They
found none of the principal and able-bodied men, who had withdrawn
some distance that they might with greater advantage gather together
in a body and defend themselves, except Duncan MacIan Mhic
Ghillechallum in Killichirtorn, whom the enemy apprehended, and would
have killed, had not one of the Macdonalds, formerly his friend and
acquaintance, prevailed upon young Glengarry to save his life, and
send him to the Castle of Strome, where he still had a garrison,
rather than kill him.
The successful result of this expedition encouraged Angus so much
that he began to think fortune had at last turned in his favour,
and he set out and called personally upon all the chief and leaders
of the various branches of the Macdonalds in the west, soliciting
their assistance against the Mackenzies, which they all agreed to
give him in the following spring.
This soon came to Mackenzie's knowledge, who was at the time
residing in Ellandonnan Castle; and fearing the consequences of such
a powerful combination against him, he went privately to Mull by
sea to consult his brother-in-law, Hector Og Maclean of Duart, to
whom he told that he had a commission of fire and sword against
"the rebels of Glengarry and such as would rise in arms to assist
them, and being informed that the Macdonalds near him (Maclean)
had combined to join them, and to put him to further trouble,
that, therefore, he would, not only as a good subject but as his
fast friend, divert these whenever they should rise in arms against
him.
Pages:
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345