history of the mackenzies-第60章

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Given　under　our　signet　at　Edinburgh；　the　14th　day　of　September；　1614；　　and　of　our　reign　the　12th；　and　48　years。　Read；　passed；　and　allowed　in　　Council。　　Alexander；　Chancellor。　　Hamilton；　Glasgow；　Lothian；　Binning。〃

Having　procured　this　commission；　the　Mackenzies　were　in　a　　position　to　devote　their　undivided　attention　to　the　Lewis　and　their　other　affairs　at　home；　and　from　this　date　that　island　principality　remained　in　the　　continuous　possession　of　the　family　of　Kintail　and　Seaforth；　until　in　1844；　　it　was　sold　to　the　late　Sir　James　Matheson。　　The　people　ever　after　adhered　　most　loyally　to　the　illustrious　house　to　whom　they　owed　peace　and　　prosperity　such　as　was　never　before　experienced　in　the　history　of　the　　island。

The　　commission　proved　otherwise　of　incalculable　benefit　to　　Kintail；　for　it　not　only　placed　him　in　a　position　to　pacify　and　establish　good　order　in　the　Lewis　with　greater　ease；　but　at　the　same　time　provided　　his　Lordship　with　undisturbed　security　in　his　extensive　possessions　on　the　　mainland　at　a　time　when　the　most　violent　disorders　prevailed　over　every　　other　district　of　the　West　Highlands　and　Isles。

On　the　2nd　of　February；　1615；　a　commission　is　signetted　in　favour　of　Sir　Roderick；　Mr　Colin　Mackenzie　of　Strathgarve；　Mr　Alexander　Mackenzie　of　Kinnock；　and　Alexander　Mackenzie　of　Coul；　to　receive　Malcolm　Caogach　Mac　Jan　Mhic…an…t…Sagairt；　Callum　Dubh　Mac　　Allaster；　Donald　Mac　Angus　Mac　Gillechallum；　Gillecallum　Mac　Ian　　Riabhaich；　and　James　Mac　Ian　Duibh；　from　the　Magistrates　of　Edinburgh；　　to　carry　them　north；　and　to　keep　them　in　ward　until　everything　is　ready　for　　trying　them　for　murder；　mutilation；　theft；　reset；　and　other　crimes。

At　a　meeting　of　the　Council　held　at　Edinburgh　on　the　9th　of　February；　1615；　Neil　Macleod's　two　sons；　Norman　and　Roderick；　are　set　　at　liberty　on　condition　that　they　transport　themselves　out　of　the　King's　　dominions　and　never　return。　　They　appeared　personally　〃and　acted　and　　obliged　them　that　within　the　space　of　forty　days　after　their　relief　furth　of　　their　ward；　where　they　remain　within　the　Tolbooth　of　Edinburgh；　they　　shall　depart　and　pass　furth　of　his　Majesty's　dominions　and　never　return　　again　within　the　same　during　their　lifetimes；　under　the　pain　of　death；　and　　in　the　meantime；　till　their　passing　furth　of　his　Majesty's　dominions；　that　　they　shall　not　go　benorth　the　water　of　Tay；　under　the　said　pain；　to　be　executed　upon　them　without　favour　if　they　fail　in　the　premises。　And　they　gave　their　great　oath　to　perform　the　conditions　of　this　present　act；　and　　further；　the　said　Norman　declared　that　he　would　renounce；　like　as　by　the　　tenour　of　this　present　act　he　does　renounce；　his　Majesty's　remission　and　　pardon　granted　unto　him；　and　all　favour　and　benefit　that　he　could　acclaim　by　the　said　remission；　in　case　he　failed　in　the　premises。　　In　respect　　whereof　the　said　Lords　ordained　the　said　Norman　and　Rory　to　be　put　to　　liberty　and　fredom　furth　of　the　Tolbooth〃；　and　a　warrant　was　issued　to　the　Provost　and　　Bailies　of　Edinburgh　to　give　effect　to　their　Lordships'　decision。　　The　Tutor　appeared　personally；　and　in　name　of　Lord　Kintail　　consented　to　the　liberation　of　the　prisoners。　　He　at　the　same　time　protested　　that　neither　he　nor　his　chief　should　be　held　any　longer　responsible　for　the　　expenses　of　maintaining　Norman；　now　that　lie　was　at　liberty；　and　he　was　　accordingly　relieved　from　further　charge　on　that　account。

On　the　26th　of　April　following　the　Tutor　receives　a　commission　for　the　pursuit　and　apprehension　of　Coll　MacGillespic　Macdonald；　Malcolm　Mac　Rory　Macleod；　and　other　fugitives；　described　as　〃the　Islay　　rebels；〃　who　had　fled　from　justice；　should　they　land　in　the　Lewis　or　in　any　　other　of　the　territories　belonging　to　Lord　Mackenzie　of　Kintail。　　In　order　　that　he　may　the　better　attend　to　this　duty；　along　with　several　other　heads　of　　clans　named　in　the　same　commission　for　their　respective　districts；　and　as　〃it　is　necessary　that　the　commissioners　foresaid　remain　at　home　and　on　nowise　come　to　this　burgh　（Edinburgh）　to　pursue　or　defend　in　any　actions　　or　causes　concerning　them；〃　their　Lordships　continued　all　actions　against　them　until　the　1st　of　November　next；　ordaining　the　said　actions　〃to　rest　　and　sleep〃　till　that　date。

On　the　same　day；　a　second　dispensation　under　the　signet　is　　addressed　to　the　Sheriff　of　Inverness　and　his　deputes　in　favour　of　Lord　Colin；　requesting　that　despite　his　minority　he　be　served　heir　to　his　father；　　the　late　Kenneth；　Lord　Mackenzie　of　Kintail。　　On　the　25th　of　June　　following　he　is　ordered　to　provide　twenty…five　men　as　part　of　an　　expedition　for　the　pursuit　of　Sir　James　Macdonald　and　Coll　　MacGillespick。　　In　June；　1616；　he　is　appointed　a　Commissioner　of　the　　Peace　for　the　Sheriffdom　of　Elgin　and　Forres。

On　the　outbreak　of　a　new　rebellion　in　the　Lewis　another　　commission；　dated　the　28th　of　August；　1616；　to　last　for　twelve　months；　　was　issued　by　the　Privy　Council；　in　favour　of　the　Tutor　and　other　leading　men　of　the　clan；　couched　in　the　following　terms：

Forasmuch　as　the　King's　Majesty　having　taken　great　pains　and　troubles　and　bestowed　great　charges　and　expenses　for　reducing　of　the　　Islands　of　this　Kingdom　and　continent　next　adjacent　to　his　Majesty's　　obedience；　and　for　establishing　of　religion；　peace；　justice；　order；　and　　government；　within　the　same；　in　the　which　his　Majesty　by　the　force　and　　power　of　his　royal　authority　has　had　such　a　happy　and　good　success　as　　almost　the　whole　chieftains　of　clans　and　headsmen　of　the　Isles　are　come　in　　and　in　all　dutiful　submission　doth　acknowledge　his　Majesty's　obedience；　　so　that　now　there　is　no　part　of　the　Isles　rebellious　but　the　Lewisthe　　chieftains　whereof；　as　from　time　to　time　they　raise　up　in　credit；　power；　and　friendship　among　the　barbarous　inhabitants　thereof；　have　been　apprehended　and　by　course　of　justice　have　suffered　their　deserved　punishment；　and　at　last　the　traitor　Neil；　who　was　last　ringleader　of　that　rebellious　society；　being　apprehended　and　executed　to　the　death；　whereby　　it　was　presumed　that　in　him　all　further　trouble；　misery；　and　unquietness　in　　the　Lewis　should　have　ceased　and　rested；　notwithstanding　it　is　of　truth　that　　Malcolm　Macleod；　son　to　Rory　Macleod；　sometime　of　the　Lewis；　has　　embraced　that　rebellious　and　treasonable　course　wherein　his　treacherous　　predecessors　miserably　perished；　and　having　associated　himself　with　the　　persons　followingRory　and　Donald　Macleod；　sons　to　the　said　umquhile　　Neil；　and　William　and　Rory　Macleod；　brothers　to　the　said　Malcolm；　　Donald　Mac　Ian　Duibh…the　Brieve；　Murdo　Mac　Angus　　Mhic…an…t…Sagairt；　　Donald　Mac　Angus　Mhic…an…t…Sagairt　his　brother；　Gillecallum　Caogach　Mac…an…t…Sagairt；　John　Dubh　Mac　Angus　Mac　Gillemichell；　Murdo　Mac　Torquil　Blair；　Norman　Mac　Torquil　Blair；　John　Roy　Mac　Torquil　Blair；　Donald　Mac　Neil　Mac　Finlay；　Gillecallum　Mac　Allan　Mac　Finlay；　and　Donald　Mac　Dhomhuill　Mac　Gillechallumwho　were　all　actors　in　the　first　rebellion　moved　and　raised　in　the　Lewis　against　the　gentlemen　venturers　who　were　directed　by　his　Majesty　there；　and　did　prosecute　that　　rebellion　against　them　with　fire　and　sword　and　all　kinds　of　hostility；　for　　the　which　and　for　other　thievish　and　treasonable　crimes　committed　by　　them　they　and　every　one　of　them　were　upon　the　second　day　of　February；　　1612；　orderly　denounced　rebels　and　put　to　the　hornthey　have　now　　combined　and　banded　themselves　in　a　most　treacherous；　disloyal；　and　　pernicious　course　and　resolution　to　maintain　a　public　rebellion　in　the　　Lewis；　and　to　oppose　themselves　with　their　whole　power　and　strength　　against　all　and　whatsoever　courses　shall　be　further　taken　by　his　Majesy's　direction　for　repressing　of　their　insolence；　whereby　is　not　only　all　　intercourse　and　trade　which　by　his　Majesty's　good　subjects　in　the　　Lowlands　would　be　entertained　amongst　them；　made　frustrate　and　void；　　but　the　preparative　of　this　rebellion　in　consequence　and　example　is　most　　dangerous；　and　if　the　same　be　not　substantially　repressed；　may　give　further　　boldness　to　others　who　are　not　yet　well　settled　in　a　perfect　obedience；　to　　break　loose。　　Accordingly；　as　it　is　〃a　discredit　to　the　country　that　such　a　　parcel　of　ground　possessed　by　a　number　of　miserable　caitiffs　shall　be　　suffered　to　continue　rebellious；　whereas　the　whole　remanent　Isles　are　　become　peac