history of the mackenzies-第40部分

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Although　Kenneth　had　been　raised　to　the　Peerage　on　the　19th　of　November；　1609；　by　the　title　of　Lord　Mackenzie　of　Kintail；　he　is　not　so　　designated　in　the　Privy　Council　Records　until　the　31st　of　May；　1610；　when　the　patent　of　his　creation　is　read　and　received　by　their　Lordships；　and　he　is　　thereupon　acknowledged　to　be　a　free　baron　in　all　time　coming。　　He　is　one　　of　the　Highland　chiefs　charged　and　made　answerable　for　good　rule　in　the　　North　on　the　28th　of　June　of　that　year　and　to　find　caution　within　fifteen　days；　under　pain　of　rebellion；　not　to　reset　within　their　bounds　any　　notorious　thieves；　rievers；　fugitives；　and　rebels；　for　theft　and　murder；　　under　a　further　penalty；　in　Mackenzie's　case；　of　five　thousand　merks。

At　a　meeting　of　the　Privy　Council　held　on　the　19th　of　July；　1610；　the　following　commission　was　issued　in　Kenneth's　favour　as　justiciary　of　　the　Lewis；　against　Neil　Macleod：

Forasmuch　as　a　number　of　the　chieftains　and　principal　men　of　the　　Isles　and　continent　next　adjacent　are　come　in　and　presented　themselves　　before　the　Lords　of　his　Majesty's　Privy　Council；　and　have　given　　satisfaction　unto　the　said　Lords　anent　their　obedience　and　conformity　in　　time　coming；　so　as　that　now　there　is　no　part　of　the　Isles　rebellious　and　　disobedient　　but　the　Lewis；　which　being　possessed　and　inhabited　by　a　　number　of　thieves；　murderers；　and　an　infamous　byke　of　lawless　and　　insolent　limmers　under　the　charge　and　command　of　the　traitor　Neil　　Macleod；　who　has　usurped　upon　him　the　authority　and　possession　of　the　　Lewis；　and　they；　concurring　altogether　in　a　rebellious　society；　do　commit　many　murders；　slaughters；　riefs；　and　villianies；　not　only　among　themselves　　but　upon　his　Majesty's　peaceable　and　good　subjects　who　resorted　among　them　in　their　trade　of　fishing；　and　by　their　barbarous　and　savage　behaviour　　against　his　Majesty's　good　subjects　they　have　made　the　trade　of　fishing　in　　the　Lewis；　which　was　most　profitable　for　the　whole　country；　to　become　　always　unprofitable；　to　the　great　hurt　of　the　commonweal。　　And　the　Lords　　of　Secret　Council　finding　it　a　discredit　to　the　country　that　such　a　parcel　of　　ground；　possessed　by　a　number　of　miserable　caitiffs；　shall　be　suffered　to　continue　rebellious；　whereas　the　whole　remanent　Isles　are　become　　peaceable　and　obedient；　and　the　said　Lords　understand　the　good　affection　　of　Kenneth；　Lord　Kintail　and　his　willing　disposition　to　undergo　all　pains　and　trouble　in　his　Majesty's　service。　　Therefore　the　said　Lords　has　made　　and　constituted；　and　by　the　tenour　hereof　makes　and　constitutes；　the　said　Kenneth　Lord　Kintail；　his　Majesty's　justice　and　commissioner　over　the　　whole　boundaries　of　the　Lewis；　to　the　effect　under…written；　with　full　　power；　commission；　and　authority　to　him　to　convocate　his　Majesty's　　lieges　in　arms；　to　levy　and　take　up　men　of　war；　to　appoint　captains　and　　commanders　over　them；　and　with　them　to　pass　to　the　Lewis；　and　there；　　with　tire　and　sword；　and　all　kind　of　hostility；　to　search；　seek；　hunt；　follow；　　and　pursue　the　said　Neil；　his　accomplices；　assistants；　and　partakers；　by　sea　and　land；　wherever　they　may　be　apprehended；　and　to　mell；　confiscate；　and　　intromit　with　their　goods　and　gear；　and　to　dispone　thereupon　at　their　　pleasure；　and　to　keep　such　of　their　persons　as　shall　be　taken　in　sure　　firmance　till　justice　he　ministered　upon　them；　conform　to　the　laws　of　this　　realm；　courts　of　justiciary　within　the　said　bounds　to　sit；　begin；　affix；　hold；　　and　continue　suits　to　be　made　called　〃absentis　to　amerchiat；〃　trespasses　to　　punish；　all　and　sundry　persons　inhabitants　of　the　Lewis　suspected　and　　delayed　of　murder；　slaughter；　fire…raising；　theft；　and　reset　of　theft；　and　other　capital　crimes；　to　search；　seek；　take；　apprehend；　commit　to　prison；　and　to　enter　them　upon　panel　by　dittay　to　accuse　them；　and　to　put　them　to　the　knowledge　of　an　assize；　and　as　they　shall　happen　to　be　found　culpable　or　innocent　of　the　said　crimes；　or　any　of　them；　to　cause　justice　be　　administered　upon　them　conform　to　the　laws　of　this　realm　　assize　needful　　to　this　effect；　each　person　under　the　pain　of　forty　pounds；　to　summon；　　warn；　chase；　and　cause　be　sworn；　clerks；　serjeants；　dempsters；　and　all　　other　officers　and　members　of　court　needful；　to　make；　create；　substitute　　and　ordain；　for　whom　he　shall　be　held　to　answer　with　power　likewise　to　　our　said　justice；　for　the　better　execution　of　this　commission　to　take　the　lymphads；　galleys；　birlinns；　and　boats；　in　the　next　adjacent　Isles；　and　in　the　　Lewis；　for　the　furtherance　of　them　in　their　service；　the　said　justice　being　　always　answerable　to　the　owners　of　the　said　lymphads；　galleys；　birlinns；　　and　bouts　for　redelivery　of　the　same　at　the　finishing　of　his　Majesty's　　service　　with　power　likewise　to　the　said　justice　and　persons　assisting　him　　in　the　execution　of　this　commission　to　bear；　wear；　and　use　hagbutis；　pistols；　and　petards。　　And　if　in　pursuit　of　this　commission　there　shall　　happen　slaughter；　mutilation　fire…raising；　or　any　other　inconvenience；　to　follow；　the　said　Lords　decern　and　declare　that　the　same　shall　not　be　　imputed　as　crime　or　offence　to　the　said　justice　nor　persons　assisting　him　in　　the　execution　of　this　Commission；　nor　that　they；　nor　none　of　them；　shall　　not　be　called　nor　accused　therefore　criminally　nor　civilly　by　any　manner　　of　way　in　time　coming；　exonerating　them　of　all　pain；　crime；　and　danger；　　that　they　may　incur　therethrough　for　ever。　　And　generally　all　and　sundry　other　things　to　do；　exercise；　and　use；　which　for　execution　of　this　commission　are　requisite　and　necessary；　firm；　and　stable；　holding　and　for　to　hold　all　and　whatsoever　things　shall　be　lawfully　done　herein。　　And　that　　letters　of　publication　be　directed　hereupon　charging　all　his　Majesty's　　lieges　within　the　whole　boundaries　of　the　North　Isles　of　this　Kingdom　and　within　the　bounds　of　the　said　Lord's　own　lands；　heritages；　possessions；　　offices；　and　baillies；　excepting　always　the　persons　of　the　name　of　Fraser；　　Ross；　and　Munro；　their　tenants　and　servants；　to　reverance。　acknowledge；　　and　obey；　rise；　concur；　pass　forward；　fortify；　and　assist　the　said　Kenneth；　　Lord　Kintail；　in　all　things　tending　to　the　execution　of　his　commission；　and　　to　convene　in　arms　with　him　at　such　times；　days；　and　places；　as　he　shall　　please　appoint；　as　they　and　each　one　of　them　will　answer　upon　their　　obedience　at　their　highest　peril。　This　commission　for　the　space　of　two　　years　after　the　date　hereof；　without　revocation；　to　endure。

Soon　after　this；　Neil　apprehended　a　crew　of　English　pirates　who　had　been　carrying　on　their　nefarious　traffic　among　the　fishermen　from　the　South　and　other　places　who　frequented　the　prolific　fishing　banks；　by　　which；　then　as　now；　the　island　was　surrounded。　　This　meritorious　public　　service　secured　some　consideration　for　him　at　Court；　as　appears　from　the　　following　letter　addressed　to　Lord　Kintail　under　date　of　29th　August；　1610　

After　our　very　hearty　commendations　to　your　good　Lordship：　　Whereas　Neil　Macleod　in　the　Lewis　has　of　late　done　some　good　service　to　　his　Majesty　and　the　country　by　the　taking　and　apprehension　of　certain　English　pirates　upon　the　coast　of　the　Lewis；　common　enemies　to　all　lawful　traffic；　whereby　he　has　merited　his　Majesty's　grace　and　pardon　in　some　　measure　to　be　shown　unto　him；　and　he　having　made　promise　and　　condition　for　delivery　of　the　pirates　and　their　ships　to　such　persons　as　shall　　be　directed　by　us　to　receive　them　we　have　thereupon　given　an　assurance　to　him　to　come　here　to　us　and　to　remain　at　his　pleasure　until　Whitsunday　　next；　that　some　good　course　may　be　taken　for　settling　him　in　quietness；　　and　in　this　meantime　we　have　promised　that　all　hostility　and　persuit　of　　him　and　his　followers　shall　rest　and　cease　until　the　said　term；　and　also　that　　we　shall　deal　and　trouble　with　your　Lordship　for　some　reasonable　ease　and　condition　to　be　given　to　him　and　his　followers；　all　tenants　to　your　Lordship　　of　the　lands　and　possessions　claimed　by　them。　　And；　we　being　careful　that　our　word　and　promise　made　and　given　hereupon　shall　be　effectual　and　　valid　we　have　therefore　thought　meet　to　acquaint　your　Lordship　therewith；　requesting　your　Lordship　to　forbear　all　persuit；　trouble；　and　invasion　of　the　　said　Neil　and　his　followers　until　the　said　term；　and　that　your　Lordship　will　　take　some　such　course　with　them　as　upon　reasonable　conditions　they　may　　be　received　and　acknowledged　by　your　Lordship　as　tenants　of　those　lands　　claimed　by　them。　　Wherein　looking　to　find　your　Lordship　conformable；　we　　commit　you　to　God。

Neil　does　not　then　appear　to　have　gone　to　Edinburgh；　but　he　gave　up　the　pirate；　the　captain；　and　ten　of　her　crew　to　Patrick　Grieve；　a　burgess　　of　Burntisland；　who；　on　the　10th　of　September；　received　a　commission　〃to　　sail　with　a　hired　ship〃　to　the　Lewis　for　that　purpose。　　On　the　10th　of　　October；　Macleod　writes　to　the　Council　acknowledging　receipt；　〃from　this　　bearer；　Patrick　Grieve；〃　of　their　Lordships'　order　upon　him　to　deliver　up　the　pirate　and　all　her　belongings。

On　the　19th　of　July；　the　same　day　on　which　the　Commission　　against　Neil　Macleod　was　granted　to　Lord　Kintail；　the　Council　〃being　careful　that　the　present　peace　and　quietness　in　the　Isles　shall　be　fostered；　　kept；　and　entertained；　and　all　such　occasions　removed　and　taken　away　　whereby　any　new　disorder；　trouble；　or　misrule　may　be　reinstated　within　　the　same；　has　therefore　thought　meet　that　Rory　Macleod；　son　to　the　late　　Torquil　Dubh　Macleod；　who　has　been　this　long　time　in　the　keeping　of　　Donald　Gorm　of　Sleat；　and　（Torquil）　Macleod；　another　of　the　said　late　　Torquil's　sons；　who　has　been　this　long　time　in　keeping　of　Rory　Macleod　　of　Harris；　shall　be　delivered　to　Kenneth　Lord　Kintail；　to　be　kept　by　him　　until　the　said　　Lord　take　order　with　them　for　their　obedience。〃　　Charges　are　　thereupon　made　upon　the　chiefs　of　Sleat　and　Harris　〃to　bring；　present；　and　　deliver〃　Torquil　Dubh's　two　sons；　〃in　their　keeping；〃　to　the　Mackenzie　　chief；　to　be　kept　by　him　until　such　order　is　taken　for　their　good　behaviour。

They　are　to　be　delivered　within　thirty　days；　under　the　usual　pains　of　　rebellion　and　horning。

He　is　one　of　the　Commissioners　of　the　Peace　appointed　by　the　　King　on　the　6th　of　November；　in　1610；　in　terms　of　a　newly…passed　Act　of　Parliament；　for　Inverness…shire　（including　Ross）　and　Cromarty；　his　colleagues　from　among　the　clan　for　these　c