第 53 节
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西门在线 更新:2021-09-29 13:02 字数:9322
Marquis obtained a commission from the King to suppress these violent proceedings; in virtue of which he called out all his Majesty's loyal vassals to join him。 Kintail and the Tutor demurred; and submitted the great difficulties and trials they had experienced in reducing the Lewis to good and peaceable government as their excuse; and they were exempted from joining Huntly's forces by a special commission from the King。 Closely connected as it is with the final possession of the island by the House of Kintail; it is here given
〃James Rex;James; by the grace of God; King of Great Britain; France; and Ireland; defender of the faith; to all and sundry our lieges; and subjects whom it effeirs to whose knowledge this our letters shall come greeting。 For as much as we have taken great pains and travails; and bestown great charge and expense for reducing the Isles of our kingdom to our obedience: And the same Isles being now settled in a reasonable way of quietness; and the chieftains thereof having come in and rendered their obedience to us there rests none of the Isles rebellious; but only the Lewis; which being inhabitated by a number of godless and lawless people; trained up from their youth in all kinds of ungodliness: They can hardly be reclaimed from their impurities and barbarities; and induced to embrace a quiet and peaceable form of living so that we have been constrained from time to time to employ our cousin; the Lord Kintail; who rests with God; and since his decease the Tutor of Kintail his brother; and other friends of that House in our service against the rebels of the Lewis; with ample commission and authority to suppress their insolence and to reduce that island to our obedience; which service has been prosecuted and followed these divers years by the power; friendship and proper services of the House of Kintail; without any kind of trouble and charge or expense to us; or any support or relief from their neighbours and in the prosecution of that service; they have had such good and happy success; as divers of the rebels have been apprehended and executed by justice: But seeing our said service is not yet fully accomplished; nor the Isle of the Lewis settled in a solid and perfect obedience; we have of late renewed our former commission to our cousin Colin; now Lord of Kintail; and to his Tutor and some other friends of his house; and they are to employ their whole power; and service in the execution of the said commission; which being a service importing highly our honour; and being so necessary and expedient for the peace and quiet of the whole islands; and for the good of our subjects; haunting the trade of fishing in the isles; the same ought not to be interrupted upon any other intervening occasion; and our commissioners and their friends ought not to be distracted therefrom for giving of their concurrence in our services: Therefore; we; with advice of the Lords of our Privy Council; have given and granted our licence to our said cousin Colin。 Lord of Kintail; and to his friends; men; tenants and servants; to remain and bide at home from all osts; raids; wars; assemblings; and gatherings to be made by George; Marquis of Huntly; the Earl of Enzie; his son; or any other our Lieutenants; Justices; or Commissioners; by sea or land either for the pursuit of Allan Cameron of Lochiel and his rebellious complices; or for any other cause or occasion whatsoever; during or within the time of our commission foresaid granted against the Lewis; without pain or danger to be incurred by our said cousin the Lord of Kintail and his friends in their persons; lands or goods; notwithstanding whatsoever our proclamation made or to be made in the contrary whatever; and all pains contained in it; we dispense by these presents; discharging hereby our Justices; Justice Clerk; and all our Judges and Ministers of law; of all calling; accusing; or any way proceeding against them; for the cause aforesaid; and of their officers in that part。
Given under our signet at Edinburgh; the 14th day of September; 1614; and of our reign the 12th; and 48 years。 Read; passed; and allowed in Council。 Alexander; Chancellor。 Hamilton; Glasgow; Lothian; Binning。〃
Having procured this commission; the Mackenzies were in a position to devote their undivided attention to the Lewis and their other affairs at home; and from this date that island principality remained in the continuous possession of the family of Kintail and Seaforth; until in 1844; it was sold to the late Sir James Matheson。 The people ever after adhered most loyally to the illustrious house to whom they owed peace and prosperity such as was never before experienced in the history of the island。
The commission proved otherwise of incalculable benefit to Kintail; for it not only placed him in a position to pacify and establish good order in the Lewis with greater ease; but at the same time provided his Lordship with undisturbed security in his extensive possessions on the mainland at a time when the most violent disorders prevailed over every other district of the West Highlands and Isles。
On the 2nd of February; 1615; a commission is signetted in favour of Sir Roderick; Mr Colin Mackenzie of Strathgarve; Mr Alexander Mackenzie of Kinnock; and Alexander Mackenzie of Coul; to receive Malcolm Caogach Mac Jan Mhic…an…t…Sagairt; Callum Dubh Mac Allaster; Donald Mac Angus Mac Gillechallum; Gillecallum Mac Ian Riabhaich; and James Mac Ian Duibh; from the Magistrates of Edinburgh; to carry them north; and to keep them in ward until everything is ready for trying them for murder; mutilation; theft; reset; and other crimes。
At a meeting of the Council held at Edinburgh on the 9th of February; 1615; Neil Macleod's two sons; Norman and Roderick; are set at liberty on condition that they transport themselves out of the King's dominions and never return。 They appeared personally 〃and acted and obliged them that within the space of forty days after their relief furth of their ward; where they remain within the Tolbooth of Edinburgh; they shall depart and pass furth of his Majesty's dominions and never return again within the same during their lifetimes; under the pain of death; and in the meantime; till their passing furth of his Majesty's dominions; that they shall not go benorth the water of Tay; under the said pain; to be executed upon them without favour if they fail in the premises。 And they gave their great oath to perform the conditions of this present act; and further; the said Norman declared that he would renounce; like as by the tenour of this present act he does renounce; his Majesty's remission and pardon granted unto him; and all favour and benefit that he could acclaim by the said remission; in case he failed in the premises。 In respect whereof the said Lords ordained the said Norman and Rory to be put to liberty and fredom furth of the Tolbooth〃; and a warrant was issued to the Provost and Bailies of Edinburgh to give effect to their Lordships' decision。 The Tutor appeared personally; and in name of Lord Kintail consented to the liberation of the prisoners。 He at the same time protested that neither he nor his chief should be held any longer responsible for the expenses of maintaining Norman; now that lie was at liberty; and he was accordingly relieved from further charge on that account。
On the 26th of April following the Tutor receives a commission for the pursuit and apprehension of Coll MacGillespic Macdonald; Malcolm Mac Rory Macleod; and other fugitives; described as 〃the Islay rebels;〃 who had fled from justice; should they land in the Lewis or in any other of the territories belonging to Lord Mackenzie of Kintail。 In order that he may the better attend to this duty; along with several other heads of clans named in the same commission for their respective districts; and as 〃it is necessary that the commissioners foresaid remain at home and on nowise come to this burgh (Edinburgh) to pursue or defend in any actions or causes concerning them;〃 their Lordships continued all actions against them until the 1st of November next; ordaining the said actions 〃to rest and sleep〃 till that date。
On the same day; a second dispensation under the signet is addressed to the Sheriff of Inverness and his deputes in favour of Lord Colin; requesting that despite his minority he be served heir to his father; the late Kenneth; Lord Mackenzie of Kintail。 On the 25th of June following he is ordered to provide twenty…five men as part of an expedition for the pursuit of Sir James Macdonald and Coll MacGillespick。 In June; 1616; he is appointed a Commissioner of the Peace for the Sheriffdom of Elgin and Forres。
On the outbreak of a new rebellion in the Lewis another commission; dated the 28th of August; 1616; to last for twelve months; was issued by the Privy Council; in favour of the Tutor and other leading men of the clan; couched in the following terms:
Forasmuch as the King's Majesty having taken great pains and troubles and bestowed great charges and expenses for reducing of the Islands of this Kingdom and continent next adjacent to his Majesty's obedience; and for establishing of