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tles； 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 at their pleasure wherethrough none of his kin nor friends had access to him for the space of fourteen days or thereby； but also in the meantime took and apprehended the late Rory MacAlister； father's brother to the said complainant； and three of their sons and other of his friends and servants to the number of 33 persons or thereby； bound their hands with their own shirts； and cruelly and unmercifully； under promise of safety of their lives； caused murder and slay them with dirks； appointing that they should not be buried as Christian men； but cast forth and eaten by dogs and swine。〃
Further； 〃at the end of the said complainant's captivity and detention in the manner aforesaid； being delivered by the foresaid person； his takers and detainers； to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail； both he and they； being armed in warlike manner as said is； upon the 24th day of the said month of April； came to the said complainant's town and lands of Strome； where they also carried him captive with them and theirs； by hostility and way of deed； spoiled and reft the whole goods； gear； and plenishing therein and besieged his house and Castle of Strome； threatening his friends and servants therein that if they rendered not the same to them they would hang the said complainant in their sight compelling him and his said friends therefor and for safety of his life to yield to the said persons' tyrranous desires and appetites； and render to them the said castle； which they not only wrongfully detained and withheld from him； but also through occasion thereof still insists in their cruelty and inhumanity against the said complainant； his kin and friends。 Like as lately； about the end of July last； the said Colin Mackenzie Rory Mackenzie； and others aforesaid； having violently taken Donald MacMoroch Roy； one of the said complainant's chief kinsmen； and were not content to put him to a simple death； but to bait them in his blood； and by a strange example to satisfy their cruel and unnatural hearts； first cut off his hands； next his feet； and last his head； and having cast the same in a 〃peitpott；〃 exposed and laid out his carcase to be a prey for dogs and ravenous beasts： Tending by such kind of dealing to undo as many of the said complainant's friends and servants as they can apprehend； and to lay waste their lands； 〃rowmes；〃 and possessions to the said complainant's heavy hurt and skaith； and dangerous example of wicked persons to attempt the like； if remedy be not provided。〃 In consequence of this complaint charges had gone forth to Colin Mackenzie of Kintail； （1）； to have rendered the said Castle of Strome with the munition and goods therein to the complainer or his representatives； within twenty…four hours after being charged； under pain of rebellion。 or else to have appeared and shown cause to the contrary； （2） to have appeared and found sufficient surety in the Books of the Council for the safety of the complainer and his dependants in persons and goods； or else shown cause to the contrary； under the same pain。 And now； 〃the said Angus Mac Angus compeared personally and the said Colin Mackenzie of Kintail being oftimes called and not compearing； the Lords （1） repeat their charge for delivery of the castle within twenty…four hours； and； failing obedience； order Mackenzie of Kintail to be denounced rebel and put to the horn and to escheat； （2） repeat their charge to the said Mackenzie to find sufficient caution for the safety of the complainer and his dependants in person and goods； with order that if he fail to do so within fifteen days after being charged； he shall； for that default also； be denounced rebel and put to the horn。〃
On the 2nd of December； 1582； Colin finds caution in the sum of two thousand merks that he shall deliver up Strome Castle； Lochcarron； to Donald Mac Angus of Glengarry； in the event of the Privy Council finding that he should do so。
Shortly after this the aspect of affairs is changed。 On the 11th of January； 1582…83； the decree against Mackenzie for the surrender of Strome Castle to Donald Macdonald of Glengarry is reversed。 He petitions the Privy Council and gives an entirely different complexion to the facts of the case against him to those submitted by Glengarry to the Council。 He complains of Donald Mac Angus for having 〃upon a certain sinister and malicious narration〃 obtained a decree against him charging him upon pain of rebellion to deliver up the Castle of Strome； and to appear before the Privy Council； on the 4th of August preceding； to find caution that Glengarry and his friends should be kept harmless of h