gentlemen took their leave of him； he called the principal men of Kintail； Lochalsh； and Lochcarron together； who accompanied him to his forest of Monar； where they had a great and most solemn hunting day； and from Monar he would return to Chanonry about the latter end of July。〃 ＇Ardintoul MS。＇
He built the Castle of Brahan； which he thought of erecting where the old castle of Dingwall stood； or on the hill to the west of Dingwall； either of which would have been very suitable situations； but the Tutor who had in view to erect a castle where he afterwards erected Castle Leod； induced the Lord High Chancellor； Seaforth's father…in…law； to prevail upon him to build his castle upon his own ancient inheritance； which he subsequently did； and which was then one of the most stately houses in Scotland。 He also added greatly to the Castle of Chanonry； and 〃as be was diligent in secular affairs； so be and his lady were very pious and religious。〃 They went yearly to take the Sacraments from the Rev。 Thomas Campbell； minister of Carmichael； a good and religious man； and staid eight days with him； nor did their religion consist in form and outward show。 They proved its reality by their good works。 He had usually more than one chaplain in his house。 He provided the kirks of the Lewis without being obliged to do so； as also the five kirks of Kintail； Lochalsh； Lochcarron； Lochbroom； and Gairloch； all of which he was patron； with valuable books from London； the works of the latest and best authors； 〃whereof many are yet extant〃 He also laid the foundation for a church in Strathconan and Strathbran； of which the walls are 〃yet to be seen in Main in Strathconan； the walls being built above the height of a man above the foundation； and he had a mind to endow it had he lived longer。〃 He mortified 4000 merks for the Grammar School of Chanonry； and had several works of piety in his view to perform if his death had not prevented it。 The last time he went to Court some malicious person； envying his greatness and favour； laboured to give the King a bad impression of him； as if he were not thoroughly loyal； but the King himself was the first who told him what was said about him； which did not a little surprise and trouble the Earl； but it made no impression on the King； who was conscious and sufficiently convinced of his loyalty and fidelity。 After his return from Court his only son； Lord Alexander； died of smallpox at Chanonry； on the 3d of June； 1629； to the great grief of all who knew him； but especially his father and mother。 His demise hastened her death at Edinburgh； on the 20th February； 1631。 She was buried with her father at Fife on the 4th of March； after which the Earl contracted a lingering sickness； which； for some time before his death； confined him to his chamber； during which 〃he behaved most Christianly； putting his house in order； giving donations to his servants； etc。〃 He died at Chanonry on the 15th of April； 1633； in the 36th year of his age； and was buried there with his father on the 18th of May following； much lamented and regretted by all who knew him。 The King sent a gentleman all the way to Chanonry to testify his respect and concern for him； and to attend his funeral； which took place； on the date already stated； with great pomp and solemnity。 〃Before his death he called his successor； George of Kildene； to his bedside； and charged him with the protection of his family； but above all to be kind to his men and followers； for that he valued himself while he lived upon their account more than upon his great estate and fortune。〃 ＇Ardintoul； Letterfearn； and other Family MSS。＇ On the occasion of his last visit to London the King complimented him on being the best archer in Britain。
Colin married； first； Lady Margaret Seton； daughter of Alexander； Earl of Dunfermline； Lord High Chancellor of Scotland； with issue
I。 Alexander Lord Kintail； who died young。
II。 Anna； who married Alexander； second Lord Lindsay； who was created Earl of Balcarres by Charles II。 in 1651。 By him Lady Anna had two sons； Charles and Colin。 Charles succeeded his father； and died unmarried。 Colin then became third Earl； and married Jane； daughter of David； Earl of Northesk； by whom he had issue an only daughter； who married Alexander Erikine； third Earl of Kellie。 Secondly； the Earl of Balcarres married Jane； daughter of William； second Earl of Roxburgh； by whom he had an only daughter； who married John Fleming； sixth Earl of Wigton。 This Earl of Balcarres married a third time Margaret； daughter of James Campbell； Earl of Loudon； by whom he had two sons； Alexander and James。 Alexander succeeded his father； but died without issue； and was succeeded by James； fifth Earl of Balcarres； from whom the present line descends uninterruptedly； carrying along with it； in right of the said Anna Mackenzie； daughter of Colin； first Earl of Seaforth； first Countess of Balcarres； the lineal representation of the ancient House of Kintail。
Anna married； secondly； Archibald； ninth Earl of Argyll； beheaded in 1685； and died in 1706。
III。 Jean； who married John； Master of Berriedale； with issue； George； sixth Earl of Caithness； who died without issue in 1676。 She afterwards married Lord Duffus； with issue； and died in 1648。 His lordship died； as already stated； at Chanonry on the 15th of April； 1633； and was buried in the Cathedral Church of Fortrose in a spot chosen by himself。 His son； Lord Alexander； having died before his father； on the 3d of June； 1629； and Colin having had no other issue male； he was succeeded by his brother；
XIV。 GEORGE； SECOND EARL OF SEAFORTH；
THIRD LORD MACKENZIE OF KINTAIL； eldest son of Kenneth； the first Lord； by his second marriage。 During the life of his father and brother he was known as George Mackenzie of Kildun。 In 1633 he was 〃served heir male to his brother Colin； Earl of Seaforth； Lord Mackenzie of Kintail； in the lands and barony of Ellandonnan； including the barony of Lochalsh； in which was included the barony of the lands and towns of Lochcarron； namely； the towns and lands of Auchnaschelloch； Coullin； Edderacharron； Attadill； Ruychichan； Brecklach； Achachoull； Delmartyne； with fishings in salt water and fresh； Dalcharlarie； Arrinachteg； Achintie； Slumba； Doune； Stromcarronach； in the Earldom of Ross； of the old extent of ？3 6s 8d； and also the towns of Kisserin； and lands of Strome； with fishings in salt and fresh water； and the towns and lands of Torridan with the pertinents of the Castle of Strome； Lochalsh； Lochcarron； and Kisserin； including the davach of Achvanie； the davach of Achnatrait； the davach of Stromcastell； Ardnagald； Ardneskan； and Blaad； and the half davach of Sannachan； Rassoll； Meikle Strome； and Rerag； in the Earldom of Ross； together of the old extent of ？ 13s 4d。〃 ＇Origines Parochiales Scotiae； p。 401。＇ He was served heir male to his father Kenneth； Lord Mackenzie of Kintail； in the lands and barony of Pluscardine； on the 14th of January； 1620； and had charters of Balmungie and Avoch； on the 18th of July； 1635； of Raasay； on the 18th of February； 1637 and of Lochalsh； on the 4th of July； 1642。
His high position in the North； and his intimate friendship at this period with the powerful House of Sutherland； is proved by the fact that he and Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat； on the 2d of November； 1633； stood godfathers to George Gordon； second son of John； Earl of Sutherland； and there cannot be any doubt that to the influence of the latter must mainly be attributed Seaforth's vacillating conduct during the earlier years of the great civil wars which became the curse of Scotland for so many years after。 In 1635 the Privy Council； with the view of putting down the irregularities then prevalent in the Highlands； demanded securities from the chiefs of clans； heads of families； and governors of counties； in conformity with a general bond； previously agreed to； that they should be responsible for their clans and surnames； men…tenants； and servants。
The first called upon to give this security was the Earl of Huntly； then followed the Earls of Sutherland and Seaforth； and afterwards Lord Lorn and all the chiefs in the western and northern parts of the Kingdom。
In the following year the slumbering embers of religious differences broke out into a general blaze all over the country。 Then began those contentions about ecclesiastical questions； church discipline and liturgies； at all times fraught with the seeds of discontent and danger to the common weal； and which in this case ultimately led to such sad and momentous consequences as only religious feuds can。 Charles I。 was playing the despot with his subjects； not only in Scotland； but in England。
He was governing without a Parliament； defying and trying to crush the desires and aspirations of a people born to govern themselves and to be free。 His infatuated attempt to introduce the Liturgy of the Church of England into the Calvinistic and Presbyterian pulpits of Scotland was as insane as it was unavailing。 But his English as well as Scottish subjects were at the same time almost in open rebellion for their liberties。 He tried to put down the rising in Scotland by the sword； but his means and military skill were unequal to the task。 He failed to impose the English Liturgy on his Scottish subjects； but his attempt to do so proved the deliverance of his English subjects from high…handed tyranny。 It is only natural that in these circumstances Seaforth； though personally attached to the King； should be found on the side of the Covenant； and that he should have joined the Assembly； the clergy； and the nobles in the Protest； and in favour of the renewal of the Confession of Faith previously accepted and confirmed by James VI。 in 1580； 1581； and 1590； at the same time that these several bodies entered into a covenant or bond of mutual defence among themselves against all opposition from whatever source。
The principal among the Northern nobles who entered into this engagement were the Earls of Seaforth and Sutherland； Lord Lovat； the Rosses； Munroes； Grant of Grant； Mackintosh of Mackintosh； Innes； the Sheriff of Moray； Kilravoc