196 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



Meanwhile, the members of the Syndicate were being 

 confirmed in their possessions, so far as legal titles could 

 do so. The Parliament of 1600 ratified an Act of 

 I4th December, 1599, conveying the infeftment of Lewis 

 and Trotternish to the Adventurers. The lands specified 

 in the ratification comprise, besides the two main terri- 

 tories, Rona, the Shiant Isles, Great and Little Bernera, 

 the Flannan Islands, and "twa cunying islands."* The 

 customary strong language is used about the Lewismen. 

 They are accused of " maist detestabill, damnabill, and 

 odious murthers,fyiris,reveisching of wemen, witchcraft, and 

 depredatiounes maid amangis thameselffis, extendit maist 

 unmercifullie to all sorttis of persounes, without ony pitie 

 or mercie ather of young or auld," as well as of the usual 

 " treassonabill practeisses." The document sets forth how 

 the members of the Syndicate had conquered the lands, 

 and somewhat naively remarks that they have set an 

 example which others would do well to follow. In 

 consideration of their patriotic services, the yearly duty 

 has been reduced to one thousand pounds in money, 

 1,000 keling (codling), 1,000 lingfish and 1,000 skates. 

 A charter of the lands under the Great Seal is to be 

 prepared by the King for himself, as legal representative 

 of his son Henry Frederick, " Prince and Stewart of the 

 realm and Lord of the Isles," by the tenor of which the 

 Syndicate, consisting of the Duke of Lennox, Patrick of 

 Lindores, Stewart, Leirmont, Anstruther (the Queen's 

 Master of the Household), Spens, Sandilands, Murray, 

 Forret, and David Home, heir of Wedderburn, are to be 

 confirmed in their possessions in equal shares, including 

 the fishings, patronage, teinds, &c. 



Power is given them to build ten parish churches in 

 Lewis, and as many in Trotternish as they may think 

 proper, such churches to be independent of the jurisdiction 

 of the Bishop of the Isles. They are also empowered to 



* Dean Monro calls them Sigrain-na-Goinein (coinein) "wherein there are 

 many cuninges " (rabbits). Blaeu calls them Sigram-na-geinen, and places 

 them near Pabaidh in Loch Roag. They are doubtless the islets named 

 Shiaram Mhor and Shiaram Bheag. 



