Montrose has managed despite his wounds to…
May 1650 CE
Montrose has managed despite his wounds to escape from the debacle at Carbisdale with help from Major Sinclair.
Disguised as a shepherd, he manages for some days to avoid capture, until he finally falls captive to Neil Macleod of Assyant at Ardvreck Castle.
MacLeod is an ally of the Earl of Sutherland.
Already condemned to death in absentia, Montrose is taken to Edinburgh where he hears his fate read out by Archibald Johnston at Parliament House.
He is to be hanged at the town cross with a copy of De Rebus, Bishop George Wishart's laudatory history of the marquess' life and exploits, round his neck.
He is to swing on the scaffold for three hours, after which time he will be taken down, his head cut off and his body divided in four quarters.
His head will be displayed on a spike at the Tollbooth Prison, while his arms and legs will be sent for similar display at Glasgow, Perth, Stirling and Aberdeen.
Only his trunk is to be shown any mercy: for, if he repents his crimes, it will be buried in consecrated ground at Greyfriars, otherwise it will be deposited in a common grave outside the city on the nearby Burgh Muir.
Montrose concedes nothing to his enemies.
Sentence is carried out on May 21.
Hurry follows soon after.