very smart charge, which was warmly received by them, relying upon the number of their horse; but they came very soon to close fighting, and both sides maintained their ground with such obstinacy, that none could advance a step forward but over the body of his vanquished enemy, nor was it possible to retire, those behind pressing on with such eagerness. The Lord Gordon, and his assistant Colonel Nathaniel, were the first who cut out a passage for themselves and their men, by a great slaughter of the enemy; when the Colonel immediately called out to the light musketeers who lined his horse, to throw away their muskets as now useless, and to fall upon the enemy's horse with their drawn swords, and cut them to pieces: they immediately obeyed his orders; and Montrose, at the very same time, bringing up Mr Napier and the body of reserve, which had lain concealed on the other side of the hill, the enemy were so much intimidated at the sight of these fresh troops, that they immediately gave ground and fled. Aboyne kept at a distance with the left wing, and engaged the enemy only in skirmishing with small parties, but upon seeing their opposite wing entirely routed, they also retreated without any considerable loss, The foot, being thus deserted by their horse, continued, notwithstanding, to fight for some time most desperately, and refusing quarter, were almost every one killed on the spot. Nor would their horse probably have escaped so safe, but for the

fate of the Lord Gordon, who, after he had routed the enemy, rushed fiercely among the thickest of them, and received a shot in his body from some of the flying men. His fall stopt his own men in the pursuit, their whole concern being immediately turned upon their dying lord; neither could Lord Aboyne, struck also with his brother's death, pursue them vigorously.

In this battle Montrose lost not one private man ; and of gentlemen only two, Culcholy and Milton, whose names and families I should willingly have inserted, had it been my good fortune to know them, being the smallest recompense their fate deserved, thus falling honourably in the field, in defence of their king, their liberty, and laws. Nor must the gallant behaviour of the livery-boys, both Scots and English, be omitted; many of them scarce fourteen years of age, who, throwing off their masters' baggage, mounted the sumpter-horses, and not only alarmed the enemy with the shew of a body of fresh horse; but as rivals of their masters' bravery, beyond what might be expected from their strength and years, charged with great forwardness among the thickest of the enemy, where some of them were slain, but not without selling their lives very dear; thereby in their youth giving proofs of

Mowat of Balwholly, and Ogilvy of Milton-they were buried in the church of Alford-Spalding's Hist

such undaunted courage as would have been commendable even in riper years.

There was a general lamentation for the loss of the Lord Gordon, whose death seemed to eclipse all the glory of their victory. As the report spread among the soldiers, every one appeared to be struck dumb with the melancholy news, and an universal silence prevailed for some time through the army. However, their grief soon burst through all restraint, venting itself in the voice of lamentation and sorrow. When the first transports were over, the soldiers exclaimed against heaven and earth for bereaving the king, the kingdom, and themselves, of such an excellent young nobleman; and, unmindful of the victory, or of the plunder, they thronged about the body of their dead captain; some weeping over his wounds, and kissing his lifeless limbs; whilst others praised his comely appearance even in death, and extolled his noble mind, which was enriched with every valuable qualification that could adorn his high birth or ample fortune they even cursed the victory which was bought at so dear a rate. Nothing could have supported the army under this immense sorrow but the presence of Montrose, whose safety gave them joy, and not a little revived their drooping spirits. In the mean time, he could not command his grief, but mourned bitterly over the melancholy fate of his only and dearest friend; grievously complain. ing, that one who was the honour of his nation,

the ornament of the Scots nobility, and the boldest asserter of the royal authority in the north, in short, his best and bosom friend, should be thus cut off in the flower of his age: but hoping, that time and reason would assuage his immoderate grief, he ordered the physicians to embalm his corpse, which he afterwards conducted to Aberdeen, where, with a pompous funeral, and all military solemnities, it was interred in his own presence in the cathedral church of that city, in the monument belonging to his family.

This battle at Alford happened upon the 2d of July 1645.

CHAP. XII.

Montrose marches southward.—Receives a considerable reinforcement from the Highlands.-The covenanters hold a parliament at Perth.-They march out and attack him in his camp at Methven-wood.-He escapes them.—Is joined by the Gordons and Ogilvies.-Marches into Stratherne.

THE

HE evening of that very day on which Montrose gained the battle of Alford, he marched to the castle of Cluny, where he allowed his men but a few hours refreshment, and proceeded directly to the banks of the river Dee. From thence he dispatched the Earl of Aboyne, who, by the death of his brother, Lord Gordon, had now succeeded to his command, into the country of Buchan, in order to levy more men to recruit his army, which was now diminished by the Highlanders going home with their booty after the battle. And as Macdonald was not yet come back, he remained for some time at Craigston, waiting both his and Lord Aboyne's return. But finding that these recruits were not sent up to him so speedily as he expect

Rather Crabston, situated betwixt the Don and Dee, a few miles from Aberdeen, there being no place of the name of Craigston near the river Dee.