Ossian Collection > Reliquiae Celticae > Volume 2

THE BOOK OF CLAXUANALl). 203
undertook to do it, but what induced uie to write even this much
was, wiieii I saw that those who treated of the affairs of the time
have made no mention at all of the tiael, the men wlio did all the
service.
As to the Marquis of Montrose, he marched with a part of his
army intending to go to England to relieve the King, who was
sorely pressed by the English at that time, but he was defeated at
Pliilipliaugh, and was nor. able to give assistance to the King.
Alaster, son of Colla, came from the camp at Hamilton to
Kiutyre, and cleared it' for himself, and he drove out of it the
Clan Campbell, and he erected Diuiaverty as a place of strength.
Donald, son of John Moydartach, came from the camp of Hamilton
to his own country. Montrose proceeded to the North from the
defeat of Philiphaugh with all those that survived of his men, and
they continued so for some time. Montrose was in the north
part of Scotland, and Alaster, son of Colla, in Kintyre, spoiling
Argyle and Cowal and the territories ; and John Moydartach in
the Rough Bounds near the shore. John Moydartach and his son
Donald went to Islay, and their own forces with them, and they
drove out of it all the Clan Campbell that were in it.
About this time the Earl of Antrim came from Ireland to
Kintyre to enquire after the army that he himself had in it, and
he sent for those that were with Montrose, and thej^ came to him
at once. In consequence of this Montrose left the kingdom to
solicit assistance from other kings and princes to aid King Charles.
On his return from that journey, he was dishonestly destroyed by
the Parliament of Scotland by the Covenanters, together with the
Marquis of Huntly, and many other nobles who were on the side
of the King.
A good many of the gentry of the Hebrides Hocked to the Earl
of Antrim, such as the Clan Maclean ond tlie Clanranald, intend-
ing to set an army on foot again on behalf ot the King ; mean-
time the King's order came to the Earl of Antrim to disband the
army, for the King was at that time in the hands of his enemies,
viz., the Parliament of England and Scotland united against him.
The Earl of Antrim disbanded the army, and he himself went to
Ireland.
Alaster, son of Colla, remained in Kintyre, and made a strong-
hold in it and in Islay. The other Gaels who were on the side of
the King went about to their own lands to protect them against
the enemy. They were at length suri'ounded by a large army.
Sir David Leslie and Mac Cailin came to Kintyre, without any
notice being obtained of the time they would come till they came
to Largie, where Alaster and his men were separated asunder.
Alaster's party were dispersed ; Ranald Cg, son of Alaster, son of