Page:Gallant exploits of Lord Dundee.pdf/2



HE fury of civil war was not confined to Ireland as soon as the news of James's arrival in that country was brought into Scotland, the impetuous Lord Dundee hastened to Inverness, upon receiving intelligence that a quarrel about a debt had arisen between the town's-people, and some of the clans Lochaber, and that these clans were assembled in arm in the neighbourhood of the town. He conferred a first with the chiefs on each side, separately, in private: and then having convened all in public, he loaded them with reproaches, "That they, who went, all equally friends to King James, were preparing at a time when he most needed their friendship, to draw those daggers against each other which ought to be plunged only into the breasts of his enemies" He then paid the debt in dispute with his own money, and prevailed upon most of those, who had lately stood under opposite banners, to enlist under his own. He insinuated to the highland chieftain on the borders of the Earl of Argyle's country, up some of whose estates the Earl lad old claims in law and others of whom had got grants of part of his estate from the crown when he was attainted, “the new governments produced new favours and new laws: weak would be their interest at court, and in courts of justice, against a competitor who had done so much to place the crown upon the head the new king.” Lord Athole, Lord Tarbet, and Lord Breadalbane, men of great power in the north were prevailed upon to give him no disturbance; the two first, because they thought themselves neglected