During the year 1613 the peace of Lochaber was disturbed by dissensions among the clan Cameron. The Earl of Argyle, reviving an old claim acquired in the reign of James V., by Colin, the third earl, endeavoured to obtain possession of the lands of Lochiel, mainly to weaken the influence of his rival the Marquis of Huntly, to whose party the clan Cameron were attached. Legal proceedings were instituted by the earl against Allan Cameron of Lochiel, who, hastening to Edinburgh, was there advised by Argyle to submit the matter to arbiters. The decision was in favour of the earl, from whom Lochiel consented to hold his lands as a vassal. This, of course, highly incensed the Marquis of Huntly, who resolved to endeavour to effect the ruin of his _quondam_ vassal by fomenting dissensions among the clan Cameron, inducing the Camerons of Erracht, Kinlochiel, and Glennevis to become his immediate vassals in those lands which Lochiel had hitherto held from the family of Huntly. Lochiel, failing to induce his kinsmen to renew their allegiance to him, again went to Edinburgh to consult his lawyers as to the course which he ought to pursue. While there, he heard of a conspiracy by the opposite faction against his life, which induced him to hasten home, sending word privately to his friends--the Camerons of Callart, Strone, Letterfinlay, and others--to meet him on the day appointed for the assembling of his opponents, near the spot where the latter were to meet. On arriving at the appointed rendezvous, Lochiel placed in ambush all his followers but six, with whom he advanced towards his enemies, informing them that he wished to have a conference with them. The hostile faction, thinking this a favourable opportunity for accomplishing their design, pursued the chief, who, when he had led them fairly into the midst of his ambushed followers, gave the signal for their slaughter. Twenty of their principal men were killed, and eight taken prisoners, Lochiel allowing the rest to escape. Lochiel and his followers were by the Privy Council outlawed, and a commission of fire and sword granted to the Marquis of Huntly and the Gordons, for their pursuit and apprehension. The division of the clan Cameron which supported Lochiel continued for several years in a state of outlawry, but, through the influence of the Earl of Argyle, appears not to have suffered extremely.[204] FOOTNOTES: [193] Sir R. Gordon, p. 247. [194] Sir R. Gordon, p. 248. [195] Sir R. Gordon, p. 253. [196] Sir R. Gordon, p. 254. [197] Sir R. Gordon, p. 259. [198] Sir R. Gordon, p. 261. [199] _History_, p. 271. [200] Gordon, p. 274; Gregory’s _Western Highlands_, p. 334. [201] Gregory, p. 337. [202] Sir Robert Gordon, p. 278. [203] Sir R. Gordon, p. 281. [204] Gregory’s _Western Highlands_, p. 342. CHAPTER X. A.D. 1613-1623. KING OF GREAT BRITAIN:--James I., 1603-1625.