2i8 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



chiefs were to remove themselves and their servants from 

 the castles within twenty- four hours after being charged, 

 otherwise the castles were to be besieged with fire and 

 sword, and their defenders treated as traitors and rebels. 



As with the castles, so with the shipping of the islands. 

 The King having resolved to employ some of his own 

 ships and forces in the conquest of Lewis, and the Council 

 realising that the aggressiveness of the natives and their 

 sympathisers, and their means of escape from punishment, 

 were much facilitated by the number of galleys, lymphads, 

 boats, and birlings at their command, enabling them to 

 move about freely among the islands, ordered the owners 

 of these craft to bring them to Loch Broom, and deliver 

 them to those empowered to receive them. And a strict 

 charge was given that no help, direct or indirect, was to be 

 afforded the Lewis " lymmaris " to escape. In case of 

 refusal to deliver up the castles or the shipping, full power 

 was vested in the Commissioners already named with the 

 additional name of Robert Cunningham of Airdrie to 

 compel obedience to the order, with a dispensation for 

 whatever steps they might take in enforcing it. And the 

 commanders of the King's ships were charged to assist the 

 Commissioners, and to employ the King's " ordinance, 

 powlder, and bullet to that effect." 



A further proclamation emphasised the order to ostracise 

 the people of Lewis. The preamble sets forth how the 

 Lewismen had " violentlie expellit " the Adventurers, and 

 " instrusit thaimselfis " in the island, where they live " most 

 lasciviously and insolentlie." They are declared to be the 

 avowed enemies of the King's peaceful subjects, and of all 

 strangers engaged in fishing, or driven to Lewis by stress 

 of weather. The King deemed it inconsistent with his 

 honour to suffer " sic a unfamous byke of lawles lymmaris " 

 (wasp's nest of lawless vagabonds) to remain in any part of 

 his dominions, seeing he had the power to root them out ; 

 and he accordingly directed that this expedition be under- 

 taken. In view of the practice of the natives, when pursued, 

 to betake themselves, with their goods, to the other islands, 



