men had deserted him in upper Marre as a Prologue to the ensuing Tragedy had beheaded three stout and gallant Gentlemen The first was Sir William Rollock one of whom we have had often occasion to make honourable mention a valiant and expert man dear unto Montrose from a Child and faithful unto him to his last breath The chief of his Crimes was That he would not pollute his hands with a most abominable murder For being sent from Montrose with an express to the King after the battel of Aberdeen he was taken prisoner by the Enemy and was condemned unto death which he had not escaped except for fear of death he had harkened unto Argyle who most unworthily set a price upon 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 soul By which shift having his life and liberty given him he returned straight to Montrose and discovered all unto him beseeching him to be more careful of himself for not he only who 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 Ogilby of whom we also spake before eldest Son to Sir John Ogilby of Innerwharite descended of an antient Family and much renowned in the Scotish 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 bounden duty and loyalty to his King But there was no help for 't but Argyle must needs sacrifice that hopeful youth if it had been for nothing but his names sake for he bare an implacable fewd to the Ogilbies The third was Sir Philip Nesbit of on antient 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 couragious and vigilant man might take occasion some time hereafter to be even with them for the horrid injuries they had done his Father and his Family However these men suffered 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 joined Colonel O-Chaen and 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 murdered indeed at Edinbourgh but many more were doom'd to the like execution at Glascow had not Montrose's unexpected approch within a few miles of the City had so much influence that it repriev'd them till another time The Lord Governor was very much perplexed with the news of these mens death and it was a question whether he was more vext at the cruelty of the Rebels or the negligence if not treachery of his friends For besides Huntley whose Forces he had so long in vain expected to come with his Son Aboine Mac-donald also himself of whom he entertained an exceeding good opinion being often sent unto and invited also by the nearness of the place although the time appointed by himself was already past and gone made no appearance of his approach Six weeks had now passed since Aboine had engaged himself for the Northern Forces and the Winter than which our age never saw sharper was already deeply entred Besides the aids that the King had sent under the Command of the Lord Digby were defeated all which might easily have been salved and the Kingdom reduced again if those great Professors of Loyalty had not plaid fast and loose in that good Cause Therefore at last on the 20. of November Montrose deâ—arting from Levin and passing over the Mountains of Taich now covered with deep snow through woods and loghes whose names I do not at this time well remember crossing also through Strath-Erne and over the Tay returned into Athole There he met Captain Ogilby 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 believe nothing that they said and when they unfolded unto him the Kings Commands answered scornfully That he understood all the Kings business better than they or the Governor himself and neither he nor any of his children should have any thing to do with him Moreover he sharply and threatningly reproved his friends and clients who had willingly assisted Montrose and dealt worse with them than with Rebels Nevertheless the Lord Governor thought best to take no notice of any of these things but bear with them and whiles he treats with the Athole-men for the setling of the Militia of that Country he sends again unto Huntley by Sir John Dalyel as a more fit Mediator of friendship Who was to inform him of the danger the King and Kingdom was in and so of the present misery that hung over his and all faithful 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 faithful men had been so cruelly butchered and that yet there were many more remaining that had near relations to Huntley himself and some also of the prime Nobility whom the Rebels would cut off after the same fashion unless 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 ro his wonted peevishness 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 Wisdom of so excellent a Man But Montrose as soon 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 surprize him and be friends with him whether he would or no and to treat with him concerning all things that concerned His Majesties service Therefore in the month of December he forced his way very hardly thorow Rivers and Brooks that were frozen indeed but not so hard as to bear mens weight over the tops of Hills and craggy Rocks in a deep Snow and passing through Angus and over Gransbaine
paper which was contrary to the King his Crown or Authority he utterly disavowed it Then being absolved from the sentence of Excommunication under which he lay for Adultery long since committed to the great grief of the beholders he laid down his neck upon the block A man subject indeed to that fault but famous for his valour and souldiership both in forein Countries and at home The next that was brought upon the Scaffold yet reeking with the blood of Colonel Gordon was a man worthy of everlasting memory Sir Robert Spotswood one rais'd by the favour of King James and King Charls unto great honours as his singular virtues did merit King James made him a Knight and a privy Counsellor King Charls advanced him to be Lord President of the Session and now but of late Principal 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 arms against them for his eminency lay in the way of peace not knowing what belonged to drawing of a sword This was therefore the only charge that they laid against him That by the Kings command he brought his Letters Patents unto Montrose whereby he was made Vice-Roy of the Kingdom and General of the Army Nevertheless he proved at large that he had done nothing in that but according to the custom of their Ancestors and the Laws of the Land And truly he seemed in his most elegant Defence to have given satisfaction to all men except his Judges whom the Rebels had pick'd out from amongst his most malicious enemies that sought his death so that questionless they would never have pronounc'd that doleful sentence if they had but the least tincture of justice or honesty But to speak the truth a more powerful envy than his innocency was able to struggle with undid the good man for the Earl of Lanerick having been heretofore Principal Secretary of the Kingdom of Scotland by his revolt unto the Rebels forced the most gracious and bountiful King to the whole Family of the Hamiltons to take that Office from so unthankful a man and bestow it on another nor was there any one found more worthy than Spotswood to be advanced to so high an honour And hence hapned that great weight of envy and 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 custom of the Country made a Speech unto the people But that Sacrilegious thief Blair who stood by him upon the Scaffold against his will fearing the eloquence and undauntedness 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 than ordinary discourtesie he took no notice of but letting his speech unto the people alone he wholly bestowed himselfe in devotions and prayers to Almighty God Being interrupted again and that very importunately by that busie and troublesome fellow Blair and asked Whether he would not have him and the people to pray for the salvation of his soul He made answer That he desired the Prayers of the people but for his impious Prayers which were abominable unto God he desired 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 than the Sword or Fire or Pestilence that for the sins of the people God hath sent a lying spirit into the mouth of the Prophets With which free and undeniable saying Blair finding himself galled grew so extremely in passion that he could not hold from scurrilous and contumelious language against his Father who had been long dead and against himself who was now a dying approving himself a fine Preacher of Christian Patience and Longanimity the while But all these things Spotswood having his mind fixed upon higher matters passed by with silence and unmoved At last being undaunted and shewing no alteration neither in his voice nor countenance when he laid down his neck to the fatal stroke these were his last words Merciful Jesu gather my soul unto thy Saints and Martyrs who have run before me in this race And certainly seeing Martyrdom may be undergone not only for the Confession 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 doleful end indeed in regard of us but a joyful 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 and Politiques the Honour and Ornament of his Country and our Age for the integrity of his life for his Fidelity for his Justice 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 old-fashion'd piety with all his soul and yet one that was no vain and superstitious Professor of it before others a man easie to be made a friend and very hard to be made an enemy and who being now dead was exceedingly lamented even by many Covenanters His breathless body Hugh Scrimiger once his Fathers servant took care to bring forth as the times would permit with a private funeral Nor was he long able to bear so great a sorrow and loss for after a few days espying that bloody Scaffold not yet removed out of the place immediately he fell into a swoond 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 desâ—â—â—ing Bishop of Murray and hated the more by the Rebels for that A youth as well valiant in battel as constant in suffering and contemning death He also was threatned and railed at by the same Elaire but answered That no greater honour could have been done him than to be put to an honest death in the behalf 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 and forgivenesse at the hands of his most gracious Lord God but for that which he stood there condemned he was not much troubled After this manner died with constancy and courage a man who
them Noblemen and Gentlemen and such as had been Captains either in Germany France or England With which small forces not over-trusty neither he entered Scotland on the 13 of April for he made the more haste lest he should have been absent at the time appointed by the Earl of Antrim CHAP. IV. MOntrose having entred Scotland had come to the river of Anan when upon a mutiny among the English occasioned by Richard Grahams Souldiers almost all of them flie their Colours and in all haste run back to England Notwithstanding he with his own men came to Dunfrise and took the Town into protection upon surrender and there he staid a while that he might be ready to entertain 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 suprised therefore he returns safe to Carlisle with his men And seeing he could neither procure any aid from the English nor expected any Foreiners suddenly nor had scarce any hopes of good from Ireland and found that the Earl of Calendar had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Lesley who had by this time together with the English Covenanters besieged York he resolved lest he should spend his time idlely to engage himself among the Kings Forces in Northumberland and the Bishoprick nor was that resolution either unprofitable to them or dishonourable to himself For having ferreted a Garrison of the Covnanters out of the town 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 took 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 terms with those of Morpet He plentifully victualled Newcastle with corn brought from Alnwick and other places thereabouts When this was done he was sent for by Letters from Prince Rupert Count Palatine of Rhine who was then comming to raise the siege of York 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 thousand 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 sailed him therefore returning to Carlisle with those few but faithfull and gallant men that stuck close to him he sends away the Lord Ogilby and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in mean disguise lest they should be discovered by the enemy Within a fortnight they returned and brought word that all things in Scotland were desperate all Passes Castles Towns possessed with Garrisons of the Covenanters nor could they find any one so hardy as to dare to speak reverently or affectionately of the King Most of those who had adhered to Montrose all this while being cast down with this sad news bethought themselves of bending their courses some other way especially when they were tampered with by that honest man the Earl of 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 rewardes and preferments too as if he had been all this while an Agent for the Rebels and not for the King as he pretended And yet this man was greater in the Kings favour and more confided in than 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 repair to the King at Oxford and certifie him that his Scotch Affairs 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 Forein 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 along 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 himself only entertained farr other thoughts in his high and undaunted spirit He conceived himself bound never to forsake his dearest Lord the King though in extremest hazards and that it was an unworthinesse to despair of so good a cause and if he should attempt some greater matter than came within the reach or apprehension of common men he conjectured it might prove much to his own Honour and something perhaps to the Kings good too For as it was dubious whether it might please God in his mercy to look upon the King with a more favourable eye and to turn his adversity into prosperity so it was most certain 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 himself and his successe to the disposal and protection of Almighty God he performed such Adventures without men without money without arms as were not only to the astonishment of us that were present and were eye and ear 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 Ogilby to be conducted unto the King for as he had communicated all his former designs unto him so he did this also and conjureth him withall to deal earnestly with his Majesty for hastening of some aid if not of Men yet of Arms 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 Ogilby and other his dearest friends were still with them marched on straight towards Oxford but thither they never reached for most of them
was loath to engage those few gallant men again whose Horses were spent already in two sharp services with the enemy who was reinforced with fresh Foot Therefore observing the enemies Horse not yet rallied since their new rout and standing at a sufficient distance from their Foot he rode about among his own Foot who had been sore galled already with the enemies Ordnance and bespeaks them to this effect We do no good my fellow souldiers while we dispute the matter at thus much distance except we cloze up with them how shall we know an able man from a weak a valiant man from a coward If ye would assail these timorous and brawnelesse shrimps with handy-blows they will never be able to stand you Goe to therefore fall about them with your swords and but-ends of your muskets beat them down drive them back and make them pay what is justly due for their treason and rebellion It was no sooner said than they fall to work break in upon the enemy defeat them rout them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster than they whom the Conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they scap'd 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 men came in thronging amongst them through the gates and posterns and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought four hours upon such equal terms that it was an even lay whether had the odds 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 legg shot off with a Cannon bullet only 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 Comrades this is but the fortune of Warr and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Do 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 horse-back So drawing out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his own hand and gave his legg to one of his fellow souldiers to bury And truly when he was well again and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdeen on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entred the City and allowed them two dayes rest CHAP. VII IN the mean time news was brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces than those they dealt with last the Earle of Lothian accompanying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aberdeen to Kintor a Village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependents of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollock 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 relief Still nothing troubled Montrose more than 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 back-friend to Montrose had with-held them all either by his own example or private directions and that himself being forced ro sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdome envied that honour to another of which he had missed himself and had forbidden even with threats all those with whom he had any power to have any thing to do with Montrose or to assist him either with their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnesses where he knew the enemies horse wherein their great strength consisted could do them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the justice of his cause and the valour of his souldiers he made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogg and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And comming to the side of the river Spey not farr from an old castle called Rothmurk he incamped there with an Army if one respect the number but very small but it was an expert and cheerfull one and now also something accquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he finds the men of Cathnes and Suderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in arms to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his back Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himself from their Horse the turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scarce passable for Horse There for certain dayes he was very sick which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordain 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 Gospel that the Lord of Hostes had slain Montrose with his own 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 than he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donald with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up arms with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himself 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 far enough behind him For Argyle had pursued him slowly and at such distance that it was apparent he thought of nothing lesse than of giving him battail Therefore going through Angus and getting over the Grainsbain which going along with a continued ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equal parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome
honour and therefore if charging couragiously they should break in amongst the thickest of the enemy no one could say but that they fell gallantly Montrose concurred with neither of these for he could never be brought to forsake so good men as he had in the extremest danger and preferred an honourable death among his souldiers before dishonourable safety But for all that for men that were so much out-numbred by them to run desperately upon the enemy and as it were to dash out their own brains against the stones was the very last refuge and not hastily to be made use of therefore as we ought not to tempt Almighty God by our own wretchlesnesse 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 own part and referre the successe to God and other things to his own care and industry Immediately he sends out four hundred Foot before him and commands them that as much as they possibly could without breaking their ranks they should make all speed Then he appoints two hundred of the activest men he had to follow them and he with his Horse brings up the Rear The Horse trooped on in so open order that if occasion were they might have room enough to receive light musquetiers He believed the enemies Foot were not able to overtake them and if their Horse only should charge them which they would hardly adventure to do he conceived it was no matter of extreme difficulty to make their part good against them besides the Sun was ready to set and the darknesse of the night would be commodious for their retreat The enemy understanding the number of them that went away first by some prisoners they had taken and after that by their own view assoon as they saw they were disposed rather for a journey than a battell divide their Forces into two parts and so pursue them Wherein their intention was not only to fall upon the Rear and the 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 pursute proposed twenty thousand Crowns to any one that could bring in Montrose's head And now the Van of the enemies Horse began to cloze 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 pursute 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 sea-coast However that was not their way but to go Northward toward Grainsbain and so to deliver themselves from their mischievous Horse But Baily had laid the greatest part of his Army between them and Grainsbain that there might be no place for them 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 and passages straight into the Mountains might be laid by the enemies Horse and he was not mistaken commands 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 Northward by the next morning at Sunrising passed over South-Eske at a place not far from Careston Castle and from thence sent to Breichin 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 more timely and had taken the Mountains VVhiles he staid at Careston the Scouts brought him word on a sudden that the enemies Horse were in sight and their Foot being refresht with victualls and sleep march'd 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 himself of the bottome of the Mountains and having done nothing to the purpose retreated from their vain pursute 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 General and even admirable for the hardinesse of the Souldier in encountering all extremities with patience for threescore miles together they had been often in fight alwayes upon their march without either meat or sleep or the least refreshment Which whether forein Nations or after times will believe 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 seldome 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 affair of the War He sends the Lord Gordon together with those that had continued loyal 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 Which he cheerfully and couragiously performed and though he spared none yet he was most severe with those that had been authors or accessaries to his Brothers defection and 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 than 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 he had made up his Army with recrutes from every side Neither was he out in his aim for the Covenanters had sent Hurrey the Lieutenant General 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 Kingdom ready to wait upon all
the Lord Forbeses called Druminore where he staid two dayes And at last he understands the enemy had quitted the passes and was marching toward Strathbogy so he at break of day sets forth towards a village called Alford But Baily when he had gotten certain notice that Mac-donald with a considerable part of those Forces was absent in the Highlands he voluntarily pursues Montrose conceiving him to be stealing away and about noon began to face him Montrose determines to wait for the enemy who as seemed to him came towards him upon the higher ground but Baily turning aside some three miles to the left hand Montrose holds on his intended march to Alford where he 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 arms 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 Rear of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their own 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 he returneth alone to order the battel And above all things he possesses himself of Alford hill where he might receive the charge of the enemy if they fell on desperately Behind him was a moorish place full of ditches and pits which would prevent Horse falling upon his Rear befote him was a steep hill which kept his men from the enemies view so that they could hardly perceive the formost ranks He had scarce given order for the right managing of all things when those Horse whom he had left at the Ford returned with a full cariere and bring word that the enemy had passed the River And novv it vvas no more safe for either of them to retreat vvithout the apparent ruine of their party It is reported that Baily like a skilful and vvary Commander vvas sore against his will drawn unto this battel nor had engaged had he not been necessitated unto it by the rashnesse of the Lord Balcarise a Collonel of Horse who precipitated himself and the Horse under his command into that danger whether Baily would or no as that he 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 Earl of Aboine to whom also was joyned Sir William Rollock And of the main battel to two valiant men Glengar and Drumond of Ball the younger unto whom he added George Graham Master of the Camp an expert Souldier also The Reserve which was altogether hid behind 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 latter 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 dunghils but those that served the King Gentlemen who fought for a good Cause and Honour gratis and not for gain and such as esteem'd it more becoming to die than 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 down 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-blows 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 Collonel and Collonel Nathaniel called out unto those expert Firelocks who now lin'd the Horse as they were wont Come on my fellow souldiers throw down your now useless guns draw your swords and sheath them in the Rebels Horse or hamstring them They instantly took 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 affrighted betook himself to his heels Aboine with the left wing kept off nor did he 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 There Foot being deserted by their Horse after they had desperately stood out a while and reâ—used 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 battel was won rushing fiercely into the thickest of them received a shot thorow 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 battel Montrose did not lose so much as one common Souldier and of Gentlemen one Culchol and one Melton 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 yeares of age apiece who throwing down their Masters luggage and mounting upon their Nags and Sumpter-horses did not only make a fair appearance of a body of Horse but as if they had been Corrivals in valour with their Masters beyond what might be expected from their years and 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
and Trequaire and confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity and industry no question was to be made Moreover that he should make haste towards the Tweed where he should meet a party of Horse which the King would instantly dispatch out of England to be commanded by him with whom he might safely give battel to David Lesley if as was suspected he marched that way with the Covenanters Horse All this the respective bearers unanimously delivered and his most excellent Majesty being over-credulous signified by his Expresses And Montrose being now over-born with the Kings absolute Commands takes up his resolution to march to the side of Tweed But the day before he went the Souldiers being drawn up to a Rendezvouz before that Mac-donald and the Highlanders were gone Sir Robert spotswood making an humble obeysance under the Kings Standard delivered his Majesties Commission under the Great Seal unto Montrose which he again gave unto Archibald Primrose Clerk of the Supreme Councill to be read aloud That being ended in a short but stately Oration he commended the valour and Loyalty of the Souldiers and the great affection he bore them And for Mac-donald he not only extoll'd his gallantry in the head of the Army but by vertue of that authority that he had received from the King gave him the honour of Knighthood For not only Montrose but all the Kings friends were confident of the integrity of the man whose good opinion he deceiv'd not only to the undoing of the Kings cause but the utter ruine of himself and his friend Montrose following his intended journey came the second night to Calder Castle at which time the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not only his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces whom he had inveighled to desert the service Nor would he be perswaded either by reason or the intreaty of his friends who heartily detested that shameful act to stay but so much as one week and then he might depart not only with the Generals licence but with honour and the good esteem of honest men Seeing it would be no better Montrose passing by Edinburgh led his small Army through Lothianshire and in Strathgale joyned with Douglasse and the other Commanders whose Forces being much diminished were dayly mouldring more and more In that coast Traquaire himself came unto him more chearful and merry than he used to be who pretended himself to be a most faithful Servant not only to his Majesty but also to Montrose and the next day sent him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant party of Horse as if they were to be under his command that by so likely a pledge he might make Montrose more secure and so more easily ruine him For this was not the first time that Traquaire plaid the Covenanters Scout-Master that ungratefullest piece of mankind intending to betray unto them Montrose and in him the King himself Now when he was not above twelve miles from the Lords Hume and Roxburgh and they sent not so much as a Messenger to him nor offered him the smallest courtesie Montrose being much troubled at it resolved to march into their Territories and to bring them in either by fair means or foul But they prevented him by a singular device They sent unto David Lesley whom they well knew by that time was come to Berwick with all the Scotch Horse and many English Voluntiers for they were privy to all their counsels and intreated him to send a party and carry them away in the condition of prisoners which he did the day before Montrose came thither For by this means that crafty old fox Roxburgh who had Hume under his girdle conceiv'd that they might both ingratiate themselves with the Covenanters as freely committing themselves into their Protection and yet keep in the Kings favour whiles they made as if they fell into Lesley's hands sore against their wills And this being Lesley's first noble exploit he passed over Tweed and marched into the East-side of Lothian Montrose assoon as he perceived the King and himself betray'd by these men and saw no hopes of that party of Horse which was come from the King and that the too powerful enemy would block up his passage into the North and Highlands resolved to march with those few men he had into Niddisdale and Anandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could For although he had no certain intelligence concerning the strength of the enemy yet he conjectured that it consisted especially in Horse CHAP. XVI MOntrose arising from Kelsoe marched to Jedburgh and so to Selkirk where he quartered his Horse in a Village and his Foot in a wood close by For he was resolved to make sure of all advantages of ground lest he should be forced to fight with an enemy of whose strength he knew nothing upon uneven terms Then he commands the Captains of Horse to set out good store of faithful and active Scouts and to place Horse-guards in convenient places on every side and look well to their watch All which he in person as he used to do could not see done at present because that night he was dispatching letters to the King and to send away a trusty messenger that he had light upon before break of day therefore he was earrest with them to have the more care lest the enemy who were very strong in Horse should surprise them unawares And the Commanders promising all care and diligence he was so taken up with writing of Letters that he slept not all that night And sending ever and anon to the Captains of Guards men that were skilful Souldiers and so known to be in Forein Countries such uncertain noises as were brought unto him of the enemies approach they being deceiv'd either by the negligence of their Scouts or their own misfortune very confidently sent him back word there was no enemy in those parts nor in the Country thereabouts At the break of day some of the best Horse and most accquainted with the Country were sent out again to Scout they also brought word they had been ten miles about and diligently examined all by-ways and rashly wisht damnation to themselvs if they could find an enemy in arms within ten miles But afterward it appeared when it was too late that the enemy with all their Forces were then scarce four miles from Selkirk and had lain there all that night in their arms Lesley that day that Montrose departed from Jedburgh mustered his men upon Gladesmore a plain in Lothianshire where holding a councill of War with the chief of the Covenanters the result was that he should march to Edinburgh and so to the Forth that he might hinder Montrose's retreat into the North and force him to fight whether he would or no before he joyned with his Highlanders But Lesley contrary to that resolution gives order on a sudden to his whole
consideration possessed his resolute and noble spirit That the losse of that day was but small and easily regained because but an inconsiderable part of his Forces were there That the Highlanders were the very Nerves and sinewes of the Kingdome and all the North was sound and untouch'd That many of the prime Nobility and men of power many Knights too and Chiefs of their Septs had entred into an association with him who if he should miscarry would be suddenly ruined or corrupted and by that means the Kings party in Scotland utterly subdued Therefore he thought himself bound never to despair of a good cause and the rather lest the King his Master should apprehend the losse of him to be greater than the losse of the battell And while these thoughts were in his head by good hap came in the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Iohn Dalâ—ell with some other friends not many but faithfull and gallant men who with tears in their eyes out of the abundance of their affection beseech intreat implore him for the honour of his former atchievements for his friends sakes for his Ancestors for his sweet wife and childrens sakes nay for his Kings his Countries and the Churches peace and safeties sake that he 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 overcome with their intreaties charging thorow the enemy who were by this time more taken up with ransacking the Carriages than following the chase made his escape of those that were so hardy to pursue him some he slew others among whom was one Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Standards he carried away prisoners Whom he entertained curteously and after a few dayes dismist them upon their Parole that they should exchange as many Officers of his of the like quality which Parole they did not over-punctually perform Montrose was gotten scarce three miles from Selkirk when he having overtaken a great number of his own men that went that way he made a pretty considerable party so that being now secure from being fallen upon by the Country people he march'd away by leisure And as he went by the Earl of Traquaires Castle by whose dishonesty he did not yet know that he had been betray'd he sent one before him to call forth him and his Son that he might speak with them but his servants bring word that they were 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 and the Kings forces in Scotland were at last totally routed his own daughter the Countesse of Queensbrig as far as modestly she might blaming him for it Montrose after he had made a holt a while near a Town called Plebis untill the souldiers had refresh'd themselvs and were 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 Dalyel especially passed over Cluid at a ford Where the Earls of Crawford and Airley having escaped another way met with him making nothing of the losse of the battell assoon as they saw him out of danger Nor was he lesse joyfull at the safety of his friends than that he had sav'd and pick'd up by the way almost two hundred Horse But although he was already secure enough from the pursute of the enemy neverthelesse he resolved to make what haste he could into Athole that taking his rise there he might draw what forces he could raise of the Highlanders and 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 way he had sent before him Douglasse and Airley with 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 Dalyel unto the Lord Carnegy with whom he had lately contracted affinity with Commissions to that purpose Moreover he sent Letters to Mac-donald 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 special messengers that he would bring back his friends and clients who were willing enough of themselves and wanted no other encouragement than his authority and example CHAP. XVII IT was towards the latter end of Harvest nor was he corn reap'd in that cold Country nor their houses and cottages which the enemy had butnt repaired against the approaching winter which is for the most part very sharp thereabouts which made the Athole men to abate something 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 South-ward he should command the whole power of the Country Mean time frequent expresses came from Aboine that he would wait upon him immediately with his Forces and Mac-donald promised no lesse for himself and some other Highlanders Areskin signified also unto him that his men were in readinesse and waited for nothing but either Aboines company who was not far off or Montrose's commands About this time there were very hot but uncertain reports of a strong party of Horse that were sent him from the King whom many conceived not to be far from the South borders But other news they had which was too certain to wit that there was a most cruel butchery of what prisoners the Rebels 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'd them and found some pity in them that had so little being gathered together were by order from the Rebel Lords thrown head-long from off a high bridge and the men together with their wives and sucking children drown'd in the River beneath and if any chanced to swim towards the side they were beaten off 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 scorn of the vulgar and certainly doom'd at last to lose their heads Montrose was never so much troubled as at this sad news Therefore to the end he might some way relieve his distressed friends being impatient of all delay with wonderfull speed he climbs 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 haste into the South For his design was as soon as he had joyned his forces with Areskins and Airleys and sent for Mac-donald and other Highlanders and 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 dnrst 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 uncertain And truly they being doubtfull and solicitous what might be the successe of so great warlike preparations as 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 he 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 playd least in sight for a year and some months it is hard to say whether awaken'd with the news of so many victories obtained by Montrose and the reducing of the Kingdome or by the deceitfull influence of some bad starr was returned home An unfortunate man and unadvised who howsoever he would seeme most affectionate unto the Kings Cause and perhaps was so yet he endeavoured by a close and dishonourable envy rather to extenuate Montrose's glory than 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 vertues 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 the Warr 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 then they replyed What shall we then answer to the Commands of the Marquesse of Montrose whom the King hath declared General Governour of the Kingdome and General of the Army He made answer 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 his men should know what assistance they had given him which could not otherwise be done than by serving in a body by themselves Moreover he fell to magnifie his own power and to undervalue Montrose's to extoll unto the skies the noble Acts of his Ancestors men indeed worthy 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 blood 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 took to be spoken upon all the grounds of equity and honour in the world but as many as were understanding men and knew better the disposition of the person saw through those expressions a mind too rancorous and altogether indispos'd towards Montrose and that his aim was to fetch off as many as he could from him not only to the utter ruine of the King and Kingdom but even to his own destruction which God knows 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 themselvs that he never had any design 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 poor 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 only able to defend himself but subdue his enemies and gain 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 only dishonourable but destructive unto 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 to 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 and of purpose he would presently turn his mind seeming to comply with him sometimes before his face but alwayes averse unto him behind his back and indeed scarce well 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 Dâ—â—minore a Castle of the Lord Forbeses He brought with him fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse all cheerfulI and ready to undergo any hazard under the command of Montrose And truly assoon as ever they met Aboine freely protested he would carry those men that he had whithersoever the Lord Governour should lead him but there were many more behind which for his scantnesse of time he had not got together which his brother Lewis would bring 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 Grainsbaine he might fall down into Athole and Angus not doubting within 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 carryed along with him as many souldiers as he could get upon pretence of a guard