212 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



not unreasonably, entertained of his fidelity to the cause of 

 the Adventurers, for on the Qth December, 1602, he was 

 formally admitted as a member of the Privy Council, 

 having previously been a nominal member only. As for 

 the Marquis of Huntly, it is evident that the marks of the 

 Royal favour conferred upon him, were not universally well 

 received. The feeling against Roman Catholics was strong 

 in the country, and the influence of the Presbyterian 

 ministers was powerful. Huntly, as the most prominent of 

 the Catholic pseudo-converts, and as a brand plucked from 

 the burning, was well watched by the suspicious Presby- 

 terians. James was fond of lecturing people, and his 

 lieutenant did not escape the infliction. About the time 

 that Huntly was preparing to undertake the invasion of 

 Lewis, we find the King exhorting him to conform and 

 keep himself in " the religion," and to avoid " Papist traf- 

 fickers " ; promising, if he did so, to be his friend, and 

 warning him of his enmity if he failed to follow his advice. 

 Thus exhorted, counselled, and strengthened by his Royal 

 patron, Huntly proceeded to his task of subduing the 

 Islesmen, who, for their part, were little concerned whether 

 their invaders were Papists or Presbyterians. They were 

 Sasgunnaich ; and that was enough for them. 



In accordance with these preparations, a proclamation 

 was issued on I9th July, calling out an armed force for the 

 recovery of Lewis. The preamble of this proclamation is 

 in the strain to which repeated allusion has been made. 

 But on this occasion, it was apparently found necessary to 

 travel beyond the bounds of Britain to find wickedness 

 parallel to that of the Lewismen; a sign that the vocabulary 

 of epithets was getting exhausted. Obviously, the acme 

 of vituperation was intended to be reached, when it was 

 declared that the " monstrous cruelteis " of the Lewismen 

 were such " as hes not bene hard of amangis Turkis or 

 Infidellis." Incidentally, the incredible " fertilitie " of the 

 land and richness of the fishings were again touched upon, 

 as having a direct bearing on the enterprise which the 

 Adventurers had undertaken. A resume was given of the 



