" "History of Scotland," vi. 302.
[97] It is said that one of Dundee's arguments against attacking in the
pass was, that it did not become brave soldiers to engage a foe at
disadvantage, an argument which I should imagine Dundee was much too
sensible a man to employ to Highlanders. Had his force been sufficient
for him to close up the mouth of the pass after the Lowlanders had
entered, it is hard to imagine he would have lost the chance of catching
Mackay in such a trap. But his force was too small to divide: while the
nature of the ground would of course have told as much against those who
made as against those who met a charge, besides inevitably offending the
jealous point of honour which forbad one clan to take precedence of
another. It may be, too, that Dundee was not very well served by his
scouts. Mackay certainly seems to have got well on his way through the
pass before the other knew that he had entered it. See the "Life of
Mackay," and the "Rebellions in Scotland."
[98] Memoirs of Lochiel.
[99] For long afterwards the battle was known among the Highlanders as
the battle of Renrorie.
[100] Mackay's Memoirs: "a quart de conversion" is his own phrase for
this change of front.
[101] "Sketches of the Highlanders."
[102] Among the Nairne Papers is what purports to be a copy of Dundee's
speech.
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