According to early 20th-century historian William Cook Mackenzie, Love and the Priam had narrowly escaped capture off the coast of Ireland when he dropped anchor near Bernera, within Loch Roag, Lewis. The Priam was full of cargo which consisted of cinnamon, ginger, pepper, cochineal, sugar, 700 Indian hides, and 29 pieces of silver plate which had been looted from an English ship; a box, containing various precious stones of great value, which had been looted from a Dutch ship; as well as a large number of muskets. During this time a Hebridean outlaw dwelt in the immediate area. His name was Neil MacLeod, the son of Old Ruari, the late chief of the MacLeods of Lewis. MacLeod had for years been fighting various invading forces on Lewis. At the turn of the 17th century, the Fife adventurers had attempted to colonise the island, and later Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail took over where they had left off. Mackenzie of Kintail was granted a commission of fire and sword by the government, and successfully took control of Lewis. However, MacLeod, and a small band of followers, took refuge and fortified themselves on the remote stack on the tiny island of Bearasaigh within Loch Roag. Bearasaigh is located at: grid reference .