THE LAST OF THE FIFE MEN. 245 



to-be-forgotten name in her memory, and her attention 

 was immediately arrested. A second look revealed the 

 fact that the Highlander who had made the remark was 

 no other than her preserver. She called him into the 

 house, received him, as well she might, in the most cordial 

 manner, and on learning that he had come to Edinburgh 

 on law business of importance, used her influence on his 

 behalf to such good purpose as to secure a satisfactory 

 settlement for him. The Lewisman returned home, we 

 are told, laden with presents.* 



On 2Oth February, 1610, Lord Kintail and others were 

 commissioned to seize certain named persons, unrelaxed 

 from a horning of i8th January, among the number being 

 Malcolm, Norman, and Ruari Macleod in Lewis. On 

 I9th July, 1610, the Privy Council granted Kintail a 

 commission appointing him Justiciary for the space of 

 two years over the island, with full authority to seize 

 the " traytour " Neil Macleod and his " infamous byke 

 of lawles and insolent lymmaris." This commission, in 

 its scope and general tenor, is of much the same nature 

 as those previously given to Lennox and Huntly. It is 

 pointed out that of all the islands, Lewis alone has now 

 the doubtful distinction of being rebellious and disobedient. 

 The Lewismen are charged with committing murders and 

 other crimes, not only among themselves, but on those who 

 resorted to their island for the fishing, thereby rendering 

 that industry unprofitable, " to the grite hurte of the Com- 

 mounwele." In order to facilitate his operations, Kintail 

 was authorised to take the galleys and other boats of Lewis 

 and the adjacent islands, returning them to the owners on 

 the expiration of the service. And authority was given to 

 impress in the service, levies from the whole of the North 

 Isles, as well as from Kintail's own lands, persons of the 

 names of Fraser, Ross, and Munro excepted. 



This story, in many of its details, presents so remarkable a resemblance 

 to a tradition of the Mackenzies relating to the escape of John of Kintail 

 after Flodden, as to suggest that they have a common origin, a supposition 

 which is strengthened by the fact that the Forest of Fannig, or Fannich, is 

 not in Lewis, but near Loch Broom. 



