Historical and genealogical account of the Clan Maclean

HISTORICAL NOTICES. 33
Macleans of Lochbuy and Coll, Macdonalds of
Clanrannald, Arduamurchan, and Slaite, and the
Macleods of Harris and Lewis. At the same
time Maclean sought as a condition, that he
and his friends should for the future be afforded
protection against the craft and misrepresenta-
tions of the Earl of Argyle ; the king acceded
to the condition, and demanded hostages of
Argyle for his future behaviour towards them.
Duncan Campbell of Glenurcha and Archibald
Campbell of Skipnish were given over by Argyle
to be confined in Edinburgh Castle in fulfilment
of these terms. It thus appears that Hector
Mor was held in some measure excusable for the
late rising, and that the government looked upon
the conduct of the " cunning Campbell" in no
very creditable light from the beginning. The
Lord of Duart now resumed his seat in the
councils of his sovereign, where his sound sense
and consummate judgment soon gained him
confidence and respect.
Quiet now reigned in the isles, and Maclean
availed himself of that opportunity to cultivate
the arts of peace, for which he appears to have
had a great taste. Extended leases were granted
to most of his vassals by way of encouragement
in the improvement of the land and the building
of more comfortable dwellings ; and by way of
example he himself commenced considerable
improvements on the demesne of Duart, and
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