Within a few days after this affair, the earl, seeing he could not
effect his object, retired into England. Soon after, much to the
scandal of the preachers, he joined the papist lords. All his plans,
however, were frustrated; and early in the next year, he left Scotland,
an utterly broken man, never again to give his royal cousin any
trouble.
Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail was rising to be a wealthy and influential
man in the west of Inverness-shire. Beginning as simple chief of the
Clan Kenzie, with a moderate estate, he ended as a peer of the realm
and the lord of great possessions. A remarkable notice regarding him
occurs at this time in the Privy Council Record, and it is the more so,
as he had been for some time a member of that body. It is recited that
he had, some time before, purchased a commission of justiciary from
the king, for a district including the lands of certain neighbours,
besides his own, and conferring the power of proceeding against persons
accused of treasonable fire-raising. This was declared to have been
given on wrong representations, and to be contrary to the laws of the
kingdom, and Kenneth was commanded to appear by a certain day before
the Council, and meanwhile abstain from acting upon the commission.--P.
C. R.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: JULY 4.]
As a specimen of how nobles possessing castles acted towards meaner men
who had fallen under their displeasure--James, Lord Hay of Yester, was
charged before the Privy Council with having, on the ... day of June
previous, gone to the house of ... Brown of Frosthill, and taken him
forth thereof, and carried him to his ‘place of Neidpath,’ where ‘he
put him in the pit thereof, and detenes him as captive, he being his
majesty’s free subject ... having committit nae crime nor offence, and
the said lord having nae power nor commission to tak him.’ The king
had granted letters charging Lord Yester to liberate Brown, and that
they should both come before him; and this had been of none effect.
The matter being now before the Council, and a procurator having
appeared for Brown to explain that he was still a prisoner at Neidpath,
while Lord Yester made no appearance, officers were charged to go and
denounce the latter as a rebel if he should refuse to obey the king’s
command, Brown having meanwhile given surety to the extent of two
hundred pounds that he should be ready to answer any accusation that
might be brought against him.--_P. C. R._
* * * * *
[Sidenote: 1594.