Historical and genealogical account of the Clan Maclean

22 HISTORICAL NOTICES.
feudal head as the Lord of the Isles, were calcu-
lated to make them think themselves altogether
independent of the sovereign authority ; and in
truth their actions seemed to indicate that they
really believed themselves to be so. The go-
vernment having experienced repeated proofs
of the dangerous independence thus assumed,
came at length to the resolution of applying
some remedy ; and the means deemed most ad-
visable at first were to take such measures
against the great feudal superior himself as might
induce him to extremities which would in the
end seem to justify a decree of entire forfeiture
against him.
Doubtless to tolerate much longer the tre-
mendous power enjoyed by so restless a subject
as the chief of the Isles, would have been as
impolitic as it was dangerous j but the under-
hand schemes resorted to for the purpose of
curbing his power were both mean and unjust,
because they afforded encouragement to every
cunning caitiff about court, whose lands bor-
dered upon those of the western chiefs, in the
hope to gain by the forfeiture of some neigh-
bour's lands, to represent the islanders, whether
innocent or guilty, one and all, superior and
vassal, as -an irreconcileable race of rebels; and
amongst the sycophantic and treacherous expec-
tants none was more forward than the principal
Campbell of Argyle, Colin, the first earl, and