ty, when purchased by such a disgraceful conduct. On the other hand, for a number so unequal to rush upon the enemy, and, as it were, dash their heads against a stone, was the last remedy, and not to be used rashly. And as God ought not to be tempted by cowardice or neglect, so neither should his assistance be despaired of by good Christians and men of courage, in a good cause. therefore exhorted every man to do his duty, and to remit the management to his conduct, and the event to God.

He

Accordingly, he first sent off four hundred foot, and ordered them to march with all the speed they possibly could, without breaking their ranks. He then appointed two hundred of his most active and swiftest men to follow them; and he himself, with the horse, brought up the rear; but he caused them march with their ranks so wide, as to receive the light musketeers, if there was need. Having thus ordered his march, he did not believe the enemy's foot could overtake him; and should their horse alone come up and attack him, which he scarce thought they would venture upon, he expected to be able to cope with them and it being now near sunset, the darkness of the night would immediately favour their retreat. The enemy having been informed by some prisoners they had taken, and having it confirmed by their own view, that Montrose was setting out upon a march, and not to try an engagement, divided their forces inte

two bodies, and pursued him. Their design was, not only that they might attack him at once, both in the rear and flank, but likewise to occupy the passes, and prevent his getting up to the Highlands; and, to encourage their men the more eagerly to the pursuit, the general set a price of 20,000 crowns upon Montrose's head. By this time the foremost of their horse were up with his rear; but these excellent musketeers, who were mixed with his horse, brought down three of the most forward, one after another; and the rest becoming more cautious by their fate, they slackened much of the eagerness of their pursuit. When Montrose's men perceived that they had got the start of the enemy's foot in the march, they recovered their strength and courage, and turning upon their horse, skirmished stoutly with them till night parted them. In order, by any means, to elude the enemy, they marched several miles eastward, by the sea-coast; though they did not intend to proceed that road, but to go northward to the Grampian hills, that they might be relieved from the enemy's horse, which were so troublesome to them; but Baillie had laid the greatest part of his army betwixt them and the Grampians, to prevent their retreat. Therefore, about midnight, when they were not far from Aberbrothock, he ordered his men to halt a little; and suspecting, that all the roads and passes which led straight to the hills would probably be intercepted by the

enemy's horse, in which, indeed, he was not mistaken, he bent his march to the north-west, and went on with all expedition; and by this means, though with incredible fatigue, eluded his pursuers; and having passed by them that very night, he immediately turned to the north, and next morning at sun-rising, crossed the river of Southesk, not far from the castle of Carrestoun. From thence he sent to Brechin for the party which he had sent off with his baggage; but upon the first notice of this expedition, they had taken a safer rout, and gone up to the hills. While he stayed at Carrestoun, his spies brought in word that the enemy's horse were already within sight, and that their foot, being refreshed with meat and sleep, were fast following them. He was not now much afraid of them, being within three miles of the Highlands; but his men, who had already passed three days and two nights without sleeping, and had all that time been employed either in marching or fighting, had fallen so dead asleep, that they could hardly be awakened by any means. The enemy being at last diverted by a slight skirmish, suffered him to take possession of the foot of the hills; and, after all their trouble, returned from this fruitless pursuit; and he and his army went up to Glenesk.

This is that memorable march from Dundee, which, through the mistake of the spies, had almost proved fatal to the whole army; but by the inimi

table conduct of the general, and his undaunted constancy and presence of mind in the greatest danger, can be paralleled by few. The resolution and hardiness of his men, in undergoing the greatest fatigue, was likewise surprising; for they marched about sixty miles, during which time they were often engaged with the enemy, and continued constantly upon their march, without provisions, without sleep, and without the smallest intermission, or refreshment of any kind. Whether these things will gain credit abroad, or with after ages, I cannot pretend to say; but I am certain that this narration is taken from the best information, and the most credible evidence. And truly I have often heard those who were esteemed the most experienced officers, not in Britain only, but in France and Germany, prefer this march of Montrose to his most celebrated victories.

CHAP. X.

Montrose returns to Crieff;-is attacked by Baillie, but se cures his retreat.-Follows Urry, and obliges him to retire to Inverness.-The battle of Aulderne, in which Urry is defeated.

THE Marquis of Montrose, having thus made good his retreat beyond all expectation, gave his men some time to rest, and in the mean time resolved on the following measures for prosecuting the war. He sent Lord Gordon away to his own country, with such of his men as had continued loyal and faithful after his brother Lewis's revolt, in order to bring back those whom his brother had seduced, and likewise to increase his forces by some new recruits. This he executed with the greatest resolution and cheerfulness, sparing none who had the least concern in the villany; and in particular, exercising a just severity on such as had been either the advisers or promoters of his brother's desertion; in which he was the more active, that he might acquit himself of all suspicion of having had a hand in it; and, indeed, neither Montrose, nor any other person, could detest the treachery of his brother more heartily than Lord Gordon himself did. At the same time Montrose, in