234 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



they have elected chiefs and given other signs of growing 

 tumult. No steps have been taken here (in England) as 

 they do not wish to exacerbate that haughty race, especially 

 as the Earl of Argyll the greatest person in that king- 

 dom who seems destined to the command against the 

 rebels, promises to reduce them speedily without any 

 further trouble. All the same, the matter has greatly 

 disturbed his Majesty." And on 3Oth May, it is stated 

 that orders were given to Argyll to use " dexterity rather 

 than force " in warding off the peril.* 



No other records are traceable to show how Argyll 

 accomplished his mission, but it is likely that he used 

 " dexterity " and thus averted the danger. It might be 

 inferred from the document quoted above, that the Western 

 Highlanders were threatened with extermination as well as 

 the inhabitants of the islands mentioned in the negotiations 

 with Huntly. It is more likely, however, that the despatch 

 relates to the latter only, although the islanders in rising to 

 resist their proposed extirpation, doubtless received assis- 

 tance from the mainland. It will be remembered that the 

 inhabitants of Knoydart and Moidart and the " hole Clan 

 Donnald in the North" were included amongthose sentenced 

 to destruction. The determined resistance which his in- 

 tended victims were preparing to make, seems to have 

 alarmed the timid soul of King James ; hence, doubtless, 

 the instructions to Argyll to use " dexterity rather than 

 force." The King perceived that he had aroused a dan- 

 gerous rebellion in the Highlands, and was anxious to 

 smooth matters over. He never openly revived his inhuman 

 scheme : it was too risky an experiment. 



We now return to Lewis, where the situation had further 

 developed. Ruari Macleod of Harris had made common 

 cause with the Lewismen against the colonists. Landing 

 in Lewis with a body of his clansmen, he surprised and 

 captured Stornoway Castle and other " fortalices " belong- 

 ing to the Lowlanders ; and refused to give them up. An 



* Cal. of State Papers (Venetian, c.), Vol. X., pp. 500-1 



