THE UISTS AND BARRA. 271 



Council, and promised that none of the rebels, especially 

 Coll MacGillespic and Malcolm MacRuari Macleod 

 should be " reset " within their territories, and that they 

 would be hunted down if they put in an appearance. A 

 proclamation to that effect was delivered to the Tutor, and 

 a letter was sent through him to Donald Gorm, charging 

 him to keep his country free from the insurgents. In 

 March, 1615, leave was given to the Captain of Clan Ranald 

 to return home, provided he bound himself to pay the 

 rent due by him, and to appear again on ist November 

 following. In April, 1615, a commission against the 

 Islay rebels was given to Macleod, Donald Gorm, and 

 Donald MacAllan, among others. In June, 1615, letters 

 were sent to the three chiefs, charging them with the 

 pursuit of Sir James Macdonald of Islay. In the same 

 month, a further commission was granted to them against 

 the Islay rebels, ordering them to provide 200 men each 

 for the service ; and they were also charged to send 

 each a contingent to assist Campbell of Lundy in his 

 expedition. 



From these entries in the Council records, it is obvious 

 that a sharp eye was kept upon the island lords. It was 

 changed days for those proud warriors to be treated like 

 naughty schoolboys, who are not permitted to be out of 

 their master's sight too long, and who have to report 

 themselves at head-quarters every year under pain of 

 punishment. Verily, Bishop Knox, by his Statutes, had 

 revolutionised the spirit of the Hebrides. That the chiefs 

 of the North Isles were anxious to distinguish themselves 

 in the police work which the Council had set them to 

 perform, would appear from an interesting epistle from 

 that famous letter-writer, Rory Mor. That the true 

 reason of their emulation was not a love of law and 

 order, or an overpowering sense of loyalty to the Crown, 

 but a hope of reward in the shape of charters and other 

 material benefits, is not too obscurely hinted in Macleod's 

 letter, which is dated i8th June, 1615, and addressed to 

 Lord Binning, Secretary for Scotland. Rory Mor relates 



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