And now that he had left Argyle so far behind him that he might safely take some time to recruit he went to Strathbogy that he might meet with the Gordons and perswade them to engage with him But he lost his labour for they were forestalled by Huntley and after his example plaid least in sight For such as were generous and daring spirits though they were loath to provoke the indignation of their Chief yet they could not but be ashamed that at a time when there might be so much use of them they did nothing Besides the Lord Gordon Huntley's eldest Son a man of singular worth and accomplishment was detained by Argyle his Uncle by the Mothers side the Earl of Alboin the second Son was inclosed within the siege of Carlisle and Lewis 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 alarms 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 and 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 Strathbogy 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 Grainsbain were on a sudden encamped within two miles of him Argyle and Lothian had there two thousand five hundred Foot and twelve hundred Horse Montrose now when Mac-donald 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 which over-look'd the Castle The soil of the hill was rough and there were hedges also and ditches cast up there by the Husbandmen for the fences of their fields which were almost as usefull as Brest-works But before he had appointed every one his ground to draw up in those few of Huntley's dependents which accompanied Montrose from Strathbogy in the sight of all people fairly betook 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 which if they had been able to maintain with the same vigour that they had obtained it Montrose had been a lost man whose Souldiers discouraged both by the timorous flight of some of their own and the multitude of their enemies forces were well near ready to turn their backs them Montrose presently put life and courage into by his own example and presence by putting them in mind of their former atchievements and their own sense of their wonted prowesse Moreover he thus bespake a young Irish Gentleman one Collonel 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 no more be troubled with them The gallantry of O Kyan Montrose had often seen and commended nor did that truly valiant man deceive the Generals opinion of him for he quickly firretted the enemy out of the ditches though they much out-numbred his men and were seconded with a party of Horse And not only so but gained some baggs of powder which the enemy had left behind them for haste a very seasonable prey of which they had great need Nor doth a notable example of the forwardnesse of the Souldiers seem to me unworthy in this place to be remembred for one of them looking upon the baggs of powder What saith he have they given us no bullets Marry but wee must fetch bullets too from those sparing distributors of Ammunition As if it had been altogether the enemies duty to provide them necessaries for the Warr. In the mean time his Horse which were but fifty being disposed in a place of danger he timely secured them by lining them with musketiers For Lothian 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 off from falling on with a shout upon the whole body of the enemy whom Montrose refrains rather with a kind of commendation of them as was meet than reproof only bids every one know his own duty and wait his commands Towards night Argyle having done nothing to any purpose retreats two miles off and slept not that night But the next day when he was told that Montrose's souldiers had great scarcity of powder and bullet drawing his men into the same ground again he made as though he would have charged up the Hill and beaten Montrose out of his hold But when his heart failed him in that enterprise besides some skirmishes between small parties while the main bodies kept their ground there was nothing done that day neither All this while Montrose sends 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 Comerades 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 War when he considers they had no other way to supply themselves with them but out of their enemies stock And now the second day being almost spent Argyle withdraws his men over the river the way that they came three Scotch miles which make one Dutch mile off The time was thus spent at Faivy for several 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 lest by marching away in the day time he might have some of his Rear cut off by the enemies Horse takes the advantage of the night to
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 Beth at the beginning of the night with all his Army that by a speedy march he might at break of day fall unexpected into Montrose's quarters But he found Montrose carefull enough of his businesse and his Foot ready in arms either to march or fight but he with his Horse came up towards the enemy to discover their number and strength And when he found them to be two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse he commanded his men to march speedily away and following the course of the river Erne to make good the fords thereof he with the few Horse that he had was their Rear-guard lest they should have been troden in pieces by the enemies Cavalry And truly he so valiantly repulsed the fierce assault of the enemy that by killing some and routing others he forced them to retreat till at last his Foot after six miles march had made themselves Masters of the passes of Erne So the enemy retreated with the losse of their labour and Montrose that same night being the eighteenth of April quartered at Logh-Erne and came the next day to Balwider where the Earl of Alboine met him who with some few more had escaped out of Carlisle and hearing tydings of Montrose's good successe had at last returned into his Country Leaving Balwidir they advanced to Logh-Catrinet where they receive intelligence that Hurrey had raised great forces in the North and was ready to engage with the Lord Gordon and therefore there was danger that he being an active Souldier and a good Commander should be able to over-master that gallant young Gentleman Therefore Montrose thought it necessary to oppose Hurrey assoon as was possible as well to secure so dear a friend from imminent danger as to be nibbling at the enemies Forces as he found them asunder and to cut off that power by peece-meal which he well knew if it were all in a body would be above his match Therefore by long and continued journeys passing by Balwidir and a Lake of four and twenty miles long out of which the river of Tay breaks forth through Athole and Angus and over Grainsbain through a vale called Glenmuck he came to the midst of Marre There he joyned with the Lord Gordon who had now a thousand Foot and two Hundred Horse and marching straight to the Spey laboured to find out and engage with the enemy Nor was he above six miles off when Hurrey thought he had not yet got over Grainsbain â—for with unwearied labour and incredible speed he had over-run the very report of himself Hurrey lest a battell should be forced upon him whether he would or no before he had received an addition of numerous Auxiliaries in all haste passeth over the Spey And because he had appointed the Rendezvouz of all his freinds at Innernesse hyeth to Elgin nor did Montrose pursue him lazily to Elgin Thence with all speed he passeth to Forresse nor did Montrose make lesse haste to follow and overtake him too at Forresse and sat so close on his skirts for fourteen miles together that notwithstanding he had the advantage of the night he had much adoe to reach Innernesse The next day Montrose incamped at a village called Alderne and Hurrey according to his hopes found the Earls of Seaforth and Suherland the whole sept of the Frasers and most of Murray and Cathnesse and the neighbouring parts to have assembled themselves to Innernesse well appointed To these Hurrey ads som old souldiers of the Garrison of that Town and so draws up against Montrose He now commanded three thousand and five hundred Foot four hundred Horse but Montrose who had no more but fifteen hundred Foot and two hundred Horse had a great mind to retire But not only Hurrey pressed so vehemently upon him that it was scarce possible for him to retreat But Baily also with a Southern Army much stronger than Hurrey's especially in Horse was now got already a great way on that side Gransbaine and marched in great haste towards the Spey What should Montrose doe in this condition He must of necessity either give Hurrey battell or undergoe a far greater hazard of being hemm'd in between two Armies Therfore he resolves to try the fortune of War without delay to commit the successe unto God and chusing the best advantage of ground he could find there to expect the assault of the enemy There was a litle Town that stood upon the height which shadowed the neighbouring valley and some little hills that were higher than the Town behind it that hindered the discovery of any one till they were just upon him In this valley he drawes up his Forces out of the view of the enemy Before the Town he places a few but expert and choice Foot with his Ordnance who were sheltered with such ditches as they found there The right wing he commits to Alexander Mac-donald with four hundred Foot and lodged them in places fortified to their hand with banks and ditches with shrubs also and great stones and commands him to preserve himself entire that he might be a reserve upon all occasions and not to depart from his station which had so good a naturall fence that they might lie there safe enough not only from the enemies Horse but Foot also And with the same good advice he committed to his charge that notable Standard of the Kings which only he was wont to carry before him expecting that the enemy upon the sight of that would order the best of their Forces against that wing which by reason of the disadvantage of the place would be rendred wholly unusefull unto them till such time as he on the flank should take his best advantage against them And to that end drawing the rest of his Forces to the other side he commends the Horse to the Lord Gordon and takes charge of the Foot himself Those few that stood before the Town under the shelter and convert of the banks and ditches seemed as if they were his main battel whereas indeed he had none And for Reserves in that scarcity of men they were not to be thought of The enemy as Montrose most wisely fore-saw assoon as they saw the Kings Standard ordered the most part of their Horse and old Souldiers wherein their chief strength consisted against that And by this time the Van of the enemy began to dispute it with those before the Town and on the right flank and still as their Souldiers were spent drew up fresh men which Montrose because his number was but few could not so easily doe therefore he resolved with all his men that he had on the left flank to make a violent assault upon the enemy at once And whiles he was thinking so to do there comes unto him one whom he knew to be trusty and discreet and
honour and therefore if charging couragiously they should break in amongst the thickest of the enemy no one could say but that they fell gallantly Montrose concurred with neither of these for he could never be brought to forsake so good men as he had in the extremest danger and preferred an honourable death among his souldiers before dishonourable safety But for all that for men that were so much out-numbred by them to run desperately upon the enemy and as it were to dash out their own brains against the stones was the very last refuge and not hastily to be made use of therefore as we ought not to tempt Almighty God by our own wretchlesnesse and negligence so neither ought any valiant man or good Christian despair of his assistance in a just cause Lastly he exhorts every one to do his own part and referre the successe to God and other things to his own care and industry Immediately he sends out four hundred Foot before him and commands them that as much as they possibly could without breaking their ranks they should make all speed Then he appoints two hundred of the activest men he had to follow them and he with his Horse brings up the Rear The Horse trooped on in so open order that if occasion were they might have room enough to receive light musquetiers He believed the enemies Foot were not able to overtake them and if their Horse only should charge them which they would hardly adventure to do he conceived it was no matter of extreme difficulty to make their part good against them besides the Sun was ready to set and the darknesse of the night would be commodious for their retreat The enemy understanding the number of them that went away first by some prisoners they had taken and after that by their own view assoon as they saw they were disposed rather for a journey than a battell divide their Forces into two parts and so pursue them Wherein their intention was not only to fall upon the Rear and the Flank at once but also to secure against them all passages up to the Highlands And their Commanders the more to encourage their Souldiers to a hot pursute proposed twenty thousand Crowns to any one that could bring in Montrose's head And now the Van of the enemies Horse began to cloze up unto the retreaters whereupon those good musquetiers that lined Montrose's Horse welcomed one and another and another of the forwardest of them with bullets in their sides with whose mischance the rest becoming more wary abated of the eagernesse of their pursute And Montrose's souldiers when they saw they had been too hard for the enemies Foot at a march and had got before them taking heart and courage they skirmished stoutly with their Horse untill the night parted the quarrell And to rid themselves some way of the enemy took their way East-ward many miles by the sea-coast However that was not their way but to go Northward toward Grainsbain and so to deliver themselves from their mischievous Horse But Baily had laid the greatest part of his Army between them and Grainsbain that there might be no place for them to retreat unto Therefore at the dead of the night when they were not far from Aberbroth Montrose commands his men to make a stand a while And long they stood not before he considering with himself that all wayes and passages straight into the Mountains might be laid by the enemies Horse and he was not mistaken commands them to face about and march South-west And by this art though with intolerable pains he beguiled the Pursuers whom that same night he passed by and then turning Northward by the next morning at Sunrising passed over South-Eske at a place not far from Careston Castle and from thence sent to Breichin to fetch those men which he had there with the Carriages But that had not needed for they upon the report of this expedition had provided for themselves better more timely and had taken the Mountains VVhiles he staid at Careston the Scouts brought him word on a sudden that the enemies Horse were in sight and their Foot being refresht with victualls and sleep march'd after them apace Montrose himself being now within three miles of the Mountains was not much afraid of them but his souldiers who had not slept for three dayes and two nights but had all that while been either on their march or in fight were overcome with so dead sleep that they could hardly be raised without pricks and wounds The enemy being at last entertained with a light skirmish suffered Montrose to possesse himself of the bottome of the Mountains and having done nothing to the purpose retreated from their vain pursute So he and his men came to Gleneske And this was that so much talk'd-of Expedition of Dundee infamous indeed for the mistake of the Scouts but as renowned as any for the valour constancy and undaunted resolution of the General and even admirable for the hardinesse of the Souldier in encountering all extremities with patience for threescore miles together they had been often in fight alwayes upon their march without either meat or sleep or the least refreshment Which whether forein Nations or after times will believe I cannot tell but I am sure I deliver nothing but what is most certain of mine own knowledge And truly amongst expert Souldiers and those of eminent note both in England Germany and France I have not seldome heard this Expedition of his preferred before Montrose's greatest victories CHAP. X. ANd now being safe beyond expectation Montrose bids the souldiers take their rest whiles he determines thus of the whole affair of the War He sends the Lord Gordon together with those that had continued loyal and dutifull after the revolt of his brother Lewis into their own Country both that they might recall those whom his Brother had seduced away and recruit themselves by levying new forces Which he cheerfully and couragiously performed and though he spared none yet he was most severe with those that had been authors or accessaries to his Brothers defection and he was the more active in that businesse that he might acquit himself of any suspition Nor indeed did Montrose himself or any other more detest that villany of Lewis Gordon than that noble Lord his Brother As for Montrose he with a small party for he kept but five hundred Foot and fifty Horse with him marches through Angus into Perthshire that he might distract the enemy till such time as he had made up his Army with recrutes from every side Neither was he out in his aim for the Covenanters had sent Hurrey the Lieutenant General of the Horse with a Command into the North of a party of six hundred old Foot and two hundred Horse that he might strengthen their own-side and suppresse the Lord Gordon And Baily himself staid with an Army at Perth as in the very heart of the Kingdom ready to wait upon all
the Lord Forbeses called Druminore where he staid two dayes And at last he understands the enemy had quitted the passes and was marching toward Strathbogy so he at break of day sets forth towards a village called Alford But Baily when he had gotten certain notice that Mac-donald with a considerable part of those Forces was absent in the Highlands he voluntarily pursues Montrose conceiving him to be stealing away and about noon began to face him Montrose determines to wait for the enemy who as seemed to him came towards him upon the higher ground but Baily turning aside some three miles to the left hand Montrose holds on his intended march to Alford where he staid that night the enemy lying about four miles off The next day after Montrose commands his men very early in the morning to stand to their arms and make ready to battell and placed them on a hill that stands over Alford And as he with a Troop of Horse was observing the motion and order of the enemy and viewing the fords of the Done a river which runs by Alford it was told him that the enemy Horse and Foot were making unto a ford which lay a mile from Alford to the intent that they might cut off the Rear of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their own destruction Montrose leaving that Troop of Horse not farre from the Ford together with some select and understanding men who should give him perfect intelligence of all things he returneth alone to order the battel And above all things he possesses himself of Alford hill where he might receive the charge of the enemy if they fell on desperately Behind him was a moorish place full of ditches and pits which would prevent Horse falling upon his Rear befote him was a steep hill which kept his men from the enemies view so that they could hardly perceive the formost ranks He had scarce given order for the right managing of all things when those Horse whom he had left at the Ford returned with a full cariere and bring word that the enemy had passed the River And novv it vvas no more safe for either of them to retreat vvithout the apparent ruine of their party It is reported that Baily like a skilful and vvary Commander vvas sore against his will drawn unto this battel nor had engaged had he not been necessitated unto it by the rashnesse of the Lord Balcarise a Collonel of Horse who precipitated himself and the Horse under his command into that danger whether Baily would or no as that he could not be brought off without the hazard of the whole Army Montrose gave the command of his right wing on which side the enemies Horse were most strong unto the Lord Gordon and appointed Nathaniel Gordon an old Commander to his assistance The command of the left wing was given to the Earl of Aboine to whom also was joyned Sir William Rollock And of the main battel to two valiant men Glengar and Drumond of Ball the younger unto whom he added George Graham Master of the Camp an expert Souldier also The Reserve which was altogether hid behind the hill was commanded by his Nephew Napier And for a while Montrose kept himself upon the height and the enemy in the valley being fortified with pits and ditches for it was neither safe for the latter to charge up the hill nor for the former to fall upon them that were surrounded with marshes and pooles The numbers of the Foot were in a manner even either side had about two thousand but Baily was much stronger in Horse for he had six hundred and Montrose but two hundred and fifty Only Montrose had this advantage that the enemy were for the most part hirelings raised from dunghils but those that served the King Gentlemen who fought for a good Cause and Honour gratis and not for gain and such as esteem'd it more becoming to die than to be overcome Besides Montrose knew that the greatest part of the old Souldiers were gone with Lindsey and the new ones would be so frighted with the shouts of the Armies and the noise of Trumpets that they would scarce stand the first charge Therefore in confidence of so just a cause and so valiant assertors of it he first drew down his men and immediately the Lord Gordon giving a smart charge upon them was courageously receiv'd by the enemy who trusted to the multitude of their Horse and now being clos'd and come to handy-blows no one could advance a foot but over his vanquished enemy nor retreat by reason of the pressing on of those in the Rear The first that made way for themselves and their men by a great slaughter of their enemies were the two Gordons the Lord and the Collonel and Collonel Nathaniel called out unto those expert Firelocks who now lin'd the Horse as they were wont Come on my fellow souldiers throw down your now useless guns draw your swords and sheath them in the Rebels Horse or hamstring them They instantly took the word of command and at the same time Montrose drawes up Napier with his Reserve which lay out of sight on the other side of the hill at whose sudden and unexpected coming the enemy affrighted betook himself to his heels Aboine with the left wing kept off nor did he attempt the enemy but by light skirmishes in small parties who when they saw their own men on their left wing routed and put to flight made their retreat with little losse There Foot being deserted by their Horse after they had desperately stood out a while and reâ—used quarter were almost all cut off The fall of the Lord Gordon was no little advantage to the escape of their Horse who after the battel was won rushing fiercely into the thickest of them received a shot thorow his body by the conquered and flying enemy and fell down dead Whom also Aboine did not hotly pursue being much troubled with the losse of his brother In this battel Montrose did not lose so much as one common Souldier and of Gentlemen one Culchol and one Melton whose names and families I should most willingly have inserted had I been so happy as to have knowledge of them because they died gallantly in the bed of Honour fighting for their King their Liberty and the Laws Nor are some Pedees as well Scotch as Irish to be forgotten boyes scarce fourteen yeares of age apiece who throwing down their Masters luggage and mounting upon their Nags and Sumpter-horses did not only make a fair appearance of a body of Horse but as if they had been Corrivals in valour with their Masters beyond what might be expected from their years and strength fell in among the thickest of their enemies Of whom some but very few were slain nor did they sell their lives for nothing and by that they gave an ample testimony of their towardnesse and of so manly a spirit in children as might prescribe to riper years
that he could by no means either make his way unto them or draw them out into plainer ground Having therefore made them several 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 train the enemy at last out of their fastness 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 bank first of the Erne afterwards of the Tay made speed towards the East-side of the Country As Montrose passed along he sent Collonel Nathaniel 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 men 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 doubtting 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 he determin'd to passe over the Forth and that upon this ground that he having wearied out the Fife-men whom he believ'd would not be easily perswaded to follow the Army further than 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 and 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 War was drawn so near them as the Forth were raising men with more eagerness than ever before upon the Borders and 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 he 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 he suspected that the enemy pursued him in the Rear Nor was he deceived in that suspition for some Espyals whom he left behind 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 free and confidently that he believed Baily and his party were resolved to march all that night to engage him to fight as soon as was possible before they dismist the Fife-men who being already tir'd he hardly believ'd would be drawn over the Forth accounting their work at an end as soon as the enemy was gone out of their own Country Therefore Montrose that he might get speedily over the Forth bids 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 fatal 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 and 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 Militia 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 than his own yet the danger was like to be greater of his side if he should be put to engage with them when Lanericks and other parties were come up But moreover he 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 believ'd that Montrose had but made a running march the dayes before and had passed the Forth more out of fear than design so that they counted it nothing to assault him in that ground and entrenchment which he 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 battel 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'd him much against stomack to draw up his men and order the battel as be 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 happened which he most desired for now he 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 he commands all his men as well 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'd 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 as soon as they were observ'd to cool something of their
and Trequaire and confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity and industry no question was to be made Moreover that he should make haste towards the Tweed where he should meet a party of Horse which the King would instantly dispatch out of England to be commanded by him with whom he might safely give battel to David Lesley if as was suspected he marched that way with the Covenanters Horse All this the respective bearers unanimously delivered and his most excellent Majesty being over-credulous signified by his Expresses And Montrose being now over-born with the Kings absolute Commands takes up his resolution to march to the side of Tweed But the day before he went the Souldiers being drawn up to a Rendezvouz before that Mac-donald and the Highlanders were gone Sir Robert spotswood making an humble obeysance under the Kings Standard delivered his Majesties Commission under the Great Seal unto Montrose which he again gave unto Archibald Primrose Clerk of the Supreme Councill to be read aloud That being ended in a short but stately Oration he commended the valour and Loyalty of the Souldiers and the great affection he bore them And for Mac-donald he not only extoll'd his gallantry in the head of the Army but by vertue of that authority that he had received from the King gave him the honour of Knighthood For not only Montrose but all the Kings friends were confident of the integrity of the man whose good opinion he deceiv'd not only to the undoing of the Kings cause but the utter ruine of himself and his friend Montrose following his intended journey came the second night to Calder Castle at which time the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not only his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces whom he had inveighled to desert the service Nor would he be perswaded either by reason or the intreaty of his friends who heartily detested that shameful act to stay but so much as one week and then he might depart not only with the Generals licence but with honour and the good esteem of honest men Seeing it would be no better Montrose passing by Edinburgh led his small Army through Lothianshire and in Strathgale joyned with Douglasse and the other Commanders whose Forces being much diminished were dayly mouldring more and more In that coast Traquaire himself came unto him more chearful and merry than he used to be who pretended himself to be a most faithful Servant not only to his Majesty but also to Montrose and the next day sent him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant party of Horse as if they were to be under his command that by so likely a pledge he might make Montrose more secure and so more easily ruine him For this was not the first time that Traquaire plaid the Covenanters Scout-Master that ungratefullest piece of mankind intending to betray unto them Montrose and in him the King himself Now when he was not above twelve miles from the Lords Hume and Roxburgh and they sent not so much as a Messenger to him nor offered him the smallest courtesie Montrose being much troubled at it resolved to march into their Territories and to bring them in either by fair means or foul But they prevented him by a singular device They sent unto David Lesley whom they well knew by that time was come to Berwick with all the Scotch Horse and many English Voluntiers for they were privy to all their counsels and intreated him to send a party and carry them away in the condition of prisoners which he did the day before Montrose came thither For by this means that crafty old fox Roxburgh who had Hume under his girdle conceiv'd that they might both ingratiate themselves with the Covenanters as freely committing themselves into their Protection and yet keep in the Kings favour whiles they made as if they fell into Lesley's hands sore against their wills And this being Lesley's first noble exploit he passed over Tweed and marched into the East-side of Lothian Montrose assoon as he perceived the King and himself betray'd by these men and saw no hopes of that party of Horse which was come from the King and that the too powerful enemy would block up his passage into the North and Highlands resolved to march with those few men he had into Niddisdale and Anandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could For although he had no certain intelligence concerning the strength of the enemy yet he conjectured that it consisted especially in Horse CHAP. XVI MOntrose arising from Kelsoe marched to Jedburgh and so to Selkirk where he quartered his Horse in a Village and his Foot in a wood close by For he was resolved to make sure of all advantages of ground lest he should be forced to fight with an enemy of whose strength he knew nothing upon uneven terms Then he commands the Captains of Horse to set out good store of faithful and active Scouts and to place Horse-guards in convenient places on every side and look well to their watch All which he in person as he used to do could not see done at present because that night he was dispatching letters to the King and to send away a trusty messenger that he had light upon before break of day therefore he was earrest with them to have the more care lest the enemy who were very strong in Horse should surprise them unawares And the Commanders promising all care and diligence he was so taken up with writing of Letters that he slept not all that night And sending ever and anon to the Captains of Guards men that were skilful Souldiers and so known to be in Forein Countries such uncertain noises as were brought unto him of the enemies approach they being deceiv'd either by the negligence of their Scouts or their own misfortune very confidently sent him back word there was no enemy in those parts nor in the Country thereabouts At the break of day some of the best Horse and most accquainted with the Country were sent out again to Scout they also brought word they had been ten miles about and diligently examined all by-ways and rashly wisht damnation to themselvs if they could find an enemy in arms within ten miles But afterward it appeared when it was too late that the enemy with all their Forces were then scarce four miles from Selkirk and had lain there all that night in their arms Lesley that day that Montrose departed from Jedburgh mustered his men upon Gladesmore a plain in Lothianshire where holding a councill of War with the chief of the Covenanters the result was that he should march to Edinburgh and so to the Forth that he might hinder Montrose's retreat into the North and force him to fight whether he would or no before he joyned with his Highlanders But Lesley contrary to that resolution gives order on a sudden to his whole
the right flank Sir James Scot the left and the Earl of Tullibardin the battel To the right and left flanks were added wings of horse with which they made no doubt on so fair a Plain to hem 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 than three lean horses and being carefull as it concerned him lest being incompassed with so great a number they should fall upon him in the Front Rear and Flank he caused his Army to be drawn out to as open order as could be possible and makes his files only three deep He commands the Ranks all to discharge at once those in the first Rank 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-pending 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 and assoon as they had discharged their muskets once a piece immedidiately to break in upon the enemy with their swords and musket ends which if they did he was very confident the enemy would never endure the charge Montrose undertakes the Command of the right Flank over against Sir James Scot appoints the left to the Lord Kilpont and the main Battel to Mac-Donald with his Irish which was very providently ordered lest the Irish who were neither used to fight with long Pikes nor were furnished with swords if they had been placed on either flank should have been exposed to the fury of the Scotch-Horse Montrose had sent unto the Commanders of the enemy Drummond Son and Heir to the Lord Maderty a noble Gentleman and accomplished with That Montrose as well as the Kings Majesty from whom he had received his Commission was most lender of shedding his Countreys blood and had nothing more in his devotions than that his victories might be written without a red Letter And such a victory they might obtain as well as he if they should please but to have the honour to conquer themselves and before a stroke were struck to return unto their Allegiance That for his part he was covetous of no mans wealth ambitious of no mans honour envious of no mans preferment thirsty after no mans blood all that he desired was that in the name of God they would at length give ear to sound counsell and submit themselves and what belonged unto them unto the grace and protection of so good a King who as he had hitherto condescended unto all things either for matter of Religion or any thing else which they thought good to ask though to the exceeding great prejudice of his Prerogatives so still they might find him like an indulgent Father ready to embrace his penitent children in his arms 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 meer love to his Countrey had undertaken the employment prisoner with a company of rude Souldiers unto Perth vowing assoon as they had got the victory to cut off his head But God was more mercifull to him and provided otherwise than they intended for the safety of that gallant man They were come within musket shot when the enemies under the Command of the Lord Drummand sent out a forlorne hope to provoke Montrose to a light skirmish he sends a few to meet them who at first onset disorder and rout them sending them back to their main body in no small fright Montrose thought now was his opportunity and that nothing could conduce more either to the encouragement of his own souldiers or the terrour of the enemy than immediatly to fall upon them as they were disordred and astonished with that fresh blow nor would he give them time to rally or recover courage therefore setting up a great shout he lets loose his whole Army upon them The enemy first at distance discharge their Ordnance which made more noise than they did harm afterwards marching forward their Horse labour to break in upon Montroses Souldiers those when their powder was spent and many of them had neither Pikes nor scarce Swords they stoutly entertain with such weapons as the place would afford good stones of which they poured in such numbers amongst them with so greatstrength and courage that they forced them to retreat and to trouble them no more For the Irish and Highlanders striving bravely whether should outvie the other in valour bore up so eagerly when they gave ground that at last they betook themselves to the nimblenesse of their Horses heels There was something more to do a little while longer in the right Flank Sir Iames Scot disputed some time for the higher ground but Montroses men being stronger bodied and especially swifter footmen obtained the Hill from thence the Athole men rushed down with their drawn swords upon the enemy and making little account of the musquetiers who sent their bullets amongst them as thick as hail closing with them as they lik'd best to fight they slash'd and beat them down At last the enemy not able to abide their fury fairly 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 seaven 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 forsook him afterwards The rest taking a Solemn Protestation that they would never after bear arms against the King he set at liberty He took in Perth the same day without doing the least harm unto the City although most of the Citizens had fought against him in this battell thinking by so great clemency to turn the hearts of the people towards their King which was the only end to which he directed all his defigns CHAP. VI. HE staid three dayes at Perth for there he exected 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 Earl of Kinowl with a few gentlemen of Gowry nor did they continue very constant unto him neither And by this time Argyle was at haud with a great Army of Foot of his own and supplies of Horse were joyned with him out of the South parts therefore Montrose passing over the Tay took up his Quarters in the field for other quarters he seldome had near Couper a little village in Angus where a famous Monastery once
was loath to engage those few gallant men again whose Horses were spent already in two sharp services with the enemy who was reinforced with fresh Foot Therefore observing the enemies Horse not yet rallied since their new rout and standing at a sufficient distance from their Foot he rode about among his own Foot who had been sore galled already with the enemies Ordnance and bespeaks them to this effect We do no good my fellow souldiers while we dispute the matter at thus much distance except we cloze up with them how shall we know an able man from a weak a valiant man from a coward If ye would assail these timorous and brawnelesse shrimps with handy-blows they will never be able to stand you Goe to therefore fall about them with your swords and but-ends of your muskets beat them down drive them back and make them pay what is justly due for their treason and rebellion It was no sooner said than they fall to work break in upon the enemy defeat them rout them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster than they whom the Conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they scap'd scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Victors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's men came in thronging amongst them through the gates and posterns and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought four hours upon such equal terms that it was an even lay whether had the odds At this Battell Montrose had some great Guns but they were unserviceable because all advantages of ground were possessed by the enemy but the enemies Guns made no small havock of his men Among others there was an Irishman that had his legg shot off with a Cannon bullet only it hung by a little skin he seeing his fellow-souldiers something sad at his mischance with a loud and cheerfull voyce cryes out Come on my Comrades this is but the fortune of Warr and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Do you stand to it as becomes you and as for me I am sure my Lord Marquesse seeing I can no longer serve on foot will mount me on horse-back So drawing out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his own hand and gave his legg to one of his fellow souldiers to bury And truly when he was well again and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdeen on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entred the City and allowed them two dayes rest CHAP. VII IN the mean time news was brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces than those they dealt with last the Earle of Lothian accompanying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aberdeen to Kintor a Village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependents of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollock to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out of England or some place else That he had fought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not be expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with great and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out alwayes without timely relief Still nothing troubled Montrose more than that none of the Gordons of whom he conceived great hopes came in unto him And there wanted not some of them who testified their great affection to the service but that Huntley the chief of the Family being a back-friend to Montrose had with-held them all either by his own example or private directions and that himself being forced ro sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdome envied that honour to another of which he had missed himself and had forbidden even with threats all those with whom he had any power to have any thing to do with Montrose or to assist him either with their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnesses where he knew the enemies horse wherein their great strength consisted could do them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the justice of his cause and the valour of his souldiers he made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogg and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And comming to the side of the river Spey not farr from an old castle called Rothmurk he incamped there with an Army if one respect the number but very small but it was an expert and cheerfull one and now also something accquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he finds the men of Cathnes and Suderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in arms to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his back Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himself from their Horse the turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scarce passable for Horse There for certain dayes he was very sick which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordain a day of publique Thankesgiving to Almighty God for that great deliverance Nor were their Levites you may be sure backward in that employment in their Pulpits for as if they had been of counsell at the Decree and stood by at the execution they assured the people that it was as true as Gospel that the Lord of Hostes had slain Montrose with his own hands But this joy did not last them long for he recovered in a short space and as if he had been risen from the dead he frighted his enemies much more than he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donald with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up arms with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himself goes into Angus hoping it might happen that he should either force Argyle with his tyred Horse unto his Winter quarters or at least leave him far enough behind him For Argyle had pursued him slowly and at such distance that it was apparent he thought of nothing lesse than of giving him battail Therefore going through Angus and getting over the Grainsbain which going along with a continued ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equal parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome
return to Strathbogy where he intended to make some stay both because the cragginesse 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 whence he dayly expected Mac-donald with what Highlanders he could raise The next day the enemy pursues him with an intention to force him to fight with them in the open field and truly assoon as they came in sight of them drawing up their men they made ready to battel as if they would have fallen on with all their power But a forlorn 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 himself of the highest ground Argyle alters his resolution and thinks 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 and Treaty yet at the same time he did not only tempt the Souldiers to forsake Montrose by promising them indempnity and 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 assured who well knew the disposition of the man to be more bent to over-reach and betray than to fight with his enemy he thought nothing concerned him more than with all speed to bring off those small Forces he had as far as he could both from Argyle's Horse and knavery Therefore calling a councill of War he declares his opinion they all approve 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 far as Badenoth and that the Souldiers might be lighter for so great a journey he sent the Carriages before with a guard and 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 suddain news came that Forbes of Craigevar 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 only of his counsell and company when he came out of England and some others had made an escape and 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 counsels Therefore he straight called back the Convoy with the Carriages and 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 and making fires through all the Camp he placed all the Horse he had within view of the enemy as if they kept their guard there till such time as the Foot were marched far enough from danger and then brought the Horse also safe off and all by break of day came to Balveny And now being safe from having their quarters beaten up by the enemies Horse and they no further pursuing it being also the very deep of winter he allowed a few dayes unto the refreshment of his Souldiers And at this time especially Argyle began to appear in his own colours and his subtilties were manifested For most of the Noblemen Gentlemen and prime Souldiers that were with Montrose who setting aside Irish men and Highlanders had more Commanders than 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 over mountains uninhabited unpassable full of nothing but stones and 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 desired his Passe which he denyed to none that ask'd but yet look'd upon them rather with a kind of indignation and scorn than approbation or compassion Nor can one easily say how much the example of such men weakened his Forces and how much it disheartened many that intended to have listed themselves under his Command But the old Lord Ogilby the Earl of Airley a man of threescore years old and not very healthy neither together with two of his Sons most worthy of such a Father Sir Thomas and Sir David could never be perswaded even in the extremest hazard of their lives to depart from him CHAP. VIII MOntrose returning from Balveny to Badenoth net 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 revolt He although he was assured of their loyalty neverthelesse with incredible haste goes down into Athole For in one night he marched with his Forces four and twenty miles through wayes untrodden untilled full of snow waste and never inhabited by mortal 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-donald was by this time returned and brought along with him the Chief of the Mac-renalds with his men to the number of five hundred and Montrose himself added to that number Patrick Graham with some choice men of Athole Being recruited with these he marcheth to the lake out of which the river of Tay breaks forth to passe from thence through Bredalbin 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 amongst 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 Command presently Argyle gathering a tumultuous army of five or six thousand Highlanders who for all that served him against their wills crush'd him in 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 a sufficient experience of his Tyranny durst not appear as they would till he was first subdued And lastly the Low-lands of the
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 than victorious Army The first scene of their sorrow was acted in a dull silence in the next the floud-gates were broke open and the Army was full of sighes and sobs and wailing and lamentation and then with bedewed cheeks as soon 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 of such a man Thus forgetting their victory and the spoil they fixt their eyes upon the lifeless body kissed his face and hands commended the singular beauty of the Corps compared the Nobility of his descent and the plentifulnesse of his fortune with the hopefulnesse of his parts and counted that an unfortunate victory that had stood them in so much And truly it was like to have happened that their excessive sorrow for the losse of this noble Gentleman had conquer'd the Conquerors had they not comforted themselves with the presence and safety of Montrose Nor could he himself refrain himself from bewailing with salt tears the sad and bitter fate of his most dear and only friend but lamented much that the honour of his Nation the ornament of the Scotish Nobility the ablest assertor of the Royal Authority in the North and so intimate a friend unto himself should be thus cut off in the flower of his age In the mean time hoping that reason and time between them would asswage that grief he commands Physicians to embalm his noble Corps which afterwards being removed to Aberdeen he saw brought forth with a sumptuous and Souldier-like Fâ—â—eral and interr'd in the Monument of his Ancestors in the Cathedral Church This battel was fought at Alford on the 2. of July 1645. CHAP. XII MOntrose that same afternoon that he had got this victory at Alford marching to Clunie Castle allowed only two or three hours to his Souldiers for their refreshment And going from thence to the bank of the river Dee sent away the Earl of Aboine who succeeded his deceased Brother into Buchanshire and the places adjacent for recruits for many of them who were at the fight being Highlanders and not farre from their own habitations had dropt home with their pillage And because Mac-donald was not yet returned he kept his quarters at Cragston expecting both him and Aboine But when he perceived those Auxiliaries were dispatched unto him with lesse speed than he hoped and finding his expectation deluded impatient of so long and disadvantageous delay after he had got over the Dee and Gransbaine fell down into Merne and lay at Fordón Chapel once famous for the See and Sepulchre of St. Palladius Thence he sends to the Earle of Aboine who was now come to Aberdeen to hasten unto him into Merne with such Forces as he heard he had raised Alboine came indeed but brought no great store of Forces along with him therefore he sends him back into the North to raise as many men as he could possibly and bring them with all speed unto the Camp He himself going through Angus met his Cosen Patrick Graham with his Athole-men ready to live and die under his command and Mac-donald with a great power of Highlanders with him was Macklen the chief of his sept a valiant man and singularly loyal who brought some seven hundred choice Foot of his Friends and Clients Also the chief of the Mac-renolds a great man in the Highlands and one that entirely lov'd the King who had above five hundred men at his heels The Mac-gregors also and the Macknabâ— men inferiour to none in valour and hardness after the fashion of the Countrey followed their Commanders and Chiefs of their Families whose certain number I cannot easily assigne And Glengar a man never sufficiently to be commended for his valour and loyalty to the King and serviceableness and affection to Montrose seeing he in person almost from the Expedition into Argyle had never departed from him by his Uncles others whom he imployed brought in about five hundred more Besides out of the plains of Marre came a great number of the Fercharsons gallant men and of approved valour And some too out of Badenoth not many indeed but stout and able men of their hands Montrose being reinforced with such an Army resolves to make way into the heart of the Kingdome as well to spoil the enemies levying of men in Fifeshire and the Country on this side the Forth as also to break up the Parliament which the Covenanters had not without solemnity and ostentation summoned at Saint Johns-town Nor did any thing hinder him but want of Horse of which alwaies he had such scarcity that it was never oâ— very seldome safe for him to fall down into the plain Countrey But because he dayly expected Aboine and Airley to come unto him with a considerable party of Horse he passed over the Tay at Dunkel and lying near Amunde struck no small terrour into the enemy who held Saint Johns-town and from thence approaching nearer unto them he encamped in Methfyn Forest The enemies Foot all but the Garrison Souldiers in the Town lay on the South of the River Erne The Horse which were designed for the guard of the Town and Parliament as soon as they discovered Montrose's Scouts bring in a hot alarm that he was there and come already close to the gates and no question but he meant presently to scale the walls and make an assault upon the Town therefore they were earnest with the Nobility and the whole Parliament to secure themselves by a speedy flight when all this while Montrose had scarce a hundred Horse and they were four hundred But he the next day the more to encrease theiâ— terrour drew near unto the Town with those Horse he had and about the same number of ready Fire-locks whom he mounted upon pack-horses and set out his men in their view so much to his advantage that they appeared a considerable body of Horse And because the enemy kept themselves within the gates forthwith turning towards Duplin he diligently view'd this side of the River Erne and all that coast as if he had Horse enough to keep all that Countrey in subjection And truly thus much he got by it that the enemy took him to be exceeding strong as well in Horse as Foot Therefore they draw together as many Forces from all sides as they could make whom they intended to fight with Montrose if he should offer to passe over the Forth But he finding it not safe for himself neither to descend into the Champain Countrey they both kept their stations for many dayes the enemy expecting Auxiliaries out of Fife and the Country on this side of the Forth and out of the West and Montrose looking for the like out of the North And waiting impatiently for Aboine who was too slow with his men he
sent some to hasten him lest they should lose the opportunity of doing their businesse He also complained but in a soft and gentle manner as before a faithfull friend that Aboine's lingring and delay was in the fault that a brave victory by which he conceived the Rebells might have been utterly subdued had slipt out of his hands which misfortune no man doubted but his speed and diligence might have prevented The enemy when they understood that he onely cheated them with a false Muster of Horse having gotten aid from all parts and by this time over-numbring him even in Foot labour'd not onely to provoke but even compell him to-fight Whereupon he concluded to step aside a little into the neighbouring Mountains whither he knew either the enemy would not advance or if they did 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 draws up the Horse into the Front Nor did the enemy expect any other than to try it out by battail which he made as if he would give till such time as the Carriages were got so far 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 Rear and 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 into the passes and the enemy knew very well they were not able to persue any further lest with all that pains 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 and base language whom when Montrose saw he call'd for onely twenty active bodied men of the Highlanders that were used to hunting and 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 down 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 contented to retreat But those good huntsmen being encouraged with their good successe as soon as they saw their enemies disorder'd came into the open plain and resolutely charged their Horse who in as much fear as Bucks or Does chased by the Hunters set spurs to their Horses and fled back to their main body as if the Devill were in them The enemy upon their retreat chose that place for their Rendezvouz from whence Montrose departed Methfyns Forest after they had done nothing worthy to be remembred in all that expedition but that when they found themselves unable to cope with men they exercised their cruelry upon women for all the wives of the Irish and Highlanders that they light of who followed the Camp for the love of their Husbans most basely and shamelesly they hew'd in pieces Montrose kept his quarters at little Dunkel both because the place was cumbersome and unpassable for Horse and lay very conveniently for receiving such aids as he dayly expected with Aboine out of the North. All which time the two spleenative Armies lying close together rather stood upon their guards than offered any affront one to the other And now at length Aboine and Collonel Nathaniel Gordon brought up their men out of the North to Dunkel men for their number indeed fewer than was expected but for their stournesse and true valour farre above their number The Horse they brought were only two hundred and some sixscore Firelocks whom they had mounted and made Dragoons other Foot they brought none Along with them came tht Earl of Airley and Sir David his Sonne with fourscore Horse most of them of the noble family of the Ogilbies amongst whom Alexander Son and heir of Sir John Ogilby of Innarwharatie was most eminent not only 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 anytime but marched straight towards the enemy But as soon as he came to Amonde he thought it best to see in what condition the enemy was and 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 something 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 He 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 Towns and Villages in all Scotland Its Inhabitants are little martial 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 Island being inviron'd towards the South with the Scotish Fyrth on the North with the Tay which carrieth ships of great burden all along on the East with the main 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 thundered 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 bâ—ttel with them before they increas'd their Forces with addition of the Fife-men but it would not be For they had so fortified themselves by the advantage of the ground and the narrowness of the passages
Forces to wheel to the left hand and to march away apace every one wondering that knew not the mystery of the businesse what should be the meaning of that change of his resolution and his intention in that sudden expedition for they marched straight to Strathgale But the matter was as they afterward gathered from the enemies themselvs he had received letters by which he had perfect notice that Montrose being attended only with five hundred Foot and those Irish and a very weak party of new-rais'd Horse might very easily be surprised on the borders of Tweed if Lesley would make use of that opportunity was offered him to do his businesse Therefore Lesley upon this intelligence made haste thither and as I said lodg'd within four miles of Selkirk That Traquaire 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 Royal party which with much joâ—lity 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 Montrose's frighted Scouts discovered 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 and lying already disperst in their quarters where they dream'd more of bairing their horses than maintaining their lives and honours upon the first alarm 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 Noble men or Knights who made all speed thither and gallantly undertook to make good the right wing and they were not above six scored â—n all Nor did the Foot who were about five hundred make a good 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 and never came in the field Besides the enemy comming on 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 thorow it untill at last laying along those few foot that withstood them they broke in upon the left flank where ther was no horse By this two thousand Horse whom the enemy had sent over to the other side of the river were gotten on the Rear of those noble Gentlemen who lest being hemm'd in on every side and gall'd with the enemies shot at distance they should fall 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 and resolutely at last upon quarter ask'd and given for their lives threw down their arms and yeelded themselvs 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 stain of which perfidious cruelty by which he hath so filthily blurr'd his honour if eany he got in forein service he shall never be abl to wipe away As for those that escaped out of the battell the enemy pursued them no further being busie in plundring the Carriages where they made a lamentable slaughter of Women Pedees and Cook-boys no pitty was shown to sex nor age they went to the pot all together The number of the slain is not easie to be given almost no Horse and very few Foot besides those that yeelded themselvs and had quarter fell in that battell which may appear by this that they were no more then five hundred in all and before the next day two hundred and fifty of them came safe to Montrose all of them with their swords by their sides so that there could not be as many more missing and very few were taken prisoners and not until their horses being tired and themselvs ignorant of the way they became a prey to the country people Whom they forgetting all the benefits and protection they had but newly 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 which was carried before the Foot was preserved by an Irish souldier a stout man and of a present spirit when others were almost beside themselves who when he saw that the enemy had got the day stript it off the staff and wrapped it about his body and being oherwise naked made his way with his drawn sword through the thickest of the enemy and brought it to Montrose at night Whom he received into his Lifeguard 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 who succeeded his Uncle by the mothers side Douglasse Son to the Earl of Morton who having receiv'd many and grievous wounds at the battell of Alford was rendred unable for that burden stript from off the staff too and carried it away with him And conveighing himself into the borders of England skulked there a while till the coast was a little clearer about Tweed and then through by-ways and night-journeys for the most part being accompanied and conducted by his faithfull friend Robert Toures a stout man and a good souldier who had been a Captain in France a good while agoe returned in the North and presented that same Royal Standard unto the General And now at last Montrose when he saw his men totally routed and put to flight which he never saw before thought of nothing more for a good space than to die honourably and not unrevenged therefore rallying about thirty Horse whom 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 was not able to break thorow the enemies Troops who stood thick round about him he gall'd them on the Front and Rear and Flanks and of such as were so hardy as to adventure out of their ranks many he slew others he beat back But when all that he could do would not do his businesse as God would have it this
Crawford returning brought word that Lewis was gone home but would be back again next day for so he had made him believe though he intended nothing lesse than to come back a Youth liable to censure for more feats than 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 disordered and that they ran away by whole companies almost every night and at last their Commander Aboine himself was not ashamed to desire to be excused and to have leave to depart When all men wondered and desired to know what might be the reason of that sudden alteration of his resolution he pleaded his fathers Commands which he was oblig'din 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 certain that only a few Troops of Horse kept within Aberdeen that they had no Foot at all and those few Horse nor durst nor could doe the Country any harm and there was no doubt but upon the first alarm of his approach their Commanders would send 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 Warr were removed into the enemies Country than be kept up in his own and upon that score there was more need to make haste into the South that they might save the North from the burden of the Armies He added moreover That he daily expected aids out of England which could by no means joyn with them except they met them on the South-side 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 allies or friends who would all be unhumanly 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 choice of to treat with Huntley as were conceived to be highest in his favour to wit Donald Lord Rese in whose Country he had sojourned 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 the last brought no answer but his father-in-laws ambiguous Letters of which no hold could be taken Being desired to deliver what he conceived his father-in-laws resolution was he professed ingenuously he knew not what to make of him he could get no certain answer but doubted he was obstinate in his fond conceit Ahoine first declaring how sore against his will it was to part from Montrose urged how necessary it was for him to please his dear Father who was sickly too and therefore more earnestly desired the Lord Governor to dispence with him for a few dayes till he could pacifie his Father and made an absolute promise that within a fortnight he would follow him with much stronger Forces And when he had often and freely engaged his honour to do as he said he extorted with much ado a Furlogh from Montrose sore against his Stomach to be absent for the time aforesaid Aboine being returned home Montrose marched over the plains of Marre and Scharschioch and came down into Athole and thence having a little increased his Army into the Sherifdom of Perth where receiving an express 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 several wayes Captain Thomas Ogilby 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 Bristol 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 being quickned 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 Antient Family one who equalled his Father and Grandfather Napiers Philosophers and Mathematicians famous through all the world in other things but far exceeded them in his dexterity in civil business a man as faithful unto as highly esteemed by King James 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 Rebels bestow upon Vertue often Imprisonment Sequestration and Plunder This man Montrose when he was a Boy look'd upon as a more tender Father when he was a youth as a most Sage Admonitor when he was Man as a most faithful Friend and now that he died was no otherwise affected with his death than as if it had been his Fathers Whose most elaborate Discourses Of the Right of Kings and Of the original of the turmoils of Great Britain I heartily wish may some time 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 Rebels began to grow more out rageous towards the prisoners being impatient of further delay crosseth over the Forth and came into Leven and he encamped upon the land of Sir John Buchanan the Ring-leader of the Covenanters in those parts expecting that by that means lying so near Glascow he might fright the Rebels who then kept a Convention of Estates there from the murther of the prisoners To which end facing the City every day with his horse he wasted the enemies Country without any resistance although at that time for the guard of the Estates and City they had three thousand Horse in their quarters and he not full three hundred and twelve hundred foot Notwithstanding before his coming down into Leven the Covenanters as soon as they understood that Huntley and Montrose agreed not and that Aboine and his
end of March Montrose might have fallen down into the Low-lands with a far greater Army than ever the Scots produc'd in the memory of man But the unexpected revolt of so great a personage did not lesse encourage the Rebells to persevere in their course than scandalize and discourage honest and loyal hearts Whence it happened that those whose men were already come up to the Army began to draw off and steal away privately and others to make excuses for their delay All which put together made Montrose to cast about another way For he resolved seeing he could do no good with vain light wavering and inconstant men by gentlenesse and good Offices to reduce them to his obedience by his authority backed with the strength of arms and severe penalties and to that end to force all the Highlanders and North-country-men to take up arms by marching in amongst them with a confiding party of good souldiers For he well knew that many Governours and leading men in their respective Countries and Chiefs of Septs were on his side unto whom this course would be very acceptable Nor did he question but the chief and most powerfull of the Gordons being weary of their Lords miscarriage would do him the best service they could if need was though it ran counter unto Huntleys design However he was resolved to use all fair means if that would do before he would put them to the cost of that last and sharpest remedy But because Innernesse was the most considerable garison of all the North and the haven there most commodious for entertaining forein Forces he desired nothing more than to reduce that therefore he surrounded it with the Forces he had For the enemies Army under the Command of Middleton was above sourscore miles off and Huntley and the Gordons lay half way between them in a body Therefore Montrose dealt again with Huntley to perswade him not to lose his time but as they had agreed to joyn with him in the siege of Innernesse or at least to hover about the Spey over which the enemy was to passe and to hinder their passage if they advanced to raise the fiege and if they chanced to get over to joyn their Forces together and fight them To all which he answered so disdainfully that the Viceroy thought it high time to despair of any good from him and conceived himself engaged to look better to himself lest at last he should betray him So that putting no confidence in Huntley he sent back three Troops of Horse to lie at the Fords of the Spey to observe the motion of the enemy and if they came to send him often and certain intelligence And they quartering themselvs in the most advantageous places for scouting were carefull enough to observe his commands untill Lewis Gordon Huntleys son who then commanded the Castle of Rothes plaid a more shamefull prank than any he ever did before He assured those Captains of Horse whom Montrose had sent to guard the Fords of the Spey that the enemy lay very far off and intended nothing lesse than to passe that river and raise the siege therefore he perswaded them who took him for a most faithfull friend to let alone their needlesse guards to which they had been appointed to come to his Castle to refresh themselvs and with many complements invited them to a feast which he had provided for them and they had no more wit than to trust him and go He entertain'd them with a huge deal of curtesie and besides very dainty chear plyed them with good store of wine and strong waters And with a great deal of jollity and ceremonious curtesie detained them so long till Middleton with a great Army of Horse and Foot had got over the Spey and had gotten footing in Murray Which assoon as he had notice of he at length dismist them and that with these jeering terms Go now to your General Montrose who will have a sharper bout now than he had at Selkirk Mean time the enemy marcht straight and eagerly towards Montrose and those Horse getting past them with much ado came not much before them to Innernesse insomuch as they seem'd to be but the Van of the enemy and Middletons whole Army followed within Cannon-shor But as the providence of God would have it Montrose had notice of their approach another way and having drawn off his Forces a little way from the Town had got them all into a body And when he perceiv'd the enemy to be much too strong for him in Horse avoiding the plain he retreated with his men beyond the Nesse The enemy falling upon his Rear and being handsomly repuls'd kept themselvs also close The losse on both sides was very little and almost equal Montrose passed by Bewly into Rosse whither the enemy pursu'd him that taking him in the champain ground which was disadvantageous to him they might compell him to fight whether he would or no. But besides that the enemy was much stronger than he the Country people being faithlesse and rotten and Seafoths new raised men running away by companies from their colours moved him with all the speed he could to save himself from the enemies Horse Therefore passing by Logh-Nesse and through Strath-Glasse and Harrage he advanced unto the bank of the Spey Montrose was resolved to proceed against Huntley as a publick enemy unlesse he repented but would try all fair means first to see whether it was possible to bring him into a better mind To which end taking with him only one Troop of Horse for his lifeguard in all speed he rid twenty miles unto him to his Castle at Bogy And as he was on his way he sent one before to give him notice of his approach and to tell him that he came thither alone and without his Forces to no other end than to kisse his hand and to be advised by him concerning such things as concerned the Kings service and he was the more earnest to speak with him because he had newly received Letters from the King from Oxford which he would let him see But Huntley being affrighted with the first news of Montrose's approach was so averse from the presence of so gallant a man that in a trice he leapt on Horseback and with one man along with him ran away any way he car'd not whither nor vouchsafed the Kings Vice-roy the favour of a conference or entertainment Which assoon as Montrose understood he returned back those twenty miles the same day being the 27. of May and was as carefull as he could possibly to conceal this frowardnesse and unrulinesse of Huntleys lest it should be a bad president But all would not do for the Gordons themselvs and others of Huntleys friends being most of them very honest men compleat Gentlemen told all with a great deal of indignation and detestation of Huntley that by that means they might accquit themselvs from the aspersion of so unworthy an act Nor can one easily
fewnesse of his number and that his souldiers were much undisciplin'd and unlike to the former with whom he had done so great things began to be averse and have a suspicion of the event Yet have I heard some say which knew well enough the situation of that Country that if he had not been oppressed in the nick he might have gain'd such strengths amongst the hills as might have given him leisure enough to have strengthned his own party and tyred out the enemy Howsoever he was not altogether unmindfull of a retreat there is in that Country a Castle call'd Dumbath the Lord or Laird thereof is the head of a very antient Family but no friend of the Marquesses This Gentleman having left his house in the keeping of his Lady and some servants â—ed to Edinburgh The Lady though the place were naturally fortified yet upon summons delivered it to Colonel Hurry who was sent thither by the Marquess with a party of Foot to reduce it upon condition her goods and estate might be secur'd and she with her servants suffer'd to march away Hurrey having plac'd a Governour and a Garrison as he thought sufficient for the defence of the place return'd to the Marquess who was now advanc'd to the place or neer it where he was to lose at one throw both his life and fortune The Marquesse hearing of the enemies approach made his whole Forces march at a great trot to recover a passe which they were not very far from when he himself in the vanguard discover'd the first party which was Straughans Forlorn hope advancing very fast upon him So that these with their haste and the souldiers running found them both out of breath and order The second Party was commanded by Straughan himself and the Rear-guard as I remember by Colonel Ker for he had divided them in three bodies But now the first party being very near there was a Forlorn hope of a hundred Foot drawn out to meet them who giving fire upon them put them to a disorderly retreat but being immediately seconded by Straughans party they made good their charge and so terrified the Islanders with that breach that most of them threw down their Arms and called for quarter Only the Dutch Companies after they had bestowed a volley or two amongst the Horse retreated into some shrubbs hard by and there very valiantly defended themselvs awhile but were all taken at last There were kill'd in this business to the number of two hundred twelve hundred taken very few escaped For the whole Country being in Arms especially Sunderlands men who came not to the fight but to the execution they kill'd or took Prisoners all such as fled In that skirmish was taken the Standard which he had caus'd to be made of purpose to move the affections of the people with this Motto Judge and revenge my cause O Lord and the portraict of the late King beheaded exactly well done The Standard-bearer a very gallant young Gentleman was kill'd after he had several times refused quarter There was Colonel Hurrey taken the Lord Frenderick Sir Francis Hay of Dalgetie Colonel Hay of Naughton Colonel Gray and most of the Officers and two Ministers The Marquess after he saw the day was absolutely lost threw away his cloak which had the Star on it having receiv'd the order of the Garter a little while before his Sword was likewise found and not very far off his horse which he had forsaken For so soon as he had got clear off that ground where the skirmish was he betook himself to foot and lighting upon one of that Country or one of his own souldiers I know not whether took his Highland apparel from him and so in that habit conveighed himself away But such narrow search being made for him he could not long escape yet he continued in the open fields three or four days without any notice gotten of him At last the Lord of Aston being in arms with some of his Tenants aboard in that search happned on him He had been one of his followers before In that place he had continued three or four dayes without meat or drink with one only man in his company The Marquesse knowing him and believing to find friendship at his hands willingly discover'd himself But Aston not daring to conceal him and being greedy of the reward which was promised to the apprehender by the Councel of State seiz'd upon him and disarm'd him 't is said he profered great summs for his liberty which being in vain he desired to dye by the hands of those who took him rather than be made an object of misery and shame as he knew very well he should by his enraged enemies But neither of his desires was granted but in place of them a strong guard set over him and so conveyed to David Lesley Sraughan having atchieved his business with great expedition and freed the State from this much-fear'd danger returned to Edinburgh leaving the rest of the businesse to Lesley and Holborn where he receiv'd great rewards and thanks for his eminent service not without the great heart-burning of David Lesley who seeing a rivall risen up to his honour and one whom he lookt upon as an upstart souldier have so great successe fretted not a little Howsoever forwards he moves to accomplish the rest of the work which was now of no great consequence for there rested nothing within the Country but only the Castle of Dumbath which being out of all hopes of relief after the defeat so soon as they were perfectly assur'd by some Prisoners whom they knew yielded the Garrison The Governour was Prisoner at mercy The souldiers being Dutch were upon terms to return homewards There was nothing else to be done save the reducing of the Islands and the town of Kirkwall in Orkney where Colonel Johnson and Colonel Harry Graham were left when the Marquesse pass'd over to Cathanes but Montrose either because he could not spare any souldiers or because he expected better successe had left them almost naked though there were several places in those Isles which might have been made very renable Colonel Johnson having understoost of the defeat with those that were with him took shipping and returned from whence he came so did Harry Graham likewise else both of them had casted of the same sawce which their General did Thus Lesteys Forces entred without any resistance seiz'd upon the Arms which Montrose had brought thither together with two pieces of Ordnance The Queen of Sweden had given him a little Friggot of sixteen Guns which lay in the Harbour the Master of which being gone ashore into one of the Islands the Company seeing the event of the businesse revolted and brought in that likewise The victorie being now compleat there was a solemn day of thanksgiving appointed through the whole Kingdome Bonfires shooting of Ordnance and other testimonies of joy But many of the Gentry who had been under his command before having now engaged
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 success those that were next those places not expecting the word of Command ran rashly up the hill which lay open to the whole strength of the enemy Montrose although he 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 whether the quickness of his relief or the cowardliness of the enemy conduc'd more to their safety 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 Which when Montrose saw after others had too dishonourably shifted off that service he thus bespeaks the Earle of Airley You see my noble Loid how yonder men of ours by their unadvisedness have brought themselves into a most desperate hazard and will presently be trampled to dirt by the enemies Horse except we relieve them with all speed Now all mens eyes and hearts are fixt upon your Lordship they think you only worthy 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 which hath been committed by the fool hardinesse of youth may be corrected by your Lordships grave and discreet valour And he undertook the service as dangerous as it was with all his heart and being guarded with a troop of Horse in which rode John Ogilby of Baldeby who had formerly been a Collonel in Swethland a stout man and a skilfull souldier led them on straight upon the enemy And they giving the charge upon the Ogilbies disputed it sharply with them for a while but at last being no longer able to withstand their courage fac'd about whom the Ogilbies pursued so hotly that they made them fall foul upon their own Foot and charging them furiously thorow and thorow routed them and trode them under foot By this gallant example of Airley and the Ogilbies Montrose's Souldiers being enraged 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 Rebels Horse long abide their charge but deserting their Foot fell a running as â—ast as ever they could Nor did their Foot after they were so deserted stand it out long but throwing down their arms sought to save their lives by flight Which proved unserviceable for the victorious pursuers had the killing of them for fourteen 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 Arms their Spoils came clearly to the Conquerours who lost only six of their side whereof three were Ogilbies valiant Gentlemen who fighting like themselvs 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 swiftness of their Horses got to the Town and strong Castle of Sterling others escaping to the Scotish Fyrth shipt themselvs in some vessels that lay at anchor near the shoar amongst 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 Or prisoners the chief were Sir William Murray of Blebo James Arnot brother to the Lord Burghley one Collonel Diee and Collonel Wallace besides many more whom Montrose after quarter given used courteously and upon the engagement of their Honours set at liberry 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 Baywick some to Carlisle some to Newcastle others into Ireland And such as before only privately wisht well 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 Arms by the violence and tyranny of the Rebells to submit their persons and estates to the Conquerour humbly to beseech his protection and to 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 Provision 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 and thank'd him for them All whom he pardoned for what was past receiv'd 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 than 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 and fewds hereafter more religiously to observe their duty and loyalty to the good King and thence forward never more to have to doe with the counsells of seditious men who by endeavouring to satisfie their own â—usts had engaged King and Subject one against the other and upon the matter ruin'd both For his part he never had any other intention than to restore their Religion their King their Liberty his Peers and Countrymen by Arms when no other means was left out of the tyranny of Rebells unto their antient peace happinesse and glory Which if he should effect he would give Almighty God the authour of all good things everlasting praise but if he failed however he 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 Kingdome sounded nothing but Montrose's praise Men of all sorts every where extolling the ingenuity of his disposition in