He had even been guilty of the crime, common enough among Scottish politicians, but in him singularly disgraceful, of tampering with the agents of James while professing loyalty to William.

Still Argyle had the importance inseparable from high rank, vast domains, extensive feudal rights, and almost boundless patriarchal authority.

To him, as to his cousin Breadalbane, the intelligence that the tribe of Glencoe was out of the protection of the law was most gratifying; and the Master of Stair more than sympathized with them both.
The feeling of Argyle and Breadalbane is perfectly intelligible.
They were the heads of a great clan; and they had an opportunity of destroying a neighbouring clan with which they were at deadly feud.
Breadalbane had received peculiar provocation.

His estate had been repeatedly devastated; and he had just been thwarted in a negotiation of high moment.

Unhappily there was scarcely any excess of ferocity for which a precedent could not be found in Celtic tradition.