pp. 82-86]                 THE MACKENZIES                                55

[page 86.]

THIS Family confident of their own Merits, or, perhaps, by
an innate Generosity, as they were never at Ease when their
Prince had War, so in The Time of Peace they were never
amongst those Court Drons that fed on The Honey of other
Mens Labours, but being ever notable in War, so they were
ever private in Peace, and, because it was below their Humour
to truckle under Court Parasits, they therefore frequently
smarted under Favourits Odiums. The Records of England
and Ireland are stuffed with The Geraldines Actions for their
Prince and Countrey and their Sufferings unjustly by Courtiers
Malice as often noted. How oft does Ophaly retain, as at
First his Predecessors gained, Ireland? And as oft do The
State Ministers, who were but Hearers of their Glorious Act-
ings, triumph over them by Pretences of Legal Power. Yet
The Fate of The Geraldines was too strong for their Enemy's
Malice, and never were cast down so by them but that their
Rise was in greater Glory.

THE greatest Stroke that ever reached them was that given
by Sir Richard Bothell aliàs Capell, as Holinshed notes; He
slew John Fitz Thomas then Chief of The Geraldines and in
The Irish Chronicle called Lord John together with Maurice
his Eldest Son Anno 1261. John his Son called also by
Holinshed Lord John fled to England whence he was restored
to his Barony of Ophaly and afterwards created Earl of
Kildare by King of England Anno 1290.

HIS other Two Sons Colin and Galen fled to Scotland where
they were graciously received by King Alexander, and The
next Year 1262 they valourously assisted at The notable
Defeat given to The Dains at Largs. This is brought down
to us not only by unquestioned and constant Tradition but
in a Fragment of The Records of Iycolumkiel that is preserved
by Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbet, where Mention is made
of The most eminent Actors in that Battle. They name with
The Steuart & The Cummin Walter Steuart Earl of Carrick
and March The Thayn of Argyle, Robert de Loudon, James
de Striveling, Walter Cummin, Thomas Maltiver, Perigrinus
et Hibernus, Nobilis ex Familiâ Geraldinorum, qui proximo
Anno ab Hiberniâ pulsus, apud Regem benignè acceptus
hucusque in Curtâ permansit, et in præfato Prælio strenuè
pugnavit.