Aberdene he was taken prisoner by the Enemy was condemned unto death which he had not escaped except for fear of death he had harkened nto Argâ—yle who most unworthily set a price upoâ— Montroses head and promised great rewards honours and preferments to whomsoever should bring it in and had taken upon himself to commit that treason which he abhorred with all his soule By which shift having his life liberty giveÌ„ him he returned straight to Montrose and discovered all unto him beseeching him to be more carefull of himself for not he onely vvho heartily detested so high a villany but many more had been offered great matters most of whom would use their best endeavours to dispatch him The next was Alexander Ogleby of whom we also spake before eldest son to Sir Iohn Ogleby of Innercarit descended of an ancient family and much renowned in the Scottish Chronicles He was but yet a youth scarce twenty but valiant above his age and of a present and daring spirit Nor can I hear or so much as conjecture what they had to lay to his charge but that new and unheard of Treason to wit his bounded duty and loyalty to his King But there vvas no help for 't but Argâ—yle must needs sacrifice that hopeful youth if it had been for nothing but his names sake for he bare an implacable fewd to the Oglebyes The third vvas Sir Philip Nesbit of an ancient family also and Chief of it next his Father who had done honourable service in the Kings Army in England and had the command of a Regiment there Nor can I discover any reason they had to put him to death neither besides that which is used when they have nothing else to say that mad charge of the new high Treason except it was that their guilty consciences suggested unto them that that courageous and viglant man might take occasion sometime hereafter to be even with theÌ„ for the horrid injuries they had done his Father his Family However these men suffer'd a noble death with patience and constancy as became honest men and good Christians And unto these there are two brave Irish Gentlemen that deserve to be joyned Colonell O-Cahen Colonel Laghlin odious unto the Rebels only for this impardonable crime that they had had many experiments of their courage and gallantry These Irish Gentlemen were murthered indeed at Edinburgh but many more were doom'd to the like executioÌ„ at Glascow had not MoÌ„troses unexpected approach within a few miles of the City had so much influence that it repriev'd them till another time The Lord Governour was very much perplexed with the newes of these mens death it was a question whether he was more vex't at the cruelâ—y of the Rebells or the negligeÌ„ce if not treachety of his friends For besides Huntley whose Forces he had so long in vaine expected to come with his son Aboine Mac-donell also himself of whoÌ„ he entertained an exceeding good opinion being ofteÌ„ sent unto invited also by the nearnesse of the place although the time appointed by himself was already past gone made no appearance of his approach Six weeks had now passed since Aboine had engaged himself for the Northern Forces the winter then which our age never saw sharper was already deeply entred Besides the aids that the King had sent under the commaÌ„d of the Lord Digâ—y were defeated al which might easily have been salv'd and the Kingdome reduced againe if those great Professors of loyalty had not plaid loose in that good Cause Therefore at last on the 20. of November Montrose departing from Levin and passing over the Mountains of Taich now covered with deep snow through woods and bogges whose names I do not at this time well remember crossing also through Strath-Erne over the Tay returned into Athole There he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom he had formerly sent with the Kings instructions unto Huntley And they bring word the man was obstinate and inflexible who would beleeve nothing that they said when they unfolded unto him the Kings Commands answered scornfully That he understood all the Kings businesse better then they or the Gouvernour himself and neither he nor any of his Children should have any thing to doe with him Moreover he sharply threatningly reproved his friends clients who had willingly assisted Montrose and dealt worse with them then with Rebells Neverthelesse the Lord Governour thought best to take no notice of any of these things but bear with them whiles he treats with the Athole men for the setling of the Militia of that Countrey he sends again unto Huntley by Sir Iohn Dalyell as a more fit mediator of friendship Who was To informe him of the danger the King and Kingdome was in and so of the present misery that hung over his all faithfull Subjects heads and to make it appear unto him that it was no ones but his and his sons fault both that they had not brought in the supplies into Scotland which the King had sent and that the prisoners who were gallant and faithfull men had been so cruelly butchered and that yet there were many more remaining that had near relations to Huntley himself some also of the prime Nobility whom the Rebels would cut of after the same fashion unlesse they were now at last relieved And lastly to pray and beseech him that at least he would grant the Kings Governor the favour of a friendly conference promising he would give him abundant satisfaction Huntley although he answered Dalyel in all things according to his wonted peevishnesse yet he was most of all averse to a Conference as fearing seeing he should have nothing to answer to his arguments and reasons the presence the confidence and the wisdome of so excellent a man But Montrose assoon as things were setled in Athole that he might leave nothing unattempted that might possibly bring him to better thoughts resolved dissembling all injuries and obliging him by all good offices to surprise him and be friends with him whether he would or no and to treat with him concerning all things that concern'd his Majesties service Therefore in the moneth of December he forced his way very hardly through rivers and brooks that were frozen indeed but not so hard as to bear mens waight over the tops of hills and craggy rocks in a deep snow and passing through Angus and over Gransbaine drew his Forces into the North and almost before he was discover'd marched with a few men into Strathbogy where Huntley then liv'd But he being struck with his unexpected approach upon the first newes he heard of him lest he should be forced to a Conference against his will immediately fled to Bogie a Castle of his situated upon the mouth of the Spey as if he intended to ferry over the river and to wage war against the Rebelles in Murray And now it comes into my minde briefly to enquire what night be
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
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
an able man from a weake a valiant man from a coward If ye would assaile these timorous and brawnelesse shrimps with handy blowes they will never beâ— able to stand you Goe to therefore fall about them with your Swords and butt-end of your Muskets beat them downe drive them backe and make them pay what is justly due for their treason and rebellion It was not sooner said then they fall to worke breake in upon the Enemy defeate them rout them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster then they whom the conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they scap't scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Victors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's meÌ„ came in thronging amongst them through the gates and posternes and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought foure houres upon such equall termes that it was an even lay whether had the oddes At this Battell Montrose had some great Guns but they were unserviceable because all advantages of ground were possessed by the enemy but the enemies Guns made no small havock of his men Among others there was an Irishman that had his legge shot off with a Cannon bullet onely it hung by a little skin he seeing his fellow-souldiers something sad at his mischance with a loud and cheerfull voyce cryes out Come on my Camerades this is but the fortune of Warre and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Doe you stand to it as becomes you and as for me I am sure my Lord Marquesse seeing I can no longer serve on foot will mount me on horsebacke So dravving out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his owne hand and gave his legge to one of his fellow-souldiers to bury And truly when he was well againe and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdene on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entered the City and allowed them two dayes rest CHAP. VII IN the meane time newes is brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces then those they dealt with last the Earle of Lothion accoÌ„panying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aâ—erdene to Kintor a Village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependants of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollocke to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out of England or some place else That he had fought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not be expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with great and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out alwayes without timely reliefe Still nothing troubled Montrose more then that none of the Gordons of whom he conceived great hopes came in unto him And there wanted not some of them who testified their great affection to the service but that Huntley the Chief of the Family being a backe-Friend to Montrose had with held them all either by his owne example or private directions and that himselfe being forced to sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdom envied that honour to another of which he had missed himselfe and had forbidden even with threats all those with vvhom he had any power to have any thing to doe vvith Montrose or to assist him either vvith their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains Fastnesses vvhere he knew the enemies Horse wherein their great strength consisted could doe them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the Iustice of his cause and the valour of his Souldiers he made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogge and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And coming to the side of the River of Spey not farre from an old Castle called Rothmurke he incamped there with an Army if one respected the number but very smal but it was an expert cheerfulâ— one now also some thing acquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he findes the men oâ— Cathnes and Suderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in Armes to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his backe Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himselfe from their Horse he turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scarce passable for Horse There for certaine dayes he was very sicke which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordaine a day of publique Thankesgiving to Almighty God for that great deliverance Nor were their Levites you may be sure backward in that employment in their Pulpits for as if they had been of counsell at the Decree and stood by at the execution they assured the people that it was as true as Gospell that the Lord of Hostes had slaine Montrose with his owne hands But this joy did not last them long for he recovered in a short space and as if he had been risen from the dead he frighted his Enemies much more then he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donell with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up Armes with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himselfe goes into Angus hoping it might happen that he should either force Argyle with his tyred Horse unto his Winter quarters or at least leave him farre enough behinde him For Argyle had pursued him so slowly and at such distance that it was appareâ—t he thought of nothing lesse then of giving him Battell Therefore going through Angus getting over the Grainsbaine which going along with a perpetual ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equall parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome And now that he had left Argyle so farre behinde him that he might safely take some time to recruit he went to Strathbogy that he might meet with the Gordons perswade them to engage with him But he lost his labour for they were forestalled by Huntley and after his example plaid least in sight For such as were generous daring spirits though they were loath to provoke the indignation of their Chief yet they could not but be ashamed that at a time when there might be so much use of them
refuge and not hastily to be made use of therefore as vve ought not to tempt Almighty God by our ovvn vvretchlesnesse and negligence so neither ought any valiant man or good Christian despair of his assistance in a just cause Lastly he exhorts every one to do his ovvn part and referre the successe to God and other things to his ovvn care and industry Immediately he sends out four hundred Foot before him and commands them that as much as they possibly could vvithout breaking their ranks they should make all speed Then he appoints two hundred of the activest men he had to follovv them he vvith his Horse brings up the Rear The Horse trooped on in so open order that if occasion vvere they might have room enough to receive light musquetiers He believed the enemies Foot vvere not able to overtake them and if their Horse only should charge them vvhich they vvould hardly adventure to do he conceived it vvas no matter of extream difficulty to make their part good against them besides the Sun vvas ready to set the darknesse of the night vvould be commodious for their retreat The enemy understanding the number of them that vvent avvay first by some prisoners they had taken and after that by their ovvn vievv assoon as they savv they vvere disposed rather for a journey then a battell divide their Forces into tvvo parts and so pursue them Wherein their intention vvas not only to fall upon their Rear and Flank at once but also to secure against them all passages up to the Highlands And their Commanders the more to encourage their Souldiers to a hot pursuit proposed twenty thousand Crownes to any one that could bring in Montrose's head And now the Van of the enemies Horse began to close up unto the retreaters whereupon those good musquetiers that lined Montrose's Horse welcomed one and another and another of the forwardest of them with bullets in their sides with whose mischance the rest becoming more wary abated of the eagernesse of their pursuit And Montrose's souldiers when they saw they had been too hard for the enemies Foot at a march and had got before them taking heart and courage they skirmished stoutly with their Horse untill the night parted the quarrell And to rid themselves some way of the enemy took their way East-ward many miles by the seacoast However that was not their way but to go North-ward toward Grainsbaine and so to deliver themselves from their mischievous Horse But Baily had laid the greatest part of his Army between them and Grainsbaine that there might be no place for theÌ„ to retreat unto Therefore at the dead of the night when they were not far from Aberbroth Montrose commands his men to make a stand a while And long they stood not before he considering with himself that all wayes passages straight into the Mountains might be laid by the enemies Horse he was not mistaken coÌ„mands them to face about and march South-west And by this art though with intolerable pains he beguiled the Pursuers whom that same night he passed by and then turning North-ward by the next morning at Sunrising passed over South-Eske at a place not far from Careston Castle and from thence sent to Brechin to fetch those men which he had there with the Carriages But that had not needed for they upon the report of this expedition had provided for themselves better and more timely and had taken the Mountains Whiles he staid at Careston the Scouts brought him word on a sudden that the enemies Horse were in fight and their Foot being refresh't with victualls and sleep march't after them apace Montrose himself being now within three miles of the Mountains was not much afraid of them but his souldiers who had not slept for three dayes and two nights but had all that while been either on their march or in fight were overcome with so dead sleep that they could hardly be raised without pricks and wounds The enemy being at last entertained with a light skirmish suffered Montrose to possesse himselfe of the bottom of the Mountains and having done nothing to the purpose retreated from their vain pursuit So he and his men came to Gleneske And this was that so much talk'd of Expedition of Dundee infamous indeed for the mistake of the Scouts but as renowned as any for the valour constancy and undaunted resolution of the Generall and even admirable for the hardinesse of the Souldier in encountering all extremities with patience for for threescore miles together they had been often in fight alwayes upon their march without either meat or the least refreshment Which whether forraigne Nations or after times will beleeve I cannot tell but I am sure I deliver nothing but what is most certain of mine own knowledge And truly amongst expert Souldiers and those of eminent note both in England Germany and France I have not seldom heard this Expedition of his preferred before Montrose's greatest victories CHAP. X. ANd now being safe beyond expectation Montrose bids the souldiers take their rest whiles he determines thus of the whole affaire of the war He sends the Lord Cordon together with those that had continued loyall and dutifull after the revolt of his brother Lewis into their own Country both that they might recall those whom his brother had seduced away and recruit themselves by levying new forces Whicâ— he cheerfully and courageously performed and though he spared none yet he was most severe with those that had been authours or accessaries to his brothers defection ad he was the more active in that businesse that he might acquit himself of any suspition Nor indeed did Montrose himself or any other more detest that villany of Lewis Gordon then that noble Lord his brother As for Montrose he with a small party for he kept but five hundred Foot and fifty Horse with him marches through Angus into Perthshire that he might distract the enemy till such time as hee made up his Army with recruits from every side Neither was hee out in his aime for the Covenanters had sent Hurrey the Lieutenant Generall of the Horse with a Command into the North of a party of six hundred old Foot and two hundred Horse that he might strengthen their own side and suppresse the Lord Gordon And Baily himself staid with an Army at Perth as in the very heart of the Kingdome ready to wait upon all motions Montrose was twelve miles off at a village called Kreif where Baily understood he quartered securely with a very small party who being diligent upon all occasions set out from Perth at the beginning of the night with all his Army that by a speedy march he might at break of day fall unexpected into Mâ—ntrose's quarters But hee found Montrose carefull enough of his businesse and his Foot ready in armes either to march or fight buth he with his Horse came up towards the enemy to discover their number and strength And when he
ground But Baily turning aside some three miles to the left hand Montrose holds on his intended march to Alford where hee staid that night the enemy lying about four miles off The next day after Montrose commands his men very early in the morning to stand to their armes and make ready to battell and placed them on a hill that stands over Alford And as he with a Troop of Horse was observing the motion and order of the enemy and viewing the fords of the Done a river which runs by Alford it was told him that the enemy Horse and Foot were making unto a ford which lay a mile from Alford to the intent that they might cut off the Reare of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their owne destruction Montrose leaving that troop of Horse not farre from the Ford together with some select and understanding men who should give him perfect intelligence of all things hee returneth alone to order the battell And above all things he possesses himselfe of Alford hill where hee might receive the charge of the enemy if they fell on desperately Behinde him was a moorish place full of ditches and pits which would prevent Horse falling upon his Reare before him was a steep hill which kept his men from the enemies view so that they could hardly perceive the formost rankes Hee had scarce given order for the right managing of all things when those Horse whom hee had left at the Ford returned with a full cariere and bring word that the enemy had passed the River And now it was no more safe for either of them to retreat without the apparent ruine of their party It is reported that Baily like a skilfull and wary Commaunder was sore against his will drawne unto this battell nor had engaged had he not beene necessitated unto it by the rashnesse of the Lord Baâ—carise a Colonell of Horse who precipitated himselfe and the Horse under his command into that danger whether Baily would or no as that hee could not be brought off without the hazard of the whole Army Montrose gave the command of his right wing on which side the enemies Horse were most strong unto the Lord Gordon and appointed Nathaniel Gordon an old Commander to his assistance The command of the left wing was given to the Earle of Aboine to whom also was joyned Sir William Rollock And of the maine battell to two valiant men Glengar and Drumond of Ball the younger unto whom hee added George Graham master of the Camp an expert souldier also The Reserve which was altogether hid behinde the hill was commanded by his nephew Napier And for a while Montrose kept himself upon the height and the enemy in the valley being fortified with pits and ditches for it was neither safe for the later to charge up the hill nor for the former to fall upon them that were surrounded with marshes and pooles The numbers of the Foot were in a manner even either side had about two thousand but Baily was much stronger in Horse for he had six hundred and Montrose but two hundred and fifty Only Montrose had this advantage that the enemy were for the most part hirelings raised from dunghills but those that served the King Gentlemen who fought for a good Cause and Honour gratis and not for gaine and such as esteem'd it more becoming to die then to be overcome Besides Montrose knew that the greatest part of the old souldiers were gone with Lindsey and the new ones would be so frighted with the shouts of the Armies and the noise of Trumpets that they would scarce stand the first charge Therefore in confidence of so just a cause and so valiant assertors of it he first drew downe his men and immediately the Lord Gordon giving a smart charge upon them was courageously receiv'd by the enemy who trusted to the multitude of their Horse and now being clos'd and come to handy blowes no one could advance a foot but over his vanquished enemy nor retreat by reason of the pressing on of those in the Rear The first that made way for themselves and their men by a great slaughter of their enemies were the two Gordons the Lord and the Colonell and Colonell Nathaniel called out unto those expert Firelocks who now lin'd the Horse as they were wont Come on my fellouw sonldiers throw downe your now uselesse guns draw your swords and sheat them in the Rebells Horse or hamstring them They instantly tooke the word of command and at the same time Montrose drawes up Napier with his Reserve which lay out of sight on the other side of the hill at whose sudden and unexpected coming the enemy afrighted betook himself to his heels Aboine with the left wing kept off nor did hee attempt the enemy but by light skirmishes in small parties who when they saw their own men on their left wing routed and put to flight made their retreat with little losse Their Foot being deserted by their Horse after they had desperately stood out a while and refused quarter were almost all cut off The fall of the Lord Gordon was no little advantage to the escape of their Horse who after the battell was won rushing fiercely into the thickest of them received a shot through his body by the conquered and flying enemy and fell down dead Whom also Aboine did not hotly pursue being much troubled with the losse of his brother In this battell Montrose did not lose so much as one common souldier and of Gentlemen one Culchol and one Milton whose names and families I should most willingly have inserted had I been so happy as to have knowledge of them because they died gallantly in the bed of Honour fighting for their King their Liberty and the Laws Nor are some Pedees as well Scotch as Irish to be forgotten boyes scarce fourteen years of age a piece who throwing down their masters luggage mounting upon their nags sumpter-horse did not onely make a faire appearance of a body of Horse but as if they had bin Corrivalls in valour with their masters beyond what might be expected from their years strength fell in among the thickest of their enemies Of whom some but very few were slain nor did they sell their lives for nothing and by that they gave an ample testimony of their towardnesse and of so manly a spirit in children as might prescribe to riper years But the losse of the Lord Gordon had so deep an impression upon all mens affections that they had the face rather of a defeated then victorious army The first scene of their sorrovv vvas acted in a dull silence in the next the floud-gates vvere broke open and the army vvas full of sighes and sobs and vvailing and lamentation and then vvith bedevved cheeks assoon as their grief could get a tongue they blam'd Heaven and Earth and Fortune and every thing for depriving the King the Kingdome the Age themselves and their posterity
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-donell and the Highlanders were gone Sir Robert Spotswood making an humble obeysance under the Kings Standard delivered his Majesties Commission under the Greaâ— Seal unto Montrose which he again gave unto Archiâ—bald Primrose Clerk of the Supreme Counsell 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-donell he not only extoll'd his gallantry in the head of the Army but by virtue 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 friends Montrose following his intended journey came the second night to Caâ—der 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 iâ—veighled to desert the service Nor would he be perswaded either by reason or the intreaty of his friends who heartly detested that shamefull act to stay but so much as one week and then he might depart not only with the Generals license 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 Lothainshire in Strathgale joyned with Douglasse and the other Commanders whose Forces being much diminished were daily mouldring more more In that coast Trequair himself came unto him more chearfull and merry then he used to be who pretended himself to be a most faithfull 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 Trequaire plaid the Covenanters Scout-master that ungratefullest piece of mankind intending to betray unto theÌ„ Montrose in him the King himself Now when he was not above twelve miles from the Lord Hume and Roxborough 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 faire means or foule But they prevented him by a singular device They sent unto David Lesley whom they well knew by that time was come to Berwicke with all the Scotch Horse and many English Voluntiers for they were privy to all their counsells and entreated 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 Roxborough who had Hume under his girdle conceiv'd that they might both ingratiate theÌ„selves with the Covenanters as freely committing themselves into their protection 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 marched into the East-side of Lothian Montrose assoon as he perceived the King and himself betrai'd by these men and saw no hopes of that party of Horse which was come from the King and that the too powerfull enemy would block up his passage into the North and Highlands resolved to march with those few men he had into Niddisdale and Annandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could for although hee had no certain intelligence concerning the strength of the enemy yet hee conjectured that it consisted especially in Horse CHAP. XVI MOntrose arising from Kelsow marched to Iedburgh 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 hee should be forced to fight with an enemy of vvhose strength he knevv nothing upon uneven termes Then he commands the Captains of Horse to set out good store of faithfull and active Scouts and to place Horse-guards in convenient places on every side and look vvell to their vvatch All vvhich he in person as he used to do could not see done at present because that night he was dispatching letters to the King to send away a trusty messenger that he had light upon before break of day therefore he was earnest 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 hee slept not all that night And sending ever and anon to the Captains of Guards men that were skilfull Souldiers and so known to be in forraign 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 acquainted with the Country were sent out again to Scout they also brought word they had been ten miles about and diligently examined all by-wayes and rashly wisht damnation to themselves if they could finde an enemy in armes 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 lien there all that night in their arms Lesley that day that Montrose departed from Iedburgh mustered his men upon Gladesmore a plain in Lothianshire were holding a Counsell of War with the chief of the Covenanters the refult was that he should march to Edinburgh so to the Forth that hee 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 Forces to wheel to the left hand and to march away apace every one wondering that knew not the mistery of the businesse what should be the meaning of that change of his resolution and his intention in that sudden expedition for they marched streight to Strathgale But the matter was as they afterward gathered from the enemies themselves hee had received letters by which he had perfect notice that Montrose being attended only with five hundred Foot and those Irish and a very weak party of new-rais'd Horse might very
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
men of Nobility and Eminency as long as they had an enemy in the Field and the victory was uncertaine And truly they being doubtfull and solicitous what might be the successe of so great warlike preparations they knew were in providing did deferre the execution of the prisoners Montrose upon his journey found the Lord Areskin very sick but his clients whose fidelity and valour hee had had sundry experiences of even in the absence of their Lord all in a readinesse if Aboine did but doe his part for they depended much upon his example and authority And now the Marquesse of Huntley after he had plaid least in sight for a year and some moneths it is hard to say whether awaken'd with the newes of so many victories obtain'd by Montrose and the reducing of the Kingdome or by the deceitfull influence of some bad starre was returned home An unfortunate man unadvised who howsoever hee would seem most affectionate unto the Kings Cause perhaps was so yet he endeavoured by a close and dishonourable envy rather to extenuate Montroses glory then to out-vie it Which seeing it was not for his credit openly to professe even before his own men who were sufficient witnesses of Montrose's admirable virtues lest by that he should discover some symptomes of a heart alienated from the King yet he gave out that for the time to come he would take upon himself the conduct of that War against the Rebells therefore he commanded his Tenants and advised his friends and neighbours scarce without threats to fight under no command but his own And when they replyed What shall wee then answer to the Commands of the Marquesse of Montrose whom the King hath declared Generall Governour of the Kingdome and Generall of the Army He made ansvver That he himself would not be wanting to the Kings service but however it concerned much both his and their honour that the King and all men should knovv vvhat assistance they had given him which could not otherwise be done then by serving in a body by thē selves Moreover he fell to magnifie his own povver and to undervalue Montrose's to extoll unto the skies the noble Acts of his Ancestors men indeed vvorthy of all honour to tell them That the Gordons power had been formidable to their neighbours for many Ages by gone and was so yet That it was most unjust that the atchievements gotten with their bloud and prowesse should be accounted upon another mans meaning Montrose's score but for the future he would take a course that neither the King should be defrauded of the service of the Gordons nor the Gordons of their deserved honour favour and reward All these things the simpler sort tooke to bee spoken upon all the grounds of equity honour in the world but as many as were understanding men and knew better the disposition of the person saw through those expressions a minde too rancorous altogether indispos'd towards Montrose and that his aime was to fetch off as many as he could from him not only to the utter ruine of the King and Kingdome but even to his own destruction which God knowes the sad event made too manifest Nor were there wanting amongst them desperate men and of good fore-sight who condemned this counsell of his as unwise unseasonable and pernicious even to himself For they considered with themselves that he never had any designe that did not miscarry either by bad play or bad luck That businesses were better carried by Montrose and it was ill to make a faction◠upon the poore pretence of his carrying away the honour of it For if Huntley joyned his Forces and communicated his counsels unto Montrose he should not be onely able to defend himself but subdue his enemies and gaine unto himself the everlasting honour of being one of the Kings Champions but if he should make a breach in that manner it would prove not onely dishonourable but destructive to him That Montrose it could not be denyed had got many and eminent victories with the assistance of the Huntleys but they had done nothing of note without him Therefore they earnestly desired him constantly to adhere unto the Kings Lieutenant which as it would be both acceptable and advantageous to the King so it would be well taken with good men and honourable to himself Nor did some of them fear to professe openly that they would yeeld their duty and service to Montrose if Huntley should stand out in his humour and they were as good as their words But he refusing the advice of his friends resolved what ever came on 't to run counter too Montrose nor did Montrose ever propose any thing though never so just or honourable or advantageous which he would not crosse or reject And if at any time Montrose condescended to his opinion which he did often of purpose he would presently change his minde seeming to comply with him sometimes before his face but alwayes averse unto him behinde his backe and indeed scarce wel agreeing with his own self For all this Aboine being at that time solicited by many expresses from Montrose and the importunity of his own friends that he might be some way as good as his word met him with a considerable party at Druminore a Castle of the Lord Forbeses He brought with him fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse all chearfull and ready to undergoe any hazard under the command of Montrose And truly assoon as ever they met Aboine freely protested hee would carry those men that hee had whithersoever the Lord Governour should lead him but there were many more behinde which for his scantnesse of time he had not got together which his brother Lewis would bring after him Montrose extolling highly his fidelity and pains turned back again almost the same way he came that taking up the Lord Areskins and the Marre Forces by the way and climbing over Gransbaine hee might fall dovvn into Athole and Angus not doubting vvithin a fortnight to be able to passe over the Forth with a great Army The first dayes journey Aboine and his men marched with a good will but the next night his brother Lewis whom Montrose had placed under the command of the Earl of Crawford conveighed himself homewards with a strong party of Horse making as if he meant to encounter some Troops of the Enemy and carried along with him as many Souldiers as he could get upon pretence of a guard Crawford returning brought word that Lewis was gone home but would be back again next day for so he had made him beleeve though he intended nothing lesse then to come back A youth liable to sensure for more feats then that But when upon the third day they came to Alford it was observed that Aboines men were slow to stand to their colours that they loytered in their march that their ranks were thin and disorder'd and that they ran away by whole Companies almost every night and at last their