Series 1 > Chronicles of the Frasers

POLICRATICA TEMPORUM
461
to digress off’ the rode, payed onely two visits, viz. one to
Janies, Earl of Finlater, at Cullen, and the other to Alexander,
Earl of Murray, att Tarnway; 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 Fraser of Beufort was married to Sybilla Thomas
M°kleod, be Mr. William Fraser, minister at Kiltarlity, being Girded,
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 J£neas Mackdonald,1 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.2 Himselfe dyed att London, and left the two
children to the tutelage off Sir James Mckdonel, who fostered
1 Donald Macdonald.
5 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.