The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

92 THE HIGHLANDERS [part i
which at first did not exceed 1500 men, he gained five successive
victories over the troops sent against him by the Scottish parliament,
and finally, by the last victory at Kilsyth, found himself
in possession of the country. There is little doubt that Montrose
could now have placed his royal master on the throne, had it not
been for the inveterate adherence of the Highlanders to their
ancient practice, which, as usual, rendered any permanent
advantage which they might have been able to derive from their
victory altogether nugatory ; for, unaccustomed to a regular
campaign having an ultimate object in view, or, in fact, to any
other species of warfare than that of their own predatory incur-
sions, of which the object was plunder alone, they were in the
habit of returning to their homes after every battle, to secure the
spoil they had obtained and thus Montrose's ; army gradually
melted away, until he found himself with even fewer men than
when he commenced the campaign, and obliged to forego all the
advantages he might have derived from his brilliant progress.
Nevertheless, he unfortunately determined to advance with the
small force which remained to him, and without the assistance
of the clans, by whose aid he had been able to do so much, and
the defeat which he sustained at Philliphaugh at once neutralized
the effects of his previous success. Nor was he again able to
redeem the ground he had lost, although he succeeded in making
his escape to the Highlands. On the death of Charles I., his
son, Charles H., who was determined to make a last effort in
Scotland before concluding a treaty with the Presbyterian party,
iiiduced Montrose to attempt again to rouse the Highland clans,
and the unfortunate issue of this adventure is well known :
Montrose was defeated at Invercharron in Ross-shire, and soon
thereafter, by the treachery of Macleod of Ascent, delivered up
to the Covenanters, who speedily revenged the many terrors he
had caused them, by his death on the scaffold.
After this the Highlands were completely subdued by Crom-
well, who compelled the principal clans to submit to his authority,
and to secure their obedience he built several fortresses and
garrisoned them with English troops. Subsequently, however,
they were called forth from their mountain districts, and from
the prosecution of their internal feuds, to assist the Earl of
Lauderdale in carrying through his oppressive proceedings