Page:Gallant exploits of Lord Dundee.pdf/12

4 that M'Kay's regular troops served for pay; Dundee's irregulars were incited by the love of war.

To mark the singular features of singular characters is one of the chief provinces of history. Dundee had inflamed his mind from his earliest youth, by the perusal of ancient poets, historians, and orators, with the love of the great actions they praise and describe. He is reported to have inflamed it still more, by listening to the ancient songs of the highland bards. He entered into the profession of arms with an opinion that he ought to know the services of different nations, and the duties of different ranks: with this view, he went into several foreign services; and when he could not obtain a command, served as a volunteer. At the battle of Seneffe, he saved the Prince of Orange's life. Soon after, he asked one of the Scots regiments in the Dutch service. The Prince being pre-engaged, refused his request. Upon this he quitted the Dutch service, saying "The soldier who has not gratitude "cannot be brave." His reputation, and his services against the covenanters, obtained him a regiment from Charles II. and a peerage and high command in the army from his successor. In his exploits against these men, his behaviour had been sullied by the imputation of cruelty: he excused himself by saying, "That, if "terror ended or prevented war, it was true mercy,"

Dundee had orders from his master not to fight M'Kay, until a large force which was promised from Ireland should join him hence he was kept during two months cooped up in the mountains, furious from restraint. He was obliged, continually, to shift his quarters by prodigious marches, in order to avoid or harass his enemy's army, to obtain provisions, and sometimes to take advantages: the first messenger on his approach, was generally his own army in sight: