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farm at their own charges。
Another company of noble…men and gentlemen in Lothian offered； under a similar agreement； to subdue Skye。 And this kind of feudal joint…stock company actually commenced their operations with a force of six hundred soldiers； and a motley multitude of farmers； ploughmen； artificers； and pedlars。 But the Celtic population and their haughty chiefs could not consent to be handed over； in this wholesale fashion； to the tender mercies and agricultural lectures of a set of Saxon adventurers。 The Lowland barons arrived； only to be attacked with the utmost fury； and to have the leases of their farms； in the old Douglas phrase； written on their own skins with steel pens and bloody ink。 For a time； however； they continued the struggle and having entered into alliance with some of the native chiefs； fought the Celts with their own weapons； and more than their own ferocity。 Instead of agricultural and pastoral produce； importations of wool； or samples of grain； from the infant colony； there was sent to the Scottish Court a ghastly cargo of twelve human heads in sacks； and it was hoped that； after such an example of severity； matters might succeed better。 But the settlers were deceived。 After a feeble and protracted struggle for a few years； sickness and famine； perils by land and perils by water； incessant war； and frequent assassinations； destroyed the colony； and the three great western chiefs； Macdonald of Sleat； Macleod of Harris； and Mackenzie of Kintail； enjoyed the delight of seeing the principal gentlemen adventurers made captive by Tormod Macleod； who； after extorting from them a renunciation of their titles； and an oath never to return to the Lewis； dismissed them to carry to the Scottish Court the melancholy reflection that a Celtic population； and the islands on which it was scattered； were not yet the materials or the field for the further operations of the economists of Fife and Mid…Lothian。〃
In 1610 his Lordship returned to the Lewis with 700 men； and finally brought the whole island to submission； with the exception of Neil Macleod and a few of his followers； who retired to the rock of Berissay； and took possession of it。 At this period religion must have been at a very low ebbalmost extinct among the inhabitants； and； to revive Christianity among them； his Lordship selected and took along with him the Rev。 Farquhar Macrae； a native of Kintail and minister of Gairloch； ＇He brought with him Mr Farquhar Macrae； who was then a young man and minister of Gairloch and appointed by the Bishop of Ross （Lesley） to stay with Sir George Hay and the Englishmen that were with him in Letterewe； being a peaceful and eloquent preacher。Ardintoul MS。＇ who had been recommended to the latter charge by the bishop of Ross。 Mr Macrae found quite enough to do on his arrival in the island； but he appears to have been very successful among the uncivilised natives； for he reports having gained many over to Christianity； baptised a large number in the fortieth year of their age； and； to legitimise their children； marrying many others to those women with whom they had been for years cohabiting。 Leaving the reverend gentleman in the prosecution of his mission； his Lordship returned home； having established good order in the island； and promising to return again the following year； to the great satisfaction of the people。
Some time before this Alexander MacGorrie and Ranald MacRory； sons of Glengarry's uncles murdered in 1580 in Lochcarron； having arrived at maturity； and being brave and intrepid fellows； determined to revenge upon Mackenzie the death of their parents。 With this object they went to Appelcross； where lived one of the murderers； John Og； son of Angus； MacEachainn； surrounded his house； and set lire to it； burning to death himself and his whole family。 Kintail sought redress from Glengarry； who； while he did not absolutely refuse； did not grant it or punish the wrong…doers； and encouraged by Glengarry's eldest son； Angus； who had now attained his majority； the cousins； taking advantage of the absence of Mackenzie； who had gone on a visit to France； continued their depredations and insolence wherever they found opportunity。 Besides； they made a complaint against him to the Privy Council； whereupon he was charged at the pier of Leith to appear before the Council on an appointed day under pain of forfeiture。 In this emergency； Mr John Mackenzie； minister of Dingwall； went privately to France in search of his chief； whom he found and brought back in the most secret manner to Edinburgh； fortunately in time to present himself next day after his arrival before the Council； in terms of the summons at Glengarry's instance； and； after consulting his legal adviser and other friends； he appeared quite unexpectedly before their Lordships。
Meantime； while the gentlemen were on their way from France； Alexander MacGorrie and Alexander MacRory killed in his bed Donald Mackenneth Mhic Alastair； a gentleman of the family of Davochmaluag； who lived at Kishorn。 The shirt； covered with his blood； had been sent to Edinburgh to await the arrival of Mackenzie； who the same day presented it before the Privy Council； as evidence of the foul crime committed by his accusers。 Glengarry was unable to prove anything material against Kintail or his followers。 On the contrary； the Rev。 John Mackenzie； of Dingwall； charged Glengarry with being instrumental in the murder of John Og and his family at Applecross； as also in that of Donald Mackenzie of Davochmaluag； and undertook not only to prove this； but also that he was a sorner； an oppressor of his own and of his neighbours' tenants； an idolater； who had a man in Lochbroom making images； in testimony of which he carried south the image of St。 Coan； which Glengarry worshipped； called in Edinburgh Glengarry's god； and which was； by public order； burnt at the Town Cross that Glengarry was a man who lived in constant adultery with the Captain of Clan Ranald's daughter； after he had put away Grant of Grant's daughter； his lawful wife； whereupon Glengarry was summoned there and then to appear next day before the Council； and to lodge defences to this unexpected charge。 He naturally became alarmed； and fearing the worst； fled from the city during the night； 〃took to his heels；〃 and gave up further legal proceedings against Mackenzie。 Being afterwards repeatedly summoned； and failing to put in an appearance； most of the charges were found proven against him； and in 1602； ＇Records of Privy Council； 9th September； 1602； Sir Robert Gordon's Earldom of Sutherland； p。 248； Letterfearn； Ardintoul； and other MS。 Histories of the Mackenzies。＇ he was declared outlaw and rebel； a commission of fire and sword was granted to Mackenzie against him and all his followers； with a decree of ransom for the loss of those who were burnt and plundered by him； and for Kintail's charges and expenses； making altogether a very large sum。 But while these legal matters were being arranged； Angus Macdonald； younger of Glengarry； who was of a restless； daring disposition； went along with some of his followers under silence of night