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e in the 〃males and proffitis of our landis of Braane and Moy； with ariage； cariage and vther pertinence thareof 。 for his gude and thankfull service done and to be done to us 。 and this on na wise ye leif vndone； as ye will incur our indignatioun and displesour。 This our letrez 。 efter the forme of our said vther letres past obefor； given vnder our signet at Edinburgh the fift day of Marche and of Regne the twenty yere。（Signed） James R。〃 In 1513 he received a charter under the great seal of the lands of Gairloch formerly granted him； with Glasletter and Coruguellen； with their pertinents。 ＇The original charter； the 〃protocol〃 from John Vass； the mandate to the Chamberlain of Ross； for copies of which we are indebted to Sir Kenneth S。 Mackenzie； Baronet； are in the Gaitloch Charter Chest； and the latter two will be found in extenso in the account of the Gairloch family later on。＇ Hector Roy's conduct towards John has been unfavourably criticised； but if it is kept in mind that no regular marriage ever took place between Kenneth a Bhlair and John's mother； Agnes of Lovat that their union was not recognised by the Church until 1491； if then； the same year in which Kenneth died it can easily be understood why Hector should conscientiously do what he probably held to be his duty…oppose John of Killin in the interest of those whom he considered the legitimate successors of Kenneth a Bhlair and his unfortunate son； Kenneth Og； to whom only； so far as we can discover； Hector Roy was appointed Tutor； for when his brother； Kenneth a Bhlair； died； there was every appearance that Hector's ward； Kenneth Og； would succeed when he came of age。 The succession of John of Killin was at most only a remote possibility when his father died； and therefore no Tutor to him would have been appointed。
In terms of an Act passed in 1496； anent the education of young gentlemen of note； John； when young； was sent by Hector Roy to Edinburgh to complete his education at Court。 He thus； in early life； acquired a knowledge of legal principles and practice of great service and value to him in after life； not only in the management of his own affairs； but in aiding his friends and countrymen in their peculiar difficulties by his counsel and guidance； and thus he secured such universal esteem and confidence as seldom fell to the lot of a Highland chief in that rude and unruly age。 The standard of education necessary at Court in those days must have been very different from that required in ours； for we find that； with all his opportunities； John of Killin could not write his own name。
To a bond in favour of the Earl of Huntly he subscribes； 〃Jhone M'Kenzie of Kyntaill； with my hand on the pen led by Master William Gordone； Notar。〃 Referring to the power of the House of Kintail at this period； and to the rapid advance made by the family under Alexander and his successors； we quote the following from a modern MS。 history of the family by the late Captain John Matheson of Bennetsfield：〃We must observe here the rapid advance which the family of Kintail made on every side。 The turbulent Macdonalds； crushed by the affair of Park； Munro； sustained by his own clan； and the neighbouring vassals of Ross humbled at their own door； when a century had not yet passed since the name of Mackenzie had become familiar to their ears； and it is gratifying to trace all this to the wise policy of the first James and his successors。 The judicious education of Alastair Ionraic； and consequent cultivation of those habits which； by identifying the people with the monarch through the laws； render a nation securely' great； is equally discernible in John of Killin and his posterity。 The successors of the Earls of Ross were turbulent and tenacious of their rights； but they were irreclaimable。
The youthful Lord of the Isles； at the instigation of his haughty mother； deserted the Court of James I。； while young Kintail remained； sedulously improving himself at school in Perth； till he was called to display his gratitude to his Royal master in counteracting the evil arising from the opposite conduct of Macdonald。 Thus； by one happy circumstance； the attention of the King was called to a chieftain who gave such early promise of steady attachment； and his future favour was secured。 The family of Kintail was repeatedly recognised in the calendar of the Scottish Court； while that of the once proud Macdonalds frowned in disappointment and barbarous independence amidst their native wilds； while their territories； extending beyond the bounds of good government and protection； presented gradually such defenceless gaps as became inviting and easily penetrable by the intelligence of Mackenzie； and Alastair Ionraic acquired a great portion of his estates by this legitimate advantage； afterwards secured by the intractable arrogance of Macdonald of Lochalsh and the valour and military capacity of Coinneach a Bhlair。〃 In 1513 John of Killin is found among those Highland chiefs summoned to rendezvous with the Royal army at Barrow Moor preparatory to the fatal advance of James IV。 into England； when the Mackenzies； forming with the Macleans； joined that miserably…arranged and ill…fated expedition which terminated so fatally to Scotland on the disastrous field of Flodden； where the killed included the King； with the flower of his nobility； gentry； and even clergy。 There was scarcely a Scottish family of distinction that did not lose at least one； and some of them lost all the male members who were capable of bearing arms。 The body of the King was found； much disfigured with wounds； in the thickest of the slain。 Abercromby； on the authority of Crawford； includes； in a list of those killed at Flodden； 〃Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail； ancestor to the noble family of Seaforth。〃 This is an undoubted error for it will be seen that John； not Kenneth was chief at the time of Flodden。 It was he who joined the Royal army； accompanied by his brave and gallant uncle； Hector Roy of Gairloch and it is established beyond dispute that though almost all their followers fell； both John and Hector survived and returned home。 They； however； narrowly escaped the charge of Sir Edward Stanley in rear of the Highlanders during the disorderly pursuit of Sir Edward Howard； who had given way to the furious and gallant onset of the mountaineers。
John was made prisoner； but afterwards escaped in a very remarkable manner。 When his captors were carrying him and others of his followers to the south； they were overtaken by a violent storm which obliged them to seek shelter in a retired house occupied by the widow of a shipmaster。 After taking up their quarters； and； as they thought； providing for the safe custody of the prisoners； the woman noticed that the captives were Highlanders； and； in reference to the boisterous weather raging outside； she； as if unconsciously； exclaimed； 〃The Lord help those who are to…night travelling on Leathad Leacachan。〃 The prisoners were naturally astonished to hear an allusion； in such a place； to a mountain so familiar to them in the North Highlands； and they soon obtained an opportunity； which