Untitled

THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
guish him from his father, and he at an early age discovered the benefits of
the faithful adherence of his father to the fortunes of Charles II. In 1678
we find his name among those chiefs who, by a proclamation issued on the
10th October of that year, were called upon to give bond and caution for
the security of the peace and quiet of the Highlands, which the leaders of
the clans were bound to give, not only for themselves but for all of their
name descended from their house. Notwithstanding all the laws and
orders hitherto passed, the inhabitants and broken men in the Highlands
were " inured and accustomed to liberty and licentiousness "
during the
late troubles and " still presumed to sorn, steal, oppress, and comit other
violences and disorders." The great chiefs were commanded to appear in
Edinburgh on the last Tuesday of February 1G79, and yearly thereafter on
the second Thursday of July, to give security, and to receive instructions
as to the peace of the . Highlands. To prevent any excuse for non-attendance,
they were declared free from caption for debt or otherwise while
journeying to and from Edinburgh, and other means were to be taken which
should be thought necessary or expedient until the Highlands would be
finally quieted, and " all these wicked, broken, and disorderly men utterly
rooted out and extirpated." A second proclamation was issued, in which
the lesser barons heads of the several branches of clans whose names
are given, were to go to Inverlochy by the 20th of November following,
as they are, by reason of their mean condition, not able to come in to
Edinburgh and find caution, and there to give in bonds and caution for
themselves, their men tenants, servants, and indwellers upon their lands,
and all of their name descended of their family, to the Earl of Caithness,
Sir James Campbell of Lawers, James Menzies of Culdares, or any two of
them. These lists are most interesting, showing, as they do, the chiefs who
were considered the great and lesser chiefs in those days. There are four
Mackenzies in the former but none in the latter.*
Kenneth was served heir male to his great-grandfather, Lord Mackenzie
of Kintail, in the lands in the Lordship of Ardmeanach and Earldom of
Eoss, on the 1st March 1681; was made a member of the Privy Council
by James II. on his accession to the throne in 1685 and chosen a Com-
;
panion of the most noble Order of the Thistle, on the revival of that
ancient order in 1687. The year after the Revolution, which finally and
for ever lost the British throne to the House of Stuart, Seaforth accompanied
his royal master to France, but when that unfortunate Prince returned
to Ireland in the following year to make a final effort for the recovery
of his kingdom, he was accompanied by Earl Kenneth. Here he
took part in the siege of Londonderry and other engagements, and as an
expression of gratitude, James created him Marquis of Seaforth, under
which dignity he repeatedly appears in different legal documents. This
well-meant and well-deserved honour canie too late in the falling fortunes
and declining powers of the ex-sovereign, and does little more than mark, the
sinkingmonarch's testimonial and confirmation of the steady adherence of the
chiefs of Clan Kenneth to the cause of the Stuarts. In Dundee's letter to
"
the Laird of Macleod," dated "Moy, June 23, 1689,"t in. which he details
* For full lists, see Antiquarian Notes, pp. 184 and 187.
t About this time Viscount Tarbat boasted to General Mackenzie of his great influence
with his countrymen, especially the Clan Mackenzie, and assured him "that