350 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



Cobbet, the " Redshanks " fired their beacons, and fled with 

 their cattle and arms to the hills. Cobbet followed them 

 in hot pursuit, but the Lewismen poured flight after flight 

 of arrows on them in the valleys, until at length the 

 English were " constrained to make face about." Cobbet 

 then issued a proclamation calling upon the people to 

 return to their homes, and assuring them of his protection. 

 The refugees accordingly came in from the hills, but only 

 some of them gave up their arms. Doubtless, they were 

 agreeably surprised to experience such unexpected leniency 

 at the hands of men whose character for ferocity, we may 

 feel assured, had been represented to them in the blackest 

 colours.* 



Major Bird having died of a fever the day the fleet left 

 Orkney, Major Crispe was left by Cobbet to govern Lewis 

 with four companies. Crispe, probably fearing an attack 

 by the Dutch, immediately proceeded to strengthen the 

 fortifications of Stornoway and Holm. On Seaforth 

 receiving the news of the capture of Lewis, he made 

 preparations to strengthen Eilean Donain Castle, but his 

 efforts do not seem to have been warmly seconded by his 

 followers in Kintail. The day after the English landed in 

 Lewis, a man-of-war was observed taking soundings near 

 Eilean Donain, but Cobbet appears to have abandoned his 

 intention of seizing the castle, judging, possibly, that the 

 garrison at Stornoway would suffice to overawe the men of 

 Kintail. He sailed from Stornoway on 27th August for 

 Mull, calling at Skye on his way to secure the submission 

 of Macleod of Harris (" Rory the Witty "). Receiving no 

 reply to his summons to the young chief, he landed a 

 party on the following morning, and found Talisker, the 

 Tutor of Macleod, ready to resist him. Talisker was 

 forced to retreat, whereupon Cobbet advanced to Dun- 

 vegan Castle, which was evacuated on his approach. The 

 troops of the Commonwealth took possession of the castle, 

 and on the following day, sent the Skyemen who had fled 



Merc. Pol. (Vol. XLV., pp. 2071, 2719, 2750, 2987). Scott. Hist. S*c., 

 Vol. XVIII., p. 221. 



