Ancient deeds and other writs in the Mackenzie-Wharncliffe charter-chest

MACKENZIE-WHARNCLIFFE DEEDS
estates and of his affairs, as will be seen hereafter in these Notes. He
died in Paris in 1701.
It is unnecessary to follow the history of the Earldom of Seaforth
farther or to say more regarding it than this, that had Sir George Mac-
kenzie's heirs-male not become extinct, they would have been entitled to
claim the Earldom of Seaforth, and would most probably have held it at
the present time.
It has already been explained that Sir George Mackenzie's father
was Simon Mackenzie of Lochslin.
Simon Mackenzie was twice married. His first wife was Eliza-
beth Bruce, daughter of the Rev. Peter Bruce, of Ferrar, Doctor
of Divinity, who was both principal of St. Leonard's College in
St. Andrews, and minister of the Church ot St. Leonard's in that
ancient university town. Dr. Bruce was ' a gentleman of great
learning,' and descended from a very ancient family — Bruce of Fingask,
in the county of Perth. He was a member of the famous Assembly
of the Church which met in Perth in 1618, when he supported the
passing of the ' Five Articles,' and acted as one of the Court of
High Commission in 1610 and 1619. He resigned the charge
of St. Leonard's in 1629 or 1630, aged sixty-three, ' Summa cum
pietatis et eruditionis laude.' It is evident from the notice of
Dr. Bruce, both in Scott's Fasti Ecclesiae Scotticanae and Calderwood's
History of the Church of Scotland, that while Dr. Bruce had supported
the ecclesiastical policy and schemes of James vi., he had done so
with good judgment and moderation, as well as with ability. Calder-
wood, whose views were strongly opposed to those of the Court, does
not disparage or find fault with Dr. Bruce. It may not be uninter-
esting to note that the ' Five Articles ' propounded by his Majesty,
which he earnestly urged the Church of Scotland to accept, were these :
(1) Kneeling in receiving the sacramental elements of bread and wine ;
(2) The establishment of five holy days, viz. the days of Christ's
Nativity, Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension, and of the Pentecost ;
(3) Episcopal confirmation; (4) Private baptism; and (5) Private
communion. 1
1 Simon Mackenzie's second wife was Agnes Fraser, daughter of Fraser of Culbockie (p. 39).
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