numbers, came to the castle and house of the Chanonry and by force
and violence entered therein and put the said Christian Scrymgeour,
the bishop's wife, and his servants, children, and household out
of the same, intromitted with their goods and gear and constrained
them to leave the country by sea, not suffering them to get meat,
drink, or lodging, in the town, nor letting them take away with
them of their own gear as much as a plaid or blanket to protect
the children from cold in the boat, "committing thair throw such
cruel and barbarous oppression upon them as the like has not
been heard of in any realm or country subject to justice or the
authority of a Sovereign Prince." Colin did not appear to answer
this complaint, and he and his chief abettors were denounced rebels,
put to the horn and escheated.

On the same day, there is a complaint by Henry Lord Methven, in
which it is stated that although his Lordship "has by gift of His
Highness to him, his heirs and assignees, the gift of all and whole
the temporality of the Bishopric of Ross, and of the castle, house,
and place of the Chanonry of Ross, now vacant in our Sovereign
Lord's hands by the decease of the late Alexander, last Bishop
of Ross, of all years and terms to come, aye and till the lawful
provision of a lawful bishop and pastor to the said bishopric,"
and although it is "specially provided by Act of Parliament that
whatsoever person or persons takes any bishop's places, castles, 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