from Clan Lamont web site;

In the early 1300s, came a great down turn in the Clan's fo rtunes. Laumon's grandson, Sir John, supported the MacDouga lls of Lorne against Robert the Bruce.

The Lamonts of Ardlamont, however, who held their land as v assals of the High Steward in Bute, may have fought in Bruc e's bodyguard at Bannockburn. When Bruce was secure on th e Scottish throne the Lamont Chief suffered with the Hous e of Lorne and the Clan's land was claimed by the king's lo yal supporter, Campbell, Black Knight of Lochawe.

Many years later:

It was a few years after this that an event occurred whic h throws a vivid light upon the chivalric character of thes e old Highland chiefs. The incident took place either in 16 02 or 1633. The tradition runs that the son of a Lamont chi ef had gone hunting on the shores of Loch Awe with the onl y son of MacGregor of Glenstrae. At nightfall the two youn g men had made their camp in a cave, when a quarrel arose b etween them, and in the sudden strife Lamont drew his dirk , and MacGregor fell mortally wounded. Pursued by MacGregor ’s retainers, the aggressor fled, and, losing all idea of h is way in the dark, and at last espying a light, applied fo r shelter at MacGregor’s own house of Glenstrae. The old ch ief was stricken with grief when he heard the tale, and gue ssed it was his own son who had been slain. But the Highlan d laws of hospitality were inexorable. "Here, this night, " he said, "you shall be safe "; and when the clansmen arri ved, demanding vengeance, he protected young Lamont from th eir fury. Then, while it was still dark, he conducted the y oung man across the hills to Dunderave on Loch Fyne, and pr ocured him a boat and oars. "Flee," he said, "for your life ; in your own country we shall pursue you. Save yourself i f you can!"

Years afterwards an old man, hunted and desperate, came t o Toward Castle gate and besought shelter. It was MacGrego r of Glenstrae, stripped of his lands by the rapacious Camp bells, and fleeing for his life. Lamont had not forgotten h im, and he took him in, gave him a home for years, and whe n he died, buried him with all the honour due to his rank i n the little graveyard about the chapel of St. Mary on th e farm of Toward-an-Uilt, where his resting place was lon g pointed out.

As is well known, the Campbells had been engaged for ove r a century in making themselves masters of the ancient lan ds of Clan Gregor, and it may be that this act of hospitali ty to the old MacGregor chief formed the last drop in the c up of the ancient feud which brought destruction upon Cla n Lamont.

Toward Castle was the Lamont family seat for many years beg inning in the 15th century.

Click here for <a href="http://www.darkisle.com/t/toward/to ward.html">Photo of Toward Castle</a> (use browser back arr ow to return)

• Married: Bef 1350 in 2ND Wife ²
• Change Date: 20 Aug 2008

1. Colin "Iongantach" Campbell b: Abt 1350 in Lochow, Argyllshire, Scotland
2. Ellen (Helen) Campbell b: Abt 1357 in Lochow, Argyllshire, Scotland

1. Abbrev: Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 106th Edition, Charles Mosle y Editor-in-Chief, 1999
   Title: Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 106th Edition, Charles Mosle y Editor-in-Chief, 1999
   Date: 2000
   Page: 104
   Quality: 3
2. Abbrev: Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 106th Edition, Charles Mosle y Editor-in-Chief, 1999
   Title: Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 106th Edition, Charles Mosle y Editor-in-Chief, 1999
   Date: 2000
   Page: 104