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it was confirmed to the Baron of Kintail by King James VI。 ＇Sir Robert Gordon； p。 154； and MS。 Histories of the Family。＇ Roderick Mor Mackenzie of Redcastle seems to have been the leading spirit in this affair。 The following document； dated at Holyrood House； the 12th of September 1573； referring to the matter will prove interesting
Anent our Sovereign Lord's letters raised at the instance of Master George Munro； making mention：that whereas he is lawfully provided to the Chancellory of Ross by his Highness's presentation； admission to the Kirk； and the Lords' decree thereupon； and has obtained letters in all the four forms thereupon and therewith has caused charge the tenants and intromitters with the teind sheaves thereof； to make him and his factors payment； and in the meantime Rory Mackenzie； brother to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail； having continual residence in the steeple of the Chanonry of Ross； which he caused to be built not only to oppress the country with masterful theft； sorning； and daily oppression； but also for suppressing of the word of God which was always preached in the said Kirk preceding his entry thereto； which is now become a filthy stye and den of thieves； has masterfully and violently with a great force of oppression； come to the tenants indebted in payment of the said Mr George's benefice aforesaid and has masterfully reft them of all and whole the fruits thereof； and so he having no other refuge for obtaining of the said benefice； was compelled to denounce the said whole tenants rebels and put them to the horn； as the said letters and execution thereof more fully purports； and further is compelled for fear of the said Mr George's life to remain from his vocation whereunto God has called him。 And anent the charge given to the said Rory Mackenzie to desist and cease from all intromitting； uptaking； molesting or troubling of the said Mr George's tenants of his benefice above…written for any fruits or duties thereof； otherwise than is ordered by law； or else to have compeared before my Lord Regent's grace and Lords of Secret Council at a certain day bypast； and show a reasonable cause why the same should not be done； under the pain of rebellion and putting him to the horn； with certification to him； and he failing； letters would be directed simpliciter to put him to the horn； like as is at more length contained in the said letters； execution and endorsement thereof。 Which being called； the said Master George compeared personally； and the said Rory Mackenzie oftimes called and not compearing； my Lord Regent's grace； with advise of the Lords of Secret Council； ordained letters to be directed to officers of arms； Sheriffs in that part； to denounce the said Rory Mackenzie our Sovereign Lord's rebel and put him to the horn and to escheat and bring in all his moveable goods to his Highness's use for his contempt。 ＇Records of the Privy Council。＇
In December of the same year Colin has to provide cautioners； for things laid to his charge； to the amount of ten thousand pounds； that he shall remain within four miles of Edinburgh； and eastward as far as the town of Dunbar； and that he shall appear before the Council on a notice of forty…eight hours。 On the 6th of February following other cautioners bind themselves to enter him in Edinburgh on the 20th of May； 1574； remaining there until relieved； under a penalty of ten thousand pounds。 He is entered to keep ward in Edinburgh on the 1st March； 1575； and is bound to appear before the Council when required under a similar penalty。 On the 10th of April following he signs a bond that Alexander Ross shall appear before the Lords when required to do so。 On the 25th of May； 1575； at Chanonry； Robert Munro of Fowlis and Walter Urquhart； Sheriff of Cromarty； bind themselves their heirs； and successors； under a penalty of five thousand pounds； that they shall on a month's notice enter and present Roderick Mor Mackenzie of Redcastle before the King and the Privy Council and that he shall remain while lawful entry be taken of him； and that he shall keep good rule in his country in the meantime。 On the same day Colin； his brother； 〃of his own free motive will〃 binds himself and his heirs to relieve and keep these gentlemen scaithless of the amount of this obligation。 He is one of several Highland chiefs charged by the Regent and the Privy Council on the 19th of February； 1577…78； to defend Donald Mac Angus of Glengarry from an expected invasion of his territories by sea and land。 ＇Register of the Privy Council。＇
The disturbed state of the country was such； in 1573； that the Earl of Sutherland petitioned to be served heir to his estates； at Aberdeen； as he could not get a jury together to sit at Inverness； 〃in consequence of the barons； such as Colin Mackenzie of Kintail； Hugh Lord Lovat； Lachlan Mackintosh of Dunachton； and Robert Munro of Fowlis； being at deadly feud among themselves。〃 ＇Antiquarian Notes； p。 79＇
In 1580 a desperate quarrel broke out between the Mackenzies and Macdonalds of Glengarry。 The Chief of Glengarry inherited part of Lochalsh； Lochcarron； and Lochbroom； from his grandmother； Margaret； one of the sisters and co…heiresses of Sir Donald Macdonald of Lochalsh； and grand…daughter of Celestine of the Isles。 Kenneth； during his father's life； had acquired the other part by purchase from Dingwall of Kildun； son of the other co…heiress of Sir Donald； on the 24th November； 1554； and Queen Mary confirmed the grant by Royal charter。 Many causes leading to disputes and feuds can easily be imagined with such men in close proximity。 Glengarry and his followers 〃sorned〃 on Mackenzie's tenants； not only in the immediate vicinity of his own property of Lochcarron； but also during their raids from Glengarry； on the outskirts of Kintail； and thus Mackenzie's dependants were continually harrassed by Glengarry's cruelty and ill…usage。 His own tenants in Lochalsh and Lochcarron fared little better； particularly the Mathesons in the former； and the Clann Ian Uidhir in the latter； who were the original possessors of Glengarry's lands in that district。 These tribes； finding themselves in such abject slavery； though they regularly paid their rents and other dues； and seeing how kindly Mackenzie used the neighbouring tenantry； envied their more comfortable state and 〃abhorred Glengarry's rascality； who would lie in their houses （yea； force their women and daughters） so long as there was any good to be given； which made them keep better amity and correspondence with Mackenzie and his tenants than with their own master and his followers。 This may partly teach how superiors ought always to govern and oversee their tenantry and followers； especially in the Highlands； who were ordinarily made up of several clans； and will not readily underlie such slavery as the Incountry Commons will do。〃
The first serious outbreak between the Glengarry Macdonalds and the Mackenzies originated thus： One Duncan Mac Ian Uidhir Mhic Dhonnachaidh； known as 〃a very honest gentleman；〃 who； in his early days； lived under Glengarry； and was a very good deerstalker and an excellent shot； often resorted to