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try 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 m