On the 24th of May, 1589, he is named
as the Commissioner for the shire of Inverness who is to convene
the freeholders of the county for choosing the Commissioners to
a Parliament to be held at Edinburgh on the 2nd of October in that
year, and to report his diligence in this matter to the Council
before the 15th of August, under pains of rebellion. On the 4th
of June following, he appears in a curious position in connection
with a prosecution for witchcraft against several women, and an
abridgement of the document, as recorded in the Records of the
Privy Council, is of sufficient interest to justify a place here.
It is the complaint of Katherine Ross, relict of Robert Munro of
Fowlis; Margaret Sutherland, spouse of Hector Munro, portioner of
Kiltearn; Bessie Innes, spouse of Neil Munro, in Swordale; Margaret
Ross, spouse of John Neil Mac Donald Roy, in Caull; and Margaret
Mowat, as follows:
Mr Hector Munro, now of Fowlis, son-in-law of the said Katherine
Ross, "seeking all ways and means to possess himself in certain
her tierce and conjunct fee lands of the Barony of Fowlis, and
to dispossess her therefrom" had first "persued certain of her
tenants and servants by way of deed for their bodily harm and
slaughter," and then, "finding that he could not prevail that
way, neither by sundry other indirect means sought by him," had at
last, "upon sinister and wrong information and importunate suit,
purchased a commission of the same to his Majesty, and to Colin
Mackenzie of Kintail, Rory Mackenzie, his brother, John Mackenzie of
Gairloch, Alexander Bain of Tulloch, Angus Mackintosh of Termitt,
James Glas of Gask, William Cuthbert, in Inverness, and some others
specially mentioned therein, for apprehending of the said Margaret
Sutherland, Bessy Innes, Margaret Ross, and Margaret Mowat, and
sundry others, and putting them to the knowledge of an assize
for witchcraft, and other forged and feinted crimes alleged to be
committed by them.
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