Historical and genealogical account of the Clan Maclean

HISTORICAL NOTICES. 45
Proposals were now made to the chieftains of
the clan to exclude Lachlan altogether, who was
represented by his ambitious kinsman and guar-
dian as of too effeminate a character, arising from
the nature of his education in the Lowlands, to
be fit for so important a station as chief of the
warlike Macleans j but Lachlan's own appearance
immediately after among his people soon dis-
pelled any apprehension on the score of his fitness
to be the " Leader of his clan •" and now came
the day of reckoning for the treacherous son of
Allein na Sop, who not only meditated the ex-
clusion of his chief from his inheritance, but the
taking of his life. Lachlan being informed of his
late design, admitted into his council his uncle
Ian Dubh and Lachlan the Master of Lochbuy, and
instantly seizing the usurper had him conveyed
to the island of Coll, and there beheaded. Thus
died the only son of Allein na Sop, whose race
Providence doomed to early destruction indeed,
for it does not appear that Eachuinn Mac- Allein
had left any offspring.
Archibald Earl of Argyle, though his near
relative, had also subjected himself to the stern
resentment of the young Lord of Duart. The
Earl of Argyle during the minority of his nephew
had much oppressed several of Maclean's people,
more particularly those of Luing, whose lands
were invaded and ravaged in the most bar-
barous manner. The young chief demanded