32

CHAP.

XIII.

1G89.

niSTOBT OE ENGLAND.

where to have been regarded as a complete set off against hisvictory. Hamilton, before be adjourned the Estates, informedthem that he had good tidings for them; that Dundee wascertainly dead; and that therefore the rebels had on the wholesustained a defeat. In several letters written at that conjunctureby able and experienced politicians a similar opinion is ex-pressed. The messenger who rode with the news of the battleto the English Court was fast followed by another who carried adespatch for the King, and, not finding His Majesty at SaintJames’s, galloped to Hampton Court. Nobody in the capitalventured to break the seal; but fortunately, after the letter hadbeen closed, some friendly hand had hastily written on theoutside a few words of comfort: “Dundee is killed. Mackay hasgot to Stirling:” and these words quieted the minds of theLondoners.*

From the pass of Killiecrankie the Highlanders had retired,proud of their victory, and laden with spoil, to the Castle ofBlair. They boasted that the field of battle was covered withheaps of the Saxon soldiers, and that the appearance of thecorpses bore ample testimony to the power of a good Gaelicbroadsword in a good Gaelic right hand. Heads were foundcloven down to the throat, and sculls struck clean off just abovethe ears. The conquerors however had bought their victorydear. While they were advancing, they had been much galledby the musketry of the enemy; and, even after the decisivecharge, Hastings’s Englishmen and some of Leven’s borderershad continued to keep up a steady fire. A hundred and twentyCamerons had been slain: the loss of the Macdonalds had beenstill greater; and severalgentlemenofbirthandnote had fallen.**

Dundee was buried in the church of Blair Athol: but no

* Letter of the Extraordinary Ambassadors to the Grcflier of the StatesGeneral, August^. 1689; and a letter of the same date from Van Odyck,who was at Hampton Court.

** Memoirs of Sir Ewan Cameron; Memoirs of Dundee.