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About the year of God 1478, there was some dissention in Caithness
betwixt the Keiths and the Clan Gunn. A meeting was appointed for their
reconciliation, at the Chapel of St. Tayre, in Caithness, hard by
Girnigo, with twelve horse on either side. The Crowner (chieftain of
Clan Gunn) with the most part of his sons and chief kinsmen came to the
chapel, to the number of twelve; and, as they were within the chapel at
their prayers, the Laird of Inverugie and Ackergill arrived there with
twelve horse, and two men upon every horse; thinking it no breach of
trust to come with twenty-four men, seeing they had but twelve horses as
was appointed. So the twenty-four gentlemen rushed in at the door of the chapel, and invaded the Crowner and his company unawares; who, nevertheless, made great resistance. In the end the Clan Gunn were all slain, with the most of the Keiths. Their blood may be seen to this day [1764] upon the walls within the Chapel at St. Tyre, where they were slain. Afterwards William Mackames (the Crowner's grandchild) in revenge of his grandfather, killed George Keith of Ackergill and his son, with ten of their men, at Drummuie in Sutherland, as they were travelling from Inverugie into Caithness. |
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