\"Withtheweaponsandwiththecourageofourfathers,\"saidMacEagh;andmadetheCaptainobserve,thatthemenofhispartywerearmedwithbowsandarrows。
\"Bowsandarrows！\"exclaimedDalgetty;\"ha！ha！ha！haveweRobinHoodandLittleJohnbackagain？Bowsandarrows！why,thesighthasnotbeenseenincivilizedwarforahundredyears。
Bowsandarrows！andwhynotweavers\'beams,asinthedaysofGoliah？Ah！thatDugaldDalgetty,ofDrumthwacket,shouldlivetoseemenfightwithbowsandarrows！——TheimmortalGustavuswouldneverhavebelievedit——norWallenstein——norButler——noroldTilly,——Well,Ranald,acatcanhavebutitsclaws——sincebowsandarrowsaretheword,e\'enletusmakethebestofit。
Only,asIdonotunderstandthescopeandrangeofsuchold—
fashionedartillery,youmustmakethebestdispositionyoucanoutofyourownheadforMYtakingthecommand,whilkIwouldhavegladlydonehadyoubeentofightwithanyChristianweapons,isoutofthequestion,whenyouaretocombatlikequiveredNumidians。Iwill,however,playmypartwithmypistolsintheapproachingmelley,inrespectmycarabineunhappilyremainsatGustavus\'ssaddle。——Myserviceandthankstoyou,\"hecontinued,addressingamountaineerwhoofferedhimabow;\"DugaldDalgettymaysayofhimself,ashelearnedatMareschal—College,\"NonegetMaurijaculis,nequearcu,Necvenenatisgravidasagittis,Fusce,pharetra;
whilkistosay——\"
RanaldMacEaghasecondtimeimposedsilenceonthetalkativecommanderasbefore,bypullinghissleeve,andpointingdownthepass。Thebayofthebloodhoundwasnowapproachingnearerandnearer,andtheycouldhearthevoicesofseveralpersonswhoaccompaniedtheanimal,andhallooedtoeachotherastheydispersedoccasionally,eitherinthehurryoftheiradvance,orinordertosearchmoreaccuratelythethicketsastheycamealong。Theywereobviouslydrawingnearerandnearereverymoment。MacEagh,inthemeantime,proposedtoCaptainDalgettytodisencumberhimselfofhisarmour,andgavehimtounderstandthatthewomenshouldtransportittoaplaceofsafety。
\"Icraveyourpardon,sir,\"saidDalgetty,\"suchisnottheruleofourforeignserviceinrespectIremembertheregimentofFinlandcuirassiersreprimanded,andtheirkettle—drumstakenfromthem,bytheimmortalGustavus,becausetheyhadassumedthepermissiontomarchwithouttheircorslets,andtoleavethemwiththebaggage。Neitherdidtheystrikekettle—drumsagainattheheadofthatfamousregimentuntiltheybehavedthemselvessonotablyatthefieldofLeipsic;alessonwhilkisnottobeforgotten,anymorethanthatexclamationoftheimmortalGustavus,\'NowshallIknowifmyofficersloveme,bytheirputtingontheirarmour;since,ifmyofficersareslain,whoshallleadmysoldiersintovictory？\'Nevertheless,friendRanald,thisiswithoutprejudicetomybeingridofthesesomewhatheavyboots,providingIcanobtainanyothersuccedaneum;forIpresumenottosaythatmybaresolesarefortifiedsoastoenduretheflintsandthorns,asseemstobethecasewithyourfollowers。\"
ToridtheCaptainofhiscumbrousgreaves,andcasehisfeetinapairofbroguesmadeoutofdeerskin,whichaHighlanderstrippedoffforhisaccommodation,wastheworkofaminute,andDalgettyfoundhimselfmuchlightenedbytheexchange。HewasintheactofrecommendingtoRanaldMacEagh,tosendtwoorthreeofhisfollowersalittlelowertoreconnoitrethepass,and,atthesametime,somewhattoextendhisfront,placingtwodetachedarchersateachflankbywayofpostsofobservation,whenthenearcryofthehoundapprisedthemthatthepursuerswereatthebottomofthepass。Allwasthendeadsilence;for,loquaciousashewasonotheroccasions,CaptainDalgettyknewwellthenecessityofanambushkeepingitselfundercovert。
Themoongleamedonthebrokenpathway,andontheprojectingcliffsofrockroundwhichitwinded,itslightinterceptedhereandtherebythebranchesofbushesanddwarf—trees,which,findingnourishmentinthecrevicesoftherocks,insomeplacesovershadowedthebrowandledgeoftheprecipice。Below,athickcopse—woodlayindeepanddarkshadow,somewhatresemblingthebillowsofahalf—seenocean。Fromthebosomofthatdarkness,andclosetothebottomoftheprecipice,thehoundwasheardatintervalsbayingfearfully,soundswhichwereredoubledbytheechoesofthewoodsandrocksaround。Atintervals,thesesunkintodeepsilence,interruptedonlybytheplashingnoiseofasmallrunnelofwater,whichpartlyfellfromtherock,partlyfoundamoresilentpassagetothebottomalongitsprojectingsurface。Voicesofmenwerealsoheardinstifledconversebelow;itseemedasifthepursuershadnotdiscoveredthenarrowpathwhichledtothetopoftherock,orthat,havingdiscoveredit,theperiloftheascent,joinedtotheimperfectlight,andtheuncertaintywhetheritmightnotbedefended,madethemhesitatetoattemptit。
Atlengthashadowyfigurewasseen,whichraiseditselfupfromtheabyssofdarknessbelow,and,emergingintothepalemoonlight,begancautiouslyandslowlytoascendtherockypath。
Theoutlinewassodistinctlymarked,thatCaptainDalgettycoulddiscovernotonlythepersonofaHighlander,butthelonggunwhichhecarriedinhishand,andtheplumeoffeatherswhichdecoratedhisbonnet。\"TAUSENDTEIFLEN！thatIshouldsayso,andsoliketobenearmylatterend！\"ejaculatedtheCaptain,butunderhisbreath,\"whatwillbecomeofus,nowtheyhavebroughtmusketrytoencounterourarchers？\"
Butjustasthepursuerhadattainedaprojectingpieceofrockabouthalfwayuptheascent,and,pausing,madeasignalforthosewhowerestillatthebottomtofollowhim,anarrowwhistledfromthebowofoneoftheChildrenoftheMist,andtransfixedhimwithsofatalawound,that,withoutasingleefforttosavehimself,helosthisbalance,andfellheadlongfromthecliffonwhichhestood,intothedarknessbelow。Thecrashoftheboughswhichreceivedhim,andtheheavysoundofhisfallfromthencetotheground,wasfollowedbyacryofhorrorandsurprise,whichburstfromhisfollowers。TheChildrenoftheMist,encouragedinproportiontothealarmthisfirstsuccesshadcausedamongthepursuers,echoedbacktheclamourwithaloudandshrillyellofexultation,and,showingthemselvesonthebrowoftheprecipice,withwildcriesandvindictivegestures,endeavouredtoimpressontheirenemiesasenseatonceoftheircourage,theirnumbers,andtheirstateofdefence。EvenCaptainDalgetty\'smilitaryprudencedidnotpreventhisrisingup,andcallingouttoRanald,moreloudthanprudencewarranted,\"CAROCCO,comrade,astheSpaniardsays！Thelong—bowforever！Inmypoorapprehensionnow,wereyoutoorderafiletoadvanceandtakeposition——\"
\"TheSassenach！\"criedavoicefrombeneath,\"marktheSassenachsidier！Iseetheglitterofhisbreastplate。\"Atthesametimethreemusketsweredischarged;andwhileoneballrattledagainstthecorsletofproof,tothestrengthofwhichourvaliantCaptainhadbeenmorethanonceindebtedforhislife,anotherpenetratedthearmourwhichcoveredthefrontofhisleftthigh,andstretchedhimontheground。Ranaldinstantlyseizedhiminhisarms,andborehimbackfromtheedgeoftheprecipice,whilehedolefullyejaculated,\"IalwaystoldtheimmortalGustavus,Wallenstein,Tilly,andothermenofthesword,that,inmypoormind,tasletsoughttobemademusket—proof。\"
WithtwoorthreeearnestwordsinGaelic,MacEaghcommendedthewoundedmantothechargeofthefemales,whowereintherearofhislittleparty,andwasthenabouttoreturntothecontest。
ButDalgettydetainedhim,graspingafirmholdofhisplaid。——\"I
knownothowthismattermayend——butIrequestyouwillinformMontrose,thatIdiedlikeafolloweroftheimmortalGustavus——andIprayyou,takeheedhowyouquityourpresentstrength,evenforthepurposeofpursuingtheenemy,ifyougainanyadvantage——and——and——\"
HereDalgetty\'sbreathandeyesightbegantofailhimthroughlossofblood,andMacEagh,availinghimselfofthiscircumstance,extricatedfromhisgrasptheendofhisownmantle,andsubstitutedthatofafemale,bywhichtheCaptainheldstoutly,therebysecuring,asheconceived,theoutlaw\'sattentiontothemilitaryinstructionswhichhecontinuedtopourforthwhilehehadanybreathtoutterthem,thoughtheybecamegraduallymoreandmoreincoherent——\"And,comrade,youwillbesuretokeepyourmusketeersinadvanceofyourstandofpikes,Lochaber—axes,andtwo—handedswords——Standfast,dragoons,ontheleftflank！——wherewasI？——Ay,and,Ranald,ifyebemindedtoretreat,leavesomelightedmatchesburningonthebranchesofthetrees——itshowsasiftheywerelinedwithshot——ButIforget——yehavenomatch—locksnorhabergeons——onlybowsandarrows——bowsandarrows！ha！ha！ha！\"
HeretheCaptainsunkbackinanexhaustedcondition,altogetherunabletoresistthesenseoftheludicrouswhich,asamodernman—at—arms,heconnectedwiththeideaoftheseancientweaponsofwar。Itwasalongtimeereherecoveredhissenses;and,inthemeantime,weleavehiminthecareoftheDaughtersoftheMist;nursesaskindandattentive,inreality,astheywerewildanduncouthinoutwardappearance。
CHAPTERXV。
ButifnofaithlessactionstainThytrueandconstantword,I\'llmaketheefamousbymypen,Andgloriousbymysword。
I\'llservetheeinsuchnoblewaysAsne\'erwereknownbefore;
I\'lldeckandcrownthyheadwithbays,Andlovetheemoreandmore。MONTROSE\'SLINES。
Wemustnowleave,withwhateverregret,thevaliantCaptainDalgetty,torecoverofhiswoundsorotherwiseasfateshalldetermine,inorderbrieflytotracethemilitaryoperationsofMontrose,worthyastheyareofamoreimportantpage,andabetterhistorian。Bytheassistanceofthechieftainswhomwehavecommemorated,andmoreespeciallybythejunctionoftheMurrays,Stewarts,andotherclansofAthole,whichwerepeculiarlyzealousintheroyalcause,hesoonassembledanarmyoftwoorthreethousandHighlanders,towhomhesuccessfullyunitedtheIrishunderColkitto。Thislastleader,who,tothegreatembarrassmentofMilton\'scommentators,iscommemoratedinoneofthatgreatpoet\'ssonnets,wasproperlynamedAlister,orAlexanderM\'Donnell,bybirthaScottishislesman,andrelatedtotheEarlofAntrim,towhosepatronageheowedthecommandassignedhimintheIrishtroops。Inmanyrespectshemeritedthisdistinction。Hewasbravetointrepidity,andalmosttoinsensibility;verystrongandactiveinperson,completelymasterofhisweapons,andalwaysreadytoshowtheexampleintheextremityofdanger。Tocounterbalancethesegoodqualities,itmustberecorded,thathewasinexperiencedinmilitarytactics,andofajealousandpresumptuousdisposition,whichoftenlosttoMontrosethefruitsofColkitto\'sgallantry。Yetsuchisthepredominanceofoutwardpersonalqualitiesintheeyesofamildpeople,thatthefeatsofstrengthandcourageshownbythischampion,seemtohavemadeastrongerimpressionuponthemindsoftheHighlanders,thanthemilitaryskillandchivalrousspiritofthegreatMarquisofMontrose。NumeroustraditionsarestillpreservedintheHighlandglensconcerningAlisterM\'Donnell,thoughthenameofMontroseisrarelymentionedamongthem。
[Milton\'sbook,entitledTETRACHORDON,hadbeenridiculed,itwouldseem,bythedivinesassembledatWestminster,andothers,onaccountofthehardnessofthetitle;
andMiltoninhissonnetretaliatesuponthebarbarousScottishnameswhichtheCivilWarhadmadefamiliartoEnglishears:——
——whyisitharder,sirs,thanGordon,COLKITTOorM\'Donald,orGallasp？
Theseruggednamestoourlikemouthsgrowsleek,ThatwouldhavemadeQuintillianstareandgasp。
\"Wemaysuppose,\"saysBishopNewton,\"thatthesewerepersonsofnoteamongtheScotchministers,whowereforpressingandenforcingtheCovenant;\"whereasMiltononlyintendstoridiculethebarbarismofScottishnamesingeneral,andquotes,indiscriminately,thatofGillespie,oneoftheApostlesoftheCovenant,andthoseofColkittoandM\'Donnell（bothbelongingtooneperson）,oneofitsbitterestenemies。]
ThepointuponwhichMontrosefinallyassembledhislittlearmy,wasinStrathearn,onthevergeoftheHighlandsofPerthshire,soastomenacetheprincipaltownofthatcounty。
Hisenemieswerenotunpreparedforhisreception。Argyle,attheheadofhisHighlanders,wasdoggingthestepsoftheIrishfromthewesttotheeast,andbyforce,fear,orinfluence,hadcollectedanarmynearlysufficienttohavegivenbattletothatunderMontrose。TheLowlandswerealsoprepared,forreasonswhichweassignedatthebeginningofthistale。Abodyofsixthousandinfantry,andsixorseventhousandcavalry,whichprofanelyassumedthetitleofGod\'sarmy,hadbeenhastilyassembledfromtheshiresofFife,Angus,Perth,Stirling,andtheneighbouringcounties。Amuchlessforceinformertimes,nay,evenintheprecedingreign,wouldhavebeensufficienttohavesecuredtheLowlandsagainstamoreformidabledescentofHighlanders,thanthoseunitedunderMontrose;buttimeshadchangedstrangelywithinthelasthalfcentury。Beforethatperiod,theLowlanderswereasconstantlyengagedinwarasthemountaineers,andwereincomparablybetterdisciplinedandarmed。
ThefavouriteScottishorderofbattlesomewhatresembledtheMacedonianphalanx。Theirinfantryformedacompactbody,armedwithlongspears,impenetrableeventothemen—at—armsoftheage,thoughwellmounted,andarrayedincompleteproof。Itmayeasilybeconceived,therefore,thattheirrankscouldnotbebrokenbythedisorderlychargeofHighlandinfantryarmedforclosecombatonly,withswords,andillfurnishedwithmissileweapons,andhavingnoartillerywhatever。
ThishabitoffightwasinagreatmeasurechangedbytheintroductionofmusketsintotheScottishLowlandservice,which,notbeingasyetcombinedwiththebayonet,wasaformidableweaponatadistance,butgavenoassuranceagainsttheenemywhorushedontoclosequarters。Thepike,indeed,wasnotwhollydisusedintheScottisharmy;butitwasnolongerthefavouriteweapon,norwasitrelieduponasformerlybythoseinwhosehandsitwasplaced;insomuchthatDanielLupton,atacticianoftheday,haswrittenabookexpresslyuponthesuperiorityofthemusket。ThischangecommencedasearlyasthewarsofGustavusAdolphus,whosemarchesweremadewithsuchrapidity,thatthepikewasverysoonthrownasideinhisarmy,andexchangedforfire—arms。Acircumstancewhichnecessarilyaccompaniedthischange,aswellastheestablishmentofstandingarmies,wherebywarbecameatrade,wastheintroductionofalaboriousandcomplicatedsystemofdiscipline,combiningavarietyofwordsofcommandwithcorrespondingoperationsandmanoeuvres,theneglectofanyoneofwhichwassuretothrowthewholeintoconfusion。
Wartherefore,aspractisedamongmostnationsofEurope,hadassumedmuchmorethanformerlythecharacterofaprofessionormystery,towhichpreviouspracticeandexperiencewereindispensablerequisites。Suchwasthenaturalconsequenceofstandingarmies,whichhadalmosteverywhere,andparticularlyinthelongGermanwars,supersededwhatmaybecalledthenaturaldisciplineofthefeudalmilitia。
TheScottishLowlandmilitia,therefore,labouredunderadoubledisadvantagewhenopposedtoHighlanders。Theyweredivestedofthespear,aweaponwhich,inthehandsoftheirancestors,hadsooftenrepelledtheimpetuousassaultsofthemountaineer;andtheyweresubjectedtoanewandcomplicatedspeciesofdiscipline,welladapted,perhaps,totheuseofregulartroops,whocouldberenderedcompletelymastersofit,buttendingonlytoconfusetheranksofcitizensoldiers,bywhomitwasrarelypractised,andimperfectlyunderstood。Somuchhasbeendoneinourowntimeinbringingbacktacticstotheirfirstprinciples,andingettingridofthepedantryofwar,thatitiseasyforustoestimatethedisadvantagesunderwhichahalf—trainedmilitialaboured,whoweretaughttoconsidersuccessasdependingupontheirexercisingwithprecisionasystemoftactics,whichtheyprobablyonlysofarcomprehendedastofindoutwhentheywerewrong,butwithoutthepowerofgettingrightagain。Neithercanitbedenied,that,inthematerialpointsofmilitaryhabitsandwarlikespirit,theLowlandersoftheseventeenthcenturyhadsunkfarbeneaththeirHighlandcountrymen。
Fromtheearliestperioddowntotheunionofthecrowns,thewholekingdomofScotland,LowlandsaswellasHighlands,hadbeentheconstantsceneofwar,foreignanddomestic;andtherewasprobablyscarceoneofitshardyinhabitants,betweentheageofsixteenandsixty,whowasnotaswillinginpointoffactashewasliterallyboundinlaw,toassumearmsatthefirstcallofhisliegelord,orofaroyalproclamation。Thelawremainedthesameinsixteenhundredandforty—fiveasahundredyearsbefore,buttheraceofthosesubjectedtoithadbeenbredupunderverydifferentfeelings。Theyhadsatinquietundertheirvineandundertheirfig—tree,andacalltobattleinvolvedachangeoflifeasnewasitwasdisagreeable。Suchofthem,also,wholivednearuntotheHighlands,wereincontinualanddisadvantageouscontactwiththerestlessinhabitantsofthosemountains,bywhomtheircattleweredrivenoff,theirdwellingsplundered,andtheirpersonsinsulted,andwhohadacquiredoverthemthatsortofsuperiorityarisingfromaconstantsystemofaggression。TheLowlanders,wholaymoreremote,andoutofreachofthesedepredations,wereinfluencedbytheexaggeratedreportscirculatedconcerningtheHighlanders,whom,astotallydifferinginlaws,language,anddress,theywereinducedtoregardasanationofsavages,equallyvoidoffearandofhumanity。Thesevariousprepossessions,joinedtothelesswarlikehabitsoftheLowlanders,andtheirimperfectknowledgeofthenewandcomplicatedsystemofdisciplineforwhichtheyhadexchangedtheirnaturalmodeoffighting,placedthematgreatdisadvantagewhenopposedtotheHighlanderinthefieldofbattle。Themountaineers,onthecontrary,withthearmsandcourageoftheirfathers,possessedalsotheirsimpleandnaturalsystemoftactics,andboredownwiththefullestconfidenceuponanenemy,towhomanythingtheyhadbeentaughtofdisciplinewas,likeSaul\'sarmouruponDavid,ahinderanceratherthanahelp,\"becausetheyhadnotprovedit。\"
Itwaswithsuchdisadvantagesontheoneside,andsuchadvantagesontheother,tocounterbalancethedifferenceofsuperiornumbersandthepresenceofartilleryandcavalry,thatMontroseencounteredthearmyofLordElchouponthefieldofTippermuir。ThePresbyterianclergyhadnotbeenwantingintheireffortstorousethespiritoftheirfollowers,andoneofthem,whoharanguedthetroopsontheverydayofbattle,hesitatednottosay,thatifeverGodspokebyhismouth,hepromisedthem,inHisname,thatday,agreatandassuredvictory。Thecavalryandartillerywerealsoreckonedsurewarrantsofsuccess,asthenoveltyoftheirattackhaduponformeroccasionsbeenverydiscouragingtotheHighlanders。Theplaceofmeetingwasanopenheath,andthegroundaffordedlittleadvantagetoeitherparty,exceptthatitallowedthehorseoftheCovenanterstoactwitheffect。
Abattleuponwhichsomuchdepended,wasnevermoreeasilydecided。TheLowlandcavalrymadeashowofcharging;but,whetherthrownintodisorderbythefireofmusketry,ordeterredbyadisaffectiontotheservicesaidtohaveprevailedamongthegentlemen,theymadenoimpressionontheHighlanderswhatever,andrecoiledindisorderfromrankswhichhadneitherbayonetsnorpikestoprotectthem。Montrosesaw,andinstantlyavailedhimselfofthisadvantage。Heorderedhiswholearmytocharge,whichtheyperformedwiththewildanddesperatevalourpeculiartomountaineers。OneofficeroftheCovenantersalone,trainedintheItalianwars,madeadesperatedefenceupontherightwing。Ineveryotherpointtheirlinewaspenetratedatthefirstonset;andthisadvantageonceobtained,theLowlanderswereutterlyunabletocontendatclosequarterswiththeirmoreagileandathleticenemies。Manywereslainontheheld,andsuchanumberinthepursuit,thataboveone—thirdoftheCovenanterswerereportedtohavefallen;inwhichnumber,however,mustbecomputedagreatmanyfatburgesseswhobroketheirwindintheflight,andthusdiedwithoutstrokeofsword。
[Wechoosetoquoteourauthorityforafactsosingular:——\"A
greatmanyburgesseswerekilled——twenty—fivehouseholdersinSt。
Andrews——manywereburstenintheflight,anddiedwithoutstroke。\"——SeeBaillie\'sLetters,vol。ii。page92。]
ThevictorsobtainedpossessionofPerth,andobtainedconsiderablesumsofmoney,aswellasamplesuppliesofarmsandammunition。ButthoseadvantagesweretobebalancedagainstanalmostinsurmountableinconveniencethatuniformlyattendedaHighlandarmy。Theclanscouldbeinnorespectinducedtoconsiderthemselvesasregularsoldiers,ortoactassuch。Evensolateastheyear1745—6,whentheChevalierCharlesEdward,bywayofmakinganexample,causedasoldiertobeshotfordesertion,theHighlanders,whocomposedhisarmy,wereaffectedasmuchbyindignationasbyfear。Theycouldnotconceiveanyprincipleofjusticeuponwhichaman\'slifecouldbetaken,formerelygoinghomewhenitdidnotsuithimtoremainlongerwiththearmy。Suchhadbeentheuniformpracticeoftheirfathers。
Whenabattlewasover,thecampaignwas,intheiropinion,ended;ifitwaslost,theysoughtsafetyintheirmountains——ifwon,theyreturnedtheretosecuretheirbooty。Atothertimestheyhadtheircattletolookafter,andtheirharveststosoworreap,withoutwhichtheirfamilieswouldhaveperishedforwant。
Ineithercase,therewasanendoftheirservicesforthetime;
andthoughtheywereeasilyenoughrecalledbytheprospectoffreshadventuresandmoreplunder,yettheopportunityofsuccesswas,inthemeantime,lost,andcouldnotafterwardsberecovered。Thiscircumstanceservestoshow,evenifhistoryhadnotmadeusacquaintedwiththesamefact,thattheHighlandershadneverbeenaccustomedtomakewarwiththeviewofpermanentconquest,butonlywiththehopeofderivingtemporaryadvantage,ordecidingsomeimmediatequarrel。ItalsoexplainsthereasonwhyMontrose,withallhissplendidsuccesses,neverobtainedanysecureorpermanentfootingintheLowlands,andwhyeventhoseLowlandnoblemenandgentlemen,whowereinclinedtotheroyalcause,showeddiffidenceandreluctancetojoinanarmyofacharactersodesultoryandirregular,asmightleadthematalltimestoapprehendthattheHighlanderssecuringthemselvesbyaretreattotheirmountains,wouldleavewhateverLowlandersmighthavejoinedthemtothemercyofanoffendedandpredominantenemy。ThesameconsiderationwillalsoservetoaccountforthesuddenmarcheswhichMontrosewasobligedtoundertake,inordertorecruithisarmyinthemountains,andfortherapidchangesoffortune,bywhichweoftenfindhimobligedtoretreatfrombeforethoseenemiesoverwhomhehadrecentlybeenvictorious。
Ifthereshouldbeanywhoreadthesetalesforanyfurtherpurposethanthatofimmediateamusement,theywillfindtheseremarksnotunworthyoftheirrecollection。
Itwasowingtosuchcauses,theslacknessoftheLowlandloyalistsandthetemporarydesertionofhisHighlandfollowers,thatMontrosefoundhimself,evenafterthedecisivevictoryofTippermuir,innoconditiontofacethesecondarmywithwhichArgyleadvanceduponhimfromthewestward。Inthisemergency,supplyingbyvelocitythewantofstrength,hemovedsuddenlyfromPerthtoDundee,andbeingrefusedadmissionintothattown,fellnorthwarduponAberdeen,whereheexpectedtobejoinedbytheGordonsandotherloyalists。Butthezealofthesegentlemenwas,forthetime,effectuallybridledbyalargebodyofCovenanters,commandedbytheLordBurleigh,andsupposedtoamounttothreethousandmen。TheseMontroseboldlyattackedwithhalftheirnumber。ThebattlewasfoughtunderthewallsOfthecity,andtheresolutevalourofMontrose\'sfollowerswasagainsuccessfulagainsteverydisadvantage。
Butitwasthefateofthisgreatcommander,alwaystogaintheglory,butseldomtoreapthefruitsofvictory。HehadscarcelytimetoreposehissmallarmyinAberdeen,erehefound,ontheonehand,thattheGordonswerelikelytobedeterredfromjoininghim,bythereasonswehavementioned,withsomeotherspeculiartotheirchief,theMarquisofHuntly;ontheotherhand,Argyle,whoseforceshadbeenaugmentedbythoseofseveralLowlandnoblemen,advancedtowardsMontroseattheheadofanarmymuchlargerthanhehadyethadtocopewith。Thesetroopsmoved,indeed,withslowness,correspondingtothecautiouscharacteroftheircommander;buteventhatcautionrenderedArgyle\'sapproachformidable,sincehisveryadvanceimplied,thathewasattheheadofanarmyirresistiblysuperiorThereremainedonemodeofretreatopentoMontrose,andheadoptedit。HethrewhimselfintotheHighlands,wherehecouldsetpursuitatdefiance,andwherehewassure,ineveryglen,torecoverthoserecruitswhohadlefthisstandardtodeposittheirbootyintheirnativefastnesses。ItwasthusthatthesingularcharacterofthearmywhichMontrosecommanded,while,ontheonehand,itrenderedhisvictoryinsomedegreenugatory,enabledhim,ontheother,underthemostdisadvantageouscircumstances,tosecurehisretreat,recruithisforces,andrenderhimselfmoreformidablethanevertotheenemy,beforewhomhehadlatelybeenunabletomakeastand。
OnthepresentoccasionhethrewhimselfintoBadenoch,andrapidlytraversingthatdistrict,aswellastheneighbouringcountryofAthole,healarmedtheCovenantersbysuccessiveattacksuponvariousunexpectedpoints,andspreadsuchgeneraldismay,thatrepeatedordersweredispatchedbytheParliamenttoArgyle,theircommander,toengage,anddisperseMontroseatallrates。
Thesecommandsfromhissuperiorsneithersuitedthehaughtyspirit,northetemporizingandcautiouspolicy,ofthenoblemantowhomtheywereaddressed。Hepaid,accordingly,noregardtothem,butlimitedhiseffortstointriguesamongMontrose\'sfewLowlandfollowers,manyofwhomhadbecomedisgustedwiththeprospectofaHighlandcampaign,whichexposedtheirpersonstointolerablefatigue,andlefttheirestatesattheCovenanters\'
mercy。Accordingly,severalofthemleftMontrose\'scampatthisperiod。Hewasjoined,however,byabodyofforcesofmorecongenialspirit,andfarbetteradaptedtothesituationinwhichhefoundhimself。ThisreinforcementconsistedofalargebodyofHighlanders,whomColkitto,dispatchedforthatpurpose,hadleviedinArgyleshire。AmongthemostdistinguishedwasJohnofMoidart,calledtheCaptainofClanRanald,withtheStewartsofAppin,theClanGregor,theClanM\'Nab,andothertribesofinferiordistinction。Bythesemeans,Montrose\'sarmywassoformidablyincreased,thatArgylecarednolongertoremaininthecommandofthatopposedtohim,butreturnedtoEdinburgh,andtherethrewuphiscommission,underpretencethathisarmywasnotsuppliedwithreinforcementsandprovisionsinthemannerinwhichtheyoughttohavebeen。FromthencetheMarquisreturnedtoInverary,there,infullsecurity,togovernhisfeudalvassals,andpatriarchalfollowers,andtoreposehimselfinsafetyonthefaithoftheClanproverbalreadyquoted——\"ItisafarcrytoLochow。\"
CHAPTERXVI。
Suchmountainssteep,suchcraggyhills,Hisarmyononesideenclose:
Theotherside,greatgrieslygillsDidfencewithfennymireandmoss。
WhichwhentheEarlunderstood,Hecouncilcravedofcaptainsall,Whobadesetforthwithmournfulmood,Andtakesuchfortuneaswouldfall。
FLODDENFIELD,ANANCIENTPOEM。
