THE ISLES AND THE HOUSE OF ARGYLL. 127 



over Donald Gallda, a lease of the same lands from the 

 Regent for a period of eleven years, his subsequent 

 tenancy to be at the will of the Regent. A later heritable 

 grant by the Earl of Angus, of Sleat and North Uist, 

 further increased the power of Alastair Crotach. 



It was in these circumstances that Donald Gruamach and 

 John of Lewis invaded Skye, and drove the Macleods 

 from Trotternish. On nth March, 1528, summonses were 

 issued against both, and they were mulcted in a smart fine 

 of money and stock, payable to Alastair Crotach. Thus the 

 latter recovered Trotternish, but it does not appear that he 

 ever attempted to give effect to the charter by which he 

 acquired Sleat and North Uist The Clan Huistein, in the 

 person of Donald Gruamach, retained possession, charters 

 to their rivals notwithstanding. 



About this time John MacTorquil paid a hostile visit 

 to Assynt, where he fought a battle with Donald " Cam," 

 chief of the Macleods of Assynt, who were cadets of the 

 Siol Torquil. The origin of the quarrel is not stated. The 

 Lewismen got the worst of the fight, their chief being taken 

 prisoner. Donald Cam was, however, mortally wounded, 

 and died soon afterwards. 



The Act of 1528, which declared the non-availability of 

 the grants made in the Isles and adjacent mainland by the 

 Earl of Angus, and which provided that in future only such 

 infeftments as should receive the approval of Colin Earl of 

 Argyll and the Lords of Council would be valid, naturally 

 created much discontent among the grantees. The prestige 

 of the Earl of Argyll was enhanced by the power conferred 

 upon him by this Act, and he appears to have pushed his 

 advantage until the patience of the Hebridean chiefs 

 reached breaking point. In 1529, the irritation of the 

 chiefs led to an open rupture between them and Argyll, 

 the malcontents being led in their opposition to the Camp- 

 bells by Alexander Macdonald of Dunyveg. The Isles- 

 men were only too glad to have a pretext for striking a 

 blow at their hereditary enemies, the House of Argyll, and 

 Macdonald received their whole-hearted backing. The 



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