Page:Gallant exploits of Lord Dundee.pdf/11

Rh by the new government; the last to make himself necessary to it. Dundee had friends in the privy council, who suggested advices which were given by himself, and gave him intelligence of every resolution that was formed against his measures: he even secretly gained some officers of the regiments which he knew were to be sent against him.

From Inverness he marched with incredible swiftness through different parts of the highlands, to rouse he highlanders to arms, and to disperse the militia which were raised against him. His force, small at first; increased as he marched along, till it amounted o six thousand men. Lord Murray, son of Lord Athole, had raised 1000 men upon his father's estate, and that of Lord Lovat, who was married to his sister, under an assurance given them of serving the late king; but in reality to make them serviceable to the new government. This body Lord Dundee now carried off with him; a desertion from two of their own chieftains, unknown before among highlanders! but it arose partly from their admiration of Dundee, and partly from their indignation against Lord Murray's breach of faith to themselves. While Murray was reviewing them, they quitted their ranks, ran to in adjoining brook, filled their bonnets with water, drank to King James's health, and, with pipes playing, marched off to Lord Dundee. Simon Frazer, afterwards Lord Lovat, who, fifty-eight years after this period, lost his head on Tower-hill, for his adherence o the cause of the house of Stuart, was the person, then a youth, and a cadet of the Lovat family, who managed this revolt. General M'Kay was sent after Dundee with a force nearly equal in number to his own: but there was this difference between the two