Colonell Gordon was a man worthy of everlasting memory Sir Robert Spotswood one rais'd by the favour of King Iames King Charles unto great honours as his singular vertues did merit King Iames made him a Knight a privy Counsellor King Charles advanced him to be Lord President of the Session and now but of late Principall Secretary of Scotland This excellent man although his very Enemies had nothing to lay to his charge through all his life they found guilty of high Treason which is yet the more to be lamented because he never bore armes against them for his eminency lay in the way of peace not knowing what belong'd to drawing of a Sword This was therefore the onely charge that they laid against him That by the Kings command he brought his letters PateÌ„ts unto Montrose whereby he was made Vice-roy of the Kingdome and General of the army Neverthelesse he proved at large that he had done nothing in that but according to the custom of their Ancestors the Lawes of the land And truly he seemed in his most elegant Defence to have given satisfaction to all men except his judges whom the Rebells had pick't out from amongst his most malicious enemies that sought his death so that questioÌ„lesse they would never have pronounc'd that dolefull sentence if they had but the least tincture of Iustice or honesty But to speak the truth a more powerfull envy then his Innocency was able to struggle with undid the good man For the Earl of Lanerick having been heretofore Principal Secretary of the Kingdome of Scotland by his revolt unto the Rebells forced the most gracious and bountifull King to the whole family of the Hamiltons to take that Office froÌ„ so unthankfull a man bestow it on another nor was there any one found more worthy theÌ„ Spotswood to be advanced to so high an honour And hence happened that great weight of envy revenge to be thrown upon him which seeing he was not able to bear out he was forced to fall under And now Spotswood being about to die abating nothing of his wonted constancy and gravity according to the custome of the Country made a Speech unto the people But that Sacrilegious thief Blair who stood by him upon the Scaffold against his wil fearing the eloquence and undauntednesse of so gallant a man lest the mysteries of Rebellion should be discovered by one of his gravity and authority unto the people who use most attentively to hear and tenaciously to remember the words of dying men procured the Provost of the City who had been once a servant to Spotswoods Father to stop his mouth Which insolent and more then ordinary discourtesie he took no notice of but letting his Speech unto the people alone he wholly bestowed himself in devotions and prayers to Almighty God Being interrupted againe that very importunately by that busie and troublesom fellow Blair and asked Whether he would not have him and the people to pray for the salvation of his soule He made answer That he desired the Prayers of the people but for his impious Prayers which were abominable unto God he desir'd not to trouble him And added moreover That of all the plagues with which the offended Majesty of God had scourged that Nation this was much the greatest greater then the Sword or Fire or Pestilence that for the sins of the people God had sent a lying Spirit into the mouth of the Prophets With which free undeniable saying Blaire finding himself galled grew so extremely in passion that he could not hold from scurrilous contumelious language against his father who had beeÌ„ long dead against himself who was now a dying aproving himself a fine Preacher of Christian patience Longanimity the while But all these things Spotswood having his minde fixed upon higher matters passed by with silence and unmoved At last being undaunted shewing no alteration neither in his voyce nor countenance when he laid down his neck to the fatal stroke these were his last words Mercifull Iesu gather my soule unto thy Saints and Martyrs who have run before me in this race And certainly seeing Martyrdome may be undergone not only for the CoÌ„fession of our Faith but for any vertue by which holy men make their Faith manifest there is no doubt but he hath received that Crown And this was the end a dolefull end indeed in regard of us but a joyfull and honourable one in him of a man admirable for his knowledge of things Divine and Humane for his skill in the Tongues Hebrew Chaldee Syriack Arabick besides the Western Languages for his knowledge in History Law Politiques the Honour and Ornament of his Country and our Age for the integrity of his life for his Fdelity for his Iustice for his Constancy a man of an even temper and ever agreeing with himself whose Youth had no need to be ashamed of his Child-hood nor his riper years of his Youth a severe observer of the oldâ— fashion'd pieâ—y with all his soule yet one that was no vain iâ—perstitious Profesâ—our of it before others a man easie to be made a friend very hard to be mad an Enemy and who being now dead was exceedingly lamented eveÌ„ by many Covenanters His breathâ—esse body Hugh Scrimiger once his fathers seâ—vant took care to bring foâ—th as the times would permit with a private funerall Nor was he long able to bear so great a sorrow losse for after a few dayes spying that bloudy Scaffold not yet removed out of the place immediately he fell into a svvoon and being carried home by his servants and neighbours died at his very door Lastly they give unto Spotswood another companion in death Andrew Gutherey son unto the most deserving Bishop of Murray and hated the more by the Rebeâ—s for that A youth as well valiant in battell as constant in suffering and contemning death He also vvas threatned rail'd at by the same Blaire but answered That no greater honour could have be done him then to be put to an honest death in the behalfe of so good a King and so just a Cause which those that were present should see he embraced without fear and perhaps another generation would not report without praise For his sins he humbly begged mercy aâ—d forgivenesse at the hands of his most gracious LordGod but for that for which he stood there condemned he was not much troubled After this manner died with constancy and courage a man who if Almighty God had so thought fit had beeÌ„ worthy of a longer life And that now they might put the last Scene to a Tragedy of which most part was acted after two dayes breathing they brought forth William Murray brother to the Earl of Tullibardin a young Gentlemen to the same place And truly every man much admired that his brother being in great favour esteem amongst the Covenanters had not interceded for the life and safety of his own onely
to Dunfrise and took the Towne into protection upon surrender and there he staid a while that he might be ready to entertaine Antrim and his Irish but the day appointed being already pass'd there came not so much as a Messenger from them nor the least report of them into Scotland And the Covenanters gathering themselves together on every side there was no staying there any longer for Montrose without being surprised therefore he returns safe to Carlisle with his men And seeing he could neither procure any aid from the English nor expect any Forraigners suddenly nor had scarse any hopes of good from Ireland and found that the Earle of Calendar had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Lesly who had by this time together with the English Covenanters besiged Yorke he resolved lest he should spend his time idlely to engage himselfe among the Kings Forces in Northumberland the Bishoprick nor was that resolution either unprofitable to them or dishonorable to himself For having ferretted a Garrison of the Covenanters out of the towne of Morpet he took in the Castle permitted all the pillage unto the English and taking an Oath of them that had held it that they should never more fight against the King he sent them away without any greater punishment He tooke a Fort at the mouth of the river of Tine from the Covenanters who had not long before turned out an English Garrison from thence and dismist the prisoners upon the same termes with those of Morpet He pleÌ„tifully victualled Newcastle with corne brought from Alnwicke and other places thereabouts When this was done he was sent for by letters from Prince Rupert Count Palatine of Rhine who was then coming to raise the siege of Yorke And although he made all the haste he could yet he met not the Prince till he was upon his retreat the day after that unfortunate battell And truly the Prince freely offered Montrose a thouâ—aÌ„d Horse to take along with him into Scotland but some that were too powerfull with him dealt so with the good Prince that the next day after that promise was made there was not one horse to be had All things thus failing Montrose from which he expected any assistance yet his spirit never failed him therefore returning to Carlisle with those few but faithfull and gallant men that strucke close to him he sends away the Lord Ogleby and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in meane disguise lest they should be discovered by the enemy Within a fortnight they returned brought word that all things in Scotland were desperate all Passes Castles Townes possessed with Garrisons of the Covenanters nor could they finde any one so hardy as to dare to speake reverently or affectionately of the King Most of those who had adhered to Montrose all this while being cast downe with this sad newes bethought themselves of bending their courses some other way especially when they were tampered with by that honest man the Earle Traquair to desert the service who forgetting all his vowes and imprecations he had made before the King undertook in the name of the Covenanters not only for Indemnity to all that should fall off unto them but rewards and preferments too as if he had been all this while an Agent for the Rebells and not for the King as he pretended And yet this man was greater in the Kings favour and more confided in then any one except the Hamiltons Montrose calling his friends to counsell desires them to deliver their opinions what they conceived was fittest to be done in this sad face of things Some advise him to repaire to the King at Oxford and certifie him that his Scotch Affaires were past recovery that Antrim came not with his Irish Forces nor was there any appearance of them that little or no assistance had been obtained from the English and as for Armes or aid from Forraigne parts he had not so much as heard a word of them so that it was none of his fault that his service had no better successe Others were of opinion that it was better for him to excuse himself by Letters unto the King and to send up his Commission a long with them and that he himself should step a while aside into some other Countrey till such time as it should please God to send better opportunities But all agreed in this that nothing more was to be attempted or thought of in Scotland But he himselfe onely entertained farre other thoughts in his high and undaunted spirit He conceived himselfe bound never to forsake his dearest Lord the King though in extreamest hazards and that it was an unworthinesse to despaire of so good a cause and if he should attempt some greater matter then came within the reach or apprehension of common men he conjectured it might prove much to his owne Honour and some thing perhaps to the Kings good too For as it was dubious whether it might please God in his mercy to looke upon the King with a more favourable eye and to turne his adversity into prosperity so it was most certaine that if he should not be able to goe thorough with it but perish in the enterprise he should die with Honour and his fall should be much lamented So resolved and commending himselfe and his successe to the disposall and protection of Almighty God he performed such Adventures without men without money without armes as were not onely to the astonishment of us that were present and were eye and eare witnesses of them but also the example and envy both of all great Commanders hereafter What those were we shall declare by and by Montrose delivers those few Gentlemen that had been constant unto him to the Lord Ogleby to be conducted unto the King for as he had communicated all his former designes unto him so he did this also and conjureth him withall to deale earnestly with his Majesty for hastening of some aid if not of Men yet of Armes at least from beyond seas So he accompanying them two dayes on their journey and leaving with them his Horses his Servants and his Carriages conveyed himself privily away from them and with what speed he could came back to Carlisle The company suspecting nothing of his departure because Ogleby and other his dearest friends were still with them marched on straight towards Oxford but theither they never reached for most of them of whom were the Lord Ogleby himself Sir Iohn Innes Colonell Henry Graham his brother a most hopefull young Gentleman Iames Iohn and Alexander Oglebyes Patricke Melvin and other gallant men and highly esteemed by Montrose fell into the enemies hands endured a long nasty imprisonment untill they were set at liberty by Montrose himself the next yeare after which they did him most faithfull service He returning to Carlisle imparts his designe to the Earle of Aboine least he should have any occasion to cavill afterwards that a matter of that
in Scotland utterly subdued Therefore he thought himself bound never to despaire of a good Cause and the rather lest the King his Master should apprehend the losse of Him to be greater then the losse of the battell And vvhile these thoughts vvere in his head by good hap came in the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Iohn Dalyell vvith some other friēds not many but fatihfull gallant men vvho vvith tears in their eyes out of the abundance of their affection beseech intreat implore him for his former atchievements for his friends sakes for his Ancestors for his sweet wife childrens sakes nay for his Kings his Countries and the Churches peace and safeties sake that hee would look to the preservation of his person considering that all their hopes depended on him alone under God and that their lives were so bound up with his that they must all live or die together At last Montrose overcom with their intreaties charging through the enemy who vvere by this time more taken up vvith ransacking the Carriages then follovving the chase made his escape of those that vvere so hardy as to pursue him some hee slevv others among vvhom vvas one Bruce a Captaine of Horse and tvvo Cornets vvith their Standards he carried avvay prisoners Whom he entertained courteously and after a fevv dayes dismist them upon their Parole that they should exchange as many Officers of his of the like quality vvhich Parole they did not over-punctually perform Montrose vvas gotten scarce three miles from Selkirk vvhen hee having overtaken a great number of his ovvn men that vvent that vvay he made a pretty considerable party so that being novv secure from being fallen upon by the Country people he march't avvay by leisure And as he vvent by the Earl of Trequaires Castle by vvhose dishonesty he did not yet knovv that he had been betrai'd he sent one before him to call forth him and his son that he might speak vvith them but his servants bring vvord that they vvere both from home Notwithstanding there are Gentlemen of credit that testifie that they were both within nor did that gallant Courtier only bid the Rebells joy of their victory but was not ashamed to tell abroad not without profuse and ill becoming laughter that Montrose the Kings forces in Scotland vvere at last totally routed his ovvn daughter the Countesse of Queensborough as far as modestly she might blaming him for it Montrose after he had made a halt a vvhile near a Tovvn called Peblis untill the souldiers had refresh't themselves vvere fit to march many flocking to them from every side at Sun-set they all stoutly entered the Town and by break of day next morning by the conduct of Sir Iohn Dalyell especially passed over Cluid at a ford Where the Earls of Crawford and Airley having escaped another vvay met vvith him making nothing of the losse of the battell assoon as they savv him out of danger Nor vvas he lesse joyfull at the safety of his friends then that he had sav'd pick't up by the vvay almost two hundred Horse But although hee vvas already secure enough from the pursuit of the enemy neverthelesse he resolved to make vvhat haste hee could into Athole that taking his rise there he might dravv vvhat forces he could raise of the Highlanders other friends into the North. Therefore passing first over the Forth and then the Ern having marched through the Sherifdome of Perth by the foot of the Mountains he came thither As he was on his vvay he had sent before him Douglasse and Airley vvith a party of Horse into Angus and the Lord Areskin into Marre that they might speedily raise their friends and dependents in those parts and had also sent Sir Iohn Dalyell unto the Lord Carnegy with whom he had lately contracted affinity with Commissions to that purpose Moreover he sent letters to Mac-donell to require him according to his promise to return with the Highlanders by the day appointed But above all he sollicited Aboine both by letters and speciall messengers that he would bring back his friends and clients who were willing enough of themselves and wanted no other encouragement then his authority and example CHAP. XVII IT was towards the latter end of Harvest nor was the corn reap't in that cold Country nor their houses and cottages which the enemy had burnt repaired against the approaching winter which is for the most part very sharp thereabouts which made the Athole-men to abate some thing of their wonted forwardnesse Yet Montrose prevailed so far with them that they furnished him with four hundred good Foot to wait upon him into the North where there was lesse danger and faithfully promised him upon his return when he was to march Southward hee should command the whole power of the Country Mean time frequent expresses came from Aboine that hee would wait upon him immediately with his Forces and Mac-donell promised no lesse for himself and some other Highlanders Areskin signified also unto him that his men vvere in a readinesse and vvaited for nothing but either Aboines company vvho vvas not far off or Montrose's commands About this time there vvere very hot but uncertain report of a strong party of Horse that vvere sent him from the King whom many conceived not to be far from the South-borders But other nevves they had which was too certain to wit that there was a most cruell butchery of what prisoners the Rebells had without any distinction of sex or age some falling into the hands of the Country people were basely murthered by them others who escap't them and found some pity in them that had so little being gathered together were by order from the Rebell Lords throwne head-long from off a high bridge and the men together with their wives and sucking children down'd in the river beneath and if any chanced to swim towards the side they were beaten of with pikes and staves and thrust down again into the water The Noble men and Knights were kept up in nasty prisons to be exposed to the scorne of the vulgar and certainly doom'd at last to lose their heads Montrose was never so much troubled as at this sad newes Therefore to the end he might some way relieve his distressed friends being impatient of all delay with wonderfull speed he climbes over Gransbaine and passing through the plains of Marre and Strath-done maketh unto the Lord of Aboine that he might encourage him by his presence to make more hast into the South For his design was assoon as hee had joyned his forces with Areskins and Airleys and sent for Mac-donell and other Highlanders taken up the Athole men by the way to march in a great body straight over the Forth and so both to meet the Kings Horse and to fright the enemy upon their apprehension of an imminent danger to themselves from putting the prisoners to death For he conceived they durst not be so bold as to execute their malice upon
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 theÌ„ to overthâ—ow the King himself The Rebells in Scotland who knew wel enough the King would have strength sufficent to deale with the English Rebells resolved upon no termes to be wanting to their confederates in so apparent danger as they were in And al though 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 affaires at home they labour tooth and naile to draw Montrose of whom almost onely they were afraid againe to their side They offer him of their own accord the office of Lievenant Generall 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 counsell and company At Newcastle he received newes 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 wel recovered from the distempers at sea told him she 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 againe makes it appeare that there was no lesse danger from the Scotch then 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 faithfull men and â—â—out 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 grinde any one to pieces that should offer to stirre therefore the beginnings of so great an evill were to be withstood and the cockatrice bruised in the egge that physicke being too late that comes when the disease hath over-runne the whole body Wholesome counsell it was and seasonable which doubtlesse the most prudent Queen had approved of But while things were going on in so good a posture al things were quash't by the coming of the Duke Hamilton out of Scotland upon pretence of kissing the Queens hand and gratulating her happy returne but in very deed that he might overthrow Montrose his counsels for he had posted thither with the knowledge consent of the Covenanters Nor did he himself dissemble that there was some danger from the Scottish Covenanters but he laboured to extenuate it and condemned the counsel of Montrose as rash unadvised and unseasonable That stout and warlike nation was not to be reduced with force and armes but with gentlenesse and courtesies Warre especially Civill warre should be the last remedy and used many times to be repented of even by the Conquerous The fortune of warre was uncertaine 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 hîs soule goodman abhorred to speake All meanes were to be tryed to preserve peace with that Nation nor were things yet come to that passe that the King should despaire of amity and reconciliation with them He would be ready to take the whole businesse upoÌ„ himself if the King pleased to commit it to his paines and trust to authorise him sufficiently 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 meanes to deliver himself and his party from their tyranny The sad event proved al this to be too true but in this debate Montrose was faine 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 owne authority contrary to the known Lawes 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 affaires therefore abhorred it so much that they intended not to honour it with their presence But Hamilton interposing the name and authority of of the King invited theÌ„ by his letters that they would not faile 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 immediately to leave them Abundance of the Nobility incited by the name of the King those hopes were present at that Parliament onely Montrose and a few of his adherents staid away And with Montrose to the Duke had dealt by his friends that as he loved 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 onely 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 enforce 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 betooke himself to his own home In that Parliament the Covenanters out-voted the Loyall party by seventy voyces or there abouts trampled upon the Royall authority arrogated unto themselves the power of calling of Paliaments pressing Souldiers sending Embassadours and other things hitherto unattempted without the Kings knowledge or tonsent And to make up the measure of their presumption and treason ordaine that a powerfull Army shall be raied against the King and in the aid or their confederates of England To which purpose they taxe the people with new subsidies levies much heavier then if al the Impositions which upoÌ„ never so much necessity for two thousand years space by one hundred nine Kings have been charged upon theÌ„ were put together Montrose
not able to provide so timely powerful a remedy as could be wished at least might cast some blocks rubs in their way untill such time as he had settled his affaires in England that the traitours of either Kingdome might be easily dealt withall by themselves but if they came once to joyne their forces they would be hardly supprest that there were very many in Scotland who would sacrifice themselves and all that they had for their dearest King whose good will would be of no use unto his Majesty after the Covenanters had raised their army but destructive unto themselves that the haughty spirits of the Traitors were to be sneap't in time their strength broken before it grew too big lest the beginnings bâ—ing neglected repentance should prove the onely opposition that could be made afterward These things and to this effect did Montrose continually presse unto the King but in vaine for he had not onely the strong and deeply rooted confidence his Majesty had of the Hamiltons to struggle with but the devices of a set of desperate Courtiers beside who daily buzzed in the Kings eares Montrose's youth his rashnesse his ambition the envy and hatred he bare unto the Hamiltons and what not on the other side the Hamiltons fidelity their honesty their discretion their power Thus Montrose nothing prevailes the King returnes to his winter quarters at Oxford And al though his Majesty saw very well reports coming thick and threefold of the Scottish army that all was true that Montrose had told him yet the most religious King determined upon no termes to give any occasion of quarrell to the Scots till first they entered England resolving that he for his part would perfectly observe the Articles of Pacification he had made with them which if they should violate he doubted noâ— but they should highly answer it both to God him While these things were discussed at Oxford the Covenanters in Scotland bring their businesse about according to their desires no one opposing them They raise as big an army as they can which consisted of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse and at last when they had marched unto the very borders the Hamiltons were not ashamed to give the King notice by letters of the approach of that formidable Army making this their excuse that according to their engagement they had prevented an invasion the summer before but now that winter was come on they were able to keep them out no longer but they would come in immediately with a powerfull Army The King when he saw himselfe thus grosly abused sends for Montrose shewes him the Hamiltons letters and at last when it was even too late askes his advice what was best to be done Montrose tells him that his Majesty might now see that what he had before given him notice of had neither proceeded from ambition nor malice nor any self-ends but from his bounden duty and allegeance that for above a twelve-month hee had been continually pressing both their Majesties to prevent this that he accounted himselfe very unhappy that all that while so faithfull a servant could not be credited by so good a Master that the case seemed now desperate but if the King had a minde he might trust them againe who by pretence of his authority had bound some of his frieÌ„ds hands that they could not assist him drawn in others who intended nothing lesse under colour of Loyalâ—y to fight against him given up unto the Rebells now that they had got an army all that they had without striking a stroke The King complaining that he was most abominably betrayed by them with whom he had entrusted his Crowne his Secrets his Life earnestly demanded his advice He repeating againe the lamentablenesse of the condition in which things novv stood neverthelesse offered that if his Majesty so thought good he vvould either lose his life vvhich if he did he would be sure it should seeme rather sold then lost or else vvhich he did not despaire of he vvould reduce his Country men and bring the Rebels there into subjection The King being no little pleased vvith the confidence undauntednesse and gallantry of the man that he might more advisedly contrive his designe desired him to take two or three dayes to consider of and so dismist him Montrose returning at the time appointed shewes his Majesty how desperate an adventure he was vndertaking that al Scotland was under the Covenanters coÌ„mand that they had garrisoned al places of strength that they were plentifully provided both of men and money and armes and ammunition and victuall alâ— things necessarâ— for a Warre that the English Rebells were joyned with them in a most strict Covenant to defend one another against all the world But for his owne part he had nothing to set up with neither men nor armes nor pay yet he would not distrust Gods Assistance in a righteous cause and if the King would lay his Commands upon him he would undertake to doe his best The King should be in no worse case theâ— he was He himself would take what malice envy oâ— danger should fall upon himselfe so that his Majestâ— were graciously pleased to condescend to a few reasonable requests And first that the businesse might gâ— on more successefully it seemed to him very necessary that the King should send some souldiers out of Irelanâ— into the west of Scotland Next that he should give oâ—der to the Marquesse of Newcastle who was the General of the Kings forces towards Scotland that he shouâ—â— assist Montrose with a party of horse to enter the souâ— of Scotland by which meanes he might convey himseâ— into the heart of the Kingdome Then that he shoulâ— deale with the King of Denmarke for some troops oâ— Germane horse And lastly that his Majesty should takâ— some course to procure and transport some armes out of some forraigne countrey into Scotland nothing needed more but humane industry the successe was Gods part and to be referred to his providence The King commending his counsell giving him thankes that he apprehended some life in the businesse encourageth him to fit himselfe cheerfully for so great a worke wished him to leave the care of those things he had requested unto him And truly for the matter of aid out of Ireland the King sends for the Earle of Antrim and acquaints him with Montrose's design This Antrim is of Scottish extraction descended of the noble and ancient Family of the Mac-Donalds a man of great estate and power in Ireland allyed to the prime Nobility of England by matching with the Duchesse of Buckingham He being driven out of his own countrey lived at Oxford and cheerfully undertooke the negotiation with the Irish upon himself and engaged himselfe also voluntarily unto Montrose that he would be in Argyle a part of Scotland bordering upon Ireland with ten thousand meÌ„ by the first of Aprill 1644. this passed in December 1643. And as
the reason why Huntley bore such a spleen against MoÌ„trose who had never giveÌ„ him any distaste but had obliged him with courtesies many times undeserved Nor could I ever hear nor so much as guesse at any other cause but a weak and impotent emulatioÌ„ I cannot call it but envy of his surpassing worth honour For I should be loath to say that his minde was ever alienated from the King but onely 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 al things were lost then that Montrose should have the honour of saving them And now being alreadyâ— 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 throwne upon him 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 upon 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 kinde of triumph and disposed of them in their owne Castles as if they had been spoiles taken from the Enemy and would not restore them upon demand But those Montrose had got in the fights at Saint Iohan towne and at Aberdene 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 returne home after the victory of Kilfythe set at liberty the Earle of Keith Lord Marshall of Scotland aâ—d the Lord Viscount Arbuthnot 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 Vpon what termes he did it it is uncertain but this is evident that besides the affront done to the Lord Gouvernour and the losse of Dunotter Castle which was of great strength and concernment in that Warre 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 uses and to the grievous prejudice of the Kings cause Last of all which is most to be lamented either at the intreaty of the enemy or for smal sums of money they had enlarged the prisonners that had been taken in the former Battells in the North and committed to custody in their Castles Nor would they permit them to Montroses disposall though being prisoners of Warre he had reserved theÌ„ 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 Montroses presence as of a Pest-house But Montrose for all that passing by injuries and laying aside all other matters bestowed his whole endeavours in the 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 Huntleys imbitr'd spirit Therefore leaving his Forces in their quarters he posted early in the morning with a few Horse unto Bogie and by his unâ— dream't of approach prevented Huntley of any oppoâ—â—tunity of flying or hiding himself Assoon as theâ— met Montrose forgetting all that was past invited him in smooth and gentle language to associate with him in the War for the safety of the King Kingdome gave him so full satisfaction in all things that as being at last overcome he seem'd to give him his hand Anâ— promised that not only all his men but he himseâ—â— would come in person in the head of them and beâ— with him with all possible speed Afterward they laiâ— their heads together concerning the manner of managing the War and agreed that Huntley waâ—ting over the Spey should make his way on the right hand by the seâ—â— coast of Murray and Montrose was to go round abouâ— on the left hand through Strath-Spey which was at thaâ— time of the year a very tedious and difficult march anâ— so the design was to besiege Innernes a Garrison of thâ— Enemies on both sides and in the mean time to draâ— the Earl of Seaford either by fairemeans or foule tâ— their side That Garrison however it might appearâ—â— to be othervvise strong and and vvel fortified yet 〈◊〉 very ill provided for victuall and other requisites which in that sharp Winter tempestuous Sea coulâ— hardly be had And so novv they seem'd to be agreeâ— in all things so that Aboine and his brother Lewis vvishâ—â— damnatioÌ„ to themselves if they did not continue constant in their fidelity service to Montrose to their 〈◊〉 most breath And the rest of the Gordons the Marqueâ—â— ses friends were surprised with incredible joy mad as much of their Lord and Chief as if he had been returned from the dead CHAP XIX MOntrose supposing Huntleys spirit at last pacified and seriously inclined to joyne with him in the prosecution of the Warre marched with his Forces through Strath-Spey towards Innernesse And the more to a muse the Enemy on every side he lent his cosen Patrick Graham of whose worth I have had often occasion to speak and Iohan Drummond of Ball the younger a Gentleman of approved trust and valour who had often done excellent service with authority and Commission unto the Athole-men that if any should offer to strirre in those parts they should neglect no opportunity to suppresse them The Athole-men being encouraged by their authority example shewed themselves very ready and chearfull And they wanted not long an occasion to shew it for the remainder of the Arg ylian party either by reason of a Generall scarcity of all things in their own Country or being driven out of their Country for fear of Mac-donell who was very strong and threatned their runie fell upon the Mac-gregories and Mac-nabis who sided with Montrose And afterward joyning unto themselves the Stuart which inhabite Balwidir and the