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 their hostess appeared most anxious to afford them, of questioning her regarding her acquaintance with so distant a place; when she told them that during a sea voyage she took with her husband, she had been taken so ill aboard ship that it was found necessary to send her ashore on the north west coast of Scotland, where, travelling with only a maid and a single guide, they were caught in a severe storm, and she was suddenly taken in labour. In this distressing and trying position a Highlander passing by took compassion upon her, and seeing her case so desperate, with no resources at hand, he, with remarkable presence of mind, killed one of his horses, ripped open his stomach, and taking out the bowels, placed her and the newly-born infant in their place, as the only effectual shelter from the storm. By this means he secured sufficient time to procure female assistance, and ultimately saved the woman and her child.

But the most remarkable part of the story remains to be told. The same person to whom she owed her preservation was at that moment one of the captives under her roof. He was one of Kintail's followers on the fatal field of Flodden. She, informed of his presence and of the plight he was in, managed to procure a private interview with him, when he amply proved to her, by more detailed reference to the incidents of their meeting on Leathad Leacachan, that he was the man - "Uisdean Mor Mac 'Ille Phadruig" - and in gratitude, she, at the serious risk of her own personal safety, successfully planned the escape of Hugh's master and his whole party. The story is given on uninterrupted tradition in the country of the Mackenzies; and a full and independent version in the vernacular of the hero's humane conduct on Leathad Leacachan will be found in the Celtic Magazine, vol. ii., pp. 468-9, to which the Gaelic reader is referred.

Gregory, p. 112, says: "Tradition has preserved a curious anecdote connected with the Mackenzies, whose young chief, John of Kintail, was taken prisoner at Flodden. It will be recollected that Kenneth Og Mackenzie of Kintail, while on his way to the Highlands, after making his escape from Edinburgh Castle, was killed in the Torwood by the Laird of Buchanan. The foster-brother of Kenneth Og was a man of the district of Kenlochewe, named Donald Dubh MacGillecrist vic Gillereoch, who with the rest of the clan was at Flodden with his chief. In the retreat of the Scottish army this Donald Dubh heard some one near him exclaiming, 'Alas, Laird! thou hast fallen.' On enquiry, he was told it was the Laird of Buchanan, who had sunk from his wounds or exhaustion. The faithful Highlander, eager to revenge the death of his chief and foster-brother, drew his sword, and, saying, 'If he has not fallen he shall fall,' made straight to Buchanan, whom he killed on the spot."

As to the safe return of John of Kintail and Hector Roy to their Highland home, after this calamitous event, there is now no question whatever; for we find John among others, afterwards appointed, by Act of Council, a Lieutenant or Guardian of Wester Ross, [Gregory, p. 115. Acts of Lords of Council, xxvi., fo. 25.] to protect it from Sir Donald Gallda Macdonald of Lochalsh, when he proclaimed himself Lord of the Isles. In 1515, Mackenzie, without legal warrant, seized the Royal Castle of Dingwall, but professed his readiness to give it up to any one appointed by the Regent, John, Duke of Albany. [Acts of Lords of Council, xxvii., fo. 60.] In 1532 he is included in a commission by James V. for suppressing a disorderly tribe of Mackintoshes. He secured the esteem of this monarch so much that he appointed him a member of his Privy Council.

To put the question of John's return beyond question, and to show how the family rose rapidly in influence and power during his rule, we shall quote the Origines Parochiales Scotia, from which it will also be seen that Kenneth, John's heir, received considerable grants for himself during his father's lifetime: "In 1509 King James IV. granted to John Makkenzie of Keantalle (the brother of Kenneth Og) the 40 marklands of Keantalle - namely, the davach of Cumissaig, the davach of Letterfearn, the davach of Gleanselle, the davach of Glenlik, the davach of Letterchall, the two davachs of Cro, and three davachs between the water of Keppach and the water of Lwying, with the castle and fortalice of Eleandonnan, in the earldom of Ross and sheriffdom of Innernis, with other lands in Ross, which John had resigned, and which the King then erected into the barony of Eleandonnan. [Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xv., No.89. Gregory, p.83.] In 1530 King James V. granted to James Grant of Freuchy and Johne Mckinze of Kintale liberty to go to any part of the realm on their lawful business. [Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. viii., fol. 149.] In 1532, 1538, and 1540, the same John M'Kenich of Kintaill appears on record. [Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. ix, fol. 3; vol. xii., fol. 21; vol. xiv., fol. 32.] In 1542, King James V. granted to John Mckenzie of Kintaill the waste lands of Monar, lying between the water of Gleneak on the north, the top or summit of Landovir on the south, the torrent of Towmuk and Inchclochill on the east, and the water of Bernis running into the water of Long on the west; and also the waste lands of lie Ned lying between Loch Boyne on the north, Loch Tresk on the south, lie Ballach on the west, and Dawelach on the east, in the earldom of Ross and sheriffdom of Innernes - lands which were never in the King's rental, and never yielded any revenue - for the yearly payment of L4 to the King as Earl of Ross. [Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xxviii., No. 417.] In 1543 Queen Mary granted to Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail, and Isabel Stewart, his wife, the lands of Auchnaceyric, Lakachane, Strome-ne-mowklach, Kilkinterne, the two Rateganis, Torlousicht, Auchnashellicht, Auchnagart, Auchewrane, lic Knokfreith, Aucharskelane, and Malegane, in the lordship of Kintaill and other lands in Ross, extending in all to 36 marks, which he had resigned. [Reg. Mag. Sig., lib. xxviii., No. 524. Reg. Sec. Sig.,vol. xvii., fol. 56.] In 1551 the same Queen granted to John M'Kenze of Kintaill, and Kenzeoch M'Kenze, his son and apparent heir, a remission for the violent taking of John Hectour M'Kenzesone of Garlouch, Doull Hectoursone, and John Towach Hectoursone, and for keeping them in prison 'vsurpand thairthrou our Souerane Ladyis autorite.' [Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. xxiv., fol. 75.] In 1554 there appear on record John Mackenzie of Kintaile and his son and heir-apparant, Kenneth Mackenzie of Brahan - apparently the same persons that appear in 1551. [Reg, Mag. Sig., lib. xxxii., No. 211.]

Donald Gorm Mor Macdonald of Sleat laid waste the country of Macleod of Dunvegan, an ally of Mackenzie, after which he passed over in 1539 to the mainland and pillaged the lands of Kenlochewe, where he killed Miles or Maolmuire, son of Finlay Dubh MacGillechriost MacRath, at the time governor of Ellandonnan Castle. Finlay was a very "pretty man," and the writer of the "Genealogy of the Macras" informs us that "the remains of a monument erected for him, in the place where he was killed, is still (1704) to be seen." Kintail was naturally much exasperated at this unprovoked raid upon his territory, as also for Macdonald's attack upon his friend and ally, Macleod of Dunvegan; and to punish Donald Gorm, he dispatched his son, Kenneth, with a force to Skye, who made ample reprisals in Macdonald's country, killing many of his followers, and at the same time exhibiting great intrepidity and sagacity. Donald Gorm almost immediately afterwards made an incursion into Mackenzie's territories of Kintail, where he killed Sir (Rev.) Dougald Mackenzie, "one of the Pope's knights"; whereupon Kenneth, younger of Kintail, paid a second visit to the Island, wasted the country; and on his return, Macdonald learning that Ellandonnan was garrisoned by a very weak force, under the new governor, John Dubh Matheson of Fernaig - who had married Sir Dugald Mackenzie's widow - he made another raid upon it, with fifty birlinns or large boats full of his followers, with the intention of surprising the small garrison, and taking the castle by storm. Its gallant defenders consisted at the time of the governor, his watchman, and Duncan MacGillechriost Mac Fhionnladh Mhic Rath, a nephew of Maolmuire killed in the last incursion of the Island chief. The advance of the boats was, however, noticed in time by the sentinel or watchman, who at once gave the alarm to the country people, but they arrived too late to prevent the enemy from landing. Duncan MacGillechriost was on the mainland at the time; but flying back with all speed he arrived at the postern of the stronghold in time to kill several of the Islesmen in the act of landing; and, entering the castle, he found no one there but the governor and watchman; almost immediately after, Donald Gorm Mor furiously attacked the gate, but without success, the brave trio having strongly secured it by a second barrier of iron within a few steps of the outer defences. Unable to procure access the Islesmen were driven to the expedient of shooting their arrows through the embrazures, and in this way they succeeded in killing the governor.

Duncan now found himself sole defender of the castle except the watchman; and worse still his ammunition was reduced to a single barbed arrow, which he determined to husband until an opportunity occurred by which he could make good use of it. Macdonald at this stage ordered his boats round to the point of the Airds, and was personally reconnoitring with the view of discovering the weakest part of the wall for effecting a breach. Duncan considered this a favourable opportunity, and aiming his arrow at Donald Gorm, it struck him and penetrated his foot through the master vein. Macdonald, not having perceived that the arrow was a barbed one, wrenched it out, and in so doing separated the main artery. Notwithstanding that all available means were used, it was found impossible to stop the bleeding, and his men conveyed him out of the range of the fort to a spot - a sand bank - on which he died, called to this day, "Larach Tigh Mhic Dhomhnuill," or the site of Macdonald's house, where the haughty Lord of Sleat ended his career. ["Genealogy of the Macras" and the Ardintoul MS. "This Donald Gorme was son to Donald Gruamach, son to Donald Gallach, son to Hugh, natural son to Alexander, Earl of Ross, for which the elegy made on his death calls him grandchild and great grandchild to Rhi-Fingal (King Fingal) -

"A Dhonnchaldh Mhic Gillechriost Mhic Fhionnla,
'S mor um beud a thuit le d'aon laimh,
Ogha 's iar-ogha Mhic Righ Fhinghaill,
`Thuiteam le bramag an aon mhic."

- Letterform MS.] The Islesmen burnt all they could find ashore in Kintail. "In 1539 Donald Gorm of Sleat and his allies, after laying waste Trouterness in Sky and Kenlochew in Ross, attempted to take the Castle of Eileandonan, but Donald being killed by an arrow shot from the wall, the attempt failed." [Gregory, pp. 145.146. Border Minstrelsy. Anderson, p. 283. Reg. Sec. Sig., vol. xv., fol. 46.] In 1541 King James V. granted a remission to Donald's accomplices - namely, Archibald Ilis, alias Archibald the Clerk, Alexander McConnell Gallich, John Dow Donaldsoun, and twenty-six others whose names are recorded in Origines Parchiales, p. 394, vol. ii., for their treasonable fire-raising and burning of the "Castle of Allanedonnand" and of the boats there, for the "Herschip" of Kenlochew and Trouterness, etc.