through the trees
and bushes with which that ground was covered. That Urrey might have no
leisure to perceive the stratagem, he instantly led his left wing to
the charge; and, making a furious impression upon the Covenanters, drove
them off the field, and gained a complete victory.[*] In this battle,
the valor of young Napier, son to the lord of that name, shone out with
signal lustre.

Baillie now advanced, in order to revenge Urrey's discomfiture; but at
Alford he met himself with a like fate. Montrose, weak in cavalry, here
lined his troops of horse with infantry; and after putting the enemy's
horse to rout, fell with united force upon their foot, who were entirely
cut in pieces, though with the loss of the gallant Lord Gordon on the
part of the royalists.[**] And having thus prevailed in so many battles,
which his vigor ever rendered as decisive as they were successful, he
summoned together all his friends and partisans, and prepared himself
for marching into the southern provinces, in order to put a final period
to the power of the Covenanters, and dissipate the parliament, which,
with great pomp and solemnity, they had summoned to meet at St.
Johnstone's.

While the fire was thus kindled in the north of the island, it blazed
out with no less fury in the south: the parliamentary and royal armies,
as soon as the season would permit, prepared to take the field, in hopes
of bringing their important quarrel to a quick decision. The passing of
the self-denying ordinance had been protracted by so many debates and
intrigues, that the spring was far advanced before it received the
sanction of both houses; and it was thought dangerous by many to
introduce, so near the time of action, such great innovations into the
army. Had not the punctilious principles of Essex engaged him, amidst
all the disgusts which he received, to pay implicit obedience to the
parliament, this alteration had not been effected without some fatal
accident: since, notwithstanding his prompt resignation of the command,
a mutiny was generally apprehended.[***]

* Rush. vol. vii. p. 229. Wishart, cap. 10.

** Rush. vol. vii. p. 229. Wishart, cap. 11.

*** Rush. vol. vii. p. 126, 127.

Fairfax, or, more properly speaking, Cromwell under his name, introduced
at last the new model into the army, and threw the troops into a
different shape. From the same men new regiments and new companies were
formed, different officers appointed, and t