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CHAPTER IX. 



IT has been shown in the two preceding chapters how, 

 on two separate occasions, the attempt to plant a colony 

 of Lowlanders in Lewis failed, and failed utterly. It now 

 remains to show how the third and last attempt met with 

 a similar fate, and how the island passed into the hands 

 of the Mackenzies, who retained undisputed possession of 

 it for nearly two and a half centuries. 



On 1 8th October, 1607, charters under the Great Seal 

 were executed, conveying in equal shares to James, Master 

 of Balmerino, Sir James Spens of Wormiston, and Sir 

 George Hay of Netherliffe, (i) the Harris, Skye, and 

 Glenelg properties of Ruari Macleod ; (2) Duntulm, which 

 had previously belonged to Macleod, and was now in the 

 possession of Donald Gorm ; (3) the Crown lands of 

 Trotternish, which had so long formed a bone of con- 

 tention between these two chiefs ; and (4) the Island of 

 Lewis, resigned by Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail in 

 favour of the grantees.* Ruari Macleod was now forced 

 to reap the fruits of his antagonism towards the colonists, 

 while Donald Gorm, in a smaller degree, had to undergo 

 similar punishment for past offences. The means by 

 which Mackenzie had obtained possession of Lewis having 

 apparently been exposed by the Adventurers, he was 

 compelled to resign the island to the trio who had now 

 acquired the rights of the Syndicate. In terms of the 

 charter, the new proprietors were to erect, for the increase 

 of "policie," the town of "Stroneway" into a free burgh 

 of barony, the inhabitants to be free burgesses, and to 

 have power to elect bailies with the advice of the three 



* Reg. Mag. Sig. (1593-1608), Nos. 1,981-2. 



