A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

FLIOHT OF MONTROSE. 41P
again at llie liead of a fresh force. That he oould only expect to retrieve
the present state of affairs by escaping from tlie present danger and rais-
ing new troops ; but that if he raslily sacrificed liis life the king's affairs
might be irretrievably ruined. These reflections bring seconded by tlie
marquis of Douglas and a few trusty friends, who implored him not to
throw away a life so v;xluable to the king and to the country, Montrose
resolved to consult his safety by an immediate flight. Putting himself,
therefore, at the head of his troop, he cut his way through the enemy,
without the loss of a single man. They were pursued by a party of
horse, some of whom they killed, and actually carried off one Bruce, a
captain of horse, and two standard-bearers, with their ensigns, as prison-
ers. Montrose went in the direction of Peebles, which he entered
about sun-set, and here he was joined by different straggling parties of
his men who had escaped.
Montrose lost in this engagement very few of his horse, but a consider-
able part of his foot was destroyed. He carried off, as we have seen, two
nf the enemy's standards, and fortunately preserved his own, two in num-
ber, from the enemy. That belonging to his infantry was saved by an Irish
soldier of great bravery, who, on seeing the battle lost, and the enemy
in possession of the field, tore it from the pole and wrapping it round his
body, which was without any other covering, nobly cut his way through
the enemy sword in hand. He overtook Montrose at Peebles, and de-
livered the standard into his hands the same night. Montrose rewarded
(lis bravery by appointing him one of his life-guard, and by committing'
the standard to his future charge.
It was to the honourable William Hay, brother to the earl of Kiimoul.
a youth of a martial and enterprising spirit, that Montrose was in-
debted for the preservation of his second ensign belonging to the horse.
Mr Hay had been appointed to the honourable post of standard-bearer, af-
ter the battle of Alford, instead of Mr Douglas, son of the earl of Morton,
who had been seriously wounded in that engagement. This noble youth
fled to the south carrying the royal ensign along with him, and, after
concealing himself for some time about the English borders, he in com-
pany with Robert Touris of Inverleith, who had served as a captain in
the French service, went in disguise to the north, where he joined Mon-
trose, and delivered the royal standard into his hands.
Montrose passed the night at Peebles, where he was joined by most
of his horse and part of his infantry; but some of his officers who had
uiistaken their way, or fled in a different direction, were seized by the
country people, and delivered over to Leslie. Among these were the
earl of Hartfell, the lords Drummond and Ogilvie, Sir Robert Spottis-
wood. Sir Alexander Leslie of Aucliintoul, Sir William Rollock, Sir
Philip Nisbet, the honourable William Murray, brother to the earl of
TuUiebardine, Alexander Ogilvie of Inverquharity, colonel Nathaniel
Gordon and INIr Andrew Guthry son of the bishop of Moray.* Mon-
• GuUiry's Memoirs, p. IGl.