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
case of their grievances which they pretended and the security of their persons and estates than all his Ancestors the Kings of England together from William the Conqueror downward Therefore at last that he might withdraw himself and his family from present danger he is forced sore against his mind to depart London He sends the Queen out of the way into Holland for the safety of her life and betakes himself to York The States of Parliament as they call themselves forthwith and before the King take up arms and divert those very Forces which the King had appointed for Ireland which were then in a readinesse and whose Officers had been of the Parliaments chusing hoping by them to overthrow the King himself The Rebels in Scotland who knew well enough the King would have strength sufficient to deal with the English Rebels resolved upon no terms to be wanting to their confederates in so apparent danger as they were And although our most gracious King had given them satisfaction as much as ever they could desire in that Parliament at Edinburgh aforesaid which also they have recorded among their publique Acts neverthelesse they provide themselves for a march into England Now that they might the better secure their affairs at home they labour tooth and nail to draw Montrose of whom almost only they were afraid again to their side They offer him of their own accord the office of Lieutenant General in the Army and what ever else he could desire and they bestow He seeing a mighty storm hovering over the Kings head that he might give him an account of it whereby it might be timely prevented undertakes a journey into England taking the Lord Ogilby into his counsel and company At Newcastle he receives news that the Queen being newly returned out of Holland was landed at Birdlington in Yorkeshire thither he makes haste and relates unto the Queen all things in order She having had a rough passage and being not well recovered from the distempers at Sea told him shee would advise further with him about that businesse after they came to York Thither being come the Queen of her own accord calls for Montrose he opens the whole story over again and makes it appear that there was no lesse danger from the Scotch than from the English Covenanters if they were not timely suppressed And being asked his opinion what was best to be done answered To resist force with force told her the King wanted not Subjects in Scotland faithful men and stout nor did they want hearts or wealth or power to oppose against the Covenanters if they durst enterprise any thing against the King all that they wanted was the Kings Commission without which they durst doe nothing with which any thing and all the danger that was was in delay That the Covenanters when they had once got their Army on foot would be able to grind any one to pieces that should offer to stir therefore the beginnings of so great an evill were to be withstood and the cockatrice bruised in the egg that Physick being too late that comes when the disease hath over-ran the whole body Wholesome counsel it was and seasonable which doubtlesse the most prudent Queen had approved of But while things were going on in so good a posture all things were quash'd by the comming of the Duke Hamilton out of Scotland upon pretence of kissing the Queens hand and gratulating her happy return but in very deed that he might overthrow Montrose his counsels for he had posted thither with the knowledge and consent of the Covenanters Nor did he himself dissemble that there was some danger from the Scotish Covenanters but he laboured to extenuate it and condemned the Counsell of Montrose as rash unadvised and unseasonable That stout and Warlike Nation was not to be reduced with force and arms but with gentlenesse and courtesies Warr especially Civil Warr should be the last remedy and used many times to be repented of even by the Conquerours The fortune of Warr was uncertain if the King should get the best it would be but a sorry triumph he could enjoy over his own Subjects but if he had the worst on 't he must expect what his soul good man abhorred to speak All means were to be tryed to preserve peace with that Nation nor were things yet come to that passe that the King should despair of amity and reconciliation with them He would be ready to take the whole businesse upon himself if the King pleased to commit it to his pains and trust and to authorise him sussiciently thereunto Montrose replyed Nothing would come of that but the delay of time untill the Traitors having raised an Army should prevent the King of any means to deliver himself and his party from their tyranny The sad event proved all this to be too true but in this debate Montrose was fain to suffer himself to be overborn being not so great a Courtier as the other nor were those vertues which the world now admires discovered then unto the Queen Hamilton returning into Scotland seemed to be as Active for the King as was possible The Covenanters mean while by their own authority contrary to the known Laws of the Kingdome summon a Parliament at Edinburgh which all understanding men that wished well unto the King foresaw would be of very dangerous consequence to his affairs and therefore abhorred it so much that they intended not to honour it with their presence But Hamilton interposing the name and authority of the King invited them by his Letters that they would not fail to be all there and that they should not doubt but they would be able to out-vote the Covenanters if at this time they were not wanting to the Kings cause And if it should happen otherwise he would be ready with his friends to protest against the Covenanters and immediately to leave them Abundance of the Nobility incited by the name of the King and those hopes were present at that Parliament only Montrose and a few of his adherents staid away And with Montrose too the Duke had dealt by his friends that as he loved and honoured the King he would joyn himself unto them But he who had reason to suspect all motions that came that way answered That he was ready to grapple with any difficulty especially under his command who had so great an honour as to be the Kings supreme Commissioner only on this condition that the Duke should engage his honour that if they could not bring up that Parliament to righteous things he would endeavour to inforce them by the dint of the sword He answered He would protest he would not fight Which passage considered Montrose to preserve his integrity expecting the issue betook himself to his own home In that Parliament the Covenanters out-voted the Loyal party by seventy voices or thereabouts trampled upon the Royal authority arrogated unto themselves the power of calling of Parliaments pressing Souldiers sending Embassadours
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
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
and Confessors for withstanding them And therefore he might well imagine that these men who by the same devises laboured to render his Majesty himself odious and so to destroy Him to enjoy his Honours and Revenues so traiterously and perfidiously purloyned would easily find men who should out of the like railing humor bespatter as much as in them lay this most excellent man and all his honourable atchievments and as it is said of wasps poyson with their tongues or pens the juice of most sweet and wholesome flowers and leave the lesse knowing or lesse wary to suck it up He was therefore pleased to offer this short and faithful Narrative as a seasonable antidote against that evill to all that loved truth and plain de aling of which he would needs be so obstinate a maintainre that although he saw well enough how much envy and hatred it would derive upon himself he resolved he would neither basely flatter any one nor lap up that truth which they would not like to bear in obscure and doubtfull Expressions For he professes that as he is a Free-man born and bred so he will never part with his Freedome till with his life And although he be ambitious of no other commendable quality of a good Historian neither of wit nor art nor eloquence yet he seems to challenge in his own right the honour of sincere and exact truth for the defence and propagation whereof he hath set at nought all that was dear in this world having been thrice plundered of all that he had thrice imprisoned in a nasty and filthy Fail and now the third time lives in banishment for the Truths sake Yet he is merry and chearfull that being conscious to himself of no wrong as towards men he is counted worthy of the Lord to suffer these things for Truths and Righteousnesse sake And thou good Reader make much of him at least for his truths sake excuse him for other things and Farewell ON THE Death of the Noble and Valiant Marquess of Montross NOr shall He sleep nor can His valour lie Rak'd in His ashes to Eternity His glories shall out-blaze each puny plot Of th' accurst Rebel and the perjur'd Scot That Slavish Kirk too late now wish indeed Their guilt wash'd off with their high-swelling Tweed Too late alas that generous blood shall be A brand on their despis'd Posterity Brave Soul whose learn'd sword's point could strain Rare lines upon thy murther'd Soveraign Thy self hast grav'd thine Epitaph beyond Th' impressions of a pointed Diamond Thy prowess and Thy Loyalty shall burn In pure bright flames from Thy renowned Um Clear as the beams of Heav'n Thy cruel Fare Scaffold and Gibbet shall Thy Fame dilate That when in after ages Death shall bid A man go home and die upon his Bed He shall reply to Death I scorn 't be gone Meet me at th' Place of Execution Ther 's glory in the Scandal of the Cross Let me be Hang'd for so fell stout MOMTROSS T. F The affairs of the King in SCOTLAND under the Conduct of the most Honourable James Marquesse of Montrose Earl of Kinkardin c. And General Governour for His Majesty in that Kingdome In the Years 1644 1645 1646. SOmetime James Marquesse of Montrose sided with the Covenanters in Scotland and very forwardly bestowed his unhappily happy endeavours in their behoof They pretended to nothing then lesse than the preservation of Religion the Honour and Dignity of the King the Laws of the Land and the freedome of that antient Realm so happily so valiantly defended in time of yore from such powerfull enemies as the Romans Saxons Danes Normans by the sweat and bloud with the lives and estates of their Ancestours And the tales they made they never wanted fitting instruments to tell and spread among the people It was given out that there was nothing more in the aim of the Court of England than that that free people being reduced to a kind of Province should be eternally enflaved under the power of their old enemies Yet all this while they engaged themselves by their publique attestations and even a solemn Oath that they would never go to work by force and armes nor sollicite the King any other way than by Petition That he would be pleased graciously to accept the supplications of his humblest Subjects and to take order that his dearest Country should suffer nothing in matter of Religion or the Liberty of the Subject But at last in the year 1639. Montrose found out that these fair tales were coyn'd of purpose to steal the hearts of the silly and superstitious multitude and to alienate them from the King as an enemy to Religion and Liberty For the Covenanters did not dissemble to him but spoke out that Scotland had been too long governed by Kings nor could it ever be well with them as long as one Stuart that 's the sirname of the Kings family in Scotland was alive and in the extirpation of them they were first to strike at the head so that Montrose easily perceived the Kings Majesty and Person was levelled at Therefore vehemently detesting so horrible a crime he resolved to desert the Conspirators side to frustrate their counsels to impoverish their store to weaken their strength and with all his might to preserve His Majesty and His Authority entire and inviolate But because between force and craft the Covenanters had drawn in almost all the Kingdom to their side he saw himself alone too weak to check their power and therefore thought not good to open himself too suddainly or rashly Amongst them he had many friends men very considerable as well in regard of their numerous retinues and clients as of their wealth and authority these he had a mind to draw off from them and bring them with him to the King and by this means conceived he should be able to gather no small power which would conduce much both to the Kings safety and his own Mean time the Covenanters raise a strong Army against the King and in a solemn Convention at Duns they determine to invade England Montrose was absent then Which resolution of theirs the chief of the Covenanters had taken up in their cabinet counsels more than six weeks before and to that purpose had been busie in divulging through all Great Britain their Apologetical Pamphlets whereby they laboured to set a good glosse upon the reasons of their Expedition This resolution of theirs Montrose being returned seeing he could not binder would not seem to disapprove Montrose commanded in this Army two thousand foot and five hundred horse his friends who were most obliged unto him and had religiously promised their best endeavours in the Kings service had the command of five thousand more And truly if a great part of them had not been worse than their words they had either brought the whole Army along with them to the King or at least had broken the neck of the Covenanters designs When the
Army came to the river of Tweed which is the border of the two Kingdomes dice were cast amongst the Noblemen and Commanders and it was Montrose's chance to passe first over the river which he cheerfully performed on his feet his own foot Souldiers following him that he might more easily conceal his own resolution and take off all occasion of suspition For as well his authority in the Army as the integrity of his noble spirit began to be looked on with a jealous eye by the guilty-conscienced Rebels so that they diligently observed all his behaviour words and deeds After this marching over the river of Tine four miles above Newcastle by the treachery of the English Commanders who had retreated to York with a potent Army of the Kings the Scots possesse themselves of that Town and thereupon Commissioners being appointed on either side to treat of a Peace a Truce was presently made In the time of this Truce Montrose had sent Letters unto the King professing his fidelity and most dutifull and ready obedience to his Majesty Nor did the Letters contain any thing else These being stoln away in the night and coppied out by the Kings own Bed-chambermen men most endeared to the King of all the world were sent back by them to the Covenanters at Newcastle and it was the fashion with those very men to communicate unto the Covenanters from day to day the Kings most secret counsels of which they themselves only were either authors or partakers And some of the forwarder sort of the Rebels were not ashamed to tax Montrose bitterly enough with those Letters and although they durst not make an open quarrel of it or call him publiquely to account because he was so powerfull and well-beloved in the Army yet they loaded him with backbitings and slanders among the people For they had obliged unto themselves most of the Preachers throughout the Kingdome whose mercenary tongues they made use of to wind and turn the minds of the people which way they would Nor did they promote their Rebellion more effectually any other way nor do yet than this to have those doughty Orators in their popular preachments to rail bittorly against the King and all his Loyal Subjects as the enemies of Christ as they love to speak being themselves the while the very shame and scandal of Christianity Montrose returning into Scotland and thinking of nothing but how to preserve his Majesty from that storm of Rebellion hanging over his head at last resolved of this course He joyns many of the prime men for Nobility and Power in a League with himself in which they vowed to defend the Kings Majesty and all his royal privileges and antient and lawful Prerogatives with the hazard of their lives and estates against all his enemies as well home-bred as forein unto the last breath in their bodies And truly it came to that passe that there had been an open division in the Army which was his aim had not some for fear levity or cowardise which are bad keepers of counsel betrayed the whole businesse to the Covenanters Hence arose no small stirs and brauls but were pacified again in a while for neither yet durst they offer any open violence to Montrose But afterward the confederates having given a new oath made sure the Army at their devotion and joyning themselves to the Parliament of England in a strict Covenant although they saw themselves secure enough from the subtilest designs of any private man yet they seriously consult how they should take Montrose out of the way whose heroick spirit being fixt on high and honourable howsoever difficult atchievements they could not endure To make their way therefore unto so villanous an act by the assistance of some Courtiers whom with gifts and promises they had corrupted they understood that the King had written Letters to Montrose and that they were quilted in the saddle of the bearer one Stuart belonging to the Earl of Traquair The bearer was scarce entered the borders of Scotland but they apprehended him rip his saddle and find the Letters There was nothing at all written in them which did not become the best of Kings to command the best of Subjects to obey Neverthelesse those most exact crafts-masters in the arts of Lying and Slandering sent about horrible and tragical reports by their apt Ministers that at last all the Kings plots with Montrose for the overthrow of Religion and the ruine of the Kingdome were found out and discovered Nor yet neither durst they afford him a publique tryal but on a suddain when he suspected nothing thrust him with Napier Lord of Marthiststen and Sir Sterling Keir Knight two both of his neer kindred and intimate familars into the castle of Edinburgh At length a Pacification being made between the people of both Kingdomes between whom there had been no War only they laid their heads together against their most just and gracious King a Parliament was called at Edinburgh where the King in person was present Montrose desires most earnestly to be tryed before the King and that solemn Assembly but to no purpose for the Covenanters being conscious enough of his innocency and their own guilt applyed their special endeavours to detain the Gentleman in prison unheard untill such time as the King was got out of Scotland and they had concluded all things with the King in Parliament according to their hearts desire And certainly they were much afraid lest by his wisdome and courage and the esteem he was in as well with his Peers of the Nobility as with the people he should have fetch'd off the greatest number of either sort to his own resolution for the preservation of his Majesties Power and Authority At last the King returning into England Montrose and his friends are set at liberty and because it was ordered in Parliament that he should not come into conference with the King he sat still a while at his own house This was towards the end of the year 1641. CHAP. II. IN the year 1642. the Covenanters of both Kingdomes began to unmask themselves and let us see more plainly what they meant to do The Rebels in England began to vex the King with unjust unreasonable unseasonable Petitions and Complaints bespatter him with malicious slanders prophane his sacred Name in scurrilous Songs and Ballads vilifie him in infamous Libels Pasquils or Pamphlets raise Tumults arm great numbers of the scum and rascally sort of the people and engage them upon the Kings palace in a word threaten all extremity to him and his whom although he might have justly punished himself yet he chose rather to refer them to the Parliament that he might the more oblige it unto himself But it was to no end for so gracious a King to gratifie that and many things more to so ungracious so ingrateful men who were the very Authors and Abettors of these villanies For he had already granted more and greater Graces to his Subjects for the
and other things hitherto unattempted without the Kings knowledge or consent And to make up the measure of their presumption and treason ordain that a powerfull Army shall be raised against the King and in the aid of their confederates of England To which purpose they tax the people with new Subsidies and Levies much heavier than if all the Impositions which upon never so much necessity for two thousand years space by one hundred and nine Kings have been charged upon them were put together Montrose therefore who saw the King was like to be ruined by his own authority and saw too that he was too weak to oppose himself both against the strength of the Covenanters and the Kings abused Commission in a melancholy mood made as if he took no notice of any thing And the Covenanters supposing he had received some distaste from the King by reason of the affront he received at York and Hamiltons over-powring him they set upon him yet again privately and by friends to see if by intreaty or interest they could draw him to their side offering him Authority and wealth even the greatest honour Civil and Military Which offers he did not seem much to slight that by that means he might have an easier way to dive into their counsels The Covenanters that this growing friendship might be the better cemented and sanctified God blesse us send unto him that great Apostle of their Covenant Alexander Henderson who should give him full satisfaction in all his scruples Montrose heartily desired to speak with that fellow out of whom he doubted not to pump all the secrets of the Covenanters and lest a private meeting with such a man should give a scandal to the Kings friends he took the Lords Napier and Ogilby and Sir Sterling Keer to be witnesses of the discourse and on the bank of the river Forth not far from Sterling they met Montrose made as though he accounted himself very happy and much honoured in the visit of so worthy a man upon whose faith honesty and judgement he so much relyed Told him That to give the ill opinion of his Enemies leave to breath it self after some late mistakes he was content to stay at home that he knew nothing of what was done in Parliament that he was almost at a losse how to behave himself in that ticklish condition the Commonwealth stood and therefore beseeched him for old acquaintance sake to let him freely knew what they intended Henderson taking it for granted by these expressions that he was wheeling about towards the Covenanters that he might the more oblige the Marquesse unto him answered him flatly and without more adoe That it was resolved to send as strong an Army as they could raise in aid of their brethren of England against the Kings forces that the Covenanters of both Kingdomes had unanimously agreed upon this either to dye or bring the King to their lure that nothing could fall out more happily than that he should renew his friendship with his Peers of the Nobility and the rest of the Kingdome that so doing he would give great content to all men besides the honour and profit that would redound to himself that by his example others if others there were that idolized the empty shadow of the Kings name would joyn themselves unto the Covenanters and for his own part he would give most hearty thanks unto his Lord God that he had vouchsafed to make use of him as the Minister and ever Mediatour of so great a work and at last entreated him to speak out his mind and commit all such things to his care and industry as he should desire from the Parliament either in relation to his honour or profit assuring him he should be satisfied to his hearts desire Montrose having gotten out the knowledge of those things which he eagerly sought for now bethought himself how he should keep Henderson and his party in suspence a while that they should not get within him For what answer could he give them If he should professe himself to be against their courses that would doe the King no good and might bring a great deal of danger upon himself and on the other side to put them in greater hopes of him by promising those things he never meant to perform he scorned as being a stain unto his honour Therefore he takes this course there was present at that conference with Henderson one Sir Iames Rollock Chief of a very antient and flourishing family his former wife had been Montrose his Sister after whose death he married the Sister of the Marquesse of Argyle the ring-leader of the Covenanters in Scotland thus being allied unto them both he seemed to be a very fit mediator of friendship between them Montrose askes him whether those things which had passed between them proceeded from the direction of the Parliament or out of their own good wills He answered He conceived that Master Henderson had received Commission from the Parliament to that purpose But Henderson said no but he made no question but the Parliament would make good any thing that he promised Montrose told them he could resolve upon nothing except he had the Publique faith to build upon especially the messengers disagreeing between themselves Whereupon as the fashion is on such occasions one of them layes the blame upon the other when both of them ought rather to have condemned their own carelesnesse and negligence The conference being thus ended Montrose having obtained his ends and they being no wiser than they came thither every own went his own way CHAP. III Montrose being returned from this Conference related all things as they had passed unto some select friends whom he could safely trust and withall entreated them that for the greater confirmation of the businesse they would all go along with him to the King that his Majesty receiving a full account of all things might lend his ear to sound counsell and yet if it was possible provide a remedy against so threatning evills Most of them were of opinion That the King and his authority were utterly ruined and irrecoverable that it was a thing passing the power of man to reduce that Kingdom to obediance that for their parts they had acquitted themselves before God and the World and their own consciences 〈…〉 with the disgrace of their persons the losse of their estates and the hazard of their lives they had continued in their allegiance hereafter they would be only brokers on and Petitioners unto Almighty God for better times Montrose who could by no means be removed from so honest a resolution communicating his counsell to the Lord Ogilby whom of all men he especially loved goes straight to Oxford The King was absent thence being gone to the siege of Glocester he imparts unto the Queen what designs the Scotish Covenanters had against his Majesty but he had as good have said nothing for she had determined not to believe a word by reason of the far
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
was loath to engage those few gallant men again whose Horses were spent already in two sharp services with the enemy who was reinforced with fresh Foot Therefore observing the enemies Horse not yet rallied since their new rout and standing at a sufficient distance from their Foot he rode about among his own Foot who had been sore galled already with the enemies Ordnance and bespeaks them to this effect We do no good my fellow souldiers while we dispute the matter at thus much distance except we cloze up with them how shall we know an able man from a weak a valiant man from a coward If ye would assail these timorous and brawnelesse shrimps with handy-blows they will never be able to stand you Goe to therefore fall about them with your swords and but-ends of your muskets beat them down drive them back and make them pay what is justly due for their treason and rebellion It was no sooner said than they fall to work break in upon the enemy defeat them rout them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster than they whom the Conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they scap'd scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Victors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's men came in thronging amongst them through the gates and posterns and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought four hours upon such equal terms that it was an even lay whether had the odds At this Battell Montrose had some great Guns but they were unserviceable because all advantages of ground were possessed by the enemy but the enemies Guns made no small havock of his men Among others there was an Irishman that had his legg shot off with a Cannon bullet only it hung by a little skin he seeing his fellow-souldiers something sad at his mischance with a loud and cheerfull voyce cryes out Come on my Comrades this is but the fortune of Warr and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Do you stand to it as becomes you and as for me I am sure my Lord Marquesse seeing I can no longer serve on foot will mount me on horse-back So drawing out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his own hand and gave his legg to one of his fellow souldiers to bury And truly when he was well again and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdeen on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entred the City and allowed them two dayes rest CHAP. VII IN the mean time news was brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces than those they dealt with last the Earle of Lothian accompanying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aberdeen to Kintor a Village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependents of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollock to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out of England or some place else That he had fought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not be expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with great and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out alwayes without timely relief Still nothing troubled Montrose more than that none of the Gordons of whom he conceived great hopes came in unto him And there wanted not some of them who testified their great affection to the service but that Huntley the chief of the Family being a back-friend to Montrose had with-held them all either by his own example or private directions and that himself being forced ro sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdome envied that honour to another of which he had missed himself and had forbidden even with threats all those with whom he had any power to have any thing to do with Montrose or to assist him either with their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnesses where he knew the enemies horse wherein their great strength consisted could do them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the justice of his cause and the valour of his souldiers he made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogg and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And comming to the side of the river Spey not farr from an old castle called Rothmurk he incamped there with an Army if one respect the number but very small but it was an expert and cheerfull one and now also something accquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he finds the men of Cathnes and Suderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in arms to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his back Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himself from their Horse the turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scarce passable for Horse There for certain dayes he was very sick which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordain a day of publique Thankesgiving to Almighty God for that great deliverance Nor were their Levites you may be sure backward in that employment in their Pulpits for as if they had been of counsell at the Decree and stood by at the execution they assured the people that it was as true as Gospel that the Lord of Hostes had slain Montrose with his own hands But this joy did not last them long for he recovered in a short space and as if he had been risen from the dead he frighted his enemies much more than he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donald with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up arms with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himself goes into Angus hoping it might happen that he should either force Argyle with his tyred Horse unto his Winter quarters or at least leave him far enough behind him For Argyle had pursued him slowly and at such distance that it was apparent he thought of nothing lesse than of giving him battail Therefore going through Angus and getting over the Grainsbain which going along with a continued ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equal parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome
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
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
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
men had deserted him in upper Marre as a Prologue to the ensuing Tragedy had beheaded three stout and gallant Gentlemen The first was Sir William Rollock one of whom we have had often occasion to make honourable mention a valiant and expert man dear unto Montrose from a Child and faithful unto him to his last breath The chief of his Crimes was That he would not pollute his hands with a most abominable murder For being sent from Montrose with an express to the King after the battel of Aberdeen he was taken prisoner by the Enemy and was condemned unto death which he had not escaped except for fear of death he had harkened unto Argyle who most unworthily set a price upon Montroses head and promised great rewards honours and preferments to whomsoever should bring it in and had taken upon himself to commit that Treason which he abhorred with all his soul By which shift having his life and liberty given him he returned straight to Montrose and discovered all unto him beseeching him to be more careful of himself for not he only who heartily detested so high a villany but many more had been offered great matters most of whom would use their best endeavours to dispatch him The next was Alexander Ogilby of whom we also spake before eldest Son to Sir John Ogilby of Innerwharite descended of an antient Family and much renowned in the Scotish Chronicles He was but yet a youth scarce twenty but valiant above his age and of a present and daring spirit Nor can I hear or so much as conjecture what they had to lay to his charge but that new and unheard-of Treason to wit his bounden duty and loyalty to his King But there was no help for 't but Argyle must needs sacrifice that hopeful youth if it had been for nothing but his names sake for he bare an implacable fewd to the Ogilbies The third was Sir Philip Nesbit of on antient Family also and chief of it next his Father who had done honourable service in the Kings Army in England and had the command of a Regiment there Nor can I discover any reason they had to put him to death neither besides that which is used when they have nothing else to say that mad charge of the new High Treason except it was that their guilty consciences suggested unto them that that couragious and vigilant man might take occasion some time hereafter to be even with them for the horrid injuries they had done his Father and his Family However these men suffered a Noble death with patience and constancy as became honest men and good Christians And unto these there are two brave Irish Gentlemen that deserve to be joined Colonel O-Chaen and Colonel Laghlin odious unto the Rebels only for this impardonable crime that they had had many experiments of their courage and gallantry These Irish Gentlemen were murdered indeed at Edinbourgh but many more were doom'd to the like execution at Glascow had not Montrose's unexpected approch within a few miles of the City had so much influence that it repriev'd them till another time The Lord Governor was very much perplexed with the news of these mens death and it was a question whether he was more vext at the cruelty of the Rebels or the negligence if not treachery of his friends For besides Huntley whose Forces he had so long in vain expected to come with his Son Aboine Mac-donald also himself of whom he entertained an exceeding good opinion being often sent unto and invited also by the nearness of the place although the time appointed by himself was already past and gone made no appearance of his approach Six weeks had now passed since Aboine had engaged himself for the Northern Forces and the Winter than which our age never saw sharper was already deeply entred Besides the aids that the King had sent under the Command of the Lord Digby were defeated all which might easily have been salved and the Kingdom reduced again if those great Professors of Loyalty had not plaid fast and loose in that good Cause Therefore at last on the 20. of November Montrose deâ—arting from Levin and passing over the Mountains of Taich now covered with deep snow through woods and loghes whose names I do not at this time well remember crossing also through Strath-Erne and over the Tay returned into Athole There he met Captain Ogilby and Captain Nesbit whom he had formerly sent with the Kings instructions unto Huntley And they bring word the man was obstinate and inflexible who would believe nothing that they said and when they unfolded unto him the Kings Commands answered scornfully That he understood all the Kings business better than they or the Governor himself and neither he nor any of his children should have any thing to do with him Moreover he sharply and threatningly reproved his friends and clients who had willingly assisted Montrose and dealt worse with them than with Rebels Nevertheless the Lord Governor thought best to take no notice of any of these things but bear with them and whiles he treats with the Athole-men for the setling of the Militia of that Country he sends again unto Huntley by Sir John Dalyel as a more fit Mediator of friendship Who was to inform him of the danger the King and Kingdom was in and so of the present misery that hung over his and all faithful Subjects heads and to make it appear unto him that it was no ones but his and his sons fault both that they had not brought in the supplies into Scotland which the King had sent and that the prisoners who were gallant and faithful men had been so cruelly butchered and that yet there were many more remaining that had near relations to Huntley himself and some also of the prime Nobility whom the Rebels would cut off after the same fashion unless they were now at last relieved And lastly to pray and beseech him that at least he would grant the Kings Governor the favour of a friendly conference promising he would give him abundant satisfaction Huntley although he answered Dalyel in all things according ro his wonted peevishness yet he was most of all averse to a Conference as fearing seeing he should have nothing to answer to his Arguments and Reasons the Presence the Confidence and the Wisdom of so excellent a Man But Montrose as soon as things were setled in Athole that he might leave nothing unattempted that might possibly bring him to better thoughts resolved dissembling all injuries and obliging him by all good offices to surprize him and be friends with him whether he would or no and to treat with him concerning all things that concerned His Majesties service Therefore in the month of December he forced his way very hardly thorow Rivers and Brooks that were frozen indeed but not so hard as to bear mens weight over the tops of Hills and craggy Rocks in a deep Snow and passing through Angus and over Gransbaine