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
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
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
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
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
Market-place and others set the Town on sire in severall places And indeed had not the common souldiers by an unseasonable avarice and intemperance addicted themselves to pillage that rich Town had been immediately all one fire But as it happened it was better both for the conquerours and conquered that it was not for all the intelligence that the Scouts had brought in concerning the enemies comming over the Tay was absolutely false it may be they saw a few Troops and many they did not see passe over it which they beleeved to have been the whole body of the enemy and by that means were like to have undone both themselves and the whole party Montrose stood upon the top of a hill close unto Dundee looking upon this onslaught when his almost breathlesse Scouts brought him news that Baily and Hurrey with three thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse were scarce a mile off He immediatly calls his men out of the Town which he had much to doe to perswade them for the souldiers counting themselves secure of the victory and thinking they had done a good dayes work already and besides being a little heated in drink and much taken with so rich booty could hardly be brought to leave the Town they had so newly taken And truly before they could be beaten off from the spoil the enemy was come within Musker-shot of them And now as it uses to happen in great dangers Montrose's counsell of War were of different opinions some perswaded that Montrose should shist for himself with the Horse he had because they conceived it not possible that he should be able to bring off the Foot who had been wearied with a march of above twenty miles in the morning after that were spent in a hot fight at noon and now were overloaden either with drink or prey especially seeing he was to maâ—ch twenty or perhaps thirty miles from Dundee before they could rest in safety That this was the fortune of War and to be patiently undergone especially since he had given oft-times far greater overthrows to the enemy than this could be to him That there was no doubt but that as long as he was safe his Forces might be easily recruited and on the other side if he miscarried the case was desperate and they were utterly undone Others cryed out that all was lost already and there was nothing left them but to die with honour and therefore if charging couragiously they should break in amongst the thickest of the enemy no one could say but that they fell gallantly Montrose concurred with neither of these for he could never be brought to forsake so good men as he had in the extremest danger and preferred an honourable death among his souldiers before dishonourable safety But for all that for men that were so much out-numbred by them to run desperately upon the enemy and as it were to dash out their own brains against the stones was the very last refuge and not hastily to made use of therefore as we ought not to tempt Almighty God by our own wretchlesnesse and negligence so neither ought any valiant man or good Christian despair of his assistance in a just cause Lastly he exhorts every one to do his own part and referre the successe to God and other things to his own care and industry Immediately he sends out four hundred Foot before him and commands them that as much as they possibly could without breaking their ranks they should make all speed Then he appoints two hundred of the activest men he had to follow them and he with his Horse brings up his Rear The Horse trooped on in so open order that if occasion were they might have room enough to receive light Musquetiers He believed the enemies Foot were not able to overtake them and if their Horse only should charge them which they would hardly adventure to doe he conceived it was no matter of extreme difficulty to make their part good against them besides the Sun was ready to set and the darknesse of the night would be commodious for their retreat The enemy understanding the number of them that went away first by some prisoners they had taken and after that by their own view assoon as they saw they were disposed rather for a journey than a battell divide their Forces into two parts and so pursue them Wherein their intention was not only to fall upon their Rear and Flank at once but also to secure against them all passages up to the Highlands And their Commanders the more to encourage their Souldiers to a hot pursuit proposed twenty thousand Crowns to any one that could bring in Montrose's head And now the Van of the enemies Horse began to close up unto the retreaters whereupon those good Musquetiers that lined Montrose's Horse welcommed one and another and another of the forwardest of them with bullets in their sides with whose mischance the rest becomming more wary abated of the eagernesse of their pursuit And Montrose's souldiers when they saw they had been too hard for the enemies Foot at a march and had got before them taking heart and courage they skirmished stoutly with their Horse untill the night parted the quarrell And to rid themselves some way of the enemy took their way Eastward many miles by the sea-coast However that was not their way but to goe Northward toward Gransbaine and so to deliver themselves from their mischievous Horse But Baily had laid the greatest part of his Army between them and Gransbaine that there might be no place for them to retreat unto Therefore at the dead of the night when they were not far from Aberbroth Montrose commands his men to make a stand a while And long they stood not before he considering with himself that all wayes and passages straight into the Mountains might be laid by the enemies Horse and he was not mistaken commands them to face about and march South-west And by this art though with intolerable pains he beguiled the Pursuers whom that same night he passed by and then turning Northward by the next morning at Sun-rising passed over South-Eske at a place not far from Careston Castle and from thence sent to Brechin to fetch those men which he had there with the Carriages But that had not needed for they upon the report of this expedition had provided for themselves better and more timely and had taken the Mountains Whiles he staid at Careston the Scouts brought him word on a sudden that the enemies Horse were in sight and their Foot being refresh'd with victuals and sleep march'd after them apace Montrose himself being now within three miles of the Mountains was not much afraid of them but his souldiers who had not slept for three dayes and two nights but had all that while been either on their march or in fight were overcome with so dead sleep that they could hardly be raised without pricks and wounds The enemâ— being at last entertained with a light skirmish
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
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
he posted early in the morning with a few Horse unto Bogie and by his undream'd-of aproach prevented Huntley of any opportunity of flying or hiding himself Assoon as they met Montrose forgetting all that was past invited him in smooth and gentle language to associate with him in the War for the safety of the King and Kingdome and gave him so full satisfaction in all things that as being at last overcome hee seem'd to give him his hand And promised that not only all his men but he himself would come in person in the head of them and be with him with all possible speed Afterward they layd their heads together concerning the manner of managing the War and agreed that Huntley wafting over the Spey should make his way on the right hand by the Sea-coast of Murrey and Montrose was to goe round about on the left hand through Strath-Spey which was at that time of the year a very tedious and difficult march and so the designe was to besâ—ege Innernes a Garrison of the enemies on both sides and in the mean time to draw the Earl of Seaford either by fair means or foul to their side That Garrison however it might appear to be otherwise strong and well fortified yet was very ill provided for victuall and other requisites which in that sharp Winter and tempestuous Sea could hardly be had And so now they seem'd to be agreed in all things so that Aboine and his brother Lewis wish't damnation to themselves if they did not continue constant in their fidelity and service to Montrose to their utmost breath And the rest of the Gordons the Marquesses friends were surprized with incredible joy and made as much of their Lord and Chief as if he had been returned from the dead Chap. XIX MOntrose supposing Huntley's spirit at last pacified and seriously inclined to joyn with him in the prosecution of the Warre marched with his Forces through Strath-Spey towards Innernesse And the more to amuse the enemy on every side he sent his cosen Patrick Graham of whose worth I have had often occasion to speak and John Drummond of Ball the younger a Gentleman of approved trust and valour who had often done excellent service with authority and Commissions unto the Athole-men that if any should offer to stirre in those parts they should neglect no opportunity to suppresse them The Athole-men being encouraged by their authority and example shewed themselves very ready and chearfull And they wanted not long an occasion to shew it for the remainder of the Argylian party either by reason of a generall scarcity of all things in their own Country or being driven out of their Country for fear of Macdonnell who was very strong and threatned their ruine fell upon the Mac-Gregories and Mac-nabies who sided with Montrose And afterward joyning unto themselves the Stuarts which inhabite Balwiddir and the Menises and other highlanders who still followed Argyles fortune were reported to make up some fifteen hundred men and were ready to invade Athole unlesse timely opposed And truly they had already fired an Iland in Logh-Torchet after they had taken it by force and pillaged it and had besieged Ample Castle which lyeth on the side of the river of that name Which assoon as they had intelligence of the Athole-men being only seven hundred in all under the Command of the aforesaid Graham and Drummond thought best to oppose them before they brake in into their Country They upon the alarm of the advance of the Athole-men raised the siege of Ample and retreated toward Taich The Athole-men pursued them hotly and find them in battell-array not farre from Kalandar a Castle of Taich For they had possessed a ford and manned the bank on the other side which was fortified with a steep hill with a number of Musquettiers Which men the Athole men saw and perceived that their Forces were not so strong as was reported for they had not above twelve hundred men although they themselves were scarce seven hundred strong yet being heartned by the gallantry and encouragement of their Commanders they were resolved not to stay to receive the enemies charge but to charge them Therefore they place a hundred good souldiers over against the enemy as it were to make good the Ford on the other side and the rest marched away unto another Ford neer the Castle that they might get over the river there The Argylcans when they perceived the Athole-men so resolute retreat strait towards Sterling Then first-of-all those Athole-men that were left below at the Ford possesse themselves of the bank which the enemy had quit after that they fall upon the Rear of the retreaters cut off some scatter others drive others forward and the rest of the Athole-men following hard after put them all to slight Fourscore of them were slain the rest escaped by flight who fared the better because that same morning the Athole-men had had a foul and tedious march of ten miles long and had no Horse at all to help themselves So they having come off with credit returned home At that time the Rebells held their Convention of Estates at Saint Andrews which they polluted with the Innocent and I fear crying bloud of men never sufficiently to be commended They had amongst their prisoners some very eminent men as appeared by the hatred the Rebells bare them for they scarce sought the bloud of any but the best of men but for others of whom they were not so much affraid thy satisfied themselves only with their Sequestration and Plunder amongst whom were the Lord Ogleby Sir William Spotswood William Murray a noble young Gentleman and Andrew Guthery a stout Gentleman and an active whom they determined to put to death in that City to appease the Ghoste of the men of that Province with their bloud of whom it is reported above five thousand had been slain in severall battells Now because they intended not to proceed against them by Law but according to their own lusts they have recourse to their old shifts and make Religion draw the curtain over their cruelty To which purpose they set up their Prophets Kant and Blaire and others that were possessed with the same spirit who roar'd out of their pulpits bloudy Oracles before the people That God required the bloud of those men nor could the sins of the Nation be otherwise expiated or the revenge of heaven diverted And by this art especially they provoked the hearts of the people otherwise inclined to pity to think upon them as accursed things and own'd and devoted to destruction perswading them that they ought to have no protection of humane Laws nor any Advocate to plead for them whom God himself indited and accus'd Nor did those excellent interpreters and deciders of Gods secret will make any scruple to sentence the souls and bodies and all of so great Delinquents unto hell and damnation And having by this means blinded the people it was easie for them who were
before me in this race And certainly seeing Martyrdome may be undergone not only for the Confession of our faith but for any vertue by which holy men make their faith manifest there is no doubt but he hath received that Crown Sir Robert Spotswoods Speech intended at his Execution but then not suffered to be spoken now published according to the then dispersed Copies thereof YOu will expect to hear from me somewhat of the cause for which I am brought hither at this time to suffer in this kind which I am bound to doe for cleering the integritie of mine own proceedings vindicating his Majesties just and pious intentions and withall to undeceive you that are muzled in ignorance and made to believe that you are tyed in conscience to set forward this unnaturall Rebellion masked under the cover and pretext of propagating Religion and maintaining of the publick Libertie You have perceived by the fact which hath gone before viz. tearing of my Arms c. that I stand here adjudged to die by this pretended Parliament as a Traytor to the States and enemy to my native Country This is a Treason unheard of before in this Kingdome against the States a thing of a new Creation which I believe there be some would have erected in opposition to the just and lawfull Authoritie of the King under which we and our Predecessors have been so many hundreds of years governed To come to the particulars of my Treasonable demeanour as they esteem it the main one is that I did bring down a Commission of Lieutenancie from his Majestie to the Lord Marquesse of Montrose with a Proclamation for indicting a Parliament by the Kings Authority wherein the Lord Marquesse was the Commissioner Not to excuse my self upon the necessitie layd upon me to obey his Majesties Command in a businesse of that nature in regard of the Charge I had about him I cannot so farre betray mine own conscience as to keep up from you my judgement of the thing it self seeing it may both tend to the justifying of the Kings part and your better information for lack whereof I know many are intangled in this Rebellion unwittingly and who knoweth but God in his mercifull providence hath brought us hither to be the instruments of freeing you from the manifold delusions that are made use of to insnare you I say then it was just and necessary to his Majestie to grant such Commissions and by consequence an act of duty in me to perform what he was pleased to command me It is known well enough what contentment his Majestie gave to the Kingdome at his last being here both in the affaires of Church and Policie Notwithstanding whereof the world seeth what meating he hath got from us When this Rebellion first burst out in England all that he desired of us was only to stand Neutralls and not to meddle between him and his Subjects there Of which moderate desire of his little reckoning was made but on the contrary at the request of those Rebells by the power of their Faction amongst us an Armie was raised and sent into England to assist them against their own native Ring His Majesty being reduced to this extremitie what expedient could he find so fair and easie as to make use of the help of such of his loyall Subjects as he knew had such an unparallel'd disloyaltie in horrour and detestation amongst whom that matchlesse mirrour of all true worth and Nobility the Lord Marquesse of Montrose having offered himself it pleased his Majestie to give him a subaltern Commission first which he having executed with such unheard-of successe that his memorie shall be had in honour for it in all ages His Majestie for the better furthering of his own service and to countenance and encourage him the more in it gave an absolute one and independent thereafter which is that I delivered into his hands by his Majesties Command Herewithall his Majesties pitying the miseries of this poor Kingdome occasioned by the rebellious stubbornnesse of a few factious spirits thought fit to give power to the sayd Lord Marquesse to call a Parliament in his own Name to trie if by that means a remedie might be found against the present evills And in all this I see not what can be justly charged upon his Majestie or upon me his Servant who have done nothing against any authorized Law of the Kingdome but have served him faithfully unto whom by trust and naturall Allegiance I owe so much Whereas I am declared an enemie to my native Country God be so propitious to me as my thoughts towards it have been alwayes publike and tending to the good and honour thereof I professe since I had the honour of that noble Marquesse's acquaintance I have been a favourer of his designes knowing them to be both loyall and honourable Besides that I know his affection to his Country to be eminent in this especially that he did ever shew himself passionate to vindicate the honour of this Kingdome which suffereth every where by the strange combination of this with the Rebells of another Country and Kingdome against their own Prince Wherein I concurred in judgement with him and thought there was no other way to doe it but by setting up a party of true and loyall-hearted Scotch-men for his Majestie whereby it might be seen that it is not a Nationall defection but only stirred up by a Faction there which for their own ends have dishonoured their native Kingdome and disturbed the peace thereof in enterprising and pursuing of which Heroicall designe God hath so favoured that noble Lord that he hath righted our Country in the opinion of all the world and discovered where the rottenness lieth Thus farre I am contented to be counted a Traytor in their opinion that have condemned me being fully assured that God the righteous Judge of all who knoweth the uprightnesse and integritie of my intentions will impute no fault to me in this kind since to my knowledge I have carried my self according to the direction of his word and the practice of all good Chrstians before these miserable times we are fallen into My Exhortation therefore which comming from me at the point I am at will I hope have some waight shall be this unto you that you will break off your sins by Repentance and above all free your selves of that master-sin of Rebellion that reigneth in this Land whereinto most part are either forced or drawn unawares especially at the instigation of those who should have directed them in the way of truth It cannot be but a great judgement upon a Land when Gods singular mercies towards it are so little valued hee hath not given us a King in his wrath but one who for piety bounty and all vertues both Christian and Morall may be a Pattern to all Princes but how little thankfull we are to God for so great a blessing our respecte towards him doe manifest Yet I fear there is a greater
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