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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96726	The compleat history of the vvarrs in Scotland under the conduct of the illustrious and truly-valiant Iames Marquesse of Montrose, General for his Majestie Charls 1st. in that kingdome, together vvith a brief character of him, as also a true relation of his forein negotiations, landing, defeat, apprehension, tryal, and deplorable death in the time of Charls 2d.; De rebus auspiciis serenissimi, & potentissimi Caroli. English	Wishart, George, 1599-1671.; Pontius, Paulus, 1603-1658, engraver.	1660 (1660)	Wing W3118; Thomason E1874_2; ESTC R204133	128,925	242

case of their grievances which they pretended and the security of their persons and estates than all his Ancestors the Kings of England together from William the Conqueror downward Therefore at last that he might withdraw himself and his family from present danger he is forced sore against his mind to depart London He sends the Queen out of the way into Holland for the safety of her life and betakes himself to York The States of Parliament as they call themselves forthwith and before the King take up arms and divert those very Forces which the King had appointed for Ireland which were then in a readinesse and whose Officers had been of the Parliaments chusing hoping by them to overthrow the King himself The Rebels in Scotland who knew well enough the King would have strength sufficient to deal with the English Rebels resolved upon no terms to be wanting to their confederates in so apparent danger as they were And although our most gracious King had given them satisfaction as much as ever they could desire in that Parliament at Edinburgh aforesaid which also they have recorded among their publique Acts neverthelesse they provide themselves for a march into England Now that they might the better secure their affairs at home they labour tooth and nail to draw Montrose of whom almost only they were afraid again to their side They offer him of their own accord the office of Lieutenant General in the Army and what ever else he could desire and they bestow He seeing a mighty storm hovering over the Kings head that he might give him an account of it whereby it might be timely prevented undertakes a journey into England taking the Lord Ogilby into his counsel and company At Newcastle he receives news that the Queen being newly returned out of Holland was landed at Birdlington in Yorkeshire thither he makes haste and relates unto the Queen all things in order She having had a rough passage and being not well recovered from the distempers at Sea told him shee would advise further with him about that businesse after they came to York Thither being come the Queen of her own accord calls for Montrose he opens the whole story over again and makes it appear that there was no lesse danger from the Scotch than from the English Covenanters if they were not timely suppressed And being asked his opinion what was best to be done answered To resist force with force told her the King wanted not Subjects in Scotland faithful men and stout nor did they want hearts or wealth or power to oppose against the Covenanters if they durst enterprise any thing against the King all that they wanted was the Kings Commission without which they durst doe nothing with which any thing and all the danger that was was in delay That the Covenanters when they had once got their Army on foot would be able to grind any one to pieces that should offer to stir therefore the beginnings of so great an evill were to be withstood and the cockatrice bruised in the egg that Physick being too late that comes when the disease hath over-ran the whole body Wholesome counsel it was and seasonable which doubtlesse the most prudent Queen had approved of But while things were going on in so good a posture all things were quash'd by the comming of the Duke Hamilton out of Scotland upon pretence of kissing the Queens hand and gratulating her happy return but in very deed that he might overthrow Montrose his counsels for he had posted thither with the knowledge and consent of the Covenanters Nor did he himself dissemble that there was some danger from the Scotish Covenanters but he laboured to extenuate it and condemned the Counsell of Montrose as rash unadvised and unseasonable That stout and Warlike Nation was not to be reduced with force and arms but with gentlenesse and courtesies Warr especially Civil Warr should be the last remedy and used many times to be repented of even by the Conquerours The fortune of Warr was uncertain if the King should get the best it would be but a sorry triumph he could enjoy over his own Subjects but if he had the worst on 't he must expect what his soul good man abhorred to speak All means were to be tryed to preserve peace with that Nation nor were things yet come to that passe that the King should despair of amity and reconciliation with them He would be ready to take the whole businesse upon himself if the King pleased to commit it to his pains and trust and to authorise him sussiciently thereunto Montrose replyed Nothing would come of that but the delay of time untill the Traitors having raised an Army should prevent the King of any means to deliver himself and his party from their tyranny The sad event proved all this to be too true but in this debate Montrose was fain to suffer himself to be overborn being not so great a Courtier as the other nor were those vertues which the world now admires discovered then unto the Queen Hamilton returning into Scotland seemed to be as Active for the King as was possible The Covenanters mean while by their own authority contrary to the known Laws of the Kingdome summon a Parliament at Edinburgh which all understanding men that wished well unto the King foresaw would be of very dangerous consequence to his affairs and therefore abhorred it so much that they intended not to honour it with their presence But Hamilton interposing the name and authority of the King invited them by his Letters that they would not fail to be all there and that they should not doubt but they would be able to out-vote the Covenanters if at this time they were not wanting to the Kings cause And if it should happen otherwise he would be ready with his friends to protest against the Covenanters and immediately to leave them Abundance of the Nobility incited by the name of the King and those hopes were present at that Parliament only Montrose and a few of his adherents staid away And with Montrose too the Duke had dealt by his friends that as he loved and honoured the King he would joyn himself unto them But he who had reason to suspect all motions that came that way answered That he was ready to grapple with any difficulty especially under his command who had so great an honour as to be the Kings supreme Commissioner only on this condition that the Duke should engage his honour that if they could not bring up that Parliament to righteous things he would endeavour to inforce them by the dint of the sword He answered He would protest he would not fight Which passage considered Montrose to preserve his integrity expecting the issue betook himself to his own home In that Parliament the Covenanters out-voted the Loyal party by seventy voices or thereabouts trampled upon the Royal authority arrogated unto themselves the power of calling of Parliaments pressing Souldiers sending Embassadours

and Trequaire and confide in their advice and endeavours of whose fidelity and industry no question was to be made Moreover that he should make haste towards the Tweed where he should meet a party of Horse which the King would instantly dispatch out of England to be commanded by him with whom he might safely give battel to David Lesley if as was suspected he marched that way with the Covenanters Horse All this the respective bearers unanimously delivered and his most excellent Majesty being over-credulous signified by his Expresses And Montrose being now over-born with the Kings absolute Commands takes up his resolution to march to the side of Tweed But the day before he went the Souldiers being drawn up to a Rendezvouz before that Mac-donald and the Highlanders were gone Sir Robert spotswood making an humble obeysance under the Kings Standard delivered his Majesties Commission under the Great Seal unto Montrose which he again gave unto Archibald Primrose Clerk of the Supreme Councill to be read aloud That being ended in a short but stately Oration he commended the valour and Loyalty of the Souldiers and the great affection he bore them And for Mac-donald he not only extoll'd his gallantry in the head of the Army but by vertue of that authority that he had received from the King gave him the honour of Knighthood For not only Montrose but all the Kings friends were confident of the integrity of the man whose good opinion he deceiv'd not only to the undoing of the Kings cause but the utter ruine of himself and his friend Montrose following his intended journey came the second night to Calder Castle at which time the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not only his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces whom he had inveighled to desert the service Nor would he be perswaded either by reason or the intreaty of his friends who heartily detested that shameful act to stay but so much as one week and then he might depart not only with the Generals licence but with honour and the good esteem of honest men Seeing it would be no better Montrose passing by Edinburgh led his small Army through Lothianshire and in Strathgale joyned with Douglasse and the other Commanders whose Forces being much diminished were dayly mouldring more and more In that coast Traquaire himself came unto him more chearful and merry than he used to be who pretended himself to be a most faithful Servant not only to his Majesty but also to Montrose and the next day sent him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant party of Horse as if they were to be under his command that by so likely a pledge he might make Montrose more secure and so more easily ruine him For this was not the first time that Traquaire plaid the Covenanters Scout-Master that ungratefullest piece of mankind intending to betray unto them Montrose and in him the King himself Now when he was not above twelve miles from the Lords Hume and Roxburgh and they sent not so much as a Messenger to him nor offered him the smallest courtesie Montrose being much troubled at it resolved to march into their Territories and to bring them in either by fair means or foul But they prevented him by a singular device They sent unto David Lesley whom they well knew by that time was come to Berwick with all the Scotch Horse and many English Voluntiers for they were privy to all their counsels and intreated him to send a party and carry them away in the condition of prisoners which he did the day before Montrose came thither For by this means that crafty old fox Roxburgh who had Hume under his girdle conceiv'd that they might both ingratiate themselves with the Covenanters as freely committing themselves into their Protection and yet keep in the Kings favour whiles they made as if they fell into Lesley's hands sore against their wills And this being Lesley's first noble exploit he passed over Tweed and marched into the East-side of Lothian Montrose assoon as he perceived the King and himself betray'd by these men and saw no hopes of that party of Horse which was come from the King and that the too powerful enemy would block up his passage into the North and Highlands resolved to march with those few men he had into Niddisdale and Anandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could For although he had no certain intelligence concerning the strength of the enemy yet he conjectured that it consisted especially in Horse CHAP. XVI MOntrose arising from Kelsoe marched to Jedburgh and so to Selkirk where he quartered his Horse in a Village and his Foot in a wood close by For he was resolved to make sure of all advantages of ground lest he should be forced to fight with an enemy of whose strength he knew nothing upon uneven terms Then he commands the Captains of Horse to set out good store of faithful and active Scouts and to place Horse-guards in convenient places on every side and look well to their watch All which he in person as he used to do could not see done at present because that night he was dispatching letters to the King and to send away a trusty messenger that he had light upon before break of day therefore he was earrest with them to have the more care lest the enemy who were very strong in Horse should surprise them unawares And the Commanders promising all care and diligence he was so taken up with writing of Letters that he slept not all that night And sending ever and anon to the Captains of Guards men that were skilful Souldiers and so known to be in Forein Countries such uncertain noises as were brought unto him of the enemies approach they being deceiv'd either by the negligence of their Scouts or their own misfortune very confidently sent him back word there was no enemy in those parts nor in the Country thereabouts At the break of day some of the best Horse and most accquainted with the Country were sent out again to Scout they also brought word they had been ten miles about and diligently examined all by-ways and rashly wisht damnation to themselvs if they could find an enemy in arms within ten miles But afterward it appeared when it was too late that the enemy with all their Forces were then scarce four miles from Selkirk and had lain there all that night in their arms Lesley that day that Montrose departed from Jedburgh mustered his men upon Gladesmore a plain in Lothianshire where holding a councill of War with the chief of the Covenanters the result was that he should march to Edinburgh and so to the Forth that he might hinder Montrose's retreat into the North and force him to fight whether he would or no before he joyned with his Highlanders But Lesley contrary to that resolution gives order on a sudden to his whole

drew his Forces into the North and almost before he was discovered marched with a few men into Strathbogy where Huntley then lived But he being struck with his unexpected approach upon the first news he heard of him lest he should be forced to a Conference against his will immediately fled to Bogie a Castle of his situate upon the mouth of the Spey as if he intended to ferry over the River and to wage warre against the Rebels in Murray And now it comes into my mind briefly to enquire what might be the reason why Huntley bore such a spleen against Montrose who had never given him any distaste but had obliged him with curtesies many times undeserved Nor could I ever hear nor so much as guesse at any other cause but a weak and impotent emulation I cannot call it but envy of his surpassing worth and honour For I should be loath to say that his mind was ever alienated from the King but only averse unto Montrose with the unjust hatred of whom he was so possest that he precipitated himself into many unexcusable mistakes insomuch as he desired rather all things were lost than that Montrose should have the honour of saving them And now being already puffed up with an unbeseeming conceit of himself he was the more exceedingly enraged against him upon the remembrance of those injuries and disgraces he had heretofore thrown upon him and that was the chief reason as I take it that he so often avoided the sight of him For besides what we have occasionally delivered both the father and the sons had put neither few nor small affronts upno the Kings Vicegerent some few of which it will not be out of our way to relate The great guns which we told you Montrose had hid in the ground the last year they digging them up without his knowledge carried away in a kind of triumph and disposed of them in their own Castles as if they had been spoils taken from the enemy and would not restore them upon demand But those Montrose had got in the fights at Saint Johns-town and at Aberdeen in the former of which there was never a man present of that Family and in the other Lewis Gordon and his men fought on the enemies side Besides they so converted unto their own use the Gunpowder and Arms and other necessaries of War which were gained from the enemy and only deposited in their Castles as in safe and convenient store-houses that they would never make any restitution of the least part of them when they were desired Moreover Aboine upon his return home after the victory of Kilsythe set at liberty the Earl of Keith Lord Marshal of Scotland the Lord Viscount Arbuthnot and other men of quality of the enemies side who were within his custody without acquainting the Governour of the Kingdome and his brother-in-law young Drumme who by chance was present earnestly declaring his dislike of it Upon what terms he did it it is uncertain but this is evident that besides the affront done to the Lord Governour and the losse of Dunotter Castle which was of great strength and concernment in that War and other Military advantages they got by it the Rebells would never have had the boldnesse to fall so cruelly upon the Prisoners if he had but kept them in safe custody Yet more by his own private authority he exacted tributes and Customes and Taxes which the Governour himself had never done upon pretence indeed of maintaining the War but in truth to far other use and to the grievous prejudice of the Kings Cause Last of al● which is most to be lamented either at the entreat●● of the enemy or for small sums of money they had enlarged the Prisoners that had been taken in the former battells in the North and committed to custody in their Castles Nor would they permit them to Montrose's disposall though being Prisoners of War he had reserved them for that only purpose by exchanging them to save the lives of gallant and deserving men Huntley being pricked in his conscience about all these things was alwayes as afraid of Montrose's presence as of a Pest-house But Monrrose for all that passing by injuries and laying aside all other matters bestowed his whole endeavours in promoting of the Kings service And to that end he was resolved to intrude himself into his company though never so unwelcome to insinuate into his friendship upon any conditions to yeeld unto him in all things and to deny nothing so that he might qualifie Huntley's imbittered spirit Therefore leaving his Forces in their quarters he posted early in the morning with a few Horse unto Bogie and by his undream'd of approach prevented Huntley of any opportunity of flying or hiding himself Assoon as they met Montrose so getting all that was past invited him in smooth and gentle language to associate with him in the War for the safety of the King and Kingdome and gave him so full satisfaction in all things that being at last overcome he seem'd to give him his hand and promised that not only all his men but he himself would come in person in the head of them and be with him with all possible speed Afterward they laid their heads together concerning the manner of managing the War and agreed that Huntley wafting over the Spey should make his way on the right hand by the sea-coast of Murrey and Montrose was to go round about on the left hand through Strath-Spey which was at that time of the year a very tedious and difficult march and so the design was to besiege Innernesse a Garrison of the enemies on both sides and in the mean time to draw the Earl of Seaford either by fair means or foul to their side That Garrison however it might appear to be otherwise strong and well fortified yet was very ill provided for victuall and other requisites which in that sharp Winter and tempestuous Sea could hardly be had And so now they seem'd to be agreed in all things so that Aboine and his brother Lewis wish'd damnation to themselves if they did not continue constant in their fidelity and service to Montrose to their utmost breath And the rest of the Gordons the Marquesses friends were surprised with incredible joy and made as much of their Lord and Chief as if he had been returned from the dead CHAP. XIX MOntrose supposing Huntley's spirit at last pacified and seriously inclined to joyn with him in the prosecution of the Warre marched with his Forces through Strath-Spey towards Innernesse And the more to amuse the enemy on every side he sent his cozen Patrick Graham of whose worth I have had often occasion to speak and John Drummond of Ball the younger a gentleman of approved trust and valour who had often done excellent service with authority and Commissions unto the Athole-men that if any should offer to stirre in those parts they should neglect no opportunity to suppresse them The Athole-men being

settled in a posture of war and well forwarn'd of his imentions amounted not above the number of six or seven hundred at the most strangers and all The Common souldiers which adventur'd over with him most of them Holsteyners or Hamburgers He had sent him by the Queen of Sweden for the arming of such Gentle-men as should upon his arrivall betake themselves to his party fifteen hundred arms compleat for Horse back brest head-piece Carbines Pistolls and Swords all which after his defeat in Cathanes were taken untouch'd With this small preparation it was a desperate action to attempt so mighty a business And although his touching first upon the Islands did encrease his number and gave him almost the beginning of an Army Yet were those barbarous people so raw and unacquainted with discipline that they proved in a manner uselesse and unserviceable 'T is true the Inhabitants of those Isles were a people in former times very fierce and warlike and have under their own Captains made many great Impressions into the very heart of the kingdome But whether it was the Policie of the late Kings to leave them untrain'd of purpose to break then natural fierceness or because their own Captains being quell'd or cut off they car'd not much to engage under any other certain it is That kingdome for two hundred years last past hath not made lesse use of any they had under their jurisdiction nor have they at this present lesse opinion of any Scots for Military courage and valour And this may be alleged as a great cause of their remissnesse and unwieldinesse whilst they were in the Marquesses service I told you a little before of Montrose's whole Strength which did accompany him from Germany whereof two ships with neer upon a third part were sent before but by storm of weather which is both frequent and dangerous amongst those Northern Islands they were lost with all the men and arms nothing sav'd This was another check and as it were a warning and a fore-runner of the sad event which followed But the businesse being fatal he must needs contribute his own endeavours towards that destruction which his cruell fortune had provided for him For he nothing terrified with this successe sends out a second party which making a more prosperous voyage landed at Orkney and enter'd the Island without any resistance There being at that time no Garrison or defence placed in any of those Islands by the States of Scotland Together with these he sent several commissions for levying of Horse and Foot Immediately there were several dispatch'd to Scotland and the Islands adjacent for that purpose The people of the Country being in no condition to resist these officers endeavoured in hopes of favour as much as they could to further the design A od those who were not so earnest were by their own neighbours favourers of the cause and these violent Commissioners forc'd to take up Arms. Not long after landed the Marquess himself with the rest of his company together with those Gentlemen which were resolv'd ro partake of his fortune Amongst whom were several persons of note Colonel Hurrey was there a man who had engaged in all quarrells but never prosper'd in any The Lord Frenderick for his kinsman the Lord Napier was left in Holland Colonel Johnson a resolute man and an old souldier Colonel Gray a German souldier Harry Graham his own natural brother Colonel James Hay of Naughton Sir Francis Hay of Dalgetie George Drummond of Ballach For he had employed as was thought Colonel Sibbalds his companion heretofore as his Agent in Scotland But he was apprehended at Musselburgh and did accompany his General in death upon the same Scaffold The Marquess continued a considerable time in Orkney raising of Forces and strengthning himself with such recruits as the place would afford Neither was there any preparation at all made in Scotland to dispossess him of these Islands either because it might be thought a difficult businesse to assail him within those places naturally guarded with a rough and dangerous sea Or because they knowing his strength expected a better opportunitie of him as they found indeed within the Country After this poor rabble of silly creatures was amaz'd He resolves at last to embarque and to that purpose gathers all the boats he could find ships his men and in a short space lands them all upon the point of Cathanes which is the farthest land to the North-west of Scotland The people having some experience of the carriage of his former souldierie and now far more dreading the name of Foreiners partly by the terrible reports which were constantly given out of him fled away in heaps many of them not stopping till they came to the chief City Edinburgh and there gave the terrible Alarm to the Parliament then sitting The Commanders were immediately summon'd and charg'd with all possible haste to get the standing Forces in readinesse and a Rendezvouz in order to the States command was hereupon presently enjoyn'd at Breithen Northward Colonel Stranghan who was then in high esteem with the great ones for his valour lately expressed in the English service and his zeal to the Presbyterian cause much extoll'd at that time had an ample and a particular Commission granted to him by the Parliament to command a choice party of Horse which should not be subject to David Lesleys orders but might engage and fight with the enemy at his best advantage With these being not above three hundred he advanced before the Army David Lesley with the rest of the Horse and Holborn with the Foot marching after him In the mean time the Marquess advanc'd but very slowly and that he might not be mistaken since all the world was much astomished at this Invasion now whilst the King was upon a Treatie he published a Declaration Wherein he labour'd to clear himself of any aspersion of sinister ends That his intention was only against some particular persons who had against the Laws of the Kingdome rais'd and maintain'd a war against the Kings Father and did now by their subtile practices endeavour to destroy the Son also That he intended nothing against the Generalitie of the Kingdom Lastly exhorting all subjects of that Nation to endeavour to free themselves from the Tyranny of those who for the present ruled the State and the oppression of the Ministrie But the Country for several causes did not come to second him as he expected For the Earl of Sunder and a potent man in those parts his lands being next to the place where the Marquesse then was rais'd a great power of his tenants and friends and did his best to terrific and hinder all that were willing to joyn with him And though he found himself unable to deal with the Marquesses Forces yet did he stop all entercourse betwixt him and his friends And those Gentlemen who had heretofore followed him and yet enclined to assist him knowing the danger of the enterprise considering the

acknowledged his Apostacie from the Covenant and other things which he had vented in auricular confession before to the Ministers which very energetically they had pend for him In lieu of granting his life which he expected lest he should fall off from his principles which he had openly prosessed as some of their converts had done before fairly they cut off his Head and sealed his confession with his blood The rest being for the most part strangers or such as had spent most part of their time in service abroad were dismiss'd after Bond given not to enter the Kingdome again in a hostile manner A true and perfect Relation of all the passages concerning the Examination Tryal and Death of the most Honourable James Marquesse of Montrose Earl of Kincardin Lord Graeme Baron of Montdieu c. Knight of the most Honourable order of St. George Lieutenant Governour and Captain General for his Majestie in the Kingdome of Scotland THe Parliament of Scotland being informed that the Marquesse of Montrose was taken and fore-seeing that his countenance and carriage might gain him some favour amongst the People though fit to give out their sentence against him before he should come to Edinburgh And therefore upon the 17. of May anno 1650. in the morning they appointed a Committee to prepare and give in their opinions what was fittest to be done with him where the same fore-noon they gave in their report in writing to this effect That so soon as he should come to the Town he should be met at the Gate by the Magistrates and Hangman That he should be tyed with cords upon a Cart bareheaded and the Hangman to ride upon the horse that drew the Cart covered before him and so to be brought through the Town That he should be hanged on a Gibbet at the Crosse of Edinburgh untill he died his Historie and Declaration hanging about his neck and so hang three hours in publick view of all the people after which he should be behended and quartered His head to be fixt upon the Prison house of Edinburgh and his legs and arms over the gates of the Cities of Sterling Glascow Perth alias Saint Johns-Town and Aberdeen And in case he repented whereby the Sentence of Excommunication may be taken off by the Church the bulck of his body should be buried in the Gray-Fryers if not to be buried in the Borrow-moor Upon the 18. day about four a clock in the afternoon he was brought in at the Water-gate and according to the Sentence was met by the Magistrates the guards and the Hangman of the Citie the rest of the Prisoners being tyed two and two together going bare-headed before him So soon as he came within the gate the Magistrates shewed him the Sentence which when he had read and perceived the Cart and the Hangman there ready he said He would willingly obey he was only sorry that through him his Majesty whose person he presented should be so dishonoured Then going cheerfully into the Cart he being uncovered was by the Hangman tyed thereunto with ropes and the Hangman on the horse rid covered thus was he carried to the Prison and in all the way there appeared in him such a Majesty Courage and Modesty no way Daunted That his very Enemies nay common women who as it was believed by divers would have stoned him in the Cart as he passed were upon the sight of him so astonished and moved that their intended curses were turned into tears and Prayers for him Insomuch as the next day being Sunday the Ministers preached against them for not reviling and stoning of him as he passed along When he was taken from the Cart he gave the Hangman gold telling him That was a reward for driving the Cart. It was seven a clock at night before he was entered into the Prison and immediately the Parliament met and sent some of their Members and some Ministers to examine him but he refused to answer any thing to them untill he was satisfied upon what tearms they stood with the King his Royal Master Which being reported unto the Parliament they ceased proceeding against him until Monday and allowed their Commissioners to tell him that the King and they were agreed He desired to be at rest for he was weary with a long journey and he said The Complement they had put upon him that day was somewhat tedious The next day being Sunday he was constantly attended by Ministers and Parliament men who still pursued him with threatnings but they got no advantage of him he told them they thought they had affronted him the day before by carrying him in a Cart but they were much mistaken For he thought it the most Honourable and joyfull'st journey that ever he made God having all the while most comfortably manifested his presence to him and furnishing him with resolution to over-look the reproches of men and to behold him for whosE cause he sufered Upon Monday in the forenoon he was brought before the Parliament and after the delivery of a long penned discourse by the Chancellour wherein he was pleased to take notice of his miscariages againsT the first Covenant the League and Covenant his Invasion and joyning with the Irish Rebels and bloodg●●●●iness and that now how God had brought him to just punishment He desired to know if he might be allowed to speak for himself which being granted he said Since you have declared unto me that you have agreed with the King I look upon you as if his Majesty were sitting amongst you and in that Relation I appear with this reverence bare-headed My care hath been alwayes to walk as became a good Christian and a loyal Subject I engaged in the first Covenant and was faithfull to it untill I perceived some private persons under colour of Religion intended to wring the Authority from the King and to seize on it for themselves and when it was thought fit for the clearing of honest men that a bond should be subscribed wherein the security of Religion was sufficiently provided for I subscribed For the League and Covenant I thank God I was never in it and so could not break it but how farr Religion hath been advanced by it and the sad consequences that have followed on it these poor distressed Kingdoms can witnesse for when his late Majesty had by the blessing of God almost subdued those enemies that rose against him in England and that a faction of this Kingdome went in to the assistance of them His Majesty gave Commission to me to come into this Kingdom and to make a diversion of those forces that were going from hence against Him I acknowledged the command most just and I conceiv'd my self bound in conscience and duty to obey it What my carriage was in this Country many of you may bear witnesse Disorders in any Army cannot be prevented but they were no sooner known than punished never was any blood spilt but in battel and even then many thousand