The king, hoping for no more than a death in the field "with honour and a good conscience," pushed as far north as Doncaster, where he was between Poyntz's army and a great cavalry force, led by David Leslie, from Hereford, to launch against Montrose.

The hero snatched a final victory.

He had but a hundred horse, but he had Colkitto and the flower of the fighting clans, including the invincible Macleans.

Baillie, in command of new levies of some 10,000 men, was thwarted by a committee of Argyll and other noble amateurs.

He met the enemy south of Forth, at Kilsyth, between Stirling and Glasgow.