history of the mackenzies-第48章

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Dundee；　the　Earls　of　Seaforth　and　Sutherland；　with　the　whole　of　the　　Clan　Fraser；　and　most　of　the　men　of　Caithness　and　Moray；　are　found　　assembled　at　Inverness；　where　General　Hurry；　who　had　retreated　before　　Montrose；　joined　them　with　a　force　of　Gordons1000　foot　and　200　horse　　the　whole　amounting　to　about　3500　of　the　former　and　400　of　the　latter；　　which　included　Sutherlands；　Mackenzies；　Frasers；　Roses；　and　Brodies；　　while　the　followers　of　Montrose　consisted　of　Gordons；　Macdonalds；　　Macphersons；　Mackintoshes；　and　Irish；　to　the　number　of　about　3000　foot　　and　300　horse。　＇Shaw's　MS。　History。＇　　Montrose　halted　at　the　village　of　　Auldearn；　and　General　Hurry　finding　such　a　large　force　waiting　for　him　at　Inverness；　decided　to　retrace　his　steps　the　next　morning；　and　give　battle　to　the　Marquis　at　that　village。

The　author　of　the　Ardintoul　MS。　tells　how　Seaforth　came　to　take　part　in　the　battle　of　Auldearn；　and　gives　the　following　interesting　account　　of　his　reasons　and　of　the　engagement：〃General　Hurry　sent　for　Seaforth　　to　Inverness；　and　during　a　long　conference　informed　him　that　although　he　　was　serving　　the　States　himself　he　privately　favoured　the　King's　cause。

He　　advised　Seaforth　to　dismiss　his　men　and　make　a　pretence　that　he　had　only　　sent　for　them　to　give　them　new　leases　of　their　lands；　and　in　case　it　was　　necessary　to　make　an　appearance　to　fight　Montrose；　he　could　bring；　when　　commanded　to　do　so；　two　or　three　companies　from　Chanonry　and　　Ardmeanach；　which　the　Marquis　would　accept。　　It　was；　however；　late　　before　they　parted；　and　Lady　Seaforth；　who　was　waiting　for　her　lord　at　　Kessock；　prepared　a　sumptuous　supper　for　her　husband　and　his　friends。

The　Earl　and　his　guests　kept　up　the　festivities　so　long　and　so　well　that　he　　‘forgot　or　delayed　to　advertise　his　men　to　dismiss　till　to…morrow；'　and　　going　to　bed　very　late；　before　he　could　stir　in　the　morning　all　the　lairds　　and　gentlemen　of　Moray　came　to　him；　most　earnestly　entreating　him　by　all　　the　laws　of　friendship　and　good　neighbourhood；　and　for　the　kindness　they　　had　for　him　while　he　lived　among　them；　and　which　they　manifested　to　his　　brother　yet　living　amongst　them；　that　his　lordship　would　not　see　them　　ruined　and　destroyed　by　Montrose　and　the　Irish；　when　he　might　easily　prevent　it　without　the　least　loss　to　himself　or　his　men；　assuring　him　that　if　　he　should　join　General　Hurry　with　what　forces　he　had　then　under　his　　command；　Montrose　would　go　away　with　his　Irish　and　decline　to　fight　　them。　　Seaforth；　believing　his　visitors；　and　thinking；　as　they　said；　that　Montrose　with　so　small　a　number　would　not　venture　to　fight；　his　　opponents　being　twice　the　number；　and　many　of　them　trained　soldiers。　　　Hurry　told　him　that　he　was　to　march　immediately　against　Montrose　and　　being　of　an　easy　and　compassionate　nature；　Seaforth　yielded　to　their　　request；　and　sent　immediately　in　all　haste　for　his　Highlanders；　crossed　the　　ferry　of　Kessock；　and　marched　straight　with　the　rest　of　his　forces　to　　Auldearn；　where　Montrose　had　his　camp；　but　the　Moray　men　found　　themselves　mistaken　in　thinking　the　Marquis　would　make　off；　for　he　was　　not　only　resolved　but　glad　of　the　opportunity　to　fight　them　before　Baillie；　　whom　he　knew　was　on　his　march　north　with　considerable　forces；　could　　join　General　Hurry；　and　so　drawing　up　his　men　with　great　advantage　of　　ground　he　placed　Alexander　Macdonald；　with　the　Irish；　on　the　right　wing　　beneath　the　village　of　Auldearn；　and　Lord　Gordon　with　the　horse　on　the　　left。　　On　the　south　side　of　Auldearn；　he　himself　（Montrose）　biding　in　town；　　and　making　a　show　of　a　main　battle　with　a　few　men；　which　Hurry　　understanding　and　making　it　his　business　that　Montrose　should　carry　the　　victory；　and　that　Seaforth　would　come　off　without　great　loss；　he　set　his　　men；　who　were　more　than　double　the　number　of　their　adversaries；　to　　Montrose's　advantage；　for　he　placed　Sutherland；　Lovat's　men；　and　some　　others；　with　the　horse　under　Drummond's　command；　on　the　right　wing；　　opposite　to　my　Lord　Gordon；　and　Loudon　and　Laurie's　Regiments；　with　　some　others　on　the　left　wing；　opposite　Alexander　Macdonald　and　the　Irish；　and　placed　Seaforth's　men　for　the　most　in　the　midst；　opposite　Montrose；　where　he　knew　they　could　not　get　hurt　till　the　wings　were　engaged。　Seaforth's　men　were　commanded　to　retire　and　make　off　before　they　had　　occasion　or　command　to　fight；　but　the　men　hovering；　and　not　understanding　the　mystery；　were　commanded　again　to　make　off　and　follow　Drummond　with　the　horse；　who　gave　only　one　charge　to　the　enemy　　and　then　fled；　which　they　did　by　leaving　both　the　wings　and　some　of　their　own　men　to　the　brunt　of　the　enemy；　because　they　stood　at　a　distance　from　　them；　the　right　wing　being　sore　put　to　by　my　Lord　Gordon；　and　seeing　　Drummond　with　the　horse　and　their　neighbours　fly；　they　began　to　follow。

Sutherland　and　Lovat　suffered　great　loss；　while　on　the　left　wing；　Loudon's　　Regiment　and　Lawrie　with　his　Regiment　were　both　totally　cut　off　betwixt　　the　Irish　and　the　Gordons；　who　came　to　assist　them　after　Sutherland's　and　Lovat's　men　were　defeated。　　Seaforth's　men　got　no　hurt　in　the　pursuit；　nor　　did　they　lose　many　men　in　the　fight；　the　most　considerable　being　John　　Mackenzie　of　Kernsary；　cousin…german　to　the　Earl；　and　Donald　Bain；　　brother　to　Tulloch　and　Chamberlain　to　Seaforth　in　the　Lewis；　both　being　　heavy　and　corpulent　men　not　fit　to　fly；　and　being　partly　deceived　by　　Seaforth's　principal　ensign　or　standard…bearer　in　the　field；　who　stood　to　it　with　some　others　of　the　Lochbroom　and　Lewis　men；　till　they　were　killed；　　and　likewise　Captain　Bernard　Mackenzie；　with　the　rest　of　his　company；　　which　consisted　of　Chanonry　men　and　some　others　thereabout；　being　　somewhat　of　a　distance　from　the　rest　of　Seaforth's　men；　were　killed　on　the　　spot。　　There　were　only　four　Kintail　men　who　might　make　their　escape　with　　the　rest　if　they　had　looked　rightly　to　themselves；　namely；　the　Bannerman　　of　Kintail；　called　Rory　Mac　Ian　Dhomh'uill　Bhain；　alias　Maclennan；　who；　　out　of　foolhardiness　and　indignation；　to　see　that　banner；　which　was　wont　　to　be　victorious；　fly　in　his　hands；　fastens　the　staff　of　it　in　the　ground；　and　stands　to　it　with　his　two…handed　sword　drawn；　and　would　not　accept　of　　quarter；　though　tendered　to　him　by　my　Lord　Gordon　in　person；　nor　would　　he　suffer　any　to　approach　him　to　take　him　alive；　as　the　gentlemen　　beholders　wished；　so　that　they　were　forced　to　shoot　him。　　The　other　three　were　Donald　the　bannerman's　brother；　Malcolm　Macrae；　and　Duncan　Mac　　Ian　Oig。　　Seaforth　and　his　men；　with　Colonel　Hurry　and　the　rest；　came　　back　that　night　to　Inverness；　all　the　men　laying　the　blame　of　the　loss　of　the　　day　upon　Drummond；　who　commanded　the　horse；　and　fled　away　with　　them；　for　which；　by　a　Council　of　War；　he　was　sentenced　to　die；　but　Hurry　　assured　him　that　he　would　get　him　absolved；　though　at　the　very　time　of　his　　execution　he　made　him　keep　silence；　but　when　Drummond　was　about　to　　speak；　he　caused　him　to　be　shot　suddenly；　fearing；　as　was　thought；　that　he　　would　reveal　that　what　was　acted　was　by　Hurry's　own　directions。　　This　account　of　the　Battle　of　Auldearn　I　had　from　an　honourable　gentleman　and　　experienced　soldier；　as　we　were　riding　by　Auldearn；　who　was　present　from　　first　to　last　at　this　action；　and　who　asked　Hurry；　Who　set　the　battle　with　　such　advantage　to　Montrose　and　to　the　inevitable　loss　and　overthrow　of　　his　own　side？　to　whom　Hurry；　being　confident　of　the　gentlemen；　said；　‘I　　know　what　I　am　doing；　we　shall　have　by…and…bye　excellent　sport　between　　the　Irish　and　the　States　Regiments；　and　I　shall　carry　off　Seaforth's　men　　without　loss；'　and　that　Hurry　was　more　for　Montrose　than　for　the　States　that　day　is　very　probable；　because；　shortly　thereafter　when　he　found　　opportunity；　he　quitted　the　States　service；　and　is　reckoned　as　first　of　　Montrose's　friends；　who；　in　August　next　year；　embarked　with　Montrose　to　　get　off　the　nation；　and　returned　with　him　again　in　his　second　expedition　to　　Scotland；　and　was　taken　prisoner　at　Craigchonachan；　and　sent　south　and　　publicly　executed　with　Montrose　as　guilty　of　the　same　fault。〃

Montrose　gained　another　engagement　at　Alford　on　the　2nd　of　July；　after　which　he　was　joined　by　a　powerful　levy　of　West　Highlanders　under　　Colla　Ciotach　Macdonald；　Clanranald；　and　　Glengarry；　the　Macnabs；　　Macgregors；　and　the　Stewarts　of　Appin。　　In　addition　to　these　some　of　the　　Farquharsons　of　Braemar　and　small　parties　of　lesser　septs　from　Badenoch　　rallied　round　the　standard　of　Montrose。　Thus；　as　a　contemporary　writer　　says；　〃he　went　like　a　current　speat　（spate）　through　this　kingdom。〃　Seeing　all　thisthe　great　successes　of　Montrose　and　so　many　Highlanders　　joining…Seaforth；　who　had　never　been　a　hearty　Covenanter；　began　to　　waver。　　The　Estates　sent　a　commission　to　the　Earl　of　Sutherland　　appointing　him　as　their　Lieutenant　north　of　the　Spey；　but　he　refused　to　　accept　it。　　It　was　then　offered　to　Seaforth；　who　likewise　declined　it；　but　　instead　〃contrived　and　framed　ane　band；　under　the　name　of　an　humble　remonstrance；　which　he　perswaded　manie　and　threatened　others　to　　subscryve。　　This　remonstrance　gave　so　great　a　distast　to　both　the　Church　　and　State；　that　the　Earl　of　Seaforth　was　therefore　excommunicate　by　the　　General　Assemblie；　and　all　such　as　did　not　disclaim　the　raid　remonstrance　within　some　days　thereafter；　were；　by　the　Committee　of　Estates；　declared　　inimies　to　the　publick。　Hereupon　the　Earl　of　Seaforth　joined　publicly　with　　Montrose　in　April；　1646；　at　the　siege　of　Inverness；　though　before　that　time　　be　had　only　joined　in　private　councils　with　him。〃　＇Gordon's　Earldom　of　　Sutherland；　p。　529。＇

At　Inverness；　through　the　action　of　the　Marquis　of　Huntly　and　the　treachery　of　his　son；　Lord　Lewis　Gordon；　Montrose　was　surprised　by　General　Middleton；　but　he　promptly　crossed　the　river　Ness　in　face　of　a　　regiment　of　cavalry；　under　Major　Bromley；　who　crossed　the　river　by　a　ford　above　the　town；　while　another　detachment　crossed　lower　down　towards　　the　sea　with　a　view　to　cut　off　his　retreat。　　These　he　succeeded　in　beating　　back　with　a　trifling　loss　on　either　side；　whereupon　he　marched　unmolested　to　Kinmylies；　and　the　following　morning　he　went　round　by　Beauly　and　　halted　at　Fairley；　where　slight　marks　of　field　works　are　still　to　be　seen；　and　　now；　for　the　first　time；　he　found　himself　in　the　territories　of　the　　Mackenzies；　accompanied　by　Seaforth　in　person。　　Montrose；　here　finding　　himself　in　a　level　country；　with　an　army　mainly　composed　of　raw　levies　newly　raised　by　Seaforth　among　his　own　people；　and　taught　by　their　chief's　vacillating　conduct　and　example　to　have　little　interest　or　enthusiasm　in　either　cause；　did　not　consider　it　prudent　to　engage　Middleton；　who　pursued　him　with　a　disciplined　force；　including　a　considerable　　following　of　cavalry；　ready　to　fight　with　every　advantage　on　his　side　in　a　　level　country。　　He　therefore　moved　rapidly　up　through　　the　valley　of　　Strathglass；　crossed　to　Loch…Ness；　and　passed　through　Stratherrick　in　the　direction　of　the　river　Spey。　Meanwhile　Middleton　advanced　to　Fortrose　　and　laid　siege　to　the　castle；　which　was　at　the　time　under　the　charge　of　　Lady　Seaforth。　She　surrendered　after　a　siege　of　four　days；　and　having　　removed　a　considerable　quantity　of　stores　and　ammunition；　sent　by　Queen　Henrietta　for　the　use　of　Montrose　on　his　arrival　there；　Middleton　gave　the　　Countess；　whom　he　treated　with　the　greatest