Mountanier without any man along with him save the abovesaid Patricke Graham his guide and companion And indeed the Irish would hardly be perswaded that that was Montrose but wen they saw him so saluted and onely not adored like some great Deity by the men of Athole and others that knew him well they were overjoyed for his coming to them was in exceeding good time they being then in extreame danger to be cut off For Argyle was in their reare with a strong and well ordered Army the champaine countrey were ready in armes before them expecting if they should make downe into the Plaine to trample them to dirt with their horses hoofes the vessels that brought them◠over were burnt by Argyle that they might have no way to retreat nor would the Athole men or any other that favoured the King venture any hazard with them because they were strangers and came not by the Kings open and known Authority nor had they any Commander of ancient Nobility a thing by the Highlanders much set by who would not fight under the command of Alexander Mac-donell a man of no account with them lastly their number was inconsiderable being not above eleven hundred though ten thousand had been promised The next day the Athole men to the number of eight hundred put themselves in armes offered their service most cheerfully to Montrose who having got his handfull of men and earnestly commending his most righteous Cause to the protection of Almighty God now desired nothing more then to be among the thickest of the enemy Impatient therefore of further delay that very day he marches through the Plains of Athole towards Ern as well to make way for his friends and assistants easier accesse unto him if any should rise upon the newes as that he might fall upon and amaze the Rebels unlook't for before they should be able to joyne together who lay at distance Therefore passing by Weme a castle of the Menises seeing they handled a Trumpeter whom he sent friēdly unto them unworthily and fell hotly upon the reare of his Army he wastes their fields and causes all their houses and corne to be fired this was at the very first onset of the Warre to strike terrour into the enemy The same night he passed over Tay the greatest river in Scotland with part of his Forces the rest follow him very early the next day When they were ready to march on he gave Patrick Graham of whom I shall haue often to speak never without honour at their earnest request the Command of the Athole men sent him with the nimblest of them he could pick out amongst them to scout before He brings word he saw some souldiers drawne up on the top of an hill at Buckinth towards them Montrose makes straight These proved to be commanded by the Lord Kilpont son to the Earle of Taith a man of ancient Nobility and descended of the Grahams and Sir Iohn Drummond sonne to the Earl of Perth a kinsman also of Montrose◠who were both of them summoned by the Covenanters to joyne against the Irish as the Common enemy and had with them five hundred Foot and no more nor had they heard any certainty at all of Montrose's being in those parts He resolveth with all speed to surprise them and either to winne them to his side or to crush them to pieces But they as soone as they heard that Montrose was Generall of those Forces send unto him some of their chiefest friends to understand from him what he intended to doe He tells them he had the Kings Authority for what he did and was resolved to assert that Authority to the utmost of his power against a most horrid Rebellion conjuring them by all the obligations that were betweene them that they would not thinke much to doe their best endeavours for the best of Kings Which as it was much becoming their high birth and would be very acceptable service to the King so it would be beneficiall unto them for the present and much to their honour with posterity and strangers if they of all others should be the first that put to their helping hands to hold up a tottering Crowne They most readily without any delay came in unto him for both of them though underhand favoured the King exceedingly From them Montrose understood that the Covenanters were thick in armes at a Rendezvouz at Perth the second City to Edinburgh and there waited for their enemies falling down from Athole He knowing also that Argile with his Army was upon his backe lest he should be hem'd in on both sides determines to goe forward to Perth that there he might either force the enemy to fight or reduce the Towne to the Kings obedience Marching therefore three miles from Buckinth and allowing the Souldiers but a short time of refreshment at the breake of day he drawes out his men Nor was he above three miles more from the City whem the enemy was in view in a large and open Plain called Tippermore providing to fight They were commanded by the Lord Elchoe one that was taken for no great souldier there were with him the Earle of Tullibardin and the Lord Drummond but this latter as was conceived against his will for he his fathers whole family favoured the King in their hearts Knights he had with him good store among whom Sir Iames Scot who heretofore had done good service under the State of Venice was the most noted souldier They had six thousand Foot seven hundred Horse and in confidence of their numbres they had even devoured their enemies before they saw them It was on Sunday the first of September it was given in charge to their Ministers that in set Speeches they should encourage the people to fight not forgetting to minde them of their most holy Covenant forsooth And to give them their due they plyed their lungs stoutly in the performance of that worke they most freely promised them in the name of Almighty God an easie and unbloudy victory nay there was one Frederick Carmiohael one very much cryrd up for learning and holinesse by the silly people who was not afraid to deliver this passage in his Sermon If ever God spake word of truth out of my mouth I promise you in his name assured victory this day Gods service being thus finely performed as they thought they put their men in Battalia Elchoe himself commanded the right flank Sir Iames Scot the left and the Eare of Tullebardin the battell To the right and left flanks were added wings of horse with which they made no doubt on so faire a Plaine to hemme in the enemy Montrose perceiving the great body of the enemy and especially their strength in Horse for he had not so much as one Horse-man nor more then three leane horses and being carefull as it concerned him lest being incompassed with so great a number they should fall upon him in the Front Reare and Flanke he caused his
that it was some falling out between the Highlanders the Irish thrust himselfe in amongst the thickest of them there he findes a most horrible murther newly committed for the noble Lord Kilpontin lay there basely sâ—aine The murtherer was a retainer of his owne one Stuart whom he had treated with much friendship and familiarity in so much that that same night they lay both in a bed It is reported that the base slave had a plot to dispatch Montrose and in regard of the great power he had with Kilpontin he conceived he might draw him in to be accessary to the villany therefore taking him aside into a private place he had discovered unto him his intentions which the Nobleman highly detested as was meet where upon the murtherer fearing he would discover him assaulted him unawares stabbed him with many wounds who little suspected any harme from his friend and creature The treacherous assassine by killing a Centinel escaped none being able to pursue him it being so darke that they could scarse see the ends of their Pikes Some say the traitor was hired by the Covenanters to doe this others onely that he was promised a reward if he did it Howsoever it was this is most certaine that he is very high in their favour unto this very day and that Argyle immediatelâ— advanced him though he was no souldier to great commands in his Army Montrose was very much troubled with the losse of this Nobleman his deare friend and one that had deserved very well both froÌ„ the King himself a maÌ„ famous for arts armes and honesty being a good Philosopher a good Divine a good Lawyer a good Souldier a good Subject a good man And embracing the breathlesse body againe againe with sighes teares he delivers it to his sorrowfull friends and servants to be carried to his parents to receive its funerall Obsequies as became the splendor of that honourable Family With the rest of his Forces Montrose marcheth to Dundee the Towne being proud of the number of its inhabitants and having a Garrison out of Fife beside refused to submit And he thinking it no wisdome to hazard the honour he had gotten by his late victory upon the doubtfull successe of a siege turnes away toward Eske for he hoped that many of his friends and kindred being men of greatest note in those parts and who used to talke as highly what they would doe for the King as any others would be ready to joyne with him But they having newes of his approach withdrew themselves onely the Lord Ogleby Airley a man of threescore yeares old with his two sons Sir Thomas and Sir David and some of his friends and clients men of experienced resolutions joyned himselfe unto him and with admirable constancy he went along with him through all fortunes unto the very end of the Warre being in that almost universall defection the other honour and ornament of the Nobility of Scotland besides Montrose While Montrose was hereabouts he receives intelligence that some Commissioners from the Covenanters of whom the Lord Burghly was the principall lay at Aberdene with an Army and laboured to assure unto themselves the Northerne parts upon which Montrose especially relyed either by faire meanes or foule He determines to fight these immediately before Argyle could come up to them therefore with long marches he hies thither and possessing himselfe of the bridge upon the river of Dee and drawing neare the City he found the enemy drawn up close beside it Burghley commanded two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse whom he placed in wings having chosen his ground planted his great Guns before his men he expected battell Montrose had fifteene hundred Foot for the Lord Kilpontins souldiers were gone to convey their Lords dead body to his parents and most of the Athole men after the victory of Perth were gone home from whence they were not farre laden with spoile and just foure and forty Horse of whom he made two divisions and mixing amongst them the best fire-men and Archers that he had who in nimblenesse and swifâ—nesse of body were almost as good as horsemen placed them on either wing to prevent the falling of the enemies Horse upon his rere which they performed most gallantly beyond the opinion or perhaps the beliefe of many He gave the command of the right flank to Iames Hay and Nathaniel Gordon and of the left to Sir William Rollock all valiant men The left wing of the enemy was commanded by Lewis Gordon sonne to the Marquesse of Huntley a bold young man and hor spirited but haire brain'd and one that had forced out his fathers friends and clients to fight with Montrose against their wills He having gotten the plaine and most commodious ground for fighting on horsebacke charged Montrose's right flank which when he perceived he commanded Rollock with his twenty Horse to their aid and they being backed with the gallantry of their Commanders and the activity and stoutnesse of the Foot amongst them received the charge with so much hardinesse that they foure and forty beat backe full three hundred of the enemy routing all and killing very many But because they were so few they durst not follow the chase which was forborne by the great prudence of the Commanders and proved to be of great consequence towards the obtaining of the victory for the enemy charged Montrose's left Flanke vvhich had no Horse vvith their right Wing of Horse Montrose therefore in atrice now that Lewis Gordon and his men vvere fled conveighs the same Horse to the left Flanke vvho seeing they vvere not able to dravv themselves into a Body like the enemies fetch 't a compasse about so escaped their first charge then neatly vvheeling about they fall upon the Flanke of the enemy vvith their naked svvords beat and cut and vanquish and put them to flight They tooke prisoners on Forbes of Kragevar a Knight of great esteem vvith the enemy and another Forbes of Boindle Those that retreated got safe away because that so few could not safely persue them They that commanded the enemies Horse vvere not so much frighted vvith their losse as vexed vvith the disgrace of a double repulse therefore imputing their defeat to those light fierelockes that vvere mixed vvith Montrose's Horse they themselves call for Foot-men out of their maine Body intending to returne vvith greater courage Montrose suspected that vvas loath to engage those fevv gallant men againe vvhose Horses vvere spent already in tvvo sharp services vvith the enemy vvho vvas reinforced vvith fresh Foot Therefore observing the enemies Horse not yet railled since their nevv rout staÌ„ding at a sufficient distance froÌ„ their Foot hee rode about among his owne who had been sore galled already with the Enemies Ordnance and bespeaks them to this effect VVe doe no good my fellow Souldiers while we dispute the matter at thus much distance except we close up with them how shall we know
found them to be two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse hee commanded his men to march speedily away and following the course of the river Erne to make good the fords thereof hee with the few Horse that hee had was their Rear guard lest they should have been troden in pieces by the enemies Cavalry And truly he so valiantly repulsed the fierce assault of the enemy that by killing some and routing others he forced them to a retreat till at last his Foot after six miles march had made themselves masters of the passes of Erne So the enemy retreated with the losse of their labour and Montrose that same night being the 18. of Aprill quartered at Logh-Erne and came the next day to Balwidir where the Earl of Aboine met him who with some few more had escaped out of Carlisle and hearing tydings of Montrose's good successe had at last returned into his Country Leaving Balwidir they advanced to Logh-Catrinet where they receive intelligence that Hurrey had raised great forces in the North and was ready to engage with the Lord Gordon and therefore there was danger that he being an active Souldier and a good Commander should be able to over-master that gallant young Gentleman Therefore Montrose thought it necessary to oppose Hurrey assoon as was possible as well to secure so dear a friend from imminent danger as to be nibbling at the enemies Forces as he found them asunder and to cut off that power by peace-meal which he vvell knew if it vvere all in a body vvould be above his march Therefore by long and continued journeys passing by Balwidir and a Lake of four and tvventy miles long out of vvhich the river of Tay breaks forth through Athole and Angus and over Granshaine through a vale called Glenmuck hee came to the midst of Marre There he joyned vvith the Lord Gordon vvho had novv a thousand Foot and tvvo hundred Horse and marching straight to the Spey laboured to finde out and engage with the enemy Nor vvas he above six miles off vvhen Hurrey thought hee had not yet got over Gransbaine for vvith unvvearied labour and incredible speed he had over-run the very report of himself Hurrey lest a battell should be forced upon him whether he would or no before he had received an addition of numerous Auxiliaries in all hast passeth over the Spey And because he had appointed the Rendezvouz of all his friends at Innernesse hyeth to Elgin nor did Montrose pursue him lazily to Elgine Thence with all speed he passeth to Forresse nor did Montrose make lesse haste to follow and overtake him too at Forresse and sat so close on his skirts for fourteen miles together that notwithstanding he had the advantage of te night hee had much adoe to reach Innernesse The next day Montrose incamped at a village called Alderne and Hurrey according to his hopes found the Earls of Seafort and Suderland the whole sept of the Frasers and most of Murray and Cathnesse and the neighbouring parts to have assembled themselves to Innernesse well appointed To these Hurrey ads some old souldiers of the Garrison of that Town and so drawes up against Montrose He now commanded three thousand and five hundred Foot and four hundred Horse but Montrose who had no more but fifteen hundred Foot and two hundred Horse had a great minde to retire But not only Hurrey pressed so vehemently upon him that it was scarce possible for him to retreat but Baily also vvith a Southern Army much stronger then Hurrey's especially in Horse was novv got already a great vvay on that side Gransbaine and marched in great hast tovvards the Spey What should Montrose do in this condition Hee must of necessity either give Hurrey battell or undergo a far greater hazard of being hemb'd in between two Armies Therefore he resolves to try the fortune of War without delay to commit the successe unto God and chusing the best advantage of ground hee could finde there to expect the assault of the enemy There was a little Town that stood upon the height which shadowed the neighbouring valley some little hills that were higher then the Town behinde it that hindered the discovery of any one till they were just upon him In this valley he drawes up his Forces out of the view of the enemy Before the Town he places a few but expert and choice Foot with his Ordnance who were sheltered with such ditches as they found there The right wing hee commits to Alexander Mac-donel with four hundred Foot and lodged them in places fortified to their hand with banks and ditches with shrubs also and great stones and commands him to preserve himself entire that he might be a reserve upon all occasions and not to depart from his station which had so good a naturall fence that they might lie there safe enough not only from the enemies Horse but Foot also And with the same good advice he committed to his charge that notable Standard of the Kings which only he was wont to carry before him expecting that the enemy upon the sight of that would order the best of their Forces against that wing which by reason of the disadvantage of the place would be rendred wholly unusefull unto them till such time as hee on the left flank should take his best advantage against them And to that end drawing the rest of his Forces to the other side hee commends the Horse to the Lord Gordon and takes charge of the Foot himself Those few that stood before the Town under the shelter and covert of the banks and ditches seemed as if they were his main battell whereas indeed hee had none And for Reserves in that scarcity of men they were not to be thought of The enemy as Montrose most wisely fore saw assoon as they savv the Kings Standard ordered the most part of their Horse and old Souldiers vvherein their chief strength consisted against that And by this time the Van of the enemy began to dispute it with those before the Town and on the right flank and still as their souldiers were spent drew up fresh men which Montrose because his number was but few could not so easily do therefore hee resolved with all his men that he had on the left flank to make a violent assault upon the enemy at once And whiles he was thinking so to do there comes unto him one whom hee knew to be trusty and discreet and whispers him in the ear that Mac-donell with his men on the right flank were put to flight He being a man of a quick spirit thought it was best to forestall the souldiers lest their hearts should faile them upon bad newes and cryes aloud to the Lord Gordon My Lord what doe we doe Mac-donell upon the right hand having routed and discomfited the enemy is upon the execution shall wee stand by as idle spectatours whiles hee carries away the honour of the day And with that hee commands them to charge
easily be surprised on the borders of Tweed if Lesly would make use of that opportunity was offered him to doe his businesse Therefore Lesley upon this intelligence made haste thither and as I said lodg'd within four miles of Selkirk That Trequaire sent those letters unto Lesley although it was the generall report I cannot certainly affirm but it cannot be denied that that same night he sent his Commands to his son the Lord Linton that he should immediately withdraw himself from the Royall party which with much jollity he did This was like themselves being the ungratefullest of all men deserting their King of whom none had better deserved and staining their posterity And truly that morning being very misty gave no small advantage to the treachery of the enemy whom at last Montroses frighted Scouts discover'd to march towards him in a full body at such time as they were not above half a mile off Montrose mounting the first Horse he could light on gallops into the field appointed for the Rendezvouz that morning where he finds a great deal of noise but no order The Cavalry being little acquainted with their duty lying already disperst in their quarters where they dream't more of baiting their horses then maintaining their lives and honours upon the first alarme which they received from the enemies Trumpet ran disorderly up and down they knew not whither but never came in the fight Yet there were a few and those were for the most part Noblemen or Knights who made all speed thither and gallantly undertook to make good the right wing and they were not above sixscore in all Nor did the Foot who were about five hundred make agood appearance for many of them looking about their private businesses among the Carriages by that unseasonable care of saving lost themselves and all they had And which spoiled the matter which was bad enough before most of the Commanders were absent never came in the field Besides the enemy coming on so speedily left them no time for deliberation The enemy therefore who were six thousand whereof most were Horse out of England furiously charging Montrose's right wing were twice gallantly received and repulsed with no small losse Nor could they make that noble Troop give any ground or break through it untill at last laying along those few Foot that withstood them they broke in upon the left flank vvhere there vvas no Horse By this tvvo thousand Horse whom the enemy had sent over to the other side of the river vvere gotten on the Rear of those noble Gentlemen who lest being hemb'd in on every side gall'd with the enemies shot at distance they should fal for nothing and unreveng'd withdrew themselves every one the best way he could But the Foot who could have little security by flight fighting a good while stoutly resolutely at last upon quarter ask't and given for their lives threw down their armes and yeelded themselves prisoners Every one of whom being naked and unarm'd without any regard to quarter given Lesley caused to be most unhumanely butcher'd The staine of which perfidious cruelty by which he hath so filthily blurr'd his hononr if any he got in forraign service he shal never be able to wipe away As for those that escaped out of the battell the enemy pursued them no further being busie in plundering the Carriages where they made a lamentable slaughter of Women Pedees and Cook-boyes no pity vvas shovvn to sex nor age they vvent to the pot altogether The number of the slain is not easie to be given almost no Horse and very fevv Foot besides those that yeelded themselves and had quarter fell in that battell vvhich may appear by this that they vvere no more then five hundred in all before the next day tvvo hundred and fifty of them came safe to Montrose of all them vvith their svvords by their sides so that there could not be as many more missing and very fevv vvere taken prisoners and not untill their horses being tired and themselves ignorant of the vvay they became a prey to the country people Whom they forgetting all the benefits protection they had but nevvly received from Montrose to do the Covenanters a favour delivered up unto their cruell enemies to be made by them acceptable sacrifices to Baal-Berith the god of the Covenant For all that the Rebell conquerours missed of the Kings Standards The one of them vvhich vvas carried before the Foot vvas preserved by an Irish soldier a stout man of a present spirit vvhen others vvere almost beside themselves vvho vvhen he savv that the enemy had got the day stript it off the staffe and vvrapped it about his body and being othervvise naked made his vvay vvith his dravvn svvord through the thickest of the enemy and brought it to Montrose at night Whom he received into his Life-guard and gave it him to carry in token of his valour and loyalty And the other of them William Hie brother to the Earl of Kinoule a hopefull young Gentleman vvho succeeded his uncle by the mothers side Douglasse son to the Earl of Morton vvho having receiv'd many and grievous vvounds at the battell of Alford vvas rendred unable for that burden stript from off the staffe too and carried it avvay vvith him And conveighing himself into the borders of England skulked there a vvhile till the coast was a little clearer about Tweed and then through by-wayes and night journies for the most part being accompanied couducted by his faithfull friend Robert Toures a stout man and a good souldier who had been a Captain in France a good while ago returned into the North and presented that same Royall Standard unto the Generall And now at last Montrose when he saw his men totally routed and put to flight which he never savv before thought of nothing more for a good space then to die honourably and not unrevenged therefore rallying about thirty Horse vvhom he had gathered up in that confusion he resolved by fair and honourable death to prevent his falling alive into the enemies hands And seeing he vvas not able to break through the enemies Troops vvho stood thick round about him he gall'd them on the Front and Rear and Flanks and of such as vvere so hardy as to adventure out of their ranks many he slevv others he beat back But vvhen all that he could do vvould not do his businesse as God vvould have it this consideration possessed his resolute and noble spirit That the losse of that day was but small and easily regained because but an inconsiderable part of his Forces were there That the Highlanders were the very nerves and sinewes of the Kingdome and all the North was sound and untouch't That many of the prime Nobility and men of power many Knights too and Chiefs of their Sepâ—s had entered into an association with him who if he should miscarry would be suddenly ruined or corrupted and by that means the Kings party
Army to be drawne out to as open order as could be possible and makes his Files onely three deep He commands the Ranks all to discharge at once those in the first Ranke kneeling in the second stooping and in the hindmost where he placed the tallest men upright he chargeth them also to have a care of mis-spending their powder of which they had so small store and that they should not so much as make a shot till they came to the very teeth of their enemies assoone as they had discharged their muskets once a piece immediately to breake in upon the enemy with their swords musket ends which if they did he was very confident the enemy would never endure the charge Montrose undertakes the Command of the right Flanke over against Sir Iames Scot appoints the left to the Lord Kilpont the maine Battell to Mac donell with his Irish vvhich vvas very providently ordered lest the Irish vvho vvere neither used to fight vvith long Pikes nor vvere furnis-with swords if they had been placed on either flank should haue beene exposed to the fury of the Scotch Horse Montrose had sent unto the Commanders of the enemy Drummond sonne and heire to the Lord Maderty a noble Gentleman and accomplished with all kinde of vertues who declared in his name That Montrose aswell as the Kings Majesty from whom he had received his Commission was most tender of shedding his Countreyes bloud and had nothing more in his devotions then that his victories might he written without a red Letter And such a victory they might obtaine as well as he if they should please but to have the honour to conquer themselves and before a stroke were stâ—ucke to returne â—nto their Allegeance That for his part he was covetous of no mans wealth thirsty after no mans bloud all that he desired was that in the name of God they would at length give eare to sound counsell and submit themselves and what belonged unto them unto them grace and protection of so good a King who as he had hitherto condescended unto all things either for matter of Religion or anything else which they thought good to aske though to the exceeding great prejudice of his Prerogative so still they might finde him like an indulgent Father ready to embrace his penitent children in his armes although he had been provoked with unspeakable injuries But if they should continue still obstinate in their Rebellion he called God to witnesse that it was their own stubbornesse that forced him to the present encounter The Commanders of the enemies answered nothing at all to all this but against the Law of Nations sent the Messenger who out of meere love to his Countrey had undertaken the employment prisoner with a company of rude souldiers unto Perth vowing assoone as they had got the victory to cut off his head But God was more mercifull to him and provided otherwise then they intended for the safety of that gallant man They were come within musket shot when the enemies under the Command of the Lord Drummond sent out a forlorne-hope to provoke Montrose to a light skirmish he sends a few to meet them who at the first onset disorder and rout them sending them backe to their maine body in no small fright Montrose thought now was his opportunity and that nothing could conduce more either to the encouragement of his owne souldiers or the terrour of the enemy then immediately to fall upon them as they were disordered and astonished with that fresh blow nor would he give them time to rally or recover courage therefore seâ—ting up a great shout he lets loose his whole Army upon them The enemy first at distance discharge their Ordnance which made more noise then they did harme afterwards marching forward their Horse labour to breake in upon Montrose's Souldiers those when their powder was spent and many of them had neither Pikes nor scarse Swords they stoutly entertaine with such weapons as the place would afford good stones of which they poured in such number amongst them with so great strength and courage that they forced them to retreat and to trouble them no more For the Irish and Highlanders striving bravely whetâ—er should out vie the other in valour bore up so eagerly when they gave ground that at last they betooke themselves to the nimblenesse of their Horses heeles There was something more to do a little while longer in the right Flanke Sir Iames Scot disputed some time for the higher ground but Montrose's men being stronger bodied especially swifter footmen obtained the Hill from thence the Athole meÌ„ rushed downe with their drawne swords upon the enemy and making little account of the musquetiers who sent their bullets amongst them as thicke as haile closing with them as they lik't best to fight they slash't and beat them downe At last the enemy not able to abide their fury fairely ran away Most of the Horse made so good speed as to save themselves but there was a great slaughter of the Foot whom they pursued for six or seven miles There were conceived to be two thousand of the Covenanters slain and more were taken prisoners of whom some taking a Military Oath took up arms again with the Conquerour but perfidiously for almost all forsooke him afterwards The rest taking a solemn Protestation that they would never after beare armes against the King he set at liberty He tooke in Perth the same day without doing the least harme unto the City although most of the Citizens had fought against him in this battell thinking by so great clemency to turne the hearts of the people towards their King vvhich vvas the onely end to vvhich he directed all his designes CHAP. VI. HE staid three dayes at Perth for there he expected many in those parts to come in with their friends and clients armed who upon the noise of the late victory professed themselves most faithfull to the King but none came but the Earle of Kinoule with a few gentlemen of Gawry nor did they continue very constant unto him neither And by this time Argyle was at hand with a great Army of Foot of his owne supplies of Horse were joyned with him out of the South parts therefore Montrose passing over Tay tooke up his Quarters in the field for other quarters he seldom had near Couper a little village in Angus where a famous Monastery once stood but now lies on the ground Here a brave young gentleman Sir Thomas Ogilby sonne to the Earle of Arley with others of the Gentry of Angus met him readily offered him their service whom he courteously entertained and sent them away with thankes they pretending they onely went to fit themselves for a march neverthelesse few of them returned besides the Ogilbies Next morning by breake of day before the Revellier was beat there was a great tumult in the Camp the Souldiers ranne to their armes fell to be wilde and raging Montrose guessing
Hurrey's Horse had no minde long to endure the shock of the Gordons but wheeling about and beginning to run left their flanks which they were to maintain open to their enemies Their Foot although thus deserted by their Horse being both more in number and better armed then Montrose's men stood out very stoutly as longs as his men kept aloof but assoon as hee came to fall upon them hand to hand hee drove them to throw away their arms and to seek though to little purpose to save themselves by their heels But Montrose himself not forgetting what was signified unto him by so faithfull a messenger drew off with a few of his readiest men unto the right flank where hee found things in a far other condition then they were left For Mac-donell being a valiant man but better at his hands then head being over-hasty in battell and bold even to rashnesse disdaining to shelter himself behinde hedges and shrubs whiles the enemy vapoured and provoked him with ill language contrary to orders upon his own head advanceth towards the enemy out of that most defencible fastness station where in he was placed And he did it to his cost for the enemy over-powering him both in Horse and Foot and having many old souldiers amongst thē routed repulsed his men And certainly if he had not timely drawn thē off into a close hard by they had every one of thē together with the Kings Standard been lost But hee made amends for that rash mistake in his admirable courage in bringing off his men for he was the last man that came off and covering his body with a great target which he carried in his left hand defended himself against the thickest of his enemies Those that came closest up unto him were Pike-men who with many a blow had struck their spear-heads into his target which he cut off by three or four at once with his sword which he managed with his right hand And those that made him any opposition in the close seeing Montrose come in to his aid and their own men on the other side put to flight such as were Horse spur'd away and the Foot most of which were old souldiers out of Ireland fighting desperately were almost all of them slain upon the ground The Conquerours pursued them that fled for some miles so that there were slain about three thousand Foot of the enemy amongst whom their old souldiers fought most stoutly but almost all their Horse escaped by a more timely then honourable flight Nor had Hurrey himself with some of their best men which went last off the field escaped the hands of the pursuers had not the Earl of Aboine by I know not what want of heed displayed some Ensignes and Standards that had been taken from the enemy and himself not following the chase but turning towards his own party seemed to have been the enemy and to threaten a new battell With which mistake they were so long deluded untill the enemies Horse though much disordred had shifted themselves away into such by-paths as they knew or could light upon only a few of them came with Hurrey before next morning to Innernesse Of such of the enemy as were slain the most notable were Cambell Laver a Colonell of old souldiers Sir Iohn and Sir Gideon Murray Knights and other stout men and perhaps not unworthy to bee lamented had they not stained their otherwise commendable valour with the horrid crime of Rebellion nor in that did they so much follow their own jugdements as the humour of the times or the ambition or avarice of their Chiefs Montrose of those that served with him on the left flank missed only one man and him a private souldier and on that side where Mac-donell commanded there were missing fourteen private souldiers also But hee had many more wounded the curing and securing of whom was especially provided for by Montrose Afterwards entertaining the prisoners with sweetnesse courtesie hee promised all such as repented of their errour liberty or employment and was as good as his word and such as were obstinate in their rebellion he disposed of into severall prisons In this battell at Alderne the valour of young Napier did very much discover it self who being the son of the Lord Napier of Marchiston and Montrose's nephew by his sister had but a little before without the knowledge of his father or wife stoln away from Edinburgh to his uncle and did at this time give an excellent assay of his valour and laid down most firm principles of a most noble disposition Whereupon the chief of the Covenanters took his father a man almost threescore and ten years old and as good a man as ever Scotland bred in this age and his wife the daughter of the Earl of Marre Sir Sterling Keer his brother-inlaw an excellent man also chief of his family and one that had suffered very much for his Loyalty together with his two sisters the one Sir Sterlings most virtuous Lady the other a virgin and cast them all into the dungeon from whence afterward they were to be delivered by Napier himself with the assistance of his uncle This battell was fought at Alderne on the 4. of May 1645. CHAP. XI MOntrose allowing a few dayes of refreshment to his souldiers marched to Elgin which is the chief Town of the Province where for the sake of those that were wounded hee made some longer stay because they had there the accommodation of good Chyrurgeons and medicines which are sometimes scarce to be had in the field Afterward passing over the Spey hee came to Keith from thence to Frendrackt and so to Strathbogy Here Baily meets him unto whom Hurrey with those that remained of his broken Troops at Alderne was joyned and provokes him to battell Montrose kept back his men who were spent with great travaile and were far fewer both in Horse and Foot though very eager to fight till such time as he had raised new forces recruited them Therefore thinking it enough to maintain that ground which he had chosen as commodiously as he could for himself untill night passeth then to Balvenie whither also the enemy followeth him but he passing by Strath Done Strath-Spey went up to Badenoth The enemy getting to the other side of the water provokes him again to fight but in vain for he was very wary of giving them a set battell but neverthelesse by frequent skirmishes and especially beating up quarters in the night did so much weaken their power and courage that they that were so haughtily daring but a while ago as well Commanders as Souldiers hastily and disorderly betook themselves by night to Innernesse when none pursued them Montrose was not much displeased that hee was so rid of this enemy especially for this reason the Earl of Linesey the prime ringleader of the Covenanters next unto Argyle and his rival too as being brother-in-law to Duke Hamilton used to give out that Argyle wanted either care
ground But Baily turning aside some three miles to the left hand Montrose holds on his intended march to Alford where hee staid that night the enemy lying about four miles off The next day after Montrose commands his men very early in the morning to stand to their armes and make ready to battell and placed them on a hill that stands over Alford And as he with a Troop of Horse was observing the motion and order of the enemy and viewing the fords of the Done a river which runs by Alford it was told him that the enemy Horse and Foot were making unto a ford which lay a mile from Alford to the intent that they might cut off the Reare of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their owne destruction Montrose leaving that troop of Horse not farre from the Ford together with some select and understanding men who should give him perfect intelligence of all things hee returneth alone to order the battell And above all things he possesses himselfe of Alford hill where hee might receive the charge of the enemy if they fell on desperately Behinde him was a moorish place full of ditches and pits which would prevent Horse falling upon his Reare before him was a steep hill which kept his men from the enemies view so that they could hardly perceive the formost rankes Hee had scarce given order for the right managing of all things when those Horse whom hee had left at the Ford returned with a full cariere and bring word that the enemy had passed the River And now it was no more safe for either of them to retreat without the apparent ruine of their party It is reported that Baily like a skilfull and wary Commaunder was sore against his will drawne unto this battell nor had engaged had he not beene necessitated unto it by the rashnesse of the Lord Baâ—carise a Colonell of Horse who precipitated himselfe and the Horse under his command into that danger whether Baily would or no as that hee could not be brought off without the hazard of the whole Army Montrose gave the command of his right wing on which side the enemies Horse were most strong unto the Lord Gordon and appointed Nathaniel Gordon an old Commander to his assistance The command of the left wing was given to the Earle of Aboine to whom also was joyned Sir William Rollock And of the maine battell to two valiant men Glengar and Drumond of Ball the younger unto whom hee added George Graham master of the Camp an expert souldier also The Reserve which was altogether hid behinde the hill was commanded by his nephew Napier And for a while Montrose kept himself upon the height and the enemy in the valley being fortified with pits and ditches for it was neither safe for the later to charge up the hill nor for the former to fall upon them that were surrounded with marshes and pooles The numbers of the Foot were in a manner even either side had about two thousand but Baily was much stronger in Horse for he had six hundred and Montrose but two hundred and fifty Only Montrose had this advantage that the enemy were for the most part hirelings raised from dunghills but those that served the King Gentlemen who fought for a good Cause and Honour gratis and not for gaine and such as esteem'd it more becoming to die then to be overcome Besides Montrose knew that the greatest part of the old souldiers were gone with Lindsey and the new ones would be so frighted with the shouts of the Armies and the noise of Trumpets that they would scarce stand the first charge Therefore in confidence of so just a cause and so valiant assertors of it he first drew downe his men and immediately the Lord Gordon giving a smart charge upon them was courageously receiv'd by the enemy who trusted to the multitude of their Horse and now being clos'd and come to handy blowes no one could advance a foot but over his vanquished enemy nor retreat by reason of the pressing on of those in the Rear The first that made way for themselves and their men by a great slaughter of their enemies were the two Gordons the Lord and the Colonell and Colonell Nathaniel called out unto those expert Firelocks who now lin'd the Horse as they were wont Come on my fellouw sonldiers throw downe your now uselesse guns draw your swords and sheat them in the Rebells Horse or hamstring them They instantly tooke the word of command and at the same time Montrose drawes up Napier with his Reserve which lay out of sight on the other side of the hill at whose sudden and unexpected coming the enemy afrighted betook himself to his heels Aboine with the left wing kept off nor did hee attempt the enemy but by light skirmishes in small parties who when they saw their own men on their left wing routed and put to flight made their retreat with little losse Their Foot being deserted by their Horse after they had desperately stood out a while and refused quarter were almost all cut off The fall of the Lord Gordon was no little advantage to the escape of their Horse who after the battell was won rushing fiercely into the thickest of them received a shot through his body by the conquered and flying enemy and fell down dead Whom also Aboine did not hotly pursue being much troubled with the losse of his brother In this battell Montrose did not lose so much as one common souldier and of Gentlemen one Culchol and one Milton whose names and families I should most willingly have inserted had I been so happy as to have knowledge of them because they died gallantly in the bed of Honour fighting for their King their Liberty and the Laws Nor are some Pedees as well Scotch as Irish to be forgotten boyes scarce fourteen years of age a piece who throwing down their masters luggage mounting upon their nags sumpter-horse did not onely make a faire appearance of a body of Horse but as if they had bin Corrivalls in valour with their masters beyond what might be expected from their years strength fell in among the thickest of their enemies Of whom some but very few were slain nor did they sell their lives for nothing and by that they gave an ample testimony of their towardnesse and of so manly a spirit in children as might prescribe to riper years But the losse of the Lord Gordon had so deep an impression upon all mens affections that they had the face rather of a defeated then victorious army The first scene of their sorrovv vvas acted in a dull silence in the next the floud-gates vvere broke open and the army vvas full of sighes and sobs and vvailing and lamentation and then vvith bedevved cheeks assoon as their grief could get a tongue they blam'd Heaven and Earth and Fortune and every thing for depriving the King the Kingdome the Age themselves and their posterity
refuge and not hastily to be made use of therefore as vve ought not to tempt Almighty God by our ovvn vvretchlesnesse and negligence so neither ought any valiant man or good Christian despair of his assistance in a just cause Lastly he exhorts every one to do his ovvn part and referre the successe to God and other things to his ovvn care and industry Immediately he sends out four hundred Foot before him and commands them that as much as they possibly could vvithout breaking their ranks they should make all speed Then he appoints two hundred of the activest men he had to follovv them he vvith his Horse brings up the Rear The Horse trooped on in so open order that if occasion vvere they might have room enough to receive light musquetiers He believed the enemies Foot vvere not able to overtake them and if their Horse only should charge them vvhich they vvould hardly adventure to do he conceived it vvas no matter of extream difficulty to make their part good against them besides the Sun vvas ready to set the darknesse of the night vvould be commodious for their retreat The enemy understanding the number of them that vvent avvay first by some prisoners they had taken and after that by their ovvn vievv assoon as they savv they vvere disposed rather for a journey then a battell divide their Forces into tvvo parts and so pursue them Wherein their intention vvas not only to fall upon their Rear and Flank at once but also to secure against them all passages up to the Highlands And their Commanders the more to encourage their Souldiers to a hot pursuit proposed twenty thousand Crownes to any one that could bring in Montrose's head And now the Van of the enemies Horse began to close up unto the retreaters whereupon those good musquetiers that lined Montrose's Horse welcomed one and another and another of the forwardest of them with bullets in their sides with whose mischance the rest becoming more wary abated of the eagernesse of their pursuit And Montrose's souldiers when they saw they had been too hard for the enemies Foot at a march and had got before them taking heart and courage they skirmished stoutly with their Horse untill the night parted the quarrell And to rid themselves some way of the enemy took their way East-ward many miles by the seacoast However that was not their way but to go North-ward toward Grainsbaine and so to deliver themselves from their mischievous Horse But Baily had laid the greatest part of his Army between them and Grainsbaine that there might be no place for theÌ„ to retreat unto Therefore at the dead of the night when they were not far from Aberbroth Montrose commands his men to make a stand a while And long they stood not before he considering with himself that all wayes passages straight into the Mountains might be laid by the enemies Horse he was not mistaken coÌ„mands them to face about and march South-west And by this art though with intolerable pains he beguiled the Pursuers whom that same night he passed by and then turning North-ward by the next morning at Sunrising passed over South-Eske at a place not far from Careston Castle and from thence sent to Brechin to fetch those men which he had there with the Carriages But that had not needed for they upon the report of this expedition had provided for themselves better and more timely and had taken the Mountains Whiles he staid at Careston the Scouts brought him word on a sudden that the enemies Horse were in fight and their Foot being refresh't with victualls and sleep march't after them apace Montrose himself being now within three miles of the Mountains was not much afraid of them but his souldiers who had not slept for three dayes and two nights but had all that while been either on their march or in fight were overcome with so dead sleep that they could hardly be raised without pricks and wounds The enemy being at last entertained with a light skirmish suffered Montrose to possesse himselfe of the bottom of the Mountains and having done nothing to the purpose retreated from their vain pursuit So he and his men came to Gleneske And this was that so much talk'd of Expedition of Dundee infamous indeed for the mistake of the Scouts but as renowned as any for the valour constancy and undaunted resolution of the Generall and even admirable for the hardinesse of the Souldier in encountering all extremities with patience for for threescore miles together they had been often in fight alwayes upon their march without either meat or the least refreshment Which whether forraigne Nations or after times will beleeve I cannot tell but I am sure I deliver nothing but what is most certain of mine own knowledge And truly amongst expert Souldiers and those of eminent note both in England Germany and France I have not seldom heard this Expedition of his preferred before Montrose's greatest victories CHAP. X. ANd now being safe beyond expectation Montrose bids the souldiers take their rest whiles he determines thus of the whole affaire of the war He sends the Lord Cordon together with those that had continued loyall and dutifull after the revolt of his brother Lewis into their own Country both that they might recall those whom his brother had seduced away and recruit themselves by levying new forces Whicâ— he cheerfully and courageously performed and though he spared none yet he was most severe with those that had been authours or accessaries to his brothers defection ad he was the more active in that businesse that he might acquit himself of any suspition Nor indeed did Montrose himself or any other more detest that villany of Lewis Gordon then that noble Lord his brother As for Montrose he with a small party for he kept but five hundred Foot and fifty Horse with him marches through Angus into Perthshire that he might distract the enemy till such time as hee made up his Army with recruits from every side Neither was hee out in his aime for the Covenanters had sent Hurrey the Lieutenant Generall of the Horse with a Command into the North of a party of six hundred old Foot and two hundred Horse that he might strengthen their own side and suppresse the Lord Gordon And Baily himself staid with an Army at Perth as in the very heart of the Kingdome ready to wait upon all motions Montrose was twelve miles off at a village called Kreif where Baily understood he quartered securely with a very small party who being diligent upon all occasions set out from Perth at the beginning of the night with all his Army that by a speedy march he might at break of day fall unexpected into Mâ—ntrose's quarters But hee found Montrose carefull enough of his businesse and his Foot ready in armes either to march or fight buth he with his Horse came up towards the enemy to discover their number and strength And when he