THE FIFE ADVENTURERS. 177 



be built for the space of three years. It was also ordained 

 that a dispensation be granted to the Adventurers, freeing 

 them from all actions against them, and from all taxation, 

 for at least a year after their arrival in Lewis. 



By the same articles, the King granted the Syndicate a 

 commission for " uplifting of men in quhatsumevir part 

 within this realme, in burgh or land, be all ordiner meanis 

 observit in sic caissis," a somewhat cryptic reference which 

 apparently applies to the levying of assistance for the 

 enterprise, or the planting of settlers in the new colonies. 



The articles further provided for the ratification by the 

 next Parliament of the securities and infeftments granted 

 to the Syndicate, with all " neidfull solempnities in ample 

 forme."* 



So far as the natives themselves were concerned, the 

 sting of the document lay in its tail. For the. last clause 

 stipulated that no part of the Highlands or Isles should 

 thereafter at any time be " disponit in few, tak or utherways 

 bot to Lowland men," or at least to such Highlanders as 

 could find Lowland cautioners. 



By an Act of the Privy Council dated i/th August, an 

 assignation of the 140 chalders barley appointed to be 

 paid for Lewis, Rona, and the Shiant Isles, was made to 

 the Duke of Lennox for a period of five years, beginning 

 with the crop of 1600, and ending with that of 1604 ; and 

 the feuars were commanded to pay the Duke their feu- 

 duties accordingly during that period. The consideration 

 for this assignment consisted in the forthcoming services 

 of Lennox as the King's lieutenant in Lewis, with its 

 pertinents, and Trotternish, " quhilk office will not onlie be 

 hazartus to the said Lord Duke's persone," but also an 

 expensive undertaking for him. The arrangements for the 

 expedition were then in progress, for the Duke, it is stated, 

 was to " pas schortlie accumpaniet with the gentilmen 

 aventuraris."t On 25th August, the authority of Lennox 

 was limited by an instruction to consult the King, or 



* Reg. of P.C., Vol. V., pp. 467-8. 

 T Reg. of P.C., Vol. V., p. 480. 



