The last dispatch I sent your Majesty word by my worthy friend, and
your Majesty's brave servant, Sir William Rollock, from Kintore, near
Aberdeen, dated the 14th of September last; wherein I acquainted
your Majesty with the good success of your arms in this kingdom, and
of the battles the justice of your cause has won over your obdurate
rebel subjects. Since Sir William Rollock went I have traversed all
the north of Scotland up to Argyle's country; who durst not stay my
coming, or I should have given your Majesty a good account of him
ere now. But at last I have met with him, yesterday, to his cost;
of which your gracious Majesty be pleased to receive the following
particulars.
After I had laid waste the whole country of Argyle, and brought
off provisions, for my army, of what could be found, I received
information that Argyle was got together with a considerable army,
made up chiefly of his own clan, and vassals and tenants, with others
of the rebels that joined him, and that he was at Inverlochy, where
he expected the Earl of Seaforth, and the sept of the Frasers, to
come up to him with all the forces they could get together. Upon this
intelligence I departed out of Argyleshire, and marched through Lorn,
Glencow, and Aber, till I came to Lochness, my design being to fall
upon Argyle before Seaforth and the Frasers could join him. My march
was through inaccessible mountains, where I could have no guides but
cow-herds, and they scarce acquainted with a place but six miles from
their own habitations. If I had been attacked but with one hundred
men in some of these passes, I must have certainly returned back, for
it would have been impossible to force my way, most of the passes
being so strait that three men could not march abreast. I was willing
to let the world see that Argyle was not the man his Highlandmen
believed him to be, and that it was possible to beat him in his
own Highlands. The difficultest march of all was over the Lochaber
mountains, which we at last surmounted, and came upon the back of the
enemy when they least expected us, having cut off some scouts we met
about four miles from Inverlochy. Our van came within view of them
about five o'clock in the afternoon, and we made a halt till our rear
was got up, which could not be done till eight at night. The rebels
took the alarm and stood to their arms, as well as we, all night,
which was moonlight, and very clear. There were some few skirmishes
between the rebels and us all the night, and with no loss on our side
but one man. By break of day I ordered my men to be ready to fall on
upon the first signal, and I understand since, by the prisoners, the
rebels did the same. A little after the sun was up, both armies met,
and the rebels fought for some time with great bravery, the prime of
the Campbells giving the first onset, as men that deserved to fight
in a better cause. Our men, having a nobler cause, did wonders,
and came immediately to push of pike, and dint of sword, after
their first firing. The rebels could not stand it, but, after some
resistance at first, began to run, whom we pursued for nine miles
together, making a great slaughter, which I would have hindered, if
possible, that I might save your Majesty's misled subjects, for well
I know your Majesty does not delight in their blood, but in their
returning to their duty. There were at least fifteen hundred killed
in the battle and the pursuit, among whom there are a great many of
the most considerable gentlemen of the name of Campbell, and some of
them nearly related to the Earl. I have saved and taken prisoners
several of them, that have acknowledged to me their fault and lay all
the blame on their Chief. Some gentlemen of the Lowlands, that had
behaved themselves bravely in the battle, when they saw all lost,
fled into the old castle, and, upon their surrender, I have treated
them honourably, and taken their parole never to bear arms against
your Majesty.
We have of your Majesty's army about two hundred wounded, but I hope
few of them dangerously. I can hear but of four killed, and one whom
I cannot name to your Majesty but with grief of mind, Sir Thomas
Ogilvy, a son of the Earl of Airly's, of whom I writ to your Majesty
in my last. He is not yet dead, but they say he cannot possibly
live, and we give him over for dead. Your Majesty had never a truer
servant, nor there never was a braver, honester gentleman. For the
rest of the particulars of this action, I refer myself to the bearer,
Mr. Hay, whom your Majesty knows already, and therefore I need not
recommend him.
Now, Sacred Sir, let me humbly intreat your Majesty's pardon if I
presume to write you my poor thoughts and opinion about what I heard
by a letter I received from my friends in the south, last week, as if
your Majesty was entering into a treaty with your rebel Parliament in
England. The success of your arms in Scotland does not more rejoice
my heart, as that news from England is like to break it. And whatever
come of me, I will speak my mind freely to your Majesty, for it is
not mine, but your Majesty's interest I seek.
When I had the honour of waiting upon your Majesty last, I told you
at full length what I fully understood of the designs of your Rebel
subjects in both kingdoms, which I had occasion to know as much as
any one whatsoever; being at that time, as they thought, entirely
in their interest. Your Majesty may remember how much you said you
were convinced I was in the right in my opinion of them. I am sure
there is nothing fallen out since to make your Majesty change your
judgment in all those things I laid before your Majesty at that time.
The more your Majesty grants, the more will be asked; and I have too
much reason to know that they will not rest satisfied with less than
making your Majesty a King of straw. I hope the news I have received
about a treaty may be a mistake, and the rather that the letter
wherewith the Queen was pleased to honour me, dated the 30th of
December, mentions no such thing. Yet I know not what to make of the
intelligence I received, since it comes from Sir Robert Spottiswood,
who writes it with a great regret; and it is no wonder, considering
no man living is a more true subject to your Majesty than he. Forgive
me, Sacred Sovereign, to tell your Majesty that, in my poor opinion,
it is unworthy of a King to treat with Rebel subjects, while they
have the sword in their hands. And though God forbid I should stint
your Majesty's mercy, yet I must declare the horror I am in when I
think of a treaty, while your Majesty and they are in the field with
two armies, unless they disband, and submit themselves entirely to
your Majesty's goodness and pardon.
As to the state of affairs in this Kingdom, the bearer will fully
inform your Majesty in every particular. And give me leave, with all
humility, to assure your Majesty that, through God's blessing, I
am in the fairest hopes of reducing this kingdom to your Majesty's
obedience. And, if the measures I have concerted with your other
loyal subjects fail me not, which they hardly can, I doubt not before
the end of this summer I shall be able to come to your Majesty's
assistance with a brave army, which, backed with the justice of your
Majesty's cause, will make the Rebels in England, as well as in
Scotland, feel the just rewards of Rebellion. Only give me leave,
after I have reduced this country to your Majesty's obedience, and
_conquered from Dan to Beersheba_, to say to your Majesty then, as
David's General did to his master, "_Come thou thyself, lest this
country be called by my name_." For in all my actions I aim only at
your Majesty's honour and interest, as becomes one that is to his
last breath, may it please your Sacred Majesty,--
Your Majesty's most humble, most faithful, and
most obedient Subject and Servant,
MONTROSE.
INVERLOCHY IN LOCHABER,
_February 3rd, 1645_.