第14章

"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。