A LETTER Sent from Colonel GILBERT KER, Lieutenant Col. HACKET, and Lieutenant Col. STRACHAN, to the Committee of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland, May 9 1649. My Lords, GOd hath delivered your enemies into your hands, the praise and honour be rendered unto himself, and now praise will very well become the upright in heart: To enlarge the particular circumstances of the action, it will not be very needful; every particular hath been managed by a providence which is not admirable by any one thing but in the whole, so little of man or nothing, but wholly and all of God, yet we think it necessary to acquaint you with the way how the Lord brought it about: Upon Sunday at night we received some Intelligence at innerness, that the enemy was advanced down from Strath-Spey to Balvenie; And that they had a resolution, and that suddenly to make a march, and as our Intelligence from a careful hand, being the Governor of the Budge, did inform, it was probable suddenly to dispatch us, at this time neither we, nor any that keeped correspondence with us, heard any news from the Lieutenant General, and this made us think ourselves in some probable danger, being in a very narrow place if they should have entered Rosse upon us, not having above 150 horse; after consideration of our condition, we conceived that the Lord called for some thing from us in this dark time, the enemies making themselves strong, and getting up their Levies in several places without any resistance, made us resolve to march the same night, being Sunday at night, & where ever we met, if the river was rydable to engage with them; that night we advanced towards Caldell, and refreshed a little in the morning, we had Intelligence of the enemies being at Elgin, and then concluded from that we must meet with them necessarily upon the march: In that place, having (in that weak manner we were able) sought the Lord in this matter, with freedom we resolved in the Lord's strength to advance to Forres, there our former Intelligence was contradicted, we expected a considerable number of the Gentry of Mucray, which much or rather altogether failed us, yet notwithstanding, we conceived it necessary to advance that night, and if they had not crossed Spey to engage with them at Balvenie-land, though we met with some more difficulty that way; this being concluded, we came on Monday at night near Rothes, where we refreshed three or four hours, & there we could not be certainly informed if that the water was rydable or not, only we heard that Middleton had tried it, and it was impossible for him, yet being there, we resolved in the Lord's strength to go on, & marching from that place early, we advanvanced towards the Fords, and trying one Ford, it was not to be ridden, but another above was, yet with great hazard, for it was very strong and deep, and most that passed, swimmed, and one was lost; Lieutenant Colonel Strachan who commanded the fore-partie consisting of about 50 horse, being through, marched on, and quickly advanced up, passing by some quarters without notice, he marched up to a Body of their Foot, and most faithfully charged them, and broke them, and dissipated them; many then fled to the Hills, than the Alarm was universal, some drew to the Castle of Balvenie which was pursued still by the Lieutenant Colonel, another Body, under the Command of the Lord Rae, drew to some bushes of wood, and being drawn in there, had no out-gate though a strong ground for them, we then drew a party to the other side of the Hill that they might not pass: By this time, coming to some discourse, my Lord Rae sent up, and we, after some debate, proffered them their lives, and only their lives: But after more consideration, we consulted upon these Articles of Capitulation here enclosed: We have with us at this time near upon 800. and there are betwixt 60. and 80. killed, and not one of us; We conceive there are two or three hundred fled, if not more; And have directed letters to the Laird of Grant (who indeed deserves to be cherished) to intercept them: Now, my Lords, we have no more to say, craving pardon for our tediousness, only this we dare say, that God speaketh this language to Scotland this day by his dispensations, that if they will have a tender eye to his Kingdom, you shall not be troubled much with any fear for your own: We earnestly desire your Commands, what course shall be taken with the people that we have, (ever providing our Capitulation be keeped) for the security of the Kingdom, and because we are to conduct them to their own Country, we desire that the public Commands may be sent to Lieutenant General Lesley with all expedition, for we are resolved to keep them together until we hear from your Lordship, or from the Lieutenant General, which we humbly and earnestly desire may be with all expedition. We will not venture to trouble your Lordship any further, humbly taking our leaves, we remain From Tanachie in Enȝie, May 9 1649. Your Lordship's most humble Servants, GILBERT KER. RO. HACKET. ARCH. STRACHEN. MAY the 9 1649. Articles agreed on betwixt Colonel Gilbert Ker, Lieutenant Colonel Hacket, Lieutenant Colonel Strachan, and the Lord Rae, Colline Mackenzie, and Donald Macpherson, and their followers. 1. IT is agreed, that the Lord Rae and all his followers shall have their lives. 2. That only the Tenants and Commons shall have liberty to go home, they leaving their Arms undefaced, and not embezzled or conveyed away. 3. That all Irishes shall be at the disposal of Colonel Ker. 4. That all Ammunition whatsoever, and Horses useful for service shall be delivered to Colonel Ker. 5. That the Lord Rae, Colline Mackenzie, and Donald Macphersone, do hereby oblige themselves under the hazard of losing their lives & estates, that the common Soldiers & Tenants which are to be dismissed, shall never hereafter rise in Arms to trouble the Peace of the Kingdom, or against the Estates. GILBERT KER. RO. HACKET. ARCH. STRACHAN. JO. REAY. COLINE MACKENȜIE DONALD MACPHERSON. The names of the Gentlemen and Officers that are to be keeped. The Lord Rae and his Uncle. Captain Robert Mackcay. Duncan Mackcay. john Mackcay. Donald Mackcay. Charles Macklaine. John Macallaster. Tonnit Mackenzie Calace. The Officers belonging to Pluscarden. Mackenzie of Reed-Castle. Colline Mackenzie. Rorie Mackenzie. Murdoch Mackenzie. Hector Mackenzie. Kenmeth Mackenzie. John Dumbar. Badȝenoch-men. Donald Macpherson. Tho. Macpherson. FINIS.