THE UISTS AND BARRA. 269 



sion of the lands. Donald Gorm petitioned the Privy Council 

 for redress against Clanranald, who, he says, had greatly 



molested " him in his lands of Skeirhow and Benbecula, 

 and, in defiance of the decrees of removal against him, had 

 debarred the rightful owner (himself) from taking possession 

 He therefore begged the Council to remedy this state ot 

 affairs by causing Clanranald to find caution not to molest 

 him further, or, failing caution, to commit him to prison 

 until the required security was found. Clanranald's father- 

 in-law, Ruari Macleod, here stepped into the breach with 

 the necessary caution, and the whole dispute was ultimately 

 referred to arbitration. The arbitrators met at KintaiPs 

 Castle of Chanonry, and their decision, as might be ex- 

 pected, was in favour of Donald Gorm. The latter was 

 empowered to obtain wadsets over the lands in question, 

 and in satisfaction of his claims against Clanranald, was 

 awarded the superiority of Kandish and Boisdale.* Follow- 

 ing the disposal of these lands a little further, it may be 

 noticed that in 1627, John Moidartach, the son and successor 

 of Donald MacAllan in the captaincy of Clan Ranald, 

 received from Donald Gorm, a precept of dare constat for 

 Skeirhow, Benbecula, &c. In 1633, the Earl of Argyll 

 acquired, in satisfaction of a debt owing to him by Donald 

 Gorm, the wadset rights of those lands, and had also 

 assigned to him the superiority of Clanranald's holdings 

 from the Crown.f 



It may serve a useful purpose, as illustrating the gradual 

 declension of the independence of the Hebridean chiefs, to 

 give a summary of the relations which existed between the 

 Clan Donald of the North and the lord of Harris on the 

 one hand, and the Privy Council on the other, during the 

 period under review. The records of the Council here 

 drawn upon are eloquent in their very baldness. 



In June, 1613, Donald Gorm Mor appeared before the 

 Council, gave caution on a question of rent to be settled,. 



* According to the Privy Council records, Donald Gorm and Clanranald 

 came to an agreement in October and November, 1622, and Ruari Macleod 

 was relieved of his caution. 



T Clan Donald, Vol. II., p. 324. 



U 



