"Earldom" on Kenneth (4th Earl)

Kenneth Southerland, Earle of Southerland
- succeeded Earle William
- "The Earle Kenneth maid ane indenture and aggriement with Reynald Morray, (the son of Allan Morray of Cubin) which wes dated at Sanct Andrews chappell of Golspie, the yeir of God one thowsand thrie hundred threttie years, for setleing and ending of severall preceeding debates and controversies concerning the lands of Skelbo, apperteining to the said Reynald Morray, within Southerland, and also for contracting a mariage betueen Eustach, the daughter of Erle Kenneth, and Gilbert Morray, the sone of Reynold." (p. 44)

Describing the Second War of Scottish Independence:
- In 1331, King Robert Bruce died, and his son David Bruce became King of Scotland. Being young, governors were appointed to run things, first Thomas Randolph Erle of Morray, and on his death Patrick Erle of Merch and Donald Erle of Marr. King David married Jane, the sister of King Edward III of England.
- Edward Ballioll (son of John Ballioll, who was king before Robert Bruce) invaded Scotland and made a claim to the crown, with the assistance of King Edward III of England. The 2 governors assembled an army at Duplin to hold off the invaders. The Earle of Marr was killed along with many others. Andrew of Tullibardin betrayed the Scottish, showing the English a safe passage in the middle of the night on August 3, 1332. King David fled to France until 1342.
- Another governor was chosen, Andrew Murray, who was taken prisoner by the English. Archbald Douglas took his place, assembled a Scottish army, and entered England "to withdraw King Edward the Third from the seidge of Bervick".

Kenneth Dies at the Battle of Hallidon Hill, July 19, 1333:
- "The Engleshmen had pitched ther tents at Holiedoun-hill, within sight of Berwick, and wold not sturr from thence for all the governor, Archbald Douglas, could doe; which being perceaved by the governor, he determined to give them battell, against the opinion of his best experienced warriours."
- The next morning the armies met in battle. Kenneth Earl of Sutherland and Hugh Earl of Rosse "commanded the vantguard of the Scottish army".
- "The Englesh made a fashion of retrait, thereby to draw on the Scots the more eagerlie, who pursued the enemie with great fiercenes; then upon a suddent the Englesh turned, and so ther followed a cruell battell; Kenneth, Earle of Southerland, pressing hard upon the Englishmen with the Scottish vauntguard against the hill, wes ther slain." (p. 45)

More info on the Battle of Halidon Hill:
http://skyelander.orgfree.com/halidon.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Halidon_Hill

Sir Robert Gordon praises Kenneth:
- "This Kenneth, Erle of Southerland, heir slain, wes ane expert and judicious commander; he was verie unwilling that day to hazard a battell against the Englesh upon so unequall termes, both of the number and place of battell. Bot perceaveing the governor exceeding wilfull, he then undertook the leiding of the vantguard; and as he had often befor foughtin valiantlie in defence of his native cuntrey, so now especiallie, perceaving it in so great extremitie, he tryed all his might to overcome the enemie, manie tymes renueing the fight with great courage. In places of greatest danger he wes alwise present, repairing the decayes, reforming the disorders, and incouraging his companies, untill he loosed all hope of victorie: then, disdaining in any case to incurr either the infamie or suspition of cowardice, he resolved not to overlive so great dishonor as to sie his cuntrie in servitude under the dominion of a stranger. Thus peremptorilie hazarding all, and therwith his lyff, he lossed the same in the midest of his enemies, with the pryce of a number of ther deaths; haveing couragiouslie ther ended his dayes with great honor, for the righteous guarrell of his cuntrey; leveing his memorable actions and end as ane excellent ornament to his posteritie." (p. 45-46)

Kenneth's Family:
- Kenneth married the Earl of Marr's daughter
- Had 2 sons, William and Nicholas
- Had a daughter, Eustach, who married Gilbert Morray (eldest son of Reynald Morray of Cubin)
- His son William succeeded him as the 5th Earl of Sutherland