 
 
 of Tyree, 204, 206. 
 
 Allan, of Moidart, 122. 
 
 154. 
 
 Anne, wife of Thomson of Spring- 
 field, xix. 
 
 Archibald, plans to murder Kep- 
 
 poch, 462 ; his death, 463. 
 
 Coll, 204, 207. 
 
 Donald, of the Isles, 92, 94, 108, 
 
 UI-113. 
 
 Dow Phide, 113. 
 
 Gorm, of Slait, 147, 148, 
 
 155, 156, 204, 240. 
 Gilespic, 53, iiL, 112. 
 
INDEX 
 
 547 
 
 M'Donald, sir James, of Ik, 232, 233, 
 
 442, 456, 461. 
 - — James, son of Angus of Kantyre, 
 
 205, 206 ; burnt to death, 207. 
 
 . John, of Moydart, 142. 
 
 I of Springfield, xix. 
 
 Mckean, of Ardnamurchan, 
 
 208. 
 
 —. — Ranald, of Moidart, 131, 138. 
 
 » 204, 205, 207. 
 
 r— of Largy, 450. 
 
 oig, in Conventh, 270. 
 
 M 'Donalds, 14, 43, 112, 113, 134, 204, 
 233» 252, 289, 296, 304, 310, 314, 
 322, 325. 
 
 M'Duff created earl of Fife, 42. 
 
 M'Dugel, Alexander Roy, in Inverlair, 
 murders Keppoch, 462. 
 
 M'Farquhar, John, merchant in Inver- 
 ness, 430. 
 
 M'George, John, in Phoppachy, 314. 
 
 MacGregor, Patrick Roy, a 'pestiferous 
 - jobber,' xxix, 486; murders young 
 Lyon, 487 ; invades the tovi^n of 
 Keith, 487 ; is taken prisoner, 488, 
 489. 
 
 MacGregors, 225. 
 MacGruers, 242. 
 M'llleaspig, Hugh, 204. 
 M'Intosh, laird of, 85, 86, 20l,' 224, 
 238, 253, 453, 506, 
 
 of Connadge, 454. 
 
 Allan, of Torcastle, 108. 
 
 Angus M'konil vie William, in 
 
 Lonny, 215, 216. 
 
 Lachlin, of Kinrara, 453. 
 
 More, of Torcastle, 253. 
 
 William, of Torcastle, 424. 
 
 215, 216. 
 
 of Killachy, 108. 
 
 M'Intoshes, 14, 42, 215, 216, 225, 229, 
 
 252, 272, 273, 295, 322. 
 M'Kail, Hugh, 463.- 
 
 John, stabler, 440. 
 
 Mackenzie, Alexander, of Cilcovy, 119, 
 
 484. 
 
 — .- Anna, daughter of Tarbut, and 
 wife of Hugh, lord Lovat, 422, 473, 
 474, 489 ; her death, 491, 492. 
 
 captain Bernard, 296 n. 
 
 r— — Colin, of Kilcowy, 341. 
 
 of Kintail, 156, i6i, 162, 
 
 165, 166, 171, 180. 
 
 , 344- 
 
 Dr. George, 466, 469, 473, 489, 
 
 504. 
 
 sir George, of Rosehaugh, 433. 
 
 of Tarbet, 422, . 439, 
 
 455, 464, 471, 492, 501, 506, 508, 
 515- 
 
 Mackenzie, H., of Farburn, 341. 
 
 Jean, daughter of the earl of Sea- 
 
 forth, 264. 
 
 John, of Kintail, 124. 
 
 Dow, 119. 
 
 337. 
 
 Kate, wife of Duncan Fraser, 1 19. 
 
 Katherin, wife of Simon Fraser, 
 
 13th of Lovat, 217, 219. 
 
 mother of Culboky, 485. 
 
 455, 466. 
 
 Kenneth, of Kintail, 108, ill, 
 
 112, 224, 231. 
 
 of Seaforth, 231. 
 
 oge, of Kintail, 219, 221. 
 
 son of Redcastle, 341. 
 
 of Scatwell, xxxvi, 447. 
 
 of Siddy, 341, 342. 
 
 Margaret, wife of Simon Fraser, 
 
 13th of Lovat, 200, 201. 
 Murdoch, bishop of Murray, 445, 
 
 454- 
 
 ■ minister at Elgin, 342. 
 
 293. 
 
 Rory, of Dochmiluag, 314, 325- 
 
 328, 341, 342. 
 
 of Farburn, 125. 
 
 of Redcastle, 290, 310, 317, 
 
 341. 
 
 Mckvurchy, 119. 
 
 Sybilla, daughter of the earl of 
 
 • Seaforth and wife of (i) the laird of 
 Macleod, and (2) Alex. Fraser, tutor 
 of Lovat, 395, 422, 423, 501. 
 
 Thomas, of Pluscarden, 261, 262, 
 
 3i3> 339, 341, 342, 354- 
 
 of Gareloch, 310. 
 
 Mackenzies, 179, 180, 226, 229, 231, 
 
 252, 288, 289, 294, 296, 304, 310, 
 
 314, 318, 326, 333, 336, 339, 346, 
 
 378. 
 
 Mackhugh, colonel, 404. 
 M'killeandris, Leod, iDarron of Moniak, 
 94. 
 
 Mackillroyes, 185. 
 M'killvichels, 185 and f/. 
 M'kilrevichs, 96. 
 Mackinnon, John, 466. 
 M'kintliggichs, 185 and n. 
 M'kivir, Donald, 185. 
 
 Garve, 83. 
 
 Gilbrid, 84. 
 
 John, 63, 185. 
 
 M'kHch, Tohn, 164. 
 
 M'konil, Sorill, lord of the Rocot, 196. 
 
 Mackanguis, of the Glennis, 196. 
 
548 
 
 POLICHROiNICON 
 
 M'konildui, John, in Ardblair, 199. 
 M'konilroy, Donald, in Faynblare, 
 199. 
 
 M'kpeuder, Arthur, thane of Merns, 
 40, 77. 
 
 Isabel, wife of Alexander Fraser 
 
 of Coy, 77, 78. 
 Mackray, John, chaplain to Lovat, 503. 
 — - Maild, 86. 
 
 Mackrayes, 60, 78, 97, 108, 266. 
 Macky, Angus, of Strathnaver, 87, 
 1 00. 
 
 invades Ross, 103 ; slain in 
 
 Tarbit church, 104. 
 
 Angus Dow, 87, 100, 102. 
 
 Barbara, wife of lord Lindores, 
 
 450- 
 
 wife of lord Ray, 483. 
 
 Donald, in Strathnaver, 126, 127, 
 
 132, 133- 
 
 sir Donald. See Ray, lord. 
 
 Eyh Roy, of Strathnaver, 125. 
 
 Hugh, 210. 
 
 Dow, 87. 
 
 Igh, 142, 143, 158, 159. 
 
 John, of Strathnaver, 125 ; invades 
 
 Sutherland, defeated at Torrandow, 
 
 127. 
 
 209. 
 
 Abrach, 102. 
 
 M'kean vick Anguis, 132. 
 
 More, 142. 
 
 • Reavach, 1 14. 
 
 Morgan, loi, 102. 
 
 Neil, a prisoner on the Bass, 100, 
 
 loi ; invades Caithness, 102 ; dies of 
 
 his wounds, 103. 
 
 loi, 102. 
 
 Neil-na-Werigh, 125, 126. 
 
 Rory Gald, 87. 
 
 Thomas Macknil, of Creich, 100 ; 
 
 executed for murder, loi. 
 William, brother of Strathnaver, 
 
 203. 
 
 Mackyes, 69, 304, 336, 378, 482. 
 Mackynleich, Donald Roy, 199 and n, 
 Maclean, Alexander, in Buntait, 184. 
 
 Charles, merchant in Inverness, 
 
 485. 
 
 lieut. John, killed at Redcastle, 
 
 341, 346. 
 
 sir Lachlan, xxxi, 204-208,1 225* 
 
 227, 232, 233. 
 
 Lachlan Barrach, 233. 
 
 of Kingarloch, 450. 
 
 of Loch buy, 450. 
 
 M 'Leans, I4, 60, 184, 204, 325. 
 Maclellans, 185. 
 
 Maclennans, 82, 84. 
 
 MacLeod, Alexander, in Lewes, 499. 
 
 Anna, wife of Campbell of Auchin- 
 
 bre^k, 129. 
 
 — wife of Thomas Fraser, 123. 
 
 • Ewrx vick Illeandris, of Moniak, 
 
 60. 
 
 John, of Harris, 128. 
 
 of Macleod, 341, 456, 465. 
 
 servant to Lovat, 440, 
 
 Garve, of Rarsey, drowned, 
 
 498-499 and n. 
 
 Mackillchallim, xxix, 230. 
 
 Margret, 278. 
 
 Mary, 40 n. 
 
 wife of sir James Mac- 
 
 donald, 442, 456. 
 
 Murdoch, attacks Lermonth of 
 
 Balcomy ; is betrayed by his brother, 
 239 ; executed, 240. 
 
 Neil, betrays his brother Mur- 
 doch, 239. 
 
 of Assynt, betrays Montrose, 
 
 353- 
 
 Norman, defeats the civilisers of 
 
 the island of Lewis, 240. 
 Rory, of M'kleod, 456, 
 
 Shivak, 87. 
 
 Sybilla, wife of Fraser of Beufort, 
 
 461. 
 
 Torkill, 87. 
 
 oig, of the Lewis, 87. 
 
 William, of Dunvegan, contract 
 
 of marriage with Agnes Fraser, 130. 
 
 of Dunvegan, xxv. 
 
 of Harris, 55. 
 
 of Lewis, 55. 
 
 M'Leods, 14, 40 and «, 41 and «, 97, 
 
 289, 296, 304, 322, 325. 
 M'Neil, of Barrey, 227. 
 Macphaile, Andrew, minister of Farn 
 
 way, 185 and «, 186 n. 
 Macphersons, 226. 
 
 MacRanald, Allan, of the Leyis, 151. 
 
 John, inTeachnouk, 179, 180, 199. 
 
 M'Robie, Donald, 199. 
 
 MacRory, Duell, prior of Beuly, 81. 
 
 James, 203. 
 
 Mactavishes of Stratherrick, 17 1 «. 
 M'Thomas, Thomas, 314. 
 MacWilliam, Gorry, a rebel robber, 49. 
 Mac Williams, 185. 
 Maderty, lord, 301. 
 
 Maitland, sir John, chancellor, 21 1> 
 212, 213. 
 
 Robert, dean of Aberdeen, 155. 
 
 Major, John, 15, 17, 44* 
 
 Mala, Michel, merchant at Dieppe, 32. 
 
INDEX 
 
 549 
 
 Malcolm ii., 34. 
 Malcolm iii., 35, 38, 39, 40. 
 Malcolm iv., the Maiden, 45-48. 
 Maid, Agnes, 184. 
 
 Malton, defeat of the English at, by 
 Bruce, 74. 
 
 Mam a' Chath, battle of, 108 and n. 
 
 Man, captain Miles, governor of Inver- 
 ness citadel, x, 415, 416, 448. 
 
 Manchester, earl of, speaker of the 
 house of lords, 426. 
 
 Mar, earl of, 75. 
 
 Alexander Stuart, earl of, at the 
 
 battle of Harlaw, 92. 
 John Erskine, earl of, 161, 167, 
 
 170, 188, 190, 341, 438, 480, 500. 
 March, earl of, 44, 46-48, 51, 72, 181. 
 Margaret, queen of Scotland, 38, 40, 
 
 44. 
 
 • wife of Conanus, duke of Britain, 
 
 45. 
 
 daughter of Robert the Bruce, 75. 
 
 nin George, 354. 
 
 Marischal, William Keith, earl, 191, 
 
 392, 480. 
 Marjoraybanks, Michael, 155. 
 Markinsh, Inverness, 54 and n, 185, 
 
 336. 
 
 Marriage customs, xxxiv, 201, 224, 
 261, 278. 
 
 Marshall, Gilbert, minister at Crom- 
 dell, xlii, 340, 464. 
 
 Mary of Lorrein, 133, 141. 
 
 Mary, queen of Scots, 145 ; at Inver- 
 ness, 148, 173- 
 
 Mary's hill, xv. 
 
 Mary well, near Kirkhill, 291. 
 Massay, major-general, 385, 386. 
 Mathew of Westminster, 9. 
 colonel, 392. 
 
 Mathewson, Dugald, prior of Beuly, 
 xli, 80. 
 
 Maud, daughter of Robert the Bruce, 
 75. 
 
 queen, 45, 49. 
 
 Mauritius, St., xv, 275. 
 Maxwell, John, bishop of Ross, 261. 
 Mayn, viscount, 404. 
 Mazarin, cardinal, 332. 
 Meadow tree at Lovat, 108. 
 Mealach ford, Dunballoch, 166. 
 Medulla Historicce Anglicance^ 363. 
 Melros abbey, 44. 
 
 Melvil, sir Robert, of Murdocairin, 196. 
 Menteith, John, betrayer of William 
 
 Wallace, 69. 
 Menzies, major, * a base villan,' 334. 
 Mercer, lieut.-col., 407. 
 Methven, 69, 300. 
 
 Mickle, John, in Fern, 115. 
 Mickle Ferry of Portnicouter, 261, 283, 
 471, 481. 
 
 Mickle Garth, in Stratherick, 255, 268, 
 279. 
 
 Middleton, major-general, 314-318, 
 338, 375j 391, 393> 401, 406, 432, 
 450- 
 
 George, of King's college, Aber- 
 deen, 350. 
 Midganies, 130. 
 Milchaich, 231. 
 
 Miller, Francis, in Rotterdam, 495. 
 
 Mr., chyrurgion at Inverness 
 
 citadel, 415. 
 Millintrea, 206. 
 Milton, 471. 
 
 Gilbert, plunders two of the 
 
 pope's legates, 74. 
 Mitchell, William, laishop of Aberdeen, 
 
 445- 
 
 student in London, 428. 
 
 Moncofifer, 55. 
 
 Moncreefe, Jean, wife of sir Simon 
 Fraser of Inveralochy, 244, 246. 
 
 Moncrifes, descent of, 14. 
 
 Moniak (Monchitech), xxii, 61, 63, 94, 
 108, 272, 461, 464. 
 
 Monis, 77. 
 
 Monk, general, xi, 370, 377, 384, 392, 
 394, 396, 406-407 and 408 and 
 420, 426-427, 459. 
 
 Monks ferry, 63. 
 
 Monkwater, 63. 
 
 Monlochy, 478, 494. 
 
 laird of. See Fraser, William. 
 
 Monmouth, duke of, 459, 523. 
 
 Monnair forest, 416. 
 
 Monro of Fowles, xxxvi, 124, 141, 
 224, 229, 255, 278, 289, 471, 475, 
 481, 506, 508. 
 
 Alexander, deposed, 344. 
 
 Dr. Andrew, phisitian at Inver- 
 ness citadel, 415, 444. 
 
 Andrew, of Miltoun, 117, 120, 
 
 202, 217. 
 
 David, minister at Kiltern, 289. 
 
 minister of Tain, deposed, 
 
 344. 
 
 sir George, 342, 401, 406, 408, 
 
 481. 
 
 Hector, of Fowles, 157, I75, 176, 
 
 180, 183, 201, 202, 219, 221, 424. 
 
 Hugh, brother of Cularge, 231. 
 
 Jean, 418. 
 
 John, of Cularge, 231. 
 
 of Foules, 156. 
 
 tutor of Fowles, 84-86. 
 
 More, of Miltoun, 183. 
 
550 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Monro, Robert, minister at Roskeen, 
 289. 
 
 William, 472. 
 
 Monroes, 83, 85, 86, 226, 231, 252, 
 272, 273, 294, 295. 
 
 Mons Grampius, xxi. 
 
 Mons Marise, or Kirkhill, xvi, 61 and 
 n, 79, III, 259, 314, 474, 484, 485. 
 
 Montague, general, 430. 
 
 Monteith, 300. 
 
 Montgomery, lord, 374, 381. 
 
 colonel, attacks the English at 
 
 Musselburgh, 367. 
 
 captain, recruits for the king of 
 
 Poland, 417. 
 
 Montgomerys from France, 36. 
 
 Montrose, James, marquis of, a leading 
 covenanter, 263 ; with the army of 
 the covenant, 285 ; a prisoner in 
 Edinburgh castle, 286 ; visits the 
 king at Oxford, 286 ; enters Scotland 
 in disguise, 286 ; defeats the coven- 
 anters at Tippermuir, 287 ; and at 
 Crabstone, 287 ; in Badenoch, 291 ; 
 defeats Argyle at Inverlochy, 292, 
 general Hurry at Aldern, 295, and 
 general Baily at Alford, 299; defeats 
 Hurry and Baily at Kilsyth, 300 ; 
 exacts a fine from Glasgow, 301 ; de- 
 sertions from his army, 302 ; defeated 
 at Philiphaugh, 303 ; his interview 
 with Huntly, 312-313; besieges In- 
 verness, xxii, 314-316; ordered to 
 disband by the king, 329 ; sketch of 
 his career, 330 ; sails for France, 
 331 ; at the Hague, 336; his Declara- 
 tion, 349; returns to Scotland, 351 ; 
 his second Declaration^ 351; defeated 
 at Carbisdale, 352 ; a prisoner, 353- 
 354 ; his entry into Edinburgh, 356 ; 
 brought before parliament, 357 ; 
 speech on the scaffold, 359 ; execu- 
 tion, 362 ; his head removed from 
 the Tolbooth and Argyle's fixed in 
 its place, 438. 
 
 Monypenny, Thomas, of Kinkell, 240. 
 
 Moor, Elizabeth, 89. 
 
 ofWatrish, 116. 
 
 Moortoun, 185, 311, 476. 
 
 Moray. See Murray. 
 
 Moremount, 460. 
 
 Morgan, colonel, 406, 409. 
 
 Morlys, colonel, lieutenant of the 
 Tower, 426. 
 
 Mortlich, 37. 
 
 Morton, earl of, i8i, 182. 
 Morvin, 63, 65. 
 
 Mouberry, Robert, governor of Aln- 
 wick castle, 39. 
 
 jMount Capplach freed from wolves, 
 
 ! no. 
 
 IMountjoy, lord, 239. 
 
 IMoutrays in France, 36. 
 
 OMowat, Alexander, of Freish-week, 
 
 ] lOI. 
 
 r James, 427. 
 
 ; Mr., taverner, 428. 
 
 ;Mowbrey, Philip, governor of Stirling. 
 
 castle, 72. 
 Moy (Muy), 61, 63, 85. 
 Muchel, 224, 460. 
 
 laird of. See Eraser. 
 
 Mulgrave, earl of, 523. 
 
 Murder in the parish of Wardlaw, 516- 
 
 521. 
 
 Murkle, laird of, 209. 
 
 Murray, Alexander, earl of, 107, 439, 
 
 447, 451, 461, 506, 507. 
 154. 
 
 Andrew, brother of TuUiebarden, 
 
 : 304. 
 
 bishop of, 62. 
 
 Angus, loi, 102. 
 
 Archibald, bishop of, 62 
 
 Hutchen, of Aberscorse, 132. 
 
 158. 
 
 James, earl of, 149, 159, i6l, 190, 
 
 201, 241 ; killed at Donibristle, 
 214. 
 
 son of preceeding, 230, 241, 
 
 245, 247, 248, 255, 272. 
 
 4th earl, 264, 341. 
 
 John, earl of, 79. 
 
 of Aberscorse, 126, 127. 
 
 of Vppet, 118. 
 
 210. 
 
 Roy, 127. 
 
 sir Mungo, 512. 
 
 Niel, scatters the Macdonells at 
 
 Skibo, 112. 
 Thomas, earl of, 91, 94, 104, 
 
 105. 
 
 ' William, of TulHbarden, 172. 
 
 captain William, 239. 
 
 major, depute-governour of Inver- 
 ness, 336. 
 Murrayes, 43, 47, 158. 
 Musical instruments, xxxvii, 265, 
 
 453- 
 
 Muslebrugh, skirmish with Cromwell's 
 
 soldiers at, 369. 
 Mussaty, in Stratharick, 492. 
 Muthel, 219. 
 laird, 218. 
 
 Nairn (Narden), 67, 283 ; castle, 
 43. 
 
 i river, 295, 297. 
 
INDEX 
 
 551 
 
 Napier, lord, 286, 406. 
 National covenant, 273. 
 Navdell, 142. 
 
 Neil M'Kean vick Anguis, of Assin, 
 127. 
 
 Mackean vick William, 203. 
 
 Neilson, John, of Corsock, 463. 
 Ness river, 86, 185, 246, 454, 455. 
 Neswith, John, chyrurgion to the king, 
 216. 
 
 Newark, 109, 383. 
 Newbotle, abbey of, 44. 
 
 lord, 374. 
 
 Newburgh, lord, 412. 
 Newcastle monasteries, 44. 
 
 earl of, 316. 
 
 marques of, 286. 
 
 Newland, 46. 
 
 Newman, killed in action, 401. 
 Newmills, 77- 
 
 Newton Gordon, laird of, 229. 
 Nicolas, sir Edward, 336. 
 
 r major, lieutenant of the Tower, 
 
 426. 
 
 Nisbet, sir Philip, 304. 
 
 Noble, Andrew, chamberlain to Lovat, 
 
 235. 
 John, 183. 
 
 Thomas, merchant in Elgin, 490. 
 
 servant of Lovat, 490. 
 
 North Berwick nunnery, 44. 
 Northumberland passes from Scotland 
 
 to England, 47 ; William the Lion, 
 
 desires its possession, 48. 
 Norwich, earl of, 412. 
 
 Oblivion, act of, 382, 398. 
 Obriachan, 60, 185, 186, 444. 
 Ochiltry, lord, 214, 217, 439. 
 Ochterbrau, 128. 
 Ogilvy, lord, 169, 172, 287, 392. 
 
 of Lemcarn, 488. 
 
 (Ogilby), Alexander, 304. 
 
 lady Anna, 304. 
 
 sir David, 287, 300. 
 
 Gaan, poet, 427. 
 
 Gilchrist, thane of Angus, 52. 
 
 James, lord, son of the earl of 
 
 Airly, 301. ^ 
 sir John, his house of Craiges 
 
 destroyed by the king, 229. 
 John, 109. 
 
 Marjory or Mary, wife of lord 
 
 Bernard Eraser, 52. 
 
 sir Thomas, 287. 
 
 colonel, his execution, 366. 
 
 Ogilvies, 226, 272. 
 
 Okey, colonel, 367, 384, 409. 
 
 Olaus the Dane killed at Mortlich, 37. 
 
 Oliphant, lord, 235, 439. 
 
 Anna, 117. 
 
 Oliver castle, 46, 51. 
 Oliverius Norwegie, 40 and ;z. 
 Oneal, colonel Daniel, 412, 
 Onil, sir Phelim, executed, 404. 
 Orak, John, of Fuly, 422. 
 Orange, prince of, 370-371, 375- 
 
 son of preceding, 375. 
 
 Ord, 179. 
 
 Orkney, Harold, earl of, 49. 
 
 Henry Sinclair, earl of, 91. 
 
 Ormond, marquis of, 333, 334, 371, 
 
 408, 410, 412. 
 Orrin river, 179, 185. 
 Orton, lieut., 416. 
 Osberry, captain Alexander, 415. 
 Ossery, earl of, 523. 
 Overtoun, colonel, 370, 383, 384, 397, 
 
 409. 
 
 Owen, captain, killed in action, 401. 
 
 Dr., dean of Christ church, 
 
 Oxford, 350. 
 Oxford university purged, 350. 
 
 Packington, sir John, taken prisoner 
 
 at Worcester, 387. 
 Paluzi, signor, Venetian ambassador, 
 
 412. 
 
 Paterson, Alexander, of Dalcross, 122. 
 
 burgher of Inverness, 238. 
 
 Andrew, 122. 
 
 John, bishop of Rosse, 445, 471, 
 
 505. 
 
 Thomas, provpst of Inverness, 
 
 171. 
 
 William, in Inverness, 442. 
 
 * pricker ' of witches, xxxi, 
 
 446. 
 
 Peacock, captain, killed in action, 401. 
 Peddison, Alexander, 440. 
 Pedigree of Scottish kings, 57. 
 Peers of Scotland, mortality among, 
 341. 
 
 Pen, captain, 400, 401. 
 Pendrell, George, 388. 
 
 John, 389. , . , , , 
 
 Pentland hills, nonconformists defeated 
 at, 463. 
 
 Percy, Henry, at Homildon fight, 91. 
 
 Perre, van de, Dutch ambassador, 397. 
 
 Person, Robert, minister at Firth, 274. 
 
 Perth, inundation at, 52 ; battle at 
 Perth between Clanchattan and the 
 Colquhouns, 90; in possession of 
 Montrose, 287 ; surrenders to Crom- 
 well, 384. 
 
 Petty, 215, 216, 316, 494. 
 
 Philiphaugh, battle of, 303, 331. 
 
552 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Philorth, 219, 224. 
 Philp, Christopher, 390. 
 
 John, doctor in Dundee, 252. 
 
 Philps, captain, 390. 
 
 Phoenix^ the, taken from the Dutch, 
 
 478, 486. 
 Phopachy, vii, no, 117, 485, 494. 
 
 laird of. See Fraser, William. 
 
 Pilmor, John, bishop of Murray, 82 
 
 and n. 
 Pitflures, laird of, 109. 
 Pitzfodder Heath, 385. 
 Pius V. excommunicates the destroyers 
 
 of Dornoch cathedral, 159. 
 Plague of 1601, 236 ; in Edinburgh, 
 
 302 ; Aberdeen, 350 ; in London, 
 
 459- 
 
 Player, sir Thomas, 524. 
 Pluskarden, prior of. See Dunbar, 
 Patrick. 
 
 Poland, recruiting in the Highlands for 
 
 service in, 417. 
 Polidore Virgil, 15. 
 Pope, John, butler at Leigh, 390. 
 Popham, admiral, 365 ; his death, 393. 
 Port in Culternach, 103. 
 Portents of troublous times, xxx, 290, 
 
 291. 
 
 Portincouter, 261, 283, 450, 471, 481. 
 See also Mickle Ferry. 
 
 Port ni Mannach, 63. 
 
 Pott, captain Phineas, 485, 495. 
 
 commissioner, overseer at Chat- 
 ham, 485. 
 
 Praslin, marquis of, 410. 
 
 Proclamation of Charles li., 335. 
 
 Prophecy relating to the Frasers, 468. 
 
 Pulrossy, 100, loi. 
 
 Quakers, origin of, 375. 
 Queensferry, 51 and n, 
 
 Rachin, Jo., writer, 99. 
 Ramsay, constable of Elgin castle, 43, 
 59- 
 
 lord, 374, 392. 
 
 sir Alexander, 79. 
 
 Andrew, moderator, 274 ; de- 
 posed, 344. 
 Ranaldsone, John, 144. 
 Randolph, sir John, 79. 
 John, 64. 
 
 sir Thomas, 72, 73, 75, 105. 
 
 Rate, William, sub-principal of King's 
 
 college, Aberdeen, 192. 
 Ratry, Mr., merchant in London, 428. 
 Ray, lord, 339, 450, 482. 
 
 Donald, lord, 482. 
 
 Redca^tle, in Angus, 49 and n. 
 
 Redcastle, Ross-shire, 64, 317, 341, 
 494. 
 
 Reed, baron de, Dutch ambassador, 
 523- 
 
 Isack, 238. 
 
 James, prior of Beuly, 105. 
 
 John, captain of Inverness town 
 
 guards, 479. 
 chamberlain to lord Lovat, 
 
 235. 
 
 minister of Strichen, 191. 
 
 steward at Lovat, 268. 
 
 Marjory, 440. 
 
 Robert, bishop of Orkney, 141, 
 
 145, 146, 159, 250. 
 sir Walter, abbot of Kinloss and 
 
 prior of Beuly, 145, 159, 160, 162, 
 
 166. 
 
 Reed cross at Beuly, 250. 
 Regality court at Beuly, 184. 
 Remonstrance against the Solemn 
 League and Covenant, 318, 319, 326. 
 Renny, Jack, merchant tailor, 427. 
 Reynold, Dr., 350. 
 Rheindoun, xxxiii, 164, 180, 310. 
 Richard 11., 91. 
 Rigby, lieut. -colonel, 386. 
 Rilick family, 123, 177. 
 Rindowy, 314. 
 Rinmany, 311. 
 Rinnes of Ha, 205. 
 
 Ritchy, Charles, schoolmaster at 
 
 Wardlaw, 489. 
 James, vintner in Inverness, 473, 
 
 489. 
 
 Robert i. slays the red Cuming, 68, 
 69 ; crowned at Scone, 69 ; defeated 
 at Dalree, 69 ; defeats the English at 
 Bannockburn, 72 ; chases the English 
 from Scotland, 74 ; his death, 75. 
 
 Robert ill., coronation of, 89 ; his 
 character, 90 ; death, 92. 
 
 Roberts, William, bishop of Bangor, 
 427. 
 
 Robertson of Inshes, 453. 
 
 John, schoolmaster in Inverness, 
 
 viii, 349. 
 
 Munro, 231. 
 
 William, factor in London for 
 
 Polonian Scots, 428. 
 
 Robruh, Hen., 293. 
 
 Rockby, Thomas, secretary at Inver- 
 ness citadel, 415^ 
 
 Rodardus of Moffan, 33. 
 
 Roklay, Jo., x. 
 
 Rolland, a general of William the Lion, 
 48. 
 
 John, 154. 
 
 Rollock, sir William, 286, 305. 
 
INDEX 
 
 55S 
 
 Rood Pool, 54 and n, 
 Rosemarkie, xli. 
 Roskeen, ii6, 120, 289. 
 Roslin, battle of, 66, 71, 76, 326. 
 Ross, earldom of, iii. 
 
 earl of, 55, 272. 
 
 of Ballnagown, 141, 202, 224, 268, 
 
 . 271, 278, 283, 284, 454, 471, 481, 
 
 506, 508. 
 
 of Invercharran, 454, 473. 
 
 of Kilravock, 255, 264, 506. 
 
 Alexander, son of Hugh, earl of 
 
 Ross, 83. 
 
 of Ballnagown, 11 4- 115. 
 
 minister at Daviot, 424. 
 
 in Dalcross, 153, 154. 
 
 468, 469. 
 
 Andrew, 82. 
 
 — Anna, daughter of Invercharran, 
 
 119. 
 
 D., of Balnagown, 256, 424. 
 
 Donald, deposed, 344. 
 
 Elspit, 116. 
 
 Farqhuar, earl of, 81. 
 
 Hugh, earl of, 76, 77-80, 82, 83. 
 
 of Geddas, 64. 
 
 in Feme, 118. 
 
 Janet, daughter of Hugh Rosse in 
 
 Fern, 118. 
 r- second wife of Hugh Fraser, 
 
 loth of Lovat, 129, 136, 140, 142, 
 
 146, 148, 151. 
 
 John, in Ballivet, 116, 
 
 master mason, 266. 
 
 Julia, wife of Simon, 3rd lord 
 
 Fraser of Lovat, 78-81. 
 Katharin, lady Moynes, wife of 
 
 Simon Fraser, 13th of Lovat, 248, 
 
 254, 277. 
 
 Nicolas, commandant of Fern, 
 
 151* 153, 154. 
 
 Thomas, deposed, 344. 
 
 Walter, of Balnagown, 129. 
 
 William, of Balnagown, 156. 
 
 • of Clavah, 261, 262, 454. 
 
 deposed, 344. 
 
 115- 
 
 provost, 454. 
 
 Rosses, 226, 229, 272, 273, 294, 295, 
 313. 378. 
 
 of Balnagown, 252. 
 
 Rothes, earl of, 374, 387, 391, 420. 
 Rothiemurchus castle, 287. 
 Rothsay, duke of, 90, 91. 
 Route, John, 192. 
 
 Row, John, mate of the Mary of Dun- 
 dee, 430. 
 
 Rowel, Peter, hanged for conspiring 
 against Cromwell, 403. 
 
 Roxburgh castle, 45. 
 Roxburgh, lady, daughter of the mar- 
 ques of Huntly, 433. 
 Rupert, prince, 459. 
 Rutherford, Mr., minister, 373. 
 Ruthven, in Badenoch, 225. 
 lord, 277. 
 
 Patrick, in Inverness, 430. 
 
 St. Andrews, 392; meeting of general 
 assembly at, 274 ; convention of 
 estates, 304. 
 
 abbey, 43, 48. 
 
 university, 92, 260. 
 
 St. Brid's church burnt by Donald of 
 the Isles, 108. 
 
 St. Clair. See Sinclair. 
 
 St. Colm, monastery of, 43. 
 
 lord, 214. 
 
 St. John, chief justice, English ambas- 
 sador to Holland, 377, 378. 
 
 St. John the Baptist's crofts, 237. 
 
 St. Jones, Oliver, 394. 
 
 St. Tyre's chapel, conflict between 
 clan Gun and the Bethes at, 113. 
 
 Salmon fishings of Beuly, 250, 345. 
 
 Salton, lady, 220. 
 
 lord, 500, 514. 
 
 Sal way, major, 394. 
 
 Sample, Andrew, 242. 
 
 Sandilands, lord Torphichen, 237. 
 
 sir James, 216. 
 
 Sandwich, earl of, 420. 
 
 Sanset, battle of, 103. 
 
 Scone monastery, 43. 
 
 Scot, captain George, builds a large 
 ship at Inverness, xii, 297. 
 
 John, son of captain George, xii. 
 
 major John, governor of Braan 
 
 castle, 332, 346, 384. 
 
 colonel WilHam, afterwards vice- 
 admiral of the Venetian fleet, 298 
 and n. 
 
 William, minister of Strichen, 
 
 Scots college at Douay, xni, 
 Scotsmen in London, 427-428. 
 Scottish pedigrees, antiquity of, 14. 
 Scrabster, 481. 
 
 Scrimger, origin of the name of, 37. 
 
 Ja., killed by lord Cranston, 443. 
 
 wife of William Fraser, 94. 
 
 Scriptum Bmtchrivia, 3. 
 
 Scroop, major, 382. 
 
 Seaforth, Barbara, countess of, 471. 
 
 Colin, earl of, 247, 251, 264. 
 
 George, earl of, 255, 288, 294, 
 
 318, 319, 325, 334, 341,451. ^ 
 Kenneth, earl of, 395, 408, 416, 
 
554 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 421, 439» 447, 449, 4$^, 455^ 45^, 
 469, 47 5 » 480, 498, 501, 506, 508. 
 Seaton, lord, 301. 
 
 • Alexander, merchant in Elgin, 
 
 490. . 
 
 sir James, governor of Tantallon 
 
 castle, 377. 
 
 Second ^ight, xxxi, 285, 308. 
 
 Shaep, Catz, Dutch ambassador, 397. 
 
 Sharp, James, archbishop of St. An- 
 drews, 392, 444, 445 ; poem on, 486. 
 
 Shaw, John, gentleman of the king's 
 guard, killed by the earl of Both- 
 well, 217. 
 
 captain, killed at Aldern, 296 n. 
 
 Sherer, lieutenant, 378. 
 
 Sheuzan, Mr., ribbon weaver in Lon- 
 don, 428., 
 
 Mr., taverner in London, 429. 
 
 Shipwrecks, 493, 498. 
 
 Shives, Tommy, 31 1. 
 
 Sholes, John, a quack physician, 
 xxxviii, 258. 
 
 Shrewsberry, earl of, 385. 
 
 Sibajd, Mr., minister, taken prisoner 
 at Carbisdale, 352. 
 
 colonel, 351, 366. 
 
 Sibilla, queen, 44. . 
 
 Sidden, sir Ralph, of Dalavil, 323. 
 
 Sidney, sir Robert, English ambas- 
 sador, 210. 
 
 Sidserfe. See Sydserf. 
 
 Sim, Alexander, commissar, 155. 
 
 Sinclair, lord, 277, 391, 420, 476. 
 
 Anna, 97, 119. 
 
 George, master of Berridell, 264, 
 
 274. 
 
 — — - Henry, bishop of Rosse, 128, 
 146. . 
 
 killed at Aid Gawn, 203. 
 
 John, master of Caithness, 158, 
 
 .159. 
 
 sir John, of Dunbeath, 284, 285 ; 
 
 his death, 395. 
 
 William, bishop of Galloway, 73. 
 
 . sir William, 76, 78. 
 
 Will., constable of Dingwall 
 
 castle, 97, 124. 
 
 captain, 39. 
 
 castle, 421. 
 
 Sinclairs, 39, 378. 
 
 Skibo (Sibol) castle, 112. 
 
 Skinner, Robert, bishop of Oxford, 
 
 426. 
 
 Slaines, house of, 229. 
 
 Sloan, Euphem, wife of John Eraser, 
 
 . lord of Twedale, 51. 
 
 Margret, wife of John Eraser, lord 
 
 Twadall, 37. 
 
 Smith, Edam, master of musicians in 
 Murray, 453. 
 
 Glashen Gow, III-II2. 
 
 sir John, 350. 
 
 Solemn League and Covenant, 273 ; re- 
 monstrance against, 318; burnt at 
 the cross of Edinburgh, 433. 
 
 Sonds, Freeman, killed by his brother, 
 413. 
 
 Southesk, Davixi, earl of, xxiv, 355, 
 365, 366. 
 
 Sower, Jean, heretrix of Glenugh, 64. 
 Sowles, governor of Nairn castle, 43, 
 59- 
 
 Spalding abbey, 413. 
 
 Spanish blanks, 225. 
 
 Spanzadell, 100, loi. 
 
 Spaw of York, 473. 
 
 Spence, John, chaplain to Lovat, 245. 
 
 Spencer, T., killed by the first of the 
 
 Hamiltons, 74. 
 Spens, sir James, of Wormiston, 239, 
 
 240. 
 
 Spense, James, servitor, 196. 
 Spiny, lord, taken, prisoner at Wor- 
 cester, 387, 391. 
 
 castle, 261. 
 
 Spires, xiii. 
 
 Sport in the Highlands, . xxi, xxxix, 
 129, 257, 258, 278, 465, 483. 
 
 Spotswood, sir John, yr. of Darcy, his 
 execution, 366. 
 
 sir Robert, 304. 
 
 Spuner, captain Henry, 415. 
 
 Stanhop, lord, 412. 
 
 Stanmoor, monument at, erected by 
 
 Malcolm iii., 35-36. 
 Stawel, sir John, 382. 
 Stephen, king of England, 45. 
 Stewart of Appin, sudden death of, 341. 
 
 Alexander. See Buchan, earl of. 
 
 See Mar, earl of. 
 
 — bishop of Murray, 146. 
 
 Andrew, bishop of Caithness, 158. 
 
 Duncan, son of the earl of Buchan, 
 
 90. . 
 lady Elisabeth, daughter of John, 
 
 earl of Athol, and wife of Hugh 
 
 Eraser, i;2th of Lovat, 156, 161, 178- 
 
 182, 195, I97» 221. 
 
 lady Henrietta, xxxiv, 452. 
 
 of Kilcopy, 108. 
 
 sir James, chancellor, created lord 
 
 Arran, ^.z;.. 
 
 provost of Edinburgh, 373. 
 
 lady Jean, daughter of lord Doune 
 
 and wife of Simon, lord Lovat, xxxiv, 
 
 223-225, 234, 235, 241, 245, 246, 
 
 513. 
 
INDEX 
 
 555 
 
 Stewart, John, 123, 144. 
 
 Dow, 180. 
 
 Margaret, wife of Simon, lord 
 
 Fraser, 51. 
 
 lady Duffus, 474. 
 
 sir Walter, possessor of the isle of 
 
 Bute, 42. 
 
 Walter, minister at south Ronald- 
 say, 274. 
 
 sir William, of Caverston, 195. 
 
 colonel William, 216, 239. 
 
 — — castle, 451. 
 
 Stewarts, 313. 
 
 — — ■ of Appin, 325., 
 
 Stirling castle, 72 ; surrender of, 392. 
 
 Stockfoord of Ross, 163, 176 and n, 
 
 316, 450. 
 Stonehaven (Stanhiv), 77, 331, 350. 
 Strachan, sir James, of Thorntoun, 
 
 ^ parson of Keith, 488, 505, 519. 
 John, regent of King's college, 
 
 . Aberdeen, 365. 
 
 colonel, 339, 352, 353, 367, 371, 
 
 372. 
 
 Strachin, 187, 191, 238, 460, 495. 
 
 Strafford, earl of, 363. 
 
 Stran, Mack Robert, a robber in 
 
 Badenoch, xxix, 129. 
 Strang, Daniel, 196. 
 
 David, writer, 196. 
 
 Stratchhalvy, 6f. 
 Stratchounin, 185. 
 S^athardel, 84,. 85. 
 
 Stratharick, 108, 109, no, 124, 144, 
 146, 147, 179, 184, 253, 255, 256, 
 279, 292, 498. 
 
 Strathbogy, 92, 170, 226, 291. 
 
 castle of, 229, 297, 312, 318, 332. 
 
 StrathbOickle, 485. 
 
 Strathbrock (Strackbock), Robert, 
 
 bishop of Caithness, 105. 
 Strath Brorah, 132. 
 Strathcharron, 114. 
 Strathdee, 215. 
 
 Strathfleet, in Sutherland, Macdonalds 
 
 defeated at, 113. 
 Strathgate, 302. 
 
 Strathglass (Strathglaish), xxii, 96, 99, 
 ^ 179, 184 and n, 253, 407, 416, 454. 
 Strathnaver, 87, 100-102, 125, « 142, 
 143, 158, 220, 229, 480, 482, 493. 
 
 ^ lord, 482. 
 
 Strathoikell, 114. 
 Strathspey, 256. 
 Strathuillie, 209. 
 Stratton, Arthur, 428. 
 Strickland, sir Walter, English ambas- 
 sador to Holland, 368, 377. 
 Struy, xvi, 485. 
 
 Stuart. See Stewart, 
 Sturgeons, 425, 443. 
 Sueno II., king of Norrowy, 40. 
 Sumerled, thain of Argile, insurrection 
 of, 47. 
 
 son of the preceding, 54. 
 
 Surnames, origin of, 8-9, 38. 
 Sutherland, Adam, earl of, 126, 132. 
 Alexander, earl of, 118, 157, 202, 
 
 203, 208-210. 
 
 of Duffus, 248, 366. 
 
 orMurray, Alexander, of Skelbow, 
 
 87. 
 
 Alexander, 126. 
 
 Anna, countess of, 424. 
 
 Elisabeth, countess of, 126. 
 
 James, 475, 478. 
 
 John, earl of, 112, 114, 118, 132, 
 
 142, 157, 260, 272, 273, 278, 283, 
 
 284, 351. 394, 439, 451, 471, 481- 
 
 John, 209, 444. 
 
 Margret, countess of, 75. 
 
 Nicolas, of Florie, 210. 
 
 Robert, earl of, 87, lOi. 
 
 brother of John, earl of 
 
 Sutherland, 113, I14. 
 
 William, earl of, 79. 
 
 master of Duffus, 443. 
 
 Sweden and Holland recognise the 
 
 Commonwealth, 398. 
 Swedish wars, recruiting for, 255. 
 Swinton, 372, 373. 
 
 Sydenham, major, killed at Lmlithgow, 
 
 381. = . 
 Sydserf, Thomas, bishop of Orkney. 
 
 446. 
 
 son of precedmg, 427. 
 
 Symington, 220. 
 
 Symmer, Alexander, parson of Duffus, 
 
 xviii, 354, 484 ih 505- 
 — — Margaret, wife of James Fraser, 
 
 author of the Polichronicon, xviii/ 
 
 484 11. 
 
 Sympkins, captain, executed, 393. 
 Sympson, Janet, wife of Andrew Fraser 
 in Fern, 119. 
 
 Tain (Thane), 77, 83, loi. 
 
 Talbot, lord, 385. 
 
 Tantallan castle, 376, 377, 421. 
 
 Tarnway, 105, 212, 213, 218, 219, 224, 
 
 451, 452, 461. 
 Tarradale, 61. 
 
 Tar ras^. James, chaplain at Lovat, 255, 
 
 265, 268. 
 Taylifers from France, 36. 
 Taylor, John, the water poet, 362. 
 I merchant in Inverness, 477* ' 
 
556 
 
 POLICHRONICON 
 
 Taylor, Kate, 262* 
 
 captain, 401. 
 
 Teawigg, 249. 
 Thirlestan, lord, 220. 
 Thomas, 62. 
 
 Thomas the Rhymer, 296, 338, 356. 
 
 Roy Macvaister, illegitimate son 
 
 of Hugh, 8th of Lovat, 1 10. 
 — — vickean vick Allister, 97. 
 Thomason, priest, 146. 
 Thomson, John, of Springfield, xix. 
 Thomsons, 185. 
 
 Throgmorton, sir William, 386. 
 Thunderstorms, 454, 461, 492. 
 Thurslo, William, master of the Mary 
 
 of Dundee, 94, 430. 
 Thushes, no. 
 Tichburn, alderman, 394. 
 Tidings, William, notar publict, 152. 
 Tildslay, major-general, sir Thomas, 
 
 386. 
 Tilting, 458. 
 
 Tippermuir, battle of, 287, 330. 
 
 Titus, captain, 365, 385. 
 
 Tochens lands, 191. 
 
 Tommich, 424, 468, 496, 501, 515. 
 
 Tomnahurich, xxiv, xl, 122, 172, 174, 
 
 247, 296, 446, 449. 
 Tomson, Arthur M'Kchnun, barren of 
 
 Farnway, 60. 
 Tool, colonel, 404. 
 Torbreck, viii, xix. 
 Torkil clan, 40, 41. 
 Torrandow, battle of, 126, 127. 
 Torwood, xxiv, 380, 383, 458. 
 Totti, count, 523. 
 Trail, Dr., in Heidleberg, 504. 
 Walter, archbishop of St. 
 
 Andrews, 91. 
 Traquair, John, earl of, 273, 476. 
 Trent, William, 428, 430, 478. 
 
 Mr., merchant in Inverness, 485. 
 
 Trey, John, his book on the Trinity 
 
 ordered to be burnt, 375. 
 Trollop, major, 386. 
 Trump, admiral van, 365, 397, 399, 
 
 401. 
 
 Tuittim-Tarvach, battle of, 87-88, 
 100. 
 
 Tuke, collonel, 335. 
 Tullibardine, lord, 225, 226. 
 Tulloch of Tannachy, 313, 354. 
 Anna, 440. 
 
 ■ Thomas, bishop of Ross, 93. 
 
 William, bishop of Orkney, 122. 
 
 provost of Nairn, 354. 
 
 house of, 129. 
 
 Turnbull, Jean, 466. 
 Turner, sir James, 463. 
 
 Twedall, lands of, gifted to John Fraser, 
 37- 
 
 Twiss, William, prolocutor, 293. 
 Tyrebeger hill, 263. 
 
 Udny, 495. 
 
 Ulster (Aulster), Haymerus de Burk, 
 
 earl of, 75. 
 Unapool ferry, Kylesku, 406 n. 
 Union of England and Scotland, 394, 
 
 397, 410. 
 
 Universities visited and purged, 350. 
 Urchany, 184. 
 Urquhart, 176, 179. 
 — — castle, 67. 
 
 Alexander killed by Donald 
 
 Mckwilliam, 256. 
 Elisabeth, the goodwife of Struy, 
 
 234. 
 
 sir John, of Cromarty, 464, 471, 
 
 501, 506, 508. 
 Usher, James, archbishop of Armagh, 
 
 his death, 411. 
 
 Valentin, Ailmer, 68. 
 Vane (Vain), sir Henry, 394. 
 Vaughan, colonel, 371. 
 Vaus, John, of Lochslin, 115. 
 
 Thomas, 115. 
 
 See also Waus. 
 Veiner, sir Robert, lord mayor of 
 
 London, 405, 523. 
 Vines, sir Thomas, lord mayor of 
 
 London, 401. 
 Voyan, colonel, 371. 
 
 Wait, Will., xii, xiii, 429. 
 captain, 429. 
 
 Wallace, Anna, wife of John Fraser of 
 
 Fruidt, 116, 119. 
 
 Robert, bishop of the Isles, 446. 
 
 sir William, 65-67 ; betrayed and 
 
 executed, 69. 
 Walter, Stuart of Scotland, 75. 
 Wane, George, 502. 
 Wans, James, minister of Croy, 424. 
 Wardlaw, 60, 61 and n, 183, 249, 314, 
 
 346, 516. See also Kirkhill. 
 Warner, John, bishop of Rochester, 
 
 427. 
 
 Warren, William, earl of, 45. 
 Warrington, parliamentary forces de- 
 feated at, 385. 
 Watertoun, 219. 
 Waus, Jespart, 153. 
 
 sir Thomas, 79. 
 
 See also Vaus. 
 Weemes, origin of the family of, 42. 
 of Fernies, 260. 
 
INDEX 
 
 55T 
 
 Weemes, Alexander, thane of Fife, 63. 
 Anna, wife of Simon Fraser 2nd 
 
 of Lovat, 65, 77. 
 Beatrix, wife of sir James Fraser, 
 
 260, 379, 394. 
 
 David, earl of, 421, 460. 
 
 Isabel!, wife of Hugh, master of 
 
 Lovat, 242, 246, 249, 258, 271. 
 John, earl of, 242, 255, 259, 274, 
 
 276, 277, 322, 324, 325, 378, 379, 
 
 394. 
 
 Wellhouse spring runs with blood, 291 
 and n. 
 
 Wentworth, lord, 336, 385. 
 
 Whales, captures of, xxx-xxxi and «, 
 
 290, 291, 425, 443, 449. 
 Whaly, colonel, 367, 369. 
 Whit, John, in Beuly, 249, 250. 
 White, William, 440, 448, 457. 
 Whitgraves, Mr., 389. 
 Wick (Weeke), 209. 
 Wild, barren, 385. 
 Wildman, major, 410, 
 Wilks, captain John, 415. 
 William of Malmsbury, 9. 
 
 the Conqueror, 38. 
 
 Rufus, 38, 39. 
 
 the Lion, 45, 48, 50, 53. 
 
 Williamson, Anna, 118. 
 
 John, the first of the Douglasses, 
 
 71. 
 
 Fraser, 144. 
 
 sir Joseph, 522, 523. 
 
 Wilmot, lord, 336, 385, 389-391. 
 
 Wilson, James, in Dundee, 430. 
 
 Windham, colonell, 390. 
 
 Windrington, lord, 386. 
 
 Winraham of Liberton, 349, 350, 370. 
 
 Wishart, Dr. George, Life of Mon- 
 trose, 363. 
 
 William, bishop of Edinburgh, 
 
 445- 
 
 Witchcraft, xxxii, 446 and n. 
 Wogoun, colonel, 385. 
 Wolves in Mount Capplach, xxxviii, 
 no. 
 
 Wood of Bonnytoun, 226. 
 
 captain Andrew, drowned in the 
 
 Findhorn, 345. 
 
 James, bishop of Ross, 105 and n. 
 
 preacher, accompanies Mon- 
 trose to France, 331. 
 
 captain, killed at Aldern, 296. 
 
 Worcester, battle of, xxv, 386. 
 
 Wren, Dr. Mathew, bishop of Here- 
 ford, 426. 
 
 Wright's Elenchus Motuum Nuperorum 
 
 in Anglia, 382. 
 Wulson. See Wilson. 
 
 Yeoman, John, merchant in Dundee, 
 
 251, 254. 
 Yester, lord, 374. 
 
 York, duke of, 368, 377i 409» 4ii> 432, 
 459, 523- 
 
 Printed by T. and A. Constable, Printers to His Majesty 
 at the Edinburgh University Press 
 
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 PUBLICATIONS 
 
 In preparation. 
 Justiciary Court Proceedings, 1661-78. Vol. ii. 
 Macfarlane's Topographical Collections. Vol. ii. 
 
 StATUTA EcCLESIiE ScOTICANiE, 1225-1556. Vol. II. 
 
 The House Books of Accompts^ Ochtertyre, 1737-39- Edited, 
 from the original MS., in possession of Sir Patrick Keith 
 Murray, by James Colville, D.Sc. 
 
 Sir Thomas Craig's De Unione Regnorum Britanni^e. Edited, 
 with an English Translation, by David Masson, LL.D. 
 
 Records relating to the Scottish Armies from 1638 to 1650. 
 Edited by C. Sanford Terry. 
 
 Analytical Catalogue of the Wodrow Collection of Manu- 
 scripts in the Advocates' Library. Edited by the Keeper 
 of the Library. 
 
 Charters and Documents relating to the Grey Friars and 
 the Cistercian Nunnery of Haddington. — Register of the 
 Monastery of Inchcolm. Edited by J. G. Wallace- 
 James, M.B. 
 
 Records of the Commissions of the General Assemblies (con- 
 tinued), for the years 1650-53. Edited by the Rev. James 
 Christie, D.D. 
 
 Register of the Consultations of the Ministers of Edinburgh, 
 and some other brethren of the ministry since the 
 interruption of the Assembly 1653, with other Papers of 
 PUBLIC concernment, 1 653-1 660. 
 
 Papers relating to the Rebellions of 1715 and 1745, with other 
 documents from the Municipal Archives of the City of Perth. 
 
 A Selection of the Forfeited Estates Papers preserved in 
 H.M. General Register House and elsewhere. Edited by 
 A. H. Millar. 
 
 A Translation of the Historia Abbatum de Kynlos of 
 
 Ferrerius, together with some inedited Letters of the 
 
 Author. By Archibald Constable, LL.D. 
 Rentale Sancti ANDREiE. The Household Book of Cardinal 
 
 Beaton, 1539-1545. Edited, from the MS. in the Advocates' 
 
 Library, by D. Hay Fleming, LL.D. 
 
DATE DUE 
 
 CAVLORO 
 
 PRINTED INU.S A. 
 
Bapst Library 
 
 Boston College 
 Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02167