232 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



his desire for a speedy settlement of affairs in connexion 

 with the islands in question. Huntly was to be instructed 

 to specially undertake and bind himself to " extirpat and 

 rute oute the Captane of Clan Rannald with his hole clan 

 and their followaris within the ilis of Knoydert or Moydert, 

 and als McNeill Barra with his clan, and the hole Clan 

 Donnald in the North." The Marquis was to be further 

 charged to assist the partners of Lewis against all their 

 enemies, either in Skye, Lewis, or any other part of the 

 North Isles ; and to plant, within a year, a colony in 

 those islands of " civile people," Badenoch and Lochaber 

 men being, however, specially excluded. And James con- 

 cluded his letter by expressly excepting from the islands 

 to be thus colonised, Skye, Lewis, " that part of the Lewis 

 callit the Hereis," and the small isles appertaining to 

 Skye and Lewis. There is no reference in the King's 

 letter to the real point at issue, viz., the amount of 

 rent to be paid, an omission to which, in acknowledging 

 receipt of the letter, the Council called attention, and 

 suggested that the matter be left to the decision of James 

 and the Comptroller, who was shortly due in England. 

 That the King's reply was deliberately evasive is obvious, 

 and his rejection of Huntly's offer is tacitly shown by 

 the proceedings which were soon taken against that un- 

 principled but harassed nobleman. . 



On 23rd June, Huntly was charged by the King's 

 Advocate with failure to attend the services of the Kirk 

 " and heiring of the sermone," and with teaching his 

 family doctrines opposed to the tenets of Presbyte- 

 rianism. The Marquis confessed that he was not fully 

 " resolvit " in the doctrines of the Kirk, and did not 

 desire to communicate until he could more fully accept 

 the established religion. The Lords of Council therefore 

 ordained, as a punishment, his confinement within the 

 burgh of Elgin and a circuit of eighteen miles round 

 it ; that while in this durance, he must be ready in public 

 and private to listen to the sermons of Presbyterian 

 ministers for his instruction in the Reformed faith ; and 



