History of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period

Peelijiinary Remarks. 25
chinations of some earl, or othei' powerful personage at court, who wished, by
the disturbances he created, to increase his power or possessions. Nor was this
all. It was the constant policy of the government to divide the Highland
clans as much as it possibly could, and by their disunion prevent that
legitimate influence in the affairs of the nation to which they were justly en-
titled. As evidence of this statement the following copy of a contract is
given, which is taken from the "Acts of the Lords in Council,"' Vol XXIX,
folio 77 : "At Edenburgh the IX day of Marche the yeir of God 1516 yeires.
It is appointit and aggreit betwix my lordis of counsale specially deput
thairto at the comand of ray lord governouris in the Kingis name and for his
hienes service on the ta pairt and my lordis of Huntlie, Ergyle and Lauch-
lane McClane of Dowart personaly present on the tother pairt in nianer and
forme as eftir followis. That is to say gif the Clanquhattane or ony otheris
within my lord of Iluntlys boundis failzeis to the Kingis grace intymis cum-
ing malcand misreulle upon his liegis or dissobey and to his lawis the said
Erie of Ero;ile and Lauchlane and otheris within the boundis of the said Erie
of Ergilis lieuetenaudry sail outhald the said Glenquhattane and utheris
that falzeis under the said Erie of Iluntleis boundis fra all Ijoundis within the
said Erie of Ergilis lieuetenandry And attour thai sail assist and supple
the said Erie of Huntlie againis the said Clanquhattane and utheris that hap-
pinnis to falze within the said Erie of Huntlics boundis. And the said Erie
of Huntlie sail outhold Donald of the His and utheris that falzeis within the
Erie of Ergilis lieuetenandry fra all boundis under his reule and attour sail
assist and supple the said Erie of Ergile in persute of the said Donald and
utheris. In witnes herof the saidis Erlis of Huntlie, Ergile and Lauchlane
McClane has subscrivit this writ with thair handis yeir, day, and place foir-
saidis. Alexr Erle of Huntlie
Erle of Ergile
Lauchlane McClane of Dowald
touchand the pen."
This compact is easily explained. The Clan Chattan — that is, the Mac-
Phersons and Macintoshes, with some smaller tribes — had refused to comply
with Lord Huntly's demands, and through the government interest got the
promise of assistance of the MacLeans and Campbells. The name of Donald
of the Isles was undoubtedly introduced by Argyle for two reasons : first, he
hoped to have Donald forfeited in order to possess his lands ; and secondly,
MacLean could not have been prevailed upon to fight against his mother's clan