THE FIFE ADVENTURERS. 191 



to the Justices of Fife charging them, notwithstanding al 1 

 precepts to the contrary, to proceed to the immediate trial of 

 Murdoch, who is described as " of Sebuste " (? Shawbost), 

 and as the brother of Torquil Macleod of Coigeach, no 

 longer, be it noted, " of Lewis." The trial was ordered to 

 take place at St. Andrews, and the Justices were com- 

 manded, if they found the prisoner guilty of the " crimes " 

 with which he was charged, to sentence him to be hanged, 

 drawn, and quartered, and his head to be affixed above the 

 " Nether Bow " of Edinburgh, as a warning to others.* 

 This letter put an effectual stop to whatever negotiations 

 may have been set on foot for the pardon of the culprit. 

 Murdoch was found guilty by the Fifeshire Justices to 

 whom his trial was entrusted because his " crimes " were 

 committed against the Fife Adventurers and the sentence 

 prescribed by the King was carried into effect at St. 

 Andrews. Looking at all the circumstances from an im- 

 partial standpoint, it cannot be said that the sentence was 

 a just one. The members of the Syndicate and the dis- 

 possessed Lewis chief were at open warfare. The resistance 

 of the Macleods to the invasion of the Adventurers was 

 wholly justifiable, and indeed patriotic ; while the attack 

 on Balcomie's ship was a fair stand-up fight ; and whatever 

 barbarities may have accompanied the victory of the 

 islanders were, according to Murdoch's statement, com- 

 mitted without his authority. But it was useless to expect 

 such considerations to weigh with judges who were 

 deliberately chosen for their local prejudice against the 

 prisoner, and who dared not run counter to the plain 

 wishes of their Sovereign. After all, in their view, the 

 execution of Murdoch Macleod made one Lewis barbarian 

 the fewer for their friends, the Syndicate, to cope with. 



Murdoch being now disposed of, the Adventurers made 

 overtures to Mackenzie of Kintail for a compact whereby 

 they might secure his powerful friendship. Accordingly, a 

 minute of the heads of an agreement was drafted at Perth 



* Reg. ofP.C., Vol. XIV., Appen. to Intro. 



P 2 



