Steele had
put on his clothes, while the search was making below; the
chamber where he lay was called the Chamber of Deese,*
* Or chamber of state; so called from the _dais_, or canopy and elevation
of floor, which distinguished the part of old halls which was occupied
by those of high rank. Hence the phrase was obliquely used
to signify state in general.
which is the name given to a room where the laird lies, when
he comes to a tenant's house. Steele suddenly opening the
door, fired a blunderbuss down at the two dragoons, as they
were coming up the stairs; but the bullets grazing against
the side of the turnpike, only wounded, and did not kill them.
Then Steele violently threw himself down the stairs among
them, and made towards the door to save his life, but lost it
upon the spot; for the dragoons who guarded the house dispatched
him with their broadswords. I was not with the
party when he was killed, being at that time employed in
searching one of the other houses, but I soon found what
had happened, by hearing the noise of the shot made with the
blunderbuss; from which I returned straight to Lanark,
and immediately sent one of the dragoons express to General
Drummond at Edinburgh.
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