Historical and genealogical account of the Clan Maclean

36 HISTORICAL NOTICES.
One act in the life of Hector Mor is imputed
to him as one of tyranny and oppression, but
how far it may be so termed depends on the view
to be taken of the feudal laws of the times ; laws
recognized as entitled to maintain by force the
privileges appertaining to them. The laird of Coll
was always held by the chiefs of Maclean to be a
feudal vassal ; but John, the then laird, holding
his lands of the crown, which he did ever after the
forfeiture of the Lord of the Isles, assuming to
himself the character of an independent baron,
refused to acknowledge any feudal allegiance to
the Lord of Duart. The chief was so far pro-
voked as to send an armed force to compel him
to obedience ; and it was not until poor Coll
was reduced to the utmost extremities, and to
the verge of total destruction, that some friends
at court succeeded in obtaining for him the in-
terference of the government. The chief of
Maclean was ordered to make reparation for the
injuries done, and to refrain from interference, on
the score of superiority, with Coll for the future.
In the lifetime of Hector also commenced the
unhappy quarrels with the Macdonalds of the
south, respecting certain possessions in Isla, so
deplorable in their results both to Macdonald
and Maclean in after ages. Maclean held lands
in Isla, of which Macdonald, as tenant of the
crown, was the legal superior. The spirit of
Maclean could not submit to the idea of holding