Untitled

THE
CELTIC MAGAZINE.
No. XXXVII. NOVEMBER 1878. VOL. IV.
HISTORY OF THE CLAN MACKENZIE,
WITH GENEALOGIES OF THE PRINCIPAL FAMILIES.
BY THE EDITOR.
[CONTINUED.]
XV. KENNETH, third EARL OF SEAFORTH, was born at Brahan Castle
in 1635, and when he arrived at five or six years of age, his father placed
him under the care of the Rev. Earquhar MacRa, then minister of Kintail
and constable of Islandonan Castle, who kept a seminary in his house
attended by the sons of the neighbouring gentlemen who kept young Sea-
forth company.* He followed the example of his father in his latter days,
became entirely identified with the fate of Charles II., and devoted himself
unremittingly to the services of that monarch during his exile. Earl
Kenneth, from his great stature, was known among the Highlanders as
Coinneach MOT. On the King's arrival at Garmouth in June 1650 his
reception throughout the whole of Scotland was of a most cheering
character, but the Highlanders, who had always favoured the Stuarts,
were particularly joyous on the return of their exiled king. After
the defeat of the Scotch army by Cromwell at Dunbar a defeat
brought about entirely by the interference of the Committee of Estates
and Kirk with the duties of those who had charge of the forces, and whose
plans, were they allowed to carry them out, would have saved our country
from the first real defeat Scotland ever received at the hands of an
enemy the King determined to find his way north and throw himself
on the patriotism and loyalty of his Highland subjects. He was, however,
captured and taken back to Perth, and afterwards to Edinburgh, by
tiie Committee of Estates, on whom his attempted escape to the Highlands
" produced a salutary effect," when they began to treat him with
more respect, admitting him to their deliberations. A considerable num-
* The author of the Ardiatoul MS. writing on this subject, says : "This might be
thought a preposterous and wrong way to educate a nobleman, but they who would consider
where the most of his interests lay, and how he was among his people, followers,
and dependants, on which the family was still valued, perhaps will not think so, for by
this the young lord had several advantages ; first, by the wholesome, though not delicate
or too palatable diet he prescribed to him. and used him with, he began to have a
wholesome complexion, so nimble and strong, that he was able to endure stress and
fatigue, labour and travel, which proved very useful to him in his after life ; secondly,
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