" [Ancient MS.]
The author of the Ardintoul MS. informs us that MacLean had actually
invaded Ardnamurchan, and carried fire and sword into that and the
adjoining territory of the Macdonalds, whereupon the Earl of Argyll,
who claimed the Macdonalds of those districts as his vassals and
dependants, obtained criminal letters against MacLean, who, finding
this, sent for his brother-in-law, Mackenzie of Kintail, at whose
request he had invaded the country of the Macdonalds. Both started
for Inveraray. The Earl seemed most determined to punish MacLean,
but Mackenzie informed him that "he should rather be blamed for
it than MacLean, and the King and Council than either of them,
for he having obtained, upon good grounds, a commission of fire
and sword against Glengarry and such as would assist him, and
against these men's rebellious and wicked courses, which frequently
his lordship seemed to own, that he did charge, as he did several
others of the king's loyal subjects, MacLean to assist him." So
that, if Maclean was to be punished for acting as his friend and
as a loyal subject, he hoped to obtain a hearing before the King
and Council under whose orders he acted.
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