|
. |
|
. . | |
Page 41
He had gone on a visit to the home of Stewart of Appin with whose daughter he was in love, and whom he later married. Balhaldie describes her as 'a handsome young lady, and so absolutely gained upon his affections by an excess of beauty, witt, and good nature, that he continued fond of her while she lived.' During the time he was at Appin he attended a Baron Court held nearby by the laird of Glenorchy. There he met MacDougall of Fairlochine, a near relation of Allan's bastard cousin, the Täillear Dubh, whose mother, it will be remembered, was a MacDougall. Whatever the cause, Fairlocline made some rude remarks and a quarrel ensued which led to blows and, in order to avoid bloodshed, some of the bystanders seized Allan and held him by the arms. Unfortunately, one of Allan's servants, thinking this was done by order of Glenorchy, and chancing to encounter Archibald Campbell, Glenorchy's son, plunged his dirk into his heart. 'The multitude, upon this, turned their swords against the unlucky fellow, but he, with his dirk in one hand, and his sword in the other, defended himself with such incredible valour that it is likely that he would have escaped by the favour of the approaching night, if he had not, as he retreated backward, stumbled upon a pleugh, that tooke him behind, and brought him to the ground, where he was cutt to pices.' The crowd then turned upon Allan who, after defending himself valiantly, and being wounded several times, made good his escape under cover of night.
'The newes of this and several other adventures made his Clan impatient to have him among them. All their divisions were now at an end, and their Chief was of sufficient age and capacity to mannage his own affairs, so that he was welcomed to Lochaber with universall joy.'
Some years after Allan took command of the clan, the Grants invested Macintosh with the lands of Lochalsh which had belonged to the Camerons, but had been conveyed to the Grants as compensation for the depredations of the 'Raid of Urquhart' in 1546. This was bound to be resented by the Camerons' but worse was to follow. In 1588, a commission was granted to Huntly, Macintosh, Grant of Freuchie, and others to apprehend Lochiel and all the chief men of the clan for various crimes they had committed (See Appendix No. 16). The commission was ineffective and two years later Allan threw in his lot with Huntly, probably because Huntly was by this time at enmity with Macintosh and the Grants. in an indenture dated 1590/91, Huntly agreed to leave Allan in full possession of his lands on condition that Allan agreed to support him with all his strength and resources. Allan, however, was to be consulted and acquainted with all Huntly's designs.
|
. | . . | |