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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