THE ISLES AND THE " SPANISH BLANKS." 161 



[acleod, Tutor of Harris (ten thousand merks), and 

 )onald Gorm of Sleat (ten thousand merks). 



In March, 1589-90, the names of Donald Gorm of 

 >leat and Donald (should be William) Macleod of 

 [arris, appear in company with those of Angus Mac- 

 maid of Dunyveg and Lauchlan Maclean of Duart, on 

 ie re-constituted Commission for putting in force the 

 iCts against the Jesuits and seminary priests. These 

 chiefs were appointed Commissioners in the Isles. It 

 reads somewhat oddly to find them posing as representa- 

 tives of a religious party. Religious feeling at this time 

 ran high in Scotland. The Protestants were peculiarly 

 embittered against the Roman Catholics, and the strife 

 was intensified by the discovery of a supposed plot to 

 suppress, with the aid of Spanish troops, the Protestant 

 religion, or obtain full toleration for the Popish faith. The 

 incident known as the "Spanish Blanks" gave the Presby- 

 terian ministers a handle against their enemies, which 

 they worked assiduously. The Earls of Huntly, Angus, 

 and Errol, the leaders of the Catholics, were, with their 

 adherents, solemnly excommunicated by the Kirk, and 

 notwithstanding the shilly-shallying policy of the King, 

 were ordered to stand their trial for complicity in the 

 Jesuit plot. On their refusal to do so, they were put to 

 the horn. But in a list dated i6th March, 1592-3, of 

 persons released from the horn, we find the names of these 

 three noblemen, together with certain Hebridean chiefs, 

 including Ruari Macleod of Lewis, Torquil Macleod of 

 Coigeach, Ruari Macleod, Tutor of Harris, Donald Gorm 

 of Sleat, Clanranald, and Macneill of Barra. The Catholic 

 Earls, however, who were thus received to "the King's 

 peace," were not suffered to remain long unmolested. 

 Their enemies proved too powerful for them in spite of 

 the King's benevolent attitude towards them. Their 

 continued refusal to stand their trial led to an expedition 

 being sent against them under the young Earl of Argyll, 

 with whom were the Macleans, Macneills, Macgregors, 

 Mackintoshes, and Grants. The Earls of Huntly and 



