The Earldom was in the same year, in the 9th Parliament
of James III., irrevocably annexed to the Crown, where the title
and the honours still remain, held by the Prince of Wales.
The great services rendered by the Baron of Kintail to the reigning
family, especially during these negotiations, and generally throughout
his long rule at Ellandonnan, were recognised by a charter from
the Crown, dated Edinburgh, November 1476, of some of the lands
renounced by the Earl of Ross, viz., Strathconan, Strathbraan, and
Strathgarve; and after this the Barons of Kintail held all their
lands quite independently of any superior but the Crown.
During the long continued disputes between the Earl of Ross and
Kintail no one was more zealous in the cause of the island chief than
Allan Macdonald of Moydart, who, during Mackenzie's absence, made
several raids into Kintail, ravaged the country, and carried away
large numbers of cattle. After the forfeiture of the Earldom of Ross,
Allan's youngest brother, supported by a faction of the tenantry,
rebelled against his elder brother, and possessed himself for a
time of the Moydart estates. The Lord of the Isles was unwilling to
appear so soon in these broils; or perhaps he favoured the pretentions
of the younger brother, and refused to give any assistance to Allan,
who, however, hit upon a device as bold as it ultimately proved
successful.
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