effect of your answer to Mackenzie." "I wonder," replied Huntly,
"how he could have so many men ready almost in an instant." The
officer replied, "Their leader is so active and fortunate that his
men will flock to him from all parts on a moment's notice when he
has any ado. And before you gain Mackintosh or his lady you will
lose more than he is worth, since now, as it seems, her friends
take part in the quarrel;" whereupon the Earl retired with his
forces to Inverness, "so that it seemed fitter to Huntly to agree
their differs friendly than prosecute the laws further against
Mackintosh."

There is a complaint to the Privy Council by Christian Scrymgeour,
relict of the late Alexander, Bishop of Ross, dated 24th January,
1578-9, in which it is stated that Colin not only stopped and
debarred her late spouse from having fuel and "elding" to his
dwelling house in the Chanonry of Ross, where he made his residence
last summer, but stopped him also from victuals to his house, using
such unhuman and cruel dealings against him that he fell sick and
never recovered "till he departed this life." During the illness
of the bishop in December preceding, Colin and others "of his
special sending" enclosed the house of the Chanonry and debarred
the complainer and her husband of meat and drink and all other
relief of company or comfort of neighbours and friends, and how
soon he had intelligence of the bishop's approaching his death he
laid ambushes of armed men within the town of Chanonry and in the
neighbourhood and apprehended several of the bishop's and dean's
servants, whom he carried "immediately to the said Colin's house
of the Redcastle," and there detained them for twenty-four hours.
Further, on the 22nd of September preceding, the bishop being at
the extreme point of death, Colin with an armed following in great