Bannatyne Club > Criminal trials in Scotland, from A.D. M.CCCC.LXXXVIII to A.D. M.DC.XXIV, embracing the entire reigns of James IV. and V., Mary Queen of Scots and James VI > Volume 3

CRIMINAL TRIALS
AND OTHER PEOCEEDINGS BEFORE THE
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY.
[Sir IJlUiame Heca-f, Ji(ftice-Dejmfe.']
Creasonnlilc iFii*c--r.-iisuttj;— Cruel ^pprtssioit— Ci'easoii — 33i*eaU--
iiTU aSJai'U out Df t\)t Castlw ai liilactuttss antr €Kinliursf)»
[The almost incredible wickedness and atrocious cruelty of Sir James Makconeill (Macdo-
nald), the individual whose Trial follows, and the horrible facts which tlie reader will find therein
disclosed, afford a lamentable picture of the barbarous state of manners prevalent in the Western
Islands of Scotland, even at so comparatively recent a period as the reign of King James VI. Did
we not know that such outrageous proceedings were but too common in Scotland at this melancholy
period, and especially in the Highlands and Islands, which were then far removed from the feeble arm
of the Law, Sir James's misdeeds would hold a most conspicuous place in the daik catalogue of crimes.
Without entering into any narrative of similar acts of violence and bloodshed, but merely to shew that
JIakconei/l was not a solitary instance of the perpetration of such execrable deeds, and that he was by
no means unworthy of his descent and kindred, the reader need only refer to a previous portion of this
Collection,' where a few of the acts of A7iffus Makconeill of Dbiiiievaig, his fathei', and of Machine
of Dowart, his maternal uncle, are rehearsed.
It would be rather out of place to enter here into a detail of the frightful and bloody feuds and conflicts
between the contending tribes of Clandonald and Claxlain; which are fully recorded by Sir
Robert Gordon of Gordonstoun, in his valuable Genealogical History of the Family of Sutherland,
who informs us, that these inveterate hostilities were long and fiercely ' prosecuted, to the destruction
almost of both their families I'^
Of the personal history of Sir James Makconeill little can now be collected, saving from the
Books of Adjournal and of the Privy Council, and from the public transactions in the Isles, after he
had eft'ected his second escape from ' ward.' It is certain, that he could boast of a very honourable
descent, being sprung from the ancient Norwegian family of the Lords of the Isles, who long main-
tained their independence of the Scotish Crown, and used and received the title of Kings of the
' Vol. I. p. 221, Jan. 19, 1590-1. ' This is now rendered the more unnecessaiy, as the Editor has (since
this Notice was in types) been informed by his friend, Donald Gregory, Esquire, one of the Secretaries to the Society
of Antiquaiies of Scotland, that he is now engaged in preparing, for publication, a IIistort of the Isles and adjacent
Highlands, embracing a minute account of the various rebellions, feuds, and conflicts of the various families, who,
after the fall of the Lords of the Isles, rendered this part of Scotland a scene of almost uninterrupted warfare and
bloodshed : which JIii Gregory purposes to compile from Original Documents, the result of a laborious investigation
into the Public Records, and other genuine and authentic sources of information. The publication of Mr Gregory's
History of the Isles, &c. will save the Editor the necessity of giving many of the Documents which he had prepared
for publication, in illustration of various Trials ; for they ought rather to form a part of such an historical work,
which is a great desideratum, and cannot fail to be favourably received by every lover of Scotish History.
VOL. IIL A