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History Of The Mackenzies [115]

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apprehension that the clansmen of the Isles who have given their obedience to his Majesty, and now stands under his Majesty's good grace, shall make shipwreck of their faith, credit, and promised obedience, and join with them in their detestable rebellion. And although his Majesty, in the sincerity of his royal heart, cannot apprehend any such disloyalty or treachery in the person of the clansmen of the Isles, who have had so large a proof of his Majesty's clemency, benignity, and favour, that now, so unworthily and unnecessarily, they will reject his Majesty's favour, and, to the inevitable hazard and peril of their estates, join with these miserable miscreants in their rebellion yet to take away all pretext of excuse from them, and to make them the more inexcusable if wilfully, traitorously, and maliciously they will suffer themselves to be carried in such an imminent danger, the King's Majesty and Lords of Secret Council ordain letters to be directed to command, charge, and inhibit all and sundry, the inhabitants of the Isles and continent next adjacent, namely Donald Macdonald Gorm of Sleat, Roderick Macleod of Dunvegan, called Macleod of Harris, Hugh Mackay of Farr, Mackay his son and apparent heir, and MacNeill of Barra, that none of them presume or take upon hand, under whatsoever colour or pretence, to concur, fortify, or assist the said rebellious thieves and limmers of the Lewis, nor to intercommune or join with them, supply them with men, victual, powder, bullets, or any other thing consortable unto them, nor to show them any kind of protection, consort, countenance, reset or supply, under the pain to be reputed, held, and esteemed as art and partakers with them in their rebellion, and to be pursued and punished for the same, as traitors to his Majesty and his country, with all vigour.

On the 28th of May, 1612, a commission, apparently first granted to those named in it on the 11th of June, 1611, but of which the original is not given in the published Records of the Privy Council, "almost expired" at the first-named date, and was renewed to the same persons--the Tutor of Kintail, Colin Mackenzie of Killin, Murdo Mackenzie of Kernsary, Alexander Mackenzie of Coul, and Kenneth Mackenzie of Darochmaluag.

It is to the same effect as and in almost identical terms with the commission issued in favour of Kenneth, Lord Kintail, on the 19th of July, 1610 (given at length at pp. 193-94), and it confers full powers on the Tutor and his colleagues for the pursuit and apprehension of Neil Macleod and his fellow rebels in the Lewis.

A complaint is made on the 4th of March, 1613, by Sir William Oliphant, the King's Advocate, that all the chieftains and principal men of the Isles and mainland next adjacent having made their submission to his Majesty, "there only resteth Neil Macleod, called the Traitor, rebellious and disobedient" His accomplices are given as Malcolm Mac Rory MacLeod William Mac Rory Macleod, his brother, John Dubh Mac Angus Mac Gillemhichell, Gillecallum Mac Ian Mhic-ant-Sagairt, Murdo and Donald Mac Ian Mhic-an-t-Sagairt, Donald and Rory, sons to Neil Macleod, and Donald Mac Ian Duibh--the Brieve. They are stated to have maintained open rebellion in the Lewis for some years past, "but after their strength and starting hoill," called Berissay, had been attacked by the Tutor of Kintail and others in the King's name they fled to the bounds and country of Donald Mac Allan of Ellantirrim, where they were received and supplied by him and several others, whose names are given, "despite the proclamation of the commission against the resett of rebels made at Inverness," some time before. The resetters, to the number of nine, are denounced rebels and at the born.

At a meeting of the Council held on the 28th of April Roderick Macleod of Harris is charged to deliver up to the Tutor of Kintail within twenty days after the charge five of Neil Macleod's accomplices who had been apprehended by Roderick's brother Alexander. These are Malcolm and William, "sons to the late
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