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；　　Macgregors；　and　the　Stewarts　of　Appin。　　In　addition　to　these　some　of　the　　Farquharsons　of　Braemar　and　small　parties　of　lesser　septs　from　Badenoch　　rallied　round　the　standard　of　Montrose。　Thus；　as　a　contemporary　writer　　says；　〃he　went　like　a　current　speat　（spate）　through　this　kingdom。〃　Seeing　all　thisthe　great　successes　of　Montrose　and　so　many　Highlanders　　joining…Seaforth；　who　had　never　been　a　hearty　Covenanter；　began　to　　waver。　　The　Estates　sent　a　commission　to　the　Earl　of　Sutherland　　appointing　him　as　their　Lieutenant　north　of　the　Spey；　but　he　refused　to　　accept　it。　　It　was　then　offered　to　Seaforth；　who　likewise　declined　it；　but　　instead　〃contrived　and　framed　ane　band；　under　the　name　of　an　humble　remonstrance；　which　he　perswaded　manie　and　threatened　others　to　　subscryve。　　This　remonstrance　gave　so　great　a　distast　to　both　the　Church　　and　State；　that　the　Earl　of　Seaforth　was　therefore　excommunicate　by　the　　General　Assemblie；　and　all　such　as　did　not　disclaim　the　raid　remonstrance　within　some　days　thereafter；　were；　by　the　Committee　of　Estates；　declared　　inimies　to　the　publick。　Hereupon　the　Earl　of　Seaforth　joined　publicly　with　　Montrose　in　April；　1646；　at　the　siege　of　Inverness；　though　before　that　time　　be　had　only　joined　in　private　councils　with　him。〃　＇Gordon's　Earldom　of　　Sutherland；　p。　529。＇
  At　Inverness；　through　the　action　of　the　Marquis　of　Huntly　and　the　treachery　of　his　son；　Lord　Lewis　Gordon；　Montrose　was　surprised　by　General　Middleton；　but　he　promptly　crossed　the　river　Ness　in　face　of　a　　regiment　of　cavalry；　under　Major　Bromley；　who　crossed　the　river　by　a　ford　above　the　town；　while　another　detachment　crossed　lower　down　towards　　the　sea　with　a　view　to　cut　off　his　retreat。　　These　he　succeeded　in　beating　　back　with　a　trifling　loss　on　either　side；　whereupon　he　marched　unmolested　to　Kinmylies；　and　the　following　morning　he　went　round　by　Beauly　and　　halted　at　Fairley；　where　slight　marks　of　field　works　are　still　to　be　seen；　and　　now；　for　the　first　time；　he　found　himself　in　the　territories　of　the　　Mackenzies；　accompanied　by　Seaforth　in　person。　　Montrose；　here　finding　　himself　in　a　level　country；　with　an　army　mainly　composed　of　raw　levies　newly　raised　by　Seaforth　among　his　own　people；　and　taught　by　their　chief's　vacillating　conduct　and　example　to　have　little　interest　or　enthusiasm　in　either　cause；　did　not　consider　it　prudent　to　engage　Middleton；　who　pursued　him　with　a　disciplined　force；　including　a　considerable　　following　of　cavalry；　ready　to　fight　with　every　advantage　on　his　side　in　a　　level　country。　　He　therefore　moved　rapidly　up　through　　the　valley　of　　Strathglass；　crossed　to　Loch…Ness；　and　passed　through　Stratherrick　in　the　direction　of　the　river　Spey。　Meanwhile　Middleton　advanced　to　Fortrose　　and　laid　siege　to　the　castle；　which　was　at　the　time　under　the　charge　of　　Lady　Seaforth。　She　surrendered　after　a　siege　of　four　days；　and　having　　removed　a　considerable　quantity　of　stores　and　ammunition；　sent　by　Queen　Henrietta　for　the　use　of　Montrose　on　his　arrival　there；　Middleton　gave　the　　Countess；　whom　he　treated　with　the　greatest　civility　and　respect；　　possession　of　the　stronghold。
  The　Committee　on　Public　Affairs；　which；　throughout　the　contest；　acted　in　opposition　to　the　Royal　authority；　and　held　sederunts　at　Aberdeen　　and　Dundee　as　well　as　at　Edinburgh；　gratified　their　malignity；　after　　Montrose　gave　up　the　fight　in　1646；　by　fining　the　loyalists　in　enormous　　amounts　of　money；　and　decerning　them　to　〃lend〃　to　the　committee　such　　sumsin　many　cases　exorbitantas　they　thought　proper。　　Sir　Robert　　Farquhar；　formerly　a　Bailie　of　Aberdeen；　was　treasurer；　and　in　the　　sederunt　held　in　that　city；　the　committee　threw　a　comprehensive　net　over　　the　clan　Mackenzie。　Sixteen　of　the　name　were　decerned　to　lend　the　large　　sum　of　？8；666　13s　4d　Scots；　but　from　the　other　side　of　the　balance　sheet　it　is　found　that　they　declined　to　lend　a　penny；　and　Sir　Robert　credits　himself　as　treasurer　thus：〃Item　of　the　loan　moneys　above　set　down　there　　is　yet　resting　unpaid；　and　wherefore　no　payment　can　be　gotten；　as　followsviz。Be　the　　name　of　Mackenzie；　sixteen　persons；　the　sum　of　？8；666　　13s　4d　Scots。〃　　The　following　are　the　names　and　sums　decerned　against　　each　of　them：Thomas　Mackenzie　of　Pluscardine；　？000；　Alexander　　　Mackenzie　of　　Kilcoy；　？000；　Roderick　Mackenzie　of　Redcastle；　？000；　　Alexander　Mackenzie　of　Coul；　？000；　Kenneth　Mackenzie　of　Gairloch；　　？333　6s　8d；　Hector　Mackenzie　of　Scotsburn；　？000；　Roderick　Mackenzie　　of　Davochmaluag；　？333　6s　8d；　John　Mackenzie　of　Dawach…Cairn；　？333　　6s　8d；　William　Mackenzie　of　Multavie；　？000；　Kenneth　Mackenzie　of　　Scatwell；　？000；　Thomas　Mackenzie　of　Inverlael；　？333　6s　8d；　Colin　　Mackenzie　of　Mullochie；　？66　13s　4d；　Donald　Mackenzie　of　Logie；　？66　　13s　4d；　Kenneth　Mackenzie　of　Assint；　？000；　Colin　Mackenzie　of　　Kincraig；　？000；　Alexander　Mackenzie　of　Suddie；　？000。　　Among　the　　other　sums　decerned　is　one　of　？666　13s　4d　against　William　Robertson　in　Kindeace；　and　his　son　Gilbert　Robertson；〃　and　in　Inverness　and　Ross　the　　loan　amounted　to　the　respectable　sum　of　？4；783　6s　8d；　of　which　the　　treasurer　was　allowed　to　retain　？5；000　in　his　own　hands。　The　sum；　with　　large　amounts　of　disbursements　by　the　committee；　show　that　they　were　　more　fortunate　with　others　than　with　the　Clan　Mackenzie。　＇Antiquarian　　Notes；　pp。　307…308…309。＇
  The　Earl　of　Seaforth　taking　advantage　of　being　on　opposite　sides　to　the　Earl　of　Sutherland；　now　asserted　some　old　claims　against　Donald　　Ban　Mor　Macleod；　IX。　of　Assynt；　a　follower　of　the　house　of　Sutherland；　　who　afterwards　became　notorious　as　the　captor　of　the　great　Montrose　　himself。　　In　May；　1646；　Mackenzie　laid　siege　to　his　castle；　on　the　Isle　of　　Assynt。
  A　document　written　by　a　friend　of　the　family　of　Assynt；　in　1738；　for　Norman　Macleod；　XIX。　of　Macleod；　who；　in　that　year；　in　virtue　of　a　　disposition　of　all　his　estates　made　by　Neil　Macleod　of　Assynt　to　John　　Breac　Macleod；　XVI。　of　Macleod；　dated　the　24th　of　November；　1681；　　commenced　a　process　against　Mackenzie；　gives　a　most　interesting　account　　of　the　proceedings；　from　the　Macleod　point　of　view；　by　which　Seaforth　　obtained　possession　of　the　lands　of　Assynt。　　This　docu