A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

AKHICST OF SlH LAUCllLAN MACLliAN 207
was able, that they should make merry together as long as the provi-
sions at Mulindry lasted, and that when these were exhausted, he
Bould g.0 to Sir Lauchlan's camp and enjoy such fare as he could afl'ord.
But Mafloaii told the btarer of the message frankly, that he was dis-
trustful (if Macdoiiald's intintions, and would not, therefore, come.
Angus replied, by means of his messenger, that Maclean's suspicions
were unfounded ; that he meant to show him nothing but brotherly
love and affection ; aim that as he held his son and brother as pledges,
he could run no risk whatever in taking up his residence at Mulindry
Sir Lauchlan was now thrown off' his guard by these fair promises, and
agreed to paj' Macdonald a visit, and accordingly proceeded to Mulin-
dry, accompanied by James Macdonald, his own nephew, and the son
of Angus, and eighty-six of his kinsmen and servants. Maclean and
his party, on their arrival, were received by Macdonald with much ap-
parent kindness, and were sumptuously entertained during the whole
day. In the meantime, Macdonald sent notice to all his friends and
well-wishers in the island to come to his house at nine o'clock at night,
his design being to seize Maclean and his party. At the usual hour for
going to repose, Maclean and his people were lodged in a long-house,
which stood by itself, at some distance from the other houses. During
the whole day, Maclean had always kept James Macdonald, the hostage,
within his reach as a sort of protection to him in case of an attack, and
at going to bed he took him along with him. About an hour after
Maclean and his people had retired, Angus assembled his men to the
number of three or four hundred, and made them surround the house
in which Maclean and his company lay. Then going himself to the
door, he called upon Maclean, and told him that he had come to give
him his reposing drink, which he had forgotten to off"er him before go-
ing to bod. Maclean answered that he did not wish to drink at that
time; but Macdonald insisted that he should rise and receive the drink,
it being, he said, his will that he should do so. The peremptory tone
of Macdonald raatle Maclean at once apprehensive of the danger of his
situation, and immediately getting up and placing the boy between his
shoulders, prepared to preserve his life as long as he could with the boy,
or to sell it as dearly as possible. As soon as the door was forced open,
James Macdonald, seeing his father with a naked sword in his hand,
and a number of his men armed in the saine manner, cried aloud for
mercy to Maclean, his uncle, which being granted, Sir Lauchlan was
immediately removed to a secret chamber, where he remained till next
morning. After Maclean had surrendered, Angus Macdonald announ-
ced to those within the house, that if they would come without, their
lives would be spared ; but he excepted Macdonald Terreagh and
another individual whom he named. The whole, with the exception of
these two, having complied, the house was immediately set on fire, and
consumed along with Macdonald Terreagh and his companion. The
former was one of the Clan Donald of the western islands, and not only
I. 2d.