with Montrose's design This Antrim is of Scotish extraction descended of the noble and antient Family of the Mac-Donalds a man of great estate and power in Ireland and allyed to the prime Nobility of England by matching with the Dutchess of Buckingham He being driven out of his own country lived at Oxford and cheerfuâ—ly undertook the negotiation with the Irish upon himself and engaged himself also voluntarily unto Montrose that he would be in Argyle a part of Scotland bordering upon Ireland with ten thousand men by the first of April 1644. this passed in December 1643. And as for forein aids and arms the King sent Sir Iohn Cockeram his Embassadour about it with his Commission and Instructions And directions unto the Marquess of Newcastle were carried by some of Montrose's own company Who receiving the Kings Letters and Commission to be Governour of Scotland and General of the Army there made himself ready for his journey In the interim news came on a suddain that Duke Hamilton with his brother the Earl of Lannerick were posting up to Oxford They that they might make their access easier to the King who had hitherto given ear unto their counsels and to continue or recover the good opinion the King had of them gave out all the way as they came especially unto Governours of Shires and Towns and Commanders of the Army that they were banished their Country that they had been plundered of their estates by the Covenanters for their loyalty to the King and that for safety of their lives with which they had hardly escaped they fled to Oxford But Montrose and those of his mind saw plainly that these were but tales of their own making of purpose to wipe off the suspition of this new guilt and that by this means they in confidence of that esteem they had lately with the King and of a strong faction they drove at Court doubted not but they should stand as fair in his opinion as ever if they were but once admitted into the Kings presence and that the only business they had thither was by defeating Montrose again clearly to extinguish that little spark of Loyalty that was not yet quite out in Scotland And Montrose delivered himself freely that for his part he would never stand by to be witness of so great an oversight and therefore humbly besought the King that he would give him leave to seek his fortune in some forein Country if these men that had deceived him so oft should be received again into favour not that he desired any severity should be used against them only he wished the King might have a care that they should do him no more harm The King was drawn with much adoe that they should be forbidden the Court yet for all that he suffered the Earl of Lannerick to live in the City But he by whose instigations I cannot tell betakes himself from Oxford to London to the Parliament of England and not long after to the Scotch Army which had now entered England and never since hath failed to do them the best service he could The escape of his brother so much moved the King that he saw it high time to secure the Duke himself There were several Scots in the Kings Court and Army who were suspected and perhaps not without reason to favour the Covenanters too much and to give intelligence unto them of the Kings Counsels Montrose that he might put these to the touch took this course He got a protestation to be drawn up by the Kings authority unto which all Scots who would have the reputation of honest men were to set their hands Wherein they professed themselves heartily to detest the courses of the Covenanters condemned especially the bringing in of an Army into England against the King and the Laws of the Land as an Act of high treason promised and vowed to acquit themselves of that scandal and to the utmost of their power with the hazard of their lives and fortunes to oppose those that were guilty of that crime This Protestation all men of honour and honesty readily took but there were two in whom the King trusted most of all Scotch-men next to the Hamiltons to wit the Earl of Trequaire and Master William Murray of the Bed-chamber who were difficulty brought unto it at last with much reluctancy and fear of being discovered traitours yet even they engaged themselves by a solemn Oath at a certain day to be aiding and assisting unto Montrose in Scotland which Oath of theirs afterward they most unworthily violated This being done and Montrose on his journey from Oxford towards Scotland those that were the Hamiltons creatures and other false-hearted Courtiers began to blast the Honour of Montrose to call him a vain and ambitious man who had attempted an impossible thing to extol above measure the power of the Covenanters and that they might deterr every one from engaging himself in so noble an exploit gave out every where most maliciously that no good was ever to be expected from Montrose He being little troubled with the calumnies of unworthy men came forward to York and so to Durham where he sees that the Kings Instructions be sent to the Marquesse of Newcastle and the next day they met and conferred Newcastle discours'd of nothing but the distresses and necessities of his Army how the Rebel Scots breaking in in the midst of winter had spoyled his Recruits and that now in farr greater numbers than he they quartered within five miles of him that he could not possibly spare any Horse without a manifest hazard to the whole Atmy Montrose urged on the other side that nothing could doe Newcastle more service than to let him have a party of Horse in which he was very strong with him into Scotland that so he might either divert or at least divide the enemy and by kindling a fire in their own houses fetch them home again to defend themselves Newcastle courteously replyed that assoon as he had wound himself out of that present danger he would not be wanting in any service to Montrose which promise there is no doubt but a person of so much Honour and Loyaltie would most surely have performed had he continued any while in the Command of those parts In the mean time all that he could do for the present was to afford him about one hundred Horse but lean ones and ill accourred which was not the Generals fault but some mens private spleen with two brasse Field-pieces Moreover he sent his Orders unto the Kings Officers and Commanders in Cumberland and Westmerland that they should give Montrose all the succour and assistance they could make for his journey into Scotland Montrose going towards Carlisle was accordingly met by the Cumberland and Westmerland men consisting of eight hundred Foot and three troops of Horse who according to the Marquesse of Newcastles Command were to wait upon him into Scotland Montrose himself brought with him two hundred Horse most of
The Compleat HISTORY OF THE WARRS IN SCOTLAND Under the Conduct of the Illustrious and truly-valiant IAMES Marquesse OF MONTROSE General for his Majestie CHARLS 1st in that Kingdome TOGETHER VVith a brief Character of Him AS ALSO A True Relation of his Forein Negotiations Landing Defeat Apprehension Tryal and deplorable Death in the time of CHARLS 2d Now newly Corrected and Enlarged by an Eye-witnesse of all the fore-mentioned passages Printed in the Year 1660. Iaques Marquis deMontrose Counte de Kingcairne Seigneir de Graeme Baron du Mount dieus etc A Paris P Pontius sculpsit To the Reader THere are a few things of which I would not have them ignorant who shall chance to peruse this short History whereof some concern the Lord Marquesse of Montrose whose Actions in his Country for two years space are here published and others have relation to the Author of this work And first of all I desire thee to take notice that Montrose is the Chief of that antient and famous Family of the Grahams and is called in old Scotish Graham-more the great Graham He derives his Pedegree from that famous Graham in the Histories of Scotland who was Son-in-law to Fergus the second King of the Scots and was the first that with the assistance of his Father-in law cast down that Trench which Severus had made and set out for the utmost limit of the Roman Empire between the Scotish Frith and the River of Cluid at such a place where Great Brittain was narrowest and by that means cut the power of the Romans shorter Whence it happens that some evident remains of that Trench retain his name amongst the Inhabitants to this day who call it Gremesdike The same Graham from whom this noble Family took its rise surviving his Father-in-law Fergus and being a man as able for Civil as Military employment was made Protector unto his Nephew and Regent of the Kingdome and after he had fetched back the Doctors of the Christian Faith who had been banished by the late Wars and settled as well the Church as State with excellent Laws freely resigned the Government into the hands of his Nephew when he came to age He flourished in the time of the Emperours Arcadius and Honorius about the year of our Lord CCCC From whom hath descended in a fair and straight line a long and noble row of Posterity who imitating the virtue of their Ancestors have been famous in the succeeding generations Amongst whom that valiant Graham was eminent who with the help of Dumbarre so seasonably rescued his Country from the Danes who were then Masters of England and had frequently but with little success invaded Scotland with mighty Armies And in after times that noble Iohn Graham came nothing behind his Ancestors in virtue and honour who after the death of Alexander the Third in that vacation of the Kingdome while Bruce and Bailiol disputed their Titles was with that renowned Vice-roy William Walley a stout maintainer of his Countries Liberty against the unjust oppression and tyranny of Edward King of England and after many heroical exploits fighting valiantly for his Nation dyed in the bed of Honour His Tomb is yet to be seen in a Chapel which hath the name of Falkirk from the aforesaid Gremesdike by which it stands Adjoyning unto which the Marquesse of Montrose hath large and plentifull possessions descended by inheritance unto him from that first Graham But lest I should seem to derive the Nobility of so illustrious a Worthies extraction only out of the rubbish of dusty and obscure Antiquity I must not omit that his Grandfather the Earl of Montrose was advanced unto places of the greatest honour in that Kingdome and discharged them most happily For being Lord Chancellour of Scotland at such time as King James the Sixth of blessed memory came to the Crown of England he was created by him Vice-roy of Scotland and enjoyed that highest Honour which a Subject is capable of with the love and good affection both of King and People to the day of his death And his Father was a man of singular endowments both of body and mind and so known to be both in forein Countries and at home who after he had performed many most honourable Embassages for King James was called to be Lord President of the Session by King Charles and being snatched away from his Country and all good men by an untimely death was extremely lamented and missed And what we may think or hope of the Grand child I leave unto thee to judge by what he hath done already seeing he is yet now a year and a half after his employment in his Country scarce entred upon the 36. year of his age One thing more I must add three Periods already have been very dangerous and almost fatal to the Kingdome of Scotland the first by the oppression of the Romans whose yoke our Ancestors cast off by the Conduct of that first Graham descended of the noble British Family of the Fulgentii The second by the Danes the repulse of whom is owing especially to the prowesse of the second Graham aforesaid And the third by the English and Normans whom the third Graham twice expelled out of Scotland and gave them many and great defeats So that as it was of old spoken of the Scipioes in Africk it seems the name of Graham is something fatal to their enemies and lucky to their Country at a dead lift and that it was not without the special provideuce of God Almighty that in these worst times One stood up who did his best endeavours to maintain the Kings just Rights and Authority the Peace Safety and Liberty of the Subjects and the Honour and antient splendor of his House And this is all I thought good at this time to premise concerning the Lord Marquess of Montrose For the Author of the Book take it briefly thus He professeth himself to have been but little conversant in these sort of studies and expecteth neither credit or commendation for the strength of his wit which he acknowledgeth to be little or none nor reward or profit for his pains which two things are the chiefest incentives to most to wet their pen but that he undertook the businesse meerly out of a desire to propagate the truth to other Nations and to posterity For he saw by late and lamentable experience in such a cause as this that prosperous Villany can find more Advocates than down-cast Truth and Goodnesse For when the same Confederates in both Kingdomes had by their own arts that is by lying and slandering ruined the Church to fill their bags with its Revenews so sacrilegiously purloyned and enrich their posterity with plentifull Anathemaes and accursed things there wanted no store of men that extolled them for it to the skies as men deserving highly from their Country from the Church it self and from all mankind and reviled with all sort of reproaches and contumelies the most religious servants of God holy Martyrs
and being himself out of gun-shot stand spectatour of other mens valour and well too At the break of day Montrose ordered his men as he intended to fight and the enemy were as forward to doe the like For they did not yet think that Montrose was there as some prisoners afterwards confessed but some Collonel or Captain of his with a party only of his forces When the Sun was up on the second of February which is Candelmass day a trumpet sounding struck no small terrour into the enemy For besides that attumpet shewed they had Horse with them and therefore was a sound with which those parts were little acquainted it discovered also that Montrose himself was there Neverthelesse the prime of the Campbells that 's the sirname of Argyle's family being gallant men and stout and deserving to fight under a better Chieftain in a better cause cheerfully begin the battell But their souldiers that were in the Front having only once discharged their muskets and Montrose's men pressing on fiercely to come to the dint of sword began to run Whom they raising a great shout so eagerly pursued that as it were at one assault they routed them all and had the killing of them with a most horrible slaughter for nine miles together Of the enemy were slain fifteen hundred among whom were very many Gentlemen of the Campbells who were chief men of the family and of good account in their country who fighting but too valiantly for their Chieftain had deaths answerable to their names and fell in Campobelli in the Field of War I cannot say the bed of Honour Their fortune Montrose extremely lamented and saved as many of them as he was able taking them into his protection whiles Argyle himself being gotten into a boat and rowed a little way off the shore securely look'd on whiles his kindred and souldiers were knockt on the head Some Colonels and Captains that Argyle had brought thither out of the Low-lands fled into the Castle whom when the Castle was surrendred and quarter was given unto them Montrose used curteously and after he had done them several good offices of humanity and charity freely let them depart In this fight Montrose had many wounded but none slain saving three private souldiers but the joy of this great victory was much abated by the wounds of that truly honourable Sir Thomas Ogilby Son to the Earl of Airley of which after a few days he dyed He was one of Montrose's dearest friends one who had done very good service for the King in England under the Command of his Father-in-law the Lord Ruthien Earl of Forth and Branceforde a man known all the world over for his noble archievements Nor was he lesse a scholar than a souldier being a new ornament to the family of the Ogilbies whose honourable deaths-wounds for his King and Country had no small influence upon that days victory Montrose being very much afflicted with the losse of him causeth his body to be carried into Athole where he was interred with as sumptuous a funeral as that place and those times could afford But the power of the Campbells in the Highlands which for these many ages past hath been formidable to their neighbours was by this overthrow clearly broken to pieces and by it also a way opened unto Montrose to doe his businesse the more easily thence forward For the Highlanders being warlike men and let loose from the hated tyranny of Argyle now began to offer themselves willingly unto the Kings service CHAP. IX THe souldier who was almost spent with this sore travell having refreshed himself for a few dayes Montrose measuring over again Logh-Aber hills returneth to Logh-Nesse And from thence viewing by the way the coasts of Harrick Arne and Narne came to the river of Spey Here he is told that there was no small party of the enemy at Elgin which is the chief town of Murray a Country beyond the Spey Montrose hies towards these either to draw them to his side or to suppresse them but the very report of his advancing blew away that cloud for they in great amazement shifted for themselves every one whither he could Montrose neverthelesse goes on his march and takes in Elgin by surrender on the fourteenth day of February At which time the Lord Gordon eldest Sonne to the Marquesse of Huntley a man who can never be sufficiently commended for his excellent endowments came off openly to the Kings side from his Uncle by whom he had been detained against his will and with not many but very choise friends and clients voluntarily did his duty and offered his service to Montrose as the Kings Deputy and Vicegerent Montrose first welcomed him with all civility and gave him many thanks afterwards when he came to understand him more inwardly joyned him unto himself in the entirest bonds of friendship and affection Now because the inhabitants of Murray were extremely addicted to the Covenanters they hid themselves in their lurking places nor were any supplies to be expected from men so maliciously disposed Therfore he drew his Forces to this side the Spey to raise the Countries of Bamph and Abordeen by the presence example and authority of the Lord Gordon So having got together what forces he could in those places with two thousand Foot and two hundred Horse passing the river of Dee he came into Marne and encamped not farre from Fethercarne At Breichin some seven miles from thence Sir John Hurrey a stout man and an active and famous also in forein parts for Military exploits being General of the Horse for the Covenanters had the Command over the whole Forces there He came out with six hundred Horse to discover the strength of Montrose he conceived Montrose had but very few Foot and no Horse and if he should but descend into the plain he made account to make short work with him and howsoever it should happen he made no question but to secure himself Montrose to draw him on hid the rest of his men in a bottome and made shew only of his two hundred Horse but lined them as he used with his nimblest Musquetiers Which Horse when Hurrey saw and observed they were so few he drew up his men and charged But when he perceived too late the Foot that ran close after Montrose's Horse he sounded a retreat and Hurrey himself turning his men before him behaved himself stoutly in the rear When they turned their backs Montrose's souldiers drive on let fly and lay about them untill being got over the river of Eske the enemy scarce safe under the protection of Night betook themselves to shelter nor did they think themselves secure till after a race of four and twenty miles long they came to Dundee Then they that had pursued them so far returned to Fethercarne and thence the next day to Breichin Here Montrose understood that Baily a Commander of great account had been fetched out of England to be General of the enemies Forces that Hurrey
greater confidence she reposed in Hamilton and his brother Montrose seeing no good was to be done with the Queen goes to Glocester and declares all things to the King himself How there was a powerfull Army to be raised in Scotland and a day appointed on which it should be brought into England how their counsels were manifestly known unto him and how to fetch him over to their side they had offered him very honourable commands in the Army but that he heartily detesting so horrid an employment had sled to his Majesty that he having notice thereof if he were not able to provide so timely and powerful a remedy as could be wished at least might cast some blocks and rubs in their way untill such time as he had setled his affairs in England that the Traitours of either Kingdome might be easily dealt withall by themselves but if they came once to joyn their forces they would be hardly supprest that there were very many in Scotland who would sacrifice themselves and all that they had for their dearest King whose good will would be of no use unto his Majesty after the Covenanters had raised their Army but destructive unto themselves that the haughty spirits of the Traitors were to be sneap't in time and their strength broken before it grew too big lest the beginnings being neglected repentance should prove the only opposition that could be made afterward These things and to this effect did Montrose continually presse unto the King but in vain for he had not only the strong and deeply-rooted confidence his Majesty had of the Hamiltons to struggle with but the devices of a set of desperate Courtiers beside who daily buzzed in the Kings eares Montrose's youth his rashnesse his ambition the envy and hatred he bare unto the Hamiltons and what not and on the other side the Hamiltons fidelity their honesty their discretion their power Thus Monrose nothing prevails and the King returns to his winter-quarters at Oxford And although his Majesty saw very well reports comming thick and threefold of the Scotish Army that all was true that Montrose had told him yet the most religious King determined upon no terms to give any occasion of quarrell to the Scots till first they entered England resolving that he for his part would perfectly observe the articles of Pacification he had made with them which if they should violate he doubted not but they should highly answer it both to God and him While these things were discussed at Oxford the Covenanters in Scotland bring their businesse about according to their desires no one opposing them They raise as big an Army as they can which consisted of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse and at last when they had marched unto the very borders the Hamiltons were not ashamed to give the King notice by Letters of the approach of that formidable Army making this their excuse that according to their engagement they had prevented an invasion the summer before but now that winter was come on they were able to keep them out no longer but they would come in immediately with a powerfull Army The King when he saw himself thus grosly abused sends for Montrose shews him the Hamiltons Letters and at last when it was even too late askes his advice what was best to be done Montrose tells him that his Majestry might now see that what he had before given him notice of had neither proceeded from ambition nor malice nor any self-ends but from his bounden duty and allegiance that for above a twelve-month he had been continually pressing both their Majesties to prevent this that he accounted himself very unhappy that all that while so faithfull a servant could not be credited by so good a Master that the case seemed now desperate but if the King had a mind he might trust them again who by pretence of his authority had bound some of his friends hands that they could not assist him and drawn in others who intended nothing lesse under colour of Loyalty to fight against him and given up unto the Rebells now that they had got an Army all that they had without striking a stroke The King complaining that he was most abominably betrayed by them with whom he had entrusted his Crown his Honour his Secrets his Life earnestly demanded his advice He repeating again the lamentablenesse of the condition in which things now stood neverthelesse offered that if his Majesty so thought good he would either lose his life which if he did he would be sure it should seem rather sold then lost or else which he did only not despair he would reduce his Country-men and bring the Rebels there into subjection The King being no little pleased with the confidence undauntednesse and gallantry of the man that he might more advisedly contrive his design desired him to take two or three dayes to consider of it and so dismist him Montrose returning at the time appointed shews his Majesty how desperate an adventure he was undertaking that all Scotland was under the Covenanters command that they had Garrisoned all places of strength that they were plentifully provided both of men and mony and armes and ammunition and victuall and all things necessary for a Warr that the English Rebells were joyned with them in a most strict Covenant to defend one another against all the world But for his own part he had nothing to set up with neither men nor arms or pay yet he would not distrust Gods Assistance in a righteous cause and if the King would lay his Commands upon him he would undertake to do his best The King should be in no worse case than he was He himself would take what malice envy or danger should fail upon himself so that his Majesty were graciously pleased to condescend to a few reasonable requests And first that the business might go on more successively it seemed to him very necessary that the King should send some Souldiers out of Ireland into the West of Scotland Next that he should give order to the Marquesse of Newcastle who was the General of the Kings forces towards Scotland that he should assist Montrose with a party of horse to enter the South of Scotland by which means he might convey himself into the heart of the Kingdome Then that he should deal with the King of Denmark for some troops of German horse And lastly that his Majesty should take some course to procure and transport some arms out of some forein country into Scotland nothing needed more but humane industry the success was Gods part and to be referred to his providence The King commending his counsel and giving him thanks that he apprehended some life in the business encourageth him to fit himself cheerfully for so great a work and wished him to leave the care of those things he had requested unto him And truly for the matter of aid out of Ireland the King sends for the Earl of Antrim and acquaints him
them Noblemen and Gentlemen and such as had been Captains either in Germany France or England With which small forces not over-trusty neither he entered Scotland on the 13 of April for he made the more haste lest he should have been absent at the time appointed by the Earl of Antrim CHAP. IV. MOntrose having entred Scotland had come to the river of Anan when upon a mutiny among the English occasioned by Richard Grahams Souldiers almost all of them flie their Colours and in all haste run back to England Notwithstanding he with his own men came to Dunfrise and took the Town into protection upon surrender and there he staid a while that he might be ready to entertain Antrim and his Irish but the day appointed being already pass'd there came not so much as a Messenger from them nor the least report of them into Scotland And the Covenanters gathering themselves together on every side there was no staying there any longer for Montrose without being suprised therefore he returns safe to Carlisle with his men And seeing he could neither procure any aid from the English nor expected any Foreiners suddenly nor had scarce any hopes of good from Ireland and found that the Earl of Calendar had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Lesley who had by this time together with the English Covenanters besieged York he resolved lest he should spend his time idlely to engage himself among the Kings Forces in Northumberland and the Bishoprick nor was that resolution either unprofitable to them or dishonourable to himself For having ferreted a Garrison of the Covnanters out of the town of Morpet he took in the Castle permitted all the pillage unto the English and taking an Oath of them that had held it that they should never more fight against the King he sent them away without any greater punishment He took a Fort at the mouth of the river of Tine from the Covenanters who had not long before turned out an English Garrison from thence and dismist the prisoners upon the same terms with those of Morpet He plentifully victualled Newcastle with corn brought from Alnwick and other places thereabouts When this was done he was sent for by Letters from Prince Rupert Count Palatine of Rhine who was then comming to raise the siege of York And although he made all the haste he could yet he met not the Prince till he was upon his retreat the day after that unfortunate battell And truly the Prince freely offered Montrose a thousand Horse to take along with him into Scotland but some that were too powerfull with him dealt so with the good Prince that the next day after that promise was made there was not one horse to be had All things thus failing Montrose from which he expected any assistance yet his spirit never sailed him therefore returning to Carlisle with those few but faithfull and gallant men that stuck close to him he sends away the Lord Ogilby and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in mean disguise lest they should be discovered by the enemy Within a fortnight they returned and brought word that all things in Scotland were desperate all Passes Castles Towns possessed with Garrisons of the Covenanters nor could they find any one so hardy as to dare to speak reverently or affectionately of the King Most of those who had adhered to Montrose all this while being cast down with this sad news bethought themselves of bending their courses some other way especially when they were tampered with by that honest man the Earl of Traquair to desert the service who forgetting all his vowes and imprecations he had made before the King undertook in the name of the Covenanters not only for Indemnity to all that should fall off unto them but rewardes and preferments too as if he had been all this while an Agent for the Rebels and not for the King as he pretended And yet this man was greater in the Kings favour and more confided in than any one except the Hamiltons Montrose calling his friends to counsell desires them to deliver their opinions what they conceived was fittest to be done in this sad face of things Some advise him to repair to the King at Oxford and certifie him that his Scotch Affairs were past recovery that Antrim came not with his Irish forces nor was there any appearance of them that little or no assistance had been obtained from the English and as for Armes or aid from Forein parts he had not so much as heard a word of them so that it was none of his fault that his service had no better successe Others were of opinion that it was better for him to excuse himself by Letters unto the King and to send up his Commission along with them and that he himself should step a while aside into some other Countrey till such time as it should please God to send better opportunities But all agreed in this that nothing more was to be attempted or thought of in Scotland But he himself only entertained farr other thoughts in his high and undaunted spirit He conceived himself bound never to forsake his dearest Lord the King though in extremest hazards and that it was an unworthinesse to despair of so good a cause and if he should attempt some greater matter than came within the reach or apprehension of common men he conjectured it might prove much to his own Honour and something perhaps to the Kings good too For as it was dubious whether it might please God in his mercy to look upon the King with a more favourable eye and to turn his adversity into prosperity so it was most certain that if he should not be able to goe thorough with it but perish in the enterprise he should die with Honour and his fall should be much lamented So resolved and commending himself and his successe to the disposal and protection of Almighty God he performed such Adventures without men without money without arms as were not only to the astonishment of us that were present and were eye and ear witnesses of them but also the example and envy both of all great Commanders hereafter What those were we shall declare by and by Montrose delivers those few Gentlemen that had been constant unto him to the Lord Ogilby to be conducted unto the King for as he had communicated all his former designs unto him so he did this also and conjureth him withall to deal earnestly with his Majesty for hastening of some aid if not of Men yet of Arms at least from beyond Seas So he accompanying them two dayes on their journey and leaving with them his Horses his Servants and his Carriages conveyed himself privily away from them and with what speed he could came back to Carlisle The company suspecting nothing of his departure because Ogilby and other his dearest friends were still with them marched on straight towards Oxford but thither they never reached for most of them
and Trequaire and confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity and industry no question was to be made Moreover that he should make haste towards the Tweed where he should meet a party of Horse which the King would instantly dispatch out of England to be commanded by him with whom he might safely give battel to David Lesley if as was suspected he marched that way with the Covenanters Horse All this the respective bearers unanimously delivered and his most excellent Majesty being over-credulous signified by his Expresses And Montrose being now over-born with the Kings absolute Commands takes up his resolution to march to the side of Tweed But the day before he went the Souldiers being drawn up to a Rendezvouz before that Mac-donald and the Highlanders were gone Sir Robert spotswood making an humble obeysance under the Kings Standard delivered his Majesties Commission under the Great Seal unto Montrose which he again gave unto Archibald Primrose Clerk of the Supreme Councill to be read aloud That being ended in a short but stately Oration he commended the valour and Loyalty of the Souldiers and the great affection he bore them And for Mac-donald he not only extoll'd his gallantry in the head of the Army but by vertue of that authority that he had received from the King gave him the honour of Knighthood For not only Montrose but all the Kings friends were confident of the integrity of the man whose good opinion he deceiv'd not only to the undoing of the Kings cause but the utter ruine of himself and his friend Montrose following his intended journey came the second night to Calder Castle at which time the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not only his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces whom he had inveighled to desert the service Nor would he be perswaded either by reason or the intreaty of his friends who heartily detested that shameful act to stay but so much as one week and then he might depart not only with the Generals licence but with honour and the good esteem of honest men Seeing it would be no better Montrose passing by Edinburgh led his small Army through Lothianshire and in Strathgale joyned with Douglasse and the other Commanders whose Forces being much diminished were dayly mouldring more and more In that coast Traquaire himself came unto him more chearful and merry than he used to be who pretended himself to be a most faithful Servant not only to his Majesty but also to Montrose and the next day sent him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant party of Horse as if they were to be under his command that by so likely a pledge he might make Montrose more secure and so more easily ruine him For this was not the first time that Traquaire plaid the Covenanters Scout-Master that ungratefullest piece of mankind intending to betray unto them Montrose and in him the King himself Now when he was not above twelve miles from the Lords Hume and Roxburgh and they sent not so much as a Messenger to him nor offered him the smallest courtesie Montrose being much troubled at it resolved to march into their Territories and to bring them in either by fair means or foul But they prevented him by a singular device They sent unto David Lesley whom they well knew by that time was come to Berwick with all the Scotch Horse and many English Voluntiers for they were privy to all their counsels and intreated him to send a party and carry them away in the condition of prisoners which he did the day before Montrose came thither For by this means that crafty old fox Roxburgh who had Hume under his girdle conceiv'd that they might both ingratiate themselves with the Covenanters as freely committing themselves into their Protection and yet keep in the Kings favour whiles they made as if they fell into Lesley's hands sore against their wills And this being Lesley's first noble exploit he passed over Tweed and marched into the East-side of Lothian Montrose assoon as he perceived the King and himself betray'd by these men and saw no hopes of that party of Horse which was come from the King and that the too powerful enemy would block up his passage into the North and Highlands resolved to march with those few men he had into Niddisdale and Anandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could For although he had no certain intelligence concerning the strength of the enemy yet he conjectured that it consisted especially in Horse CHAP. XVI MOntrose arising from Kelsoe marched to Jedburgh and so to Selkirk where he quartered his Horse in a Village and his Foot in a wood close by For he was resolved to make sure of all advantages of ground lest he should be forced to fight with an enemy of whose strength he knew nothing upon uneven terms Then he commands the Captains of Horse to set out good store of faithful and active Scouts and to place Horse-guards in convenient places on every side and look well to their watch All which he in person as he used to do could not see done at present because that night he was dispatching letters to the King and to send away a trusty messenger that he had light upon before break of day therefore he was earrest with them to have the more care lest the enemy who were very strong in Horse should surprise them unawares And the Commanders promising all care and diligence he was so taken up with writing of Letters that he slept not all that night And sending ever and anon to the Captains of Guards men that were skilful Souldiers and so known to be in Forein Countries such uncertain noises as were brought unto him of the enemies approach they being deceiv'd either by the negligence of their Scouts or their own misfortune very confidently sent him back word there was no enemy in those parts nor in the Country thereabouts At the break of day some of the best Horse and most accquainted with the Country were sent out again to Scout they also brought word they had been ten miles about and diligently examined all by-ways and rashly wisht damnation to themselvs if they could find an enemy in arms within ten miles But afterward it appeared when it was too late that the enemy with all their Forces were then scarce four miles from Selkirk and had lain there all that night in their arms Lesley that day that Montrose departed from Jedburgh mustered his men upon Gladesmore a plain in Lothianshire where holding a councill of War with the chief of the Covenanters the result was that he should march to Edinburgh and so to the Forth that he might hinder Montrose's retreat into the North and force him to fight whether he would or no before he joyned with his Highlanders But Lesley contrary to that resolution gives order on a sudden to his whole
Forces to wheel to the left hand and to march away apace every one wondering that knew not the mystery of the businesse what should be the meaning of that change of his resolution and his intention in that sudden expedition for they marched straight to Strathgale But the matter was as they afterward gathered from the enemies themselvs he had received letters by which he had perfect notice that Montrose being attended only with five hundred Foot and those Irish and a very weak party of new-rais'd Horse might very easily be surprised on the borders of Tweed if Lesley would make use of that opportunity was offered him to do his businesse Therefore Lesley upon this intelligence made haste thither and as I said lodg'd within four miles of Selkirk That Traquaire sent those letters unto Lesley although it was the generall report I cannot certainly affirm but it cannot be denied that that same night he sent his Commands to his son the Lord Linton that he should immediately withdraw himself from the Royal party which with much joâ—lity he did This was like themselves being the ungratefullest of all men deserting their King of whom none had better deserved and staining their posterity And truly that morning being very misty gave no small advantage to the treachery of the enemy whom at last Montrose's frighted Scouts discovered to march towards him in a full body at such time as they were not above half a mile off Montrose mounting the first Horse he could light on gallops into the field appointed for the Rendezvouz that morning where he finds a great deal of noise but no order The Cavalry being little acquainted with their duty and lying already disperst in their quarters where they dream'd more of bairing their horses than maintaining their lives and honours upon the first alarm which they received from the enemies Trumpet ran disorderly up and down they knew not whither but never came in the fight Yet there were a few and those were for the most part Noble men or Knights who made all speed thither and gallantly undertook to make good the right wing and they were not above six scored â—n all Nor did the Foot who were about five hundred make a good appearance for many of them looking about their private businesses among the Carriages by that unseasonable care of saving lost themselves and all they had And which spoiled the matter which was bad enough before most of the Commanders were absent and never came in the field Besides the enemy comming on speedily left them no time for deliberation The enemy therefore who were six thousand whereof most were Horse out of England furiously charging Montrose's right wing were twice gallantly received and repulsed with no small losse Nor could they make that noble Troop give any ground or break thorow it untill at last laying along those few foot that withstood them they broke in upon the left flank where ther was no horse By this two thousand Horse whom the enemy had sent over to the other side of the river were gotten on the Rear of those noble Gentlemen who lest being hemm'd in on every side and gall'd with the enemies shot at distance they should fall for nothing and unreveng'd withdrew themselves every one the best way he could But the Foot who could have little security by flight fighting a good while stoutly and resolutely at last upon quarter ask'd and given for their lives threw down their arms and yeelded themselvs prisoners Every one of whom being naked and unarm'd without any regard to quarter given Lesley caused to be most unhumanely butcher'd The stain of which perfidious cruelty by which he hath so filthily blurr'd his honour if eany he got in forein service he shall never be abl to wipe away As for those that escaped out of the battell the enemy pursued them no further being busie in plundring the Carriages where they made a lamentable slaughter of Women Pedees and Cook-boys no pitty was shown to sex nor age they went to the pot all together The number of the slain is not easie to be given almost no Horse and very few Foot besides those that yeelded themselvs and had quarter fell in that battell which may appear by this that they were no more then five hundred in all and before the next day two hundred and fifty of them came safe to Montrose all of them with their swords by their sides so that there could not be as many more missing and very few were taken prisoners and not until their horses being tired and themselvs ignorant of the way they became a prey to the country people Whom they forgetting all the benefits and protection they had but newly received from Montrose to do the Covenanters a favour delivered up unto their cruell enemies to be made by them acceptable sacrifices to Baal-Berith the god of the Covenant For all that the Rebell conquerours missed of the Kings Standards The one of them which was carried before the Foot was preserved by an Irish souldier a stout man and of a present spirit when others were almost beside themselves who when he saw that the enemy had got the day stript it off the staff and wrapped it about his body and being oherwise naked made his way with his drawn sword through the thickest of the enemy and brought it to Montrose at night Whom he received into his Lifeguard and gave it him to carry in token of his valour and loyalty And the other of them William Hie brother to the Earl of Kinoule a hopefull young Gentleman who succeeded his Uncle by the mothers side Douglasse Son to the Earl of Morton who having receiv'd many and grievous wounds at the battell of Alford was rendred unable for that burden stript from off the staff too and carried it away with him And conveighing himself into the borders of England skulked there a while till the coast was a little clearer about Tweed and then through by-ways and night-journeys for the most part being accompanied and conducted by his faithfull friend Robert Toures a stout man and a good souldier who had been a Captain in France a good while agoe returned in the North and presented that same Royal Standard unto the General And now at last Montrose when he saw his men totally routed and put to flight which he never saw before thought of nothing more for a good space than to die honourably and not unrevenged therefore rallying about thirty Horse whom he had gathered up in that confusion he resolved by fair and honourable death to prevent his falling alive into the enemies hands And seeing he was not able to break thorow the enemies Troops who stood thick round about him he gall'd them on the Front and Rear and Flanks and of such as were so hardy as to adventure out of their ranks many he slew others he beat back But when all that he could do would not do his businesse as God would have it this
his main drift to unite them Several meetings were appointed to this purpose but all in vain neither could any industry prevail to make an agreement so inveterate was their malice each to other so jealous were they one of anothers proceedings This variance made a long demur in that expedition which was far sooner intended The causes of which were partly set down in the beginning of the Historie and partly hatched by the Duke himself who looking as he was a man very ambitious of honour upon all the Marquesses actions with a squint eye fretted much that there was any within the same kingdome who so farr surpassed him in gallantrie and esteem nor could he brook that any one should possesse the Kings ear so much as he and for these reasons he employed his utmost endeavours in defeating all Montrose's enterprises But his Brothers known disservices and bad successe together with his own neglect or ill managing of businesse at Strivling bridge much retarded and obscured his claym to the Kings favour in the particular he sought for And to speak impartially the Marquesses worth and experience was such that it did easily sway the ballance in an indifferent mans judgement even though the other two had been thrown in to make up the weight The Marquesse having against his will spent a great deal of time in these disputes departed at last from Holland and travell'd up into Germanie and so to Austria The Emperour who in his late warrs against the Swede hath been very unsuccessfull hearing of his arrivall invited him to his Court and amongst many other honours conferr'd upon him freely proferr'd him the Command of ten thousand men which should be a standing Army constantly to be recruited With free power to engage at his own discretion without receiving orders from any but the Emperoâ—r himself Which charge the Marquesse being willing to accept and about to receive yet rather that he might if it were possible advance that cause which he had in hand than for any desire of honour he was prevented by that happy peace concluded betwixt the Emperour the Swedes which all who love the Common good of Christendome wish to be lasting and perpetual Being from thence very honourably dismiss'd he addresses himself to the Dukes of Brandeburg and Holsteyn from the last of which he receiv'd those ships which were kept a great while at Amsterdam to no purpose being three or four very fair vessels and well mann'd Which Prince would have willingly contributed more to that service but that he perceiv'd that which he had before given to be so misemployed wherein both he and the Marquesse were grossly abus'd as in the ensuing relation shall appear Great were the promises which had been made to the Marquesse by many other Princes but they proved very slack in the performance so that the assistance which was so generally expected proved nothing else but a meer formalitie complement But the season of the year being now fit for action he resolves with what speed he can to call together those he could get and to that purpose removes to Hamburgh from whence he might have a convenient passage to the Northern Isles of Scotland But ere we further proceed it will not be imperrinent to our purpose to take a slender view of that kingdom whither this expedition was intended and of the condition wherin it then was Scotland was then in a reasonable posture of quiet for the old grudges by taking away the heads of factions wherof some had suffer'd after Philip Haugh and others were detained Prisoners in England were tak'd up for a while And a certain number of Horse and Foot modell'd into an Army was muster'd and dispos'd of in several places of the Kingdom to prevent any forein invasion or homebred insurrection which might happen These were commanded by David Lesley Colonel Mountgomery Colonel Straughan c. being in all fifteen hundred Horse and three thousand Foot commanded by Lieut. General Holborn This handful did at that time over-awe and keep under the discontented party though far more powerful For besides those which had been disbanded by the Earl of Lanerick and Major General Munroe at the bridge of Striveling there flock'd dayly out of England great companies of those who had escaped out of prison who finding their estates Sequestered and feiz'd upon and withall most tyrannically proceeded against by the hot-spirited Ministery desired nothing more than an oportunity of revenge Besides these he had a considerable number of his own name and faction in the North. The Gordons the Athole-men who if he had not been crush'd at his first entry would certainly have assisted him This condition of the Kingdom made the Marquess appear like a prodigious Mereor hanging over their heads which awak'd those who sat at the helm of the State whom it did indeed most concern to endeavour the defeating of his attempts both at home and abroad For this purpose was there a solemn Message dispatch'd to the Prince then Resident at the Hague whom presently upon the news of his Fathers death they proclam'd King inviting him home upon certain conditions which were publish'd in this Kingdom and need not therefore be inserted In the mean time the Marquess who had now gathered together a company of gallant Gentlemen as well English as Scots makes all possible haste dispatches Colonel John Ogilby to Amsterdam to entertain such strangers as might be for his purpose But he forgeting his Commission bestowed both moneys and pains in entertaining himself suffering those who upon any terms would have engaged to shift for themselves There being a great number who had fled out of England and more who had lately deserted the French or been cashier'd from the Hollanders service Thus were these goodly Vessels sufficiently provided for service lost by his neglect and a limb of the design broken There hapned about this time another business which did much retard the Marquesses affairs Colonel Cochran who had been dispatched Commissioner into Poland to the Scotish Merchants there to require their assistance having procured very considerable sums of money upon that score and other provision for the furthering of that expedition dispos'd of the mony for his own uses made sale of the corn and provision together with the Vessel which was provided for the transportation of it and did himself turn tail to the quarrel This was another disappointment General King likewise whom the Marquess expected out of Sweden with a considerable party of Horse either could not be ready so soon as was expected or else delayed the time of purpose But the Marquess as is supposed feating lest he should have an express command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt the Prince and the Scotish Commissioners was now very near a conclusion did precipitate himself those that were with him into a most inevitable ruine Now all those great leavies and aydes Those mighty preparations for the invasion of a kingdome
up unto the Camp if he would but be pleased to draw that way with never so small a party of his forces And so it would come to passe that not only their friends and clients but the whole Country being animated with his presence and authority would cheerfully take up armes as one man and if they stood out they might be compelled or a course taken with them Therefore they earnestly besought him to afford them his assistance in this and in all the rest he should find them his most faithfull and ready servants These were fair words and at first hearing seemed to carry an honest meaning along with them but were promised with that kind of faith that the Creatures and Favourites of the too indulgent King are used to keep And perhaps upon that score the Earl of Lanerick Duke Hamiltons Brother is more to be commended whom Montrose having earnestly sollicited by friends to come off to the Kings side although that way he might very likely expect his pardon for what was past and the releasement of his Brother yet without any dissimulation he gave this peremptory answer That he would have nothing to do with that side and that he would never pretend that friendship which he intended not to preserve And I would to God all they on whom the good King has too much relied had delivered themselves with the same candor and plain dealing ever since the beginning of these troubles About the same time Montrose sent the Marquesse of Douglasse and the Lord Ogilby over into Anandale and Niddisdale that there with the assistance of the Earls of Anandale and Hartfield they might list as many Souldiers Horse especially as they could And gives them orders withall to march with such as they should so raise towards Trequaire Roxborough and Hume that they might engage them without any further put-offs in an association with them For Montrose understood a little what Court-holy-water meant and therefore was something suspitious of the delayes which they fram'd the rather having had some experience of their cunning and slipperynesse especially of Trequaires And truly Douglasse by the chearful endeavours of the Earls of Anandale and Hartfield had quickly raised a considerable party if one count them by the head but they were new men taken from their plows and flocks and but raw Souldiers forward enough at the first charge but by and by their hearts fail them and they can by no means be kept to their colours When Douglasse and the rest of the Commanders considered this they write again and again to Montrose that he would make haste after them with his old Souldiers towards Tweed for by his presence and authority and the company and example of the old Souldiers they might be brought either willingly or whether they would or no to know their duties In the mean time according to his command they goe on to Strathgale freely offering an opportunity and their service if it needed to Roxborough and Trequair to draw out their men more easily and timely But they good men who well enough understood the secretest counsels of the Covenanters and knew that all their Horse would be there immediately out of England under the command of David Lesley intended nothing more than to over-reach the King with their old tricks and to deliver Montrose whose glory they envied into the hands of his enemies though not by arms for that they could not yet by treachery To that end they insinuate again and again not only unto Douglasse and his party but to Montrose himself by their friends and frequent messengers that for their parts they were ready to expose their persons to the utmost hazard but they could never be able to draw together their friends clients and Trained bands except they were animated and encouraged with Montrose his presence And that they might be the better believed they curse themselves to the pit of Hell if they did not stand stifly and unalterably to their promise Montrose notwithstanding was not taken with all this but staid still at Bothwell conceiving that if there were any truth or honesty in their words Douglasse and his party who still lay in the Countrey adjacent would be sufficient for the rasing and encouraging of their friends and dependents At length when Montrose had quartered a great while at Bothwell most of the Highlanders being loaden with spoil ran privily away from their colours and returned home Presently after their very Commanders desired Furloghs for a little while pretending that the enemy had not an Army in the field within the borders of that Kingdome and therefore their service for the present might well be spared besides they complained that their Houses and Corn in and with which their parents wives children were to be sustained that winter were fired by the enemy and no provision made for them so that they humbly desired to be excused for a few weeks in which they might take care to secure their families from hunger and cold Also they solemnly and voluntarily engaged their words that they would return many more than they went and much refreshed within forty dayes These Montrose seeing he could not hold them as being Voluntiers and fighting without pay that he might the more engage them thought fit to dismisse them not only with Licences but Commissions And giving publick commendations to the Souldiers and thanks in his Majesties name to the Commanders exhorting them to follow their business closely and vigorously he appoints Alexander Mac-donald their Countryman and Kinsman who was but too ambitious of that employment to be their Companion and Guide who should bring them back to the Camp by the day appointed Who in a set speech gave thanks in all their names to the Lord Governour for his so noble favour and as if he had been their Bail or Surety with a solemn Oath undertook for their sudden return yet he never saw Montrose after Nor was he contented to carry away with him the whole Forces of the Highlanders who were more than three thousand stout men but he privily drew away sixscore of the best Irish as if forsooth he had pick'd them out for his Life-guard About this very time many messengers came several wayes to Bothwell from the King at Oxford Amongst whom one was Andrew Sandilands a Scotch-man but bred in England and entred into holy Orders there a very upright man faithful to the King and much respected by Montrose who continued constantly with him unto the end of the War Another was Sir Robert Spotswood once the most deserving President of the highest Court in Scotland and now his Majesties Secretary for that Kingdom who passed from Oxford through Wales into Anglesey and thence getting a passage into Loghaber came into Athole and was conducted by the men of Athole unto Montrose Almost all the Agents that came brought this Instruction amongst the rest That it was his Majesties pleasure that he should joyn unto himself the Earls of Roxburgh