g 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 civility and respect； possession of the stronghold。
The Committee on Public Affairs； which； throughout the contest； acted in opposition to the Royal authority； and held sederunts at Aberdeen and Dundee as well as at Edinburgh； gratified their malignity； after Montrose gave up the fight in 1646； by fining the loyalists in enormous amounts of money； and decerning them to 〃lend〃 to the committee such sumsin many cases exorbitantas they thought proper。 Sir Robert Farquhar； formerly a Bailie of Aberdeen； was treasurer； and in the sederunt held in that city； the committee threw a comprehensive net over the clan Mackenzie。 Sixteen of the name were decerned to lend the large sum of ？8；666 13s 4d Scots； but from the other side of the balance sheet it is found that they declined to lend a penny； and Sir Robert credits himself as treasurer thus：〃Item of the loan moneys above set down there is yet resting unpaid； and wherefore no payment can be gotten； as followsviz。Be the name of Mackenzie； sixteen persons； the sum of ？8；666 13s 4d Scots。〃 The following are the names and sums decerned against each of them：Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine； ？000； Alexander Mackenzie of Kilcoy； ？000； Roderick Mackenzie of Redcastle； ？000； Alexander Mackenzie of Coul； ？000； Kenneth Mackenzie of Gairloch； ？333 6s 8d； Hector Mackenzie of Scotsburn； ？000； Roderick Mackenzie of Davochmaluag； ？333 6s 8d； John Mackenzie of Dawach…Cairn； ？333 6s 8d； William Mackenzie of Multavie； ？000； Kenneth Mackenzie of Scatwell； ？000； Thomas Mackenzie of Inverlael； ？333 6s 8d； Colin Mackenzie of Mullochie； ？66 13s 4d； Donald Mackenzie of Logie； ？66 13s 4d； Kenneth Mackenzie of Assint； ？000； Colin Mackenzie of Kincraig； ？000； Alexander Mackenzie of Suddie； ？000。 Among the other sums decerned is one of ？666 13s 4d against William Robertson in Kindeace； and his son Gilbert Robertson；〃 and in Inverness and Ross the loan amounted to the respectable sum of ？4；783 6s 8d； of which the treasurer was allowed to retain ？5；000 in his own hands