Neil Macleod was unwilling
to account for the treasure known to be on board the "Priam". Listed as
missing during his trial were a casket of great value - full of precious
stones which had been captured from a Dutch Merchantman, a large but unknown
quantity of gold coins, a large number of muskets, 29 silver plates taken
from an English Merchantman, 700 Indian hides, tanned and cured, spices
including cinnamon, cochineal, ginger, pepper, and a quantity of sugar.
No record exists in the historic accounts since this period and no reference
has been been uncovered, neither in legend nor in folklore, relating to
those treasures and to the portion of the cargo unknown to the authorities.
This strongly suggests that these untold riches have never been found -
the treasure trove almost certainly remains today in the place where it
was hidden in 1610. There are many such tales of the Hebrides.
In
the summer of 1610, the pirate ship "Priam" sailed North Westward from the English
channel. Evading capture off the west coast of Ireland she sailed North for
the Hebrides, a well established safe haven for various outlaws and buccaneers
of the day. Captained by the notorious privateer Peter Love of Lewes, Sussex,
the "Priam" and her crew needed to lay low for a time, perhaps until their fearsome
reputation had diminished somewhat. Then, with a view to re-entering society
and gaining respectability, take the vast fortune known to be aboard south to
Glasgow, Edinburgh or London.
Outlaws Neil Macleod
and Donald Caim, illustrated here whilst fishing for sea-trout at the river-mouth,
are disturbed by the "Priam" as she threads her way through the treacherous
reefs and drops anchor in Bosta Bay on the Isle of Bernera. Neil had been
outlawed some years previously. When Queen Elizabeth died childless in March
1603, King James VI of Scotland became James I of England, compounding his
treasury difficulties at the time. The Kings attempts to supplant the insubordinate
clan chieftains and colonise the Isle of Lewis for his monetary gain ended
in disaster. Neil Macleod had led the raids which repeatedly routed his garrisons
at Stornoway. Neil took refuge on Berisay Island, one mile north west of Bosta
beach. His island stronghold overlooked the bay and the coast to the west
- no ship in the area could pass unobserved by Macleod or his fellow fugitives.
Peter
Love and his crew faced a long and isolated exile in the Hebrides. They would
need to barter locally and could benefit greatly from the sympathy of nearby
villagers, alas that sympathy was already being extended to Neil Macleod - Peter
Love had no choice but to befriend Neil Macleod. Neil offered sanctuary to those
aboard the "Priam" as they prepared for their long and tedious stay in obscurity.
They had much plundered riches to bargain with while Neil and his henchmen knew
the area and the waters intimately - they knew how to survive and evade capture
along the shores of the North Atlantic. It was a friendship of sorts between
two wanted men, each with a price on their heads. But Neil was tiring of his
isolation on Berisay island and looking for a way out of his predicament. He
and his men captured Peter Love and his crew and handed them over to a representative
of the Privy Council at Kirkibost harbour on the island of Great Bernera. It
was Neil's intention to take advantage of his treachery and bargain with the
authorities for his own freedom. His plea proved unsuccessful and he found himself
imprisoned alongside Captain Love in Edinburgh.
His pleas for clemency
having failed, Neil Macleod awaits execution in his prison cell. Found guilty
of murder, theft and piracy at the Tolbooth in Edinburgh he was hanged from
the gibbet at Market Cross, his head struck from his body and spiked thereafter
above the Netherbow Port Gate.
Outlaws
Neil Macleod and Donald Caim, illustrated here whilst fishing for sea-trout
at the river-mouth, are disturbed by the "Priam" as she threads her way through
the treacherous reefs and drops anchor in Bosta Bay on the Isle of Bernera.
Neil had been outlawed some years previously. When Queen Elizabeth died childless
in March 1603, King James VI of Scotland became James I of England, compounding
his treasury difficulties at the time. The Kings attempts to supplant the
insubordinate clan chieftains and colonise the Isle of Lewis for his monetary
gain ended in disaster. Neil Macleod had led the raids which repeatedly routed
his garrisons at Stornoway. Neil took refuge on Berisay Island, one mile north
west of Bosta beach. His island stronghold overlooked the bay and the coast
to the west - no ship in the area could pass unobserved by Macleod or his
fellow fugitives.
Peter
Love climbs the gallows on the sands at Leith in December 1610, having been
found guilty with his crew of piracy on the high seas.
Tales from
our more recent past
All illustrations
and other artwork within this site by local artist, Muriel Macleod Contact;
muriel@murielm.co.uk
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