A second edition of Camden's description of Scotland containing a supplement of these peers, or Lords of Parliament, who were mentioned in the first edition, and an account of these since raised to, and further advanced in the degrees of peerage, until the year 1694.

CHAP. XXXIII.

ROSSIA.

THe Province Ross, so called by an old Scottish word, which some interpret to be a Promontory, others a Biland, was in∣habited by the people named Cantae (which term in effect implieth as much) in the time of Ptolomy. This extendeth it self so wide and large, that it reacheth from the one Sea to the other, what way it beareth upon the Vergivian or western Ocean, by reason of huge swelling Mountains advancing their heads aloft, and many Woods among them: it is full of Stags, Roe-Bucks, Fallow-Deer, and wild Fowl; but where it but∣teth upon the German Sea, it is more love∣ly bedeck'd with Corn-fields ane Pastures, and withall much more civil: in the very first entrance into it, Ardmanoch no small Territory, whereof the second Sons of the

Kings of Scotland bear the Title, riseth up with high Mountains that are most trusty preservers of Snow: as touching their hight some have reported strange Wonders; and yet the ancient Geometers have written, that neither the depth of Sea, nor hight of Hills, exceed by the Plumb-Line ten S••adia, that is one Mile and a quarter; which notwith∣standing, they that have beheld Tenariff a∣mongst the Canary Islands, which is fifteen Leagues high, and sailed withal the Ocean near unto them, will in no ways admit for truth. In this part standeth Lovat Castle, and the Barony of the worthy Family of the Fra∣sers, whom for their singular good service for the Scottish Kingdom, King James the 2d. accepted into the Rank of Barons, whose Descendant at present is Hugh Lord Lovat, and whom the Clan-Ranalds a most bloody Generation, in a Quarrel and Brawl between them, had wholly destroyed every Mothers Son; but that by the Providence of God, fourscore of the principal persons of this Fa¦mily, left their Wives at home all great with Child, who being delivered of so many Sons, renewed the house, and multiplied the name again. But at Nesse-mouth, there flourished sometimes Chanonrie, otherwise called Fort∣rose, a Burgh-Royal, so called of a rich Col∣ledge of Chanons, whiles the Ecclesiastical State stood in Prosperity, in which there is erected a See for the Bishop of Ross. In this Country resided the Laird of Kintail,

or M^ckenzie; in an unprinted Act of Par∣liament 1593, Colin Mckenzie of Kintail, is mentioned: and in the Convention of Estates 1598, the Laird of M^ckenzie is a Member: amongst the Commissioners under the Great Seal, for holding the Parliament 1607, Ken∣neth Mckenzie of Kintail, is mentioned: and also amongst the Commissioners for hold∣ing the Parliament 1609, Colin M^ckenzie of Kintail, is named: and also in a Sederunt of the same Parliament, the Laird of M^cken∣zie is ranked inter Barones and Commissioners of Shires. It seems shortly after tha•• time, and before the year 1612, the foresaid Colin was created Lord Kintail; for in the Rolls of Parliament 1617, Kintail is ranked after Garleis and Madertie, and before the Lord Cranstoun and Carnagie, and the Lord Cran∣stoun is the last Lord in the Rolls of Parlia∣ment 1612: in like manner in the Rolls of Parliament 1621, Kintail is after Garleis and Cowper, and before Cranstoun and Carnagie. Colin Lord Kintail December 3. 1623, by K. James the Sixth, was created Earl of Sea∣forth, his Grand-nephew is Kenneth Earl of Seaforth.

Hard by is placed Cromarty, where Vr∣quhart a Gentleman of noble Birth, by here∣ditary Right from his Ancestors, ministred Justice as Sheriff to this Sheriffdom: and this is so commodious and safe an Harbour for any Fleet, be it never so great, that both Sailers and Geographers name it Portus salu∣tis,

that is, the Haven of Safety. Sir Roderick M••kenzie, a Son of the Laird of Kintail, was married to the Heiress of M^cleod of the Lews, of which Marriage was Sir John Mac∣kenzie Baronet, who married Dame Marga∣ret Ereskin, one of the Daughters and Co∣heirs of Sir George Ereskin of Innerteil, one of the Lords of Session, and Grand-child to the Lord Ereskin: Sir George M^ckenzie of Tarbat Baronet, their Son, was a Lord of the Session, by the first nomination and set∣tlement of the Judicature by King Charles the Second after his Restauration in anno 1661, in the year 1678, he was by the same King appointed Justice General; and thereafter in the year 1681, constitute Lord Register, and continued in that Office during the Reign of King Charles the Second, and King James the Seventh: and in the year 1685, was created Viscount of Tarbat, Lord M^cleod and Castle-haven, and is present Lord Regi∣ster to his Majesty King William: and he ha∣ving purchased the Lands of Cromartie, and Sheriffship thereof, procured the enlarge∣ment of this Shire by Act of Parliament, as did Sir William Bruce the Shire of Kinross.

Above it is Littus Altum, whereof Ptolo∣my maketh mention, called now as it seem∣eth, Tarharth: for there indeed the Shore riseth to a great hight, enclosed on the one side with Cromer, a most secure and safe Ha∣ven; and on the other with Colnius, now

Killian the River, and thus much of the pla∣ces toward the East Ocean. Into the West Sea the River Longus mentioned in Ptolomy, at this day named Lough Longus, runneth: then the Cerones anciently dwelt, where now is Assinshire, a Country much mangled with many In-lets and Arms of the Sea, inbosom∣ing it self with manifold Commodities.

As for the Earls of Ross, it is full of diffi∣culty to set them down in order successively out of Writers. In the Reign of King Alex∣ander the Second, we read that Ferquhard flourished and enjoyed this Title, but for default of issue Male, it came by a Daughter to Walter Lesly, who for his noble feats of Arms, courageously atchieved under Lewis the Emperour, was worthily named the Nohle Knight: he begat Alexander Earl of Ross, and a Daughter married unto Donald Lord of the Islands Hebrides. This Alexan∣der had issue one only Daughter, who made over by her Deed, all her own Title and Right unto Robert Duke of Albany; where∣at the said Donald of the Islands being high∣ly incensed, and repining, Stiled himself in the Reign of James the Third, King of the Islands, and Earl of Ross; having with Fire and Sword, laid waste his native Coun∣try far and near. At length, the said King James the 3d, by Authority of Parliament in the year 1476, annexed the Earldom of Ross to the Crown, leaving only to him the Title of Lord of the Isles, so as it might not

be lawful for his Successors, to alienat by any means from the Crown, either the Earl∣dom it self, or any parcel thereof; or by any device to grant the same unto any per¦son, save only to the Kings second Sons law∣fully born: and so Charles afterward King, during the Life-time of his elder Brother Prince Henry, enjoyed the Title of Earl of Ross. This Country hath lately been erected in a Sheriffdom, the Sheriffship whereof is at the Kings disposal: and David Ross of Balnagoun is present Sheriff, lineally descended of Hugh Ross of Rarichies, lawful Son to Hugh Earl of Ross, and Brother to Earl William the last of that sirname, and to Eupham Queen of Scotland Dingwal was the Seat of the Earls of Ross, and is now a Burgh Royal. Andrew Keith one of the Commissi∣oners, sent anno 1589, to treat a Marriage betwixt King James the Sixth, and Anna then Princess of Denmark, afterwards Queen, was created Lord Dingwal. In the Rolls of Parlia∣ment 1621, the Lord Dingwal is Ranked af∣ter the Lord Holy-rud-house, and before the Lord Garleis, who behoved to be of a latter Creation, I suppose of the sirname of Preston of the Family of Craigmiller, of whom per∣haps the Duke of Ormond is descended. In this Shire is also Tayn a Burgh Royal.

Notes

• The Shire of Ross.
• L: Ardman∣noch.
• L: Lovat.
• B: Royal.
• E: Seaforth.
• The Shire of Cromarty.
• V: Tarbat.
• Earls of Ross.
• B: Royal.
• L: Dingwal.
• B: Royal.