Matheson Collection > Macleods of Dunvegan from the time of Leod to the end of the seventeenth century

IAN (IAN BREAC), SIXTEENTH CHIEF 165
Council to such Councillors here as shall he joined in the
King's service, and given us power, with the rest of his friends,
to meet in a Convention, by his authority, to counteract the
mock Convention at Edinburgh, whom he hath declared
traitors, and commanded all his loyal subjects to make war
against them, in obedience to which I have called all the
Clans. Captain of Clanranald is near us these several days ;
the Laird of Barra is there with his men. I am persuaded
Sir Donald (of Sleat) is there by this. Maclean lands in
Morven to-morrow, certain. Appin, Glencoe, Lochiel, Glen-
garry, Keppoch, are all ready. Sir Alexander (Maclean of
Otter) and Largie have been here with their men all this while
with me, so that I hope we may go out of Lochaber about
3000 strong. You may guess what we will get in Strath,
Errick, Badenoch, Athole, Mar, and the Duke of Gordon's
lands, besides the loyal Shires of Banff, Aberdeen, Meams,
Angus, Perth, and Stirling. I hope we will be masters of the
north, as the King's army will be of the south. I had almost
forgot to tell you of my Lord Breadalbane, who will now, I
suppose, come to the field. Dunbeath, with 200 horse and
800 foot, is said to be endeavouring to join us. My Lord
Seaforth will be in the field in a few days from Ireland to raise
his men for the King's service. Now I have laid the whole
business before you. You will easily know what is fit for you
to do. All I shall say further is to repeat and renew the
desire of my former letter and assure you that I am, sir, your
obedient humble servant, Dundee.
You will receive the King's letter to you.
The postscript probably refers to the King's letter of
March 29 which is given above.
Dundee's second letter produced no more effect than
the first, and the MacLeods were not among the clans who
took part in the glorious Battle of Killiecrankie. On
June 27 KiUiecrankie was fought, and Dundee killed,
and with him perished the last hope of restoring James
in Scotland. But James continued to hope. He wrote
the following letter in May 1690, which is in the