Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

Ivi
THE LOYALL DISSUASIVE
have seen Dundee’s letter written on the eve of the battle of
Killiecrankie counting on Cluny, but Cluny was not in sight.
When Claverhouse had been already lying in the churchyard
of Blair Athole for four months, Cannon, now in command,
still trusts Cluny’s assurance of readiness. A month later
Cluny receives from him warrant and authority to raise for the
king’s service the Mackintoshes as well those living ‘ upon the
Duke of Gordon’s interest as those holding of the Duke of
Gordon within the Interest of badenoch.’
Lord Dunfermline takes up the correspondence and orders
the ‘conveining’ of the hail Badenoch men and the keeping of
them on foot together, till the line of march should be given.
‘ List the Mackintosh men,’ he says, 4 and get them out as
formerly in the same extent with yours.’ This is dated from
Inverness, 3rd May 1689. Three days after, poor Cluny
received a letter from Sir Thomas Livingstone, dated from
Dalrady 6th May.
‘S’",—You are hereby ordered in the King’s neam to rais the
number of a Hundred and twenty of your best and best armed
men with aigt days food out of the Lordship of badinog, and to
send them with sufficient Comanders upon their head to-morrow’s
nigt at Balachastel [Castle Grant], being the 7th in4. These men
are to consist out of Macentos’s and Macfers’s and Grants. This
you are ordered upon your hyghest peril T. Livingstone.
‘ For theer Majesty’s Service to Cluanie Mcferson.’
From Gleanings from Cluny Charter Chest, Duncan Mac-
pherson’s trying position is further illustrated. Here is a
letter from General Buchan :—
‘ Sir,—We have spared youe as long as we can and noue my
master’s servis requyrs that you may joyn us tusday nixt wt out
faill and to bring six days provision wt youe. So houping ye wish
your sellff, and peoplle so weille that ye will not faille off this. I
am sir your assured frind to serve youe Tho Buchan.’
The letter is undated, but it is one of a series ranging from