THE UISTS AND BARRA. 273 



The next sentence deserves special attention, in view of 

 the confession it makes. " And as for me, Your Lordship 

 knowes verie well that I have geven a proof of my 

 obedience and service to his Majestic and Counsell 

 alreddye, in taking and apprehending and delyvering my 

 own name and blood, the rebellis of the Lews, and in 

 making these lands peaceable to his Majestic." He 

 protests that his house never rebelled, nor ever will rebel ; 

 that he will continue to be a good subject of the King to 

 his " lyves end " ; and will pursue these and all other 

 rebels to the King's authority, u yea if it wes my father, 

 brother, or sone."* 



There is much that is instructive in this letter. Its 

 animus towards Donald Gorm and the Captain of Clan 

 Ranald is conspicuous. It is plainly hinted that the 

 former sympathised secretly with the rebels, while profess- 

 ing openly to be a loyal subject of the King ; and an 

 insidious doubt is thrown upon the zeal of Clanranald. t 

 That Ruari Macleod's insinuations were coloured by his 

 personal feelings is suggested by a letter, dated 24th June, 

 1615, addressed by the Earl of Tullibardine to Lord 

 Binning, in which it is stated that Clanranald would have 

 nothing to do with Sir James Macdonald, and refused to 

 permit him to land within his bounds ; and that Donald 

 Gorm had adopted the same attitude. Probably, however, 

 Ruari Macleod knew more about the secret plans of his 

 fellow chiefs than did Lord Tullibardine ; but his hostile 

 sentiments towards them detracts from the value of his 

 evidence. That Sir James Macdonald tried to enlist the 

 support of the whole Clan Donald is obvious. He sounded 

 Glengarry, Donald Gorm, and Clanranald, and succeeded 

 in seizing, and afterwards enlisting the active support of, 

 young Glengarry, as well as of Keppoch ; also, apparently, 

 of some of Donald Gorm's men, and some of the Clan 

 Ranald of Uist. But the chiefs of Clan Donald of the 

 North were now too much overawed by the Government, 



* Metros Papers, Vol. I., pp. 214-7. 



t Clanranald married a daughter of Ruari Macleod. 



