_Holyroodhous, 28 July, 1689._
MY LORD,--On Friday last Major General Mackay marched from St. Johnston
with about 4000 foot, 4 troops of horse and dragoons, and was at Dunkell
that night, where he received intelligence that Dundie was come to Blair
in Atholl; he marched on Saturday towards him, and within two miles of
Blair about 5 at night they engaged, and by several inferior officers
and soldiers that is come here this evening, gives us the account, that
after a sharp engagement Dundie being much stronger, the Major General
was quite defeat, and I have yet heard of no officers of quality that is
come of but Lieutenant Colonel Lauther, who my Lord Ruthven spoke with
as he came from St. Johnston this day, and gives the same account of
their being wholly routed, but the confusion is such here that the
particulars is hardly to be got. We have given orders at Council this
afternoon to draw all the standing forces to Stirling, and has sent to
the west country to raise all the fencible men, and Sir John Lanier has
write to the English forces in Northumberland to march in here, and is
going to Stirling to command, for Mackay is either killed or taken by
all the account we have yet got, but you shall quickly have another
flying packet or an express.