PRINCE CHARLES AND THE LONG ISLAND. 433 



brought his aged head to the block. He lived as a trickster, 

 but he died like a philosopher. He was a curious blend of 

 the fox and the lion, but his vulpine qualities predominated.* 

 The chiefs of the Mackenzies, Macleods, and Macdonalds 

 of Sleat did not maintain their neutral attitude long ; they 

 soon ranged themselves openly on the side of the Govern- 

 ment. The statement has been made that Lord Fortrose 

 was a Jacobite at heart, although he declared for the 

 reigning dynasty. But his actions were opposed to this 

 hypothesis ; and we have not only his own declarations, 

 but the testimony of Duncan Forbes, to support the 

 contrary view. There is nothing, on the other hand, to 

 suggest that his attitude was inconsistent with his 

 sympathies. And it must be remembered that he had 

 good cause to be grateful to the existing Government. A 

 curious episode is related which has a bearing on this 

 matter. According to this account, the Rev. Colin 

 Mackenzie of Glack, minister of Fodderty, was the first in 

 his district to receive the news of the landing of the Prince. 

 He immediately went to Brahan Castle to acquaint his 

 chief with the all-important tidings. It was the dead of 

 night when he reached the castle, and Lord Fortrose, like 

 all respectable men, was in bed. The Rev. Colin, it is 

 said, prevailed upon his chief to keep out of the way and 

 thus avoid trouble. The two men went west, and remained 

 in retirement at Poolewe. One day, when Lord Fortrose 

 was dining off a sheep's jawbone, two boats full of Lewis- 

 men were observed sailing into Loch Ewe. His lordship at 

 once signalled to them to return to Stornoway, waving 

 them back with the jawbone which he was in the act of 

 picking. And thus, according to the story, was fulfilled 

 the prophecy of Kenneth Mackenzie (Coinneach Odhar) 

 the famous Brahan Seer who was himself a native of 

 Lewis " that next time the men of Lewis should go forth 

 to battle, they would be turned back by a weapon smaller 

 than the jawbone of an ass." This story, if not embellished 



* Lovat promised Seaforth to assist the insurgents in the rising of 1719, 

 but failed to implement his promise (Seaforth MSS. in Brit. Mus.). 



