they did nothing Besides the Lord Gordon Huntley's eldest sonne a man of singular worth and accomplishment was detained by Argyle his â—ncle by the Mothers side the Earle of Aboine the second Son was inclosed within the siege of Carlisle and Lewes another Son was of the Enemies side so that there was no one of Huntley's family under whose authority they should take up Armes Notwithstanding Montrose quartered there a great while in which time almost every other night marching seven or eight or ten miles with a party of light Foot for Horse he had few or none he used to give Alarmes to the Enemy beat up their quarters put them to flight and frequently to bring home Horse and Men Prisoners And because he alwayes brought his men safe off it was strange to see how cheerfull daring his Souldiers were so that though their number was not great there was nothing that he would lead them on unto that seemed great to them At last when he despaired of any good to be done with the Gordons at the end of October he removed from Starthbogy and came to Faivy Castle and possest it There he was like to have been utterly undone by the bad and false intelligence his scouts in whom he put great confidence brought unto him concerning the Enemy for those whom they perswaded him were scarce got over Grainsbaine were on a sudden encamped within two miles of him Argyle and Lothian had there two thousand five hundred Foot twelve hundred Horse Montrose now when Mac-donell was absent with a party had fifteen hundred Foot and about fifty Horse If he should have descended into the Plain with so small strength it had been madnesse and to keep a Castle and no strong one neither he thought dishonourable and derogatory to the credit of his late victories Therefore he bethought himself of another course he drawes his Men up unto a higher hill vvhich over-look't the Castle The soile of the Hill vvas rough and there vvere hedges also and ditches cast up there by the Husbandmen for the sences of their Fields vvhich vvere almost as usefull as Breastvvorks But before he had appointed every one his ground to dravv up in those fevv of Huntley's dependants vvhich accompanied Montrose from Strathbogy in the sight of all people fairly betooke them to their heels And on the other side the Enemy driving fiercely up the Hill made themselves masters of no small part of it vvhich if they had been able to maintaine vvith the same vigour that they had obtained it Montrose had been a lost man vvhose Souldiers discouraged both by the timorous flight of some of their owne and the multitude of their Enemies forces were wel neare ready to turne their backs them Montrose presently put life and courage into by his ovvn example and presence by putting them in minde of their former atchievements and their ovvne sence of their vvonted provvesse Moreover he thus bespake a young Irish Gentleman one Colonell O Kyan Go thy way O Kyan with such men as thou hast at hand and drive me those fellows out of yonder Ditches that we may be no more troubled with them The gallantry of O Kyan Montrose had often seen and commended nor did that truly valiant Man deceive the Generalls opinion of him for he quickly ferretted the Enemy out of the Ditches though they much out-numbred his men and vvere seconded vvith a party of Horse And not onely so but gained some bagges of Povvder vvhich the Enemy had left behinde them for haste a very seasonable pray of vvhich they had great need Nor doth a notable example of the forwardnesse of the Souldiers seem to me unvvorthy in this place to be remembred for one of them looking upon the bagges of Povvder What saith he have they given us no Bullets Mary but we must fetch Bullets too from those sparing distributors of Ammunition As if it had been altogether the Enemies duty to provide theÌ„ necessaries for the Warre In the meane time his Horse which were but fifty being disposed in a place of danger he timely secured them by lining them with Musketiers For Lothain charged them with five whole troops who before they had crossed over half a Field that lay between them being scared with our shot wheel'd about and returned to the place from whence they came Montrose's men being encouraged with these two successes could hardly be kept of from falling on with a shout upon the whole body of the Enemy whom Montrose refraines rather with a kind of commendatioÌ„ of them as was meet then reproof only bids every one know his own duty and vvait his commands Towards night Argyle having done nothing to any purpose retreats two miles off and slept not that night But the next day vvhen he vvas told that Montrose's Souldiers had great scarcity of Powder and Bullet drawing his men into the same ground againe he made as though he vvould have charged up the hill and beaten Montrose out of his hold But vvhen his heart failed him in that enterprise besides some skirmishes between small parties while the main bodies kept their ground there vvas nothing done that day neither All this while Montroseâ—ends â—ends for all dishes and flaggons and chamber-pots and what other pewter vessels could be had and caused them to be melted into Bullet yet when that was done the Souldiers had not enough With which great inconvenience the Souldiers were so little troubled that one as often as he made a shot which he presumed never missed he would say merrily to his Camerades As sure as can be I have broken one Traytors face with a Chamber-Pot Nor wil any one wonder if Montrose's men were oft in want of Powder and other necessaries for Warre when he considers they had no other vvay to supply themselves vvith them but out of their Enemies stocke And novv the second day being almost spent Argyle vvithdrawes his men over the river the way that they came three Scotch miles vvhich make sone dutch mile off The time was thus spent at Faivy for severall dayes Argyle carrying nothing away with that great Army but disgrace among his friends and contempt among his enemies for it was wholly imputed to his cowardise that there he had not made an absolute conquest At last Montrose least by marching away in the day time he might have some of his Rear cut of by the Enemies Horse takes the advantage of the night to returne to Strathbogy were he intended to make some stay both because the câ—agginesse of the Countrey was a good security to his Souldiers against the incursions of the Enemies Horse and because it was near those places from vvhence he dayly expected Mac-donell with vvhat Highlanders he could raise The next day the Enemy pursues him vvith an intention to force him to fight vvith them in the open Field and truly assoone as they came in sight of them drawing up their Men they made ready to Battell as
if they would have fallen on with all their Power But a forlorne hope of Highlanders was sent before by Argyle to engage Montrose in a light skirmish who were manfully entertained and repulsed Then Montrose having possessed himselfe of the highest ground Argyle alters his resolution thinkes upon that which was more safe and lesse honourable He desires a Cessation proposes that engagements may be given on both sides for a Conference Treaty yet at the same time he did not onely tempt the Souldiers to forsake Montrose by promising them indemnity rewards to boot but which is a shame to say even of an enemy set a great price upon Montrose's head to be paid unto any assassine or murtherer that should bring it in Of which when Montrose was well assurred who well knew the disposition of the man to be more bent to overreach and betray then to fight with his enemy he thought nothing concerned him more then with all speed to bring of those small Forces he had as farre as he could both from Argyle's Hose and knavery Therefore calling a counsell of Warre he declares his opinion they all aprove his wisdome and promise to continue their fidelity and their best endeavours to serve him Therefore he resolveth upon a long march the next night as farre as Badenoth and that the Souldiers might be lighter for so great a journey he sent the Carriages before with a guard bid the souldiers make themselves ready against the next day as if they were to fight And now the Carriages were on the way when on a sudden newes came that Forbes of Cregaver a prisoner to whom upon the engagement of his Honour for his true imprisonment Montrose had given the liberty of the Camp and that Sibbalds who besides Rollock was onely of his counsell and company when he came out of England and some others had made an escape an run away to the enemy He was troubled at the perfidiousnesse of the men and justly suspected that they to ingratiate themselves with the enemy would betray his counsells Therefore he straight called bake the Convoy with the Carriages seemed as if he had wholly altered his resolutions But indeed he altered them not but thought it fit to delay them for a time that the intelligence which the Enemy received from his fugitives might appear unto them idle and uncertain But after four dayes he sent the Carriages away again before him making fires through all the Camp he placed all the Horse he had vvithin view of the Enemy as if they kept their guard there till such time as the Foot vvere marched farre enough from danger and then brought the Horse also safe off and all by break of day came to Balveny And novv being safe from having their quarters beaten up by the Enemies Horse and they no further pursuing it being also the very deep of vvinter he allovved a fevv dayes unto the refreshment of his Souldiers And at this time especially Argyle began to appear in his owne Colours and his subtilties vvere manifested For most of the Noblemen Gentlemen prime souldiers that were vvith Montrose vvho setting aside Irishmen and Highlanders had more Commanders then private Souldiers in his Army deserted him and fell off to Argyle Some of them pretended sicknesse others disability to make such long marches in winter time overmountains uninhabited unpassable full of nothing but stones bryars for the most part deep in snow and never travelled over by any man alive And therefore sore against their wills as they said and being compelled to depart by an extream necessity they disired his Passe which he denyed to none that ask't but yet look't upon them rather with a kinde of indignation scorn then approbation or compassion Nor can one easily say how much the example of such mē weakened his Forces howmuch it disheartned many that intended to have listed themselves under his Command But the old Lord Ogleby the Earl of Airly a man of threescore years old and no◠very healthy neither together with two of his Sons most worthy of such a Father Sir Thomas Sir David could never be perswaded even in the extreamest hazard of their lives to depart from him CHAP. VIII MOntrose returning from Balveny to Badenoth met a very faithful intelligencer who gave him notice that Argyle with his Foot for his Horse were gone to their Winter quarters lay at Dunkeldon and that from thence he used all his industry to perswade the Athole men to revolte He although he was assured of their loyalty neverthelesse vvith incredible hast goes down into Athole For in one night he marched with his Forces four and twenty Miles through vvayes untrodden untilled full of Snow vvaste and never inhabited by mortall man to the intent he might fall upon Argyle whiles he had not his Horse about him But he being frighted with the report of his coming when Montrose was yet sixteen Miles off bid his men shift for themselves and he himself fled as fast as he could into Perth wherein the Covenanters had a strong Garrison Mac-donell vvas by this time returned and brought along with him the Chief of the Mac-renald◠vvith his men to the number of five hundred and Montrose himself added to that number Patrick Graham vvith some choice men of Athole Being recruited with these he marcheth to the lake of which the river of Tay breaks forth to passe from thence through Bradalbaine into the Country of Argyle for he thought an enemy could never be so happily overthrown as in his own Countrey And truly he had many strong reasons for that resolution In the first place Argyle's power and authority among the Highlanders rendered him formidable to his Peers and neighbours and so conduced much both to raise and foment the whole Rebellion For assoon as any one adventured to oppose the Covenanters or dispute their Commands presently Argyle gathering a tumultuous army of five or six thousand Highlanders who for all that served him against their wils crush't him to pieces and therefore he had all the reason in the world to bring down the power of so seditious and covetous and cruell a man Moreover those Highlanders who did not only favour the Kings cause but hated Argyle heartily as having had sufficiēt experience of his Tyranny durst not appeare as they would till he was first subdued And lastly the Low-lands of the Kingdome were maintained by the Covenanters with strong Garrisons and great bodies of Horse so that except he had a minde utterly to undoe his friends he had no other place to winter his Souldiers in but that And being pressed with these reasons with long and foule journeys and incredible speed he cometh into Argyle The Earl at that time was listing souldiers in his Country and had appointed the day and place for a Rendezvouz He lived securely in the Castle of Innerare supposing no enemy to be within a hundred miles of him For he
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
Forth where hee believed the King could not want assistance Which designe of his was not unknown to the enemy therefore they send these Commanders against him with a powerfull Army who no sooner came in sight then Montrose offered them battell But they intended nothing lesse then to try it out with him that way nor would adventure so much as but to fall upon the rear of Montrose as he marched off So he went to the Castle of Innercarity and the next day to a village called Eliot And here again leaving the mountains behinde him hee descends into the plain and by a Trumpet sends a challenge unto Baily to fight Between their two Armies ran the river I le which neither could safely passe over without the others consent Montrose therefore desires Baily to give him leave safely to come over to that side which motion if Baily should not like of he offered him a safe and free passage on condition that he would engage his honour to fight without further delay Baily answered he would look to his own businesse himself and would not have other men teach him when to fight Thus the two Armies fac't one another many dayes neither the enemy endeavouring to passe their Forces over the river against Montrose nor he hoping to make good his passe unto them by reason of his scarcity of Horse Marching therefore to Dunkeldon he thought to passe the Tay at which time by a sudden and unexpected mischief he was almost utterly ruined It was thus Lewis Cordon sonne to Marquesse Huntly who had born arms against Montrose in the battell of Aberdene by the mediation of his noble brother the Lord Gordon had bin received into favour He either by true or counterfeit letters from the old fox in the hole his father tempred and carried away with him almost all the Gordens without the knowledge of his brother and basely deserted Montrose and him when they were ready to be engaged with the enemy And truly it is hard to say to whether of both he bore lesse good will Montrose being sore afflicted with this unexpected revolt although he was of necessity to return into the North to gather new Forces yet made as if neverthelesse hee went straight towards the Forth and his Scouts came all with full cry that all the enemy were got over the Tay that by taking the fords of the Forth they might hinder this passage Hee lest he should seem all this while to have done nothing thought it wel worth his labour if by the way he could take in Dundee a most seditious town for that being the securest haunt and receptacle of the Rebels in those parts and a place that had contributed as much as any other towards the Rebellion was kept by no other garrison but of the Townsmen He therefore commanded the weakest and worst armed men to go along by the bottom of the hills and to meet him at Brechin and he taking with him what Horse he had which were but one hundred and fifty in all and six hundred nimble musquetiers departing from Dunkelden about twelve of the clock in the night made so great haste that hee came to Dundee by ten of the clock in the morning on the 4. day of Aprill He summons the Townsmen to deliver the Town to the King Which Was the only vvay to preserve their ovvn lives and its safety if they would not they must expect fire and svvord They began to make delayes and first to give no ansâ—er at all aftervvard to commit the Trumpet to prison Which affront provoked Montrose so highly that hee stormed the Town in three places at once the Townsmen stood out a vvhile and maintained their works but they had as good have done nothing for the Irish and Highlanders would take no repulse but with a resolute assault some beat them out of their sconces and possessing themselves of their ordinance turned it against the Town others beat open the gates and possesse themselves of the Church and Market-place and others set the Town on fire in severall places And indeed had not the common souldiers by an unseasonable avarice and intemperance addicted themselves to pillage that rich Town had been immediately all on fire But as it happened it was better both for the conquerours and the conquered that it was not for all the intelligence that the Scouts had brought in concerning the enemies coming over te Tay was absolutely false it may be they saw a few Troops and many they dit not see passe over it which they beleeved to have been the wole body of the enemy and by that means were like to have undone both themselves and the whole party Montrose stood upon the top of a hil close unto Dundee loocking upon this onslaught when his almost breathlesse Scouts brought him newes that Baily and Hurrey with three thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse were scarce a mile off He immediately calls his men out of the Town vvhich he had much to do to perswade them for the souldiers counting themselves secure of the victory and thinking they had done a good dayes work already and besides being a little heated in drink and much taken with so rich a booty could hardly be brought to leave the Town they had so newly taken And truly before they could be beaten off from the spoile the enemy was come within musket-shot of them And now as it uses to happen in great dangers Montrose's counsell of War were of different opinions some perswaded that Montrose should shift for himself with te Horse he had because they conceived it not possible that he should be able to bring off the Foot who had been wearied with a march of above twenty miles in the morning after that where spent in a hot fight at noon and now were over-loaden either with drink or prey especially seing he was to march twenty or perhaps thirty miles from Dundee before they could rest in safety That this was the fortune of War and to be patiently undergone especially since he had given oft times far greater overthrowes to the enemy then this could be to him That there was no doubt but that as long as he was safe his forces might be easily recruited and on the other side if he miscaried the case was desperate and they were utterly undone Others cryed out that all was lost already and there was nothing left them but to die with honour and therefore if charging courageously they should break in amongst the thickest of the enemy no one could say but that they fell gallantly Montrose concurred with neither of these for he could never be brought to forsake so good men as he had in the extramest danger and preferred an honourable death among his souldiers before dishonourable safety But for all that for men that were so much out-numbred by them to run desperately upon the enemy and as it vvere to dash out their ovvn brains against the stones vvas the very last
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
conduc'd more to their fafety Montrose had in all four thousand four hundred Foot and five hundred Horse a thousand of his Foot or more had now by their own fault so engaged themselves with the enemy that they could not come off for the enemy encounter'd them with six thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse But the enemies Rear came up but slowly and while the Van made a stand expecting their advance Montrose had opportunity to bring timely aid to his engaged men But at last they send out three troops of Horse and after them two thousand Foot against those rash and almost lost men of Montrose's Which when Montrose saw after others had too dishonourably shifted off that service he thus bespeaks the Earl of Airley You see my noble Lord how yonder men of ours by their unadvisednesse have brought themselves into a most desperate hazzard and vvill presently be trampled to dirt by the enemies Horse except vvee relieve them vvith all speed Novv all mens eyes and hearts are fixt upon your Lordship they thinke you onely vvorthy so great an honour as to repell the enemy and bring off our fellow souldiers Besides it seemes most proper for you that the errour vvhich hath been committed by the foolhardinesse of youth may be corrected by your Lordships grave and discreet valour And he undertook the service as dangerous as it was with al his heart and being guarded with a troop of Horse in which rode Iohn Ogleby of Baldeby who had formerly been a Colonell in Svvethland a stout man and a skilfull souldier led them on straight upon the enemy And they giving the charge upon the Ogleby's disputed it sharply with them for a while but at last being no longer able to withstand their courage sac't about whom the Ogleby's pursued so hotly that they made them fall foule upon their owne Foot and charging them furiously thorough and thorough routed them and trode them under foot By this gallant example of Airley and the Ogleby's Montrose's souldiers being enrag'd more and more could no longer be kept back from raising a great shout as if they had already got the day and falling on upon the enemy Nor would the Rebells Horse long abide their charge but deserting their Foot fell a running as fast as ever they could Nor did their Foot after they were so deserted stand it out long but throwing down their armes sought to save their lives by flight Which proved unserviceable for the victorious pursuers had the killing of them for fourteene miles So that of all the enemies Foot that were present at that battell it is thought there did not an hundred come off Nor did their Horse escape very well of whom some were killed some taken the rest disperst Their Ordnance their Armes their Spoiles came clearly to the Conquerours who lost only six of their side whereof three were Oglebyes valiant Gentlemen who fighting like themselves sealed the victory with their own bloud The rebellious sort of the Nobility of whom many were in the fight some of them by their timous running and swiftnesse of their Horses got to the Town and strong Castle of Sterling others escaping to the Scottish Fyrth shipt themselves in some vessels that lay at anchor near the shoare amongsâ— whom Argyle having now this third time been fortunate to a boat escaped into a ship and thought himself scarce safe enough so till weighing anchor he got into the main Of prisoners the chief were Sir William Murray of Blebe Iames Arnot brother to the Lord Burghley one Col. Dice and Col. Wallis besides many more whom Montrose after quarter given used courteously and upon the engagement of their Honours set at liberty And this is that famous victory of Kilsythe obtained on the 15. day of September 1645. in which it is beleev'd no fewer then six thousand Rebells were slain CHAP. XIV THere was a great alteration all the Kingdome over after this battell at Kilsythe those of the Rebell-Nobility were all of them sore affrighted some of them fled to Barwicke some to Carlisle some to Newcastle others into Ireland And such as before only privately wisht wel unto the King now did no longer fear to shew themselves to expresse their loyalty to pray openly for his prosperity and to offer their service But those that before had sided with the Covenanters began to ask forgivenesse to plead they were constrain'd to take up armes by the violence and tyranny of the Rebells to submit their persons and estates to the Conquerour humbly to beseech his protection and implore his wonted clemency And Cities and Countries that were furthest off began to dispatch their Commissioners to professe in their names their Allegiance to their King their duty and service to his Vicegerent and freely to offer him men arms provisions and other necessaries of War The Nobility of the Realm and the Chiefs of Septs came in thick unto the Lord Governour welcomed him tendred their service unto him extoll'd his high and honourable atchievements thank't him for them All whom he pardoned for what was past received them with liberty and indempnity into his protection and encouraged them to be of good chear Nor did he lay any greater burden upon them then to change that covetous and cruell slavery which they were manacled with by the Rebells for the sweet and gentle government and protection of a most gracious Prince and by laying aside all former grudges ands fewds hereafter more religiously to observe their duty and loyalty to the good King thenceforward never more to have to do with the counsells of seditious men who by endeavouring to satisfie their own lusts had engaged King and Subject one against the other upon the matter ruin'd both For his part hee never had any other intention then to restore their Religion their King their Liberty his Peers and Countrimen by Armes when no other means was left out of the tyranny of Rebells unto their ancient peace happinesse and glory Which if he should effect he would give Almighty God the author of all good things everlasting praise but if hee failed however hee should by these his honest endeavours acquit himself before God and Gods Vicegerent his Majesty before all good men and his posterity his honour and his conscience At this time the whole Kingdom sounded nothing but Montrose's praise Men of all sorts every where extolling the ingenuity of his disposition in which he out-went all his Equalls the gallantry of his person in war his patience in travels his evennesse of spirit in dangers his wisdome in counsels his faithfulnes to such as submitted his quicknesse in dispatches his courtesie to such as he took prisoners in a word his truly heroick vertue in all things and towards all men And this honour most men gave him in good earnest out of a sincere affection but som in craft dissimulation and as every one had wit or skill they set forth his Encomiums or Panegyricks
Aberdene he was taken prisoner by the Enemy was condemned unto death which he had not escaped except for fear of death he had harkened nto Argâ—yle who most unworthily set a price upoâ— Montroses head and promised great rewards honours and preferments to whomsoever should bring it in and had taken upon himself to commit that treason which he abhorred with all his soule By which shift having his life liberty giveÌ„ him he returned straight to Montrose and discovered all unto him beseeching him to be more carefull of himself for not he onely vvho heartily detested so high a villany but many more had been offered great matters most of whom would use their best endeavours to dispatch him The next was Alexander Ogleby of whom we also spake before eldest son to Sir Iohn Ogleby of Innercarit descended of an ancient family and much renowned in the Scottish Chronicles He was but yet a youth scarce twenty but valiant above his age and of a present and daring spirit Nor can I hear or so much as conjecture what they had to lay to his charge but that new and unheard of Treason to wit his bounded duty and loyalty to his King But there vvas no help for 't but Argâ—yle must needs sacrifice that hopeful youth if it had been for nothing but his names sake for he bare an implacable fewd to the Oglebyes The third vvas Sir Philip Nesbit of an ancient family also and Chief of it next his Father who had done honourable service in the Kings Army in England and had the command of a Regiment there Nor can I discover any reason they had to put him to death neither besides that which is used when they have nothing else to say that mad charge of the new high Treason except it was that their guilty consciences suggested unto them that that courageous and viglant man might take occasion sometime hereafter to be even with theÌ„ for the horrid injuries they had done his Father his Family However these men suffer'd a noble death with patience and constancy as became honest men and good Christians And unto these there are two brave Irish Gentlemen that deserve to be joyned Colonell O-Cahen Colonel Laghlin odious unto the Rebels only for this impardonable crime that they had had many experiments of their courage and gallantry These Irish Gentlemen were murthered indeed at Edinburgh but many more were doom'd to the like executioÌ„ at Glascow had not MoÌ„troses unexpected approach within a few miles of the City had so much influence that it repriev'd them till another time The Lord Governour was very much perplexed with the newes of these mens death it was a question whether he was more vex't at the cruelâ—y of the Rebells or the negligeÌ„ce if not treachety of his friends For besides Huntley whose Forces he had so long in vaine expected to come with his son Aboine Mac-donell also himself of whoÌ„ he entertained an exceeding good opinion being ofteÌ„ sent unto invited also by the nearnesse of the place although the time appointed by himself was already past gone made no appearance of his approach Six weeks had now passed since Aboine had engaged himself for the Northern Forces the winter then which our age never saw sharper was already deeply entred Besides the aids that the King had sent under the commaÌ„d of the Lord Digâ—y were defeated al which might easily have been salv'd and the Kingdome reduced againe if those great Professors of loyalty had not plaid loose in that good Cause Therefore at last on the 20. of November Montrose departing from Levin and passing over the Mountains of Taich now covered with deep snow through woods and bogges whose names I do not at this time well remember crossing also through Strath-Erne over the Tay returned into Athole There he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom he had formerly sent with the Kings instructions unto Huntley And they bring word the man was obstinate and inflexible who would beleeve nothing that they said when they unfolded unto him the Kings Commands answered scornfully That he understood all the Kings businesse better then they or the Gouvernour himself and neither he nor any of his Children should have any thing to doe with him Moreover he sharply threatningly reproved his friends clients who had willingly assisted Montrose and dealt worse with them then with Rebells Neverthelesse the Lord Governour thought best to take no notice of any of these things but bear with them whiles he treats with the Athole men for the setling of the Militia of that Countrey he sends again unto Huntley by Sir Iohn Dalyell as a more fit mediator of friendship Who was To informe him of the danger the King and Kingdome was in and so of the present misery that hung over his all faithfull Subjects heads and to make it appear unto him that it was no ones but his and his sons fault both that they had not brought in the supplies into Scotland which the King had sent and that the prisoners who were gallant and faithfull men had been so cruelly butchered and that yet there were many more remaining that had near relations to Huntley himself some also of the prime Nobility whom the Rebels would cut of after the same fashion unlesse they were now at last relieved And lastly to pray and beseech him that at least he would grant the Kings Governor the favour of a friendly conference promising he would give him abundant satisfaction Huntley although he answered Dalyel in all things according to his wonted peevishnesse yet he was most of all averse to a Conference as fearing seeing he should have nothing to answer to his arguments and reasons the presence the confidence and the wisdome of so excellent a man But Montrose assoon as things were setled in Athole that he might leave nothing unattempted that might possibly bring him to better thoughts resolved dissembling all injuries and obliging him by all good offices to surprise him and be friends with him whether he would or no and to treat with him concerning all things that concern'd his Majesties service Therefore in the moneth of December he forced his way very hardly through rivers and brooks that were frozen indeed but not so hard as to bear mens waight over the tops of hills and craggy rocks in a deep snow and passing through Angus and over Gransbaine drew his Forces into the North and almost before he was discover'd marched with a few men into Strathbogy where Huntley then liv'd But he being struck with his unexpected approach upon the first newes he heard of him lest he should be forced to a Conference against his will immediately fled to Bogie a Castle of his situated upon the mouth of the Spey as if he intended to ferry over the river and to wage war against the Rebelles in Murray And now it comes into my minde briefly to enquire what night be
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
expecting other reward but meerly moved by a good conscience and faith and pietie towards their most Gracious Soveraigne have suffered for him greater losse according to the condition of their fortunes and done the rebells greater harm and obtained more noble victories over them then others who having drained and exausted the Kings Exchequer reduced him to that extream penury want of al things that in the end he was necessitated to render up his Sacred Person into the hands of the conspiratours But ô how much better had it been in our weak judgments if it had pleased God that his Majestie had retired himself to his own Scots not those who then were armed against him for the English rebells out these loyall trusty faithful and valiant ones who fought for him under the conduct of Montrose Assuredly to those who under the command but of his Lieutenant and Leader of his Armies durst so gallantly attempt and did so happilie atcheive what in this book we have most faithfully recorded nothing could have appeared too arduous and difficult to compasse had they been encouraged and animated with the presence of so dear a pledge Nor can any doubt unlesse he be altogether ignorant of the Scottish affairs but that if his Majestie had come among them he would have easily drawn to his party the hearts and affections of his native subjects who wholly enclined to him of their own accord But this being too to well known to the leaders of the rebellion their speciall care was that he should find no entrance to his native countrie when he was in their hands not fourtie miles distant from the borders of it And truly the Scots in generall though cheifly at that time sorely opprest with the heavie yoke of those usurping tyrants yet were they not afraid to curse with bitter maledictions the authours and abetters of that shamefull deed of delivering up their King to the hands of the English And even those who formerly went along with the conspiratours in all things else did openly and not without danger of life talke thus aloud That the single Kingdom of Scotland had of old sufficed his Majesties ancestours to mantain their just rights and Royall dignities That their own forefathers had been sufficiently able to defend and fight for thē against their fiercest enemies cheifly the English of whom they had purchased manie great and glorious triumphs while they opposed them for their Kings That though they had warred often and long with sundries as well inhabitants of the same Island as of other countreys with various successe of uncertain warre yet could they never be reducted to those straights so sleightly and as it were perforce to deliver up their Kings to the arbitriment of others And that they should not now consent to doe it the verie ghosts of their fathers they said the most sacred name and Majestie of a King their faith alleagiance loyaltie reputation among stangers example to be derived to posteritie all right all lawes of God and man did withstand And moreover they added that it did plainly contradict and fight against their own verie covenant wherein they had invoked as both witnes and judge the immortal God that they would maintaine and defend their King the safetie of his person his dignitie crowne and greatnes against all men living with their lives and fortunes to their last breath So that beside those seditious and sacrilegious persons who first raised that armie by wicked means and then got the command of it in their own hands and with the dreadful terrour therof overawed their poor countreymen unarmed unprovided for warre without any head or cheistaine beleeve it most of all the Scots desire no greater happines then an occasion to testifie their fidelitie obedience and love to their drearest King and to seal it with their blood Nor is it to be questioned but that they being now so trampled on by most barbarous tyrannie would gladly return to their wonted subjection under the just and easie government of their most Gracious Lord and King so soone as ever Your Royall Fathers most wished for presence or Your own shall appeare or shine in their Horrizon like a blessed starre or influence from heaven It behoveth You then most Gracious Sir to employ all the power and force You can of body and mind to succour Your countrey and Father both in extream danger at this instant All to this end pray implore expect Your help and promise theirs This undertaking by the law of God and nature and prerogative of birth belongs unto You and the eyes and thoughts not only of Your owne but of all the world are upon You. And all men of honour and honestie heartily desire that by Gods help and with their best wishes and assistance You may goe about this glorious enterprise of restoring the Church of God now sunck and drowned in the stinking puddle of so manie vile and odious sects to her former luster and puritie of re-establishing Your Fathers throne and Kingdome of recovering Your countreyes wonted felicite and happie conclusion of all in a solid lasting and much desired order and peace And so in a good time may that most ancient Kingdom of Europe acknowledge fear love and adore You as their only highest Lord and Soveraign and so may this happines befal from time to time world without end To You and to Your offspring evermore To them and those who from them shall be bore VVherfore Most High and Mightie Prince vouchsafe to raise up Your Montrose in Your thoughts to cherish him with Your countenance to employ him in peace or warre as a counsellour or Captaine a worthie of whom I hope and dare promise so Great a Prince shall never be ashamed The first of October In the yeare of our Lord. 1647. To the Courteous READER THer be some few things courteous Reader wherewith I would have them acquainted who shal come to reade this breife Commentarie whereof some concerne the Lord Marquis of Montrose himself whose actions at home in his native Countrey by the space of two yeares are heirin described and others the Authour of this worke And first I would have thee understand that Montrose is the Cheife of the Graemis a most auntient renowned family in Scotland and that in the language of the auntient Scots He is called Graeme the Greate He deryues the first known source of his pedegree from that most famous Graeme so often and so honorably mentioned in the monuments of that Kingdome father in Law to Ferguse the second of that name Who first under the command of his Sonne in Law the King overcame the Romans and overthrew Severus Wall the furthermost border of the Roman Empire built all along from Forth where it is navigable to the mouthe of the River Clyde where the Isle of Greate Britaine is narrowest and so closed up the Roman Province in straiter bounds Whence it comes to passe that the ruins of that Wall yet evidently
consequence was done without his knowledge or advice who might have proved able to give a great stroke to the advancing of it But when he found some thing too much ficklenesse in that young man he was not over earnest to engage him to adventure with him in so perillous a journey and therefore easily perswaded him to reside at Carlisle till he heard further newes out of Scotland by which time it might be more seasonable for him to returne into his Countrey And now being prepared for his journey he selected onely two men for his companions and guides one was Sir William Rollock a Gentleman of most knowne honesty and an able man both of his head and hands The other was one Sibbald whom for the report of his valour and gallantry Montrose did equally love honour but the latter afterwards deserted him in his greatest need Montrose passing as Sibbalds man being disguised in the habit of a Groome rode along upon a leane jade led another horse in his hand And so he came to the borders where he found all ordinary and safe passes guarded by the enemy There was a chance happened which put them in a greater fright then all that it was this not farre from the borders they hit by chance upon a servant of Sir Richard Grahams who taking them for Covenanters to be of Lesley's Army who used to range about those parts told them freely confidently that his Master had made his peace with the Covenanters and had undertaken as if he were their Centinell to discover unto them all such as came that way whom he suspected to favour the King An unworthy act it was of a shamelesse villaine of whom not onely Montrose had a very high esteem buth is Majesty also whose mistaken bounty had raised him out of the dunghill to say no worse unto the honour of Knighthood and an estate even to the envy of his neighbours Having not passed much further they met a souldier a Scothman but one that had served under the Marquesse of Newcastle in England who taking no notice of the other two Gentlemen came to Montrose and salute him by his name Montrose giving no heed unto him as if he were no such man the too officious souldier would not be so put off but with a voyce and countenance full of humility and duty began to cry out What Doe not I know my Lord Marquesse of Montrose well enough Goe your way and God be with you whither soever you goe When he saw it was in vaine to conceale himself from the man he gave him a few crownes and sent him away nor did he discover him afterwards But Montrose conceiving himselfe much concerned in these speeches thought it the best course to make all the haste he could and to run faster then the newes of him could flie nor did he spare any horse flesh or scarce draw a bridle till after foure dayes travell he came to the house of his cosen Patrick Graham of Innisbrake not farre from the river of Tay on that side of the Sherifdome of Perth which is next the mountains This Patrick being descended of the noble family of Montrose and not unworthy of so noble parentage was deservedly in very great esteeme with the Marquesse who so journed besides him for a little while in the day time in a meane cottage and passed the nights alone in the neighbouring mountains For he had sent away his companions unto his friends that they might inform themselves exactly of the whole state of the Kingdome and bring him word in wat condition they found it After a few dayes having examined the matter with all the industry they could use they returne with nothing but sad and tragicall newes That all the Subjects that were honest and loyall lay under the tyranny of the Rebells and of such as had been so hardy as to endeavour to recover their freedome with their swords some were put to death others fin'd others being yet in prison daily expected the worst their enemies could doe That the Marquesse of Huntley had laid downe the armes which too unadvisedly he had taken up at the first summons of the enemy that indeed he had had no contemptible number of men but the men wanted a good Commander that his friends and dependants were exposed to the implacable malice and revenge of their enemies and that he himself had fled to the uttermost corner of the Land and sculked upon another mans land Montrose was very much troubled as he had reason at this newes especially at Huntley's errour and the ruine of the Gordons who were men of singular loyalty and valour and expert souldiers therefore much lamented by him that for no fault of theirs they should come to so great misfortune And now he began to cast about how he might daw them to himself that they might try againe the fortune of Warre under another Generall in the behalf of his most excellent Majesty CHAP. V. IN the meane time there were some uncertaine reports spread abroad among the Shepheards who kept their flocks in the mountaines of certaine Irish who were landed in the North of Scotland and ranged about the mountaines Montrose conceived it not unlikely that these might be part of those Auxiliaries which the Earle of Antrim had promised should have been there four moneths before but he had no certainty what they were till at last some letters came from some intimate friends of his Highlanders and from Alexander Mac-donell a Scotch-man also to whoÌ„ Antrim had given the Command in Chiefe of those few Irish directed to Montrose These they had taken care to send to a certaine friend of his a sure man that he might convey them if it were possible to Carlisâ—e where Montrose was beleeved still to remaine He who never dreamed of Montrose's returne into Scotland though he sojourned by him by chance acquainted Mr. Patricke Graham with the businesse he promiseth to take charge of them and undertaketh to see them safely delivered to Montrose though he made a journey as farre as Carlisle of purpose and so by the good providence of God they came into his hands much sooner then could be expected And he writes backe as from Carlisle that they should be of good comfort for they should not stay long either for sufficient assistance to joyne with them or a Generall to command them withall requires them forthwith to come down into Athole The people of Athole were engaged unto Montrose by many obligations men whom he valued most oâ— all the Highlanders both for their Loyalty Piety Constancy and singular Valour and truly they made good his opinion of them to the very end of the Warre The Irish with a very few Highlanders who were almost all of Badeneth receiving Montrose's commands marched straight into Athole He who was not above twenty miles from them comes to them immediately and or ever they looked for him on foot in the habit of a
Mountanier without any man along with him save the abovesaid Patricke Graham his guide and companion And indeed the Irish would hardly be perswaded that that was Montrose but wen they saw him so saluted and onely not adored like some great Deity by the men of Athole and others that knew him well they were overjoyed for his coming to them was in exceeding good time they being then in extreame danger to be cut off For Argyle was in their reare with a strong and well ordered Army the champaine countrey were ready in armes before them expecting if they should make downe into the Plaine to trample them to dirt with their horses hoofes the vessels that brought them◠over were burnt by Argyle that they might have no way to retreat nor would the Athole men or any other that favoured the King venture any hazard with them because they were strangers and came not by the Kings open and known Authority nor had they any Commander of ancient Nobility a thing by the Highlanders much set by who would not fight under the command of Alexander Mac-donell a man of no account with them lastly their number was inconsiderable being not above eleven hundred though ten thousand had been promised The next day the Athole men to the number of eight hundred put themselves in armes offered their service most cheerfully to Montrose who having got his handfull of men and earnestly commending his most righteous Cause to the protection of Almighty God now desired nothing more then to be among the thickest of the enemy Impatient therefore of further delay that very day he marches through the Plains of Athole towards Ern as well to make way for his friends and assistants easier accesse unto him if any should rise upon the newes as that he might fall upon and amaze the Rebels unlook't for before they should be able to joyne together who lay at distance Therefore passing by Weme a castle of the Menises seeing they handled a Trumpeter whom he sent friēdly unto them unworthily and fell hotly upon the reare of his Army he wastes their fields and causes all their houses and corne to be fired this was at the very first onset of the Warre to strike terrour into the enemy The same night he passed over Tay the greatest river in Scotland with part of his Forces the rest follow him very early the next day When they were ready to march on he gave Patrick Graham of whom I shall haue often to speak never without honour at their earnest request the Command of the Athole men sent him with the nimblest of them he could pick out amongst them to scout before He brings word he saw some souldiers drawne up on the top of an hill at Buckinth towards them Montrose makes straight These proved to be commanded by the Lord Kilpont son to the Earle of Taith a man of ancient Nobility and descended of the Grahams and Sir Iohn Drummond sonne to the Earl of Perth a kinsman also of Montrose◠who were both of them summoned by the Covenanters to joyne against the Irish as the Common enemy and had with them five hundred Foot and no more nor had they heard any certainty at all of Montrose's being in those parts He resolveth with all speed to surprise them and either to winne them to his side or to crush them to pieces But they as soone as they heard that Montrose was Generall of those Forces send unto him some of their chiefest friends to understand from him what he intended to doe He tells them he had the Kings Authority for what he did and was resolved to assert that Authority to the utmost of his power against a most horrid Rebellion conjuring them by all the obligations that were betweene them that they would not thinke much to doe their best endeavours for the best of Kings Which as it was much becoming their high birth and would be very acceptable service to the King so it would be beneficiall unto them for the present and much to their honour with posterity and strangers if they of all others should be the first that put to their helping hands to hold up a tottering Crowne They most readily without any delay came in unto him for both of them though underhand favoured the King exceedingly From them Montrose understood that the Covenanters were thick in armes at a Rendezvouz at Perth the second City to Edinburgh and there waited for their enemies falling down from Athole He knowing also that Argile with his Army was upon his backe lest he should be hem'd in on both sides determines to goe forward to Perth that there he might either force the enemy to fight or reduce the Towne to the Kings obedience Marching therefore three miles from Buckinth and allowing the Souldiers but a short time of refreshment at the breake of day he drawes out his men Nor was he above three miles more from the City whem the enemy was in view in a large and open Plain called Tippermore providing to fight They were commanded by the Lord Elchoe one that was taken for no great souldier there were with him the Earle of Tullibardin and the Lord Drummond but this latter as was conceived against his will for he his fathers whole family favoured the King in their hearts Knights he had with him good store among whom Sir Iames Scot who heretofore had done good service under the State of Venice was the most noted souldier They had six thousand Foot seven hundred Horse and in confidence of their numbres they had even devoured their enemies before they saw them It was on Sunday the first of September it was given in charge to their Ministers that in set Speeches they should encourage the people to fight not forgetting to minde them of their most holy Covenant forsooth And to give them their due they plyed their lungs stoutly in the performance of that worke they most freely promised them in the name of Almighty God an easie and unbloudy victory nay there was one Frederick Carmiohael one very much cryrd up for learning and holinesse by the silly people who was not afraid to deliver this passage in his Sermon If ever God spake word of truth out of my mouth I promise you in his name assured victory this day Gods service being thus finely performed as they thought they put their men in Battalia Elchoe himself commanded the right flank Sir Iames Scot the left and the Eare of Tullebardin the battell To the right and left flanks were added wings of horse with which they made no doubt on so faire a Plaine to hemme in the enemy Montrose perceiving the great body of the enemy and especially their strength in Horse for he had not so much as one Horse-man nor more then three leane horses and being carefull as it concerned him lest being incompassed with so great a number they should fall upon him in the Front Reare and Flanke he caused his
Army to be drawne out to as open order as could be possible and makes his Files onely three deep He commands the Ranks all to discharge at once those in the first Ranke kneeling in the second stooping and in the hindmost where he placed the tallest men upright he chargeth them also to have a care of mis-spending their powder of which they had so small store and that they should not so much as make a shot till they came to the very teeth of their enemies assoone as they had discharged their muskets once a piece immediately to breake in upon the enemy with their swords musket ends which if they did he was very confident the enemy would never endure the charge Montrose undertakes the Command of the right Flanke over against Sir Iames Scot appoints the left to the Lord Kilpont the maine Battell to Mac donell with his Irish vvhich vvas very providently ordered lest the Irish vvho vvere neither used to fight vvith long Pikes nor vvere furnis-with swords if they had been placed on either flank should haue beene exposed to the fury of the Scotch Horse Montrose had sent unto the Commanders of the enemy Drummond sonne and heire to the Lord Maderty a noble Gentleman and accomplished with all kinde of vertues who declared in his name That Montrose aswell as the Kings Majesty from whom he had received his Commission was most tender of shedding his Countreyes bloud and had nothing more in his devotions then that his victories might he written without a red Letter And such a victory they might obtaine as well as he if they should please but to have the honour to conquer themselves and before a stroke were stâ—ucke to returne â—nto their Allegeance That for his part he was covetous of no mans wealth thirsty after no mans bloud all that he desired was that in the name of God they would at length give eare to sound counsell and submit themselves and what belonged unto them unto them grace and protection of so good a King who as he had hitherto condescended unto all things either for matter of Religion or anything else which they thought good to aske though to the exceeding great prejudice of his Prerogative so still they might finde him like an indulgent Father ready to embrace his penitent children in his armes although he had been provoked with unspeakable injuries But if they should continue still obstinate in their Rebellion he called God to witnesse that it was their own stubbornesse that forced him to the present encounter The Commanders of the enemies answered nothing at all to all this but against the Law of Nations sent the Messenger who out of meere love to his Countrey had undertaken the employment prisoner with a company of rude souldiers unto Perth vowing assoone as they had got the victory to cut off his head But God was more mercifull to him and provided otherwise then they intended for the safety of that gallant man They were come within musket shot when the enemies under the Command of the Lord Drummond sent out a forlorne-hope to provoke Montrose to a light skirmish he sends a few to meet them who at the first onset disorder and rout them sending them backe to their maine body in no small fright Montrose thought now was his opportunity and that nothing could conduce more either to the encouragement of his owne souldiers or the terrour of the enemy then immediately to fall upon them as they were disordered and astonished with that fresh blow nor would he give them time to rally or recover courage therefore seâ—ting up a great shout he lets loose his whole Army upon them The enemy first at distance discharge their Ordnance which made more noise then they did harme afterwards marching forward their Horse labour to breake in upon Montrose's Souldiers those when their powder was spent and many of them had neither Pikes nor scarse Swords they stoutly entertaine with such weapons as the place would afford good stones of which they poured in such number amongst them with so great strength and courage that they forced them to retreat and to trouble them no more For the Irish and Highlanders striving bravely whetâ—er should out vie the other in valour bore up so eagerly when they gave ground that at last they betooke themselves to the nimblenesse of their Horses heeles There was something more to do a little while longer in the right Flanke Sir Iames Scot disputed some time for the higher ground but Montrose's men being stronger bodied especially swifter footmen obtained the Hill from thence the Athole meÌ„ rushed downe with their drawne swords upon the enemy and making little account of the musquetiers who sent their bullets amongst them as thicke as haile closing with them as they lik't best to fight they slash't and beat them downe At last the enemy not able to abide their fury fairely ran away Most of the Horse made so good speed as to save themselves but there was a great slaughter of the Foot whom they pursued for six or seven miles There were conceived to be two thousand of the Covenanters slain and more were taken prisoners of whom some taking a Military Oath took up arms again with the Conquerour but perfidiously for almost all forsooke him afterwards The rest taking a solemn Protestation that they would never after beare armes against the King he set at liberty He tooke in Perth the same day without doing the least harme unto the City although most of the Citizens had fought against him in this battell thinking by so great clemency to turne the hearts of the people towards their King vvhich vvas the onely end to vvhich he directed all his designes CHAP. VI. HE staid three dayes at Perth for there he expected many in those parts to come in with their friends and clients armed who upon the noise of the late victory professed themselves most faithfull to the King but none came but the Earle of Kinoule with a few gentlemen of Gawry nor did they continue very constant unto him neither And by this time Argyle was at hand with a great Army of Foot of his owne supplies of Horse were joyned with him out of the South parts therefore Montrose passing over Tay tooke up his Quarters in the field for other quarters he seldom had near Couper a little village in Angus where a famous Monastery once stood but now lies on the ground Here a brave young gentleman Sir Thomas Ogilby sonne to the Earle of Arley with others of the Gentry of Angus met him readily offered him their service whom he courteously entertained and sent them away with thankes they pretending they onely went to fit themselves for a march neverthelesse few of them returned besides the Ogilbies Next morning by breake of day before the Revellier was beat there was a great tumult in the Camp the Souldiers ranne to their armes fell to be wilde and raging Montrose guessing
that it was some falling out between the Highlanders the Irish thrust himselfe in amongst the thickest of them there he findes a most horrible murther newly committed for the noble Lord Kilpontin lay there basely sâ—aine The murtherer was a retainer of his owne one Stuart whom he had treated with much friendship and familiarity in so much that that same night they lay both in a bed It is reported that the base slave had a plot to dispatch Montrose and in regard of the great power he had with Kilpontin he conceived he might draw him in to be accessary to the villany therefore taking him aside into a private place he had discovered unto him his intentions which the Nobleman highly detested as was meet where upon the murtherer fearing he would discover him assaulted him unawares stabbed him with many wounds who little suspected any harme from his friend and creature The treacherous assassine by killing a Centinel escaped none being able to pursue him it being so darke that they could scarse see the ends of their Pikes Some say the traitor was hired by the Covenanters to doe this others onely that he was promised a reward if he did it Howsoever it was this is most certaine that he is very high in their favour unto this very day and that Argyle immediatelâ— advanced him though he was no souldier to great commands in his Army Montrose was very much troubled with the losse of this Nobleman his deare friend and one that had deserved very well both froÌ„ the King himself a maÌ„ famous for arts armes and honesty being a good Philosopher a good Divine a good Lawyer a good Souldier a good Subject a good man And embracing the breathlesse body againe againe with sighes teares he delivers it to his sorrowfull friends and servants to be carried to his parents to receive its funerall Obsequies as became the splendor of that honourable Family With the rest of his Forces Montrose marcheth to Dundee the Towne being proud of the number of its inhabitants and having a Garrison out of Fife beside refused to submit And he thinking it no wisdome to hazard the honour he had gotten by his late victory upon the doubtfull successe of a siege turnes away toward Eske for he hoped that many of his friends and kindred being men of greatest note in those parts and who used to talke as highly what they would doe for the King as any others would be ready to joyne with him But they having newes of his approach withdrew themselves onely the Lord Ogleby Airley a man of threescore yeares old with his two sons Sir Thomas and Sir David and some of his friends and clients men of experienced resolutions joyned himselfe unto him and with admirable constancy he went along with him through all fortunes unto the very end of the Warre being in that almost universall defection the other honour and ornament of the Nobility of Scotland besides Montrose While Montrose was hereabouts he receives intelligence that some Commissioners from the Covenanters of whom the Lord Burghly was the principall lay at Aberdene with an Army and laboured to assure unto themselves the Northerne parts upon which Montrose especially relyed either by faire meanes or foule He determines to fight these immediately before Argyle could come up to them therefore with long marches he hies thither and possessing himselfe of the bridge upon the river of Dee and drawing neare the City he found the enemy drawn up close beside it Burghley commanded two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse whom he placed in wings having chosen his ground planted his great Guns before his men he expected battell Montrose had fifteene hundred Foot for the Lord Kilpontins souldiers were gone to convey their Lords dead body to his parents and most of the Athole men after the victory of Perth were gone home from whence they were not farre laden with spoile and just foure and forty Horse of whom he made two divisions and mixing amongst them the best fire-men and Archers that he had who in nimblenesse and swifâ—nesse of body were almost as good as horsemen placed them on either wing to prevent the falling of the enemies Horse upon his rere which they performed most gallantly beyond the opinion or perhaps the beliefe of many He gave the command of the right flank to Iames Hay and Nathaniel Gordon and of the left to Sir William Rollock all valiant men The left wing of the enemy was commanded by Lewis Gordon sonne to the Marquesse of Huntley a bold young man and hor spirited but haire brain'd and one that had forced out his fathers friends and clients to fight with Montrose against their wills He having gotten the plaine and most commodious ground for fighting on horsebacke charged Montrose's right flank which when he perceived he commanded Rollock with his twenty Horse to their aid and they being backed with the gallantry of their Commanders and the activity and stoutnesse of the Foot amongst them received the charge with so much hardinesse that they foure and forty beat backe full three hundred of the enemy routing all and killing very many But because they were so few they durst not follow the chase which was forborne by the great prudence of the Commanders and proved to be of great consequence towards the obtaining of the victory for the enemy charged Montrose's left Flanke vvhich had no Horse vvith their right Wing of Horse Montrose therefore in atrice now that Lewis Gordon and his men vvere fled conveighs the same Horse to the left Flanke vvho seeing they vvere not able to dravv themselves into a Body like the enemies fetch 't a compasse about so escaped their first charge then neatly vvheeling about they fall upon the Flanke of the enemy vvith their naked svvords beat and cut and vanquish and put them to flight They tooke prisoners on Forbes of Kragevar a Knight of great esteem vvith the enemy and another Forbes of Boindle Those that retreated got safe away because that so few could not safely persue them They that commanded the enemies Horse vvere not so much frighted vvith their losse as vexed vvith the disgrace of a double repulse therefore imputing their defeat to those light fierelockes that vvere mixed vvith Montrose's Horse they themselves call for Foot-men out of their maine Body intending to returne vvith greater courage Montrose suspected that vvas loath to engage those fevv gallant men againe vvhose Horses vvere spent already in tvvo sharp services vvith the enemy vvho vvas reinforced vvith fresh Foot Therefore observing the enemies Horse not yet railled since their nevv rout staÌ„ding at a sufficient distance froÌ„ their Foot hee rode about among his owne who had been sore galled already with the Enemies Ordnance and bespeaks them to this effect VVe doe no good my fellow Souldiers while we dispute the matter at thus much distance except we close up with them how shall we know
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
could never before be brought to beleeve that an Army could get into Argyle on foot in the midst of summer many times heretofore he has beâ— heard to bragge that he had rather lose a hundred thou sand Crownes then any mortall man should know the way by which an Army could enter into his Countrey When he therefore suspected nothing lesse the trembling Cow-herds came downe from the hills told him the enemy was within two miles He not knowing what to do and almost besides himself for fear at last commits himself to a fisher-boat and flies away leaving his friends and servants and the whole Countrey to their fortunes and the mercy of an enemy â—t is a rough and mountainous Countrey barren of corn for little or none is sown there but very commodious for pasture the chief riches of the inhabitants consisting in cattell Montrose divides his Army into three Brigades and sends theÌ„ about the Countrey one Brigade was commanded by the Chief of the Mac-renalds another by Mac-donel and the third by himself They range about all the Country and lay it waste as many as they finde in armes going to the Rendezvous appointed by their Lord they slay and spare no man that was fit for warre nor do they give over till they had driven al serviceable men out of that Territory or at least into holes knowne to none but themselves Then they fire the villages and Cottes lay them levell with the ground in that retaliating Argyle with the same measure he had meted unto others who was the first in all the Kingdome that prosecuted his Country-men with fire and sword Lastly they drive their cattell Nor did they deal more gently with others who lived in Lorn and the neighbour parts that acknowledged Argyle's power These things lasted from the 13. of December 1644. to the 28. or 29. of Ianuary following And indeed he used never more to acknowledge thâ— singular providence fatherly mercy of Almighty Goâ— then in bringing him his men safe out of those places for if but two hundred Souldiers had handsomeâ— kept those Passes they might easily either have cut off or at least driven back all his Forces Besides if thâ— Cow-herds had but driven away their cattell which they might easily have done in those barren places he must have starved for hunger Or thirdly if it had beeâ— a sharp and stormy winter and it seldome chances tâ— be otherwise there they had either been drowned iâ— snowdrifts or starv'd and benumb'd with cold Buâ— merciful God took away both courage from the enemy and its ordinary temper from the air supplyed their want of bread with great abundance of flesh Aâ— length departing out of Argyle and passing through Lorn-Glencow Aber he came to Logh-Nesse And now he expected that al the Highlanders being either frighted with the example of Argyle or freed froÌ„ the fear oâ— him should be ready to assist the Kings most righteouâ— cause vindicate it with their armes against the rebelâ— But now least Montrose's heroicall spirit should eveâ— want matter to work upon he is advertised that the Earl of Seafort a very powerfull man in those partâ— and one of whom he had entertained a better opinioÌ„ with the Garrison of Innernesse which were old Souldiers the whole strength of Murray Rosse Sutherland Cathnes and the sept of the Frasers were ready to meet him with a desperate army of five thousand Horse and Foot Montrose had only fifteen hundred for those of Clanrenald and most of the Atholemen suspecting no such need of them being laden with the spoils of Argyle had got leave to go home on condition they should return when they were sent for But for al that Montrose was not afraid to give battell to that disorderly Army for although he knew those of the Garrison to be old Souldiers yet he accounted of the rest of the multitude which were newly raised out of Husbandmen Cow-herds Pedees Tavern-boyes Kitchin-boyes to be altogether raw and unserviceable And now while he thought of nothing but fighting these a trusty Messenger overtakes him and informs him that Argyle having gathered forces out of the lower parts of the Kingdom and joyned unto them such Highlanders as yet adhered unto him had come down into Aber with three thousand Foot and staid at an old Castle called Innerlogh upon the bank of Logh-Aber Montrose who wel understood the crafty cowardly dispositioÌ„ of Argyle by that had a good guesse at his designe which was to follow after him at a good distance that he might be first engaged with those Northern men then to make his ovvn advantage of the event of that battel but by no means to fight himself if he could help it Therefore Montrose considered that it vvould be a matter of greater concernment and of lesse danger to let men see that Argyle was not invincible even in the Highlands vvere he was adored by the simple people like some great little god and as for the Northern Army he conceived that upon the report of a Victory obtained against Argyle it would moulder a way and easily be brought into order Montrose was thirty miles absent from Innerlogh neither would he goe the high way thither though he placed guards in it lest the enemy should have any intelligence of his moving but streight over Logh-Aber hills in untroden pathes and onely know to Cow-herds and Hunts-men for in those mountains there are great herds of Deer by a way that never man led an Army before and killing their Scouts was upoâ— the back of the enemy ere he was aware They being but little affrighted with so unexpected an accident run to their arms and immediately prepare themselves for battel When Montrose perceived them to be in a posture so quickly he stood still a little while till his Rear being tired with so hard a march could come up unto his Front It was night but the Moon shone so clearly that it was almost as light as day all night they stood to their arms and making frequent â—allies skirmishes one with another neither gave the other leave to rest or retreat All others earnestly expected day only Argyle being more advised then the rest conveied himself away at dead of the night and this second time taking boat saved himself from the peril of battel as if he intended to be Vmpire between the two Armies being himself out of gunshot stand spectatour of other mens valour wel too At the break of day Montrose ordered his men as he intended to fight and the enemy were as forward to do the like For they did not yet think that Montrose was there as some prisoners afterwards confessed but some Colonell or Captain of his with a party only of his forces When the Sun was up on the second of February which is Candlemas day a trumpet sounding struck no small terrour into the enemy For besides that a trumpet shewed they had Horse
refuge and not hastily to be made use of therefore as vve ought not to tempt Almighty God by our ovvn vvretchlesnesse and negligence so neither ought any valiant man or good Christian despair of his assistance in a just cause Lastly he exhorts every one to do his ovvn part and referre the successe to God and other things to his ovvn care and industry Immediately he sends out four hundred Foot before him and commands them that as much as they possibly could vvithout breaking their ranks they should make all speed Then he appoints two hundred of the activest men he had to follovv them he vvith his Horse brings up the Rear The Horse trooped on in so open order that if occasion vvere they might have room enough to receive light musquetiers He believed the enemies Foot vvere not able to overtake them and if their Horse only should charge them vvhich they vvould hardly adventure to do he conceived it vvas no matter of extream difficulty to make their part good against them besides the Sun vvas ready to set the darknesse of the night vvould be commodious for their retreat The enemy understanding the number of them that vvent avvay first by some prisoners they had taken and after that by their ovvn vievv assoon as they savv they vvere disposed rather for a journey then a battell divide their Forces into tvvo parts and so pursue them Wherein their intention vvas not only to fall upon their Rear and Flank at once but also to secure against them all passages up to the Highlands And their Commanders the more to encourage their Souldiers to a hot pursuit proposed twenty thousand Crownes to any one that could bring in Montrose's head And now the Van of the enemies Horse began to close up unto the retreaters whereupon those good musquetiers that lined Montrose's Horse welcomed one and another and another of the forwardest of them with bullets in their sides with whose mischance the rest becoming more wary abated of the eagernesse of their pursuit And Montrose's souldiers when they saw they had been too hard for the enemies Foot at a march and had got before them taking heart and courage they skirmished stoutly with their Horse untill the night parted the quarrell And to rid themselves some way of the enemy took their way East-ward many miles by the seacoast However that was not their way but to go North-ward toward Grainsbaine and so to deliver themselves from their mischievous Horse But Baily had laid the greatest part of his Army between them and Grainsbaine that there might be no place for theÌ„ to retreat unto Therefore at the dead of the night when they were not far from Aberbroth Montrose commands his men to make a stand a while And long they stood not before he considering with himself that all wayes passages straight into the Mountains might be laid by the enemies Horse he was not mistaken coÌ„mands them to face about and march South-west And by this art though with intolerable pains he beguiled the Pursuers whom that same night he passed by and then turning North-ward by the next morning at Sunrising passed over South-Eske at a place not far from Careston Castle and from thence sent to Brechin to fetch those men which he had there with the Carriages But that had not needed for they upon the report of this expedition had provided for themselves better and more timely and had taken the Mountains Whiles he staid at Careston the Scouts brought him word on a sudden that the enemies Horse were in fight and their Foot being refresh't with victualls and sleep march't after them apace Montrose himself being now within three miles of the Mountains was not much afraid of them but his souldiers who had not slept for three dayes and two nights but had all that while been either on their march or in fight were overcome with so dead sleep that they could hardly be raised without pricks and wounds The enemy being at last entertained with a light skirmish suffered Montrose to possesse himselfe of the bottom of the Mountains and having done nothing to the purpose retreated from their vain pursuit So he and his men came to Gleneske And this was that so much talk'd of Expedition of Dundee infamous indeed for the mistake of the Scouts but as renowned as any for the valour constancy and undaunted resolution of the Generall and even admirable for the hardinesse of the Souldier in encountering all extremities with patience for for threescore miles together they had been often in fight alwayes upon their march without either meat or the least refreshment Which whether forraigne Nations or after times will beleeve I cannot tell but I am sure I deliver nothing but what is most certain of mine own knowledge And truly amongst expert Souldiers and those of eminent note both in England Germany and France I have not seldom heard this Expedition of his preferred before Montrose's greatest victories CHAP. X. ANd now being safe beyond expectation Montrose bids the souldiers take their rest whiles he determines thus of the whole affaire of the war He sends the Lord Cordon together with those that had continued loyall and dutifull after the revolt of his brother Lewis into their own Country both that they might recall those whom his brother had seduced away and recruit themselves by levying new forces Whicâ— he cheerfully and courageously performed and though he spared none yet he was most severe with those that had been authours or accessaries to his brothers defection ad he was the more active in that businesse that he might acquit himself of any suspition Nor indeed did Montrose himself or any other more detest that villany of Lewis Gordon then that noble Lord his brother As for Montrose he with a small party for he kept but five hundred Foot and fifty Horse with him marches through Angus into Perthshire that he might distract the enemy till such time as hee made up his Army with recruits from every side Neither was hee out in his aime for the Covenanters had sent Hurrey the Lieutenant Generall of the Horse with a Command into the North of a party of six hundred old Foot and two hundred Horse that he might strengthen their own side and suppresse the Lord Gordon And Baily himself staid with an Army at Perth as in the very heart of the Kingdome ready to wait upon all motions Montrose was twelve miles off at a village called Kreif where Baily understood he quartered securely with a very small party who being diligent upon all occasions set out from Perth at the beginning of the night with all his Army that by a speedy march he might at break of day fall unexpected into Mâ—ntrose's quarters But hee found Montrose carefull enough of his businesse and his Foot ready in armes either to march or fight buth he with his Horse came up towards the enemy to discover their number and strength And when he
ground But Baily turning aside some three miles to the left hand Montrose holds on his intended march to Alford where hee staid that night the enemy lying about four miles off The next day after Montrose commands his men very early in the morning to stand to their armes and make ready to battell and placed them on a hill that stands over Alford And as he with a Troop of Horse was observing the motion and order of the enemy and viewing the fords of the Done a river which runs by Alford it was told him that the enemy Horse and Foot were making unto a ford which lay a mile from Alford to the intent that they might cut off the Reare of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their owne destruction Montrose leaving that troop of Horse not farre from the Ford together with some select and understanding men who should give him perfect intelligence of all things hee returneth alone to order the battell And above all things he possesses himselfe of Alford hill where hee might receive the charge of the enemy if they fell on desperately Behinde him was a moorish place full of ditches and pits which would prevent Horse falling upon his Reare before him was a steep hill which kept his men from the enemies view so that they could hardly perceive the formost rankes Hee had scarce given order for the right managing of all things when those Horse whom hee had left at the Ford returned with a full cariere and bring word that the enemy had passed the River And now it was no more safe for either of them to retreat without the apparent ruine of their party It is reported that Baily like a skilfull and wary Commaunder was sore against his will drawne unto this battell nor had engaged had he not beene necessitated unto it by the rashnesse of the Lord Baâ—carise a Colonell of Horse who precipitated himselfe and the Horse under his command into that danger whether Baily would or no as that hee could not be brought off without the hazard of the whole Army Montrose gave the command of his right wing on which side the enemies Horse were most strong unto the Lord Gordon and appointed Nathaniel Gordon an old Commander to his assistance The command of the left wing was given to the Earle of Aboine to whom also was joyned Sir William Rollock And of the maine battell to two valiant men Glengar and Drumond of Ball the younger unto whom hee added George Graham master of the Camp an expert souldier also The Reserve which was altogether hid behinde the hill was commanded by his nephew Napier And for a while Montrose kept himself upon the height and the enemy in the valley being fortified with pits and ditches for it was neither safe for the later to charge up the hill nor for the former to fall upon them that were surrounded with marshes and pooles The numbers of the Foot were in a manner even either side had about two thousand but Baily was much stronger in Horse for he had six hundred and Montrose but two hundred and fifty Only Montrose had this advantage that the enemy were for the most part hirelings raised from dunghills but those that served the King Gentlemen who fought for a good Cause and Honour gratis and not for gaine and such as esteem'd it more becoming to die then to be overcome Besides Montrose knew that the greatest part of the old souldiers were gone with Lindsey and the new ones would be so frighted with the shouts of the Armies and the noise of Trumpets that they would scarce stand the first charge Therefore in confidence of so just a cause and so valiant assertors of it he first drew downe his men and immediately the Lord Gordon giving a smart charge upon them was courageously receiv'd by the enemy who trusted to the multitude of their Horse and now being clos'd and come to handy blowes no one could advance a foot but over his vanquished enemy nor retreat by reason of the pressing on of those in the Rear The first that made way for themselves and their men by a great slaughter of their enemies were the two Gordons the Lord and the Colonell and Colonell Nathaniel called out unto those expert Firelocks who now lin'd the Horse as they were wont Come on my fellouw sonldiers throw downe your now uselesse guns draw your swords and sheat them in the Rebells Horse or hamstring them They instantly tooke the word of command and at the same time Montrose drawes up Napier with his Reserve which lay out of sight on the other side of the hill at whose sudden and unexpected coming the enemy afrighted betook himself to his heels Aboine with the left wing kept off nor did hee attempt the enemy but by light skirmishes in small parties who when they saw their own men on their left wing routed and put to flight made their retreat with little losse Their Foot being deserted by their Horse after they had desperately stood out a while and refused quarter were almost all cut off The fall of the Lord Gordon was no little advantage to the escape of their Horse who after the battell was won rushing fiercely into the thickest of them received a shot through his body by the conquered and flying enemy and fell down dead Whom also Aboine did not hotly pursue being much troubled with the losse of his brother In this battell Montrose did not lose so much as one common souldier and of Gentlemen one Culchol and one Milton whose names and families I should most willingly have inserted had I been so happy as to have knowledge of them because they died gallantly in the bed of Honour fighting for their King their Liberty and the Laws Nor are some Pedees as well Scotch as Irish to be forgotten boyes scarce fourteen years of age a piece who throwing down their masters luggage mounting upon their nags sumpter-horse did not onely make a faire appearance of a body of Horse but as if they had bin Corrivalls in valour with their masters beyond what might be expected from their years strength fell in among the thickest of their enemies Of whom some but very few were slain nor did they sell their lives for nothing and by that they gave an ample testimony of their towardnesse and of so manly a spirit in children as might prescribe to riper years But the losse of the Lord Gordon had so deep an impression upon all mens affections that they had the face rather of a defeated then victorious army The first scene of their sorrovv vvas acted in a dull silence in the next the floud-gates vvere broke open and the army vvas full of sighes and sobs and vvailing and lamentation and then vvith bedevved cheeks assoon as their grief could get a tongue they blam'd Heaven and Earth and Fortune and every thing for depriving the King the Kingdome the Age themselves and their posterity
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
easily be surprised on the borders of Tweed if Lesly would make use of that opportunity was offered him to doe his businesse Therefore Lesley upon this intelligence made haste thither and as I said lodg'd within four miles of Selkirk That Trequaire sent those letters unto Lesley although it was the generall report I cannot certainly affirm but it cannot be denied that that same night he sent his Commands to his son the Lord Linton that he should immediately withdraw himself from the Royall party which with much jollity he did This was like themselves being the ungratefullest of all men deserting their King of whom none had better deserved and staining their posterity And truly that morning being very misty gave no small advantage to the treachery of the enemy whom at last Montroses frighted Scouts discover'd to march towards him in a full body at such time as they were not above half a mile off Montrose mounting the first Horse he could light on gallops into the field appointed for the Rendezvouz that morning where he finds a great deal of noise but no order The Cavalry being little acquainted with their duty lying already disperst in their quarters where they dream't more of baiting their horses then maintaining their lives and honours upon the first alarme which they received from the enemies Trumpet ran disorderly up and down they knew not whither but never came in the fight Yet there were a few and those were for the most part Noblemen or Knights who made all speed thither and gallantly undertook to make good the right wing and they were not above sixscore in all Nor did the Foot who were about five hundred make agood appearance for many of them looking about their private businesses among the Carriages by that unseasonable care of saving lost themselves and all they had And which spoiled the matter which was bad enough before most of the Commanders were absent never came in the field Besides the enemy coming on so speedily left them no time for deliberation The enemy therefore who were six thousand whereof most were Horse out of England furiously charging Montrose's right wing were twice gallantly received and repulsed with no small losse Nor could they make that noble Troop give any ground or break through it untill at last laying along those few Foot that withstood them they broke in upon the left flank vvhere there vvas no Horse By this tvvo thousand Horse whom the enemy had sent over to the other side of the river vvere gotten on the Rear of those noble Gentlemen who lest being hemb'd in on every side gall'd with the enemies shot at distance they should fal for nothing and unreveng'd withdrew themselves every one the best way he could But the Foot who could have little security by flight fighting a good while stoutly resolutely at last upon quarter ask't and given for their lives threw down their armes and yeelded themselves prisoners Every one of whom being naked and unarm'd without any regard to quarter given Lesley caused to be most unhumanely butcher'd The staine of which perfidious cruelty by which he hath so filthily blurr'd his hononr if any he got in forraign service he shal never be able to wipe away As for those that escaped out of the battell the enemy pursued them no further being busie in plundering the Carriages where they made a lamentable slaughter of Women Pedees and Cook-boyes no pity vvas shovvn to sex nor age they vvent to the pot altogether The number of the slain is not easie to be given almost no Horse and very fevv Foot besides those that yeelded themselves and had quarter fell in that battell vvhich may appear by this that they vvere no more then five hundred in all before the next day tvvo hundred and fifty of them came safe to Montrose of all them vvith their svvords by their sides so that there could not be as many more missing and very fevv vvere taken prisoners and not untill their horses being tired and themselves ignorant of the vvay they became a prey to the country people Whom they forgetting all the benefits protection they had but nevvly received from Montrose to do the Covenanters a favour delivered up unto their cruell enemies to be made by them acceptable sacrifices to Baal-Berith the god of the Covenant For all that the Rebell conquerours missed of the Kings Standards The one of them vvhich vvas carried before the Foot vvas preserved by an Irish soldier a stout man of a present spirit vvhen others vvere almost beside themselves vvho vvhen he savv that the enemy had got the day stript it off the staffe and vvrapped it about his body and being othervvise naked made his vvay vvith his dravvn svvord through the thickest of the enemy and brought it to Montrose at night Whom he received into his Life-guard and gave it him to carry in token of his valour and loyalty And the other of them William Hie brother to the Earl of Kinoule a hopefull young Gentleman vvho succeeded his uncle by the mothers side Douglasse son to the Earl of Morton vvho having receiv'd many and grievous vvounds at the battell of Alford vvas rendred unable for that burden stript from off the staffe too and carried it avvay vvith him And conveighing himself into the borders of England skulked there a vvhile till the coast was a little clearer about Tweed and then through by-wayes and night journies for the most part being accompanied couducted by his faithfull friend Robert Toures a stout man and a good souldier who had been a Captain in France a good while ago returned into the North and presented that same Royall Standard unto the Generall And now at last Montrose when he saw his men totally routed and put to flight which he never savv before thought of nothing more for a good space then to die honourably and not unrevenged therefore rallying about thirty Horse vvhom he had gathered up in that confusion he resolved by fair and honourable death to prevent his falling alive into the enemies hands And seeing he vvas not able to break through the enemies Troops vvho stood thick round about him he gall'd them on the Front and Rear and Flanks and of such as vvere so hardy as to adventure out of their ranks many he slevv others he beat back But vvhen all that he could do vvould not do his businesse as God vvould have it this consideration possessed his resolute and noble spirit That the losse of that day was but small and easily regained because but an inconsiderable part of his Forces were there That the Highlanders were the very nerves and sinewes of the Kingdome and all the North was sound and untouch't That many of the prime Nobility and men of power many Knights too and Chiefs of their Sepâ—s had entered into an association with him who if he should miscarry would be suddenly ruined or corrupted and by that means the Kings party
men of Nobility and Eminency as long as they had an enemy in the Field and the victory was uncertaine And truly they being doubtfull and solicitous what might be the successe of so great warlike preparations they knew were in providing did deferre the execution of the prisoners Montrose upon his journey found the Lord Areskin very sick but his clients whose fidelity and valour hee had had sundry experiences of even in the absence of their Lord all in a readinesse if Aboine did but doe his part for they depended much upon his example and authority And now the Marquesse of Huntley after he had plaid least in sight for a year and some moneths it is hard to say whether awaken'd with the newes of so many victories obtain'd by Montrose and the reducing of the Kingdome or by the deceitfull influence of some bad starre was returned home An unfortunate man unadvised who howsoever hee would seem most affectionate unto the Kings Cause perhaps was so yet he endeavoured by a close and dishonourable envy rather to extenuate Montroses glory then to out-vie it Which seeing it was not for his credit openly to professe even before his own men who were sufficient witnesses of Montrose's admirable virtues lest by that he should discover some symptomes of a heart alienated from the King yet he gave out that for the time to come he would take upon himself the conduct of that War against the Rebells therefore he commanded his Tenants and advised his friends and neighbours scarce without threats to fight under no command but his own And when they replyed What shall wee then answer to the Commands of the Marquesse of Montrose whom the King hath declared Generall Governour of the Kingdome and Generall of the Army He made ansvver That he himself would not be wanting to the Kings service but however it concerned much both his and their honour that the King and all men should knovv vvhat assistance they had given him which could not otherwise be done then by serving in a body by thē selves Moreover he fell to magnifie his own povver and to undervalue Montrose's to extoll unto the skies the noble Acts of his Ancestors men indeed vvorthy of all honour to tell them That the Gordons power had been formidable to their neighbours for many Ages by gone and was so yet That it was most unjust that the atchievements gotten with their bloud and prowesse should be accounted upon another mans meaning Montrose's score but for the future he would take a course that neither the King should be defrauded of the service of the Gordons nor the Gordons of their deserved honour favour and reward All these things the simpler sort tooke to bee spoken upon all the grounds of equity honour in the world but as many as were understanding men and knew better the disposition of the person saw through those expressions a minde too rancorous altogether indispos'd towards Montrose and that his aime was to fetch off as many as he could from him not only to the utter ruine of the King and Kingdome but even to his own destruction which God knowes the sad event made too manifest Nor were there wanting amongst them desperate men and of good fore-sight who condemned this counsell of his as unwise unseasonable and pernicious even to himself For they considered with themselves that he never had any designe that did not miscarry either by bad play or bad luck That businesses were better carried by Montrose and it was ill to make a faction◠upon the poore pretence of his carrying away the honour of it For if Huntley joyned his Forces and communicated his counsels unto Montrose he should not be onely able to defend himself but subdue his enemies and gaine unto himself the everlasting honour of being one of the Kings Champions but if he should make a breach in that manner it would prove not onely dishonourable but destructive to him That Montrose it could not be denyed had got many and eminent victories with the assistance of the Huntleys but they had done nothing of note without him Therefore they earnestly desired him constantly to adhere unto the Kings Lieutenant which as it would be both acceptable and advantageous to the King so it would be well taken with good men and honourable to himself Nor did some of them fear to professe openly that they would yeeld their duty and service to Montrose if Huntley should stand out in his humour and they were as good as their words But he refusing the advice of his friends resolved what ever came on 't to run counter too Montrose nor did Montrose ever propose any thing though never so just or honourable or advantageous which he would not crosse or reject And if at any time Montrose condescended to his opinion which he did often of purpose he would presently change his minde seeming to comply with him sometimes before his face but alwayes averse unto him behinde his backe and indeed scarce wel agreeing with his own self For all this Aboine being at that time solicited by many expresses from Montrose and the importunity of his own friends that he might be some way as good as his word met him with a considerable party at Druminore a Castle of the Lord Forbeses He brought with him fifteen hundred Foot and three hundred Horse all chearfull and ready to undergoe any hazard under the command of Montrose And truly assoon as ever they met Aboine freely protested hee would carry those men that hee had whithersoever the Lord Governour should lead him but there were many more behinde which for his scantnesse of time he had not got together which his brother Lewis would bring after him Montrose extolling highly his fidelity and pains turned back again almost the same way he came that taking up the Lord Areskins and the Marre Forces by the way and climbing over Gransbaine hee might fall dovvn into Athole and Angus not doubting vvithin a fortnight to be able to passe over the Forth with a great Army The first dayes journey Aboine and his men marched with a good will but the next night his brother Lewis whom Montrose had placed under the command of the Earl of Crawford conveighed himself homewards with a strong party of Horse making as if he meant to encounter some Troops of the Enemy and carried along with him as many Souldiers as he could get upon pretence of a guard Crawford returning brought word that Lewis was gone home but would be back again next day for so he had made him beleeve though he intended nothing lesse then to come back A youth liable to sensure for more feats then that But when upon the third day they came to Alford it was observed that Aboines men were slow to stand to their colours that they loytered in their march that their ranks were thin and disorder'd and that they ran away by whole Companies almost every night and at last their
from day to day Which carriage of his gave occasion of strange reports of him as if he although he was a bitter enemy 〈◊〉 Arg yle yet had great correspondence with and relations unto the Hameltons and therefore staid at home and looked only upon the preservation of the Mac-donells not medling with publique affaires Which wheÌ„ Montrose considered he resolved without further delay to make his progresse over all the North country and Highlands with a considerable party to list souldiers to encourage the well disposed to reduce those that were refractory by the severity of the Lawes condigne punishment to deal with them as men use to do with sick children make them take physick whether they wil or no. And he wanted not fitting instrumnets to promore this designe who had earnestly labored with him to take that course While these things passed at Innernesse Huntley lest he should be thought never to have done any thing by his own conduct without the assistance of Montrose besieged and took in Aberdene which Middleton kept with five hundred men but with more losse to Huntley himself then to the Enemy For besides the losse of many valiant Souldiers he gave his Highlanders leave to pillage the City But what fault those poore innocent Aberdene-meÌ„ had made either against the King or Huntley let them judge who know that almost all of them were eminent and observed for their loyalty But for the enemy whoÌ„ he took in Armes who were both many and of very good account amongst their own party he dismist them freely without any conditions and look't fawningly upon them rather like a Petitioner then a Conquerour Nor vvhen he had many Colonels Knights and others of quality who by chance were found in Aberdene in his hands did he so much as think of exchanging any one of his own friends for them many of whom were prisoners either in Scotland or England But this was his humour being alwayes more ready to doe good for his Enemies then his friends CHAP. XXI MOntrose being busie about his designe on the last of May there came unto him a Herald with CoÌ„mands from the King who by I know not what misfortune had cast himself upon the Scotch Covenanters Army at Newcastle whereby he was required forth with to lay dovvn his Armes and disband and to depart into France and there to waite his Majesties further pleasure He being astonished with this unexpected message bitterly bewailed the sad condition of the King that had forced him to cast himself upon the mercy of his most deadly enemies And doubted not but that that command which was given him for disbanding was extorted from him by the craft or force or threats of the Rebells into whose hands he had fallen But what should he do in that case If he obeyed he must give over the estates of his friends to plunder their lives to death if he stood in arms against the Kings commad he should be guilty of that crime he undertook to scourge in others Rebellion And especially he was afraid lest the Rebels should put his actions upon the Kings account use him the worse for them seeing they had him in their power of which the King had given him a fair hint in his letter Therefore Montrose resolved to call together all the Noblemen and Chiefs of Septs Knights others of quality that were of his side that a matter of that consequence which concern'd them all might be discust by generall consent To which end after he had received so many injuries from him he dispatcheth Sir Iohn Hurrey and Sir Iohn Innes being men of greatest account in his Army as he conceived most in Huntleys favour unto him to desire him to be present at that so serious Consultation referr'd unto him the appointment of the time and place And to tell him moreover that Montrose was willing to come to his Castle if he thought fit Huntley answer'd That the King had sent him letters also to the same effect which he was resolved to obey that the Kings commands were of that nature as not to admit of second thoughts and after them nothing was left for consultation When they replyed that that likely was Montroses opinion too and that he was as ready as any other to give obedience to the Kings Commands if they were not forced however it concern'd them all to provide in time for the safety of them and theirs And that the credit aud authority of what they resolved upon would be greater even in the opinion of the enemies themselves if they made a joynt and unanimous resolution He made no other answer then that he had resolved for himself and would have nothing to doe with any body else Montrose there fore sends his answer to the King by letters wherein he was very inquisitive of the condition he was in amongst the Covenanters and whether he conceiv'd himself safe in their hands and also whether his service could be beneficiall unto him any further And if he was fully determin'd to have that Army disbanded which fought for him whiles the enemy in both Kingdomes were in a military posture and crow'd over them more more what course should be taken for the security of the lives and fortunes of his most gallant and faithfull Subjects who had spent their bloud and all that was deare unto them for his sake For it was a lamentable case if so excellent mâ—n should be left to the mercy of them that had none not only to be undone but to be murthered To this he received no open answer besides some Articles which the messenger brought which were signed by the Rebells with wich Montrose was to be content But he in great anger rejected those conditions which the enemy had made being so unconsionable as they were and not vouchsafing so much as to treat with the enemy sent back the bearer to the King professing that as he had not taken up armes but by the Kings Commission so he would have no condition prescribed him to lay them down by any mortall man but the King himself Therefore he humbly besought the King if he thought it fit that he should disband his Army that he would not think much to make and signe the conditions himself to which though they prov'd perhaps very harsh he promised absolutely to submit but he scorn'd the Commands of any one else whosoever they were The messenger returning at last brought with him Articles signed by the Kings hand with Injunctions now the third time wherein he was required to disband without further delay and the same messenger charged him in the Kings name under pain of high Treason to give obedience forth with unto the Kings Command And besides his Majesties pleasure there was another thing which hastened him which was that those that had engaged with him had most of theÌ„ pâ—ivately and by their friends laboured to make their peace with the Rebells which was
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
Commander Aboine himself was not ashamed to disire to be excused and to have leave to depart When all men wondred and desired to know what might be the reason of that sudden alteration of his resolution he pleaded his fathers Commands which he was obliged in no case to disobey and that his father had not sent him such directions without just occasion for the Enemies Forces lay in lower Marre and would be presently upon their backs if they were deprived of the protection of their own men and that it was unexcusable folly for him to carry his men another way when his own Country was in so much danger Montrose reply'd That it was most certaine that onely a few Troops of Horse kept within Aberdene that they had no Footat at all those few Horse now durst nor could doe the Country any harme and there was no doubt but upon the first Alarme of his Aproach their Commanders would senâ— for those also to secure the Low-lands Besides that it would be much more to the Marquesse of Huntleys advantage if the seat of warre were removed into the Enemieâ— Country then be kept up in his own and vpon that score theâ—â— was more need to make haste into the South that they might save the North for the burden of the Armies He added moreover That he daily expected aids out of England which could by no means joyne with them except they meâ— them on the South-side of the Forth And at last with much resentment he represented unto him the condition of the prisoners who were many of them Huntley's own kindred allyes or friends who would all be únhumanely murthered except they timely prevented it To all this when Aboine had nothing to answer he desired his Father might be acquainted with the whole matter and 't was granted Such were made choise of to treat with Huntley as were conceived to be highest in his favouâ— to wit Donald Lord Rese in whose Country he had â—ojourned and Alexander Irwin the younger of Drumme who had but the other day married Huntleys daughter and both of them were also much obliged to Montrose for their newly recovered liberties Rese being ashamed of receiving the repulse had not the confidence to return and Irwin a noble young Gentleman and a stout who stuck to Montrose to thâ— last brought no answer but his father-in-lawes ambiguous Letters of which no hold could be taken Being desired to deliver what he conceived his fatheâ— in lavves resolution vvas he professed ingenuously he knevv not vvhat to make of him he could get no certain ansvver but doubted he vvas obstinate in his fond conceit Aboine first declaring hovv sore against his vvill it vvas to part vvith Montrose urged hovv necessary it vvas for him to please his dear father vvho vvas sickly too and therefore more earnestly desired the Lord Governour to dispence vvith him for a fevv dayes till he could pacifie his father made an absolute promise that within a fornight he vvould follow him with much stronger forces And wheÌ„ he had ofteÌ„ and freely engaged his honour to do as he said he extorted with much adoe a Furlogh from Montrose sore against his stomach to be absent for the time aforesaid Aboine being returned home Montrose marched over the planes of Marre Scharschioch came down into Athole and thence having a little increased his Army into the Sherifdome of Perth where receiving an expresse out of the North he is put into new hopes Aboine having sent him word he would be with him with his men before the day appointed At the same time came unto him by severall wayes Captain Thomas Ogleby of Pourie the younger and Captain Robert Nesbit both of them sent unto him from his Majesty with Commands that if he could possibly he should make all speed towards the Borders to meet the Lord George Digby son to the Earl of Bristoll who was sent unto him with a party of Horse The same bearers Montrose dispatcheth to Huntley and Aboine to communicate unto them those Instructions from the King hoping by that means that being quickened with his Majesties authority and the approach of aid they would make more haste with their forces in the vain expectation of whom he had trifled away too much time in Strath-Erne About this time the Lord Napier of Marchiston departed this life in Athole a man of a most innocent life and happy parts a truly noble Gentleman and Chief of an ancient family one who equalled his father grandfather Napiers Philosophers and Mathematicians famous through all the world in other things but far exceeded them in his dexterity in civill businesse a man as fatihfull and as highly esteemed by King Iames and King Charles sometime he was Lord Treasurer and was deservedly advanced into the rank of the higher Nobility and since these times had expressed so much loyalty and love to the King that he was a large partaker of the rewards which Rebells bestow upon vertue often imprisonment sequestration and plunder This man Montrose when he was a boy look'd upon as a most tender father when he vvas a youth as a most â—age admoniter when he was a man as a most faithfull friend and now that he died was no otherwise affected withhis death then as if it had been his fathers Whose most elaborate discourses Of the Right of Kings and Of the Originall of the turmoiles in Great Britaine I heartily wish may sometime 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 Strath-Erne and perceived that the Râ—bels began to grow more outrageous towards the prisoners being impatient of further delay crosseth over the Forth and came into Leven he encamped upon the land of Sir Iohn Buchanan the Ringleader of the Covenanters in those parts expecting that 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 resistances 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 twelve hundred Foot Notwithstanding before his coming down into Leven the Covenanters assoon as they understood that Huntley 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 hononrable mention a valiant expert man dear unto Montrose from a childe and faithfull unto him to his last breath The chief of his crimes was that he would not pollute his hands with a most abominable murder For being sent from Montrose with an expresse to the King afteâ— the battell of