Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 1

318 HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS.
IJeiieral Leslie, he marched upon Aberdeen, which he entered, without
opposition, on the thirtieth of March, the marquis of Huntly having
abandoned tlie to^^-n on his approach. Some idea of the well-appointed
state of this army may be formed from the curious description of Spal-
ding, who says, that " upon the morne, being Saturday, they came in
order of battell, weill armed, both on horse and foot, ilk horseman having
five shot at the least, with ane carabine in his hand, two pistols by his
sydes, and other two at his saddell toir; the pikemen in their ranks,
with pike and sword ; the musketiers in their ranks, with musket,
musket-staffe, bandelier, sword, powder, .ball, and match ; ilk company,
both on horse and foot, had their captains, lieutenants, ensigncs, Ser-
jeants, and other officers and commanders, all for the most part in buS
coats, and in goodly order. They had five colours or ensignes ; whereot
the earl of Montrose had one, haveing this motto, ' For Religion,
THE Covenant, and the Countrie ; ' the earle of Marischall had
one, the earle of Kinghorne had one, and the town of Dimdie had two.
They had trumpeters to ilk company of horsemen, and drummers to ilk
company of footmen ; they had tlieir meat, drink, and other provision,
bag and baggage, carryed with them, all done be advyse of his excellence
Felt Marschall Leslie, whose councell Generall Montrose followed in
this busieness. New, in seemly order, and good array, this army came
forward, and entered the burgh of Aberdein, alKjut ten hours in the
morning, at the Over Kirkgate Port, syne came doun throw the
Broadgate, throw the Castlegate, out at the Justice Port to the Queen^
Links directly. Here it is to be notted, that few or none of this haill
army wanted ane blew ribbin hung about his craig, doun under his left
arme, which they called the Cuveiiunteis liihbin. But the Lord Gordon,
and some other of the marquess' bairnes and familie, had ane ribbin,
when he was dwelling in the toun, of ane reid flesh cuUor, which they
wore in their halts, and called it The Royall Ribbin, as a signe of their
love and loyalltie to the king. In despj'te and derision thereof this blew
ribbin was worne, and called the Covenanters' Ribbin, be the haill
souldiers of the army, and would not hear of the royall ribbin ; such was
their pryde and malice." *
At Aberdeen, JMontrose was joined the same day by Lord Fraser, the
master of Forbes, the laird of Dalgettie, the tutor of Pitsligo, the Earl
Marshall's men in Bnchan, with several other gentlemen and their
tenants, dependants and servants, to the number of two thousand, an
addition which augmented Montrose's army to nine thousand men.
Leaving the earl of Kintore, with fifteen hundred men, to keep possession
of Aberdeen, INIontrose marched the same daj' towards Kintore, where
he encamped that night. Halting all Sunilay, he proceeded, on the
Monday, to Inverury, where he again pitched his camp. The marquis
of Huntly grew alarmed at this sudden and unexpected movcnient, and
* Troubles, vol. i. p. 107, 108.