History Of The Mackenzies [82]
following in great numbers, came to the castle and house of the Chanonry and by force and violence entered therein and put the said Christian Scrymgeour, the bishop's wife, and his servants, children, and household out of the same, intromitted with their goods and gear and constrained them to leave the country by sea, not suffering them to get meat, drink. or lodging, in the town, nor letting them take away with them of their own gear as much as a plaid or blanket to protect the children from cold in the boat, "committing thair throw such cruel and barbarous oppression upon them as the like has not been heard of in any realm or country subject to justice or the authority of a Sovereign Prince."
Colin did not appear to answer this complaint, and he and his chief abettors were denounced rebels, put to the horn and escheated. On the same day, there is a complaint by Henry Lord Methven, in which it is stated that although his Lordship "has by gift of His Highness to him, his heirs and assignees, the gift of all and whole the temporality of the Bishopric of Ross, and of the castle, house, and place of the Chanonry of Ross, now vacant in our Sovereign Lord's hands by the decease of the late Alexander, last Bishop of Ross, of all years and terms to come, aye and till the lawful provision of a lawful bishop and pastor to the said bishopric," and although it is "specially provided by Act of Parliament that whatsoever person or persons takes any bishop's places, castles, or strengths, or enters by their own authority to hold them without his Highness' command, letters or charges, shall incur the crimes of treason and lesemajesty," yet, "Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, in proud and high contempt of his Majesty's said loveable law and Act of Parliament, and of his Highness now having the administration of the Government of the realm in his own person, lately, upon the 22nd day of September last bypast, in the very hour of the death of the said late Alexander, Bishop of Ross, or shortly thereafter beset and enclosed the said castle, house, and place of the Chanonry of Ross, took the same by force and as yet detains and holds the same as a house of war and will not render and deliver the same to the said Lord Methven.' Mackenzie was duly charged to give up possession of the castle and place or take the consequences. Lord Methven appeared personally, but Colin did not, where-upon their Lordships ordained letters to be directed to him charging him to give them up. "with the whole munition and ordnance therein" to Henry Lord Methven or to any other having power to receive them, within twenty-four hours of the charge under the pain of treason.
The following complaint by Donald Mac Angus of Glengarry laid before the Privy Council at Dalkeith on 10th of August, 1582, is that gentleman's version of his apprehension by Roderick Mor Mackenzie of Redcastle and Dugall Mackenzie of Kishorn, as described from family MSS. at pp. 156-59. Glengarry's complaint proceeds--
After the great slaughters, herschips, and skaiths, committed upon him, his kin, friends, and servants upon the last day of February the year of God 1581 years, estimate worth six score thousand pounds money of this realm or thereby, and on the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth days of March last bypast thereafter by Rory Mackenzie, brother-german to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, Dugald Mackenzie, his brother and the remainder of their colleagues and company, to the number of two hundred persons, armed with two-handed swords, bows, darlochis, hagbutts, pistols, prohibited to be worn or used, and other offensive weapons who also upon the sixteenth day of April last bypast or thereby, came upon the said complainant he being within his own "rowmes" and country of Lochcarron having mind of no evil or injury to have been done to him nor none of his, but thinking to have lived under God's peace and our Sovereign Lord, and then not only took himself captive, kept and detained him prisoner in coves, craigs, woods, and other desert places
Colin did not appear to answer this complaint, and he and his chief abettors were denounced rebels, put to the horn and escheated. On the same day, there is a complaint by Henry Lord Methven, in which it is stated that although his Lordship "has by gift of His Highness to him, his heirs and assignees, the gift of all and whole the temporality of the Bishopric of Ross, and of the castle, house, and place of the Chanonry of Ross, now vacant in our Sovereign Lord's hands by the decease of the late Alexander, last Bishop of Ross, of all years and terms to come, aye and till the lawful provision of a lawful bishop and pastor to the said bishopric," and although it is "specially provided by Act of Parliament that whatsoever person or persons takes any bishop's places, castles, or strengths, or enters by their own authority to hold them without his Highness' command, letters or charges, shall incur the crimes of treason and lesemajesty," yet, "Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, in proud and high contempt of his Majesty's said loveable law and Act of Parliament, and of his Highness now having the administration of the Government of the realm in his own person, lately, upon the 22nd day of September last bypast, in the very hour of the death of the said late Alexander, Bishop of Ross, or shortly thereafter beset and enclosed the said castle, house, and place of the Chanonry of Ross, took the same by force and as yet detains and holds the same as a house of war and will not render and deliver the same to the said Lord Methven.' Mackenzie was duly charged to give up possession of the castle and place or take the consequences. Lord Methven appeared personally, but Colin did not, where-upon their Lordships ordained letters to be directed to him charging him to give them up. "with the whole munition and ordnance therein" to Henry Lord Methven or to any other having power to receive them, within twenty-four hours of the charge under the pain of treason.
The following complaint by Donald Mac Angus of Glengarry laid before the Privy Council at Dalkeith on 10th of August, 1582, is that gentleman's version of his apprehension by Roderick Mor Mackenzie of Redcastle and Dugall Mackenzie of Kishorn, as described from family MSS. at pp. 156-59. Glengarry's complaint proceeds--
After the great slaughters, herschips, and skaiths, committed upon him, his kin, friends, and servants upon the last day of February the year of God 1581 years, estimate worth six score thousand pounds money of this realm or thereby, and on the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth days of March last bypast thereafter by Rory Mackenzie, brother-german to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, Dugald Mackenzie, his brother and the remainder of their colleagues and company, to the number of two hundred persons, armed with two-handed swords, bows, darlochis, hagbutts, pistols, prohibited to be worn or used, and other offensive weapons who also upon the sixteenth day of April last bypast or thereby, came upon the said complainant he being within his own "rowmes" and country of Lochcarron having mind of no evil or injury to have been done to him nor none of his, but thinking to have lived under God's peace and our Sovereign Lord, and then not only took himself captive, kept and detained him prisoner in coves, craigs, woods, and other desert places