ARchibald Campbell, the late Earl of Argyle, Sir John Cochrain, and divers other Rebels, having made Provision of Shipping, Arms and Ammunition in Holland, Loosed from Vlye on the 2d of May, 1685. in three small Vessels; with which, on the 5th of May, he [Page 2]appeared before Orkney, sending his Secretary and Chyrur­geon on Shoar, to understand how the People stood af­fected; who were presently seized, and carried before His Majesty's Privy Council: And from thence, sailing to the West of Scotland, he met two other Ships on the Coast, and Landed with his Company, in an Hostile Manner, on Ila, a place in the West of the aforesaid Kingdom, having with him about 500 Men, publishing a Trayterous Decla­ration in his own Name, and another in the Name of those in Arms with him, to incite the People to Rebellion, re­quiring the Bayliff of Ila to Rise with him; but he told him, he was sworn to be true and faithful to His Majesty, and could not comply with his Desire, taking his Opportu­nity soon after to withdraw himself, as did divers others, who fled by Sea to Dunluce in Ireland, who there reported that Argyle threatned to fire the Bayliff's House, and hang up all those that would not Rise with him, carrying the Fire across (an usual Signal in that Country, to incite the People to take up Arms.)

The King having notice of these Hostile Proceedings, briefly communicated them, in the Close of His Most Gra­cious Speech to both Houses of Parliament, on the 22d of May; who addressed His Majesty with their Humble Thanks, and a Resolution to stand by Him with their Lives and Fortunes, against Archibald Campbel, his Adhe­rents, and all other Traytors and Rebels. Whereupon, Expresses were dispatched to His Majesty's Council in the Kingdom of Scotland, and all necessary Care taken for the Suppression of the Rebels, who used their utmost diligence to keep themselves aloof from the Royal Army, by this time drawn up to oppose them, under the Command of the Marquis of Athol, the Lord Dumbarton, &c. The Re­bels Plundering and Foraging the Country, divers petty Skirmishes passing between them and the Royal Parties, when, on the 3d of June, the Marquis of Athol, having [Page 3]notice that Charles Campbel, Son to Argile, lay with a Party of 120 Foot and 12 Horse at Glendarowel, he marched thi­ther to seize them; but they having timely notice, fled to their Boats, leaving only two Persons behind them, one of which was killed in the Pursuit, and the other taken Priso­ner, when on the 4th, the late Earl of Argyle sent Sir John Cochrain and one Polwart with a Detachment of 100 Men and 2 Ships to Greenock, where the Militia-Troops, under the Command of the Lord Cochrain, opposed their Land­ing; but the Cannon playing from the Ships, gave them Opportunity, although nothing was wanting in the Royal Party that might contribute to a hindrance. The Rebels being on Shoar, entred the Town, and seized on such Provisions as they found there: but finding their Number not to in­crease, they returned to their Ships, which conveyed them to Boot.

Argyle not finding the People so prone to Rebellion as he imagined, although he used both Threats and Intreats, find­ing by this time that Captain Hamilton was arrived with 3 or 4 of His Majesty's Men of War, designing to seize or fire his Vessels, he caused them to be brought under the Castle of Elangreg, and on the 8th of June drew up his Company, making shew as if he intended to engage the Marquess of Athole; but finding himself too weak, and knowing what danger his Ships were in, upon which he mostly relied, he altered his Resolution, and caused his Ships and Boats to be manned, in order to their sailing for Loch­fin; but were detained by contrary Winds, till such time as His Majesties Ships, the King-Fisher, and Falcon, came up to the entrance of Lochrowan: which so discouraged the Rebels, that altogether abandoning their purpose of sailing into Lochfin, they, on the 10th of June, began to fortifie the Castle of Ellengreg, as also a Rock in a little Isle adjacent, for the more security of their Ships. After which, the late Earl of Argile marched away towards the Head of Lochfin, [Page 4]leaving only 150 men for the Guard of his Ships, as like­wise his Cannon, Arms and Ammunition in the Castle.

Upon the 11th of June, a Party of His Majesties For­ces, under the Command of the Marquess of Athol, consisting of 300 Foot, encounter'd a Party of 400 of the Rebels Foot, and 80 Horse, intirely defeating them, killing divers upon the place, wounding others, and taking many Prisoners, Horse and Arms; which brought such a terror upon their main strength which was advancing, that Argyle thought fit to march back to Ellengreg, where he continued till the 15th of June.

Marching from Ellengreg, the Rebels passed Lochlong, and continued their march towards Lenox, in the Shire of Dumbarton: Upon which, the King's Ships came up to the Castle to batter it, but, upon the first Firing, two Men came off with a White Flag, and being brought on Board one of His Majesties Ships, they informed the Captain, That the Rebels were fled, whom the late Earl of Argyle had left behind, and that the Castle was at their Service: Whereupon divers Boats being manned, and sent on shore, found the Report to be true, when as they took possession of the Castle, and those Ships they found there without the least opposition; as likewise of a considerable quantity of Arms and Ammunition, with divers pieces of Cannon and Culverin, the Arms there found, not being less than 5000 together, with 500 Barrels of Powder, with Bullet and other materials proportionable. The Cannon being partly mounted, and partly sunk; the Rebels, as it was afterward discovered, Designing to blow up the Powder, but by the suddain approach of the Men of War, were prevented.

On the 16th of June, the Rebels Marched by the Head of Gariloch, towards the Foards of Levin, between Lech­lemon and the Town of Dumbarton: When to oppose them, the Earl of Dumbarton sent a Detachment of 3 Troops of [Page 5]Horse and Dragoons, Commanded by the Lord Charles Murray his Lieutenant Colonel, whilst the Earl himself with the gross of the Royal Army marched from Glasgow, to give them Battel, if they could be drawn to it; and so speedy was his march, that he came within 12 miles of them, before they had notice of his setting forward: so that they were in a manner blocked up, having the River Clyde on the right hand, guarded by the aforementioned Dragoons, and the Troops of that Countrey, the Duke of Gourdon on their left, and the Marquess of Athole in their Rear; which distress caused divers to desert, not only through fear, but extremely of hunger, their chiefest stores being spent, and the Countrey secured against them, divers Noblemen and Gentlemen daily resorting to the Royal Ar­my, insomuch that divers were sent back their attendance being judged unnecessary, which made them repine to be deprived of the Honour to serve His Majesty on this occa­sion.

The Rebels having passed the River Levin, taking their way to Sterling, the Earl of Dumbarton overtook them in the Parish of Killern, where the Horse and Dragoons oppo­sed their passage, till the Foot arrived; which they percei­ving, posted themselves in a strong Ground, and endea­voured to fortifie themselves, at what time it being late in the Evening, the Earl thought not fit to attack them, but commanded the Army to stand in Battalia all night, with Orders to fall upon them as soon as day appeared: But, un­der the shelter of the darkness, the Rebels marched away with great silence to the River Clyd, which they swam with their Horses, carrying over their Foot in Boats, taking the River near a Village called Kilpatrick, and, without much resistance, entered Renfrew.

The Kings Army in the Morning, perceiving the Rebels had quitted their Station marched with all Diligence to [Page 6] Glascow, but had scarcely rested two Hours, before the Earl of Dumbarton, with the Horse and Dragoons, marched after the Rebels, the Foot following with all convenient Speed.

The Rebels, on the 17th of June, having passed the Clyde, their Number was much lessen'd by those that deserted; which put the rest into such a Consternation, that their greatest Care was, how they might escape. Whereupon Sir John Cochrain undertook to provide Guides to carry them safe into Galloway; but they mistaking the Way, carried them into a Miry Bogg, where the Horse and Baggage were so far lost, that they could not get them off, which caused their Foot to disperse into small Parties; upon notice of which, the Earl of Dumbarton divided his Forces to pur­sue them, which caused Argyle to return towards Clyde, on Horseback, without any Retinue; but being met by two of Greinock's Servants, they called to him to surrender him­self, which he refusing, and firing at them, they charged upon him with great fury, giving him a Wound in the Head, which so dozed him, that he was obliged to quit his Horse, and betake himself to a Neighbouring Pond, when, upon the noise of the Action, a Country-man came out, and ran into the Water after him, bidding him Yield; but instead of Yielding, he presented his Pistol, which mis-served; upon which, the Country-man gave him a Wound on the Head which stun'd him, when in his Fall, he cryed out, Oh Ʋnfortunate Argyle! And thereupon, being taken, he was carried to the Commander.

The late Earl of Argyle thus taken, a Party of 40 Horse, commanded by the Lord Ross, with the like number of Dragoons, commanded by Captain Cleland, fell upon a Par­ty of the most resolute Rebels, commanded by Sir John Co­chrain, who had taken the way to the Sea; but before the Attacked had time to Post themselves within a small Inclo­sure, [Page 7]within a Coverture, or Breast-work, notwithstand­ing the Lord Ross, with much Resolution and Bravery, charged them; but the Ground being too strong for the Horse, the Capt. of the Dragoons was killed, the Lord Ross slightly wounded, Sir Adam Blare shot through the Neck, and Sir William Wallack in the Side. Before the Dragoons had time to come up on foot, the Rebels, leaving their Post, got into a Wood behind them, where most of them were afterwards taken, when Rumbold the Malster, flying, was taken together with his Man, by five of the Earl of Arran's Militia of Cledsdale, though not without Resistance, killing one Militia-man upon the place, Rumbold being much wounded.

Soon after this Defeat, Colonel Ayloff and about 200 more were taken and brought Prisoners to Glasgow, where Ayloff, in a desperate Mood, rip'd up his Belly with a Pen-knife, but it proved not mortal.

The late Earl of Argyle taken as aforesaid, being a while detained a Prisoner at Glasgow, was conveyed to Edenburg by the Water-gate, passing through a Guard of His Majesty's Soldiers, bare-headed, his Hands tied behind him, and the Hang-man going before him to the Castle; and soon after, News came that Sir John Cochrain and his second Son were taken.

His Majesty, upon notice that Rumbold was taken, was graciously pleased to order the Reward promised in His Late Majesty's Proclamation, to be distributed amongst the Sol­diers of the Earl of Arran's Militia, who took him; and that if any of the said Soldiers were killed, or since dead of their Wounds, their Share to be given to their Wives and Children; or in case of Defect, to their nearest Rela­tion.

On the 26th of June, Rumbold being brought to his Tryal at Edenburg, for coming over with the late Earl of Argyle, and making a Rebellion in the Kingdom of Scot­land, and found Guilty thereof, Sentence passed upon him as in case of High Treason; and accordingly, on the same Day, he was drawn on a Hurdle to the Cross, and there Hang'd and Quarter'd.

On the 30th of June, the late Earl of Argyle was carried to the Cross, near to which he was Beheaded, upon a Scaf­fold for that purpose erected, his Head affixed on the Tol­booth, and his Body buried in St. Magdalens Chappel, in the Cow-Gate, his Execution being in pursuance of his former Conviction. A Paper he left with the Dean of Edenburg, who, together with Mr. Charteres, deliver'd it to the Lord Chancellor, the late Earl declaring he had delivered no other Paper to any Person whatsoever. And since his Execution, the Rebels have been taken, kill'd and dispers'd to that degree, that that Kingdom is entirely in Peace and Tran­quility.