[1] He followed the brilliant strategist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose to the north, and was with him at Crathes Castle in his Aberdeen expedition after the Battle of Tippermuir in 1644.

On the day after his landing, a Captain Hall arrived with a ship full of arms and ammunition, sent by Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll to his own clansmen in the Highlands.

Balfour wrote that Morton felt slighted because commissions had been conferred on his nephew that he thought he himself deserved, although other historians feel they may have been on good terms.

Wherefore, having all assurance of his reality, I waived my own interest so much that I resigned all power of my commissions to him, which he was pleased to accept of before the gentlemen of this country, who were convocated for the receiving of his commands and your Excellencie's.

[1] However, though Kinnoull is said to have died shortly after his uncle, the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland believed him to be alive on 21 February 1650, as on that day George, Earl of Kinnoull; Henry Stewart, son to the Laird of Maynes; George Drummond, son to the Laird of Balloch; and Captain Hall were all excommunicated for the invasion of Orkney and for "horrid and perfidious conspiracies against the Solemn League and Covenant.