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
them Noblemen and Gentlemen and such as had been Captains either in Germany France or England With which small forces not over-trusty neither he entered Scotland on the 13 of April for he made the more haste lest he should have been absent at the time appointed by the Earl of Antrim CHAP. IV. MOntrose having entred Scotland had come to the river of Anan when upon a mutiny among the English occasioned by Richard Grahams Souldiers almost all of them flie their Colours and in all haste run back to England Notwithstanding he with his own men came to Dunfrise and took the Town into protection upon surrender and there he staid a while that he might be ready to entertain Antrim and his Irish but the day appointed being already pass'd there came not so much as a Messenger from them nor the least report of them into Scotland And the Covenanters gathering themselves together on every side there was no staying there any longer for Montrose without being suprised therefore he returns safe to Carlisle with his men And seeing he could neither procure any aid from the English nor expected any Foreiners suddenly nor had scarce any hopes of good from Ireland and found that the Earl of Calendar had raised a new Army in Scotland to second General Lesley who had by this time together with the English Covenanters besieged York he resolved lest he should spend his time idlely to engage himself among the Kings Forces in Northumberland and the Bishoprick nor was that resolution either unprofitable to them or dishonourable to himself For having ferreted a Garrison of the Covnanters out of the town of Morpet he took in the Castle permitted all the pillage unto the English and taking an Oath of them that had held it that they should never more fight against the King he sent them away without any greater punishment He took a Fort at the mouth of the river of Tine from the Covenanters who had not long before turned out an English Garrison from thence and dismist the prisoners upon the same terms with those of Morpet He plentifully victualled Newcastle with corn brought from Alnwick and other places thereabouts When this was done he was sent for by Letters from Prince Rupert Count Palatine of Rhine who was then comming to raise the siege of York And although he made all the haste he could yet he met not the Prince till he was upon his retreat the day after that unfortunate battell And truly the Prince freely offered Montrose a thousand Horse to take along with him into Scotland but some that were too powerfull with him dealt so with the good Prince that the next day after that promise was made there was not one horse to be had All things thus failing Montrose from which he expected any assistance yet his spirit never sailed him therefore returning to Carlisle with those few but faithfull and gallant men that stuck close to him he sends away the Lord Ogilby and Sir William Rollock into the heart of Scotland in mean disguise lest they should be discovered by the enemy Within a fortnight they returned and brought word that all things in Scotland were desperate all Passes Castles Towns possessed with Garrisons of the Covenanters nor could they find any one so hardy as to dare to speak reverently or affectionately of the King Most of those who had adhered to Montrose all this while being cast down with this sad news bethought themselves of bending their courses some other way especially when they were tampered with by that honest man the Earl of Traquair to desert the service who forgetting all his vowes and imprecations he had made before the King undertook in the name of the Covenanters not only for Indemnity to all that should fall off unto them but rewardes and preferments too as if he had been all this while an Agent for the Rebels and not for the King as he pretended And yet this man was greater in the Kings favour and more confided in than any one except the Hamiltons Montrose calling his friends to counsell desires them to deliver their opinions what they conceived was fittest to be done in this sad face of things Some advise him to repair to the King at Oxford and certifie him that his Scotch Affairs were past recovery that Antrim came not with his Irish forces nor was there any appearance of them that little or no assistance had been obtained from the English and as for Armes or aid from Forein parts he had not so much as heard a word of them so that it was none of his fault that his service had no better successe Others were of opinion that it was better for him to excuse himself by Letters unto the King and to send up his Commission along with them and that he himself should step a while aside into some other Countrey till such time as it should please God to send better opportunities But all agreed in this that nothing more was to be attempted or thought of in Scotland But he himself only entertained farr other thoughts in his high and undaunted spirit He conceived himself bound never to forsake his dearest Lord the King though in extremest hazards and that it was an unworthinesse to despair of so good a cause and if he should attempt some greater matter than came within the reach or apprehension of common men he conjectured it might prove much to his own Honour and something perhaps to the Kings good too For as it was dubious whether it might please God in his mercy to look upon the King with a more favourable eye and to turn his adversity into prosperity so it was most certain that if he should not be able to goe thorough with it but perish in the enterprise he should die with Honour and his fall should be much lamented So resolved and commending himself and his successe to the disposal and protection of Almighty God he performed such Adventures without men without money without arms as were not only to the astonishment of us that were present and were eye and ear witnesses of them but also the example and envy both of all great Commanders hereafter What those were we shall declare by and by Montrose delivers those few Gentlemen that had been constant unto him to the Lord Ogilby to be conducted unto the King for as he had communicated all his former designs unto him so he did this also and conjureth him withall to deal earnestly with his Majesty for hastening of some aid if not of Men yet of Arms at least from beyond Seas So he accompanying them two dayes on their journey and leaving with them his Horses his Servants and his Carriages conveyed himself privily away from them and with what speed he could came back to Carlisle The company suspecting nothing of his departure because Ogilby and other his dearest friends were still with them marched on straight towards Oxford but thither they never reached for most of them
and 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
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
The Compleat HISTORY OF THE WARRS IN SCOTLAND Under the Conduct of the Illustrious and truly-valiant IAMES Marquesse OF MONTROSE General for his Majestie CHARLS 1st in that Kingdome TOGETHER VVith a brief Character of Him AS ALSO A True Relation of his Forein Negotiations Landing Defeat Apprehension Tryal and deplorable Death in the time of CHARLS 2d Now newly Corrected and Enlarged by an Eye-witnesse of all the fore-mentioned passages Printed in the Year 1660. Iaques Marquis deMontrose Counte de Kingcairne Seigneir de Graeme Baron du Mount dieus etc A Paris P Pontius sculpsit To the Reader THere are a few things of which I would not have them ignorant who shall chance to peruse this short History whereof some concern the Lord Marquesse of Montrose whose Actions in his Country for two years space are here published and others have relation to the Author of this work And first of all I desire thee to take notice that Montrose is the Chief of that antient and famous Family of the Grahams and is called in old Scotish Graham-more the great Graham He derives his Pedegree from that famous Graham in the Histories of Scotland who was Son-in-law to Fergus the second King of the Scots and was the first that with the assistance of his Father-in law cast down that Trench which Severus had made and set out for the utmost limit of the Roman Empire between the Scotish Frith and the River of Cluid at such a place where Great Brittain was narrowest and by that means cut the power of the Romans shorter Whence it happens that some evident remains of that Trench retain his name amongst the Inhabitants to this day who call it Gremesdike The same Graham from whom this noble Family took its rise surviving his Father-in-law Fergus and being a man as able for Civil as Military employment was made Protector unto his Nephew and Regent of the Kingdome and after he had fetched back the Doctors of the Christian Faith who had been banished by the late Wars and settled as well the Church as State with excellent Laws freely resigned the Government into the hands of his Nephew when he came to age He flourished in the time of the Emperours Arcadius and Honorius about the year of our Lord CCCC From whom hath descended in a fair and straight line a long and noble row of Posterity who imitating the virtue of their Ancestors have been famous in the succeeding generations Amongst whom that valiant Graham was eminent who with the help of Dumbarre so seasonably rescued his Country from the Danes who were then Masters of England and had frequently but with little success invaded Scotland with mighty Armies And in after times that noble Iohn Graham came nothing behind his Ancestors in virtue and honour who after the death of Alexander the Third in that vacation of the Kingdome while Bruce and Bailiol disputed their Titles was with that renowned Vice-roy William Walley a stout maintainer of his Countries Liberty against the unjust oppression and tyranny of Edward King of England and after many heroical exploits fighting valiantly for his Nation dyed in the bed of Honour His Tomb is yet to be seen in a Chapel which hath the name of Falkirk from the aforesaid Gremesdike by which it stands Adjoyning unto which the Marquesse of Montrose hath large and plentifull possessions descended by inheritance unto him from that first Graham But lest I should seem to derive the Nobility of so illustrious a Worthies extraction only out of the rubbish of dusty and obscure Antiquity I must not omit that his Grandfather the Earl of Montrose was advanced unto places of the greatest honour in that Kingdome and discharged them most happily For being Lord Chancellour of Scotland at such time as King James the Sixth of blessed memory came to the Crown of England he was created by him Vice-roy of Scotland and enjoyed that highest Honour which a Subject is capable of with the love and good affection both of King and People to the day of his death And his Father was a man of singular endowments both of body and mind and so known to be both in forein Countries and at home who after he had performed many most honourable Embassages for King James was called to be Lord President of the Session by King Charles and being snatched away from his Country and all good men by an untimely death was extremely lamented and missed And what we may think or hope of the Grand child I leave unto thee to judge by what he hath done already seeing he is yet now a year and a half after his employment in his Country scarce entred upon the 36. year of his age One thing more I must add three Periods already have been very dangerous and almost fatal to the Kingdome of Scotland the first by the oppression of the Romans whose yoke our Ancestors cast off by the Conduct of that first Graham descended of the noble British Family of the Fulgentii The second by the Danes the repulse of whom is owing especially to the prowesse of the second Graham aforesaid And the third by the English and Normans whom the third Graham twice expelled out of Scotland and gave them many and great defeats So that as it was of old spoken of the Scipioes in Africk it seems the name of Graham is something fatal to their enemies and lucky to their Country at a dead lift and that it was not without the special provideuce of God Almighty that in these worst times One stood up who did his best endeavours to maintain the Kings just Rights and Authority the Peace Safety and Liberty of the Subjects and the Honour and antient splendor of his House And this is all I thought good at this time to premise concerning the Lord Marquess of Montrose For the Author of the Book take it briefly thus He professeth himself to have been but little conversant in these sort of studies and expecteth neither credit or commendation for the strength of his wit which he acknowledgeth to be little or none nor reward or profit for his pains which two things are the chiefest incentives to most to wet their pen but that he undertook the businesse meerly out of a desire to propagate the truth to other Nations and to posterity For he saw by late and lamentable experience in such a cause as this that prosperous Villany can find more Advocates than down-cast Truth and Goodnesse For when the same Confederates in both Kingdomes had by their own arts that is by lying and slandering ruined the Church to fill their bags with its Revenews so sacrilegiously purloyned and enrich their posterity with plentifull Anathemaes and accursed things there wanted no store of men that extolled them for it to the skies as men deserving highly from their Country from the Church it self and from all mankind and reviled with all sort of reproaches and contumelies the most religious servants of God holy Martyrs
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
beating up quarters in the night did so much weaken their power and courage that they that were so haughtily daring but a while ago as well Commanders as Souldiers hastily and disorderly betook themselves by night to Innernesse when none pursued them Montrose was not much displeased that he was so rid of his enemy especially for this reason the Earl of Lindsey the prime ringleader of the Covenanters next unto Argyle and his rivall too as being brother-in-law to Duke Hamilton used to give out that Argyle wanted either care or courage and howsoever it came to passe was still unfortunate And therefore he took upon himself the command of that Army which was newly raised as if he would assay to manage the businesse with better conduct And now he had passed over with his forces into Angus intending to be a Reserve unto Baily and if any thing should happen othewise than well at the worst he was ready to hinder Montrose's passage over Forth For they were alwayes very jealous lest Montrose should remove the sent of Warr to this side the Forth and nearer Edinburgh Therefore he resolved with all speed to quell Lindsey who lay yet in Angus at a Castle called Newtill both because the General was no souldier and the souldiers raw and unacquainted with the hardship of Warr. In pursute of which design departing from Badenoth he marcheth through the plains of Marre over Gransbain and came by long and painfull journies unto the coast of the river of Airley intending to surprise the enemy on a sudden which was easie to be done for he had made such haste that the news of his approach was not so swift as himself And now Lindsey was not above seven miles from him and all things were ready for an assault when upon what occasion it is uncertain almost all the Northern men privatly ran away from their colours and going back the way that they came return into their Country The Lord Gordon was in the Camp and there was none there that detested that villany with greater indignation than he in so much that Montrose had much adoe to with-hold him from putting such of the fugitives to death as had any dependence upon him Some stick not to say that these men were inveigled away by the private directions of his father the Marquesse of Huntley to the Earl of Aboine who by reason of his sicknesse was absent For it vext Huntley a haughty and envious man to hear of the successe of Montrose nor could he endure that inward friendship which was between his eldest son and him However it was Montrose being cast down with this unexpected misfortune was forced to put off that Expedition against Lindsey and to suffer patiently so great and easie a victory to be taken out of his hands Therfore taking up new resolutions he followeth after Collonel Nathaniel Gordon a valiant man and a trusty and welbeloved in his Country whom he had sent before And by this time Baily and Hurrey had returned from Innernesse and quartered in lower Marre by the side of Dee And Montrose came by the coasts of Eske and the plains of Marre into the heart of that Country commonly called Cromarre And whiles he passed through those plains aforesaid he dispatched Mac-donald with a party into the furthest part of the Highlands to conduct such Forces as were there raised with all speed unto the Army Afterward he sent away the Lord Gordon himself to hasten and promote that levy of men which Nathaniel Gordon was listing by all the power and interests he had in those parts Which he most diligently performed and amongst others brought his Brother the Earl of Aboine back with him Whilest these things passed in Cromarre Lindsey joynes his Forces with Baily in lower Marre with whom Montrose finding himself unable to deal the most part of his Forces being gone along with the Lord Gordon and Mac-donald he stept aside to the ruinated Castle of Kargarf lest the enemy should overlay him on the champain grounds with their multitudes both of Horse and Foot but when he was close unto the Mountains he feared them not From hence Aboine falling sick again betook himself to Strathbogy and upon pretence of a guard carried along with him a considerable number of Horse whom his Brother the Lord Gordon had much adoe afterward to draw back to their colours In the mean time Lindsey took a thousand old Souldiers from Baily and gave him as many raw and new rais'd men for them and as if he intended to doe some famous exploit returning through Merne into Angus with all the pains he took he did only this he ranged with his Army up and down Athole and after he had robbed and spoiled all the Country he set it on fire In this imitating Argyle who was the first that in this age introduced that cruel and dreadful president of destroying houses and corn 〈◊〉 being better at fire than sword when they came into empty fields and towns unmann'd Baily at that time went to Bogy to besiege the fairest castle that belonged to the Marquesse of Huntley and indeed of all the North and in case he failed to take it in to waste and fire all the Country of the Gordons there-abouts Montrose although Mac-donald was absent with a great party thought it necessary to relieve Huntley and his friends whom he laboured to assure unto himself by all good offices and hied thither Where having notice that Baily's souldiers though not all yet a great part were new rais'd men for he had parted with so many old souldiers to Lindsey desired nothing more than without delay to fight him and marcheth straight towards him He had not gone above three miles before he discovered the enemies Scouts He therefore sent before some of his readiest men that knew the wayes to view the strength the rendezvouz and the order of the enemy They immediately bring word that the Foot stood on the top of a hill some two miles off and the Horse had possessed themselves of a narrow and troublesome passe which lay almost in the middle between the two Armies and were come on this side it Against them Montrose sent such Horse as he had in a readinesse with some nimble Firelocks whom they first entertained with light skirmishes afarre off and after retreated behind the passe which they had strongly mann'd with Musquetiers Montrose sends for the Foot that if it were possible they might dislodge the enemy from thence but it could not be done for they were parted by the fall of the night which both sides passed over waking and in their arms The next day Montrose sends a Trumpet to offer a set battell but Baily answers he would not receive order to fight from an enemy He therefore seeing he could not drive the enemy from those passes without manifest losse and danger that he might draw him out thence in some time marcheth off to Pitlurge and from thence to a Castle of
which he out-went all his Equals the gallantry of his person in Warr his patience in travells his evennesse of spirit in dangers his wisdom in counsells his faithfulnesse to such as submitted his quicknesse in dispatches his courtesie to such as he took prisoners in a word his truly heroick virtue in all things and towards all men And this honour most men gave him in good earnest and out of a sincere affection but some in craft and dissimulation and as every one had wit or skill they set forth his Encomiums or Panegyricks in Verse or Prose Yea such is the volubility of humane things and the inconstancy of the whirling multitude that they were not affraid openly to curse and rail at the ringleaders and prime men of the Covenanters Faction such as Argyle Lindsey Loudon and others whom a while agoe they honoured and adored for Saints as authours of all the mischiefs that had befaln them All things going on thus happily the Northern parts of the Kingdome being secured on his back the way being opened unto him into the South the power of the Rebells every where quash'd their chief leaders who in conscience of their guilt despaired of mercy driven out of the Kingdome and no considerable party remaining in arms yet in the West their were some stirrs For the Earls of Cassils and Eglington and some other promoters of the Covenanters Cause laboured to engage the Countries in a new Warr and were said to have rais'd in a tumultuary way the number of four thousand men Therefore Montrose the next day after the Battell of Kilsythe drew his men into Cluidsdale from whence the Earl of Lanerick being struck with the news of their late overthrow disbanding those men that he had rais'd was fled Montrose chose that quarter as lying most commodiously for his affairs in the South and West and marched to Glascow which is the principal City of that Countrey He receiv'd the Town into his protection and entring into it with the joyfull acclamations of the people first of all he restrained his Souldiers from plunder and then being severe against the delinquents for the terrour of others he put some of the chiefest incendiaries of them to death After that in favour of the Citizens the next day after he came he departed the Town and quartered at Bothwell Where because it was but six miles from the City lest the Citizens should be prejudiced by the insolence of the Souldiers he gave them leave to stand upon their guard and defend the City with a Garrison of the inhabitants Hoping with such acts of clemency to engage not only the men of Glascow unto himself but the inhabitants of other Cities also by good offices more than by force and Arms. At Bothwell he staid many daies where he received the personal addresses of some of the Nobility and of others by their Trustees Friends and Messengers and setled the peace of Towns and Countries thereabouts who all willingly submitted themselvs The chief of the inhabitants of those parts who came to welcome him and offer their service were the Marquesse of Douglasse a man of most noble family and chief of the Douglasses the Earl of Lithgow Anandale and Hartfield the Lord Barons of Seton Drummond Fleming Maderty Carnegy and Jonston Hamilton of Orbeston Charter of Hemps-field Toures of Innerleith a most deserving man who afterwards lost his life gallantly in battell Stuart of Resyth Dalyel a brother of the Earl of Carnwarth Knights and many more whose names I can either not rightly call to mind or else think fit to forbear at present lest by giving them an unseasonable and thanklesse commendation now whiles they lie under intolerable tyranny I should doe them more harm than honour After the victory of Kilsythe no thoughts had higher place in Montrose's noble breast than the enlargement of such Prisoners as for no other fault but the sin of Loyalty had been most basely used and still expected death in the grievous and filthy Gaol of Edinburgh Therefore he sends his Nephew Napier with Collonel Nathaniel Gordon and a commanded party of Horse to Edinburgh to summon the City and receive it upon surrender to set the Prisoners at liberty and to settle the Town in peace and loyalty but in case they stood out and refused to submit to threaten them with fire and sword They as soon as they came within four miles of the Town made a stand and intended to come no nearer unlesse they chanced to be forced unto it by the obstinacy of the Citizens as well that at that distance they might the more easily restrain the unrulinesse of the Souldiers lest they should wrong the poor inhabitants and in their fury reduce that cursed City which had been the cause and fomenter of all the Rebellion into ashes which Montrose gave them especially in charge by all cleans to prevent as also to preserve the Army safe from the plague which was hot in the City and places adjacent and whereof very many dyed every day Assoon as ever the news of their approach was brought unto the Town they all began to tremble and despair of their lives and to raise a cry as if the swords were already at their throats or their houses in a flame Not a few of them being pricked in their guilty consciences freely and openly accus'd themselves for the most ungrateful traiterous sacrilegious and perjured persons in the world and unworthy of any mercy Then applying themselves unto the Prisoners they had both calling unto them a far off and sending private messengers they implored their assistance and besought them in compassion of the poor silly people who were almost wasted with a great mortality to pacifie the anger of the Conquerours whom they had most justly incensed told them all their hopes lay in them and they were utterly undone without their help Protested moreover that if they found mercy but that one time they would redeem their former revolt with more religious fidelity and constant Allegiance ever after The Prisoners whom but the other day the basest of the people bitterly abused and reviled cursing and bequeathing them to the gallows and worse forgetting all injuries receiv'd and more troubled with the sense than revenge of their sufferings first rendred hearty thanks to Almighty God who of his mercy shewed unto them that liberty and safety which they little expected and then turning unto their deadly enemies bade them be of good chear for the most gracious King and his Lieutenant Montrose desired the safety and happinesse of his repenting Subjects and not their extirpation and ruine Therefore they advised them immediately to send some Delegates to Montrose humbly to beg his pardon for nothing could better appease the rage of a Conquerour than a speedy submission For their parts they would not be backward to mediate with him for their safety and doubted not but his high and noble spirit which could not be vanquished with their arms would yet suffer
and Trequaire and confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity and industry no question was to be made Moreover that he should make haste towards the Tweed where he should meet a party of Horse which the King would instantly dispatch out of England to be commanded by him with whom he might safely give battel to David Lesley if as was suspected he marched that way with the Covenanters Horse All this the respective bearers unanimously delivered and his most excellent Majesty being over-credulous signified by his Expresses And Montrose being now over-born with the Kings absolute Commands takes up his resolution to march to the side of Tweed But the day before he went the Souldiers being drawn up to a Rendezvouz before that Mac-donald and the Highlanders were gone Sir Robert spotswood making an humble obeysance under the Kings Standard delivered his Majesties Commission under the Great Seal unto Montrose which he again gave unto Archibald Primrose Clerk of the Supreme Councill to be read aloud That being ended in a short but stately Oration he commended the valour and Loyalty of the Souldiers and the great affection he bore them And for Mac-donald he not only extoll'd his gallantry in the head of the Army but by vertue of that authority that he had received from the King gave him the honour of Knighthood For not only Montrose but all the Kings friends were confident of the integrity of the man whose good opinion he deceiv'd not only to the undoing of the Kings cause but the utter ruine of himself and his friend Montrose following his intended journey came the second night to Calder Castle at which time the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not only his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces whom he had inveighled to desert the service Nor would he be perswaded either by reason or the intreaty of his friends who heartily detested that shameful act to stay but so much as one week and then he might depart not only with the Generals licence but with honour and the good esteem of honest men Seeing it would be no better Montrose passing by Edinburgh led his small Army through Lothianshire and in Strathgale joyned with Douglasse and the other Commanders whose Forces being much diminished were dayly mouldring more and more In that coast Traquaire himself came unto him more chearful and merry than he used to be who pretended himself to be a most faithful Servant not only to his Majesty but also to Montrose and the next day sent him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant party of Horse as if they were to be under his command that by so likely a pledge he might make Montrose more secure and so more easily ruine him For this was not the first time that Traquaire plaid the Covenanters Scout-Master that ungratefullest piece of mankind intending to betray unto them Montrose and in him the King himself Now when he was not above twelve miles from the Lords Hume and Roxburgh and they sent not so much as a Messenger to him nor offered him the smallest courtesie Montrose being much troubled at it resolved to march into their Territories and to bring them in either by fair means or foul But they prevented him by a singular device They sent unto David Lesley whom they well knew by that time was come to Berwick with all the Scotch Horse and many English Voluntiers for they were privy to all their counsels and intreated him to send a party and carry them away in the condition of prisoners which he did the day before Montrose came thither For by this means that crafty old fox Roxburgh who had Hume under his girdle conceiv'd that they might both ingratiate themselves with the Covenanters as freely committing themselves into their Protection and yet keep in the Kings favour whiles they made as if they fell into Lesley's hands sore against their wills And this being Lesley's first noble exploit he passed over Tweed and marched into the East-side of Lothian Montrose assoon as he perceived the King and himself betray'd by these men and saw no hopes of that party of Horse which was come from the King and that the too powerful enemy would block up his passage into the North and Highlands resolved to march with those few men he had into Niddisdale and Anandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could For although he had no certain intelligence concerning the strength of the enemy yet he conjectured that it consisted especially in Horse CHAP. XVI MOntrose arising from Kelsoe marched to Jedburgh and so to Selkirk where he quartered his Horse in a Village and his Foot in a wood close by For he was resolved to make sure of all advantages of ground lest he should be forced to fight with an enemy of whose strength he knew nothing upon uneven terms Then he commands the Captains of Horse to set out good store of faithful and active Scouts and to place Horse-guards in convenient places on every side and look well to their watch All which he in person as he used to do could not see done at present because that night he was dispatching letters to the King and to send away a trusty messenger that he had light upon before break of day therefore he was earrest with them to have the more care lest the enemy who were very strong in Horse should surprise them unawares And the Commanders promising all care and diligence he was so taken up with writing of Letters that he slept not all that night And sending ever and anon to the Captains of Guards men that were skilful Souldiers and so known to be in Forein Countries such uncertain noises as were brought unto him of the enemies approach they being deceiv'd either by the negligence of their Scouts or their own misfortune very confidently sent him back word there was no enemy in those parts nor in the Country thereabouts At the break of day some of the best Horse and most accquainted with the Country were sent out again to Scout they also brought word they had been ten miles about and diligently examined all by-ways and rashly wisht damnation to themselvs if they could find an enemy in arms within ten miles But afterward it appeared when it was too late that the enemy with all their Forces were then scarce four miles from Selkirk and had lain there all that night in their arms Lesley that day that Montrose departed from Jedburgh mustered his men upon Gladesmore a plain in Lothianshire where holding a councill of War with the chief of the Covenanters the result was that he should march to Edinburgh and so to the Forth that he might hinder Montrose's retreat into the North and force him to fight whether he would or no before he joyned with his Highlanders But Lesley contrary to that resolution gives order on a sudden to his whole
drew his Forces into the North and almost before he was discovered marched with a few men into Strathbogy where Huntley then lived But he being struck with his unexpected approach upon the first news he heard of him lest he should be forced to a Conference against his will immediately fled to Bogie a Castle of his situate upon the mouth of the Spey as if he intended to ferry over the River and to wage warre against the Rebels in Murray And now it comes into my mind briefly to enquire what might be the reason why Huntley bore such a spleen against Montrose who had never given him any distaste but had obliged him with curtesies many times undeserved Nor could I ever hear nor so much as guesse at any other cause but a weak and impotent emulation I cannot call it but envy of his surpassing worth and honour For I should be loath to say that his mind was ever alienated from the King but only averse unto Montrose with the unjust hatred of whom he was so possest that he precipitated himself into many unexcusable mistakes insomuch as he desired rather all things were lost than that Montrose should have the honour of saving them And now being already puffed up with an unbeseeming conceit of himself he was the more exceedingly enraged against him upon the remembrance of those injuries and disgraces he had heretofore thrown upon him and that was the chief reason as I take it that he so often avoided the sight of him For besides what we have occasionally delivered both the father and the sons had put neither few nor small affronts upno the Kings Vicegerent some few of which it will not be out of our way to relate The great guns which we told you Montrose had hid in the ground the last year they digging them up without his knowledge carried away in a kind of triumph and disposed of them in their own Castles as if they had been spoils taken from the enemy and would not restore them upon demand But those Montrose had got in the fights at Saint Johns-town and at Aberdeen in the former of which there was never a man present of that Family and in the other Lewis Gordon and his men fought on the enemies side Besides they so converted unto their own use the Gunpowder and Arms and other necessaries of War which were gained from the enemy and only deposited in their Castles as in safe and convenient store-houses that they would never make any restitution of the least part of them when they were desired Moreover Aboine upon his return home after the victory of Kilsythe set at liberty the Earl of Keith Lord Marshal of Scotland the Lord Viscount Arbuthnot and other men of quality of the enemies side who were within his custody without acquainting the Governour of the Kingdome and his brother-in-law young Drumme who by chance was present earnestly declaring his dislike of it Upon what terms he did it it is uncertain but this is evident that besides the affront done to the Lord Governour and the losse of Dunotter Castle which was of great strength and concernment in that War and other Military advantages they got by it the Rebells would never have had the boldnesse to fall so cruelly upon the Prisoners if he had but kept them in safe custody Yet more by his own private authority he exacted tributes and Customes and Taxes which the Governour himself had never done upon pretence indeed of maintaining the War but in truth to far other use and to the grievous prejudice of the Kings Cause Last of alâ— which is most to be lamented either at the entreatâ—â— of the enemy or for small sums of money they had enlarged the Prisoners that had been taken in the former battells in the North and committed to custody in their Castles Nor would they permit them to Montrose's disposall though being Prisoners of War he had reserved them for that only purpose by exchanging them to save the lives of gallant and deserving men Huntley being pricked in his conscience about all these things was alwayes as afraid of Montrose's presence as of a Pest-house But Monrrose for all that passing by injuries and laying aside all other matters bestowed his whole endeavours in promoting of the Kings service And to that end he was resolved to intrude himself into his company though never so unwelcome to insinuate into his friendship upon any conditions to yeeld unto him in all things and to deny nothing so that he might qualifie Huntley's imbittered spirit Therefore leaving his Forces in their quarters he posted early in the morning with a few Horse unto Bogie and by his undream'd of approach prevented Huntley of any opportunity of flying or hiding himself Assoon as they met Montrose so getting all that was past invited him in smooth and gentle language to associate with him in the War for the safety of the King and Kingdome and gave him so full satisfaction in all things that being at last overcome he seem'd to give him his hand and promised that not only all his men but he himself would come in person in the head of them and be with him with all possible speed Afterward they laid their heads together concerning the manner of managing the War and agreed that Huntley wafting over the Spey should make his way on the right hand by the sea-coast of Murrey and Montrose was to go round about on the left hand through Strath-Spey which was at that time of the year a very tedious and difficult march and so the design was to besiege Innernesse a Garrison of the enemies on both sides and in the mean time to draw the Earl of Seaford either by fair means or foul to their side That Garrison however it might appear to be otherwise strong and well fortified yet was very ill provided for victuall and other requisites which in that sharp Winter and tempestuous Sea could hardly be had And so now they seem'd to be agreed in all things so that Aboine and his brother Lewis wish'd damnation to themselves if they did not continue constant in their fidelity and service to Montrose to their utmost breath And the rest of the Gordons the Marquesses friends were surprised with incredible joy and made as much of their Lord and Chief as if he had been returned from the dead CHAP. XIX MOntrose supposing Huntley's spirit at last pacified and seriously inclined to joyn with him in the prosecution of the Warre marched with his Forces through Strath-Spey towards Innernesse And the more to amuse the enemy on every side he sent his cozen Patrick Graham of whose worth I have had often occasion to speak and John Drummond of Ball the younger a gentleman of approved trust and valour who had often done excellent service with authority and Commissions unto the Athole-men that if any should offer to stirre in those parts they should neglect no opportunity to suppresse them The Athole-men being
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
acknowledged his Apostacie from the Covenant and other things which he had vented in auricular confession before to the Ministers which very energetically they had pend for him In lieu of granting his life which he expected lest he should fall off from his principles which he had openly prosessed as some of their converts had done before fairly they cut off his Head and sealed his confession with his blood The rest being for the most part strangers or such as had spent most part of their time in service abroad were dismiss'd after Bond given not to enter the Kingdome again in a hostile manner A true and perfect Relation of all the passages concerning the Examination Tryal and Death of the most Honourable James Marquesse of Montrose Earl of Kincardin Lord Graeme Baron of Montdieu c. Knight of the most Honourable order of St. George Lieutenant Governour and Captain General for his Majestie in the Kingdome of Scotland THe Parliament of Scotland being informed that the Marquesse of Montrose was taken and fore-seeing that his countenance and carriage might gain him some favour amongst the People though fit to give out their sentence against him before he should come to Edinburgh And therefore upon the 17. of May anno 1650. in the morning they appointed a Committee to prepare and give in their opinions what was fittest to be done with him where the same fore-noon they gave in their report in writing to this effect That so soon as he should come to the Town he should be met at the Gate by the Magistrates and Hangman That he should be tyed with cords upon a Cart bareheaded and the Hangman to ride upon the horse that drew the Cart covered before him and so to be brought through the Town That he should be hanged on a Gibbet at the Crosse of Edinburgh untill he died his Historie and Declaration hanging about his neck and so hang three hours in publick view of all the people after which he should be behended and quartered His head to be fixt upon the Prison house of Edinburgh and his legs and arms over the gates of the Cities of Sterling Glascow Perth alias Saint Johns-Town and Aberdeen And in case he repented whereby the Sentence of Excommunication may be taken off by the Church the bulck of his body should be buried in the Gray-Fryers if not to be buried in the Borrow-moor Upon the 18. day about four a clock in the afternoon he was brought in at the Water-gate and according to the Sentence was met by the Magistrates the guards and the Hangman of the Citie the rest of the Prisoners being tyed two and two together going bare-headed before him So soon as he came within the gate the Magistrates shewed him the Sentence which when he had read and perceived the Cart and the Hangman there ready he said He would willingly obey he was only sorry that through him his Majesty whose person he presented should be so dishonoured Then going cheerfully into the Cart he being uncovered was by the Hangman tyed thereunto with ropes and the Hangman on the horse rid covered thus was he carried to the Prison and in all the way there appeared in him such a Majesty Courage and Modesty no way Daunted That his very Enemies nay common women who as it was believed by divers would have stoned him in the Cart as he passed were upon the sight of him so astonished and moved that their intended curses were turned into tears and Prayers for him Insomuch as the next day being Sunday the Ministers preached against them for not reviling and stoning of him as he passed along When he was taken from the Cart he gave the Hangman gold telling him That was a reward for driving the Cart. It was seven a clock at night before he was entered into the Prison and immediately the Parliament met and sent some of their Members and some Ministers to examine him but he refused to answer any thing to them untill he was satisfied upon what tearms they stood with the King his Royal Master Which being reported unto the Parliament they ceased proceeding against him until Monday and allowed their Commissioners to tell him that the King and they were agreed He desired to be at rest for he was weary with a long journey and he said The Complement they had put upon him that day was somewhat tedious The next day being Sunday he was constantly attended by Ministers and Parliament men who still pursued him with threatnings but they got no advantage of him he told them they thought they had affronted him the day before by carrying him in a Cart but they were much mistaken For he thought it the most Honourable and joyfull'st journey that ever he made God having all the while most comfortably manifested his presence to him and furnishing him with resolution to over-look the reproches of men and to behold him for whosE cause he sufered Upon Monday in the forenoon he was brought before the Parliament and after the delivery of a long penned discourse by the Chancellour wherein he was pleased to take notice of his miscariages againsT the first Covenant the League and Covenant his Invasion and joyning with the Irish Rebels and bloodgâ—â—â—â—iness and that now how God had brought him to just punishment He desired to know if he might be allowed to speak for himself which being granted he said Since you have declared unto me that you have agreed with the King I look upon you as if his Majesty were sitting amongst you and in that Relation I appear with this reverence bare-headed My care hath been alwayes to walk as became a good Christian and a loyal Subject I engaged in the first Covenant and was faithfull to it untill I perceived some private persons under colour of Religion intended to wring the Authority from the King and to seize on it for themselves and when it was thought fit for the clearing of honest men that a bond should be subscribed wherein the security of Religion was sufficiently provided for I subscribed For the League and Covenant I thank God I was never in it and so could not break it but how farr Religion hath been advanced by it and the sad consequences that have followed on it these poor distressed Kingdoms can witnesse for when his late Majesty had by the blessing of God almost subdued those enemies that rose against him in England and that a faction of this Kingdome went in to the assistance of them His Majesty gave Commission to me to come into this Kingdom and to make a diversion of those forces that were going from hence against Him I acknowledged the command most just and I conceiv'd my self bound in conscience and duty to obey it What my carriage was in this Country many of you may bear witnesse Disorders in any Army cannot be prevented but they were no sooner known than punished never was any blood spilt but in battel and even then many thousand