298 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



During the month of July, the fight for and against the 

 charter was vigorously contested between Seaforth and 

 the burghs. The Privy Council listened to the arguments 

 and counter-arguments on both sides, and then resolved 

 to do nothing. From letters addressed by the King to the 

 Exchequer, Seaforth, and the burgh of Edinburgh, on 

 1 8th July, it appears that he was in favour of delay, and 

 the Privy Council were thus enabled to escape, temporarily, 

 from the necessity of giving an immediate decision. Sea- 

 forth was made a Privy Councillor on 8th July, an appoint- 

 ment which, doubtless, strengthened his position ; but the 

 objections of the burghs were not to be lightly ignored. 

 In the meantime, the Earl was directly encouraged by the 

 King to treat with the Dutchmen for settling in Lewis, but 

 was cautioned against coming to any definite understanding 

 with them, until the fate of the charter had been finally 

 decided. 



In the following year (1629), the whole matter was re- 

 opened. The immediate cause seems to have been the 

 precipitancy of Seaforth, who exceeded the King's autho- 

 rity by bringing certain Dutchmen to Lewis, while the 

 question of the charter was still pending. This was an 

 impolitic act, which had a direct bearing upon the ultimate 

 defeat of the Earl in his tussle with the burghs. The 

 latter immediately complained to the Privy Council, and 

 in March, Seaforth and his opponents were before that 

 body fighting their battle of words once more. The 

 burghs triumphantly cited, in support of their complaint, 

 an Act passed by the Parliament of August, 1621, con- 

 firming the Acts of previous Parliaments, which ordained 

 "that no strangers nor other inhabitants within this 

 kingdome sould packe or peill in anie place of the His 

 outwith free burrowes, nor transport anie forbiddin goods 

 furth of the same." Seaforth, instead of furthering these 

 Acts of Parliament, as " by his birth and place quhilk he 

 halds in the state," might have been expected of him 

 had, " to thair great greefe, drawin hither ane nomber of 

 strangers, who daily resorts to and fra Holland to the 



