Sir Ewen and the other Jacobite chiefs complained to King James over the precarious state of his support in Scotland and the necessity of sending them aid.

He also directed a few officers from Ireland to Lochaber, among whom was Major-General Thomas Buchan, whom James made commander-in-chief of the Jacobite forces in Scotland.

General Buchan advanced his men through Badenoch, intending to march down Speyside into the Duke of Gordon's country, where he expected to muster additional forces.

Buchan had elected to encamp in view of Freuchie Castle in the hope that by such a show of strength he could gain the support of Clan Grant.

Buchan was met at Cromdale, near what is now the town of Grantown-on-Spey, by a larger government force under Sir Thomas Livingstone, commander of the garrison of Inverness, who was accompanied by local Grant guides.

[8] The last verse reads: The loyal Stewarts, with Montrose, So boldly set upon their foes, And brought them down with Highland blows, Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.

Of twenty thousand, Cromwell's men, Five hundred fled to Aberdeen, The rest of them lie on the plain, Upon the Haughs of Cromdale.