case of their grievances which they pretended and the security of their persons and estates than all his Ancestors the Kings of England together from William the Conqueror downward Therefore at last that he might withdraw himself and his family from present danger he is forced sore against his mind to depart London He sends the Queen out of the way into Holland for the safety of her life and betakes himself to York The States of Parliament as they call themselves forthwith and before the King take up arms and divert those very Forces which the King had appointed for Ireland which were then in a readinesse and whose Officers had been of the Parliaments chusing hoping by them to overthrow the King himself The Rebels in Scotland who knew well enough the King would have strength sufficient to deal with the English Rebels resolved upon no terms to be wanting to their confederates in so apparent danger as they were And although our most gracious King had given them satisfaction as much as ever they could desire in that Parliament at Edinburgh aforesaid which also they have recorded among their publique Acts neverthelesse they provide themselves for a march into England Now that they might the better secure their affairs at home they labour tooth and nail to draw Montrose of whom almost only they were afraid again to their side They offer him of their own accord the office of Lieutenant General in the Army and what ever else he could desire and they bestow He seeing a mighty storm hovering over the Kings head that he might give him an account of it whereby it might be timely prevented undertakes a journey into England taking the Lord Ogilby into his counsel and company At Newcastle he receives news that the Queen being newly returned out of Holland was landed at Birdlington in Yorkeshire thither he makes haste and relates unto the Queen all things in order She having had a rough passage and being not well recovered from the distempers at Sea told him shee would advise further with him about that businesse after they came to York Thither being come the Queen of her own accord calls for Montrose he opens the whole story over again and makes it appear that there was no lesse danger from the Scotch than from the English Covenanters if they were not timely suppressed And being asked his opinion what was best to be done answered To resist force with force told her the King wanted not Subjects in Scotland faithful men and stout nor did they want hearts or wealth or power to oppose against the Covenanters if they durst enterprise any thing against the King all that they wanted was the Kings Commission without which they durst doe nothing with which any thing and all the danger that was was in delay That the Covenanters when they had once got their Army on foot would be able to grind any one to pieces that should offer to stir therefore the beginnings of so great an evill were to be withstood and the cockatrice bruised in the egg that Physick being too late that comes when the disease hath over-ran the whole body Wholesome counsel it was and seasonable which doubtlesse the most prudent Queen had approved of But while things were going on in so good a posture all things were quash'd by the comming of the Duke Hamilton out of Scotland upon pretence of kissing the Queens hand and gratulating her happy return but in very deed that he might overthrow Montrose his counsels for he had posted thither with the knowledge and consent of the Covenanters Nor did he himself dissemble that there was some danger from the Scotish Covenanters but he laboured to extenuate it and condemned the Counsell of Montrose as rash unadvised and unseasonable That stout and Warlike Nation was not to be reduced with force and arms but with gentlenesse and courtesies Warr especially Civil Warr should be the last remedy and used many times to be repented of even by the Conquerours The fortune of Warr was uncertain if the King should get the best it would be but a sorry triumph he could enjoy over his own Subjects but if he had the worst on 't he must expect what his soul good man abhorred to speak All means were to be tryed to preserve peace with that Nation nor were things yet come to that passe that the King should despair of amity and reconciliation with them He would be ready to take the whole businesse upon himself if the King pleased to commit it to his pains and trust and to authorise him sussiciently thereunto Montrose replyed Nothing would come of that but the delay of time untill the Traitors having raised an Army should prevent the King of any means to deliver himself and his party from their tyranny The sad event proved all this to be too true but in this debate Montrose was fain to suffer himself to be overborn being not so great a Courtier as the other nor were those vertues which the world now admires discovered then unto the Queen Hamilton returning into Scotland seemed to be as Active for the King as was possible The Covenanters mean while by their own authority contrary to the known Laws of the Kingdome summon a Parliament at Edinburgh which all understanding men that wished well unto the King foresaw would be of very dangerous consequence to his affairs and therefore abhorred it so much that they intended not to honour it with their presence But Hamilton interposing the name and authority of the King invited them by his Letters that they would not fail to be all there and that they should not doubt but they would be able to out-vote the Covenanters if at this time they were not wanting to the Kings cause And if it should happen otherwise he would be ready with his friends to protest against the Covenanters and immediately to leave them Abundance of the Nobility incited by the name of the King and those hopes were present at that Parliament only Montrose and a few of his adherents staid away And with Montrose too the Duke had dealt by his friends that as he loved and honoured the King he would joyn himself unto them But he who had reason to suspect all motions that came that way answered That he was ready to grapple with any difficulty especially under his command who had so great an honour as to be the Kings supreme Commissioner only on this condition that the Duke should engage his honour that if they could not bring up that Parliament to righteous things he would endeavour to inforce them by the dint of the sword He answered He would protest he would not fight Which passage considered Montrose to preserve his integrity expecting the issue betook himself to his own home In that Parliament the Covenanters out-voted the Loyal party by seventy voices or thereabouts trampled upon the Royal authority arrogated unto themselves the power of calling of Parliaments pressing Souldiers sending Embassadours
and Trequaire and confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity and industry no question was to be made Moreover that he should make haste towards the Tweed where he should meet a party of Horse which the King would instantly dispatch out of England to be commanded by him with whom he might safely give battel to David Lesley if as was suspected he marched that way with the Covenanters Horse All this the respective bearers unanimously delivered and his most excellent Majesty being over-credulous signified by his Expresses And Montrose being now over-born with the Kings absolute Commands takes up his resolution to march to the side of Tweed But the day before he went the Souldiers being drawn up to a Rendezvouz before that Mac-donald and the Highlanders were gone Sir Robert spotswood making an humble obeysance under the Kings Standard delivered his Majesties Commission under the Great Seal unto Montrose which he again gave unto Archibald Primrose Clerk of the Supreme Councill to be read aloud That being ended in a short but stately Oration he commended the valour and Loyalty of the Souldiers and the great affection he bore them And for Mac-donald he not only extoll'd his gallantry in the head of the Army but by vertue of that authority that he had received from the King gave him the honour of Knighthood For not only Montrose but all the Kings friends were confident of the integrity of the man whose good opinion he deceiv'd not only to the undoing of the Kings cause but the utter ruine of himself and his friend Montrose following his intended journey came the second night to Calder Castle at which time the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not only his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces whom he had inveighled to desert the service Nor would he be perswaded either by reason or the intreaty of his friends who heartily detested that shameful act to stay but so much as one week and then he might depart not only with the Generals licence but with honour and the good esteem of honest men Seeing it would be no better Montrose passing by Edinburgh led his small Army through Lothianshire and in Strathgale joyned with Douglasse and the other Commanders whose Forces being much diminished were dayly mouldring more and more In that coast Traquaire himself came unto him more chearful and merry than he used to be who pretended himself to be a most faithful Servant not only to his Majesty but also to Montrose and the next day sent him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant party of Horse as if they were to be under his command that by so likely a pledge he might make Montrose more secure and so more easily ruine him For this was not the first time that Traquaire plaid the Covenanters Scout-Master that ungratefullest piece of mankind intending to betray unto them Montrose and in him the King himself Now when he was not above twelve miles from the Lords Hume and Roxburgh and they sent not so much as a Messenger to him nor offered him the smallest courtesie Montrose being much troubled at it resolved to march into their Territories and to bring them in either by fair means or foul But they prevented him by a singular device They sent unto David Lesley whom they well knew by that time was come to Berwick with all the Scotch Horse and many English Voluntiers for they were privy to all their counsels and intreated him to send a party and carry them away in the condition of prisoners which he did the day before Montrose came thither For by this means that crafty old fox Roxburgh who had Hume under his girdle conceiv'd that they might both ingratiate themselves with the Covenanters as freely committing themselves into their Protection and yet keep in the Kings favour whiles they made as if they fell into Lesley's hands sore against their wills And this being Lesley's first noble exploit he passed over Tweed and marched into the East-side of Lothian Montrose assoon as he perceived the King and himself betray'd by these men and saw no hopes of that party of Horse which was come from the King and that the too powerful enemy would block up his passage into the North and Highlands resolved to march with those few men he had into Niddisdale and Anandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could For although he had no certain intelligence concerning the strength of the enemy yet he conjectured that it consisted especially in Horse CHAP. XVI MOntrose arising from Kelsoe marched to Jedburgh and so to Selkirk where he quartered his Horse in a Village and his Foot in a wood close by For he was resolved to make sure of all advantages of ground lest he should be forced to fight with an enemy of whose strength he knew nothing upon uneven terms Then he commands the Captains of Horse to set out good store of faithful and active Scouts and to place Horse-guards in convenient places on every side and look well to their watch All which he in person as he used to do could not see done at present because that night he was dispatching letters to the King and to send away a trusty messenger that he had light upon before break of day therefore he was earrest with them to have the more care lest the enemy who were very strong in Horse should surprise them unawares And the Commanders promising all care and diligence he was so taken up with writing of Letters that he slept not all that night And sending ever and anon to the Captains of Guards men that were skilful Souldiers and so known to be in Forein Countries such uncertain noises as were brought unto him of the enemies approach they being deceiv'd either by the negligence of their Scouts or their own misfortune very confidently sent him back word there was no enemy in those parts nor in the Country thereabouts At the break of day some of the best Horse and most accquainted with the Country were sent out again to Scout they also brought word they had been ten miles about and diligently examined all by-ways and rashly wisht damnation to themselvs if they could find an enemy in arms within ten miles But afterward it appeared when it was too late that the enemy with all their Forces were then scarce four miles from Selkirk and had lain there all that night in their arms Lesley that day that Montrose departed from Jedburgh mustered his men upon Gladesmore a plain in Lothianshire where holding a councill of War with the chief of the Covenanters the result was that he should march to Edinburgh and so to the Forth that he might hinder Montrose's retreat into the North and force him to fight whether he would or no before he joyned with his Highlanders But Lesley contrary to that resolution gives order on a sudden to his whole
drew his Forces into the North and almost before he was discovered marched with a few men into Strathbogy where Huntley then lived But he being struck with his unexpected approach upon the first news he heard of him lest he should be forced to a Conference against his will immediately fled to Bogie a Castle of his situate upon the mouth of the Spey as if he intended to ferry over the River and to wage warre against the Rebels in Murray And now it comes into my mind briefly to enquire what might be the reason why Huntley bore such a spleen against Montrose who had never given him any distaste but had obliged him with curtesies many times undeserved Nor could I ever hear nor so much as guesse at any other cause but a weak and impotent emulation I cannot call it but envy of his surpassing worth and honour For I should be loath to say that his mind was ever alienated from the King but only averse unto Montrose with the unjust hatred of whom he was so possest that he precipitated himself into many unexcusable mistakes insomuch as he desired rather all things were lost than that Montrose should have the honour of saving them And now being already puffed up with an unbeseeming conceit of himself he was the more exceedingly enraged against him upon the remembrance of those injuries and disgraces he had heretofore thrown upon him and that was the chief reason as I take it that he so often avoided the sight of him For besides what we have occasionally delivered both the father and the sons had put neither few nor small affronts upno the Kings Vicegerent some few of which it will not be out of our way to relate The great guns which we told you Montrose had hid in the ground the last year they digging them up without his knowledge carried away in a kind of triumph and disposed of them in their own Castles as if they had been spoils taken from the enemy and would not restore them upon demand But those Montrose had got in the fights at Saint Johns-town and at Aberdeen in the former of which there was never a man present of that Family and in the other Lewis Gordon and his men fought on the enemies side Besides they so converted unto their own use the Gunpowder and Arms and other necessaries of War which were gained from the enemy and only deposited in their Castles as in safe and convenient store-houses that they would never make any restitution of the least part of them when they were desired Moreover Aboine upon his return home after the victory of Kilsythe set at liberty the Earl of Keith Lord Marshal of Scotland the Lord Viscount Arbuthnot and other men of quality of the enemies side who were within his custody without acquainting the Governour of the Kingdome and his brother-in-law young Drumme who by chance was present earnestly declaring his dislike of it Upon what terms he did it it is uncertain but this is evident that besides the affront done to the Lord Governour and the losse of Dunotter Castle which was of great strength and concernment in that War and other Military advantages they got by it the Rebells would never have had the boldnesse to fall so cruelly upon the Prisoners if he had but kept them in safe custody Yet more by his own private authority he exacted tributes and Customes and Taxes which the Governour himself had never done upon pretence indeed of maintaining the War but in truth to far other use and to the grievous prejudice of the Kings Cause Last of alâ— which is most to be lamented either at the entreatâ—â— of the enemy or for small sums of money they had enlarged the Prisoners that had been taken in the former battells in the North and committed to custody in their Castles Nor would they permit them to Montrose's disposall though being Prisoners of War he had reserved them for that only purpose by exchanging them to save the lives of gallant and deserving men Huntley being pricked in his conscience about all these things was alwayes as afraid of Montrose's presence as of a Pest-house But Monrrose for all that passing by injuries and laying aside all other matters bestowed his whole endeavours in promoting of the Kings service And to that end he was resolved to intrude himself into his company though never so unwelcome to insinuate into his friendship upon any conditions to yeeld unto him in all things and to deny nothing so that he might qualifie Huntley's imbittered spirit Therefore leaving his Forces in their quarters he posted early in the morning with a few Horse unto Bogie and by his undream'd of approach prevented Huntley of any opportunity of flying or hiding himself Assoon as they met Montrose so getting all that was past invited him in smooth and gentle language to associate with him in the War for the safety of the King and Kingdome and gave him so full satisfaction in all things that being at last overcome he seem'd to give him his hand and promised that not only all his men but he himself would come in person in the head of them and be with him with all possible speed Afterward they laid their heads together concerning the manner of managing the War and agreed that Huntley wafting over the Spey should make his way on the right hand by the sea-coast of Murrey and Montrose was to go round about on the left hand through Strath-Spey which was at that time of the year a very tedious and difficult march and so the design was to besiege Innernesse a Garrison of the enemies on both sides and in the mean time to draw the Earl of Seaford either by fair means or foul to their side That Garrison however it might appear to be otherwise strong and well fortified yet was very ill provided for victuall and other requisites which in that sharp Winter and tempestuous Sea could hardly be had And so now they seem'd to be agreed in all things so that Aboine and his brother Lewis wish'd damnation to themselves if they did not continue constant in their fidelity and service to Montrose to their utmost breath And the rest of the Gordons the Marquesses friends were surprised with incredible joy and made as much of their Lord and Chief as if he had been returned from the dead CHAP. XIX MOntrose supposing Huntley's spirit at last pacified and seriously inclined to joyn with him in the prosecution of the Warre marched with his Forces through Strath-Spey towards Innernesse And the more to amuse the enemy on every side he sent his cozen Patrick Graham of whose worth I have had often occasion to speak and John Drummond of Ball the younger a gentleman of approved trust and valour who had often done excellent service with authority and Commissions unto the Athole-men that if any should offer to stirre in those parts they should neglect no opportunity to suppresse them The Athole-men being
The Compleat HISTORY OF THE WARRS IN SCOTLAND Under the Conduct of the Illustrious and truly-valiant IAMES Marquesse OF MONTROSE General for his Majestie CHARLS 1st in that Kingdome TOGETHER VVith a brief Character of Him AS ALSO A True Relation of his Forein Negotiations Landing Defeat Apprehension Tryal and deplorable Death in the time of CHARLS 2d Now newly Corrected and Enlarged by an Eye-witnesse of all the fore-mentioned passages Printed in the Year 1660. Iaques Marquis deMontrose Counte de Kingcairne Seigneir de Graeme Baron du Mount dieus etc A Paris P Pontius sculpsit To the Reader THere are a few things of which I would not have them ignorant who shall chance to peruse this short History whereof some concern the Lord Marquesse of Montrose whose Actions in his Country for two years space are here published and others have relation to the Author of this work And first of all I desire thee to take notice that Montrose is the Chief of that antient and famous Family of the Grahams and is called in old Scotish Graham-more the great Graham He derives his Pedegree from that famous Graham in the Histories of Scotland who was Son-in-law to Fergus the second King of the Scots and was the first that with the assistance of his Father-in law cast down that Trench which Severus had made and set out for the utmost limit of the Roman Empire between the Scotish Frith and the River of Cluid at such a place where Great Brittain was narrowest and by that means cut the power of the Romans shorter Whence it happens that some evident remains of that Trench retain his name amongst the Inhabitants to this day who call it Gremesdike The same Graham from whom this noble Family took its rise surviving his Father-in-law Fergus and being a man as able for Civil as Military employment was made Protector unto his Nephew and Regent of the Kingdome and after he had fetched back the Doctors of the Christian Faith who had been banished by the late Wars and settled as well the Church as State with excellent Laws freely resigned the Government into the hands of his Nephew when he came to age He flourished in the time of the Emperours Arcadius and Honorius about the year of our Lord CCCC From whom hath descended in a fair and straight line a long and noble row of Posterity who imitating the virtue of their Ancestors have been famous in the succeeding generations Amongst whom that valiant Graham was eminent who with the help of Dumbarre so seasonably rescued his Country from the Danes who were then Masters of England and had frequently but with little success invaded Scotland with mighty Armies And in after times that noble Iohn Graham came nothing behind his Ancestors in virtue and honour who after the death of Alexander the Third in that vacation of the Kingdome while Bruce and Bailiol disputed their Titles was with that renowned Vice-roy William Walley a stout maintainer of his Countries Liberty against the unjust oppression and tyranny of Edward King of England and after many heroical exploits fighting valiantly for his Nation dyed in the bed of Honour His Tomb is yet to be seen in a Chapel which hath the name of Falkirk from the aforesaid Gremesdike by which it stands Adjoyning unto which the Marquesse of Montrose hath large and plentifull possessions descended by inheritance unto him from that first Graham But lest I should seem to derive the Nobility of so illustrious a Worthies extraction only out of the rubbish of dusty and obscure Antiquity I must not omit that his Grandfather the Earl of Montrose was advanced unto places of the greatest honour in that Kingdome and discharged them most happily For being Lord Chancellour of Scotland at such time as King James the Sixth of blessed memory came to the Crown of England he was created by him Vice-roy of Scotland and enjoyed that highest Honour which a Subject is capable of with the love and good affection both of King and People to the day of his death And his Father was a man of singular endowments both of body and mind and so known to be both in forein Countries and at home who after he had performed many most honourable Embassages for King James was called to be Lord President of the Session by King Charles and being snatched away from his Country and all good men by an untimely death was extremely lamented and missed And what we may think or hope of the Grand child I leave unto thee to judge by what he hath done already seeing he is yet now a year and a half after his employment in his Country scarce entred upon the 36. year of his age One thing more I must add three Periods already have been very dangerous and almost fatal to the Kingdome of Scotland the first by the oppression of the Romans whose yoke our Ancestors cast off by the Conduct of that first Graham descended of the noble British Family of the Fulgentii The second by the Danes the repulse of whom is owing especially to the prowesse of the second Graham aforesaid And the third by the English and Normans whom the third Graham twice expelled out of Scotland and gave them many and great defeats So that as it was of old spoken of the Scipioes in Africk it seems the name of Graham is something fatal to their enemies and lucky to their Country at a dead lift and that it was not without the special provideuce of God Almighty that in these worst times One stood up who did his best endeavours to maintain the Kings just Rights and Authority the Peace Safety and Liberty of the Subjects and the Honour and antient splendor of his House And this is all I thought good at this time to premise concerning the Lord Marquess of Montrose For the Author of the Book take it briefly thus He professeth himself to have been but little conversant in these sort of studies and expecteth neither credit or commendation for the strength of his wit which he acknowledgeth to be little or none nor reward or profit for his pains which two things are the chiefest incentives to most to wet their pen but that he undertook the businesse meerly out of a desire to propagate the truth to other Nations and to posterity For he saw by late and lamentable experience in such a cause as this that prosperous Villany can find more Advocates than down-cast Truth and Goodnesse For when the same Confederates in both Kingdomes had by their own arts that is by lying and slandering ruined the Church to fill their bags with its Revenews so sacrilegiously purloyned and enrich their posterity with plentifull Anathemaes and accursed things there wanted no store of men that extolled them for it to the skies as men deserving highly from their Country from the Church it self and from all mankind and reviled with all sort of reproaches and contumelies the most religious servants of God holy Martyrs
and wanted not some friends of the Covenanters themselvs who informed him by frequent messages that the Sea was sore pester'd with the English Navy and he could not escape safely either into France or the Low-Conntries that the haven was upon the matter block'd up in which he was to take shipping and therefore it was very perillous for him to go to Sea that his enemies look'd for nothing else than that either by making too long stay in his own Country he should sall into the hands of the Scotish Covenanters or by going should be surprised unarm'd and unawares by the English Rebells Montrose's friends that were with him were of opinion that it was best for him in so apparent a danger to return into the Highlands and draw his men together again conceiving that he had better trust the fortune of War than so perfidious a peace But he forbore to take that course especially because of his most ardent affection to the King For he was assured if the War brake forth again it would be laid upon the King though undeservedly and so he should bring his Person into present danger perhaps as much as his life was worth Therefore being straightned on every side one way with treachery plotted against his own another against the Kings anointed head he determined with an unalterable resolution to bear all the burden upon his own shoulders And therefore he withdrew himself not out of rashnesse as if he despair'd of safety at the worst but out of sage and discreet deliberation For when he had smelt out the plots of the Rebels before-hand he had sent some a good while ago to search diligently the havens in the North and if they chanced to find any outlandish vessell to agree with the Master for the fraught and to appoint him to be ready to put to sea at such a day and to transport the passengers which should be ready with him by the help of God into Norway By good fortune there was found in the haven of Stanhyve a small bark of Bergen in Norway and the Master was soon agreed with for he was very glad of the opportunity having hopes of getting Thithet Montrose sent away Sir John Hurrey John Drummond of Ball Henery Graham his brother John Spotswood nephew to that great Sir Robert John Lilly a Captain of approved skill and coruage Patrick Melvin such another George Wise heart Doctor of Divinity David Gutherey a stout young Gentleman Pardus Lasound a French-man once a servant to the noble Lord Gordon afterwards entertained for his Masters sake by Montrose himself one Rodolph a German an honest and trusty young man and a few servants more And these he had pick'd out to carry along with him whithersoever he went for this reason especially because he knew the Rebels to be so maliciously bent against most of them that they could not be safe for never so little a while in that Country And they on the third of September having a good wind put forth to Sea for Norway and the same evening Montrose himself accompanied only with one James Wood a worthy Preacher by a small cock-boat got into a bark which lay at anchor without the haven of Montrose and being clad in a coarse suit the Lord and Patron passed for his Chaplains servant This was in the year of our Lord 1646. and the 34. year of his age FINIS The Continuation of Montrose's Historie IT is not our purpose in this addition to the Historie of the famous Marquesse to deliver his several Negotiations with forein Princes further than in the general For howsoever they were in order to the Cause he had in hand and did add a great deal of lustre and splendour to his worth in the eyes of strangers who were indifferent in the case As likewise it must be confessed that no subject of that Kingdome ever received higher favours abroad or procur'd greater respect to the addresses made in his Masters name Yet these things being but obscurely known in the Tenour of them except only to those that were employ'd and indeed not so proper for our intention in this brief narration which is to satisfie the curiosity of all in the manner of his last entrie his defeat death and buriall if it may be so call'd Things for ought I know as yet set down in no certain relation We shall therefore setting aside his Forein endeavours bring him upon the same stage where his Tragedie had both its beginning and ending Only that you may have a more lively representation of his personal vertues we shall give you to understand in what high estimation the Marquesse was with Forein Princes as well as with those of England and Scotland and point at those honours which did seem to court his magnanimitie beyond Seas In France with the general consent of the Princes of the blood and the rest of the Nobility he was design'd Chaptain General of all the strangers in that Kingdome A trust which those know that are acquainted with the Warrs of France of very high consequence for in them consists the whole strength of the Kingdome But this advancement of the Marquesses was by Cardinall Mazarine crossed or delayd who was alwayes a professed enemy to Scots in that Kingdome From thence he took his journey to Holland where the Prince then was in pursute of his former intentions but there he met with as great crosses and impediments as he had done in the bowels of his own Country Duke Hamilton who was his irreconcilable enemy was now his competitor and being then at the Hague labour'd by all means possible to undermine or prevent the Marquesses designs With him were the Earl of Lautherdale and the Earl of Calender men both of eminent parts whom the Duke by several engagements had made firm to his purposes They were both very earnest for a Commission The Duke having interest in the Prince by blood could not think that any in that trust could justly be preferred before him alleging likewise that he might be more able to perform any design in that Kingdome his kindred and allies and those of his Name being very powerfull and in the very heart of the kingdome Whereas Montrose's souldiers whom he trusted most and employed in his former action were either kill'd or dispersed And those whom he had left so terrified and squeezed in their estates that they were utterly unable to help him On the other part the Marquesses fidelity pleaded much for him his notable atchievements his poor and slender beginnings which made him so much the more capable for that undertaking it being requisite the Prince should employ such an instrument as the case then stood being destitute of all means to help him The Prince who knew how needfull it was to reconcile two such eminent Persons who being joyn'd might draw the greatest part of that kingdome after them fayling of which either of them was sure to oppose the other that should be employd made it
his main drift to unite them Several meetings were appointed to this purpose but all in vain neither could any industry prevail to make an agreement so inveterate was their malice each to other so jealous were they one of anothers proceedings This variance made a long demur in that expedition which was far sooner intended The causes of which were partly set down in the beginning of the Historie and partly hatched by the Duke himself who looking as he was a man very ambitious of honour upon all the Marquesses actions with a squint eye fretted much that there was any within the same kingdome who so farr surpassed him in gallantrie and esteem nor could he brook that any one should possesse the Kings ear so much as he and for these reasons he employed his utmost endeavours in defeating all Montrose's enterprises But his Brothers known disservices and bad successe together with his own neglect or ill managing of businesse at Strivling bridge much retarded and obscured his claym to the Kings favour in the particular he sought for And to speak impartially the Marquesses worth and experience was such that it did easily sway the ballance in an indifferent mans judgement even though the other two had been thrown in to make up the weight The Marquesse having against his will spent a great deal of time in these disputes departed at last from Holland and travell'd up into Germanie and so to Austria The Emperour who in his late warrs against the Swede hath been very unsuccessfull hearing of his arrivall invited him to his Court and amongst many other honours conferr'd upon him freely proferr'd him the Command of ten thousand men which should be a standing Army constantly to be recruited With free power to engage at his own discretion without receiving orders from any but the Emperoâ—r himself Which charge the Marquesse being willing to accept and about to receive yet rather that he might if it were possible advance that cause which he had in hand than for any desire of honour he was prevented by that happy peace concluded betwixt the Emperour the Swedes which all who love the Common good of Christendome wish to be lasting and perpetual Being from thence very honourably dismiss'd he addresses himself to the Dukes of Brandeburg and Holsteyn from the last of which he receiv'd those ships which were kept a great while at Amsterdam to no purpose being three or four very fair vessels and well mann'd Which Prince would have willingly contributed more to that service but that he perceiv'd that which he had before given to be so misemployed wherein both he and the Marquesse were grossly abus'd as in the ensuing relation shall appear Great were the promises which had been made to the Marquesse by many other Princes but they proved very slack in the performance so that the assistance which was so generally expected proved nothing else but a meer formalitie complement But the season of the year being now fit for action he resolves with what speed he can to call together those he could get and to that purpose removes to Hamburgh from whence he might have a convenient passage to the Northern Isles of Scotland But ere we further proceed it will not be imperrinent to our purpose to take a slender view of that kingdom whither this expedition was intended and of the condition wherin it then was Scotland was then in a reasonable posture of quiet for the old grudges by taking away the heads of factions wherof some had suffer'd after Philip Haugh and others were detained Prisoners in England were tak'd up for a while And a certain number of Horse and Foot modell'd into an Army was muster'd and dispos'd of in several places of the Kingdom to prevent any forein invasion or homebred insurrection which might happen These were commanded by David Lesley Colonel Mountgomery Colonel Straughan c. being in all fifteen hundred Horse and three thousand Foot commanded by Lieut. General Holborn This handful did at that time over-awe and keep under the discontented party though far more powerful For besides those which had been disbanded by the Earl of Lanerick and Major General Munroe at the bridge of Striveling there flock'd dayly out of England great companies of those who had escaped out of prison who finding their estates Sequestered and feiz'd upon and withall most tyrannically proceeded against by the hot-spirited Ministery desired nothing more than an oportunity of revenge Besides these he had a considerable number of his own name and faction in the North. The Gordons the Athole-men who if he had not been crush'd at his first entry would certainly have assisted him This condition of the Kingdom made the Marquess appear like a prodigious Mereor hanging over their heads which awak'd those who sat at the helm of the State whom it did indeed most concern to endeavour the defeating of his attempts both at home and abroad For this purpose was there a solemn Message dispatch'd to the Prince then Resident at the Hague whom presently upon the news of his Fathers death they proclam'd King inviting him home upon certain conditions which were publish'd in this Kingdom and need not therefore be inserted In the mean time the Marquess who had now gathered together a company of gallant Gentlemen as well English as Scots makes all possible haste dispatches Colonel John Ogilby to Amsterdam to entertain such strangers as might be for his purpose But he forgeting his Commission bestowed both moneys and pains in entertaining himself suffering those who upon any terms would have engaged to shift for themselves There being a great number who had fled out of England and more who had lately deserted the French or been cashier'd from the Hollanders service Thus were these goodly Vessels sufficiently provided for service lost by his neglect and a limb of the design broken There hapned about this time another business which did much retard the Marquesses affairs Colonel Cochran who had been dispatched Commissioner into Poland to the Scotish Merchants there to require their assistance having procured very considerable sums of money upon that score and other provision for the furthering of that expedition dispos'd of the mony for his own uses made sale of the corn and provision together with the Vessel which was provided for the transportation of it and did himself turn tail to the quarrel This was another disappointment General King likewise whom the Marquess expected out of Sweden with a considerable party of Horse either could not be ready so soon as was expected or else delayed the time of purpose But the Marquess as is supposed feating lest he should have an express command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt the Prince and the Scotish Commissioners was now very near a conclusion did precipitate himself those that were with him into a most inevitable ruine Now all those great leavies and aydes Those mighty preparations for the invasion of a kingdome
return to Strathbogy where he intended to make some stay both because the cragginesse of the Countrey was a good security to his Souldiers against the incursions of the enemies Horse and because it was near those places from whence he dayly expected Mac-donald with what Highlanders he could raise The next day the enemy pursues him with an intention to force him to fight with them in the open field and truly assoon as they came in sight of them drawing up their men they made ready to battel as if they would have fallen on with all their power But a forlorn hope of Highlanders was sent before by Argyle to engage Montrose in a light skirmish who were manfully entertained and repulsed Then Montrose having possessed himself of the highest ground Argyle alters his resolution and thinks upon that which was more safe and lesse honourable He desires a Cessation proposes that engagements may be given on both sides for a Conference and Treaty yet at the same time he did not only tempt the Souldiers to forsake Montrose by promising them indempnity and rewards to boot but which is a shame to say even of an enemy set a great price upon Montrose's head to be paid unto any assassine or murtherer that should bring it in Of which when Montrose was well assured who well knew the disposition of the man to be more bent to over-reach and betray than to fight with his enemy he thought nothing concerned him more than with all speed to bring off those small Forces he had as far as he could both from Argyle's Horse and knavery Therefore calling a councill of War he declares his opinion they all approve his wisdome and promise to continue their fidelity and their best endeavours to serve him Therefore he resolveth upon a long march the next night as far as Badenoth and that the Souldiers might be lighter for so great a journey he sent the Carriages before with a guard and bid the Souldiers make themselves ready against the next day as if they were to fight And now the Carriages were on the way when on a suddain news came that Forbes of Craigevar a prisoner to whom upon the engagement of his Honour for his true imprisonment Montrose had given the liberty of the Camp and that Sibbalds who besides Rollock was only of his counsell and company when he came out of England and some others had made an escape and run away to the enemy He was troubled at the perfidiousnesse of the men and justly suspected that they to ingratiate themselves with the enemy would betray his counsels Therefore he straight called back the Convoy with the Carriages and seemed as if he had wholly altered his resolutions But indeed he altered them not but thought it fit to delay them for a time that the intelligence which the enemy received from his fugitives might appear unto them idle and uncertain But after four dayes he sent the Carriages away again before him and making fires through all the Camp he placed all the Horse he had within view of the enemy as if they kept their guard there till such time as the Foot were marched far enough from danger and then brought the Horse also safe off and all by break of day came to Balveny And now being safe from having their quarters beaten up by the enemies Horse and they no further pursuing it being also the very deep of winter he allowed a few dayes unto the refreshment of his Souldiers And at this time especially Argyle began to appear in his own colours and his subtilties were manifested For most of the Noblemen Gentlemen and prime Souldiers that were with Montrose who setting aside Irish men and Highlanders had more Commanders than private Souldiers in his army deserted him and fell off to Argyle Some of them pretended sicknesse others disability to make such long marches in winter time over mountains uninhabited unpassable full of nothing but stones and bryars for the most part deep in snow and never travelled over by any man alive And therefore sore against their wills as they said and being compelled to depart by an extream necessity they desired his Passe which he denyed to none that ask'd but yet look'd upon them rather with a kind of indignation and scorn than approbation or compassion Nor can one easily say how much the example of such men weakened his Forces and how much it disheartened many that intended to have listed themselves under his Command But the old Lord Ogilby the Earl of Airley a man of threescore years old and not very healthy neither together with two of his Sons most worthy of such a Father Sir Thomas and Sir David could never be perswaded even in the extremest hazard of their lives to depart from him CHAP. VIII MOntrose returning from Balveny to Badenoth net a very faithful intelligencer who gave him notice that Argyle with his Foot for his Horse were gone to their winter-quarters lay at Dunkeldon and that from thence he used all his industry to perswade the Athole men to revolt He although he was assured of their loyalty neverthelesse with incredible haste goes down into Athole For in one night he marched with his Forces four and twenty miles through wayes untrodden untilled full of snow waste and never inhabited by mortal man to the intent he might fall upon Argyle whiles he had not his Horse about him But he being frighted with the report of his coming when Montrose was yet sixteen miles off bid his men shift for themselves and he himself fled as fast as he could into Perth wherein the Covenanters had a strong garrison Mac-donald was by this time returned and brought along with him the Chief of the Mac-renalds with his men to the number of five hundred and Montrose himself added to that number Patrick Graham with some choice men of Athole Being recruited with these he marcheth to the lake out of which the river of Tay breaks forth to passe from thence through Bredalbin into the Country of Argyle for he thought an enemy could never be so happily overthrown as in his own Countrey And truly he had many strong reasons for that resolution In the first place Argyle ' s power and authority amongst the Highlanders rendered him formidable to his Peers and Neighbours and so conduced much both to raise and foment the whole Rebellion For assoon as any one adventured to oppose the Covenanters or dispute their Command presently Argyle gathering a tumultuous army of five or six thousand Highlanders who for all that served him against their wills crush'd him in pieces and therefore he had all the reason in the world to bring down the power of so seditious and covetous and cruell a man Moreover those Highlanders who did not only favour the Kings cause but hated Argyle heartily as having had a sufficient experience of his Tyranny durst not appear as they would till he was first subdued And lastly the Low-lands of the
Kingdome were maintained by the Covenanters with strong Garrisons and great bodies of Horse so that except he had a mind utterly to undoe his friends he had no other place to winter his Souldiers in but that And being pressed with these reasons with long and foul journeys and incredible speed he commeth into Argyle The Earl at that time was listing souldiers in his Country and had appointed the day and place for a Rendezvouz He lived securely in the castle of Inncrare supposing no enemie to be within a hundred miles of him For he could never before be brought to beleeve that an Army could get into Argyle on foot in the midst of summer and many times heretofore he has been heard to bragge that he had rather lose a hundred thousand Crowns than any mortal man should know the way by which an Army could enter into his Country When he therefore suspected nothing lesse the trembling Cow-herds came down from the hills and told him the enemy was within two miles He not knowing what to do and almost besides himself for fear at last commits himself to a fisher-boat and flies away leaving his friends and servants and the whole Countrey to their fortunes and the mercy of an enemy It is a rough and mountainous countrey barren of corn for little or none is sown there but very commodious for pasture the chief riches of the inhabitants consisting in cattell Montrose divides his Army into three Brigades and sends them about the countrey one Brigade was commanded by the chief of the Mac-renalds another by Mac-donald and the third by himself They range about all the country and lay it waste as many as they find in arms going to the Rendezvouz appointed by their Lord they slay and spare no man that was fit for War nor do they give over till they had driven all serviceable men out of that Territory or at least into holes known to none but themselves Then they fire the villages and Cottes and lay them levell with the ground in that retaliating Arygle with the same measure he had meted unto others who was the first in all the Kingdome that prosecuted his Country-men with fire and sword Lastly they drive their cattell Nor did they deal more gently with others who lived in Lorn and the neighbour parts that acknowledged Argyle's power These things lasted from the 13. of December 1644. to the 28. or 29. of January following And indeed he used never more to acknowledge the singular providence and fatherly mercy of Almighty God than in bringing him and his men safe out of those places for if but two hundred Souldiers had handsomly kept those Passes they might easily either have cut off or at least driven back all his Forces Beside if the Cow-herds had but driven away their cattell which they might easily have done in those barren places he must have starved for hunger Or thirdly if it had been a sharp and stormy winter and it seldome chances to be otherwise there they had either been drowned in snow-drifts or starv'd and benumb'd with cold But merciful God took away both courage from the enemy and its ordinary temper from the air and supplyed their want of bread with great abundance of flesh At length departing out of Argyle and passing through Lorn Glencow and Logh-Aber he came to Logh-Nesse And now he expected that all the Highlanders being either frighted with the example of Argyle or freed from the fear of him should be ready to assist the Kings most righteous cause and vindicate it with their arms against the Rebells But now lest Montrose's heroical spirit should ever want matter to work upon he is advertised that the Earl of Seaforth a very powerfull man in those parts and one of whom he had entertained a better opinion with the Garrison of Innernesse which were old souldiers and the whole strength of Murray Rosse Sutherland Cathnes and the sept of the Frasers were ready to meet him with a desperate army of five thousand Horse and Foot Montrose had only fifteen hundred for those of Clanrenald and most of the Athole-men suspecting no such need of them and being laden with the spoils of Argyle had got leave to go home on condition they should return when they were sent for But for all that Montrose was not afraid to give battell to that disorderly Army for although he knew those of the Garrison to be old souldiers yet he accounted of the rest of the multitude which were newly raised out of Husbandmen Cow-herds Pedees Tavern-boyes and Kitchin-boyes to be altogether raw and unserviceable And now while he thought of nothing but fighting these a trusty Messenger overtakes him and informs him that Argyle having gathered forces out of the lower parts of the Kingdom and joyned unto them such Highlanders as yet adhered unto him had come down into Logh-Aber with three thousand Foot and staid at an old Castle called Innerlogh upon the bank of Logh-Aber Montrose who well understood the crafty and cowardly disposition of Argyle by that had a good guesse at his designe which was to follow after him at a good distance that he might be first engaged with those Northern-men and then to make his own advantage of the event of that battell but by no means to fight himself if he could help it Therefore Montrose considered that it would be a matter of greater concernment and of lesse danger to let men see that Argyle was not invincible even in the Highlands where he was adored by the simple people like some great-little god and as for the Northern Army he conceived that upon the report of a Victory obtained against Argyle it would moulder away and easily be brought into order Montrose was thirty miles absent from Innerlogh neither would he go the high way thither though he placed guards in it lest the enemy should have any intelligence of his moving but streight over Logh-Aber hills in untroden paths and only known to Cowherds and Hunts-men for in those mountains there are great herds of Deer by a way that never man led an Army before and killing their Scouts was upon the back of the enemy ere he was aware They being but little affrighted with so unexpected an accident run to their arms and immediatly prepare themselves for battell When Montrose perceived them to be in a posture so quickly he stood still a little while till his Rear being tired with so hard a march could come up unto his Front It was night but the Moon shone so cleerly that it was almost as light as day all night they stood to their arms and making frequent sallies and skirmishes one with another neither gave the other leave to rest or retreat All others earnestly expected day only Argyle being more advised than the rest conveyed himself away at dead of the night and this second time taking boat saved himself from the perill of battell as if he intended to be Umpire between the two Armies