by the Baron of Kintail - until he found opportunity again to take
the field against his enemies - has ever since been the unbroken
tradition in the Highlands, and it has always been handed down
from one generation to another as a proud incident in the history
of the clan. The Laird of Applecross, who wrote his manuscript
history of the Mackenzies in 1669, follows the earlier family
historians. He says that this Baron of Kintail "did own the
other party, and was one of those who sheltered the Bruce, and
assisted in his recovery. I shall not say he was the only one,
but this stands for that assertion that all who were considerable
in the Hills and Isles were enemies to the Bruce, and so cannot be
presumed to be his friends. The Earl of Ross did most unhandsomely
and unhumanly apprehend his lady at Tain and delivered her to the
English, anno 1305. Donald of the Isles, or Rotholl, or rather
Ronald, with all the Hebrides, armed against the Bruce and were
beat by Edward Bruce in Buchan, anno 1308. Alexander of Argyll
partied (sided with) the Baliol; his country, therefore, was wasted
by Bruce, anno 1304, and himself taken by him, 1309. Macdougall
of Lorn fought against the Bruce, and took him prisoner, from whom
he notably escaped, so that there is none in the district left
so considerable as this chief (Mackenzie) who had an immediate
dependence on the Royal family and had this strong fort, which was
never commanded by the Bruce's enemies, either English or Scots;
and that his shelter and assistance was from a remote place and
friend is evident from all our stories. But all their neighbours
being stated on a different side from the Mackenzies engendered a
feud betwixt him and them, especially with the Earl of Ross and
Donald of the Isles, which never ended but with the end of the
Earl of Ross and lowering of the Lord of the Isles." That this
is true will be placed beyond question as we proceed.