Earls of Middleton, Lords of Clermont and of Fettercairn

78 The Earls of Middleton.
northward, and that Middleton and his party were
raising new forces. That Middleton's brother was
taken (either Francis or Andrew), and five or six
officers more."
The following Scottish news reached the Court,
June 3rd to 8th: — "Middleton is still in Sutherland,
busy about his levies. The passengers in a ship just
come in from Sandwich report that the English are
defeated. Some say that Middleton has shot Sir.
Robert Murray, having intercepted several letters
written by him to the enemy. Letters dated Enster,
May \% say that the Scots have been victorious in a
great fight about Montrose."
June 7th. " The passenger ship newly arrived
from Scotland reports that Monk is beaten back to
Stirling, and that sixty Scots, who were prisoners at
one place, killed their keepers and escaped."
Several Royalists joining Glencairn, his force at
length amounted to about four hundred. Fearing
that he had hardly acted rightly towards the king in
withdrawing from the army, he determined to send
this body of men to Middleton, while he himself
endeavoured to raise more forces in the Lowlands.
The lords in the Tower, and those in Scotland,
on hearing that Middleton had obtained some advan-
tages over the Parliamentary troops, sent to entreat
the king to go over in person.