Brechin (Douglas Rebellion).
Fought 1452, between the 'revolted Douglasses' under the Earl of
Craufurd, and the Royal troops under the Earl of Huntly. The Douglasses
were defeated.
What follows sets the battle in 1451.
THE old episcopal city of Brechin in Forfarshire was the scene of a
bloody conflict, on the 18th of May 1451, between the respective forces
of the Earls of Crawfurd and Huntly, but it ought to be observed that
the precise year is variously stated, though that now given is preferred
the years 1452 and 1453 being also assigned as the periods of the
conflict. King James II. had recently assassinated the Earl of Douglas
with his own hand in the Castle of Stirling, to revenge the alleged
injuries and treason committed by that nobleman and his powerful family
and connections. He promoted to the office of lieutenant-general of the
kingdom Alexander Earl of Huntly, who advanced at the head of a
considerable force to oppose Alexander, third Earl of Crawfurd, surnamed
the Tiger and Karl Beardie, who was in arms to revenge the death of the
Earl of Douglas.
The contending parties met on a level muir at the northeast boundary of
the parish of Brechin, on the road leading to the North Water Bridge.
The forces of Huntly far outnumbered those of Crawfurd, yet the struggle
for a long time proved doubtful, and might have terminated in a differ-
ent manner, if, during the warmest part of the struggle, a gentleman
named Colossie, who is mentioned as the proprietor of an estate called
Bonnymoon, had not left Crawfurd's army, and gone over to Huntly's
forces. He commanded the left wing of the Angus bill-men, and had been
irritated in a conversation held with the Earl of Crawfurd during the
previous evening. This defection was fatal to that nobleman. His troops,
dismayed at such an unexpected calamity, and regardless of the furious
and desperate efforts made by him to restore their courage, took to
flight in every direction. The Earl's brother, and nearly sixty
gentlemen of rank, bearing coat-armour, besides numbers of persons of
inferior rank, were slain. On Huntly's side the loss did not exceed five
barons and a small number of yeomen, but he had to lament the loss of
two sons. The Earl of Crawfurd fled with Sir John Lindsay, one of his
brothers, to the house of Finhaven, where it is said he uttered the
following exclamations " That he would be content to remain seven years
in hell to have in so timely a season done the King that service which
the Earl of Huntly had performed, and carry that applause and reward he
would receive from him." If these expressions are true, they must be
held as grossly profane, but at the same time they prove that Crawfurd
was no rebel in his heart, and that he acted in consequence of
engagements with which he considered his honour involved. A different
version of this incident, however, is related on the authority of
Drummond of Hawthornden. "
During the confusion and flight of Crawfurd's army," says Mr Tytler, " a
yeoman of the opposite side, riding eagerly in pursuit, became involved
in the crowd, and, fearful of discovery, allowed himself to be hurried
along to Finhaven Castle, to which the discomfited Earl retreated. Here,
amid the tumult and riot consequent upon a defeat, the yeoman is said to
have overheard with horror the torrent of abuse and blasphemy which
burst from the lips of the bearded savage, who, calling for a cup of
wine on alighting from his horse, and cursing in the bitterness of his
heart the traitor who had betrayed him, declared that he would willingly
take seven years roasting in hell to have the honour of such a victory
as had that day fallen to Huntly."
The Earl of Crawfurd, infuriated at the conduct of Huntly in plundering
the fertile county of Moray, and razing to the ground all that part of
the town of Elgin which was his property, attacked and harried the
estates of those to whose " refusal to join his banner he ascribed his
defeat, expelling them from their towers and fortalices, giving the
empty habitations to the flames, and carrying themselves and their
families into captivity." From this statement it appears that he was
little weakened by his loss at Brechin. This battle was not immediately
decisive in favour of the King, though it proved so in its consequences.
The Earl of Crawfurd was forfeited, but he embraced an opportunity
shortly afterwards, when James II. passed through the county of Forfar,
to appear before the King meanly dressed ; and in a posture of the
deepest humility he made a long speech, during which the tears flowed
abundantly, acknowledging his offences. He was pardoned, and entertained
James most magnificently at his castle of Finhaven. The Earl became a
loyal subject, but he did not long survive his pardon. Six months
afterwards he was carried off by a fever in 1454, and was buried with
his ancestors in the church of the Grey Friars at Dundee.
Comment:
The Battle of Brechin has been regarded as part of the civil war during
his reign between the king and an alliance of powerful noble families
led by the Black Douglases, which as the king won was significant in the
development of a relatively strong centralised monarchy in Scotland
during the Late Middle Ages.
A royalist army formed by the Clan Gordon and Clan Ogilvy, led by
Alexander Gordon, 1st Earl of Huntly, defeated the rebel Alexander
Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford, a leading ally of the Black Douglases.
Shortly after Crawford submitted to the king, leaving the Black
Douglases more isolated, to be defeated at the
Battle of Arkinholm in 1455.
However, it has been argued that it was a localised conflict in the
north-east of Scotland, of only limited relevance to wider conflicts in
Scotland as a whole in spite of the fact that the Gordons fought under
the royal banner.
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