Ayrshire > Volume 2

314 HISTORY OF AYRSHIRE
and desertions, broke the spirit of the expedition, and
great disheartenment ensued when General Morgan,
the Commonwealth General at Aberdeen, met the
Highlanders at Cromar and defeated them. General
Middleton was sent north to supersede Glencairn in the
command, and the latter, loyally accepting the situation,
and determined to make the best of circumstances which
he could not otherwise control, for the sake of the
common cause, he went along the lines and urged the
soldiers to discipline and to duty ; but " those who saw
this could easily perceive how very unsatisfied the
soldiers were, by their looks and their countenance ; for
several, both officers and soldiers, shed tears and
vowed that they would serve with their old general in
any corner of the world."
The ro3^alist army was at this time lying near
Dornoch, and here occurred an incident that illustrates
Glencairn' s character in a striking fashion. At dinner
with Middleton he called for a glass of wine, and,
addressing the new commander, said — " My Lord
General, you see what a gallant army these worthy
gentlemen here present and I have gathered together,
at a time when it was hardly to be expected that any
number durst meet together ; these men have come out
to serve his Majesty at the hazard of their lives and of
all that is dear to them." On this Sir George Munro
started up from his seat, and addressing Glencairn, said
— " By God, my lord, the men you speak of are nothing
but a number of thieves and robbers, and ere long I
will bring another sort of men to the field." " You,
sir," retorted Glencairn, " are a base liar, for they are
neither thieves nor robbers, but gallant gentlemen and
good soldiers." Through the exertions of General
Middleton peace and harmony were for the moment
restored, but the same night, when Glencairn was
enjoying a dance at the house of the Laird of Deuchrie,
Sir George Munro's brother waited upon him to arrange
a hostile meeting. Munro danced with the rest, and a
few moments' conversation sufficed to arrange the duel,