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

An Independent Clan — 1493 to 1598. 93
were frustrated, owinff to Lachlan being at court and continuino; there until he
was grown. Hector went so far as to make proposals to the chieftains, or
principal gentlemen of the clan, to exclude Lachlan altogether, who was rep-
resented by his ambitious kinsman and guardian as of too effeminate a char-
acter, arising from the nature of his education in the Lowlands, to be fit for
so important a station as chief of the warlike MacLeans. When the young heir
returned home to take the management of his estates, he was much caressed
by his tutor, who at the same time endeavored to cause the clan to have a bad
imjiression of him, pretending that he was an idiot. Yet, young as he was, he
easily penetrated his tutor's designs, and looked upon himself as a prisoner,
where he ought to have been master, surrounded only by the tutor's creatures.
He was fully cognizant that they only waited a favorable opportunity for cut-
ting him off. Lachlan counter-plotted him, and with the assistance of his
uncle, John Dubh, and Master Lachlan MacLean, a son of Lochbuy, he, being
favored by the porter, who opened the door of Castle Duard to them by night,
surprised Hector Ailean nan Sop in bed, carried him to the island of Coll,
and there caused him to be beheaded.
Having gained full possession of his estate, Lachlan at once commenced
to set things in order, and right such wrongs as had been done to his clans-
men daring the years of his minority. Colin Campbell, sixth Earl of Argyle,,
thinking a favorable opportunity had come to accomplish the purposes of his
family, already formed, of seizing the estate, sent a party of his clan to the
island of Luing, which they plundered, and committed other depredations,
the nature of which is set forth in Lachlan's petition to the king and the lords
of the privy council. " The complaint sets forth that the earl of Argyle had
' cruellye conspirit the slauchter' of the complainant, and especially in March
1577, had 'perswadit and conducit witli ' the uncle of the latter, -John Dubh
MacLean, by promising him great rewards for the performance of his ' ma-
licious and weikit interpryiss ' upon him, and his sister's son, and for taking
and spoiling of his (Lachlan's) place of Duard. This conspiracy was frustrated
by the confession of John Dubh, but the carl was not by this turned from his
purpose, and had stirred up x\ngus MacDonald of Dunyveg, to carry it into
effect. Angus, assisted by some of Lachlan's enemies from Ireland, and
others, to the number of twelve hundred, besieged the house of Lochgorme
with fire and sword. In this and other depredations he was assisted by the
earl with a land-force of two hundred, and also by sea with a galley and men,
and had promise of other support. On another occasion Lachlan's servant,
while on his way through Argjde to the Lowlands, was imprisoned by Camp-