ready in arms before them expecting if they should make down into the Plain 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 antient 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 arms and offered their service most chearfully to Montrose who having got this handfull of men and earnestly commending his most righteous Cause to the protection of Almighty God now desired nothing more than 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 news as that he might fall upon and amaze the Rebels unlook'd for before they should be able to joyn together who lay at distance Therefore passing by Weme a Castle of the Menises seeing they handled a Trumpeter whom he sent friendly unto them unworthily fell hotly upon the rear of his Army he wastes their fields and causes all their houses and corn to be fired this was at the very first onset of the War 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 have often to speak and never without honour at their earnest request the Command of the Athole-men and sent him with the nimblest of them he could pick out amongst them to scout before He brings word he saw some Souldiers drawn 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 Earl of Taith a man of ancient Nobility and descended of the Grahams and Sir John Drummond Son to the Earl of Perth a kinsman also of Montrose who were both of them summoned by the Covenanters to joyn 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 win them to his side or to crush them to pieces But they as soon 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 between them that they would not think much to do their best endeavours for the best of Kings Which as it was much becomming their high birth and would be very acceptable service to the King so it would be beneficiall to 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 Crown 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 arms at a Rendezvouz at Perth the second City to Edinburgh and there waited for their enemies falling down from Athole He knowing also that Argyle with his Army was upon his back 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 Town to the Kings obedience Marching therefore three miles from Buckinth and allowing the Souldiers but a short time of refreshment at the break of day he draws out his men Nor was he above three miles more from the City when 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 Earl of Tullibardin and the Lord Drummond but this latter as was conceived against his will for he and his fathers whole family favoured the King in their hearts Knights he had with him good store among whom Sir James Scot who heretofore had done good service under the State of Venice was the most noted souldier They had six thousand Foot and seven hundred Horse and in confidence of their numbers they had even devoured their enemies before they saw them It was on Sunday the first of September and it was given in charge to their Ministers that in set Speeches they should encourage the people to fight not forgetting to mind them of their most holy Covenant forsooth And to give them their due they plyed their lungs stoutly in the performance of that work they most freely promised them in the name of Almighty God an easie and unbloudy victory nay there was one Frederick Charmichael one very much cryed 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 James Scot the leâ—â— and the Earl of Tullibardin the battell To the right and left flanks were added wings of Horse with which they made no doubt on so fair a Plain 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 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 Froâ—t Rear and Flank he caused his Army to be drawn out to as open oâ—der 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 hindmâ—st where he placed the tallest men upright he chargeth them also to have a care of mis-spending their powder of which they had so small store and that they should not so much as make a shot till they came to the very teeth of their enemies and assoon as they had discharged their
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 whereupon the murtherer fearing he would discover him assaulted him unawares and stabbed him with many wounds who little suspected any harm from his friend and creature The treacherous Assasine by killing a Centinoll escaped none being able to pursue him it being so dark that they could scarce see the ends of their Pikes Some say the traitour was hired by the Covenanters to doe this others only that he was promised a reward if he did it Howsoever it was this is most certain that he is very high in their favour unto this very day and that Argyle immediatly 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 dear friend and one that had deserved very well both from the King and himself a man famous for arts and arms and honesty being a good Philosopher a good Divine a good Lawyer a good Souldier a good Subject and a good man And embracing the breathlesse body again and again with sighes and tears 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 Town 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 turns away towards Eske for he hoped that many of his friends and kindred being men of greatest note in those parts and who used to talk as highly what they would doe for the King as any others would be ready to joyn with him But they having news of his approach withdrew themselves only the Lord Ogleby Earl of Airley a man of threescore years old with his two Sons Sir Thomas and Sir David and some of his friends and clients men of experienced resolutions joyned himself unto him and with admirable constancy he went along with him through all fortunes unto the very end of the War 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 Burghley was the principall lay at Aberdene with an Army and laboured to assure unto themselves the Northern parts upon which Montrose especially relyed either by fair means or foul Hee determines to fight these immediatly before Argyle could come up to them therefore with long marches hee hies thither and possessing himselt of the bridge upon the river of Dee and drawing neer the Citie he found the enemy drawn up close beside it Burghley commanded two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse whom he placed in wings and having thosen his ground and planted his great Guns before his men hee expected battell Montrose had fifteen 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 spoil and just four 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 swiftnesse of body were almost as good as horsemen placed them on either wing to prevent the falling of the enemies Horse upon his rear which they performed most gallantly beyond the opinion or perhaps the belief of many He gave the command of the right flank to James 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 Son to the Marquesse of Huntley a bold young man and hot spirited but hair-brain'd and one that had forced out his fathers friends and clients to fight with Montrose against their wills He having gotten the plain and most commodious ground for fighting on horse-back 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 four and forty beat back 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 forborn by the great prudence of the Commandets and proved to be of great consequence towards the obtaining of the victory for the enemy charged Montrose's left Flank which had no Horse with their right Wing of Horse Montrose therefore in a trice now that Lewis Gordon and his men were fled conveighs the same Horse to the left Flank who seeing they were not able to draw themselves into a Body like the enemies fetch'd a compasse about and so escaped their first charge then neatly wheeling about they fall upon the Flank of the enemy and with their naked swords beat and cut and vanquish and put them to flight They took prisoners one Forbes of Kragevar a Knight of great esteem with â—he enemy and another Forbes of Boindle Those that retreated got safe away because that so few could not safely pursue them They that commanded the enemies Horse were not so much frighted with their losse as vexed with the disgrace of a double repulse therefore imputing their defeat to those light fire-locks that were mixed with Montrose's Horse they themselves call for Foot-men out of their main Body intending to return with greater courage Montrose suspected that and was loath to engage those few gallant men again whose Horses were spent already â—n two shaâ—p 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 Ordinance and bespeaks them to this effect We doe no good my fellow souldiâ—rs while we dispute the matter at thus much distance except we closo 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 brawnlesse shrimps with handy blows they will never be able to stand you Goe to therefore fall about them with your swords and butt-end 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
that stood upon the height which shadowed the neighbouring valley and some little hâ—lls 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-donell 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 covert of the banks and ditches seemed as if they were his main battel wheras 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 foresaw 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 doe there comes unto him one whom he 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 fail them upon bad news and crys 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 we stand by as idle spectatours whiles he carries away the honour of the day And with that he commands them to charge Hurrey's Horse had no mind 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 than Montrose's men stood out very stoutly as long as his men kept aloof but assoon as he came to fall upon them hand to hand he 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 he found things in a far other condition than they were left For Mac-donell being a valiant man but better at his hands than head being over-hasty in battel and bold even to rashness disdaining to shelter himself behind 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 and station wherein he was placed And he did it to his cost for the enemy over-powring him both in Horse and Foot and having many old souldiers amongst them routed and repulsed his men And certainly if he had not timely drawn them off into a close hard by they had every one of them together with the Kings Standard been lost But he 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 Conquerors 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 than 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 Ensigns 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 disordered 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 Collonel of old Souldiers Sir John and Sir Gideon Murray Knights and other stout men and perhaps not unworthy to be 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 judgements 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 he had many more wounded the curing and securing of whom was especially provided for by Montrose Afterwards entertaining the prisoners with sweetness and courtesie he promised all such as repented of their errour liberty or employment and was as good as
Angus with all the pains he took he did only this he ranged with his Army up and down Athole and after he had robbed and spoiled all the Countrey he set it on fire In this imitating Argyle who was the first that in this age introduced that cruell and dreadfull president of destroying houses and corn being better at fire than sword when they came into empty fields and towns unmann'd Baily at that time went to Bogy to besiege the fairest castle that belonged to the Marquesse of Huntly and indeed of all the North and in case he failed to take it in to waste and fire all the Country of the Gordons thereabouts Montrose although Mac-donel was absent with a great party thought it necessary to relieve Huntley and his friends whom he laboured to assure unto himself by all good offices and hied thither Where having notice that Baily's souldiers though not all yet a great part were new rais'd men for he had parted with so many old souldiers to Lindsey desired nothing more than without delay to fight him and marcheth straight towards him He had not gone above three miles before he discovered the enemies Scouts He therefore sent before some of his readiest men that knew the wayes to view the strength the rendezvouz and the order of the enemy They immediatly bring word that the Foot stood on the top of a hill some two miles off and the Horse had possessed themselves of a narrow and troublesome passe which lay almost in the middle between the two Armies and were come on this side it Against them Montrose sent such Horse as he had in a readiness with some nimble Firelocks whom they first entertained with light skirmishes afar-of and after retreated behind the pass which they had strongly mann'd with musquetiers Montrose sends for the Foot that if it were possible they might dislodge the enemy from thence but it could not be done for they were parted by the fall of the night which both sides passed over waking and in their arms The next day Montrose sends a Trumpet to offer a set battell but Baily answers he would not receive order to fight from an enemy He therefore seeing he could not drive the enemy from those passes without manifest loss and danger that he might draw him out thence in some time marcheth off to Pithlurge and from thence to a Castle of the Lord Forbeses called Druminore where he staid two dayes And at last he understands the enemy had quitted the passes and was marching toward Strathbogy so he at break of day sets forth towards a village called Alford But Baily when he had gotten certain notice that Mac-donell with a considerable part of those Force was absent in the Highlands he voluntarily pursues Montrose conceiving him to be stealing away and about noon began to face him Montrose determines to wait for the enemy who as seemed to him came towards him upon the higer ground but Baily turning aside some three miles to the left hand Montrose holds on his intended march to Alford where he staid that night the enemy lying about four miles off The next day after Montrose commands his men very early in the morning to stand to their armes and make ready to battell and placed them on a hill that stands over Alford And as he with a Troop of Horse was observing the motion and order of the enemy and viewing the fords of the Done a river which runs by Alford it was told him that the enemy Horse and Foot were making unto a ford which lay a mile from Alford to the intent that they might cut off the Rear of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their destruction Montrose leaving that troop of Horse not far from the Ford together with some select and understanding men who should give him perfect intelligence of all things he returneth alone to order the battell And above all things he possesses himself of Alford hill where he might receive the charge of the enemy if they fell on desperately Behind him was a moorish place full of ditches and pits which would prevent Horse falling upon his Rear before him was a steep hill which kept his men from the enemies view so that they could hardly perceive the formost ranks He had scarce given order for the right managing of all things when those Horse whom he had left at the Ford returned with a full cariere and bring word that the enemy had passed the River And now it was no more safe for either of them to retreat without the apparent ruine of their party It is reported that Baily like a skilfull and wary Commander was sore against his will drawn unto this battell nor had engaged had he not been necessitated unto it by the rashness of the Lord Balcarise a Collonel of Horse who precipitated himself and the Horse under his command into that danger whether Baily would or no as that he could not be brought off without the hazard of the whole Army Montrose gave the command of his right wing on which side the enemies Horse were most strong unto the Lord Gordon and appointed Nathaniel Gordon an old Commander to his assistance The command of the left wing was given to the Earl of Aboine to whom also was joyned Sir William Rollock And of the main battel to two valiant men Glengar and Drumond of Ball the younger unto whom he added George Graham Master oâ— the Camp an expert Souldier also The Reserve which was altogether hid behind the hill was commanded by his nephew Napier And for a while Montrose kept himself upon the height and the enemy in the valley being fortified with pits and ditches for it was neither safe for the latter to charge up the hill not for the former to fall upon them that were surrounded with marshes and pools The numbers of the Foot were in a manner even either side had about two thousand but Baily was much stronger in Horse for he had six hundred and Montrose but two hundred and fifty Only Montrose had this advantage that the enemy were for the most part hirelings raised from dunghils but those that served the King Gentlemen who fought for a good Cause and Honour gratis and not for gain and such as esteem'd it more becomming to die than to be overcome Besides Montrose knew that the greatest part of the old souldiers were gone with Lindsey and the now ones would be so frighted with the shouts of the Armies and the noise of Trumpets that they would scarce stand the first charge Therefore in confidence of so just a cause and so valiant assertors of it he first drew down his men and immediatly the Lord Gordon giving a smart charge upon them was courageously receiv'd by the enemy who trusted to the multitude of their Horse and now being clos'd and come to handy blows no one could advance a foot but over his vanquished enemy nor retreat by reason of the pressing
on of those in the Rear The first that made way for themselves and their men by a great flaughter 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 uselesse guns draw your swords and sheath them in the Rebells 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 comming the enemy afrighted 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 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 â—f 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 Meâ—â—on 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 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 Corrivalls 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 But the losse of the Lord Gordon had so deep an impressiâ—n upon all mens affections that they had the face rather of a defeated than victorious Army The first seene 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 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 of such a man Thus forgetting their victory and the spoil they fixt their eyes upon the lifelesse body kissed his face and hands commended the singular beauty of the corps compared the Nobilitie of his descent and the plentifulnesse of his fortune with the hopefulnesse of his pâ—rts 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 hee 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 Royall Authority in the North and so intimate a friend unto himself should be thus cut ofâ— in the flowre 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 Aberdene he saw brought forth with a sumptuous and Souldier-like Funerall and interâ—'d in the Monument of his Ancestors in the Cathedrall Church This battell was fought at Alford on the 2. of July 1645. Chap. XII MOntrose that same afternoon that hee had got this victory at Alsord 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 far from their own habitations had dropt home with their pillage And because Mac-donell was not yet returned hee 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 disadvantagious delay after he had got over the Dee and Gransbaine fell down into Merne and lay at Ferdon Chappell once famous for the See and Scpulchre of St. Palladius Thence he sends to the Earl of Aboine who was now come to Aberdene to hasten unto him into Merne with such Forces as he heard he had raised Aboine 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 Hee himself going through Angus met his Cosen Patrick Graham with his Athole-men ready to live and die under his command and Mac-donell with a great power of Highlanders with him was Macklen the chief of his sept a valiant man and singularly loyall who brought some seven hundred choise Foot of his friends and clients Also the Chief of the Mac-ranolds 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-gregories also and the Mac-nabies men inferiour to none in valour and hardinesse after the fashion of the Country followed their Commanders and Chiefs of their Families whose certain number I cannot easily assign And Glengar a man never sufficiently to be commended for his valour and loyaltie to the King and serviceablenesse and affection to Montrose seeing he in person almost from the Expedition into Argyle had never departed from him by his Uncles and others whom he employed brought in about five hundred more Besides out of the plains of Marre came a great number of the Ferkbarsons gallant men and of approved valour And some too out of Badenoin not many indeed but stout and able men of their hands Montrose being reinforced with such an Army resolves to make his 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
consisted especially in Horse Chap. XVI MOntrose arising from Kelsow 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 termes Then he commands the Captains of Horse to set out good store of faithfull 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 doe 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 earnest 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 skilfull Souldiers and so known to be in forraign Countries such uncertain noises as were brought unto him of the enemies approach they being deceâ—v'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 acquainted with the Country were sent out again to Scout they also brought word they had been ten miles about and diligently examined all by-wayes and rashly wisht damnation to themselves if they could find an enemy in armes 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 lien there all that night in their aâ—ms Lesley that day that Montrose departed from Jedburgh mustered his men upon Gladesmore a plain in Lothianshire where holding a Counsell 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 â—o before he joyned with his Highlanders But Lesley contrary to that resolution gives order on a sudden to his whole Forces to wheel to the left hand and to march away apace every one wondering that knew not the mystery of the bussinesse what should be the meaning of that change of his resolution and his intention in that sudden expedition for they marched streight to Strathgale But the matter was as they afterward gathered from the enemies themselves 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 apportunity 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 Trequair 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 CoÌ„mands 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 Montrose's frighted Scouts discovered to march towards him in a full body at such time as they were not above halfe 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 Cavalty being little acquainted with their duty and lying already dispersed in their quarters where they dreamt more of baâ—ting their horses than maintaining their lives 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 Noblemen or Knights who made all speed thither and gallantly undertook to make good the right wing and they were not above six score in all Nor did the foot who were not above 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 coming on so speedily left them no time for deliberation The enemy therefore who were six thousand whereof most of them 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 thorough it untill at last laying along those few foot thtat withstood them they broke in upon the left Flanck where there 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 hem'd in on every side and galled 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 askt and given for their lives threw down their arms and yeelded themselves prisoners Every one of whom being naked and unarm'd without any regard to quarter given Lesley caused to be most inhumanly butcher'd The stain of which perfidious cruelty by which he hath so filthily blurr'd his Honour if any he got in Forraign service he shall 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 aad Cook-boys no pitty was shown to Sex or Age they went to the pot altogether The number of the slain is not easie to be given almost no Horse and very few Foot besides those that yeelded themselves 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 untill their horses being tired
Parliament which the Covenanters had not without solemnity and oftentation summoned at Saint Johns-town Nor did any thing hinder him but want of Horse of which alwayes he had such scarcitie that it was never or very seldome sase for him to fall down into the plain Country But because he daily expected Aboine and Airley to come unto him with a considerable party of Horse he passed over the Tay at Dunkeldon and lying neer Amunde struck no small terrour into the enemy who held Saint Johnstown and from thence approaching neerer unto them he encamped in Methfyn Forrest 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 assoon 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 their terrour drew neerer 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 Duplen he diligently view'd this side of the River Erne and all that coast as if he had Horse enough to keep all that Country 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 Country they both kept their stations for many dayes the enemie expecting Auxiliaries out of Fife and the Country on this side 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 only 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 neer with all their Army to Methsyn 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 battell which he made as if he 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 hee 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 cheerfully oft into the heights and sleep 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 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 only 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 aims 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 success assoon 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 Hunters set sputs to their Horses 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 Methfyn Forrest 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 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 than offered any affront one to the other And now at length Aboine and Collonel Nathaniell Gordon brought up their men out of the North to Dunkeldon men for their number indeed fewer than was expected but for their stoutness 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 the Earle of Airley and Sir David his Son with fourscore Horse most of them of the noble family of the Oglebyes amongst whom Alexander Son and heir of Sir John Ogleby of Innarcarit was most eminent not only for the rare accomplishments of his person and the
and themselves ignorant of the way they became a prey to the Country people Whom they forgeting 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 unto 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 staffe and wrapped it about his body and being otherwise naked made his way with his drawn sword through the thickest of the enemie and brought it to Montrose at night Whom he received into his life-guard and gave it him to cary intoken of his valour loyalty And the other of them William Hie brother to the Earle of Kinoule a hopefull young Gentleman who succeeded his uncle by the mothers side Douglasse son to the Earle of Morton who having received many and grievous wounds at the battell of Alford was render'd unable for that burden stript from of 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-waies and night-journies for the most part being accompanied and conducted by his faithfull friend Robert Toures a stout man and a good souldier who had bin a Captian 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 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 gatherred 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 through the enemies Troops who stood thick round about him he gall'd them on the Front and Reare 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 doe his busines as God would have it this consideration posessed his resolute and noble spirit That the loss of that day was but small and easily regayned because bâ— an inconsiderable part of his Forces were there That the Highlanders were the very Nerves and Sinewes of the Kingdom and all the North was sound and untouchte That many of the prime Nobility and men of power many Knights too and cheifs of their Septs had entered into anâ— Association with him who if he should miscarry would be suddenly ruin'd or corrupted and by that means the Kings party in Scotland utterly subdned Therefore he thought himself bound never to despair of a good Cause and the rather lest the King his Master should apprehend the loss of him to be greater than the loss of the battell And while these thoughts were in his head by good haâ— came in the Marquesse Douglas and Sir John Dalyell with some other friends not many but faithfull and gallant men who with teares in their eyes out of the abundance of their assections beseech intreat implore him for the honour of his former atchievements for his friends sakes for his Ancestors for his sweet wife and childrens sakes nay for his KINGS his Countries and the Churches Peace and Safties 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 dye together At last Montrose overcome with their intreaties charging thorough the enemy who were by this time more taken up with ransacking the Carriages than following the chase made his escape of those that were so hardy as to pursue him some he slew others among whom was one Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Corners with their Standards he carried away prisoners Whom he entertained curteously and after a few daies dismist them upon their Paâ—ole that they should exchange as many Officers of his of the like quality which Parole they did not over-punctually perform Montrose was gotten scarce three miles from Selkirk when he having overtaken a great number of his own men that went that way he made a pretty considerable party so that being now secured from being fallen upon by the Country people he marcht away by leisure And as he went by the Earl of Trequaires Castle by whose dishonesty he did not yet know that he had bin betrayed he sent one before him to call forth him and his son that he might speak with them but his servants bring word that they are both from home Notwithstanding there are Gentlemen of credit that testify 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 and the Kings Forces in Scotland were at last totally routed his own daughter the Countesse of Queensborough as far as modestly the might blaming him for it Montrose after he had made a hault a while neer a town called Peblis untill the Souldiers had refresht themselves and were 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 John Dalyel especially passed over Cluid at a Ford. Where the Earls of Crawford and Airley having escaped an other way met with him making nothing of the loss of Battell as soon as they saw him out of danger Nor was he less joyfull at the safty of his friends than that he had sav'd and pickt up by the way almost two hundred Horse But although he was already secure enough from the pursuit of the enemy nevertheles he resolved to make what hast he could into Athole that taking his rise there he might draw what forces he could raise of the Highlanders and other friends into the North. Therefore passing first over the Forth and then the Erne having marched thorough the Sherifdom of Perth by the foot of the Mountains he came thither As he was on his way he had sent before him Douglasse and Airley with a party of Horse into Angus and the Lord Areskin into Marre that they might speedily raise their friends and dependants in those parts and had also sent Sir John Dalyel 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 retuurn with the Highlanders by the day appointed But above all he solicited Aboine both by
them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster than they whom the Conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they sâ—ap'd scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Vâ—ctors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's men came in thronging amonst them through the gates and posterns and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought four hours upon such equall tetmes that it was an even lay whether had the odds At this Battell Montrose had some great Guns but they were unserviceable because all advantages of ground were possessed by the enemy but the enemies Guns made no small havock of his men Among others there was an Irishman that had his legge shot off with a Cannon bullet only it hung by a little skin he seeing his fellow-souldiers something sad at his mischance with a loud and cheerfull voyce cryes out Come on my Comerades this is but the fortune of Warre and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Doe you stand to it as becomes you and as for me I am sure my Lord marquesse seeing I can no longer serve on foot will mount me on horse-back So drawing out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his own hand and gave his legge to one of his fellow-souldiers to bury And truly when he was well again and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdene on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entered the City and allowed them two dayes rest Chap. VII IN the mean time news is brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces than those they dealt with last the Earl of Lothian accompanying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aberdene to Kintor a village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependants of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollock to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out or England and some place else That hee had sought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not â—e expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with â—â—eat and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out â—â—waies without timely relief Still nothing troubled Montrose more than that none of the Gordons of whom he conceived great hopes came in unto him And there wanted not some of them who testified their great affection to the service but that Huntley the chief of the Family being a back-friend to Montrose had with-held them all either by his own example or private directions and that himself being forced to sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdome envied that honour to another of which he had missed himself and had forbidden even with threats all those with whom he had any power to have any thing to doe with Mentrose or to assist him either with their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnessesses where he knew the enemies Horse wherein their great strength consisted could do them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the justice of his cause and the valour of his souldiers be made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogge and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And comming to the side of the river of Spey not far from an old Câ—stle called Rothmurke he incamped there with an Army if one respect the number but very small but it was an expert and cheerfull one and now also something acquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he finds the men of Cathnes and Sunderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in arms to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his back Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himself from their Horse he turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scaâ—ce passable for Horse There for certain dayes he was very sick which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordain a day of publike Thanksgiving to Almighty God for that great deliverance Nor were their Levites you may be sure backward in that employment in their Pulpits for as if they had been of counsell at the Decree and stood by at the execution they assured the people that it was as true as Gospell that the Lord of Hostes had slain Montrose with his own hands But this joy did not last them long for he recovered in a short space and as if he had been risen from the dead he frighted his enemies much more than he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donell with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up arms with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himself goes into Angus hoping it might happen that he should either force Argyle with his tyred Horse unto his Winter quarters or at least leave him far enough behind him For Argyle had pursued him so slowly and at such distance that it was apparent he thought of nothing lesse than of giving him battell Therefore going through Angus and getting over the Grainsbaine which going along with a perpetuall ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equall parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome And now that he had left Argyle so farre hehind him that he might safely take some time to recruit he went to Strathbogy that he might meet with the Gordons and perswade them to engage with him But he lost his labour for they were forestalled by Huntley and after his example plaid least in sight For such as were generous and daring spirits though they were loath to provoke the indignation of their Chief yet they could not but be ashamed that at a time when there might be so much use of them they did nothing Besides the Lord Gordon Huntley's eldest Son a man of singular worth and accomplishment was detained by Argyle his Uncle by the Mothers side the Earl of Aboine the second Son was inclosed within the siege of Carlisle and Lewis anot her Son was of the enemies side so that there was no one of Huntley's family under whose authority they should take up Arms. Notwithstanding Montrose quartered there a great while in which time almost every other
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 well understood the crafty and cowardly disposition of Argyle by that had a good ghesse at his design which was to follow after him at a good distance that he might be first engaged with those Northern men and then to make his own advantage of the event of that battell but by no means to fight himself if he could help it Therefore Montrose considered that it would be a matter of greater concernment and of lesse danger to let men see that Argyle was not invincible even in the Highlands where 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 away 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 streighr over Logh-Aber hills in untroden paths and only known to Cowherds 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 upon the back of the enemy ere he was aware They being but little affrighted with so unexpected an accident run to their arms and immediatly prepare themselves for battell 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 fallies and skirmishes one with another neither gave the other leave to rest or retreat All others earnestly expected day only Argyle being more advised than the rest conveyed himself away at dead of the night and this second time taking boat saved himself from the perill of battell as if he intended to be Umpire between the two Armies and being himself out of gunshot stand spectatour of other mens valour and well too At the break of day Montrose ordered his men as he intended to fight and the enemy were as forward to doe the like For they did not yet thinke that Montrose was there as some prisoners afterwards confessed but some Collonel 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 stâ—uck no small terrour into the enemy For besides that a trumpet shewed they had Horse with them and therefore was a found with which those parts were little acquainted it discovered also that Montrose himself was there Neverthelesse the prime of the Camâ—bells that 's the sirname of Argyle's Family being gallant men and stout and deserving to fight under a better Chieftain in a better cause cheerfully begin the battell But their souldiers that were in the Front having only once discharged their Muskets and Montrose's men pressing on fiercely to come to the dint of sword began to run Whom they raising a great shout so eagerly pursued that as it were at one assault they routed them all and had the killing of them with a most horrible slaughter for nine miles together Of the enemie were slain 1500. among whom were very many Gentlemen of the Campbells who were chief men of the family and of good account in their Country who fighting but too valiantly for their Chieftain had deaths answerable to their names and fell in Campo belli in the Field of War I cannot say the bed of Honour Their fortune Montrose extremely lamented and saved as many of them as he was able taking them into his protection whiles Argyle himself being gotten into a boat and rowed a little way off the shâ—re securely look'd on whiles his kindred and souldiers were knock'd in the head Some Collonels and Captains that Argyle had brought thither out of the Lowlands fled into the Castle whom when the Castle was surrendred and quarter was given unto them Montrose used courteously and after he had done them severall good offices of humanity and charity freely let them depart In this fight Montrose had many wounded but none slain saving three private soulders but the joy of this great victory was much abated by the wounds of that truly honourable Sir Thomas Ogleby Son to the Earl of Airley of which after a few dayes he dyed He was one of Montrose's dearest friends one who had done very good service for the King in England under the Command of his Father-in-law the Lord Ruthein Earl oâ— Forth and Branceford a man known all the world over for his noble atchievements Nor was he lesse a scholar than a souldier being a new ornament to the family of the Oglebyes whose honourable deaths-wounds for his King Country had no small influence upon that dayes victory Montrose being very much afflicted with the losse of him causeth his body to be carried into Athole where he was interred with as sumptuous a funerall as that place and those times could afford But the power of the Campbells in the Highland which for these many ages past hath been formidable to their neighbours was by this overthrow clearly broken to pieces and by it also a way opened unto Montrose to do his businesse the more easily thence forward For the Highlanders being warlike men and let loose from the hated tyranny of Argyle now began to offer themselves willingly unto the Kings service Chap. IX THe souldier who was almost spent with this sore travell having refreshed himself for a few dayes Montrose measuring over again Logh-Aber hills returneth to Logh-Nesse And from thence viewing by the way the coasts of Harrick Arne and Narne came to the river of Spey Here he is told that there was no small party of the enemy at Elgin which is the chief town of Murray a Country beyond Spey Montrose hies towards these either to draw them to his side or to suppresse them but the very report of his advancing blew away that cloud for they in great amazement shifted for themselves every one whither he could Montrose nevertheless goes on his march and takes in Elgin by surrender on the fourteenth day of February At which time the Lord Gordon eldest Son to the Marquesse of Huntley a man who can never be sufficiently commended for his excellent endowments came off openly to the Kings side from his Uncle by whom he had been detained against his will and with not many but very choise friends and clients
suffered Montrose to possesse himself of the bottome of the Mountains and having done nothing to the purpose retreated from their vain pursuit So he and his men came to Gleneske And this was that so much talk'd of Expedition of Dundee infamous indeed for the mistake of the Scouts but as renowned as any for the valour constancy and undaunted resolution of the Generall and even admirable for the hardinesse of the Souldier in encountring 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 loyall and dutifull after the revolt of his brother Lewis into their own Country both that they might recall those whom his brother had seduced away and recruit themselves by levying new forces Which hee cheerfully and courageously performed and though he spared none yet he was most severe with those that had been authoors 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 Pertshire that he might distract the enemy till such time as hee made up his Army with recruits from every side Neither was he out in his aim for the Covenanters had sent Hurrey the Lieutenant Generall of the Horse with a Command into the North of a party of six hundred old Foot and two hundred Horse that he might strengthen their own side and suppresse the Lord Gordon And Baily himself staid with an Army at Perth as in the very heart of the Kingdome ready to wait upon all motions Montrose was twelve miles off at a Village called Kreif where Baily understood he quartered securely with a very small party who being diligent upon all occasions set out from Perth at the beginning of the night with all his Army that by a speedy march he might at break of day fall unexpected into Mentrose'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 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 Eighteenth of Aprill quartered at Loh-Erne and came the next dâ—y to Balwider 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 Balwider they advanced to Logh-Catrineâ— where they receive intelligence that Hurrey had raised great forces in the Noâ—th 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 he able to over-master that gallant young gentleman Therefore Montrose thought it necessary to oppose Hurrey assoon aâ— was possible as welâ— to secâ—â—e so dear a friend from imminent danger as to be nibâ—ling 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 â—n 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 Gransbaine 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 Gransbaine 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 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 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 Seafort and Sunderland 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 adds some old souldiers of the Garrison of that Town and so draws 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 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 waâ— 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 hemb'd in between two Armies Therefore he resolves to try the fortune of War without delay to commit the successe unto God and choosing the best advantage of ground he could find there to expect the assault of the enemy There was a little Town
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 Amunde 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 of Towns and villages in all Scotland Its inhabitants are little martiall consisting most of Merchants Shop-keepers 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 bein 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 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 fortified themselves by the advantage of the ground and the narrownesse of the passages that he could by no meanes 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 Kinross as well to hinder the rising of that Country as to train the enemy at last out of their fastnesse to come in unto the aide of of their distressed friends They not so much as daring to fall upon his Reat 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 doubting but they of Fife who were exceedingly out of love with the King most firm to the Covenanters and wholly given to the new superstition were generally up in armes Therefore thinking it not safe rashly to engage with so great a multitude of Horse and Foot he determin'd to passe over the Forth and that upon this ground that he having wearied out the Fife-men whom he beleev'd would not 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 eagernesse than ever before upon the Borders and in the West of whom the chief were the Earls of Lane rick Cassils and Eglington Whose levies Montrose laboured either to hinder or draw themselves to his sidbefore they came up to Baily and the Fife-men therefore he marched from Kinross 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 Espyalls 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 freely and considently that he beleeved Baily and his party were resolved to march all that night to engage him to fight assoon as was possible before they dismist the Fife-men who being already tir'd he hardly beleev'd would be drawn over the Forth accounting their work at an end assoon as the enemy was gone out of their own Country Therefore Montrose that he might get speedily over the Forth bid his men march apace and going on the other side of Sterling a good Town and one of the Kings strongest Castles in which the enemy had now a great Garrison that same night passed over the river at a Ford about four miles above the Town And at break of day next morning made a halt a while about six miles from Sterling where he had intelligence that the enemy the night before had not come over the Forth but quartered three miles from Sterling on the other side of the river Therefore Montrose holding on his intended journey encamped himself in that fatall place the Field of Kilsythe He bids the souldiers to refresh themselves but however to be in a readinesse either to fight or march as occasion should serve The enemy the meane 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 Earle 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 Mililia who were so much the readier to take up armes
Instructions from the King hoping by that meanes that being quickened with his Majesties authority the aproach of aid they would make more haste with their forces in the vain expectation whereof he had trifl'd away too much time in Sirath-Erne About this time the Lord Napier of Marchiston departed this life in Athole a man of most innocent life and happy parts a truly Noble Gentleman Chief of an antient family one who equalld his father grandfather Napiers Philosophers and Mathematicians famous through all the world in other things but far exceeded them in his dexterity in civill busines a man as faithfull unto as highly esteem'd by K. James and K. Charls somtime he was L. Treasurer and was deservedly advanced into the rank of higher Nobility and since these times had exprest so much loialty and love to the King that he was a large partaker of the rewards which Rebells bestow upon vertu often imprisonment sequestration and plunder This man Montrose when he was a boy look'd upon as more tender father when he was a youth as a most sage admonitor when he was a man as a most faithfull friend and now that he died was no otherwise affected with his death than as if it had bâ—n his fathers Whose most elaborate discourses of the right of Kings and of the Orginall of the turmoiles in great Britain â—heartily wish may somtime come to light Chap. XVIII MOntrose when he had waited for Aboine with his Forces out of the North now three weeks either on his march or in Srath-Erne and perceived that the rebells began to grow more outragious towards the prisoners being impatient of further delay crosseth over the Forth and came into Leven and he encamped upon the land of Sir Jhon Buchanan the Ringleader of the Covenanters in those parts expecting by that meanes lying so near Glascow he might fright the Rebells who then kept a Convention of Estates there from the murther of the Prisoners To which end facing the City every day with his Horse he wasted the enemies Country without any resistance although at that time for the guard of the Estates and City they had three thousand Horse in their quarters and he not full three hundred and twelve hundred Foot Notwithstanding before his coming down into Leven the Covenanters assoon as they understood that Huntley and Montrose agreed not and that Aboine and his men had deserted him in upper Marre as a prologue to the ensuing Tragedy had beheaded three stout and gallant Gentlemen The first was Sir William Rollock one of whom we have had often occasion to make honourable mention a valiant and expert man deare unto Montrose from a child and faithfull unto him to his last breath The chief of his crimes was that he would not pollute his hands with a most abhominable murther For being sent from Montrose with an express to the King after the battle of Aberdene he was taken prisoner by the enemy and was condemned unto death which he had not escaped except for feare of death he had harkened unto Argyle who most unworthily set a price upon Montroses head and promised great rewards honours and preferments to whomsoever should bring it in and had taken upon him to commit that treason which he abhorred with all his soul By which shift having his life and liberty given him he returned straight to Montrose and discovered all unto him beseeching him to be more carefull of himself for not he only who heartily detested so high a villany but many more had bin offered great matters most of whom would use their best endeavours to dispatch him The next was Alexander Ogleby of whom we also spake bfore eldest son to Sir John Ogleby of Innercharit descended of an ancient family and much renowned in the Scotish Chronicles He was but yet a youth scarce twenty but valiant above his age and of a present and daring spirit Nor can I hear or so much as conjecture what they had to lay to his charge but that new and unheard-of Treason to wit his bounden duty and loyalty to his King But there was no help for 't but Argyle must needs sacrifice that hopfull youth it had bin for nothing but his names-sake for he bare an implacable fewd to the Oglebyes The third was if Sir Philip Nesbit of an ancient family also and Chief of it next his father who had done honourable service in the Kings Army in England and had the command of a Regiment there Nor can I discover any reason they had to put him to death neither besides that which is used when they have nothing else to say that mad charge of the new high Treason except it was that their guilty consciences suggested unto them that that courageous and vigilant man might take occasion sometime here-after to be even with them for the horrid injuries they had done his father and his family However these men suffer'd a noble death with patience constancy as became honest men good Christians And unto these there are two brave Irish Gentlemen that deserve to be joyned Collonel O-Chaen and Collonel Laghlin odious unto the Rebels only for this impardonable crime that they had had many experiments of their courage and gallantry These Irish Gentlemen were murthered indeed at Edinburgh but many more were doom'd to the like execution at Glascow had not Montrose's unexpected approach within a few miles of the City had so much influence that it repriev'd them till another time The Lord Governour was very much perplexed with the news of these mens death and it was a question whether he was more vex'd at the cruelty of the Rebells or the negligence if not treachery of his friends For besides Huntley whose Forces he had so long in vain expected to come with his son Aboine Mac-donell also himself of whom he entertained an exceeding good opinion being often sent unto and invited also by the neernesse of the place although the time appointed by himself was already past and gone made no appearance of his approach Six weeks had now passed since Aboine had ingaged himself for the Northern Forces and the Winter than which our age never saw sharper was already deeply entred Besides the aids that the King had sent under the Command of the Lord Digby were defeated all which might easily have been salv'd and the Kingdome reduced again if those great Professors of loyalty had not plaid fast and loose in that good Cause Therefore at last on the 20. of November Montrose departing from Levin and passing over the Mountains of Taich now covered with deep snow through woods and loghes whose names I doe not at this time well remember crossing also through Strath-Erne and over the Tay returned into Athole There he met Captain Ogleby and Captain Nesbit whom he had formerly sent with the Kings Instructions unto Huntley And they bring word the man was obstinate and inflexible who would believe nothing that they said and when they
and the Law of Nature and Nations and I have not sinned against man but against God and with him there is Mercie which is the ground of my drawing neer unto him It is objected against me by many even good People That I am under the Censure of the Church This is not my fault since it is only for doing my Dutit by obeying my Princes most just Commands for Religion His Sacred Person and Authoritie Yet I am sorry they did Excommunicate me and in that which is according to Gods Lawes without wronging my conscience or Allegeance I desire to be relaxed if they will not thus do it I appeal to God who is the righteous Judge of the world and who must and will I hope be my Judge and Saviour It is spoken of me that I should blame the King God forbid For the late King he lived a Saint and died a Martyr I pray God I may so end as He did If ever I would wish my soul in another mans stead it should be in his For his Majestie now living never people I believe might be more happy in a King His Commands to me were most just in nothing that he promiseth will he fail He deals justly with all men I pray God he be so dealt withall that he be not betrayed under trust as His Father was I desire not to be mistaken as if my carriage at this time in Relation to your waies were stubborn I doe but follow the Light of my own conscience which is seconded by the working of the Good Spirit of God that is within me I thank him I goe to Heavens throue with joy If He enable me against the fear of Death and furnish me with courage and confidence to embrace it even in its most ugly shape Let God be glorified in my end though it were in my damnation Yet I say not this out of any fear or distrust but out of my duty to God and Love to his People I have no more to say but that I desire your Charity and Prayers I shall pray for you all I leave my Soul to God my Service to my Prince my Good will to my Friends and my Name and Charity to you all And thus briefly 〈◊〉 have exonerated my Conscience Being desired to pray apart He said I have already powred out my soule before the Lord who knows my heart and into whose hands I have commended my Spirit and he hath been graciously pleased to return to me a full assurance of peace in Jesus Christ my Redeemer And therefore if you will not Joyn with me in prayer my reiterating again will be both Scandalous to you and me So closing his eyes and holding up his hands he stood a good space at his inward devotions being perceived to be inwardly moved all the while when he had done he cal'd for the Executioner and gave him money then having brought unto him hanging in a cord his Declaration and Historie he hanged them about his neck saying Though it hath pleased His Sacred Majestie that now is to make him one of the Knights of the most Honourable Order of the Garter yet he did not think himself more Honoured by the Garter than by that cord with the Books which he would embrace about his neck with as much joy and content as ever he did the Garter or a chain of gold and therefore desired them to be tied unto him as they pleased When this was done and his arms tied he asked the Officers If they had any more Dishonour as they conceived it to put upon him he was ready to accept it And so with an Undaunted Courage and Gravitie suffered according to the Sentence past upon him THe death of the noble Marquesse was not bewailed as a private losse but rather as a publique calamitie The greatest Princes in Europe expressed no small sorrow for his unhappy end And indeed wee have not had in this latter Age a man of more eminent parts either of body or of mind He was a man not very tall nor much exceeding a middle stature but of exceeding strong composition of body and incredible force with excellent proportion and feature Dark brown hayr'd sanguine complexion a swist and piercing gray eye with a high nose somewhat like the antient signe of the Persian Kings Magnanimitie He was of a most resolute and undaunted spirit which began to appear in him to the wonder and expectation of all men even in his childhood Whom would it not have startled to attempt as he did at his first entrie into Scotland a journey wherein he could not almost escape discovery all passes being so layd for him but even when he was known and almost made publike he proceeded in his intention He was a man of a very Princely courage and excellent addresses which made him for the most part be us'd by all Princes with extraordinarie familiaritie A compleat Horseman and had a singular grace in ryding Nor is it lesse wonderfull how in so great scarcity of all things when warre in that Country is but tedious with the greatest plentie it can afford he could patiently endure so much distresse Nor is it lesse to be wondred at how he could win so much upon those Irish who had no tye to him either of Countrie Language or Religion as he did More especially when they wanted not all manner of temptation that either their own miseries and intollerable duty could suggest or the wit and sagacitie of the enemie could invent to make them leave him and abandon the service Besides the many examples shown upon them and their continuall want of Pay either of which accidents in an Armie is ground enough and has been many times the occasion of mutiny and desertion Nor had he only an excellent and mature judgement for providing and forecasting of businesse but a prompt and readie spirit likewise in matters of present dange and sudden caramitie and these things which might have confused another mans understanding as such sudden chances often doe were a whetting to his wit There are many stratagems in severall Histories related which in the heat of action have been put in practice for the regaining of a day already lost or in danger to be so As that of Jugurtha a politick and valiant Prince who in the heat of a battell betwixt him and Marius the Roman Consull rode up and down in the head of the Armie showing his bloudie sword and affirming that he had slain Marius with his own hand which word did so encourage the Numedians and amaze the Romans that had not Marius in time appeared that day had been in hazard It is likewise reported of one of the Roman Captains that he flung his Standard amongst the middle of the enemie that his own souldiers by pressing forward to rescue it might break and disorder the enemie Likewise of another that took the bridles off the horse-heads that every man might be alike valiant and charge as we say without
either fear or wit But beyond all these in my opinion was that device of the Marquesses who at Alderne being in a great strait one wing of his Armie being routed and the other in a very staâ—gering condition he did so incense that which was yet whole with the feigned success of the other that valiantly charged the enemie and put the business again in an even ballance And very like was it to that device of Tullas Postilius who being deserted by Metius King of the Albans told his souldiers he had don 't of purpose to try them and by that means turn'd their fear into indignation he was exceeding constant and affable to those that did adhere to him and to those he knew very affable though his carriage which indeed was not ordinarie did make him seem proud Nor can his enemies lay any greater fault to his charge than this insatiable desire of honour which he did pursue with as handsome and heroick action as ever any did and such as had neither admiration of avarice or self ends though he was therewith by some most unworthily branded For these and the like vertues of which he was the rich possessour he was lamented all Christendome over by all sorts of men and since his death too by those who had the greatest hand in 't though their success at that time did animate their cruelty Nescia mens hominum fati sortisque futurae Et servere modum rebus sublata secundi The Speech of Collonel William Sybbald intended by him to have been spoken on the Scaffold at time of his Execution at Edenborough Jan. 7. 1650. but hearing that libertie would not be given him to speak so freely he gave a Copie of it to a speciall friend GEntlemen I am brought this day to this place to pay a debt to Nature before it be due and by the malice and crueltie of my mercilesse enemies I am sentenced to die as a Traytor to my Country for endeavouring to doe service for my King on whose happiness and well-fare does depend the welfare of these Kingdoms to whom I am bound both by the Law of God and man to perform all faithfull and loyall service And as the Cause for which I suffer proclames my loyaltie so their Sentence does declare to all the world their disloyaltie and their intentions against their King Their self-guiltiness makes cowardly spirits cruell and such was their proceedings against me as that I could not obtain an Advocate to plead for me nor any man skilfull in the Laws either to advise with me or to write my Defence though they knew me to be ignorant of the Laws Thus is my innocencie and integritie betrayed partly by their malice and my own ignorance The truth is they did proffer to doe me any courtesie or favour if I would make an ingenuous confession that is accuse some Noblemen and gentlemen of keeping correspondencie with his Majestie or with the Marquesse of Montrose which if I had done I deserved to have been branded with perpetuall infamie for I never knew any man in this Kingdome that did keep correspondencie with them neither had I Commission from his Majestie or the Marquesse of Montrose to treat with any I did indeed speak with some Noblemen and Gentlemen because I was formerly oblieged unto them for their love to me and did expect from them some small assistance to furnish me in my journey but I never spake with them concerning the publike Affairs no further than the weekly Gazets made known to all the world if these great Fish could have been taken in our Statesmens Nets it might have been that such a Minim as I should have escaped the Bayliffe of the Fish-markets hand this day I have been from my youth a Souldier and though that Calling in it self be honourable yet men in that Calling have greater occasions and provocations to sinne than in any private Calling Besides naturally my youth led me to some abominable sins and custome in them did for many years detain me captive unto them so that I cannot but confesse that to me appertaineth shame and confusion in this life and damnation of soul and body eternally in hell fire if God should deal with me according to my desert my comfort is that the blood of my Saviour cries lowder in his ears for mercy than my sins doe for vengeance and that he who hath promised a free pardon and remission unto all penitent sinners through faith in â—esus Christ will purge cleanse my soul from all uncleanness and deliver me from all blood guiltiness by the blood of his Son our Saviour The true sorrow that I find in my soul for my former sins and that godly resolution and stedfast purpose I have to lead a new life if it please God to continue it together with the joy the patience the courage I have to suffer gives me some assurance of this blessed hope that through faith in Christ Iesus my Saviour my penitent soul though sinfull shall be saved And as for my religion I die as I lived a true Protestant this Religion I thank God as it preserved me from popish Superstition so it kept me from being seduced by the Novelties of the times and from being deluded with the wicked doctrine which is now taught by the Reformers of the Kirk It was this Religion which did keep my hand from your Covenant of which in the space of some five years you gave two interpretations quite contradictorie for in the year 1639. the Assemblie did affirm as appears by our Acts of Parliament and Assemblie that in all Causes whatsoever you were to defend and maintain the Person and dignitie of your King but in the year 1644. you limit your abedience to your King to your Religion Laws and Libertie and make your selves in all differences between the King and you both Judge and Partie the Religion in which I was bred taught me to give both to God and my King their due it taught me to honour and worship God and to expect Salvation through Christ and to live soberly and to deal justly with all men I ever hated that Religion which made Saints or Angels sharers with God his worship or men partakers with my Redeemer in the work of my Redemption or that made our Christian libertie a cloak of maliciousnesse and though naturally I inclined to evill and wicked companie drew me to most hainous and filthy sins yet I thank God I hated that Religion that taught impietie and wickedness Rebellion murther and injustice or that approved the killing of Kings and their loyall Subjects for their loyaltie as having its originall rather from the Devill who was a murtherer from the beginning than from God and I did ever esteem it more agreeable to mans sinfull and corrupted nature than to Gods holy Word I have heard a learned man say that it were better to denie God to be than to believe him to be such an one who delights in the bloody sacrifices of men and women or to think that he is such an one who delights in crueltie and murther the God whom we serve and worship is the Saviour of the world the preserver of man the Redeemer of Man-kind the avenger of his blood I have been taught from Gods word that he hath no pleasure in wickedness neither shall any evill dwell with him undoubtedly such bloody Sacrifices cannot be pleasing or acceptable to him for they are repugnant to his nature and contradictorie to the justice and equitie of his holy Law It is my greatest grief at this time that I did not walk according to the puritie of my Religion and the holiness of God who hath called us to the knowledge of his truth Therefore let me entreat you to pray unto God with me and for me that he would be pleased to pardon my many and great sins that he would purge my soul with the blood of his Son from the guilt and pollution of all my sins that I may be presented unto my heavenly Father without spot or wrinkle holy without blemish that he would receive me thorough the merits of my Saviour into everlasting peace and into the glorious estate of his chosen Saints in heaven O Lord into thy hands I commend my soul Lord Jesu receive my spirit O mercifull Father forgive my Enemies and lay not this sin to their charge Amen FINIS