of Mackenzie's kinsmen。 He got the ear of his Majesty and would have been successful had not John Dubh Mac Choinnich Mhic Mhurchaidh meanwhile taken the law into his own hands by burning； in revenge； all Tulloch's cornyards and barns at Lemlair； thus giving Bayne an opportunity of presenting another and counter claim but the matter was ultimately arranged by the King and Council obliging Kintail and Tulloch mutually to subscribe a contract of agreement and peaceful behaviour towards each other。
Under date of 18th February； 1395…96； there is an entry in the Privy Council Records that Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail 〃being elected and chosen to be one of the ordinary members〃 of the Council； and being personally preset； makes faith and gives oath in the usual manner。 In a complaint against him； on the 5th of August； 1596； by Habbakuk Bisset； he is assoilzied in all time coming by a decree of their Lordships in his favour。
Upon the death of Old Roderick of the Lewis； Torquil Dubh succeeded him； excluding Torquil Cononach from the succession on the plea of his being a bastard。 The latter； however； held Coigeach and his other possessions on the mainland； with a full recognition by the Government of his rights to the lands of his forefathers in the Lewis。
His two sons having been killed； and his eldest daughter； Margaret； having married Roderick Mackenzie of Coigeach； progenitor of the Cromarty family； better known as the Tutor of Kintail； Torquil Cononach threw himself into the hands of Kintail for aid against the bastards。 By Roderick Mackenzie's marriage with Torquil Cononach's eldest daughter； he became heir of line to the ancient family of Macleod； an honour which still remains to his descendants； the Cromarty family。 Torquil Dubh secured considerable support by marriage with a daughter of Tormod； XI。； and sister of William Macleod； XII。 of Harris and Dunvegan； and； thus strengthened； made a descent on Coigeach and Lochbroom； desolating the whole district； aiming at permanent occupation。 Kintail； following the example of his predecessorsalways prudent； and careful to keep within the laws of the realmin 1596 laid the following complaint before King James VI。：
Please your Majesty；Torquil Dow of the Lews； not contenting himself with the avowit misknowledging of your Hieness authority wherebe he has violat the promises and compromit made before your Majesty； now lately the 25th day of December last； has ta'n upon him being accompanied w 7 or 800 men； not only of his own by ylands neist adjacent； to prosecute with fire and sword by all kind of gud order； the hail bounds of the Strath Coigach pertaining to M'Leod his eldest brother； likewise my Strath of Lochbroom； quhilks Straths； to your Majesty's great dishonour； but any fear of God ourselves； hurt and skaith that he hath wasted w fire and sword； in such barbarous and cruel manner； that neither man； wife； bairn； horse； cattle； corns； nor bigging has been spared； but all barbarously slain； burnt； and destroyit； quhilk barbarity and cruelty； seeing he was not able to perform it but by the assistance and furderance of his neighbouring Ylesmen； therefore beseeches your Majesty by advice of Council to find some sure remeid wherebe sick cruel tyrannie may be resisted in the beginning。 Otherway nothing to be expectit for but dailly increasing of his malicious forces to our utter ruin； quha possesses your Majesty's obedience； the consideration quharof and inconveniences quhilk may thereon ensue。 I remit to your Highness guid consideration of whom taking my leif with maist humble commendations of service； I commit your Majesty to the holy protection of God eternal。 At the Canonry of Ross； the 3d day； Jany。 1596…97。 Your Majesty's most humble and obt。 subject。
KENNETH MACKENZIE of Kintail。
The complaint came before the Privy Council； at Holyrood； on the 11th of February； following； and Torquil Dubh； failing to appear； was denounced a rebel。 Kenneth thereupon obtained a commission of fire and sword against him； as also the forfeiture of the Lewis； upon which Torquil Cononach made over his rights to Mackenzie； on the plea that he was the next male heir； but reserving the lands of Coigeach to his own son…in…law。
The Mackenzies did all they could to obtain the estste for Torquil Cononach； the legitimate heir； but mainly through his own want of activity and indolent disposition； they failed with their united efforts to secure undisturbed possession for him。 They succeeded； however； in destroying the family of Macleod of the Lewis； and most of the Siol…Torquil； and ultimately became complete masters of the island。 The Brieve by stratagem captured Torquil Dubh； with some of his friends； and delivering them up to Torquil Cononach； they were； by his orders； beheaded in July； 1597。 〃It fell out that the Breve （that is to say； the judge） in the Lewis； who was chief of the Clan Illevorie （Morrison）；； being sailing from the Isle of Lewis to Ronay in a great galley； met with a Dutch ship loaded with wine； which he took； and advising with his friends； who were all with him there； what he would do with the ship lest Torqull Du should take her from him； they resolved to return to Stornoway and call for Torqull Du to receive the wine； and if he came to the ship； to sail away with him where Torqull Cononach was； and then they might be sure of the ship and the wine to be their own； and besides； he would grant them tacks in the best parts in the Lewis； which accordingly they did； and called for Torqull to come and receive the wine。 Torqull Du noways mistrusting them that were formerly so obedient； entered the ship with seven others in company； where he was welcomed； and he commended them as good fellows that brought him such a prize。 They invited him to the quay to take his pleasure of the feast of their wine。 He goes； but instead of wine they brought cords to tie him； telling him he had better render himself and his wrongously possessed estate to his eldest brother； that they resolved to put him in his mercy； which he was forced to yield to。 So they presently sail for Coigeach； and delivered him to his brother； who he had no sooner got but he made him short by the head in the month of July； 1597。 Immediately he was beheaded there arose a great earthquake； which astonished the actors and all the inhabitants about them as a sign of God's judgment。〃 ＇Ancient MS。＇
In 1598 some gentlemen in Fife； afterwards known as the 〃Fife Adventurers；〃 obtained a grant of the Lewis with the professed object of civilising the inhabitants。 It is not intended here to detail their proceedings or to describe at much length the squabbles and constant disorders； murders； and robberies which took place while they held possession of the Island。 The speculation proved ruinous to the Adventurers； who in the end lost their estates； and were obliged to leave the islanders to their fate。 A brief summary of it will suffice； and those who desire more information on the subject will find a full account of it in the History of the Macleods。 ＇By the same author。 A。 & W。 Mackenzie； Inverness； 1889。＇
On the 15th of June； 1599； Sir William Stewart of Houston； Sir James Spence of Wormistoun； and Thomas Cunningham appeared personally before the Privy Council 〃to take a day for the pursuit of Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail upon such crimes as criminally they had to lay to his charge for themselves and in the name of the gentlemen…ventuaries of their society；〃 and the 26th of September was fixed for the purpose。
On the 14th of September Kenneth enters into a bond for a thousand merks that John Dunbar； Fiar of Avoch； and James Dunbar of Little Suddie； four sons of John of Avoch； and several others； in five hundred merks each； that they will not harm Roderick Dingwall of Kildin； Duncan Bayne； apparent heir of Tulloch； Alexander Bayne of Loggie； and other sons and grandsons of Bayne of Tulloch。
Sir James Stewart of Newton enters into a bond； on the 6th of October； for six hundred merks that Kenneth will not harm James Crambie； a burgess of Perth； signed at Dunkeld in presence of Murdo Mackenzie； apparent heir of Redcastle； John Mackenzie； minister of Dingwall； and Alexander Mackenzie； writer。
On the 16th of April； 1600； Tormod Macleod complains that Kenneth had apprehended him and detained him as a prisoner without just cause； and failing to appear the King and Council； understanding that Tormod 〃is a chief and special man of that clan （Macleod）； and that therefore it is necessary that order be taken for his dutiful obedience and good behaviour；〃 order Kenneth to present him before the Council on a day to be afterwards fixed。
Kenneth； on the 11th of December； brings under the notice of the Council a case which places the unlawful practices of the times in a strong light。 He says that upon the 16th of October preceding； while Duncan MacGillechallum in Kintail； his man； was bringing twenty…four cows to the fair of Glammis； three men； whose names he gives； violently robbed him of the cattle。 Upon the 1st of November； 1599； the same persons had reft Duncan MacGillechriosd in Kintail； his tenant； at the fair of Elycht； of twenty…six cows and four hundred merks of silver； and robbed Murdo Mac Ian Mhic Mhurchaidh； also his tenant in Kintail； of twenty…six cows at the same market。 On the 30th of October； 1600； he sent his servants； John and Dougall MacVanish； in Lochalsh； to the fair of Elycht with a hundred and fifty…four cows and oxen to be sold； 〃for outred and certane the said complenaris adois in thir pairtis；〃 and his servants being at the foot of Drummuir with his said cattle； two of the three who robbed his men at Glammis； with Patrick Boll in Glenshee； and Alexander Galld Macgregor； took from them the whole of the cattle and 〃hes sparpellit and disponit〃 upon the same at their pleasure。 This violence and rief at free markets and fairs； he says； is not only hurtful to him； but it 〃discourages all peaceable and good subjects to direct or send any goods to the market and fairs of the incountry。〃 Kenneth Mackenzie of Kilchrist appeared for Kintail； and the defenders； in absence； were denounced rebels。
He is o