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ochslinn； his uncles； young Tarbat； Rory of Davochmaluag； Kenneth of Coul； Hector of Fairburn； and several others； but the Kintail men； when called upon； made a demur and declined to rise with him； because he was but a child； and that his father； their master； was in life； without whom they would not move； since the King； if he had use for him and for his followers； might easily bring him home。〃 ＇Ardintoul MS。＇
Kenneth； like his father in later years； became identified with the fate of Charles II。； and devoted himself unremittingly to the services of that monarch during his exile。 From his great stature he was known among the Highlanders as 〃Coinneach Mor。〃 On the arrival of the King at Garmouth； in June； 1650； his reception throughout all Scotland was of a most cheering character； but the Highlanders； who always favoured the Stuarts； were specially joyous on the return of their exiled king。 After the defeat by Oliver Cromwell of the Scottish army at Dunbara defeat brought about by the interference of the Committee of Estates and the Kirk with the duties of those in charge of the forces； and whose plans； were they allowed to carry them out； would have saved Scotland from the first great defeat it had ever received at the hands of an enemythe King resolved to come north and throw himself upon the patriotism and loyalty or his Highland subjects。 He was； however； captured and taken back to Perth； and afterwards to Edinburgh； by the Committee of Estates； on whom； it is said； his attempted escape to the Highlands 〃produced a salutary effect；〃 and they began to treat him with some respect； going the length even of admitting him to their deliberations。 A large number of the Highlanders were already in arms to support him； but the Committee； having the King in their power； induced him to write to the Highland chiefs requesting them to lay down their arms。 This they refused； and to enforce the King's orders a regiment； under Sir John Drown； was despatched to the North； but it was surprised and defeated on the night of the 21st of October by Sir David Ogilvy of Airley。 On receiving this intelligence； General Leslie hastened north with a force of 3000 cavalry。 General Middleton； who supported the King's friends in the Highlands； and who was then at Forfar； hearing of Leslie's advance； forwarded him a letter containing a copy of a bond and oath of engagement which had been entered into by Huntly； Athole； the Earl of Seaforth； and other leading Highland chiefs； by which they had pledged themselves on oath to join firmly and faithfully together； and 〃neither for fear； threatening； allurement； nor advantage； to relinquish the cause of religion； of the king； and of the kingdom； nor to lay down their arms without a general consent； and as the best undertakings did not escape censure and malice； they promised and swore； for the satisfaction of all reasonable persons； that they would maintain the true religion； as then established in Scotland； the National Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant； and defend the person of the King； his prerogative； greatness； and authority； and the privileges of parliament； and the freedom of the subject。〃 Middleton pointed out that the only object of himself and friends was to unite the Scots in the defence of their common rights； and that； as would be seen from this bond； the grounds on which they entered into association were exactly the same as those professed by Leslie himself。 Considering this； and seeing that the independence of Scotland was at stake； he urged that all Scotsmen should join for the preservation of their common liberties。
Middleton proposed to join Leslie； to place himself under his command； and expressed a hope that he would not shed the blood of his countrymen nor force them to shed the blood of their bethren in self…defence。 These communications ended in a treaty between Leslie and the leading Royalists at Strathbogie； dated 4th November； by which Middleton and his followers received an indemnity； and laid down their arms。 ＇Balfour； vol； iv。； p。 129。 Highland Clans； p。 285＇
Immediately after the battle of Worcester； at which Charles was defeated by Cromwell in 1651where we find among those present Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine as one of the Colonels of foot for Inverness and Ross； and Alexander Cam Mackenzie； fourth son of Alexander； fifth of GairlochCharles fled to the Continent； and； after many severe hardships and narrow escapes； he found refuge in Flanders； where he continued to reside； often in great want and distress； until the Restoration； when in May； 1660； he returned to England 〃indolent； selfish； unfeeling； faithless； ungrateful； and insensible to shame or reproach。〃
The Earl of Cromarty says that subsequent to the treaty agreed upon between Middleton and Leslie at Strathbogie； 〃Seaforth joined the King at Stirling。
After the fatal battle of Worcester he continued a close prisoner until the Restoration of Charles。〃 He was excepted from Oliver Cromwell's Act of Grace and Pardon in 1654； and his estates were forfeited； without any provision being allowed out of it for his wife and family。 He supported the King's cause as long as there was an opportunity of fighting for it in the field； and when forced to submit to the opposing forces of Cromwell and the Commonwealth； he was committed to prison； where； with 〃much firmness of mind and nobility of soul；〃 he endured a tedious captivity for many。 years； until Charles II。 was recalled； when he ordered his old and faithful friend Seaforth to be released； after which he became a great favourite at his licentious and profligate Court。
During the remainder of his life little or nothing of any importance is known of him； except that he lived in the favour and merited smiles of his sovereign； in the undisputed possession and enjoyment of the extensive estates and honours of his noble ancestors； which； through his faithful adherence to the House of Stuart； had been nearly lost during the exile of the second Charles and his own captivity。 Referring to the position of affairs at this period； the Laird of Applecross says that the 〃rebels； possessing the authority； oppressed all the loyal subjects； and him with the first； his estate was over…burthened to its destruction； but nothing could deter him so as to bring him to forsake his King or his duty。 Whenever any was in the field for him； he was one； seconding that falling cause with all his power； and when he was not in the field against the enemy； he was in the prison by him until the restoration of the King。〃 Restored to liberty； he； on the 23d of April； 1662； received a Commission of the Sheriffship of Ross； which was afterwards renewed to him and to his eldest son Kenneth； jointly； on 31st of July； 1675； and when he had set his affairs in order at Brahan； he re…visited Paris； leaving his Countess Isobel； daughter of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat； and sister to the first Earl of Cromarty； in charge of his interests in the North。
Kenneth married early in life Isobel； daughter of Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat； father of George； first Earl of Cromarty； with issue
I。 Kenneth Og； his