I should be glad of if it should not retard the Service and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 5 Apr. 1639. A Dispatch came at this time from Ireland shewing that it would be about the end of Iune before the Lord Lieutenant could come with the Army he was preparing for His Majesties assistance The hopes from Ireland fail adding that all Antrims fair undertakings were like to vanish in Air and that he was not able to doe as he had engaged for after he had used many Arts to find some colour of fastening the failing on the Lieutenants part by unreasonable demands finding him satisfied with them all was forced to acknowledge that he was not able to doe the King the Service he had undeâ—taken that Summer yet most of the Scots in Ireland offered their Service very cordially and willingly declared their dislike of the Covenant The King advises about the Indempnity he was to offer the Covenanters His Majesties next care was about His Proclamation for Scotland wherein he gave an account of the Affronts His Authority had received by the Covenanters and his designs to doe â—imself right according to the Power and Authority God had put in his hand withal offering Indempnity to such as should within eight days lay down their Arms some few excepted Declaring such as would not obey Rebels setting a Price upon their Heads and ordering their Vassals and Tenants not to acknowledge them nor pay them Rents But by His Majesties Letters it will appear how he was advised to change some particulars of the first Draught to which Counsels His Majesty did willingly give ear though there were some about him of both Nations studious enough to disswade him from any thing that looked like a temper some carried on by their Revenge and passionate Resentments others were acted perhaps with worse Principles and Designs In end His Majesty having resolved on a draught of a Proclamation he sent one to the Marquis with this following Letter Hamilton I Send you with this my Proclamation as I have now made it upon debate with Sir Lewis Stewart wherein I have altered nothing from the first but what I wrote you by my last only I have added some things of favour to those that shall repent which nevertheless are of so little moment that although this should not come to your hands time enough the other might pass very well As for the publishing of it I shall doe my best to get it proclaimed both in Edinburgh and in the rest of the Kingdom nevertheless you must not leave to doe your best for the publishing of it So wishing good success as well to your Person as Cause I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 7 Apr. 1639. And with this Letter the King sent the following Order written with His Own Hand Hamilton I Send you herewith my Pleasure in a Proclamation to my Subjects of Scotland and by this command you to use all sort of Hostility against all those who shall not submit themselves according to the tenour of the same for which this shall be your Warrant CHARLES R. York 7 Apr. 1639. At the same time the Marquis received the following Letter Hamilton I Have spoken with Henry Vane at full of all those things that were concerted betwixt you and agree in all things but one which is that he thinks your going into the Frith will make the Rebels enter into England the sooner whereas on the contrary I think that my poâ—sessing of Carlisle and Berwick hath made them so mad that they will enter in as soon as they can perswade an Army together except they be hindred by some awful Diversion wherefore I could wish that you were even now in the Frith though the Borders might be quiet till my Army be brought together which they say will hardly be yet these ten days Yet I am not out of hope to be at Newcastle within these fourteen days and so to Berwick as soon as I may with either Honour or Safety wherefore my Conclusion is go on a Gods Name in your former Intentions except I send you otherwise â—ord or your self find some inevitable necessity and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 10 Apr. 1638. POSTSCRIPT I have sent yâ—u ten Blanks whereof four be Signaturewise Both these found him at Yarmouth Road on the fifteenth of April whither he was come to take in his Souldiers The Marquis is at Yarmoutâ— to put his Souldiers aboard The Officers were very affectionate to His Majesties Service but did not know what their employment was to be save that in general they were to go to Sea When he told them they must go to Holy-Island and there receive the Kings further Orders they seemed surprized yet were resolved on Obedience Their men were good bodies well cloathed and well armed but so little exercised that of the 5000 there were not 200 that could fire a Musket The occasion of this was a Clause in the Councils Letter to the Lieutenants of the Counties in which they were levied that if other good men could be had the trained men should be spared and the Deputy-Lieutenants upon this ordered it so that not so much as the Serjeants and Corporals were trained But whether there was a Design in this God knows for nothing appears to make it out beside Jealousies This was a great affliction to the Marquis for he knew the King confided much in him and yet he saw there was an Impossibility of his doing any thing to purpose till the Souldiers were some ways exercised which he caused doe upon the Ships as frequently as was possible The furnishing them with Water and other necessaries together with Cross Winds kept them some days in the Road and before they got out of it the Marquis received the following Letter from His Majesty Hamilton IT is true that I was content to hear your Advice concerning your going into the Frith it being chiefly to shew Henry Vane that your Iudgement went along as well as your Obedience though I had a care ever to take off from you the envy of seeking this particular Imployment taking it as it is just upon my own absolute Command yet I will not say but that you might have cause to wonder because neither of us expressed our selves so clearly as we might But my chief errand to you at this time is that upon serious Debate upon your long Letter to Henry Vane only with him and Arundel for I dare trust no otâ—er we found no reason to alter my former Commands but were more confirmed in the fitness of them only we have thought requisit to alter some things in the Proclamation which you shall receive by the next Dispatch at furthest within a day or two of this so that you are not to indeed I think you cannot publish any until the New one come to you for I believe it will be at the Holy-Island before you
Instrument of his producing it which was also refused so having taken witness of it he withdrew and none of these Lords would sit in the Convention any more After this some came to the Duke and asked his Advice if they should sit or not he suspected their Intentions were only to betray him and told them that his Practice declared his own Judgment which he wished the whole Convention had followed but for particular Advices he left it to themselves Others of their Friends were by them all thought necessary to sit still in the Convention to keep up delays in the approaching Treaty with the English but divers of their Friends being over-awed with the Power of the Church-party did forsake them Great Jealousies and Divisions in Scotland At the same time some of the Church-party who feared the Duke more than all that opposed them knowing the depth of his Designs and the smoothness of his Address took a strange Course to render him suspected to the Kings Party which was to let a Whisper fly out but so as they should not appear in it that he and they kept a Correspondence which was too easily believed by many who were already ill-affected to his Person and displeased with his Methods and the great forwardness of some for appearing in the Kings Service made them impatient of all Delays But the Duke sent divers Messages by Mr. Murray of the Bed-chamber who was at that time sent by His Majesty to Scotland to those of the Kings Friends who he saw were displeased with him to mediate a Reconciliation who dealt in it with all possible diligence but their Jealousies of the Duke were insuperable And a little after that in the end of Iuly some of them went to Court to represent to the King how ill His Affairs were managed by those He trusted them to and to offer their Serviâ—e if He would change his Tools and Methods The Duke upon this wrote to the King that he found himself betwixt two Tides of those who were perverse on the one hand and over-forward on the other yet he wished not only Life and Fortune but his Soul might perish if he left any thing unessayed and undone that was in his power for the Kings Service But all in which he could hope to prevail was Delays which to draw out longer than this Winter he could not promise And the Methods he used to draw out the Treaty by Delays were to set some on work to get Scotland to insist on their Demands for the rest of the Brotherly Assistance and for what was agreed to by the former years Treaty to be paid for the Army in Ireland before they engaged further all which amounted to a round Sum and he knew it would neither be soon nor easily advanced The time of the Assembly was also approaching wherefore they advised the King for his Advocates encouragement to Name him Commissioner for it The Convention did little at first only they begun a new Process against some alledged Incendiaries and named many Committees waiting still for the English Commissioners who were daily expected On the first of August came the Kings Advocat's Commission with his Instructions and a Letter to the Assembly His Instructions were First to assure the Assembly of the Kings constant adherence to the late Establishment and his willingness to encourage all good Motions He was to oppose all Treaty with England or Declarations about the Commotions there He was to oppose any new Commission of the Kirk He was to hinder any Censure to pass on those who had subscribed the Cross Petition On the second of August the Assembly sat down The General Assembly sitâ— but no curb could hold them so high was their Zeal and so void were they of respect of Persons that the opposition the Kings Commissioner gave them was little regarded for they went on at a great rate The Convention voted an hundred thousand Marks Sterling to be raised by a Loan this was a pretty Device to fine all that were not judged well-affected for they were appointed to lend Sums upon the Publick Faith which every one knew would turn to no Security for their Money On the ninth of August came the much-longed for Commissioners from England Commissioners come from England with a large Declaration from the Two Houses justifying all their Procedure and intreating the assistance of their Brethren in Scotland This was cheerfully welcomed by the Assembly and some did run so far back as to remember how Queen Elizabeth helped the Lords of the Congregation in the Scotish Reformation in opposition to the Queen Regent and therefore it was but Justice that they should now repay them with the like Assistance But that which generally prevailed to engage the greater part of the Nation in the War The Arguments that prevailed for entring in a League with them shall here be set down with that fulness and freedom that becomes a Historian The now Duke of Newcastle had raised a great Army in the North of England for the King upon which that Countrey was like to be for some time the seat of the War and though Berwick and Carlisle had no Garrisons in them according to the Treaty between both Kingdoms yet it was not to be doubted but either the one side or the other would see their advantage in putting Garrisons in these places upon which all in Scotland judged it necessary to raise some Forces otherwise the best Counties in Scotland which lye toward the South had been put under Contribution by those Garrisons and they had been all a prey to the prevailing Army yea and which side soever were either beaten or straitned it was not to be doubted but they would send in Parties to Scotland to bring Provisions and what else could be had therefore it was Concluded that a Force must be raised for the Security of Scotland This being laid down it was not uneasie to perswade all that it was better to carry in and maintain their Army in England than keep it in Scotland to be a vast Charge upon themselves And the Forces that were raised in the years 1639 and 40 had been very heavy on the chief Nobility and Gentry nor had the Brotherly Assistance which the Two Houses had Voted to be raised for their reimbursement come to their Supply the War of England intercepting it therefore they had generally a great mind to Quarter their Army in England Now this could not be done they keeping up the Neutrality they were then in therefore they must either joyn with the King or the Two Houses For joyning with the King many Arguments were used both from the Laws of Scotland that obliged all the Subjects to assist the King in his Wars and from the Covenant wherein they swore to assist Him in every cause in which His Majesties Honour was concerned There were also private assurances given not only to the leading Men but to the whole Nation of signal
most to conduce to Our Honour and the Good and Advancement of Our Service as you will answer for it to Vs at your peril and for your so doing these shall be your Warrant Given at Our Court at Oxford the 26th of September 1643. With these Publick Letters the King wrote to the Duke Hamilton HAving much to say and little time to write The Kings Letter to the Duke I have commanded this Trusty Bearer to supply the shortness of this Letter which though it be chiefly to give trust to what he shall say to you in my Name yet I cannot but assure you by my own Hand that no ill Offices have had the Power to lessen my Confidence in you or my Estimation of you for you shall find me Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Oxford 28th September 1643. The Lords whom the King trusted seeing no present help of Men The Kings Affairs in Scotland decline nor relief of Armes like to come from England were like men desperate and some moved desperate Propositions that according to what had been in some former cases practiced in Scotland there should be Orders given out requiring all to kill the chief Leaders of the Church-party where-ever they could find them setting Prices on their Heads and that with such Orders some of the Blanks should be filled up But the Duke opposed this strongly and said he would take it on him without an Instruction to assure them that he knew His Majesty would rather patiently suffer all things than consent to a Course so barbarous and unchristian As for the practices of some former ruder times these were to be no Precedents now Besides if this were done on the one side they might expect the same Orders would be presently issued out against them from the Comittee of Estates which would bring on an unheard-of Butchery and lay all their Throats open to their Servants whereupon it was laid aside only the Proposition with the Precedents is yet extant and they resolved to see what Force they could bring together under the pretence of their Attendants to the Countess of Roxburgh her Funeral which was to be in the beginning of November But there was some Difference about the Methods of carrying on their designs among these Lords and divers others who were called to their Consultations besides those who were particularly trusted by His Majesty Those whose Fortunes were broken were for brisker Courses and those whose Estates were intire and had the most followers thought it fitter to delay an open Breach as long as was possible This diversity of Opinion raised some Animosities and Jealousies among them so that they fell into a mutual distrust neither was Secrecy though not only enjoyned but sworn closely kept for all their Designs broke out and and yet some who were guilty of this were among the busiest to fasten it on the Duke But the Writer designs only an account of his Affairs without reflecting needlesly on others and therefore here he restrains his Pen. So quickly did their closest Secrets fly abroad that when the Duke was returning home from one of their Meetings a Covenanter Lord came from Edinburgh to meet him on his way and told him to a word all had past at their Meeting as that Lord informed the Writer On the 24th of October the Earl of Traquair went to Court A Message sent to Court by the Earl of Traquair whom the Lords that were trusted by the King had carried along with them in all their Counsels though his Name could not be in the Instructions by reason of the Act that was past against him at the former Parliament With him they sent the following Instructions containing the grounds and steps of their whole Procedure which is the fullest and clearest Dispatch was sent this year most of the other Messages being verbal and so will give great light to the rest It is desired it may be represented to His Majesty that now all He expected from our Affection and Industry here is performed this Summer being spent and he having received no other Prejudice from hence than what might rise from words which we did never pretend to prevent being no ways a Party in the Iudicatories To shew our readiness still to venture our Lives and Fortunes in His Majesties Service which we will make good not only by verbal Expressions but real Actions when we shall see the least probability of Success to His Affairs though to our Ruine To represent the Reasons that hitherto we have not been in Action which have been grounded First upon our Desire of Protracting time the chief thing we had Commission to study in which our Endeavours have not been fruitless Secondly that they not His Majesty should be the first Breakers both a pious just and popular Motive and thirdly our expectation of Supplies both of Men Arms Ammunition and Moneys which we were confident should have been provided for us and without which we never conceived our Strength to be considerable To represent that we would immediately draw our selves together into a Body being thereto authorized by His Majesty if we had the least hope of making it considerable and if we had any proportion of Arms or Ammunition a Place of surety for our Rendezvouz and of safety for a Retreat in case of a Misfortune having by divers Messages represented our Wants and pressed for Supplies with the securing of some Places now lost but still without Success without which many who would joyn with us in this Quarrel of serving His Majesty are unwilling to hazard and divers very considerable and most affectionate Noblemen and Gentlemen have declared that for that reason they cannot bring to that Meeting more than their Domestick Servants so that we justly fear we cannot draw together so considerable a Body as could resist much less offend our Enemies and likewise an impossibility for those and other Noblemen and Gentlemen being only so backed and lying at so great a distance one from another and from the Place which of necessity must be appointed for our Rendezvous to joyn with us And considering these necessities we cannot but be the more tender of going unto present Action seeing His Majesty hath so wisely commanded us to weigh the Consequences of angering before he be able to punish and the Prejudices which may thereby arise to His Service wherein we must proceed as we shall be answerable upon our Perils and therefore we dare not presume to advise the present Engaging of His Majesty by drawing our selves into a Body for many would oppose us seeing then we would be esteemed Rebels within this Kingdom that would be unwilling to go into England which probably cannot be done this Winter though we dare give no assurance thereof but do humbly advise that present Preparation be made for the worst and in discharge of our Consciences and Duties to His Majesty we cannot but represent our Fears of the great Disservices He may receive
from hence if he do not timely prevent it either by a Royal and considerable Strength or in his Wisdom think of some other way of effecting it and not to trust to the Power of His Party here And this our humble Opinion doth neither proceed from Fear nor Disaffection nor out of any Intention to desert Him or His Cause wherein we will spend the last drops of our Blood but really is our sense of the Condition of His Affairs here which we cannot conceal without betraying the Trust He hath reposed in us and which we will be ready to make appear to His Majesty whensoever He shall think fit to call us to an account at the hazard of losing His Favour and all that is dear to us About the end of October All are required to take the Covenant all the Lords of the Council received Letters from the Committee of Estates requiring them to come to Council against the second of November and sign the League and Covenant from which the Lords whom His Majesty had intrusted excused themselves not being well-satisfied neither about the matter of the Covenant nor the Authority by which it was imposed whereupon they were again summoned to appear upon the 14th of that Month to do it under the highest pains in case of Disobedience but they excused themselves the second time likewise All this while the Duke had been doing his utmost to engage his Vassals The Duke's endeavours for serving the King and the Dependers on his Family to a cordial Concurrence in the Kings Service and offered to divers of them if they would vigorously concur in it to dispense with great advantages he had over their Fortunes by his Superiorities But that County where his Interest lay was so prevailed upon by the Ministers that no endeavours could divert them from the Course that the rest of the Country were taking and so little could he prevail with them that all the Authority and Art he and his Brother used could not get the Commissioners to the Convention of Estates well chosen though he bestirred himself in it as much as was possible for beside the Clamours against him there came out at this time a Book under the name of The Mystery of Iniquity which was shrewdly but maliciously penned The design of it was to demonstrate that the King's Intentions ever since his Voyage to Spain had been for introducing Popery but to this old Slander was added a new damnable Calumny that the King had given Commission for the Massacre in Ireland under the Great Seal of Scotland in October 1641. when it was in the Duke's keeping and in the Custody of Mr. Iohn Hamilton who is by that Pamphleteer called the Scribe of the Cross Petition This was sent through all places and both preached and printed up and down Scotland and zealously infused into the Peoples minds amongst whom it gained belief which as it irritated them to more fury against the King so it drew the next share of the Odium upon the Duke whereby he was much disabled from doing the Service which he desired and designed with such a series of sad Trials was God pleased to exercise him almost all the days of his Life The Lords that were for the King met at Kelso Their Appointment at My Lady Roxburgh's Funeral was to be carried secretly as if their numerous Meeting had been only for gathering a great Company to solemnize it with the more Pomp according to the Ceremony used at Burials in Scotland The Duke took with him near two hundred Horse the half of them were Gentlemen and the rest were their Servants But when they came to the Funeral all that could be accounted of were about a thousand Horse but there were such Jealousies among them and they were so undetermined either what to do or who should Command and so little assurance had they of the Adherence of those who were with them that they parted without coming to any Resolution This Attempt gave a Crisis to the Covenanters Proceedings against them and therefore because they came not on the Day prefixed to subscribe the Covenant they were declared Enemies to God the King and the Country and it was resolved that at least they should be made close Prisoners of which the Duke was advertised by the Earl of Lindsay But this was not all the height of the Committees zeal The cruel Orders of the Committee against those who took not the Covenant for on the 17th day of November by another Act all their Goods were appointed to be seized on their Rents gathered up and their Persons to be apprehended wherever they could be found and a Commission was given to Souldiers to go take them warranting them to do it notwithstanding any Resistance was made securing them though they killed those that made Resistance Southesk was first wrought upon by those thunder-claps but the Duke and his Brother seeing all was past recovery in Scotland and there was no standing before this unparalelled Zeal prevented their severe Orders and went to Court so he and his Brother left Scotland in the end of November All this while his Enemies at Court had been with great Industry misrepresenting his Actions in Scotland and for this end made use of the forwardness of some Scotish Lords who were then at Court The Duke ill represented at Court yet the King's Affection to him and Confidence in him continued firm and unshaken till the end of September if not longer as appears by His Majesties Letter of that Date already set down But the miscarriage of Affairs in Scotland together with the Duke's absence raised some jealousies in the King's thoughts nor had the Duke any Friend at Court who had such credit with the King as to be able to justifie him and so Reports went current without contradiction But when Mr. Murray came up and Traquair after him they gave a truer representation of Affairs therefore to take off the weight of their Testimony they were charged with accession to the same Miscarriages and many things of a high nature were fastened upon the Duke And the miscarriage of Affairs in Scotland seemed to give good colours for casting all the blame of it upon the Unfaithfulness or ill-management of those who had his Majesties chief Trust in that Kingdom the usual fate of all Unsuccessful Ministers Many foul Slanders were cast on him and very scandalous and undutiful Discourses were laid to his charge And to crown all it was represented that he had set on foot a Pretension to the Crown of Scotland and designed to put all once into Confusion that so he might fish the better in those troubled waters This was the most bloody and pernicious of all the hellish Slanders his Enemies could invent and nothing could raise Jealousies in a Court like Stories of this nature wherefore they were confidently vented and it was said that after he and his Brother had betrayed the King's Service in Scotland
presently but four hundred thousand were Voted to them and only one hundred thousand presently and upon this they stood long The Two Houses having on the 24th of September Voted that the Kings Person should be demanded from the Scotish Army their Commissioners at London gave in long Papers against that The Scotish Commissioners at London complain of the Kings ill Usage and the harsh Votes of the Two Houses which were Printed and so need not be here inserted In them they shewed That the King being Soveraign of both Kingdoms was not to be disposed by the Parliament of one Kingdom That this was destructive to the Relation and Interest the Scotish Nation had in Him and contrary to the nature of Soveraignty and to the Covenant and Treaties of both Kingdoms by which it was agreed That His Majesties just Power and Greatness should not be diminished which by such a Demand of His Person was very signally done It was also agreed that all things in order to Peace to which the Disposal of the Kings Person did relate in a signal manner should be done by the Ioynt Councils of both Kingdoms After this in the Month of October begun the Treaty betwixt the Scotish Commissioners and the Committee appointed for that end by the Two Houses of Parliament Many Conferences are betwixt the Two Houses and them which was managed in the Painted Chamber in the presence of all the Members of the Two Houses The Scotish Commissioners who were the Earls of Lowdon and Lauderdale and the Lord Wariston declared in all their Papers and Speeches that they were not to Treat about His Majesties Person nor the Disposing of it but only about the Removal of the Army the Delivery of those Garrisons that their Army had in England and the Payment of Arrears due for their Armies both in England and Ireland and they continued to press that whereas the Two Houses had in all their former Declarations laid the blame of the Breach betwixt the King and them on His Majesties Withdrawing from His Parliament that therefore they would invite His Majesty to come with Honour Freedom and Safety to some of His Houses in or about London in which they still insisted to the last And so far were they from Treating about the Disposing of His Majesties Person that in the end of their Treaty when they had finally agreed on all things it was expresly declared in the first Article of the Treaty that pass'd under the Great Seal that nothing relating to the Kings Person was concluded on by it so that after that was ended the Scotish Parliament might have still preserved the King and brought him with their Army to Scotland But the Houses turned the Propositions to Bills The Houses press a speedy Answer to their Propositions and passed a Vote that new Commissionerâ— should be sent to the King with the concurrence of those of Scotland to press a satisfactory Answer with this Sanction that if it were not granted they should be forced to look to the Security of His Person And the English Army fell upon a most destructive Resolution of adjourning the Parliament neither were they over-awed by any thing so much as the fear of the Scotish Army The great point now debated in the Councils of Scotland was whether a final Settlement with the King should be the Condition of the Armies Retiring or not The Duke with all his Friends pressed this vigorously as that which was agreed on by their Covenant and Treaties But the Church-men still influenced all Counsels and finding the King irreconcileable to their Way were still full of their Jealousies of Him and it was said down-right that they ought not to meddle betwixt the King and the Parliament of England but leave Him and them to their own Counsels so strangely did their Language vary from what it was Anno 1643. At this time the King sent Mr. Murray of the Bed-Chamber to London Mr. Murray is sent by the King to London who carried another Message but it was so displeasing that it served only to put his Neck to a new hazard for the Kings Service and he durst scarce stir out of doors all the while he was there In the beginning of November a new Session of the Triennial Parliament of Scotland did hold The Parliament of Scotland meets but little was done for some Weeks save that there came to them a Remonstrance from the Assembly wherein in the first place Complaints were made of the Committee of Estates for their Agreement with Montrose and his Followers which was represented as a great Crime especially they being excommunicated Next they complained of His Majesties constant adherence to Prelacy and of the danger Religion was in by the Malignants for so was the Kings Party then called who were beginning to set up their Heads again wherefore they recommended to their Care both the Preservation of Religion and of the Treaties with England Upon this the Transaction of the Committee of Estates in the Agreement with Montrose was examined and it was put to the Vote Approve or Exoner them only the former was carried by twenty Votes but all the Pulpits thundered against it wherefore to stop the mouths of the Ministries it was enacted That in any Treaty that should be thereafter with those who were in Arms the Commission of the Kirk should be consulted about the Lawfulness of the Conditions For at this time both the Marquis of Huntley was in Arms in the North and Antrim was also come over to Kintyre in Iuly the former year and continued still there His Majesty sent Mr. Robert Lesley with Orders to my Lord Huntley for laying down of Arms with whom he wrote the following Letters to the two Brothers Hamilton A Trusty Messenger requires but a short Letter and brevity is the more convenient for Me who have much to do and but few helpers wherefore I shall say no more but hear and trust Robin Lesly for he is come from Your most assured real faithful constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle Nov. 12th 1646. Lanerick HEaring that Marquis Huntley expects My Commands for his laying down of Arms I have thought fit to send this Trusty Bearer Robin Lesly to him but thought it necessary to address him first to you that you in My Name might acquaint the Parliament with this My Intention which if they approve of he may go on accordingly if not there is no hurt done Yet howsoever I have expressed My Desire for the Peace of the Country but in case they shall permit Robin to obey My Commands then I expect that they give him Power to assure Huntley of the same Conditions that he might have had before All which I command you to represent to My Parliament in My Name leaving the particular expressions to you having only set down the sense Other things I have intrusted little Nobs to tell you too long for a Letter but of no small Consequence by which at
Lanerick Cousin YOu will perceive by this that you cannot make more haste in obliging Me A Letter from the Queen to Lanerick than I shall on My part in witnessing My Acknowledgements of it I ascribe a great deal of the good Inclinations your Commissioners do now express to the good Offices you do of which I intreat the Continuance The testimonies of Friendship which I receive from those of your Family surprize Me less than what I met with from other Hands and I promise My Self to see further effects of it And as I have all the esteem of you that you can expect so you owe Me the Iustice of believing that I shall give evidence of it upon every occasion that shall be offered to Me nor shall I rest satisfied with that but shall diligently search out every opportunity of expressing it Therefore I entreat you to believe that I am Cousin Your very good and very affectionate Friend and Cousin HENRIETA MARIA R. Towards the end of December the Earls of Lowdon Lauderdale and Lanerick The Scotish Commissioners go to His Majesty followed the English Commissioners to the Isle of Wight and after they had protested against the Bills they concluded their Treaty with His Majesty to engage for his Rescue and Re-establishment on his Throne and to bring in an Army into England assoon as it were possible for that effect An Agreement with the King to bring an Army for His Service The King on the other hand engaged to them for all the Assistance they could demand from the Queen or Prince or any other who would obey His Authority and that the Prince should come to Scotland assoon as they found it convenient to invite him and that His Majesty should grant all the Desires of Scotland which with a good Conscience he could grant And the Commissioners having advised and agreed with His Majesty both about the Methods of carrying on their Designs and the ways of keeping Correspondence with him they resolved to return home to Scotland and so they left His Majesty at Wight in the end of the Year But upon the Kings refusing to pass the Bills he was made close Prisoner and a Vote passed in both Houses against all further Addresses to him MEMOIRES OF THE LIFE and ACTIONS OF James Duke of Hamilton c. LIB VI. Of the Dukes Engagement for the Kings Preservation and what followed till His Death Anno 1648. An. 1648. THe former Book has given the Reader a just and full Representation of His Majesties Imprisonment and the Danger his Person was in of the Force put on the Two Houses by the Army and of the breach of former Treaties with the Scotish Nation and now it cannot but be imagined that such Illegal and Unjust Proceedings must have inflamed the Resentments of all good Subjects and more signally of such who had formerly been carried away in the crowd to act against the Kings Interests but now seeing how fatal the Breach between the King and his People was likely to prove to both were much concerned to correct all former Errours and expiate all past Faults by a vigorous appearance for the Kings Rescue out of his Imprisonment In order to this Design the Duke was not idle in Scotland The Dukes endeavours in Scotland but by all the Art and Diligence he was Master of did study to rouse up and work upon the Fidelity and Loyalty of that Nation representing that now an Occasion was in their Hands to witness to the World the sincerity of their Intentions for their King when he was under so base a Restraint and Designs were hatching against his Life Would they now look on and see the King murdered the Parliament of England over-awed the City of London oppressed the whole English Nation enslaved the Treaties with Scotland so unworthily violated the Covenant and Religion so neglected and swarms of Sectaries over-run all Now or never was the time for declaring themselves and if Duty did not move them yet the apprehension of their own Danger might provoke them to look to themselves for did they think to escape the fury of the Sectaries if they were so tame as to suffer them to prevail in England therefore all Laws Divine and Humane did oblige them to look to themselves and to those Enemies of theirs And there was good reason to hope for success since besides the Blessing of God which might be expected upon so just and Noble Enterprizes the People of England were groaning under this Usurpation and would be ready to assist them and they had reason to expect a welcome from the City of London and the better part of the Two Houses These things did prevail much on the most of the Nobility and Gentry Three Parties in Scotland But at this time Three Parties begun to appear in Scotland The one was of those who would hear of no Proposition for the Kings Delivery unless he first gave satisfaction in matters of Religion and this was made up of the Preachers and a few of the Nobility and the Western Counties Others were for a direct Owning of the Kings Quarrel without any restrictions and for taking all Persons who had been in Arms for the Kings Service within it The Earls of Traquair and Calendar were the chief of these and many Noblemen were of it who called themselves the Kings Party but their Power in the Country was not great The Duke was as much for that in his thoughts as any of them but saw it impossible to effectuate the Kings business at that rate and therefore judged it best to go on in so great a Design by degrees The present Strait was that he first looked to which was the Rescue of the Kings Person and he doubted not if they once got a good Army engaged upon that account though all were at first clogged with many severe Restrictions yet it would be easy afterwards to carry things that were not to be then spoken of and this way took with almost the whole Gentry of Scotland The Scotish Commissioners spent much of the month of Ianuary at London The Commissioners return to Scotland establishing a good Correspondence with the Kings Friends in England and they had Letters from St. Germans in France in which the Queen and Prince undertook to make good to them all that had been promised by the King in their Name And in the Commissions the Prince gave to Sir Marmaduke Langdale and others for Levying of Forces in the North of England he commanded them to receive their Orders from the Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick and follow their Commands Thus having laid down the best Methods they could think of with their Friends in England they set out for Scotland about the end of Ianuary At their coming to Scotland they found a general dissatisfaction with the Kings Message in November about Religion And though all the Duke's Friends were ready to have hazarded their Lives for His
Majesties Preservation on these or on easier terms yet it was long debated amongst them what the Consequences might be of engaging in so great a Work not only without Unanimity but with the Opposition of the Church and most of those who had been of greatest Eminence and Power during the late Troubles Wherefore they resolved to give very extraordinary Complyances to their Desires whereby they might either gain their Concurrence or at least mitigate their Opposition and determined to go a greater length than otherwise their Loyalties could allow of But the Church-men by the insinuations of Mr. Gillespie and others were possessed with an opinion of their bad Intentions and that their Resolutions if they were blessed with Success were to overturn all that had been formerly established and so they resolved not to be satisfied with any Security or Proviso they might grant believing that nothing they offered was really meant to be kept and that all they intended was but Cajolery therefore they determined to oppose them with their utmost Zeal and Industry A few dayes after the three Lords returned to Scotland the following Letter came to them from His Majesty UPon Saturday I received yours of the twenty fourth of January A Letter from the King and have written to Lee as you desired Let no reports of any Personal Threatning against Me stagger your Confidence of My Constancy nor hinder Scotland in what shall be best for Kingly Authority lose no time in your great and honest Designs for him who is Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Monday 7th February 1648. POSTSCRIPT I resolve within these two or three Days to write to you by a trusty Messenger however I hope not to fail by these ways you mention To which they returned the following Answer May it please Your Majesty THis day we received Your Majesties of the 7th Instant Your Letter to Lee we hope may be useful Our Resolution to serve Your Majesty cannot be shaken with which we will go through or perish The Clergy cannot be satisfied with what Your Majesty offers in Religion for the reason expressed in our last of the 15th yet we hope to engage them in the Work We wish Your Majesty could further enable us in that Particular as the only mean to procure Vnanimity In the mean time we will set up our rest on the procuring a speedy Engagement though without that we cannot do it so much to Your Majesties advantage Sir Marmaduke Langdale is come hither and our first care shall be to secure Berwick and Carlisle which ere this we had done if our Forces had not been at too great a distance scattered in their Quarters They have now Orders in private to draw together and we intend to act and speak both at a time POSTSCRIPT We want Arms and Ammunition exceedingly and do earnestly desire the Queen may be pleased to endeavour the supplying us from France and Holland speedily The Lord Chancellour though at first the most forward of them all for an Engagement Lowdon falls off to the Church-party yet was quickly wrought upon to abandon his generous Resolutions and not only turned over to the violent Church-Party but some Months after was made do Penance by a solemn Acknowledgment in the High-Church of Edinburgh for his sinful complyance with these unlawful Courses as they were termed Traquair played his old game a great while with both hands and studied to make a Reconciliation with some Lords of the Church-party if by any means they could have been engaged in the Design and Mr. Murray of the Bed-Chamber who was sent to Scotland from France treated also long with the Heads of the Church-party whom he thought more powerful in the Country and so more able to deliver the King but finding them so backward without positive Concessions about Religion and the Covenant he and the rest of these called the Kings Party were forced to unite with the Duke and his Friends The first thing was to engage all the Officers of the little Army then standing which was carried very successfully and their next care was to fix on one to command Those who united for engaging in the Kings Quarrel designed that David Lesley now Lord Newark should command the Army to be raised and he at first undertook the Service very cordially but some of the Church-men fell upon him very furiously and prevailed so far on others who had a great Ascendant over him that he being of an easie nature struck off and refused the Service Whereupon finding it necessary that a Person of Eminence and Integrity should command the Army They resolve the Duke should be General which he oposed much they resolved on making the Duke General which he opposed to a high degree saying that he was resolved to hazard his Life with the first yet he would decline all Command knowing with what Calumnies he had been aspersed and what Jealousies many had still of him as if his Designs were for himself and to the Kings Prejudice And many yet alive with whom he lived in the greatest Confidence know with what earnestness he pressed them to set their eye on some other Person but there were none to choose fit for the Trust wherefore it was agreed by them all that the Charge must be laid on him to which he submitted with great Aversion The Parliament meets in Scotland In the beginning of March the Parliament sate Their first trouble was from the Remonstrance which the Commission of the Kirk sent them against Association with Malignants and of the danger Religion was in which Paper they intended to have printed but with much difficulty this was stopped There were Commissioners sent down from the Two Houses with whom Mr. Stephen Marshal came for Justifying their Proceedings and keeping a good correspondence with the Scotish Nation and notwithstanding all the Injuries done by them last Year yet some of the Clergy and of the Lords of their Party were in a very good understanding with them But first of all the Carriage of the Scotish Commissioners in England was approved in Parliament next there was a Committee of Eighteen appointed for preparing business and to confer with the Commissioners of the Kirk for giving them satisfaction which was a long and slow Work On the 14th of March the English Commissioners complained that they heard there were Designs among some Malignants to seize Berwick which they desired these in Scotland would oppose whereupon the Parliament referred it to the Committee of Eighteen to see to the Security of the Kingdom in that Affair from which all the Members who were of the Church-Party dissented and against this Vote the Commissioners of the Kirk sent in another Remonstrance because they knew that Committee was so chosen that they would send Orders for the securing of Berwick On the 22th of March the Committee of the General Assembly commonly called the Commission of the Kirk gave in their large Paper consisting
of the Scotish Affairs better than the Rabble did so they did more apprehend the Danger of it And first great pains were taken to reconcile the Presbyterian and Independent Parties at least to unite them against the Scots wherefore they Voted that the Government should be by King Lords and Commons yet the Independents opposed this so that it was carried but by 45 Voices They also appointed that the Propositions offered at Newcastle should be the Grounds of settling the Kingdom and they Voted that it should be lawful notwithstanding the Vote of Non-Addresses to make new Applications to His Majesty Their Design in this was visible for they hoped the Scots could not pass from these Propositions and they were assured the King would never consent to them particularly to that of Religion which was so dear to Scotland But Cromwel was not at all pleased with these Votes and as little with the City and if the Stirs over England had not given him other Employment he would have made a Journey to London with his Army for the Purging the House a-new They in Scotland were much straitned with want of Ammunition and Mony therefore they sent Sir William Bellandin to Holland to see what could be had from the Prince of Orange they likewise wise sent Sir William Fleeming to Paris to the Queen and Prince with the following Letters May it please Your Majesty ALL verbal Assurances would justly appear too low and mean testimonies of our Fidelity Letters to the Queen and Prince from the Duke and his Friends since Actions are now the only touch-stones of Loyalty which we hope e're long shall be better than what we can in this Common way speak of our real Affections to His Majesties Service We have presumed from the Encouragements we have received from Your Majesty to hope the Prince his Highness will countenance our Endeavours for his Father's Rescue with his presence amongst us which would certainly give an extraordinary vigour and life to all our Motions For that end we have instructed this worthy Bearer with our humble desires therein to Your Majesty and to his Highness and with such other Particulars as are necessary for enabling us to carry on the Work to whom we beg Your Majesty would be pleased to give Trust and further to believe that nothing was ever more absolutely fixed than are our Resolutions either to perish or eminently to shew our selves Your Majesties most humble most faithful and most obedient Subjects and Servants Hamilton Lauderdale Crawford Lanerick Roxburgh Calender May 1st 1648. May it please Your Highness THe deep sense we have of His Majesties sad Condition invites us to these Actions of Duty and Loyalty to which we are by so many Relations and Tyes bound and obliged and having divers Encouragements from His Majesty and from the Queen to hope for your Highness's Presence amongst us in countenancing our faithful Endeavours for His Majesties Rescue we have presumed humbly to address our selves to your Highness that from your Self we might know your own Inclinations that accordingly such publick Assurances and Invitations may come from hence as your Highness shall think fit to require being confident that before we can receive your Highness's Directions herein we shall be in some condition to evidence our Loyalties otherwise than by Words So until we give a more real testimony thereof we shall only beg to be esteemed of by your Highness as Persons that have vowed themselves to this Service and who are faithfully Your Highness's most humble most faithful and most obedient Servants Hamilton Lauderdale Crawford Lanerick Roxburgh Calender May 1st 1648. Next they modelled the Army which will better appear by the following Letters written to the King SIR YOu now find the effects of what my last of the 28th of April promised we are now engaged and Sir Marmaduke Langdale's successful Attempt upon Berwick and Carlisle will be resolutely seconded by Your Servants here Letters to His Majesty To morrow Sir William Fleeming and Mr. Murray part for France the last acknowledges the baseness of his new Friend Argyle We hope the Prince will now countenance with his Presence our Endeavours for Your Majesties Rescue since the Duke of York is escaped for he will give an extraordinary life and vigour to all our Motions The Kirk hath this day declared against our Declaration and Engagement but all it hath procured is a Vote of thirty thousand Foot and near six thousand Horse which is this day remitted to the Consideration of the several Bodies and I hope will pass the House to morrow 2d May. 1648. SInce my last we are far advanced in our Designs of serving Your Majesty our new Army is modelled which I hope will be more considerable than any Army that ever went out of Scotland the Old General hath laid down his Charge and the Duke of Hamilton is to Command in chief who joys to meet with so happy an occasion to vindicate his Loyalty He will be found active in his Trust and seconded by the most gallant and eminent persons of the Kingdom his Election was carried very unanimously in Parliament Argyle and only six with him dissenting Calender with the same Vnanimity and the same Opposition is chosen Lieutenant-General and David Lesley Lieutenant-General of the Horse but he hath not as yet accepted of his Charge Middleton is appointed Major-General of the Horse who is most eminent for his Loyalty and forward in this Service Our Armie will be on foot about the end of the Moneth and that the Raising of men may the more actively be gone about we have adjourned the Parliament till the first of June We have sent Commissioners with Instructions and Money to invite our Army in Ireland to come and joyn with us in this Service Our Opposition from Argyle and the Ministers is still as great as they can make we are undone for want of Arms and a little Money if we be not supplied from France or Holland this glorious and most hopeful Vndertaking that ever this Nation had may be in hazard to miscarry Sir William Fleeming and Mr. Murray went ten days ago for France and this day we have dispatched Sir William Bellandin to Holland We are much dejected because we have not heard from Your Majesty since the 17th of March which makes us fear You involve us in the Guilt of the by-past deadness and slowness of their Motions here but we take God to witness we are as free thereof as we shall be faithful to the Vows we have made of perishing or of serving Your Majesty in such a loyal and dutiful way as hath been professed by Your Majesties c. 17th May. The Differences that were among the Lords were adjusted The Levies are much retarded by the Ministers and most of the Officers were also well named yet the Levies went on dully though many of the Lords were so cordial that they who had allowance from the Publick but for 80 Horse
that had been sent from Edinburgh but before I go further a little must be premised of the state of the Army and of those who commanded it The chief Officers of the Army The Duke was General of whom I find an old experienced Souldier who served under him passing this judgment His Conduct of Forces was as good as that of any under his Command without exception but it was his Fate I dare not say his Fault in Military matters as was his Masters in Political Affairs not to trust to his own Iudgment but to the Iudgments of others though inferiour as all the World knew to their own and to this Character all with whom the Writer ever spake who served in that Army did agree Calander's Character The Lieutenant-General was the Earl of Calander who was bred from his youth a Souldier in the Wars of Germany and the Low-Countries where he long commanded a Regiment of Scotish Foot and had gained deservedly the reputation of a man of great Courage and understood well the Dutch Discipline of War which he observed with a strictness that seemed not free of Affectation The promptness of his Deportment and the Authority he usually took on him being judged far beyond his skill in the Conduct of an Army he was made Lieutenant-General of the Scotish Army that went against the King under General Lesley Anno 1640 and joyned with Montrose and the other Noblemen and Gentlemen who signed the Bond mentioned in the account of that Year and from that time he continued for some Years in a great Friendship with Montrose which as it did alienate the Church-party from him so it set him at a distance from the Duke of whom he was ready both to receive and give ill Impressions Yet he having made great and constant Professions of Loyalty and having got himself to make a considerable figure among some Noblemen who were called the Kings Party a Conjunction with him being also earnestly recommended by the Queen in her Letters to the Duke he and some of his Friends though many condemned the choice were easily induced to such an opinion of the Reality of Calander's Loyalty and Military Conduct and Courage as to accept of him for Lieutenant-General of the Army though the Duke had no reason to have any confidence in his Friendship But as he left nothing undone to overcome all Obstacles that lay in the way of this loyal Expedition so he complied with divers things that were uneasie to him whereof this was none of the least because he would leave no ground for Calumny it self to charge him with Slackness in attempting to do this signal Service to God the King and his Country The Lieutenant-General was quickly observed to design a Faction in the Army for himself and to oppose all that the General suggested which he did so peremptorily that he usually pressed all his own Propositions with such warm Language as that the Kings Service was ruined if other Courses were followed and this never failed to over-rule the Duke and in effect he gave away almost his whole Power to him But if he expected little Friendship from Calander he had as much confidence in Middleton Lieutenant-General of the Horse who was a Person of great Courage and Honour and none had been more gallantly active in carrying on this Expedition than he was for which and other Great Services he was by His Majesty that now reigns created Earl of Middleton nor had he less assurance of Baylie Lieutenant-General of the Foot who had given many signal demonstrations of Valour and Conduct The Inferiour Officers stood all divided according as their Affections led them either to the General or Lieutenant-General and thus was the Army modelled The Regiments were not full many of them scarce exceeded half their number and not the fifth man could handle Pike or Musket The Horse were the best mounted that ever Scotland set out yet most of the Troopers were raw and undisciplined They had no Artillery not so much as one Field-piece very little Ammunition and very few Horse to carry it for want of which the Duke stayed often in the Reer of the whole Army till the Country-men brought in Horses and then conveyed it with his own Guard of Horse Thus the precipitating of Affairs in England forced them on a March before they were in any posture for it but now they were engaged and they must go forward an account whereof follows but not drawn as the former Parts of this Work have been from the Dukes Papers and little Notes he used to take on all occasions for if any of these were taken by him in this Expedition they were either destroyed by himself or fell into the Enemies hands when he was made Prisoner so that the Writer was forced to seek help from others for supplying this Defect and procured divers Relations from very worthy Gentlemen who were Eye-Witnesses or Actors in the whole Affair upon whose Informations he must rest and therefore offers them as follows UPon the Armies march to Carlisle Lambert drew back and we advanced to Crofton-Hall where we lay about eight or ten days The account of the March of the Army from thence we went towards Penreith but the Duke sent out a Party of some three hundred Horse who discovered the Enemies Main-Guard of Horse and gave the General notice of it who thereupon commanded the whole Cavalry to march purposing to fall upon the Enemy that very night and he sent orders to Baylie to hasten the advance of the Infantry A full discovery being made of the Enemy our Cavalry was drawn up in their view where expecting the advance of the Foot we stood in Arms till night but about midnight the Enemy drew off quietly Next morning betimes a great rain falling we advanced to a Bridge a mile beyond Penreith with design to engage the Enemy but missing our hopes were forced for our accomodation in Quartering to return to Penreith Next day my Lord Levingstoun commanding a Party of Horse discovered the Enemies Main-Guard within a mile of Appleby-Castle in Westmoreland consisting of about three hundred Horse of which having sent advertisement to the General he ordered the Army to march immediately towards the Enemy and Middleton commanded the Captain of the Generals Troop to charge who beat back the Enemies Horse into the Town of Appleby That evening our whole Cavalry made a stand for several hours expecting the advance of Langdale who being marched up did presently with his Foot engage with the Enemy into the Town till it was dark Our Infantry Quartered that night on the Moor near Appleby but before the next morning the Enemy marched away both Horse and Foot leaving only a Garrison in Appleby-Castle and did cut the Bridge so that it was impossible to follow for the rains had fallen in such abundance that the Waters were not to be forded whereupon we went to Kirby-thure in Cumberland where we lay three Weeks
of the Nobility and Gentry went to the Cross and himself read the Kings Proclamation and caused the Major of the Town to proclaim it but God having designed to set his Majesty on the Throne of his Ancestors by his own Immediate Hand all hopes of supplies from Wales or other well-affected Places vanished Cromwell also followed the King from Scotland in great Marches having left General Monk since the famous Duke of Albemarle there with an Army to subdue the little strength that remained for maintaining his Majesties Interest in that Kingdom The day after Cromwel came before Worcester the King called a great Council of War to consider what was to be done where the Duke spoke first and after he had in as short terms as was possible opened the state of Affairs he said one of three things must be done Either they were to March out and fight to lie still and provide for a Siege or to March to London the other side of the Severn being then free He proposed the Difficulties of all these yet said one of them was to be done and desired that his Majesty might put it to the debate which of them was fittest None proposed a fourth Expedient But the Duke did afterwards suggest if the Marching into Wales might be adviseable but as they were in the debate before the half of the Council of War had delivered their opinions there came an Alarm to the door that dissolved the Meeting This was four days before the Fight the Enemy grew daily stronger and raised the whole Country to his Assistance and as the Kings small Army was utterly disproportioned to their Strength so the Courage of the Souldiers did daily abate and the Duke as he clearly foresaw the ruine of the Kings Affairs at that time and the Captivity of his Country that would follow so he desired not to out-live it The Duke apprehenns and prepares for Death which he plainly told to some of his more intimate Friends though for incouraging others he put on a great appearance of Cheerfulness on his looks but apprehending that his End drew nigh notwithstanding all the Attendance he was obliged to at Court and with the Army yet he set off large portions of his Time for reviewing his Life and fitting himself for Eternity and when his Imployment all day denied him the conveniency of such long and serious Retirements as that Work required he took it from his sleep in the night being more solicitous for rest to his Mind than to his Body And the night before the often fatal third of September which was the day of Worcester-Fight though he had stayed very late in the Court yet when he came to his Lodgings the apprehensions he had of what was before him kept him awake and serious as will appear from the following Paper which he wrote and was found in his Pockets when they were searched after his Death A Meditation on Death and a Prayer WHEN sadness for any Worldly Cross lies heavy upon thee remember thou art a Christian designed for the Inheritance of Iesus or if thou be an obstinate impenitent Sinner as sure as God is just thou must perish if this be thy Condition I cannot blame thee to be sad sad till thy heart-strings crack But then why art thou troubled for the loss of Friends Fortune or for any Worldly want what should a damned man do with any of these did ever any man upon the wrack afflict himself because his Mistress slighted him or call for the particulars of a Purchase upon the Gallows if thou dost really believe thou shalt be damned I do not say it will cure all other Sadness but certainly it will or ought to swallow it up And if thou believest thou shalt be saved consider how great is that Ioy how infinite is that Change how unspeakable is the Glory how excellent is the Recompence for all thy Sufferings in the World So let thy Condition be what it will compared to thy future possibility thou canst not feel the present smart of a cross Fortune to any great degree either because thou hast a far bigger Sorrow or a far bigger Ioy. Here thou art but a Stranger travelling to a Country where the Glories of a Kingdom are prepared for thee it is therefore a huge folly to be much afflicted because thou hast a less convenient Inn to Lodge in by the way Let us prepare our selves against Changes always expecting them that we be not surprized when they come O death how bitter art thou to a man that is at rest in his Possessions to the rich man who had promised himself ease and fulness for many years it was a sad Arrest that his Soul was surprized the first night But the Apostles who every day knockt at the Gate of Death and lookt upon it continually went to their Martyrdom in peace and evenness Anytus and Miletus may kill me but they cannot hurt me we are troubled on every side but not distressed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not forsaken cast down but not destroyed and who is he that will harm you if ye be followers of that which is good Consider that Afflictions are oft-times the occasions of great Temporal Advantages and we must not look upon them as they sit heavy us but as they serve some of Gods ends and the purposes of Vniversal Providence and when a Prince fights justly and yet unprosperously could he see the reasons for which God orders it he would find it unreasonable nay ill to have it otherwise If a man could have opened one of the Pages of Divine Counsel and seen the event of Joseph 's being sold to the Merchants of Midian he might with much reason have dried up the young mans Tears The case of Themistocles was not much unlike thâ—t of Joseph for being banished he likewise grew in favour with the Persian King and told his Wife he had perished unless he had perished God esteems it one of his Glories to bring good out of evil and therefore it were but reason we should leave God to govern his own World as he pleases and that we should patiently wait till the Change come and likewise not envy the Prosperity of the wicked Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him fret not thy self because of him who prospereth in his way because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass for evil doers shall be cut off but those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the Earth Theramenes one of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens escaped when his house fell upon him but was shortly after put to Death by his Colleagues in the Tyranny The last great Trial is Death for which should we grieve of all griefs it is the most unreasonable for why should we grieve at that which is absolutely unavoidable and it is not so much to be cared for how long we live as how well we live for that Life is not best which is longest
to the Queen about it ibid. They take leave and come home p. 216. The King sends his Friends to Scotland p. 217. The Queen writes to the Marq. ibid. They agree in Scotland to summon a Convention of Estates p. 218. And write to the King about it ibid. The Kings Instructions to the Marq. and others p. 219. The Kings Declaration about the War in England p. 221. The Marq. is made a Duke p. 224. Some of the Kings Party accused as Incendiaries ibid. Lanerick gives the King an account of Affairs p. 225. The Kings Friends consult what to do p. 226. And send a Message to the King ibid. The Duke writes of the great danger he saw things in to Mr. Jermin p. 227. And to the Queen p. 228. The Queens Answer p. 229. He writes again to Her ibid. The Kings Letter forbidding the Convention p. 230. He writes to Lanerick ibid. Another Letter by the Earl of Lindsay p. 231. The King's Letter to the Convention p. 232. Means used for the Kings Service p. 233. The Convention sits ibid. After much debate they vote themselves a free Convention ibid. The Duke leaves them p. 234. Great Iealousies and Divisions among the Kings Party ibid. The General Assembly sits p. 235. Commissioners come from England ibid. The Arguments that prevailed to make a League with them ibid. The Solemn League and Covenant p. 237. The Censures that passed upon it p. 239. The King and Queen write kindly to the Duke ibid. The Kings Letter to his good Subjects in Scotland p. 241. The Kings Friends send Propositions to the King p. 242. The heads of the Treaty between Scotland and England ibid. The Kings Letter to the Conservatours p. 243. His Letter to the Council p. 244. His Letter to Lanerick p. 245. His Letter about a Proclamation p. 246. His Letter to Lanerick about that ibid. He writes with great confidence to the Duke p. 247. The Kings Affairs in Scotland decline ibid. A Message sent up by Traquair p. 248. All are commanded to take the Covenant p. 249. The Duke's endeavours for the Kings Service ibid. A meeting of the Kings Friends p. 250. They part without doing any thing ibid. The Committee sends out severe Orders against such as took not the Covenant ib. The Duke ill-represented at Court ibid. He goes to Court p. 251. and is made Prisoner ibid. He sees the Charge given against him and Answers it p. 252. Charge against the Duke Article first p. 253. A General Answer ibid. Answer to the first Article p. 254. The second Article ibid. The Answer to it p. 255. The third Article ibid. The Answer to it p. 256. The fourth Article p. 257. The Answer to it p. 258. The fifth Article p. 260. The Answer to it ibid. The sixth Article p. 261. The Answer to it ibid. The seventh Article ibid. The Answer to it p. 264. The eighth Article p. 267. The Answer to it p. 268. Laner presses for a present Trial p. 269. But could not obtain it p. 270. He makes his Escape ibid. And draws a Party for the K. in Scotl. ib. The Duke is hardly used ibid. And continues a Prisoner p. 271. He is set at liberty p. 272. Lib. 5. Of the Dukes and his Brother's Imployments after his Enlargement till the Year 1648. THe Kings Affairs grow desperate p. 273. The Duke resolves to retire ibid. The K. goes to the Scotish Army p. 274. Commissioners are sent to him from Scotland ibid. They press him to settle matters ibid. The K. complains of ill usage ibid. The Army petition him about the Covenant p. 275. The King proposes a Treaty ibid. An Account of Montrose's Affairs ibid. The King recalls his Commission p. 277. The K. is much pressed to take the Covenant ibid. The King scruples ibid. His Conference with Mr. Henderson ib. Debates about the Propositions to the King p. 278. The Papers given in by the Scotish Commissioners about them ibid. The Propositions are agreed to p. 279. The heads of them ibid. The Duke is well received by the K. ibid. The K. employs him to preserve Montrose p. 280. He does it ibid. The King is much pressed to grant the Propositions p. 281. But resolves to adhere to his Conscience ibid. His first thoughts of the Propositions ibid. His denying them much resented p. 283. The Scotish Commissioners serve him ibid. The K. sends Argyle to London ibid. The Dukes endeavours in Scotl. p. 284. He is much opposed by the Ministers ib. The Duke and others sent to deal with the King for his granting the Propositions p. 285. The Kings Answer to them ibid. Another Paper of the Kings to the same purpose p. 286. The Duke resolves to go beyond Sea p. 288. The Independents cajole the King ibid. But Lauderdale disabuses him ibid. The Duke obtains the Kings leave to retire p. 289. The Kings Letter recalls that ibid. The Queen writes to him p. 291. The Dukes Letter to the King ibid. The Kings Letter to Lanerick p. 292. And to the Duke p. 293. The Scot. Commis serve the King at London ibid. Conferences between the Two Houses and them p. 294. A Parliament in Scotland ibid. Huntley is in Arms p. 295. The King writes about it ibid. And about Traquair p. 296. The Consultations in Scotland ibid. Two Letters of the Kings p. 297. The Kings Letter about the Propositions p. 298. His Answer to them p. 299. Lanerick's Letter to the King about it p. 302. The Kings Answer to him p. 303. Two other Letters of the Kings p. 305. An Account of the Resolutions in Scotland p. 306. Which the Duke and Lanerick oppose but in vain p. 307. Lanerick writes to the King p. 308. Resolutions taken about the Kings Person p. 309. The Scotish Commissioners leave London ibid. An. 1647. Commissioners sent to the King from Scotland p. 310. Who deliver to him the Votes of Parl. ibid. In Scotland they resolve to deliver up the King p. 311. The Duke and Lanerick oppose it much ibid. But in vain ibid. It is variously censured p. 312. The Kings Letter to the Duke p. 313. The Duke and Laner begin a new design for the King ibid. New Disorders in England p. 314. The Earl of Lauderdale is sent to London ibid. The Army revolts ibid. And take the K. from Holmby ibid. They use him civilly p. 315. The K. writes to Lanerick ibid. Lanerick's Answer ibid. Two Letters of the Kings to Lanerick p. 316. Lanerick's Answer p. 317. Another Letter of the Kings p. 318. The Army forces the Parliament ibid. Lauderdale is ill used by them p. 310. This is resented in Scotland ibid. But many are intractable ibid. Instructions sent by Mr. Lesley p. 320. The Kings Answer p. 321. The King is abused by the Army ibid. Lanerick's Letter about the delay of his coming to wait on the King ibid. The Kings Answer to it p. 322. The Scotish Commissioners come to the King p. 323. They intend to rescue him p. 324.
needful in our present circumstances than to represent those things truly That Ministers on the one hand considering the ill effects that followed on a stretched Prerogative and the People on the other hand apprehending the dismal consequences of Tumults Iealousies and Civil War there may be such an Vniversal Harmony between the King and his Subjects as may rejoyce all good men and disappoint and confound all the Enemies of our Peace and Happiness But all those things not being yet so fully clear to me and not lying in the Papers that were in my hands I have given no account of them in this Work which I confined to the Negotiations of those two Brothers whose Papers I perâ—sed Nor have I written any thing of the Affairs of England further than was necessary by their Relation to and Intermixture with those of Scotland and though there are very considerable Papers in that Collection that were sent to Scotland both from the Committee of both Kingdoms and from some Eminent men of both Houses yet there is not a continued thread in them and therefore I have published none of them Nor have I drawn down my Relation farther than Worcester-Fight where the younger of these Brothers lost his Life for though I have been much pressed to write a full History of Scotland from K. James his Death where the most Reverend Dr. Spotswood ended his so much and so justly valued History and to bring it down to the present Time yet I will see how the World is satisfied with what I now publish before I give my self and others more trouble of this sort At first I wrote this Work Historically and only drew the most material heads and passages out of the Papers that lay before me but that Noble and Iudicious Gentleman Sir Robert Murray to whose Memory I owe the most Grateful Acknowledgments that can be payed by a Person infinitely obliged to him and that did highly value his extraordinary Parts and rare Virtues gave me such reasons to change the whole Work and to insert most of the Papers at their full length that prevailed on me to do it and when it was written over again as I now offer it to the World he was so much pleased with it that though I know the setting down his words would add a great value to it among all that knew him yet they are so high in the Commendation of it that I cannot but conceal them Some have wondered to find sewer of the Duke's Letters here than of other Persons but the truth is these are so full and so particular in the Advices and Advertisements he wrote to the King that it was by no means thought fit to publish too many of them though the Originals of them are yet extant being written on the back by the King's hand The Vouchers of this whole Work lie at Hamilton where Curious Persons may both be satisfied about the truth of what is now published and about many other very important things from which I drew these MEMOIRES only in a few particulars for supplying some defects I was forced to seek Informations from Persons of great Honour and Worth My writing from such Vouchers was the cause that sometimes the angry Language I found in Letters did slip into my pen. I know there is nothing that does more misbecome an Historian than to mix Passion with the Account he gives and so I studied to cleanse this Work from it all I could and read it over once or twice to throw out all those angry words which I had mixed in it carelesly having among other things Copied them from the Letters that were in my hands But upon a further Review I find that some of these Reflections do still remain for which I am very sorry but I can assure the Reader I had no design to leave needless Imputations on any Persons for I took great care to write with all possible Respect and Caution even of those who were the greatest Enemies that both these Dukes had and those that know the present circumstances of that Family and of the Writer himself will find that no Resentments for any hard Vsage they have met with has biassed him from what becomes an honest Man and a faithful Historian I thought it unworthy of my pains to set down and confute those base and malicious Calumnies which fill many Books that pass for the Histories of the late Times The Truth of this Work is a fuller Confutation than any other could be These Writings indeed made me examine all the Duke's Papers more carefully particularly the Copies of their Letters to their nearest and most assured Friends with the Letters they received from them most of these were written in Câ—pher and the decyphering of them was no small trouble yet I resolved to spare no pains that might give me a full satisfaction about their most secret Correspondencies But after all that search I was still more and more confirmed of the great Integrity of their Professions and of their constant Fidelity to the Crown I publish these MEMOIRES with the more confidence because they having been seen and perused by divers of the most Considerable and most Intelligent Persons of both Kingdoms either they went very far with their Civility and Complement or were well satisfied with them I shall enlarge this Preface no further but desire that all the faults in the Style or way of Writing may be charged only on my self and may leave no Imputation on those Worthy Persons whose Actions I relate nor on those wâ—o now represent them since they deserved a far better Pen to be employed in writing their History All that is good in this Work is only from them and all that is evil in it must fall entirely to my share and I alone must bear it They have suffered too much already from the Malice of their Enemies it will therefore be very unjust to make them suffer more for the Indiscretion or Weakness of an ill Writer I shall not stand longer on laboured and formal Apologies which are more used to shew the Wit of the Writer in making them gracefully than from any humble opinion they have of their own Performances who make them If I have not done this to the best advantage it is because I could do it no better for the Importance of these Transactions the Merit of the Persons and the great Honour I pay the Family and the Duke and Dutchess of Hamilton that now are made me judge it very well worth all the Application and Industry I could bestow upon it ERRATA THough a great deal of care was used to revise the sheets yet the following Errata must be corrected Literal Faults and some errours in the punctation are not marked which it is supposed the Reader will easily perceive Pâ—ge 11. Line 30. for Titles read Tithes p. 11. l. 44. for Cleazar r. Eleazar p. 13. l. 1. for seeming r. seemed p. 40. l. 28. for at r. as p.
the Accompts of his Trustees at that time Upon the Kings Pleasure that was signified by the Archbishop of Canterbury the Marquis emitted a Proclamation for the Sessions sitting down on the second of Iuly at Edinburgh The Session sits again at Edinburgh and thither he went that day to intimate to them His Majesties Goodness for them in noâ— putting them to the trouble and expence of removing their Families elsewhere wherefore he recommended His Majesties Service to them and that if any thing came from the Tables they should not fail to pass that Censure on it which was according to Law Next he called for the Covenanters Petitions which he promised to present to His Majesty and return them an Answer betwixt that and the fifth of August with which they were satisfied for that time On the fourth of Iuly he held a Council and presented the Kings Declaration to the Councellours and having before-hand prepared most of them with a great deal of industry he got it signed by them all an Act passed The Kings Proclamation is published and protested against that the Subjects ought to rest satisfied with it It was immediately sent to the Market-cross and proclaimed but notwithstanding all the Grace it contained it met with a Protestation from the Tables But upon the back of this the Marquis met with one of the most troublesome passages of his whole Negotiation There were some Councellours who were not satisfied with the Declaration and those he got to be absent from Council that day but divers of thosâ— who had signed the Act that the Subjects ought to rest satisfied with the Declaration came afterwards to him telling him that he had pressed them to what they had not well considered when they did it but upon second thoughts they found they had wronged their Consciences wherefore they desired he would call a new Council The Council is inconstant that they might retract what they had done This he studied to divert by all means representing how contrary it would be to their Honour and to the Kings Service and Good of the Country and so he shook them off that night but next day those and many more came to him with the same Desires and say or do what he could nothing would prevail with them for they told him plainly if he called not a Council they would find another way to make their Retractation well enough known and that was to subscribe the Covenant The Marquis having spoken with the whole Council apart found that three parts of four would immediately fall off if he gave them not satisfaction and judging that such a visible breach with the Council would ruine the Kings Affairs therefore since the Act was not registred but onely subscribed he thought the Course that had least danger in it was to tear it before them by this means he got that storm calmed All this while that he had been in Scotland he had not forgot the Kings Orders about his Castles The Marquis takes care of the Kings Castles Dumbriton was secured though it run a risque the Constable being at London and the Under-keeper taking the Covenant but he called home Sir William Stewart who was Constable under the Duke of Lennox to wait on his Charge and this delivered him from that hazard As for Edinburgh-Castle which was then in the Earl of Marre's hand it cost him more trouble Divers of the Earl of Marre's friends who had much credit with him being not well inclined and much being trusted to the Constable he durst not in the Kings Name require him to yield it up lest that had hasted on a Rupture and he could not prevail by fairer ways at first but the issue of this shall be told in its due place This being done the Marquis took his Journey He takes Journey and on the way he had the following Letter from His Majesty Hamilton I Hope that this will find you on the way hitherward wherefore remitting all business till I speak with you these Lines are only to hearten you in your Iourney for I think that it will be very much for my Service So desiring you to make as much haste as the weather will permit I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Greenwich the 9th July 1638. POSTSCRIPT Forget not to bring with you the Copies of all the Proclamations and Protestations that have been made When he came to Court he gave the King a full account of all had passed in Scotland and of the strength and fury of the Covenanters and gives the King an account of Affairs together with the inconstancy of many of the Council and how His Majesty had been abused in the hopes he was put in of the readiness of his Preparations in England which I gather from some little Notes he took of things and the Copies of his Letters He next told His Majesty that nothing prevailed so much on the Vulgar in Scotland as the cursed insinuations were given of His Majesties staggering in the Protestant Religion wherefore he proposed that His Majesty might cause renew the Confession of Faith which was established at the Reformation and ratified in Parliament An. 1567 and to that His Majesty did readily consent At length His Majesty having considered for some days of the whole Affair and having fully debated every particular with the Marquis and my Lord of Canterbury in end His Goodness and Paternal Affection for his poor Subjects overcame all that Indignation which their Actions had raised in him wherefore he resolved on enlarging his Instructions which he did as follows CHARLES R. YOV shall try by all means to see if the Council will sign the Confession of Faith established by Act of Parliament and gets new and fuller Instructions with the new Bond joyned thereto but you are not publickly to put it to Voting except you be sure to carry it and thereafter that probably they will stand to it If the Council do sign it though the Covenanters refuse you shall proceed to the indicting of a free General Assembly and though you cannot procure the Council to sign it yet you are to proceed to the indicting thereof if you find that no other Course can quiet business at this time You shall labour by all fair means that the sitting of the Assembly be not before the first of November or longer if you can obtain it for the place We are pleased to leave it to your election for the manner of indicting you must be as cautious as you can and strive to draw it as near as may be to the former Assemblies in my Fathers time You must labour that Bishops may have Votes in Assemblies which if you cannot obtain then you are to protest in their Favours in the most formal manner you can think of As for the Moderator in the Assembly you are to labour that he may be a Bishop which though you cannot obtain yet you must give way to
preserved it Their next Attempt was upon Dalkeith whither Traquair retired with a small Company and he without stroke of Sword surrendred it for which his Courage seemed more blame-worthy than his Honesty But his greatest fault was that he yielded up the Regalia the Crown and Scepter which lay there and carried them not with him neither did he spoil the Arms that lay there which since he could not carry with him he ought to have done and not to have left them to strengthen the Enemy But from this he hasted to meet the King at York Roxburgh's Misfortune followed this his County being upon the Borders was of great importance for the Kings Service and he kept it in pretty good order till Munro came with some Forces out of other Shires but his Son Lord Ker whom he left with the Trust of all going himself to wait on the King turned over to the Covenant The News of this overtook Roxburgh in his Journey in which he made the more haste that he might be the first who should give the King an account of that unlucky Adventure whereby he might prevent all Jealousies against himself The King set out from London the 27th of March and came to York the first of April The first blast of this Storm fell on Huntley against whom the Covenanters sent a great Force both of Horse and Foot with some Cannon commanded by the Earls of Montrose and Marshal But Marquis Huntley finding himself unable to resist them retired in some disorder to Turreff and they followed him taking Aberdeen in their way which had hitherto stood for the King but was now forced to render the Bishop with the Doctors escaping by Sea to Berwick At Turreff My Lord Huntley laid down Arms where treating with them by a surprize he and his Son the Lord Gordon were taken Prisoners and brought over and committed to the Castle of Edinburgh The Marquis of Huntley is taken prisoner where they lay till the Capitulation at Birks I am sorry I want materials for saying more in the vindication of that Noble Person but I must not dismiss one Story without taking notice of it which is that the Marquis is blamed as having given him Orders to doe as he did And this with other Stories of the like truth was put in to swell the Charge given in against him some years after this yet it is strange that when the Viscount of Aboyne who was Huntley's second Son came to wait upon the King at York there was no Complaint made of that nor when Huntley was enlarged and waited on the King doâ—s there appear the least vestige of his alledging any thing to the Marquis his prejudice The ground of the Story is this the Marquis had written in the Kings Name and by his Order to the Marquis of Huntley when he sent him the Commission of Lieutenantry as hath been said to beware as much as was possible that he should not be the first Aggressor till His Majesty were upon the Borders for the King knew that Huntley could not resist all the Covenanters Forces and to make a powerful Diversion when the King should be dealing with them in the South was all could be expected from him Likewise the Marquis failed not to give weekly Advertisements of the progress of the Kings Preparations which appears both from Huntley's Letters to the Marquis and the Copies of the Returns he gave them that are yet extant and therefore there remains nothing upon this account to charge or suspect the Marquis his Fidelity The Marquis prepares for the Sea and gets three Letters from the King The Marquis was left at London to see that the Fleet and the other Land Souldiers who were to be shipped in some Colliers Vessels might be ready to go aboard upon Order and His Majesty wrote him the following Letter before he left London Hamilton I Received yours but this morning to which before I answer I must tell you News First that Jacob Ashly has possessed Berwick with 1000 Foot and 60 Horse and Carlisle is likewise possessed by My Lord Clifford with 300 men Secondly I have commanded Traquair to keep his Câ—amber until he give me an account how he left Daâ—keith withâ—ut striking one stroke and before any Cannon was brâ—ught before it having left the Ammunition not destroyed to their reverence and likewise the Regalia of this more by the next Now for Answer I have given the Proclamation to be written over by the Clerk-Register with the General Oath both which you shall have with all speed for your Military Oath I like it extreme well as likewise your opinion for detaining the Patents of Honours until the Country be settled for your Brother certainly if you had forgotten him I should not but have remembred my old Engagement and for Dalliel indeed he deserves well yet methinks a Viscounty may serve at this time that I may have something more to give upon further occasion and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 2 Apr. 1639. The next day he had that which follows Hamilton ACcording to my promise yesterday I have sent you back the Proclamation and Oath but with very few Additions As touching Traquair I can say little more than I did because I have not yet seen his Defence only if I had not taken this rude notice of his base Action I am sure I should have disheartened a number of honester men than ever he was or will be This morning I have News of the safe Landing of the 500 Irish which are by this time in Carliâ—le there to attend until further Directions I have no more at this time to say but to know if Col. Gun be not one that you have entertained for it is said that he is going back again to Germany One thing I had almost forgot they say for certain that Aberdeen holds out still and is not likely to yield in haste if it be so you know what to do And so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 3 Apr. 1639. The day following he got the next Letter Hamilton THis is to tell you that the News of the rendring of Aberdeen came immediately after the dispatch of the last Post and thâ—t though Huntley be retired yet he is neither beaten nor over-run but the chief cause of my writing at this time is that since I have shown the Proclamation to Orbiston and Sir Lewis Stewart they have both been very instant with me to change something in it which though my Iudgement goes with them in the most and therefore I will not be wilful yet I think I shall alter or but rather palliate one point to wit not to set Prices upon the declared Rebels Heads until they have stood out some little time which time is to be expressed in this same Declaration Anâ—ther thing is whither and when to send you Devick and lastly whether I shall see you before you put to Sea which
the Alterations of which you will only find to be that I do not say all I think but in no ways slack my Resolution much less seem to yield to any new thing So referring you to Henry Vane for the relating of our Proceedings here I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 18 Apr. 1639. at ten a clock at night About the end of the Month he set Sail but the Winds were contrary and so it was the 29th of the Month e're he got to Holy-Island where he met the following Letters from His Majesty Hamilton ACcording to my Promise on Thursday last I send you herewith the Proclamation altered as I then wrote and that you may not think that these Alterations are grounded upon new Counsels I shall desire you to observe that I do not so much as seem to adde the least thing to my former Promises It is true that I neither mention the late pretended General Assembly at Glasgow nâ—r the Covenant at this time my reason is that if for the present I could get Civil Obedience and my Forts restored I might then talk of the other things upon better terms As for excepting some out of the General Pardon almost every one now thinks that it would be a means to unite them the faster together whereas there is no fear but that those who are fit to be excepted will doe it themselves by not accepting of Pardâ—n of which number I pray God there be not too many So that you are now to go on according to your former Directions onely proclaiming this instead of my former signed Proclamation and so to proceed with Fire and Sword against all those that shall disobey the same So praying to God to prosper you in all things I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 10 Apr. 1639. at 4 in the Afternoon Hamilton BEfore that this come to your hands you will have received two of mine of an elâ—er Date to which I can adde so little that if I had not received yours of the 18th I would not have written at this time You have done well in laying all the Doubts before me and shewing all your Defects for which I am heartily sorry by which I see there is not so much to be expected as otherwise there might yet I continue my former Resolution being glad that your own inclination leads you thereto recommending Tantallon to your thoughts for the which I have agreed with the true Owner Think not of the North untill I have done some good in the South I shall haste to Berwick as soon as possibly I may but I fear it will not be before the 12th of May and I hope the 15th will be the latest So hoping to have a merry meeting with you in Scotland I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 23 Apr. 1639. With these he got also the following Note in answer to his last Letter from Yarmouth-Road Hamilton HAving opened your Pacquet to Master Treasurer I could not but tell you that I could not but pity your cross Winds and commend your Diligence and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. York 25 Apr. 1639. Having received these Orders he held on his Course and on the first of May he entred the Frith and found the fittest place to cast Anchor in was Leith-Road The Covenanters had committed a great escape in not building a Fort on Inchkeith which might have occasioned much trouble to him besides that it would have kept that Place from him which proved of great use to his weary Souldiers As soon as he came thither Fires were presently set up on all the Hills to gather the Country for the defence of the Coast which they expected he should have set on immediately But he was first to get the Proclamation published wherefore that same night he sent one ashore with a Letter to the Clerk of the Council commanding him to come aboard He wrote also to the Magistrates of Edinburgh to send him to him The Bearer of these Letters was used civilly but kept as a Prisoner and the Town-Council of Edinburgh excused themselves from sending the Clerk of the Council to him The Clerk also wrote to him that he was kept by Force from coming to wait upon him Next day he landed his Regiments on Inchkeith and Inchcolm two little Islands in the Frith one of them upon the former and two on the latter both for giving them air and exercising them He caused also search and cleanse the Wells of these Places which gave great relief but at this time the Small Pox got among his Men whereupon he put all the Infected in Ships by themselves some few died Yet for all the stories were made of his Mens dying below Decks very few died during his whole stay at Sea and he divided his care so equally among them and was so obliging to them all that they not oâ—ely were far from mutinying but all of them became most cordial to him and the Colonels did highly magnifie both his Conduct and his obliging Civilities to them in their Letters to Sir Henry Vane He sends the Kings Proclamation to Edinburgh Three days after his former Message he sent one ashore with His Majesties Proclamation inclosed in a Letter to the Magistrates of Edinburgh commanding them to publish it next day in due form under all pains and sent another Proclamation to the Clerk of the Council commanding him to see it published or if that were not done to cause affix it at the Cross. And next day at the hour wherein it ought to have been published he caused loose some Peece of Ordnance but the Magistrates of Edinburgh desired a delay of three days to which he yielded because he was willing it might fall out so that as soon as the eight days prefixed in the Proclamation were expired His Majesty might be on the Borders that so they might be ready to enter into Hostilities immediately Upon which he wrote to His Majesty what he had learned of the Strength and Resolutions of the Covenanters suggesting how necessary he believed it was to listen to a Treaty if the Covenanters desired it On the 9th of May he received the following Letter signed by about 40 of the chief Lords and Gentlemen of the Covenant the Original whereof is yet extant Please your Grace AS we were here met to attend the Parliament indicted by His Majesty there was shewed to us by the Provost of Edinburgh a Letter from your Grace to himself and the Bailiffs and Council of this City with the Copy of theirs returned to your Grace deferring the more full Answer till our Meeting And withall there was presented from your Grace His Majesties Proclamation which having perused we find it doth contain divers points not onely contrary to our National Oath to God but also to the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom for it carries a denunciation of the high crime of Treason against all such as do
should I be an undertaker to the Parliament for either having neither my Instructions nor Directions from Him to mention to the Parliament or any Member there But these Reports proceed from such who perhaps if the matter were looked into have said what probably they will not make good and so endeavour to make other men bear the Burthen I am not sorry they have joyned you with me in this since it cannot prove your disadvantage the thing being so eminently false I see my Enemies malice will have no end and when they want other grounds Sickness is enough for them to take advantage of but if they had been in the Condition that I have been in these three weeks they would have been more charitable and so I leave them The uncertainty of my Recovery hath made me write thus much to you and truely not without trouble that you may let His Majesty know my Innocency in these particulars and that I still continue in a Condition not able to attend Him which is a great grief to Your faithful Friend and Servant HAMILTON Whitehall 7th April 1642. In the middle of April the King signified to his Council in Scotland his Design of going in Person against the Rebels in Ireland The King thinks of going to Ireland which he purposed both to put more vigour in the Army by his Presence as also to refute those Calumnies were spread upon him as if he inclined to Popery and had been accessory to the late Rebellion with which damnable Calumnies his Enemies were beginning to asperse him But the Scotish Council as well as the Two Houses but that motion is disliked by both Nations interceded earnestly with him against this Design pretending the Hazard his Sacred Person would be in Some judged that they were afraid lest by such a real Argument the Calumnies were cast on His Majesty and scattered among the Vulgar for carrying on their Designs might be refuted and some feared lest His Majesty had he gone to the Army might have gained too much upon their Hearts whereby he might have been in a Condition to have over-awed the Two Houses In May the Scotish Council sent up the Lord Chancellor to offer a Mediation for a better Understanding betwixt the King and the Two Houses but the King was much irritated The Chancellor of Scotland sent to mediate betwixt the King and the Two Houses by the Affront he had lately received before Hull from Hotham He likewise found the Chancellor insisting on Vniformity of Church-Government therefore he ordered his return into Scotland and gave him a full account of all had passed betwixt him and his Two Houses requiring him to give a true representation of it to his Council there In the end of the Month the Marquis had recovered so much Strength as to come and wait on the King at York where he would gladly have prosecuted his former Counsels for advancing a Settlement betwixt the King and his Two Houses but he knew not how to advise the King to grant more than he had already yielded to which as the King said to him was more than had been granted by all the Kings of England since the Conquest adding that though he had gone a great length in Concessions to them they had not obliged him by one favourable Vote so that nothing remained for the Marquis but to lament the Kings Misfortune yet he offered the uttermost of his Services to him and subscribed for the pay of threescore Horse in the Kings Army But he represented to His Majesty the Hazard of Scotland's concurring with the Two Houses which the King might easily apprehend both from the late carriage of their Commissioners and from what he knew of their Temper especially of the Ministers Zeal and Power with the People For his own part he said he was able to do the King small Service any where but having neither Interest friends nor followers in England he would be but a burden to His Majesty there but if he could signifie any thing it was in Scotland where he should use his utmost Endeavours to divert them from assisting the Kings Enemies for to expect Aid from them was not to be thought upon His Majesty judging this most expedient sent him to Scotland without any positive Instructions recommending only to him his Service in General of which he was so confident that he wrote the following Letter after him Hamilton and is sent by the King to Scotland I Have no time to write Particulars and to perswade you to serve me I suppose that I have less need than time therefore in a word this is a Time to shew what you are assuring you that at all times I will shew that I am Your most assured and constant Friend CHARLES R. MEMOIRES OF THE LIFE and ACTIONS OF James Duke of Hamilton c. LIB IV. Of the Duke's and his Brother the Earl of Lanerick's Negotiation in Scotland till their Imprisonment THE Marquis came to Edinburgh in the beginning of Iuly Great Jealousies of the King in Scotland and found very many disgusted with him for his late concurrence in the Council at York as a Peer of England He studied by all means to remove the wicked Insinuations which some in England had sent to Scotland against the King the most hurtful of them was about his favouring of Popery and his Designs of falling upon Scotland by Force as soon as he had mastered the Two Houses These were zealously propagated by the Emissaries from England and all Places sounded with the danger Religion was in so that he found his Negotiation was like to prove again unfortunate The only means by which he had any hopes of engaging Scotland in the Kings Quarrel was to move that an Invitation might be sent from Scotland to the Queen for her return whom the Tumults at London had driven beyond Sea that she might mediate for a Settlement betwixt the King and the Two Houses This he judged might insensibly draw them on to own the Kings Service for if the Queen came upon their Invitation they would be obliged in Honour to protect her and see that she met with no Injuries and to resent such as should be done her and therefore he sent a confident Friend to give His Majesty an account of the Posture things were in according to the following Instructions SHew His Majesty with what a prejudicated Opinion I was received by reason of what I have done at York which I still lie under Shew in what Temper I found this Kingdom occasioned as I conceive by the apprehension they have of His Majesties not observing what He hath already granted if He shall be in a Condition to force them seeâ—â—g it is believed that what He hath given was against His Will Next divers eminent Persons apprehend that if He obtain His ends by Force they will be neglected and Persons obnoxious to this Kingdom cherished Shew that some activâ— mâ—n will not lie
Breach might follow betwixt him and his Native Kingdom but on the other hand he could not permit them to go both because of the Reasons he had alledged and the Fears he had of their engaging with the Parliament and chiefly that all his Councellours and Officers at Oxford were so far against it that he heard it was whispered amongst them that they would all forsake him if he gave them leave since they held themselves assured that the Design of their going was to bring an Army from Scotland wherefore he intreated Lindsay would serve him in that Particular which he undertook frankly though he added he had small hopes since he had already attempted as much as he could with no Success But as he left His Majesty he made a Visit in his way to his Lodgings where he met the Earl of Crawford who told him plainly That though the King should consent to their going to London thither should they never get for a great many were resolved to lie in their way and cut them all to pieces ere they were many miles from Oxford This he confirmed to him with many Oaths adding that as the King knew nothing of it so it would not be in his power to hinder it and out of kindness to my Lord Lindsay he advised him not to go though the Chancellour went With this Lindsay came to his Lodgings and shewed the Lord Chancellour the hazard not only their Lives would be in but of the irreparable Breach would follow upon it which being considered by them it was resolved they should pass from their Desires and crave the Kings Commands for Scotland since they would not offend him by the importunity of an unacceptable Mediation which they accordingly did to His Majesties great satisfaction And so they took leave the Chancellour with the other Commissioners going for Scotland only Lindsay returned to London Upon this His Majesty sent all the Scotish Lords then at Court to Scotland to serve him there who were the Earls of Morton Roxburgh Kinnoul Annandale Lanerick and Carnwath but before they could be dispatched he sent Mr. Murray to Scotland with an account of his opinion about the Services his Friends might do him there who came by York and brought from the Queen the following Letter to the Marquis in answer to what he had written to Her Majesty which though written in French as all Her private Letters were yet I shall set down translated in English that all may run more smoothly Cousin I Received your Letter with the assurances of the Continuance of your Aâ—fection of which I hold my self secure and make no doubt to see both the effects of it and of that which you promised me at your parting concerning my Lord of Argyle Will. Murray came yesterday from Oxford as for News from hence I refer you to Henry Jermine who will give you an account of them I shall only tell you that the Scotish Lords who were with the King are on their way for Scotland so likewise are the Commissioners that were with the King You will know from Will. Murray the Kings Answers to the Propositions which you made me at York I am very glad to know by Your Letter as likewise by what my Lord Montgomery hath told me the Protestations General Lesly makes concerning the Armies in Ireland and now when all the Kings Servants shall be together you must think of the means for preserving that Army for my part I know not what to say farther about it I am now upon my going to the King and hope to part hence within ten dayes If there be any thing that hath occurred of late I shall be glad to know it and that you will believe how much I am Your affectionate Cousin and Friend HENRIETA MARIA R. About the beginning of May Lowdon and the other Commissioners came down and a day after them came the Earl of Morton who told the Marquis They proceed to final Resolutions in Scotland that in a few days he should see the Earls of Roxburgh Kinnoul and Lanerick with the Kings Instructions but by reason of Kinnoul's Infirmity and Roxburgh's Age they moved slowly On the 21th of May the Iunto of the Church-party moved that there might be a Joynt-meeting of the Council and Conservatours of the Peace and Commissioners for Publick Burdens to consider of the present State of Affairs The Marquis and Morton resisted this all they could but they were over-ruled and so these Judicatories met to them it was proposed that considering the hazard the Nation was in by reason of Armies which were now levying in the North of England there was a necessity of putting the Kingdom in a posture of Defence which could not be done without a Convention of Estates or a Parliament wherefore it was moved that a Convention of Estates should be presently called The Marquis argued much against it shewing that this was to encroach upon the Kings Prerogative in the highest degree and so would be a direct Breach of the Peace with the King and against the Laws of the Land adding Was this all the Acknowledgment they gave the King for his late Gracious Concessions for this struck at the root of his Power In this he was seconded by my Lord Morton but most vigorously by Sir Thomas Hope the Kings Advocate who debated against it so fully from all the Laws and constant Practice of Scotland that no Answer could be alledged and indeed discharged his Duty so faithfully that the Marquis forgave him all former errors for that dayes Service But it was in vain to argue where the Resolution was taken on Interest more than Reason so it was carried that the Lord Chancellour should summon a Convention of Estates against the 22th of Iune A Convention of Estates is called This Resolution being taken they gave Advertisement of it to the King in the following Letter which all who Voted against it refused to sign Most Dread Sovereign THe extreme necessity of the Army sent from this Kingdom by Order from Your Majesty and the Parliament here against the Rebellion in Ireland the want of means for their necessary Supply through the not payment of the Arrears and Maintenance due to them by the Parliament of England the delay of the Payment of the Brotherly Assistance so necessary for the relief of the Common Burdens of this Kingdom by reason of the unhappy Distractions in England and the sense of the danger of Religion of Your Majesties Royal Person and of the Common Peace of Your Kingdoms have moved Your Majesties Privy Council the Commissioners for conserving the Peace and Common Burdens to joyn together in a Common Meeting for acquitting our selves in the Trust committed to us by Your Majesty and the Estates of Parliament and having found after long Debate and mature Deliberation that the Matters before-mentioned are of so Publick Concernment of so deep Importance and so great Weight that they cannot be determined by us in such a
said Army still in Ireland and for recovering payment of the Brotherly Assistance providing always that in the doing thereof no Resolution be taken for Levying of Forces or doing any Act whereby this Kingdom or any part thereof may be put in a posture of War or under any pretence to bring over the Scotish Army in Ireland or any part thereof without special Warrant from His Majesty wherewith if such as shall meet at this Convention rest not satisfied His Majesties Servants here are resolved to Protest and adhere to these Grounds and to oppose all other derogatory to His Majesties Authority or prejudicial to His Service The Duke by the same Bearer wrote to Mr. Iermine since Earl of St. Albans what follows which is set down to shew how far he was from abusing their Majesties or any about them with hopes of a good issue of Affairs in Scotland Noble Friend THere is so much said to this Bearer by word and in writing that I shall add but little thereto only this which I have often said The Duke apprehends the Ruine of the Kings Affairs in Scotland Time is precicious and would not be lost while we are quiet how long that will be for my own part I cannot tell so many unhappy Accidents have intervened of late that His Majesties Service is much prejudiced thereby I mean not so much your Misfortune at Wakefield as other Particulars which you will be informed of Howsoever think not that I am discouraged for never was Man more resolute to oppose all that shall endeavour the Dis-service of the King than I am and there are considerable men in this Country of the same mind But I ever feared our want of Power and never more than now Resolution we want not but Means how to put that in execution and therefore I say build no confidence but that you may receive great Prejudice from hence notwithstanding all we can be able to do which will be as much as you can expect from Men of Honour so deeply ingaged as we are Having thus freely expressed my thoughts to you it is eâ—sie to conjecture what Advice I would give you are Iudicious and so I shall conclude in a word Lose no Opportunity that is offered to end your business either by one means or other and esteem of me as Your most obliged Friend and humble Servant HAMILTON Holyrood House June 5th 1643. He wrote also the following Letter to Her Majesty May it please Your Majesty I Had not presumed to have troubled Your Majesty with any thing from me if Your Letter I received from Mr. Murray had not encouraged me to hope for Your Majesties Pardon And advertises the Queen of his fears I shall then humbly beg this may rather be believed an effect of Obedience than Boldness Vpon Tuesday last I delivered to His Majesties Council a Letter from Him to them wherein was inclosed a Declaration to His Scotish Subjects which was unanimously appointed to be Printed and Published but the Letter they have written in Answer to His Majesty a Copy whereof I have presumed to send Your Majesty did receive great opposition and with difficulty was carried Since there hath been no Publick Meeting but it is like there will be one appointed upon Wednesday next where they that came last from His Majesty are to be accused as Incendiaries The great Offers are to be made from tâ—e Two Houses of Parliament are like to work much upon the Affections of this Country being seconded with an alledged hazard to Religion and Government from Papists pretended to be in Armes in England and Ireland a popular though groundless Inducement for taking Arms in this Kingdom to which though many Noblemen and divers of the Gentry have hitherto been averse yet I both doubt tâ—e Continuance of their Resolutions and the Power of these few who must and will oppose it The Authority the other Party receives from the Iudicatories the absolute Power they have of the Magazines and Ammunition the popular Pretences they have of a danger to Religion and Liberty gives them so great advantages that I cannot but apprehend great Disservice to His Majesty from hence if the Differences betwixt Him and His people of England be not quickly decided either by Treaty or Force The Resolutions about the Convention of the States of such well-affected Noblemen and Gentlemen as are accidentally now in Edinburgh Your Majesty will know from the Bearer the Particulars being of that nature as are not without hazard to His Majesties Service to be trusted to Paper by May it please Your Majesty the humblest and faithfullest of all Your Servants HAMILTON To which Her Majesty wroâ—e the following Answer Cousin I Received your Letter The Queen writes to the Duke and have given an Account to the King of what you tell Me. I hope the Kings faithful Servants shall be so much the more firm to His Service that the wickedness of others appears and will by their Care and Diligence prevent the Malice of others We had here a mischance in one of Our Quarters by the negligence of Our People the greatest loss We have had is known yet We are not at all discouraged and hope quickly to have a Revenge Our Army consists without reckoning the Garrisons of seven thousand Foot and 69 Troops of Horse besides My two Regiments so that for all Our mischance We are in no ill Condition I have News from the King that His Army is as strong as Essex's and that Essex dares not advance The King hath sent Prince Maurice to the West with 2000 Horse and a thousand Foot the Gentlemen of the West have promised to raise an Army of 10000 Men in six Weeks so that I can assure you all Our Affairs go well And from France except the Death of the King My Brother I have very good News as likewise from Denmark If the King does not press me to go to Him quickly I hope to see Leeds taken befâ—re I part You will give a share of these News to all Our Friends if any dare own themselves such after the House of Commons hath declared Me Traytor and carried up their Charge against Me to the Lords This I assure you is true but I know not yet what the Lords have done upon it God forgive them for their Rebellion as I assure you I forgive them from my Heart for what they do against Me and shall ever continue as I have promised Your affectionate Cousin and Friend HENRIETTA MARIA R. To this he returned the following Letter May it please Your Majesty I Shall not presume to take up much of Your Majesties Time with reading Particulars they being so well known to this faithful Bearer The Dukes Answer to Her Majesty therefore I shall only in the general crave liberty to say that though the State of Affairs here be far otherwise than I could wish yet I was never so hopeful as at this present that no Forces will
so bless Vs here in England as to protect Vs from the Malice of Our Enemies Religion and the now-established Government of Our Native Kingdom would be in danger We laying aside all Consideration of Our Own particular resolve on Our part to endeavour by all possible means to prevent all colour or ground of Division betwixt Vs and Our good Subjects of Scotland and therefore do permit you to Meet Consult and Conclude upon the best and readiest ways of Supplying the present wants of Our Scotish Army in Ireland and providing for their future Entertainment there until some solid Course be taken for recovering of the Arrears due to them and for their constant Pay in time coming according to the Conditions agreed upon in the Treatâ— as also to advise upon the best way of Relieving the Publick Burdens of that Our Kingdom of Scotland by pressing by all fair and lawful means a speedy Payment of the Remainder of the Brotherly Assistance due from England as likewise to prevent the Practices of such as study to entertain in this Our Kingdom groundless Iealousies and Fears of Innovation of Religion or Government the Preservation whereof according to Our many Solemn Protestations shall ever be most Sacred to Vs providing always that in doing these things nothing be done which may tend to the Raising of Arms or Recalling Our Scotish Army or any part thereof from Ireland but by Order from Vs and Our Two Houses of Parliament according to the Treaty agreed upon to that effect and We do require you to limit your Consultations and Conclusions to the foresaid Particulars And as by this and many other Our former Acts of Grace and Favour to that Our Native Kingdom it clearly appears how desirous We are of preserving their Affections and preventing all occasions of Mistakes betwixt Vs and them so We do expect that your Proceedings at this time will be such as may shew your tender Care of Vs and Our Greatness which by so many Oaths and Obligations you are tied to preserve Given at Our Court at Oxford the 10th of Iune 1643. Mean-while the Duke and his Brother advertised both their Majesties of the great apprehensions they had of Mischief from Scotland and besought His Majesty The Duke studies to keep Scotland from agreeing wâ—â—h the Two Houses that so long as they were idle in Scotland he should be busie in England for his good Success there was that which would engage most to appear for him here and they with those trusted with them made the Lord Chancellour understand the hazard he was in if the Annuities were discharged and accordingly filled up one of the Blanks with a Proclamation discharging them to all who had Signed the Petition against them which yet remains but without a Date and Signeting The Lord Chancellour was very sensible of the ruine of his Fortune which would follow from the Publishing of that which certainly would be popular as being an ease of the Subjects and therefore promised to them to use his utmost Endeavours to put all the stops he could in the Agreement with England wherefore with joint consent they resolved to proceed no further in that Affair for that time and accordingly the Lord Chancellour was very instrumental though covertly in getting things kept off so long for had not much Art been used the Church-party were inclined immediately upon the opening of the Convention to have engaged in the Quarrel for the Two Houses The 22th of Iune came and the Convention sate down The Convention sits which is a Court made up of all the Members of Parliament but as they are called and sit without the state or formalities used in Parliaments so their Power is to raise Money or Forces but they cannot make or repeal Laws The Duke and his Friends as they answered to their names declared they were present upon the notice they had of the Kings Warranting of the Convention After that Lanerick delivered the Kings Letter of the 10th of Iune and it being read drew on a great Debate which lasted four days whether the Convention was free or not and if bound up to the limits of the Kings Letter or not The grounds of the Debate were on the one side it was certain that by the Law of Scotland no Assembly of that nature could be called but on the Kings Writ and therefore there was a Nullity in the beginning of it but that now the King ex post facto allowing them as a Meeting of His Subjects to consider of some Particulars they could pretend to no Authority but what that Letter gave them therefore they had not the Authority of a Convention of Estates but were only a Meeting of so many Subjects to consult of some Affairs On the other side it was said that the Convention was summoned by a Writ under the Great Seal which was all that the Subjects were to look for they not being concerned to look into the Kings secret Orders or private Pleasure so this was a sufficient Authority for their Sitting and for the Kings Letter though it seemed he was not well-pleased with his Council for it yet it did not annull the former Writ nor indeed could it and it was essential to all Meetings of that nature to be free and not limited in their Consultations for if the King calls a Parliament or Convention their Freedom cannot be restrained to such Particulars as the King would limit them to otherwise the Grievances of the Nation should never be considered therefore they concluded it either must be no Convention at all or if it was one it must be left at liberty to treat of all the Affairs of the Nation The Duke and his Brother were the great Arguers on the one side and when they saw how it was like to go they resolved to Protest and leave them But the Kings Advocate told them that if the Convention were Voted a free Convention then to Protest against it was Treason but they might declare their Judgments and thereupon take Instruments which was equivalent to a Protestation and more Legal and they judging this punctilio of the word Protest of no Importance resolved to follow his Advice So on the 26th of Iune it being put to the Vote a Free Convention or not the Duke voted it no Convention but as regulated by the Kings Letter so did eighteen Lords and but one Knight all the rest voting it a Free Convention Whereupon the Duke rose up and declared he could no more own that for a Free Convention nor acknowledge any of their Acts or Orders further than as they kept within the bounds of the Kings Letter My Lord Argyle asked did he by that Protest against the Convention my Lord Lanerick answered they meant not to Protest but declare and take Instruments both in the Kings Name and their own which accordingly they did and so removed Only Lanerick required them to record the Kings Letter which was refused next he craved an
glad to get it carried on at any rate But many judged the oddest part of it all was their Oath to maintain the Priviledges of both Parliaments since that was never defined and was scarce capable of a Definition and the Priviledges of the Parliament of England were far enough from the knowledge and divination of the Scotish People who in this case must believe all that to be Priviledge which they called so The Covenant was carried up by those trusted with it to the Two Houses to be approved by them and being returned to Scotland the Committee of Estates did by their Printed Act of 22th of October ordain it to be Sworn and Subscribed by all the Subjects under the pain of being punished as Enemies to Religion His Majesties Honour and the Peace of these Kingdoms and to have their Goods and Rents confiscated and they not to enjoy any Benefit or Office within the Kingdom and to be cited to the next Parliament as enemies to Religion King and Kingdoms and to receive what further punishment His Majesty and the Parliament should inflict on them At this time His Majesty sent Mr. Mungo Murray to Scotland to assure his Friends of his Confidence in them who brought the following Letters from the King and Queen to the Duke Hamilton Letters from the King and Queen to the Dukâ— I Find there hath been a great Mistaking about that mark of Favour which I thought fit to bestow upon you the particulars I have commanded Mungo Murray to tell you only this I assure you that my Confidence of you is not lessened from what I commanded your Brother to assure you of in my Name for you shall find me Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Cousin AS soon as I had occasion since my Arrival hither to write to you I have resolved to do it both to assure you of all that I said to you when I was at York as also to tell you that I am none of the least sharers in rejoycing at the Honour the King hath put on you This is a mark of the Confidence He hath in you which I am assured you will make the World see was founded on very good reason The Bearer is a Person who will tell you more than I can write to him I refer my self and shall say no more but that I am Your affectionate Cousin HENRIETA MARIA R. Oxford 28th August The Kings Friends had gone to the several places where their Interests lay to see what likelyhood there was of Raising any Force for advancing the Kings Service by extreme ways and to put a better colour on their Gathering of People together they carried with them the following Letter which was Signed by His Majesty and of which Lanerick was ordered to give an attested Copy to all who were well-affected CHARLES R. RIght Trusty and Right well-beloved Cousin and Councellour The Kings Letter to His good Subjects in Scotland We Greet you well Since nothing on Earth can be more dear to Vs than the Preservation of the Affections of Our People and amongst them none more than those of Our Native Kingdom which as the long and uninterrupted Government of Vs and Our Predecessors over them doth give Vs just reason in a more near and special manner to challenge from them so may they justly expect a particular Tenderness from Vs in every thing that may contribute to their Happiness but knowing what industry is used by scattering Seditious Pamphlets and employing private Agents and Instructions to give bad impressions of Vs and Our Proceedings under a Pretence of danger to Religion and Government to corrupt their Fidelities and Affections and to engage them in an unjust Quarrel against Vs their King We cannot therefore but endeavour to remove these Iealousies and secure their fears from all possibility of any hazard to either of these from Vs We have therefore thought fit to require you to call together your Friends Vassals Tenants and such others as have any dependance upon you and in Our Name to shew them Our Willingness to give all the Assurances they can desire or We possibly grant if more can be given than already is of preserving inviolably all those Graces and Favours which We have of late granted to that Our Kingdom and that We do faithfully promise never to go to the contrary of any thing there established either in Ecclesiastical or Civil Government but that We will inviolably keep the same according to the Laws of that Our Kingdom and We do wish God so to bless Our Proceedings and Posterity as We do really make good and perform this Promise We hope this will give so full satisfaction to all that shall hear of this Our solemn Protestation that no such persons as study Division or go about to weaken the Confidence betwixt Vs and Our People and justly deserve the name and punishment of Incendiaries shall be sheltred from the hand of Iustice and all such others as shall endeavour Peace and Vnity and Obedience to Vs and Our Laws may expect that Protection and increase of Favours from Vs which their Fidelity deserves So expecting your Care hereof We bid you heartily farewell From Our Court at Oxford the 21st of April 1643. These Lords appointed at parting to meet again about the end of August The Lords whom theKing employed meet and send Propositions to the King which accordingly they did and when they met divers told they found much coldness among their Friends Many professed a cordialness to the Kings Service but they had neither Armes nor Ammunition nor saw they a place of Security for a Rendezvouz nor of Safety for a Retreat in case of a Misfortune so that divers of the Noblemen said It was not in their power to bring any with them to the fields but their own Domesticks Whereupon it was agreed by them all to send one Neal Servant to Mr. Murray of the Bed-Chamber to the Marquis of Newcastle to desire him to seize on Berwick which was of great Importance and was at time without a Garison that it might be the Place whither they might bring what Forces they could draw together which was indeed the most proper Place for them since the Counties that lay next it were best-affected They likewise desired my Lord Newcastle to send them such Arms and Ammunition as could be spared them out of the Kings Magazins which were then in his hands they also ordered Neal to go forward from him to Oxford to give the King an account of their Desires that they might be presently supplied He was dispatched on the 29th of August but on the 4th of September my Lord Newcastle wrote back to them a short answer referring them to Neal who in a large one both which are extant told them that my Lord Newcastle said he could spare them neither Armes nor Ammunition and as for Berwick he could not seize on it without bringing Ruine on himself and his Posterity unless
they were now coming to Court to be Intelligencers to his Enemies therefore it was necessary to secure him upon his first Arrival and particularly to hinder his access to the King since it was to be feared that his Majesties Affection with his Innocency which they in their Consciences knew was unstained would quickly break through all those Arts that had been contrived for his Ruin The Duke was not ignorant of all that was designed against him The Duke goes to Court nor so totally destitute of Friends as to be let perish without sending him advertisements Any Loyalty less than his would upon such advices have kept out of the way till he had sent his Justification before him and had cleared himself of all Imputations but being confident of his own Innocency he resolved to go on and put all to hazard so on the 16th of December he came to Oxford There was at the Ports an Order left to stop him till the Governour were advertised but the Captain of the Guard thinking he was in the Coach that followed not knowing himself who was on horseback let him pass without stopping him But he was presently followed with an Order from the King and is made Prisoner confining him and his Brother to their Chambers during his Majesties Pleasure The Duke answered that as he had ever given a ready obedience to his Majesties Commands so in this he would punctually obey his Order At night Secretary Nicholas came to him and told him that his Majesty had received an Accusation of a high nature against him and that he could not be answerable to himself if he had not taken this Course with him but that he might expect from him all Favour that in Justice he could grant him and that himself would be graciously pleased to hear as much of his Cause as he could and that all haste should be used in it The Duke answered that he humbly thanked his Majesty for his Goodness thus in general to let him know the Cause of his Restraint and for any favour in that Charge he desired it not but trusted to the King's Justice and his own Integrity only he intreated he might have a speedy Trial. And for his Majesties constant Goodness to him he had no more to return to him but his humble Thanks since he had received greater proofs of it than he had either merited or could ever deserve Next the Secretary called for his Brother who was a little indisposed and told him he had the Liberty of the Town only he might not come to the King 's or Queen's Court without Permission and after that a Guard was set at the Duke's Lodgings with Orders that none might speak with him except in the presence of one of the Secretaries But Mr. Murray of the Bed-chamber had been with him at his first Arrival and the Duke desired him to give the King a full account of his Behaviour in Scotland and of the necessities that his Duty had forced him to when he left the Kingdom and he desired he might have that Justice done him to see the Charge that had been given against him that so he might justify himself since he was absolutely ignorant of it and his own Conscience did not charge him with any Guilt in reference to the King's Service The Duke gets a Copy of his Charge and Answers it At night Mr. Murray returned to him with a very favourable Message from the King expressing his Confidence that he should clear himself of the Charge given against him And by what the Writer could learn it was he that brought him a Copy of the Charge that was drawn up against him for the Duke got the Copy of it before it was put in the due form of an Impeachment being liker a Historical Information presented to the King than a Legal Accusation That Paper was never brought into any Court nor did any thing ever follow upon it for the business went not the length of a Trial yet it seems too important a Transaction of the Duke's Life not to be inserted with the Answers that were drawn to it for assoon as the Duke got it he sent to the best Counsel then at Oxford who drew an Answer to it wholly in point of Law and himself drew an Answer as to matter of Fact and penned a long Speech which he intended to make at his first Appearance But those Papers which do yet remain were afterwards digested into one full Answer and therefore that the Reader may not be wearied too much I shall insert that instead of all the rest setting down the Answer after every Article of the Charge Only I shall here promise what I copied out of an Original Letter of one of the most zealous Covenanters who was a very considerable man among them and one of the Iunto to his Correspondent by which the Reader may judge what he is to think of the Truth of matter of Fact alledged in the Charge I have seen the Charge against the Duke and though he has been a great Enemy to our Cause and Work I cannot but pity him since he suffers from their hands whom he has been serving and after that he adds he is in no hazard if he get Iustice for the Accusation is false and can never be proved This will discover both what the secret thoughts of the Covenanters were of the Duke and how false the Charge was in matter of Fact But the most material Evidences that do clear his Innocence and justifie the Answers to the Charge have been already set down in the former parts of this Work to which the Reader will find some References marked in the Margent The Accusation given against the Duke of Hamilton at Oxford December 1643. THat the Duke of Hamilton hath of a long time yea almost ever since he had any considerable meddling in Business Article 1. endeavoured in the way of a constant and continued Design both by Words and Actions to beget in His Majesties Subjects both a Hate against the Government and a Contempt of His Majesties own Sacred Person as particularly he himself using most contemptible and undervaluing Expressions of His Majesty and His Emissaries Instruments or Creatures suggesting upon the other part all Prejudices to the People as that they were now but a Province unto England and had lost their Liberty and that Scotland was now under a Pharaoh that knew not Joseph The Answer to the former Charge THe Defendant is charged with many things of a high nature Answer some whereof if true will involve him in the guilt of High Treason other particulars infer a breach of Trust and an abusing of His Majesties Confidence in him with several other heinous Aggravations which if true the Defendant acknowledgeth that no Punishment could be found equal to his Guilt and in a matter wherein his Life his Fortune his Honour and Posterity lye at stake it cannot seem strange if the Defendant plead in
that neither the Malice of his Enemies nor the hard measure he had met with at Oxford could overcome his Love and Duty to the King for though he was forced to comply in many things with the Publick Counsels yet he begun very soon to draw a Party that continued to cross the more violent and fierce Motions of Argyle and his followers But here the Writer is forced to stop Papers failing him for prosecuting this Narration The Duke was upon his Brother's Escape used with much strictness his Servants were put from him his Money taken away he was denied all freedom and the use of Pen and Paper was refused him except to write Petitions to the King yea in the Room where he stay'd he met with disaccommodations which are not fit to be named Assoon as His Majesty knew of this which was as long delayed as his Enemies could that Strictness was changed but still he continued to be a close Prisoner And though he always petitioned for a speedy Tryal yet he was put off but for all that severity of Usage his Majesties Affection continued to 〈◊〉 very great for him and he sent him many kind Messages One was caâ—ried by Sir Alex. Frazer which he avouched to the Writer whâ— told him that His Majesty had an entire Confidence in him and waâ— resolved to release him very speedily how his Majesty was diverteâ— from that the Writer does not know But to give the Narration of the Duke's Exercises during his long and tedious Imprisonment is a Task which no Pen but his own could have performed for that great Mind which had formerly dilated it selâ— in gallant Designs and Actions being restricted to retired Contemplations spent it self in thoughts worthy of their Author Here it was that he instead of a Prison begun to see a passage into Liberty and true Freedom and those better thoughts which a crowd of Affairs and the intanglements of Interests had barred free access into his Mind meeting now with none of that resistance but quickened from his present Misfortune wrought a great Change on him And here did the vanity of the World and the folly of human Greatness with all that is splendid on this side of Immortality discover it self free from that false Varnish that had formerly wrought too much upon human Infirmity which raised in him a just undervaluing and loathing of those bewitching but deceiving Charms and he meeting with Reproach and Slander on every side betook himself to the Rock of Ages as to his strong Refuge He was much pained with frequent returns of the Stone which was fed by the lazy rest of his Prison yet his Converse was so agreeable that it took exceedingly with all his Guards and Keepers which being apprehended by his Enemies the place but not the nature of his Restraint was changed And in one of the places of his Imprisonment a Person of Honour who was Governour of the place was so much wrought on by the Nobleness of his Deportment that as from the first time he was committed to his keeping he used him handsomly and with great Civilities notwithstanding strict Orders he had to the contrary so he afterwards offered to let him make his Escape which the Duke generously refused both because he would not do any thing which might turn to the prejudice of the Governour but chiefly because he would not fly from his Majesties Justice nor stain his Innocence by an Escape This Story was avouched to the Writer by the Person himself that made the Offer to the Duke Some who pretended Friendship to him at Court wrote to him that the only way to clear himself of all Imputations was to get his Friends in Scotland to concur vigorously in the King's Service which was then managed with great success by my Lord Montrose but he answered them that since he was charged with such heavy Imputations he did not think it decent to meddle in any thing till he were once Legally cleared of these neither could it be imagined that his Letters would signifie much in Scotland under that Disgrace since his Presence when under high Characters of His Majesties Favour could prevail so little And indeed he had small grounds to expect much from Scotland since those who governed there had never expressed any resentments of his Usage beyond one Act they passed Declaring it contrary to the Priviledges of the Peers And from some of his Friends in Scotland he got Letters upbraiding him for his Services to the King telling him that had he been as faithful in serving the King of Kings he had been better rewarded and that he was well-served for preferring the one to the other But his Imprisonment continued both this year 1644 and the next year and lasted till the end of April 1646 that some of the Parliaments Forces brought the Castle of St. Michaels Mount in Cornwall where he was then Prisoner to a Surrender by which means he had his Freedom MEMOIRES OF THE LIFE and ACTIONS OF James Duke of Hamilton c. LIB V. Of the Duke and his Brother's Imployments after his Enlargement till the Year 1648. Anno 1646. An. 1646. HItherto the Tract of my Narration hath been troublesom and painful but the further I engage in it the Storms grow upon me for now we enter upon Transactions so full of horrour that my Heart and Pen begin to fail me for who can without pain and a force put upon himself recount those dismal Passages that are before me For now a Rebellious Party having laid aside their former Disguises did finish all their Designs in His Majesties Murther and the Slavery of the Nations and in so great a Ruine it was not fit the Duke should escape safe it being more suitable that he that had shared in his Masters good Fortune and had also served him faithfully during his Troubles should likewise follow him in his Sufferings But the Dukes thoughts were fully bent on a Retreat from the World into some retired corner The Duke resolves on a retired Life the Kings Affairs being desperate where he might languish out the rest of his unfortunate Life for by this time the Kings affairs were quite ruined And as he was uncapable of concurring with his Enemies so both his late Usage and the desperate posture to which things were now driven made him resolve to engage no further And his Quality was such that he could not lye neutral when both Parties were in so high a Rivalry one against another Yet he could not temper himself so great was his Affection to the King from studying to do him the best Services and Offices he could both with the Scotish Commissioners at London and his Friends in the House of Peers to engage them to Treat with the King on easie Terms On the â—ixth of May His Majesty seeing Affâ—irs brought to a despeâ—ate pass resolved to throw himself into the hands of his Scotish Subjects The King goes to the Scotish Army
Discontent Constructions which are not possible for him to make but obvious to malevolent humours That although you should not be suspected to be any ways accessory to disloyal Courses it will be said you are one of those who could have best hindred them That your Countrey and Friends may say you have deserted them in their greatest Exigences and that Differences may be reconciled betwixt His Majesty and His Subjects by the endeavours of others These Commands were both peremptory and obliging so that they could not fail of conquering all his Resistance and carrying his Obedience after them which were strengthened from the Letter he had at that same time from Her Majesty which follows Cousin THe account the King hath given me of your Aâ—fection for His Interest and those marks of it which from other hands have met me do so sensibly affect me that without any difficulty or scruple I do now entertain you with my Acknowledgments and Resentments of it before I have heard from you and I assure you of the satisfaction I shall ever have of the Continuance of it from you which I shall desire may be as intire and full as the Returns I shall study to make to you being resolved to lay hold on all occasiâ—ns by which I may discover my Friendship for you and to express the Esteem I have of your Friendship by all means that may depend on my cares which I shall imploy in giving you day by day new Proofs that I am and ever shall be Your affectionate Cousin and Friend HENRIETA MARIA R. St. Germanes 22th September Upon these Intreaties and Assurances he was made to change his purpose though he could not so easily part with his Melancholy thoughts which he expressed in this following Letter May it please Your Sacred Majesty THe Reasons You were pleased to offer to my Brother And writes to the King and Sir Robert Murray for diverting my Resolution of leaving Your Majesties Dominions at this time were I confess of strength enough to have fixed me in any place of the World where Your Majesties Service was concerned but now seeing Your Majesty hath honoured me so much as by Your Gracious Letter Your Self to shew me still Your dislike thereof how dare I dispute what Your Majesty thinks unfit and now Sir the Thoughts I formerly had of leaving as it were the World because I would not be a witness of what I feared Your Majesties Fall since as I conceive I could not be instrumental to Your Service or Preservation upon the Grounds Your Majesty went on shall be changed into a Resolution of being most miserable in Your Dominions if it shall not please God to deliver You out of those Difficulties Your Majesty is in for I take God to witness upon Your Happiness depends my greatest worldly Ioy how unfortunately soever I have of late been misunderstood And though I cannot promise my self so much good Fortune as to prove useful to Your Majesty yet I dare and do engage for a cheerful Willingness and perfect Fidelity in Your Majesties Service and trust that God in his Mercy will so direct Your Majesty as by timeously granting the now necessary and most pressing Demands of Your Kingdoms the great Evils will be prevented that threaten Your Sacred Self the Queens Majesty and Your Royal Posterity and likewise that of having any other Guard to attend Your Royal Person than such as shall be approved of by You or Your Majesties being necessitated to retire into Scotland vpon the return of the Scotish Army where I apprehend Your Majesties Entertainment will not answer Your Expectation nor prove at all advantagious to Your Service More I will not presume to say but shall really study in all things to serve Your Majesty and ever give such ready Obedience to Your Commands as becometh Your Majesties most faithful most loyal and most obedient Subject and Servant HAMILTON Kinneel 6th Octob. 1646. A day or two after His Majesty received this Letter He wrote the following Letter to my Lord Lanerick the Post-script whereof seems to relate to the Letter he had received from his Brother Lanerick BEfore now I had not matter to write to you and now I have so much that I shall say the less leaving this inclosed to speak for me But thus much I must assure you of that I have herein gone the utmost length as you call it to give all possible Satisfaction for upon my word one jot further cannot be gone by Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 15th Octob. 1646. POSTSCRIPT Tell your Brother that it were a fault to him to trouble my Self in Complementing with him and indeed to either of you any ways to doubt but that you will make the best use you may of what I now send you for my Service The inclosed Paper is to be found among His Majesties printed Messages to the Two Houses and therefore it is not inserted here But the satisfaction the King had in the Dukes consenting to stay still in Scotland appears by the end of the next Letter he wrote to himself Hamilton THis is rather to perform my Promise to a Lady than that I believe it to be needful in respect of you for I know you naturally so much favour all my Friends and know so well the great Estimation I have of the Earl of Brainford beside what hath been told you concerning him by your Brother Lanerick by my Directions that I am certain without this you will favour his business what you can and since I am writing I must say that there is no particular Mans business wherein you can give me so much Contentment as this of which I need say no more but only that you will shew his Wife that my Recommendation to you of her Lords Affairs is real and hearty Nor can I end this without taking notice to you of the Contentment I had that my last Letter to you had the wished for operation for besides the obtaining my end which several ways is satisfactorily useful to Me I see that all men have not forsaken Reason or at least that I am sometimes in the Right as I am confident you will make appear the great Reason I have to be Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. But to return to Publick Affairs the Duke at his coming to Scotland The Duke labours to engage Scotland for a Personal Treaty procured new Instructions to be sent to their Commissioners at London to press a Personal Treaty and that the King might be with Safety and Honour in England and that it might be declared that the Government of England should still continue according to the Fundamental Laws The chief business at Westminster was to be rid of their Brethren of Scotland wherefore they fell a-treating about the Removal of the Army and the Delivery of the Garrisons The Scots demanded five hundred thousand pounds Sterlâ—ng and of that Sum two hundred thousand pound
the English Parliament at which Proposition the Duke and his Brother expressed their horrour with language so full both of Reason and Affection that nothing but violent and enraged Passion could have resisted it They said Would Scotland now quit a Possession of 1500 Years Date which was their Interest in their Soveraign and do it to those whose Enmity both against Him and them did now visibly appear Was this the effect of all their Protestations of Duty and Affection to His Majesty Was this their keeping of their Covâ—nant wherein they had sworn to defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority Was this a suitable return to the Kings Goodness both in his consenting to all the Desires of that Kingdom An. 1641. and in His late trusting His Person to them what Censures would be past upon this through the whole World what a stain would it be to the whole Reformed Religion and in fine what Danger might be apprehended both to the Kings Person and to Scotland from the Party that was now prevalent in England But notwithstanding all this the Question was put in these words Whether they should leave His Majesty in England to the Two Houses there or not so softly did the prevailing Party present that infamous Business to the Vote of the Parliament The Dukes Vote was suitable to his Discourse and Temper being a Negative uttered with much grave and deep Sorrow but I shall set down Lanerick's in the formal terms wherein he expressed it As God shall have mercy upon my Soul at the Great Day I would chuse rather to have my Head struck off at the Market-cross of Edinburgh than give my consent to this Vote The Earl of Lindsay now Earl Crawford was President and so could not debate but as in the stating the Vote he expressed much honest Zeal so when it was carried in the Affirmative he dissented from it and to him those who had voted in the Negative did adhere But some of their Friends were accidentally absent others on design and some downright deserted them so that though there were divers who dissented yet they were far short of being able to ballance the Vote When all this was done Lanerick with a deep Groan said this was the blackest Saturday that ever Scotland saw alluding to a great Eclipse that was many years before on a Saturday from which it was still called the Black Saturday This being sent to the Commissioners at Newcastle did not at all shake His Majesty he being resolved not to yield to that no not at Holmby which He had refused at Newcastle The King is delivered and sent Prisoner to Holmby In the end of the Month the English Commissioners and Forces came down and the Arrears for the payment of the Army being delivered the Scotish Army withdrew and left the King in the hands of the English who presently sent him to Holmby And this is a free and faithful Relation of that great Transaction only in invidious Passages I have spared the Memories and Families of the unhappy Actors which is variously censured It was presently the matter of Discourse and Censure of Christendom and brought an Infamy on those who acted it which though an Indempnity could pardon yet no Oblivion was able to deface It was thought strange since the King had trusted himself to Scotland that they should have thus deserted Him What grounds Montrevil had for giving the King those Assurances did not appear and certain it is they were very slight ones and were only from single Persons but not from any Iunto or Judicatory But generous minds thought the Kings frank casting Himself into their hands was an Obligation beyond any Engagements they could have given And it was thought strange madness in those of Scotland to do it at that time since they saw the Independents prevailing whose Designs against the Kings Person and Monarchy had been faithfully discovered to them by some of their Commissioners at London and who were as little Friends to the Covenant and Presbytery as the King himself was so that considering their Power such a Strengthening of them brought Religion under a hazard of another nature than could have been apprehended upon their Accepting of the Kings Concessions But the Contradiction that this course had to the Covenant was so plain that none could avoid observing it for to make their King a Prisoner was an odd Comment upon their Defending of His Person and Authority and to do all that because he would not force his Conscience was judged a strange Practice from those who had so lately complained heavily against any appearance of Force upon Tender Consciences These were the Censures that generally passed on that Transaction the Kings stifness was also very much condemned and most men not understanding the strictness of a Tender Conscience thought it was Humour that swayed Him and judged that in the posture Affairs were then in He should have yielded to any thing how unreasonable soever rather than have so exposed Himself His Posterity and His Kingdoms to such visible hazards reckoning that no Form of Government that ever was deserved to be so firmly adhered to All persons looked for dismal effects from these Resolutions few thinking the Friendship betwixt Scotland and England would be lasting and all apprehended some strange Curse would overtake those who were active in this infamous Business Amidst these greater Reflections there were some who suspected the Duke had not acted in that Affair with that Candour and Zeal He expressed and this was chiefly founded on the base Votes of some of his Friends chiefly of one who had served him but was then a Lord. But as the tract of this Account hath cleared the whole Progress of his Negotiation so the visible affliction of his Mind which drew after it a great indisposition in his Body did abundantly refute these Calumnies And indeed that great Mind which did not succumb under the hardest Trials when it imployed its utmost strength was now reduced to the most pinching Straits and almost to desperate Resentments so that he repented his Stay in Scotland since he foresaw nothing but imminent Ruine to King and Country yet His Majesties opinion of his Zeal and Affection to His Service was at this time proof against all Whispers which appears by the following Letter Hamilton I Know it were needless to recommend this Bearer Will. Murray to you but that his Persecution at this instant for My sake is such that in a manner it even extorts these lines from Me to tell you that your hearty and real dealing to procure his waiting upon Me is a good occasion which I am confident you will not let slip to shew your constant zealous Affection to Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 29th January 1647. Now it was that genuine Melancholy and Horrour dwelt in all the Dukes thoughts The Duke contrives how to turn Scotland to the Kings Service his Brother was too deeply prepossessed
over-â—wed both Parliament and City they began to levy new Forces but assoon as they withdrew from London the Citizens of London came in great numbers to Westminster and petitioned to have their Militia settled again according to their former Votes which being granted the Parliament next day was at liberty and the Secluded Members returned About the end of Iuly the Earl of Lauderdale going to wait on His Majesty who was then at Wooburn was not only hindred access but by the Violence of the Souldiers carried away and say or complain what he would of the Violation of the Treaty with Scotland and the Law of Nations by that Affront put upon a Publick Minister of another Kingdom he could not prevail but was forced to be gone After this the King was Voted to come to London But the Army instead of Obedience came thither again and by the interposition of some treacherous People got the City surrendred to them whereupon they marched through it in Triumph with Lawrels in their Hats and came to Westminster bringing with them the two Speakers and some other Members of their Party who had run away from the Parliament pretending Fear though no appearance of it had been in the Proceedings of the Parliament Fairfax was declared Captain-General of all England Constable of the Tower of London and Commander of all the Garisons and then they fell to the Purging of the House And besides the forcing the eleven Members to flee seven of the Lords were also impeached and all Orders that past in the absence of the Speakers were repealed yet this was not carried but upon a fortnights Debate Divers of the City of London with the Mayor and some Aldermen were likewise charged and imprisoned and all this was upon a general Accusation of their designs to raise a new War Those in Scotland being advertised by their Commissioners of all that passed failed not to make good use of it This is resented in Scotland to stir up the Affection and Duty of all to appear for His Majesty which prevailed generally and even the Ministers begun both from their Pulpits and by their Remonstrances to complain of the Prevailings of the Sectarian Party and of the Force that was put on the Kings Person But the old language of the Covenant and Presbytery was still in their mouths yet all were pretty forward for a real Resentment of the late Disorders in England Only Mr. George Gillespie who was indeed of good parts but bold beyond all measure withstood these Inclinations and represented that the greatest Danger to Religion was to be feared from the King and the Malignant Party He was suspected of correspondence with the Sectaries which some Letters in my hand written in Cypher give good grounds to believe Certain it is that he proved a very ill instrument and marred that great Design by which all former Errors might have been corrected Thus as the Duke and his Friends designs began to appear there was a violent Party no less careful to withstand them Therefore it was not judged fitting the Duke should leave Scotland his Service in it being greater than any he could do in England besides his being a Peer in England made him more obnoxious to their fury than any other Scotchman could be But His Majesties Concessions about Religion pinched them much and the Liberty offered to Tender Consciences did very much disgust the Scotish Clergy for in Scotland a Toleration was little less odious than Episcopacy and nothing but Presbytery would satisfie them In the end of August they sent Mr. Lesley to His Majesty to represent the State of Affairs in Scotland according to the following Instructions The Duke sends a Message to the King YOu shall shew what Endeavours have been used to incense this Kingdom against the Proceedings of the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax witness George Windram 's Relation the Declaration of the General Assembly and the Voice of the daily cryes from the Pulpit You shall represent what Industry was used to precipitate a present Engagement upon the grounds of the Covenant and for Settling Presbyterial Government in England who were the pressers and who were the opposers of it You shall shew what Pains were taken by the moderate Party here to procure the sending of Commissioners to His Majesty and the Parliament thereby to procrastinate and delay all Resolutions till their return or a report from them which will probably consume the rest of this Summer and for this Year prevent a new War except upon eminent advantage You are therefore to represent how necessary it is for preventing Prejudices from hence that a free Passage and all other Encouragements be given to those who are now to be employed if that shall be refused or the Law of Nations in their Persons violated a Breach betwixt the Kingdoms cannot be longer prevented You shall shew that if it had not been for His Majesties Commands to the Moderate Party here a Scotish Army had e're this time been in England which so long as His Majesty is well used they are hopeful to prevent but if His re-establishing be delayed a greater Army than ever Scotland raised will own His Quarrel You shall shew that the Instructions now given to our Commissioners who Treat with the Parliament are only Generals the chief whereof is That His Majesty be again invited to come to London with Honour Freedom and Safety the delay whereof is exceedingly ill taken here and nothing would give so general satisfaction to this Kingdom nor more stop the mouths of Incendiaries than that His Majesty were so at London You shall shew that the Message that was to be sent to His Majesty was only to represent to Him the constant Affection of this Kingdom their longings to see Him re-established in His Throne their Resolutions never to withdraw themselves from under His Government and their Desires to know immediately from Himself in what Condition He is since the Safety of this Kingdom so much depends upon the Safety of His Person You shall shew that the Disorders in the High-lands are now composed and our Army is to be scattered in several quarters through the whole Shires of the Kingdom With these Instructions My Lord Lanerick wrote what follows to His Majesty Sir SInce eminent Advantages for Your Majesties Service could not at this time be procured but at the old rate of satisfaction in Religion and the Covenant our Study hath been to prevent Prejudices and Disservices wherein our endeavours have not proved unsuccessful though â—ven in that we met with extraordinary Opposition The Particulars will be shewed to Your Majesty by the Bearer with the humble sense and advice upon the whole as it now stands in relation to this Kingdom of Your Majesties most humble most faithful most loyal and most obedient Subject and Servant LANERICK Edinburgh 23th August 1647. To which His Majesty answered Lanerick I Very much like and approve of Robin
urge more out of my Duty to Him than kindness to our selves The next was of the 24th of April 1648. SInce my last to you I have received yours of the 18th and 22th of the last Moneth We have made an indifferent good progress in our Parliament here for we have stated all the Breaches of Covenant and Treaties we have resolved upon some Demands to be sent to the Houses of Parliament for Religion for His Majesty and for Disbanding of the present Army of Sectaries and we have pressed a Declaration containing the Grounds of our Resolutions In order to all these we likewise Voted the present putting of this Kingdom into a posture of War and this Week we are to nominate and make choice of all the Officers of our Army The Church doth still violently oppose us and threatens us with cross Declarations if not the extremity of Church-Censures Argyle and his Party maintain them in their Obstinacy or rather they do him in his Disloyalty but neither the fear of their Curses nor want of their Prayers can fright us from our Duty so soon as we are ready to act which possibly may be sooner than you imagine The next was of the 28th of April to His Majesty MY last to you was of the 13th of this Moneth by the Conveyance of Doctor Frazer Since that time we have perfected what was then designed for we have made choice of all the Officers of our Forces wherein we have been forced to spend much time and the next Week we intend to model our Army for England which we hope shall be upon the Borders against the 21th of the next Moneth which is the time limited for the Return of our Messenger from London who this day parts from hence with the three Demands to the Houses of Parliament wherof my last made mention and with a positive Command to stay only 15 days for his Answer We intend likewise in the beginning of the next Week to dispatch Sir William Fleming to the Queen and Prince to give them an account of our Proceedings and to know his Highness's Resolution concerning his coming hither and to desire the present sending of Arms and Ammunition to us whereof we are absolutely unprovided so that if the Queen or Prince of Orange to whom we beg Your Majesty would write do not supply us it will infinitely retard the Service We have passed a Declaration which is full of many rude Restrictions both in order to Your Majesty and Your faithful Servants But we are forced to them for the satisfaction of the Nice Consciences of the Clergy and their Proselytes whom we find still so inflexible that nothing can perswade them to a Conjunction with us in the Work on the contrary we meet with all imaginable Opposition from them yet as we have carried the Declaration and all that is yet done against their strongest Endeavours so we hope in despight of them to be Instruments in accomplishing the chief end it drives at which is Your Majesties Rest and Restauration Our next will certainly bring you the Knowledg of some Acting in order to that which we dare not hazard to this Cypher lest there may be more Copies of it than what we have with Your Majesty The slowness of their Motions in Scotland begun to give great Jealousies of their Proceedings every-where Jealousies of the Scotish Proceedings At Paris the Prince was much courted to go to Ireland but he resolved rather to go to Scotland and designed to go first to Holland Yet there were some about him who studied to give him ill Impressions of all that passed in Scotland grounding them on the old Calumnies that had been cast on the Duke and on the slowness of their Procedure at that time in Scotland together with the extraordinary Cajolery they gave the Church-party all which were made use of for alienating his Highness from that Resolution But he resolved to obey the Kings Commands and sent them new Assurances of that by Sir William Fleming and to oblige the Duke the more a Book being dedicated to his Highness containing some passages much to the Dukes dishonour he refused to accept of it and ordered it to be called in While things were thus preparing in Scotland His Majesty in the Isle of Wight was contriving an Escape being resolved if it succeeded to have come to Scotland but the means failed oftener than once which being discovered made his Prison the straiter He was also courted under hand with new Propositions from the Parliament of England but refused to enter into any Treaty without the Concurrence of the Scotish Nation Yet it troubled him much to hear no more of the progress of their Designs on which all his Hopes were then set for in that disorderly time it was not easy to transmit frequent and clear accounts of all that passed At length having understood from Scotland what advance was made in that Affair he was satisfied with the Fidelity of those he had imployed there At London there went various Constructions on the Scotish Actions The Commissioners of the Two Houses that were at Edinburgh wrote up that the Church-party would undoubtedly keep the Duke and his Party in play at least that Year and that the zeal of the Ministers would make the Levies go slowly on they either believing this themselves or at least designing that others should do so At this time there was a great Inclination all over England to shake off the Armies Arbitrary Yoke Great Disorders in England Stirs were rising in every place The Duke with his other Friends in Scotland dealt earnestly with their Correspondents in England to get all kept quiet till they were ready to march that so there might be an universal Rising at once which would have undoubtedly divided the Army that was against them into so many Fractions as might make way for their easier Overthrow This Design was zealously promoted by many who saw the great advantage it might produce but many were too jealous of the Scotish Designs and so did precipitate their own Ruin Others apprehended from their Declarations that the Bondage would be the same only the Masters changed if they prevailed and this made the Kings Party resolve rather to perish than receive any help from the Scots on these terms Their slowness made others despair of their Sincerity and the reports of the Power of the Church-party made all suspect their Strength so the untimely Rising in England was the Ruin of this Years Design for they rose only to be destroyed and to animate the Army with those many Victories they obtained over them And as these Defeats did much discourage the Scotish Army so it forced them to march into England before they were ready and e're they had looked well to the Security of Affairs behind them The first Rising was by Poyer in Wales to whom Langhorn came within a little and Commanded most of the Country At Westminster as they understood the state
inclinations over England should prove too hard for them but Mr. Marshall Great Disorders in England who was sent back from the English Commissioners in Scotland comforted them the best he could giving them all assurance that the Designs there would meet with vigorous Opposition wherefore it was moved that some of the Forces might be presently sent down before the Army were drawn together who might hope for good Assistance in Scotland But he also told them that nothing would be so likely to divide them in Scotland as to declare for the Covenant and the Propositions sent to Newcastle and indeed this was much dreaded by the Duke and his Friends since there was nothing so popular in Scotland as that the Parliament and Army of England had fallen from the Covenant but they resolved though that were granted to accept of no Treaty till the Army were presently disbanded for which the former Years Transactions did furnish them with very good reasons Mr. Marshall did what he could to reconcile the Presbyterians and Independents in London and that they might not fall out about Religion it was Voted that the Kingdom should be first settled before Religion was fallen upon The City of London was generally well-affected to the Scotish Design though some studied to alienâ—te them from it by telling them that those in Scotland were in Correspondence with the Cavaliers in England The City was inconstant and the Citizens feared the Armies falling on them to plunder them so that they were easily over-awed and at that time the Agitators of the Army were upon the Fining of the City in a Million of English Mony A general Answer was returned to the Scotish Demands by the day they had prefixed with the Promise of a more particular one to follow shortly which was looked on as a Design to shift them off by Delays At this time the Two Houses were much lifted up with a Defeat given to Langhorn in Wales which was represented to be greater than indeed it was But to allay their Joy there came in Petitions from many Counties of England for a Personal Treaty with the King and for being disburdened of the Army one came from Essex which was subscribed by twenty four thousand Hands and eight thousand men came out of Surrey with their Petition upon whom the Souldiers fell barbarously and killed about Twenty of them wounding above an Hundred Next the Kentish men rose in a formidable number but it was more terrible that the Navy was staggering and many of the Captains of the Ships declared against their Proceedings This was sad News for London by reason of their Trade which was like to be blockt up And now Cromwel to please the City of London drew the Forces out of it and left the Militia of London in their own Hands only he got Skippon who was of their own Cabal made Major-General of their Trained Bands and there was no small Disorder in the Army the Agitators being for the most part Levellers and against Cromwel as was by some supposed With all this Tragical visage of things they at Wâ—stminster were not a little mortified A Fast at Westminster so they appointed a Day of Humiliation and when they were naming the reasons for the Fast one of the Members had a singular opinion that notwithstanding the Self-denying Ordinance they had past yet they had ingrossed all Places of Power and Profit to themselves by which Juggling God was mocked wherefore he moved that they might devest themselves of these but the rest were not of his mind And if three Sermons and a great many long Prayers would reconcile God to them they would be at the cost but were resolved to quit none of their Power nor Places All these Tumults in England as they had hindered the Two Houses from sending down their Forces to Scotland so they called aloud for hasty Relief from the Scotish Army which from all places was called for But the Oppositition the Clergy and their Party made had so fore-slowed their Levies that they could not overtake this fair opportunity but were forced to leave the poor People in England to be knockt down by the insulting Army The Parliament of Scotland re-assembled in Iune The Parliament adjourns and after few days Sitting and the emitting of new Declarations both for Scotland and England but of a milder strain than their former of April had been being now weary of their hopeless courting of the Clergy they adjourned for Two Years having chosen a Committee of Estates sure to their Designs and they were drawing their Army together with all possible diligence But the great matter now debated in Scotland was A present March is disswaded by some whether they should first make all sure at home or leave things in that disordered posture and make haste into England Lanerick was for taking order with the Opposite Party and the Lords that headed them before they stirred out of Scotland lest otherwise assoon as they were gone the Ministers might blow up the People into Sedition which would either force them to send back a part of their Army for curbing them or lose Scotland totally by their Tumults while their Army should be strugling with an uncertainty in England Besides they were neither well-furnished with Arms Ammunition nor Mony but had good Assurances of large Supplies from the Queen and Prince by Sir William Fleeming and the Prince though much disswaded by these who were both Enemies to the Scotish Nation in General and the Duke in particular continued still firm to his first Resolutions of going to them when all things were brought to that Posture that it were fit for him to hazard himself amongst them and therefore in the middle of Iune Sir William Fleeming was dispatched again from his Highness to Scotland with the following Letter directed For the Lord Duke Hamilton and the Earls of Lindsay Roxburgh Lauderdale Lanerick and Calender My Lords YOu will receive by Sir William Fleeming who is amply instructed the full account of My Intentions and he is not more particularly charged with any thing than to let you know the sense I have of Your Affections yet I thought fit to reserve unto My Self the assuring you that as I conceive I am not capable of being more obliged than I have been by you so I shall be most exactly just in the discharge of my Acknowledgments when it shall please God to make My Condition fit for it In the mean time I have nothing to say but to desire you to be intirely confident of it and that I am most truly My Lords Your Affectionate Friend CHARLES P. Sir William Bellandin met with more Opposition in Holland for Judgments were passed on the Scotish Proceedings from their Declarations and all he could say was not able to take off those Impressions so that no good was expected from Scotland The States of Holland had no great inclination to the Kings Party and the Prince of Orange
ambiguous yet they said the Exposition of those who Signed them was to be admitted since every man was to be the Expounder of his own words and pleaded some Precedents about the Exposition of ambiguous words But the words here were plain and not ambiguous only a treacherous Equivocation was invented to break them Cook by a strange subtilty said The Articles only secured his Life during Imprisonment so that his breaking of Prison and being retaken put an end to the Obligation of the Articles Though he broke not not Prison but went out at Door and Gate which was no Crime Thus did the Counsel of the People plead against him to the conviction of all who looked on that they thirsted for his Blood and were only seeking colours of Justice for it which yet were so slight that they could serve for no Disguise but only to abuse those who were blinded with Prejudice The Court adjourned to Tuesday being the sixth of March And then the Duke was brought to the Bar and the Judges sate in Scarlet they rejected the Dukes Plea in all its Branches The last Appearance in which Sentence was given and found him guilty of the Charge whereof he was indicted But before Sentence Bradshaw the President resumed all and spoke long for aggravating of every particular justifying every thing their Counsel had pleaded as if it had been all both good Law and good Reason then he caused read the Earl of Essex his Commission to shew how little Power was given him But spoke nothing of Fairfax or Lambert their Commissions which had been more pertinent but the reason was they were ampler and yet the Parliament had never refused to ratifie any Articles Essex gave He confessed the Dukes Articles were fuller than any others therefore he would insist the more to invalidate them He said It was true if there had been a War proclaimed and prosecuted betwixt a Forreign Nation and Enemy and England then by the Law of Nations to which their Law was consonant Articles signed by the Commissioners of both Parties should have been kept inviolable but the Prisoner was no Enemy for when the ordinary Course of Justice was obstructed by the late Kings prevailing Party so that neither Constables nor Sheriffs nor other Civil Officers could lay hold on such Delinquents as he was or bring them to Punishment the Parliament was forced to raise an Army Commissionating their Generals to bring such to condign Punishment This being the end and substance of their Commission it was not in their Power who were but the Sword of Justice in the Parliaments hand to give Articles for securing any from the Justice of the Parliament since it was never intended their Acts should limit that Power that gave bounds to them He added also that the Court was fully satisfied that the Duke was naturalized The President laid out also the Case of the other Prisoners then at the Bar and spoke many hours at last Sentence was given against them all That their Heads should be severed from their Bodies on Friday next being the ninth Instant yet it was remitted to the Parliaments Consideration what Mercy should be shewed to any of them and so the Duke was carried back The rest of that day and the next day the Duke was earnestly solicited to preserve himself by making Discoveries And Mr. Peters who appeared concerned for him during his Tryal did now insinuate himself on him to draw somewhat from him but all was in vain there being no choice to be made betwixt a Glorious Death and an Infamous Life On the Eighth of that Month it being put to the Vote of the House whether he should be Reprieved or not it was carried in the Negative The Duke prepares for Death That day the Duke spent in fitting himself for Death by Prayers and Spiritual Conferences and that he might discharge himself of all worldly Cares he wrote the following Letter to his Brother Dear Brother SInce it hath pleased God so to dispose of me and writes to his Brother that I am to be in this World but a few hours you cannot expect that I can say much to you nor indeed is it necessary for I know you will do undesired as far as is in your Power what I now briefly mention First That you will be a Father to my poor Children and that they be not forced to marry against their Wills The Debts I owe are great and some Friends are bound for them but the Estate I leave you is such as will satisfie what I owe and free my Cautioners from Ruin You are Iust and I doubt not of your performing this I cannot forget to recommend my faithful Servants to you who have never had any thing from me in particular Cole Lewis and James Hamilton I have given something to them during their Lives which I hope you will see payed to them I shall say no more but the Lord of his Mercy preserve you and give you Grace to apply your self aright to him in whom there is only fulness of Ioy. Dote not upon the World all is but vanity and vexation of spirit grieve not for what is befallen me for it is by the appointment of him that rules in Earth and Heaven thither the Lord Iesus be pleased to carry the sinful Soul of Your most loving Brother HAMILTON March 8th 1649. At night the Duke the Earl of Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir Iohn Owen were all brought to one Room where they lay all night it was very late before they went to Bed every one having his Friends to wait on him The Duke's Servants ask'd leave to stay all night in the next Room and it was granted the Duke ordered Mr. Cole to come to him about three a clock in the morning which he did but he with the rest were all fast asleep and Mr. Cole returning after half an hour found him awake He made him sit down and gave him many Directions to be carried to his Brother with an extraordinary composure as Mr. Cole vouched to the Writer About five a clock all of them were ready and spent the time very devoutly in secret Prayers and pious Conferences and other holy Exercises all of them expressing great Joy in their present Condition and absolute Submission to the Will of God The Duke expressed his more particularly in the following Letter he wrote to his Daughters My most dear Children IT hath pleased God so to dispose of me as I am immediately to part with this miserable Life for a better and to his Children so that I cannot take that care of you which I both ought and would if it had pleased my Gracious Creator to have given me longer days but his will be done and I with alacrity submit to it desiring you to do so and that above all things you apply your Hearts to seek him to fear serve and love him and then doubt not but he will be a loving Father to you
very necessary for him to speak much his Voice was so weak and low that few of the crowd that looked on could hear him nor was he ever so much in love with speaking or with any thing he had to say that he took much delight in it yet since this was his Last he being by the Divine Providence of Almighty God brought justly to that End for his Sins he would speak a little to the Sheriff for his Voice could not reach others He was now to suffer as a Traytor to the Kingdom of England a Country which he had ever loved equally with his own not having intended either any general Prejudice to it or to any particular Person in it his late Actings were the Commands of his own Country which he could not disobey It is true it had pleased God so to dispose of the Army under his Command that it was ruined and he for being cloathed with a Commission to be General stood now ready to dye He would not repeat what he had pleaded for his own Defence God was just nor would he say any thing of his Sentence but that he did willingly submit to Gods Providence acknowledging that on many accounts he deserved Punishment in this Life as well as in the next for he confessed himself a great Sinner yet for his Comfort he knew there was a God in Heaven who was very merciful and that his Redeemer did sit at his right Hand and he was confident that he was mediating for him at that very instant being hopeful through his All sufficient Merits to be pardoned all his Sins and to be received into his Mercy trusting only to the Free Grace of God through Jesus Christ. He declared he had never been tainted in the Religion professed and established in the Land in which he had been bred from his Infancy it was not this nor that mode or fancy of Religion that was to be built on but one that was right and sure and came from God Here he observed some taking Notes and upon that said he had not expected that else he had digested what he had said into a better Method but desired that what he had said might not be published to his disadvantage since he had not intended to speak any thing when he came to that place Then he went on and said Many dreadful Aspersions had been cast on him as if his Intentions had not been such as he pretended but he thanked God he was unjustly blamed That for the King he had ever loved him both as he was his King and his Master with whom he had been bred many years and had been his domestick Servant and that there was nothing the Parliament of Scotland declared for the King that was not really intended by himself and as he hazarded his Life for him one way so he now was to lose it another and that his Design of leading in the Army to England was really that which was published in the Declaration in so far as concerned the King he was not then to speak of the rest of the Declaration which had many other particulars in it And for what he said of his Duty to the King there was no reason to suspect him of Flattery or any other end in saying it God having now so disposed of His Majesty but though he could gain nothing by it yet he owed the freeing himself of that Calumny to Truth by which all men shall gain for ever There had been many Discourses founded on a part of the Scotish Declaration which mentioned an Invitation to come to England upon which he had been much laboured for discovering the Inviters but he had and did still remit himself to the Declaration without any other Answer He was ever willing to serve this Nation in any thing was in his Power which was known to many worthy Persons in it and he would still have continued in those Resolutions had those in whose hands the Power was then thought fit to have preserved his Life But since he was to be thence-forth of no more use all he could do was to wish the Kingdom Happiness and Peace and to pray that his Blood might be the last should be shed and though perhaps he had some reluctancy within himself at his Suffering for this Fact yet he freely forgave all men and carried no rancour with him to the Grave but did submit to the Will of him who created Heaven and Earth and himself a poor sinful Creature then speaking before him He conceived it could contribute to no end for him to speak of State-business of the Government of the Kingdom or things of that nature his own Inclinations had been still for Peace he was never an ill Instrument betwixt the King and his People nor had he acted to the prejudice of the Parliament And as he had not meddled much in those Wars so he was never wanting in his Prayers to Almighty God for his King's Happiness and he earnestly prayed God to direct his Majesty that now Reigns that he might do what should tend to his Glory and the Peace and Happiness of the Kingdoms He said he was of the Established Religion which he had professed in his own Country where he was born and bred but for particular opinions he was not rigid he knew many godly men had scruples about divers things wherein he had never concerned himself nor did Difference of opinion which was never more than at that time move him his own was clear He prayed the Lord to forgive him his Sins as he freely forgave even those against whom he had the greatest grounds of Animosity remembring that Prayer Forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us And to this purpose he spoke if the Writers did him right in what was published in his Name but how true the printed Papers were the Writer is not able to judge for he has three printed Relations of it before him all varying somewhat one from another As he expressed himself thus he discovered a great composure by his Looks and manner of Expression and when he was desired to change the Posture he stood in since the Sun shined full in his Face he answered pleasantly No it would not burn it and he hoped to see a brighter Sun than that very speedily After the Duke had done speaking he called for the Executioner and desired to know how he should fit his Body for the Blow and told him his Servants would give him satisfaction Then he called to his Servants and commanded them to remember him kindly to divers of his Friends in England particularly to his Mother-in-law the Countess of Denbigh to whom he had ever payed a Filial respect and to the old Countess of Devonshire who as the lived to a great Age and to the Honour of her Nation so was on all occasions a constant and true Friend to him He bade tell her she would no more question his Loyalty which she had done
general Stories If all his Friends were not at all times so fixed to their Duty as they ought to have been that left no Blame upon him for no man can be lyable for his Friends nor charged with the faults of other men but when any of them strayed from their Duty his Friendship made him not the less but the more severe to them and many of them being yet alive have witnessed with what honest zeal he always studied to engage them to a Cordial adherence to the Kings Service But to sum up all those who after they see how in his last Speech delivered at his Death he begs Pardon and Mercy from God as he hath been a faithful Servant to his Master and do still retain their Jealousies are beyond the cure of any Perswasion for none but a desperate Atheist could have adventured so far with a defiled Conscience Neither can it be alledged here that all in those times pretended to be for the King for perhaps many thought the methods they took vvere the best for securing and settling his Throne But had the Duke been faulty as the World accused him it must not have been a Mistake in his thoughts but a Crookedness of his Heart a betraying of his Trust and a falsifying of his Engagements and who can suppose that the Parties who were prevalent both in England and Scotland at the time of his Death and pursued him and his Memory with all the excesses of Malice would not have discovered such Treachery to load him with the greater Infamy if there had been any grounds for it since they were the persons who musâ— have known it best As for that ridiculous and Devilish Forgery of his pretending to the Crown of Scotland never any were alledged to have heard a hint of it from himself no not in raillery and câ—â—tainly if so great a Design had ever been discovered to any person it must have been to his Friends and he must have taken pains to have made some Party sure for it but for this nothing was ever whispered but Surmises and those hanging so ill together that they retained not so much as the shadow of Probability For his Country His love to his Country as he had as great Interest in it as any Subject so his Affection yielded to none And it is certain that if his Counsels to the King seem at any time to fall short of the higher ways of Authority nothing but his Affection for his Country gave him the byass for he confessed the thing in the World at which he had the greatest horror was the engaging in a Civil War with his Country-men He was far from any Designs of engrossing either Power or Places of advantage to himself or his Friends nor was he ever the occasion of any Burden to the Country for the Assignments he had on some Taxations were only for payment of the Debts he had contracted by his Majesties Command for his Expedition to Germany And so little fond was he of being the Kings Commissioner in Scotland that in divers of his Letters he proposed others to his Majesty for that Trust protesting it was a Place which of all other he hated most and when he saw Jealousies taken at his being so long in that Trust as if the King had been to govern Scotland by a Commissioner he pressed his Majesty to change him so careful was he to avoid every thing which might be a Grievance to his Country and retard the Kings Service He was the great Patron of all Scotishmen in the Court which drew on several occasions a large share of Malice upon him as appear'd particularly in the Case of one Colonel Lesley whom Colonel Sanderson's Friends were pursuing in the Court alledging that Lesley had killed that Colonel unworthily in Muscovia The Crime was not committed in the Kings Dominions and Lesley was Legally acquitted from it in Russia who upon a National account being a Scotishman laid claim to the Dukes Protection but this irritated Colonel Sanderson's Brother who pretends to have written the History of King Charles the First into so much Rage against him that forgetting the Laws of History he breaks out on all occasions into the most passionate Railings that his spiteful but blunt and impotent Malice could devise And the best of all is he bewrays his Ignorance as well as his Passion in all the Account he gives of the Scotish Affairs so that it is hard to say whether his Folly in attempting to write a History on such slender Informations or his Impudence in forging or venting Lies with such Confidence deserves the severer Censure And since I mention this Lesley I shall only add that though Sanderson tells a formal Story of the signal Judgments of God on him in his Death he was alive many years after that Book was published which can be well proved by many who knew him His Temperance The Duke was very sumptuous and magnificent in his way of Living but abhorred that debauched custom of Entertainments by Drinking and was an example of Temperance which cost him dear in Denmark where he refusing the ordinary Entertainments of that Court in drinking was not only ill used but made pay a great Sum under the pretence of Passage-dues Temperance was particularly recommended to him by his Majesty when he went to Germany and his returning from that Court without once transgressing these Laws was such an evidence of his observing them that afterwards few would tempt him to those Excesses His Ingenuity Of all Vertues he esteemed Ingenuity and Candor most as that which was the Ground of all Confidence and the only Security among men and therefore recommended it chiefly to others and studied to observe it most himself I confess when I consider his whole method of framing and carrying on his Designs how streight and candid they were if I oft admire his Invention I do much more esteem the Ingenuity of his proceedings for I never find him vailing Truth with a Lye nor carrying on business with a Cheat and to speak freely the greatest departing from these Rules appeared in the Declaration emitted in April 1648 where among other things the Parliament declared they would not admit His Majesty to the exercise of His Royal Authority till He by Oath obliged Himself to swear and ratifie the Covenant The Duke stuck long ere he would give way to this at length finding the violent Party that crossed the Engagement implacable and being desirous to withdraw from them all colours or pretences for opposing that Design he yielded to it and at that time said to a Friend of his that the Preservation of the King went so near his Heart that he could refuse nothing which might make way for that But it was far from his thoughts to seclude the King from the exercise of his Royal Power and therefore it was excused at the same time both by the Letters his Brother wrote to the King and in the
that the Duke was suffered to return to Scotland with the King But at His Majesties Landing one appointed by the Parliament to put him from the King required him to withdraw and when the King pressed the Commissioners with the Articles of their Treaty they said they could not oppose an Order of Parliament The King was much offended with this and was inclining to resent it both as an unworthy Usage and as a Breach of Treaty but the Duke told him that at that time Argyle was the person who was most able to render him considerable Service in Scotland therefore though he knew he designed nothing so much as his Ruin yet he advised His Majesty to use all possible means to gain him absolutely to his Party and to neglect himself as much as Argyle desired and not at all to seem much concerned in him adding that he knew when His Majesties Affairs were in a better posture he would not forget his faithful Servants This particular His Sacred Majesty vouchsafed to tell the Writer It was in vain for him to claim either the benefit of the Treaty at Sterlin or Breda Interest and Jealousy prevailing more with these who then ruled than any other Tie so the Duke was forced to retire to the Isle of Arran And goes to Arran where he stayed till the end of Ianuary 1651 nor could his Petitions with the Intercessions of his Friends prevail for allowing him the liberty of coming to fight for his King and Country so that he was forced to stay at Arran till the best half of Scotland was lost Cromwell enters Scotland But God who had suffered the Church-party to prevail long did blast their Force and Success at once for Cromwel upon the Parliament of Scotland's bringing home their King entred it with his Army The Church-party as they had no mind to invade England on the Kings account so were very careful to declare that their Arming against Cromwel was not on the Kings account which they excluded from the state of the Quarrel by an Act of their Committee and declared that they stood only to their own Defence against that Hostile Invasion which was contrary to their Covenant and Treaties They were also very careful to model their Army so that neither Malignant nor Engager that had been of the Kings Party should serve in it for though when His Majesty came to their Army at Leith the Souldiers were much animated by his Presence and with the coming of two thousand brave Gentlemen with him to the Army yet the Leaders of that Party pretended that since the Malignants were in their Army God would be provoked to give them up to the Enemy and therefore forced the King to leave the Army They also forced away all those Gentlemen who came and offered their Service I shall not pursue this account further but only add that notwithstanding all their Confidence of their Army and though they had the Enemy at great disadvantages so that he and all his Officers gavethemselves for gone yet they were with very little Opposition broken and routed near Dunbar on the third of September 1650 Dunbar-Fight and even those who two years before had insulted over the Misfortunes of the Engagement were now themselves taught how ill an Argument Success was to evince the Goodness of a Cause The King is better used in Scotland This procured a great change in the Counsels of Scotland for by that time the honester and better part of the Clergy were by the Murther of the King and the other Proceedings in England filled with distast and horrour at them and began to think how defective they had hitherto been in their Duty to the King and therefore resolved to adhere more faithfully to it in all time coming Others of the Church-party did also see that as Cromwel was setting up a Common-wealth in England so they found many of the forwarder amongst themselves very much inclined to it in Scotland This divided them from the other violent Party made them joyn more cordially with the King and be willing to receive his other faithful Servants to oppose the Common Enemy therefore it was brought under debate if the Act of Classes that excluded them from Trust should not be rescinded and all Subjects allowed to enjoy their Priviledges and suffered to resist the Common Enemy after long debate it was carried in the Affirmative yet none vvere to be received but upon particular Applications and Professions of Repentance The Church-party divided The Commission of the Kirk being also asked their Opinions declared that in such an Exigency vvhen the Enemy vvas Master of all on the South of Forth and Clide all fensible persons might be raised for the Defence of the Country This vvas called the Resolution of the Commission of the General Assembly and was ratified by the subsequent General Assembly But against this many Ministers protested and from thence arose great Heats and Divisions among those of the Kirkmen who owned the Publick Resolutions An. 1652. and those who Protested against them the one being called the Publick-Resolutioners and the other Protesters And now all Churches were full of pretended Penitents for every one that offered his Service to the King was received upon the Publick profession of his Repentance for his former Malignancy wherein all saw they were only doing it in compliance to the peremptory Humour of that time It was about the end of Ianuary that the Duke was suffered to come and wait on the King The Duke is suffered to wait on the King but at that time Cliddisdale with the other Places where his Interest lay were in the Enemies hands who had put Garrisons in Hamilton Douglas Carnwath Boghall and other Houses of that Country Yet the Duke got quickly about him a brave Troop of about an hundred Horse made up of many Noblemen and Gentlemen who rode in it among whom were divers Earls and Lords whose Lands being also possessed by the Enemy they could do no more but hazard their own Persons in his Majesties Service the rest were his Vassals and Gentlemen of his Name and they were commanded under him by a gallant Gentleman Sir Thomas Hamilton of Preston whom he sent with 18 Horse to Cliddisdale to try if the Enemy could be catched at any disadvantage and the People of the Country raised for the King The Enemy kept so good Guards and was so strong at Hamilton that he could not fall in there therefore he went to Douglas where he took about 80 Horse that belonged to the Garrison but could not surprize the House for it was too strong to be taken without Cannon He likewise took all the Horse that belonged to the Garrison at Boghall and killed twenty Souldiers This made the Enemy keep closer at Hamilton upon which the Duke resolved to raise ten Troops of Horse and appointed Sir Thomas Hamilton Lieutenant-Collonel but the Enemies Garrisons gave great interruptions to his
Designs At that time the Enemy landed at Innerkeething in Fife The King marches to England and the great Loss the King had there did both raise the Enemies boldness and much daunt his faithful Friends for now Cromwell was betwixt His Majesty and the Northern Counties of Scotland which were both most affectionate to his Service and from whence he was to expect Provisions and Supplies so that it was not possible for the King to maintain the War any longer in Scotland and therefore he resolved on a March to England being put in hopes of great Accessions of force to his Army from the Royal Party there and this gave a trial to the Fidelity and Courage of many of the Scotish Nation but too many looking on the Attempt as desperate being more careful of their Lives and Fortunes than to hazard either in the King's Service shrunk away though divers of them had Charges in the Army Against these base Deserters of their King and Country the Duke was moved with such just Indignation that he vowed if ever he returned with Life and Liberty he should make these in whom he had interest answer for it But the Duke's thoughts of this March and his sad apprehensions of the whole Business will appear from the following Letter he wrote to his Neece that succeeded him Dear Neece INdeed I know not what to say to you I would fain say something more encouraging than my last was but I cannot lie our Condition is no better and since that time we have a thousand men I fear twice that number run from our Army Since the Enemy shuns Fighting with us except upon advantage we must either starve disband or go with a handful of Men into England This last seems to be the least Ill yet it appears very desperate to me for more reasons than I will trouble you with I fear your own Reason will afford you too many Dear Neece it is not your Courage I will desire you to make use of in this Extremity look for Strength to bear it from a higher Power all your Natural Virtues will not resist it therefore look to him who hath in former times assisted you to resist a great Affliction and can do it again if you seek to him aright you have already lost so much that all other Earthly Losses were drowned in that Those you meet with now are Christian Exercises wherewith oftimes the Lord visits his own to wean their Affections from things here below that we may place them upon himself in whom we have all things and if we could as we ought set our Hearts upon him we should find our selves very little concerned in most things which bring us greatest Trouble here on Earth where we are but for a minute in our way to Eternity O consider that word Eternity and you will find we struggle here for that that 's even less than nothing why trouble we our selves for Earthly Losses for when we have lost all we have there are thousands as dear to God as we as poor as we We are rich though we lose the whole World if we gain him let us set before our eyes the example of those who to give testimony to the Truth rejoyced to lay down their Lives nay let us with humble presumption follow the Pattern of our Blessed Saviour who for our sakes suffered more than man can think on the burthen of all our Sins and the Wrath of his Father and shall we then repine to lay down our Lives for him when he calls for it from us to give us a nearer admittance to him than we can hope for while we are clog'd with our Clay-Tenements Dear Neece I should never be weary to talk with you though this be a Subject I confess I cannot speak of well but even that Happiness is bereft me by the importunity of a Crowd of Persons that are now in the Room with me grudging the time I take in telling you that while I am I am Yours c. Sterlin 28th July 1651. The Duke waited on the King in the whole March and gave Order that the Troops which he had levyed should follow with all possible haste Seven of them came up and joyned the Army at Moffet but the interruptions the Enemy gave made that the rest could not be raised nor were these Troops full The Duke welcomed them with great affection and assured them they should be as dear to him as his own Life and that if God blessed the King with Success he should be very careful to see them rewarded as they should deserve but seeing they made in all but betwixt two and three hundred he feared too many Standards would make them look like the remains of a broken Army and therefore he set up only his own Standard and so turned his small Regiment into a great Troop and marched on with the Army When the Army came to Warington-Bridge An. 1651. and beat Lambert from it the Duke Commanded the Brigade where his Horse were that was in the Reer of the Foot Lambert is beat from Warington-bridge but that and the other Brigade of Horse being commanded to halt he sent his Major to the Lieutenant-General for Orders to March that the Enemy might be vigorously pursued but the Lieutenant-General would have the Foot led over first and so that occasion was lost which he with many others did infinitely greater with great demonstrations of Grief Then it was debated which way the King should hold the Duke pressed that they should March streight to London which was the desire of the whole Army and that which Lambert apprehended for in his Retreat he took the London-Road There were also many other reasons used to enforce it but the English Nobility and Gentry who were in the Army and the Earl of Derby who with many Gentlemen came to the Army that night gave many reasons against that March The Duke seeing them so much against it though his Reason could not go along with theirs yet that he might not oppose so many brave and LoyalGentlemen went out of the Kings Tent for he would not by his Presence seem to consent to that which he apprehended would prejudice the Kings Service but was so far from disparaging the other Counsels and enhancing the value of his own that he went and laboured with all the Officers of the Army to engage them to a cheerful Concurrence in the Resolutions that were taken and studied even to perswade them to assent to that which had not yet prevailed on his own Reason The Resolution being taken to go to Worcester and storm it The King entered Worcester the Army marched and when they came near the Town some Horse and Dragoons which were sent thither by Lambert two days before retired to Glocester and the King entred Worcester with two Bodies of Foot the rest Marched through the Town over the Severn The day after the King came to Worcester the Duke with many