Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 1

TOWN AND CATHEDRAL OF DORNOCH BURNT. 197
iiig to see Monroe in possession, and being desirous to get liold of tbe
castle themselves, they purchased Lesley's right, and, by virtue thereof,
demanded delivery of the castle. Monroe refused to accede to this de-
mand, on which the clan laid siege to the castle ; but Monroe defended
it for three years at the expense of many lives on both sides. It was
tlien delivered up to the Clan Kenzie under the act of pacification.*
No attempt was made by the earl of Sutherland, during his minority,
to recover his possessions from the earl of Caithness. In the meantime
the latter, disappointed and enraged at the escape of his destined prey
vexed and annoyed still farther the partisans of the Sutherland family.
In particular, he directed his vengeance against the Murrays, and made
vV'illiam Sutherland of Evelick, brother to the Laird of Dufius, appre-
nend John Croy-Murray, under the pretence of bringing him to justice.
This proei'i^ding roused the indignation of Hugh Murray of Aberscors,
who assembled his friends, and made several incursions upon the lands
uf Evelick, Pronsies, and Iliercher. They also laid waste sevei'al vil-
lages belonging to the Lain! of Du'fus, from which they carried off some
booty, and apprehending a gentleman of the Sutlierlands, they detained
him as an hostage for the safety of John Croy-Murray. U|)on this the
Laird of Dutfiis collected all his kinsmen and friends, together with the
Siol-Pliaill at Skibo, and proceeded to the town of Dornoch, with the in-
tention of burning it. But the inhabitants, aided by the Murrays, went
out to meet the enemy, whom they courageously attacked and over-
threw, and pursued to the gates of Skibo. Besides killing several
of Duffus' men they made some prisoners, whom thej' exchanged for
John Croy-Murray. This affair was called the skirmish of Torran-Roy.
The Laird of Duffus, who was father-in-law to the earl of Caitfmess,
and supported him in all his plans, immediately sent notice of this disas-
ter to the earl, who without delay sent his eldest son, John, Master of
Caithness, with a large party of countrymen and friends,- including
Y-Mackay and his countrymen, to attack the Murrays in Dornoch.
They besieged the town and castle, which were both manfidly defended
by the Murrays and their friends; but the Master of Caithness, favoured
by the darkness of the night, set fire to the cathedral, the steeple
of which, however, was preserved. After the town had been reduced,
the Master of Caithness attacked the castle and the steeple of the church,
mto which a body of men had thrown themselves, botli of which held
out for the space of a week, and would probably have resisted much
longer, but for the interference of mutual friends of the parties, by whose
mediation the Murrays surrendered the castle and the sieeple of the
church; and as hostages for the due performance of other conditions,
they delivered up Thomas Murray, son of Houeheon Murray of Aberscors,
Houcheon Murray, son of Alexander Mac -Sir -Angus, and John
Murraj-, son of Thomas Murray, the brother of John Murray of Aber-
• Sir U. Gcrcloii, p, tSo.