greater confidence she reposed in Hamilton and his brother Montrose seeing no good was to be done with the Queen goes to Glocester and declares all things to the King himself How there was a powerfull Army to be raised in Scotland and a day appointed on which it should be brought into England how their counsels were manifestly known unto him and how to fetch him over to their side they had offered him very honourable commands in the Army but that he heartily detesting so horrid an employment had sled to his Majesty that he having notice thereof if he were not able to provide so timely and powerful a remedy as could be wished at least might cast some blocks and rubs in their way untill such time as he had setled his affairs in England that the Traitours of either Kingdome might be easily dealt withall by themselves but if they came once to joyn their forces they would be hardly supprest that there were very many in Scotland who would sacrifice themselves and all that they had for their dearest King whose good will would be of no use unto his Majesty after the Covenanters had raised their Army but destructive unto themselves that the haughty spirits of the Traitors were to be sneap't in time and their strength broken before it grew too big lest the beginnings being neglected repentance should prove the only opposition that could be made afterward These things and to this effect did Montrose continually presse unto the King but in vain for he had not only the strong and deeply-rooted confidence his Majesty had of the Hamiltons to struggle with but the devices of a set of desperate Courtiers beside who daily buzzed in the Kings eares Montrose's youth his rashnesse his ambition the envy and hatred he bare unto the Hamiltons and what not and on the other side the Hamiltons fidelity their honesty their discretion their power Thus Monrose nothing prevails and the King returns to his winter-quarters at Oxford And although his Majesty saw very well reports comming thick and threefold of the Scotish Army that all was true that Montrose had told him yet the most religious King determined upon no terms to give any occasion of quarrell to the Scots till first they entered England resolving that he for his part would perfectly observe the articles of Pacification he had made with them which if they should violate he doubted not but they should highly answer it both to God and him While these things were discussed at Oxford the Covenanters in Scotland bring their businesse about according to their desires no one opposing them They raise as big an Army as they can which consisted of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse and at last when they had marched unto the very borders the Hamiltons were not ashamed to give the King notice by Letters of the approach of that formidable Army making this their excuse that according to their engagement they had prevented an invasion the summer before but now that winter was come on they were able to keep them out no longer but they would come in immediately with a powerfull Army The King when he saw himself thus grosly abused sends for Montrose shews him the Hamiltons Letters and at last when it was even too late askes his advice what was best to be done Montrose tells him that his Majestry might now see that what he had before given him notice of had neither proceeded from ambition nor malice nor any self-ends but from his bounden duty and allegiance that for above a twelve-month he had been continually pressing both their Majesties to prevent this that he accounted himself very unhappy that all that while so faithfull a servant could not be credited by so good a Master that the case seemed now desperate but if the King had a mind he might trust them again who by pretence of his authority had bound some of his friends hands that they could not assist him and drawn in others who intended nothing lesse under colour of Loyalty to fight against him and given up unto the Rebells now that they had got an Army all that they had without striking a stroke The King complaining that he was most abominably betrayed by them with whom he had entrusted his Crown his Honour his Secrets his Life earnestly demanded his advice He repeating again the lamentablenesse of the condition in which things now stood neverthelesse offered that if his Majesty so thought good he would either lose his life which if he did he would be sure it should seem rather sold then lost or else which he did only not despair he would reduce his Country-men and bring the Rebels there into subjection The King being no little pleased with the confidence undauntednesse and gallantry of the man that he might more advisedly contrive his design desired him to take two or three dayes to consider of it and so dismist him Montrose returning at the time appointed shews his Majesty how desperate an adventure he was undertaking that all Scotland was under the Covenanters command that they had Garrisoned all places of strength that they were plentifully provided both of men and mony and armes and ammunition and victuall and all things necessary for a Warr that the English Rebells were joyned with them in a most strict Covenant to defend one another against all the world But for his own part he had nothing to set up with neither men nor arms or pay yet he would not distrust Gods Assistance in a righteous cause and if the King would lay his Commands upon him he would undertake to do his best The King should be in no worse case than he was He himself would take what malice envy or danger should fail upon himself so that his Majesty were graciously pleased to condescend to a few reasonable requests And first that the business might go on more successively it seemed to him very necessary that the King should send some Souldiers out of Ireland into the West of Scotland Next that he should give order to the Marquesse of Newcastle who was the General of the Kings forces towards Scotland that he should assist Montrose with a party of horse to enter the South of Scotland by which means he might convey himself into the heart of the Kingdome Then that he should deal with the King of Denmark for some troops of German horse And lastly that his Majesty should take some course to procure and transport some arms out of some forein country into Scotland nothing needed more but humane industry the success was Gods part and to be referred to his providence The King commending his counsel and giving him thanks that he apprehended some life in the business encourageth him to fit himself cheerfully for so great a work and wished him to leave the care of those things he had requested unto him And truly for the matter of aid out of Ireland the King sends for the Earl of Antrim and acquaints him
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
up unto the Camp if he would but be pleased to draw that way with never so small a party of his forces And so it would come to passe that not only their friends and clients but the whole Country being animated with his presence and authority would cheerfully take up armes as one man and if they stood out they might be compelled or a course taken with them Therefore they earnestly besought him to afford them his assistance in this and in all the rest he should find them his most faithfull and ready servants These were fair words and at first hearing seemed to carry an honest meaning along with them but were promised with that kind of faith that the Creatures and Favourites of the too indulgent King are used to keep And perhaps upon that score the Earl of Lanerick Duke Hamiltons Brother is more to be commended whom Montrose having earnestly sollicited by friends to come off to the Kings side although that way he might very likely expect his pardon for what was past and the releasement of his Brother yet without any dissimulation he gave this peremptory answer That he would have nothing to do with that side and that he would never pretend that friendship which he intended not to preserve And I would to God all they on whom the good King has too much relied had delivered themselves with the same candor and plain dealing ever since the beginning of these troubles About the same time Montrose sent the Marquesse of Douglasse and the Lord Ogilby over into Anandale and Niddisdale that there with the assistance of the Earls of Anandale and Hartfield they might list as many Souldiers Horse especially as they could And gives them orders withall to march with such as they should so raise towards Trequaire Roxborough and Hume that they might engage them without any further put-offs in an association with them For Montrose understood a little what Court-holy-water meant and therefore was something suspitious of the delayes which they fram'd the rather having had some experience of their cunning and slipperynesse especially of Trequaires And truly Douglasse by the chearful endeavours of the Earls of Anandale and Hartfield had quickly raised a considerable party if one count them by the head but they were new men taken from their plows and flocks and but raw Souldiers forward enough at the first charge but by and by their hearts fail them and they can by no means be kept to their colours When Douglasse and the rest of the Commanders considered this they write again and again to Montrose that he would make haste after them with his old Souldiers towards Tweed for by his presence and authority and the company and example of the old Souldiers they might be brought either willingly or whether they would or no to know their duties In the mean time according to his command they goe on to Strathgale freely offering an opportunity and their service if it needed to Roxborough and Trequair to draw out their men more easily and timely But they good men who well enough understood the secretest counsels of the Covenanters and knew that all their Horse would be there immediately out of England under the command of David Lesley intended nothing more than to over-reach the King with their old tricks and to deliver Montrose whose glory they envied into the hands of his enemies though not by arms for that they could not yet by treachery To that end they insinuate again and again not only unto Douglasse and his party but to Montrose himself by their friends and frequent messengers that for their parts they were ready to expose their persons to the utmost hazard but they could never be able to draw together their friends clients and Trained bands except they were animated and encouraged with Montrose his presence And that they might be the better believed they curse themselves to the pit of Hell if they did not stand stifly and unalterably to their promise Montrose notwithstanding was not taken with all this but staid still at Bothwell conceiving that if there were any truth or honesty in their words Douglasse and his party who still lay in the Countrey adjacent would be sufficient for the rasing and encouraging of their friends and dependents At length when Montrose had quartered a great while at Bothwell most of the Highlanders being loaden with spoil ran privily away from their colours and returned home Presently after their very Commanders desired Furloghs for a little while pretending that the enemy had not an Army in the field within the borders of that Kingdome and therefore their service for the present might well be spared besides they complained that their Houses and Corn in and with which their parents wives children were to be sustained that winter were fired by the enemy and no provision made for them so that they humbly desired to be excused for a few weeks in which they might take care to secure their families from hunger and cold Also they solemnly and voluntarily engaged their words that they would return many more than they went and much refreshed within forty dayes These Montrose seeing he could not hold them as being Voluntiers and fighting without pay that he might the more engage them thought fit to dismisse them not only with Licences but Commissions And giving publick commendations to the Souldiers and thanks in his Majesties name to the Commanders exhorting them to follow their business closely and vigorously he appoints Alexander Mac-donald their Countryman and Kinsman who was but too ambitious of that employment to be their Companion and Guide who should bring them back to the Camp by the day appointed Who in a set speech gave thanks in all their names to the Lord Governour for his so noble favour and as if he had been their Bail or Surety with a solemn Oath undertook for their sudden return yet he never saw Montrose after Nor was he contented to carry away with him the whole Forces of the Highlanders who were more than three thousand stout men but he privily drew away sixscore of the best Irish as if forsooth he had pick'd them out for his Life-guard About this very time many messengers came several wayes to Bothwell from the King at Oxford Amongst whom one was Andrew Sandilands a Scotch-man but bred in England and entred into holy Orders there a very upright man faithful to the King and much respected by Montrose who continued constantly with him unto the end of the War Another was Sir Robert Spotswood once the most deserving President of the highest Court in Scotland and now his Majesties Secretary for that Kingdom who passed from Oxford through Wales into Anglesey and thence getting a passage into Loghaber came into Athole and was conducted by the men of Athole unto Montrose Almost all the Agents that came brought this Instruction amongst the rest That it was his Majesties pleasure that he should joyn unto himself the Earls of Roxburgh
his main drift to unite them Several meetings were appointed to this purpose but all in vain neither could any industry prevail to make an agreement so inveterate was their malice each to other so jealous were they one of anothers proceedings This variance made a long demur in that expedition which was far sooner intended The causes of which were partly set down in the beginning of the Historie and partly hatched by the Duke himself who looking as he was a man very ambitious of honour upon all the Marquesses actions with a squint eye fretted much that there was any within the same kingdome who so farr surpassed him in gallantrie and esteem nor could he brook that any one should possesse the Kings ear so much as he and for these reasons he employed his utmost endeavours in defeating all Montrose's enterprises But his Brothers known disservices and bad successe together with his own neglect or ill managing of businesse at Strivling bridge much retarded and obscured his claym to the Kings favour in the particular he sought for And to speak impartially the Marquesses worth and experience was such that it did easily sway the ballance in an indifferent mans judgement even though the other two had been thrown in to make up the weight The Marquesse having against his will spent a great deal of time in these disputes departed at last from Holland and travell'd up into Germanie and so to Austria The Emperour who in his late warrs against the Swede hath been very unsuccessfull hearing of his arrivall invited him to his Court and amongst many other honours conferr'd upon him freely proferr'd him the Command of ten thousand men which should be a standing Army constantly to be recruited With free power to engage at his own discretion without receiving orders from any but the Emperoâ—r himself Which charge the Marquesse being willing to accept and about to receive yet rather that he might if it were possible advance that cause which he had in hand than for any desire of honour he was prevented by that happy peace concluded betwixt the Emperour the Swedes which all who love the Common good of Christendome wish to be lasting and perpetual Being from thence very honourably dismiss'd he addresses himself to the Dukes of Brandeburg and Holsteyn from the last of which he receiv'd those ships which were kept a great while at Amsterdam to no purpose being three or four very fair vessels and well mann'd Which Prince would have willingly contributed more to that service but that he perceiv'd that which he had before given to be so misemployed wherein both he and the Marquesse were grossly abus'd as in the ensuing relation shall appear Great were the promises which had been made to the Marquesse by many other Princes but they proved very slack in the performance so that the assistance which was so generally expected proved nothing else but a meer formalitie complement But the season of the year being now fit for action he resolves with what speed he can to call together those he could get and to that purpose removes to Hamburgh from whence he might have a convenient passage to the Northern Isles of Scotland But ere we further proceed it will not be imperrinent to our purpose to take a slender view of that kingdom whither this expedition was intended and of the condition wherin it then was Scotland was then in a reasonable posture of quiet for the old grudges by taking away the heads of factions wherof some had suffer'd after Philip Haugh and others were detained Prisoners in England were tak'd up for a while And a certain number of Horse and Foot modell'd into an Army was muster'd and dispos'd of in several places of the Kingdom to prevent any forein invasion or homebred insurrection which might happen These were commanded by David Lesley Colonel Mountgomery Colonel Straughan c. being in all fifteen hundred Horse and three thousand Foot commanded by Lieut. General Holborn This handful did at that time over-awe and keep under the discontented party though far more powerful For besides those which had been disbanded by the Earl of Lanerick and Major General Munroe at the bridge of Striveling there flock'd dayly out of England great companies of those who had escaped out of prison who finding their estates Sequestered and feiz'd upon and withall most tyrannically proceeded against by the hot-spirited Ministery desired nothing more than an oportunity of revenge Besides these he had a considerable number of his own name and faction in the North. The Gordons the Athole-men who if he had not been crush'd at his first entry would certainly have assisted him This condition of the Kingdom made the Marquess appear like a prodigious Mereor hanging over their heads which awak'd those who sat at the helm of the State whom it did indeed most concern to endeavour the defeating of his attempts both at home and abroad For this purpose was there a solemn Message dispatch'd to the Prince then Resident at the Hague whom presently upon the news of his Fathers death they proclam'd King inviting him home upon certain conditions which were publish'd in this Kingdom and need not therefore be inserted In the mean time the Marquess who had now gathered together a company of gallant Gentlemen as well English as Scots makes all possible haste dispatches Colonel John Ogilby to Amsterdam to entertain such strangers as might be for his purpose But he forgeting his Commission bestowed both moneys and pains in entertaining himself suffering those who upon any terms would have engaged to shift for themselves There being a great number who had fled out of England and more who had lately deserted the French or been cashier'd from the Hollanders service Thus were these goodly Vessels sufficiently provided for service lost by his neglect and a limb of the design broken There hapned about this time another business which did much retard the Marquesses affairs Colonel Cochran who had been dispatched Commissioner into Poland to the Scotish Merchants there to require their assistance having procured very considerable sums of money upon that score and other provision for the furthering of that expedition dispos'd of the mony for his own uses made sale of the corn and provision together with the Vessel which was provided for the transportation of it and did himself turn tail to the quarrel This was another disappointment General King likewise whom the Marquess expected out of Sweden with a considerable party of Horse either could not be ready so soon as was expected or else delayed the time of purpose But the Marquess as is supposed feating lest he should have an express command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt the Prince and the Scotish Commissioners was now very near a conclusion did precipitate himself those that were with him into a most inevitable ruine Now all those great leavies and aydes Those mighty preparations for the invasion of a kingdome
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
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
it self to be overcome with the prayers and lamentations of men in misery The Edinburgians being comforted with these hopes and assisted with this good advice immediately call a Hall to consult of sending Delegates There were among the prisoners of those that were most high in birth and favour with Montrose Lodowick Earl of Crawford Chief of the most antient and noble family of the Lindseys a man famous for Military service in forein Nations amongst the Swedes Imperialists and Spaniards This man by the power and cunning of his cosen the Earl of Lindsey who because he was greedy of the honour and title of the Earl of Crawford was greedy also of his life was designed by the Covenanters to be put to death Nor was it for any other crime but for being a Souldier and an expert man and one that had done faithful service for his Master the King and it was feared he would do so again if he should be suffered to live There was also James Lord Ogilby Son to the Earl of Airley one singularly beloved by Montrose who was formidable both for his Fathers and his own virtue and authority He also being an enemy to Argyle both upon old fewds and some fresher wrongs was just as deep in sin and danger as Crawford These therefore the Common Councill of Edinburgh chose out of the rest of the prisoners and immediately setting them at liberty they earnestly pray and beseech them to assist their Delegates to the uttermost of the power they had with the Lord Governour and to labour to hold his hands off that miserable City upon which the hand of God himself lay so heavy already And they curse themselvs and their posterity to the pit of Hell if they should ever prove unmindful of so great a favour or unthankful to them that did it They were not backward to undertake a businesse which was so universally desired but taking the Delegates along with them went forth to Napier He having by the way delivered his dear Father his Wife his Brother-in-law Sir Sterling Keer and his Sisters out of the prison at Limnuch whither the Covenanters had removed them from Edinburgh Castle marched back unto his Uncle with his Forces and those prisoners now at liberty and the Delegates of the City as having done his businesse Montrose embracing Crawford and Ogilby his dearest friend whom he had long longed for and rejoycing to see them safe and sound used them with all honour and accommodation after their long restraint and they on the other side magnified their deliverer and avenger with high praises and thanks as became them to do on both sides affording a spectacle of great joy to the beholders Afterwards the Delegates of Edinburgh were admitted to audience and delivered their Message from the Provost and City The sum was They would freely surrender the Town unto the Governour humbly desired his pardon promised to be more dutiful and loyal for the time to come committed themselves and all that they had to his patronage and protection for which they earnestly besought him Moreover they undertook forthwith to set the rest of the prisoners at liberty according to his appointment and to do any thing else that he should enjoyn them And although the City was so wasted with a grievous contagion that no men could be raised of it yet they were ready as far as their share came to pay contribution to such as should be raised in other places And above all things they humbly begged at his hands that he would labour to mitigate the anger of their most gracious Lord the King that he might not be too severe with that City which by the cunning authority and example of a seditious and prevailing party had been engaged in Rebellion Montrose bade them be confident of the rest and required no more at their hands than to be hereafter more observant of their loyalty to the King and faithfully to renounce all correspondence with the Rebells in arms against him either without or within the Kingdome To restore the Castle of Edinburgh which it was evident was in their custody at that time unto the King and his Officers Lastly assoon as the Delegates came home to set the Prisoners at liberty and send them to him And truly as for the Prisoners they sent them away upon their return but as to other Articles they were perfidious and perjured and if they do not repent must one day give an account unto God the assertor of truth and justice for their high ingratitude and reiterated disloyalty Whiles these things passed concerning Edinburgh Montrose sent away Alexander Mac-donald to whom he joyned Iohn Drummond of Ball a stout Gentleman into the Western coasts to allay the tumults there and to spoil the designs of Cassils and Eglington But they receiving the alarm of Mac-donalds approach were immediately disperst in a great fright Some of the Earls and other Nobles made straight into Ireland others plaid least in sight in I know not what lurking places All the Western Countries the Towns of Aire Irwin and others strove which should first submit freely offering their fidelity and service Neither which was more than he expected did Montrose ever find men better affected to the King than in those Western parts For most of the Gentry Knights and Chiefs of Families and some also of the prime Nobility came off chearfully to his side VVhose names which otherwise ought to have been registred with honour at the present I shall passe by if not in an acceptable perhaps yet certainly in an advantageous silence for I should be loath so honest and loyal souls should be questioned by their cruel enemies for their good affections upon my information CHAP. XV. MOntrose had now taken into his thoughts the setling of the South-borders and sent unto the Earls of Hume Rosburough and Trequair to invite them to associate with him for matter of Peace and VVar and all things that were to be done in the name and by the authority of the King These wete not only the powerfullest men in those parts by reason of the multitude of their friends and their great retinue but also made as though they were most cordial assertors of the Kings authority For besides the bond of Allegiance which was common to them with others they were engaged unto him by extraordinary benefits Not were they only advanced unto great Honours by him as being raised from the order of Knighthood to a high pitch of Nobility but were made Governours of the most gainful Countries and by that means being inriched above their equals and their own condition heaped up wealth indeed unto themselves but envy and hatred upon the King They again dispatch some of their friends of the best quality to assure him That they were ready to undergo any hazard under his conduct and command in the behalf of their most bountifull King They promise moreover to raise a world of men and nothing hindered their comming
Articles signed by the Kings hand with Injunctions now the third time wherein he was required to disband without further delay and the same messenger charged him in the Kings name under pain of high Treason to give obedience forthwith to the Kings Command And besides his Majesties pleasure there was another thing which hastened him which was that those that had engaged with him had most of them privately and by their friends laboured to make their peace with the Rebels which was evidently known by good tokens of the Earl of Seaforth and others As for Huntley and Aboine they did not only professe themselvs open enemies to Montrose but also threatned to fall upon him by force of arms if he did not immediately submit to the Kings authority And Antrim being newly arrived out of Ireland in the Highlands without either men or arms busied himself to draw away all the Highlanders as his kindred allies to himself from Montrose's Army whom in scorn he call'd the Governour of the Low-lands making by this means an unseasonable fraction and a pernitious one to his friends in those parts All which Montrose having well considered he was forced according to the Kings command to disband his Army And truly that was a most sad day in which having sollemnly prais'd and encourag'd his souldiers as well as the occasion permitted he took his leave of them For althuogh he bid them to be of good comfort however and told them he saw some day-light of a blessed peace and that he did as much service to the King by his present submission as he had done before by his Martial atchievements Yet notwithstanding they all conceiv'd that that was the last day of the Kings authority in Scotland and all of them beleeved for certain that those Commands from the King were wrested from him upon the apprehension of greater dangers to his person if he had not given them And although some provision had been made by Articles in writing for their Indemnity yet they had raher have undergone the worst that could fall than survive idle and unserviceable spectators of the miserable dition of their dearest King And it was no little vexconation to those generous spirits to think what an unworthy opinion forein Nations and their own posterity must needs have of them as if the Scotish Nation had been unanimously guilty of Rebellion and desertion of so good a King Besides their sorow was much augmented with the consideration that their General who was most valiant most successfull and therefore most beloved should be taken off so unhappily from the King from his Country from themselvs and all good men So that his souldiers falling down at his feet entreated him with tears in their eyes that seeing the safety of the Kings person depended so much upon it and he must of necessity depart the Kingdome he would be pleased to take them along with him into what part of the world soever he went Professing their readinesse to live and fight any where under his command and if God would have it so to die too And truly many of them were resolved though to the certain hazard of their lives and estates to follow him even against his will and knowledge and to offer him that service in an unknown land that they were able to afford him no longer in their miserable Country By the Articles to which the King had consented according to the desires of the Covenanters it was especially provided that Montrose should depart Scotland before the first of September and that they should find him shipping with provision and all things necessary when he went These things were transacted the first of August and a Port in Angus designed for Monrose whither they were to send shipping from whence 〈◊〉 was to imbark And Montrose to prevent and remove all occasions of exception or suspition being accompanied only with his own servants and a very few friends betook himself thither and waited for the shipping About this time his most implacable enemies set abroad crafty and feigned reports by their fit instruments wherein they confidently averted that the States of the Kingdome as they call'd themselvs would by no means suffer that so gallant a Subject should be banished the Country For they knew not how great need they might have of a man of his worth especially if the King who had cast himself freely upon the affections of the Scots could not get any right of the English but should be put to seek it by force and arms and if it came to that no age had afforded a better General than Montrose And truly that was the earnest desire and expectation of most men who were not able to dive into the bottome of the Rebells plots but they had far other designs in hand and another game to play For what their thoughts were towards the King the sad event made too manifest and for Montrose they laid very unconscionable and unworthy traps to catch him For they did this that if they could flatter him up with such vain hopes and entice him to stay in the Kingdome beyond his time appointed they might take hold of him upon the Articles and cut him off with more credit August was almost spent and no news at all was to be had about the shipping or safe conduct therefore Montrose although he was resolved to be gon by the day the King had limited that he might more fully grope the intentions of the Covenanters gave leave to some of his friends to deal with them for further time But when they brought him nought but uncertain and doubtfull answers he had reason to think they intended nothing but to delude and intrap him Besides which made his suspition so much the greater there came a ship upon the very last day allowed for his stay to wit on the last of August into the haven of Montrose The master of it was not only a stranger to him but a most rude and violent abettor of the Rebells the Seamen and Souldiers men of the same temper malicious dogged and ill-condition'd the ship it self neither victualled not fit to go to Sea So that when Montrose shew'd himself ready to depart and bad them hoise their sailes assoon as they could the Master of the ship told him that he must have some dayes allowed him to pitch and rigge his ship before he durst adventure himself to the wind and waves And then making great brags of himself and his ship he drew forth a Commission which the Covenanters had given him wherein he was required to transport the passengers to certain places assigned by themselvs and to carry no body else Moreover there lay great English ships and men of War every day in sight about the mouth of the river Eske which makes the haven of Montrose attending there in favour of the Rebells for their much-desired booty that by no means he might escape their hands But Montrose had sufficient notice of their treacheries
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
with him again were no partakers in this joy For some of his papers being taken many of them were afterwards discovered and suffer'd in their estates The Marquesse being now in the Custodie of his mortal enemies from whom he could not expect the least favour Yet exprest a singular constancie and in a manner a carelesenesse of his own condition Comming to his Father-in-laws house the Earl of Southesks where two of his children were he procur'd liberty from his Guard to see them but neither at meeting or parting could any change of his former countenance be discern'd or the least expression heard which was not suitable to the greatnesse of his spirit and the same of his former actions T is memorable of the Town of Dundee where he lodg'd one night â—hough it had suffer'd more by his Army than any else within that kingdome yet were they amongst all the rest so far from insulting over him that the whole Town testified a great deal of sorrow for his wofull condition and there was he likewise furnished with cloaths fairable to his birth and person Being come to Leith he was received by the Magistrates of the City of Edinburgh and staying a while there to refresh himself he was afterward led towards the City by that way which goes betwixt Leith and the water-gate of the Abbey And with him all the Prisoners of qualitie on foot betwixt thirty and fourty but he himself had the favour to be mounted on a cart-horse Having ended this part of his journey with as much state as in triumphs is accustomed to be he was not at the end of the Cannon-Gate by some other Officers and the Executioner in his Liverie Coat Into whose hands he was delivered There was fram'd for him a high seat in fashion of a Chariot upon each side of which were holes through which a cord being drawn and crossing his brest and arms bound him fast down in the Chayr The Executioner being commanded so to do took off the Marquesses hat put on his own bâ—nnet and the Chariot being drawn by four horses he mounted one of the first and very solemnly began to drive along towards the Tol-booth The people who were assembled in great multitudes and were many of them heretofore very desirous to see this spectacle could not now refrain from tears and those who had heretofore wished him all misfortune began to be shaken with the first scene of his Tragedy But the implacable Ministrie having him now at their mercie could never be satisfied with his calamities They reviled him with all possible spite objected frequently to him his former condition and his present miserie and pronounced heavy judgments against him being come to the Toll-booth he was very closely shut up and strong guards set upon him all accesse denyed to him no not his Father-in-law or any of his friends suffer'd to come nigh him There he was a considerable time all which the Ministers never ceased to exacerbate his misery Of whom one being asked why they could not otherwise be satisfied but by so ignominious handling of him He answered They knew no other way to humble him and bring him home to God Certain it was that all these disgraces which were put upon him were the only inventions of the Assembly then sitting to whose wisdomes the devising of his punishment was referr'd by the Councill of State All this while the holy Covenant was press'd upon him with much vehemencie which when he with much reason and conviction to them refus'd they had recourse to their ordinary way of rayling and malediction and one of them was so bold to tell him he was a faggot of hell and he saw him burning there already They urged also upon him as the price of his releasment from excommunication an open confession of his faults and an acknowledgment of the guilt of blood which had been shed the years past in which he had been in arms but all to no purpose But more particularly because the battell of Kilsyth had been lost upon so great odds he was much solicited to discover the Conspiratours in the overthrow of that Army but that took no effect nor is it yet since he left it undiscover'd known to any Scotish man alive whether there were any connivance in 't or no. He was very frequent in his devotions whilst he was in prison and exprest much more cheerfulnesse than he had done at any time before since his being taken prisoner After he had endur'd these private batteries and assaults with a great deal of constancy he was at last brought before a publick auditorie to be sisted The Parliament had a little while before been called for proclaming the King and ordering the affairs of the Kingdome whither he was brought and did appear with a very undismayd countenance in a rich Mantle layd over with massie lace His chief adversaries were the Marquesse of Argyle his known and invetetate enemy Earl of Lowdon the Chancellour of Scotland of the same name faction Lowdon Ker a violent and high spirited man Cassells another of his adversaries was gone in Commission to the King These of the Nobility were most against him Of the Gentry the Laird of Swinton a potent man in that Parliament Sir James Stuart Provost of the City of Edinburgh a man likewise in great esteem the Lord Hopton a Lord of the Session and President of the Committee for Examinations and several others But the whole Assembly was violent against him neither could he be admitted to any place there that was not publickely invective against him But amongst them all the Ministers of Edinburgh in this strife carried the honour and of them Mr. Robert Trayle and Mr. Mungo Law two such venemous Preachers as no man that knows them can mention their names without detest The first of the two had been Chaplain before to the Marquesse of Argyle and was his companion in his flight from the battel of Ennerlochie and now Prisoner to the States of England Many and grievous were the accusatious laid to his charge First that he had by his pernicious insinuation diverted the King from the Counsells of his well-wishing Subjects The introducing the Irish into the bowells of the Kingdome The murther of some particular persons the utter spoyl and devastation of the Marquesse of Argyles lands and the killing and destroying of divers well-affected people and that in cold blood The cruel usage of some ministers at his last landing The Complainers were there present but could allege nothing save only that he had restrain'd them from rayling His transacting with forein States for the invasion of his Native Country and bringing in of Foreiners now the second time and that without any known Commission His obstinate persecution of all Covenanters against his own oath and engagement and his Apostacie from his first principles The Marquess knowing how much his defences would avail him did not much labour to clear himself but answer'd all in general For
was loath to engage those few gallant men again whose Horses were spent already in two sharp services with the enemy who was reinforced with fresh Foot Therefore observing the enemies Horse not yet rallied since their new rout and standing at a sufficient distance from their Foot he rode about among his own Foot who had been sore galled already with the enemies Ordnance and bespeaks them to this effect We do no good my fellow souldiers while we dispute the matter at thus much distance except we cloze up with them how shall we know an able man from a weak a valiant man from a coward If ye would assail these timorous and brawnelesse shrimps with handy-blows they will never be able to stand you Goe to therefore fall about them with your swords and but-ends of your muskets beat them down drive them back and make them pay what is justly due for their treason and rebellion It was no sooner said than they fall to work break in upon the enemy defeat them rout them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster than they whom the Conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they scap'd scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Victors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's men came in thronging amongst them through the gates and posterns and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought four hours upon such equal terms that it was an even lay whether had the odds At this Battell Montrose had some great Guns but they were unserviceable because all advantages of ground were possessed by the enemy but the enemies Guns made no small havock of his men Among others there was an Irishman that had his legg shot off with a Cannon bullet only it hung by a little skin he seeing his fellow-souldiers something sad at his mischance with a loud and cheerfull voyce cryes out Come on my Comrades this is but the fortune of Warr and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Do you stand to it as becomes you and as for me I am sure my Lord Marquesse seeing I can no longer serve on foot will mount me on horse-back So drawing out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his own hand and gave his legg to one of his fellow souldiers to bury And truly when he was well again and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdeen on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entred the City and allowed them two dayes rest CHAP. VII IN the mean time news was brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces than those they dealt with last the Earle of Lothian accompanying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aberdeen to Kintor a Village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependents of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollock to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out of England or some place else That he had fought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not be expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with great and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out alwayes without timely relief Still nothing troubled Montrose more than that none of the Gordons of whom he conceived great hopes came in unto him And there wanted not some of them who testified their great affection to the service but that Huntley the chief of the Family being a back-friend to Montrose had with-held them all either by his own example or private directions and that himself being forced ro sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdome envied that honour to another of which he had missed himself and had forbidden even with threats all those with whom he had any power to have any thing to do with Montrose or to assist him either with their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnesses where he knew the enemies horse wherein their great strength consisted could do them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the justice of his cause and the valour of his souldiers he made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogg and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And comming to the side of the river Spey not farr from an old castle called Rothmurk he incamped there with an Army if one respect the number but very small but it was an expert and cheerfull one and now also something accquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he finds the men of Cathnes and Suderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in arms to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his back Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himself from their Horse the turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scarce passable for Horse There for certain dayes he was very sick which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordain a day of publique Thankesgiving to Almighty God for that great deliverance Nor were their Levites you may be sure backward in that employment in their Pulpits for as if they had been of counsell at the Decree and stood by at the execution they assured the people that it was as true as Gospel that the Lord of Hostes had slain Montrose with his own hands But this joy did not last them long for he recovered in a short space and as if he had been risen from the dead he frighted his enemies much more than he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donald with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up arms with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himself goes into Angus hoping it might happen that he should either force Argyle with his tyred Horse unto his Winter quarters or at least leave him far enough behind him For Argyle had pursued him slowly and at such distance that it was apparent he thought of nothing lesse than of giving him battail Therefore going through Angus and getting over the Grainsbain which going along with a continued ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equal parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome
And now that he had left Argyle so far behind him that he might safely take some time to recruit he went to Strathbogy that he might meet with the Gordons and perswade them to engage with him But he lost his labour for they were forestalled by Huntley and after his example plaid least in sight For such as were generous and daring spirits though they were loath to provoke the indignation of their Chief yet they could not but be ashamed that at a time when there might be so much use of them they did nothing Besides the Lord Gordon Huntley's eldest Son a man of singular worth and accomplishment was detained by Argyle his Uncle by the Mothers side the Earl of Alboin the second Son was inclosed within the siege of Carlisle and Lewis another Son was of the enemies side so that there was no one of Huntley's family under whose authority they should take up Armes Notwithstanding Montrose quartered there a great while in which time almost every other night marching seven or eight or ten miles with a party of light Foot for Horse he had few or none he used to give alarms to the enemy beat up their quarters put them to flight and frequently to bring home horse and men prisoners And because he alwayes brought his men safe off it was strange to see how cheerfull and daring his souldiers were so that though their number was not great there was nothing that he would lead them on unto that seemed great to them At last when he despaired of any good to be done with the Gordons at the end of October he removed from Strathbogy and came to Faivy Castle and possest it There he was like to have been utterly undone by the bad and false intelligence his Scouts in whom he put great confidence brought unto him concerning the enemy for those whom they perswaded him were scarce got over Grainsbain were on a sudden encamped within two miles of him Argyle and Lothian had there two thousand five hundred Foot and twelve hundred Horse Montrose now when Mac-donald was absent with a party had fifteen hundred Foot and about fifty Horse If he should have descended into the Plain with so small strength it had been madnesse and to keep a Castle and no strong one neither he thought dishonourable and derogatory to the credit of his late victories Therefore he bethought himself of another course he drawes his men up unto a higher hill which over-look'd the Castle The soil of the hill was rough and there were hedges also and ditches cast up there by the Husbandmen for the fences of their fields which were almost as usefull as Brest-works But before he had appointed every one his ground to draw up in those few of Huntley's dependents which accompanied Montrose from Strathbogy in the sight of all people fairly betook them to their heels And on the other side the enemy driving fiercely up the hill made themselves masters of no small part of it which if they had been able to maintain with the same vigour that they had obtained it Montrose had been a lost man whose Souldiers discouraged both by the timorous flight of some of their own and the multitude of their enemies forces were well near ready to turn their backs them Montrose presently put life and courage into by his own example and presence by putting them in mind of their former atchievements and their own sense of their wonted prowesse Moreover he thus bespake a young Irish Gentleman one Collonel O Kyan Go thy way O Kyan with such men as thou hast at hand and drive me those fellows out of yonder ditches that we may no more be troubled with them The gallantry of O Kyan Montrose had often seen and commended nor did that truly valiant man deceive the Generals opinion of him for he quickly firretted the enemy out of the ditches though they much out-numbred his men and were seconded with a party of Horse And not only so but gained some baggs of powder which the enemy had left behind them for haste a very seasonable prey of which they had great need Nor doth a notable example of the forwardnesse of the Souldiers seem to me unworthy in this place to be remembred for one of them looking upon the baggs of powder What saith he have they given us no bullets Marry but wee must fetch bullets too from those sparing distributors of Ammunition As if it had been altogether the enemies duty to provide them necessaries for the Warr. In the mean time his Horse which were but fifty being disposed in a place of danger he timely secured them by lining them with musketiers For Lothian charged them with five whole troops who before they had crossed over half a field that lay between them being scared with our shot wheel'd about and returned to the place from whence they came Montrose's men being encouraged with these two successes could hardly be kept off from falling on with a shout upon the whole body of the enemy whom Montrose refrains rather with a kind of commendation of them as was meet than reproof only bids every one know his own duty and wait his commands Towards night Argyle having done nothing to any purpose retreats two miles off and slept not that night But the next day when he was told that Montrose's souldiers had great scarcity of powder and bullet drawing his men into the same ground again he made as though he would have charged up the Hill and beaten Montrose out of his hold But when his heart failed him in that enterprise besides some skirmishes between small parties while the main bodies kept their ground there was nothing done that day neither All this while Montrose sends for all dishes and flaggons and chamber-pots and what other pewter vessels could be had and caused them to be melted into bullet yet when that was done the souldiers had not enough With which great inconvenience the souldiers were so little troubled that one as often as he made a shot which he presumed never missed he would say merrily to his Comerades As sure as can be I have broken one Traytors face with a chamber-pot Nor wil any one wonder if Montrose's men were oft in want of powder and other necessaries for War when he considers they had no other way to supply themselves with them but out of their enemies stock And now the second day being almost spent Argyle withdraws his men over the river the way that they came three Scotch miles which make one Dutch mile off The time was thus spent at Faivy for several dayes Argyle carrying nothing away with that great Army but disgrace among his friends and contempt among his enemies for it was wholly imputed to his cowardise that there he had not made an absolute conquest At last Montrose lest by marching away in the day time he might have some of his Rear cut off by the enemies Horse takes the advantage of the night to