Keppoch song

1&9 ADDENDA.
money, as nothing can excuse treachery
and breach of faith. " About the begin-
ning of the sixteenth century, the parlia-
ment appointed justices and sheriffs, in
Ross, Caithness, the Orkneys, and Wes-
tern Isles, where none had been before,
&c." " Through lack of justiciaries, jus-
tices and sheriffs, by which the people are
almost become wild"— Public acts of James
the Fourth. The ancient constitution and
rule of the Highlands and Isles, being broke
by the measures of James the Third, and
the clans deprived of their ancient head and
protector, this wild state of anarchy ensued ;
the clans setting up independence, and en-
deavouring to maintain the possession of
their property. On the other hand, the
new justiciar-general, and his adherents,
considered them as a shipwreck, from which
they might plunder aud carry off at plea-
sure, and if they were able, might expel
them from their lands. Hence feuds and
intestine wars broke out. Acts of depre-
dation and retaliation were committed, and
this lapse of time may be considered as a
game of thief to thief. This state of anarchy