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h to Inverness； and during a long conference informed him that although he was serving the States himself he privately favoured the King's cause。
He advised Seaforth to dismiss his men and make a pretence that he had only sent for them to give them new leases of their lands； and in case it was necessary to make an appearance to fight Montrose； he could bring； when commanded to do so； two or three companies from Chanonry and Ardmeanach； which the Marquis would accept。 It was； however； late before they parted； and Lady Seaforth； who was waiting for her lord at Kessock； prepared a sumptuous supper for her husband and his friends。
The Earl and his guests kept up the festivities so long and so well that he ‘forgot or delayed to advertise his men to dismiss till to…morrow；' and going to bed very late； before he could stir in the morning all the lairds and gentlemen of Moray came to him； most earnestly entreating him by all the laws of friendship and good neighbourhood； and for the kindness they had for him while he lived among them； and which they manifested to his brother yet living amongst them； that his lordship would not see them ruined and destroyed by Montrose and the Irish； when he might easily prevent it without the least loss to himself or his men； assuring him that if he should join General Hurry with what forces he had then under his command； Montrose would go away with his Irish and decline to fight them。 Seaforth； believing his visitors； and thinking； as they said； that Montrose with so small a number would not venture to fight； his opponents being twice the number； and many of them trained soldiers。 Hurry told him that he was to march immediately against Montrose and being of an easy and compassionate nature； Seaforth yielded to their request； and sent immediately in all haste for his Highlanders； crossed the ferry of Kessock； and marched straight with the rest of his forces to Auldearn； where Montrose had his camp； but the Moray men found themselves mistaken in thinking the Marquis would make off； for he was not only resolved but glad of the opportunity to fight them before Baillie； whom he knew was on his march north with considerable forces； could join General Hurry； and so drawing up his men with great advantage of ground he placed Alexander Macdonald； with the Irish； on the right wing beneath the village of Auldearn； and Lord Gordon with the horse on the left。 On the south side of Auldearn； he himself （Montrose） biding in town； and making a show of a main battle with a few men； which Hurry understanding and making it his business that Montrose should carry the victory； and that Seaforth would come off without great loss； he set his men； who were more than double the number of their adversaries； to Montrose's advantage； for he placed Sutherland； Lovat's men； and some others； with the horse under Drummond's command； on the right wing； opposite to my Lord Gordon； and Loudon and Laurie's Regiments； with some others on the left wing； opposite Alexander Macdonald and the Irish； and placed Seaforth's men for the most in the midst； opposite Montrose； where he knew they could not get hurt till the wings were engaged。 Seaforth's men were commanded to retire and make off before they had occasion or command to fight； but the men hovering； and not understanding the mystery； were commanded again to make off and follow Drummond with the horse； who gave only one charge to the enemy and then fled； which they did by leaving both the wings and some of their own men to the brunt of the enemy； because they stood at a distance from them； the right wing being sore put to by my Lord Gordon； and seeing Drummond with the horse and their neighbours fly； they began to follow。
Sutherland and Lovat suffered great loss； while on the left wing； Loudon's Regiment and Lawrie with his Regiment were both totally cut off betwixt the Irish and the Gordons； who came to assist them after Sutherland's and Lovat's men were defeated。 Seaforth's men got no hurt in the pursuit； nor did they lose many men in the fight； the most considerable being John Mackenzie of Kernsary； cousin…german to the Earl； and Donald Bain； brother to Tulloch and Chamberlain to Seaforth in the Lewis； both being heavy and corpulent men not fit to fly； and being partly deceived by Seaforth's principal ensign or standard…bearer in the field； who stood to it with some others of the Lochbroom and Lewis men； till they were killed； and likewise Captain Bernard Mackenzie； with the rest of his company； which consisted of Chanonry men and some others thereabout； being somewhat of a distance from the rest of Seaforth's men； were killed on the spot。 There were only four Kintail men who might make their escape with the rest if they had looked rightly to themselves； namely； the Bannerman of Kintail； called Rory Mac Ian Dhomh'uill Bhain； alias Maclennan； who； out of foolhardiness and indignation； to see that banner； which was wont to be victorious； fly in his hands； fastens the staff of it in the ground； and stands to it with his two…handed sword drawn； and would not accept of quarter； though tendered to him by my Lord Gordon in person； nor would he suffer any to approach him to take him alive； as the gentlemen beholders wished； so that they were forced to shoot him。 The other three were Donald the bannerman's brother； Malcolm Macrae； and Duncan Mac Ian Oig。 Seaforth and his men； with Colonel Hurry and the rest； came back that night to Inverness； all the men laying the blame of the loss of the day upon Drummond； who commanded the horse； and fled away with them； for which； by a Council of War； he was sentenced to die； but Hurry assured him that he would get him absolved； though at the very time of his execution he made him keep silence； but when Drummond was about to speak； he caused him to be shot suddenly； fearing； as was thought； that he would reveal that what was acted was by Hurry's own directions。 This account of the Battle of Auldearn I had from an honourable gentleman and experienced soldier； as we were riding by Auldearn； who was present from first to last at this action； and who asked Hurry； Who set the battle with such advantage to Montrose and to the inevitable loss and overthrow of his own side？ to whom Hurry； being confident of the gentlemen； said； ‘I know what I am doing； we shall have by…and…bye excellent sport between the Irish and the States Regiments； and I shall carry off Seaforth's men without loss；' and that Hurry was more for Montrose than for the States that day is very probable； because； shortly thereafter when he found opportunity； he quitted the States service； and is reckoned as first of Montrose's friends； who； in August next year； embarked with Montrose to get off the nation； and returned with him again in his second expedition to Scotland； and was taken prisoner at Craigchonachan； and sent south and publicly executed with Montrose as guilty of the same fault。〃
Montrose gained another engagement at Alford on the 2nd of July； after which he was joined by a powerful levy of West Highlanders under Colla Ciotach Macdonald； Clanranald； and Glengarry； the Macnabs； Macgregor