Mackenzie suffered because she was a Jacobite and her second husband was executed for leading a rising against James VII and II which was intended to support the Monmouth Rebellion.

Leaving her own children in Scotland, Anna was chosen to be the governess of the future William III of England in the Hague in 1657.

Between Anna, her husband, John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale,[a] Kincardine, and Robert Moray there existed a close friendship, as well as family connection.

[1][3] The countess returned to Fifeshire, but shortly went on to France, where, being attached to the Presbyterian church, she was instrumental in securing the support of the French Protestant ministers for the king in 1660.

She remained in England until May 1662, and there became acquainted with Richard Baxter, who declared that "her great wisdom, modesty, piety, and sincerity made her accounted the saint at the court".

The King agreed to pay Anna and the elder of her two sons £1000 a year in recognition of the assistance he had received from their family.

[1] In 1664, her financial condition improved by the payment of the promised pension, for which she had petitioned in November 1663, but the friendship with Lauderdale appears to have been broken off.

He managed to escape to Holland due to the brave intervention of Anna's daughter, Sophia Lindsay, who smuggled him away disguised as one of her servants.

[9] Anna was buried beside her first husband and their son Charles in the Balcarres chapel, although no record of interment is found in the parish books.