Earls of Cromartie > [NSLBLANK]

xliv SIR RORIE MACKENZIE, TUTOR OF K1NTAIL.
This was another opportunity for Sir Eorie to display his valour on behalf
of the Crown. He provided a small bark, and having put on board a supply
of wine, and a few men well armed and of approved valour, he sailed straight
to MacNeil's house. An old writer gives the following description of Mac-
Neil's island castle : —
" The little isle of Kismul lies about a quarter of a mile from the south of
this isle of Barray. It is the seat of MacNeil of Barra. Ther is a stone wall
round, two stories high, reaching the sea, and within the wall is an old tower and
an hall, with other houses about it. There is a little magazine in the tower to
which no stranger has access. I saw the officer called the cockman (whose office
is to stand on the top of the tower, and to give notice of all ships, barques, or
boats that are comeing, and to bring a report from what port they came, and
where they were bound). When I bid him ferry me over the water to the island,
he told me he was but an inferiour officer, his business being to attend in the tower ;
but if, says he, the constable, who then stood on the wall, will give you access, I'le
ferry you over. I desird him to procure me the constable's permission, and I
would reward him ; but haveing waited some hours for the constable's answer,
and not receiving any, I was obliged to return without seeing this famous fort.
But neither MacNeil nor his lady's being at home was the occasion of this." 1
The narrative of the expedition to Barra is thus continued : —
" Mr. Rory being arrived at this island with his barque, he appeared in the
habit of a skipper, attended only with a few seamen, keeping all his other men
concealed under the hatches. The cockman being sent to bring the skipper
to MacNeil, he most willingly obeyed the message, and, being brought befor him,
payd him all manner of respect, and told him that he had come from Norowy
and was bound for Ireland, and that in his voyage he had met with a French ship,
from whom he had bought some brandy and wines, as good as ever came from
France, and that if his honour would be pleas'd to come on board of him to
taste them, so that he might satisfy himself, he might command what he pleas'd.
The proposal was accepted, and MacNeil went on board with his ordinary guard,
for ther only appeard on board of the ship two or three mariners, and some ship
boys, being what was only necessary to sail the ship. When they were on board
1 Description of the Western Islands, by Martin, as quoted by Br. George Mackenzie.