History of the Macleods

312 THE HISTORY OF THE MACLEODS.
of their number. Mackenzie of Kintail, who, since the
agreement made between Neil Macleod and the colonists,
had almost despaired of frustrating- the enterprise, was no
sooner informed of this quarrel than he hastened to profit
by it. He had detained in captivity, for several years,
Tormod, the younger brother of Torquil Dubh, and only
surviving legitimate son of old Ruari Macleod of Lewis.
Although ordered by the Privy Council, in April, 1600,
to produce his prisoner before them, he had evaded com-
pliance, and still detained Tormod Macleod in custody
without a warrant. Suddenly changing his plan, on
hearing of the quarrel between Neil and the adventurers,
Mackenzie restored this young man to liberty, and sent
him into the Lewis, promising him, secretly, great assist-
ance if he would attack the settlers in concert with his
uncle [? brother.] On his arrival in the Island, Tormod
was received with open arms by Neil Macleod and all
the old followers of the family of Lewis, by whom he was
at once acknowledged as lord and master. Encouraged
by the support he received from his Clan and the other
natives of Lewis, and guided by the advice and experi-
ence of Neil Macleod, who had so long been their leader,
the young Chief attacked the camp of the adventurers,
forced it, burned the fort, killed many of their men, and
at length forced the principal gentlemen to capitulate
with him on the following conditions : — First, they were
to obtain from the king a remission to the Macleods for
all their bypast offences ; secondly, they promised never
to return to the Lewis, and agreed to give up their title
to that Island to Tormod Macleod ; lastly, for the per-
formance of these conditions, they were obliged to leave
Sir James Spens and his son-in-law, Thomas Monypenny
of Kinkell, as hostages. In order to obtain the liberation
of the hostages, who were detained for eight months by
the islanders, a remission was readily granted ; and it is
probable that the adventurers pretended to surrender their
legal rights by a formal deed ; but, when their object
was attained by the release of these gentlemen, no further