Note 106 — Chapter IV · Kenneth the Second—971–995.

Innes, Ap. 5. Wynton, bk. 6, c. 10. Fordun, l. 4, c. 36. Tigh. 995. The king’s visit to Fettercairn was probably a Cuairt or royal progress. The Prior of Lochleven merely says that Kenneth was slain by some members of his own court—the socii sui of Tighernach. Fordun, or rather perhaps Bowyer, names the assassins, Grim, the son of Kenneth MacDuff, and Constantine, the son of Culen, whilst he and Boece describe the machine which cost the king his life. It was as follows:—“In the middes of this hous was ane image of bras, maid to the similitude of Kenneth, with ane goldin apill in his hand, with sic ingine that als sone as any man maid him to throw this apill out of the hand of the image, the wrying of the samein drew all the tituppis of the crosbowis up at anis, and schot at him that threw the apill.” Bellenden’s Boece, bk. 11, c. 10.