368 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



were under engagement to meet Middleton on the following 

 25th November. We are left in doubt as to the result of 

 their efforts, but in November, 500 Irishmen landed in 

 Skye to join Middleton, who was simultaneously reinforced 

 by Seaforth and his recruits. Judging, however, by the 

 sequence of events, the attempt to organise a fresh rising 

 on an important scale, was unsuccessful. In December, 

 Middleton was in Kintail with Seaforth, and while there, 

 tried, with the assistance of Colonel Norman Macleod, to 

 intercept Macdonald of Sleat, who was passing through 

 the country on his way to Skye. But Macdonald was on 

 his guard, and succeeded by means of a ruse in eluding his 

 pursuers. He divided his men into two parties, one party 

 with the baggage going in a certain direction, while he 

 himself, with the rest of his men, went another way. 

 Middleton captured the baggage party, but missed the 

 laird of Sleat, who crossed to Skye in safety.* 



A terrible storm was raging in the West Highlands 

 during the month of December ; the worst that had been 

 known for twenty years. To the fugitives in the hills, 

 this was an additional misfortune. Their sufferings were 

 so great, that the question of arranging terms with the 

 English again forced itself to the front. The first to 

 commence negotiations with Monck was Middleton him- 

 self, who wrote the English General on the subject, on 

 1 5th December. Seaforth followed suit, by approaching 

 Colonel Fitch with a like object. On loth January, 1654, 

 the treaty with Seaforth was signed. An impartial 

 examination of the conditions cannot but lead to the 

 conviction that they were absolutely fair, if not generous, 

 and were entirely free from the element of vindictiveness. 

 The clauses of the agreement, briefly stated, are these. 



(i.) A general amnesty to be granted, except to those 

 who had killed men in cold blood, and Seaforth to be 

 confirmed in possession of his estates. 



(2.) For the lands in Kintail and other places, which had 



* Scott. Hist. Soc., Vol. XXXI., p. 225. 



