Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 6, 1898

THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
231
THE MACLEODS OF HARRIS.
OME of the oldest and most interesting
t incidents in the eventful history of the
Macleods are associated with Harris.
Here is their ancient residence, and here in the
venerable Catheilral of Rodil is their place of
sepulture. It is difficult to determine how old
this church is. The tower, called St. Clement's
Tower — 2'hr Chltamhain, is of older date than
the main building, and upon this tower are
certain pieces of sculpture of a kind, the last
which one would have expected on a building
dedicated to religious purposes. While it is
impossible to say with certainty who built this
ancient edifice, it was repaired by Alexander
VIII. of Dunvegan. We learn something
additional regarding this old building from
the Latin inscription on a tablet inside the
church. This tablet was placed there by
Captain Alexander Macleod, VI. of Bernera,
who in 1779 pnrcliased from the Commissioners
of General Macleod, XX. of Macleod, the estate
of Harris, the islands of Bernera, St. Kilda, and
other small isles adjoining them for the sum of
£15,000. The following is a translation of the
Litin inscription on the talilet already referred
to — " This sacred edifice, dedicated by the piety
of his forefathers in former times to God and
St. Clement, after the fury of the Reformation,
overturning and devastating everything every -
ROUy MUUS HOUSE, HARRIS.
where, had levelled with the ground the
adjoining convent of friars and nuns and scarcely
spared these very walls, now for over two
hundred years bare and neglected, Alexander
Macleod of Harris restored and decorated, and,
after its accidental destruction by fire, rebuilt a
second time, a.d. 1787."
It was the same Alexander Macleod who
■erected in Rodil churchyard a tablet to his
father's memory with the following interesting
inscription — the father must have been a
wonderful personage — "To the memory of
Donald Macleod of Berneray, son of John,
Tutor of Macleod, who in vigour of body and
mind, and firm adherence to the principles of
Jiis ancestors, resembled the men of former
times. His grandfather and grand-uncle were
knighted by King Charles II. for their loyalty
and distinguished valour in the battle of Wor-
cester. When the standard of the House of
Stuart, to which he was attached, was displayed
anno A.D. 1745, though past the prime of life,
he took up arms, had a share in the actions of
that period, and in the battle of Falkirk van-
quished a dragoon hand to hand. From this
time he lived at his house of Bernei'ay, univer-
sally beloved and respected. In his 75th year
he married his 3rd wife, by whom he had nine
children, and died in his 90th year, the 16th
December, 1783. This monument was erected
by his son, Alexander Macleod of Herris, Esq "
In Rodil churchyard also rest the remains of