history of the mackenzies-第35部分

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d　again　to　such　person　or　persons　as　shall　be　　appointed　by　the　King's　Majesty　to　receive　the　same；　as　the　keepers　　thereof　shall　be　required　thereto　upon　six　days'　warning；　under　the　pain　of　　ten　thousand　merks〃　and　meanwhile；　under　the　same　pains；　that　none　of　　the　King's　subjects　shall　be　〃invaded；　troubled；　molested；　nor　persecuted；〃　　by　those　who　keep　the　castle　for　him；　or　by　others　resorting　thither。

There　　is；　however；　this　proviso

That；　in　case　the　said　Colin　shall　at　any　time　hereafter　sue　of　the　　King's　Majesty　to　be　disburdened　of　the　keeping　of　the　said　castle；　and　　that　some　person　may　be　appointed　to　receive　the　same　out　of　his　hands　　and　keeping　within　the　space　of　twenty　days　next　after　his　said　Suit；　which　　notwithstanding　shall　happen　to　be　refused　and　not　done　by　his　Highness　　within　the　said　space；　that　in　that　case　he　nor　his　cautioner　be　anywise　　answerable　thereafter　for　the　said　house　and　keeping　thereof；　but　to　be　　free　of　the　same；　and　these　presents　to　annul　and　to　have　no　further　force；　　effect；　nor　execution；　against　them　at　any　time　thereafter　except　that　the　　same　house　shall　happen　to　be　kept　by　the　said　Colin　or　his　servants　in　his　　name　thereafter；　for　the　which　in　that　respect　the　said　Colin　shall　always　　be　answerable　in　manner　aforesaid　and　no　otherwise。

A　bond　of　caution　by　Mackenzie；　and　Lord　Lindsay　of　the　Byres　as　security　for　him；　for　ten　thousand　merks；　subscribed　on　the　20th　of　　January；　1582…83；　and　registered　in　the　Chanonry　of　Ross；　binds　Colin　to　　surrender　the　Castle　of　Strome　to　any　person　appointed　by　the　King　for　the　　purpose；　on　six　days'　warning　and　to　fulfil　the　other　duties　imposed　upon　him　by　the　Act　of　the　Privy　Council　dated　the　11th　of　the　same　month；　　already　given；　but　with　the　proviso　in　his　favour　contained　in　that　Act；　　which　is　repeated　at　length　in　the　bond　of　caution　of　this　date。

In　terms　of　this　bond　the　King　and　Council　at　a　meeting　held　at　　Holyrood　on　the　8th　of　March　following　〃for　certain　causes　and　　considerations　moving　them；〃　order　letters　to　issue　charging　Mackenzie　　and　other　keepers　of　the　Castle　of　Strome　to　deliver　the　same　to　Colin；　　Earl　of　Argyll；　Chancellor；　or　to　his　servants　in　his　name　within　six　days　　after　charge　under　the　pains　of　rebellion；　which　being　done　the　King　　〃discharges　thereafter　the　sureties　found　by　the　said　Colin　Mackenzie　of　　before；　either　acted　in　the　books　of　Secret　Council；　or　by　contract；　bond；　　or　promise　between　him　and　Donald　Mac　Angus　Mac　Alastair　of　　Glengarry；〃　the　Acts　referring　to　the　same　to　be　deleted　from　the　books　of　　the　Privy　Council。

Colin's　name　appears　again　on　the　1st　of　August　as　surety　for　a　　bond　of　three　thousand　merks　by　David　Dunbar　of　Kilstarry　and　Patrick　　Dunbar　of　Blairy。

On　the　5th　of　May；　1585；　he　is　denounced　a　rebel　on　a　complaint　　by　Hugh　Fraser　of　Guisachan　under　the　following　circumstances。　　Fraser　says　that　a　certain　〃John　Dow　Mac　Allan　was　lawfully　denounced　his　Highness'　rebel　and　put　to　the　horn　at　the　said　Hucheon's　instance　for　not　　removing　from　the　half　davoch　of　land　of　Kilboky　pertaining　to　him；　　conform　to　a　decree　obtained　by　the　said　Hucheon　against　the　said　John　　Dow　Mac　Allan。〃　　Upon　this　decree　Hugh　Fraser　〃raised　letters　of　caption　　by　deliverance　of　the　Lords　of　Session　to　charge　the　Sheriff　of　Inverness　and　other　judges　in　the　country　where　the　said　John　resorts；　to　take；　　apprehend　him；　and　keep　him　conform　to　the　order　observed　in　such　　cases。〃　　In　all　this　process　to　obtain　the　decree；　with　〃letters　in　the　four　　forms；　executions　and　denunciations　thereof；〃　and　then　raising　of　the　said　　letters　of　caption　thereupon；　the　complainer　has　been　put　to　great　travel　and　expenses；　having　his　habitation　by'　the　space　of　eight　score　miles　or　thereby　distant　from　the　Burgh　of　Edinburgh。〃　　Nevertheless；　Colin　　Mackenzie；　〃to　whom　the　said　John　Dow　Mac　Allan　is　tenant；　servant；　　and　special　depender；〃　maintains　and　assists　him　in　his　violent　occupation　　or　the　complainer's　lands；　〃keeps　him　in　his　company；　receives　him　in　his　house；　and　otherwise　debates　him　that　he　cannot　be　apprehended；〃　so　that　　all　the　proceedings　of　the　complainer　Fraser　are　frustrated。　　Colin　was　　thereupon　charged　to　present　Mac　Allan　before　the　Privy　Council；　under　　pain　of　rebellion；　and　failing　to　appear；　or　present　John　Dow；　and　the　　complainer　having　appeared　personally；　an　order　was　pronounced　　denouncing　Mackenzie　a　rebel。

On　the　11th　of　December　next；　John　Gordon　of　Pitlurg　becomes　cautioner　in　one　thousand　merks　that　Colin　will　not　injure　Andrew；　Lord　　Dingwall；　his　tenants；　or　servants。　　On　the　11th　of　April；　1586；　William　　Cumming　of　Inverallochy　and　others　become　surety　in　？000　that　　Mackenzie　shall　〃remove　his　coble；　fishers；　and　nets；　from　the　fishing　of　the　water　of　Canon；　and　desist　and　cease　therefrom　in　time　coming；　　conform　to　the　letters　raised　at　the　instance　of　Andrew；　Lord　Dingwall；　to　　the　same　effect；　in　case　it　shall　be　found　and　declared　that　the　said　Colin　　ought　to　do　the　same。〃　　On　the　4th　of　May　following；　Mackenzie　binds　　himself　to　keep　his　sureties　scaithless　in　the　matter　of　this　caution。

On　the　　16th　of　the　same　month；　the　King　and　Council　〃for　certain　necessary　and　　weighty　considerations　moving　his　Highness；　tending　to　the　furthering　and　establishing　of　his　Highness'　obedience　and　the　greatness　and　safety　of　his　　peaceable　and　good　subjects　from　burnings；　riefs；　and　oppression；〃　ordain　Colin　to　enter　in　ward　in　Blackness　Castle　within　twenty…four　hours　after　being　charged　under　pain　of　treason。　　Two　days　later；　being　then　in　ward　　in　this　stronghold；　he　finds　caution　in　ten　thousand　merks　that　on　being　relieved　from　ward　he　will　repair　to　Edinburgh　and　keep　ward　there　until　　set　free。　　This　is　deleted　by　a　warrant　subscribed　by　the　King　and　the　　Secretary　at　Falkland　on　the　6th　of　the　following　August。　　His　name　　appears　as　one　of　a　long　list　of　Highland　chiefs　complained　against　to　the　　Privy　Council　on　the　30th　of　November；　1586；　by　the　united　burghs　of　the　　realm　for　obstructing　the　fisheries　in　the　northern　parts　and　making　　extortionate　exactions　from　the　fishermen；　and　again　on　the　16th　of　　September；　1587；　when　an　order　is　made　to　denounce　him　for　his　failure　　to　appear　before　the　Council　to　enter　John　Mackenzie　of　Gairloch　and　his　　accomplices；　for　whom　Colin　is　held　liable　〃as　master　and　landlord；〃　to　　answer　a　complaint　made　against　them　by　James　Sinclair；　Master　of　　Caithness；　on　the　10th　of　August　preceding。　　On　the　5th　of　March；　1587…88；　John　Davidson；　burgess　of　Edinburgh；　becomes　cautioner　in　500　merks　　that　Colin　will；　if　required；　enter　such　of　his　men　before　the　Privy　　Council　as　〃assegeit〃　James；　Master　of　Caithness；　within　the　house　of　　William　Robson；　in　the　Chanonry　of　Ross。　　On　the　27th　of　July；　1588；　he　　is　appointed　by　a　Convention　of　the　Estates　member　of　a　Commission；　　charged　with　powers　for　executing　the　laws　against　Jesuits；　Papists；　and　　other　delinquents；　and　with　other　extensive　powers。　　On　the　24th　of　May；　　1589；　he　is　named　as　the　Commissioner　for　the　shire　of　Inverness　who　is　　to　convene　the　freeholders　of　the　county　for　choosing　the　Commissioners　　to　a　Parliament　to　be　held　at　Edinburgh　on　the　2nd　of　October　in　that　year；　　and　to　report　his　diligence　in　this　matter　to　the　Council　before　the　15th　of　　August；　under　pains　of　rebellion。　　On　the　4th　of　June　following；　he　appears　　in　a　curious　position　in　connection　with　a　prosecution　for　witchcraft　　against　several　women；　and　an　abridgement　of　the　document；　as　recorded　　in　the　Records　of　the　Privy　Council；　is　of　sufficient　interest　to　justify　a　　place　here。　It　is　the　complaint　of　Katherine　Ross；　relict　of　Robert　Munro　　of　Fowlis　Margaret　Sutherland；　spouse　of　Hector　Munro；　portioner　of　Kiltearn　Bessie　Innes；　spouse　of　Neil　Munro；　in　Swordale　　Margaret　Ross；　　spouse　of　John　Neil　Mac　Donald　Roy；　in　Caull；　and　Margaret　Mowat；　as　　follows：

Mr　Hector　Munro；　now　of　Fowlis；　son…in…law　of　the　said　Katherine　Ross；　　〃seeking　all　ways　and　means　to　possess　himself　in　certain　her　tierce　and　　conjunct　fee　lands　of　the　Barony　of　Fowlis；　and　to　dispossess　her　　therefrom〃　had　first　〃persued　certain　of　her　tenants　and　servants　by　way　of　　deed　for　their　bodily　harm　and　slaughter；〃　and　then；　〃finding　that　he　could　　not　prevail　that　way；　neither　by　sundry　other　indirect　means　sought　by　　him；〃　had　at　last；　〃upon　sinister　and　wrong　information　and　importunate　　suit；　purchased　a　commission　of　the　same　to　his　Majesty；　and　to　Colin　Mackenzie　of　Kintail；　Rory　Mackenzie；　his　brother；　John　Mackenzie　of　Gairloch；　Alexander　Bain　of　Tulloch；　Angus　Mackintosh　of　Termitt；　James　Glas　of　Gask；　William　Cuthbert；　in　Inverness；　and　some　others　specially　mentioned　therein；　for　apprehending　of　the　said　Margaret　Sutherland；　Bessy　Innes；　Margaret　Ross；　and　Margaret　Mowat；　and　sundry　　others；　and　putting　them　to　the　knowledge　of　an　assize　for　witchcraft；　and　　other　forged　and　feinted　crimes　alleged　to　be　committed　by　them。〃

Further；　〃the　said　persons；　by　virtue　of　the　same　commission；　intended　to　proceed　against　them　most　partially　and　wilfully；　and　thereby　to　drive　the　　said　complainers　to　that　strait　that　either　they　shall　satisfy　his　　unreasonable　desire；　or　then　to　lose　their　lives；　with　the　sober　portion　of　　goods　made　by　them　for　the　sustenance　of　themselves　and　their　poor　　bairns：　howbeit　it　be　of　verity　that　they　are　honest　women　of　repute　and　　holding　these　many　years　bygone；　spotted　at　no　time　with　any　such　　ungodly　practices；　neither　any　ways　having　committed　any　offence；　but　by　　all　their　actions　behaved　themselves　so　discreetly　and　honestly　as　none　justly　could　or　can　have　occasion　of　complaintthey　being　ever　ready；　　like　they　are　yet；　to　underlie　the　law　for　all　crimes　that　can　be　laid　to　their　　charge；〃　and　having　to　that　effect；　〃presently　found　caution　for　their　　compearance　before　the　justice　and　his　deputes；　or　any　judge　unsuspected；　upon　fifteen　days'　warning。〃　Their　prayer；　accordingly；　is　that　the　said　commission　be　discharged。　Hector　Munro　appearing　for　himself　and　his　　colleagues；　and　the　complainers　by　Alexander　Morrison；　their　procurator；　　the　Lords　ordain　Mr　Hector　and　the　other　commissioners　to　desist　a　from　proceeding　against　the　women；　and　〃remit　their　trial　to　be　taken　before　th