Instructions from the King hoping by that meanes that being quickened with his Majesties authority the aproach of aid they would make more haste with their forces in the vain expectation whereof he had trifl'd away too much time in Sirath-Erne About this time the Lord Napier of Marchiston departed this life in Athole a man of most innocent life and happy parts a truly Noble Gentleman Chief of an antient family one who equalld his father grandfather Napiers Philosophers and Mathematicians famous through all the world in other things but far exceeded them in his dexterity in civill busines a man as faithfull unto as highly esteem'd by K. James and K. Charls somtime he was L. Treasurer and was deservedly advanced into the rank of higher Nobility and since these times had exprest so much loialty and love to the King that he was a large partaker of the rewards which Rebells bestow upon vertu often imprisonment sequestration and plunder This man Montrose when he was a boy look'd upon as more tender father when he was a youth as a most sage admonitor when he was a man as a most faithfull friend and now that he died was no otherwise affected with his death than as if it had bâ—n his fathers Whose most elaborate discourses of the right of Kings and of the Orginall of the turmoiles in great Britain â—heartily wish may somtime come to light Chap. XVIII MOntrose when he had waited for Aboine with his Forces out of the North now three weeks either on his march or in Srath-Erne and perceived that the rebells began to grow more outragious towards the prisoners being impatient of further delay crosseth over the Forth and came into Leven and he encamped upon the land of Sir Jhon Buchanan the Ringleader of the Covenanters in those parts expecting by that meanes lying so near Glascow he might fright the Rebells who then kept a Convention of Estates there from the murther of the Prisoners To which end facing the City every day with his Horse he wasted the enemies Country without any resistance although at that time for the guard of the Estates and City they had three thousand Horse in their quarters and he not full three hundred and twelve hundred Foot Notwithstanding before his coming down into Leven the Covenanters assoon as they understood that Huntley and Montrose agreed not and that Aboine and his 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 deare unto Montrose from a child and faithfull unto him to his last breath The chief of his crimes was that he would not pollute his hands with a most abhominable murther For being sent from Montrose with an express to the King after the battle of Aberdene he was taken prisoner by the enemy and was condemned unto death which he had not escaped except for feare 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 him 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 carefull of himself for not he only who heartily detested so high a villany but many more had bin offered great matters most of whom would use their best endeavours to dispatch him The next was Alexander Ogleby of whom we also spake bfore eldest son to Sir John Ogleby of Innercharit descended of an ancient 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 hopfull youth it had bin for nothing but his names-sake for he bare an implacable fewd to the Oglebyes The third was if 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 vigilant man might take occasion sometime here-after to be even with them for the horrid injuries they had done his father and his family However these men suffer'd a noble death with patience constancy as became honest men good Christians And unto these there are two brave Irish Gentlemen that deserve to be joyned Collonel O-Chaen and Collonel 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 execution at Glascow had not Montrose's 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 news of these mens death and it was a question whether he was more vex'd at the cruelty of the Rebells 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-donell also himself of whom he entertained an exceeding good opinion being often sent unto and invited also by the neernesse 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 ingaged 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 salv'd and the Kingdome 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 departing from Levin and passing over the Mountains of Taich now covered with deep snow through woods and loghes whose names I doe not at this time well remember crossing also through Strath-Erne and 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 believe nothing that they said and when they
judgement than this upon it which occasions all the mischiefs that afflict this poor Land such as was sent upon Achab God hath put a lying Spirit in the mouths of the most part of your Prophets who in stead of the doctrine of salvation labour to draw their Hearers into the condemnation of Corah God Almighty look upon this miserable Church and Kingdome and relieve you of that intolleroble servitude you lie under which as I doe heartily wish for on your behalf so let me have the assistance of your Prayers that God would be pleased to pardon all my sins in Jesus Christ and gather my soul with Saints and Martyrs that are gone to their rest before So I bid the word and you Farewell 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 and Politiques the Honour and ornament of his Country and our Age for the integrity of his life for his Fidelity 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 Childhood nor his tiper 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 Professour 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 breathlesse body Hugh Scrimiger once his fathers servant took care to bring forth as the times would permit with a private funerall Nor was he long able to bear so great a sorrow and losse for after a few dayes espying that bloudy Scaffold not yet removed out of the place immediately he fell into a swoon and being carried home by his servants and neighbours died at his very dore 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 Rebells for that A youth as well valiant in battell as constant in suffering and contemning death He also was threatned and rail'd at by the same Blaire 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 if Almighty God had so thought sit had been 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 Gentleman to the same place And truly every man much admired that his brother being in great favour and esteem amongst the Covenanters had not interceded for the life and safety of his own onely brother Some imputed it to his sloth others to his covetousnesse as gaping after his brothers estate others to his stupid and superstitious zeal to the Cause but even all the very Covenanters themselves condemned his silence in such a case as dishonourable and mis-becomming a Noble spirit But the Youth himself being not above nineteen years old purchased unto himself everlasting renown with posterity for so honest and honourable an end Amongst those few things which he spake to the people those that heard him told me these words which he spake with a higher voyce than the rest Account O my Country-men that a new and high addition of honour is this day atchieved to the house of Tullibardin and the whole Nation of the Murrays that a young man descended of that ancient stock willingly and chearfully delivered up his innocent soul as unto men in the very flower of his youth for his King the Father of his Country and the most munificent Patron of our Family Nor let my most honoured mother my dear sisters my kindred or any of my friends be sorry for the shortnesse of my life which is abundantly recompenced with the honour ablenesse of my death Pray for my soul and God be with you Chap. XX. THe death of his friends troubled Montrose exceedingly as it had reason but yet it was not able to break or shake his firm and setled resolution Not did his noble and more than ordinarily elevated spirit ever give greater evidences of it self than now For there were many who being emaged with the unworthy murder of their friends egg'd him on being already sufficiently discontented to a present revenge And whiles they too much favoured their grief although it was just and seem'd to desire nothing but what was fit to wit to render them like for like they wearied out the Generall with their many and troubleblesome and unseasonable complaints For they must needs be angry that their companions their friends their kindred noble and gallant Gentlemen well deserving of their King their Country and the Generall himself should be murther'd contrary to their faith promised them the custome of Waâ—â—e the Law of the Land of Nations and of Nature and all unreveng'd and on the other fide such Rebells as had been taken by him to be kept rather as in their friends houses than in prisons to rejoyce to triumph to laugh at their sorrow And therefore they humbly desired such prisoners might be tryed as Malefactors nor would the enemy be otherwise frighted from their unheard of cruelty nor the minds of his own men otherwise satisfied and raised up Whom he entertained with a courteous Speech commended them for the love they bare their friends and told them That the bloud of those honourable and innocent Subjects ought to be reveng'd indeed by such a way as became honest and valiant men not by basenesse and mischief as the Rebells doe but by true valour in a souldier-like way It concerned them so to tame as not to imitate the wickednesse of their enemies Nor if they considered matters well was it couscience that those that were prisoners with them and so could not be accessary unto the murther of their friends should suffer for those sins of which they were innocent The faith that they had passed unto them was a most sacred thing and to be kept inviolate even by enemies Why should they make themselves guilty of that which they so much abhorred in their enemies The time would come when they must give a severe account of it unto the most righteous God and to his Vice-gerent the King In the
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 sâ—ap'd scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Vâ—ctors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's men came in thronging amonst them through the gates and posterns and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought four hours upon such equall tetmes 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 legge 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 Comerades 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 horse-back So drawing out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his own hand and gave his legge 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 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 mean time news is brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces than those they dealt with last the Earl of Lothian accompanying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aberdene 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 Rollock to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out or England and some place else That hee had sought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not â—e expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with â—â—eat and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out â—â—waies 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 to 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 doe with Mentrose or to assist him either with their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnessesses 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 be made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogge and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And comming to the side of the river of Spey not far from an old Câ—stle called Rothmurke 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 acquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he finds the men of Cathnes and Sunderland 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 he turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scaâ—ce 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 publike Thanksgiving 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 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-donell 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 so slowly and at such distance that it was apparent he thought of nothing lesse than of giving him battell Therefore going through Angus and getting over the Grainsbaine which going along with a perpetuall 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 hehind him that he might safely take some time to recruit he went to Strathbogy that he might meet with the Gordons and 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 and 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 they did nothing Besides the Lord Gordon Huntley's eldest Son a man of singular worth and accomplishment was detained by Argyle his Uncle by the Mothers side the Earl of Aboine the second Son was inclosed within the siege of Carlisle and Lewis anot her Son was of the enemies side so that there was no one of Huntley's family under whose authority they should take up Arms. Notwithstanding Montrose quartered there a great while in which time almost every other
Angus with all the pains he took he did only this he ranged with his Army up and down Athole and after he had robbed and spoiled all the Countrey he set it on fire In this imitating Argyle who was the first that in this age introduced that cruell and dreadfull president of destroying houses and corn being better at fire than sword when they came into empty fields and towns unmann'd Baily at that time went to Bogy to besiege the fairest castle that belonged to the Marquesse of Huntly and indeed of all the North and in case he failed to take it in to waste and fire all the Country of the Gordons thereabouts Montrose although Mac-donel was absent with a great party thought it necessary to relieve Huntley and his friends whom he laboured to assure unto himself by all good offices and hied thither Where having notice that Baily's souldiers though not all yet a great part were new rais'd men for he had parted with so many old souldiers to Lindsey desired nothing more than without delay to fight him and marcheth straight towards him He had not gone above three miles before he discovered the enemies Scouts He therefore sent before some of his readiest men that knew the wayes to view the strength the rendezvouz and the order of the enemy They immediatly bring word that the Foot stood on the top of a hill some two miles off and the Horse had possessed themselves of a narrow and troublesome passe which lay almost in the middle between the two Armies and were come on this side it Against them Montrose sent such Horse as he had in a readiness with some nimble Firelocks whom they first entertained with light skirmishes afar-of and after retreated behind the pass which they had strongly mann'd with musquetiers Montrose sends for the Foot that if it were possible they might dislodge the enemy from thence but it could not be done for they were parted by the fall of the night which both sides passed over waking and in their arms The next day Montrose sends a Trumpet to offer a set battell but Baily answers he would not receive order to fight from an enemy He therefore seeing he could not drive the enemy from those passes without manifest loss and danger that he might draw him out thence in some time marcheth off to Pithlurge and from thence to a Castle of 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-donell with a considerable part of those Force 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 higer 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 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 Rear of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their destruction Montrose leaving that troop of Horse not far 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 battell 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 before 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 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 Commander was sore against his will drawn unto this battell nor had engaged had he not been necessitated unto it by the rashness 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 oâ— 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 not for the former to fall upon them that were surrounded with marshes and pools 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 becomming to die than to be overcome Besides Montrose knew that the greatest part of the old souldiers were gone with Lindsey and the now 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 immediatly 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
Letters and speciall 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 the corn reapt in that cold Country nor their houses and cottages which the enemy had burnt repaired against the approching winter which is for the most part very sharp thereabouts which made the Athole men to abate somthing of their wonted forwardnesse Yet Montrose prevailed so far with them that they furnisht him with foure hundred good Foot to wait upon him into the North where there was lesse danger and faithfully promised upon his return when he was to march South-ward he should command the power of the whole Country Mean time frequent expresses came from Aboine that he would wait upon him immediatly with his Forces and Mac-donnell promised no lesse for himself and some other Highlanders Areskin signified also unto him that his men were in a readines and waited for nothing but either Aboine's 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 newes 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 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 Noblemen 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 Strathdone 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 he had joyned his forces with Areskins and Airleys and sent for Mac-donell 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 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 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 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 Marquesle of Huntley after he had plaid least in sight for a year and some months it is hard to say whether awaken'd with the news 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 and unadvised who howsoever he would seem most affectionate unto the Kings Cause and perhaps was so yet he endeavoured by a close dishonourable envy rather to extenuate Montroses glory than to our-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 that War against the Rebells therefore he commanded his Tenants and advised his friends and neighbours scarce without threats to sight under no command but his own And when they replyed What shall we then answer to the Commands of the Marquesse of Montrose whom the King hath declared Generall Governour of the Kingdom and Generall 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 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 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 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 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 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 unfeasonable and pernicious unto himself For they considerd with themselves that he never had any design that did not miscarry either by bad play or bad luck That busineses 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 Counseils 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 proove not only dishonourable but destructive to him That Montrose it could not be denied bad got many and eminent victories with the assistance of
partie though farre more powerfull For besides those which had been disbanded by the Earl of Lanerick and Major Generall Munroe at the bridge of Striveling there flock'd daily out of England great companies of those who had escaped out of Prison who finding their estates Sequestred and seiz'd upon and withall most tyrannically proceeded against by the hot-spirited Ministerie desired nothing more than an opportunitie of revenge Besides these he had a considerable number of his own name and faction in the North. The Gordons the Athole-men who if he had not been crush'd at his first entrie would certainly have assisted him This conditiun of the kingdome made the Marquesse appear like a prodigious Mereor hanging over their heads which awak'd those who sate at the helm of the State whom it did indeed most concern to endeavour the defeating of his attempts both at home and abroad For this purpose was there a folemn Message dispatch'd to the Prince then Resident at the Hague whom presently upon the News of his Fathers death they had proclam'd King inviting him home upon certain conditions which were publish'd in this kingdome and need not therefore be inferted In the mean time the Marquesse who had now gathered together a companie of gallant Gentlemen aswell English as Scots makes all possible hast Dispatches Collonel John Oglebie to Amsterdam to entertain such strangers as might be for his purpose But he forgeting his Commission bestowed both moneys and pains in entertaining himself suffering those who upon any termes would have engaged to shift for themselves There being a great number who had fled out of England and more who had lately deserted the French or been cashier'd from the Hollanders service Thus were these goodly Vessells sufficiently provided for service lost by his neglect and a limb of the design broken There happen'd about this time another businesse which did much retard the Marquesses affairs Collonel Cochran who had been dispatch'd Commissioner into Poland to the Scotish Merchants there to require their assistance having procur'd very considerable summs of money upon that score and other provision for the furthering of that expedition dispos'd of the money for his own uses made sale of the corn and provision together with the vessell which was provided for the transportation of it and did himself turn tayl to the quarrell This was another disappointment Generall King likewise whom the Marquesse expected out of Sweden with a considerable party of Horse either could not be ready so soon as was expected or else delayd the time of purpose But the Marquesse as is supposed fearing lest he should have an expresse command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt the Prince and the Scotish Commissioners was now very neer a conclusion did precipitate himself and those that were with him into most inevitable ruine Now all those great leavies and aydes Those mighty preparations for the invasion of a kingdome settled in a posture of warre and well forwarn'd of his intentions amounted not above the number of six or seven hundred at the most strangers and all The common souldiers which adventur'd over with him most of them Holsteyners or Hamburgers He had sent him by the Queen of Sweden for the arming of such Gentlemen as should upon his arrivall betake themselves to his partie fifteen hundred arms compleat for Horse back brest head-piece Carrabines Pistolls and Swords all which after his defeat in Cathanes were taken untouch'd With this small preparation it was a desperate action to attempt so mightie a businesse And although his touching first upon the Islands did encrease his number and gave him almost the beginning of an Armie Yet were those barbarous people so raw and unacquainted with discipline that they prov'd in a manner uselesse and unserviceable 'T is true the Inhabitants of those Isles were a people in former times very fierce and warlike and have under their own Captains made many great Impressions into the very heart of the kingdome But whether it was the Policie of the late Kings to leave them untrain'd of purpose to break their naturall fiercenesse or because their own Captains being quell'd or cut off they cared not much to engage under any another certain it is That kingdome for two hundred years last past hath not made lesse use of any they had under their jurisdiction nor have they at this present lesse opinion of any Scots for Military courage and valour And this may be alleged as a great cause of their remissnesse and unwieldinesse whilst they were in the Marquesses service I told you a little before of Montrose's whole Strength which did accompany him from Germanie whereof two ships with neer upon a third part were sent before but by storm of weather which is both frequent and dangerous amongst those Northern Islands they were lost with all the men and arms nothing sav'd This was another check and as it were a warning a fore-runner of the sad event which followed But the businesse being fatall he must needs contribute his own endeavours towards that destruction which his cruell fortune had provided for him For he nothing terrified with this successe sends out a second partie which making a more prosperous voyage landed at Orkney and enter'd the Island without any resistance There being at that time no Garrison or defence placed in any of those Islands by the States of Scotland Together with these he sent severall Commissions for levying of Horse and Foot Immediatly there were severall dispatch'd to Scotland and the Islands adjacent for that purpose The people of the Countrie being in no condition to resist these officers endeavoured in hopes of favour as much as they could to further the design And those who were not so earnest were by their own neighbours favourers of the cause and these violent Commissioners forc'd to take up Arms. Not long after landed the Marquesse himself with the rest of his companie together with those Gentlemen which resolv'd to partake of his fortune Amongst whom were severall persons of note Collonel Hurry was there a man who had engaged in all quarrells but never prosper'd in any The Lord Frenderick for his kinsman the Lord Napier was left in Holland Collonel Jonson a resolute man and an old souldier Coll. Gray a German souldier Harry Grahame his own naturall brother Coll. James Hay of Naughton Sir Francis Hay of Dalgetie George Drummond of Ballach For he had employed as was thought Collonel Sibbalds his companion heretofore as his Agent in Scotland But he was apprehended at Musselburgh and did accompanie his Generall in death upon the same Scaffold The Marquesse continued a considerable time in Orkney raising of Forces and strenghning himself with such recruits as the place would afford Neither was there any preparation at all made in Scotland to dispossesse him of these Islands either because it might be thought a difficult businesse to assail him within those places naturally guarded with a rough and
dangerous Sea Oâ— because they knowing his strength expected a better opportunitie of him as they found indeed within the Countrie After this poor rabble of silly creatures was amaz'd He resolves at last to embarque and to that purpose gathers all the boats he could find ships his men and in a short space lands them all upon the point of Cathanes which is the farthest land to the Northwest of Scotland The people having some experience of the carriage of his former Souldierie and now farre more dreading the name of Forreigners partly by the terrible reports which were constantly given out of him fled away in heaps many of them not stopping till they came to the chief City Edinburgh and there gave the terrible Alarm to the Parliament then sitting The Commanders were immediatly summond and charg'd with all possible hast to get the standing Forces in readiness and a rendezvous in order to the States command was hereupon presently enjoyn'd at Breithen Northward Collonel Straughan who was then in high esteem with the great ones for his valour lately expressed in the English service and his zeal to the Presbyterian cause much extoll'd at that time had an ample and a particular Commission granted to him by the Parliament to command a â—hoyce party of Horse which should not be subject to David Lesleys orders but might engage and fight with the enemy at his best advantage With these being not above three hundred he advanced before the Armie David Leslie with the rest of the Horse and Holborn with the Foot marching after him In the mean time the Marquesse advanc'd but very slowly and that he might not be mistaken since all the world was much astonish'd at this Invasion now whilst the King was upon a Treatie he published a Declaration Wherein he labour'd to clear himself of any aspersion of sinister ends That his intention was only against some particular persons who had against the Laws of the kingdome rais'd and maintain'd a warre against the Kings Father and did now by their subtile practices endeavour to destroy the Son also That he intended nothing against the Generalitie of the Kingdome Lastly exhorting all subjects of that Nation to endeavour to free themselves from the Tyrannie of those who for the present ruled the State and the oppression of the Ministrie But the Country for severall causes did not come to second him as hee expected For the Earl of Sunderland a potent man in those parts his lands being next to the place where the Marquesse then was rais'd a great power of his Tenants and friends and did his best to terrifie and hinder all that were willing to joyn with him And though he found himself unable to deal with the Marquesses forces yet did he stop all entercourse betwixt him and his friends And those Gentlemen who had heretofore followed him and yet enclined to assist him knowing the danger of the enterprise considering the fewnesse of his number and that his souldiers were much undisciplin'd and unlike to the former with whom he had done so great things began to be averse and have a suspition of the event Yet have I heard some say which knew well enough the situation of that Country That if he had not been oppressed in the nick he might have gain'd such strengths amongst the hills as might have given him leisure enough to have strengthned his own partie and tyred out the enemy Howsoever he was not altogether unmindfull of a retreat There is in that Country a Castle call'd Dumbath the Lord or Laird thereof is the head of a very ancient Familie but no friend of the Marquesses This Gentleman having left his house in the keeping of his Lady and some servants fled to Edinburgh The Lady though the place were naturally fortified yet upon summons delivered it to Collonel Hurry who was sent thither by the Marquesse with a partie of Foot to reduce it Upon condition her goods and estate might be secur'd and she with her servants suffor'd to march away Hurry having plac'd a Governour and a Garrison as hee thought sufficient for the defence of the place return'd to the Marquesse who was now advanc'd to the place or neer it where he was to lose at one throw both his life and fortune The Marquesse hearing of the enemies approach made his whole Forces march at a great trot to recover a passe which they were not very farre from when he himself in the vanguard discover'd the first partie which was Straughans Forlorn hope advancing very fast upon him So that these with their hast and the souldiers running found them both out of breath and order The second Partie was commanded by Straughan himself and the â—ereguard as I remember by Collonel Ker for he had divided them in three bodies But now the first party being very neer there was a Forlorn hope of a hundred Foot drawn out to meet them who giving fire upon them put them to a disorderly retreat but being immediatly seconded by Straughans partie they made good their charge and so terrified the Islanders with that breach that most of them threw down their Arms and call'd for quarter Only the Dutch Companies after they had bestowed a volley or two amongst the Horse retreated into some shrubbs hard by and there very valiantly defended themselves awhile but were all taken at last There were kill'd in this businesse to the number of two hundred twelve hundred taken very few escaped For the whole Countrie being in Arms especially Sunderlands men who came not to the fight but to the execution they kill'd or took Prisoners all such aâ— fled In that skirmish was taken the Standard which he had caus'd to be made of purpose to move the affections of the people with this Motto Judge and revenge my cause O Lord and the portraict of the late King beheaded exactly well done The Standard-bearer a very gallant young Gentleman was kill'd after he had severall times refus'd quarter There was Collonel Hurrey taken the Lord Frenderick Sir Francis Hay of Dalgetie Collonel Hay of Naughton Collonel Gray and most of the Officers and two Ministers The Marquesse after he saw the day was absolutely lost threw away his cloak which had the Starre on it having receiv'd the order of the Garter a little while before his Sword was likewise found and not very farre off his horse which he had forsaken For so soon as he had gâ—t clear off that ground where the skirmish was he betook himself to foot and lighting upon one of that Country or one of his own souldâ—ers I know not whether took his Highland apparell from him and so in that habite conveighed himself away But such narrow search being made for him he could not long escape yet he continued in the open fields three or four dayes without any notice gotten of him At last the Lord of Aston being in Arms with some of his Tenants and aboard in that search happened on him He had been one