THE EXPEDITION OF JAMES V. 133 



opposition. In point of fact, there was no resistance 

 offered. The expedition was from first to last a huge 

 picnic for its participants, who doubtless experienced the 

 same feelings of curiosity about the remote objective of 

 their voyage, as might any band of modern excursionists 

 joining a personally-conducted tour to the islands of the 

 South Pacific. 



The fleet sailed along the east coast to the Orkneys 

 where provisions were requisitioned, and where the King 

 was entertained by Robert Maxwell, Bishop of Orkney. 

 The next stopping-place was the coast of Sutherland, 

 where Donald Mackay of Strathnaver was seized. The 

 fleet then crossed the Minch to Stornoway.* Ruari 

 Macleod, one of the most troublesome chiefs in the 

 Hebrides, together with " the principallis of his kin," was 

 compelled willy-nilly to appear before the King, and was 

 forced to bid farewell to Lewis for a season. Macleod of 

 Harris was next summoned from Harris (some accounts 

 say from Dunvegan) to the King's presence, and Macneill 

 of Barra had to obey a similar command. At Loch 

 Duich, John Mackenzie of Kintail became an unwilling 

 passenger, and at Trotternish, the King made quite a haul of 

 Macdonalds, John Moidartach of Clan Ranald, Alexander 

 of Glengarry, and others " quha allegit thame to be of the 

 principalle bluide and lordis of the lies " doubtless the 

 Sleat Macdonalds being the recipients of the Royal 

 attention. Mr. Gregory suggests that the Macdonalds 

 hoped to secure the favour of the King by meeting him 

 half-way, thus accounting for their collective presence in 

 Skye. If that was their hope, it does not appear to have 

 been quite realised, for some of them at least were forced 

 to accompany the expedition southwards/I* In the Southern 

 Hebrides, Hector Maclean of Duart and James Macdonald 



* Stornovvay has been visited by only two reigning Sovereigns : by James V. 

 in 1540 and by King Edward, with the Queen, on 2nd September, 1902. 

 The objects of these visits differed as widely as did the nature of the reception 

 accorded to the two monarchs. 



t As is well known, the town of Portree (the King's Port) owes its name to 

 the visit of James V. to Skye. 



