and kept Melfort well informed of all he had done
and proposed to do for his master's service. I shall conclude this
chapter with an extract from the last despatch he sent to Ireland. It is
long; but it gives so graphic an account of his proceedings since the
muster at Lochaber, of the state of the country, and the relative
positions and prospects of the two parties, that its length may be
excused. It also shows, what one would not perhaps have otherwise
surmised, that the writer had some little touch of humour. The letter is
dated from Moy, in Lochaber, June 27th, 1689. I omit the first part,
which seems to refer to some complaints Melfort had made of his having
been ill-spoken of by Dundee.

"My Lord, I have given the King, in general, account of
things here; but to you I will be more particular. As to
myself, I have sent you it at large. You may by it
understand a little of the state of the country.[84] You
will see there, when I had a sure advantage I endeavoured to
profit on it; but on the other hand, shunned to hazard
anything for fear of a ruffle. For the least of that would
have discouraged all. I thought if I could gain time, and
keep up a figure of a party without loss, it was my best
till we got assistance, which the enemy got from England
every day. I have told the King I had neither commission,
money, nor ammunition. My brother-in-law and my wife found
ways to get credit.[85] For my own nobody durst pay to a
traitor. I was extremely surprised when I saw Mr. Drummond,
the advocate, in Highland habit, come up to Lochaber to me,
and gave account that the Queen had sent 2,000_l._ sterling
to London, to be paid to me for the King's service, and that
two more was a-coming. I did not know the Queen had known
anything of our affairs. I received a very obliging letter
from her with Mr. Crane, but I know no way to make a return.
However, when the money comes, I shall keep count of it and
employ it right. But I am feared it will be hard to bring it
from Edinburgh.

"When we came first out I had but fifty pounds of powder.
More I could not get. All the great towns and seaports were
in rebellion, and had seized the powder, and would sell
none. But I had one advantage--the Highlanders will not fire
above once, and then take to the broadsword.

"But I wonder, above all thin