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ace； at the same time that the family were still much involved with the affairs of the Lewis； and other broils on the mainlandSir Roderick hesitated to accept the great responsibilities of the position； but； to quote one of the family manuscripts； 〃all others refusing to take the charge he set resolutely to the work。 The first thing he did was to assault the rebels in the Lewis； which he did so suddenly； after his brother's death； and so unexpectedly to them； that what the Fife Adventurers had spent many years and much treasure in without success； he； in a few months； accomplished； for having by his youngest brother Alexander； chased Neil； the chief commander of all the rest； from the Isle； pursued him to Glasgow； where； apprehending him； he delivered him to the Council； who executed him immediately。 He returned to the Lewis； banished those whose deportment he most doubted； and settled the rest as peaceable tenants to his nephew； which success he had； with the more facility； because he had the only title of succession to it by his wife； and they looked on him as their just master。 From thence he invaded Glengarry； who was again re…collecting his forces； but at his coming they dissipated and fled。 He pursued Glengarry to Blairy in Moray； where he took him； but willing to have his nephew's estate settled with conventional right rather than legal； he took Low…countrymen as sureties for Glengarry's peaceable deportment； and then contracted with him for the reversion of the former wadsets which Colin of Kintail had acquired of him； and for a ratification and new disposition of all his lands； formerly sold to Colin； and paid him thirty thousand merks in money for this； and gave him a title to Lagganachindrom； which； till then； he possessed by force； so that Glengarry did ever acknowledge it as a favour to be overcome by such enemies； who over disobligements did deal both justly and generously。 Rory employed himself therefore in settling his pupil's estate； which he did to that advantage that ere his minority passed he freed his estate； leaving him master of an opulent fortune and of great superiorities； for be acquired the superiority of Troternish with the heritable Stewartry of the Isle of Skye； to his pupil； the superiority of Raasay and some other Isles。 At this time； Macleod； partly by law and partly by force； had possessed himself of Sleat and Troternish； a great part of Macdonald's estate。 Rory； now knighted by King James； owned Macdonald's cause as an injured neighbour； and by the same method that Macleod possessed himself of Sleat and Troternish he recovered both from him； marrying the heir thereof Sir Donald Macdonald； to his niece； sister to Lord Colin； and caused him to take the lands of Troternish holden of his pupil。 Shortly after that he took the management of Maclean's estate； and recovered it from the Earl of Argyll； who had fixed a number of debts and pretences on it； so by his means all the Isles were composed and accorded in their debates and settled in their estates； whence a full peace amongst them； Macneill of Barra excepted； who had been an hereditary outlaw。 Him； by commission； Sir Rory reduced； took him in his fort of Kisemull； and carried him prisoner to Edinburgh； where he procured his remission。 The King gifted his estate to Sir Rory； who restored it to Macneill for a sum not exceeding his expenses； and holding it of himself in feu。 This Sir Rory； as he was beneficial to all his relations； establishing them in free and secure fortunes； purchased considerable lands to himself in Ross and Moray； besides the patrimony left him by his father； the lands of Coigeach and others； which； in lieu of the Lewis； were given him by his brother。
His death was regretted as a public calamity； which was in September； 1626； in the 48th year of his age。 To Sir Rory succeeded Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat； and to him Sir George Mackenzie； of whom to write might be more honour to him than of safety to the writer as matters now stand。〃 ＇The Applecross Mackenzie MS。＇
We shall now draw to some extent on the family manuscripts。 The narrative in this form will add considerable interest to the information already given under this head from official sources。 Sir Roderick was a most determined man； and extremely fertile in such schemes as might enable him to gain any object he had in view。 One of his plans； connected with Mackenzie's possession of the Lewis； in its barbarous and cruel details； almost equalled the Raid of Cillechriost。 Neil Macleod； accompanied by his nephews； Malcolm； William； and Roderick； the three sons of Roderick Og； the four sons of Torquil Blair； and thirty of their more determined and desperate followers； retired； when Kintail obtained possession of the whole of the Lewis； to the impregnable rock of Berrissay； at the back of the island； to which Neil； as a precautionary measure； had been for years previously sending food and other necessaries as a provision for future necessity。 Here they held out for three years； where they were a source of great annoyance to the Tutor and his followers。 On a little rock opposite Berrissay； Neil； by a well…directed shot killed one of the Tutor's followers named Donald MacDhonnchaidh Mhic Ian Ghlais； and wounded another called Tearlach MacDhomh'uill Roy Mhic Fhionnlaidh Ghlais。 This exasperated their leader so much that； all other means having failed to oust Neil from his impregnable position； the Tutor conceived the inhuman scheme of gathering together all the wives and children of the men who were on Berrissay； and all those in the island who were in any way related to them by blood or marriage； and； having placed them on a rock exposed only during low water； so near Berrissay that Neil and his companions could see and hear them； Sir Roderick and his men avowed that they would leave theminnocent； helpless women and childrenon the rock to be overwhelmed and drowned on the return of the tide； if Neil and his companions did not at once surrender the rock。 Macleod knew； by stern experience； that even to the carrying out such a fiendish crime； the promise of the Tutor； once given； was as good as his bond。 It is due to the greater humanity of Neil that the terrible position of the helpless women and children and their companions appalled him so much that he decided immediately upon yielding up the rock on condition that he and his followers should be allowed to leave the Lewis with their lives。 It cannot be doubted that but for Macleod's more merciful conduct the ferocious act would have been committed by Sir Roderick and his followers； and we have to thank the less barbarous instincts of their opponents for saving the clan Mackenzie from the commission of a crime which would have secured to its perpetrators the execration of posterity。
After Neil had left the rock he proceeded privately； during the night； to his cousin Sir Roderick Mor Macleod； XIII。 of Harris。 The Tutor learning this caused Macleod to be charged； under pain of treason and forfeiture； to deliver him up to the Council。 Realising the danger of his position； Macleod prevailed upon Neil and his son Donald to accompa