CHAP. XI.

Urry joined by Baillie.-They provoke Montrose to fight. He marches south against Lord Lindsay.-Deserted by the Gordons-Gains the battle of Alford.-The Lord Gordon killed.

THE Marquis of Montrose, after allowing his men some days refreshment, marched to Elgin, which is the chief town of the shire, where he made the longer stay for the sake of his wounded men, who were here better accommodated with surgeons and medicines, than they could possibly be in a camp. Then crossing the river Spey, he advanced by Keith and Frendraught to Strathbogie. Here Baillie, who was now joined by Urry and the horse which had escaped from Aulderne, encountered with him, and endeavoured to force him to an engagement. However, as his own men were much spent with their late fatigue, and far outnumbered by the enemy, especially in horse, he declined fighting, till he had recruited his army, and got some fresh troops. Yet he had much ado to keep back his men, who, wearied as they were, were however extremely eager to engage. Accordingly, he acted only upon the defensive; and having chosen a most convenient post, maintained it till the evening, and then marched off to Balveny;

whither the enemy followed him soon after: then passing through Strathdon and Strathspey, he went up to Badenoch; but the enemy getting possession of the opposite side of the river, kept pace with him, and continued all along to provoke him to fight; but he still declined it, resolving not to risk a pitched battle, till he had increased his strength; however, by harassing them with frequent skirmishes, and often beating up their quarters in the night-time, he so much weakened their power and broke their courage, that, however daring and intrepid they had hitherto appeared, both the officers and common men were seized with a panic, and retreated to Inverness in the nighttime in the greatest disorder, though none pursued them.

Montrose was not a little pleased at having got so easily rid of this troublesome enemy, especially for this reason: the Earl of Lindsay, who was the principal leader of the covenanters, next to Argyle, and at the same time his rival, as being brother-in-law to the Duke of Hamilton, had all along exclaimed against Argyle for his bad conduct, and want of courage; or at least, however it happened, he complained that he was always unfortunate. He had accordingly had the influence to get the command of an army which was then new raised conferred upon himself, expecting to manage matters to better purpose, when he had the power in his own hands. Montrose was informed that he

had already passed over with his army into Angus, to act as a reserve for Baillie; and, if things should not succeed with Baillie to their wish, that he would at least be ready to prevent Montrose from crossing the Forth; for they were all along much afraid lest he should come to the south side of Forth, and carry the seat of war nearer Edinburgh. As he understood that Lindsay was still in Angus, lying at the castle of Newtyle, he resolved to suppress him with all speed, which he expected would be no very difficult task, Lindsay himself not having any reputation as a soldier, and his men all raw, new-raised troops, and unacquainted with the hardships of war.

In prosecution of this design, he set out from Badenoch, and, crossing the Grampian hills, marched through the heads of Mar, and, by very long and painful marches, came to the banks of the river Airly, intending to attack the enemy at unawares; which he might very easily have accomplished, being already got within seven miles of Lindsay, before he knew any thing of his approach. Every thing was in readiness to give the finishing stroke to this expedition, when the whole northcountry forces, almost to a man, deserted, and returned to their own country by the very same road they had lately come. The reason of it was uncertain, and occasioned various conjectures. As for Lord Gordon, no person could show a greater concern for this unexpected treachery, or more resent

ment against the offenders than he did; insomuch, that it was with extreme difficulty Montrose could hinder him from resolving to punish with death such of the deserters as belonged to him.

However, some were of opinion that they had been seduced away by Lord Aboyne, who was then absent from the army on account of his health, in consequence of some private orders from his father the Marquis of Huntly; who, as he was a man of a very haughty envious disposition, was extremely troubled at Montrose's success; and no less uneasy to see his eldest son so closely connected with him in the strictest bonds of friendship. Whatever was in it, Montrose was so struck with this unlooked-for misfortune, that he laid aside all intention of attacking Lindsay; and was forced to bear with patience the loss of a certain and glorious victory, thus in a manner wrested out of his hands.

This obliged him to take another course; and having sent off Colonel Nathaniel Gordon, a gentleman of great bravery and fidelity, into his own country, where he was much esteemed, to endeavour to raise some forces there, he himself followed him. By this time Baillie and Urry had returned from Inverness, and were encamped upon the side of the river Dee, in the lower Mar. Montrose, in the mean time, marched through Glenshee, and the Braes of Mar, and was come into the heart of the country called Cromar. . In

his road, as he passed through the Braes of Mar, he dispatched Macdonald with a party into the farthest Highlands, to conduct the forces raised there with all diligence to the army. He then sent off Lord Gordon, that by his influence and authority, which was very considerable in these parts, he might assist and forward the colonel in making his levies; which he did with very great activity and success, and amongst other gentlemen brought back his brother the Lord Aboyne. While matters stood thus in Cromar, the Earl of Lindsay joined Baillie in the lower Mar: Montrose, being much inferior to them, as his army was so much weakened by the parties sent off with Lord Gordon and Macdonald, retired to the old castle of Kargarf, in order to prevent the enemy's falling upon him in a champaign country, where they might overpower him with their superior numbers; but here he thought himself in no danger from them, when he was so near the mountains. Here Lord Aboyne, again falling sick, went off to Strathbogie, and, under pretence of a guard, carried off with him a considerable party of horse, which his brother Lord Gordon with no small difficulty afterwards prevailed upon to return to the army.

In the mean time, Lindsay took from Baillie's army a thousand old experienced soldiers, and gave him in return as many raw undisciplined men of his own: thus furnished, as if he intended some mighty exploit, he passed through the