the Council dissolved, and that his Majesty passed to Dunkeld to
the hunting. Like as immediately thereafter the said Alexander
repaired to the Burgh of Edinburgh, where he likewise awaited a
certain space thereafter when Council should have been, and the
said letters should have been called but perceiving no number of
Council neither there nor actually with his Majesty, he looked
for no calling of the said letters nor proceeding thereuntil, but
that the same should have (been), deserted, because the day was
peremptory, at the least till he should have been of new warned and
heard in presence of his Highness and his Council to have shown a
reasonable cause why no such letters should be granted simpliciter
upon the said Colin to the effect above-written. Not-withstanding
for by his expectation, he being resident for the time in Edinburgh,
where he looked that the said matter should have been called,
the said other letters were upon the tenth day of the said month
of August last, by moyen of the said Donald Mac Angus, called at
the Castle of Dalkeith, and there, for the said Colin's alleged
non-compearance, as he is surely informed, decree was pronounced
in the said matter and letters ordained to be directed simpliciter
against him." Had his said servant, then still in Edinburgh, been
made aware of this meeting of Council at Dalkeith, "he would not
have failed to have compeared, and had many good and sufficient
reasons and defences to have staid all giving of the said letters
simpliciter;" such as that "the said Colin received the said castle
and fortalice of Strome by virtue of a contract passed betwixt him
and the said Donald, wherein he was content and consented that the
said castle should remain in the said Colin's hands and keeping
unto the time he had fulfilled certain other articles and clauses
mentioned and contained in the same contract;" also "that the said
Colin was charged, by virtue of letters passed by deliverance of