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

92 History of the Clan MaoLean.
Glenlivat, in 1594." * " He was one of the most i-emarkable men connected
with the Highlanders of Scotland in his days." f " By his education in the con-
tinent, he had learned civility and good manners, and living accordingly, was
in great respect both with his own people and all his neighbors about.";}; "It
is good for the MacLeans to cherish in their heart of hearts Lachlan ]M6r and
Hector Mor, and tlie other worthies of their genealogical tree. Lachlan M6r,
or Big Lachlan, who was mighty both in soul and body, and had to make a
big business of blood with the MacDonalds of Islay, the days when keeping
his next door neighbors stoughtly at bay, was a necessary part of each man's
manhood." || " Lachlan Mor was a person well fitted by his great talents and
military genius to meet the emergency upon which the fate of his clan seemed
to depend." § "The powerful family of MacLeans had now for their chief a
young man of an active and energetic spirit, under whom this tribe exercised
a great influence in the Isles." ** "Amongst the chief leaders, who assumed
the state and independence of little princes, were the earl of Argyle, Lach-
lan MacLean of Duard, Angus MacDonald of Dunyveg, Donald Gorm Mac-
Donald of Sleat, and Roderick MacLeod of Harris, known in traditionary
song as Ruari Mor. Of these chiefs, the lord of Duard, commonly called
Lachlan Mor, was by far the most talented and conspicuous. He was, in all
respects, a remarkable person ; by no means illiterate, for he had received his
nurture in the low country, and had married a daughter of the earl of Glen-
cairn. But in war and in personal prowess he had then no equal : an island
Amadis of collossal strength and stature, and possessing, by the vigor of his
natural talents, a commanding influence over the rude and fierce islesmen. ' tt
At the time of his father's death, Lachlan was a minor, and his mother
having married Hector, son of Ailean nan Sop, his stepfather became tutor of
the estate. King James VI. became very much interested in the youth, so
had him sent to Edinburgh and brought up in his court. At the age of
eighteen, or in 1576, Lachlan repaired to Duard, in order to take possession
of the estate. Hector, his stepfather, had managed the estate with consum-
mate ability, and being a bold, daring man, had kept the neighboring clans at
peace, owing to their fear of his resentment. But he had determined to gain
full possession of the property, by putting Lachlan out of the way, and ex-
pecting to make his peace with his wife, the mother of Lachlan. His plans
« CuUecianea de Rebus Alhanicin, p. 43. t t^ook of Smilish UMarii, p. 638. { Spottiswuode's
Hisi. Cliurch of Scofinm/, Vol. III., p. :;i4. |] Altaoona, pp. 169, 180. J Skene's Tlie Highlanders
of Scotland, Vol. II., pp. 210. «»Gros;ory',< We.'<ie-rn HiijhlaiHh, p. 217. tt Tytler's HUtory of
Scoiland, Vol. IV., p. 230.