"Our system,"-- such was the substance of his reasoning, "may not be the best: but we were bred to it from childhood: we understand it perfectly: it is suited to our peculiar institutions, feelings, and manners.

Making war after our own fashion, we have the expertness and coolness of veterans.

Making war in any other way, we shall be raw and awkward recruits.

To turn us into soldiers like those of Cromwell and Turenne would be the business of years: and we have not even weeks to spare.

We have time enough to unlearn our own discipline, but not time enough to learn yours." Dundee, with high compliments to Lochiel, declared himself convinced, and perhaps was convinced: for the reasonings of the wise old chief were by no means without weight, [344] Yet some Celtic usages of war were such as Dundee could not tolerate.
Cruel as he was, his cruelty always had a method and a purpose.