Lairds of Glenlyon

THE LAIRDS OF GLENLYON. 47
similar fate, had not the levin-bolt been quenched in the
blood of Dundee. Cannan, who succeeded him, was alto-
gether unworthy of his position ; and, by the little trust the
clans had in his abilities, and his own remissness allowed
all the fruits of the victory to escape from his grasp.
Among those who preserved a dubious neutrality while
these things were taking place — but who would undoubtedly
have joined the royalists had Dundee outlived his victory —
was the Earl of Breadalbane. In a letter to the Laird ol
M'Leod, dated Moy, June 23rd, 16S9, Dundee says — " I
had almost forgot to tell you of my Lord Broadalbin, who,
I suppose, will now come to the fields." But he was soon
better informed ; for, in a letter to Lord Melfort, four days
after, he says — " Earl Breadalbin keeps close in a strong
hous ; he has and pretends the gout." The difference in
the spelling almost proves, that, in the interval, Dundee
had received a written missive from the Earl, who had
then commenced to spell his name as in the second letter,
in preference to the older mode, previously used by Dundee.
The truth is, Pale John, as he was called in the Highlands,
did not wish to see the family of Argyle re-established by
the Revolution, and his own expanding influence contracted
thereby. He, therefore, desired well for the royalists, but
was too wise a man to risk his all, until victory had irre-
vocably chained success to their banners. After the death of
Argyle in 1685, and the sale of the greater part of his own
patrimony, which was nearly contemporaneous, the Laird
of Glenlyon submitted to the chain his fathers had spurned,
and became a most obedient dependent of Breadalbane ;
and in this great national crisis especially identified himself
with the latter's policy— viz., like him, remained at home.