A more perfect and particular RELATION OF THE Late great VICTORIE in Scotland Obtained over Montrosse and the Rebels there, by the Forces under the Command of Lieutenant-Generall David Lesley, certified by an Expresse the 16. of this instant from Hadington.
Together with a List of the chiefe men of note taken prisoners and kild in the battell, and after in the pursuit.
To which is likewise added a Letter written from Master Balsame Minister at Berwick, and dated the 17. of Septemb. 1645. to a Minister in London concerning the said Victory.
Published by Authority.
LONDON, Printed by M.B. for Robert Bostock at the Kings head in Pauls Churchyard. 25. Sep. 1645.
A more perfect and particular Relation of the late great VICTORY in SCOTLAND, &c.
I Received yours of the 9. currant and in returne have sent you a short accompt of this late happy victory the Lord hath given us over our enemies: After the defeating of our Forces neer Kilsyth, all the Malignants in the Country runne in to him, but did not all much increase his strength; the addition he received was in Horse and Dragoons, whereof he stood in greatest need, being removed into the low Country from the hills, which were upon all occasions to him a shelter and place of retreat; the number of his Horse and Dragoons were made up to about two thousand, and so farre as I can learne, his whole strength in Horse and Foot did not amount to seven thousand, but all these were not present at this last battell, for upon the releasing of Lodowick Lindsey sometime Earle of Crawford out of prison, there arose some difference amongst the Rebels, Montrosse having promised to the Lord Gordon to make him Generall of the Horse, for which the Earle of Crawford having a Commission from the King before his imprisonment, was preferred by Montrosse. This gave great cause of discontent to the Lord Gordon, and thereupon he retired with 500. men to his [Page 2] owne Country. Another occasion of the diminution of his force was, That the Marquesse of Argyles Forces and the Earle of Seaforts had possessed themselves of the Rebels Lands and Houses in the North, and was taking order with their friends and adherents to reduce them to obedience; which moved the Enemy to send back into the North Colkittoch with 800. men to protect their lands. With the rest of their Forces the Enemy marched Eastward to interrupt the leavy of our Forces that were raising in the Easterne and Southerne parts of the Kingdome. But upon Lieutenant-Generall David Lesleyes comming into Berwick-shire, and East Lothian, he marched South toward Selhirke, where he might have the assistance of the Malignants and dis-affected that live upon the Scottish and English borders. Upon Fryday the 12. of this instant (which was a day of Fasting and Humiliation) Lieutenant-Generall David Lesley with his Forces advanced within three miles of the Enemy, who were quartered in Philip Haugh, not farre from Selhirke, that night he sent out two parties, who fell in upon their quarters, killed some, and gave them the alarme, which made them continue all night in Armes, and ours did the like. The morrow being Saturday the 13. our Forces marched toward the Enemy, and came within view of them about ten in the morning; according to their usuall manner they had made choice of a most advantagious ground wherein they had intrenched themselves, having upon the one hand an unpassable Ditch, and on the other Dikes and Hedges, and where these were not strong enough, they further fortified them by casting up Ditches, and lined their Hedges with Musketeers. After viewing one another, there came out three horses from each side, and [Page 3] after skirmishing very gallantly about a quarter of an houre, the Enemies three were beaten in; after this, the Enemy sent out a partee of 200 Musketeeers, who were forced by ours to retreat in great disorder, whereupon the Van of our Forces advanced, and for almost an houre (being betweene eleven and twelve of the clock) it was hotly disputed, our Horse endeavouring to break thorow, and the Enemy with great resolution maintaining their ground; at length Lieutenant-Generall David Lesley charging very desperately upon the head of his own Regiment, broke the body of the Enemies Foot, after which they went all in confusion and disorder, and the Horse wanting their Foot were not able to make great opposition; the Foot were all cut off & taken, whereof an hundred were Irish, who were all since shot at a Post, many of the Horse killed upon the place, and many taken, but more in the pursuit, for they rallied again, which occasioned their greater overthrow, and gave opportunity to our Horse to reincounter them: Here the Earle of Crawford the Generall of their Horse was killed, the Lord Ogleby, and Nathaniel Gordon one of their most active Commanders were taken: of the Foot and Horse it is conceived there is betweene two and three thousand killed. I have herewith sent you a List of the chiefe Prisoners taken, and the persons of note that were kild, so farre as is yet come to our knowledge, there are divers others kild and taken, whose names I have not for the present, but shall send them by the next occasion. It is remarkable, that God should cast into our hands againe those prisoners that were delived up basely by the Malignants in Edinburgh. We lost of our side Captaine Barclay, and Captaine Dundasse, and a very [Page 4] few Souldiers, but have divers wounded, yet kild and wounded there are in all not above an hundred. The Lord of Hosts put a spirit of courage in our Officers and Souldiers, and all of them behaved themselves resolutely: If I were to speak to the praise of men, I might say much for Lieutenant-Generall Lesley, and Generall-Major Midaleton, and others, but though they deserve it, I know they desire it not, but that we should magnifie him that enabled them. Montrosse himselfe scaped with a few Horse, leaving behinde him all his Baggage, amongst which is found his own Commission from the King; and divers other Commissions for Lieutenants in the severall Counties, together with a Roll of all such as have received protections from him, which will be a good vidimus for the payment of our Souldiers. Some say that Montrosse is fled to the Castle of Dowglasse, others report him to be taken about Evingdall, but I can report none of these for a truth, onely it is certaine, he is not visible but in corners. Since the battell divers of the Enemies Souldiers are kild and taken by the Country people. Lieutenant-Generall Lesley is gone to Glasgow, and Generall-Major Middleton to Sterling, to intercept at these two passages such of the Enemy as shall endevour to goe Northward. Sir James Hacket is sent to the Generall to stop his march Northward, and I hope Lieutenant-Generall Lesley shall returne shortly with most of the Horse.
The mercies of the Lord our God have beene wonfull towards us, we had many warnings before this late sad houre of darknesse, but the Lord hath delivered us as in a moment, he hath wrought salvation for his owne Names sake. O how free, how undeserved, how [Page 5] seasonable a mercy, not onely destroyed our professed enemies, but discovered our secret and bosome adversaries. To God be all the glory, and let his people have the comfort and right use of it, which is the earnest desire and hearty prayer of
It was generally reported here that Major-Generall Monro was landed in the West with two thousand men; but I can assure you there is no such thing, he is farre advanced in Ireland with his whole Forces.
Prisoners of note taken, besides those were killed at the Battell fought at Philip-Haugh, within three miles of Selkirk in Tiviotdale. upon the 13. Septemb (er). 1645. and since in the pursuit.
- THe Earl of Traquaire.
- Lord Seaton.
- Lord Drummond.
- Lord Ogleby.
- Lord Gray.
- Lord Linton.
- The Lord Napers eldest Sonne.
- The Baron of Drum, younger.
- The Baron of Reasyth.
- The Lord of Derceys eldest Sonne, Grandchild to the late pretended Archbishop of S. Andews
- The Laird of Pury Ogleby the younger.
- Sir Robert Spotswood, pretended Secretary of State, and Sonne to the late pretended Archbishop of S. Andrews.
- Sir John Hay, sometimes Clarke Register.
- Sir James Dowglas, Sonne to the Earle of Morton-
- Sir David Murray.
- Sir John Byres.
- Sir Nathaniel Gordon.
- Sir Alexander Lesly, Serjeant Major Generall.
- Sir William Rollock.
- William Murray, Brother to the Earle of Tullibrand.
- Colonell William Stewart, adjutant-Generall.
- Coloneli James Hay.
- O Cain, Lieutenant-Colonell to the Irish.
- The Serjeant Major to the Earle of Antrim, and divers Gentlemen.
- [Page 7]Lodwick Lindsay, sometime Earle of Craford, Generall of the Horse.
- The Barron of Junerleith.
- The Barron of Tough.
- The Barron of Cambusnethen younger.
- Souldiers, betweene two thousand & three thousand.
A true Copy of a Letter written by Master Robert Balsome, one of the Preachers sent by the Committee of Parliament into the North, to a Minister in London.
ILe tell thee good newes, Scotland is living, newly raised from the dead, Montrosse utterly overthrowne, being as ripe for judgement as ever I heard of any wretch, either in these or former times: Master Rowe told me, who was at the Fight, that many [Page 8] women when his Army came. were forced by the violence of the unchaste Souldier, and divers young Virgins were carryed away Captives in the Army, with whom the Souldiers committed filthinesse in open places where the Campe lay, the Officers first taking, and then the Souldiers in joying what they left: it was the voyce of the Country, almost in every womans mouth, God hath shamed us, and whether shall we cause our shame to goe? But behold when the Enemie was thus ripe in sinne, the Lord cuts him off in an instant: Many things are very remarkable, as
- 1 That having so long a time after the last great Victory before Lesly came, yet had they not gotten many thousands together.
- 2 That all this time not one Minister hath complyed with them, either to preach to them or pray with them.
- 3 That the Lord gave the Victory in the space of an houre.
- 4 That it was by an inconsiderable Party, not above five Regiments of Horse.
- 5 It was onely with the losse of fifteene Common Souldiers, and one Captaine on our side.
- 6 That it was the next day after the Fast.
- [Page 9] 7 That a paper Booke was taken, in which were the names of all that either were come in, or intended to come in to Montrosse, so as that all the rotten Members in the Kingdome are discovered in an houre, and many of them cut off in a short time; the Souldiers after the Victory cryed out, Give all the Glory to God and none to us.
We have had in Barwick, since these troubles, many of the best affected in Scotland, I have not met with such a people, not one of them, as I could either speake with, or heare of, that differed from the rest in opinion; a gracious praying people, laying hold on Christ, who is the onely subiect of their discourse; I am perswaded, though they are not many in comparison of the Kingdome, in whom is found the power of Religion, yet their being of one minde and one soul, makes them exceeding prevalent with God I could give thee many a Relation concerning them, which would glad thy heart, but I am in haste; I hope you will heare more large Relations from others; many Prisoners are taken up every day by the Country people, [Page 10] many of them they kill in the place where they find them; But I must conclude, Remember me to all with thee, faile not to write by the next Post, to him who is