Mountanier without any man along with him save the abovesaid Patricke Graham his guide and companion And indeed the Irish would hardly be perswaded that that was Montrose but wen they saw him so saluted and onely not adored like some great Deity by the men of Athole and others that knew him well they were overjoyed for his coming to them was in exceeding good time they being then in extreame danger to be cut off For Argyle was in their reare with a strong and well ordered Army the champaine countrey were ready in armes before them expecting if they should make downe into the Plaine to trample them to dirt with their horses hoofes the vessels that brought them◠over were burnt by Argyle that they might have no way to retreat nor would the Athole men or any other that favoured the King venture any hazard with them because they were strangers and came not by the Kings open and known Authority nor had they any Commander of ancient Nobility a thing by the Highlanders much set by who would not fight under the command of Alexander Mac-donell a man of no account with them lastly their number was inconsiderable being not above eleven hundred though ten thousand had been promised The next day the Athole men to the number of eight hundred put themselves in armes offered their service most cheerfully to Montrose who having got his handfull of men and earnestly commending his most righteous Cause to the protection of Almighty God now desired nothing more then to be among the thickest of the enemy Impatient therefore of further delay that very day he marches through the Plains of Athole towards Ern as well to make way for his friends and assistants easier accesse unto him if any should rise upon the newes as that he might fall upon and amaze the Rebels unlook't for before they should be able to joyne together who lay at distance Therefore passing by Weme a castle of the Menises seeing they handled a Trumpeter whom he sent friēdly unto them unworthily and fell hotly upon the reare of his Army he wastes their fields and causes all their houses and corne to be fired this was at the very first onset of the Warre to strike terrour into the enemy The same night he passed over Tay the greatest river in Scotland with part of his Forces the rest follow him very early the next day When they were ready to march on he gave Patrick Graham of whom I shall haue often to speak never without honour at their earnest request the Command of the Athole men sent him with the nimblest of them he could pick out amongst them to scout before He brings word he saw some souldiers drawne up on the top of an hill at Buckinth towards them Montrose makes straight These proved to be commanded by the Lord Kilpont son to the Earle of Taith a man of ancient Nobility and descended of the Grahams and Sir Iohn Drummond sonne to the Earl of Perth a kinsman also of Montrose◠who were both of them summoned by the Covenanters to joyne against the Irish as the Common enemy and had with them five hundred Foot and no more nor had they heard any certainty at all of Montrose's being in those parts He resolveth with all speed to surprise them and either to winne them to his side or to crush them to pieces But they as soone as they heard that Montrose was Generall of those Forces send unto him some of their chiefest friends to understand from him what he intended to doe He tells them he had the Kings Authority for what he did and was resolved to assert that Authority to the utmost of his power against a most horrid Rebellion conjuring them by all the obligations that were betweene them that they would not thinke much to doe their best endeavours for the best of Kings Which as it was much becoming their high birth and would be very acceptable service to the King so it would be beneficiall unto them for the present and much to their honour with posterity and strangers if they of all others should be the first that put to their helping hands to hold up a tottering Crowne They most readily without any delay came in unto him for both of them though underhand favoured the King exceedingly From them Montrose understood that the Covenanters were thick in armes at a Rendezvouz at Perth the second City to Edinburgh and there waited for their enemies falling down from Athole He knowing also that Argile with his Army was upon his backe lest he should be hem'd in on both sides determines to goe forward to Perth that there he might either force the enemy to fight or reduce the Towne to the Kings obedience Marching therefore three miles from Buckinth and allowing the Souldiers but a short time of refreshment at the breake of day he drawes out his men Nor was he above three miles more from the City whem the enemy was in view in a large and open Plain called Tippermore providing to fight They were commanded by the Lord Elchoe one that was taken for no great souldier there were with him the Earle of Tullibardin and the Lord Drummond but this latter as was conceived against his will for he his fathers whole family favoured the King in their hearts Knights he had with him good store among whom Sir Iames Scot who heretofore had done good service under the State of Venice was the most noted souldier They had six thousand Foot seven hundred Horse and in confidence of their numbres they had even devoured their enemies before they saw them It was on Sunday the first of September it was given in charge to their Ministers that in set Speeches they should encourage the people to fight not forgetting to minde them of their most holy Covenant forsooth And to give them their due they plyed their lungs stoutly in the performance of that worke they most freely promised them in the name of Almighty God an easie and unbloudy victory nay there was one Frederick Carmiohael one very much cryrd up for learning and holinesse by the silly people who was not afraid to deliver this passage in his Sermon If ever God spake word of truth out of my mouth I promise you in his name assured victory this day Gods service being thus finely performed as they thought they put their men in Battalia Elchoe himself commanded the right flank Sir Iames Scot the left and the Eare of Tullebardin the battell To the right and left flanks were added wings of horse with which they made no doubt on so faire a Plaine to hemme in the enemy Montrose perceiving the great body of the enemy and especially their strength in Horse for he had not so much as one Horse-man nor more then three leane horses and being carefull as it concerned him lest being incompassed with so great a number they should fall upon him in the Front Reare and Flanke he caused his
that it was some falling out between the Highlanders the Irish thrust himselfe in amongst the thickest of them there he findes a most horrible murther newly committed for the noble Lord Kilpontin lay there basely sâ—aine The murtherer was a retainer of his owne one Stuart whom he had treated with much friendship and familiarity in so much that that same night they lay both in a bed It is reported that the base slave had a plot to dispatch Montrose and in regard of the great power he had with Kilpontin he conceived he might draw him in to be accessary to the villany therefore taking him aside into a private place he had discovered unto him his intentions which the Nobleman highly detested as was meet where upon the murtherer fearing he would discover him assaulted him unawares stabbed him with many wounds who little suspected any harme from his friend and creature The treacherous assassine by killing a Centinel escaped none being able to pursue him it being so darke that they could scarse see the ends of their Pikes Some say the traitor was hired by the Covenanters to doe this others onely that he was promised a reward if he did it Howsoever it was this is most certaine that he is very high in their favour unto this very day and that Argyle immediatelâ— advanced him though he was no souldier to great commands in his Army Montrose was very much troubled with the losse of this Nobleman his deare friend and one that had deserved very well both froÌ„ the King himself a maÌ„ famous for arts armes and honesty being a good Philosopher a good Divine a good Lawyer a good Souldier a good Subject a good man And embracing the breathlesse body againe againe with sighes teares he delivers it to his sorrowfull friends and servants to be carried to his parents to receive its funerall Obsequies as became the splendor of that honourable Family With the rest of his Forces Montrose marcheth to Dundee the Towne being proud of the number of its inhabitants and having a Garrison out of Fife beside refused to submit And he thinking it no wisdome to hazard the honour he had gotten by his late victory upon the doubtfull successe of a siege turnes away toward Eske for he hoped that many of his friends and kindred being men of greatest note in those parts and who used to talke as highly what they would doe for the King as any others would be ready to joyne with him But they having newes of his approach withdrew themselves onely the Lord Ogleby Airley a man of threescore yeares old with his two sons Sir Thomas and Sir David and some of his friends and clients men of experienced resolutions joyned himselfe unto him and with admirable constancy he went along with him through all fortunes unto the very end of the Warre being in that almost universall defection the other honour and ornament of the Nobility of Scotland besides Montrose While Montrose was hereabouts he receives intelligence that some Commissioners from the Covenanters of whom the Lord Burghly was the principall lay at Aberdene with an Army and laboured to assure unto themselves the Northerne parts upon which Montrose especially relyed either by faire meanes or foule He determines to fight these immediately before Argyle could come up to them therefore with long marches he hies thither and possessing himselfe of the bridge upon the river of Dee and drawing neare the City he found the enemy drawn up close beside it Burghley commanded two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse whom he placed in wings having chosen his ground planted his great Guns before his men he expected battell Montrose had fifteene hundred Foot for the Lord Kilpontins souldiers were gone to convey their Lords dead body to his parents and most of the Athole men after the victory of Perth were gone home from whence they were not farre laden with spoile and just foure and forty Horse of whom he made two divisions and mixing amongst them the best fire-men and Archers that he had who in nimblenesse and swifâ—nesse of body were almost as good as horsemen placed them on either wing to prevent the falling of the enemies Horse upon his rere which they performed most gallantly beyond the opinion or perhaps the beliefe of many He gave the command of the right flank to Iames Hay and Nathaniel Gordon and of the left to Sir William Rollock all valiant men The left wing of the enemy was commanded by Lewis Gordon sonne to the Marquesse of Huntley a bold young man and hor spirited but haire brain'd and one that had forced out his fathers friends and clients to fight with Montrose against their wills He having gotten the plaine and most commodious ground for fighting on horsebacke charged Montrose's right flank which when he perceived he commanded Rollock with his twenty Horse to their aid and they being backed with the gallantry of their Commanders and the activity and stoutnesse of the Foot amongst them received the charge with so much hardinesse that they foure and forty beat backe full three hundred of the enemy routing all and killing very many But because they were so few they durst not follow the chase which was forborne by the great prudence of the Commanders and proved to be of great consequence towards the obtaining of the victory for the enemy charged Montrose's left Flanke vvhich had no Horse vvith their right Wing of Horse Montrose therefore in atrice now that Lewis Gordon and his men vvere fled conveighs the same Horse to the left Flanke vvho seeing they vvere not able to dravv themselves into a Body like the enemies fetch 't a compasse about so escaped their first charge then neatly vvheeling about they fall upon the Flanke of the enemy vvith their naked svvords beat and cut and vanquish and put them to flight They tooke prisoners on Forbes of Kragevar a Knight of great esteem vvith the enemy and another Forbes of Boindle Those that retreated got safe away because that so few could not safely persue them They that commanded the enemies Horse vvere not so much frighted vvith their losse as vexed vvith the disgrace of a double repulse therefore imputing their defeat to those light fierelockes that vvere mixed vvith Montrose's Horse they themselves call for Foot-men out of their maine Body intending to returne vvith greater courage Montrose suspected that vvas loath to engage those fevv gallant men againe vvhose Horses vvere spent already in tvvo sharp services vvith the enemy vvho vvas reinforced vvith fresh Foot Therefore observing the enemies Horse not yet railled since their nevv rout staÌ„ding at a sufficient distance froÌ„ their Foot hee rode about among his owne who had been sore galled already with the Enemies Ordnance and bespeaks them to this effect VVe doe no good my fellow Souldiers while we dispute the matter at thus much distance except we close up with them how shall we know
found them to be two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse hee commanded his men to march speedily away and following the course of the river Erne to make good the fords thereof hee with the few Horse that hee had was their Rear guard lest they should have been troden in pieces by the enemies Cavalry And truly he so valiantly repulsed the fierce assault of the enemy that by killing some and routing others he forced them to a retreat till at last his Foot after six miles march had made themselves masters of the passes of Erne So the enemy retreated with the losse of their labour and Montrose that same night being the 18. of Aprill quartered at Logh-Erne and came the next day to Balwidir where the Earl of Aboine met him who with some few more had escaped out of Carlisle and hearing tydings of Montrose's good successe had at last returned into his Country Leaving Balwidir they advanced to Logh-Catrinet where they receive intelligence that Hurrey had raised great forces in the North and was ready to engage with the Lord Gordon and therefore there was danger that he being an active Souldier and a good Commander should be able to over-master that gallant young Gentleman Therefore Montrose thought it necessary to oppose Hurrey assoon as was possible as well to secure so dear a friend from imminent danger as to be nibbling at the enemies Forces as he found them asunder and to cut off that power by peace-meal which he vvell knew if it vvere all in a body vvould be above his march Therefore by long and continued journeys passing by Balwidir and a Lake of four and tvventy miles long out of vvhich the river of Tay breaks forth through Athole and Angus and over Granshaine through a vale called Glenmuck hee came to the midst of Marre There he joyned vvith the Lord Gordon vvho had novv a thousand Foot and tvvo hundred Horse and marching straight to the Spey laboured to finde out and engage with the enemy Nor vvas he above six miles off vvhen Hurrey thought hee had not yet got over Gransbaine for vvith unvvearied labour and incredible speed he had over-run the very report of himself Hurrey lest a battell should be forced upon him whether he would or no before he had received an addition of numerous Auxiliaries in all hast passeth over the Spey And because he had appointed the Rendezvouz of all his friends at Innernesse hyeth to Elgin nor did Montrose pursue him lazily to Elgine Thence with all speed he passeth to Forresse nor did Montrose make lesse haste to follow and overtake him too at Forresse and sat so close on his skirts for fourteen miles together that notwithstanding he had the advantage of te night hee had much adoe to reach Innernesse The next day Montrose incamped at a village called Alderne and Hurrey according to his hopes found the Earls of Seafort and Suderland the whole sept of the Frasers and most of Murray and Cathnesse and the neighbouring parts to have assembled themselves to Innernesse well appointed To these Hurrey ads some old souldiers of the Garrison of that Town and so drawes up against Montrose He now commanded three thousand and five hundred Foot and four hundred Horse but Montrose who had no more but fifteen hundred Foot and two hundred Horse had a great minde to retire But not only Hurrey pressed so vehemently upon him that it was scarce possible for him to retreat but Baily also vvith a Southern Army much stronger then Hurrey's especially in Horse was novv got already a great vvay on that side Gransbaine and marched in great hast tovvards the Spey What should Montrose do in this condition Hee must of necessity either give Hurrey battell or undergo a far greater hazard of being hemb'd in between two Armies Therefore he resolves to try the fortune of War without delay to commit the successe unto God and chusing the best advantage of ground hee could finde there to expect the assault of the enemy There was a little Town that stood upon the height which shadowed the neighbouring valley some little hills that were higher then the Town behinde it that hindered the discovery of any one till they were just upon him In this valley he drawes up his Forces out of the view of the enemy Before the Town he places a few but expert and choice Foot with his Ordnance who were sheltered with such ditches as they found there The right wing hee commits to Alexander Mac-donel with four hundred Foot and lodged them in places fortified to their hand with banks and ditches with shrubs also and great stones and commands him to preserve himself entire that he might be a reserve upon all occasions and not to depart from his station which had so good a naturall fence that they might lie there safe enough not only from the enemies Horse but Foot also And with the same good advice he committed to his charge that notable Standard of the Kings which only he was wont to carry before him expecting that the enemy upon the sight of that would order the best of their Forces against that wing which by reason of the disadvantage of the place would be rendred wholly unusefull unto them till such time as hee on the left flank should take his best advantage against them And to that end drawing the rest of his Forces to the other side hee commends the Horse to the Lord Gordon and takes charge of the Foot himself Those few that stood before the Town under the shelter and covert of the banks and ditches seemed as if they were his main battell whereas indeed hee had none And for Reserves in that scarcity of men they were not to be thought of The enemy as Montrose most wisely fore saw assoon as they savv the Kings Standard ordered the most part of their Horse and old Souldiers vvherein their chief strength consisted against that And by this time the Van of the enemy began to dispute it with those before the Town and on the right flank and still as their souldiers were spent drew up fresh men which Montrose because his number was but few could not so easily do therefore hee resolved with all his men that he had on the left flank to make a violent assault upon the enemy at once And whiles he was thinking so to do there comes unto him one whom hee knew to be trusty and discreet and whispers him in the ear that Mac-donell with his men on the right flank were put to flight He being a man of a quick spirit thought it was best to forestall the souldiers lest their hearts should faile them upon bad newes and cryes aloud to the Lord Gordon My Lord what doe we doe Mac-donell upon the right hand having routed and discomfited the enemy is upon the execution shall wee stand by as idle spectatours whiles hee carries away the honour of the day And with that hee commands them to charge
ground But Baily turning aside some three miles to the left hand Montrose holds on his intended march to Alford where hee staid that night the enemy lying about four miles off The next day after Montrose commands his men very early in the morning to stand to their armes and make ready to battell and placed them on a hill that stands over Alford And as he with a Troop of Horse was observing the motion and order of the enemy and viewing the fords of the Done a river which runs by Alford it was told him that the enemy Horse and Foot were making unto a ford which lay a mile from Alford to the intent that they might cut off the Reare of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their owne destruction Montrose leaving that troop of Horse not farre from the Ford together with some select and understanding men who should give him perfect intelligence of all things hee returneth alone to order the battell And above all things he possesses himselfe of Alford hill where hee might receive the charge of the enemy if they fell on desperately Behinde him was a moorish place full of ditches and pits which would prevent Horse falling upon his Reare before him was a steep hill which kept his men from the enemies view so that they could hardly perceive the formost rankes Hee had scarce given order for the right managing of all things when those Horse whom hee had left at the Ford returned with a full cariere and bring word that the enemy had passed the River And now it was no more safe for either of them to retreat without the apparent ruine of their party It is reported that Baily like a skilfull and wary Commaunder was sore against his will drawne unto this battell nor had engaged had he not beene necessitated unto it by the rashnesse of the Lord Baâ—carise a Colonell of Horse who precipitated himselfe and the Horse under his command into that danger whether Baily would or no as that hee could not be brought off without the hazard of the whole Army Montrose gave the command of his right wing on which side the enemies Horse were most strong unto the Lord Gordon and appointed Nathaniel Gordon an old Commander to his assistance The command of the left wing was given to the Earle of Aboine to whom also was joyned Sir William Rollock And of the maine battell to two valiant men Glengar and Drumond of Ball the younger unto whom hee added George Graham master of the Camp an expert souldier also The Reserve which was altogether hid behinde the hill was commanded by his nephew Napier And for a while Montrose kept himself upon the height and the enemy in the valley being fortified with pits and ditches for it was neither safe for the later to charge up the hill nor for the former to fall upon them that were surrounded with marshes and pooles The numbers of the Foot were in a manner even either side had about two thousand but Baily was much stronger in Horse for he had six hundred and Montrose but two hundred and fifty Only Montrose had this advantage that the enemy were for the most part hirelings raised from dunghills but those that served the King Gentlemen who fought for a good Cause and Honour gratis and not for gaine and such as esteem'd it more becoming to die then to be overcome Besides Montrose knew that the greatest part of the old souldiers were gone with Lindsey and the new ones would be so frighted with the shouts of the Armies and the noise of Trumpets that they would scarce stand the first charge Therefore in confidence of so just a cause and so valiant assertors of it he first drew downe his men and immediately the Lord Gordon giving a smart charge upon them was courageously receiv'd by the enemy who trusted to the multitude of their Horse and now being clos'd and come to handy blowes no one could advance a foot but over his vanquished enemy nor retreat by reason of the pressing on of those in the Rear The first that made way for themselves and their men by a great slaughter of their enemies were the two Gordons the Lord and the Colonell and Colonell Nathaniel called out unto those expert Firelocks who now lin'd the Horse as they were wont Come on my fellouw sonldiers throw downe your now uselesse guns draw your swords and sheat them in the Rebells Horse or hamstring them They instantly tooke the word of command and at the same time Montrose drawes up Napier with his Reserve which lay out of sight on the other side of the hill at whose sudden and unexpected coming the enemy afrighted betook himself to his heels Aboine with the left wing kept off nor did hee attempt the enemy but by light skirmishes in small parties who when they saw their own men on their left wing routed and put to flight made their retreat with little losse Their Foot being deserted by their Horse after they had desperately stood out a while and refused quarter were almost all cut off The fall of the Lord Gordon was no little advantage to the escape of their Horse who after the battell was won rushing fiercely into the thickest of them received a shot through his body by the conquered and flying enemy and fell down dead Whom also Aboine did not hotly pursue being much troubled with the losse of his brother In this battell Montrose did not lose so much as one common souldier and of Gentlemen one Culchol and one Milton whose names and families I should most willingly have inserted had I been so happy as to have knowledge of them because they died gallantly in the bed of Honour fighting for their King their Liberty and the Laws Nor are some Pedees as well Scotch as Irish to be forgotten boyes scarce fourteen years of age a piece who throwing down their masters luggage mounting upon their nags sumpter-horse did not onely make a faire appearance of a body of Horse but as if they had bin Corrivalls in valour with their masters beyond what might be expected from their years strength fell in among the thickest of their enemies Of whom some but very few were slain nor did they sell their lives for nothing and by that they gave an ample testimony of their towardnesse and of so manly a spirit in children as might prescribe to riper years But the losse of the Lord Gordon had so deep an impression upon all mens affections that they had the face rather of a defeated then victorious army The first scene of their sorrovv vvas acted in a dull silence in the next the floud-gates vvere broke open and the army vvas full of sighes and sobs and vvailing and lamentation and then vvith bedevved cheeks assoon as their grief could get a tongue they blam'd Heaven and Earth and Fortune and every thing for depriving the King the Kingdome the Age themselves and their posterity
easily be surprised on the borders of Tweed if Lesly would make use of that opportunity was offered him to doe his businesse Therefore Lesley upon this intelligence made haste thither and as I said lodg'd within four miles of Selkirk That Trequaire sent those letters unto Lesley although it was the generall report I cannot certainly affirm but it cannot be denied that that same night he sent his Commands to his son the Lord Linton that he should immediately withdraw himself from the Royall party which with much jollity he did This was like themselves being the ungratefullest of all men deserting their King of whom none had better deserved and staining their posterity And truly that morning being very misty gave no small advantage to the treachery of the enemy whom at last Montroses frighted Scouts discover'd to march towards him in a full body at such time as they were not above half a mile off Montrose mounting the first Horse he could light on gallops into the field appointed for the Rendezvouz that morning where he finds a great deal of noise but no order The Cavalry being little acquainted with their duty lying already disperst in their quarters where they dream't more of baiting their horses then maintaining their lives and honours upon the first alarme which they received from the enemies Trumpet ran disorderly up and down they knew not whither but never came in the fight Yet there were a few and those were for the most part Noblemen or Knights who made all speed thither and gallantly undertook to make good the right wing and they were not above sixscore in all Nor did the Foot who were about five hundred make agood appearance for many of them looking about their private businesses among the Carriages by that unseasonable care of saving lost themselves and all they had And which spoiled the matter which was bad enough before most of the Commanders were absent never came in the field Besides the enemy coming on so speedily left them no time for deliberation The enemy therefore who were six thousand whereof most were Horse out of England furiously charging Montrose's right wing were twice gallantly received and repulsed with no small losse Nor could they make that noble Troop give any ground or break through it untill at last laying along those few Foot that withstood them they broke in upon the left flank vvhere there vvas no Horse By this tvvo thousand Horse whom the enemy had sent over to the other side of the river vvere gotten on the Rear of those noble Gentlemen who lest being hemb'd in on every side gall'd with the enemies shot at distance they should fal for nothing and unreveng'd withdrew themselves every one the best way he could But the Foot who could have little security by flight fighting a good while stoutly resolutely at last upon quarter ask't and given for their lives threw down their armes and yeelded themselves prisoners Every one of whom being naked and unarm'd without any regard to quarter given Lesley caused to be most unhumanely butcher'd The staine of which perfidious cruelty by which he hath so filthily blurr'd his hononr if any he got in forraign service he shal never be able to wipe away As for those that escaped out of the battell the enemy pursued them no further being busie in plundering the Carriages where they made a lamentable slaughter of Women Pedees and Cook-boyes no pity vvas shovvn to sex nor age they vvent to the pot altogether The number of the slain is not easie to be given almost no Horse and very fevv Foot besides those that yeelded themselves and had quarter fell in that battell vvhich may appear by this that they vvere no more then five hundred in all before the next day tvvo hundred and fifty of them came safe to Montrose of all them vvith their svvords by their sides so that there could not be as many more missing and very fevv vvere taken prisoners and not untill their horses being tired and themselves ignorant of the vvay they became a prey to the country people Whom they forgetting all the benefits protection they had but nevvly received from Montrose to do the Covenanters a favour delivered up unto their cruell enemies to be made by them acceptable sacrifices to Baal-Berith the god of the Covenant For all that the Rebell conquerours missed of the Kings Standards The one of them vvhich vvas carried before the Foot vvas preserved by an Irish soldier a stout man of a present spirit vvhen others vvere almost beside themselves vvho vvhen he savv that the enemy had got the day stript it off the staffe and vvrapped it about his body and being othervvise naked made his vvay vvith his dravvn svvord through the thickest of the enemy and brought it to Montrose at night Whom he received into his Life-guard and gave it him to carry in token of his valour and loyalty And the other of them William Hie brother to the Earl of Kinoule a hopefull young Gentleman vvho succeeded his uncle by the mothers side Douglasse son to the Earl of Morton vvho having receiv'd many and grievous vvounds at the battell of Alford vvas rendred unable for that burden stript from off the staffe too and carried it avvay vvith him And conveighing himself into the borders of England skulked there a vvhile till the coast was a little clearer about Tweed and then through by-wayes and night journies for the most part being accompanied couducted by his faithfull friend Robert Toures a stout man and a good souldier who had been a Captain in France a good while ago returned into the North and presented that same Royall Standard unto the Generall And now at last Montrose when he saw his men totally routed and put to flight which he never savv before thought of nothing more for a good space then to die honourably and not unrevenged therefore rallying about thirty Horse vvhom he had gathered up in that confusion he resolved by fair and honourable death to prevent his falling alive into the enemies hands And seeing he vvas not able to break through the enemies Troops vvho stood thick round about him he gall'd them on the Front and Rear and Flanks and of such as vvere so hardy as to adventure out of their ranks many he slevv others he beat back But vvhen all that he could do vvould not do his businesse as God vvould have it this consideration possessed his resolute and noble spirit That the losse of that day was but small and easily regained because but an inconsiderable part of his Forces were there That the Highlanders were the very nerves and sinewes of the Kingdome and all the North was sound and untouch't That many of the prime Nobility and men of power many Knights too and Chiefs of their Sepâ—s had entered into an association with him who if he should miscarry would be suddenly ruined or corrupted and by that means the Kings party
Hurrey's Horse had no minde long to endure the shock of the Gordons but wheeling about and beginning to run left their flanks which they were to maintain open to their enemies Their Foot although thus deserted by their Horse being both more in number and better armed then Montrose's men stood out very stoutly as longs as his men kept aloof but assoon as hee came to fall upon them hand to hand hee drove them to throw away their arms and to seek though to little purpose to save themselves by their heels But Montrose himself not forgetting what was signified unto him by so faithfull a messenger drew off with a few of his readiest men unto the right flank where hee found things in a far other condition then they were left For Mac-donell being a valiant man but better at his hands then head being over-hasty in battell and bold even to rashnesse disdaining to shelter himself behinde hedges and shrubs whiles the enemy vapoured and provoked him with ill language contrary to orders upon his own head advanceth towards the enemy out of that most defencible fastness station where in he was placed And he did it to his cost for the enemy over-powering him both in Horse and Foot and having many old souldiers amongst thē routed repulsed his men And certainly if he had not timely drawn thē off into a close hard by they had every one of thē together with the Kings Standard been lost But hee made amends for that rash mistake in his admirable courage in bringing off his men for he was the last man that came off and covering his body with a great target which he carried in his left hand defended himself against the thickest of his enemies Those that came closest up unto him were Pike-men who with many a blow had struck their spear-heads into his target which he cut off by three or four at once with his sword which he managed with his right hand And those that made him any opposition in the close seeing Montrose come in to his aid and their own men on the other side put to flight such as were Horse spur'd away and the Foot most of which were old souldiers out of Ireland fighting desperately were almost all of them slain upon the ground The Conquerours pursued them that fled for some miles so that there were slain about three thousand Foot of the enemy amongst whom their old souldiers fought most stoutly but almost all their Horse escaped by a more timely then honourable flight Nor had Hurrey himself with some of their best men which went last off the field escaped the hands of the pursuers had not the Earl of Aboine by I know not what want of heed displayed some Ensignes and Standards that had been taken from the enemy and himself not following the chase but turning towards his own party seemed to have been the enemy and to threaten a new battell With which mistake they were so long deluded untill the enemies Horse though much disordred had shifted themselves away into such by-paths as they knew or could light upon only a few of them came with Hurrey before next morning to Innernesse Of such of the enemy as were slain the most notable were Cambell Laver a Colonell of old souldiers Sir Iohn and Sir Gideon Murray Knights and other stout men and perhaps not unworthy to bee lamented had they not stained their otherwise commendable valour with the horrid crime of Rebellion nor in that did they so much follow their own jugdements as the humour of the times or the ambition or avarice of their Chiefs Montrose of those that served with him on the left flank missed only one man and him a private souldier and on that side where Mac-donell commanded there were missing fourteen private souldiers also But hee had many more wounded the curing and securing of whom was especially provided for by Montrose Afterwards entertaining the prisoners with sweetnesse courtesie hee promised all such as repented of their errour liberty or employment and was as good as his word and such as were obstinate in their rebellion he disposed of into severall prisons In this battell at Alderne the valour of young Napier did very much discover it self who being the son of the Lord Napier of Marchiston and Montrose's nephew by his sister had but a little before without the knowledge of his father or wife stoln away from Edinburgh to his uncle and did at this time give an excellent assay of his valour and laid down most firm principles of a most noble disposition Whereupon the chief of the Covenanters took his father a man almost threescore and ten years old and as good a man as ever Scotland bred in this age and his wife the daughter of the Earl of Marre Sir Sterling Keer his brother-inlaw an excellent man also chief of his family and one that had suffered very much for his Loyalty together with his two sisters the one Sir Sterlings most virtuous Lady the other a virgin and cast them all into the dungeon from whence afterward they were to be delivered by Napier himself with the assistance of his uncle This battell was fought at Alderne on the 4. of May 1645. CHAP. XI MOntrose allowing a few dayes of refreshment to his souldiers marched to Elgin which is the chief Town of the Province where for the sake of those that were wounded hee made some longer stay because they had there the accommodation of good Chyrurgeons and medicines which are sometimes scarce to be had in the field Afterward passing over the Spey hee came to Keith from thence to Frendrackt and so to Strathbogy Here Baily meets him unto whom Hurrey with those that remained of his broken Troops at Alderne was joyned and provokes him to battell Montrose kept back his men who were spent with great travaile and were far fewer both in Horse and Foot though very eager to fight till such time as he had raised new forces recruited them Therefore thinking it enough to maintain that ground which he had chosen as commodiously as he could for himself untill night passeth then to Balvenie whither also the enemy followeth him but he passing by Strath Done Strath-Spey went up to Badenoth The enemy getting to the other side of the water provokes him again to fight but in vain for he was very wary of giving them a set battell but neverthelesse by frequent skirmishes and especially beating up quarters in the night did so much weaken their power and courage that they that were so haughtily daring but a while ago as well Commanders as Souldiers hastily and disorderly betook themselves by night to Innernesse when none pursued them Montrose was not much displeased that hee was so rid of this enemy especially for this reason the Earl of Linesey the prime ringleader of the Covenanters next unto Argyle and his rival too as being brother-in-law to Duke Hamilton used to give out that Argyle wanted either care
all parts and by this time over-numbring him even in Foot labour'd not only to provoke but even compell him to fight Wherupon hee concluded to step aside a little into the neighbouring Mountains whither he knew either the enemy would not advance or if they dit it would be to their losse Therefore the enemy drawing near with all their Army to Methfyn he gives a private command for the Carriages to drive fast up the hills whiles he as if he intended to fight orders the battell makes good the passes with strong guards and drawes up the Horse into the Front Nor did the enemy expect any other then to try it out by battell which hee made as if hee would give till such time as the Carriages were got so farre before that he conceiv'd them out of danger and then he commands the Army in one body at their close order to march away apace He gave charge unto such Horse as he had and his ablest Fire-locks to bring up the Reare to secure them from the enemies Horse The enemy providing for a present charge as they expected when they saw Montrose retreating first pursued eagerly though to no purpose for he making good all passes as he went easily repulsed them and without losse of so much as one private souldier came chearfully off into the heights and steep places that were unaccessible unto the enemies Horse and for their Foot they fear'd no assault from them It is remarkable that when Montrose's Horse were come up unto the passes and the enemy knew very well they were not able to pursue any further lest with all that paines they should seem to have done nothing at all they sent out three hundred of their ablest and readiest Horse to follow after them with a great shout base language whom when Montrose saw he call'd for only twenty active bodied men of the Highlanders that were used to hunting very good marks-men and commanded them to check their insolence and they first of all creeping hither and thither and hiding their guns took their aimes so well that they knockt downe some of the forwardest of those men who being men of the better sort by their example made the rest more wary so that they were all contended to retreat But those good huntsmen being encouraged with their good successe assoon as they saw their enemies disorderâ—d came into the open plain and resolutely charged their Horse who in as much feare as Bucks or Does chased by Hunters set spurs to their Horses and fled back to their maine body as if the Divell were in them The enemy upon their retreat chose that place for their Rendezvouz from whence Montrose departed Methfyn Forrest after they had done nothing worthy to be remembred in all that expedition but that when thy found themselves unable to cope with men they exercised their cruelty upon women for all the wives of the Irish and Highlanders that they light of who followed the Camp for the love of their husbands most basely and shamelesly they hew'd in pieces Montrose kept his quarters at little Dunkeldon both because the place was cumbersome and unpassable for Horse and lay very conveniently for receiving such aids as he daily expected with Aboine out of the North. All which time the two spleenative Armies lying close together rather stood upon their guards then offered any affront one to the other And now at length Aboine and Colonell Nathaniell Gordon brought up their men out of the North to Dunkeldon men for their number indeed fewer then was expect but for their stoutnesse and true valour farre above their number The Horse they brought were only two hundred and some six score Firelocks whom they had mounted and made Dragoons other Foot they brought none Along with them came the Earl of Airley and Sir David his son with fourscore Horse most of them of the noble family of the Oglebyes amongst whom Alexander sonne and heir of Sir Iohn Ogleby of Innercarit was most eminent not onely for the rare accomplishments of his person and the splendor of his Ancestors but for the honour of his valiant and happy atchievements much above what his age could promise Montrose being thus well recruited thought it not good to lose any time but marched straight towards the enemy But assoon as he came to Amonde he thought it best to see in what condition the enemy was to find out whether that was true which he had receiv'd a flying report of that was that very many of their Auxiliaries had deserted their colours and run home Therefore leaving his Foot to take their rest a little before night he fac'd the enemy with his Horse with which sight being somting affrighted they kept within their trenches And next morning early Montrose riding about to discover was informed that they had stollen away at the dead of the night to Methfyn and in disorder had got over a bridge upon the Erne Hee instantly causes his men to march and passing the river at a stone-bridge about six miles off lay that night in Strath-Erne CHAP. XIII FIfe is the most populous the most rich the thickest Country of Towns and Villages in all Scotland Its inhabitants are little martiall consisting most of Merchants Shopkeepers Mariners and Husbandmen But so new fangled in their Religion and so bewitched both by the example and authority of the Nobility and by the Sermons of their seditious Ministers that all of them upon the matter were extremely addicted to the Covenanters The Country it self is almost an Iland being inviron'd towards the South with the Scottish Firth on the North with the Tay which carrieth ships of great burden all along on the East with the maine sea No entrance thither by land but on the West in the straights of which both Armies lay The whole Country was in a distraction some especially their much admired Preachers that thundred nothing but Excommunications inciting and compelling all of every estate and age to take up armes others flocking in great numbers unto them others running hither and thither to hide themselves as every one was led by his own superstition confidence or fear Montrose was very desirous to assault the enemy and try the fortune of a battell with them before they encreas'd their Forces with addition of the Fife-men but it would not be For they had so forâ—ified themselves by the advantage of the ground and the narownesse of the passages that hee could by no means either make his way unto them or draw them out into plainer ground Having therefore made them severall fruitlesse offers of battell he resolved to march into the heart of the Country and came to Kinrosse as well to hinder the rising of that Country as to traine the enemy at last out of their fastnesse to come in unto the aid of their distressed friends They not so much as daring to fall upon his Rear turn'd another way and keeping close to the banke first of
in Scotland utterly subdued Therefore he thought himself bound never to despaire of a good Cause and the rather lest the King his Master should apprehend the losse of Him to be greater then the losse of the battell And vvhile these thoughts vvere in his head by good hap came in the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Iohn Dalyell vvith some other friēds not many but fatihfull gallant men vvho vvith tears in their eyes out of the abundance of their affection beseech intreat implore him for his former atchievements for his friends sakes for his Ancestors for his sweet wife childrens sakes nay for his Kings his Countries and the Churches peace and safeties sake that hee would look to the preservation of his person considering that all their hopes depended on him alone under God and that their lives were so bound up with his that they must all live or die together At last Montrose overcom with their intreaties charging through the enemy who vvere by this time more taken up vvith ransacking the Carriages then follovving the chase made his escape of those that vvere so hardy as to pursue him some hee slevv others among vvhom vvas one Bruce a Captaine of Horse and tvvo Cornets vvith their Standards he carried avvay prisoners Whom he entertained courteously and after a fevv dayes dismist them upon their Parole that they should exchange as many Officers of his of the like quality vvhich Parole they did not over-punctually perform Montrose vvas gotten scarce three miles from Selkirk vvhen hee having overtaken a great number of his ovvn men that vvent that vvay he made a pretty considerable party so that being novv secure from being fallen upon by the Country people he march't avvay by leisure And as he vvent by the Earl of Trequaires Castle by vvhose dishonesty he did not yet knovv that he had been betrai'd he sent one before him to call forth him and his son that he might speak vvith them but his servants bring vvord that they vvere both from home Notwithstanding there are Gentlemen of credit that testifie that they were both within nor did that gallant Courtier only bid the Rebells joy of their victory but was not ashamed to tell abroad not without profuse and ill becoming laughter that Montrose the Kings forces in Scotland vvere at last totally routed his ovvn daughter the Countesse of Queensborough as far as modestly she might blaming him for it Montrose after he had made a halt a vvhile near a Tovvn called Peblis untill the souldiers had refresh't themselves vvere fit to march many flocking to them from every side at Sun-set they all stoutly entered the Town and by break of day next morning by the conduct of Sir Iohn Dalyell especially passed over Cluid at a ford Where the Earls of Crawford and Airley having escaped another vvay met vvith him making nothing of the losse of the battell assoon as they savv him out of danger Nor vvas he lesse joyfull at the safety of his friends then that he had sav'd pick't up by the vvay almost two hundred Horse But although hee vvas already secure enough from the pursuit of the enemy neverthelesse he resolved to make vvhat haste hee could into Athole that taking his rise there he might dravv vvhat forces he could raise of the Highlanders other friends into the North. Therefore passing first over the Forth and then the Ern having marched through the Sherifdome of Perth by the foot of the Mountains he came thither As he was on his vvay he had sent before him Douglasse and Airley vvith a party of Horse into Angus and the Lord Areskin into Marre that they might speedily raise their friends and dependents in those parts and had also sent Sir Iohn Dalyell unto the Lord Carnegy with whom he had lately contracted affinity with Commissions to that purpose Moreover he sent letters to Mac-donell to require him according to his promise to return with the Highlanders by the day appointed But above all he sollicited Aboine both by letters and speciall messengers that he would bring back his friends and clients who were willing enough of themselves and wanted no other encouragement then his authority and example CHAP. XVII IT was towards the latter end of Harvest nor was the corn reap't in that cold Country nor their houses and cottages which the enemy had burnt repaired against the approaching winter which is for the most part very sharp thereabouts which made the Athole-men to abate some thing of their wonted forwardnesse Yet Montrose prevailed so far with them that they furnished him with four hundred good Foot to wait upon him into the North where there was lesse danger and faithfully promised him upon his return when he was to march Southward hee should command the whole power of the Country Mean time frequent expresses came from Aboine that hee would wait upon him immediately with his Forces and Mac-donell promised no lesse for himself and some other Highlanders Areskin signified also unto him that his men vvere in a readinesse and vvaited for nothing but either Aboines company vvho vvas not far off or Montrose's commands About this time there vvere very hot but uncertain report of a strong party of Horse that vvere sent him from the King whom many conceived not to be far from the South-borders But other nevves they had which was too certain to wit that there was a most cruell butchery of what prisoners the Rebells had without any distinction of sex or age some falling into the hands of the Country people were basely murthered by them others who escap't them and found some pity in them that had so little being gathered together were by order from the Rebell Lords throwne head-long from off a high bridge and the men together with their wives and sucking children down'd in the river beneath and if any chanced to swim towards the side they were beaten of with pikes and staves and thrust down again into the water The Noble men and Knights were kept up in nasty prisons to be exposed to the scorne of the vulgar and certainly doom'd at last to lose their heads Montrose was never so much troubled as at this sad newes Therefore to the end he might some way relieve his distressed friends being impatient of all delay with wonderfull speed he climbes over Gransbaine and passing through the plains of Marre and Strath-done maketh unto the Lord of Aboine that he might encourage him by his presence to make more hast into the South For his design was assoon as hee had joyned his forces with Areskins and Airleys and sent for Mac-donell and other Highlanders taken up the Athole men by the way to march in a great body straight over the Forth and so both to meet the Kings Horse and to fright the enemy upon their apprehension of an imminent danger to themselves from putting the prisoners to death For he conceived they durst not be so bold as to execute their malice upon
an able man from a weake a valiant man from a coward If ye would assaile these timorous and brawnelesse shrimps with handy blowes they will never beâ— able to stand you Goe to therefore fall about them with your Swords and butt-end of your Muskets beat them downe drive them backe and make them pay what is justly due for their treason and rebellion It was not sooner said then they fall to worke breake in upon the Enemy defeate them rout them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster then they whom the conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they scap't scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Victors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's meÌ„ came in thronging amongst them through the gates and posternes and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought foure houres upon such equall termes that it was an even lay whether had the oddes At this Battell Montrose had some great Guns but they were unserviceable because all advantages of ground were possessed by the enemy but the enemies Guns made no small havock of his men Among others there was an Irishman that had his legge shot off with a Cannon bullet onely it hung by a little skin he seeing his fellow-souldiers something sad at his mischance with a loud and cheerfull voyce cryes out Come on my Camerades this is but the fortune of Warre and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Doe you stand to it as becomes you and as for me I am sure my Lord Marquesse seeing I can no longer serve on foot will mount me on horsebacke So dravving out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his owne hand and gave his legge to one of his fellow-souldiers to bury And truly when he was well againe and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdene on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entered the City and allowed them two dayes rest CHAP. VII IN the meane time newes is brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces then those they dealt with last the Earle of Lothion accoÌ„panying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aâ—erdene to Kintor a Village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependants of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollocke to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out of England or some place else That he had fought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not be expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with great and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out alwayes without timely reliefe Still nothing troubled Montrose more then that none of the Gordons of whom he conceived great hopes came in unto him And there wanted not some of them who testified their great affection to the service but that Huntley the Chief of the Family being a backe-Friend to Montrose had with held them all either by his owne example or private directions and that himselfe being forced to sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdom envied that honour to another of which he had missed himselfe and had forbidden even with threats all those with vvhom he had any power to have any thing to doe vvith Montrose or to assist him either vvith their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains Fastnesses vvhere he knew the enemies Horse wherein their great strength consisted could doe them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the Iustice of his cause and the valour of his Souldiers he made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogge and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And coming to the side of the River of Spey not farre from an old Castle called Rothmurke he incamped there with an Army if one respected the number but very smal but it was an expert cheerfulâ— one now also some thing acquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he findes the men oâ— Cathnes and Suderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in Armes to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his backe Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himselfe from their Horse he turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scarce passable for Horse There for certaine dayes he was very sicke which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordaine a day of publique Thankesgiving to Almighty God for that great deliverance Nor were their Levites you may be sure backward in that employment in their Pulpits for as if they had been of counsell at the Decree and stood by at the execution they assured the people that it was as true as Gospell that the Lord of Hostes had slaine Montrose with his owne hands But this joy did not last them long for he recovered in a short space and as if he had been risen from the dead he frighted his Enemies much more then he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donell with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up Armes with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himselfe goes into Angus hoping it might happen that he should either force Argyle with his tyred Horse unto his Winter quarters or at least leave him farre enough behinde him For Argyle had pursued him so slowly and at such distance that it was appareâ—t he thought of nothing lesse then of giving him Battell Therefore going through Angus getting over the Grainsbaine which going along with a perpetual ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equall parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome And now that he had left Argyle so farre behinde him that he might safely take some time to recruit he went to Strathbogy that he might meet with the Gordons perswade them to engage with him But he lost his labour for they were forestalled by Huntley and after his example plaid least in sight For such as were generous daring spirits though they were loath to provoke the indignation of their Chief yet they could not but be ashamed that at a time when there might be so much use of them
could never before be brought to beleeve that an Army could get into Argyle on foot in the midst of summer many times heretofore he has beâ— heard to bragge that he had rather lose a hundred thou sand Crownes then any mortall man should know the way by which an Army could enter into his Countrey When he therefore suspected nothing lesse the trembling Cow-herds came downe from the hills told him the enemy was within two miles He not knowing what to do and almost besides himself for fear at last commits himself to a fisher-boat and flies away leaving his friends and servants and the whole Countrey to their fortunes and the mercy of an enemy â—t is a rough and mountainous Countrey barren of corn for little or none is sown there but very commodious for pasture the chief riches of the inhabitants consisting in cattell Montrose divides his Army into three Brigades and sends theÌ„ about the Countrey one Brigade was commanded by the Chief of the Mac-renalds another by Mac-donel and the third by himself They range about all the Country and lay it waste as many as they finde in armes going to the Rendezvous appointed by their Lord they slay and spare no man that was fit for warre nor do they give over till they had driven al serviceable men out of that Territory or at least into holes knowne to none but themselves Then they fire the villages and Cottes lay them levell with the ground in that retaliating Argyle with the same measure he had meted unto others who was the first in all the Kingdome that prosecuted his Country-men with fire and sword Lastly they drive their cattell Nor did they deal more gently with others who lived in Lorn and the neighbour parts that acknowledged Argyle's power These things lasted from the 13. of December 1644. to the 28. or 29. of Ianuary following And indeed he used never more to acknowledge thâ— singular providence fatherly mercy of Almighty Goâ— then in bringing him his men safe out of those places for if but two hundred Souldiers had handsomeâ— kept those Passes they might easily either have cut off or at least driven back all his Forces Besides if thâ— Cow-herds had but driven away their cattell which they might easily have done in those barren places he must have starved for hunger Or thirdly if it had beeâ— a sharp and stormy winter and it seldome chances tâ— be otherwise there they had either been drowned iâ— snowdrifts or starv'd and benumb'd with cold Buâ— merciful God took away both courage from the enemy and its ordinary temper from the air supplyed their want of bread with great abundance of flesh Aâ— length departing out of Argyle and passing through Lorn-Glencow Aber he came to Logh-Nesse And now he expected that al the Highlanders being either frighted with the example of Argyle or freed froÌ„ the fear oâ— him should be ready to assist the Kings most righteouâ— cause vindicate it with their armes against the rebelâ— But now least Montrose's heroicall spirit should eveâ— want matter to work upon he is advertised that the Earl of Seafort a very powerfull man in those partâ— and one of whom he had entertained a better opinioÌ„ with the Garrison of Innernesse which were old Souldiers the whole strength of Murray Rosse Sutherland Cathnes and the sept of the Frasers were ready to meet him with a desperate army of five thousand Horse and Foot Montrose had only fifteen hundred for those of Clanrenald and most of the Atholemen suspecting no such need of them being laden with the spoils of Argyle had got leave to go home on condition they should return when they were sent for But for al that Montrose was not afraid to give battell to that disorderly Army for although he knew those of the Garrison to be old Souldiers yet he accounted of the rest of the multitude which were newly raised out of Husbandmen Cow-herds Pedees Tavern-boyes Kitchin-boyes to be altogether raw and unserviceable And now while he thought of nothing but fighting these a trusty Messenger overtakes him and informs him that Argyle having gathered forces out of the lower parts of the Kingdom and joyned unto them such Highlanders as yet adhered unto him had come down into Aber with three thousand Foot and staid at an old Castle called Innerlogh upon the bank of Logh-Aber Montrose who wel understood the crafty cowardly dispositioÌ„ of Argyle by that had a good guesse at his designe which was to follow after him at a good distance that he might be first engaged with those Northern men then to make his ovvn advantage of the event of that battel but by no means to fight himself if he could help it Therefore Montrose considered that it vvould be a matter of greater concernment and of lesse danger to let men see that Argyle was not invincible even in the Highlands vvere he was adored by the simple people like some great little god and as for the Northern Army he conceived that upon the report of a Victory obtained against Argyle it would moulder a way and easily be brought into order Montrose was thirty miles absent from Innerlogh neither would he goe the high way thither though he placed guards in it lest the enemy should have any intelligence of his moving but streight over Logh-Aber hills in untroden pathes and onely know to Cow-herds and Hunts-men for in those mountains there are great herds of Deer by a way that never man led an Army before and killing their Scouts was upoâ— the back of the enemy ere he was aware They being but little affrighted with so unexpected an accident run to their arms and immediately prepare themselves for battel When Montrose perceived them to be in a posture so quickly he stood still a little while till his Rear being tired with so hard a march could come up unto his Front It was night but the Moon shone so clearly that it was almost as light as day all night they stood to their arms and making frequent â—allies skirmishes one with another neither gave the other leave to rest or retreat All others earnestly expected day only Argyle being more advised then the rest conveied himself away at dead of the night and this second time taking boat saved himself from the peril of battel as if he intended to be Vmpire between the two Armies being himself out of gunshot stand spectatour of other mens valour wel too At the break of day Montrose ordered his men as he intended to fight and the enemy were as forward to do the like For they did not yet think that Montrose was there as some prisoners afterwards confessed but some Colonell or Captain of his with a party only of his forces When the Sun was up on the second of February which is Candlemas day a trumpet sounding struck no small terrour into the enemy For besides that a trumpet shewed they had Horse
or courage and howsoever it came to passe was still unfortunate And therefore he took upon himself the command of that Army which was newly raised as if he would assay to manage the businesse with better conduct And now he had passed over with his forces into Angus intending to be a Reserve unto Baily and if any thing should happen otherwise then wel at the worst hee was ready to hinder Montrose's passage over Forth For they were alwayes very jealous lest Montrose should remove the seat of Warre to this side the Forth and nearer Edinburgh Therefore hee resolved with all speed to quell Lindsey who lay yet in Angus at a Castle called Newtill both because the Generall was no souldier and the souldiers raw and unacquainted with the hardship of war In pursuit of which designe departing from Badenoth he marcheth through the plains of Marre over Granshaine and came by long and painfull journies unto the coast of the river of Airley intending to surprise the enemy on a sudden which was easie to be done for hee had made such hast that the newes of his approach was not so swift as himself And now Lindsey was not above seven miles from him and all things were ready for an assault when upon what occasion it is uncertain almost all the Northern men privately ran away from their colours and going back the way that they came return into their Country The Lord Gordon was in the Camp and there was none there that detested that villany with greater indignation then he in so much that Montrose had much adoe to with-hold him from putting such of the fugitives to death as had any dependance upon him Some stick not to say that these men were inveigled away by the private directions of his father the Marquesse of Huntley to the Earl of Aboine who by reason of his sicknesse was absent For it vext Huntley a haughty and envious man to hear of the successe of Montrose nor could he endure that inward frindship which was between his eldest son and him However it was Montrose being cast down with this unexpected misfortune was forced to put off that Expedition against Lindsey and to suffer patiently so great and easie a victory to be taken out of his hands Therefore taking up new resolutions hee followeth after Colonell Nathaniel Gordon a valiant man and a trusty and welbeloved in his Country whom he had sent before And by this time Baily and Hurrey had returned from Innernesse and quartered in lower Marre by the side of Dee And Montrose came by the coast of Eske and the plains of Marre into the heart of that Country commonly called Crommare And whiles hee passed through those plains aforesaid hee dispatched Mac-donell with a party into the furthest part of the Highlands to conduct such Forces as were there raised with all speed unto the Army Afterward hee sent away the Lord Gordon himself to hasten and promote that levy of men which Nathaniel Gordon was listing by all the power and interests hee had in those parts Which he most diligently performed and amongst others brought his brother the Earl of Aboine back with him Whilest these things passed in Cromarre Lindsey joynes his Forces with Baily in lower Marre With whom Montrose finding himselfe unable to deal the most part of his Forces being gone along with the Lord Gordon and Mac-donell hee stept aside to the ruinated Castle of Kargarf lest the enemy should overlay him on the champaine grounds with their multitudes both of Horse and Foot but when hee was close unto the Mountains he feared them not From hence Aboine falling sick again betook himself to Strathbogy and upon pretence of a guard carried along with him a considerable number of Horse whom his brother the Lord Gordon had much adoe afterward to draw back to their colours In the mean time Lindsey took a thousand old Souldiers from Baily and gave him as many raw new rais'dmen for them and as if hee intended to do some famous exploit returning through Merne into Angus with all the pains he took hee did only this he ranged with his Army up and down Athole and after hee had robbed and spoiled all the Countrey he set it on fire In this imitating Argyle who was the first that in this age introduced that cruell and dreadfull president of destroying houses and corn being better at fire then sword when they came into empty fields and towns unmann'd Baily at that time went to Bogy to besiege the fairest castle that belonged to the Marquesse of Huntley and indeed of all the North and in case he failed to take it in to waste and fire all the Country of the Gordons thereabouts Montrose although Mac-donell was absent with a greatparty thought it necessary to relieve Huntley and his friends whom he laboured to assure unto himself by all good offices and hied thither Where having notice that Baily's souldiers though not all yet a great part were new rais'dmen for he had parted with so many old souldiers to Lindsey desired nothing more then without delay to fight him and marcheth straight towards him Hee had not gone above three miles before he discovered the enemies Scouts He therefore sent before some of his readiest men that knew the wayes to view the strength the rendezvouz and the order of the enemy They immediately bring word that the Foot stood on the top of a hill some two miles off and the Horse had possessed themselves of a narrow and troublesome passe which lay almost in the middle between the two Armies and were come on this side it Against them Montrose sent such Horse as he had in a readinesse with some nimble Firelocks whom they first entertained with light skirmishes afar-off and after retreated behinde the passe which they had strongly man'd with musquetiers Montrose sends for the Foot that if it were possible they might dislodge the enemy from thence but it could not bee done for they were parted by the fall of the night which both sides passed over waking and in their arms The next day Montrose sends a Trumpet to offer a set battell but Baily answers hee would not receive orders to fight from an enemy Hee therefore seeing he could not drive the enemy from those passes without manifest losse and danger that hee might draw him out thence in some time marcheth off to Pithlurge and from thence to a Castle of the Lord Forbesis called Druminore where he staid two dayes And at last hee understands the enemy had quitted the passes and was marching toward Strathbogy so he at break of day sets forth towards a village called Alford But Baily when he had gotten certain notice that Mac-donel with a considerable part of those Forces was absent in the Highlands hee voluntarily pursues Montrose conceiving him to be stealing away and about noon began to face him Montrose determines to wait for the enemy who as seemed to him came towards him upon the higher
Commander Aboine himself was not ashamed to disire to be excused and to have leave to depart When all men wondred and desired to know what might be the reason of that sudden alteration of his resolution he pleaded his fathers Commands which he was obliged in no case to disobey and that his father had not sent him such directions without just occasion for the Enemies Forces lay in lower Marre and would be presently upon their backs if they were deprived of the protection of their own men and that it was unexcusable folly for him to carry his men another way when his own Country was in so much danger Montrose reply'd That it was most certaine that onely a few Troops of Horse kept within Aberdene that they had no Footat at all those few Horse now durst nor could doe the Country any harme and there was no doubt but upon the first Alarme of his Aproach their Commanders would senâ— for those also to secure the Low-lands Besides that it would be much more to the Marquesse of Huntleys advantage if the seat of warre were removed into the Enemieâ— Country then be kept up in his own and vpon that score theâ—â— was more need to make haste into the South that they might save the North for the burden of the Armies He added moreover That he daily expected aids out of England which could by no means joyne with them except they meâ— them on the South-side of the Forth And at last with much resentment he represented unto him the condition of the prisoners who were many of them Huntley's own kindred allyes or friends who would all be únhumanely murthered except they timely prevented it To all this when Aboine had nothing to answer he desired his Father might be acquainted with the whole matter and 't was granted Such were made choise of to treat with Huntley as were conceived to be highest in his favouâ— to wit Donald Lord Rese in whose Country he had â—ojourned and Alexander Irwin the younger of Drumme who had but the other day married Huntleys daughter and both of them were also much obliged to Montrose for their newly recovered liberties Rese being ashamed of receiving the repulse had not the confidence to return and Irwin a noble young Gentleman and a stout who stuck to Montrose to thâ— last brought no answer but his father-in-lawes ambiguous Letters of which no hold could be taken Being desired to deliver what he conceived his fatheâ— in lavves resolution vvas he professed ingenuously he knevv not vvhat to make of him he could get no certain ansvver but doubted he vvas obstinate in his fond conceit Aboine first declaring hovv sore against his vvill it vvas to part vvith Montrose urged hovv necessary it vvas for him to please his dear father vvho vvas sickly too and therefore more earnestly desired the Lord Governour to dispence vvith him for a fevv dayes till he could pacifie his father made an absolute promise that within a fornight he vvould follow him with much stronger forces And wheÌ„ he had ofteÌ„ and freely engaged his honour to do as he said he extorted with much adoe a Furlogh from Montrose sore against his stomach to be absent for the time aforesaid Aboine being returned home Montrose marched over the planes of Marre Scharschioch came down into Athole and thence having a little increased his Army into the Sherifdome of Perth where receiving an expresse out of the North he is put into new hopes Aboine having sent him word he would be with him with his men before the day appointed At the same time came unto him by severall wayes Captain Thomas Ogleby of Pourie the younger and Captain Robert Nesbit both of them sent unto him from his Majesty with Commands that if he could possibly he should make all speed towards the Borders to meet the Lord George Digby son to the Earl of Bristoll who was sent unto him with a party of Horse The same bearers Montrose dispatcheth to Huntley and Aboine to communicate unto them those Instructions from the King hoping by that means that being quickened with his Majesties authority and the approach of aid they would make more haste with their forces in the vain expectation of whom he had trifled away too much time in Strath-Erne About this time the Lord Napier of Marchiston departed this life in Athole a man of a most innocent life and happy parts a truly noble Gentleman and Chief of an ancient family one who equalled his father grandfather Napiers Philosophers and Mathematicians famous through all the world in other things but far exceeded them in his dexterity in civill businesse a man as fatihfull and as highly esteemed by King Iames and King Charles sometime he was Lord Treasurer and was deservedly advanced into the rank of the higher Nobility and since these times had expressed so much loyalty and love to the King that he was a large partaker of the rewards which Rebells bestow upon vertue often imprisonment sequestration and plunder This man Montrose when he was a boy look'd upon as a most tender father when he vvas a youth as a most â—age admoniter when he was a man as a most faithfull friend and now that he died was no otherwise affected withhis death then as if it had been his fathers Whose most elaborate discourses Of the Right of Kings and Of the Originall of the turmoiles in Great Britaine I heartily wish may sometime come to light CHAP. XVIII MOntrose when he had waited for Aboine with his forces out of the North now three weeks either on his march or in Strath-Erne and perceived that the Râ—bels began to grow more outrageous towards the prisoners being impatient of further delay crosseth over the Forth and came into Leven he encamped upon the land of Sir Iohn Buchanan the Ringleader of the Covenanters in those parts expecting that by that meanes lying so near Glascow he might fright the Rebells who then kept a Convention of Estates there from the murther of the prisoners To which end facing the City every day with his Horse he wasted the enemies Country without any resistances although at that time for the guard of the Estates and City they had three thousand Horse in their quarters and he not full three hundred twelve hundred Foot Notwithstanding before his coming down into Leven the Covenanters assoon as they understood that Huntley Montrose agreed not and that Aboine and his men had deserted him in upper Marre as a prologue to the ensuing Tragedy had beheaded three stout and gallant Gentlemen The first was Sir William Rollock one of whom we have had often occasion to make hononrable mention a valiant expert man dear unto Montrose from a childe and faithfull unto him to his last breath The chief of his crimes was that he would not pollute his hands with a most abominable murder For being sent from Montrose with an expresse to the King afteâ— the battell of
Aberdene he was taken prisoner by the Enemy was condemned unto death which he had not escaped except for fear of death he had harkened nto Argâ—yle who most unworthily set a price upoâ— Montroses head and promised great rewards honours and preferments to whomsoever should bring it in and had taken upon himself to commit that treason which he abhorred with all his soule By which shift having his life liberty giveÌ„ him he returned straight to Montrose and discovered all unto him beseeching him to be more carefull of himself for not he onely vvho heartily detested so high a villany but many more had been offered great matters most of whom would use their best endeavours to dispatch him The next was Alexander Ogleby of whom we also spake before eldest son to Sir Iohn Ogleby of Innercarit descended of an ancient family and much renowned in the Scottish Chronicles He was but yet a youth scarce twenty but valiant above his age and of a present and daring spirit Nor can I hear or so much as conjecture what they had to lay to his charge but that new and unheard of Treason to wit his bounded duty and loyalty to his King But there vvas no help for 't but Argâ—yle must needs sacrifice that hopeful youth if it had been for nothing but his names sake for he bare an implacable fewd to the Oglebyes The third vvas Sir Philip Nesbit of an ancient family also and Chief of it next his Father who had done honourable service in the Kings Army in England and had the command of a Regiment there Nor can I discover any reason they had to put him to death neither besides that which is used when they have nothing else to say that mad charge of the new high Treason except it was that their guilty consciences suggested unto them that that courageous and viglant man might take occasion sometime hereafter to be even with theÌ„ for the horrid injuries they had done his Father his Family However these men suffer'd a noble death with patience and constancy as became honest men and good Christians And unto these there are two brave Irish Gentlemen that deserve to be joyned Colonell O-Cahen Colonel Laghlin odious unto the Rebels only for this impardonable crime that they had had many experiments of their courage and gallantry These Irish Gentlemen were murthered indeed at Edinburgh but many more were doom'd to the like executioÌ„ at Glascow had not MoÌ„troses unexpected approach within a few miles of the City had so much influence that it repriev'd them till another time The Lord Governour was very much perplexed with the newes of these mens death it was a question whether he was more vex't at the cruelâ—y of the Rebells or the negligeÌ„ce if not treachety of his friends For besides Huntley whose Forces he had so long in vaine expected to come with his son Aboine Mac-donell also himself of whoÌ„ he entertained an exceeding good opinion being ofteÌ„ sent unto invited also by the nearnesse of the place although the time appointed by himself was already past gone made no appearance of his approach Six weeks had now passed since Aboine had engaged himself for the Northern Forces the winter then which our age never saw sharper was already deeply entred Besides the aids that the King had sent under the commaÌ„d of the Lord Digâ—y were defeated al which might easily have been salv'd and the Kingdome reduced againe if those great Professors of loyalty had not plaid loose in that good Cause Therefore at last on the 20. of November Montrose departing from Levin and passing over the Mountains of Taich now covered with deep snow through woods and bogges whose names I do not at this time well remember crossing also through Strath-Erne over the Tay returned into Athole There he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom he had formerly sent with the Kings instructions unto Huntley And they bring word the man was obstinate and inflexible who would beleeve nothing that they said when they unfolded unto him the Kings Commands answered scornfully That he understood all the Kings businesse better then they or the Gouvernour himself and neither he nor any of his Children should have any thing to doe with him Moreover he sharply threatningly reproved his friends clients who had willingly assisted Montrose and dealt worse with them then with Rebells Neverthelesse the Lord Governour thought best to take no notice of any of these things but bear with them whiles he treats with the Athole men for the setling of the Militia of that Countrey he sends again unto Huntley by Sir Iohn Dalyell as a more fit mediator of friendship Who was To informe him of the danger the King and Kingdome was in and so of the present misery that hung over his all faithfull Subjects heads and to make it appear unto him that it was no ones but his and his sons fault both that they had not brought in the supplies into Scotland which the King had sent and that the prisoners who were gallant and faithfull men had been so cruelly butchered and that yet there were many more remaining that had near relations to Huntley himself some also of the prime Nobility whom the Rebels would cut of after the same fashion unlesse they were now at last relieved And lastly to pray and beseech him that at least he would grant the Kings Governor the favour of a friendly conference promising he would give him abundant satisfaction Huntley although he answered Dalyel in all things according to his wonted peevishnesse yet he was most of all averse to a Conference as fearing seeing he should have nothing to answer to his arguments and reasons the presence the confidence and the wisdome of so excellent a man But Montrose assoon as things were setled in Athole that he might leave nothing unattempted that might possibly bring him to better thoughts resolved dissembling all injuries and obliging him by all good offices to surprise him and be friends with him whether he would or no and to treat with him concerning all things that concern'd his Majesties service Therefore in the moneth of December he forced his way very hardly through rivers and brooks that were frozen indeed but not so hard as to bear mens waight over the tops of hills and craggy rocks in a deep snow and passing through Angus and over Gransbaine drew his Forces into the North and almost before he was discover'd marched with a few men into Strathbogy where Huntley then liv'd But he being struck with his unexpected approach upon the first newes he heard of him lest he should be forced to a Conference against his will immediately fled to Bogie a Castle of his situated upon the mouth of the Spey as if he intended to ferry over the river and to wage war against the Rebelles in Murray And now it comes into my minde briefly to enquire what night be