or courage and howsoever it came to passe was still unfortunate And therefore he took upon himself the command of that Army which was newly raised as if he would assay to manage the businesse with better conduct And now he had passed over with his forces into Angus intending to be a Reserve unto Baily and if any thing should happen otherwise then wel at the worst hee was ready to hinder Montrose's passage over Forth For they were alwayes very jealous lest Montrose should remove the seat of Warre to this side the Forth and nearer Edinburgh Therefore hee resolved with all speed to quell Lindsey who lay yet in Angus at a Castle called Newtill both because the Generall was no souldier and the souldiers raw and unacquainted with the hardship of war In pursuit of which designe departing from Badenoth he marcheth through the plains of Marre over Granshaine and came by long and painfull journies unto the coast of the river of Airley intending to surprise the enemy on a sudden which was easie to be done for hee had made such hast that the newes of his approach was not so swift as himself And now Lindsey was not above seven miles from him and all things were ready for an assault when upon what occasion it is uncertain almost all the Northern men privately ran away from their colours and going back the way that they came return into their Country The Lord Gordon was in the Camp and there was none there that detested that villany with greater indignation then he in so much that Montrose had much adoe to with-hold him from putting such of the fugitives to death as had any dependance upon him Some stick not to say that these men were inveigled away by the private directions of his father the Marquesse of Huntley to the Earl of Aboine who by reason of his sicknesse was absent For it vext Huntley a haughty and envious man to hear of the successe of Montrose nor could he endure that inward frindship which was between his eldest son and him However it was Montrose being cast down with this unexpected misfortune was forced to put off that Expedition against Lindsey and to suffer patiently so great and easie a victory to be taken out of his hands Therefore taking up new resolutions hee followeth after Colonell Nathaniel Gordon a valiant man and a trusty and welbeloved in his Country whom he had sent before And by this time Baily and Hurrey had returned from Innernesse and quartered in lower Marre by the side of Dee And Montrose came by the coast of Eske and the plains of Marre into the heart of that Country commonly called Crommare And whiles hee passed through those plains aforesaid hee dispatched Mac-donell with a party into the furthest part of the Highlands to conduct such Forces as were there raised with all speed unto the Army Afterward hee sent away the Lord Gordon himself to hasten and promote that levy of men which Nathaniel Gordon was listing by all the power and interests hee had in those parts Which he most diligently performed and amongst others brought his brother the Earl of Aboine back with him Whilest these things passed in Cromarre Lindsey joynes his Forces with Baily in lower Marre With whom Montrose finding himselfe unable to deal the most part of his Forces being gone along with the Lord Gordon and Mac-donell hee stept aside to the ruinated Castle of Kargarf lest the enemy should overlay him on the champaine grounds with their multitudes both of Horse and Foot but when hee was close unto the Mountains he feared them not From hence Aboine falling sick again betook himself to Strathbogy and upon pretence of a guard carried along with him a considerable number of Horse whom his brother the Lord Gordon had much adoe afterward to draw back to their colours In the mean time Lindsey took a thousand old Souldiers from Baily and gave him as many raw new rais'dmen for them and as if hee intended to do some famous exploit returning through Merne into Angus with all the pains he took hee did only this he ranged with his Army up and down Athole and after hee 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 then 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 Huntley 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-donell was absent with a greatparty 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'dmen for he had parted with so many old souldiers to Lindsey desired nothing more then without delay to fight him and marcheth straight towards him Hee 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 immediately 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 readinesse with some nimble Firelocks whom they first entertained with light skirmishes afar-off and after retreated behinde the passe which they had strongly man'd with musquetiers Montrose sends for the Foot that if it were possible they might dislodge the enemy from thence but it could not bee 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 hee would not receive orders to fight from an enemy Hee therefore seeing he could not drive the enemy from those passes without manifest losse and danger that hee might draw him out thence in some time marcheth off to Pithlurge and from thence to a Castle of the Lord Forbesis called Druminore where he staid two dayes And at last hee 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-donel with a considerable part of those Forces was absent in the Highlands hee 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
Iames Marquesse of Montrose Earle of kingcairne Lord Graeme Baron of Mont dieu etc Lieutenant Governour and Cap t. General ffor His Ma tie in the kingdome of Scotland A. Matham fe THE HISTORY OF THE Kings Majesties Affairs IN SCOTLAND Under the Conduct of the most Honourable Iames MARQUES of MONTROSE Earle of Kincardin c. and Generall Governour of that Kingdome In the years 1644. 1645. 1646. The second Edition Corrected and much amended HAGHE Printed by Samuel Browne English Bookeseller dwelling in the Achter-om at the signe of the English Printing house To the High and Mightie CHARLES By the Grace of God Prince of Scots and Wales Duke of Cornwal and Rothesay Heire of Great Britaine c. LOw and humble Most High and Mightie Prince doeth Your Montrose addresse himself to Your Highnes presence not He himself in his full aequipage no nor a moitie of him and in truth Scarse a mean scantling of that matchles worth Who though unpolished and rude and in this his Roman dresse ill deckâ— rough and uncomely yet shal be not feare the publike view if You daigne him that favorable aspect and grace which You are wont to vouchsafe even forraigners and strangers that court You. And he thinks he may upon better grounds then they presume to entreat this he being no alien but a lawful native of your Royal Fathers haereditarie Kingdome and no otherwise then by the fatall calamitie of those times exposed bred and fed in a strange land Nor doth he want lively characters and marks imprinted in him to evidence from what land and father he is descended That Your own Scotland wherein one hundred and nine of Your Progenitors have raigned all whose Royall blood runs in Your veins and divine souls breaths in Your breast Him a free born and bred native of that most ancient Kingdome a loyal servant of Your dearest father his most Gracious Lord and faithful follower of his in despight of all the casualties of fortune Which arguments if they be not sufficient to conciliat the sweet gale of Your Grace to inspire health and life in this tender birth otherwise readie to expire yet let me beseech Your singular clemencie to lend it so much of Your countenance as to observe in it though drawne with a rude pencill some lineaments and shaddows of it's first patterne and even for those resemblances sake vouchsafe it so much of Your countenance as may give it some life and being if not immortalitie For who would despise that only Pourtraâ—cture that were of Scipio Caesar Alexander or of Your Royall Grandfathers exstant Iames the Peaceful or Henry the Great because the work of some obscure and perhaps unskilfull craftsman I can wel divine Montrose will not long want an Apelles or Leucippus to paint him out and limbe him to the life nor an Homer perhaps to sing his praises only most Gracious Sir be pleased to use a while these my poore endeavours till those more worthie show themselves to the world And looke not on the harshnes of my stile but bend Your high and generous thoughts upon the actions truly Roman that 's to say Noble High Heroik Great and farre transcending meane and vulgar spirits And if You wil impute as is fit and just the blemishes and errours which herein may occurre to the weaknes of my wit and judgement and no wayes to my Patterns Genius I dare boldly undertake that your Montrose shall prove neither unpleasant nor unprofitable For what can be more pleasant to a Prince second to none on earth but his Father borne in that eminent dignitie bred in that condition and from his infancie trained up in those wayes which resent nothing but Heroicall deeds then to have alwayes before his eyes that worthie whom be it said without envy no man in his time goeth beyond to embrace caresse and cherish him and coppie out his actions and observe How he behaves himself how brave and goodlie In Martiall feats manhood and Chevalrie Who taking up arms to serve the commands of the best of Kings your most Gracious Father and leading the dance as it were to usher in Your Valour which now waxeth to ripnes and strength apace hath performed such exploits as strikes the present times with admiration and gratefull posteritie shal ever preserve in memorie For though envy presse hard upon true glorie and tread upon her heels yet that short lived and self destroying furie shall never overtake nor ecclipse her solid and immortall lustre In the meane time most Gracious Sir we present You here with no smoothe fables or Romanses Antiphates and Scillaes gulf are not my theme Swallowing Charybdis devouring Polypheme No gyants or glorious wonders yet enemies as like gyants and Victories obtained over them as like wonders as may be For what did ever lying Greece faine of the proud attempts of their old gyants which these conspiratours the sons of the earth have not dared to doe against God religion faith loyaltie and right in all their dealings with Your Royall Parents Your self and all Yours who heaping up mo intains upon mountains of lyes calumnies and slanders reared up those bulworkes from whence with horrid violence they have fought against the Gods And what did they imagine done by Apollo by Pallas or Mars to overthrow those monsters which our Montrose did not with like courage undertake and successe performe And now that having vanquished he did not finally and totally triumph over them we must impute it to the force of Your Fate which would not permit the Genius of Your countrey to owe so glorious a deliverance to any others valour but Your own Nor indeed seemed it convenient that any other should thunder downe Enceladus with those other Titans to Hell but the sonne of him whose father those gyants kept in chains And then Great Sir when You intend those courses to which the lawes of God and man oblidge You the vindication of Your Father and countrey from that most savage bondage what can be more profitable then to have Your eyes stil on him as the guide and leader of Your way who first of all discovered the counsells plots and treacheries of these traitors and as I may say alone did show the way how to lay their intollerable pride and breake their power though growen verie great before it was perceived For You shall find him a body without a soul for being no more valiant in arms then wise in counsell and managing affairs he advised â—mously and would to God his counsell had prevailed to strangle that monster in the cradle aswell as when it was growen strong he had crusht it but that Your growing vertue was not to be defrauded of so large a field for purchasing renowne So that besides his singular valour and militarie skill You may find in him choise instructions of civil prudence and politik wisedome which though through the sad fatalitie of the times they were but ill believed yet such as may
appearing beares his name to this day and by the neighbouring inhabitants is called Graemsdijke And this same founder of that Noble race after the death of his Sonne in Law King Ferguse being declared Administrator of the Kingdome and appointed Governour to the young King his grandchilde was no lesse famous for his peaceable Government then exploits of warre For having recalled and brought home againe the Doctors and Professors of the Christian faith banished by late persecution warre to their native Countrey settled aswel the Church as Kingdome with wholesome Laws of his own free accord gave up the Government to his Grand-child now grown to some ripenes oâ— yeares He lived in the dayes of Honorius and Arcadius Emperours about the yeare of our Lord 400. from whose loynes sprang a long flowrishinâ— stemme of sons and nephewes who inheriting still that theâ— greate Grandfathers Vertues grew famous in the following generations Among these that valiant Graeme was eminent who with Dunbarre brought timous aide to his Countrey then in greate danger by the Dones who having overpowered England from thence with greate Armies often but in vaine invaded Scotland And after that most Noble Iohn Graeme came short for vertue just renowne of none of all his auncestors who after the fatall end of Alexander the third of that name King of Scots in the time of the interraigne Bruce and Baliol then disputing which of them two had the iuster right and title to the Succession with that so justly admired William VVallace Governour of the Kingdome played the most valiant Champion for defence and recoverie of his Countreys libertie from the unjust usurpation of Edward the first King of England In the which quarrell after manie gallant acts atcheived by him like a worthie Patriotte he died nobly fighting in the Field The sepulchre of this renowned Knight is yet exstant in a Church called Fallkirk for Wallkirk from the foresaid Wall of Severus or Graems dijke neare to which it is built about the which wall also the Lord Marques of Montrose enjoyeth divers large fruitfull farmes or feilds by right of inheritance from that first Graeme through so manie hands ages transmitted unto him Yet least we may seeme only to deduce this most famous worthie the splendour of his noble Pedegree from the obscure trace of so remote antiquitie we shal descend to later better known times And so cannot passe his Grandfather Earle of Montrose in silence who almost in our own memorie was raised to places of greatest honour and trust in that Kingdome which he most faithfully and worthly discharged For being Lord High Chauncelour of Scotland at what time Iames the sixt of that name of ever blessed memorie went to possesse the crowne of England he was by the same King created and left behind him Viceroy of Scotland in which highest place and degree of dignitie he died aequally beloved and deare to King and people And then the Father of this man singularly endowed with all eminentest graces of mind and body so as few living in his time could equall him and no lesse famous in forragne nations then at home For when he hade performed many honourable Embassages for King Iames was by King Charles declared Lord high President of the Supreme counsell and being snatched away in his prime by an untimly deathe from his King countrey and all good men he died much lamented and highly estemed in every mans affections And now what men should think of and hope from this present man Grandchild to the Viceroy and Lord high Presidents Sonne let every one that pleaseth judge by the things he hath already atcheived when now it is a yeare and an halfe since he left that Kingdome and yet hath not attained to the thirty and sixth yeare of his age One thing only more will I adde in thy favour Courteous Reader from the auntient Monuments of that Kingdome That three almost fatall periods have threatned heretofore the Scots Nation first from the Romans whose yoke our farefathers did shake of under the conduct of that first Graeme who was lineally descended out of that auntient noble Brittish family of the Fulgentij The second from the Danes who that they never gotte the Masterie and Lordship over vs we owe it especially to the greatest valour of that second Graeme The third from the English Normans whom that thrid Graeme ofâ—ner then once did beate and drive out of Scotland and in many bitter conflicts did them much mischeiffe So that as they were wont to say of the Scipions in Afrik we may say of our Graems that that name by a luckie destinie hath been appointed for the succour of their native covntrey in greatest dangers distresses that in these the worst times that ever was this man was not raised but by speciall divine providence to preserve the Kings just rights to restore to his fellow subjects their wonted peace libertie safetie and infinitly to encrease the auncient splendour and glory of his own Family And this is all that I thought fitt to have briefly praemised of my Lord Marquis of Montrose Now of the Authour himself conceive this much That he is a man not very conversant in these Studies nor ambitious to be praised for excellency of wit which he acknowledges to have but small or none nor covetous of reward or gaine which are the sharpest spurres that in this age doe push men to it to putte hand to the Pen. But that he did put hand to this worke only being enflamed with and ardent zeale of propagating truthe to after ages forraigners For how many are ready to patronise and magnifie even greatest villanies when they prosper and how few to advance and defend truth once afflicted cast downe he had learned by too late and sad experienc ein a cauâ—e very neare of Kinn to this When the conjured Rebells of both Kingdomes by their ordinary tricks of lying and slandering had overthrown the Church that with the revenues thereof purchased by hellish sacriledge they might sacrifice to their own greedie avarice and enrich their children with the heavie curse of God yet wanted they not those who extolled them to the skies as well deservers of their Countrey yea of the verie Church it self which they have pillaged and even of all mankind in generall when on the contrarie they proscribed defamed rent and tore a peeces with al manner of blasphemies and curses all those most holy men of God Confessors Martyrs for so they were indeed who constantly and couragiously opposed and withstood their rapines And therefore he thought it was no wayes to be doubted that those same men who by the same wicked practises weÌ„t about to pul under feete the Majestie of so good a King to swell high with his honours prerogatives and patrimony which they had gained by perfidious trecheries rebellions treasons would find too to many such sycophants whereof the world is full who by
not able to provide so timely powerful a remedy as could be wished at least might cast some blocks rubs in their way untill such time as he had settled his affaires in England that the traitours of either Kingdome might be easily dealt withall by themselves but if they came once to joyne their forces they would be hardly supprest that there were very many in Scotland who would sacrifice themselves and all that they had for their dearest King whose good will would be of no use unto his Majesty after the Covenanters had raised their army but destructive unto themselves that the haughty spirits of the Traitors were to be sneap't in time their strength broken before it grew too big lest the beginnings bâ—ing neglected repentance should prove the onely opposition that could be made afterward These things and to this effect did Montrose continually presse unto the King but in vaine for he had not onely the strong and deeply rooted confidence his Majesty had of the Hamiltons to struggle with but the devices of a set of desperate Courtiers beside who daily buzzed in the Kings eares Montrose's youth his rashnesse his ambition the envy and hatred he bare unto the Hamiltons and what not on the other side the Hamiltons fidelity their honesty their discretion their power Thus Montrose nothing prevailes the King returnes to his winter quarters at Oxford And al though his Majesty saw very well reports coming thick and threefold of the Scottish army that all was true that Montrose had told him yet the most religious King determined upon no termes to give any occasion of quarrell to the Scots till first they entered England resolving that he for his part would perfectly observe the Articles of Pacification he had made with them which if they should violate he doubted noâ— but they should highly answer it both to God him While these things were discussed at Oxford the Covenanters in Scotland bring their businesse about according to their desires no one opposing them They raise as big an army as they can which consisted of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse and at last when they had marched unto the very borders the Hamiltons were not ashamed to give the King notice by letters of the approach of that formidable Army making this their excuse that according to their engagement they had prevented an invasion the summer before but now that winter was come on they were able to keep them out no longer but they would come in immediately with a powerfull Army The King when he saw himselfe thus grosly abused sends for Montrose shewes him the Hamiltons letters and at last when it was even too late askes his advice what was best to be done Montrose tells him that his Majesty might now see that what he had before given him notice of had neither proceeded from ambition nor malice nor any self-ends but from his bounden duty and allegeance that for above a twelve-month hee had been continually pressing both their Majesties to prevent this that he accounted himselfe very unhappy that all that while so faithfull a servant could not be credited by so good a Master that the case seemed now desperate but if the King had a minde he might trust them againe who by pretence of his authority had bound some of his frieÌ„ds hands that they could not assist him drawn in others who intended nothing lesse under colour of Loyalâ—y to fight against him given up unto the Rebells now that they had got an army all that they had without striking a stroke The King complaining that he was most abominably betrayed by them with whom he had entrusted his Crowne his Secrets his Life earnestly demanded his advice He repeating againe the lamentablenesse of the condition in which things novv stood neverthelesse offered that if his Majesty so thought good he vvould either lose his life vvhich if he did he would be sure it should seeme rather sold then lost or else vvhich he did not despaire of he vvould reduce his Country men and bring the Rebels there into subjection The King being no little pleased vvith the confidence undauntednesse and gallantry of the man that he might more advisedly contrive his designe desired him to take two or three dayes to consider of and so dismist him Montrose returning at the time appointed shewes his Majesty how desperate an adventure he was vndertaking that al Scotland was under the Covenanters coÌ„mand that they had garrisoned al places of strength that they were plentifully provided both of men and money and armes and ammunition and victuall alâ— things necessarâ— for a Warre that the English Rebells were joyned with them in a most strict Covenant to defend one another against all the world But for his owne part he had nothing to set up with neither men nor armes nor pay yet he would not distrust Gods Assistance in a righteous cause and if the King would lay his Commands upon him he would undertake to doe his best The King should be in no worse case theâ— he was He himself would take what malice envy oâ— danger should fall upon himselfe so that his Majestâ— were graciously pleased to condescend to a few reasonable requests And first that the businesse might gâ— on more successefully it seemed to him very necessary that the King should send some souldiers out of Irelanâ— into the west of Scotland Next that he should give oâ—der to the Marquesse of Newcastle who was the General of the Kings forces towards Scotland that he shouâ—â— assist Montrose with a party of horse to enter the souâ— of Scotland by which meanes he might convey himseâ— into the heart of the Kingdome Then that he shoulâ— deale with the King of Denmarke for some troops oâ— Germane horse And lastly that his Majesty should takâ— some course to procure and transport some armes out of some forraigne countrey into Scotland nothing needed more but humane industry the successe was Gods part and to be referred to his providence The King commending his counsell giving him thankes that he apprehended some life in the businesse encourageth him to fit himselfe cheerfully for so great a worke wished him to leave the care of those things he had requested unto him And truly for the matter of aid out of Ireland the King sends for the Earle of Antrim and acquaints him with Montrose's design This Antrim is of Scottish extraction descended of the noble and ancient Family of the Mac-Donalds a man of great estate and power in Ireland allyed to the prime Nobility of England by matching with the Duchesse of Buckingham He being driven out of his own countrey lived at Oxford and cheerfully undertooke the negotiation with the Irish upon himself and engaged himselfe also voluntarily unto Montrose that he would be in Argyle a part of Scotland bordering upon Ireland with ten thousand meÌ„ by the first of Aprill 1644. this passed in December 1643. And as
an able man from a weake a valiant man from a coward If ye would assaile these timorous and brawnelesse shrimps with handy blowes they will never beâ— able to stand you Goe to therefore fall about them with your Swords and butt-end of your Muskets beat them downe drive them backe and make them pay what is justly due for their treason and rebellion It was not sooner said then they fall to worke breake in upon the Enemy defeate them rout them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster then they whom the conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they scap't scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Victors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's meÌ„ came in thronging amongst them through the gates and posternes and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought foure houres upon such equall termes that it was an even lay whether had the oddes At this Battell Montrose had some great Guns but they were unserviceable because all advantages of ground were possessed by the enemy but the enemies Guns made no small havock of his men Among others there was an Irishman that had his legge shot off with a Cannon bullet onely it hung by a little skin he seeing his fellow-souldiers something sad at his mischance with a loud and cheerfull voyce cryes out Come on my Camerades this is but the fortune of Warre and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Doe you stand to it as becomes you and as for me I am sure my Lord Marquesse seeing I can no longer serve on foot will mount me on horsebacke So dravving out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his owne hand and gave his legge to one of his fellow-souldiers to bury And truly when he was well againe and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdene on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entered the City and allowed them two dayes rest CHAP. VII IN the meane time newes is brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces then those they dealt with last the Earle of Lothion accoÌ„panying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aâ—erdene to Kintor a Village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependants of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollocke to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out of England or some place else That he had fought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not be expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with great and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out alwayes without timely reliefe Still nothing troubled Montrose more then that none of the Gordons of whom he conceived great hopes came in unto him And there wanted not some of them who testified their great affection to the service but that Huntley the Chief of the Family being a backe-Friend to Montrose had with held them all either by his owne example or private directions and that himselfe being forced to sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdom envied that honour to another of which he had missed himselfe and had forbidden even with threats all those with vvhom he had any power to have any thing to doe vvith Montrose or to assist him either vvith their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains Fastnesses vvhere he knew the enemies Horse wherein their great strength consisted could doe them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the Iustice of his cause and the valour of his Souldiers he made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogge and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And coming to the side of the River of Spey not farre from an old Castle called Rothmurke he incamped there with an Army if one respected the number but very smal but it was an expert cheerfulâ— one now also some thing acquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he findes the men oâ— Cathnes and Suderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in Armes to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his backe Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himselfe from their Horse he turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scarce passable for Horse There for certaine dayes he was very sicke which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordaine a day of publique Thankesgiving to Almighty God for that great deliverance Nor were their Levites you may be sure backward in that employment in their Pulpits for as if they had been of counsell at the Decree and stood by at the execution they assured the people that it was as true as Gospell that the Lord of Hostes had slaine Montrose with his owne hands But this joy did not last them long for he recovered in a short space and as if he had been risen from the dead he frighted his Enemies much more then he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donell with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up Armes with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himselfe goes into Angus hoping it might happen that he should either force Argyle with his tyred Horse unto his Winter quarters or at least leave him farre enough behinde him For Argyle had pursued him so slowly and at such distance that it was appareâ—t he thought of nothing lesse then of giving him Battell Therefore going through Angus getting over the Grainsbaine which going along with a perpetual ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equall parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome And now that he had left Argyle so farre behinde him that he might safely take some time to recruit he went to Strathbogy that he might meet with the Gordons perswade them to engage with him But he lost his labour for they were forestalled by Huntley and after his example plaid least in sight For such as were generous daring spirits though they were loath to provoke the indignation of their Chief yet they could not but be ashamed that at a time when there might be so much use of them
with them and therefore was a sound with which those parts were little acquainted it discovered also that Montrose himself was there Neverthelesse the prime of the Campbells that 's the syrname of Argyle's family being gallant men and stout and deserving to fight under a better Chieftain in a better cause cheerfully begin the battell But their souldiers that were in the Front having only once discharged their muskets and Montrose's men pressing on fiercely to come to the dint of sword began to run Whom they raising a great shout so eagerley pursued that as it were at one assault they routed them all and had the killing of them with a most horrible slaughter for nine miles together Of the enemy were slain fifteen hundred among whom were very many Gentlemen of the Campbells who where chief men of the family and of good account in their Country who fighting but too valiantly for their Chieftain had deaths answerable to their names and fell in Campo Belli in the Field of War I cannot say the bed of Honour Their fortune Montrâ—se extreamly lamented and saved as many of them as hee was able taking them into his protection whiles Argyle himself being gotten into a boat and rowed a little way off the shore securely look't on whiles his kindred and souldiers were knockt on the head Some Colonels and Captains that Argyle had brougt thither out of the Low-lands fled into the Castle whom when the Castle was surrendred and quarter was given unto them Montrose used courteously and after he had done them severall good offices of humanity charity freely let them depart In this fight Montrose had many wounded but none slain saving three private souldiers but the joy of this great victory was much abated by the wounds of that truly honourable Sir Thomas Ogleby sonne to the Earl of Airley of which after a few dayes he dyed He was one of Montrose's dearest friends one who had done very good service for the King in England under the Command of his Father-inlaw the Lord Ruthien Earl of Forth and Braineford a man known all the world over for his noble achievements Nor was he lesse a scholler then a souldier being a new ornament to the family of the Oglebyes whose honourable deaths-wounds for his King and Country had no small influence upon that dayes victory Montrose being very much afflicted with the losse of him causeth his body to be carried into Athole where he was interred with as sumptuous a funerall as thaâ— place and those times could afford But the power of the Campbelâ—â— in the Highlands which for these many ages past hath been formidable to their neighbours was by this overthrow clearly broken to pieces and by it also a way opened unto Montrose to do his businesse the more easily thenceforward For the Highlanders being warlike men and let loose from the hated tyranny of Argyle now began to offer themselves willingly unto the Kings service CHAP. IX THe souldier who was almost spent with this sore travell having refreshed himself for a few dayes Montrose measuring over againe Logh-Aber hills returneth to Logh-Nesse And from thence viewing by the way the coasts of Harrick Arne and Narne came to the river of Spey Here he is told that there was no small party of the enemy at Elgin which is the chief town of Murray a Country beyond the Spey Montrose hies towards these either to draw them to his side or to suppresse them but the very report of his advancing blevv avvay that cloud for they in great amazement shifted for themselves every one vvhither he could Montrose neverthelesse goes on his march and takes in Elgin by surrender on the 14. day of February At which time the Lord Gordon eldest son to the Marquesse of Huntley a man who can never bee sufficiently commended for his excellent endowments came off openly to the Kings side from his uncle by whom he had been detained against his will and with not many but very choise friends and clients voluntarily did his duty and offered his service to Montrose as the Kings Deputy and Vicegerent Montrose first welcomed him with all civility and gave him many thanks afterwards when hee came to understand him more inwardly joyned him unto himself in the entirest bonds of friendship and affection Now because the inhabitants of Murray were extreamly addicted to the Convenanters they hid themselves in their lurking places nor were any supplies to be expected from men so maliciously disposed Therefore he drew his Forces to this side the Spey to raise the Countries of Bamph and Aberdene by the presence example authority of the Lord Gordon So having got together what forces he could in those places with two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse passing the river of Dee he came into Marne and encamped not farre from Fettercarne At Brechin some seven miles from thence Sir Iohn Hurray a stout man and an active and famous also in forraigne parts for Military exploits being Generall of the Horse for the Covenanters had the Command over the whole Forces there Hee came out with six hundred Horse to discover the strength of Montrose he conceived Montrose had but very few Foot and no Horse and if he should but descend into the plain hee made account to make short work with him and howsoever it should happen he made no question but to secure himself Montrose to draw him on hid the rest of his men in a bottome and made shew only of his two hundred horse but lined them as he used with his nimblest Musquetiers Which Horse when Hurrey saw and observed they were so few he drew up his men and charged But when he perceived too late the Foot that ran close after Montrose's Horse he sounded a retreat and Hurrey himself turning his men before him behaved himself stoutly in the rear When they turned their backs Montrose's souldiers drive on let fly and lay about them untill being got over te river of Eske the enemy scarce safe under the protection of Night betook themselves to shelter nor did they think themselves secure till after a race of four and twenty miles long they came to Dundee Then they that had pursued them so far returned to Fethercarne and thence the next day to Brechin Here Montrose understod that Batly a Commander of great account had been fetched out of England to be Generall of the enemies Forces that Hurrey with his Horse was joyned unto him and that they had in their Army many olde souldiers brought back out of England and Ireland so that now the Covenanters going about their businesse in so great sadnesse Montrose must expect not only other kind of souldiers but also most expert Commanders to deal with Therefore lest he should chance to be hemb'd in with their Horse in which their chief strength lay he chuseth his most convenient way by the foot of Grainsbaine towards the river of Tay intending also if it were possible to get over the
found them to be two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse hee commanded his men to march speedily away and following the course of the river Erne to make good the fords thereof hee with the few Horse that hee had was their Rear guard lest they should have been troden in pieces by the enemies Cavalry And truly he so valiantly repulsed the fierce assault of the enemy that by killing some and routing others he forced them to a retreat till at last his Foot after six miles march had made themselves masters of the passes of Erne So the enemy retreated with the losse of their labour and Montrose that same night being the 18. of Aprill quartered at Logh-Erne and came the next day to Balwidir where the Earl of Aboine met him who with some few more had escaped out of Carlisle and hearing tydings of Montrose's good successe had at last returned into his Country Leaving Balwidir they advanced to Logh-Catrinet where they receive intelligence that Hurrey had raised great forces in the North and was ready to engage with the Lord Gordon and therefore there was danger that he being an active Souldier and a good Commander should be able to over-master that gallant young Gentleman Therefore Montrose thought it necessary to oppose Hurrey assoon as was possible as well to secure so dear a friend from imminent danger as to be nibbling at the enemies Forces as he found them asunder and to cut off that power by peace-meal which he vvell knew if it vvere all in a body vvould be above his march Therefore by long and continued journeys passing by Balwidir and a Lake of four and tvventy miles long out of vvhich the river of Tay breaks forth through Athole and Angus and over Granshaine through a vale called Glenmuck hee came to the midst of Marre There he joyned vvith the Lord Gordon vvho had novv a thousand Foot and tvvo hundred Horse and marching straight to the Spey laboured to finde out and engage with the enemy Nor vvas he above six miles off vvhen Hurrey thought hee had not yet got over Gransbaine for vvith unvvearied labour and incredible speed he had over-run the very report of himself Hurrey lest a battell should be forced upon him whether he would or no before he had received an addition of numerous Auxiliaries in all hast passeth over the Spey And because he had appointed the Rendezvouz of all his friends at Innernesse hyeth to Elgin nor did Montrose pursue him lazily to Elgine Thence with all speed he passeth to Forresse nor did Montrose make lesse haste to follow and overtake him too at Forresse and sat so close on his skirts for fourteen miles together that notwithstanding he had the advantage of te night hee had much adoe to reach Innernesse The next day Montrose incamped at a village called Alderne and Hurrey according to his hopes found the Earls of Seafort and Suderland the whole sept of the Frasers and most of Murray and Cathnesse and the neighbouring parts to have assembled themselves to Innernesse well appointed To these Hurrey ads some old souldiers of the Garrison of that Town and so drawes up against Montrose He now commanded three thousand and five hundred Foot and four hundred Horse but Montrose who had no more but fifteen hundred Foot and two hundred Horse had a great minde to retire But not only Hurrey pressed so vehemently upon him that it was scarce possible for him to retreat but Baily also vvith a Southern Army much stronger then Hurrey's especially in Horse was novv got already a great vvay on that side Gransbaine and marched in great hast tovvards the Spey What should Montrose do in this condition Hee must of necessity either give Hurrey battell or undergo a far greater hazard of being hemb'd in between two Armies Therefore he resolves to try the fortune of War without delay to commit the successe unto God and chusing the best advantage of ground hee could finde there to expect the assault of the enemy There was a little Town that stood upon the height which shadowed the neighbouring valley some little hills that were higher then the Town behinde it that hindered the discovery of any one till they were just upon him In this valley he drawes up his Forces out of the view of the enemy Before the Town he places a few but expert and choice Foot with his Ordnance who were sheltered with such ditches as they found there The right wing hee commits to Alexander Mac-donel with four hundred Foot and lodged them in places fortified to their hand with banks and ditches with shrubs also and great stones and commands him to preserve himself entire that he might be a reserve upon all occasions and not to depart from his station which had so good a naturall fence that they might lie there safe enough not only from the enemies Horse but Foot also And with the same good advice he committed to his charge that notable Standard of the Kings which only he was wont to carry before him expecting that the enemy upon the sight of that would order the best of their Forces against that wing which by reason of the disadvantage of the place would be rendred wholly unusefull unto them till such time as hee on the left flank should take his best advantage against them And to that end drawing the rest of his Forces to the other side hee commends the Horse to the Lord Gordon and takes charge of the Foot himself Those few that stood before the Town under the shelter and covert of the banks and ditches seemed as if they were his main battell whereas indeed hee had none And for Reserves in that scarcity of men they were not to be thought of The enemy as Montrose most wisely fore saw assoon as they savv the Kings Standard ordered the most part of their Horse and old Souldiers vvherein their chief strength consisted against that And by this time the Van of the enemy began to dispute it with those before the Town and on the right flank and still as their souldiers were spent drew up fresh men which Montrose because his number was but few could not so easily do therefore hee resolved with all his men that he had on the left flank to make a violent assault upon the enemy at once And whiles he was thinking so to do there comes unto him one whom hee knew to be trusty and discreet and whispers him in the ear that Mac-donell with his men on the right flank were put to flight He being a man of a quick spirit thought it was best to forestall the souldiers lest their hearts should faile them upon bad newes and cryes aloud to the Lord Gordon My Lord what doe we doe Mac-donell upon the right hand having routed and discomfited the enemy is upon the execution shall wee stand by as idle spectatours whiles hee carries away the honour of the day And with that hee commands them to charge
all parts and by this time over-numbring him even in Foot labour'd not only to provoke but even compell him to fight Wherupon hee concluded to step aside a little into the neighbouring Mountains whither he knew either the enemy would not advance or if they dit it would be to their losse Therefore the enemy drawing near with all their Army to Methfyn he gives a private command for the Carriages to drive fast up the hills whiles he as if he intended to fight orders the battell makes good the passes with strong guards and drawes up the Horse into the Front Nor did the enemy expect any other then to try it out by battell which hee made as if hee would give till such time as the Carriages were got so farre before that he conceiv'd them out of danger and then he commands the Army in one body at their close order to march away apace He gave charge unto such Horse as he had and his ablest Fire-locks to bring up the Reare to secure them from the enemies Horse The enemy providing for a present charge as they expected when they saw Montrose retreating first pursued eagerly though to no purpose for he making good all passes as he went easily repulsed them and without losse of so much as one private souldier came chearfully off into the heights and steep places that were unaccessible unto the enemies Horse and for their Foot they fear'd no assault from them It is remarkable that when Montrose's Horse were come up unto the passes and the enemy knew very well they were not able to pursue any further lest with all that paines they should seem to have done nothing at all they sent out three hundred of their ablest and readiest Horse to follow after them with a great shout base language whom when Montrose saw he call'd for only twenty active bodied men of the Highlanders that were used to hunting very good marks-men and commanded them to check their insolence and they first of all creeping hither and thither and hiding their guns took their aimes so well that they knockt downe some of the forwardest of those men who being men of the better sort by their example made the rest more wary so that they were all contended to retreat But those good huntsmen being encouraged with their good successe assoon as they saw their enemies disorderâ—d came into the open plain and resolutely charged their Horse who in as much feare as Bucks or Does chased by Hunters set spurs to their Horses and fled back to their maine body as if the Divell were in them The enemy upon their retreat chose that place for their Rendezvouz from whence Montrose departed Methfyn Forrest after they had done nothing worthy to be remembred in all that expedition but that when thy found themselves unable to cope with men they exercised their cruelty upon women for all the wives of the Irish and Highlanders that they light of who followed the Camp for the love of their husbands most basely and shamelesly they hew'd in pieces Montrose kept his quarters at little Dunkeldon both because the place was cumbersome and unpassable for Horse and lay very conveniently for receiving such aids as he daily expected with Aboine out of the North. All which time the two spleenative Armies lying close together rather stood upon their guards then offered any affront one to the other And now at length Aboine and Colonell Nathaniell Gordon brought up their men out of the North to Dunkeldon men for their number indeed fewer then was expect but for their stoutnesse and true valour farre above their number The Horse they brought were only two hundred and some six score Firelocks whom they had mounted and made Dragoons other Foot they brought none Along with them came the Earl of Airley and Sir David his son with fourscore Horse most of them of the noble family of the Oglebyes amongst whom Alexander sonne and heir of Sir Iohn Ogleby of Innercarit was most eminent not onely for the rare accomplishments of his person and the splendor of his Ancestors but for the honour of his valiant and happy atchievements much above what his age could promise Montrose being thus well recruited thought it not good to lose any time but marched straight towards the enemy But assoon as he came to Amonde he thought it best to see in what condition the enemy was to find out whether that was true which he had receiv'd a flying report of that was that very many of their Auxiliaries had deserted their colours and run home Therefore leaving his Foot to take their rest a little before night he fac'd the enemy with his Horse with which sight being somting affrighted they kept within their trenches And next morning early Montrose riding about to discover was informed that they had stollen away at the dead of the night to Methfyn and in disorder had got over a bridge upon the Erne Hee instantly causes his men to march and passing the river at a stone-bridge about six miles off lay that night in Strath-Erne CHAP. XIII FIfe is the most populous the most rich the thickest Country of Towns and Villages in all Scotland Its inhabitants are little martiall consisting most of Merchants Shopkeepers Mariners and Husbandmen But so new fangled in their Religion and so bewitched both by the example and authority of the Nobility and by the Sermons of their seditious Ministers that all of them upon the matter were extremely addicted to the Covenanters The Country it self is almost an Iland being inviron'd towards the South with the Scottish Firth on the North with the Tay which carrieth ships of great burden all along on the East with the maine sea No entrance thither by land but on the West in the straights of which both Armies lay The whole Country was in a distraction some especially their much admired Preachers that thundred nothing but Excommunications inciting and compelling all of every estate and age to take up armes others flocking in great numbers unto them others running hither and thither to hide themselves as every one was led by his own superstition confidence or fear Montrose was very desirous to assault the enemy and try the fortune of a battell with them before they encreas'd their Forces with addition of the Fife-men but it would not be For they had so forâ—ified themselves by the advantage of the ground and the narownesse of the passages that hee could by no means either make his way unto them or draw them out into plainer ground Having therefore made them severall fruitlesse offers of battell he resolved to march into the heart of the Country and came to Kinrosse as well to hinder the rising of that Country as to traine the enemy at last out of their fastnesse to come in unto the aid of their distressed friends They not so much as daring to fall upon his Rear turn'd another way and keeping close to the banke first of
the Erne afterwards of the Tay made speed towards the East-side of the Conntry As Montrose passed along he sent Colonell Nathaniell Gordon and Sir William Rollock before him with a small party These sending the rest of their party up and down to scout kept only ten men in their company on a sudden they happened upon two hundred of the enemy who were raising meÌ„ in those parts and being not able to retreat they twelve encountred the two hundred put them to flight kill'd some and took other some prisoners Montrose that night came to Kinrosse not doubting but they of Fife who were exceedingly out of love with the King most firm to the Covenanters and wholly given to the new superstition were generally up in armes Therefore thinking it not safe rashly to engage with so great a multitude of Horse and Foot hee determin'd to passe over the Forth and that upon this ground that he having wearied out the Fife-men whom he beleev'd would not bee easily perswaded to follow the Army further then their own borders with long marches might vanquish them without a blow For he accounted that most of them being born or brought up in shops or ships or taverns not acquainted with the hardship of souldiers would presently give out and be weary Besides such of the Nobility as were in rebellion after they saw with sorrow that the seat of the Warre was drawn so near them as the Forth were raising men with more eagernesse then ever before upon the Borders in the West of whom the chief were the Earls of Lanerick Cassils and Eglington Whose levies Montrose laboured either to hinder or draw themselves to his side before they came up to Baily and the Fife-men therefore hee marched from Kinrosse towards Sterling and lay that night some three miles from the City The next day sending the Foot before he followed softly after with the Horse because hee suspected that the enemy pursued him in the Rear Nor was he deceived in that suspition for some Espyals whom he left behinde him brought word that Baily was hard by with the greatest Army that ever he had And immediately the enemies Scouts came within view one of whom having been too forward was brought prisoner to Montrose by some of his Horse He being examined told them freely and confidently that he beleeved Baily and his party were resolved to march all that night to engage him to fight assoon as was possible before they dismist the Fife-men who being already tir'd he hardly beleev'd would be drawne over the Forth accounting their work at an end assoon as the enemy was gone out of their own Country Therefore Montrose that he might get speedily over the Forth bid his men march apace and going on the other side of Sterling a good Town and one of the Kings strongest Castles in which the enemy had now a great garrison that same night passed over the river at a Ford about four miles above the Town And at break of day next morning made a halt a while about six miles from Sterling where he had intelligence that the enemy the night before had not come over the Forth but quartered three miles from Sterling on the other side of the river Therefore Montrose holding on his intended journey encamped himself in that fatall place the Field of Kilsythe He bids the souldiers to refresh themselves but however to be in a readinesse either to fight or march as occasion should serve The enemy the mean while by an easier and shorter cut got over the Forth at Sterling bridge and encamped at night some three miles from Kilsythe In the interim the Earl of Lanerick Duke Hamilton's brother had rais'd a thousand Foot and five hundred Horse of the friends and clients of the Hamiltons in Cluidsdale and the places adjacent anâ— was not at present above twelve miles from Kilsythe And the Earls of Cassils Eglington and Glencarne with others of the Covenanting Nobility were engaging the West unto the same impious Militâ—a who were so much the readier to take up armes by how much they had lesse felt the miseries of warre Which things being well considered Montrose thought it best to fight with those Forces which Baily had at present For although they were more numerous then his own yet the danger was like to be greater of his side if he should be put to engage with them when Lanericks other parties were com up But moreover hee was either obliged to take this course or do nothing and return back into the Highlands with the blemish of that Honour which by so many victories he had atchiev'd The enemy on the other side being arrogant and confiding in the multitude of their men beleevâ—d that Montrose had but made a running march the dayes before and had passed the Forth more out of fear then designe so that they counted it nothing to assault him in that ground and entrenchment which hee had chosen to his best advantage And above all their proud hopes were most carefull of this to block up all wayes of his escape and to prevent his return into the Mountains But there are some that say Baily himself thought it not best to give him battell but was over-sway'd by the authority and votes of the Earl of Lindsey especially and some other of the Nobility that were present in the Army which forc't him much against stomack to draw up his men and order the battell as he could However it was early in the morning they led their men straight upon Montrose which when he saw he told the standers by that that was happen'd which he most desired for now hee could supply his want of men by the advantage of the ground and therefore he made haste to possesse himself of the fastnesses before them Moreover hee commands all his men as wel Horse as Foot to throw off their doublets and to affront the enemy all in white being naked unto the waste all but their shirts which when they had chearfully performed they stood there provided and ready to fight resolved certainly either to conquer or die In the field where they intended to fight there were some Cottages and Country-gardens where Montrose had conveniently lodg'g some few men and the first design of the enemy was to dislodge them But it took not for making a fierce assault and being as stoutly receiv'd assoon as they were observ'd to cool something of their first heat those that mann'd the places beat them off drave them away and slew them without resistance The Highlanders being animated with this happy successe those that were next those places not expecting the word of Command ran rashly up the hill wich lay open to the whole strength of the enemy Montrose although hee was something troubled at the unseasonable boldnesse of his men yet thought it not good to leave them engaged nor was it easie to say whetheâ— the quicknesse of his relief or the cowardlinesse oâ— the enemy
These were fair words and a first hearing seem'd to carry an honest meaning along with them but were promised with that kind of faith that the Creatures and Favourites of the too indulgent King are used to keep And perhaps upon that score he Earl of Lanerick Duke Hamiltons brother is more to be commended whom Montrose having earnestly sollicited by friends to come off to the Kings side although that way he might very likely expect his pardon for what was past and the releasement of his brother yet without any dissimulation he gave this peremptory answer That he would have nothing te doe with that side and that he would never pretend that friendship which he intended not to preserve And I would to God all they on whom the good King has too much relied had delivered themselves with the same candor and plain dealing ever since the beginning of those troubles About the same time Montrose sent the Marquess of Douglasse and the Lord Ogilby over into Anandale and Niddisdale that there with the assistance of the Earls of Anandale and Hartfield they might list a many souldiers Horse especially as they could And gives them orders withall to march with such as they should so raised towards Trequaire Roxborough and Hume that they might engage them without any further put offs in an association with them For Montrose understood a little what Court-holy-water meant and therefore was something suspitious of the delayes which they fram'd the rather having had some experience of their cunning and slipperinesse especially of Trequaires And truly Douglasse by the chearfull endeavours of the Earls of Anandale and Hartfield had quickly raised a considerable party if one count them by the head but they were new men taken from their plowes and flocks and but raw soldiers forward enough at the first charge but by and by their hearts faile them and they can by no means be kept to their colours When Douglasse and the rest of the Commanders considered this they write againe and againe to Montrose that he would make haste after them with his old souldiers towards Tweed for by his presence and authority and the company and example of the old souldiers they might be brought either willingly or whether they would or no to know their duties In the meane time according to his command they go on to Strathgale freely offering an opportunity and their service if it needed to Roxborough and Trequaire to draw out their men the more easily and timely But they good men who well enough understood the secretest counsels of the Covenanters and knew that all their Horse would be there immediately out of England under the command of David Lesley intended nothing more then to over-reach the King with their old tricks and to deliver Montrose whose glory they envied into the hands of his enemies though not by armes for that they could not yet by treachery To that end they insinuate againe and againe not only unto Douglasse and his party but to Montrose himself by their friends and frequent messengers that for their parts they were ready to expose their persons to the utmost hazard but they could never be able to draw together their friends clients and Trained bands except they were animated and couraged with Montrose his presence And that they might be the better beleeved they curse themselves to the pit of hell if they did not stand stifly and unalterably to their promise Montrose notwithstanding was not taken with all this but staid still at Bothvvell conceiving that if there were any truth or honesty in their words Douglasse and his party who still lay in the Country adjacent would be sufficient for the raising and encouraging of their friends and dependents At length when Montrose had quartered a great while at Bothvvell most of the Highlanders being loaden with spoile ran privily away from their colours and returned home Presently after their very Commanders desired Furloghs for a little while pretending that the enemy had not an Army in the field within the borders of that Kingdom and therefore their service for the present might well be spared besides they complained that their houses and corn in and with which their parents wives children were to be sustained that winter were fired by the enemy and no provision made for them so that they humbly desired to be excused for a few weeks in which they might take care to secure their families from hunger and cold Also they solemnly and voluntarily engaged their words that they would return many more then they went and much refreshed within forty dayes These Montrose seeing he could not hold them as being Voluntiers fighting without pay that he might the more engage them thought fit to dismisse them not only with Licences but Commissions And giving publick commendations to the souldiers and thanks in his Majesties name to the Commanders exhorting them to follow their businesse closely vigorously he appoints Alexander Mac-donell their Countriman and Kinsman who was but too ambitious of that employment to be their companion and guide who should bring them back to the Camp by the day appointed Who in a set speech gave thanks in all their names to the Lord Governour for his so noble favour and as if he had been their Baile or surety with a solemne oath ondertook for their sudden return yet hee never saw Montrose after Nor was he contended to carry away with him the whole Forces of the Highlanders who were more then three thousand stout mē but he privily drew away sixscore of the best Irish as if forsooth he had pick't thē out for his Live guard About this very time many messengers came severall wayes to Bothwell from the King at Oxford Amongst whom one was Andrevv Sandiland a Scotch-man but bred in England entred into holy Orders there a very upright man faithfull to the King and much respected by Montrose who continued constantly with him unto the end of the War Another was Sir Robert Spotswood once the most deserving President of the highest Court in Scotland and now his Majesties Secretary for that Kingdome who passed from Oxford through Wales into Anglesey and thence getting a passage into Loghaber came into Athole and was conducted by the men of Athole unto Montrose Almost all the Agents that came brought this Instruction amongst the rest That it was his Majesties pleasure that hee should joyne unto himself the Earls of Roxbourogh and Trequaire and consider in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity and industry no question vvas to be made Moreover that he should make haste towards the Tweed vvhere hee should meet a party of Horse vvhich the King vvould instantly dispatch out of England to bee commanded by him with vvhom hee might safely give battell to David Lesly if as vvas 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
evidently known by good tokens of the Earl of Seaford and others As for Huntley Aboine they did not only professe themselves open enemies to Montrose but also threatned to fall upon him by force of armes if he did not immedaitely submit to the Kings authority And Antrim being newly arrived out of Ireland in the HighlaÌ„ds without either men or arms busied himself to draw away all the Highlanders as his kindred and allies to himself from Montroses Army whom in scorn he call'd the Governour of the Low-lands making by this means an unseasonable fraction and apernicious one to his friends in those parts All which Montrose having well considered he was forced according to the Kings Command to disband his Army And truly that was amost sad day in which having solemnly prais'd and encourag'd his souldies as well as the occasion permitted he took his leave of them For although he bid theÌ„ to be of good comfort however and told them he saw some day-light of a blessed peace and that he did as much service to the King by his present submission as he had done before by his Martiall atchievements Yet notwithstanding they all conceiv'd that that was the last day of the Kings Authority in Scotland and all of theÌ„ beleeved for certaine that those Commands from the King were wrested from him upon the apprehension of greater dangers to his person if he had not given them And although some provision had been made by Articles in writing for their Indempnity yet they had rather have undergone the worst that could fall then survive idle unserviceable spectators of the miserable condition of their dearest King And it was no little vexation to those generous spirits to think what an unworthy opinion forraign Nations and their own posterity must needs have of them as if all the Scottish Nation had been unanimously guilty of Rebellion desertion of so good a King Besides their sorrow was much augmented with the consideration that their Generall who was most valiant most successefull and therefore most beloved should be taken off so unhappily from the King from his Country from themselves and all good men So that his souldiers falling down at his feet entreated him with tears in their eyes that seeing the safety of the Kings person depended so much upon it and he must of necessity depart the Kingdom he would be pleased to take them along with him into what part of the world soever he went Professing their readinesse to live and fight any where under his command and if God would have it so to die too And truly many of them were resolved though to the certain hazard of their lives and estates to follow him even against his will and knowledge and to offer him that service in an unknown land that they were able to afford him no longer in their miserable Country By the Articles to which the King had consented according to the desires of the Covenanters it was especially provided that Montrose should depart Scotland before the first of September and that they should finde him shipping vvith provision and all things necessary vvhen he went These things were transacted the first of August and a Port in Angus designed for Montrose whither they were to send shipping from whence he vvas to imbark And Montrose to prevent and remove all occasions of exception or suspition being accompanied only with his own servants a very few frieÌ„ds betook himself thither and waited for the shipping About this time his most implacable Enemies set abroad crafty feigned reports by their fit instruments wherein they confidently averred that the States of the Kingdome as they call'd themselves would by no means suffer that so gallant a Subject should be banished the Country For they knew not how great need they might have of a man of his worth especially if the King who had cast himself freely upon the affections of the Scots could not get any right of the English but should be put to seek it by force and armes and if it came to that no age had afforded a better Generall then Montrose And truly that was the earnest desire and expectation of most men who were not able to dive into the bottom of the Rebels plots but they had farre other designes in hand and another game to play For what their thoughts were tovvards the King the sad event made too manifest and for Montrose they laid very unconscionable unworthy traps to catch him For they did this that if they could flatter him up with such vain hopes entice him to stay in the Kingdome beyond his time appointed they might take hold of him upon the Articles cut him of with more credit August vvas almost spent and no news at all vvas to be had about the shipping or safe conduct therefore Montrose although he was resolved to be gone by the day the King had limited that he might the more fully grope the intentions of the Covenanters gave leave to some of his friends to deale with them for further time But when they brought him nought but uncertain doubtfull answers he had reason to think they intended nothing but to delude intrap him Besides vvhich made his suspition so much the greater there came a ship upon the very last day allowed for his stay to wit on the last of August into the haven of Montrose The Master of it was not only a stranger to him but a most rude and violent abettor of the Rebels the Sea-men and Souldiers men of the same temper malicious dogged ill-condition'd the ship it self neither victualled nor fit to goe to Sea So that vvhen Montrose shew'd himself ready to depart and bad them hoise their Sailes assoon as they could the Master of the ship told him that he must have some dayes allowed him to pitch and rigge his ship before he durst aduenture himself to the winde and vvaves And then making great brags of himself and his ship he drew forth a Commission vvhich the Covenanters had given him vvherein he vvas required to transport the passengers to certain places assigned by themselves and to carry no body else Moreover there lay great English ships and men of war every day in sight about the month of the River of Eâ—k vvhich makes the haven of Montrose attending there in favour of the Rebels for their much desired booty that by no means he might escape their hands But Montrose had sufficient notice of these treacheries and wanted not some friends of the Covenanters themselves who informed him by frequent messages that the Sea was sore pester'd with the English Navy and he could not escape safely either into France or the Low-Countries that the haven was upon the matter block't up in which he was to take shipping and therefore it was very perillous for him to go to Sea that his Enemies look't for nothing else then that either by making too long stay in his own Country he should fall into the hands of the Scottish Covenanters or by going he should be surprised unarm'd unawares by the English Rebells Montroses friends that were with him were of opinion that it was best for him in so apparant a danger to return into the Highlands draw his men together again conceiving that he had better trust the fortune of war then so perfidious a peace But be forbore to take that course especially because of his most ardent affection to the King For he was assured if the war brake forth again it would be laid upon the King though undeservedly and so he should bring his Person into present danger perhaps as much as his life was worth Therefore being straightned on every side one vvay vvith treachery plotted against his ovvne another against the Kings anointed head he determined with an unalterable resolution to bearall the burden upon his own shoulders And therefore he vvithdrevv himself not out of rashnesse as if he despair'd of safety at the worst but out of sage discreet deliberation For when he had smelt out the plots of the Rebels before-hand he had sent some a good while agoe to search diligently the Havens in the North and if they chanced to finde any outlandish-vessell to agree with the Master for the fraught and to appoint him to be ready to put to Sea at such a day and to transport the passengers which should be ready with him by the help of God into Norway By good fortune there was found in the haven of Stanhyve a small bark of Bergen in Norway and the Master was soon agreed with for he was very glad of the opportunity having hopes for getting Thither Montrose sent away Sir Iohn Hurrey Iohn Drummond of Ball Henry Graham his brother Iohn Spotswoad nephew to that great Sir Robert Iohn Lily a Captain of approved skill and courage Patrick Melvin such another George Wischeart Docter of Divinity David Guttherey a stout young Gentleman Pardus Lasound a French-man once a servant to the noble Lord Gordon after wards entertained for his Masters sake by Montrose himself one Rodolph a German an honest trusty young man a few servants more And these he had pick't out to carty a long with him whithersoever he vvent for this reason especially because he knevv the Rebels to be so maliciously bent against most of them then they could not be safe for never so little a vvhile in that Country And they on the third of September having a good vvinde put forth to sea for Norway And the same evening Montrose himself accompanied only with one Iames Wood a worthy Preacher by a small cock-boat got into a Bark which lay at anchot without the Haven of Montrose and being clad in a course suit the Lord and Patron passed for his Chaplains servant This was in the year of our Lord 1646. the 34. year of his age FINIS
Menises and other Highlanders who still followed Arg yles fortune were reported to make up some fifteen hundred men and were ready to invade Athole â—nlesse timely opposed And truly they had already 〈◊〉 red an Iland in Logh-Torchet after they had taken it bâ— force pillaged it had besieged Ample Castle whicâ— lyeth on the side of the river of that name Which aâ— soon as they had intelligence of the Athole-men being only seven hundred in all under the command 〈◊〉 the aforesaid Graham Drummond thought best to oppose them before they brake in into their Countrey They upon the alarme of the advance of the Athole 〈◊〉 raised the siege of Ample retreated toward Taich Thâ— Athole-men pursued them hotly finde them in battell-aray not farre from Kalendar a Castle of Taich Foâ— they had possessed a ford and manned the bank on the other side which was fortified with a steep hill with a number of musquetiers Which when the Athole-men saw perceived that their Forces were not so strong as was reported for they had not above twelve hundred men although they themselves were scarce seven hundred strong yet being heartned by the gallantry and encouragement of their Commanders they were resolved not to stay to receive the enemies charge but to charge them Therefore they place a hundred good souldiers over against the enemy as it were to make good the Ford on the other side the rest marched away unto another Ford near the Castle that they might get over the river there The Arg ylians when they perceived the Athole-men so resolute retreat straight towards Sterling Then first of all those Athole-men that were left below at the Ford possesse themselves of the bank which the enemy had quit after that they fall upon the Rear of the retreaters cut off som scatter others drive others forward the rest of the Athole-men following hard after put them all to flight Fourscore of them were slain the rest escaped by flight who fared the better because that same morning the Athole meÌ„ had had a foule â—edious march of ten miles long had no horse at all to help theÌ„selves So they having come of with credit returned home At that time the Rebells held their Convention of Estates at Saint Andrews which they polluted with the Innocent and I feare crying bloud of men never sufficiently to be commended They had amongst their priâ—oners some very eminent men as appeared by the hatred the Rebells bare them for they scarce sought the bloud of any but the best of men but for others of whom they were not so much affraid they satisfied themselves only with their Sequestration Plunder amongst whoÌ„ were the Lord Ogleby Sir William Spotswood William Murray a noble young Gentleman and Andrew Gutherey a stout Gentleman an active whom they determied to put to death in that City to appease the Ghosts of the meÌ„ of that Province with their bloud of whom it is reported above five thousand had been slaine in severall battells Now because they intended not to proceed against them by Law but according to their own lusts they have recourse to their old shifts make Religion draw the curtaine over their cruelty To which purpose they set up their Prophets Kant and Blaire others that were possessed with the same spirit who â—oar'd out of their Pulpits bloudy Oracles before the people That God required the bloud of those men nor could the sins of the Nation be otherwise expiated or the revenge of heaven diverted And by this art especially they provoked the hearts of the people otherwise inclined to pity to thinke upon them as accursed things and own'd and devoted to destruction perswading them that they oughâ— to have no protection of humane Lawes nor any Advocate to plead for them whom God himself indited and accus'd Nor did those excellent interpreters and deciders of Gods secret will make any scruple to sentence the soules and bodies and all of so great Delinquents unto hell and damnation And having by this means blinded the people it was easie for them who were their accusers judges both to condemne the innocent men who were destitute of al patronage and protection But Ogleby who was not onely the most eminent of them for Nobility and powr but also was a Hamilton by his mothers side and cousen-german to Lindsey pretending himself sick with much adoe got so much favour as to have his mother wife and sisters suffered to visite him in prison Which when he had obtain'd whilst his keepers in reverence to the honourable Ladies vvithdrevv out of his chamber he immediately puts on his sisters govvne vvhich she had put off and vvas dressed in all her attire She also put on his cap in vvhich he used to lie sick in bed and lay dovvn instead of her brother At last many salutations and some tears passing on both sides at eight of the clock in the night in the habite and likenesse of his sister he deceived his keepers vvho lighted him out vvith caÌ„dles and torches And immediately departing the City he took a horse vvhich he had laid for him vvith tvvo of his followers and before morning was got out of danger But when the next day his observant keepers had found out their mistake Arg yle was so unable to containe his wrath and revenge that he would needs have the noble Ladies and the more noble for this their compassion and adventure brought in question for it But he could not effect it for by reason of the equity of their cause they found much stronger frieÌ„ds then he could of the Hamiltons and Lindsey by whose connivence it is conceived by many that all this Comedy was acted but in a thing that is uncertaine I shall determine nothing This cleanly conveiance of Ogleby out of their hands vext the Rebells exceedingly and made them almost wilde whence it happened that they made a quick dispatch of the rest And the first that suffered was Colonell Natâ—aniel Gordon a man of excellent endowments both of body and minde Who being near unto his death bitterly lamented with many tears that the carriage of his youth had been much otherwise then it ought to have been And when being ready to die they offered him an Instrument to signe wherein he vvas to testifie his repentance he subscribed it without any more adoe and withall call'd God and his Angels and the men there present to witnesse that if any thing was contained in that paper which vvas contrary to the King his Crown or authority he utterly disavovved it Then being absolved from the sentence of Excommunication under vvhich he lay for adultery long since committed to the great grief of the beholders he laid down his neck upoÌ„ the block A man subject indeed to that fault but famous for his valour souldiership both in forraign Countries and at home The next that was brought upon the Scaffold yet reeking with the bloud of
Colonell Gordon was a man worthy of everlasting memory Sir Robert Spotswood one rais'd by the favour of King Iames King Charles unto great honours as his singular vertues did merit King Iames made him a Knight a privy Counsellor King Charles advanced him to be Lord President of the Session and now but of late Principall Secretary of Scotland This excellent man although his very Enemies had nothing to lay to his charge through all his life they found guilty of high Treason which is yet the more to be lamented because he never bore armes against them for his eminency lay in the way of peace not knowing what belong'd to drawing of a Sword This was therefore the onely charge that they laid against him That by the Kings command he brought his letters PateÌ„ts unto Montrose whereby he was made Vice-roy of the Kingdome and General of the army Neverthelesse he proved at large that he had done nothing in that but according to the custom of their Ancestors the Lawes of the land And truly he seemed in his most elegant Defence to have given satisfaction to all men except his judges whom the Rebells had pick't out from amongst his most malicious enemies that sought his death so that questioÌ„lesse they would never have pronounc'd that dolefull sentence if they had but the least tincture of Iustice or honesty But to speak the truth a more powerfull envy then his Innocency was able to struggle with undid the good man For the Earl of Lanerick having been heretofore Principal Secretary of the Kingdome of Scotland by his revolt unto the Rebells forced the most gracious and bountifull King to the whole family of the Hamiltons to take that Office froÌ„ so unthankfull a man bestow it on another nor was there any one found more worthy theÌ„ Spotswood to be advanced to so high an honour And hence happened that great weight of envy revenge to be thrown upon him which seeing he was not able to bear out he was forced to fall under And now Spotswood being about to die abating nothing of his wonted constancy and gravity according to the custome of the Country made a Speech unto the people But that Sacrilegious thief Blair who stood by him upon the Scaffold against his wil fearing the eloquence and undauntednesse of so gallant a man lest the mysteries of Rebellion should be discovered by one of his gravity and authority unto the people who use most attentively to hear and tenaciously to remember the words of dying men procured the Provost of the City who had been once a servant to Spotswoods Father to stop his mouth Which insolent and more then ordinary discourtesie he took no notice of but letting his Speech unto the people alone he wholly bestowed himself in devotions and prayers to Almighty God Being interrupted againe that very importunately by that busie and troublesom fellow Blair and asked Whether he would not have him and the people to pray for the salvation of his soule He made answer That he desired the Prayers of the people but for his impious Prayers which were abominable unto God he desir'd not to trouble him And added moreover That of all the plagues with which the offended Majesty of God had scourged that Nation this was much the greatest greater then the Sword or Fire or Pestilence that for the sins of the people God had sent a lying Spirit into the mouth of the Prophets With which free undeniable saying Blaire finding himself galled grew so extremely in passion that he could not hold from scurrilous contumelious language against his father who had beeÌ„ long dead against himself who was now a dying aproving himself a fine Preacher of Christian patience Longanimity the while But all these things Spotswood having his minde fixed upon higher matters passed by with silence and unmoved At last being undaunted shewing no alteration neither in his voyce nor countenance when he laid down his neck to the fatal stroke these were his last words Mercifull Iesu gather my soule unto thy Saints and Martyrs who have run before me in this race And certainly seeing Martyrdome may be undergone not only for the CoÌ„fession of our Faith but for any vertue by which holy men make their Faith manifest there is no doubt but he hath received that Crown And this was the end a dolefull end indeed in regard of us but a joyfull and honourable one in him of a man admirable for his knowledge of things Divine and Humane for his skill in the Tongues Hebrew Chaldee Syriack Arabick besides the Western Languages for his knowledge in History Law Politiques the Honour and Ornament of his Country and our Age for the integrity of his life for his Fdelity for his Iustice for his Constancy a man of an even temper and ever agreeing with himself whose Youth had no need to be ashamed of his Child-hood nor his riper years of his Youth a severe observer of the oldâ— fashion'd pieâ—y with all his soule yet one that was no vain iâ—perstitious Profesâ—our of it before others a man easie to be made a friend very hard to be mad an Enemy and who being now dead was exceedingly lamented eveÌ„ by many Covenanters His breathâ—esse body Hugh Scrimiger once his fathers seâ—vant took care to bring foâ—th as the times would permit with a private funerall Nor was he long able to bear so great a sorrow losse for after a few dayes spying that bloudy Scaffold not yet removed out of the place immediately he fell into a svvoon and being carried home by his servants and neighbours died at his very door Lastly they give unto Spotswood another companion in death Andrew Gutherey son unto the most deserving Bishop of Murray and hated the more by the Rebeâ—s for that A youth as well valiant in battell as constant in suffering and contemning death He also vvas threatned rail'd at by the same Blaire but answered That no greater honour could have be done him then to be put to an honest death in the behalfe of so good a King and so just a Cause which those that were present should see he embraced without fear and perhaps another generation would not report without praise For his sins he humbly begged mercy aâ—d forgivenesse at the hands of his most gracious LordGod but for that for which he stood there condemned he was not much troubled After this manner died with constancy and courage a man who if Almighty God had so thought fit had beeÌ„ worthy of a longer life And that now they might put the last Scene to a Tragedy of which most part was acted after two dayes breathing they brought forth William Murray brother to the Earl of Tullibardin a young Gentlemen to the same place And truly every man much admired that his brother being in great favour esteem amongst the Covenanters had not interceded for the life and safety of his own onely