History of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period

An Independent Clan — 1598 to 1746. 179
into the very Iieart of the kingdom. Charles liad his headquarters at Perth,
but on the approach of Cromwell from the east, the royal army marched
southward upon Stirling, and took up a position at the Torwood, some miles
south of the town. Here the royalists received large reinforcements; among
others. Sir Hector ilacLean, recently appointed colonel of foot for Ar-
gyleshire, who brought to the field fifteen hundred followers, of whom eight
hundred were MacLeans. The MacLeans, oflBcered by the principal gentle-
men of that name, were under the immediate command of Donald of Brolass,
uncle to the young chief, as lieutenant-colonel. This division was composed
of the better classes, and their military bearing, as well as their respectable
appearance, generally called forth the admiration of the whole army. Little
time passed ere the courage of this band was put to the test. Cromwell, on
approaching Falkirk, found the royalists so strongly intrenched in their posi-
tion that he did not deem it safe to attack them ; but after a series of maneu-
vres, in which he succeeded in deceiving the royalists, he managed to send
over the Frith of Forth, at Queensferry, the larger portion of his army, under
General Lambert, with the intention to throw himself into the rear of Charles's
army.
When the news of Cromwell's movement was received in the camp of
Charles, Holburn of Menstrie was dispatched with the cavalry. Sir Hector
MacLean with a division of the Highlanders, and Sir John Brown with some
Lowland regiments, for the purpose of opposing Lambert's advance to the
North. Lambert had not advanced beyond Inverkeithing, within three miles
of North Queensferry, before he found himself intercepted by the royalists.
On the morning of July 20, 1651, he drew up his army in battle order, on the
rising ground immediately south of Inverkeithing. As soon as Holburn saw
the Highlanders fairly engaged in the struggle, he drew off his cavalry, a
thousand strong, without firing a shot, and thus left the remainder of the army
to the mercy of treble their number. A song, familiar to the generality of
MacLeans, expresses the conduct of Holburn :
" Dliag e (leodh Mhaclidgliilleain cnir a chathil na onhveachd."
(lie left the undaunted son of Gilleain alone to fight the foe.)
The brave Sir Hector witnessed the flight of the craven dragoons with
pity and contempt, though not with dismay. He instantly called to him the
laird of Buchanan and Sir John Brown, to whom the young chief addressed
a few words expressive of his resolution, even with the small force they had,
to continue the battle. " They are double our number," added he, " but what