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ock。＇ An arrangement was here come to between Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine； Seaforth's brother； on behalf of the Covenanters； and a representative from the Gordons for their opponents； that the latter should recross to the south side of the Spey； and that the Highlanders should return home。 About the same time Seaforth received a despatch from Montrose； then at Aberdeen and fighting for the Covenant； intimating the pacification entered into on the 20th of June between the King and his subjects at Berwick； and requesting Seaforth to disband his armyan order which was at once obeyed。 Shortly after； however； Montrose dissociated himself from the Covenanters； joined the King's side and raised the Royal standard。 The Earl of Seaforth soon after this was suspected of lukewarmness for the Covenant。 In 1640 the King arrived at York on his way north to reduce the Covenanting Scots； after they had resolved to invade England； and； as a precautionary measure； to imprison or expel all suspected Royalists from the army。 Among the suspects are found the Earl of Seaforth； Lord Reay； and several others； who were taken before the Assembly； kept in ward at Edinburgh for two months； and in 1641； on the King's arrival in Scotland； the Earl of Traquair； who had been summoned before Parliament as an opponent to the Lords of the Covenant succeeded in persuading the Earls of Montrose； Wigton； Athole； Hume； and Seaforth （who had meanwhile escaped）； and several other influential chiefs； to join in a bond against the Covenanters。
Soon after this Montrose leaves Elgin with the main body of his army； and marches towards the Bog of Gight； accompanied by the Earl of Seaforth； Sir Robert Gordon； Grant of Grant； Mackenzie of Pluscardine； and several other gentlemen who came to him at Elgin； to support the King。 After this； however； fearing that depredations might be committed upon his followers by a garrison of two regiments then stationed at Inverness； and the other Covenanters of that district； he permitted Seaforth； Grant of Grant； and other Morayshire gentlemen； to return home in order to defend their estates； but before permitting them to depart he made them swear allegiance to the King and promise that they should never again under any circumstances take up arms against his Majesty or any of his loyal subjects； and to rejoin him with all their available forces as soon as they were able to do so。 Seaforth； however； with unaccountable want of decision； disregarded his oath； again joined the Covenanters； and excused himself in a letter to the Committee of Estates； saying that he had joined the Royalists through fear of Montrose； at the same time avowing that he would abide by 〃the good cause to his death〃a promise not much to be trusted。
He is soon again in the field； this time against Montrose。 Wishart says that 〃the Earl of Seaforth； a very powerful man in those parts （and one of whom he entertained a better opinion） with the garrison of Inver…ness； which were old soldiers； and the whole strength of Moray； Ross； Sutherland； and Caithness； and the sept of the Frasers； were ready to meet him with a desperate army of 5000 horse and foot。〃 Montrose had only 1500the Macdonalds of Glengarry and the Highlanders of Athol having previously gone home； against the earnest solicitude of Montrose that they should complete the campaign； according to their usual custom； to deposit the booty obtained in their repeated victories under their great chief； but on the plea of repairing their houses and other property which had been so much injured by their enemies in their absence。 The great commander； however； although he knew many of the garrison to be old soldiers； decided to attack the superior numbers against him； correctly surmising that a great many of his opponents were newly raised recruits 〃from among husband…men； cowherds； tavern…boys and kitchen…boys；〃 and would be raw and unserviceable。 Fortunately for Seaforth and his forces； matters turned out otherwise。 The gallant Marquis； on his way to Inverness； was informed of Argyll's descent on Lochaber； and； instantly changing his route； he fell down upon him at Inverlochy so unexpectedly； that when Argyll； by an ignominious flight in one of his boats； made himself secure； he had the well…merited reward of personal cowardice and pusillanimity of witnessing fifteen hundred of his devoted adherents cut down； among whom were a great number of the leading gentlemen of the clan； who deserved to fight under a better and less cowardly commander。
Among those who fell were Campbell of Auchinbreck； Campbell of Lochnell； his eldest son； and his brother Colin； Macdougall of Rara； and his eldest son； Major Menzies； brother to the Chief of Achattens Parbreck； and the Provost of the Church of Kilmuir。 The power of the Campbells was thus broken； and so probably would that of Seaforth had Montrose attacked him first。
After this brilliant victory at Inverlochy； on the 2d February； 1645； Montrose returned to Moray； by Badenoch； where on his march to Elgin； he was met by Thomas Mackenzie of Piuscardine and others； sent by Seaforth and the Covenanters as commissioners to treat with him。 They received an indignant answer。 The Marquis declined any negotiation； but offered to accept the services of such as would join and obey him as the King's Lieutenant…General。 The Earl of Seaforth was then sent by the Committee of Ross and Sutherland； in person； and meeting the Marquis between Elgin and Forres； he was arrested and for several days detained prisoner。 He was subsequently released； but all the authorities plead ignorance of the terms。
When the Royalists marched south； the Laird of Lawers； who was then Governor of the Castle of Inverness； cited all those who had communications with Montrose in Moray； and compelled them to give bonds for their appearance； to answer for their conduct； before Parliament； if required to do so。 Among them were Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscardine； and； after the affair at Fettercairn； and the retreat of Montrose from Dundee； the Earls of Seaforth and Sutherland； with the whole of the Clan Fraser； and most of the men of Caithness and Moray； are found assembled at Inverness； where General Hurry； who had retreated before Montrose； joined them with a force of Gordons1000 foot and 200 horse the whole amounting to about 3500 of the former and 400 of the latter； which included Sutherlands； Mackenzies； Frasers； Roses； and Brodies； while the followers of Montrose consisted of Gordons； Macdonalds； Macphersons； Mackintoshes； and Irish； to the number of about 3000 foot and 300 horse。 ＇Shaw's MS。 History。＇ Montrose halted at the village of Auldearn； and General Hurry finding such a large force waiting for him at Inverness； decided to retrace his steps the next morning； and give battle to the Marquis at that village。
The author of the Ardintoul MS。 tells how Seaforth came to take part in the battle of Auldearn； and gives the following interesting account of his reasons and of the engagement：〃General Hurry sent for Seaforth to Inverness； and during a long conference informed him that although he was serving the States