THE MACLEODS OF LEWIS. 157 



As they passed the points at which the other assassins lay 

 hidden, a shower of arrows met them. The Kenlochewe 

 men were shot dead, but John managed to reach the castle 

 in an exhausted condition, with several arrows sticking in 

 his body, " whereof," says our chronicler, " he immediately 

 died, to the great misfortune of all his friends and the 

 utter ruin of that whole family." Thus, says Sir Robert 

 Gordon, " was old Rorie Macleod made againe commander 

 of that island, which he did possesse dureing the rest of his 

 troublesome dayes." 



The assassination of his son was a serious blow to 

 Torquil Conanach. Revenge was the first consideration, 

 and that was duly exacted. Donald MacRuari, one of the 

 ringleaders of the plot, fell into the hands of Torquil, who 

 promptly had him executed at Dingwall. Rory Og escaped 

 his vengeance, but he too fell a victim, later on, to his 

 quarrelsome disposition. The death of John MacTorquil 

 was an unfortunate occurrence, for old Ruari liked him, 

 and was probably reconciled to the succession falling to 

 him. But between Ruari and the youth's father there 

 could be no permanent reconciliation. It is obvious that 

 the old chief cordially detested Janet Mackenzie's son, and 

 it appears that no sooner did he regain his power in Lewis 

 than, influenced by his adherents, he appointed Torquil 

 Dubh to rule with him as his colleague and successor; 

 thus repudiating his former undertaking to acknowledge 

 Torquil Conanach as his lawful son and heir. This roused 

 the latter to action. It was unfortunate for him that the 

 two great families with which he was connected by ties ol 

 blood and marriage i.e. the Mackenzies of Kintail and 

 the Macdonnells of Glengarry were at that time at feud 

 with one another, No material help was therefore obtain- 

 able from them, but he succeeded in setting up in Lewis 

 a faction in opposition to Torquil Dubh, and skirmishes 

 between the two parties were of daily occurrence. 



In April, 1585, an order was promulgated by the 

 Council, charging Maclean of Duart, Donald Gorm of Sleat, 

 Ruari Macleod of Lewis, and Tormod Macleod of Harris 



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