[A1641/8/13]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
To his sacred majesty and estates of parliament, humbly means and shows your humble servants William MacIntosh of Torcastle and Lauchlan MacIntosh, my brother-german, for ourselves and in name of our kin and friends.
That where in the month of August or thereby 1640 certain of [MacDonald], laird of Glengarry's friends and kinsmen, sorners, thieves and oppressors, having come down to the bounds of Kilravock in Moray and there most thievishly and masterfully having taken away a great number of oxen, cattle and horses from the inhabitants of these bounds; and the gentlemen indwellers there having followed the rogues for recovery of the plunder so taken away, it fortuned that certain of our friends and kinsmen (as good countrymen and hating such wild robbery and wickedness) did concur with the remainder in the pursuit and following of the chase. In the which it so happened and fell out that there were two of these rogues and robbers killed, which act, notwithstanding that it was warrantable both by God's law and by the laws of this country and kingdom as done against notorious sorners and thieves, yet [Angus MacDonald], laird of Glengarry, younger, and his friends were therewith so exasperated and enraged that, without any fear of God or respect to your majesty's royal authority, laws of the kingdom or regard to this honourable and great court of parliament now sitting, three of the old Laird of Glengarry's sons, accompanied with 80 or 100 of their accomplices, all equipped in fear of war with guns, pistols, bows, quivers, swords, shields and all other invasive weapons, came in a most barbarous, rude and tumultuous manner to the burgh of Inverness upon a Sunday (being 15 August), and there, out of a vindictive humour against us, forethought felony and premeditated malice, they cruelly set upon me, the said Lauchlan MacIntosh, being accompanied with nine or ten young men, my friends and kinsmen, shot 40 or 50 shot of gun at us, unmercifully killed outright two gentlemen, our friends, and hurt and wounded four or five others, and pressed to take my own life had not God and his providence protected me, the said Lauchlan. All which most barbarous, cruel and inhumane dealings we humbly represent to your royal majesty and honourable lordships' estates now convened, your serious consideration, humbly entreating that you will be pleased to take some such course therein as that we may be repaired in our loss and sufferings, and that the country may be freed and liberated in time coming of the forenamed murderers and sorners who as yet continue and persevere in their wicked insolencies, cruelties and oppressions. As also humbly entreating your sacred majesty and honourable lordships' estates of parliament to make fast and to detain here the foresaid young Laird of Glengarry, who is presently in this town, as he who is chief landlord and master to the foresaid murderers and villains and privy to their wicked and devilish plots and cruel malice against us. And your most sacred majesty's and honourable lordships' gracious answer most humbly we attend.