An Laoidheadair Gaelic na ain spioradail

174 INVASIOxV OF ARGYLESHIRE.
CoU not to go home to Antrim for they would support
him, and defeat any force the Covenanters could possibly
spare for some time to attack him ; besides, the county
being very scattered, difRcult of access by land, and without
roads fit for strange troops to march through ; that
few men could defend the passes at east and west Tarbert,
where there was a watch-tower to accommodate the men
on duty, the walls of which are still standing. If these
promises were made to CoU, and in expectation of being
reinforced by new levies from Antrim, to be commanded
by his son, Alexander, it is not a matter of surprize to
find him at ease, contemplating how to be revenged on
Argyle, and bring him and his whole clan to misery.
Some months must elapse before Argyle could get from
the committee of Estates a trained furce sufficient to reduce
that vile nest Dunavartich, and the chiefs of clans connected
with Colla-citich under due subjection to keep the
peace, and withdraw their influence and support from him.
Alexander, on being informed of his father's fate,
resolved on laying Argyleshire waste, and applied to his
protector the earl of Antrim, praying for a levy to enable
him to relieve his father and retaliate on Argyle. About
this time, suppose 1638, the Marquis of Montrose (a
brave, active, and indefatigable officer) had forsaken the
cause of the Covenanters, finding the chief command of
their army given to Lieut. General Leslie, an officer of
great experience, who had served long in foreign countries.
This gave great offence to Blontrose, who joined
the king's troops, on being appointed commander-in-chief
in Scotland, and second in command in England.
The earl of Antrim provided Alexander IMacdonnell
with two large draughts of troops amounting to above
3000 men, to whom he obtained (by hls Majesty's permission)
Ihe rank of Major-Gèneral during the war. At
this Montrose was well pleased, knowiiig he would be of
essential use in securing the interest of the greater part of
the clans to the royal cause, besides fully able to address
himself to the nien in their owu language.
With the first division of the promised levy, consisting