io8 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



1494 as a witness to charters submitted to the King's 

 authority, and in the following year his example was 

 followed by Allan Macruari of Clan Ranald and Gilleonan 

 Macneill of Barra, to the latter of whom James confirmed 

 the grant of Barra and Boisdale in 1427 by Alexander 

 Lord of the Isles.* 



The next steps in the pacification of the Hebrides were 

 of a drastic character. By an Act of the Lords of Council, 

 the responsibility for the execution of summonses and 

 other writs throughout the Isles was thrown upon the 

 chiefs, who were thus unable to evade the operation of the 

 civil actions which were in course of preparation. Then 

 followed, on i6th March, 1497-8, a second revocation of 

 charters, which seems to have specially affected the grants 

 to the Hebridean chiefs during the previous five years. 

 It is difficult to assign a satisfactory reason for this 

 revocation, unless it was the outcome of the renewed 

 insurrection under Alexander of Lochalsh. In the 

 Treasurer's Accounts, there appears an entry dated 2Oth 

 March, 1497-8, for money paid to "Lord Gordounis man that 

 passit in His to all the hedis men of the cuntree with the 

 King's writingis " ; and in the same year, there is a further 

 item of expenditure for " ane to pass to McLoyd in the 

 lies." These errands were doubtless connected with the 

 revocation of charters made at Duchal. 



Among those who profited by the revocation, were 

 Archibald, Earl of Argyll, Alexander, Lord Gordon the 

 Marquis of Huntly's eldest son Duncan Stewart of 

 Appin, and Macian of Ardnamurchan, who had all posed 

 as loyal subjects, and had been in frequent communication 

 with the King on matters relating to the Hebrides. 



The King was at Kilkiaran Castle (Campbeltown) in 

 June, 1498, where he dispensed his favours in the form of 

 charters to various chiefs, among whom were Torquil 

 Macleod of Lewis son and successor of Ruari and 

 Alexander Macleod of Harris (Alastair Crotach or the 



* Reg. Mag.Sig. (1424-1513), No. 2,287. 



