Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 3

THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 405
Therefore, we, with advice of the Lords of our Privy Council, has given
and granted our licence to our said cousin Colin, Lord of Kintail, and to
his friends, men, tenants, and servants to remain and bide at home frae
all osts, reeds, wars, assemblings, and gadderings to be made by George,
Marquis of Huntly, the Earl of Enzie, his son, or any other our Lieutenants,
Justices, or Commissioners, by sea or land, either for the pursuit of ^Ulan
Cameron of Lochiel and his rebellious complices, or for any other cause
or occasion whatsoever, during or within the time of our commission fore-
said granted against the Lews, without pain or danger to be incurred by
our said cousin the Lord of Kintail and liis friends in their persons, lands
or goods ; notwithstanding whatsoever our proclamation made or to be
made in the contrair whatever, and all pains contained in, we dispense
be their pretts, discharging hereby our Justices, Justice Clerk, and all our
Judges and ]\Iinisters of law, of all calling, accusing, or any way proceed-
ing against them for the cause aforesaid, and of their officers in that part.
" Given under our signet at Edinburgh, the llth day of September
1G14, and of our reign the 12th, and 48 years. Eead, passed, and allowed
in Council. All ; Conci-_ Hamilton, Glasgow, Lothian, Binning.
"(Signed) "Pkimerose."
Having procured this commission the Mackenzies were able to
devote their undivided attention to the Lews and their other affairs at
home, and from this period that island principality remained in the un-
disturbed possession of the noble fomily of Kintail and Seaforth, until, at
a later period, it was, through the misfortunes and extravagance of the
family during the rule of the " last of the Seaforths," sold to its present
owner. Sir James IMatheson of the Lews. The inhabitants -ever after
adhered most loyally to the illustrious house to whom they owed such
peace and prosperity as was never experienced in the history of the island.
The king's commission proved of incalculable benefit to Kintail ; for it
not only enabled him with the greater ease to pacify and establish good
order in the Lews, but at the same time it provided liim with undisturbed
security in his extensive possessions on the mainland at a time when the
most violent disorders prevailed over every other district of the West
Highlands and Islands.
Sir Eobert Gordon writing about this period, under the year 1477,
says* : — " From the mines of the familie of Clandonald, and some of the
neighbouring Hylanders, and also by their- own vertue, the surname of
the Clankenzie, from small beginnings, began to floorish in these bounds ;
and by the freindship and favor of the house of Southerland, chiefiie of
Earle John, fyfth of that name, Earle of Southerland (whose chamberlaiues
they wer, in receaveing the rents of the earledome of Eosse to his use) ther
estate afterward came to great height, yea above divers of ther more
auncient nighbors. The cheiif and head of the familie at this day is Colin
Mackenzie, Lord of Kyntale, now created Earle of Seaforth." If the
family became so powerful in 1477, what must we consider its position
under Lord Colin. The Earl of Cromarty informs us that " This Colin
was a noble person of ^drtuous indoAvments, beloved of all good men, espe-
cially his Prince." He acquired and settled the right of the superiority
of Moidart and Arisaig, the Captain of Clandonald's lands, which his
* Earldom of Sutherland, p. 77.