stood but now lies on the ground Here a brave young gentleman Sir Thomas Ogilby Son to the Earl of Airley with others of the Gentry of Angus met him and readily offered him their service whom he curteously entertained and sent them a way with thanks they pretending they only went to fit themselves for a march neverthelesse few of them returned besides the Ogilbies Next morning by break of-day before the Revellier was beat there was a great tumult in the Camp the Souldiers ran to their armes and sell to be wild and raging Montrose guessing that it was some falling out between the Highlanders and the Irish thrust himself amongst the thickest of them there he finds a horrible murther newly committed for the noble Lord Kilpont lay there basely slain The murtherer was a retainer of his own one Stuart whom he had treated with much friendship and familiarity in somuch that that same night they lay both in a bed It is reported that the base slave bad a plot to dispatch Montrose and in regard of the great power he had with Kilpontin he conceived he might draw him in to be accessary to the villany therefore taking him aside into a private place he had discovered unto him his intentions which the Nobleman highly detested as was meet whereupon the murtherer fearing he would discover him assaulted him unawares and stabbed him with many wounds who little suspected any harm from his friend and creature The treacherous assassine by killing a Centinel escaped none being able to pursue him it being so dark that they could scarce see the ends of their Pikes Some say the traitor was hired by the Covenanters to do this others only that he was promised a reward if he did it Howsoever it was this is most certain that he is very high in their favour unto this very day and that Argyle immediately advanced him though he was no souldier to great commands in his Army Montrose was very much troubled with the losse of this Nobleman his dear friend and one that had deserved very well both from the King and himself a man famous for Arts and arms and honesty being a good Philosopher a good Divine a good Lawyer a good Souldier a good Subject and a good man And embracing the breathlesse body again and again with sighes and teares he delivers it to his sorrowfull friends and servants to be carried to his parents to receive its funeral Obsequies as became the splendor of that honourable Family With the rest of his Forces Montrose marcheth to Dundee the Town being proud of the number of its inhabitants and having a Garrison out of Eife beside refused to submit And he thinking it no wisdome to hazard the honour he had gotten by his late victory upon the doubtful successe of a siege turns away toward Esk for he hoped that many of his friends and kindred being men of greatest note in those parts and who used to talk as highly what they would do for the King as any others would be ready to joyn with him But they having news of his approach withdrew themselves only the Lord Ogilby Earl of Airley a man of threescore years old with his two Sons Sir Thomas and Sir David and some of his friends and clients men of experienced resolutions joyned himself unto him and with admirable constancy he went along with him through all fortunes unto the very end of the War being in that almost universal defection the other honour and ornament of the Nobility of Scotland besides Montrose While Montrose was hereabouts he receives intelligence that some Commissioners from the Covenanters of whom the Lord Burghly was the principal lay at Aberdene with an Army and laboured to assure unto themselves the Northern parts upon which Montrose especially relyed either by fair means or foul He determines to fight these immediately before Argyle could come up to them therefore with long marches he hies thither and possessing himself of the bridge upon the river of Dee and drawing near the City he found the enemy drawn up close beside it Burghley commanded two thousand Foot and five hundred Horse whom he placed in wings and having chosen his ground and planted his great Guns before his men he expected battel Montrose had fifteen hundred Foot for the Lord Kilponts souldiers were gone to convey their Lords dead body to his parents and most of the Athole-men after the victory of Perth were gone home from whence they were not farr laden with spoil and just four and forty Horse of whom he made two divisions and mixing amongst them the best fire-men and Archers that he had who in nimblenesse and swiftnesse of body were almost as good as Horsemen placed them on either wing to prevent the falling of the enimies horse upon his rear which they performed most gallantly beyond the opinion or perhaps the belief of many He gave the command of the right flank to James Hay and Nathaniel Gordon and of the left to Sir William Rollock all valiant men The left wing of the enemy was commanded by Lewis Gordon Son to the Marquesse of Huntley a bold young man and hot spirited but hair brain'd and one that had forced out his fathers friends and clients to fight with Montrose against their wills He having gotten the plain and most commodious ground for fighting on horse-back charged Montrose's right flank which when he perceived he commanded Rollock with his twenty Horse to their aid and they being backed with the gallantry of their Commanders and the activity and stoutnesse of the Foot amongst them received the charge with so much hardinesse that they four and forty beat back full three hundred of the enemy routing all and killing very many But because they were so few they durst not follow the chase which was forborn by the great prudence of the Commanders and proved to be of great consequence towards the obtaining of the victory for the enemy charged Montrose's left Flank which had no Horse with their right Wing of Horse Montrose therefore in a trice now that Lewis Gordon and his men were fled conveighs the same Horse to the left Flank who seeing they were not able to draw themselves into a Body like the enemies fetch'd a compasse about and so escaped their first charge then neatly wheeling about they fell upon the Flank of the enemy and with their naked swords beat and cut and vanquisht and put them to flight They took prisoners one Forbes of Kragevar a Knight of great esteem with the enemy and another Forbes of Boindle Those that retreated got safe away because that so few could not safely pursue them They that commanded the enemies Horse were not so much frighted with their losse as vexed with the disgrace of a double repulse therfore imputing their defeat to those light firelocks that were mixed with Montroses Horse they themselves call for Foot-men out of their main Body intending to return with greater courage Montrose suspected that and
return to Strathbogy where he intended to make some stay both because the cragginesse of the Countrey was a good security to his Souldiers against the incursions of the enemies Horse and because it was near those places from whence he dayly expected Mac-donald with what Highlanders he could raise The next day the enemy pursues him with an intention to force him to fight with them in the open field and truly assoon as they came in sight of them drawing up their men they made ready to battel as if they would have fallen on with all their power But a forlorn hope of Highlanders was sent before by Argyle to engage Montrose in a light skirmish who were manfully entertained and repulsed Then Montrose having possessed himself of the highest ground Argyle alters his resolution and thinks upon that which was more safe and lesse honourable He desires a Cessation proposes that engagements may be given on both sides for a Conference and Treaty yet at the same time he did not only tempt the Souldiers to forsake Montrose by promising them indempnity and rewards to boot but which is a shame to say even of an enemy set a great price upon Montrose's head to be paid unto any assassine or murtherer that should bring it in Of which when Montrose was well assured who well knew the disposition of the man to be more bent to over-reach and betray than to fight with his enemy he thought nothing concerned him more than with all speed to bring off those small Forces he had as far as he could both from Argyle's Horse and knavery Therefore calling a councill of War he declares his opinion they all approve his wisdome and promise to continue their fidelity and their best endeavours to serve him Therefore he resolveth upon a long march the next night as far as Badenoth and that the Souldiers might be lighter for so great a journey he sent the Carriages before with a guard and bid the Souldiers make themselves ready against the next day as if they were to fight And now the Carriages were on the way when on a suddain news came that Forbes of Craigevar a prisoner to whom upon the engagement of his Honour for his true imprisonment Montrose had given the liberty of the Camp and that Sibbalds who besides Rollock was only of his counsell and company when he came out of England and some others had made an escape and run away to the enemy He was troubled at the perfidiousnesse of the men and justly suspected that they to ingratiate themselves with the enemy would betray his counsels Therefore he straight called back the Convoy with the Carriages and seemed as if he had wholly altered his resolutions But indeed he altered them not but thought it fit to delay them for a time that the intelligence which the enemy received from his fugitives might appear unto them idle and uncertain But after four dayes he sent the Carriages away again before him and making fires through all the Camp he placed all the Horse he had within view of the enemy as if they kept their guard there till such time as the Foot were marched far enough from danger and then brought the Horse also safe off and all by break of day came to Balveny And now being safe from having their quarters beaten up by the enemies Horse and they no further pursuing it being also the very deep of winter he allowed a few dayes unto the refreshment of his Souldiers And at this time especially Argyle began to appear in his own colours and his subtilties were manifested For most of the Noblemen Gentlemen and prime Souldiers that were with Montrose who setting aside Irish men and Highlanders had more Commanders than private Souldiers in his army deserted him and fell off to Argyle Some of them pretended sicknesse others disability to make such long marches in winter time over mountains uninhabited unpassable full of nothing but stones and bryars for the most part deep in snow and never travelled over by any man alive And therefore sore against their wills as they said and being compelled to depart by an extream necessity they desired his Passe which he denyed to none that ask'd but yet look'd upon them rather with a kind of indignation and scorn than approbation or compassion Nor can one easily say how much the example of such men weakened his Forces and how much it disheartened many that intended to have listed themselves under his Command But the old Lord Ogilby the Earl of Airley a man of threescore years old and not very healthy neither together with two of his Sons most worthy of such a Father Sir Thomas and Sir David could never be perswaded even in the extremest hazard of their lives to depart from him CHAP. VIII MOntrose returning from Balveny to Badenoth net a very faithful intelligencer who gave him notice that Argyle with his Foot for his Horse were gone to their winter-quarters lay at Dunkeldon and that from thence he used all his industry to perswade the Athole men to revolt He although he was assured of their loyalty neverthelesse with incredible haste goes down into Athole For in one night he marched with his Forces four and twenty miles through wayes untrodden untilled full of snow waste and never inhabited by mortal man to the intent he might fall upon Argyle whiles he had not his Horse about him But he being frighted with the report of his coming when Montrose was yet sixteen miles off bid his men shift for themselves and he himself fled as fast as he could into Perth wherein the Covenanters had a strong garrison Mac-donald was by this time returned and brought along with him the Chief of the Mac-renalds with his men to the number of five hundred and Montrose himself added to that number Patrick Graham with some choice men of Athole Being recruited with these he marcheth to the lake out of which the river of Tay breaks forth to passe from thence through Bredalbin into the Country of Argyle for he thought an enemy could never be so happily overthrown as in his own Countrey And truly he had many strong reasons for that resolution In the first place Argyle ' s power and authority amongst the Highlanders rendered him formidable to his Peers and Neighbours and so conduced much both to raise and foment the whole Rebellion For assoon as any one adventured to oppose the Covenanters or dispute their Command presently Argyle gathering a tumultuous army of five or six thousand Highlanders who for all that served him against their wills crush'd him in pieces and therefore he had all the reason in the world to bring down the power of so seditious and covetous and cruell a man Moreover those Highlanders who did not only favour the Kings cause but hated Argyle heartily as having had a sufficient experience of his Tyranny durst not appear as they would till he was first subdued And lastly the Low-lands of the
down into Athole The people of Athole were engaged unto Montrose by many obligations men whom he valued most of all the Highlanders both for their Loyalty Piety Constancy and singular Valour and truly they made good his opinion of them to the very end of the War The Irish with a very few Highlanders who were almost all of Badenoth receiving Montrose's commands marched straight into Athole He who was not above twenty miles from them comes to them immediately and ere ever they looked for him on foot in the habit of a Mountainer without any man along with him save the abovesaid Patrick Graham his guide and companion And indeed the Irish would hardly be perswaded that that was Montrose but when they saw him so salured and only not adored like some great Deity by the men of Athole and others that knew him well they were over ver joyed for his comming to them was in exceeding good time they being then in extream danger to be cut off For Argyle was in their rear with a strong and well ordered Army the champain Country were ready in Arms before them expecting if they should make down into the Plain to trample them to dirt with their horses hoofs the vessels that brought them over were burnt by Argyle that they might have no way to retreat nor would the Arthole men or any other that favoured the King venture any hazard with them because they were strangers and came not by the Kings open and known Authority nor had they any Commander of ancient Nobility a thing by the Highlanders much set by who would not fight under the command of Alexander Mac-donald a man of no account with them lastly their number was inconsiderable being not above a eleven hundred though ten thousand had been promised The next day the Arthole men to the number of eight hundred put themselves in arms and offered their service most cheerfully to Montrose who having got this handfull of men and earnestly commending his most righteous Cause to the protection of Almighty God now desired nothing more than to be among the thickest of the enemy Impatient therefore of further delay that very day he marches through the Plains of Athole towards Ern as well to make way for his friends and assistants easier accesse unto him if any should rise upon the news as that he might fall upon and amaze the Rebels unlook'd for before they should be able to joyn together who lay at distance Therefore passing by Weem a castle of the Menizies seeing they handled a Trumpetter whom he sent friendly unto them unworthily and fell hotly upon the rear of his Army he wastes their fields and causes all their houses and corn to be fired this was at the very first onset of the War to strike terrour into the enemy The same night he passed over Tay the greatest river in Scotland with part of his Forces the rest follow him very early the next day When they were ready to march on he gave Patrick Graham of whom I shall have often to speak and never without honour at their earnest request the Command of the Athole men and sent him with the nimblest of them he could pick out amongst them to scout before He brings word he saw some Souldiers drawn up on the top of an hill at Buckinch towards them Montrose makes straight These proved to be commanded by the Lord Kilpont son to the Earl of Taith a man of antient Nobility and descended of the Grahams and Sir Iohn Drummond Son to the Earl of Perth a kinsman also of Montrose who were both of them summoned by the Covenanters to joyn against the Irish as the Common enemy and had with them five hundred Foot and no more nor had they heard any certainty at all of Montrose's being in those parts He resolveth with all speed to surprise them and either to win them to his side or to crush them to pieces But they as soon as they heard that Montrose was General of those Forces send unto him some of their chiefest friends to understand from him what he intended to doe He tells them he had the Kings Authority for what he did and was resolved to assert that Authority to the utmost of his power against a most horrid Rebellion conjuring them by all the obligations that were between them that they would not think much to doe their best endeavours for the best of Kings VVhich as it was much becomming their high birth and would be very acceptable service to the King so it would be beneficial unto them for the present and much to their honour with posterity and stranger if they of all others should be the first that put to their helping hands to hold up a tottering Crown They most readily without any delay came in unto him for both of them though underhand favoured the King exceedingly From them Montrose understood that the Covenanters were thick in arms at a Rendevouz at Perth the second City to Edinburgh and there waited for their enemies falling down from Athole He knowing also that Argyle with his Army was upon his back lest he should be hemm'd in on both sides determins to goe forward to Perth that there he might either force the enemy to fight or reduce the Town to the Kings obedience Marching therefore three miles from Buckinch and allowing the Souldiers but a short time of refreshment at the break of day he draws out his men Nor was he above three miles more from the City when the enemy was in view in a large and open Plain called Tippermore providing to fight They were commanded by the Lord Elchoe one that was taken for no great souldier there were with him the Earl of Tullibardin and the Lord Drummond but this latter as was conceived against his will for he and his fathers whole family favoured the King in their hearts Knights he had with him good store among whom Sir James Scot who heretofore had done good service under the State of Venice was the most noted souldier They had six thousand Foot and seven hundred Horse and in confidence of their numbers they had even devoured their enemies before they saw them It was on Sunday the first of September and it was given in charge to their Ministers that in set speeches they should encourage the people to fight not forgetting to mind them of their most holy Covenant forsooth And to give them their due they plyed their lungs stoutly in the performance of that work they most freely promised them in the name of Almighty God an easie and unbloudy victory my there was one Frederick Carmichael one very much cryed up for learning and holinesse by the silly people who was not afraid to deliver this passage in his Sermon If ever God spake word of truth out of my mouth I promise you in his name assured victory this day Gods service being thus finely performed as they thought they put their men in Battalia Elchoe himself commanded
the Lord Forbeses called Druminore where he staid two dayes And at last he understands the enemy had quitted the passes and was marching toward Strathbogy so he at break of day sets forth towards a village called Alford But Baily when he had gotten certain notice that Mac-donald with a considerable part of those Forces was absent in the Highlands he voluntarily pursues Montrose conceiving him to be stealing away and about noon began to face him Montrose determines to wait for the enemy who as seemed to him came towards him upon the higher ground but Baily turning aside some three miles to the left hand Montrose holds on his intended march to Alford where he staid that night the enemy lying about four miles off The next day after Montrose commands his men very early in the morning to stand to their arms and make ready to battell and placed them on a hill that stands over Alford And as he with a Troop of Horse was observing the motion and order of the enemy and viewing the fords of the Done a river which runs by Alford it was told him that the enemy Horse and Foot were making unto a ford which lay a mile from Alford to the intent that they might cut off the Rear of their flying enemy for so those excellent Diviners prophesied to their own destruction Montrose leaving that Troop of Horse not farre from the Ford together with some select and understanding men who should give him perfect intelligence of all things he returneth alone to order the battel And above all things he possesses himself of Alford hill where he might receive the charge of the enemy if they fell on desperately Behind him was a moorish place full of ditches and pits which would prevent Horse falling upon his Rear befote him was a steep hill which kept his men from the enemies view so that they could hardly perceive the formost ranks He had scarce given order for the right managing of all things when those Horse whom he had left at the Ford returned with a full cariere and bring word that the enemy had passed the River And novv it vvas no more safe for either of them to retreat vvithout the apparent ruine of their party It is reported that Baily like a skilful and vvary Commander vvas sore against his will drawn unto this battel nor had engaged had he not been necessitated unto it by the rashnesse of the Lord Balcarise a Collonel of Horse who precipitated himself and the Horse under his command into that danger whether Baily would or no as that he could not be brought off without the hazard of the whole Army Montrose gave the command of his right wing on which side the enemies Horse were most strong unto the Lord Gordon and appointed Nathaniel Gordon an old Commander to his assistance The command of the left wing was given to the Earl of Aboine to whom also was joyned Sir William Rollock And of the main battel to two valiant men Glengar and Drumond of Ball the younger unto whom he added George Graham Master of the Camp an expert Souldier also The Reserve which was altogether hid behind the hill was commanded by his Nephew Napier And for a while Montrose kept himself upon the height and the enemy in the valley being fortified with pits and ditches for it was neither safe for the latter to charge up the hill nor for the former to fall upon them that were surrounded with marshes and pooles The numbers of the Foot were in a manner even either side had about two thousand but Baily was much stronger in Horse for he had six hundred and Montrose but two hundred and fifty Only Montrose had this advantage that the enemy were for the most part hirelings raised from dunghils but those that served the King Gentlemen who fought for a good Cause and Honour gratis and not for gain and such as esteem'd it more becoming to die than to be overcome Besides Montrose knew that the greatest part of the old Souldiers were gone with Lindsey and the new ones would be so frighted with the shouts of the Armies and the noise of Trumpets that they would scarce stand the first charge Therefore in confidence of so just a cause and so valiant assertors of it he first drew down his men and immediately the Lord Gordon giving a smart charge upon them was courageously receiv'd by the enemy who trusted to the multitude of their Horse and now being clos'd and come to handy-blows no one could advance a foot but over his vanquished enemy nor retreat by reason of the pressing on of those in the Rear The first that made way for themselves and their men by a great slaughter of their enemies were the two Gordons the Lord and the Collonel and Collonel Nathaniel called out unto those expert Firelocks who now lin'd the Horse as they were wont Come on my fellow souldiers throw down your now useless guns draw your swords and sheath them in the Rebels Horse or hamstring them They instantly took the word of command and at the same time Montrose drawes up Napier with his Reserve which lay out of sight on the other side of the hill at whose sudden and unexpected coming the enemy affrighted betook himself to his heels Aboine with the left wing kept off nor did he attempt the enemy but by light skirmishes in small parties who when they saw their own men on their left wing routed and put to flight made their retreat with little losse There Foot being deserted by their Horse after they had desperately stood out a while and reâ—used quarter were almost all cut off The fall of the Lord Gordon was no little advantage to the escape of their Horse who after the battel was won rushing fiercely into the thickest of them received a shot thorow his body by the conquered and flying enemy and fell down dead Whom also Aboine did not hotly pursue being much troubled with the losse of his brother In this battel Montrose did not lose so much as one common Souldier and of Gentlemen one Culchol and one Melton whose names and families I should most willingly have inserted had I been so happy as to have knowledge of them because they died gallantly in the bed of Honour fighting for their King their Liberty and the Laws Nor are some Pedees as well Scotch as Irish to be forgotten boyes scarce fourteen yeares of age apiece who throwing down their Masters luggage and mounting upon their Nags and Sumpter-horses did not only make a fair appearance of a body of Horse but as if they had been Corrivals in valour with their Masters beyond what might be expected from their years and strength fell in among the thickest of their enemies Of whom some but very few were slain nor did they sell their lives for nothing and by that they gave an ample testimony of their towardnesse and of so manly a spirit in children as might prescribe to riper years
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
of whom were the Lord Ogilby himself Sir Iohn Innes and Colonel Henry Graham his brother a most hopefull young Gentleman Iames Iohn and Alexander Ogilbyes Patrick Melvin and other gallant men and highly esteemed by Montrose fell into the enemies hands and endured a long and nasty imprisonment untill they were set at liberty by Montrose himself the next year after which they did him most faithful service He returning to Carlisle imparts his design to the Earl of Aboine lest he should have any occasion to cavil afterwards that a matter of that consequence was done without his knowledge or advice who might have proved able to give a great stroke to the advancing of it But when he found something too much sicklenesse in that young man he was not over earnest to engage him to adventure with him in so perillous a journey and therefore easily perswaded him to reside at Carlisle till he heard further news out of Scotland by which time it might be more seasonable for him to return into his Country And now being prepared for his journey he selected only two men for his companions and guides one was Sir William Rollock a Gentleman of most known honesty and an able man both of his head and hands The other was one Sibbald whom for the report of his valour and gallantry Montrose did equally love and honour but the latter afterwards deserted him in his greatest need Montrose passing as Sibbalds man and being disguis'd in the habit of a Groom rode along upon a lean jade and led another horse in his hand And so he came to the borders where he found all ordinary and safe passes guarded by the enemy There was a chance happened which put them in a greater fright than all that and it was this not farr from the borders they hit by chance upon a servant of Sir Richard Grahams who taking them for Covenanters and to be of Lesley's Army who used to range about those parts told them freely and confidently that his Master had made his peace with the Covenanters and had undertaken as if he were their Centinel to discover unto them all such as came that way whom he suspected to favour the King An unworthy act it was of a shamelesse villain of whom not only Montrose had a very high esteem but his Majesty also whose mistaken bounty had raised him out of the dunghill to say no worse unto the honour of Knighthood and an estate even to the envy of his neighbours Having not passed much further they met a Souldier a Scotchman but one that had served under the Marquesse of Newcastle in England who taking no notice of the other two Gentlemen came to Montrose and saluted him by his name Montrose giving no heed unto him as if he were no such man the too officious souldier would not be so put off but with a voyce and countenance full of humility and duty began to cry out What Doe not I know my Lord Marquesse of Montrose well enough Goe your way and God be with you whithersoever you goe When he saw it was in vain to conceal himself from the man he gave him a few crowns and sent him away nor did he discover him afterwards But Montrose conceiving himself much concerned in these speeches thought it the best course to make all the haste he could and to run faster than the news of him could flie nor did he spare any horse-flesh or scarce draw a bridle till after four dayes travell he came to the house of his cosen Patrick Graham of Innisbrake not far from the river of Tay on that side of the Sherifdome of Perth which is next the Mountains This Patrick being descended of the Noble family of Montrose and not unworthy of so noble parentage was deservedly in very great esteem with the Marquesse who sojourned besides him for a little while in the day time in a mean cottage and passed the nights alone in the neighbouring mountains For hee had sent away his companions unto his friends that they might inform themselves exactly of the whole state of the Kingdome and bring him word in what condition they found it After a few dayes having examined the matter with all the industry they could use they return with nothing but sad and tragical news That all the Subjects that were honest and loyal lay under the tyranny of the Rebells and of such as had been so hardy as to endeavour to recover their freedome with their swords some were put to death others fined others being yet in prison dayly expected the worst their enemies could doe That the Marquesse of Huntley had laid down the arms which too unadvisedly he had taken up at the first summons of the enemy that indeed he had had no contemptible number of men but the men wanted a good Commander that his friends and dependents were exposed to the implacable malice and revenge of their enemies and that he himself had fled to the utmost corner of the Iland and sculked upon another mans land Montrose was very much troubled as he had reason at this news especially at Huntley's errour and the ruine of the Gordons who were men of singular loyalty and valour and expert souldiers therefore much lamented by him that for no fault of theirs they should come to so great misfortune And now he began to cast about how hee might draw them to himself that they might try again the fortune of War under another General in the behalf of his most excellent Majesty CHAP. V. IN the mean time there were some uncertain reports spread abroad among the Shepheards who kept their flocks in the Mountains of certain Irish who were landed in the North of Scotland and canged about the Mountains Montrose conceived it not unlikely that these might be part of those Auxiliaries which the Earl of Antrim had promised should have been there four months before but he had no certainty what they were till at last some Letters came from some intimate friends of his Highlanders and from Alexander Mac-donald a Scotchman also to whom Antrim had given the Command in chief of those few Irish directed to Montrose These they had taken care to send to a certain friend of his a sure man that he might convey them if it were possible to Carlisle where Montrose was believed still to remain He who never dreamed of Montrose's return into Scotland though he sojourned by him by chance acquainted Master Patrick Graham with the businesse he promiseth to take charge of them and undertaketh to see them safely dilivered to Montrose though be made a journey as far as Carlisle a purpose and so by the good providence of God they came into his hands much sooner than could be expected And he writes back as from Carlisle that they should be of good comfort for they should not stay long either for sufficient assistance to joyn with them or a General to command them and withall requires them forthwith to come
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
consideration possessed his resolute and noble spirit That the losse of that day was but small and easily regained because but an inconsiderable part of his Forces were there That the Highlanders were the very Nerves and sinewes of the Kingdome and all the North was sound and untouch'd That many of the prime Nobility and men of power many Knights too and Chiefs of their Septs had entred into an association with him who if he should miscarry would be suddenly ruined or corrupted and by that means the Kings party in Scotland utterly subdued Therefore he thought himself bound never to despair of a good cause and the rather lest the King his Master should apprehend the losse of him to be greater than the losse of the battell And while these thoughts were in his head by good hap came in the Marquesse Douglasse and Sir Iohn Dalâ—ell with some other friends not many but faithfull and gallant men who with tears in their eyes out of the abundance of their affection beseech intreat implore him for the honour of his former atchievements for his friends sakes for his Ancestors for his sweet wife and childrens sakes nay for his Kings his Countries and the Churches peace and safeties sake that he would look to the preservation of his person considering that all their hopes depended on him alone under God and that their lives were so bound up with his that they must all live or die together At last Montrose overcome with their intreaties charging thorow the enemy who were by this time more taken up with ransacking the Carriages than following the chase made his escape of those that were so hardy to pursue him some he slew others among whom was one Bruce a Captain of Horse and two Cornets with their Standards he carried away prisoners Whom he entertained curteously and after a few dayes dismist them upon their Parole that they should exchange as many Officers of his of the like quality which Parole they did not over-punctually perform Montrose was gotten scarce three miles from Selkirk when he having overtaken a great number of his own men that went that way he made a pretty considerable party so that being now secure from being fallen upon by the Country people he march'd away by leisure And as he went by the Earl of Traquaires Castle by whose dishonesty he did not yet know that he had been betray'd he sent one before him to call forth him and his Son that he might speak with them but his servants bring word that they were both from home Notwithstanding there are Gentlemen of credit that testifie that they were both within nor did that gallant Courtier only bid the Rebells joy of their victory but was not ashamed to tell abroad not without profuse and ill becoming laughter that Montrose and the Kings forces in Scotland were at last totally routed his own daughter the Countesse of Queensbrig as far as modestly she might blaming him for it Montrose after he had made a holt a while near a Town called Plebis untill the souldiers had refresh'd themselvs and were fit to march many flocking to them from every side at Sun set they all stoutly entered the Town and by break of day next morning by the conduct of Sir Iohn Dalyel especially passed over Cluid at a ford Where the Earls of Crawford and Airley having escaped another way met with him making nothing of the losse of the battell assoon as they saw him out of danger Nor was he lesse joyfull at the safety of his friends than that he had sav'd and pick'd up by the way almost two hundred Horse But although he was already secure enough from the pursute of the enemy neverthelesse he resolved to make what haste he could into Athole that taking his rise there he might draw what forces he could raise of the Highlanders and other friends into the North. Therefore passing first over the Forth and then the Ern having marched through the Sherifdome of Perth by the foot of the Mountains he came thither As he was on his way he had sent before him Douglasse and Airley with a party of Horse into Angus and the Lord Areskin into Marre that they might speedily raise their friends and dependents in those parts and had also sent Sir Iohn Dalyel unto the Lord Carnegy with whom he had lately contracted affinity with Commissions to that purpose Moreover he sent Letters to Mac-donald to require him according to his promise to return with the Highlanders by the day appointed But above all he sollicited Aboine both by Letters and special messengers that he would bring back his friends and clients who were willing enough of themselves and wanted no other encouragement than his authority and example CHAP. XVII IT was towards the latter end of Harvest nor was he corn reap'd in that cold Country nor their houses and cottages which the enemy had butnt repaired against the approaching winter which is for the most part very sharp thereabouts which made the Athole men to abate something of their wonted forwardnesse Yet Montrose prevailed so far with them that they furnished him with four hundred good Foot to wait upon him into the North where there was lesse danger and faithfully promised him upon his return when he was to march South-ward he should command the whole power of the Country Mean time frequent expresses came from Aboine that he would wait upon him immediately with his Forces and Mac-donald promised no lesse for himself and some other Highlanders Areskin signified also unto him that his men were in readinesse and waited for nothing but either Aboines company who was not far off or Montrose's commands About this time there were very hot but uncertain reports of a strong party of Horse that were sent him from the King whom many conceived not to be far from the South borders But other news they had which was too certain to wit that there was a most cruel butchery of what prisoners the Rebels had without any distinction of sex or age some falling into the hands of the Country people were basely murthered by them others who escap'd them and found some pity in them that had so little being gathered together were by order from the Rebel Lords thrown head-long from off a high bridge and the men together with their wives and sucking children drown'd in the River beneath and if any chanced to swim towards the side they were beaten off with pikes and staves and thrust down again into the water The Noble-men and Knights were kept up in nasty prisons to be exposed to the scorn of the vulgar and certainly doom'd at last to lose their heads Montrose was never so much troubled as at this sad news Therefore to the end he might some way relieve his distressed friends being impatient of all delay with wonderfull speed he climbs over Gransbaine and passing through the plains of Marre and Strath-done maketh unto the Lord of Aboine that he might encourage
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
encouraged by their authority and example shewed themselves very ready and chearfull And they wanted not long an occasion to shew it for the remainder of the Argylian party either by reason of a general scarcity of all things in their own Country or being driven out of their Country for fear of Mac-donald who was very strong and threatned their ruine fell upon the Mac-gregories and Mac-nabies who sided with Montrose And afterward joyning unto themselves the Stuarts which inhabit Balwidder and the Menises and other Highlanders who still followed Argyles fortune were reported to make up some fifteen hundred men and were ready to invade At hole unlesse timely opposed And truly they had already fired an Iland in Logh-Torchet after they had taken it by force and pillaged it and had besieged Ample Castle which lyeth on the side of the river of that name Which assoon as they had intelligence of the Athole-men being only seven hundred in all under the Command of the aforesaid Graham and Drummond thought best to oppose them before they brake in into their Country They upon the alarm of the advance of the Athole-men raised the siege of Ample and retreated toward Taich The Athole-men pursued them hotly and find them in battell-arry not far from Kalandar a Castle of Taich For they had possessed a ford and manned the bank on the other side which was fortified with a steep hill with a number of Musquetiers Which when the Athole-men saw and perceived that their Forces were not so strong as was reported for they had not aboue twelve hundred men although they themselves were scarce seven hundred strong yet being heartned by the gallantry and encouragement of their Commanders they were resolved not to stay to receive the enemies charge but to charge them Therefore they place a hundred good souldiers over against the enemy as it were to make good the Ford on the other side and the rest marched away unto another Ford near the Castle that they might get over the river there The Argylians when they perceived the Athole men so resolute retreat straight towards Sterling Then first of all those Athole-men that were left below at the Ford possesse themselves of the bank which the enemy had quit after that they fall upon the Rear of the retreaters cut off some scatter others drive others forward and the rest of the Athole-men following hard after put them all to flight Fourscore of them were slain the rest escaped by flight who fared the better because that same morning the Athole-men had had a foul and tedious march of ten miles long and had no Horse at all to help themselves So they having come off with credit returned home At that time the Rebells held their Convention of Estates at Saint Andrews which they polluted with the Innocent and I fear crying blood of men never sufficiently to be commended They had amongst their prisoners some very eminent men as appeared by the hatred the Rebells bare them for they scarce sought the blood of any but the best of men but for others of whom they were not so much affraid they satisfied themselves only with their Sequestration and Plunder amonst whom were the Lord Ogilby Sir William Spotswood William Murray a noble young Gentleman and Andrew Guthery a stout Gentleman and active whom they determined to put to death in that City to appease the Ghosts of the men of that Province with their blood of whom it is reported above five thousand had been slain in severall battells Now because they intended not to proceed against them by Law but according to their own lusts they have recourse to their old shifts and make Religion draw the curtain over their cruelty To which purpose they set up their Prophets Kant and Blair and others that were possessed with the same spirit who roar'd out their Pulpits bloody Oâ—â—â—â—es before the people That God required the blood of those men nor could the sins of the Nation be otherwise expiated or the revenge of heaven diverted And by this art especially they provoked the hearts of the people otherwise inclined to pitty to think upon them as accursed things and own'd and devoted to destruction perswading them that they ought to have no protection of humane Laws nor any Advocate to plead for them whom God himself indited and accus'd Nor did those excellent interpreters and deciders of Gods secret will make any scruple to sentence the souls and bodies and all of so great Delinquents unto hell and damnation And having by this means blinded the people it was easie for them who were their acusers and judges both to condemn the innocent men who were destitute of all Patronage and protection But Ogilby who was not only the most eminent of them for Nobility and power but also was a Hamilton by his mothers side and cozen-german to Lindsey pretending himself sick with much adoe got so much favour as to have his mother wife and sisters suffered to visit him in prison Which when he had obtain'd whilst the Keepers in reverence to the honourable Ladies withdrew out of his chamber he immediately puts on his sisters gown which she had put off and was dressed in all her attire She also put on his cap in which he used to lie sick in bed and lay down instead of her brother At last many salutations and some tears passing on both sides at eight of the clock in the night in the habit and likenesse of his sister he deceived his Keepers who lighted him out with candles and torches And immediately departing the City he took horse which he had laid for him with two of his followers and before morning was got out of danger But when the next day his observant Keepers had found out their mistake Argyle was so unable to contain his wrath and revenge that he would needs have the noble Ladies and the more noble for this their compassion and adventure brought in question for it But he could not effect it for by reason of the equity of their cause they found much stronger friends than he could of the Hamiltons and Lindsey by whose connivence it is conceived by many that all this Comedy was acted but in a thing that is uncertain I shall determine nothing This cleanly conveighance of Ogilby out of their hands vext the Rebels exceedingly and made them almost wild whence it happened that they made a quick dispatch of the rest And the first that suffered was Colonel Nathaniel Gordon a man of excellent endowments both of body and mind Who being near unto his death bitterly lamented with many tears that the carriage of his youth had been much otherwise than it ought to have been And when being ready to die they offered him an Instrument to signe wherein he was to testifie his repentance he subsctibed it without any more ado and withall call'd God and his Angels and the men there present to witness that if any thing was contained in that
if Almighty god had so thought fit had been worthy of a longer life And that now they might put the last Scene to a Tragedy of which most part was acted after two days breathing they brought forth William Murray brother to the Earl of Tullibardin a young Gentleman to the same place And truly every man much admired that his brother being in great favour and esteem amongst the Covenanters had not interceded for the life and safety of his own only brother Some imputed it to his sloth others to his covetousnesse as gaping after his brothers estate others to his stupid and superstitious zeal to the Cause but even all the very Covenanters themselves condemned his silence in such a case as dishonourable and mis-becoming a Noble spirit But the Youth himself being not above nineteen years old purchased unto himself everlasting renown with posterity for so honest and honourable an end Amongst those few things which he spake to the people those that heard him told me these words which he spake with a higher voyce than the rest Account O my Countrymen that a new and high addition of honour is this day atchieved to the house of Tullibardin and the whole Nation of the Murrays that a young man descended of that antient stock willingly and chearfully delivered up his innocent soul as unto men in the vsry flower of his youth for his King the Father of his Country and the most munificent Patron of our Family Nor let my most honoured mother my dear sisters my kindred or any of my friends be sorry for the shortnesse of my life which is abundantly recompenced with the honourablenesse of my death Pray for my soul and God be with you CHAP. XX. THe death of his friends rroubled Montrose exceedingly as it had reason but yet it was not able to break or shake his firm and settled resolution Nor did his noble and more than ordinarily elevated spirit ever give greater evidences of it self than now For there were many who being enraged with the unworthy murther of their friends egg'd him on being already sufficiently discontented to a present revenge And whiles they too much savoured their grief although it was just and seem'd to desire nothing but what was fit to wit to render them like for like they wearied out the General with their many and troublesome and unseasonable complaints For they must needs be argry that their companions their friends their kindred noble and gallant Gentlemen well deserving of their King their Country and the General himself should be murther'd contrary to their faith promised them the custome of War the Law of the Land of Nations and of Nature and all unreveng'd and on the other side such Rebells as had been taken by him to be kept rather as in their friends houses than in prisons to rejoyce to triumph to laugh at their sorrow And therefore they humbly desired such prisoners might be tryed as Malefactors nor would the enemy be otherwise frighted from their unheard-of cruelty nor the minds of his own men othermise satisfied and raised up Whom he entertained with a curteous Speech commended them for the love they bare their friends and told them That the blood of those honourable and innocent Subjects ought to be reveng'd indeed by such a way as became honest and valiant men not by basenesse and mischief as the Rebells do but by true valour in a souldier-like way It concerned them so to tame as not to imitate the wickednesse of their enemies Nor if they considered matters well was it conscience that those that were prisoners with them and so could not be accessary unto the murther of their friends should suffer for those sins of which they were innocent The faith that they had passed unto them was a most sacred thing and to be kept inviolate even by enemies Why should they make themselves guilty of that which they so much abhorred in their enemies The time would come when they must give a severe account of it unto the most righteous God and to his Vice-gerent the King In the mean time saith he let them set a price upon our heads let them hire Assassines let them serd in their Instruments amongst us to murther us let them make promises and break them yet they shall never effect that we shall contend with them in an emulation which shall be worse or any otherwise than upon honourable and vertuous terms Now Huntley who intended nothing lesse than what he promised Montrose before his face having passed over the Spey and entered into Murray trifled away his time and wasted his strength without either honour or profit a good way off Innernesse For giving his mind too much to prey and spoil after he had wasted the Country he heard a flying report that the inhabitants had hid their gold and silver and the best of their stuff in certain turrets and obscure Castles Which whiles he assaults in vain and could neither by commands nor entreaties be taken off from his resolution the enemy sending in provision on that side which he had undertaken to block up relieved Innernesse with all things that they wanted Which if he had hindred as he undertook unto Montrose the Garrison would have been shortly forced to yeeld And Montrose having now received intelligence that Major General Middleton was come with six hundred Horse and eight hundred Foot as far as Aberdeen and was like to lay waste Huntleys and the Gordons Country sent Collonel William Stuart unto Huntley to entreat him to return again unto the siege of Innernesse according to his engagement Or if he did not approve so well of that because the enemy was advanced so near his Territories he should perswade him to joyn his Forces with his and to march immediately towards the enemy whom the doubted not with an easie hazard to overthrow To which he answered scornfully that he would look to his own businesse himself nor did he need the help and assistance of Montrose to drive the enemy out of his borders At last after ten weeks spent in the siege of a small inconsiderable Castle and the losse of all the forwardest of his men he was forced with dishonour to raife the siege when he was never the nearer And in contempt not so much of Montrose as of the Kings Majesty he retreated to the Spey without the consent or Knowledge of the Vice-roy giving thereby a very bad example to all men who began to come in thick and threefold with great eagernesse unto the Kings party Amongst whom the chiefest for wealth and power and multitudes of followers and dependents were the Earl of Seafoth the Lord Rese from the furthest Ilands Sir James Mac-donald Chief of a most powerfull and ancient family in the Highlands Macklen also and Glengar the Captain of the Mac-renalds and many more who were some of them already in Montrose's Army with their Forces others had sent for theirs And by this means before the
and wanted not some friends of the Covenanters themselvs who informed him by frequent messages that the Sea was sore pester'd with the English Navy and he could not escape safely either into France or the Low-Conntries that the haven was upon the matter block'd up in which he was to take shipping and therefore it was very perillous for him to go to Sea that his enemies look'd for nothing else than that either by making too long stay in his own Country he should sall into the hands of the Scotish Covenanters or by going should be surprised unarm'd and unawares by the English Rebells Montrose's friends that were with him were of opinion that it was best for him in so apparent a danger to return into the Highlands and draw his men together again conceiving that he had better trust the fortune of War than so perfidious a peace But he forbore to take that course especially because of his most ardent affection to the King For he was assured if the War brake forth again it would be laid upon the King though undeservedly and so he should bring his Person into present danger perhaps as much as his life was worth Therefore being straightned on every side one way with treachery plotted against his own another against the Kings anointed head he determined with an unalterable resolution to bear all the burden upon his own shoulders And therefore he withdrew himself not out of rashnesse as if he despair'd of safety at the worst but out of sage and discreet deliberation For when he had smelt out the plots of the Rebels before-hand he had sent some a good while ago to search diligently the havens in the North and if they chanced to find any outlandish vessell to agree with the Master for the fraught and to appoint him to be ready to put to sea at such a day and to transport the passengers which should be ready with him by the help of God into Norway By good fortune there was found in the haven of Stanhyve a small bark of Bergen in Norway and the Master was soon agreed with for he was very glad of the opportunity having hopes of getting Thithet Montrose sent away Sir John Hurrey John Drummond of Ball Henery Graham his brother John Spotswood nephew to that great Sir Robert John Lilly a Captain of approved skill and coruage Patrick Melvin such another George Wise heart Doctor of Divinity David Gutherey a stout young Gentleman Pardus Lasound a French-man once a servant to the noble Lord Gordon afterwards entertained for his Masters sake by Montrose himself one Rodolph a German an honest and trusty young man and a few servants more And these he had pick'd out to carry along with him whithersoever he went for this reason especially because he knew the Rebels to be so maliciously bent against most of them that they could not be safe for never so little a while in that Country And they on the third of September having a good wind put forth to Sea for Norway and the same evening Montrose himself accompanied only with one James Wood a worthy Preacher by a small cock-boat got into a bark which lay at anchor without the haven of Montrose and being clad in a coarse suit the Lord and Patron passed for his Chaplains servant This was in the year of our Lord 1646. and the 34. year of his age FINIS The Continuation of Montrose's Historie IT is not our purpose in this addition to the Historie of the famous Marquesse to deliver his several Negotiations with forein Princes further than in the general For howsoever they were in order to the Cause he had in hand and did add a great deal of lustre and splendour to his worth in the eyes of strangers who were indifferent in the case As likewise it must be confessed that no subject of that Kingdome ever received higher favours abroad or procur'd greater respect to the addresses made in his Masters name Yet these things being but obscurely known in the Tenour of them except only to those that were employ'd and indeed not so proper for our intention in this brief narration which is to satisfie the curiosity of all in the manner of his last entrie his defeat death and buriall if it may be so call'd Things for ought I know as yet set down in no certain relation We shall therefore setting aside his Forein endeavours bring him upon the same stage where his Tragedie had both its beginning and ending Only that you may have a more lively representation of his personal vertues we shall give you to understand in what high estimation the Marquesse was with Forein Princes as well as with those of England and Scotland and point at those honours which did seem to court his magnanimitie beyond Seas In France with the general consent of the Princes of the blood and the rest of the Nobility he was design'd Chaptain General of all the strangers in that Kingdome A trust which those know that are acquainted with the Warrs of France of very high consequence for in them consists the whole strength of the Kingdome But this advancement of the Marquesses was by Cardinall Mazarine crossed or delayd who was alwayes a professed enemy to Scots in that Kingdome From thence he took his journey to Holland where the Prince then was in pursute of his former intentions but there he met with as great crosses and impediments as he had done in the bowels of his own Country Duke Hamilton who was his irreconcilable enemy was now his competitor and being then at the Hague labour'd by all means possible to undermine or prevent the Marquesses designs With him were the Earl of Lautherdale and the Earl of Calender men both of eminent parts whom the Duke by several engagements had made firm to his purposes They were both very earnest for a Commission The Duke having interest in the Prince by blood could not think that any in that trust could justly be preferred before him alleging likewise that he might be more able to perform any design in that Kingdome his kindred and allies and those of his Name being very powerfull and in the very heart of the kingdome Whereas Montrose's souldiers whom he trusted most and employed in his former action were either kill'd or dispersed And those whom he had left so terrified and squeezed in their estates that they were utterly unable to help him On the other part the Marquesses fidelity pleaded much for him his notable atchievements his poor and slender beginnings which made him so much the more capable for that undertaking it being requisite the Prince should employ such an instrument as the case then stood being destitute of all means to help him The Prince who knew how needfull it was to reconcile two such eminent Persons who being joyn'd might draw the greatest part of that kingdome after them fayling of which either of them was sure to oppose the other that should be employd made it
settled in a posture of war and well forwarn'd of his imentions amounted not above the number of six or seven hundred at the most strangers and all The Common souldiers which adventur'd over with him most of them Holsteyners or Hamburgers He had sent him by the Queen of Sweden for the arming of such Gentle-men as should upon his arrivall betake themselves to his party fifteen hundred arms compleat for Horse back brest head-piece Carbines Pistolls and Swords all which after his defeat in Cathanes were taken untouch'd With this small preparation it was a desperate action to attempt so mighty a business And although his touching first upon the Islands did encrease his number and gave him almost the beginning of an Army Yet were those barbarous people so raw and unacquainted with discipline that they proved in a manner uselesse and unserviceable 'T is true the Inhabitants of those Isles were a people in former times very fierce and warlike and have under their own Captains made many great Impressions into the very heart of the kingdome But whether it was the Policie of the late Kings to leave them untrain'd of purpose to break then natural fierceness or because their own Captains being quell'd or cut off they car'd not much to engage under any other certain it is That kingdome for two hundred years last past hath not made lesse use of any they had under their jurisdiction nor have they at this present lesse opinion of any Scots for Military courage and valour And this may be alleged as a great cause of their remissnesse and unwieldinesse whilst they were in the Marquesses service I told you a little before of Montrose's whole Strength which did accompany him from Germany whereof two ships with neer upon a third part were sent before but by storm of weather which is both frequent and dangerous amongst those Northern Islands they were lost with all the men and arms nothing sav'd This was another check and as it were a warning and a fore-runner of the sad event which followed But the businesse being fatal he must needs contribute his own endeavours towards that destruction which his cruell fortune had provided for him For he nothing terrified with this successe sends out a second party which making a more prosperous voyage landed at Orkney and enter'd the Island without any resistance There being at that time no Garrison or defence placed in any of those Islands by the States of Scotland Together with these he sent several commissions for levying of Horse and Foot Immediately there were several dispatch'd to Scotland and the Islands adjacent for that purpose The people of the Country being in no condition to resist these officers endeavoured in hopes of favour as much as they could to further the design A od those who were not so earnest were by their own neighbours favourers of the cause and these violent Commissioners forc'd to take up Arms. Not long after landed the Marquess himself with the rest of his company together with those Gentlemen which were resolv'd ro partake of his fortune Amongst whom were several persons of note Colonel Hurrey was there a man who had engaged in all quarrells but never prosper'd in any The Lord Frenderick for his kinsman the Lord Napier was left in Holland Colonel Johnson a resolute man and an old souldier Colonel Gray a German souldier Harry Graham his own natural brother Colonel James Hay of Naughton Sir Francis Hay of Dalgetie George Drummond of Ballach For he had employed as was thought Colonel Sibbalds his companion heretofore as his Agent in Scotland But he was apprehended at Musselburgh and did accompany his General in death upon the same Scaffold The Marquess continued a considerable time in Orkney raising of Forces and strengthning himself with such recruits as the place would afford Neither was there any preparation at all made in Scotland to dispossess him of these Islands either because it might be thought a difficult businesse to assail him within those places naturally guarded with a rough and dangerous sea Or because they knowing his strength expected a better opportunitie of him as they found indeed within the Country After this poor rabble of silly creatures was amaz'd He resolves at last to embarque and to that purpose gathers all the boats he could find ships his men and in a short space lands them all upon the point of Cathanes which is the farthest land to the North-west of Scotland The people having some experience of the carriage of his former souldierie and now far more dreading the name of Foreiners partly by the terrible reports which were constantly given out of him fled away in heaps many of them not stopping till they came to the chief City Edinburgh and there gave the terrible Alarm to the Parliament then sitting The Commanders were immediately summon'd and charg'd with all possible haste to get the standing Forces in readinesse and a Rendezvouz in order to the States command was hereupon presently enjoyn'd at Breithen Northward Colonel Stranghan who was then in high esteem with the great ones for his valour lately expressed in the English service and his zeal to the Presbyterian cause much extoll'd at that time had an ample and a particular Commission granted to him by the Parliament to command a choice party of Horse which should not be subject to David Lesleys orders but might engage and fight with the enemy at his best advantage With these being not above three hundred he advanced before the Army David Lesley with the rest of the Horse and Holborn with the Foot marching after him In the mean time the Marquess advanc'd but very slowly and that he might not be mistaken since all the world was much astomished at this Invasion now whilst the King was upon a Treatie he published a Declaration Wherein he labour'd to clear himself of any aspersion of sinister ends That his intention was only against some particular persons who had against the Laws of the Kingdome rais'd and maintain'd a war against the Kings Father and did now by their subtile practices endeavour to destroy the Son also That he intended nothing against the Generalitie of the Kingdom Lastly exhorting all subjects of that Nation to endeavour to free themselves from the Tyranny of those who for the present ruled the State and the oppression of the Ministrie But the Country for several causes did not come to second him as he expected For the Earl of Sunder and a potent man in those parts his lands being next to the place where the Marquesse then was rais'd a great power of his tenants and friends and did his best to terrific and hinder all that were willing to joyn with him And though he found himself unable to deal with the Marquesses Forces yet did he stop all entercourse betwixt him and his friends And those Gentlemen who had heretofore followed him and yet enclined to assist him knowing the danger of the enterprise considering the
fewnesse of his number and that his souldiers were much undisciplin'd and unlike to the former with whom he had done so great things began to be averse and have a suspicion of the event Yet have I heard some say which knew well enough the situation of that Country that if he had not been oppressed in the nick he might have gain'd such strengths amongst the hills as might have given him leisure enough to have strengthned his own party and tyred out the enemy Howsoever he was not altogether unmindfull of a retreat there is in that Country a Castle call'd Dumbath the Lord or Laird thereof is the head of a very antient Family but no friend of the Marquesses This Gentleman having left his house in the keeping of his Lady and some servants â—ed to Edinburgh The Lady though the place were naturally fortified yet upon summons delivered it to Colonel Hurry who was sent thither by the Marquess with a party of Foot to reduce it upon condition her goods and estate might be secur'd and she with her servants suffer'd to march away Hurrey having plac'd a Governour and a Garrison as he thought sufficient for the defence of the place return'd to the Marquess who was now advanc'd to the place or neer it where he was to lose at one throw both his life and fortune The Marquesse hearing of the enemies approach made his whole Forces march at a great trot to recover a passe which they were not very far from when he himself in the vanguard discover'd the first party which was Straughans Forlorn hope advancing very fast upon him So that these with their haste and the souldiers running found them both out of breath and order The second Party was commanded by Straughan himself and the Rear-guard as I remember by Colonel Ker for he had divided them in three bodies But now the first party being very near there was a Forlorn hope of a hundred Foot drawn out to meet them who giving fire upon them put them to a disorderly retreat but being immediately seconded by Straughans party they made good their charge and so terrified the Islanders with that breach that most of them threw down their Arms and called for quarter Only the Dutch Companies after they had bestowed a volley or two amongst the Horse retreated into some shrubbs hard by and there very valiantly defended themselvs awhile but were all taken at last There were kill'd in this business to the number of two hundred twelve hundred taken very few escaped For the whole Country being in Arms especially Sunderlands men who came not to the fight but to the execution they kill'd or took Prisoners all such as fled In that skirmish was taken the Standard which he had caus'd to be made of purpose to move the affections of the people with this Motto Judge and revenge my cause O Lord and the portraict of the late King beheaded exactly well done The Standard-bearer a very gallant young Gentleman was kill'd after he had several times refused quarter There was Colonel Hurrey taken the Lord Frenderick Sir Francis Hay of Dalgetie Colonel Hay of Naughton Colonel Gray and most of the Officers and two Ministers The Marquess after he saw the day was absolutely lost threw away his cloak which had the Star on it having receiv'd the order of the Garter a little while before his Sword was likewise found and not very far off his horse which he had forsaken For so soon as he had got clear off that ground where the skirmish was he betook himself to foot and lighting upon one of that Country or one of his own souldiers I know not whether took his Highland apparel from him and so in that habit conveighed himself away But such narrow search being made for him he could not long escape yet he continued in the open fields three or four days without any notice gotten of him At last the Lord of Aston being in arms with some of his Tenants aboard in that search happned on him He had been one of his followers before In that place he had continued three or four dayes without meat or drink with one only man in his company The Marquesse knowing him and believing to find friendship at his hands willingly discover'd himself But Aston not daring to conceal him and being greedy of the reward which was promised to the apprehender by the Councel of State seiz'd upon him and disarm'd him 't is said he profered great summs for his liberty which being in vain he desired to dye by the hands of those who took him rather than be made an object of misery and shame as he knew very well he should by his enraged enemies But neither of his desires was granted but in place of them a strong guard set over him and so conveyed to David Lesley Sraughan having atchieved his business with great expedition and freed the State from this much-fear'd danger returned to Edinburgh leaving the rest of the businesse to Lesley and Holborn where he receiv'd great rewards and thanks for his eminent service not without the great heart-burning of David Lesley who seeing a rivall risen up to his honour and one whom he lookt upon as an upstart souldier have so great successe fretted not a little Howsoever forwards he moves to accomplish the rest of the work which was now of no great consequence for there rested nothing within the Country but only the Castle of Dumbath which being out of all hopes of relief after the defeat so soon as they were perfectly assur'd by some Prisoners whom they knew yielded the Garrison The Governour was Prisoner at mercy The souldiers being Dutch were upon terms to return homewards There was nothing else to be done save the reducing of the Islands and the town of Kirkwall in Orkney where Colonel Johnson and Colonel Harry Graham were left when the Marquesse pass'd over to Cathanes but Montrose either because he could not spare any souldiers or because he expected better successe had left them almost naked though there were several places in those Isles which might have been made very renable Colonel Johnson having understoost of the defeat with those that were with him took shipping and returned from whence he came so did Harry Graham likewise else both of them had casted of the same sawce which their General did Thus Lesteys Forces entred without any resistance seiz'd upon the Arms which Montrose had brought thither together with two pieces of Ordnance The Queen of Sweden had given him a little Friggot of sixteen Guns which lay in the Harbour the Master of which being gone ashore into one of the Islands the Company seeing the event of the businesse revolted and brought in that likewise The victorie being now compleat there was a solemn day of thanksgiving appointed through the whole Kingdome Bonfires shooting of Ordnance and other testimonies of joy But many of the Gentry who had been under his command before having now engaged