Page images
PDF
EPUB

brother to the Earl of Tullibardine.

*

Every body

was surprised that the earl, who was in great favour and esteem with the covenanters, had not interceded with them for the life and safety of his only brother. Some imputed this to his indolence and inactivity; others to his avarice, as aiming at his brother's patrimony; and others to his stupid and superstitious zeal to the cause. However, all men, even the covenanters themselves, condemned his silence upon this occasion as highly indecent and dishonourable. The young gentleman, though hardly nineteen years of age, purchased to himself everlasting renown with posterity by such an honourable and becoming exit. He spoke a few things to the spectators, among which he repeated what follows with a higher tone of voice than the rest, as it was reported to me by those who heard him. "I hope, my countrymen, you will reckon that the house of Tullibardine, and the whole family of Murray, have this day acquired a new and no small addition of honour; that a young man, descended of that ancient race, has, though innocent, and in the flower of his age, with the greatest readiness and cheerfulness, delivered up his life for his king, the father of his

Bishop Guthrie relates that the earl was not only silent in his brother's behalf, but by his forwardness contributed his utmost to bring about his and the condemnation of the other prisoners.-Memoirs, p. 206.

country, and the most munificent patron and be nefactor of that family from which he is sprung. Let not my honoured mother, my dearest sisters, my kindred, or my friends, lament the shortness of my life, seeing that it is abundantly recompensed by the honour of my death. Pray for my soul, and God be with you."

CHAP. XX.

Montrose solicited by his army to execute his prisoners, in revenge of the death of his friends; but refuses.-Huntly again disappoints him.-Montrose lays siege to Inverness; but is obliged to raise it, and retires before Middleton. He endeavours to obtain a conference with Huntly, which he shuns. Huntly takes in the city of Aberdeen.

THE melancholy fate of his friends gave Mon, trose very great concern; however, it could not shake his constancy and firm resolution of mind, though at no time before it ever received a more severe trial. At the critical moment, while his heart was bleeding for his friends, great numbers in his army, exasperated with the accounts of their disgraceful death, endeavoured what they could to spirit him up to an immediate revenge; they importuned him with the strongest and most earnest solicitations'; and while they indulged a just and well founded grief for their friends, they imagined their demand was no more than equitable to insist that he should retaliate the same treatment upon the enemy. While their own friends and relations, men of eminent worth and bravery, and who merited highly for their services to the king, the country, and of the governor himself,

were, notwithstanding the quarter and assurances of safety pledged them, contrary to the custom of war, to the laws of the country, yea to the laws of nature and nations, butchered unrevenged, they were enraged to see such of the rebels as were taken by themselves in battle, kept, not as prisoners, but entertained in a friendly and hospitable manner, and wantonly rejoicing and insulting over the cause of their grief; they insisted, therefore, to have them immediately brought out to execution, as the only effectual method to deter the enemy from practising such cruelty, and to satisfy the impatience of their own people, and confirm them in their duty and obedience. He received their complaints with great condescension, and commended the regard and affection they expressed for their friends he agreed with them that the death of such worthy and innocent subjects ought not to pass unrevenged; but then it ought to be reveng ed by them in a manner becoming good and brave men; not by cruelty and inhumanity, the characteristics of their wicked enemies, in which their example was by no means to be followed, but by fair and open war, in which they were to endeavour to vanquish them. He desired them seriously to consider, how great would be the injustice to make those prisoners, who were guiltless of the murders committed by their party, suffer the punishment of others crimes; especially when assurances of safety had been given them, which ought to be most sacredly observed,

even to an enemy. incur this imputation, which was the very iniquity. they exclaimed against with so much abhorrence in their enemies. They needed not doubt but the time would certainly come when these rebellious subjects must answer for their crimes to the just God, and to the king his vicegerent on earth. “And in the mean time," says he, “let them set a price upon our heads; let them employ assassins to murder us; let them break their faith, and practise the utmost pitch of wickedness; yet shall that never induce us to forsake the glorious paths of virtue and goodness, or strive to outdo them in the practice of villany and barbarity."

He hoped they would never

The Marquis of Huntly, who, it would appear, had never intended to perform these promises which he had made to Montrose, having crossed the Spey, entered Murray, where he trifled away his time and diminished his forces, without either honour or advantage; and never came near Inverness. His chief aim was to amass plunder; and after he had wasted all the country, having heard an uncertain report, that the people of that shire had concealed their money and more valuable furniture in some little obscure castles, he went immediately and besieged them, though to no purpose; nor could he by any commands or entreaties from Montrose be prevailed upon to desist from his enterprise. In the mean time, the enemy had full opportunity to throw provisions into Inverness

« PreviousContinue »