Neil Mackay

Neil was placed in charge of Skibo Castle by the Mackays about 1545. When the Gordons came to power in the days of Mary of Lorraine, they tried to be avenged upon Neil for this and other acts of his. The Blk. MS. has the following item : "Letters of Fire and Sword granted by Queen Mary of Scots to John, Earl of Sutherland, against Neil Mcky and his accomplices accused of misorder and slaughter in Strathnaver, whereby the said Earl was empowered to raise and convene all fencible men within Sutherland and apprehend the said Neil and his accomplices and if need be to seize houses, raise fire, commit slaughter and mutilation upon the said parties, which shall never be imputed as crime to the said Earl. At Banff, 12 Sep. 1556." The above savage clauses were usually inserted in Letters of Fire and Sword. The tradition is that Neil lay low until the storm blew over, hiding in Uamh Neil, Neil's Cave, in Ben Clibrig. pg 245

THE BOOK OF MACKAY BY ANGUS MACKAY, M.A. (St. Andrews University) Minister at Westerdale, Caithness EDINBURGH : NORMAN MACLEOD, -25 GEORGE IV. BRIDGE CANADA : EDWARD MACKAY, ST. PETER'S MANSE, MADOC,

ONT. M DCCCC VI