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ssioners to desist a from proceeding against the women； and 〃remit their trial to be taken before the Justice…General or his deputes a in the next justice court appointed to be held after his Majesty's repairing to the north parts of this realm in the month of July next； at which time； if his Majesty shall not repair thither； or being repaired shall not before his returning cause the same trial to be taken； 〃in that case commission shall be given to Thomas Fraser of Knocky； tutor of Lovat； John Urquhart of Cadboll； tutor of Cromarty； and Alexander Bayne of Tulloch； or any two of them to administer justice conform to the laws of the realm。〃
On the 6th of March； 1589…90； Colin is again mentioned as one of the Commissioners for Inverness and Cromarty for executing the Acts against the Jesuits and the seminary of priests； with reconstitution of the Commission of the preceding year for putting the Acts in force and the appointment of a new Commission of select clergy in the shires to cooperate in the work and promote submission to the Confession of Faith and Covenant over the whole Kingdom。 On the 8th of June； 1590； officers of arms are ordered to arrest in the hands of David Clapen in Leith； or any other person； any money consigned in their hands； or due by them to Sir William Keith for Colin Mackenzie of Kintail； 〃or remanent gentlemen and tenants of the Earldom of Ross for their feus thereof〃 or that rests yet in the hands of Colin or such tenants； unpaid or not consigned by them； and to discharge them from paying the same to Sir William or any other in his name until the King shall further declare his will； under the penalty of paying his Majesty the same sums over again。 On the 5th of July in the same year； Colin gives caution of ？000 that William Ross of Priesthill； when released out of the tolbooth of Edinburgh； shall keep ward in that city till he find surety for the entrance of himself and his bastard son； John Ross and others； to appear before the justice to answer for certain crimes specified in letters raised against him by David Munro of Nigg when required upon fifteen days' warning； and satisfy the Treasurer…depute for his escheat fallen to the King through having been put to the horn at the instance of the said David Munro。 He repeats the same caution for the same person on the 15th of August following。 He is again on record in March； 1591…92； and in June； 1592。 He is； along with Simon Lord Lovat； John Grant of Grant； Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh； Ross of Balnagown； Hector Munro of Fowlis； and others； chosen an assistant Commissioner of justiciary for the counties of Elgin； Nairn； and Inverness； in March 1592…93。 He was appointed a member of the Privy Council in June； 1592； but he appears not to have accepted the office on that occasion； for on the 16th of February following there is an entry of the admission of Sir William Keith of Delny 〃in the place appointed by his Majesty； with the advise of his Estates in his last Parliament； for Colin Mackenzie of Kintail； by reason he； being required； has not compeared nor accepted the said place。〃 He； however； accepted the position soon after； for it is recorded under date of 5th July； 1593； that 〃Colin Mackenzie of Kintail being admitted of the Privy Council gave his oath；〃 in common form。
The great troubles in the Lewis； which ultimately ended in that extensive principality coming into the possession of the House of Kintail； commenced about this time； and although the most important events connected with and leading up to that great result will principally fall to be treated of later on； the quarrel having originated in Colin Cam's time； it may be more convenient to explain its origin under the present。
Roderick Macleod； X。 of the Lewis； married； first； Janet； a natural daughter of John Mackenzie of Killin； by whom he had a son； Torquil Cononach； so called from his having been brought up with his mother's relations in Strathconon。 Roderick； by all accounts； was not so immaculate in his domestic relations as one might wish； for we find him having no fewer than five bastard sons； named respectively； Tormod Uigeach； Murdoch； Neil； Donald； and Rory Og； all of whom arrived at maturity。 In these circumstances it can hardly be supposed that his lady's domestic happiness was of the most felicitous and unmixed description。
It was alleged by this paragon of virtue that she had proved unfaithful to him； and that she had criminal intimacy with the Brieve （Breitheamh）； or consistorial judge of the Island。 On the other hand； it was maintained that the Brieve in his capacity of judge； had been somewhat severe on the Island chief for his reckless and immoral habits； and for his bad treatment of his lady and that the unprincipled villain； as throughout his whole career he proved himself to be； boldly； and in revenge； turned upon and accused the judge of committing adultery with his wife。 Be that as it may； the unfortunate woman； attempting to escape from his cruel treatment； while passing in a large birlinn； from the Lewis to Coigeach； on the opposite side of the coast； was pursued and run down by some of her husband's followers； when she； with all on board； perished。 Roderick thereupon disinherited her son； Torquil Cononach； grandson of John of Killin； maintaining that Torquil was not his legitimate son and heir； but the fruit of his wife's unfaithfulness。 ＇Most of the MS。 Histories of the family which we have perused state that Rory Macleod's wife was a daughter of Kenneth a Bhlair； but it is impossible that the daughter of a chief who died in 1491 could have been the wife of one who lived in the early years of the seventeenth Century。 She must have been Kenneth's granddaughter； as above described； a daughter of John of Kuhn。 This view is corroborated by a decree arbitral in 1554； in which Torquil Cononach is called the oy （ogha； or grandson） of John Mackenzie：Acts and Decreets of Session； X。； folio 201。 The Roderick Macleod who married； probably as his second wife； Agnes； daughter of Kenneth a Bhlair； was Roderick Macleod； seventh of Lewis； who died some time after his father early in the sixteenth century。＇ Roderick Macleod married secondly； in 1541； Barbara Stewart； daughter of Andrew； Lord Avandale； with issueTorquil Oighre or the Heir； who died unmarried before his father； having been drnwned along with a large number of others while on a voyage in his birlinn； between Lewis and Skye。 Macleod married thirdly a daughter or Hector Og； XIII。； and sister of Sir Lachlan Maclean； XIV。； of Duart； by whom he had two sonsTorquil Dubh； whom he named as his heir and successor； and Tormod； known as Tormod Og。 Torquil Cononach； now designated 〃of Coigeach；〃 married Margaret； daughter of Angus Macdonald； VII。 of Glengarry； and widow of Cuthbert of Castlehill； Inverness； who bore him two sonsJohn and Neiland five daughters and； raising as many men as would accompany him； he； with the assistance of two of his natural brothers…Tormod and Murdoch…started for the Lewis to vindicate his rights as legitimate heir to the island。 He defeated his father； and confined him in the Castle of Stornoway fo