sent to Scotland to inform them of all had passed betwixt him and the Two Houses whose account of the state he found things in follows in a Letter to my Lord Lanerick My much honoured Lord who informs about the State of Affairs there WHen I arrived here your Brother was in Argyle but upon knowledge of my coming came himself and brought that Marquis with him to Hamilton whither the Chancellor went likewise and there I attended all three I found them with the same Affections and Desires your Lordship left in them but as they conceive not so able to Act as they were then They apprehend the Parliament of England will be much higher in their Demands than at that time as understanding now both the Kings Power and their own which were then but upon forming and promised a greater Equality The Kings two Messages to the Parliament have likewise so discredited His Majesties Affairs in this Country that they fear many forward enough before will now unwillingly engage in any way which may displease the Parliament yet they are resolved to do their best and I believe say little less in this inclosed Letter signed by all three His Majesty must expect in point of Religion to be prest for Vniformity in Church-Government and if His Majesty may be moved to publish some handsome Declaration satisfactory in that point it would infinitely advance all his Affairs in this Country and from hence have a powerful influence upon that The Parliament hath gained much here by their last Vote and there is a very fine Answer expected to their last Message sent by the Lord Maitland which will extraordinarily confirm the former Correspondence if the King do not something plausible in the same kind timeously and unconstrained the two Kingdoms will shut upon him in despight of what his best Servants can do Here is no Order for publishing His Majesties Declarations and great care taken to the contrary which occasions great prejudication in the common Peoples minds and were very fit to be amended I am looked upon here with great Iealousie yet it lessens because they see I am not busie I am advised by your Brother and the rest for avoiding of suspicion to go up to Court which having dispatched some particular business I have of my own I am resolved to do They have entrusted me with these particular Queries of which they desire His Majesties Resolution if your Lordship find opportunity you may acquaint His Majesty with them They desire likewise your Lordship may be sent down with a Letter to the Commissioners full of Confidence and allowing them all Freedom in their Consultations In respect of this great Meeting your Brother cannot make his Iourney to Holland no Act of that nature being now to be done their Opinion and Authority not consulted but I find them all right set in the thing and truly so respective to the Queens Person it did my Heart good to hear them All the Lords Conservators which are with you will receive Summons but it is not desired they should come down and truly I believe their Presence will do more hurt than good I must intreat your Lordship to acquaint His Majesty with these Particulars to receive his further Commands and convey them to My Lord Your Lordships faithful humble Servant M. MVRRAY Edinburgh 10th Sept. 1642. POSTSCRIPT The King must send to New-Castle Directions concerning his Ships for their Victuals are quite spent my poor opinion is they should be sent to Holland where they may be safer and attend the Queen What the Queries mentioned in this Letter were appears not to the Writer but for the Letters and Declarations the King sent to Scotland they are all of one strain and because the clearest and fullest was sent the next Summer I shall refer all to that which shall be set down in its proper place Only I have here inserted an account of the Kings Affairs with the Two Houses written by Lanerick to one in Scotland whose Name I find not set down but believe it was to Mr. Murray and corrected with His Majesties Pen in some places SIR AS you desired me I moved His Majesty for a Copy of the last Message to the Houses of Parliament which you will herewith receive An account oâ— Affairs in England His Majesty hath not as yet had any Answer from them but we are informed here His Messengers have been far otherwise received than he expected since they were the Carriers of so good a Message for the Earl of South-Hampton a better Poster than the Earl of Dorset came to the House upon Saturday last and as he was going to take his place he was called to to withdraw He said he had a Message to deliver them from His Majesty but received no other Answer than still a Command to withdraw which at last he obeyed then they sent the Black Rod to him requiring him to send the Message to them by him which he refused having Commands to deliver the Message himself to the House But they again pressed it yet he still refused at last they declared that if any Evil did arise from the not delivering of his Message they were free of it whereupon he sent it to them by Mr. Maxwell to which he received no other Answer than their absolute Command immediately to remove from Town The House of Commons were something more favourable to Sir John Culpeper who after some Debate was admitted into the House though not to his Place but as I am informed delivered his Message at the Bar and thereafter was commanded to withdraw It was then taken into Consideration whether or not he should any more be admitted as a Member of that House which was voted in his favours so that it is like their Answer will be returned by him which I hear will only be to let His Majesty know that so long as his Proclamations are out against the Earl of Essex and such others their Adherents of whom they account themselves to be as Traytors and the Standard up for raising of Men to suppress them they account themselves as out of His Majesties Protection and so incapable to Treat By this the World will see whether His Majesty or they be the occasion of this War and of all the Blood which is like to be shed in this unfortunate Kingdom His Majesty hath left no means of Accommodation unessayed for he hath even descended to make the first Offer of a new Treaty so careful is He of His Subjects Lives that for their Safeties He is even prodigal of His Own Honour and certainly he hath not a Subject that hath Honour but will be sensible of the Extremities he is now reduced into I wish our Countrymen may take it so to heart as not to neglect this occasion of witnessing their Affections to His Majesty by making some Overtures for such a Treaty or offer of their Service to Him since His Majesty is absolutely resolved to send no
more Messages as may be most for His Majesties Honour and Peace of His Kingdoms which if they shall refuse or despise I hope we will not then forget that it is our King that is reduced to this necessity and that we will never look on unconcerned where he is so deeply engaged I hope you will pardon the Trouble I give you in reading this long ill-written Letter for had I not been Commanded to it by a Power which God willing I shall never disobey it had not been hazarded on by Your most humble Servant LANERICK Nottingham the last of August 1642. The Marquis took all the pains imaginable on Argyle and Lowdon to perswade them to a cordial owning of the Kings Service Much pains taken to engage Scotland to the Kings Service as the only way to give Scotland a lasting Interest in the Kings Affection which also would make them famous all the World over And since the Scotish Troubles had involved the King in all His difficulties it was just they should study to extricate him and for the pretence of Religion with which the English were cajoling our Scotish Clergy he said he was to be pardoned if he presumed to know them better than they could assuring them that Religion was only pretended by them He took also a great deal of pains in many others to prepare them against the day in which the Conservatours were to meet to which Lanerick came with the following Letter from His Majesty Right trusty c. The Kings Letter to the Conservatours of the Peace HAving been informed that upon Petition of the Commissioners from Our late General Assembly Our Council thought fit that you should meet for discharging of that Trust imposed on you by Vs and Our Parliament whereby all fair means may be used to prevent such Troubles and Divisions as may interrupt or endanger the common Peace of Our Kingdom And as it ought to be the continual study of all Good and Pious Princes to preserve their People so certainly it is the Duty of all Loyal and Faithful Subjects to maintain the Greatness and Iust Authority of their Princes so that without this reciprocal Endeavour there can be no Happiness for the Prince nor Security for the People We are sure Our late Actions in Scotland will to all posterity be an acceptable witness of Our Care in preserving the Liberty of those Our Subjects and Our Desire to settle perfect Peace in that Our Kingdom And We are also confident that the many good Acts We have past here since the Sitting of this Parliament indeed denying none but such as denyed Vs any Power at all and were never so much as demanded from any of Our Predecessors will bear the like Testimony of Our Affection to the Good and Peace of this Kingdom though the success hath not been alike For though We have used Our best Endeavours to prevent the present Distractions and threatning Dangers yet so prevalent have been the opposers of Vs and the Peace of Our Kingdoms that not so much as a Treaty can be obtained though by Our several Messages We have descended to demand and press it unless upon such Conditions as would either by taking all Power of Government from Vs make Vs as nothing or by forcing Vs to quit the Protection of such as for obeying Vs according to Law and their Oath of Allegiance they would have Traytors and so make Vs do an Act unworthy of a King Yet so desirous We are to save Our Subjects Blood which cannot but be prodigally spent if We be necessitated by force of Arms to decide these unhappy Differences that no sooner any such Treaty shall be offered unto Vs by them which with Honour and Safety We can receive but We shall chearfully embrace it This We have thought fit to acquaint you with that from Our Selves you may know Our love to Peace and We doubt not but your Meeting at this time will produce something which will witness your tender respect to Our Honour and Safety and so much We do confide in your Affections as We shall absolutely leave the ways and means of expressing it to your selves So We bid you heartily farewell From Our Court at Stafford the 18th of September This so far prevailed with them at their first Meeting The Conservatours incline to serve the King that all things went very fairly so that they sent a Return to the Kings Letters without making any Judgement on the Differences betwixt Him and the Parliament They also resolved to Mediate betwixt the King and the Two Houses and for that end designed to send the Marquis to Holland with an Invitation from Scotland to Her Majesty for her Return to mediate a Peace betwixt the King and Parliament and to invite the Queen And the Marquis got a Paper signed by almost all the Lords not only those who were the best-affected but by Lowdon Argâ—le Waristoun Mr. Alexander Henderson and the other Leaders of the Party containing an Invitation for Her Majesty to come to Scotland with assurance of Security for Her Person and the free exercise of Her Religion for Her Self and Family so that no others were admitted to share in it and that they should concur with Her Majesty in mediating a Peace betwixt the King and the Two Houses which if it were rejected by the Two Houses they obliged themselves to engage for the King against them This was carried with great Address and managed so prudently that wise men called it the Master-peece of the Marquis his Life Lanerick carried it to the King to receive His Pleasure about it a Note whereof follows written by Lanerick in general Terms DIvers of the most considerable of the Nobility of Scotland and send Lanâ—rick to the King have by the Earl of Lanerick humbly offered unto His Majesty their sense of the present Differences betwixt Him and His Parliament of England which they conceive will hardly be reconciled so long as Her Majesty is at so great a distance and therefore are perswaded it would conduce much for Settling these Distractions if Her Majesty might be moved to return and mediate in so good a Work for which end the Marquis of Hamilton if His Majesty think fit and conceive it may be acceptable to Her Majesty will be ready to go to Holland humbly to invite Her Majesty hereunto in Name of this whole Kingdom of Scotland who will as dutiful and faithful Subjects humbly joyn their Endeavours and Mediation with Her Majesty that His Majesty may have Honour and Contentment and His People Happiness and Security under His Royal Government But the King was jealous of them The King at first welcomed this Proposition with a great deal of Joy but upon other grounds he thought not fit to listen to it for his Affection to the Queen made him fear the hazard of Her Person so much that this Proposition was not entertained which the Marquis often regrated as a Loss
least you will find that according to My Professions I am Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. His Majesty also expressed His Concerns for Traquair in the following Letter Lanerick ALbeit I am confident that you will further all My Friends Affairs yet I must not be so negligent in Traquair's behalf as not to name his business to you for admittance to his Place in Parliament of which I will say no more but you know his Sufferings for Me and this is particularly recommended to you by Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 17th November 1646. POSTSCRIPT I account writing to you or your Brother all one They consult in Scotland how to dispose of their Armies But the main Business was what to do with their Armies that were in England The Kingdom was groaning under a heavy and unsupportable Burden for their Maintenance so disbanding was a very plausible Motion and all desired that only such Forces should be kept up as were necessary for the Preservation and Security of Scotland The Duke and his Brother regrated much that so many Gallant Men should be disbanded who might be very useful for the Kings Service therefore they opposed all these Propositions arguing that till a final Peace were settlâ—d in England they might look for no Security to Scotland And in their Letters to His Majesty they continued to represent the desperate estate of Affairs if he did not quickly satisfie them in the business of Religion and that the Money for the Pay of the Army was now coming in daily at London and would be quickly ready and after that was sent down they could not keep the Army any longer in England without a present Breach to which they found no inclinations in the Scotish Parliament as long as they were not satisfied in what was so earnestly desired But the King was firm to his first Resolution Master Lesley at his return to the King brought him such assurances of the Affection and Duty of both the Brothers that the next Dispatch carried the following Letters to them Hamilton I Remember yet so much Latine as an old Proverb comes to which is quod valde volumus id sacile credimus This I apply to Robin Lesley's report of your Carriage in My present Service concerning which I will only say that you shall not more certainly make good what he hath promised Me in your Name than I will to you what he hath said in Mine and even in something by way of speaking beyond My Power I doubt not but to make it good as concerning your French particular But I shall leave all things not only of this nature to this honest Bearers relation but likewise whatsoever else may concern the Service of Your most assured real faithful constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 24th Nov. 1646. Lanerick I Have according to your Advice given a quick Return to this Trusty Bearer having instructed him fully in what I conceive necessary to My Affairs wherein in many things I have given him a Latitude to govern them according to your Directions wherefore I will say no more because if I should enter into Particulars I would not know how to end but that with Contentment I find daily more and more cause to be Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 24th November 1646. POSTSCRIPT I recommend particularly the Earl of Morton's Affairs Matters were now ripening unto much Confusion and Mischief which made His Majesty think of a full Answer to the Propositions but before He sent it to London He communicated it to my Lord Lanerick in the following Letter Newcastle 4th Decemb. 1646. Lanerick The Kings Letter about His Answer to the Propositions ACcording to My Promise by little Nobs I send you here inclosed the Answer which I have resolved to send to London wherein you will find a Clause in favour of the Independents to wit the Forbearance I give to those who have Scruples of Conscience and indeed I did it purposely to make what I send relish the better with that kind of People But if My Native Subjects will so countenance this Answer that I may be sure they will stick to Me in what concerns My Temporal Power I will not only expunge that Clause but likewise make what Declarations I shall be desired against the Independents and that really without any reserve or equivocation yet know that no Perswasion or Threatning whatsoever shall make Me alter a tittle of any thing else in it nor that neither but upon these Assurances The end therefore why I send you this before it go to the English Parliament is to try before-hand how I can procure it to be countenanced by My Scotish Friends for which you are to use all possible industry not seeking a full Approbation but taking what you can get absolutely commanding you not to hazard it in a Publick Way unless you be sure that I shall receive no rub in it For this I conceive it were a wrong to you to use any Arguments to make you do your best but to tell you this is Coup de partie assuring you that I shall not judge you by the Event but by your Endeavours which I am confident will be according to your Professions and for Gods sake do not so much as expect much less linger after any other or further matter from Me whereby to serve Me in this great Business for upon the Faith of a Christian you shall have no more than what is now laid before you And know that I rather expect the worse than the better Event of things being resolved by the Grace of God and without the least repining at him to suffer any thing that Injury can put upon Me rather than sin against My Conscience of which upon My credit you see the furthest Extent in relation to the present Affairs I say no more but difficilia quae pulchra and so God bless your Endeavours Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. POSTSCRIPT In order to that I have written and sent you herein I have commanded this Trusty Bearer Sir James Hamilton to tell you as many things as I can remember whom I desire you to return to Me or some other Trusty Messenger assoon as you may with what I am to expect from thence The inclosed Paper is marked on the back by the Kings Hand thus The Answer to the Propositions which I have resolved to send to London which I insert because it is not among His Majesties Printed Messages His Majesties Answer to the Propositions tendered to Him by the Commissioners from the Lords and Commons in the Parliament of England at Westminster and the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland CHARLES R. AS it is His Majesties chief desire to make such a Return to the Propositions The Kings Answer to the Propositions as may speedily produce a blessed firm and lasting Peace in all His Dominions so He hath employed His uttermost endeavours
that particular Freedoms should be esteemed Publick Obligations yet if they think they have so great a catch of it so that Scotland will declare for Me I will stand to the least tittle of these Instructions nothing being omitted according to their plain Grammatical sense As for the Officers of State certainly My Advocate will clear that Mistaking for all the Alteration concerning them is only for the better Conformity of that Paper which he brought from London And for the Great Seal upon the perusal of all My Papers I have not wit enough to find from whence the ground of going less can be taken but for Religion I know not what to say except endeavouring to be civil be termed a going less if so that fault shall be soon helped And indeed I cannot but think it strange that rather than to comply any thing with My Conscience you will I speak not personally to you but to the Kingdom in general submit to the Wills of those who at least can never prove your Friends and that to the visible Prejudice I may say more both of you and Me though I express My endeavouring to content you by shewing you more than a probable way for attaining your Pretensions which you make altogether desperate by rejecting My Offer And truly I am confident not to be single to think your Exceptions strange for first civil Ingenuity uses not to be misliked then I rather expected Thanks for giving of some time to Presbyterial Government than to have the Limitation of it objected against Me especially since that without Me it cannot be established And is it unfit for Me to have what is granted to all Publick Ministers by the Law of Nations Yes I cry you mercy for Kings use to dispense not to be dispensed with And why will ye not have Twenty Divines of My Nomination to speak amongst your grave Assembly Is it that you misdoubt your Cause or that you will not have it disputed neither of these Reasons can I submit to a third I cannot find Lastly as for your Covenant when and not before I shall be satisfied in My Conscience that I may allow it I will but I see no way for that satisfaction unless by such a Conference as I have proposed Now for sad Consequences I know no Antidote so good as a clear Conscience which by the Grace of God I will preserve whatsoever else happen to Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 14th December 1646. POSTSCRIPT I have so much work now that if you had ten Brethren what I have written is enough for them all A few days after this His Majesty sent His last Message to the Two Houses to be presented to the Scotish Parliament with which he wrote the following Letters to the two Brothers Hamilton I Thank you for the timeous advertisement you and your Brother have sent Me by this Bearer whom I have returned to you with some Queries which I desired a Friend of yours to write more at large to you than I have now time for to which and to this Bearer referring you I rest Your most assured real faithful constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle December 19th 1646. Lanerick SInce I saw by what Sir James Hamilton brought Me from you what Reception My intended Message to London was likely nay sure to have and since My Conscience will not permit Me a further Length I know not what I may do upon a full and free Debate at London I have sent another the Copy whereof is here inclosed which I expresly send you to acquaint the Scotish Parliament with what I have done and to desire their Assistance in it in which knowing that your Fidelity needs no spurs nor your Ability information what to say I will say no more but that I am Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 19th Decemb. 1646. But as for the inclosed Message it being Printed among His Majesties Messages it is needless to insert it here And now came on the fatal Turn of matters in Scotland which shall be set down from a Letter of my Lord Lanerick's that follows but to whom the Writer knows not the Direction being lost SInce my last our Debates have been of so great Importance that I cannot conceal them Yesterday we spent two Hours in the grand Commitee the whole Parliament being present and indeed to good purpose for it was resolved that present Instructions should be sent to our Commissioners to press His Majesties coming to London with Honour Safety and Freedom and that we should declare our Resolutions to maintain Monarchical Government in His Majesties Person and Posterity and His Iust Title to the Crown of England But I confess this Day is the saddest I ever saw for after Resolutions were taken of sending to His Majesty it is carried that nothing but a Grant to the whole Propositions must be demanded and in case of a Refusal the former Certifications given to His Majesty put in execution of Securing the Kingdom and Settling a Government without Him and lest His Majesty should have hopes of engaging this Kingdom on easier terms or thinking to come to Scotland where though He should lose England He might exercise the Office of a King it is to be Declared that this Kingdom cannot lawfully engage themselves for His Majesties Preservation albeit He should be even Deposed in England He not taking the Covenant satisfying in Religion and giving a satisfactory Answer to the rest of the whole Propositions presented to Him in name of both Kingdoms Besides it is to be Declared that His Majesty will not be admitted to come to Scotland where though He were His Regal Function would be susâ—ended and even His Royal Pâ—rson at least be put under Restraint if not delivered up to the Parliament While we were on these Debates the inclosed Warning was presented to the Parliament by the Commission of the Kirk which though you may think possibly high yet really it is very moderate in regard of these Motions have been in Publick for now all Private Meeting is quit by us in relation to His Majesties Person which certainly will not only not be admitted to come into Scotland but a joynt Course will be taken by both Kingdoms for keeping him in Restraint in England And you may be confident that will certainly be carried in despight of those that will oppose it And to prepare us the better before we come to a Resolution we are to morrow to have a kind of Fast and hear two Sermons in the Morning according to our Custom at St. Andrews before the Executions and the rest of the Day is to be imployed in taking a Final Resolution which without all peradventure will be to send Commissioners to His Majesty to demand the whole Propositions for Religion will not satisfie and to settle both Kingdoms without His Majesties Regal Authority and imprison His Person in England for He will not be admitted to come to
to depend upon His Settlement on his Throne they fell upon their Treaty with the Parliament But the Army was beginning to take off their Mask and change their Stile for having now seated themselves in the Power they begun to contrive how to execute what they had always designed which was the Ruin of the King and the Subversion of Monarchy And a new Party among them called the Levellers did avowedly own Principles contrary to all Order and Government so that there was great ground to apprehend Danger to the Kings Person My Lords of Lowdon Lauderdale and Lanerick represented to the King that if He would give satisfaction in the point of Religion he was Master of Scotland on what terms as to other things He would demand but without that they feared their Design of serving Him should meet with great Opposition yet they resolved once to rescue Him out of the hands of the Army or to perish in the Attempt and offered to rescue Him from the Army A little after this His Majesty being to hunt at Nonsuch the Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick came thither on pretence of waiting on His Majesty accompanied with 50 Horse which struck no small terrour in the little Guard that was about the King whereupon these Lords told His Majesty that they were come to rescue Him from His Captivity and they with all these they brought with them were resolved to die at His feet wherefore they intreated Him to make His Escape But the King told them He had engaged His Honour not to leave the Army without giving them Advertisement and till He freed Himself of that He would die rather than break His Faith But the Leading men of the Army were now weary of the Kings being with them and wished to have Him in some secure Place under a good Guard whereupon they made reports be brought to Him that the Levellers were designing against His Life The King therefore called again the Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick to Him some days before His Escape and told them He had freed Himself of the Engagement He had given not to leave the Army The King advises with Lauderdale and Lanerick what to do He therefore desired their Advice what to do The Earl of Lauderdale said things being driven to such extremities it was not safe to give Advice but would His Majesty suggest any thing he would with all candour deliver his Opinion about it The King first spoke of His Going to Scotland the Earl of Lauderdale said that except He resolved to comply with their Desires about Religion He might expect no better Usage from the Church-party there than He had met with at Newcastle Next the King moved His Going to London the Earl of Lauderdale answered that formerly that had been a safe Course but now the City was so over-awed by the Army that he durst not advise His trusting His Person to them for the Tumults there were already great and would undoubtedly grow upon His coming The King asked if He came was He sure of the Scotish Commissioners that they would stick to Him in Name of the Scotish Nation the Earl of Lauderdale answered that all of them to a man should wait on Him and own His Service at all hazards but without Instructions from Scotland they could do nothing as Commissioners but only in their own Names as His Subjects and they had great reason to fear the Church-party in Scotland would not own Him nor order them to do it Next the King spoke of His going to Berwick whereupon the Earl of Lanerick who till then had stood silent begged of His Majesty that for Gods sake he would follow that Motion for if He left England the Army would pretend He was deserting His Kingdom and so depose Him but Berwick was a strong Place which at that time lay ungarrisoned the Country about it was generally well-affected and so He might easily get a good Garrison to go in with Him and by that means he was near Scotland for the encouragement of those who resolved to serve Him This was also backed by Lauderdale and the King seemed fully resolved on it so they left Him of this the Author had his Information from the Earl of Lauderdale A few days after this His Majesty went to the Isle of Wight The King goes to the Isle of Wight and on the 16th of November sent a Message to the Parliament which is Printed with the rest of the Messages declaring the reason of His Going to that Place and inviting them to a Treaty As for Religion he insisted on His Judgment about Episcopacy as a Government settled by the Apostles but was content it should be limited so that the â—ishops should act nothing in Ecclesiastical matters without their Presbyters whereby they should be no burden to Tender Consciences and that they should be obliged to reside and labour and preach in their Diocesses Besides He continued His Offer for the Settlement of Presbytery for Three Years till things were freely debated and considered adding a Liberty to all Tender Consciences except Popish Recusants As for the Militia He offered to yield it up to the Parliament during His whole Reign and in other Particulars insisted on His former Concessions and some days after that he wrote what follows to my Lord Lanerick Lanerick AS My coming hither will be variously scanned so I believe that My Message to the Two Houses will have divers Interpretations for neither of which I mean to make any Apology and wrâ—tes from thence to Lanerick for honest Actions at last will best interpret themselves only I must observe to you that what I have sent to London the end of it is to procure a Personal Treaty for which if I have striven to please all Interests with all possible equality without wronging My Conscience I hope no reasonable man will blame Me. Nor am I so unreasonable as to imagine that this My Message can totally content My Own Party but for the end of it a Personal Treaty I hope that all the reasonable men on all sides will concur with Me as I expect your Scotish Commissioners should do though I know you must dislike many Passages in it And yet I must tell you that in substance it differs very little from My Message of the 22th of May. This I thought necessary to write to you that you might assure your fellow-Commissioners that change of Place hath not altered My Mind from what it was when you last saw Me. So I rest Your most assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Carisbrook 19th November 1647. POSTSCRIPT This is a safe Messenger wherefore you or any other of My Friends may write to Me by him desiring much to hear from you To this Letter the three Commissioners from Scotland wrote joyntly this Answer May it please Your Majesty The Scotish Commissioners write to the King YOur Message left behind You at Hampton-Court gave great hopes that Your Majesty was
gone to some Place where you might be safe and free from Your Enemies and where Your Majesties Friends might have access to You. But as the Place to which You are gone so Your Majesties Message of the 16th hath infinitely disabled us to serve You for what You offer in matter of Religion comes far short of Your Majesties Message of the 12th of May besides it grants a full Toleration of Heresy and Schism for ever And as for Your Concessions in things Civil more is granted than was expected by some or wished by others and although we know not how effectual Your Majesties Message may prove for a Personal Treaty yet our Endeavours shall be really contributed for that end as we have done in part already If this Message be rejected a Personal Treaty denied the new Propositions pressed by the Two Houses and Your Majesty in no better Security than formerly You would advise us in time what to do and wherein we can be useful to Your Majesty who are resolved to serve You as becomes Your Majesties most humble most faithful most loyal Subjects and Servants LOWDON LAVDERDALE LANERICK 22th Novemb. 1647. Next day His Majesty wrote what follows to my Lord Lanerick Lanerick His Majesties Answer to Lanerick I Wonder to hear if that be true that some of My Friends should say that My Going to Jersey had much more furthered My Personal Treaty than My Coming hithâ—r for wâ—ich as I see no colour of Reason so I had not been here if I had thought that Fancy true or had not been secured of a Personal Treaty of which I neither do nor I hope shall repent for I am daily more and more satisfied with this Governour and find these Islanders very goâ—d peaceable and quiet People This Encouragement I have thought not unfit for you to receive hoping at least it may do good upon others though needless to you from Your most assured real faithful constant Friend CHARLES R. Carisbrook 23th Nov. 1647. But in the end of November the Two Houses passed the four Bills without the consent of the Scotish Commissioners which was a manifest Breach of Treaty The Two Houses pass the four Bills In them the Covenant was not so much as mentioned for they related wholly to Civil matters as the perpetual Power of the Militia the unlimited Authority of Parliament and in effect the Giving up at once the Kings Authority But the Scotish Commissioners complained and Remonstrated against this with open mouth and gave in a large Remonstrance against the four Bills Declaring The Scotish Commissionerâ— protest against them that contrary to all the former Treaties and Declarations the Propositions made to His Majesty were still altered the Propositions sent to Newcastle to which notwithstanding their dislike of them yet for Peace sake they had yielded were now quite changed They also protested first against the sending of Propositions without a previous Treaty which they earnestly pressed as the likeliest Course for removing all Mistakes and bringing things to a Final Settlement and therefore they insisted on their former Desires for a Personal Treaty in or about London Next they excepted against the Bills both because the Covenant was quite omitted and the Settling of the Uniformity of Religion was turned to a Desire for a vast Toleration The Treaties with Scotland were not desired to be confirmed but only the making of them to be approved which was rather an Indemnity for making them than a Confirmation of them Next they remonstrated that the Kings Legislative Power was quite taken away by an unlimited Power they desired to be put in the Hands of the Two Houses and that their Demand about the Militia did put the King out of a capacity of Protecting His Subjects In fine they complained of the making Propositions without the concurrence of the Scotish Commissioners wherefore they remonstrated against the Bills and resolved to follow the Commissioners whom the Two Houses were to send to Wight and protest against these Bills upon which divers Papers passed betwixt the Two Houses and them The Earls of Lowdon Lauderdale and Lanerick wrote their sense of these Bills to His Majesty thus May it please Your Majesty and write to the King concerning them IT is of no advantage to expostulate about what is past either the carrying Your Majesty into that sad Place or the Prejudice Your Service and we suffer by Your Majesties Message for while You study to satisfie all You satisfie no Interest We shall insist on the grounds we went on at Hampton-Court and shall constantly press a Personal Treaty at London but not as the new Propositions do hold forth which if Your Majesty agrees to You divest Your Self and Your Posterity of the Militia for ever You settle this Army and Entertainment for it over Your Self and Your Majesties People perpetually and by giving leave to Adjournment You and Your Parliament shall be carried about at the Armies Pleasure as their Sub-Committee If Your Majesty will further enable us we shall by our Actions give more real testimonies how intirely we are Your Majesties most humble most faithful and most loyal Subjects and Servants LOWDON LAVDERDALE LANERICK 25th November 1647. With this Lanerick sent to His Majesty the Papers they gave in against the Bills and the other late Votes upon which the King wrote the following Letter Lanerick ALbeit that Letters can ill dispute at this distance yet I cannot but tell you His Majesty is well satisfied with their Papers that many things may be fitly offered to obtain a Treaty that may be altered when one comes to Treat and there is a great difference betwixt what I will insist on and what I will permit for the obtaining of a Peace Likewise it is neceâ—sary in many respects that I should seek to satisfie as far as I can with Conscience and Honour all chief Interests All these things impartially and duly considered I will boldly say My Message will not be found much amiss which recommending to Yâ—ur better consideration I must now desire You to give hearty thanks in My Name to your fellow-Commissioners of which though you take a large share to your self they will not want for their Paper of the 17th of this Month which was sent to the Two Houses for seriously it is as full to My sense as if I had penned it My Self And let me tell you that it will turn to the greatest Honour I say no more that ever befell you wherefore I conjure you by all that is dear to wise or honest men that you adhere close and constantly to it and as the Song sayes I ask no more So I rest Your most assured faithful real Friend CHARLES R. Carisbrook 29th November 1647. To which with another of that Date which His Majesty wrote to the three Lords which is not in the Writers hands they wrote the following Answers Sir They write again to the King IN answer to Your Majesties of
the 29th of November we shall first humbly acknowledge Your Favour by conferring so great a Trust on us and do engage our selves to the exactest Secrecy As for a Personal Treaty we are resolved still to insist on it and that London may be the Place but as to Your coming hither in Person Your Majesty not having signified to us Your Resolution of declaring or concealing Your being here or upon what assurance of Safety you can do either as Affairs now stand we dare not presume to giâ—e a positive Advice herein but leave it to Gods Direction and Your Wisdom though we wish from our Souls You were out of those hands you are now again in And albeit we can no ways joyn with Your Majesties Message yet whatever Success our Endeavours for a Personal Treaty shall have or what Place soever Your Majesty puts Your Self into You may be confident that you shall still have the reallest Assurance and faithfullest Services of Your Majesties most humble most faithful and most loyal Subjects and Servants LOWDON LAVDERDALE LANERICK 1st Dec. 1647. Sir JVst now we received Your last of the 29th of November The first of that Date we answered by James Cunningham and can now say no more as to Your coming to London than we did by him for though nothing is so much wished by us as Your being out of their Power in whose hands You have put Your Self yet we know not in what Safety Your Person could be here at London considering the present Temper of the Two Houses the Distempers of the Army and the irresolution of the City But not knowing what grounds Your Majesty goes upon we cannot judge of that Design yet since You are pleased to command us to offer our sense of a better if we approve not of this we shall presume to propose to Your Majesty Your Town of Berwick as a Place both of Safety to Your Person and of advantage for prosecuting Your ends of Peace whether by a Treaty or otherwise of restoring Your Self to Your Power and Your People to their former Happiness The Prejudice of abandoning Your Kingdom of England while Your Parliament is Sitting will thereby be evited Your Friends whether at home or abroad will have free access unto You and if You shall think fit to make use of the Affections of Your Scotish Subjects You already know upon what terms You can engage them either to restore You or fall with You. And as to the Safety of Your Person besides the Affection of these Northern Places which is very great and the Strength of the Place it self which upon Your Arrival with a few of Your English Friends may be possessed by You Scotland hath not only 1200 Horse now together upon the Borders but will be ready to imploy their whole Power for Your Personal Preservation in case of danger If Your Majesty approves of this Motion You will think upon the best speediest and safest way of executing it and either in this or what else You command we will constantly shew our selves Your Majesties most humble most faithful and most loyal Subjects and Servants LOWDON LAVDERDALE LANERICK Dec. 4. 1647. On the 6th of December His Majesty sent a new Message to the Two Houses with which he wrote to the Scotish Commissioners AS I heartily thank you for your Freedom The King sends a Copy of His Message to the Scotish Commissionerâ— thereby perceiving your hearty endeavours for My Recovery so there are so many Particulars that I cannot at this time give you a positive Answer but shall within few days In the mean time I earnestly desire you to use your uttermost Endeavours for procuring a Personal Treaty which for the present will be the most acceptable Service you can do to Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. POSTSCRIPT I have sent you a Copy of a new Message here inclosed to the Two Houses not doubting but you will second it also desiring you speedily to advertise Me of any Resolution that shall be taken to My disadvantage by the Houses and of this I pray you be very watchfull The Message being among the Printed Messages is not inserted here the Reader being referred to that Collection The substance of it was An Expostulating that no return had been made to his last Message notwithstanding which His Majesties constant tenderness to the Wellfare of His Subjects and the sad condition they were now driven to did so far prevail upon Him that he vehemâ—ntly pressed a Personal Treaty as the best means of Peace so that the blame of retarding so great a Work must fall somewhere else than on His Majesty who as He had already offered to devest Himself of much of His Authority so He did not doubt but if they met Him with the same Resolutions with which He would meet them the Kingdom should at last enjoy the Blessings of a long-wished Peace At this time the Two Houses were designing to make His Majestie a close Prisoner of which the Scotish Lords gave the King notice in the following Letter Sir They discover to him Designs against Hiâ— Person WE are this day certainly informed that the Committee appointed for Your Majesties Papers whereof Mr. Lyle of the Isle of Wight hath the Charge and whereof Mr. Martin Scot and that Cabal are Members have resolved that present Order should be given for making Your Majesty a close Prisoner and to remove Ashburnham Berkeley and Leg from You and commit them to close Prison with Resolutions to proceed to Extremities against Your Majesties Person The knowledg of this came to us from Jack Denham besides a Member of that Committee this day assured My Lady Carlisle that within 24 hours Your Majesty would be a close Prisoner And to our certain knowledg there are Debates amongst the eminent Persons by one mean or other to destroy Your Majesties Person and Consultations have been here and in the Armies for this effect Our information comes from some who were present at both we could not be at quiet till we had advertised Your Majesty of this nor can we propose any better Remedy than we did express by Andrew Cole If Your Majesty does not resolve and act speedily we fear our Endeavours to serve You will be too late which would be the greatest Affliction could come to Your Majesties most humble most faithful and most loyal Subjects and Servants LOWDON LAVDERDALE LANERICK 8th Decemb. 1647. POSTSCRIPT Jack Denham's Intelligence is from the Clerk of the Committee At this time the Earl of Traquair came to wait on the King Traquair waits on the King and gave Him great hopes of the Fidelity of some of the most rigid of the Church-party in Scotland He was sent by His Majesty to the Scotish Commissioners with the following Letters THe coming of Traquair hath much eased the pains which otherwise I must have taken in performance of that Promise I made you iâ— My last Letter by And. Cole but I care not
of Bohemia recommended the care of her Affairs to him The Queen of Bohemia recommends the care of her Affairs to the Marquis as the person being her nearest kinsman and best known to her in whom of all that were about her Brother she confided most and as during the King her Fathers life she had employed none so much as his Father so she did entail that trust upon the Son and indeed in all her Letters to him hundreds of which remain she continued such expressions of genuine and â—rank kindness as shew she never thought she had misplaced her trust At this time the King of Sweden being provoked with a desire of glory The King of Sweden invites the King to his assistance and led on by the aspirings of a great and generous mind resolved to adventure on that which had been fatal to all who had attempted it and to oppose the Emperours designs declaring his resolutions were to deliver Germany from the yoke of Tyranny which was beginning to be twisted about their Necks but fearing his own strength was not able to compass so great a design much of his confidence was grounded on the assistance he expected from the King Therefore as by his own Ambassadour the Lord Spence he solicited his aid so he employed the King of Bohemia to interpose with his Majesty for his assistance in the prosecution of that great Affair who pressed it with much earnestness by his Agent Curtius representing that now or never was the time that it should appear to the World what effects he might look for from his Alliance and the King was resolved in good earnest to advance that design but judged it not fit for himself to own it in his own name at first for some reasons of State a chief one being that his Ambassadour in Germany Sir Robert Anstrother was entertained at that time with some hopes of the restauration of the Palatinat though that was judged to be without any other intentions but to cajole the King and so keep him from concurring in the Swedish designs His Majesty finding it not convenient to appear in it himself resolved it should pass for the voluntary assistance of his Subjects to which he should only give way and made choice of the Marquis for the person in whom he had the greatest confidence of his zealous pursuing his designs upon the Palatinat who appoints the Marquis to enter in Treaty with that King Whether this motion came originally from the King or not I do not see or if it was the desire of the King or Queen of Bohemia which seems more probable for the Swedish Ambassadour did first move it and pressed it with much earnestness others suggest that it came from some of the Marquis his enemies who envying and suspecting his rising greatness and seeing no possibility of lessening his interest in the Kings affection that was daily growing judged this honourable Proposition would once set him a good way from the Court There was too much of honour in this Proposition to be rejected by the Marquis and his age being at that time pronest to a thirst of glory he could not but be hearty in the undertaking though the ruine of all who had hitherto imbarked in that Design gave but small encouragement to any who should engage in it yet the great renown of the Swedish King together with the fears into which all the Princes of Germany were now driven which rendred them almost desperate made the Attempt look more promising than formerly but the Marquis his duty to his Master and his affection to all his interests chiefly those of his only Sister made him with alacrity accept that Employment One thing was certain that which way soever the first Proposition of this was made it came not from himself for if the King had known or suspected it to have flow'd from him it would have appeared afterwards when the Calumnies to be related were under examination or when the Marquis was a prisoner but no such thing ever dropt from his Majesty In the end of the year 1629. the Marquis according to the Kings Orders sent Colonel Hamilton The Marquis sends Col. Hamilton to treat brother to the Earl of Hadington to the King of Sweden with a general offer of his service and his resolution to come in person with a considerable force to joyn with him in his noble enterprize for the Liberty of Germany This had a very kind reception from the King of Sweden for at that time the valour of the Scots was so great and that Kings value of them so high that he welcomed the Proposition with a sincere heartiness and as he wrote a very kind Answer to the Marquis which with many others of his Letters is yet preserved so he sent him a Commission to be General of what Army he should raise for his assistance Upon this the Marquis sent one David Ramsay a Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and after him David Ramsay to agree the Conditions upon which he should embark in the Swedish design This Ramsay was one in whom he had no interest at all neither can any account be given what he was save that there is a Letter from the King of Bohemia in my hands wherein he recommends him to the King as one who had served him faithfully in Germany he therefore as being acquainted with the German language and affairs and zealous for the King of Bohemia's service was made choice of for this Negotiation but for the Marquis to have made this man who could be no longer known to him than since he came last to Court a Confident in so great and desperate a resolution as was afterwards fastned on this Employment it had the same likelyhood which was in the rest of the Calumnies wherewith his Innocency was attacqued An. 1627. Colonel Hamilton The Articles of the Treaty yet extant in Latine who had stayed with the King of Sweden and Mr. Ramsay agreed with that King on the following Conditions which I set down faithfully translated from the Original which is in Latine WE Gustavus Adolphus by the Grace of God King of the Swedes Articles signed by the King of Sweden Goths and Vandals Great Prince of Finland Duke of Esthone and Carel and Lord of Ingria c. To all and sundry whom it concerns make it known and certain That whereas the Illustrious and Our sincerely beloved Lord James Marquis of Hamilton Master of the Horse to the most Serene King of Great Britain out of his zeal for the publick good and for acquiring eternal fame hath resolved to dedicate himself and the fortunes and forces of all he is concerned in for restoring Our oppressed Friends in Germany and for that end hath offered to Vs by the Illustrious and Our sincerely faithful Colonel Alexander Hamilton his fidelity and service and that he will on his own expence gather a strength of six thousand men and bring them over
what shall be agreed for me betwixt Your Majesty and these to whom this Affair is trusted by me I bind my self to ratifie To the fifth since the reasons of my Expedition to Germany are the same with Your Majesties I have firmly resolved to help and relieve the oppressed Princes and States of Germany with the ease of all these burdens with which they are now pressed and therefore shall do every thing in order and decently as becomes most friendly Auxiliaries and if any thing be taken by me from the common Enemy I shall desire nothing more than that the right of it be entirely and inviolably Your Majesties To the ninth since I have devoted my whole fortune with all my interests for promoting this our Design I promise that whatever any shall contribute for it shall all be laid out for this War which I shall with my whole Forces manage and carry on till either it please God that You obtain a desired Peace or that the Liberty of Germany which is now oppressed be restored To the tenth since by this Article Your Majesty requires and expects Fidelity from me and my Army I James Marquis of Hamilton by these presents give my Faith for my self and them and bind both my self and them and for the Confirmation of this I do subscribe this Article with all the preceding and put my Seal to it at London the first of March Anno Dom. 1631. Signed Hamilton Locus Sigilli Ramsay had in Commission to deal with any Scotish or English Officers who served beyond Sea to come and serve under the Marquis and finding Mackay the Lord Reay in good reputation Ramsay treats with the Lord Reay he dealt with him to engage in his Service who cordially undertook it and some moneths after that wrote to the Marquis which Letter is preserved That though the King of Sweden had given him the Command of three Regiments and made him Captain of his Guards yet he was so desirous to put life in his noble designs that he would serve him were it but to carry a Pike in his Army and thus Ramsay returned and Colonel Hamilton with him Whereupon the Marquis went about the executing of his designs and the levying of his men but all was according to the Kings Orders and Instructions yet His Majesty seemed onely a consenter to it The Levies went on all this Winter in which many were backward because the King owned them so little As for Money the King advanced a good summe though far short of what was necessary but he gave the Marquis a Lease of the Customs of the Wines in Scotland for 16 years upon which Security he and all his friends raised as much Money as the design required Many of the Marquis his friends did in the beginning dissuade him from the undertaking apprehending the hazards both of his person and fortune which were visible from an attempt that was full of dubious success but when they saw him engaged in it they did all very frankly concur mortgaging their Fortunes for raising such summes of Money as were necessary for the Expedition Next Spring the Marquis sent Ramsay to Holland to see what assistance he might expect from the States An. 1631. and in particular to deal with some British Officers who were then in their Service to come and take employment in his Army He likewise sent one Elphinston to the King of Sweden Ramsay is sent over to the States and Elphinston to the King of Sweden to shew him that he would be ready to land with his Army in Iune or Iuly and to press that the Forces he was to have from the Swede might be ready to meet him where ever he were appointed to land his men or if the King of Sweden could not spare so many men that he would order the money for their Levy and Pay to be sent to Hamburg or to any other Bank that so the Marquis might levy them himself Upon this the King of Sweden sent the Lord Reay first to Denmark and then to Holland for carrying on of those Levies and committed the levying of 3000 Foot and 1000 Horse to Colonel Farensback The King was betrayed by Farensback a Leeflander of good repute in the Wars who had served the Emperour but for I know not what crime had lost his favour and undertaken the Service of the Swede and seemed to be going on with his Levy till the time was past and then did basely run over to the Emperour shewing how great a Service he had done by his cousening the King of Sweden since he hoped the failing of the Swedish Auxiliaries would keep the Marquis of Hamilton's Army from coming over that Summer King Gustavus was now in Germany and by his frequent Letters pressed the Marquis his dispatch He pressed the Marquis to come in all haste for he was then in great straits the Princes of Germany begun to fear his success and were not so forward in joyning with him as he expected and by divers Letters both from himself and Camerarius his Ambassadour in Holland and Salvius his Agent in Hamburg it appears that the Princes of Germany took their measures chiefly from the Kings resolutions The King of Sweden also desired a League with the King and that the King should send over ten thousand men whom the King of Britain should maintain during the Wars and desires a League with the King and that Army with the other twelve thousand should be under the Marquis his Command as General upon which the King of Sweden should oblige himself never to make Peace with the Emperour till the Palatinat were restored To this the King gave a good hearing and promised to send over an Embassadour to finish the Agreement and in the mean time the Marquis his dispatch was hasted forward with all diligence His Army was partly Scots partly English and they were to be transported in the Kings Ships the Scotish Forces were to be shipped at Leith and the English at Yarmouth and Yarmouth-Road was to be their Rendezvous In the end of May both Reay and Ramsay came out of Holland to England Ramsay got nothing done with the States who would give no assistance to the Marquis till the King formally engaged himself yet he got some Officers to come over and in particular that gallant English Gentleman Sir Iacob Ashly who had acquired much reputation in the Dutch Wars but Ramsay drew much trouble on himself for being a man of an intemperate tongue he had talked loosly of the Court of England to the Lord Reay At this time the Marquis was in Scotland drawing the Souldiers together and having made all ready there he returned to Court having nothing more to doe but to kiss His Majesties Hand and receive his last Commands but there was then at Court the Lord Ochiltree Reay acccuseth Ramsay and Ochiltree the Marquis a man of a subtil spirit and good parts had not those endowments
contrary to but would prove a ready mean to preserve the true Religion already received and beat down all Superstition Withall the King considering the disorderly Conventions had been to form Petitions against these Books though they deserved a high Censure yet His Majesty willing to impute that rather to a preposterous Zeal than to any Disloyalty therefore dispensed with them to all such as should thence forth retire and return to their Obedience whereupon these Conventions were in all time coming discharged under pain of Treason The Tumults grow This was proclaimed at Sterlin the nineteenth of February but was so far from giving satisfaction that it proved a crisis to greater Confusion for it met with a Protestation as it was proclaimed sent from those of the Tables who notwithstanding continued to sit in that Iunto An Answer also came from the Duke of Lennox and the other Lords at Court directed only to three of the Lords of the Covenant in Scotland the Earls of Rothes Cassils and Montrose wherein they wrote that they had communicated their desires to His Majesty who answered that as hitherto he had received all the Petitions they had offered to the Council so he had considered them and would declare His Royal Intentions about them The Combustions continuing and growing the Council appointed a solemn Meeting to be the first of March at Sterlin for a full examining of things that they might send their joint Advices to Court This was likewise agreed to by the Lord Chancellour who was then at Edinburgh and undertook for himself and the rest of the Clergy that were of the Council to keep that Appointment The first of March came but none of the Clergy kept the day the Lord Bishop of Brechin only excepted an excuse came from the Lord Chancellour but the necessity of Affairs pressed the Lords of the Council to go on they continued four days consulting and debating about things but after the third day Bishop Brechin left them seeing in what Determinations they were likely to close The issue of their Consulting was to send Sir Iohn Hamilton the Justice-Clerk to the King with Instructions which follow as they are taken from the Original yet extant INSTRUCTIONS from His MAJESTIES Council to the Lord Iustice-Clerk whom they have ordained to go to Court for His MAJESTIES service Instructions to the Justice-Clerk concerning the rise and remedies of these Disorders IN the first place you are to receive from the Clerk of the Council all the Acts past since our meeting upon the first of March instant Item You have to represent to his Majesty That the Dyet of Council was appointed to be solemnly kept by the advice of the Lord Chancellour and remnant Lords of the Clergy being at Edinburgh for the time who assured us that they should keep the Dyet precisely but at our meeting at Sterlin we received a Letter of excuse from the Lord Chancellour which forced us to proceed without his Lordships presence or any others of the Lords of the Clergy except the Bishop of Brechin who attended us three days but removed before the closing of our Opinions anent the business Item That immediately after we had resolved to direct you with a Letter of Trust to His Majesty we did send our Letter to the Lord Chancellour acquainting him with our proceedings and desiring him to consider thereof and if he approved the same to sign them and to cause tâ—e remnant Lords of the Clergy nearest unto him and namely the Bishop of Brechin who was an ear and eye Witness to our Consultations to sign the same and by their Letter to His Majesty to signifie their approbation thereof or if his Lordship did find some other way more convenient for His Majesties Honour and the Peace of the Country that his Lordship by his Letter to the Lord Treasurer or Privie-Seal would acquaint them therewith to the effect they might convene the Council for consulting thereabout Item That you shew His Majesty that His Majesties Council all in one voice finds that the causes of the general Combustions in the Country are the Fears apprehended of Innovation of Religion and Discipline of the Kirk established by the Laws of the Kingdom by occasion of the Service-Book Book of Canons and High-Commission and from the Introduction thereof contrary to or without warrant of the Laws of the Kingdom Item You are to represent to His Majesty our humble opinion That seeing as we conceive the Service-Book Book of Canons and High-Commission as it is set down are the occasion of this Combustion and that the Subjects offer themselves upon peril of their Lives and Fortunes to clear that the said Service-Book and others foresaid contain divers Points contrary to the Religion presently professed and Laws of the Kingdom in matter and manner of Introduction That the Lords think it expedient that it be represented to His Majesties gracious Consideration if His Majesty may be pleased to declare as an act of his singular Iustice that he will take trial of His Subjects Grievances and the reasons thereof in His own time and in His own way according to the Laws of this Kingdom and that His Majesty may be pleased gâ—aciously to declare that in the mean time he will not press nor urge His Subjects therewith notwithstanding any Act or Warrant made in the contrary And in case His Majesty shall be graciously pleased to approve of our humble opinions you are thereafter to represent to His Majesties gracious and wise Consideration if it shall not be fitting to consult His Majesties Council or some such of them as He shall be pleased to call to Himself or allow to be sent from the Table both about the time and way of doing of it And if His Majesty as God forbid shall dislike of what we have conceived most conducing to His Majesties Service and Peace of the Kingdom you are to urge by all the arguments you can that His Majesty do not determine upon any other course until some at least of His Council from this be heard to give the reasons of their Opinions and in this case you are likewise to represent to His Majesties Consideration if it shall not be fitting and necessary to call for His Informers together with some of His Council that in His Own presence he may hear the Reasons of both Informations fully debated You shall likewise show His Majesty that His Council having taken to their Consideration what further was to be done for composing and settling of the present Combustion within the Kingdom and dissipating of the Convocations and Gatherings within the same seeing Proclamations are already made and published discharging all such Convocations and unlawful Meetings the Lords after debating find they can do no further than is already done herein until His Majesties pleasure be returned to this our humble Remonstrance Signed Traquair Roxburgh Winton Perth Wigton Kinghorn Lauderdale Southesk Angus Lorn Down Elphinston Napier J. Hay Tho. Hope
as also that many of the Covenanters were broken in their Estates so that if Justice were patent some of the most troublesom of them might be driven away but chiefly the settling them again in Edinburgh looked like a resolution of going on with a Treaty of which it was fit they should be persuaded till the King were in a good posture for reducing them He tried what assurance he might have of the Lords of the Session being fixed to their Duty Divers of them who were no ill-wishers to the Kings Authority yet durst not own it being threatned by the Covenanters of some he had all reason to hope well yet the greater part of that Court what through fear what through inclination was so biassed that he saw little hope of prevailing with the Colledge of Justice whether Judges or Lawyers to declare the Covenant seditious or treasonable and he was secure of none who sate on the Bench save Sir Robert Spottiswood President Sir Iohn Hay Clerk-Register and Sir Andrew Fletcher of Innerpeffer Halyburton of Fotherance and one or two more the first of these was among the most accomplished of his Nation equally singular for his Ability and Integrity but he was the Archbishop of S. Andrews his Son and so his Decision in that would have been of the less weight On the 16th of Iune the Covenanters came and presented their Petitions to the Marquis craving a present redress of their Grievances The Covenanters press speedy satisfaction otherwise they said they would be put off no longer by delays and they desired he would propose the matter to the Council and give them a speedy Answer He told them that His Majesty did resolve to call both an Assembly and Parliament for the redress of all Grievances but if this was not yet done they had nothing but the Disorders of the Country to blame for it which should be no sooner composed but all their Desires should be fully examined They went away no way satisfied with this Answer but the Marquis found all the Lords of Council inclined to the granting of what they demanded so that he durst call no Council about it lest they should have avowedly sided with the Covenanters of which he advertised His Majesty shewing him that persons of all ranks pressed him to represent to him that the Covenant was not illegal and that if His Majesty would allow of the Explication of the Bond of mutual Defence Many move that an Explanation of the Covenant might be received which they offered that they meant not thereby to derogate any thing from the Kings Authority for whom they were ready to hazard their Lives all might be settled without more trouble either to the King or Country and that otherwise it must needs end in Blood He desired His Majesty would consider well in what forwardness his Preparations were before he hazarded on a Rupture lest if they had the start of him all his faithful Servants in Scotland should be ruined ere he could come to their rescue England wanted not its own Discontents and they in Scotland seemed confident that they had many good Friends there France had not forgot the Isle of Rhea and had certainly a hand in cherishing those Broils in Scotland He also added the Covenanters resolution was upon the first Rupture to march into England and make that the seat of the War Upon all this he craved His Majesties Pleasure which he would punctually obey and ended begging pardon for the fair hopes he had given him in his last protesting that his desire of seeing Royal Authority again settled without a bloody Decision for which he was gladly willing to sacrifice his Life made him too easie sometimes to believe what he so earnestly desired Thus I give the most material Heads of the Marquis his Dispatches to His Majesty for though the Originals of them be in my hands yet they are not inserted both because of their being too long and too particular for publick view as also that the substance of them may be seen in the Kings Answers which for many reasons are set down at their full length But to this I shall adde a surprising thing that I find the Archbishop of S. Andrews was for accepting an Explanation of the Covenant for a draught of it yet remains under his Pen which follows The Archbishop of S. Andrews his draught of an Explanation WE the Noblemen Barons Burgesses Ministers and others that have joyned in a late Bond or Covenant for the maintaining of true Religion and purity of Gods Worship in this Kingdom having understood that Our Sovereign Lord the Kings Majesty is with this our doing highly offended as if we thereby had usurped His Majesties Authority and shaken off all Obedience to His Majesty and to His Laws for clearing our selves of that Imputation do hereby declare and in the presence of God Almighty solemnly protest that it did never so much as enter into our thoughts to derogate any thing from His Majesties Power and Authority Royal or to disobey and rebell against His Majesties Laws and that all our Proceedings hitherto by Petitioning Protesting Covenanting and whatsoever other way was and is onely for the maintaining of true Religion by us professed and with express reservation of our Obedience to His most Sacred Majesty most humbly beseeching His Majesty so to esteem and accept of us that he will be graciously pleased to call a National Assembly and Parliament for removing the Fears we have not without cause as we think conceived of introducing in this Church another form of Worship than what we have been accustomed with as likewise for satisfying our just Grievances and the settling of a constant and solid Order to be kept in all time coming as well in the Civil and Ecclesiastical Government which if we shall by the intercession of Your Grace obtain we faithfully promise according to our bounden duties to continue in His Majesties Obedience and at our utmost powers to procure the same during our Lives and for the same to rest and remain Your Graces obliged Servants c. His Majesties Answer follows Hamilton I Do not wonder though I am very sorry for your last Dispatch to which I shall answer nothing concerning what you have done or mean to doe because I have approved all and still desire you to believe I do so untill I shall contradict it with my own Hand What now I write is first to shew you in what Estate I am and then to have your Advice in some things My Train of Artillery consisting of 40 Peece of Ordnance with the appurtenances all Drakes half and more â—f which are to be drawn with one or two Horses apiece is in good forwardness and I hope will be ready within six weeks for I am sure there wants neither Money nor Materials to doe it with I have taken as good order as I can for the present for securing of Carlisle and Berwick but of this you
his Holy Water Baptizing of Bells conjuring of Spirits crossing saning anointing conjuring hallowing of Gods good Creatures with the superstitious opinion joyned therewith his worldly Monarchy and wicked Hierarchy his three solemn Vowes with all the shavellings of sundry sorts his erroneous and bloody Decrees made at Trent with all the Subscribers and Approvers of that cruel and bloody Bond conjured against the Kirk of God and finally we detest all his vain Allegories Rites Signs and Traditions brought into the Kirk without or against the Word of God and Doctrine of his true Reformed Kirk to the which we joyn our selves willingly in Doctrine Faith Religion Discipline and use of the Holy Sacraments as lively Members of the same in Christ our Head promising and swearing by the great Name of the Lord our God that we shall continue in obedience of the Doctrine and Discipline of this Kirk and shall defend the same according to our vocation and power all the dayes of our lives under the paines contained in the Law and danger both of body and soul in the day of Gods fearful Iudgement and seeing that many are stirred up by Satan and that Roman Antichrist to promise swear subscribe and for a time use the Holy Sacrament in the Kirk deceitfully against their own Consciences minding hereby first under the external Cloak of Religion to corrupt and subverâ— secretly Gods true Religion within the Kirk and afterward where time may serve to become open enemies and persecuters of the same under vain hope of the Popes Dispensation devised against the Word of God to his greater confusion and their double Condemnation in the day of the Lord Jesus We therefore willing to take away all suspicion of hâ—pocrisie and such double-dealing with God and his Kirk protest and call the Searcher of all hearts to witness that our minds and hearts do fully agree with this our Confession Promise Oath and Subscription so that we are not moved for any worldly respect but are persuaded onely in our Consciences through the knowledge and love of Gods true Religion printed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit as we shall answer to him in the day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed And because we perceive that the quietness and stability of our Religion and Kirk doth depend upon the safety and good behaviour of the Kings Majesty as upon a comfortable Instrument of Gods Mercy granted to this Country for the maintenance of his Kirk and ministration of Iustice among us we protest and promise with our hearts under the same Oath hand-writ and pains that we shall defend his Person and Authority with our Bodies and Lives in the defence of Christ his Evangel Liberties of our Country ministration of Iustice and punishment of Iniquity against all Enemies within this Realm or without as we desire our God to be a strong and merciful Defender to us in the day of our Death and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory eternally Amen WE underscribing and considering the strait link and conjunction betwixt the true and Christian Religion presently profest within this Realm The Bond joyned to it and our Soveraign Lords Estate and Standing having both the self-same Friends and common Enemies and subject to the like event of standing and decay weighing therewithall the imminent danger threatned to the said Religion the Preservation whereof being dearer to us than whatsoever we have dearest to us in this Life and finding in His Majesty a most Honourable and Christian Resolution to manifest Himself to the World that zealous and religious Prince which he hath hitherto professed and to imploy the means and power that God hath put into his hands as well to the withstanding of whatsoever foreign Force shall mean within this Land for alteration of the said Religion or endangering of the present State as to the repressing of the inward Enemies thereto amongst our selves linked with them in the said Antichristian League and Confederacy have therefore in the presence of Almighty God and with His Majesties Authorizing and Allowance faithfully promised and solemnly sworn likeas we hereby faithfully and solemnly swear and promise to take a true effauld and plain part with His Majesty amongst our selves for diverting of the appearing danger threatned â—o the said Religion and His Majesties State and Standing depending thereupon by whatsoever foreign or intestine Plots or Preparations and to that effect faithfully and that upon our Truth and Honours bind and oblige us to others to convene and assemble our selves publickly with our Friends in Arms or in quiet manner at such Times and Places as we shall be required by His Majesties Proclamation or by Writ or Message directed to us from His Majesty or any having Power from him and being convened and assembled to joyn and concur with the whole Forces of our Friends and Followers against whatsoever foreign or intestine Powers or Papists and their Partakers shall arrive or rise within this Island or any part thereof ready to defend or pursue as we shall be authorised or conducted by His Majesty or any others having his Power and Commission to joyn and hold hand to the exeâ—ution of whatsoever Mean or Order shall be thought meet by His Majesty and His Council for suppressing of the Papists promotion of the true Religion and settling of Hâ—s Highness Estate and Obedience in all the Countries and Corners of this Realm to expose the hazard of our Lives Lands and Goods and whatsoever means God hath lent us in the defence of the said true and Christian Religion and his Majesties Person and Estate against whatsoever Iesuits and Seminary or Mass Priests condemned Enemies to God and His Majesty to their utter wreck and exterminion according to the Power granted to us by His Majesties Proclamation and Acts of Parliament to try search and seek out all Excommunicates Practisers and other Papists whatever within our bounds and Shire where we keep residence and delate them to His Highness and His Privy Council and conform us to such Directions as from time to time we shall receive from His Majesty and His Council in their behalfs and so specially so many of us as presently are or hereafter shall be appointed Commissioners in every Shire shall follow pursue and travel by all means possible to take and apprehend all such Papists Apostates and Excommunicates as we shall receive in Writ from His Majesty And we the remanent within that Shire shall concur and assist with the said Commissioners with our whole Friends and Forces to that effect without respect of any person whatsoever and generally to assist in the mean time and defend every one of us another in all and whatsoever Quarrels Actions Debates moved or to be moved against us or any of us upon Action of the present Bond or other Causes depending thereupon and effauldly joyn in defence and pursuit against whatsoever shall
the Exchequer for payment the Marquis gave him Security out of his own Estate for it and at the same time the Archbishop of S. Andrews resigning the place of Chancellour he gave him also Security for two thousand five hundred pounds Sterlin out of his own Fortune so ready was he to go through with His Majesties Affairs and to hazard the ruine of his Fortune and Family for the Treasury of Scotland was so entirely exhausted that there was no Money in it And though no Payments were made the Marquis for the great Expence he was at yet in all his Letters to the King he never once complained of it nor did he press the King to send him Money except onely ten thousand pounds Sterlin which he earnestly called for to distribute among the Bishops and other poor Ministers who were ruined for their Duty to the King and though this was not sent he suffered none of them to be pinched but supplied them in all their straits for which the Bishops made great Acknowledgments not onely to himself but to my Lord of Canterbury who returned him many thanks in their Names Concerning all these particulars His Majesty wrote to him the following Letter Hamilton THe Letter that Ro. Lesley gave me this day from you though it be long yet will require but Answer by me in two particulars the rest you will find answered by my Lord of Canterbury to wit the Castle of Edinburgh and the Supply of Money to the Bishops To the first I totally agree both for the Man to be put into it and the Summe of Three thousand pounds Sâ—erlin if you can draw it no lower for the other I cannot say how soon I shall be able to doe it Expence daily increasing and in particular the securing of Berwick and Carlisle being of necessity to be done as you know in the middle of the next Moneth But I hope in God at furthest before Christmass yet I cannot promise it with that secrecy that would be wished for I find the way by the Prince of Orange both unpracticable and unsafe So both pitying and praising your Pains in my Service I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Whitehall 8 Nov. 1638. Ruthwen made Governour but the Castle is ill furnished Having got the Castle of Edinburgh into his hands he advised the King to trust Gen. Ruthwen who had returned from the German Wars loaded with Fame with the keeping of it to which His Majesty consented And this may sufficiently clear the Marquis of all other Designs but those his Duty inspired him with since to the greatest Trust in Scotland considering those Times and the Command that Castle hath over Edinburgh he recommended one whosâ— Loyalty was as invincible as his Courage But the Marquis having visited the Castle found it in the worst case imaginable not a Musquet but one in it and it not for Service very little Powder and not a Yard of Match The buying the Command of the Castle made so great a noise that he durst not proceed to the furnishing it with Men Victuals and Arms all which were wanting till the first Heats were over and the Body of the Covenanters had gone to Glasgow for besides that they set Guards about it had they set upon it they would have infallibly carried it by starving them within who were able to doe them no hurt Ruthwen would not go to the Castle till it were better furnished neither did the Marquis think fit to change the Captain of it too soon But finding him no Covenanter and having taken his Oath in writing which is yet extant never to surrender it but with his Life he laid down the best course he could for furnishing it which he got no opportunity to doe as we shall see hereafter Now was the Bishop of Ross Bishop of Ross comes from London whom my Lord S. Andrews and the other Bishops had sent to London dispatched home again who brought with him the following Letter from His Majesty Hamilton I Would not answer your two of the 14th and 15th of this moneth till I had fully dispatched the Bishop of Ross whom I have sent away not onely well instructed but well satisfied with my ways It is true that his Instructions were not totally according to our Grounds but I made him alter I am confident as well in Iudgment as Obedience for upon discourse he much approved of my Alterations confessing likewise that you upon the place may find reason to make more wherefore all is referred to you as well what I answered as what not so leaving and recommending him to your care I come to answer your last Letters with the account of which I am much more satisfied than your other Dispatch before as likewise you have fully satisfied me in all my Queries and in particular I confess clearly you had reason to joyn the Covenanters with my honest Servants for procuring of Subscriptions to my Bond because I see the Council would have it so But certainly it had been better otherwise if you could have done it with their consent In short I am truly and fully satisfied with all your Proceedings so that you may be confident that I am Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Whitehall 24 Octob. 1638. The draught of the Bishops Declinator was revised by the King The Kings Observations on the Bishops Declinator and His Majesty made divers Observations and Amendments with his own Hand yet extant which Paper though not so clearly to be understood unless the first draught of the Declinator were to be set down with it which is not in the Writers power yet may give some satisfaction and at least will both shew how tender His Majesty was of any thing which might give new Irritations to his distempered Subjects and how diligently himself reviewed all Papers His MAJESTIES Observations upon the Declinator CHARLES R. THe second reason to be advised with my Lord Commissioner whether or not it be safe at this time to except against the Form of the Publication of the Indiction of the Assembly The third is a very good reason against the Proceeding of the Assembly but will not infer a Nullity In all the reasons where the Assembly is called a pretended Assembly it is His Majesties Pleasure that the word pretended be deleted out of the Copy shewed to His Majesty For the seventh reason if it offend not the inferiour Clergie His Majesty is contented with it In the ninth reason to omit the precondemning of the Service-book Book of Canons and High Commission The tenth reason is so full that the eighth may be totally omitted The eleventh reason militates abundantly against all those who hold such Tenets that they cannot Voice in the Assembly though it infer not an absolute Nullity of the Assembly The thirteenth de loco tuto accessu tuto to be totally omitted The fourteenth and last to be totally omitted In the conclusion thereis one clause markeâ— by His Majesties
speak with my Lords of Glasgow Brechin and me that we may be acquainted by him of your Graces commands God in his mercy bless you in this difficult Work Your Graces most humble and bounden Servant IO. ROSSEN Castle of Glasgow 22th Nov. 1638. at 7 a clock in the morning The Constitution of the Assembly They were about two hundred and sixty Commissioners besides that from every Presbytery there were also Assessors from some two three four or more who pretended to no Vote but only to give Advice so that in all they made a great number Some Commissioners there were who could neither read nor write and yet these were to judge of Heresie and condemn Arminius his points All depended on a few that were more Learned and Grave who gave Law to the rest The Marquis staved off the choosing of the Moderator the first day and desired them first to receive in the Commissions and examine their Elections but he soon foresaw he could not run a great way with them and that they were resolved stoutly to disobey and were beginning in their Cabals to threaten to seize on his Person and on such of the Council as should withstand them But he resolved not to quit the Grounds were laid down to him follow on it what would yet finding afterwards that there were surmizes of Designs upon his Life he judged himself bound to let His Majesty know all he understood of the Aâ—â—airs of Scotland since his last coming from Court The Marquis gives the King a full account of the State of Affairs Therefore he sent up Sir Iames Hamilton with a full account of all matters containing likewise the Characters of all the Councellours together with his Advice to His Majesty how to reduce the Country to his Obedience those he commended most to the King and of whose Adherence he had received the fullest assurances were my Lords of Traquair Roxburgh Perth Tullibardin Kinnoul Seaforth Lauderdale Southesk Hadingtown and Daliel but above all the Marquis of Huntley whose cordial affection to His Majesties Service he highly magnified His advice was that Berwick and Carlisle should be secured of which he put the King in mind almost in every Letter that His Majesty was to send a Fleet of some of his Ships to lie in the Frith and to be plying from that to the North to block up their Trade and also some others to ply from the Mule of Galloway to Kintire marking to the King the Roads and Harbours whither they might retire Next His Majesty was to come down with a Royal Army and this he was assured would either teach them or force them to Reason but because upon a Rupture they in Scotland would no doubt presently fall on those who adhered to His Majesty therefore he advised that there might be Commissions of Lieutenantries sent to the Marquis of Huntley for the North and to the Earls of Traquair and Roxburgh for the South that all might gather to them upon the Breach He also spared not to shew the King how the Bishops had miscarried and that their Ambition had been great but their Folly greater His Majesty expressed His sense of this Dispatch in the following Letter Hamilton I Have sent back this honest Bearer both for safety of my Letters and to ease me from length of Writing therefore in a word I thank you for your full and clear Dispatch totally agreeing with you in every point thereof as well in the Characters of Men as in the Way you have set down to reduce them to Obedience onely the time when to begin to act is considerable to this end I have fully instructed this Bearer with the state of my Preparations that you may govern your business accordingly Onely I must tell you that you have given me so good satisfaction that I mean not to put any other in the chief Trust in these Affairs but your self So remitting you to this Bearer I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Whitehall 3 Decemb. 1638. At Glasgow on the second day of the Assembly's Sitting they went to the Election of the Moderator The Affairs of the Assemblâ— but the Marquis desired that they might first hear His Majesties Letter which thereupon was read After that he moved that they would read the Bishops Declinator which was presented to him by Dr. Hamilton but that they refused saying they must first be constituted before they could consider of any business Upon this he protested which with all the other Instruments that he took is yet extant under the Clerk of Registers hands Mr. Henderson was chosen Moderator Then the Marquis desired that his Assessors who were onely six to wit the Earls of Argyle Traquair Roxburgh Lauderdale and Southesk and Sir Lewis Stewart might also have a Suffrage but this was refused and so they would give the King but one single Vote though the Town of Edinburgh had two in their Assembly Upon this also the Marquis took Instruments according to the Scotish Forms and thus for a few days he went on in the Assembly protesting at every step but as he was consulting what to doe he received the following Letter Hamilton COncerning our Preparations here I have commanded the Comptroller to give you a full account of which you may take publick notice and declare That as their Carriage hath forced me to take care to arm my self against any Insolence that may be committed so you may give assurance that my care of Peace is such that all those Preparations shall be useless except they first break out with insolent Actions Now for Answer to your Letter it was never heard that one should be both Iudge and Party besides the Lawfulness of the Iudicatory must be condescended upon before any Cause can be therein lawfully determined therefore I say that the Assembly can in no case be Iudge of their own Nullities yet you have reason not onely to make good what I have promised but also to promise them a new Assembly upon the amendment of all the Faults and Nullities of this I approve of both your Bargains and shall take care that you shall not lose by them and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Whitehall 17 Nov. 1638. And two days after that he got the following Letter Hamilton THis is rather to shew you that I do not forget you nor your pains than for any Answer that your last Leter needs it being more of Accounts than Demands Onely I shall tell you that you needed not to have made an Excuse for asking the Ten thousand pounds Sterlin for I know that there is but too much use for it and the more I consider it I find you have the more reason therefore I assure you that what may be done shall be done in this and with what speed is possible and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Whitehall 21 Nov. 1638. His Majesty was also pleased to take such notice of Dr. Balcanqual
for them to stand upon those Punctilio's with their Soveraign and for your particular you would never be an Instrument of any dishonourable Act to His Majesty such as would be the engaging him not to correct the Misdemeanours of his Subjects that you had made a like Answer when you was demanded for Pass-ports to those that should come to you which you had rejected as judging it dishonourable for His Majesty to grant or any of his Subjects to ask or capitulate with His Majesty for They pressed to know what His Majesty required of them and what would be the extent of his condescending to their Desires in point of Conscience namely touching Bishops and the Acts of the last General Assembly wherein they said if they might have satisfaction they would cast at His Majesties feet their Bodies and Fortunes to be disposed of at his Pleasure In answer to this your Excellence caused me read His Majesties Proclamation wherein desiring to be cleared of His Majesties Intentions in the particular of the Civil Obedience your Excellence said it was the retiring with their Troops laying down tâ—eir Arms and the Nobilities waiting on him with their Swords onely upon the Frontier the restoring of His Majesties Castles unto such as His Majesty should appoint and the demolishing of their own Fortificaâ—ions unlawfully erected and the like As for the enjoying of Liberty of Religion wherein likewise they did press to know how far His Majesty would condescend to their humble Supplications as likewise in the point of the Acts of the last pretended General Assembly your Excellence answered It would be so far as the Laws of the Kingdom did permit They asked who should judge of these Laws and of their intention and if it might be decided by a General Assembly Your Excellence answered Yes and that either His Majesty would call one or your self as His Majesties High Commissioner They desired to know if His Majesty would stand to the Award of such an Assembly especially in what concerned the Acts of the later Your Excellence answered His Majesty was not bound to it as having his Negative Voice which they not acknowledging your Excellence added that notwithstanding you were confident that whatsoever should be agreed on by such an Assembly called by His Majesties Command and where the Members should be legally chosen His Majesty would not onely consent unto them but have them ratified in Parliament They desired your Excellence would limit them a time wherein to return and treat further with you with full power to conclude all things wherein they desired not to be pressed with scantness of time in regard of the Nobilities being dispersed in several places of the Country Your Excellence answered it should be when themselves would were it tomorrow or a moneth hence for you assured them they would find you so long in these quarters Lastly they desired to know what they might report of what your Excellence had assured them of His Majesties Intentions concerning Religion and the General Assembly Your Excellence answered that as they brought no Commission to treat of all these particulars but kept themselves within the limits of the Contents in their Letters you would doe accordingly in your Answer and that in writing they should receive something to morrow This was that Conference which some were pleased to misrepresent under the odious Characters of Treacherous and Secret Dealing with the Covenanters At this time there were divers Scotish Lords and Officers waiting on the King but being of no use and burdensom to His Majesty Some Lords come from the King to the Marquis he sent them to the Marquis with whom he wrote the following Letter Hamilton I Cannot let these Lords go without a Letter it being more to please them than to inform you there having nothing happened since my last of the 17th that makes me either alter or take new Counsels so that this is onely to recommend them to your care in so far as may comply with my Service which shews you both my good Opinion of them as likewise that I am Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 21 May 1639. But the Marquis was very ill-satisfied with their coming to him since they were able to doe nothing but help away with his Victuals which were beginning to run low and therefore were to be well-husbanded wherefore he persuaded them that it was fit for them to go to the Places of their Interest and doe what in them lay for getting some to appear for the King and so he got himself rid of them the best way he could Two days after that the Marquis got the following Letter Hamilton THe Trust I have both in the Honesty and Sufficiency of this Bearer shall ease me much at this time therefore I shall onely mention what he shall speak of more fully to you The Lord Aboyne's Proposition I have in my last recommended to you though at that time I thought not that himself would have been the Messenger of it other Lords I have sent to you to see if they can doe me better Service there than here for here I am sure they can doe none I shall conclude with that with which I have neither acquainted this Bearer nor any body else to wit your Proposition of packing up this Business It is true that according to my Proclamation I would rest quiet for this time upon their yielding me Civil Obedience but that must be understood by demanding Pardon for their by-past Disobedience and rendring up what they unjustly possess of mine and others Less than this I will not be contented with no not for the present For all this I do not take my self to be in such a case as to conquer them yet I doubt not but by the Grace of God to force them to Obedience in time what by stopping of their Trade and other courses therefore go on for this is the Resolution of Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. After them the Viscount of Aboyne But on the 29th of May the Lord Aboyne came to him with the following Letter from the King Hamilton HAving been some days since I wrote to you I could nâ—t let my Lord Aboyne go without these Lines though it be rather to confirm than to adde to my two former onely I shall desire you to take heed how you engage me in Money-expence As for what Assistance you can spare him out of the Forces that are with yâ—u I leave you to judge and I shall be glad of it if you find it may doe good The truth is that I find my state of Moneys to be such An. 1638. that I shall be able by the Grace of God to maintain all the Men I have afoot for this Summer but for doing any more I dare not promise therefore if with the Countenance and Assistance of what Force you have you may uphold my Party in the North and the rest of those Noblemen I have sent to you
I shall esteem it a very great Service but I shall not advise you to engage me in further Charge except it may be the Pay of some few Officers So not doubting but that you will make as much of little as you may and recommending this Lord to your care I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 13 May 1639. The Marquis found Aboyn had no Propositions to make besides General Stories and he saw him to be of an unstay'd Humour so that he was hopeless of any good account of his business As for Money he was limited by the King and for Men he had sent away the two Regiments that same day and since he expected Orders every Hour from His Majesty for somewhat to be executed by the third Regiment he could not weaken it too much yet he sent a few Officers the chief of whom was Colonel Gun together with some Ammunition and four small Peece of Artillery And of all this he gave an account to His Majesty adding that perhaps some might misrepresent his lying so long idle but His Majesty knew what Orders himself had given it being his part to obey yet he earnestly craved liberty to doe somewhat worth the while to which he received the following Answer Hamilton HAving much Business I refer you to Master Treasurer yet thiâ— I think necessary to pass under my own Hand because of a Clause in yours of the 26th of this Moneth that I am so far from having the least hint in my Heart against you that I would think my self a happy Man if I could be as confident in the Faith Courage and Industry of the rest of my Commanders and Officers as I am of you which makes me really to be Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Berwick May 29th 1639. By this time the King had encamped at the Birks three miles from Berwick where His Majesty lay in the Camp himself All this while Traquair was not allowed to see the King till he had done some Service which might expiate his former Errors And My Lord Roxburgh was in the same case Some on the Borders are gained for the King for he coming to wait on the King at York to clear himself of his Sons fault in turning in to the Covenant His Majesty was so Gracious as to tell him he believed him innocent yet for examples sake he found it necessary to keep him under some mark of his Displeasure So after a few days Confinement both Traquair and he were suffered to go near the Borders to see whom they could engage to the Kings Service and they gained the Earl of Hume to be satisfied with His Majesties Proclamation and had got good assurances both of the Lord Iohnstown the Earl of Queensberry and of Buckcleugh his Friends The Proclamation was published first at Heymouth next by General Arundel and Ruthwen at Dunce upon which Lesley brought forward his Forces and lay at Duncelaw in view of the Kings Army On the fourth of Iune at noon the Marquis received the following Letter from His Majesty Hamilton The King orders the Marquis to enter on Hostilities THis day I received yours by the Lord Seaton and find your Opinion therein very good if I might spare so many men but every one that I dare consult with about this protesteth against the diminishing of one man â—rom my Army besides I have no mind to stay here upon a meer Defensive which I must do if I send you that Strength you mention Likewise I think that I have my Lord Hume sure and am reasonably confident of my Lord Johnstown I have good hopes too of Queensberry and the Scots therefore all these things considered it were a shame if I should be idle Wherefore now I set you loose to doe what mischief you can doe upon the Rebels for my Service with those men you have for you cannot have one man from hence Leaving the rest to the relation of this honest Bearer I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Camp near Berwick 2 June 1639. The Marquis no sooner got this but he presently set to work resolving neither to spare Burroughstownness which was his own Town who goes about it nor Prestonpans which was his Cousins But a strange Accident befell him the next day for as he went out in a small Vessel with a Drake on her and 60 Souldiers to view the Queensferry and burn the Ships that lay in the Harbour he saw a Merchant-barque coming down towards him and he caused row up to her but she perceiving her Danger run her self aground upon the Sands of Barnbougle The Tide falling apace and he following her indeliberately run himself likewise on ground where he was like to have been very quickly taken by the men on the Shoar who were playing upon him and some Volleys passed upon both hands But they on the Land were waiting till the Waters should fall reckoning him their Prey already which had been inevitable had not the Seamen got out and being almost to the middle in Water with great tugging set them afloat and so he returned safe to the Fleet. And this was all the ground for that Calumny of his making Appointments on the Sands of Barnbougle with the Covenanters The next day at eight in the morning being the sixth of Iune he received the following Letter from Sir Henry Vane My Lord BY the Dispatch Sir James Hamilton brought your Lordship from His Majesties Sacred Pen and gets new orders from His Majesty you were left at your liberty to commit any act of Hostility upon the Rebels when your Lordship should find it most opportune since which my Lord Holland with 1000 Horse and 3000 Foot marched towards Kelso himself advanced towards them with the Horse leaving the Foot three miles behind to a Place called Maxwel-heugh a height above Kelso which when the Rebels discovered they instantly marched out with 150 Horse and as my Lord Holland says eight or ten thousand Foot five or six thousand there might have been He thereupon sent a Trumpet commanding them to retreat according to what they had promised by the Proclamation They asked whose Trumpet he was he said my Lord Holland's their answer was he were best to be gone And so my Lord Holland made his Retreat and waited on His Majesty this night to give him this account This morning Advertisement is brought His Majesty that Lesley with 12000 men is at Cockburn-spath that 5000 men will be this night or to morrow at Dunce 6000 at Kelso so His Majesties opinion is with many of his Council to keep himself upon a Defensive and make himself here as fast as he can for His Majesty doth now clearly see and is fully satisfied in his own Iudgement that what passed in the Gallery betwixt His Majesty your Lordship and my Self hath been but too much verified on this occasion And therefore His Majesty would not have you to begin with them but to settle things
with you in a safe and good posture and your self to come hither in person to consult what Counsels are fit to be taken as the Affairs now hold And so wishing your Lordship a speedy passage I rest Your Lordships most humble Servant and faithful Friend H. VANE From the Camp at Huntley-field this 4th of Iuly 1639. To this His Majesty added the following Postscript with his own Hand HAving no time to write my Self so much I was forced to use his Pen therefore I shall only say that what is here written I have directed seen and approved C. R. How great the Marquis his surprize and trouble was when he received this cannot be easily expressed The Marquâ—â— goes to the King though it was but what he always looked for and before the King left Whitehall he told him in the Gallery none but Sir Henry Vane being present that few of the English would engage in an Offensive with Scotland However he was too well taught in Obedience to question or delay it after such positive Orders and therefore could neither give a satisfactory answer to the Earl of Airly who at that time wrote to him presâ—â—ng him to come to the North in all haste otherwise the Kings Party there would be presently overrun nor to my Lord Aboyne's Letter who desired fresh Supplies of Men and Moneys though the refusing of both these was after that alledged against him Yet the last being dated the fourth of Iune met him on his way to the King the other could be no sooner at him being of the 26th of May and in the Postscript excuse is made that it was of an old Date for want of a sure Bearer both these are yet extant But most of all it appears how groundless that great and crying Accusation was which as it made up no small part of his Charge to be mentioned in its proper place so was it in the mouths of every person that he betrayed His Majesties Service in the Frith which could not be better cleared than by giving this particular Deduction of every step of it where he finds a Treaty begun About the time that the Marquis arrived at His Majesties Camp the Covenanters sent a Petition by the Earl of Dumfermline to the King desiring a Safe-conduct for such of theâ—r number as they â—hould send to His Majesties Camp with their humble Desires and Offers for a Treaty This was granted and their first Meeting was appointed to be on the â—leventh of Iune at Arundel's Tent. So they â—ent the Earls of Rothes Dumfermline and Lowdon the Sheriff oâ— Tevioâ—dale Mr. Alexander Henderson and Mr. Archbald Iohnstown who first proposed their Desires in general That Religion and Liberties mighâ— be secured upon which they should behave themselves as good Subjects and then the Marquis his affection to his Country made him imploy his whole Interest with the King for procuring a Gracious Answer to them offering that if the King found it suitable to his Honour and fit for his Service he should not be displeased though His Majesty did disown his former Actions and let the load of Obloquy and Censure fall as heavy upon himself as the King pleased But in this His Majesty was positive judging the owning of what he had done the former year to be both for his Honour and Interest However the Marquis did show the King that while the fire-edge was upon the Scotish Spirits it would not prove an easie task to tame them but would be a Work of some years and cosâ— much Money and many Men he therefore desired the King would consider if it were not fit to consent to the abolishing of Episcopacy and giving way to their Covenant till better times and that as the chief Leaders had entred upon that Course being provoked by some Irritaons and Neglects they had met with so it might be fit to regain them by Cajolery and other Favours And to perswade the King to this Course was the easier that both his Reason and his Affection to his Subjects did cooperate with it a great strengthening coming to it by my Lord Canterbury's Opinion who saw a Pacification absolutely necessary for the Kings Service and did advise it So on the thirteenth of Iune His Majesty returned Answer That he supposed Religion and Liberties were abundantly settled by his former Proclamations but if any thing was wanting wherein either Religion or Liberties were concerned none should be more zealous for it than himself The Covenanters insisted That the Assembly of Glasgow might be ratified but His Majesty rejected that adding That he was willing to call a new Assembly and ratifie what should be legally established by it in the following Parliament The Commissioners were willing to yield to this provided His Majesty did not oblige them to renounce the Assembly of Glasgow to which they resolved to adhere His Majesty said He should not press them to that but that Assembly should not be mentioned on either hand They moved next about Lay-elders in the Assembly The King referred himself in that to the Laws of the Land They next moved That Episcopacy should be abolished The King answered He would not prelimit his Vote by declaring what it should be in the ensuing Assembly Finally after all things had been debated divers days not without some heat wherein the Earl of Rothes got new Irritations from some warm expressions of the Kings to him at length on the eighteenth of Iune all was concluded which is within few days concluded First His Majesty signed the following Declaration of which the Original is extant CHARLES R. WE having considered the Papers and humble Petitions presented to Vs His Majestieâ— Declaration by those of Our Subjects of Scotland who were admitted to attend Our Pleasure in the Camp and after a full hearing by Our Self of all that they could say or alledge thereupon having communicated the same to Our Council of both Kingdoms upon mature Deliberation with their unanimous Advice have thought fit to give them this Iust and Gracious Answer That though We cannot condescend to ratifie and approve the Acts of the pretended General Assembly at Glasgow for many grave and weighty Considerations which have happened both before and since much importing the Honour and Security of that true Monarchical Government lineally descended upon Vs from so many of Our Ancestours yet such is Our Gracious Pleasure that notwithstanding the many Disorders committed of late We are pleased not only to confirm and make good whatsoever Our Commissioner hath granted and promised in Our Name but also We are further Graciously pleased to declare and assure that according to the Petitioners humble Desires all matters Ecclesiastical shall be determined by the Assembly of the Kirk and matters Civil by the Parliament and other inferiour Iudicatories established by Law and Assemblies accordingly shall be kept once a year or as shall be agreed upon at the next General Assembly And for settling the general Distractions
since these Arguments are as I conceive used for Your Service the Good of which shall be ever preferred by me before either Life or Fortune which I would willingly expose to all Dangers rather than You shall be pleased to lay this Employment on me for Your Majesties Affairs would be infinitely prejudiced thereby All which I humbly beseech You to take into Your Royal Consideration The King chuses Traquâ—ir to be Commissioner There was too much Justice in these Reasons and His Majesty was too full of Affection for him to press it any further therefore the King made choice of his Treasurer the Earl of Traquair for the Service making account that if he served honestly it would doe well if otherwise his Majesty would have good reason to shake him off Upon this he was presently called from Scotland The King also wrote for 14 of the Lords that were the chief Covenanters and writes for many Covenanters to come and wait upon him at Berwick that he might advise with them about the Affairs in hand But the true reason as was believed was to try what fair Treatment might doe with them This gave great Jealousies to the Covenanters who were not so blind as not to understand what the effect of this might prove And indeed some studied to infuse worse Jealousies as if the Design of calling for the Lords had been to send them all Prisoners to London In end they resolved none should go save three from each Estate the three Lords were the Earls of Montrose London and Lowthian and Lowthian was the person who pressed them most to send any for many had no inclinations to send at all But before they came to Berwick the King ordered the Marquis by a Warrant in writing yet extant under His Majesties Hand to try what way he could gain upon them and discover the bottom of their Intentions how the Estate of Bishops should be supplied in Parliament and how far they intended to lessen the Kings Authority The King also allowed him to use what means he pleased and speak to them what he thought fit not onely authorizing but requiring him to it and warranting him if he were ever questioned or accused for it by any Bearing date at Berwick the 17th of Iuly 1639. The Kings Trust in the Marquis It is easie from this to infer both how intirely His Majesty confided in him and how unjust they are who upon any Expressions he might then have used offer injury to his Memory and yet he managed this so cautiously that very little escaped him for which he could not have justified himself without this Order But so tender was he of His Majesties Reputation that when he was afterwards charged for some hard Speeches alledged to have been uttered at that time in all his written Defences he never made use of this Justification knowing how at that time it might have prejudiced His Majesties Service if it had been known that he gave such Warrants to those he imployed reserving to whisper it in His Majesties Ear when he should be admitted to his Presence And indeed till this appeared the Writer of these Memoires was not a little stumbled with some of his Speeches then uttered which were hard to be understood for having them so near the Fountain he could scarce doubt his Information but this Order reconciles the Truth of these Reports he had heard with the Marquis his Innocency The King gains Montrose The King was highly sensible of the Affront put upon him by hindering all he had called for to come to wait on him yet he resolved to bear as far as Humane Patience could go and studied to gain upon the Lords that came The Earl of Montrose was much wrought upon and gave His Majesty full Assurances of his Duty in time coming and upon that entred in a Correspondence with the King The other two were a little mollified but not gained onely from them the Marquis learned that all the Acts of Parliament for Episcopacy were to be abrogated by the next Parliament and that they designed to change the course of bringing in things to the Parliament by the Lords of the Articles as a Prelimitation upon the Parliament Whereupon the next thing to be done was to draw Traquair's Instructions which was not done without great and long Consultation none being privy to it besides the Marquis and Traquair himself That which made the King so tender was his Zeal for Episcopacy but Traquair helped him out of all Difficulties by telling him that doe the next Parliament what it would there were still good grounds to introduce Episcopacy when ever the King was able to carry it for Bishops being by all the Laws of Scotland one of the three Estates of Parliament no Act that passed without them could have force in Law much less the Act that abolished them especially they not appearing or consenting to it but protesting against it This gave much ease to the Kings thoughts and so on the 27th of Iuly Traquair's Instructions were signed which follow as they are taken from a Copy of them under the Marquis his Hand CHARLES R. AT the first Meeting of the Assembly Traquair 's Instructions before it be brought in dispute who shall preside you shall appoint him who was Moderator in the last Assembly to preside in this till a new Moderator be chosen We allow that Lay-elders shall be admitted Members of this Assembly the but in case of the Election of Commissioners for Presbyteries Lay-elders have had Voice you shall declare against the informality thereof as also against Lay-elders having voice in Fundamental Points of Religion At the first opening of the Assembly you shall strive to make the Assembly sensible of Our Goodness that notwithstanding all that is past whereby We might justly have been moved not to hearken to their Petitions yet We have been Graciously pleased to grant a Free General Assembly and for great and weighty Considerations have commanded the Archbishops and Bishops not to appear at this Assembly You shall not make use of the Assessors in publick except you find you shall be able to carry their having Vote in Assembly You shall labour to your uttermost that there be no question made about the last Assembly and in case it come to the worst whatever shall be done in Ratification or with relation to the former Assembly Our Will is that you declare the same to be done as an Act of this Assembly and that you consent thereunto onely upon these terms and no ways as having any relation to the former Assembly You shall by all means shun the Dispute about Our Power in Assemblies and if it shall be urged or offered to be disputed whether We have the Negative Voice or the sole Power of Indicting and consequently of Dissolving except you see clearly that you can carry the same in Our Favours stop the Dispute and rather than it be decided against Vs stop the
Duke of Hamilton c. LIB III. Of what passed after the Marquis laid down his Commission till July 1642. AND now I am come to a Period in the series of the Marquis his Publick Actings for this turn after which for some Years he continued at Court under the private Character of a Councellour much in His Majesties Favour The Marquis out of Publick Imployment it cannot be therefore expected that henceforth the Accounts of Scotish Affairs should be enlarged to the former Fulness since it is the Marquis his Story and not Scotland's that is undertaken to be written neither are the Materials so copious as to bear the Writer through all particulars were he so bold as to adventure on them Therefore all that shall be henceforth offered of Publick Affairs shall be onely to give the Reader such a clear prospect of the State of them that when the Marquis shall again appear in business his following Actions may hang together with his former yet the Writer will not so sullenly confine himself to a general Account but when any particulars occur wherein he is authentically informed he will truly represent them My Lord of Traquair waited upon His Majesty to Whitehall Traquair goes to Scotland whither the King came in the beginning of August and on the sixth his Commission was signed and himself dispatched to Scotland On his way he was ordered to deliver the following Letter from His Majesty to my Lord S. Andrews who was then at Newcastle in answer to an Address made by the Bishops to my Lord of Canterbury to get the Assembly prorogued It was penned by the Marquis as appears by the Brovillon of it yet extant and interlined in some places by my Lord of Canterbury CHARLES R. Right Trusty and Well-beloved Councellour and Reverend Father in God We greet you well YOur Letter and the rest of the Bishops sent by the Elect of Caithnes to my Lord of Canterbury hath been shown by him to Vs and after serious Consideration of the Contents thereof We have thought fit Our Self to return this Answer to you for Direction according to Our Promise which you are to coâ—municate to the rest of your Brethren We do in part approve of what you have advised concerning the Prorogating of the Assembly and Parliament and must acknowledge it to be grounded upon Reason enough were Reason only to be thought on in this Business but considering the present state of Our Affairs and what We have promised in the Articles of Pacification We may not as We conceive without great prejudice to Our Self and Service condescend thereunto wherefore We are resolved nay rather necessitated to hold the Assembly and Parliament at the time and place appointed And for that end We have nominated the Earl of Traquair Our Commissioner to whom We have given Instructions not only how to carry himself at the same but a Charge also to have a special care of your Lordships and those of the inferiour Clergy who have suffered for their Duty to God and Obedience to Our Commands And We doe hereby assure you that it shall be still one of Our chiefest Studies how to rectifie and establish the Government of that Church a-right and to repair your losses which We desire you to be most confident of As for your Meeting to treat of the Affairs of the Church We do not see at this time how that can be done for within Our Kingdom of Scotland We cannot promise you any place of Safety and in any other of Our Dominions We cannot hold it convenient all things considered wherefore We conceive that the best way will be for your Lordships to give in by way of Protestation or Remonstrance your Exceptions against this Assembly and Parliament to Our Commissioner which may be sent by any mean man so he be Trusty and deliver it at his entring into the Church but We would not have it to be either read or argued in this Meeting where nothing but Partiality is to be expected but to be represented to Vs by him which We promise to take so in consideration as becometh a Prince sensible of His Own Interest and Honour joined with the equity of your Desires and you may rest secure that though perhaps We may give way for the present to that which will be prejudicial both to the Church and Our Own Government yet We shall not leave thinking in time how to remedy both We must likewise intimate unto you that We are so far from conceiving it expedient for you or any of my Lords of the Clergy to be present at this Meeting as We doe absolutely discharge your going thither and for your Absence this shall be to you and every one of you a sufficient Warrant In the interim your best Course will be to remain in Our Kingdom of England till such time as you receive Our further Order where We shall provide for your Subsistence though not in that measure as We could Wish yet in such a way as you shall not be in want Thus you have Our Pleasure briefly signified unto you which We doubt not but you will take in good part you cannot but know that what We doe in this We are necessitated to So We bid you farewell Whitehall Aug. 6. 1639. This Letter being delivered to the Bishops by the Kings Commissioner they signed the following Declinatour and put it in his hands WHereas His Majesty out of His surpassing Goodness was pleased to indict another National Assembly The Bishops Declinatour of the Assembly for rectifying the present Disorders in the Church and repealing the Acts concluded in the late pretended Assembly at Glasgow against all right and reason charging and commanding us the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Scotland and others that have place therein to meet at Edinburgh the 12th of August instant in hopes that by a peaceable Treaty and Conference matters should have been brought to a wished Peace and Vnity and that now we perceive all these Hope 's disappointed the Authors of the present Schism and Division proceeding in their wonted courses of Wrong and Violence as hath appeared in their presumptuous Protestation against the said Indiction and in the business they have made throughout the Country for electing Ministers and Laicks of their Faction to make up the said Assembly whereby it is evident that the same or worse effects must needs ensue upon the present Meeting than were seen to follow the former We therefore the Vnder-subscribers for discharge of our Duties to God and to the Church committed to our Government under our Soveraign Lord the Kings Majesty Protest as in our former Declinatour as well for our Selves as in name of the Church of Scotland and so many as shall adhere to this our Protestation That the present pretended Assembly be holden and reputed null in Law as consisting and made up partly of Laical persons that have no Office in the Church of God partly of refractory
schismatical and perjured Ministers that contrary to their Oaths and Subscriptions from which no Humane power could absolve them have filthily resiled and so made themselves to the present and future Ages most infamous and that no Church-man be bound to appear before them nor any Citation Admonition Certification or Act whatsoever proceeding from the said pretended Meeting be prejudicial to the Iurisdiction Liberties Priviledges Rents Possessions and Benefices belonging to the Church nor to any Acts of former General Assemblies Acts of Council or Parliament made in favours thereof but to the contrary That all such Acts and Deeds and every one of them are and shall be reputed unjust partial and illegal with all that may follow thereupon And this our Protestation we humbly desire may be presented to His Majesty whom we do humbly supplicate according to the practice of Christian Emperours in Ancient times to convene the Clergy of His whole Dominions for remedying the present Schism and Division unto whose Iudgement and Determination we promise to submit our Selves and all our Proceedings Given under our hands at Morpeth Berwick and Holy-Island the tenth and eleventh of August 1639. Signed St. Andrews Da. Edinburgen Jo. Rossen Th. Galloway Wal. Brechinen Ja. Lismoren Ad. Aberdon When my Lord Traquair came to Scotland he found all the Conditions of the Treaty violated the Fortifications of Lieth continued the Forces not all disbanded Lesley keeping up still the Character of General besides many other particulars The Assembly sits and proceeds violently After his coming to Edinburgh the Assembly was held there about the middle of August but they had not remitted any thing of their Fervour only in renewing the last years Acts they were contented not to mention the Assembly of Glasgow magnifying that as a high Condescendency not considering how disproportioned it was to the great Concessions made by His Majesty Neither were they content with discharging the use of the Service-Book and Book of Canons but would needs tax them of Popery and the High Commission of Tyranny Like to these were their Narratives of Annulling the General Assemblies held by King James and of abolishing Episcopacy of which my Lord Traquair gave His Majesty an account and the following Answer was sent from His Majesty But one difference of the Kings Usage of the Marquis from what he gave his other Commissioners is that to him he wrote his Orders all with his own Pen but to others he wrote by another Pen only Superscribed the Letters himself And in his Letters to Traquair he imployed the Marquis for his Secretrary The Kings Letter follows taken from the Marquis his Copy bearing date the 20th of August CHARLES R. Right Trusty WE have hitherto commanded Hamilton to answer several of your Letters but that of the 16th of August being of more weight than any of your former We have thought fit to answer it Our Self And whereas you say that nothing will satisfie them except in terminis the last Assembly be named and ratified or that way be given to the discharging Episcopacy as abjured in that Church as contrary to the Confession of Faith 1580. and the Constitutions of the same you being yet in some hope that the word Abjured may be got changed and that in drawing up the words of the Act it be onely condemned as contrary to the Constitution of that Church We in this point leave you to your Instructions they being full if you consider what We have said concerning Episcopacy and subscribing the Confession of Faith 1580 We thinking it fit to declare hereupon unto you that let their Madness be what it will further than We have declared in Our Instructions in these points We will not go For the Service-book and Book of the Canons though We have been and are content it be discharged yet We will never give Our Voice nor Assent that they be condemned as containing divers Heads of Popery and Superstition In like manner though We have been and are content that the High Commission be discharged yet We will never acknowledge that it is without Law or destructive to the Civil and Ecclesiastical Iudicatories of that Our Kingdom nor that the Five Articles of Perth though dischargod with Our Approbation be condemned as contrary to the foresaid Confession As concerning the late Assemblies We cannot give Our Consent to have them declared null since they were so notorously Our Father of Happy Memory His Acts It seeming strange that We having condescended to the taking away all these things that they complained of which were done in those Assemblies they will not be content therewith without laying an Aspersion on Our Fathers Actions Wherefore if the Assembly will in despite of your Endeavours conclude contrary to this you are to protest against their Proceedings in these points and be sure not to ratifie them in Parliament Concerning the yearly Indicting of General Assemblies and the Confession of Faith We commanded Hamilton in his of the 16th to answer that point to this effect That We think it infinitely to Our Prejudice that We should consent to tie Our Self for the keeping yearly of their Assemblies not needing to repeat the Reasons they being well enough known to you seeing at Berwick it was conceived upon debate of that Point that your having Power to indict a New one within the Year would save that dispute which you are by all means to eschew But if this will not give satisfaction you are by no means to give your assent to any such Act nor to ratifie the same in Parliament The Article in your Instructions which is onely That the Covenant 1580 shall be subscribed you must have an especial care of and how you proceed therein That the Bond be the same which was in Our Fathers time mutatis mutandis and that you give your Assent no other ways to the Interpretations thereof then may stand with Our future Intentions well-known to you nor is the same otherwise to be ratified in Parliament Thus you have Our Pleasure fully signified in every particular of your Letter which you will find no ways contrary to Our Resolution taken at Berwick and Our Instructions given to you there But if the Madness of Our Subjects be such that they will not rest satisfied with what We have given you Power and Authority to condescend to which notwithstanding all their Insolencies We shall allow you to make good to them We take God to witness that what Misery soever shall fall to that Country hereafter it is no fault of Ours but their own procurement And hereupon We do command you that if you cannot compose this Business according to Our Instructions and what We have now written that you prorogue the Parliament till the next Spring and that you think upon some course how you may make publickly known to all Our Subjects what We had given you Power to condescend to And because it is not improbable that this way may produce a present Rupture
the Enacting of what they had designed the former Year and their Acts though of great importance yet meeting no opposition were quickly dispatched all which with a Prologue and Epilogue of two high Declarations were sent in the Packet to the Earl of Lanerick with the following Letter written by a Committee of Lords they had left to sit at Edinburgh Right Honourable IT is not unknown to your Lordship with what difficulties this Kingdom hath wrestled this time past A Letter from the Committee of Parliament to Lanerick in asserting their Religion and Liberties against the dealings of bad Instruments with His Majesty to the contrary The Means which they have used have been no other but such as they humbly petitioned and obtained from His Majesty a Free National Assembly and Parliament The Assembly went on in a fair way and was closed with the liking and full consent of His Majesties Commissioner but the Parliament indicted by His Majesty was prorogated till the Reasons of the Demands of the Estates were rendred to His Majesty which having done by their Commissioners they kept the second of June the day appointed by His Majesty for the sitting of the Parliament An. 1639. And after diligent Inquiry hearing nothing from His Majesty nor His Commissioner neither by their own Commissioners or any other sent from His Majesty which might hinder the Parliament to proceed to the settling of their Religion and Liberties after mature Deliberation and long waiting for some signification of His Majesties Pleasure they have all with one consent resolved upon certain Acts which they have judged to be most necessary and conducible for His Majesties Honour and the Peace of the Kingdom so far endangered by Delays and have committed to us the Trust to shew you so much and withall to send a just Copy of the Acts that by your Lordship His Majesties principal Secretary for Scotland they may be presented to His Majesty The Declaration prefix'd to the particular Acts and the Petition in the end contain so full Expressions of the Warrants of the Proceedings of the Estates and of their humbly continued Desires that no word needs to be added by us We do therefore in their Name according to the Trust committed to us desire your Lordship all other ways of Information being stopt with the presenting of these Acts of Parliament to represent unto His Majesty against all Suspicions Suggestions and Tentations to the contrary the constant Love and Loyalty of this Kingdom unto His Majesties Royal Authority and Person as their Native King and kindly Monarch and that they are seeking nothing but the establishing of their Religion and Liberties under His Majesties Government that they may still be a free Kingdom to doe His Majesty all the Honour and Service that becometh humble Subjects that their Extremity is greater through the Hostility and Violence threatned by Arms and already done to them in their Persons and Goods by Castles within and Ships without the Kingdom than they can longer endure and that as His Majesty loveth His Own Honour and the Well of this His Ancient Kingdom speedy course may be taken for their relief and quieâ—ness and that if this their faithful Remonstrance which as the great Council of the Kingdom they found themselves bound to make at this time for their Exoneration be passed over in silence or answered with delays they must prepare and provide for their own Deliverance and Safety We are very hopeful that your Lordship as a good Patriot and according to the Obligement of your Place will not be deficient in that Duty for your Native Country and send us a speedy Answer as we shall in every Duty be careful at all occasions to shew our selves Your Lordships humble Servants Signed Balmerino Burghly Napier Thomas Hop J. Murray J. Hamilton G. Dundas J. Smith Ed. Eggar Tho. Paterson Ja. Sword Edinburgh 17 June 1640. The Covenanters did also sign a Bond among themselves for adhering to these Acts and prosecuting of those who had been the Incendiaries from the beginning of the these Stirs the Marquis and Traquair being the chief of them The King is highly offended But all this gave great Offence at Court the King looking upon it as a bolder Attempt than any yet made which struck at the root of His Authority and overturned the Fundamental Laws of Scotland and therfore he judged himself bound to repair this Affront with the Sword God had put in his Hands An. 1640. At this time the Marquis got the following Memorial sent him from my Lord Lowdon out of the Tower of London written all with Lowdon's Hand and yet extâ—nt Memorandum for the Lord Lowndon TO speak to the Marquis of Hamilton Lowdon moves for his Enlargment that according to that Interest of Bloud and the Confidence which the Lord Lowdon reposeth in him his Lordship may be pleased to intercede seriously with the King that His Majesty may be Graciously pleased to consider of the Petitions and Informations which have been tendered to His Majesty from the Lord Lowdon and for him from Scotland which do abundantly clear his Innocency concerning that French Letter in respect of the time and occasion of writing that Letter the Letter it self being onely for Mediation and Intercession as is clear by the Instructions yet extant to have been sent with that Letter which are the true Commentary of the Letter The Letter it self was never sent nor used but rejected and no other Letter sent It was written long before the Pacification wherein His Majesty was Graciously pleased to pass all preceding Deeds in Oblivion The Lord Lowdon came hither upon His Majesties Own Warrant which is sufficient for his Indempnity and Return till he be exonered of his Imployment He came from the Parliament with Commission from them to shew His Majesty the Reasons of their Demands trusting confidently in His Majesties Iustice and Goodness and with most Loyal Affection and Ardent Desires to have given His Majesty satisfaction and to have returned with no less Fidelity and Forwardness in carrying and pressing His Majesties Royal and Iust Commands during which time he could expect nothing less than that he would be called in question for a prior Deed all which are most manifest by the Petitions and Informations presented to His Sacred Majesty Therefore I most humbly beseech that His Majesty may be Graciously pleased to consider of the former Petitions and true Informations which being pondered in the Balance of His Majesties Righteous Iudgment I am most confident my Innocency will appear clearly to His Majesty and that I will find such a speedy delivery as may give demonstration to the World of His Majesties Iustice and Goodness and as may not onely from the Conscience of my Duty but likewise from the sense of His Royal Benignity encourage me ever to contribute my best Endeavours for furthering of His Majesties Service And if His Majesty be not fully satisfied with my humble
Petitions and true Informations of my Innocency and Loyalty but doth notwithstanding thereof harbour any opinion of my Disloyalty or casting off my dutiful Obedience and Subjection to His Majesty or offering Subjection to any other King or Potentate in the World I am content to undergo the most exact Trial which is agreeable to the Laws of that Kingdom by which onely I ought to be judged rather than lie under such a heavy Imputation which to me who am conscious of my own Innocency and of my most tender and humble Duty towards His Majesty is more grievous than my Sufferings which can onely prejudice and hurt me and my private Estate but can no ways conduce for advancing of His Majesties Service but rather be a hinderance to the Accommodation of Affairs whereas my Liberty or lawful Trial will serve for the Illustration of His Majesties Iustice to the World and will make His Subjects without fear of danger to tender their humble Suits and Remonstrances at the Throne of His Royal Iustice. An. 1639. Upon this the Marquis pressed the King much for my Lord Lowdon's Enlargement since the Covenanters made great noise with it in all their Complaints The Marquis treats with him by the Kings Order and pretended that they durst send up no more Commissioners and therefore they sent their Acts in the Packet He did also shew His Majesty that he knew by the Lieutenant of the Tower that Lowdon was very fearful wherefore he desired permission from the King to try what this Fear could draw from him and to see if his Enlargement with the hopes of a Noble Reward could engage him to the Kings Service which if obtained might prove of great advantage since the Irritations he had received would make his Advices less suspected in Scotland His Majesty approving this he treated with Lowdon and found him abundantly pliant and so on the 26th of Iune he agreed with him on these Terms which he got under Lowdon's Hand in two Papers yet extant THE Lord Lowdon doth promise to contribute his faithful and uttermost Endeavours for His Majesties Service and furthering of a happy Peace and shall with all possible diligence and care go about the same and shall labour that His Majesties Subjects of Scotland may in all humility petition that His Majesty may be Graciously pleased to authorize a Commissioner with full Power from His Majesty to establish the Religion and Liberty of that His Majesties Native and Ancient Kingdom according to the Articles of Pacification and that by a new Convening or Session of the Parliament without cohesion or dependence on what hath been done by themselves without His Majesties Presence or of a Commissioner to represent His Majesties Royal Person and Power That if there be not an Army already convened in Scotland in a Body he shall endeavour that they shall not convene nor come together during the time of Treaty in hope of Accommodation and if they be already convened in a Body before his return he will labour that they may dissolve and return to their several Shires or dispose so of them that they remain not in one Body as may best evince that they intend not to come into England but may carry themselves in that respective way as may best testifie their Duty to His Majesty and their Desires of Peace That if General Ruthwen shall happen to become their Prisoner they may as a testimony of their desire to shun every thing which may provoke His Majesties displeasure preserve him and that the Lord Lowdon will shew how far he is engaged for his Safety That when Affairs shall be brought to a Treaty in Parliament and that His Majesty shall be Graciously pleased to settle the Religion and Liberties of the Kingdom according to the Articles of Pacification he will endeavour that the Kings Authority shall not be entrenched upon nor diminished that they may give a real demonstration to the World how tender and careful they are that His Majesties Royal Power may be preserved both in Church and State That what is done or imparted to the Lord Lowdon concerning His Majesties Pleasure shall be kept secret and not revealed to any here further than His Majesty shall think expedient That the Lord Lowdon shall as soon as conveniently he can return an account of his Diligence There was given with this another Paper which follows An. 1640 Memorandum of what passed betwixt the Marquis of Hamilton and me 26 Iune 1640. BEcause no great matters can be well effectuated without Trust Fidelity and Secrecy therefore it is fit that we swear Fidelity and Secrecy to others and that I shall faithfully contribute my best Endeavours for performance of what I undertake and that my Lord Marquis doe the like to me Our desires and designs do tend mainly for Preservation of Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom the Kings Honour and of His Royal Authority and for establishing of a happy Peace and preventing of Wars and we are to advise and resolve upon such ways and means as may best conduce for these ends If after using of our utmost Endeavours it be not Gods will that we may be so happy as to obtain such a Peace in haste as may content the King and satisfie his Subjects till differences draw to a greater height and beginning of Wars to resolve what is fit to be done in case of such an Extremity for attaining a wished Peace and to condescend what course we shall take for keeping of Correspondence If my Endeavours and Service which doubtless will put me to a great deal of expence and pains shall prove useful for His Majesties Service and Honour and the Good of the Kingdom which are inseparable the Marquis will intercede really and imploy his best Endeavours with the King to acknowledge and recompence the Lord Lowdon 's Travels and Service in such manner as a Gracious King and Master should doe to a diligent and faithful Servant Upon this Lowdon was enlarged next day Lowdon is enlarged and permitted to go down to Scotland but those who did not know the Secret of this thought the King had weakened himself much by letting go an Hostage of such importance and this gave new Suspicions of the Marquis his Tamperings with the Covenanters His Majesty commanded the Earl of Lanerick to write by the Lord Lowdon the following Answer to the Letter sent up by the Lords of Scotland with the Acts they had lately passed My Lords BY my former of the Date the 23th of June Lanerick 's Answer to the Committee in Scotland His Majesty was pleased to promise by me to let you know within few days His further Pleasure concerning those Proceedings and Desires of the Noblemen and Barons and Burgesses which you sent me to be presented to His Majesty whereupon he hath now commanded me to tell you that the not proroguing of the Parliament in a Legal and Formal way was not for want of clear
passed over with some Troops and they were encountred by three Troops commanded by Wilmot whom after a little Dispute they routed their Officers were taken Prisoners and some were killed And after this the whole Body of the English Army that lay there marched to Newcastle which consisted of 2000 Horse and 9000 Foot the Disorder among them was the greater The English Forces are routed and flie at Newburn because the Lord Conway who Commanded had gone that day from the Camp to Dine at a place about a miles distance called Stella The Scots continued passing till it was late and lay in the Fields all night next day they marched towards New-Castle and were beginning to be in some strait for they had driven as many Cattle out of Scotland with them as served hitherto for their Provision and were resolved to take nothing in England but for payment which would have been a vast charge to them They purposed therefore to summon New-Castle and in case it yielded not to threaten to burn all the Coaleries which lay on the South-side though they designed not the executing of that for fear of making the Rupture beyond remedy But as they were marching doubtful what Course to take they met a Scotchman who had been a prisoner at Durham he told them how that morning by six a Clock all the English Forces had marched throw Durham in great haste whereupon they went forward and found New-Castle open to them and there they took up their Quarters and found great Magazins of Provision which the King had laid in for his Army and by those they maintained their Army a great while This Loss and Affront went very near the Kings Heart who begun to fear this years Success as much as he had done the last After this the Lords of the Covenant wrote the following Letter to the Earl of Lanerick by one Cathcart Noble Lord AS we have ever professed and declared as well by our Words as Actions that the Grounds of our Desires are and ever shall be the redress of Wrongs and reparations of our Losses and that we will never leave off in all humility to Supplicate His Majesty for the same so this hath moved us now being come this length yet again humbly â—o Petition His Majesty to take our Case to Consideration and grant our Desires We are debarred from sending or carrying our Supplications in the ordinary way which makes us have our Address to your Lordship Intreating your Lordship in our Names to present this our Petition herein inclosed to His Majesty and in all humility to beg an Answer thereunto to be sent with the Bearer to us who shall ever endeavour to approve our selves His Majesties Loyal Subjects and most unwilling to shed any Christian Blood far less the English whereof we have given very good prooff by our bygone Carriage to every one who hath with Violence opposed us yea even to those who entred in Blood with us and were taken Prisoners whom we have let go with Meat and Money notwithstanding that all those of ours who did but deboar'd from their Quarters are miserably massacred by these whom we can tearm no otherwise than Cut-throats Our behaviour to these in New-Castle can witness our Intention which is to live at peace with all and rather to suffer then to offend We bought all with our money and they have extortioned us to the triple value the Panick fear made most of them leave the Town and stop their own Trade but we have studied to solve their doubts As all our Actions shall ever tend to that which is Iust and Right so we could wish they were interpreted to a true sense and whatever may be the event of business we hope the blame shall not lie upon Your Lordships affectionate Friends to serve you Signed Rothes Cassilis Dumferline Lindsay Lowdon Napier Tho. Hope W. Richarton J. Swith P. Hepburn D. Hoom Keir Ja. Sword J. Rutherford Leager beside New-Castle 2d September 1640. POSTSCRIPT We intreat Your Lordship to let the Bearer have a Pass for his safe Return to us The Petition inclosed was presented by him to His Majesty which follows To the Kings Most Excellent MAJESTY The Humble Petition of the Commissioners of the late Parliament and others of His Majesties Loyal Subjects of the Kingdom of Scotland They Petition the King Humbly Sheweth THat Whereas after our many Sufferings the time past extreme necessity hath constrained us for our Relief and obtaining our Humble and Iust Desires to come into England where according to our Intentions formerly declared we have in all our Iourney lived upon our own Means and Victuals and Goods brought a long with us and neither troubling the Peace of the Kingdom nor harming any of Your Majesties Subjects of whatsoever quality in their Persons or Goods but have carried our selves in a most peaceable manner till we were pressed by strength of Arms to put such Forces out of the way as did without our deserving and as some of them have at the point of death confessed against their own Consciences opposed our peaceable passage at New-burn on Tine and have brought their Blood upon their own Heads against our purposes and desires expressed in our Letters sent unto them at New-Castle for preventing the like or greater Inconveniences And that we may without further opposition come into Your Majesties Presence for obtaining from Your Majesties Iustice and Goodness satisfaction to our just Demands we Your Majesties most Humble and Loyal Subjects do still insist in that submiss way of Petitioning which we have keeped since the beginning and from which no provocation of Your Majesties Enemies and ours no adversity that we have before sustained nor prosperous success can befall us shall be able to divert our minds Most humbly intreating That Your Majesty would in the depth of Your Royal Wisdom consider at last our pressing Grievances provide for the Repairing of our wrongs and losses and with the advice and consent of the Estates of the Kingdom of England convened in Parliament settle a firm and durable Peace against all Invasion by Sea or Land that we may with chearfulness of heart pay unto Your Majesty as our Native King all Duty and Obedience that can be expected from Loyal Subjects and that against the many and great Evils which at this time threaten both Kingdoms whereat all Your Majesties good and loving Subjects tremble to think and which we beseech God Almighty in mercy timeously to avert Your Majesties Throne may be established in the midst of us in Religion and Righteousness and Your Majesties Gracious Answer we humbly desire and earnestly wait for The King having considered their Petition commanded my Lord Lanerick to write the following Answer Dated at His Majesties Court at York the 5th of September 1640. His Majesties Answer HIS Majesty hath seen and considered this Petition and is Graciously pleased to return this Answer by me that he finds it in such general terms
that till you express the Particulars of your Desires His Majesty can give no direct Answer therefore His Majesty requires that you set downthe Particulars of your Demands with expedition he having been always willing to hear and redress the Grievances of His People and for the more mature Deliberation of these great Affairs His Majesty hath already given out Summons for the Meeting of the Peers of the Kingdom in the City of York upon the 24th of this Month that so with the advice of the Peers you may receive such Answer to your Petition as shall most tend to His Honour and the Peace and Wellfare of His Dominions And in the mean time if Peace be that you desire as you pretend He expects and by these His Majesty commands that you advance no further with your Army to these parts which is the only means that is left for the present to preserve Peace betwixt the two Nations and to bring these unhappy Differences to a Reconciliation which none is more desirous of than His most Sacred Majesty Signed LANERICK With which he wrote this Cover My Lords ACcording to your Desires I presented unto His Majesty in your names the Petition you sent me whereupon His Majesty hath been Graciously pleased to command me to make this reference which you shall receive herein inclosed joined unto the Petition My Lords by this you may see His Majesty is as he ever was willing to hear and redress the Grievances of His Subjects and I pray God you may take those Courses that may not too much incroach on the Goodness of so Gracious a Soveraign This shall be the earnest Prayer of Your Lordships Servant LANERICK York 5th Sept. 1640. To this they returned the Answer that follows which was sent by Sir Iames Mercer Right Honourable An. 1639. AS nothing in Earth is more desired of us than His Majesties favour so doth nothing delight us more than that His Majesty beginneth again to hearken to our Humble Desires The Covenanters make a second Address wherein we trust nothing shall be found but what may serve for His Majesties Honour and for the Peace of His Dominions The Particulars we would have expressed but that they are contained in the Conclusions of the late Parliament and our Printed Declarations which were sent to your Lordship but in case the Papers be not by your Lordship we now summarily repeat them That His Majesty would be Graciously pleased to command that the last Acts of Parliament may be published in his Highness's Name as our Soveraign Lord with the Estates of Parliament convened by His Majesties Authourity Next That the Castle of Edinburgh and other strengths of the Kingdom of Scotland may according to the first foundation be furnished and used for our Defence and Security Thirdly That our Countrymen in his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland may be free from Censure for subscribing the Covenant and be no more pressed with Oaths and Subscriptions unwarranted by our Laws and contrary to their National Oath and Covenant approved by His Majesty Fourthly That the Common Incendiaries who have been the Authors of this Combustion in His Majesties Dominions may receive their Iust Censure Fifthly That our Ships and our Goods with all the Damage thereof may be restored Sixthly That the Wrongs Losses and Charges which at this time we have sustained may be repayed Seventhly That the Declarations made against us as Traytors may be recalled and in end by advice and consent of the Estates of England convened in Parliament His Majesty may be pleased to remove the Garisons from the Borders and any Impediment that may stop free Trade and with their advice may condescend to all Particulars which may establish a stable and well-grounded Peace for enjoying of our Religion and Liberties against all fears of molestation and undoing from year to year as our Adversaries shall take the advantage This Royal testimony of His Majesties Iustice and Goodness we would esteem to be doubled upon us were it speedily bestowed and therefore must crave leave to regrate that His Majesties Pleasure concerning the Meeting of the Peers the 24th of this Instant will make the time long ere the Parliament be convened which is conceived to be the only mean of settling both Nations in a firm Peace and which we desire may be seriously represented to His Majesties Royal thoughts the more this time is abridged the more able will we be to obey His Majesties Prohibition of not advancing with our Arms Our Actions and whole comportment since the beginning of these Commotions and especially of late since our coming into England are Real Declarations of our love and desire of Peace nothing but invincible necessity hath brought us from our Country to this Place no other thing shall draw us beyond the limits appointed by His Majesty which we trust His Majesty will consider of and wherein we hope your Lordship will labour to be a profitable Instrument for the Kings Honour the Good of your Country and of Your Lordships humble Servants and affectionate Friends A. Lesly Rothes Cassils Montrose Dumfermline Lindsay Lowdon Napier Tho. Hope W. Rickartoâ—n J. Smith P. Hepbuâ—â— D. Home Keir Ja. Sword Scots-Leager at New-Castle Sept. 8th 1640. An. 1640 On the 24th of September the Peers of England having met the King by their Advice commanded his Secretary to write the following Letter My Lords The King appoints a Treaty ACcording to His Majesties appointment the most part of the Peers of this Kingdom of England met here at York this day where His Majesty did communicate unto them your Desires and Petitions and because you do so earnestly press for a speedy Answer His Majesty with Advice of the Peers hath nominated such a number of them for a Conference with you upon Tuesday at Northallerton whose Names are underwritten But withall if you shall think the time too short and that with conveniency you cannot come so soon thither if betwixt this and Sunday you do acquaint His Majesty therewith he will take Order for the delay thereof for one day or two And that you may without all fear or danger of Detention send such Persons unto the said Conference as you shall think most fit if betwixt this and Sunday you send hither the Names of these you mean to imploy His Majesty will with all possible diligence return a safe conduct under his own Royal Hand for them and their necessary Servants His Majesty hath likewise commanded me to let you know that upon your relieving of such Officers and others of His Subjects as are detained by you he will return all such of yours as are his Prisoners either here or at Berwick and hereafter resolves that fair Quarters should be kept betwixt both Armies Thus having imparted His Majesties Pleasure I continue Your Lordships Servant LANERICK York 24th of September 1640. And now the King was in a great strait what to resolve on Most of all the
the story of the Bond signed the former year at Cumberwald broke out upon which he and some of his Friends were committed close Prisoners to the Castle of Edinburgh and were called Plotters On the 12th of August the King came to Scotland The King comes to Scotland accompanied by the Prince Elector who came along with him to see what Assistance he might expect from the Scotish Parliament The King to please the Scotish Clergy the more appointed Mr. Henderson to wait upon him while he should be in Scotland and to provide Preachers for him being resolved to conform himself to the Scotish Worship while he was among them The Parliament at first Voted that all the Members should subscribe the Covenant which was done by all only the Duke of Lenox took a few Days to advise All the Members of Parliament subscribe the Covenant after which he came and subscribed with the rest Most differences had been settled at London but the matter of the Incendiaries and Plotters was that at which things stuck long and occasioned the Kings stay in Scotland Many censured the Marquis as not concerning himself so much for those persons as became him and because he in prosecution of the Design the King had laid down took much Pains on the Earl of Argyle it was said he was courting the Kings Enemies and neglecting his Friends But he judged the great Design of Settling the King with the Country was to be prefered to all private Interests and his brother following his Method shared with him in the same Jealousies though not to so high a degree But His Majesty knew the Marquis too well to be easily moved with these Whispers therefore in one of his Speeches in Parliament He declared That the Marquis had carried himself as a faithful Subject and Servant in all his Employments during these Troubles and as one that designed the Good and Happiness of his Country upon which the King gave his Assent to the following Act of Parliament IN the Parliament holden at Edinburgh The Marquis is vindicated by the Parliament in this Session thereof holden the last day of September tâ—e year of 1641 years this Act following was made by the King and Estates whereof the Tenour follows Whereas there have been certain scandalous words spoken of the Marquis of Hamilton tending to the prejudice of his Honour and Fidelity to His Majesty and his Countrâ— which are now acknowledged by Henry Lord Ker Speaker thereof in presence of His Majesty and Estates of Parliament to have been rash and groundless for the speaking whereof he is heartily sorry and since His Majesty and the Estates of Parliament know it to be so Therefore His Majesty and Estates foresaid declare the said Marquis of Hamilton to be free thereof and esteem him to be a Loyal Subject to His Majesty and faithful Patriot to his Country and the said Estates remit the further Censure of the said Lord Ker to the Kings Majesty Extracted out of the Records oâ— Parliament by me Sir Alexander Gibsone younger of Dury Knight Clerk to his Highness's Register and Rolls under my Sign and Subscription manual Alex. Gibsone Cl. Reg. The Marquis had often heard that his Enemies had Designs upon him and he represented what he heard to the King yet he loseth ground with the King but acknowledged he had it only by Whispers and thus matters went on till the 11th of October Yet all this while the Marquis was insensibly losing ground with the King for the perpetual Whispers of his Enemies could not choose but make some impression being specious though forged grounds of Jealousie cunningly contrived and managed with great assiduity art and malice Lanerick also found the Kings Countenance beginning to change towards him whereupon he assumed the freedom to ask His Majesty if he judged that he had been capable so far to forget his particular Favours to himself who from nothing had heaped both Fortune and Honours on him as to do any thing might merit the change he saw in him the King answered He believed he was an honest man that he had never heard any thing to the contrary but that his Brother had been very active in his own Preservation This made Lanerick Look the more narrowly to his Brothers Actions to see if he could discover whether in any thing he had studied to preserve himself by prejudicing the King but in a long Account of that business which I have under his hand he protested that the nearer he looked he discovered in him the greater Fidelity and Affection to his Master It is true the King met with great Opposition in Scotland in the matter of the Incendiaries and Plotters and it was represented that the Marquis and his Brother might have made it less which perhaps left some Impressions on His Majesty but having it so often under both their hands That might their Souls perish if they left any thing undone that was in their power to get a Compliance to the Kings Desires from the Parliament I must believe this Opposition flowed from the Distempers of that Time But about the middle of October an odd passage fell in which for its not being expected was called the Incident A Gentleman not known to the Marquis brought him and the Earl of Argyle the Discovery of a Plot he said was laid for their Lives and the Earl Lanerick's which he said he could justifie by one Witness who was invited to the execution of it He told also a long formal Story of the persons were to be Actors of Time Place and Manner and said it was to be executed that very night This the Marquis carried to the King without naming Particulars which could not be done safely by the Law of Scotland since he had but one Witness to prove them by The King desired him to examine the thing to the bottom and bring him what further Evidence he could find In the Evening other Presumptions were brought to the Marquis but no clear Evidence and the mattâ—r was got abroad and in every bodies mouth so that all who depended on these Lords came about them in great numbers and those on whom the Design was fastened gave out it was a Forgery to make them odious and gathered also together The Marquis hearing this did not stir out of doors lest some of their too officious followers had raised Tumults and next day in the Evening he with the Earl of Argyle and his Brother and half a dozen Servants went out of Town to his House of Keneel twelve miles from Edinburgh and sent his excuse to His Majesty with the true account of the Reasons that moved him to do what he had done Upon this many Discourses went about People of all sides passing construction as they were affected but the Parliament took the whole matter into Consideration Those who had given the Information owned what they had said and those on whom the Plot was fixed did as positively deny
all so that no clear Proof being brought the Parliament could come to no other Decision but that the Lords had good reason to withdraw themselves and so they were invited to return to their place in Parliament But he is again in His Majesties favour This was a tedious business and put a great stop to the Settlement betwixt the King and the Nation but further Particularities are thought needless to be set down since this Matter vanished no effect following on it The Marquis quickly recovered his former â—oom in the Kings Affection so that there remained not so much as a vestige of this cross Adventure Things in Scotland took presently a Settlement and those were called Plotters and Banders after examination and a delivering up of their Bond which was burnt by the hand of the Common Hangman were set at Liberty after some time of further Restraint but the Process of the alledged Incendiaries was to go on yet they were to enjoy their Liberty and undergo no other Censure but the loss of Publick Imployment which though yielded at London was long resisted in Scotland they pretending their Oath to bring them to condign Punishment But as the King was going on with the Settlement of one Kingdom The Rebellion breaks out in Ireland he got the saddest News that ever were heard out of Ireland of the desperate Rebellion and Massacre had broken out there whereupon His Majesty recommended to the Parliament of Scotland the Relief of his oppressed Protestant Subjects in Ireland which they undertook very willingly But because of the interest England had in Ireland Commissioners were appointed to Treat with the Parliament of England for Concluding a Peace betwixt the two Nations and Settling of Trade and particularly about the Terms upon which they should engage in the War of Ireland and so about the middle of November the King having granted to the Scotish Nation all they could demand ended the Parliament there and returned to London about the end of that month But before the Marquis left Scotland he by the Kings particular Command entred in a close Friendship with Argyle considering that besides the great Power of that Family his Interest with the Clergy and Covenanters was such that none could be so useful to His Majesties Service as he And this Friendship was to be twisted closer by a Bond of a near Alliance betwixt their Children But from all the Letters that passed betwixt them yet to be seen it is as clear as can be that all the Marquis his design in this Friendship was for the Kings Service and that all that time Argyle expressed a hearty concurrence in it To gratifie the Covenanters the more the King had created him a Marquis Lowdon was also made Chancellor Lesley Earl of Leven and Lindsay put in a fair way to be Treasurer Traquair being turned out The King at his return to London The King returns to London where he finds matters worse found the Edge he had left on some of their spirits was no way blunted but growing into more sharpness When the Marquis was in Scotland a Member of the House of Commons laying out their Grievances among other things inveighed against Monopolies and spoke so plainly that all understood he meant the Marquis as a Person that deserved to be accused as well as either Strafford or Canterbury but others of that same Cabal took him up sharply And now upon the Kings return his Enemies finding their designs against him could not take with the King in whose Favour he was as much as ever they took a strange Course to destroy him which was to set on some Members of the House of Commons to accuse him as the Incendiary betwixt England and Scotland who had engaged England into all that Expence who had also invited the Scots to march into England and had been always the third in Strafford's and Canterburie's Counsels who had advised the Dissolving of the former Parliament and had oppressed the Subjects by the grants of many Monopolies which he had This was smelled out even by some of the same Cabal who perswaded their Friends to desist shewing them That for his Carriage betwixt England and Scotland an Oblivion was passed in the late Treaty which was ratified by the Parliament of England That for other things though his Engagement in the Court had carried him along to some extreme Counsels yet they said it was well enough known how moderate his Inclinations were how great an Instrument he had been in the late Settlement of Scotland and how much he was hated upon that account and that this was a design to destroy him either out of malice or because some feared his moderate Counsels in England as much as they hated them in Scotland This seems to have flowed from the Friendship which divers of the Leaders in the House of Peers had for him whom he had often obliged and as they were not unsensible nor forgetful of his good Offices so they seem to have had a particular kindness for his Person And while he was in Scotland he kept Correspondence with Mandevil Essex and others and chiefly with the Lord Say and Seale but all their Letters shew that his greatest business with them was to prepare them to a better Correspondence with the King But when the Marquis smelled out the design against him he gave the King an account of it and told him that if His Majesty intended to go on in his Affairs in a Kingly way he would wait on his Commands and expose himself to the displeasure of the House of Commons but if His Majesty intended to settle Matters by an absolute Compliance with the Parliament then he conceived it was fit that his Servants should use their endeavours for their own Preservation that so they might be afterwards useful to his Service yet he said he would do nothing for himself but by His Majesties Allowance and Direction being it is like taught more caution by the Jealousies had been taken from his care of vindicating himself in the Parliament of Scotland The King upon this allowed him to use all means for his own Preservation which he so managed that the designed Accusation came to nothing This particâ—lar His Sacred Majesty vouchsafed to tell the Writter adding that he had it from the Queen His Mother Anno 1642. An. 1642. THe Tumults and Disorders about Whitehall and Westminster rose to that height that the King withdrew to Windsor in the beginning of the year The Scotch Commissioners continued Treating about their engaging for Ireland The Sâ—ots Commissioners animate the Houses to press the change of the Laws about Church-Government which the King pressed forward very earnestly but some of the Commissioners begun to tamper with those who were most opposite to the Court in the Two Houses and in stead of Moderating them were instigating them to persist in their Demands about Religion to get Episcopacy brought down and Presbytery set up To
Kingdom not authorized by any Law to make themselves under the title of a Mediation Vmpires and Arbitrators of the Differences here For the Calling of a Parliament in Scotland His Majesty desires to know what Promise of His it is which they mention Him to have particularly expressed to His late Parliament The Law which His Majesty then Graciously past concerning that Point His Majesty well remembers and will justly punctually and religiously observe it together with all the rest consented to by Him that the Parliament there shall convene upon the first Tuesday of June 1644. And according to the same Act will appoint one betwixt this and that Day if His Majesty shall think fitting who as He is by that very Law expressed to be sole Iudge of that Convenience so the Commissioners are neither by that nor any other Law entrusted or enabled to Iudge thereof At Oxford 19th of April 1643. In the beginning of April Reports came to Scotland that their Commissioners at Oxford were under Restraint whereupon the Conservatours met and ordered their speedy Return The Commissioners recalled to Scotland The Marquis wrote also to the King that their Return should be by no means stopped or delayed otherwise he might expect present Disorders in Scotland but withall he told him he apprehended upon their Return some great Resolution would be taken therefore he desired His Majesty would send down all the Scotish Lords that were about him who might by their Votes in Judicatories or by their Interest in the Country advance the Kings Service in Scotland He likewise desired His Majesty might divide his Trust in Scotland among those Noble persons The Marquis adviseth the King to joyn others with him in publick Trust whose Fidelity he did not suspect that thereby both himself might be delivered from the odium and danger of acting alone in such tender Points and in that ticklish Time as also for a further Encouragement of those who were resolved to adhere to His Majesty and with this he wrote the following Letter to Her Majesty then at York under whose Address his Letters to the King were to go May it please Your Majesty THere is as yet small or no Alteration in the Condition of Affairs in the Country since I presumed to trouble Your Majesty last and writes to the Queen nor do I believe there will be any till the fourth of May at which time it is probable the final Resolution of the Council and Commiâ—sioners for Conserving the Articles of the Treaty will be taken It is still conceived that His Majesties absent Servants would be of great use at that time and the uncertain knowledge if they will come or not keeps us that are here from a positive Resolution what Course to take therein therefore I humbly beseech Your Majesty let us know if by appearance we may expect them or not There is a general noise as if the Lord Chancellour and the rest of the Commissioners were not only kept as Prisoners but in some further Danger By Mungo Murray Your Majesty was advertised that it was conceived fit that seeing those that sent them had so positively recalled them against the fourth of May they should be dispatched against that Time In our opinions there was no Danger now to be apprehended by their Home-coming but there would arise great Inconveniences if they should be detained of that same Iudgment we continue to be still We do likewise humbly intreat that we may know if what was proposed to Your Majesty by my Lord of Traquair Mr. Murray and my self be come to His Majesties knowledge and if we may expect the signification of his Pleasure against the fourth of May in these Particulars which we exceedingly wish By the Lord Montgomery Your Majesty will know how far the General hath promised his best Endeavours that His Majesty shall receive no prejudice from the Army under his Commandin Ireland the same he hath confirmed to me with deep Protestations and truely I take him to be a man of that Honour that he will perform it But the Truth is it will be a Work of great difficulty to keep these Men there any time seeing there is little appearance that Money will be got from the Parliament of England and how to raise any considerable Sum here as yet we see not so even in this we desire to know Your Majesties Pleasure and Directions what Course will be fitest to be taken and if Your Majesty shall find it expedient that we engage our Fortunes for their Supply many of us will do it to the last Peny and none more readily than May it please Your Majesty the humblest most faithful and most obedient of all Your Majesties Servants HAMILTON Peebles 21st April 1643. The Commissioners are not suffered to go to London and returned to Scotland But at Oxford the Commissioners insisted warmly for a Permission to go to London for Mediating and His Majesty persisting in his Refusal the Lord Chancellour resolved on making a Protestation that His Majesty by not suffering them to go to Westminster had violated the Safe-conduct My Lord Lindsay who was ordered to come from London and second the Chancellour in this Negotiation did all he could to divert him from that Resolution but the other said he had positive Orders from Scotland he was also peekt with the Petition about the Annuities and got a great disgust by a Letter of his Ladies which not coming under a right Cover had been intercepted and brought to His Majesty wherein severe things were said against the Kings Cause and Party and particularly the Marquis was bitterly enveighed against for having given himself up so intirely to the Kings Service that he designed the Ruin of all who opposed it The Chancellour came and made his last Address to the King for liberty to enter on a Mediation betwixt Him and the Two Houses adding that if that were denyed he would be constrained to Protest in the Names of them who sent him that His Majesties Conduct was violated But the King was not shaken with it only he took the Chancellour apart and used many perswasions to divert him from it and made him great Offers if he would comply with his Desires for the King apprehended that it might have precipitated a Breach betwixt Him and Scotland But the Chancellour said he acted by a Trust committed to him which he must discharge faithfully and obey the Orders sent him from those in whose Name he came and said much to assure the King there was no design in Scotland to own the Quarrel of the Two Houses against His Majesty and protested he should die rather than concur in such Courses But this did not satisfie His Majesty whereupon finding the Chancellour could not be wrought upon his next Attempt was upon Lindsay to whom he spake with more Freedom and told him in how great a Strait he was for it seemed if he refused to allow their going to Westminster a
come from hence this Summer into England to disturb His Majesties Affairs Yet no Means ought to be neglected in preparing to oppose them lest they should do oâ—herwise nor shall I fail to do the same whatever Malice may whisper to the contrary with all the Power I have and as freely venture both Life and Fortune in that as any living shall So I humbly beseech Your Majesty to believe that not only in this but in all which doth concern His Majesties Service my part shall be such as I have promised and as becometh The Humblest most Faithful and most Obedient of all Your Majesties Servants HAMILTON Holyrood House 10th June The King having received the Letter of Advertisement concerning the Convention wrote down the following Answer about it CHARLES R. The Kings Letter about the Convention to the Council RIght Trusty and Right well-beloved Cousins and Councellours and Right Trusty and well-beloved Councellours We Greet you well We are much surprized at Your Letter of the 12th of this Moneth whereby it seems you have given order for the Calling of a Convention of the Estates of that Our Kingdom without Our Privity or Authority which as it is a business We see no reason for at present and that hath never been done before but in the Minority of the Kings of Scotland without their Consent so We cannot by any means approve of it and therefore We command â—ou to take order that there be no such Meeting till you give Vs full satisfaction of the Reasons for it Given at Our Court at Oxford 22th of May 1643. With this he wrote another to the Earl of Lanerick which follows CHARLES R. and to Lanerick RIght Trusty and Right well-beloved Cousin and Councellour We Greet you well We have herewith sent you Copies not only of the Letters We lately received from Scotland but also of Our several Letters to Our Chancellour and Council there the Originals whereof We leave to your Discretion to deliver and make use of as you shall find best for Our Advantage but for the Business it self We have heretofore so fully declared to you Our Own Opinion therein as We need say no more of that Subject to you We observe in the Letter to Vs that there are but eleven Councellours Names to it and that nâ—ne of those that are best-affected have subscribed it and We find that as great or a greater number of Councellours Persons of great Quality Place and Trust have not subscribed to it Given at Our Court at Oxford 22th of May 1643 Upon what had past the Lords whom His Majesty had trusted resolved to keep up this Letter to the Council till a return came of the Message they had sent to His Majesty But a few days after that Letter was written the Earl of Lindsay came from London to Oxford The Earl of â—indsay â—s with the King to receive the Kings Commands for Scotland to which he was required to go and sit in the Convention of Estates then Summoned His Majesty asked his Advice whether He should give way to its Sitting or not but he answered as he durst not advise His Authorizing of it so on the other hand he might consider if it was like that they who had called it without His Warrant would desert it upon His Prohibition and if His Majesty thought fit to discharge it he would weigh well what the hazard might be of their Sitting against His Pleasure All this being considered by His Majesty He wrote by him the following Letter to My Lord Lanerick CHARLES R. RIght Trusty and Right well-beloved Cousin and Councellour We Greet you well The Earl of Lindsay coming hither from London hath assured Vs that the Cause of the Two Houses sending into Scotland to have the Lords that went hence sequestred was the Intercepting of their Letter sent to Our Dearest Consort the Queen and nothing else We perceive by the Copy of the Resolutions you sent Vs with what Prudence and Loyal Courage your Brother Hamilton and the Lord Advocate opposed at Council there the Order for Calling a Convention of the Estates for which We would have you to give them Our particular Thanks You and others of Our Council there know well how injurious the Calling of a Convention of Estates without Our Consent is to Our Honour and Dignity Royal and as it imports Vs so We desire all Our well-affected Servants to hinder it what they may but shall leave it to them to take therein such Course as they shall there upon advice conceive best without prescribing any way or giving any particular Directions If notwithstanding Our Refusal and the endeavours of Our well-affected Subjects and Servants to hinder it there shall be a Convention of the Estates then We wish that all those who are right-affected to Vs should be present at it but to do nothing there but only Protest against their Meeting and Actions We have so fully instructed this Bearer that for all other Matters We shall refer you to his Relation whereto We would have you to give credit Given at our Court at Oxford the 29th of May 1643. But His Majesty having after that received the Advice sent him from Scotland and His own Thoughts agreeing with it did on the 10th of Iune write the following Letter to be presented to the Convention CHARLES R. RIght Trusty and well-beloved Cousins and Councellours The Kings Letter to the Convention of Estates c. We have received a Letter dated the 22th of May and Signed by some of Our Council some of the Commissioners for Conserving the Articles of the late Treaty and of the Commissioners for the Common Burdens and though it seem strange unto Vs that those Committees should Sign in an equal Power with Our Council especially about that which is so absolutely without the limits of their Commissions yet We were more surprized with the Conclusions taken at â—heir Meetings of Calling a Convention of the Estates without Our special Warrant wherein Our Royal Power and Authority is so highly concerned as that We cannot pass by the same without expressing how sensible We are of so Vnwarrantable a way of Proceeding and if We did not prefer tâ— Our Own unquestionable Right the Preservation of the present happy Peace within that Our Kingdom no other Consideration could move Vs to pass by the just Resentment of Our Own Interest therein But when We consider to what Miseries and Extremities Our Scotish Army in Ireland is reduced by reason that the Conditions agreed unto by Our Houses of Parliament for their Maintenance are not performed and likewise the great and heavy Burdens which We are informed Our Native Kingdom lies under by the not timely payment of the Remainder of the Brotherly Assistance due from England contrary to the Articles of the late Treaty and withall remembring the Industry which We know hath been used upon groundless Pretences to possess Our Scotish Subjects with an Opinion that if God should
marks of His Majesties Favour and Confidence in the disposal of all Offices and Places at Court that every third time they should be filled with Scotish men together with other particulars not needful to be mentioned But against all this it was objected that those who had the Ascendant in the Councils at Oxford were either Papists or men of Arbitrary Principles and the Clamours that always follow Generals and Armies where there is no certain Pay were carried to Scotland not without great additions against the Kings Forces to possess people with a deep alienation from them It was likewise said that since the King notwithstanding the Declining of his Affairs in England would not grant what was desired there about Episcopacy it might be from thence gathered what he would do if his Arms were successful and therefore all People were possessed with the jealousies of his subverting the whole Settlement with Scotland assoon as he had put the War in England to a happy Conclusion And though it was answered to this that the Kings putting things to hazard rather than sin against his Conscience was the greatest assurance possible that he would faithfully observe what He had granted to this Malicious people said that it would be easie to find distinctions to escape from all Engagements and if the putting down of Episcopacy was simply sinful according to the Kings Conscience then that alone would furnish Him with a very good reason to overturn all since no Men are bound to observe the promises they make when they are sinful upon the Matter And these Reasons did generally prevail with the Covenanters to refuse to joyn with the Kings Party in England therefore they concluded it necessary to Engage with the Two Houses both because the Cause was dear to them it being a pretence for Religion and Liberty It was also said often that they owed their Settlement partly to the backwardness of the Armies the King had raised against them in England and partly to the Council of the Peers who had advised the King to grant a Treaty and afterwards a full Settlement to them And that Paper which was sent down in the Year 1640 as the Engagement of 28 of the Peers of England for their Concurrence with the Scotish Army that year was shown to divers to engage them unto a Grateful return to those to whom it was pretended they were so highly obliged For though the Earl of Rothes and a few more were well satisfied about the Forgery of that Paper yet they thought that a Secret of too great Importance to be generally known therefore it was still kept up from the Body of that Nation And upon these Pretences and Inducements it was that it came to be generally agreed to to enter into a Confederacy with the Two Houses So Fatal did the Breach between the King and his People prove that even when it seemed to be well made up by a full Agreement there was still an after-game of Jealousies and Fears which did again widen it by a new Rupture which to these men seemed at this time unavoidable otherwise they found the ease of a Neutrality to be such that the Men of the greatest Interest in those Councils have often told the Writer they had never engaged again had it not been for those Jealousies with which they were possessed to a high degree There was a Committee of Nine appointed to Treat with the Commissioners the English pressed chiefly a Civil League and the Scots a Religious one but though the English yielded to this yet they were careful to leave a door open for Independency Thus the Treaty with the English Commissioners went on notwithstanding a Letter the King wrote to the Chancellour to be communicated to the Council requiring them not to Treat with them since they came without His Majesties Order but they who had leaped over all other matters could not stand at this And now came to light that which had been a hatching these many Months among the Iunto's which was the Solemn League and Covenant which follows The Solemn League and Covenant of the three Kingdoms WE Noblemen Barons Knights Gentlemen Citizens and Burgesses The Solemn League and Covenant Ministers of the Gospel and Commons of all sorts in the Kingdoms of Scotland England and Ireland by the Providence of God living under one King and being of one Reformed Religion having before our eyes the glory of GOD and the advancement of the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ the Honour and Happiness of the Kings Majesty and His Posterity and the true publick Liberty Safety and Peace of the Kingdom wherein every ones private condition is included And calling to mind the treacherous and bloody Plots Conspiracies Attempts and Practices of the Enemies of GOD against the true Religion and Professors thereof in all places especially in these three Kingdoms ever since the Reformation of Religion and how much their Rage Power and Presumption are of late and at this time encreased and exercised whereof the deplorable estate of the Church and Kingdom of Ireland the distressed estate of the Church and Kingdom of England and the dangerous estate of the Church and Kingdom of Scotland are present and publick testimonies We have now at last after other means of Supplication Remonstrance Protestations and Sufferings for the preservation of our selves and our Religion from utter ruine and destruction according to the commendable practice of these Kingdoms in former times and the example of Gods People in other Nations after mature deliberation resolved and determined to enter into a mutual and Solemn League and Covenant Wherein we all subscribe and each one of us for himself with our hands lifted up to the most high GOD do Swear THat we shall sincerely really and constantly through the grace of GOD endeavour in our several Places and Callings the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government against our common Enemies the Reformation of Religion in the Kingdoms of England Ireland in Doctrine Worship Discipline and Government according to the Word of GOD and the example of the best Reformed Churches And shall endeavour to bring the Churches of GOD in the three Kingdoms to the nearest conjunction and Vniformity in Religion Confession of Faith Form of Church-Government Directory for Worship and Catechising that we and our Posterity after us may as Brethren live in Faith and Love and the Lord may delight to dwell in the midst of us That we shall in like manner without respect of persons endeavour the extirpation of Popery Prelacy that is Church-Government by Arch-bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Officers depending on that Hierarchy Superstition Heresie Schism Prophaneness and whatsoever shall be found to be contrary to sound Doctrine and the Power of Godliness lest we partake in other mens sins and thereby be in danger to
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
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
that he might make trial of all those large professions of Affection and Duty they had alwayes made This Design was communicated to the Earl of Lauderdale then at London but he as he informed the Writer studied to disswade His Majesty from it assuring him that he knew the Army and the Church-party whiâ—h then prevailed in Scotland would not be firm to him unless he yielded to their Demands about Religion but notwithstanding that upon some slender Assurances got from Mons. de Montrevil Agent from the French King His Majesty went to the Scotish Army the particulars whereof and of the subsequent as well as fore-going Publick Affairs not being the chief business of these Memoires little more is any-where toucht of them than what is necessary for making out the thread of the Dukes Concerns so as it may set them in their true light The Commissioners are sent to him from Scotland Assoon as this was known at Edinburgh the Committee of Estates which was then sitting sent the Earl of Lanerick and some others to wait on His Majesty with great expressions of their Duty and good Intentions protesting how dear the Preservation of His Sacred Person and His Just Power and Greatness should ever be to them wherefore they expected His Majesty would give full satisfaction to the Just Desires of His Subjects and as a preparation to this that He would recall any Commissions He had given against the Kingdom of Scotland But these Commissioners were ordered to do nothing that might raise Jealousies betwixt the Kingdoms and therefore were to Treat joyntly with such Commissioners as should be sent from the Two Houses And as they of Scotland sent their Commissioners with these Instructions yet extant so they emitted a Proclamation forbidding any to go out of the Kingdom without Publick Permission which was done to hinder those of the Kings Party from coming to him What Reception my Lord Lanerick had from His Majesty doth not appear to me but I find he was very quickly as well seated in the King's Affection and Confidence as ever On the 13th of May the Scotish Commissioners presented their first Paper which went not beyond general things containing a Welcome with an offer of their Service according to the Covenant But in their next Paper they pressed the King to send a Message to his Two Houses for a Happy Peace who press the King to settle matters not being satisfied with that Letter he had formerly written to the Speaker of the House of Peers since no grounds were laid down for a Pacification a Treaty being only in general terms desired Of all these Papers that passed the Originals do yet remain Next day the King called both for the chief Officers of the Army The King complains of the ill usage he met with and the Commissioners sent to him out of Scotland and in presence of Mons. de Montrevil did expostulate That whereas He had come to their Army upon the Assurances Mons. de Montrevil had given him that He should be safe in His Person Honour and Conscience the two last were not kept for he was pressed to settle Religion as they desired wherewith his Conscience was not satisfied next His Subjects had not free access to Him but Proclamations were issued out forbidding them to come to Him neither was the Ceremony due to Him as King suffered to be paid Him at His entry to Newcastle and lastly His Servants were not suffered to wait on Him And His Majesty attested Montrevil if those conditions were not made to Him who confidently affirmed it in all their presence and that he had the authentick Assurances in French The Commissioners retired to think of an answer but when they returned they desired His Majesty would put Montrevil to it to declare what those Assurances were and who gave them but this was not done Next they said they would not Treat with the King in his Presence nor admit of the interposition of any Foreign Agents betwixt them and their Native Prince And the Commissioners of the Army resolved that no suspected Person should be suffered to wait on the King with which His Majesty was highly displeased and for some days would not eat in publick but only in his Chamber But because there were many in the Army who would have engaged cordially for the King on any terms to lesâ—en the apprehension of this they got a Petition to be signed by almost all the Considerable Officers of the Army yet extant that His Majesty would settle Religion according to the Covenant and that He would enter into it Himself and authorize it by His Command On the 18th of May His Majesty wrote another Letter to the Two Houses desiring them to send Propositions for Peace and in order to that The King moves for a Treaty He again offered to put the Militia into their hands for 7 years as had been offered at Vxbridge He demanded also a Safe-conduct for sending Orders to stop all further Proceedings in Ireland since He was resolved to leave the management of that War wholly to the Two Houses He shewed His Letter to the Scotish Commissioners but because it contained no Offer about Religion they were not satisfied with it yet it was sent The next thing the Commissioners from Scotland moved was that His Majesty would recall the Commissions He had given out against the Scotish Nation for the clearing whereof somewhat must be resumed that passed in those years which I have run over so hastily In the beginning of the year 1644. the King gave a Commission to the Marquis of Montrose A short Account of Montrose's Affairs to see what could be done in Scotland by Force for diverting the Army that was then entring into England He had great hopes of making a strong Party in Scotland and doubted not but he should be able with the Assistance Antrim undertook to send him out of Ireland to give the Scotish Army work enough at home but his hopes failed him for all were so over-awed by the Power of the Covenanters that none would stir till about the end of the year Some came out of Ireland but far short of the number that was promised and with these and a few of the Scotish Nation he adventured to disturb the Covenanters the particular Narration of whose Enterprizes is not to be here prosecuted This was judged by all a bold and desperate Attempt for as his Force was small so they wanted Arms and every thing necessary Some of the Wisest of the Covenanters advised them not to engage with him in any Action except on terms full of advantage but to follow him up and down whither he went securing the Country from Spoil and Plunder for they judged that his Men being so unprovided as they understood they were would not hold out long in the Hills but be forced either to lay down their Arms or break out in Mutinies among themselves whereby they should have been starved with
Grounds therefore the Duke resolved on a present abandoning of Affairs and of retiring from the World Lanerick was so angry at this Design that he spared nothing that either his Affection or Wit could suggest to divert him from that desperate Resolution as he termed it He told him could he not be Religious but he must turn a Monk and did he not think it best to serve God in that Station whereunto he had called him or must he reject the choice of Gods Providence and turn his own Disposer and was he so mean-spirited as to abandon matters because of the difficulties that were in theâ— But all he could devise was not like to prevail for the Duke protested it was impossible for him to look on and see His Majesties Ruin which was inevitable upon the Grounds he went on At this time the Independents The Independents cajole the King fearing the extremity to which the King was driven might force him to consent to any thing upon which a Settlement might follow betook themselves to strange Methods to obstruct it they therefore gave some hopes that they would be willing to dispense with the imposing of the Covenant and consent to a Toleration of Episcopacy and the Liturgy provided they might be satisfied in other points This suiting so well with the Kings Inclinations had too good a hearing from him but my Lord Lauderdale wrote from London very warmly for undeceiving the King But Lauderdale disabuses his Majesty assuring him that he infallibly knew their Designs were the Ruin of Monarchy and the Destruction of the King and His Posterity and though they might cajole His Majesty with some smooth Propositions those were meant for His Ruine that they might once divide Him from His Parliaments after which they would destroy both Him and them were it in their power But if the King would now consent to the Propositions all would go right and in spight of the Devil and the Independents both he would be quickly on His Throne but Delays were full of danger for they that wished well to the King were becoming daily more heartless and the other Party grew in their Insolence and the Earl of Essex his Death at that time had given the greatest blow to the Kings Affairs they could have met with This he continued to represent by many Letters both to the King and those about Him yet His Majesty was much wrought upon to give credit to those Offers of the Sectaries which made Him the less apprehensive of hazard At length when the Duke saw His Majesty immoveable The Duke obtains His Majesties permission to retire he begged His permission to retire But the King resisted that with so much reason and affection that in the whole Course of His Favours to him there had not been any since the business of Ochiltry wherein He had more obliged him than by the tenderness that then appeared in him Yet the Duke was so importunate that at length the King seemed to give way to it at least the Duke understood it so whereupon with as sad a heart as ever man had he took leave of the King which he apprehended to be his last Farewell and it proved to be so indeed except a transient view he had of Him at Windsor So he left the King and carried home with him a heart so fraughted with Melancholy that all could be done was not able to rouse him out of it and neither the tears of his dying Mother nor the intreaties of his Friends nor the constant persecution of his Brother who was much vexed at it were able to divert him from his Resolution for having overcome the Kings dislike of it which was stronger than all other things with him he was proof against every thing else But His Majesty quickly repented Him of that tacit consent He seemed to give and therefore sent after him this handsom Letter Hamilton I Have so much to write and so little time for it that this Letter will be suitable to the Times Which His Majesty retracts by His Letter without Method or Reason and yet you will find Lusty Truths in it which puts Me again out of fashion but the fitter for him to whom I write Now to My business but lest I should now forget it I must first tell you that those at London think to get Me into their hands by telling Our Country-men that they do not intend to make Me a Prisoner O No by No means but only to give Me an honourable Guard forsooth to attend Me continually for the security of My Person wherefore I must tell you and 't is so far from a secret that I desire every one should know it only for the way I leave it to you to manage it for My best advantage that I will not be left in England when this Army retires and these Garisons are rendred without a visible violent force upon My Person unless clearly and according to the old way of understanding I may remain a Free-man and that no Attendant be forced upon Me upon any pretence whatsoever So much for that A Discourse yesternight with Rob. Murray was the cause of this Letter having no such Intention before because I esteemed you a man no more of this part of the World believing your Resolutions to be like the Laws of the Medes and Persians But however he shewed Me such Reasons that I found it fit to do what I am doing for I confess one mans errour is no just excuse for anothers omission which is to stay your forreign Iourney by perswasion As for the Arguments I refer you to Robin only I will undertake to tell you some positive Truths the chief whereof is That it is not fit for you to go then It is less shame to recant than to persist in an Errour My last is By going you take away from Me the means of shewing My Self Your most assured real faithful constant Friend CHARLES R. New-Castle September 26th 1646. But this Letter will be lame unless made up with the Cover that went about it from Sir Robert Murray which was as he wrote in his next almost wholly the Kings words and not only his sense for the King the night before falling in Discourse with Sir Robert about the Duke discovered very fully the Constancy of His Royal kindness to him whereupon he laid His Commands on Sir Robert to put him in mind of the Inconveniences his obstinacy in that Resolution would heap upon him and mentioned them these are Sir Robert's words with a Friendliness that related not to his own Concernments Indeed they are such as the very apprehension of them cannot but deeply wound a Soul so great as yours They are briefly these The withdrawing your self at this time will be believed to proceed from a tacit Ioy at the appearance of the bad Success of his Affairs or rather out of a design to contribute to it under the disguise of a seeming Retiredness and
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
Scotland This I thought fit to shew you from others you will hear what hath been every mans particular Carriage in the Debates and our future Actions though they prove not useful to His Majesty yet shall witness to the World and Posterity how we detest such Resolutions However I shall boldly say tâ—at some who professed at their parting from His Majesty as much if not more than I did and for ought I know were more trusted have this day shewed themselves to the World in their natural colours for truly I never remember to have seen any thing carried with so much violence and bitterness as tâ—e Resolution of not suffering His Majesty to come to Scotland our Declaring it unlawful to espouse His Interest and the fitness of Restraining His Person in England I dare not advise any thing only this whatsoever His Majesty intends to do I wish it be done quickly and I dare say upon my Honour within few days He will not be master of Himself nor His Resolution anâ— then I doubt his Offers will come too late I shall conclude you never saw the stream so strong in Scotland nor so desperate an Affliction as doth now possess the heart of Your most humble Servant LANERICK And with this long account he wrote to His Majesty what follows SIR I Shall not presume to trouble Your Majesty with the sad relation of our Carriages here these last two days the Particulars will be represented to You by others Only give me leave to beg that what Your Majesty intends to do be quickly done for our Resolutions here will be sudden and sharp Whatsoever other mens Carriage be I am resolved to die rather than concur with them This is the fixed Resolution of Your Majesties most humble most faithful most obedient Subject and Servant LANERICK Edinburgh 17th Decemb. 1646s Now were the two Brothers The Duke and Lanerick oppose things as much as they can but in vain according to the variety of their tempers swallowed up with the excesses of Passion The Duke was all Melancholy and Despair and Lanerick was full of Fury and Rage But say or do what they could all was in vain One rare instance of the Kings temper appeared at this time for after he had got this account which brought him such ill tidings he took no notice of it to those about him but continued in a Game at Chess and was as chearful as before He was at that time thinking of making an escape from Newcastle by Sea but whither he intended to have gone does not appear to the Writer to that Lanerick's Letters do relate when they press his speedy resolving on what he intended The design was thus laid Mr. Murray had provided a Vessel by Tinmouth and Sir Robert Murray was to have conveyed the King thither in a disguise and it proceeded so far that the King put himself in the disguise and went down the back-Stairs with Sir Robert Murray But His Majesty apprehending it was scarce possible to pâ—ss through all the Guards without being discovered and judging it hugely undecent to be catched in such a condition changed His Resolution and went back as Sir Robert informed the Writer This came to be known to some and one suspecting the Duke was in it wrote to him earnestly to concur in no such design and that the Kings getting out of their hands again would ruin all that no man of Honour and Conscience ought to serve the King since he would not serve God according to the Covenant adding that it seemed God had no mercy for the King or His Family since His Heart was still so hardned in the matter of the Covenant so high-flown were men at that time At London things went on with great dispatch for the Retiring of the Scotish Army another hundred thousand pounds sterling was Voted to be paid presently and other two hundred thousand pounds to bâ— raised out of the Sale of Bishops Rents and Delinquents Estates whereupon it was agreed that the Army should return to Scotland upon the delivery of the Mony which was immediately to be sent down to Newcastle In Scotland upon the evening of the next day after the Fast mentioned in the Earl of Lanerick's Letter these infamous Resolutions set down in his Letter were Voted and all that could be said by the two Brothers or any few of their Friends who adhered to them had no other effect but to drive it off a few minutes the Tide made so strong the other way The King at this time was much pressed both by the Queen from France and by Believre the French Ambassadour to consent to their Demands but all was to no purpose and my Lord Lanerick's last Letter prevailed no more than the former Most Sacred Soveraign Lanerick writes again to the King BY Monsieur Montrevil I received Your Majesties of the 14th Instant and do humbly acknowledge Your Gracious Reception of the Freedom I used in my former Letter And now when Your Majesty doth see to what a height the Publick Resolutions here are grown Your Majesty will soon find how just my Fears were that Your intended Answer to the Propositions of Peace if published here would have received no Countenance nor Assistance hence Satisfaction in Religion being still waved without which as then so I have always assured Your Majesty there would be an absolute impossibility of preventing Your receiving eminent Prejudices from this Country I shall not presume to reply to the Answers Your Majesty makes to the Objections were made here for I did not then speak mine own Language against Your Answer to the Propositions I never laboured to perswade Your Majesty to grant them from a sense of their Iustness but only out of an opinion of their fitness in relation to Your present Condition which by what Your Majesty will learn from the Bearer is more threatning now than ever I know the representation of Your Danger in what horrid shape soever it may with Reason lie before You will be as impertinent an Argument as any yet though Your Majesty should neglect it in reference to Your Self pity Your hopeful Children and Posterity pity Your Subjects and suffer us not to ruine our selves which the Confusions we are running into will certainly bring upon us and pity all those who have suffered for You who will be exposed to certain Ruine All possible means have been used in a Parliamentary way which is the only mean left to prevent the extreme Resolutions that are now taken but all is to no purpose our best Friends forsake us upon any Motion which may infer the least Latitude about the Covenant and Religion and therefore as in the presence of God I must discharge my self to Your Majesty and shew you the Resolutions now taken here in relation to the restraining of Your Majesties Person and Governing the Kingdom without You will be infallibly put in execution if Your Majesty does not satisfie in the Covenant and Religion to
the full as it is demanded neither will it be in the power of any in this Kingdom to prevent Affronts and Danger to Your Majesties Person if You should have any thoughts of coming hither Sir I take God to witness I write this with a sadder heart than I would receive a sentence of Death against my self and shall grieve more at the performance of that than I should at the execution of this upon Your Majesties most humble most faithful most obedient Subject and Servant LANERICK Edinburgh December 22th 1646. His Majesties last Message was presented to the Scotish Parliament His Majesties Message rejected in Scotland on the 23th of December by the Earl of Lanerick and backed by him with the warmest language that he could use but nothing that was new being offered by it a Compliance with it was not to be expected It was also sent to London and at London and first presented to the House of Peers whereat all even those who were best-affected hung their Heads and sent it down to the House of Commons without a word and there it met with the same Entertainment The next Debate was about the Kings Person and the mildest opinion was that He should be kept Prisoner some being for the excluding Him for ever from the Government And for the place of His Restraint some were for His stay at Newcastle but it was carried that He should go to Holmby And this passed without communicating it to the Scotish Commissioners But when He was ordained to be kept in Safety for His Person Henry Martin objected that the King had broken the Peace and why must the Parliament bind for His Safety Some moved to preserve His Person according to the Covenant and it was carried which was thought a great point For now it was esteemed that the Covenant was that which must preserve the King though His Ruine had been formerly imputed to it In the end of the year the Scotish Commissioners parted from London and it being moved in the House of Commons to send some with a Complement to them before they went with the Thanks of the House for their Civilities and good Offices those of the Independent Cabal argued much against that of good Offices done by them and reckoned many bad ones since the King went to Newcastle and it being put to the Vote it was carried by 24 Votes to dash out good Offices and only thank them for their Civilities And so all those Noble Characters they were wont to give of the Scotish Commissioners upon every occasion concluded now in this that they were well-bred Gentlemen Thus ended this present year but none saw an end of miseries like to come An. 1647. Anno 1647. IN the beginning of the next Year Commissioners were sent from the Parliament of Scotland Commissioners are sent to the King from Scotland to represent their late Resolutions to His Majesty On the 12th of Ianuary they presented their first Paper wherein they laid out all they could devise for the pressing a satisfactory Answer to the Propositions expressing with what earnestness all Men were waiting for it and that it would be received with more Ioy than had been ever seen at any Coronation in England But after they had delivered this Message and the 14th day was come wherein the King promised His Answer He told them He must be resolved of two things before He could give His Answer The first was if He was a Free-man or a Prisoner adding That if He were a Prisoner it was the opinion of many Divines that Promises made by a Prisoner did not oblige though He did not assert that to be His own sense the next was whether He might go to Scotland with Honour Freedom and Safety or not They declined long to give an Answer and in that Debate three hours were spent at length being put to it they delivered all their severe Message in the following Paper May it please Your Majesty And deliver the Votes of the Parliament WE are commanded by the Parliament of Scotland to represent to Your Majesty the many Inconveniencies will ensue upon Your Majesties Denial or Delay of Granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and not giving a satisfactory Answer to the remanent Propositions and particularly to represent the Prejudice will thereby arise to the true Reformed Protestant Religion abroad and to the Reformation of Religion in these Kingdoms the Danger of Your Majesties Person and to Your Own and Posterities Government If Your Majesty not granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and not giving satisfactory Answers to the other Propositions shall relinquish England we are commanded by the Parliament of Scotland to represent to Your Majesty That in that case they find it unlawful for them to assist Your Majesty for Recovery of the Government Your Majesty not granting the Covenant and Propositions as aforesaid We are commanded by the Parliament of Scotland to represent to Your Majesty That they find Your Majesties Coming to Scotland not granting the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and not giving a satisfactory Answer to the remanent Propositions dangerous to the Cause to Your Majesty to Your Native Kingdom and to the Vnion betwixt Scotland and England and that the Kingdom of Scotland will be necessitated to take Course to prevent Your Coming Both Kingdoms will take Course for disposal of Your Majesties Person until such time as Your Majesty grants the Propositions or otherwise agree with Your Majesties Parliaments We are commanded to make known to Your Majesty that until Your Majesty grant the Propositions in manner fore-said or that some Course be resolved by both Kingdoms concerning the disposal of Your Majesties Person Your Majesty cannot be admitted to come or remain in Scotland with Freedom And in case Your Majesty do come we are commanded to represent to Your Majesty That the Kingdom of Scotland will be necessitated to put such Attendants and Guards about Your Majesties Person as may preserve You in Safety and Your Kingdoms in Peace and may prevent all Tumults Insurrections and Gatherings of Malignants We are further warranted to represent to Your Majesty That if You do not grant the Propositions concerning Religion and the Covenant and give a satisfactory Answer about the remanent Propositions the Kingdom of Scotland will be necessitated to continue the Government without Your Majesty as hath been done these years by-past Newcastle 14th January 1647. But the Answer they got shewed The King stands firmly to His Conscience that the King could not be threatned to the Doing of any thing He judged contrary to His Honour or Conscience His Majesties Answer being returned back to Edinburgh on the 16th of Ianuary which was Saturday it was debated in Parliament what should be done with His Majesties Person It is resolved to deliver up the King which the Duke and â—anerick much oppose All inclined to deliver Him up immediately to
been conceived of more use to Your Majesties Service Your condition is so variously represented here that Your faithfullest Servants know not how to carry themselves therefore the intimation of Your Majesties Own Pleasure would be of great use No sooner shall the temper of People here which for the present is strangely inflamed be any thing allayed than one or both of us You commanded shall attend You according to the Duty of Your Majesties most humble most faithful most obedient Subject and Servant LANERICK His Majesty upon that wrote what follows Lanerick The Kings account of the usage he had in the Army IT is impossible for Me at present to give a Categorical Answer to your I confess necessary Question all I can say is that I am now at much more Freedom than I was at Holmby for My Friends have free access to Me My Chaplains wait upon Me according to their Vocation and I have free Intelligence with My Wife and any Body else whom I please all which was flatly denied me before besides the Professions are much more frank and satisfactory to what I desire of this Army than ever was offered by the Presbyterians And truly if these People rightly understood their own Condition and Interests they must do what they profess which is that King Parliament and People may each have respectively what is their own and yet it must be their Actions not Words alone which shall make Me put Confidence in them Hitherto they have made Me no particular Offers though daily pressed by Me but assoon as I can clearly see through their Intentions one way or other I will not fail to advertise you with My Commands thereupon In the mean time having truly though shortly set you down the true estate of My present Condition I leave you to judge and do what you shall find best for My Service So I rest Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Casam 12th July 1647. POSTSCRIPT I have intrusted this trusty Bearer with several Particulars which I thought too long for a Letter And the day after that he wrote again Lanerick THis is first to recommend this honest Bearer to your Care to further him in passing of those small Favours I have bestowed upon him next that you would do your best for the relief of those Gordons who were lately taken both which as to you were needless but that I know it is fit for Me at all occasions to express the Care I have of those that wish Me well So farewell Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Casam 13th July 1647. POSTSCRIPT Send me word if you have yet remembred your Promise to Me concerning the late Archbishop of St. Andrews his Book To which my Lord Lanerick wrote this Answer May it please Your Majesty YOurs of the 12th I received yesterday Lanerick's Answer We are joyed for what you write of the Civilities you met with but are full of doubts and fears of their Continuance especially since we are informed that notwithstanding all Publick Professions strange Demands are preparing to be offered to Your Majesty I ever hated thralling of Consciences yet I shall be sorry there were no other price of Spiritual Freedom than Your Majesties loss of all Temporal Power This Kingdom will be easily induced to venture their Lives for the last but none will hazard the first since they will not declare for Your Majesty but clogged with the Covenant It was thought fit to delay all Resolutions untill the 5th of August next expecting against that time either from the nature of the Demands we hear are now to be made to Your Majesty or from the carriage of the Army to Your Sacred Person grounds will be given either to rest satisfied or to resent it as becomes Loyal Subjects It is wished Your Majesties true Condition and positive Pleasure may be made known from Your Self if possible against that time when certainly the sense both of this Church seeing the General Assembly will be then sitting and State upon the present Differences in England as they have relation to or can have influence upon Scotland will be made known It is wished Your Majesties Prudence may prevent further Prejudice by going at first the full length You intend in granting what Conditions shall be demanded or if You find them absolutely destructive to You to put Your Self in that Condition that our Persons and Lives may be of use to Your Majesty which shall be the constant care of Your Majesties most faithful most loyal most obedient Subject and Servant LANERICK Edinburgh 21th July 1647. POSTSCRIPT I have not as yet been able to put Your Commands in execution concerning the Bishop of St. Andrew's Book in regard the Copy I have is both uncorrect and wanting in many essential things but I have already taken a Course to have that supplyed from a true Copy of the Original now in the possession of our Commissioners at London His Majesties Answer follows Lanerick YOurs of the 21th Instant I received yesterday having before resolved to have written to you though I had received none from you to shew you from time to time what My Condition is And yet for easing My pains I have thought fit to refer you to the Bearer John Chisley to tell you the true State of Affairs with My Opinion thereupon to whom I have largely and fully spoken My Mind wherefore I will only say this one word that whatsoever you resolve on you must not think to mention as to England either Covenant or Presbyterial Government for it will ruin you and do Me no good experience of which was clearly seen at Newcastle So desiring you to trust this Bearer I rest Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Wooburn 27th July 1647. The Army forces the Parliament The Army drew nearer London declaring they came to restore the King and to reform the Parliament This was Popular and took with many wherefore the Parliament to undeceive both King and People Voted His Majesties coming to Richmond for a Personal Treaty and that the Army should not come within thirty miles of London But the Army refused obedience and carried the King with them and sent threatning Messages for Recalling of those Votes and they designed next to model the Two Houses whereupon a frivolous general Charge was drawn against 11 of the most considerable Members who withstood their Designs and they pressed their Suspension from the House But it was Voted in Parliament to be against Law to suspend any Member upon a general Charge without bringing in and proving special matter And the Two Houses did choose a Committee of Safety to Treat with the City of London for Raising a new Militia for their own Security and some of the Trained Bands were drawn together under Presbyterian Officers Upon this the Army came to London forced the Houses to recall their Votes and disband their Forces and drove away the eleven Members And thus having
of a long Preamble and Eight Articles THe first was That before they went on to a War and find great opposition from the Ministers the Grounds and Causes of it might be well cleared Secondly that the alledged Breaches of the Covenant and Treaties might be condescended upon and Reparation of them first sought Thirdly that there might be no such Grounds of War as might break the Vnion of the two Kingdoms and disoblige the Presbyterians of England Fourthly that none of the disaffected or Malignant Party might be admitted to Trust but on the contrary that they should be opposed and suppressed Fifthly that the Kings late Concessions might be declared unsatisfactory Sixthly that they should engage not to restore His Majesty to the exercise of His Royal Power till He should by Oath bind Himself and His Successors to consent to Acts of Parliament for confirming the League and Covenant and settling Presbytery the Directory and the Confession of Faith Seventhly that none might be trusted but such as were of known Integrity and good affection to the Cause Eighthly that the Church might have the same Interest in carrying on this Engagement which they had in the Solemn League and Covenant These Demands run in so high a strain that those of the Church-Party judged either they would be rejected and so the Church would pretend somewhat for their breaking with the Parliament or if they were yielded to it would so alienate the Hearts of the King and all His Friends in England from them that they would hate them as much as they did the English Parliament or Army The Committee of Parliament found the Strait they were in and saw what an unhappy practice it had been to give the Church-men so great an interest in Civil Affairs Some were for brisker Courses and for clapping up in Prison all the more turbulent Ministers but the Duke apprehended great trouble from that fearing it should raise stirs among the people which might retard the design of the Kings Delivery upon which all his thoughts were bent The hazard of intercepting Letters made the Intercourse by them so slow that the Lords that corresponded with His Majesty had no Return from him before the beginning of April and then they got that which follows I Was as glad to see the constancy of your Resolutions as I was sorry to understand the great Opposition you find in Your Vndertakings The King writes to his Servants in Scotland But as for any Enlargement concerning Church-affairs I desire you not to expect it from Me for such expectations have been a great cause of this My present Condition which I assure you I am still resolved rather to suffer than to wrong My Conscience or Honour which I must do if I enlarge My Self any thing in those points But I take very well the freedom of your Advice because I see it flows from your Affection being also confident that you will cheerfully and resolutely go on according to your Engagements to Me who am Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. 17th March 1648. And to this the Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick wrote the following Answers SIR WE have received Your Majesties of the 17th of March Nothing but the cruel slowness of Proceedings here would have made us so long silent and that was occasioned by the great Opposition we have met with from the Ministers and the rigid Persons who strongly pretend Your Majesties not satisfying in matters of Religion and upon these grounds have gained upon many and obstructed any Engagement Yet we and those we have interest in are so sensible of our Duties our Honour and of Your Majesties sad Condition which goes nearer our Hearts than any earthly thing that although an Engagement upon the terms we parted on be impossible yet we shall either procure Scotland's Vndertaking for Your Majesties Person or perish let the hazard or opposition be what it can We can boldly say we have the Major Vote of the Parliament clear and if we were blest with Your Majesties Presence the work were done We dare not presume in this troublesom way to express the particulars of our Difficulties or Resolution but hope shortly to give a more satisfactory account having vowed to live and die Your Majesties most humble most faithful and most loyal Subjects and Servants LAVDERDALE LANERICK 22th March 1648. Lanerick also wrote what follows taken from an imperfect Copy under his hand SIR I Have been long silent and possibly should have been so a little longer had I not received Your Majesties of the 17th of the last Moneth but lest I be involved in other mens Guilt I must first speak and then perish or do my Duty Sir at our first returning to Scotland we met with a general Dissatisfaction with what you offered concerning Religion from the Ministers and their Party though all I have Interest in would have cheerfully hazarded their Lives for Your Majesties Preservation upon these or easier terms but after long Debate upon the Consequences of engaging in so great a Work not only without Vnanimity but with the Opposition of the Church and most of those who have been of greatest Eminence and Power during these late Troubles this moved us to a willingness for a very extraordinary Compliance with their Desires providing we might be assured of an Engagemennt But now when we have gone a greater length than even our Loyalty can allow us we find that nothing is intended by them but either a Conjunction with those that seek your Ruine or at least a dull and stupid Suffering and enduring of those destructive Resolutions to Religion and Government which are now designed by the Enemies of God and Your Majesty After this there was a new Committee of 24 chosen by the Parliament for a Conference with the 12 Commissioners of the Kirk who had many Meetings with them and gave them satisfaction to all their Demands so that all back-doors were shut and they were ashamed that they had asked no more wherefore being driven from all their Pretences they fled to the last starting-hole of Jealousie and said that their Designs were contrary to their Professions This was a tedious Affair and cost many Conferences In end great Offers were made to satisfie the Church-party but nothing did prevail whereupon the Committee drew up a large Declaration of all the Violations of the Covenant and Treaties made by the Two Houses together with an account of their own Intentions suitable to the Propositions made by the Ministers only they stood much upon the sixth Article that seemed most contrary to their Duty to their Sovereign and it took them up many days at length they yielded even to that but for this the Reader is referred to the Declaration printed with the Acts of that Parliament On the 25th of April the great Business was carried The Parliament vote an Engagement for the King of putting the Kingdom into a posture of Defenâ—e but the account of the
THE MEMOIRES OF THE LIVES and ACTIONS OF Iames and William DUKES OF HAMILTON and CASTLEHERALD c. In which an Account is given of the Rise and Progress of the CIVIL WARS of SCOTLAND With other great Transactions both in England and Germany from the Year 1625 to the Year 1652. Together with many LETTERS INSTRUCTIONS and other PAPERS Written by King Charles the I. Never before Published All drawn out of or Copied from the Originals By GILBERT BVRNET In Seven Books LONDON Printed by I. Grover for R. Royston Bookseller to the Kings Most Excellent Majesty MDCLXXVII To the King May it please Your Sacred Majesty THE following History being a Relation of Your Royal Fathers Counsels and Affairs in Scotland I hope for an easy Pardon of my Presumption in offering it to Your Majesty Your Concern in a Work that relates so much to the King Your Blessed Father moved You to look on it and read some parts of it and after You had honoured it with a Character too advantageous for me to repeat You were Graciously pleased to allow me Your Royal Licence not only to Publish it but to Address it to Your Self and therefore I hope Your Majesty will favourably Accept this tribute of my Duty which with an humble Devotion I lay down at Your Feet My Zeal for Your Majesties Honour and Service engaged me first in this Work and the same Passion which I derived from my Education and still governs my Heart and Life makes me now Publish it For nothing does more clear the Prospect of what is before us than a strict Review of what is past which I have laboured to make with all possible Fidelity and Diligence I know I shall not escape Censures since few can bear a true and free History but as I have set down nothing for which I have not Authentick Vouchers so I have observed Your Majesties Acts of Oblivion and Indempnity as much as could consist with the Laws of History and have avoided the naming of Persons upon Ingrateful Occasions But no Precaution can secure one from severe Challenges that writes so near those Times while many Persons concerned are yet alive yet if Your Majesty continues to honour these Memoires with Your Royal Approbation I shall easily bear them SIR You have here a true Account of the Services and Sufferings of two of Your Subjects who dedicated themselves to Your Majesties Interests and became Sacrifices for them The Elder of these Brothers had not the honour of being known to Your Majesty yet he lost his life in Your Reign The Younger survived as long as he could serve Your Majesty but when he saw his Life like to be unprofitable to Your Service it became uneasy to himself which made him so prodigal of it in Your own sight And Your Majesty does his Memory the Honour of remembring him still with the highest expressions of Esteem and Acknowledgment which a King can bestow on a Subject They had that Unblemished Loyalty conveyed to them from their Ancestors as the Entail of their Family which has always payd an Uninterrupted Fidelity to the Crown and they have transmitted it as an Inheritance to those who have succeeded them who have already given great Demonstrations of most sincere and Loyal Duty to Your Majesty That God of his Infinite Mercy may preserve Your Majesty and bless you with Wise Counsels Obedient Subjects and Prosperous Undertakings and after a long and happy Reign on Earth may Crown You with an Incorruptible Crown of Glory is the daily Devotion of May it please your Sacred Majesty Your Majesties most faithful most humble and most loyal Subject and Servant Gilbert Burnet London the 21st of October 1673. CHARLES R. WHereas Gilbert Burnet one of Our Chaplains in Ordinary hath composed a Book entituled Memoires of the Lives and Actions of the Dukes of Hamilton which We have Seen and Approved and whereas he hath humbly desired Our Royal Licence for the Printing and Publishing of the samâ— We have thought fit to condescend unto that his Request and We do accordingly hereby Grant Our Royal Licence and Priviledg unto the said Gilbert Burnet his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns for the sole Printing and Publishing of the foresaid Book for the Term of fourteen Years to be computed from the day of its being first set forth And Our Will and Pleasure is and We do hereby Require and Command that during the said Term of Fourteen Years no Printer Publisher or other Person whatsoever Our Subjects do presume to Imprint or cause to be Imprinted without the knowledg and consent of him the said Gilbert Burnet his Heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns the foresaid Book in whole or in part or to Sell the same or to Import into Our Kingdom any Copies thereof Imprinted in Parts beyond the Seas upon pain of the Loss and Forfeiture of all Copies so Imprinted Sold or Imported contrary to the Tenour of this Our Royal Licence and of being further proceeded against as Offenders against the Act made in the Fourteenth Year of Our Reign entituled An Act for Regulating Printing and Printing-presses and suffering the Mulcts Penalties and Inflictions in the said Act particularly mentioned as the Cause shall require Given at Our Court at White-Hall the third day of November 1673. in the Five and Twentieth Year of Our Reign By His Majesties Command H. Coventry THE PREFACE HIstories are of all Books the most universally read the wiser find matter of great Speculation in them and improve their Knowledg by the Experience these give them and weaker Persons make them their Diversion and entertain Discourse with them But most Writers of History have been men that lived out of business who took many things upon trust and have committed many and palpable Errours in matters of Fact and either give no account at all of the secret Causes and Counsels of the greatest Transactions or when they do venture upon it it is all Romance and the effect of their Imagination or Interest And indeed the Authors of all the Histories that were written for near a thousand years together being for the most part Monks there is no great reason to think they were either well informed or ingenuous in what they delivered to Posterity though there is perhaps no Nation that is more beholding to their Labours than England is Of all men those who have been themselves engaged in Affairs are the fittest to write History as knowing best how matters were designed and carried on and being best able to judge what things are of that Importance to be made Publick and what were better suppressed And therefore Caesars Commentaries are the most Authentick and most generally valued pieces of History and in the next Form to these Philip de Comines Guicciardine Sleidan Thuanus and Davila are the best received and most read Histories only the last hath failed in some particulars for these men wrote of things in which they were considerable Actors and had
steps their Progenitors went in or had departed from them therefore I told the Duke and Dutchess of Hamilton that now are that if I might have the favour and trust of perusing such Papers as remained in their hands I should do my endeavours to make the best use of them I could upon which they were pleased to send them all to me The Collection was great and in as great disorder yet by a little care I brought them into some Order and found I had very authentical and full Materials for a greater Work than I had at first designed but having read many scandalous Pamphlets that had charged these Dukes in divers particulars with an equal degree of Injustice and Malice I found it necessary to enquire as far as their Papers could carry me into the Truth of these Reports which forced me to be more particular than had been otherwise needful And yet I hope the Reader shall have no great cause to complain of my tediousness but that he shall find an Entertainment through the whole Work that shall not be unpleasant to him I have opened the Intrigues and Counsels of those Times as clearly as I could This some that perused the Work have censured much as a disclosing the Secrets of Government and because in some places errours of Government are neither concealed nor palliaâ—ed some advised me to pass these over and not insist on them but with this I could-by no means comply for I know no good that History does the World so much as the making Posterity the wiser both by shewing the Faults of Ministers that raised the Discontents and the Follies and Madness of those who put all in confusion to get Grievances redressed For the Iealousies that were conceived either from the ill opinion of Ministers or the consciousness of their own Guilt made the Fomenters of those Troubles think that neither Concessions nor Pardons were a sufficient Security but that assoon as the Country and Government was settled what they had done would be remembred and punished and did drive the Faction much further than it seems they intended at first All this I wrote with the more Assurance after I had presumed to tell His Majesty that since I was writing of the late Times I sound it necessary to set down some Errours that were committed even by some of the Ministers of the King his Blessed Father and I could give no true account of matters if these were not likewise related upon which His Majesty most graciously told me That such things were unavoidable in a History and therefore He allowed me to tell the Truth freely Vpâ—â— so gracious a Permission I was the more emboldened to lay open things clearly and to trace the Troubles of Scotland to their first Beginnings It is true there were some things that had much influence on Peoples Minds of which I have given no Account having found no Papers in this Collection to direct me in them and these were the whole Progress of the Design for thâ— Resumption of the Tithes into the Crown and the restoring them to the Church with all the steps that were made in it which was so nice a point and had so much of the subtilties of Law in it that I did not think fit to meddle with it especially it not lying before me in these Papers nor having any Relation to the Concerns of these two Brothers The other was the Proceeding in Parliament Anno 1633 when His late Majesty was Crowned with the Petition that was afterwards drawn for which the Lord Balmerino was tried and found Guilty and had Sentence of Death passed on him Then did the Party begin to be more united and secret Engagements were given either to rescue him by Force or to revenge his Death upon which the Earl of Traquair procured a Pardon for him but from that time the date of the Confederacy of that Party is to be reckoned and though it lay quiet for some years yet it was still fermenting which made it burst forth upon the Crisis that afterwards appeared They were also much encouraged to all that followed by the Informations they had of the Malecontents in England for a Gentleman of Quality of the English Nation who was afterwards a great Parliament-man went and lived some time in Scotland before the Troubles broke out and represented to the men that had then greatest Interest there that the business of the Ship-mony and the Habeas Corpus with divers other things of which there was much noise made afterwards had so irritated the greatest part of the English Nation that if they made sure work at home they needed fear nothing from England And of this the Duke of Hamilton who had lived so many years in England could not be ignorant for so great a disease in the Body Politick as a Civil War does not break out on a sudden but there go before it many Symptomes which are well discerned by men of Iudgment and Fore-sight the matter must be brought to the nature of Tinder or Gun-powder before a Spark can set it on Fire And it was the Prospect he had of what was like to follow in England if once a War begun that made him employ all his Endeavours to carry the King to as full Concessions as he could possibly obtain This to such as do not reflect on the State of England at that time may perhaps appear mean or Malice may give it a worse Character But as no sort of provocation will justifie any man though of the clearest Courage that will go and fight with a Sword loose in the hilt but he must be concluded rash and inconsiderate so the Duke knowing the disjoynted condition of England and apprehending that by all appearance the War would be unsuccessful and that the Demands of the Faction would then grow higher did as became a Wise and Faithful Minister in trying all the ways he could think of to settle Matters before there should be any Breach since the keeping the Kingdom in quiet though upon terms which had been hard to the King and derogatory to His Authority was much to be preferred to a War that was like to prove fatal to the King and Kingdoms For all that while the Affection of the English to the Party in Scotland did discover it self in many high Expressions which others could not but see and the King sadly but too late felt afterwards for Princes most commonly see such things last of all their People their pretending Flatterers who are in truth their greatest Enemies keeping up such Advertisements from them as long as can be as if one out of fear to awaken his Master should let him sleep when his House is on fire till it were scarce possible for him either to quench or escape the Flames All these things concurred to set on the hot Zealots to begin the Troubles that ended so tragically in the Murder of the King and Slavery of the Nations And therefore nothing seems more
is not yet settled is The King writes to him that this long time I have attended the coming of him your self thought fittest to be trusted in it he is now on the way and shall no sooner be arrived but the direction shall be given as I have already promised you I doubt not but your want forced you to leave me but mine shall not hinder me to help yours and I am sure likewise that as you see I do not forget your Turns you will at this occasion of the late Commission I have sent down shew your self forward in mine So farewel Your constant loving Friend CHARLES R. New-Market 4. March 1627 In another he writes James HAving as I hope dispatched your Business and invites him to Court I must tell you it was ill luck and not ill will that made it so long adoing and likewise of the importunity of a House of Women for calling you hither but it may be the company of some where you are will make you give a negligent Ear to those that are here yet I doubt not but when you know as these lines do assure you that you cannot come before you shall be welcome to your best Friends here that your stay will not be long where you are So referring you for other business to the Bearer your man I rest Your loving constant Friend CHARLES R. The first day of the Year 1628. But the Marquis excused himself upon the great Encumbrances were on his fortune But he prefers a Country retir'd life to the Court. which made it impossible for him to live at Court in the rank that became his quality he seemed also at that time to be in love with a retired life and spent much of his time in the Isle of Arran It cannot be denied to be without example to see a King entreating his Subject to accept of the Favours and Honours he designed for him when he was with much humble modesty declining these Royal Offers But as the King pressed his return to Court very earnestly he was likewise solicited to it by a great many of chief rank there and by none more warmly than by the Duke of Buckingham with the greatest and heartiest offers of all the friendship and service he could do him yet he continued in Scotland till the end of the year 1628. and all the while kept himself at a distance from publick Affairs not medling in any thing beyond his private concernment An. 1628. but his sweet and obliging temper took exceedingly with all people In the end of the year 1628. his Father-in-law Earl Denbigh came down to press his return to Court Earl Denbigh comes for him with a new and kind invitation from the King expressed in the following Letter Hamilton I Have taken this occasion by Denbigh's going to affirm to you under my own hand the Message Traquair brought to you from me I need say little more at this time because according to your Letter I look that you should be quickly here which again I assure you will be well done So referring you to your Father Denbigh I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Hampton-Court 25 Sept. 1628. The Earl of Denbigh brought also with him from his Majesty the offer of the Master of the Horse his place He goes to Court and is made Master of the Horse which was fallen by the murther of the Duke of Buckingham This earnest and noble Message brought and enforced by such a Bearer could be no longer refused therefore in the end of the year he went to Court where he was presently made Master of the Horse and Gentleman of the Kings Bed-chamber and Privy Counsellour in both Kingdomes and the King used him with so much tender kindness that his carriage to him spoke more of the affection of a Friend than of the power of a Master he called him always Iames both when he spoke to him and of him His usage at Court as an expression of his familiarity with him and it was presently observed by all that none had more of the Kings heart than he posâ—essed But as high favour with a Prince is ever attended with envy and jealousie and behaviour there so he missed not his share of it from those who were looking on him as the rising Favourite though as he bore that Character worthily he managed it prudently for he neither studied to engross things to himself nor his kindred he grew not insolent upon favour nor impatient of Competitours neither did he obtrude himself upon the management of particular Affairs but did rest satisfied with the Royal marks of his Masters favour which upon all occasions were poured on him liberally The great Design which at this time possest the King wholly was about the affairs of Germany The Affairs of Germany and the recovery of the Palatinat with the rescue of his Sister and her Posterity from the ruine which was not only hanging over them but had already overwhelmed them I need not here resume the too-well-known occasions of these Troubles nor tell how the Wars of Boheme first began nor how the Prince Elector Palatine being chosen their King did by accepting that Crown involve himself and all Germany in a tract of the most lasting and bloody Wars that have been heard of The new-elected King was scarce well-settled on his Throne when it was not only shaken but overturned and the Emperour An. 1629. with the assistance of Spain and the Duke of Bavaria who was thirsting after his Cousins Dignities and Dominions was not content with the recovery of his own Dominions but carried his conquering Eagles into the Palatinat which not being able to resist so powerful an Invasion was forced under his obedience and the Electoral Dignity was by the Emperour afterwards translated to the Duke of Bavaria King Iames was very much displeased with his Son-in-law for engaging in the affair of Boheme but could not be unconcerned when he saw the ruine of his Family following upon it yet his inclinations to Peace overruled his other resentments and his hopes to prevail by Treaties made him still delay entring into Action for at that time the Treaty of the match with Spain was on foot and the King was abused by the Spaniards and made believe the Palatinat should be again restored but his slowness in that missed not the severe censures of all Europe King Iames left his Crowns and Designs to his Son who judged himself bound by all Ties divine and humane to see to the recovery of the Palatinat and the stopping of the Imperial success which by a great Torrent of victories was become formidable and burthensome to all the Princes of Germany yet the opposition the King met in some Parliaments which were dissolved soon after their meeting made his Designs go on slowly But to ravel no further into matters without the lines of this Narration The Marquis was no sooner at Court but the Queen
as soon as may be to any place We shall appoint either against the Imperialists or any other of Our Enemies and maintain them on his own charge and do Vs all faithful and vigorous service with them till this great Affair be brought to a good issue provided We shall authorize this his design with Our protection and give him the underwritten Assistance Therefore there being nothing dearer to Vs than to make all vigorous resistance to the common enemies of Liberty and having in high estimation the brave undertakings of generous men We not onely would not reject but have heartily embraced the nobleness of so good Resolutions We have therefore admitted like-as by the vigour of these presents We admit the said Lord Marquis into Our service Armies and Military Counsels on the following Conditions First when ever â—e shall signifie to Vs that he is ready to bring over his Forces We shall assign him a place for his landing either to come and joyn with Our Armies or to make an impression elsewhere as We shall think fit Next if We appoint him to land in any place from whence he shall not come streight to Vs We shall for strengthening his Forces send to the place We shall assign for his landing four thousand Foot out of Our Armies whom We shall furnish with all necessaries and maintain on Our charges a whole year Thirdly because the said Marquis thinks two thousand Horse are necessary for his Foot for whose levy and pay he promises all assistance We shall therefore think of all ways and means for raising and maintaining these Fourthly We not onely give the said Illustrious Marquis the absolute Command of this Army in our absence but shall also joyn to him a Counsellour with whom he may consult in all things that so his Deliberations be more expedite and clear Fifthly whaâ—ever the Illustrious Lord Marquis shall take from the Enemy the Lands and Territories shall belong to Vs but the Revenues and all the Emoluments shall go to him and to the relief of his Army yet so as these Revenues 〈◊〉 be gathered decently and in order without Depredations or Plunderings since Our design is not to oppress those who have been already enough pressed but rather to deliver them from the oppressions of others as much as by the Divine assistance We can Sixthly that the Marquis may more effectually perform what he hath bravely resolved and may sooner make those warlike Instruments of his own invention on which he relies much in his Expedition An. 1630. We shall not onely with the first occasion furnish him with a hundred Ship-pounds of crude Iron but shall also assign Hammers for working it according to his design of which Instruments he hath promised to leave a Model with Vs and We shall be careful that none of Our Servants shall make use of them before he hath first made trial of them himself Seventhly Wâ— shall also furnish him with three hundred and seventy Ship-pounds of Iron-ball for his Guns and two thousand and five hundred Pikes and as many Musquets Eighthly when-ever the Marquis shall advertise Vs of his needing Gunpowder We shall assign him Bills of Exchange in Holland for buying seventy two Ship-pounds of Gunpowder Ninthly if any other Kings or States shall concur with Vs all they contribute shall be at Our disposal but if the Marquis his necessities require further assistance We shall not abandon him but faithfully assist him as much as Our Affairs shall permit Tenthly for all which the said Illustrious Lord Marquis with all his Forces hath promised Fidelity to Vs and shall be bound to it as well as Our men and these who receive Our Pay are for which both he and all his Captains shall be particularly engaged But because there is to be a Treaty betwixt Our Commissioners and the Imperialists at Dantzick therefore if a Peace shall be there concluded so that We shall not need the Service of the Marquis and his Army he hath obliged himself to pay for the foresaid Materials at their entire value All which things being thus concluded and to be firmly observed by Vs We have subscribed these Articles with Our Hand and commanded Our Royal Seal to be put to them At our Castle in Stockholm the last of May Anno Dom. 1630. Signed Gustavus Adolphus Locus Sigilli These were signed by the King of Sweden at Stockholm the thirtieth of May 1630. which was the day after the Prince of Wales his birth His Majesty who now reigns whom God long preserve at whose Christening the Marquis had the honour to represent the King of Bohemia who was one of his Godfathers K. Charles 2d is born and baptized the Marquis representing the King of Bohemia who was Godfather the King of France being the other who was also represented by the Duke of Lenox and at this time a Stall of the Order becoming vacant His Majesty conferred on the Marquis the most noble Order of the Garter The Marquis is Knight of the Garter that he might go in this Expedition with the more lustre But to these Articles I shall adde the return was sent by the Marquis which though not done till the next year yet is most properly inserted here because of the relation it hath to the foregoing Paper What follows is a Translation taken from an Authentical Sealed Duplicate of the Original in Latine WHereas there is a mutual Compact agreed betwixt the most Serene and Mighty King of Sweden and me for joyning of our Forces Articles signed by the Marquis that the Articles be fully ratified and lest any thing afterwards fall in which may put a stop in our Counsels or give matter for sinistrous Glosses I therefore subscribe for my part all the Articles adding onely the following Explication to some of them To the first if the most Serene King assign me a place for landing I vow and promise by the grace of God to doe it betwixt and the day of the next June To the second if the most Serene King of Sweden send me the agreed number of Souldiers out of his Own Forces at the place and time appointed I understand that by furnishing them with all necessaries a full and entire Pay without any deductions be laid down for a whole year according to the establishment of His Majesty with his Own Officers Besides if the most Serene King cannot allow of so great a diminution of His Forces it will be necessary that He not only settle a Fond for such a summe as may levy arm and pay as many Souldiers but there will be need of some more for the odds will be vastly great betwixt His Majesty's trained Souldiers and a sudden Levy of raw Novices To the third since the Article of the Horse is conceived in general terms on both sides nothing being certainly fixed on either it will be expedient that Your Sacred Majesty declare Your mind in it plainly how far You oblige Your self and
of his mind been stain'd with some ill qualities He had acquired some interest in Court by the service he did the Earl of Niddisdale in the matter of the Kings Revocation and the Commission of Surrenders which to explain were too long a digression here and needless to all who understand how the Rights of the Titles were at that time unsettled in Scotland His malice against the Marquis was hereditary he being the Son of Captain Iames Stewart who in King Iames his Minority when the Hamiltons were groundlesly and in a mock-Parliament attainted carried the Title of Earl of Arran and possessed their Fortunes Lord Reay upon what irritation I know not alledged to him that Mr. Ramsay had told him that the Marquises designs were not upon Germany but Britain and that when this Army was once gathered he purposed to pretend to the Crown of Scotland This lye was so ill told that it could take with none but those whose Judgments were blinded through malice for as that Army was very small and in no manner of capacity to prosecute such a design so it was made up of Scots and English and most of the Officers were persons of whom the Marquis had no acquaintance Reay alledged likewise the testimony of one Mr. Cleazar Borthwick Borthwick being a witness clears the Marquis to whom Mr. Meldrum should have communicated the same design but this testimony turned to his shame for that person who was of known integrity being brought from Germany and examined upon what Meldrum had said to him desired liberty to send his Deposition to the King sealed since the particulars were not fit to be publickly heard to which the King yielding he sent it The summe of it was that Meldrum had never communicated any such design to him that he had indeed spoken abominably of the King and Court but all was in his own name and that he brought no credence with him from the Marquis for his errand to the Swedish Court was onely to solicit the payment of some Arrears due to his Uncle who had served that Crown and he had no Employment from the Marquis onely he got from him Letters of recommendation for the dispatch of his business so that whatever he said was understood as his own sense and not as a message from the Marquis Reay also alledged the testimony of Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay for a great part of that he charged on Ramsay This Lindsay indeed was a brave Gentleman and Reay's Lieutenant Colonel but was killed two or three moneths before Reay met with Ochiltree at London He was in new Brandenburg with other Swedish Officers when Tilly took it in and all Reay's Regiment was cut to pieces except a very few which turned to his eternal disgrace who in such a hot time of Action left his Command to come over to England and forge lyes and after that Reay was in no esteem neither with Scots nor Swedes and irrecoverably lost himself in the K. of Swedens opinion But Reay kept himself from charging any thing on the Marquis fixing all he said on Ramsay which Caution was not observed by Ochiltree who drew a representation of the Marquis his interest in Scotland to shew what probabilities might be of such a design and reckoned up all his Kindred and Allyes by which he drew in most of the Nobility of Scotland and so fastned suspicions on them all a madness onely incident to those of Bedlam to which his malice drove him though he was no fool With this account of Reay's and his own he went to the Lord Weston Weston carries the Accusation to the King then Treasurer of England and personating great zeal for the safety of King and Kingdoms revealed this alledged Treason to him adding that it was probable all things being now ready to be put in execution that the Marquis upon his return to put things in the more fearful disorder might if admitted to wait in the Kings Bed-chamber murder him This was a Calumny than which Hell could not have forged a fouler for Lord Ochiltree judged that this would have infallibly produced one of two effects either raised such a Jealousie in the Kings thoughts as to have quite ruined the Marquis since few Princes are proof against such whispers or at least it would have stopt his voyage for a while till he were tried and the smallest delay in that would have scattered his Souldiers so that this design failing in which his Honour was now so far engaged a stain should lie on him through all Europe Lord Weston carried this Story to the King whether provoked to it out of hatred to the Marquis or moved from his zeal and duty to the King shall not be determined though the last was pretended by him and in many of his Letters to the Marquis when he was in Germany he expressed much friendship for him who gives it no good hearing But His Majesty knew the Marquis too well and understood all his motions and the progress of this Affair too exactly to give any credit to this Forgery and indeed he rejected listening to it in terms so full of affection for the Marquis as discovered he was incapable of any Jealousie either of him or any of his actions neither would he hearken to those who onely desired that upon his return he might not be admitted to his Presence at least not to lie in his Bed-chamber Within a very little while the Marquis came to Court utterly ignorant of the execrable designs of his Adversaries His Majesty welcomed him with an air of kindness beyond what he ordinarily gave him and drawing him apart immediately told him all that villainous story which had been whispered against him The Confusion this raised in his thoughts was unspeakable and opens the whole matter to the Marquis being amazed to find himself so horridly misrepresented knowing his heart to be full of duty and affection to his Soveraign he wondered how malice could be so impudent as at a time when he was hazarding Life Honour Friends and Fortune for the Kings Service to fasten such a devillish gloss on his actions but this surprize was overcome with a greater when he saw His Majesty with an unheard-of and truly Royal generosity express his confidence in him in such obliging terms as scarce to allow him to speak in his own Justification which seeming to insinuate he thought he needed to be vindicated the Marquis begged he might be presently tried and offered himself to restraint till he were cleared But His Majesty would not hear of that on the contrary commanded him to lie in the Bed-chamber that night and made him lie in the Bed-chamber that same night and he expressed his confidence and kindness for him in such a strain both of behaviour and discourse that the Marquis frequently said he looked on the kindness of that night as that which obliged him more than all the other publick testimonies of the Kings favour and
the 16th of Iuly he set sail from Yarmouth-Road which was the place appointed for Rendezvous his Fleet being about 40 Ships and on the 27th he came to Elsenor where he went ashore to kiss the King of Denmark's hand and to deliver the Kings Letters to him for a free passage in case he took that course from whence he dispatched Pennington to His Majesty to receive further Orders to which he had the following Answer James I Could not let Colonel Peebles go without telling you that I have received your Letter of the 25th of July by Pennington As for my resolutions concerning the Affairs of Germany you shall know now very shâ—rtly by the grace of God I have resolved to dispatch Henry Vane within ten days at furthest till which time I thought it not amiss by these lines to assure you that I neither do nor shall forget you and then you shall see that I remember you with that care and kindness that you may truly expect from Your loving Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. 8 Sept. 1631. On the 29th of Iuly he set sail again and on the 31th came to the mouth of the Oder between Voll-Gast and the Isle of Vsedom where the Swedes had first landed so on the 2d and 3d of August he landed his Forces which upon muster were found to be above 6000 able men he lands in Germany with 6000 The next day they passed over from the Island to the Continent and there he had a return from the King of Sweden by the Messenger he had sent to give him notice of his safe arrival That King welcomed these tidings with much joy and appointed him to go into Silesia for the reducing of that Country promising that the Army he was engaged to give for his assistance should meet him on his way and with this he sent him a Commission to be his General in Silesia in good time to the King of Sweden The same of this Army run through Germany being represented to be about 20000 men which struck a great terror into the whole Imperial Party so high was the same of the Scots valour and it was confessed through Germany that the Marquis his coming at this time was a great occasion of the famous Victory obtained at Leipsick in the beginning of the next moneth for the fame of this made the Elector of Saxony agree presently with the Swedes and encouraged the whole Protestant Party who now hoped to see the assistance of Britain prove more effectual than it had been formerly it also obliged Tilly to leave about six or seven thousand more in his Garrisons than otherwise he would have done which weakened him much at the next Battel But the Country they landed in was totally wasted both by the Imperial Army which had been led through it the former year and by the Swedish Army that had lately passed it so that they met nothing before them but Vastation Plague and Famine A little after that the King of Sweden desired the Marquis to come to him The Marquis goeth to the King of Sweden and receive Orders from himself so he went and found him on the other side the Elb at Werben That King caressed him with the highest expressions of kindness professing extraordinary obligations to him and acknowledged what advantage the very name of his Army had already done him The Marquis discovered in that noble Conquerour an air of Majesty and Courage which could not be equalled neither was his Prudence in Affairs inferiour to his Conduct of Armies but those rare excellences were much soiled with unsupportable Pride and Ambition which grew with his success to an intolerable degree He pressed the Marquis to solicit his Master earnestly for a more vigorous supply both of men and money and he excused his not sending the Forces he had promised to meet him since his design was presently to give Tilly Battel so that he could not weaken his Army but he bade him levy what Germans he could whose Pay the King of Sweden said he should advance and so he sent him away to keep Custrin Frankfurt and Lansberg and other Passes on the Oder who sends him to keep some Passes for his retreat in case he were beaten Whereupon the Marquis marched with his Army from Stetin up to Frankfurt but the Famine was so great in this wasted Country that it was scarce possible for them to subsist The Plague was also at Frankfurt which broke in upon their Army so hotly where the Plague broke in on his Army that in a few days it swept away above a third part of them and came so near the Marquis himself that one of his Pages died of it yet so tender and so equally divided was his care of the Souldiers that notwithstanding of all the straits they were in none of them mutined or complained of him After the great Victory of Leipsick which altered the whole state of Germany the King of Sweden ordered the Marquis to march up to Silesia though 200 Horse and 300 Foot were all the Auxiliaries he sent him At this time the Marquis had notice from the Governour of Crossen He relieves Crossen which was a good Town in the borders of Silesia in the Swedes hands that they were besieged and were so weak within that they could not hold out long whereupon that being a place of great importance the Marquis sent Lesley with 500 men for their relief who no sooner arrived but the Enemy retired though they had resolved to assault the Town that morning and went away in such haste that they left a great deal of their Baggage behind them and some Cannon which were taken by these of the Garrison And a few days after that the Marquis had intelligence that the Garrison of Guben a Town in Silesia in the Emperours hands was much weakened 2500 Souldiers had lien in it but 2000 were drawn out for recruiting the Imperial Army and 500 onely remained who as he heard kept but bad Guard whereupon he sent Lesley with 600 men to surprize the place but his intelligence proved false for they kept good Watch and had barred up two Ports the third had two Draw-bridges and was well-guarded But Lesley lay close in the Suburbs expecting the letting down of the Bridge at next Sun-rising for they within knew nothing of his being so near them so next morning as the Bridge was let down Lesley caused a few Horse to come for making the Port good till the Foot should advance These of the Town got the Port shut on them yet they kept the Bridge but the Foot coming up after half an hours sharp dispute upon the Bridge they did with Hatchets cut a hole in the Port and takes Gâ—ben at which a few of the more resolute entered and opened it for the rest a great many of the Enemies were killed and about 250 Souldiers with 4 Captains and some Under-officers were taken prisoners who took service
under the Marquis The taking of this Frontier Town put much courage in his little Army and from this he was setting forward to Glogow the second Town of Silesia with good hopes of carrying it but as he was to march he received Letters from the Swedish King telling him that by his Agreement with the Duke of Saxony that Elector had undertaken to reduce Silesia wherefore he appointed the Marquis to follow him into the lower Saxony The Marquis regrated extremely that after he had marched so many days through a desert Country and was now come to a plentiful one where there were fair hopes of good success he should be presently called back into those barren and wasted Fields But he began to find the King of Sweden was blown up with Success and neglected those he had formerly caressed and Silesia being united to the Crown of Bohemia he understood that the King of Sweden would never trust him in any Country where the King of Bohemia had interest He once thought of going forward at all adventures but the King of Sweden had ordered his Garrisons in that Country to acknowledge him no more so he was forced to return to Custrin and there he got Orders to come and besiege Magdeburg but is recalled to besiege Magdeburg His Army was strangely diminished for he was forced to leave a thousand behind him with the Plague upon them and about another thousand were divided in Garrisons and so he had but a thousand and five hundred of his own men and about three thousand German Foot whom he had raised whereupon with these and a thousand Swedish Horse he came and blocked up Magdeburg which being the chief Town of the lower Saxony had a great Garrison of about 3000 within it commanded by one of the Counts of Mansfield That great and flourishing City had been besieged and taken by Tilly the same year where the Inhabitants were cut down and the City burnt all to ashes except 80 or a 100 houses about the great Cathedral by a cruelty which had not been practised by the Goths or Vandals for neither Age nor Sex was spared nor was there any cessation till all were butchered down and here it was that Tilly had brought together the whole plunder had been taken in all his Victories so that it was full of riches besides the great importance of the place The Marquis could have no great hopes of carrying it when they within were almost as strong as he was without for all that Bannier brought to his supply made in the whole not 7000 Horse and Foot there was no attempting of it by storm for it could onely be carried by starving them so that there were no blows given except in two little Skirmishes not worth the naming At this time the King sent over Sir Hen. Vane Ambassadour to the King of Sweden to enter in a League with him Sir Henry Vane comes Ambassadour to the King of Sweden who gave the Marquis advertisement of his landing from Hamburg and that he was ordered to communicate all his Instructions to him and to proceed in every thing according to his advice in particular to espouse all his Concernments as the Kings own and with this he sent him the following Letters from His Majesty James ACcording to my promise I have dispatched Henry Vane whom I have commanded to impart unto you both his publick and private Instructions so that it will be a good excuse for my laziness in writing shortly to you and a testimony to you that your absence neither makes me alter nor forget you for you may be assured that my Trust of you is so well-grounded that it lies not in the power of any body to alter me from being Your loving Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. Hampton-Court 21 Sept. 1631. POSTSCRIPT As you have begun so I desire you may continue in letting me hear from you as oft as you have occasion the last I received from you was the 7th of August The other had followed the Ambassadour James JVst now I have received a Letter from you dated the 22th of August from Stetin half of which is in Cypher but I am afraid I shall hardly read it for there is so little distance betwixt the numbers that it seems but one continued number from the beginning to the end of every line so that I must desire you henceforward to distinguish your numbers perfectly as soon as I have decyphered this you shall have an Answer of it from Your loving Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. Hampton-Court 23 Sept. 1631. The Ambassadour desired him to name any place where he might come and speak with him before he saw the King of Sweden for he had no mind to begin his Treaty till he had spoke with him and at the same time the King of Sweden desired him to come to his Camp for a few days in order to the carrying on the Treaty which he knew the British Ambassadour was coming to propose Whereupon he left his Army under the Command of Lesley and Bannier and went to the King of Sweden The Marquiâ— goes to the King of Sweden whom he found at Frankford on the Main much blown up with Success so that he seemed to make less account of the Kings Friendship yet he expressed a great desire to finish the Agreement and when he appointed Gustavus Horn to negotiat with the Ambassadour he ordained him to make the Marquis Vmpire of all their Differences declaring that he would stand to his Decision This which is yet to be seen under his Hand and Signet was an unusual Complement from that high-spirited King but the Marquis thought not fit to put it to the Test how much of it was meant for reality He pressed the King of Sweden for more Auxiliaries but was sent back by him to his Army loaded onely with hopes and fair words So he came again to Magdeburg about the end of December Magdeburg comes to a Parley where he found that they within were much straitned and as another Historian acknowledgeth had Bannier been as forward as the Marquis was the Town might have been rendred On Christmass-Eve they came to a Parley and would have in few days rendred it but on the second day of their Treaty they had notice that Papenheim was coming with an Army to their relief whereupon the Treaty broke up An. 1632. and Bannier would have been retiring The Marquis pressed his stay but he produced his Orders to command all the Dutch and Swedish Forces and not to hazard an Engagement This the Marquis looked on as a great breach of Agreement that any should have Command in his Army but himself but he must be patient whereupon he retired to Saltsa two leagues from the City where he expected Duke Weimar with 5000 men and resolved on his arrival to have given Papenheim battel but Weimar came not and Bannier drew his men yet further away to Kalbe a league and a half off
and passed the River Sala pressing the Marquis to pass with him so afraid was he of Papenheim but the Marquis sent Sir Iacob Ashley to view the Pass who told him it was so good that he might safely march away in a quarter of an hours warning in spite of Papenheim and his Army upon which he would not stir Meanwhile Papenheim advanced with his Army but is relieved by Papenheim which he gave out to be ten or twelve thousand though it was onely 4700 men but to make the fame of it greater the Purveyors who went before him made provision for near thrice so many his men were drawn out of Garrisons and brought up in all haste and if Bannier had not been stiff it had been easie to have fought him and the least foil given him had made Magdeburg their own Papenheim getting to Magdeburg and finding that it could not be kept who leaves it marched away with the Garrison and every thing worth carrying with them but when he came out of the Town the Marquis and he fac'd one another in a Plain betwixt Kalbe and Saltsa and the Marquis though very much weaker than he yet had a great mind to have engaged but Bannier would not think of it neither had Papenheim any mind to provoke them and so he marched away thus Duke Weimar's slowness and Bannier's carefulness lost them that occasion After Papenheim was gone the Marquis entred Magdeburg where he found they had left about 40 peece of Cannon and great store of Ammunition with plenty of Corns he staid there till the beginning of February that the King of Sweden ordered him to lie about Halberstadt but his Souldiers were ill-entertained and those he had levied in Germany were pressing for Pay which should have been advanced by the King of Sweden therefore in the middle of February he went to that King who received him with his former kindness and by other Letters from His Majesty he found he was still so happy as to retain the room he had in his Heart which appeared by the two following he found there from His Majesty James I Have received four Letters from you almost all together to wit of the 23th of September of the 8th and 14th of October and of the 11th of November this last being under Henry Vane's Cover which makes me not let this Post go without letting you know of the receipt of your Letters having little other thing to write to you at this time because I am taking two or three days to make a full Dispatch to you and Henry Vane that you may know the uttermost of what you may expect from hence assuring you that in all these Conditions you shall still find me to be Your loving Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. Whitehall 16 Decemb. 1631. James YOu know that I am lazie enough in writing being willing to find excuses to write short Letters therefore though I confess that at this time I have matter sufficient to fill a long Letter yet in earnest having commanded Henry Vane to acquaint you fully with all my resolutions it were needless to trouble my self with writing or you with reading a long Letter therefore I will onely say that you will find that I neither mean to forget or break my Promises to you and that you will not be unluckie if you have but as good fortune in all your actions as is wished to you by Your loving Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. Whitehall 31 Decemb. 1631. But there were great rubs in the Treaty with England the main thing pressed by the Ambassadour was that the King of Sweden should give the Marquis an Army The King of Sweden proposeth unmeasurable terms to the King with which and the Forces and Moneys to be sent from England he should fall in on the Palatinat But the King of Sweden proposed unreasonable Conditions demanding greater Assistance from the King of Bohemia than the whole Palatinat could have given in its most flourishing Condition and some Cities of the Palatinat to be put into his hands till the Wars were ended with many other hard Conditions almost as severe as these which had been proposed by the Emperour so that the Marquis did clearly perceive Gustavus was beginning to reckon on all Germany as his Conquest and that he was to give what Laws he pleased in it Thus the Ambassadour and he were in very ill terms but he continued to use the Marquis with great civility yet he still declined to give him a Commission to levy a new Army neither would he pay him those Summes of Money he had laid out in his Service and his Chancellour said to him they knew very well he had spent none of his own Money having gotten 100000 l. from his Master He answered though that were true he and his Master were to reckon but that must not be set to their Accompt In April the Marquis desired that some order should be taken with the remainders of his Army till he got a new one for their number at that time could onely have made him a Colonel but not a General so they were reduced into two Regiments The Marquis's Army is reduced to two Regiments the one of English and the other of Scots the English were commanded by Colonel Bellandin since made Lord Bellandin and the Scots by Colonel Hamilton and they were put in Duke Weimar's Army The Marquis sent over Sir Iacob Ashley to give the King accounts of what passed who was quickly dispatched back with the following Letter James YOu did very well to acknowledge to the Chancellour of Swede his allegation concerning the 100000 l. that he supposed you had from me for His Masters Service and so much as you did reply to him thereupon was good but methinks you might have addeâ— that that would more plainly have shewed him his error which is That if his Master would not accompt to you for what I gave you yet if he will take notice of it that way it were reason not onely that he shâ—uld thank me for it but also suffer me to put it on his accompt in part of that Assistance I am to give him but if he will as he ought stand to his bargain with you then he must leave you and me to reckon together having nâ—thing to do to enquire particularly what passes betwixt us I need write little more to you at this time the trust and sufficiency of this Bearer making it needless onely to recommend him to you as you did to me and to tell you freely that you had done better in my mind if you had reserved to him the English Regiment when your Army was reduced This I write merely of my self on my word for no body knows that I do this and I never heard any blame you for it and for Jacob Ashley himself he is so far from censuring of you that you need wish to be no better than he calls you and he solicits your business
beyond the diligence and industry of a fee'd Lawyer So referring my self for what else I have to say at this time to him I rest Your constant loving Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. London the last of April 1632. POSTSCRIPT I hope shortly you will be in a possibility to perform your promise concerning Pictures and Statues at Muneken therefore now in earnest do not forget it All this Summer the Marquis followed the King of Sweden in the quality of a Volunteer The King of Sweden refuseth to give a new Commission of which he was sufficiently weary but he found that King was so jealous of him that he was not to expect any Trust near or in the Palatinat where he desired most earnestly to be imployed and that he did put him daily off in which the King of Sweden's design was that by his Impatience he might be quickned to carry on the Treaty with England on any terms But no consideration of his own could make him betray his Masters Service or drive on Propositions which he judged so dishonourable for him as were those he offered about the Palatinat wherefore he wrote to His Majesty to receive his positive Commands what to do His Majesties Answer follows James I Have received three Letters from you by James Lesley about the 25th of July all which I assure you have given me very good satisfaction as well for your right understanding of Affairs in general as to give me a light how to direct yours in particular which at this time is tâ—e onely subject of mine One of two you must chuse either to stay or come away For the first it were very Honourable to doe in the timis of Action if you had an Employment but neither having nor likely to have any hereafter it were dulness not patience to stay any longer yet it is fit to come off handsomly neither shewing impatience nor discontentment if may be although I think you have cause for both therefore I have commanded Henry Vane to propose a new Employment fâ—r you which though I think it will not take effect yet it will shew there is no way unsought for to find you out an Employment with the King of Sweden It is that you may be sent into the Palatinat to assist the French with so many men as my Contribution will maintain which if it may be done they promise me to put the lower Palatinat in my hands This though I do not hold as Gospel yet if this design might be put in practice it might certainly prove useful to my Affairs this being denied as I think it will you have no more to doe but to seek a fair excuse to come home which will be best in my opinion upon the conclusion of the Treaty between Sweden and Me or if any rubs arise that you might be sent to clear it with me So that upon the whole matter my Iudgment is that if you cannot serve me in the Palatinat as I have already said the best way is that you take the first civil excuse to come home to Your loving Cousin and faithful Friend CHARLES R. Oatland 1 Aug. 1632. POSTSCRIPT David Ramsay will as I imagine meet with you before you come hither which if he doe I hope you will remember what I have said concerning him already But at this time Oxenstern demanded a League Offensive and Defensive between the Crowns of Britain and Sweden and that the making of Peace in Germany should be onely in the King of Swedens hands This varying wholly from the former Treaty wherein they had onely treated about the Affairs of Germany and whereby no Peace could be without the Kings consent the Ambassadour and he broke up in very ill terms and on the back of this the Marquis pressing the King of Sweden to assign him a Country for levying a new Army The Treaty breaks up His Majesty answered him with a new delay but he told that King that he had been now fifteen moneths from his own Country and though he had been at a vast expence he had received nothing in that Service and that his Heart was too great to be a perpetual Volunteer as he had been these divers moneths past wherefore he pressed for a present Answer The King of Sweden confessed he had reason to be weary and he acknowledged the great obligation he had to him and that he would always look upon him as one of his best Friends but said the blame of all the delays he met with fell on the English Ambassadour on whom he fell a-railing with the greatest passion that the Marquis had ever seen him in The King of Sweden in â—reat passion and in a huffing way pulled the Marquis his Hat out of his hand and clapped it on his own head and went stamping up and down the room in great rage The Marquis shunned the Discourse since as he could not condemn the Ambassadour so he would not irritat the King of Sweden by an ill-timed Justification of him but the chief reason of his passion was that many of the Princes of Germany were beginning to talk that their Deliverer was like to prove a greater Tyrant than the Emperour had ever been and he suspected the Ambassadour was Caballing with them But the Marquis seeing nothing but delays desired liberty to return to England that he might levy a new Army and remove any Misunderstandings were betwixt his Master and the King of Sweden This Proposition was so fair that it could not be refused so on the 8th of September the King signed a Commission to him for bringing over a new Army The Marquis returns to England and gave him Instructions for ending the Treaty with the King and a little after that he took leave of him and was dismissed by the King of Sweden and all about him with very high expressions of Friendship that King telling him that in whatsoever place of the World he were he would ever look upon him as one of his own As he was returning home he received the following Letter from the King James I Wrote to you in my last to find a pretext to come home but now I must tell you it is not fit to stay any longer where you are for the impossibility of your Employment there and the necessity of your business here requires your return so that at this time I 'le say no more but Nil mihi rescribas attamen ipse veni for you shall be no sooner come than welcome to Your faithful Friend and Cousin CHARLES R. Hampton-Court 24 Sept. 1632. And thus ended the Marquis his Expedition into Germany wherein if he missed that Success which himself or others had expected it was no miscarriage nor neglect of his own nor could it be said that he had failed in a jot of what he undertook though almost in every particular the King of Sweden failed to him neither was any thing so much the occasion of these neglects he met
with in Germany as the firm affection he bore his Masters Service yet though this lessened his Confidence in him yet it could not but increase his Esteem of him 'T is true he did not survive this long to give any expressions of it for in November next at Lutzen was that great and conquering King brought to the end of his days The King of Sweden is killed and so all his thoughts and grasping designs did perish with him onely the Renown of his never-dying Fame survives But both Oxenstern and his other Counsellours in their Addresses to the English Court during the Minority of their young Queen did recommend all their Affairs to the Marquis as to one of their own Nation with the highest expressions of Esteem and Friendship and divers of the Electors and Princes of Germany were much taken with his Converse having seen him in the Swedish Camp and continued their Friendship with him both by Correspondence and Presents When he returned to Court The Marquis is well received at Court his reception with the King was as affectionate as his parting had been and he continued about His Majesty in the highest Characters of Favour but he kept himself much out of business medling little in Scotish Affairs except it had been to procure a particular kindness to his Friends in which he was so sparing that many were dissatisfied with him for it Next year the King went into Scotland to receive the Crown of that his ancient and native Kingdom and held a Parliament there An. 1633. thither did the Marquis follow him assisting at that Ceremony according to his Rank with much joy He waits on the King to his Coronation in Scotland But his Expedition to Germany had involved him and all his Friends in vast Debts yet his Lease of the Customs of the Wines was a good Security and fully able to free him of that burden and was ratified in that Parliament But the Earl of Traquair who was then Treasurer-Deputy suggested to the King that these Customs were the readiest and surest Moneys that the King had and that the Treasury would signifie little without them wherefore he moved that some other way might be fallen upon for refunding the Expence the Marquis had been at for his Army in Germany that so these Customs might return to the Treasury All the Marquis his Friends having got a hint of Traquair's Proposition pressed him to oppose it with all his Interest since the Security he had was good and well-settled on him by Law and any new Project could be fallen on would neither prove so sure nor so speedy Payment But Traquair's Proposition pleased the King well and he moved it to the Marquis who without either murmuring or reluctancy offered back his Lease of the Customs of the Wines and submitted his whole pretension to the King But His Majesty was both just and generous and so would not suffer him to be ruined by those Burdens which had been contracted by his own Commands wherefore a Taxation being laid on the Country by the Parliament for the Kings supply together with another Imposition of two of the ten which was then the Interest of Money the Collecting of these was put in the Marquis his hands till he should be paid all was due to him by His Majesty for the Expedition to Germany and for some other great Summes His Majesty was owing which he undertook took to pay and for the rest he was to be accomptable to the Treasury upon which he yielded up his Lease of the Customs of the Wines In the end of that year His Majesty sent down the Marquis to settle with the several Shires and Burroughs of Scotland both for the Taxation and the Two of the ten and though his Power in that was full so that he might have acted singly yet he would do nothing without the consent of the Lords of Exchequer and Session He spent some moneths in these Agreements and after he had settled with the greatest part he returned to his attendance at Court having devolved the management of his Fortune and private Affairs on his Friends and thus his Fortune was in a few years recovered from the burdens it lay under A year after that he was sent down again to examine the Earl of Morton's Accompts who was Treasurer and then he gave a new Instance of his being against the ingrossing of Power for though his Trust warranted him to have acted singly yet he carried along with him in all his procedure the whole Exchequer And this is all the medling that for ought I find he had in publick Affairs till the Year 1638. MEMOIRES OF THE LIFE and ACTIONS OF James Duke of Hamilton c. LIB II. Of what passed while the Marquis was Commissioner in Scotland in the Years 1638 and 1639. HItherto the course of the Marquis his Life had been more easie and serene An. 1638. but henceforth we shall find it a tract of Clouds and Storms for now he came to engage in a disorderly Affair The Marquis enters on thâ— Affairs of Scotland if ever any was he found it troubled but had no hand in the occasions of these Confusions having abstracted himself from publick Affairs for divers years medling no further than in giving general Advices when called for and so far had he been from engaging himself in any designs that at his entry upon business there was neither Privy Counsellour Officer of State nor Lord of the Session of his recommending or that depended on him the Justice-Clerk onely excepted But because this year gave the rise to those dismal Troubles whose tragical Catastrophe we have all felt so sensibly and since the Affairs of Scotland were wholly and onely trusted to the Marquis his Conduct for this year the account of it shall be enlarged perhaps to tediousness but it is hoped that the importance of the Narration shall more than compense the pain of its length And this is the more necessary because the Marquis his Actions this year are generally so little known and so ill represented besides that great Encouragement is offered from the copious and authentick materials yet extant for composing of this Narration But to give a clearer prospect of the State of things before his Negotiation an account must be given of the rise and occasion of this years Disorders and of the state in which he found matters at his first Engagement A brief Summary of Church-affairs from the Reformation to the present Year What is here to be said as a requisite Introduction to these Transactionâ— is indeed out of the Road and not made out by his Papers but the Discourse will be grateful it is presumed to those who have not had a true full and clear Information of the particular passages of these Times whereof though some have attempted to give the World an account yet none for ought I know hath done it upon knowledge or authentick Information as what
recommendation they were also upon all Affairs nine of them were Privy Counsellours divers of them were of the Exchequer Spottiswood Archbishop of S. Andrews was made Chancellour and Maxwell Bishop of Ross was fair for the Treasury and engaged in a high rivalry with the Earl of Traquair then Treasurer which tended not a little to help forward their Ruine And besides this they began to pretend highly to the Tithes and Impropriations and had gotten one Learmonth a Minister presented Abbot of Lindoris and seemed confident to get that State of Abbots with all the Revenue and Power belonging to it again restored into the hands of Churchmen designing also that according to the first Institution of the Colledge of Justice the half of them should be Churchmen This could not but touch many of the Nobility in the quick who were too large sharers in the Patrimony of the Church not to be very sensible of it They were no less hateful to the Ministry because of their Pride which was cried out upon as unsupportable Their Presbyters dislike them Great complaints were also generally made of Simoniacal pactions with their Servants which was imputed to the Masters as if it had been for their advantage at least by their allowance They also exacted a new Oath of Intrants besides what was in the Act of Parliament for obedience to their Ordinary in which they were obliged to obey the Articles of Perth and submit to the Liturgy and Canons They were also making daily Inroads upon their Jurisdiction of which the Ministers were very sensible and universally their great rigour against any that favoured of Puritanism together with their medling in all Secular Affairs and relinquishing their Dioceses to wait on the Court and Council made them the object of all mens fury The Liturgy is appointed for Scotland But that which heightned all to a Crisis was their advising the King to introduce some Innovations in the Church by his own Authority things had prospered so ill in General Assemblies that they thought of these no more And in the Parliament 1633. that small addition to the Prerogative that the King might appoint what Habits he pleased to the Clergy met vigorous opposition notwithstanding the King seemed much concerned for it those who opposed it being sharply taken up and much neglected by His Majesty which stuck deep in their hearts the Bishops bearing all the blame of it At this time a Liturgy was drawn for Scotland or rather the English reprinted with that Title save that it had some Alterations which rendred it more invidious and less satisfactory and after long consulting about it and another Book of Canons they were at length agreed to that the one should be the form of the Scotsh Worship and the other the Model of their Government which did totally vary from their former Practices and Constitutions and as if all things had conspired to carry on their Ruine the Bishops not satisfied with the general High Commission Court produced Warrants from the King for setting up such Commissions in their several Dioceses in which with other Assessors Ministers and Gentlemen all of their own nomination they might punish offenders That was put in practice onely by the Bishop of Galloway who though he was a pious and learned man yet was fiery and passionate and went so roundly to work that it was cried out upon as a yoke and bondage which the Nation was not able to bear And after all this the King advised by the Bishops commanded the Service-book to be received through Scotland and to be read according to the new book at Edinburgh on Easter-day in the year 1637. yet by the Council it was delayed till the 23th of Iuly A Tumult at reading Divine Service but then it met with a tumult from Women and the meaner sort of people whom though none owned in that Attempt yet there wanted not enough who suspected them to have been set on by others However certain it was that the constant Discourse of the discontented Ministers and Noblemen was that Popery was to be introduced and Liberties like to be destroyed and the Bishops to blame for all By such Insinuations it was that the People were animated unto an unparallelled Fury so that they threw Stools at the Dean of Edinburgh when he begun to read the Service and interrupted it often notwithstanding all the means used by the Lords of Council and Magistrates of Edinburgh to hinder it The Lords of Council as they complained to the King of this Disorder so they spared not to lay the greatest blame of it upon the Bishops which appears from the following Letter written by the Earl of Traquair to the Marquis My Noble Lord AT the meeting of the Council here at Edinburgh the 23th of this instant Traquair 's Letter about the occasion of the Troubles we found so much appearance of Trouble and Stir like to be amongst people of all qualities and degrees upon the urging of this new Service-book that we durst no longer forbear to acquaint His Majesty therewith and humbly to represent both our Fears and our opinions how to prevent the Danger at least our opinions of the way we would wish His Majesty should keep therein or before he determine what course to take for pacifying of the present Stir or establishing of the Service-book hereafter wherein all I will presume to adde to what the Council hath written is to intreat your Lordship to recommend to His Majesty that if he be pleased to call to himself any of the Clergie he would make choice of some of them of the wisest and most calm Dispositions for certainly some of the leading men amongst them are so violent and forward and many times without ground or true judgment that their want of right understanding how to compass business of this nature and weight does often breed us many difficulties and their rash and foolish Expressions and sometimes Attempts both in private and publick have bred such a Fear and Iealousie in the hearts of many that I am confident if His Majesty were rightly informed thereof he would blame them and justly think that from this and the like proceedings arises the ground of many Mistakes amongst us They complain that the former Ages have taken from them many of their Rents have robb'd them of their Power and Iurisdiction and even in the Church it self and Form of Gods Worship have brought in some things that require Reformation but as the deeds of these Times at least the beginnings thereof were full of notour and tumultuary disorder so shall I never think it will prove for the good either of Gods Service or the Kings by the same ways or manner of dealing to press to rectifie what was then done amiss We have a wise and judicious Master who will nor can urge nothing in this poor Kingdom which may not be brought to pass to his contentment and I am most confident if he shall
be graciously pleased to hear his faithful Servants inform him of the Truth he shall direct that which is just and right and with the same assurance I dare promise him Obedience The interest your Lordship has in this poor Kingdom but more particularly the Duty you owe to His Majesty and the true respect I know you have ever carried to His Majesties Honour and the good of his Service makes me thus bold to acquaint your Lordship with this business which in good faith is by the folly and misgovernment of some of our Clergie-men come to that height that the like has not been seen in this Kingdom of a long time But I hope your Lordship will take in good part my true meaning and ever construct favourably the actions of Your loving faithful Friend and humble Servant TRAQVAIR Edinburgh Aug. 27. After all inquiry was made it did not at all appear that any above the meaner sort were accessory to that Tumult the sequel whereof in the Afternoon had almost been Tragical not onely to the Bishop of Edinburgh but to the Earl of Roxburgh for having him in his Coach But His Majesty though he was willing to be gentle to the Transgressours yet continued firm to his former Resolutions of having the Liturgy and Book of Canons established In October thereafter a new Tumult fell out in Edinburgh against the Earl of Traquair and some of the Bishops whom the People in their fury went about to have killed upon which by Proclamation the Council and Session and other Courts were removed from Edinburgh Hereupon the Earl of Roxburgh who was then Lord Privy-Seal went to Court to give the King an account of Affairs for all this time divers had petitioned the Council against these Books complaining they were contrary to Religion in the matter of them and the Laws of the Land in the manner of bringing them in but all he could procure was a Pardon for what was past to such as should thenceforth live quietly and that was proclaimed in December but was far from giving satisfaction for by this time the Malecontents were become considerable and had formed themselves into a Body It was also studiously infused in the minds of all through Scotland that the Bishops were introducing Popery that many points of Popery were in these Books and that the whole of them was both superstitious and illegal This took mightily with the Vulgar and the malecontented Ministers began every-where to talk high in their Pulpits against the Bishops they also formed themselves into a Body called the Table where there were Deputies from the Shires and Burroughs and a great many Noblemen and Ministers That which they pretended was the Security of Religion They pretend the Security of Religion and swear the Covenant with the preserving the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the Land the Honour of the King and the defence of his Authority and for this end it was judged fit and necessary to renew the Covenant made in King Iames his time against Popery and signed by that King with his Council and Family which according to the new draught was made up first of King Iames his Covenant next of a long Narrative of all Acts of Parliament whereby the Reformed Religion was ratified thirdly of an Addition wherein the late Innovations were sworn against till they were judged in a free General Assembly and declared also to be abjured in the old Covenant as formally as if they had been expresly named in it and all ended with a Bond of Defence for adhering to one another in pursuing the ends of the Covenant This was no sooner moved but the advice took as if it had been an Oracle so the Covenant was sworn first at Edinburgh in the moneth of February and then sent every-where through the Country to get the example of those in Edinburgh imitated which was accordingly done not without great appearances of Devotion among all sorts of People they pretending it was nothing but the preservation and purity of Religion they aimed at For the Covenant I judge it needless to insert it here both because of its length and that it is in the large Manifesto of the Affairs of this year published in His Majesties Name and therefore that Book being both common and of great Authority I do not insert Papers at their length that are to be found there and shall onely adde that the Originals and other authentick Justifications of that Declaration are in my hands The Session or Term was held that Winter at Sterlin but the Council sate often at Dalkeith within four miles of Edinburgh which being then so full of People it was not judged fit for the Council to withdraw too far from it Petitions were often offered to the Council encouraged from the Table full of Complaints against the Bishops and the late Innovations but they were as often rejected Upon this the Earl of Traquair went to Court and gave a full account both of the Petitions the Humours and the Strength of the Malecontents and that all was occasioned by the Bishops misgovernment and by the introducing the lately-authorized Books with which scarce a Member of the Council the Bishops onely excepted was well satisfied neither were all these cordially for them for the Archbishop of S. Andrews from the beginning had withstood these designs foreseeing how full of danger the executing of them might prove The Archbishop of Glasgow was worse pleased but the Bishops of Ross Dumblane Brechin and Galloway were the great Advancers of them Traquair represented also that the Body of all Scotland was staggering if not wholly alienated from their Duty to the King and that nothing could recover them out of this distemper but assurances of His Majesties affection to the Protestant Religion and of his aversion from Popery together with the laying aside of these Books at least till better Times At this time also the Covenanting Lords wrote to the Duke of Lenox the Marquis of Hamilton and the Earl of Morton who were then at Court representing their Grievances and desiring they would offer their Petition to His Majesty which was humble enough though full of Complaints against these Books desiring they might be heard to object against them offering under the highest pains to prove they contained things both contrary to Religion and the Laws of the Land But all the Earl of Traquair said was suspected his prejudices against the Bishops being known The opposition he had made the Bishops had rendered him hitherto very Popular in Scotland and there want not grounds to suspect him a secret worker in this opposition to these Books though he seems to have been far from cherishing any further designs All he could procure from the King was a Proclamation The King proclaims his firmness to the Protestant Re-Religion Giving assurance of His Majesties firmness to the Protestant Religion and that great care was used in drawing the Liturgie so that not onely it was not
Ja. Carmichael W. Elpinston These Instructions being afterwards transmitted to the Lords of the Clergy were returned signed as follows St. Andrews Da. Edin Io. Dumblanen Tho. Gallovid Wal. Brechinen This was seconded by a private Letter to the King signed by Traquair and Roxburgh which follows copied from the Original Most Sacred Soveraign A Letter from Traquair and Roxburgh to the King ALthough the miserable Estate of this poor Kingdom will be sufficiently understood by Your Majesty from this Gentleman Sir John Hamilton's Relation yet we conceive our selves in a special manner bound and obliged to represent what we conceive does so nearly concern Your Majesties Honour and Service and therefore give us leave truly and faithfully to tell Your Majesty that since the last Proclamation the fear of Innovation of Religion is so apprehended by all sorts of Subjects from all corners of this Kingdom that there is nothing to be seen here but a general Combustion and all men strengthening themselves by subscribing of Bonds and by all other means for resisting of that which they seem so much to fear This is come to such a height and daily like to encrease more and more that we see not a probability of Force or Power within this Kingdom to repress this Fury except Your Majesty may be graciously pleased by some Act of Your Own to secure them of that which they seem so much to apprehend by the inbringing of the Books of Common-Prayer and Canons The way which the Subjects have taken and daily go about in the prosecution of their business is inexcusable and no ways agreeable to the duty of good Subjects but Your Majesty is wisely to consider what is the best and safest course for Your Own Honour and Peace of Your Government and since Religion is pretended to be the cause of all if it shall not be a safe course to free them at this time of Fears by which means the wiser sort will be satisfied and so Your Majesty enabled with less pain or trouble to overtake the Insolencies of any who shall be found to have kicked against Authority We are the rather moved at this time to be of this opinion that having found it the opinion not only of those to whom Your Majesty wrote in particular except of the Marquis of Huntley who as yet is not come from the North but of most of the Noblemen and men of respect within this Kingdom we find few or none well-satisfied with this business or to whom we dare advise Your Majesty to trust in the prosecution thereof and if any havâ— or shall inform Your Majesty to the contrary give us leave humbly to intreat Your Majesty to be pleased to call them before Your Self that in our presence You may hear the reasons of both Informations fully debated So praying God to grant Your Majesty many happy days and full contentment in all Your Royal designs we humbly take our leave and rest Your Majesties humble Servants and faithful Subjects Traquair Roxburgh Sterlin March 5. 1638. There was also besides many private Letters recommending this business a publick Letter written by the Council to the Marquis which follows taken from the Original Our very Honourable good Lord WE finding the Subjects Fears and Stirs to encrease since the last Proclamation did appoint by the Lord Chancellour A Letter from the Council to the Marquiâ— and other Lords of the Clergy their Special Advice a solemn Dyet of Council to be kept at Sterlin on the first of March where the Lord Chancellour and other Lords of the Clergie promised to be present to consult upon the growth of the publick Evils and Remedies thereof for His Majesties Honour and Peace of this Country but having met at Sterlin we received a Letter of excuse from the Lord Chancellour and were forced to proceed without him and the other Lords of the Clergy where after we had spent four days in advising upon the said Evils and Remedies of them we resolved in end to direct Sir John Hamilton of Orbiston one of our number with a Letter of Truâ—t from us to His Majesty to whom we have imparted our Opinions and Reasons of the said publick Ills and Remedies of the same to be represented to His Sacred Majesty and because the business is so weighty and important that in our opinion the Peace of the Country was never in so great hazard we have thought fit to recommend the business to your Lordships consideration that after your Lordship has heard the Iustice-Clerk therein your Lordship according to your great interest in His Majesties Honour and Peace of the Kingdom may concur by your best advice and assistance at His Majesties hands to bring these great and fearful Ills to a happy event So committing your Lordship to the Grace of God we rest Your Lordships very good Friends Traquair Roxburgh Winton Perth Wigton Kinghorn Lauderdale Southesk Angus Lorn Down Elphinston Napier J. Hay Tho. Hope J. Carmichael W. Elphinston Sterlin March 5. 1638. The Covenanters also wrote again to the Scotish Lords at Court desiring Liberty to send up one to represent their Grievances for they doubted the Council did not use them well and one of them wrote very peremptorily to the Marquis That they were resolved rather to hazard the whole Business than change a word of their Petitions and that they would quit their Lives if they got not granted to them what they desired The King resolves to send the Marquis Commissioner to Scotland The Justice-Clerk being thus instructed came to London where after he had discharged himself of his Trust His Majesty partly doubting his Council partly hoping the Authority of a Commissioner might qualifie the Peoples fury not a little resolved to chuse one and about this he made no long Deliberation but presently set his thoughts on sending the Marquis to Scotland for that Service and it was the opinion of all that a fitter choice could not have been made both because of his Quality and Kindred as also that he was at this time free of all Jealousies for his course heretofore had been more like a Courtier than a Statesman so that he was untouched with the susâ—icions of what had been hitherto done his Advice having scarce ever been called for so he was fitter to treat with that Party but chiefly his temper was so obliging and insinuative that none alive was more able to gain people to Reaâ—on and to manage their Spirits than he was It is alledged that some moved the imploying my Lord Huntley for this Service but no vestige of such a motion appears and if it was made it could not take with the King who at that time knew not Huntley well and since the King designed to try all could be effectuated by Treaty there was not a person so unfit for it as the Marquis of Huntley for his Family being always odious to that Party and himself all his life suspected of Popery he had been a very
impropâ—r person to be imployed for drawing those sinistrous Jealousies out of the Subjects minds But His Majesty confiding as well in the Marquis his Abilities as trusting to his Fidelity was resolved on the Choice and did first communicate it to himself he told His Majesty That Life and Fortune and all he had he would never stick to hazard for his Service but this Imployment was full of danger the success of it was at least dubious and he was very much a stranger to Scotish Men and Affairs and he could not but foresee how it should endanger his losing what next his Salvation he valued most which was His Majesties Favour however he was absolutely at His Majesties disposal My Lord Lorn eldest Son to the Earl of Argyle and after him Earl Traquair and divers of the Nobility came to Court at this time who were also followed by some of the Clergy The Covenanters made likewise a new Address to the Scotish Lords at Court full of Complaints of the harsh usage they had met with from the Council together with their Grievances which Paper with their Letter dated the 28th of April is extant Signed Rothes Cassils and Montrose consisting of Eight Articles ARTICLES for the present Peace of the Kirk and and Kingdom of Scotland IF the Question were about such matters as did come within the compass of our own power we would be ashamed to be importunate and should be very easily satisfied without the smallest trouble to any but considering thaâ— they are the matters of Gods honour of the Kingdom of Christ and the peace of our Souls against the Mystery of Iniquity which we clearly perceive to have been uncessantly working in this Land since the Reformation to the ruine of true Religion in the end it cannot stand with our duty to God to our King to our Selves and Posterity to crave or be content with less than that which the Word of God and our Confession of Faith doth allow and which may against our Fears establish Religion afterwards The discharging of the Service-Book the Book of Canons and of the late High Commission may be a part of the satisfaction of our humble Supplications and just Complaints which therefore we still humbly desire but that can neither be a perfect Cure of our present Evils nor can it be a Preservative in time to come When it is considered what have been the Troubles and Fears of His Majesties most loyal Subjects from the High Commission what is the nature and constitution of that Iudicatory how prejudicial it proves to the lawful Iudicatories of the Kirk and Kingdom how far it endangers the Consciences Liberties Estates and Persons of all the Lieges and how easily and far more contentedly all the Subjects may be keeped in order and obedience to His Majesties just Laws without any terrour of that kind we look that His Majesties Subjects who have been used to obey according to the Laws shall be altogether delivered from the High Commission as from a yoke and burden which they feel and fear to be more heavy than they shall be ever able to bear Remembring by what wayes the Articles of Perth were introduced how strangely and with what opposition they were carried in the Assembly upon what Narrative they were concluded how the Ratification in Parliament was not desired by the Kirk but earnestly supplicated and protested against how they have been introductory of the Service-Book whereof now they are become Members and in their nature make way for Popery whatsoever hath been the intentions of the Vrgers and withall what Troubles and Divisions they have caused these twenty years in this Kirk and Kingdom and what Iealousies between the Kings Majesty and His Subjects without any Spiritual profit or edification at all as we can see no reason why they should be urged by Authority so can we not find but we shall be more unable to digest them than in the beginning when we had not as yet tasted and known how bitter and unwholsome they were The Iudgements of the best Divines of the Reformed Kirks and of the most Pious and Learned of this Kirk since the Reformation concerning the Civil Places and Offices of Kirkmen and concerning the Vote of Ministers in Parliament have been made known in divers general Assemblies which moved the Assemblies of this Kirk when they could not by their modest opposition prevail to limit the Ministers that were to Vote in Parliament by any particular Cautions agreed upon at first and ordained to be inserted in the Act of Parliament and by other Cautions to be made afterward as tâ—e Assembly should find meet and necessary and therefore if we will declare our minds after lamentable experiences of the Evils which were then foreseen feared and foretold we cannot see how Ministers voting in Parliament absolutely without the limitation of these Cautions can be thought fit to Vote in the name of the Kirk We have no Grievance more universal more ordinary and more pressing than that worthy men who have Testimonies of their Learning from Vniversities and are tried by the Presbyteries to be qualified for the Work of the Ministery and for their Life and Gifts earnestly desired by the whole People are notwithstanding rejected because tâ—ey cannot be perswaded to Subscribe and Swear such unlawful Articles and Oaths as have neither warrant of the Acts of the Kirk nor Laws of the Kingdom and others of less worth and ready to Swear for base respects unworthy to be mentioned are obtruded upon the People and admitted to the most eminent Places of the Kirk and Schools of Divinity which causes continual Complaints makes the People run from their own Kirks refuse to receive the Sacrament at the hands of the Ministers set over them against their hearts or to render them that Honour which is due from the People to their Pastors and is a mighty hindrance to the Gospel to the Souls of the People and to the Peace of the whole Kirk and Kingdom all which might be easily helped by giving place to the 114 Act of Parliament 1592. declaring That God hath given to the Spiritual Office-bearers of the Kirk Collation and Deprivation of Ministers and ordaining that all Presentations to Benefices be directed to particular Presbyteries in all time coming with full power to give Collation thereupon they being the lawful Office-bearers of the Kirk to whom God hath giâ—en that right which therefore never was nor can be taken from them and so conferred upon others at that they shall be quite secluded therefrom The lawful and free National Assemblies of this Kirk warranted by Divine Authority ratified by Acts of Parliament keeped in other Reformed Kirks and in this Kirk since the Reformation and acknowledged by King James to be the most necessary means for preservation of Piety and Vnion and for extermination of Heresie and Schism who willed therefore that the Act of Parliament for convening the General Assemblies once in the year should stand
in force if they were revived and by His Majesties Authority appointed to be keeped at the ordinary times and if one at His Majesties first opportunity and so soon as may be conveniently should be indicted Kirkmen might be tried in their Life Office or Benefice and keeped in order without trouble to His Majesty and without offence to the People the present Evils might be speedily helped to His Majesties great honour and content and to the preservation of the Peace of the Kirk and these courses might be stopped afterwards and on the contrary while Kirkmen escape their due Censure and matters of the Worship of God are imposed without the consent of the free Assemblies of the Kirk they will ever be suspected to be unsound and corrupt as shunning to be tried by the Light to the continual entertaining of heart-burnings amongst the People and to the hindrance of that chearfulness of obedience which is due and from our Hearts we wish may be rendred to the Kings Majesty If according to the Law of Nature and Nations to the Custom of all other Kingdoms and the laudable example of His Majesties worthy Progenitors in the like cases of National Grievances or of Commotions and Fears of a whole body of a Kingdom His Majesty should be graciously pleased to call a Parliament for the timeous hearing and redressing of the just Grievances of the Subjects for removing of their common Fears and for renewing and establishing such Laws as in time coming may prevent the one and the other and may serve to the good of the Kirk and the Kingdom that the Peace of both might be firmly settled and mens minds now so awakened might be easily pacified and all our Tongues and Pens are not able to represent what would be the joyful Acclamations and hearty Wishes of so loyal and loving a People for His Majesties Happiness and how heartily bent all sorts would be found to bestow their Fortunes and Lives in His Majesties Service The more particular Notes of all things expedient for the well of the Kirk and Kingdom for His Majesties honour and satisfaction and for extinguishing of the present Combustion may be given in to be considered in the Assembly and Parliament Those Bishops who stayed in Scotland sent up also one Learmonth to the Archbishop of Saint Andrews then at London with their Complaints and Grievances which are also set down according to the Original ARTICLES of Information to Mr. Andrew Learmonth for my Lord Archbishop of Saint Andrews the Bishop of Ross c. and in their absence for my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace YOu shall show their Lordships How they have changed the Moderator of the Presbytery of Edinburgh The Complaints of the Clergy and are going on in changing all the Moderators in the Kingdom How they have abused Doctor Ogstone the ninth of May in Edinburgh Mr. George Hannay at Torphichen the sixth of May Doctor Lamond at Markinch the ninth of May Mr. Robert Edward at Kirkmichael whom Kilkerrin is forced to entertain at his own House That the Presbytery of Hadingtown have given Imposition of Hands to Mr. John Ker's Son to be his Collegue without the knowledge of the Bishop and likewise the Presbytery of Kircaldy to Mr. John Gillespy's Son to the Church of the Weemes and the Presbytery of Dumfrice to one Mr. John Wier to the Church of Morton within two miles of Drumlanerick and that they of Dumfermline have admitted Mr. Samuel Row a Minister banished from Ireland to be helper to Mr. Henry Mackgill and they of Air Mr. Robert Blair to be helper to Mr. William Annand and that the Town of Dumfrice have made choice of Mr. James Hamilton to be their Minister and the Town of Kirkudbright one Mr. John Macklennan all of them banished from Ireland and Mr. Samuel Rutherford is returned and settled in his Place and they intend to depose Mr. John Trotter Minister at Dirleuton and how they intended to use the Regents That the Council of Edinburgh have made choice of Mr. Alexander Henderson to be helper to Mr. Andrew Ramsay and intend to admit him without advice or consent of the Bishop That the Ministers of Edinburgh who have not subscribed the Covenant are daily reviled and cursed to their Faces and their Stipends are withheld and not payed and that all Ministers who have not subscribed are in the same case and condition with them That they hound out rascally Commons on men who have not subscribed the Covenant as Mr. Samuel Cockburn did one John Shaw at Leith That His Majesty would be pleased by his Letters to discharge the Bishop of Edinburgh to pay any Prebend-fee to those who have subscribed the Covenant as also by His Royal Letters to discharge the Lords of Session to grant any Process against the Bishop for their Fees That His Majesty would be pleased in the Articles of Agreement with the Nobility to see honest men who shall happen in this tumultuous time to be deposed from their Places restored and settled in them and others that are violently thrust in removed and that the wrongs done to them be repaired That if it shall happen His Majesty to take any violent course for repressing these Tumults and Disorders which God forbid that in that case their Lordships would be pleased to supplicate His Majesty that some speedy course may be taken for securing of the persons of these honest men who stand for God and His Majesty Signed Da. Edin Ja. Dumblanen Ja. Lismoren Ja. Hannay Da. Michell Da. Fletcher The King resolves to gain his Subjects by redressing their Grievances All these matters being considered though there were grounds enough to have provoked a less Gracious Prince to have proceeded against the Covenanters by the extreme course of Rigour and Authority and there were some who advised him to it yet such was his innate love to that His Ancient and Native Kingdom that he resolved to leave no mean unessayed before he should proceed to a Rupture with them He also well foresaw that it would not prove so easie a Work as some would have perswaded him the greatest part on the South of Tay being confederate and resolved to stand to their Defence at all hazards neither was England too well fixed in their obedience as the following Wars did sadly prove and so there were small grounds to expect any heartiness from them for such a Work and calls the Bishops to his Closet All this being weighed His Majesty called to His Closet the Archbishops of Canterbury and St. Andrews and the Bishops of Galloway Brechin and Ross the Marquis being there before they came and to all these the King declared the choice he had made and that he intended to send the Marquis to Scotland with the Character of High Commissioner for establishing the Peace of the Country and the good of the Church St. Andrews said he approved the Choice and hoped for good success My Lord of Canterbury
for the curbing of disobedient and stubborn People Our Will therefore is and we charge you c. C. R. And by another Paper His Majesty left it to the Marquis his choice whether of the two he should make use of as he found it might tend to His Service but withall if he made use of the second and it gave no satisfaction so that within 6 Weeks most of the Bonds were not delivered up upon his desiring them to doe so then he should publish another Proclamation Declaring the Covenanters Traitors if within 5 days they came not to accept of Mercy and deliver up the Bonds if they were in their power And so a third Declaration penned by the Chancellour was laid aside onely it is extant marked by the Kings Hand on the back and therefore shall be set down here WHereas we were in hope by Our late Proclamations to have given satisfaction to Our People and to have removed their Mistakings of the Book of Common-prayer which We caused to be published having thereby declared that it never entred into Our thoughts to make any Innovation in Religion and Form of Gods Worship nay not to press the said Books upon any of Our Subjects till by a fair way they were induced to approve the same yet having understood that to the contrary by what means We know not occasions have been taken to confirm them in their former Mistakings and to bind them by the Oaths and Subscriptions against the Laws established by Our dear Father of blessed memory and ratified by Our Selves since Our coming to the Crown howsoever there is in that more than just cause offered to take punishment of such an open Contempt and Rebellion yet considering that this is not the fault of the simple sort and multitude of People who have been seduced through specious pretexts as if nothing were contained in the said Bond or Covenant as they call it but the promoting of Gods Glory the maintaining of Our Honour and Liberty of the Country with the preserving of Vnity among themselves We no way willing to use Our People with rigour or to enquire severely into their errors of that kind have thought meet to renew Our former Declaration by assuring them and every one of them that Our constant Resolution is and hath been to maintain the true Religion professed and established by the Laws of that Our Kingdom without any Change or Innovation at the hazard of Our Life and Crown and that We will not force on Our Subjects either the said Book of Common-prayer or Book of Canons till the same be duly examined and they in their Iudgments satisfied with the legality thereof nor will We permit the exercise of any Commission upon them for whatsoever cause which may give unto them any just cause of Grief and Complaint Willing therefore and requiring all Our People and Subjects to acquiesce to this Our Declaration and not suffer themselves to be misled by the private or publick Informations of turbulent spirits as if We did intend any thing contrary to this Our Profession having always esteemed it a special point of Royal Dignity to profess what We intend to doe and to perform what We do promise certifying all Our good Subjects who shall hereupon rest quiet in the obedience of God and Vs that We will faithfully perform whatsoever We have declared whether in this or in Our former Proclamations made to that purpose and be unto them a good and merciful King as on the other side if any shall hereafter make business and disturb the Peace of that Church and Kingdom by following their private Covenants and refusing to be ruled by the Laws established that We will use the Force and Power which God hath put into Our hands for compescing and subduing such mutinous and disobedient Rebels Given at Our Palace of This is marked by the Kings Hand Declaration made by the Chancellour Thus that wise Prelat foresaw well how it would be easier to effectuate all that had been designed than to get that alone of disclaiming the Covenant brought about and therefore left that out in his draught of the Declaration But the King was peremptory saying That as long as that Covenant was not passed from He had no more Power than the Duke of Venice For the Commissioners Instructions the Chancellour gave his Advice in writing which was very closely followed After that many particular Questions were given in by the Marquis in writing for Orders how to carry himself whatever might meet him in his Negotiation to which he got positive Answers in writing from the King which are extant and though the Material points in that Paper be to be found in the Instructions yet this seems too considerable to be suppressed and therefore it is set down in the very Form wherein it is in the Original the Queries being written by the Marquis and the Answers over against them by the King QUERIES whereunto Your MAJESTIES Direction and Resolution is humbly prayed that accordingly I may govern my self and be warranted for my Proceedings 1. IF before the publishing of the Declaration some of the chiefest of the Petitioners may not be prepared and laboured to conceive aright of the same and in general acquainted with Your Majesties gracious Intentions They may 2. Where the first meeting of the Council shall be Where you shall find most convenient the City of Edinburgh only excepted 3. If Your Majesty will not permit the Council to sit where and in such places as is conceived may tend most for the advancement of Your Service Yes 4. If the Declaration shall not be read to the Council and they required to sign the same By all means 5. If we shall not all swear to give our best assistance for the putting the same in due execution Yes 6. If any Councellour refuse to doe it what course shall be taken with him Dismiss him the Council 7. If Acts of Council are not to be made finding that this Declaration ought to free us of the fears of Innovations either of Religion or Laws Yes 8. If all Councellours are not to be warned to give their attendance till the business be settled Yes 9. If upon the publication of this Declaration there be Protestations made what course shall be taken The Protesters must be proclaimed Rebels 10. If no Protestations but Petitions of new be presented either demanding further satisfaction or adhering to their former what Answer shall be made or what course taken Vt supra 11. If they remain still in a Body at Edinburgh or elsewhere after the Declaration what course shall be taken You must raise what Force you may to treat them as Rebels 12. If they should petition against the High Commission itself as not to be introduced without an Act of Parliament what Answer shall be given That they muâ—t be content with My Declaration in that point 13. If against the matter contained therein it is then desired that those particulars may
that he might accordingly apply himself to his business but he found things in a greater disorder than he could have imagined He finds the Country in a very ill posture Almost the whole Council did favour the Covenant and the Bishops were hated by all so that there were few or none whom he durst trust the Earls of Traquair Roxburgh and Southesk were the men he found best affected yet even their Limitations vexed him My Lord Lorn who about the end of the year by his Fathers death was Earl of Argyle seemed to go on with the Kings Service but he was suspected both by the King and the Marquis to favour the Covenant In a word those of the Council who were best set were yet overawed by the fury and threats of the other Party The Marquis of Huntley was forward in His Majesties Service but the Marquis was obliged to send him North to keep that Country which was yet peaceable in order Many Lawyers were of the Covenanters side and chiefly the Kings Advocate Sir Tho. Hope which was one of the greatest troubles the Marquis met with for he being a stranger to the Scotish Law in which the other was skilled as much as ever any was was often at a great loss for he durst advise with him in nothing and often the Kings Advocate alledged Law at the Council-Board against what he was pressing Of this he complained frequently to the King and intended to have discharged him the Council but he durst scarce adventure on it lest others should have removed with him He tried what he could doe to get some Lawyers to declare the Covenant to be against Law but that was not to be done Sir Lewis Stewart promised private assistance but said that if he appeared in publick in that matter he was ruined Sir Thomas Nicolson who was the only man fit to be set up against the Kings Advocate though he had never all his life before pretended to a nicety in these matters yet begun now to alledge Scruples of Conscience Next to this the Marquis dealt with the Covenanters who were chiefly the Earls of Rothes Cassils Montrose Lowdon Lothian my Lords of Lindsay Yester Balmerino and Cranston these were the chief Contrivers and Actors though they had many followers and abettors of all Qualities With these he dealt by all means possible but neither could Reason convince them nor Assurance satisfie them nor Promises or Cajolery prevail with them nor Threats overrule them He quickly saw that nothing could be obtained from the Covenanters by way of Treaty and therefore before he left Berwick He puts the King on his guard to look for mischief from the Covenanters he advertised the King to prepare himself for teaching them their Duty by Authority since milder ways were like to prove ineffectual He also found the Country very destitute of Arms and that the Covenanters were beginning to give order for furnishing themselves from several places of which he also advertised the King desiring him to send in all haste Expresses to his Agents in Holland Hamburgh Denmark Sweden and Poland to stop any Arms might be bought up by Scotish men At first when the Marquis came to Dalkeith who fortifie themselves and are insolent he heard that 1500 men were set to guard the Ports of Edinburgh and that they of the Tables had taken the Keys of the City from the Magistrates and had some thoughts of securing the Castle of Edinburgh which had been easily done if attempted there being neither Arms nor Ammunition within it But the wiser of them thought it fitter onely to set Guards about it by which it was rendred useless rather than make so hasty a Rupture and the more violent threatned they would force both Commissioner Council and Session to take the Covenant All this the Marquis heard but he might well regrate it but had no power to curb it for they were resolved to hear of no Proclamation unless with the discharge of the Service-book and Book of Canons the Articles of Perth were also promised to be abrogated Episcopacy promised to be limited and an Assembly and Parliament presently called But his Instructions being so far short of this he durst not adventure on publishing His Majesties Declaration knowing it would meet with a Protestation and as for that part of it which concerned the Covenant my Lords of Traquair and Roxburgh told him he was the ruine of the Country if he did not divide the Declaration and wholly leave out what concerned the Covenant this he said he would yield to and put his Head in the Kings Mercy if they could assure him that thereby matters might be settled The Marquis gives a clear representation of the state of Affairs Of all this he advertised the King and told him he must resolve either to yield to all they demanded or haste down his Fleet quickly with 2000 Land-souldiers in it and send down Arms to the Northern Counties of England advising him also to send Souldiers for Garrisoning of Berwick and Carlisle 1500 for Berwick and 500 for Carlisle and that His Majesty would resolve to follow these Orders in Person with a Royal Army and there was no doubt of Victory if the matter were well managed but he represented withall that His Majesty would consider how far in His Wisdom He would connive at the madness of His own poor People or how far in His Justice He would punish their folly assuring Him their present madness was such that nothing but Force would make them quit their Covenant and that they would all lay down their Lives ere they would give it up But that which he applied himself first to was the dispersing of the Multitudes After he held a Council at Dalkeith where His Commission was onely read and registred he received Addresses from the Town of Edinburgh He goes to Edinburgh humbly inviting him to come to Holyroodhouse which he refused unless the extraordinary Guards about their Ports and the Castle were dismissed But this being done he went thither on the ninth of Iune they were guessed to be about 60000 that met him the greatest number that Nation had seen together of a great while among whom there were about 500 Ministers and four of the most zealous had resolved to entertain him with Speeches but this he shunned not without great difficulty so earnest were they to be disburdened of their Harangues but they came to him in private and with great vehemency not without tears in their eyes represented the danger Religion was in but kept themselves within bounds and mollifies some of the Covenanters And now he came to have access to their ears and this was followed by that which always attended the engaging sweetness of his Converse for he began to gain ground on their affections he shewed them how firm the King was to the Protestant Religion and how ready to hazard Life and Crown in the defence of it that if any error
shall have more certainty by my next I have sent for Arms to Holland for 14000 Foot and 2000 Horse for my Ships they are ready anâ— I have given Order to send three for the Coast of Ireland immediately under pretence to defend our Fishermen Last of all which is indeed most of all I have consulted with the Treasurer and Chancellour of the Exchequer for Money for this years Expedition which I estimate at two hundred thousand pounds Sterlin which they doubt not but to furnish me more I have done but these are the chief heads Now for your Advice I desire to know whether you think it fit that I should send six thousand Land-men with the Fleet that goes to the Frith or not for since you cannâ—t secure me my Castle of Edinburgh it is a question whether you can secure the landing of those men and if with them you can make your self Master of Leith to fortifie and keep it of this I desire you to send me your Resolution with all speed I leave it to your consideration whether you will not think it fit to see if you can make all the Guns of the Castle of Edinburgh unserviceable for any body since they cannot be useful for me Thus you may see that I intend not to yield to the Demands of those Traitors the Covenanters who I think will declare themselves so by their Actions before I shall doe it by my Proclamation which I shall not be sorry for so that it be without the personal hurt of you or any other of my honest Servants or the taking of any English place This is to shew you that I care not for their affronting or disobeying my Declaration so that it go not to open mischief and that I may have some time to end my Preparations So I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Greenwich 20 June 1638. The Marquis did again send a new Dispatch much of the same strain with the former before he had received this Letter representing the great hazards he apprehended from a Breach and that he feared the King would be faintly followed by the English withall he gave the King a large account of the Explanation was offered to that part of the Covenant by which they were bound to mutual Defence to which His Majesty wrote the following Answer Hamilton I Must needs thank you that you stand so close and constantly to my Grounds and you deserve the more since your fellow-Counsellours do rather dishearten than help you in this business for which I swear I pity you much There be two things in your Letter that require Answer to wit the Answer to their Petition and concerning the Explanation of their damnable Covenant for the first the telling you that I have not changed my mind in this particular is Answer sufficient since it was both foreseen by me and fully debated betwixt us two before your down-going and for the other I will onely say that so long as this Covenant is in force whether it be with or without Explanation I have no more Power in Scotland than as a Duke of Venice which I will rather die than suffer yet I commend the giving ear to the Explanation or any thing else to win Time which now I see is one of your chiefest cares wherefore I need not recommend it to you Another I know is to shew the World clearly that my taking of Arms is to suppress Rebellion and not to impose Novelties but that they are the seekers of them wherefore if upon the publishing of my Declaration a Protestation should follow I should think it would rather doe right than wrong to my Cause and for their calling a Parliament or Assembly without me I shâ—uld not much be sorry for it would the more loudly declare them Traitors and the more justifie my Actions therefore in my mind my Declaration would not be long delayed but this is a bare Opinion and no Command Lastly my resolution is to come my self in person accompanied like myself Sea-forces nor Ireland shall not be forgotten the particulars of which I leave to the Comptrollers relation as I do two particulars to the Archbishop of Canterbury which you forgot to mention in my Letter and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Greenwich 25 June 1638. Upon this the Marquis spoke big to them The Marquis threatens the Covenanters and threatened to leave the Imployment and go to Court but to return to Scotland again shortly attending His Majesty in another posture This cooled their Courage a little for they were not then in a posture for a Breach and so they spoke more mildly saying who speak with more submission That they were sorry His Majesty mistook their good and innocent Intentions all they designed being the preservation of Religion and Laws and that if these were secured they would demean themselves in all time coming as good Subjects he said If they would all go home to their Houses he would beg liberty to wait on His Majesty with their Desires and return them an Answer within three weeks or a month But the true reasons that moved him to desire permission to go up were that hereby he gained so much more time as also he would more fully inform the King of the state of Affairs and see in what forwardness the Kings Preparations were but chiefly to try what he could prevail about establishing the Confession of Faith which had passed in Parliament 1567 for he judged if His Majesty did sign and authorize that Confession with a Bond for defending it in subordination to the Kings Authority The Marquiâ— asks leave to go to Court it might give full satisfaction to all that there should be no Innovation in Religion at least the Vulgar who had been poisoned with those Fears might be recovered a considerable party of the Covenanters gained and His Majesties Cause made more favourable to all the World This was not to be moved or managed by Letters therefore he begged permission to wait upon His Majesty which the King granted in the following Letter Hamilton YOurs of the 24th though it be long requires but a short Answer it being onely to have leave to come up and obtains iâ— of His Majesty which is grounded upon so good reason that I cannot but grant it Some Considerations in the mean time I think fit to put to you first to take heed how you engage your self in the way of Mediation to me for though I would not have you refuse to bring up to me any Demand of theirs to gain time yet I would not have you promise to mediate for any thing that is against my Grounds for if you do I must either prejudice my self in the granting or you in denying then I would have you take care that no more Subscriptions be urged upon any especially of Council or Session lastly that you leave such encouragement to these few that have not yet forsaken my Cause that
they may be aâ—sured as well as I that your up-coming is neither to desert them nor it And thus certainly if as you write you get the mutinous Multitude once dispersed you will have done me very good Service for I am confident that my Declaration published before your coming away according to the Alterations that I have given you leave to make will give some stop to their Madnesses however your endeavours have been such that you shall be welcom to Your assurâ—d constant Friend CHARLES R. Greenwich 29 June 1638. The King did also signifie to him by my Lord of Canterbury that he appointed him to adde to the Declaration some general words giving hopes of an Assembly and Parliament by whom also he gave him Warrant for calling the Session to Edinburgh To this I shall adde a Letter of the Bishop of Ross to the Marquis which will shew what sense the Bishops had of his Proceedings all this while My Lord may it please your Grace Letter from the Bishop of Ross to the Marquis WE are exceeding sorry to hear that the success of your Lordships Travels in this difficult Business is otherwayes than good Christians and Subjects do wish and heartily pray for but on the other part are glad to hear from our Friends there that whereof we were ever confident that nothing is omitted by your Lordship to effectuate what is necessary for His Majesties Honour and expedient for the good and quiet of that poor distracted and distempered Kingdom For my own part give me leave without either flattery or presumption to say ingenuously that the Course your Lordship keeps seemeth to be such as all good and wise men must approve your Lordships wisdom and Loyalty Infallibly the fruit will be besides the Warrant your Lordship hath in your own Conscience by this Noble and Wise carriage your Lordship must be more if any accrewment can be to former Deserts beloved of your Master it will indear your Lordship more to all good wise and well-affected Patriots and oblige all especially honest Church-men to be your Servants It cannot seem strange to any wise heart who looks on the Distemper of that Kingdom wherein is the concourse of so many different and divers Distempers where so many of all sorts of different Iudgements and no less variety of Affections are so strongly engaged and where many have their own private ends that the best wisest and most powerful Agents are not able on a sudden to rectifie their Iudgements cure their Affections and by disappointing the private intentions of some to reduce all to Order Peace and Quiet In any great Work of this strain we must all rely somewhat more on the wise and gracious Providence of God than in other ordinary accidents He is able to work good out of ill light out of darkness and order out of confusion which I pray God heartily we may see to His Glory the Kings Honour and Peace of the Church and State without any other effect upon any author or abetter of these Disorders but of Gods Mercy and His Majesties Royal Clemency In this I fear I have exceeded more possibly than becomes me with your Grace but as I humbly beg pardon so I trust your Lordships Goodness will easily pardon the expressions of a poor Heart surcharged with grief not so much flowing from or following the fear of any Personal or Private evil can befall it as fearing the danger the Publick is in because of our Sins which are calling for Vengeance God of his Mercy give us Repentance and be merciful to that Church and State We can return nothing for your Lordships care and kindness to us but humble and hearty thanks and earnestly pray God Almighty for all Honour Wealth and Happiness to your Lordship here and hence As your Lordship hath commanded us we shall go from hence and where we pitch our abode with the first opportunity shall acquaint your Lordship We were adâ—ised by our best friends to doe so before we received your Lordships but that Obedience we owe and promised to His Majesty and your Lordship made us that we would not stir for any Advertisement or Advice how necessary or affectionate soever till we had your Lordships Warrant All that kind respect which is above our desert and condition and tender care your Lordship hath expressed to us for our safety and that which your Lordship hath superadded out of your noble Bounty desiring us to be so bold as to shew your Lordship what Money or any thing else necessary we stand in need of that your Lordship may supply our necessity in this hath so perplexed us for a time that we knew not what to choose on the one part being ashamed to doe it both because it seemeth impertinent and incongruous to trouble one of your Lordships Honour Place and Imployment with matters of this kind and especially so unreasonably at such a time when your Lordship is at such charge for the Honour of His Majesties Service as also that we are unprofitable and cannot be useful to your Lordship in any kind and so how should we to other troubles we make your Lordship adde this to be chargeable yet your Lordships noble and generous offer and the necessity we are cast into at this present that what is our own or due to us we cannot command and know as little who will do us the favour at this time to trust us hath made us seeing Obedience is better than Sacrifice to cast our selves upon your Lordships Bounty and Favour fearing on the one part your Lordship may be offended if we doe it not and on the other that otherwise we cannot be provided Therefore I humbly intreat your Lordship to let me have with the Bearer a hundred and fifty Pieces payable at Whitsunday next with the Interest or Martinmass as your Lordship pleases for which your Lordship shall receive from the Bearer my own personal Bond. Here and at this time I cannot give better Security but by Gods Grace your Lordship shall be in no danger come the world as it will I have more than need to beg humble pardon for my unmannerly and impertinent importunities in troubling your Lordship at this time taken up with weighty Affairs if it were but to read this long Paper and that I offend no more in this kind I shut up all with my hearty Prayers to God Almighty for all Honour and Happiness to your Lordship and an effectual blessing upon your Travels So wisheth he who shall be whilest he lives Your Graces most humble and bounden Servant IO. ROSSEN Berwick 29 June 1638. The Marquis had Orders from His Majesty to see the Bishops or other Churchmen who suffered for their Duty relieved out of the Treasury but that was exhausted yet the Marquis was careful that none of them should want and therefore supplied them liberally out of his own Money even without taking from them any Legal Security for repayment as appears by
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
safety of Religion Kirk and Commonwealth depends much upon the comfortable assistance which all of them daily receive from Royal Iustice and Authority we protest and promise with our Hearts under the Obligation of the same Oath to defend not only this our Religion but the Kings Majesties Sacred Person and Authority as also the Laws and Liberties of this our Country under His Majesties Soveraign Power with our best Counsels Bodies Goods and whole Estates according to the Laws and against all sorts of persons and in all things whatsoever and likewise mutually to defend our selves and one another in this abovementioned Cause under the same obligation But while the Marquis was busie at Court procuring this Gracious Answer to their Demands and while His Majesty was condescending to such extraordinary Favours to them the Covenanters in Scotland were going on The Covenanters are very busie in Scotland posting up and down the Country for more Subscriptions to the Covenant and because the North continued firm to their Duty some Noblemen and Ministers went thither to draw them to their Party and on the 23d of Iuly they came to Aberdeen where there was a company of worthy and learned Doctors and Professors But the Covenanters welcome there was so cold all the Subscriptions they got being but 19 or 20 and they were not admitted to preach in the publick Churches which made them preach in the Court of the Earl Marshal's Lodgings that they went away full of fury and threats against that Place and this gave the rise to that Debate which followed betwixt the Doctors of Aberdeen and those Ministers Debates betwixt the Doctors in Aberdeen and them which the Learned Doctors managed with so great advantage as did not a little confound the whole Party and the Ministers being pinched by them about the lawfulness of combining without warrant of Authority alledged that my Lord Commissioner was satisfied with the Covenant upon the offer of that Explication was mentioned formerly But the falshood of this Calumny was cast back on them with shame by him at his return for as he had never expressed any satisfaction with their Covenant so all the ground they had for that was because according to the Kings Order he had treated about that Explication to gain time He brought along with him to Scotland Dean Balcanqual Doctor Balcanqual comes to Scotland a man of great parts of subtil wit and so eloquent a Preacher that he seldom preached in Scotland without drawing Tears from the Auditors Him the Marquis intended to make use of as his Council in Church-affairs which Trust he discharged faithfully and diligently and received those Informations which were made publick in the large Declaration penned by him The Marquis came to Holyroodhouse on the tenth of August and found things in a much worse posture than he had left them and that the Flames were growing almost past quenching for at a Convention of Burroughs a few days before they had enacted The Covenanters high resolutions That none might be Magistrates or bear Office in any Burrough except he had first taken the Covenant and the Covenanters were resolved that Bishops should have no Vote in the Assembly unless they were chosen by a Presbytery and they were sure that should not be They were resolved to abolish Episcopacy and to declare it unlawful and excommunicate if not all yet most of the Bishops they were resolved to condemn the Articles of Perth and discharge Bishops to Vote in Parliament they were also resolved to ordain all under pain of Excommunication to sign the Covenant and to shew they meant to break out into Hostility they were beginning to levy men in several places But to make sure work of the Assembly they fell on a new device of Lay-elders to be chosen Commissioners who should be men of the greatest power and interest whereby they doubted not to carry all things and because in a Meeting at Edinburgh of Ministers being 120 in number about four parts of five were only for limiting of Episcopacy it was resolved by the Iunto that none of these should be Commissioners The Marquis being surprized with so great a change of the State of Affairs gave account of all these inconveniences to His Majesty and resolved not to proceed to call a General Assembly since he saw what effects it was like to produce till he first went and acquainted His Majesty with these hazards On the 13th of August the Covenanters came to demand his Answer The Marquis makes known His Majesties intentions he told them he had a clear and full Answer to give them but desired to be excused till he first communicated it to the Council which was to sit next day So they were satisfied for that time and on the fourteenth he held a Council where he delivered His Majesties Answer in these Terms My Lords I Thought it fit to acquaint your Lordships before I returned His Majesties Answer to the Noblemen and others petitioning for the same which is so full of Grace and Goodness that we have all cause to bless God and thank His Majesty for it such is his tender care of this poor distracted Kingdom that he will leave nothing undone that can be expected from a Iust Prince to save us from Ruine and since he finds such Distraction in the Church and State that they cannot be well settled without a Parliament and Assembly the state of the Country and business being prepared for it he hath given me Warrant for calling of both that they may be orderly held as formerly they have been according to the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom And further I am to declare to your Lordships that this we are to attribute only to His Goodness for we cannot but acknowledge that our carriage hath been such as justly we might have expected that he would have taken another course with us which he was Royally and really prepared for had not His Mercy prevailed above His just Indignation and by a powerful and forcible way have taught us Obedience which he hath forborn to make use of meerly out of His Grace and Goodness It is our duty to let His Subjects know how great our obligation is to Him which every one of us in particular and all of us in general should strive to make every one sensible of and labour so far as lieth in our power to procure satisfaction to His Majesty and quiet to this distracted Church and State The day following he gave the Covenanters the same Answer with which they were no way satisfied But the Covenanters were not satisfied They asked what he meant by preparing of business he said it was to establish Order and Government again in the Country as it was before those Combustions and upon this he gave them a Note of those particulars His Majesty ordered to be settled and assured them immediately upon their Obedience he should indict an Assembly and Parliament as he was
instructed They continued treating about this till the 20th of August but still declined to execute those particulars that were commanded and threatned to call an Assembly and Parliament themselves wherefore the Marquis craved again the space of twenty days to go and bring an Answer from His Majesty which he did to gain more time and to shew the King into what extremities they were now run and that it was necessary He should immediately break with them or give way to the full Career of their zeal The Marquis goes again to Court and so he took Journey on the 25th to Court But the first night he stopped at Broxmouth to consider with the Earls of Traquair Roxburgh and Southesk what advice to offer His Majesty who agreed on the following Articles taken from the Original penned by Traquair Articles of advice offered to His Majesty SInce the cause and occasion of all the Distractions which of late have happened both in Kirk and Polity seems to proceed from the conceived Fears of Innovation of Religion and Laws and that the Service-Book Book of Canons and the unbounded power of Bishops in the High Commission never yet warranted by Law was that which first gave ground and occasion to the Subjects Fears and seeing the said Books are offered to be proved to be full of Tenets and Doctrines contrary to the Reformed Religion professed and established within this Kingdom and the same introduced against all form and custom practised in this Church it were an Act of Iustice well beseeming so Gracious and Glorious a King absolutely and fully to discharge the same And seeing likewise this High Commission hath given so great offence to so many of Your Majesties good Subjects and as is constantly affirmed is of so vast and illimited a power and contrary to express Laws by which all such Iudicatories not established by Act of Parliament are declared to be of no force it would much conduce to the satisfaction of this People if this Iudicatory were discharged till the same were established by Law The practice of the Five Articles of Perth hath been withstood by the most considerable part of the Subjects of all qualities both Laity and Clergy whereby great Divisions have been in this Church and are like to have an increase if Your Majesty in Your accustomed goodness and care of this poor Kirk and Kingdom shall not be graciously pleased to allow that the pressing of these Articles may be forborn until the same may be considered of in an Assembly and Parliament and although we conceive Episcopaâ—y to be a Church-Government most agreeable with Monarchy yet the illimited power which the Lords of the Clergy of this Kingdom have of late assumed to themselves in admitting and deposing of Ministers and in divers other of their Acts and Proceedings gives us just ground humbly to beg that Your Majesty may be pleased to remit to the Consideration of the Assembly this their unwarranted Power The sense and apprehension of these foresaid Evils hath sâ—irred up the Subjects without warrant of Authority to joyn in a Bond and Covenant to withstand the foresaid Innovations and for maintainance of the true Religion the Kings Majesties Person and of one another in the defence thereof If Your Majesty might be graciously pleased in supplement hereof to allow or warrant such a Confession of Faith with such a Covenant or Bond joyned thereto as that signed by Your Majesties Father and by His Command by the Council and most part of the Kingdom we are very confident the same would be a ready and forcible mean to quiet the present Disorders at least to satisfie most part and if Your Majesty shall condescend to the foresaid Propositions we are hopeful if not confident it shall give so great contenâ— to so considerable a number of Your Majesties good Subjects of all qualities that if any shall stand out or withstand Your Majesties Royal Pleasure after the publication thereof they may be overtaken by Your Majesties Power within this Kingdom without the help or assistance of any Force elsewhere And because it is to be hoped that all that hath past in this business and all the Courses that have been taken herein by the Subjects hath proceeded from the foresaid Fears of Innovations and not out of any Disloyalty or dissatisfaction to Soveraignty and that Your good People may still taste the fruits of Your Grace and Goodness we wish Your Majesty may be graciously pleased upon the Word of a King to pardon what is past and never so much as to take notice of any of the Actions or Proceedings of what person soever who after this shall carry himself as becomes a dutiful Subject and in testification thereof shall give his best assistance for settling the present Disorders And if Your Majesty may be pleased to condescend hereto we conceive all Your Majesties Subjects Petitioners or Covenanters should acquiesce and rest heartily satisfied therewith and if any shall be so foolish or mad as notwithstanding this Your Majesties grace and goodness still to disturb the Peace of Your Majesties Government we in testification of our hearty thankfulness to our Soveraign by these humbly and heartily make offer of our Lives and Fortunes for assisting Your Majesty or Your Commissioner in suppressing all such Insolences or insolent persons Signed Hamilton Traquair Roxburgh Southesk From Broxmouth he went forward to wait on His Majesty and did shew him that unless he enlarged his Instructions he was to treat no further The Marquis advises the King to renew King Iames his Covenant since he saw the Contempt was like to be put on the last Instructions so visibly that he durst not make use of them lest he should thereby have exposed His Majesties Goodness to new Affronts And as he represented this to His Majesty so he told him nothing seemed so likely a Course for removing of Jealousies and settling all things as the Authorising the Covenant that upon King Iames his command was drawn up by Mr. Iohn Craig An. 1580 containing the renunciation of all the Articles of Popery which was the ground of the present Covenant The King reasons against that His Majesty did utterly disrelish the Proposition of signing that Covenant usually called the Negative Confession for he remembred how his Father had resented his doing of that as rash and indeliberate And it seemed strange to him that so many Negatives should be sworn to especially with such aggravations of Epithets as if one might not be firm enough to the Protestant Doctrine unless he not only abjured Popery in bulk but also by retail in so many particulars some whereof might be both uncertain and indifferent And it seemed tyrannical over tender Consciences to require such an Oath from all Persons but more especially from Women and simple People who could not judge well and so were not fit to swear in such nice points therefore the King said he looked upon the Remedy proposed as full
as bad if not worse than the Disease The Marquis was so far from denying this that he confessed he could hardly without straining of his own Conscience resolve on the doing of it himself upon divers accounts a chief one being that in disclaiming of Transubstantiation the real presence of the Body and Blood of Christ was rejected which he could not sign without declaring that by real he understood corporal and this he accordingly declared when he signed it But to this he added that it was the Idol of Scotland and he saw no other way to reduce things to any temper unless this Course were taken and followed He presented likewise to the King a Paper of all the Inconveniences which were not only like to follow on the calling of an Assembly but seemed certain which Account was so full that when the Bishop of Ross came up after that being sent by the Bishops to divert the King from calling an Assembly His Majesty said he offered no inconvenience could follow on it but what the Marquis had laid out to the full before him And now the King resolved to try the utmost of yielding for the recovery of His Subjects therefore he again dispatched His Commissioner from Oatlands on the tenth of September with ample Instructions which follow CHARLES R. YOV shall in full and ample manner by Proclamation or otherwise as you shall see cause The Marquis gets new Instructions declare That We do absolutely revoke the Service-Book the Book of Canons and the High Commission You shall likewise discharge the practise of the Five Articles of Perth notwithstanding the Act of Parliament which doth command the same and in the said Proclamation you shall promise in Our Name that if in the first Parliament to be held the three Estates shall think fit to repeal the said Act We shall then give Our Royal Assent to the said Act of Repeal You shall likewise declare that We have enjoyned and authorized the Lords of Our Privy Council to subscribe the Confession of Faith and Bond thereto annexed which was subscribed by Our dear Father and enjoyned by His Authority in the year 1580. and likewise have enjoyned them to take order that all our Subjects subscribe the same You shall likewise declare That Our meaning and pleasure is that none of Our Subjects whether Ecclesiastical or Civil shall be exempted from censures and trial of the Parliament or General Assembly those Courts proceeding against them in due form and order of Law You shall likewise declare That we are Graciously content that the Episcopal Government already established shall be limited with such Instructions as may stand with the Laws of this Church and Kingdom already established You shall offer a Pardon by Proclamation and promise in it a Ratificatification of the same in Parliament to all Our good Subjects who shall rest satisfied with this Our gracious Declaration and hereafter carry themselves as becomes peaceable and dutiful Subjects You shall procure an Act of Council wherein every Councellour shall declare himself fully satisfied with this our Declaration and if you can they shall moreover solemnly swear and protest to adhere to Vs and with their Lives Fortunes and whole Means assist Vs in the punishing and repressing all such as shall be found to be disobedient to Vs or persist in turbulent and unpeaceable Courses and if any of Our Councellours shall refuse so to doe you shall presently remove him from the place of a Councellour You shall likewise require every Lord of the Session to subscribe the Confession of Faith abovementioned and the Bond tâ—ereunto annexed as likewise to make the same Protestation in all things as in the last Instruction is required of a Councellour and if they shall refuse to doe it you shall then certifie to Vs the Names of such Refusers You shall likewise declare that Our Pleasure is That a most solemn Fast be indicted upon a set day throughout the whole Kingdom which shall precede the General Assembly in some competent time The Causes shall be declared to beg Gods blessing on that Assembly to beg of God a peaceable end to the Distractions of this Church and Kingdom with the aversion of Gods heavy judgement from both The form of Indiction we desire to be according to the most laudable Custom of this Church in most extraordinary cases You shall labour as much as in you lieth that both the Electors and Persons elected to be Commissioners as the General Assembly shall be the same that were wont to be in My Fathers time and the same forms to be observed as near as may be but yet if that cannot be obtained it shall be no lett to you from indicting a General Assembly but you shall go on in it by all such means as you shall find to be most advantageous to Me in that Service The time and place of the Assembly Edinburgh only excepted We leave to your Iudgment and Pleasure You shall likewise presently indict a Parliament thâ— time and place We leave likewise to you Whether you shall first publish Our Gracious Offers or first indict the Assembly We leave it to your own Iudgment as you shall see cause If you shall find the most considerable part of the Council not to acquiesce in this Our Gracious Declaration and not to promise hearty and chearful Assistance to Vs as is above-expressed or not a considerable part of other Lords and Gentlemen in case Our Council refuse then you shall neither indict Parliament nor Assembly nor publish any of My Gracious Offers except only the abolishing of the Service-Book Book of Canons and High Commission but leave them to themselves and to such further Order as We shall be forced to take with them only if you foresee a Breach you shall give timely warning thereof to such as have stood well-affected to Our Service that so they may in due time provide for their safety and your self is to return to Vs with expedition You must by all means possible you can think of be infusing into the Ministers what a wrong it will be unto them and what an oppression upon the freedom of their Iudgements if there must be such a number of Laicks to overbear them both in their Elections for the General Assembly and afterwards Likewise you must infuse into the Lay-Lords and Gentlemen with art and industry how manifestly they will suffer if they let the Presbyters get head upon them For the Forms of these We leave to you and such Learned Council as you shall use upon the place always provided that you retain the substance of these Our Instructions You shall enjoyn in Our Name the Lords of Council and all other Our good Subjects to subscribe the Confession of Faith signed by Our dear Father and publish Our charge to all Commissioners and Ministers for that end according to the same signed with Our Royal Hand and further proceed in that particular according as We have directed you and
Our Council by Our Letter to that effect CHARLES R. Oatlands the 9th of Septemb. 1638. With these His Majesty did also sign the following Instructions for his behaviour with the Bishops CHARLES R. Instructions to be communicated to the Bishops YOV shall shew My Lord of St. Andrews that We intend by being content with his demission of the Chancellours Place no injury to him and most willing We are that in the manner of doing it he may receive no prejudice in his reputation though we cannot admit at this time of his nominating a Successor and to make it more plain that We are far from having any thought to affront him by thinking of his demission We will in no ways that you urge him to do it yet you are to intimate that in Our opinion a fair Demission will prove more to the advancement of Our Service and be better for him than if he should retain the Place If you find him willing to demit you shall then try what consideration he doth expect from Vs and if the same be not altogether unreasonable you shall promise it in Our Name If a demission then it is presently to be done If he resolve to hold that Place then you must prâ—sently command his repair to Scotland all excuses set apart You shall communicate to him and the rest of his Brethren that far of Our Intentions that it is probable you may indict a General Assembly Thai We are content absolutely to discharge the Books of Service and Canons and the High Commission You shall shew that the Five Articles of Perth We are pleased be esteemed as indifferent and that though We maintain Episcopacy yet We will be content that their Power be limited according to the Laws And it is Our further Pleasure that if an Assembly be indicted he and the rest of his Brethren be there to defend themselves and their Cause and for that end that he and they repair to Newcastle Morpeth or Berwick there to attend your further advertisement that so immediately they may repair to Scotland not only to answer for themselves at the said Assembly but likewise to consult with you what will be fiâ—test to be done for the advancement of Our Service that evil may be kept off so much as in you and them lieth both from Kirk and Commonwealth C.R. Oatlands the 9th September 1638. As for the Place where the Assembly should be held The Assembly was to sit at Glasgow though in the written Instructions it is referred to my Lord Commissioners choice Edinburgh only excepted yet it seems it hath been concerted betwixt the King and him where it should hold for in a Paper concerning the Assembly presented by the Marquis to the King yet extant where mention is made of the Place of the Assembly the King with His Own hand interlined Glasgow if may be and without doubt that was the fittest place for as the City was large and convenient so the Magistracy there was right set Besides it was next to the place of the Marquis his Interest whereby his power for over-ruling them might have been greatest neither was it fit they should go so far from the scene as Aberdeen which was advised by my Lord St. Andrews since for the Strangers it would have been all to one purpose for thither they would all have flocked and it seemed not so proper they should meet in a Place or Country which was still well set lest the numbers and boldness of those Strangers had either poysoned or frighted them from their Duty But to make the whole matter clear I shall here set down the Covenant and Bond which were now enjoyned by His Majesty WE all and every one of us underwritten protest The National Covenant first signed by King Iames and now received by the Kings Order that after long and due examination of our Consciences in Matters of true and false Religion we are now thorowly resolved in the Truth by the Word and Spirit of God and therefore we believe with our Hearts confess with our Mouthes subscribe with our Hands and constantly affirm before God and the whole World that this only is the true Christian Faith and Religion pleasing God and bringing Salvation to man which is now by the Mercy of God revealed to the World by the preaching of the blessed Evangel and received believed and defended by many and sundry notable Kirks and Realms but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland the Kings Majesty and the Estates of this Realm as Gods eternal Truth and only ground of our Salvation as more particularly is expressed in thâ— Confession of our Faith stablished and publickly confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliaments and now of a long time hath been openly professed by the Kings Majesty and whole body of this Realm both in Burgh and Land to the which Confession and form of Religion we willingly agree in our Consciences in all points as unto Gods undoubted Truth and verity grounded only upon his written Word and therefore we abhor and detest all contrary Religion and Doctrine but chiefly all kind of Papistry in general and particular Heads even as they are now damned and confuted by the Word of God and Kirk of Scotland But in special we detest and refuse the usurped Authority of that Roman Antichrist upon the Scriptures of God upon the Kirk and Civil Magistrate and Consciences of men all his tyrannous Laws made upon indifferent things against our Christian Liberty his erroneous Doctrine against the Sufficiency of the written Word the perfection of the Law the Office of Christ and his blessed Evangel his corrupted Doctrine concerning Original Sin our natural inability and rebellion to Gods Law our Iustification by Faith only our imperfect Sanctification and obedience to the Law the nature number and use of the Holy Sacraments his Five bastard Sacraments with all his Rites Ceremonies and false Doctrine added to the ministration of the true Sacraments without the Word of God his cruel Iudgements against Infants departing without the Sacrament his absolute necessity of Baptism his blasphemous opinion of Transubstantiation or real presence of Christs Body in the Elements and receiving of the same by the wicked or bodies of men his Dispensations with Solemn Oaths Perjuries and degrees of Marriage forbidden in the Word his cruelty against the Innocent divorced his devilish Mass his blasphemous Priesthood his profane Sacrifice for the sins of the dead and the quick his Canonization of men calling upon Angels or Saints departed worshipping of Imagery Reliques and Crosses dedicating of Kirks Altars Days Vows to Creatures his Purgatory Prayers for the Dead praying or speaking in strange Language with his Processions and blasphemous Litany and multitude of Advocates or Mediators his manifold Orders Auricular Confession his desperate and uncertain Repentance his general and doubtsome Faith his Satisfactions of men for their sins his Iustification by Works Opus operatum Works of Supererrogation Merits Pardons Peregrinations and Stations
offer or intend any injury or revenge against them or any one of them for the Premises making his cause and part that is pursued all our parts notwithstanding whatsoever privy grudge or displeasure standing betwixt us which shall be no impediment or hinder to our said effauld joyning in the said common cause but to lye over and be misken'd till they be orderly removed and taken away by the Order under-specified To the which time we for the better furtherance of the said Cause and Service have assured and by the tenour hereof every one of us taking the burden upon us for our selves and all that we may let assure each other to be unhurt unharmed or any ways to be invaded by us or any our aforesaids for old Feid or new otherwise than by ordinary course of Law and Iustice neither shall we or any of our foresaids make any Provocation or Tumult Trouble or Displeasure to others in any sort as we shall answer to God and upon our Honours and Fidelity to His Majesty And for our further and more hearty Vnion in this Service we are content and consent that all whatsoever our Feids and Variances fallen or that may fall out betwixt us be within forty days after the date hereof amicably referred and submitted to seven or five indifferent Friends chosen by His Majesty of our whole number by their moderation and arbitrement compounded and taken away And finally that we shall neither directly nor indirectly separate or withdraw us from the Vnion and Fellowship of the remanent by whatsoever suggestion or private advice or by whatsoever incident regard or stay such resolution as by common deliberation shall be taken in the premises as we shall answer to God upon our Consciences and to the World upon our Truth and Honours under the pain to be esteemed Traitors to God and His Majesty and to have lost all Honour Credit and Estimation in time coming In witness whereof by His Majesties special Command Allowance and Protection promised to us therein we have subscribed these presents with our Hands at 1589. The Marquis being thus again dispatched took journey to Scotland and at Ferrybridge he met the Bishops The Marquis finds the Bishops jealous of him to whom he signified His Majesties Pleasure at which they seemed infinitely grieved and spoke against it with so great vehemency as clearly told they were no way pleased with the Marquis yet they resolved to keep the Assembly and in the mean while to send one of their number to Court to which he gave way The Archbishop of S. Andrews seemed willing on a good Composition to quit his Place of Chancellour and the Marquis offered him 2500 l. Sâ—erlin with which he was satisfied Hitherto the Marquis had wrestled against the Malice and Jealousies of the Covenanters and now Storms begun to rise from another Hand which ceased not to persecute him to his Grave but the Truth of this Narration will best discover both their Injustice who charged him and his Innocence He holding on his Journey came to Holyroodhouse on the 17th of September He comes to Scotland and finds some Jealousies amongst the Covenanters where he found Jealousies beginning to arise betwixt some of the wiser Ministers and the Lords of the Covenant concerning the Lay-ruling-elders which he was resolved to cherish with all the Art he was master of causing some represent to the Ministers that if they gave way to that inordinate Power Gentlemen were pretending to in Church-matters it might end in a greater Servitude than any they had ever reason to fear from either King or Bishops this was well considered by many but they were over-ruled He also found the Covenanters were ready immediately to have indicted an Assembly if he offered at any more delays and therefore resolved to give them present satisfaction But his first Work was to deal with the Lords of the Council most of whom he found abundantly satisfied with His Majesties Gracious Offers so that he began again to gather some hopes and to the first accounts he gave His Majesty he had the following Return Hamilton IF I should be too long silent I might seem to contradict that Rule which my self prescribed therefore though for the present I can say nothing of the main business yet this must go if it were but to acknowledge the receipt of your two viz. of the 12th of September from Ferribridge and of the 17th of the same from Holyrood-house So referring you to the Comptroller for what concerns the Ordnance that is to be transported to Hull I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Hampton-Court 22 Sept. 1638. Upon the 20th of September the Covenanters sent to ask the Marquis when they might wait on him to know His Majesties Pleasure The Marquis lets the Kings intentions to be known he answered when they would for he was resolved to hold a Council next day and the day following to publish it So on the 21th in the morning they came to him he told them he was going to Council to make His Majesties Pleasure known which should be also known at the Cross next day but for their present joy he told them that the King had granted all they had desired and more also and that a free Assembly and Parliament should be immediately indicted Some did hang their heads and seemed surprized yet they expressed thanks He also spoke frankly to some of them telling them what the particulars were which His Majesty had granted for having opened them to so many PrivyCouncellours at which the Covenanters were troubled he could not think but all was known to them They seemed reasonably well satisfied onely they pressed him to desist from renewing the Confession of Faith for they clearly saw that this could not but take off a great many and would heal most of the Subjects of the Jealousies they had been infusing in them but he resolved to hear of no delay having made most of the Councellours sure before-hand and that by Oath The Council sat in the afternoon and it was a very frequent Meeting After they were set the Marquis with all the Art and Industry he could think of He proposes the matter in Council laid out His Majesties Gracious Intentions for the Preservation of the true Reformed Religion and the Laws and Liberties of that Kingdom and that for the saving it from utter ruine and keeping of peace in the Land he had done many things to which he had never been induced to have given way except out of that Consideration Then was the Kings Letter to the Council read which was of the same strain with the Instructions after which there was a general silence But the Marquis not willing that should last long much less that any whose affection he suspected should begin the Discourse desired Traquair to speak who spoke as he used to do both long and well After that he called up ten or twelve of whom he was
most assured who expressed their satisfaction to the full Then he pressed it might be put to the Vote which was there debated at length but some desired they might proceed more maturely since it was a Confession of Faith they were to sign This could not be refused and so was followed by a long debate and in end many desired they might not be put to sign it that night The Marquis remembring the Disorder had followed upon the last Act and resolving not to run such a risque again said he did not desire it should be signed that night but that they should be ready for it next morning withall protesting he would have none sign it but such whose Consciences were satisfied and who were ready to hazard Life and Fortune in the prosecution of it and so after he had caused Registrate His Majesties Letter they rose about ten a clock at night Most part of that night he spent in labouring those who had Scruples and consulting with such as were well affected In the morning the Clerk-Register and Kings Advocate came to draw the Forms of indicting the Assembly The Kings Advocate seemed unwilling it should be according to the style used in King Iames his latest times and much opposed by the Covenanters but he was over-ruled About six in the morning the Earl of Rothes and many of the Covenanting Lords desired access and the Marquis calling as many of the Council together as could be had of a sudden admitted them Rothes in the name of the rest said they heard the Council were to sign the old Confession of Faith and to publish a Declaration thereabout which they desired might be delayed till Monday next and then they doubted not to be able to give good reasons why they should not doe it The Marquis replied he should return them an Answer by the advice of the Lords of the Council quickly and from them he went to Council being firmly resolved to admit of no delay knowing that it was sought on design to divide the Council The Covenanters upon their Petition were called in to the Council and they raised a long Debate which lasted about four hours and in the end no delay was granted at which the Covenanters were infinitely discontented and went away not without some big words At length after three hours more debate amongst the Councellours The Council â—est satisfied with His Majesties offers it was carried without a contrary voice that the Confession should be presently signed next the Proclamation of Grace was ordered to be published with another for indicting an Assembly at Glasgow the 21th of November and another for a Parliament at Edinburgh the 15th of May next then they passed an Act declaring their full satisfaction with His Majesties Concessions together with a Letter of Thanks to His Majesty expressing their full satisfaction with large Engagements to adhere constantly to His Service and so they rose at four a clock having sate from seven in the morning The Proclamations were immediately sent to the Cross yet the Covenanters protest which there met with Protestations but many judged they went upon Grounds so weak that it was visible they were designed for no other end but to keep the People from being satisfied and to hinder the Subscription of the Confession and Bond. Many of the Council were displeased with the Protestation and swore to the Marquis that since Religion was now secured they would appear in another manner for the Kings Interest but all he could do could not persuade them to pass a Censure upon the Protestation as Seditious Next there were Commissions given out for the Shires to seek in Subscriptions to the Confession of Faith and the Earl of Rothes and some other Covenanters were joyned in the Commission for the several Shires which was censured by many but most of all by the King himself who knew not how to construct of this as will appear by a Letter which will be inserted in its place But most of the Councellours were earnest for it upon these Reasons that it gave these Lords a fair opportunity of retreating if they would accept of it it might also confirm all that the Kings Indemnity was designed to be Real when such persons were so soon trusted it might give some Jealousie to the other Covenanters against those who were so trusted as if under-hand they had given some Engagements But chiefly the Body of the People would be very much persuaded that the thing was designed in earnest when they read those Names in the Commissions Upon these Grounds the Marquis yielded to the desires of the Councellours and the King was fully satisfied when he was informed about it which will quickly appear Upon the notice His Majesty had of what passed he wrote the following Letter Hamilton I Have no time now to make my observations upon your Proceedings therefore now I shall onely tell you that I approve them all in what concerns your part of them and that not onely so but that I esteem it to be very great Service as the times are This much I thought necessary at this time to encourage you in your Proceedings my next shall be longer yet this is enough to assure you that I am Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Hampton-Court 30 Sept. 1638. This being done the Marquis his next Work was to preserve Episcopacy which was in visible hazard since the worst-affected every where were chosen Commissioners for the Assembly The Marquis apprehends the design against Episcopacy and of this he advertised the King desiring him to go on with his Preparations for fear of the worst and particularly he remembred him of the Resolution he had taken about Berwick which was that because Souldiers could not be levied in England and sent thither without making a direct Breach therefore a thousand and five hundred Souldiers should be levied in the Prince of Orange his Name in Holland and these be suddenly shipped and as suddenly landed at Berwick for securing of that place But withall he advertised His Majesty to go on with much secrecy lest the Covenanters might take the start of him and therefore he advised the stopping of a Magazine that was to be sent to Hull which since it was not presently to be made use of he thought might lie as well in the Tower of London as there And to this Dispatch he had the following Answer Hamilton I See by yours of the 27th of September that the Malignity of the Covenanters is greater than ever so that if you who are my true Servants do not use extraordinary Care and Industry my Affairs in that Kingdom are likely rather to grow worse than better therefore you that do your endeavours accordingly deserve the more praise and your opposers the more punishment and in my mind this last Protestation deserves more than any thing yet they have done for if raising of Sedition be Treason this can be judged no less And methinks if
the Colledge of Iustice have signed my Covenant which I hope they have because I hear nothing in the contrary it were no impossible thing to get them to doe me Iustice in this particular And this I will say confidently that until at least the Adherers to this last Protestation be declared Traitors nothing will go as it ought in that Kingdom I say this not to alter your course but onely to shew you my opinion of the State of Affairs As for the danger that Episcopal Government is in I do not hold it so much as you doe for I believe that the number of those that are against Episcopacy who are not in their hearts against Monarchy is not so considerable as you take it And for this General Assembly though I can expect no good from it yet I hope you may hinder much of the ill first by putting Divisions among them concerning the Legality of their Elections then by Protestations against their Tumultuous Proceedings And I think it were not amiss if you could get their Freedom defined before their Meeting so that it were not done too much in their Favours And I hope you will remember to weigh well the Propositions for the Assembly and send them up to me with all convenient sâ—eed I have seconded your Letter to the Major of Newcastle for the freeing of these Horses and have stopped all Provisions according to your advice at Hull yet methinks now they may be avowed to go against those that will not rest satisfied with what you have lately done in my Name But in this I assure you that I take your advice and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Hampton-Court 20 Octob. 1638. Now the Covenanters were not idle and two Stories were at this time not a little talked of The one was about one Mistress Mitchelson The pretended Prophetess who was judged a devout person a zealous Covenanter she was she was troubled with Vapours and as is incident to persons in that condition spoke as one transported and most of all her Raptures were about the Covenant she did also inveigh severely against the late Act for signing the Confession of Faith This was highly magnified and she was spoken of as a person inspired of God and her words were recited as Oracles not a few taking them from her mouth in Characters People of the best Quality came to see her in her Fits and she was brought to the house of a noted Covenanter and laid in a large Bed-chamber which was always crowded to the doors she was called an Impostress by many but those who understood Nature better knew the root of her Distemper which to have called so at that time had met with a high Censure though it afterwards abating they were willing to defend it under that notion and counted them favourable who believed no worse of it The other Story was of one Abernethy who from a Jesuit Priest turned a zealous Presbyterian A Jesuit turns Presbyterian and had learned so much falshood in the Jesuits School as to forge a Story of the Liturgy of Scotland being sent to Rome to some Cardinals to be revised by them and that Signior Con had shewed it to himself there Upon the report of this the Marquis wrote to Con who was then at London but Con protested seriously he never so much as had heard of a Liturgy designed for Scotland till he came last to England that he had never seen that Abernethy at Rome but once and finding him light-headed had never again taken notice of him yet Abernethy's Story had a ready belief as well as a welcome hearing though the lightness and weakness of the man became afterwards so visible that small account was made either of him or his Story which at this time took wonderfully Upon the 24th of September a new debate arose in the Council which had almost set all wrong again Some at the Board whose hearts were with the Covenanters moved that it might be declared That matters of Discipline and Ceremonies were points of Faith this was at length debated and determined in the Negative The Marquis his next care was to write to all the Kings Friends through Scotland The Kings Proclamation published over Scotland that they might see His Majesties Proclamation published and get in as many Subscriptions to the Confession of Faith as was possible and do their utmost to see that the Elections of the Commissioners to the Assembly might be well considered but in none did he confide more and to none did he write more freely than to the Marquis of Huntley who expressed great zeal for His Majesties Service of which he gave the King a full account and as he saw cause he moved His Majesty to write divers Letters for encouraging all His good Subjects The Doctors of Aberdeen were also much cherished by him The Marquis does all was possible to prepare things for the Assembly and very kindly recommended to the King neither was any thing omitted that might cherish such as he saw well-affected to His Majesties Service He caused also draw a Remonstrance against Lay-elders and sent it through the Country to get as many Ministers Hands to it as was possible against the Sitting of the Assembly He was likewise very earnest with the Doctors of Aberdeen to have come to Glasgow to the Assembly finding them the only persons then in Scotland fit for undertaking the defence of Episcopacy he was to have sent one of his Coaches to the North for them but that Road being always bad for a Coach was unpassable in Winter and the Doctors were so extremely averse from coming that he could not importune them any further since he saw it was resolved that though an Angel from Heaven should come to plead for Episcopacy all would be rejected He also discovered the Prelimitations which the Tables were setting on the Assembly by the Orders they sent through all the Presbyteries both about Lay-elders and that none should be chosen save Covenanters and chiefly those that were able to argue on those Heads that were under debate In the mean time he went home to Hamilton to get those of Cliddisdale to sign the Confession the Justice-Clerk having gone before him to Glasgow and published the Proclamations there but he himself met with more difficulty in Cliddisdale yet he overcame most of them though they had been strangely wrought upon to resist him of all which having given the King an Account he had from Him the follow-Letter Hamilton I Confess this last Dispatch does more put me to seek how to judge of the Affairs of that Kingdom than any that I have yet received for I did not think that you would have met with so much opposition within your bounds since as I thought you past well over a greater difficulty to wit the Peevishness of the Council The cause of this I judge to be that you did not make so much opposition against the
own Hand which is to be omitted Whitehall 19th October 1638. The Marquis having got clear Directions in every particular for not so much as the Speech he was to have at Glasgow but was sent up and returned with the Kings Superscription a few lines of the first draught being onely dashed out by His Majesty he resolved to set out for Glasgow on the 16th of November But before he went he declared in Council that His Majesties positive Pleasure was that Episcopacy might be limited but not abolished and delivered them a Letter from the King commanding them to follow him to Glasgow and required the Kings Advocate to prepare himself to defend Episcopacy to be according to the Laws of Scotland he answered that it was against his Conscience to doe so and that he judged Episcopacy both contrary to the Word of God and to the Laws of this Church and Kingdom This brisk Answer though it was no surprize to the Marquis put his temper to a greater trial than any thing he met with in Scotland he threatned him with taking his Place from him but he answered him boldly that his Right to it was ratified in Parliament So he could do no more for that time but command him not to come to Glasgow which he obeyed On the 17th of November the Marquis came to Glasgow The Marquis goes to Glasgow and thither came to him a Letter from the Bishops of Ross and Brechin whom he left in Hamilton till he had opportunity of conveying them securely to the Castle of Glasgow which he did The night after he received the Letter that follows May it please your Grace WHat came from my Lord S. Andrews is herewith enclosed We humbly and heartily thank your Grace for your excessive favour and kindness towards us we must take it the more kindly that we know at such a time it is to let others see what respect your Grace carries to our Coat for our selves we could more willingly chuse a more sober diet and less ease considering our own Sins and the difficulties of the Times do admonish us rather to fast than feast to afflict our Souls rather than to relish any worldly pleasure But above all we two for our selves and in name of our Brethren do with most thankful hearts acknowledg your Graces most pious care of the Liberties of this poor distressed and distracted Church and especially the sollicitude and care your Grace hath that our Protestation be orderly done secretly kept and seasonably presented before either the Cause or we â—hat are Bishops suffer wrong It is that which now concerneth us most and is dearest to us both for Conscience before God and our credit to the present Age and future and we cannot express how happy we are to have in this Exigent such a Pious and Noble Patron careful and sollicitous with the most tender affection both of our Cause and Persons where otherwise with the greatest loss at least hazard can be to discharge our Duty to God and his Church we should be necessitated to doe it our selves and haply neither with so much safety nor honour God will reward your Grace we are confident and bless your Grace and yours for we dare aver in this Division your Grace hath made choice of the better part The Difficulties are great the Hopes none but too pregnant Fears to the contrary yet it is the more like to be Gods Cause that his Work may appear and it may be called digitus Dei and marvellous in our eyes Mans extremity is Gods opportunity We have given Doctor Hamilton our best directions which we submit humbly to your Graces better Iudgement to add and command what you think fit he needs no more Deputation but the inserting of his Name in the Procuratory which is in the close of the Declinator Above all we have recommended to him a care that it may be timeously presented but in this we trust only to your Grace As we pity the Difficulties your Grace is cast into so shall we be earnest supplicants to God Almighty to bless and preserve your Grace in this and all other Services wherewith God and His Majesty hath trusted you Your Graces most humble and bounden Servants Iohn Rossen Wal. Brechinen Hamilton Nov. 20. 1638. POSTSCRIPT What goes from my Lord of St. Andrews directed to me I beseech your Grace to open and read for your own use Because of an ambiguous word which was in the Paper the Marquis was to offer in His Majesties Name to the Assembly so strictly conscientious was His Majesty The strictness of his Majesties Conscience that he wrote His sense of it in the following Letter that found him at Glasgow Hamilton THis is rather to give the reason of My Answer than the Answer it self you being to receive it at large by My Lord of Canterbury The truth is that the same reason which made me blot out the whole Sentence before hath made me desire to alter a word now to wit that I should not be thought to desire the abolishing of that in Scotland which I approve and maintain in England namely the Five Articles of Perth now the word content expresses enough my consent to have them surcease for the present but the word pleased methinks imports as much as if I desired them to take them away or at least were well-pleased that they should doe so But I leave it to your ordering so that you make it be clearly understood that though I permit yet I would be better pleased if they would let them alone and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Whitehall 21th of Novemb. 1638. At Glasgow the Marquis found the greatest confluence of People The Assembly sits at Glasgow that perhaps ever met in these parts of Europe at an Assembly On the 21th they sate down Mr. Bell Minister of Glasgow preached as the Marquis had ordered The Marquis judged it was a sad sight to see such an Assembly for not a Gown was among them all but many had Swords and Daggers about them when they were set he as Lord Commissioner begun with this Speech My Lords and the rest of this Reverend Assembly The Marquis his Speech THE making of long Harangues is not suitable either with my Education or Profession much less with this Time which now after so much Talking ought to be a time of Action I pray God that as a great and I hope the worst part of mens Spirits hath been evaporated into bitter and invective Speeches so the best and last part of them may be reserved for Deeds and these answerable to the Professions which have been made on all sides when this great Assembly should come For the Professions which have been made by Our Sacred Soveraign whom God long preserve to reign over us I am come hither by His command to make them good to His whole People whom to His grief He hath found to have been poysoned by whom I know
not well but God forgive them with misconceits of His Intentions concerning the Religion professed in this Church and Kingdom But to rectifie all such Misconceptions of His Subjects His Majesties desire is that before this Assembly proceed to any thing else His Subjects may receive ample and clear satisfaction in these Points wherein His Majesties gracious Intentions have been misdoubted or glanced at by the malevolent Aspects of such as are afraid that His Majesties good Subjects should see His clear mind through any other Glasses or Spectacles than those they have tempered and fitted for them Those sinistrous Aspersions dispersed by surmizes have been especially two first as if there had been in His Majesty if not some Intention yet at least some inclination to give way if not to Alterations yet to some Innovations in the Religion professed in and established by the Laws of this Church and Kingdom I am confident that no man can harbour or retain any such thought in his breast any more when His Majesty hath commanded that Confession of Faith which you call the Negative to be subscribed by all His Subjects whatsoever and hath been Graciously pleased to put the Execution of this His Royal Command in your own hands The next false and indeed foul and devilish Surmize wherewith His good Subjects have been mis-led is that nothing promised in His Majesties last most Gracious Proclamation though most ungraciously received was ever intended to be performed nay not the Assembly it self but that only Time was to be gained till His Majesty by Arms might oppress this His Own Native Kingdom than which Report Hell it self could not have raised a blacker and falser For that part which concerneth the Report of the Intention of not holding the Assembly this Day and Place as was first promised and proclaimed thanks be to God confuteth that Calumny abundantly for the other of making good what His Majesty did promise in His last Gracious Proclamation His Majesty hath commanded me thus to express His Heart to all His good Subjects He hath seriously considered all the Grievances of His Subjects which have been presented to Him by all and several of their Petitions Remonstrances and Supplications exhibited unto Himself His Commissioner and Lords of His Secret Council and hath graciously granted them all and as He hath already granted as far as could be by Proclamation so he doth now desire that His Subjects may be assured of them by Acts of this General Assembly and afterwards by Acts of Parliament respectivé And therefore he not onely desires but commands that all the Particulars he hath promised be first gone in hand with in this Assembly and enacted and then afterwards what His Subjects shall desire being found reasonable may be next thought upon that so it may be known to God and the whole World and particularly to all His good Subjects how careful His Majesty is to discharge himself of all His Gracious Promises made to them hoping that when you shall see how Royally Graciously and Faithfully His Majesty hath dealt with you and all His Subjects you will likewise correspond in loyal and dutiful Obedience in chearful but calm and peaceable Proceeding in all other business to be treated of in this Assembly and because there shall be no mistake I shall now repeat the Particulars that you may see they are the same which were promised by His Majesties first Proclamation To this I shall adde the Paper of His Majesties Concessions taken from the Original wherein His Majesty had interlined and dashed out some things with his own Pen. CHARLES R. THe Kings Majesty being informed The Kings Oâ—fers to the Assembly that many of His good Subjects have apprehended that by the introduction of the Service-book and Book of Canons the in-bringing of Popery and Superstition hath been intended is Graciously pleased to discharge the said Books and to annul all Acts made for establishing thereof and for His good People their further satisfaction is Graciously pleased to declare by me that no other in that kind shall hereafter be introduced but in a fair and legal way of Assembly allowed by Act of Parliament and the Laws of this Kingdom The Kings Majesty as he conceived for the ease and benefit of the Subjects established the High Commission that thereby Iustice might be administred and the Faults and Errours of such persons as are made liable thereto taken order with and punished with the more convenience and less trouble to the People but finding His Gracious Intentions to be herein mistaken hath been pleased likeas he is Graciously content that the same be discharged with all Acts and Deeds made for the establishing thereof and is pleased to declare by me That that Court or Iudicatory nor no other of that nature shall be brought in hereafter but in that way allowed by the Laws of this Kingdom And the Kings Majesty being informed that the urging of the five Articles of Perth's Assembly hath bred Distraction in the Church and State hath been Graciously pleased to take the same into His consideration and for the quiet and peace of Church and State doth not onely dispense with the practice of the said Articles but also discharges and by these hath discharged all and whatsoever Persons from urging the practice thereof upon either Laick or Ecclesiastick person whatsoever and doth hereby free all His Subjects from all Censure and Pain whether Ecclesiastical or Secular for not urging practising or obeying them or any of them notwithstanding any thing contained in the Acts of Parliament or General Assembly to the contrary And because it is pretended that Oaths have been administred to Ministers at their entry contrary and differing from that which is set down in the Acts of Parliament His Majesty is pleased to declare and ordain that no other Oath shall be required of any Minister at his entry than that which is expresly set down in the Acts of Parliament and this He is content be considered of in the Assembly to be represented to the Estates of Parliament and enacted as they shall find expedient And that it may appear how careful His Majesty is that no Corruption or Innovation shall creep into this Church neither any scandal vice or fault of any person whatsoever censurable or punishable by the Assembly go unpunished it is His Majesties Pleasure likeas by these His Majesty does assure all His good People that hereafter General Assemblies shall be kept as oft as the Affairs of this Kirk shall require and to this purpose because it is probable that some things necessary for the present Estate and Good of this Church may be left unperfected at this present Assembly We do by these indict another Assembly to be holden at And that none of Our Subjects may have cause of Grievance against the Procedure of Prelats Our Pleasure is that all and every one of the present Bishops and their Successours shall be answerable and accordingly from time to
time censurable according to their Merits by the Assembly which His Majesty is likewise pleased be enacted in this present Assembly and thereafter ratified in Parliament And to give all His Majesties good People good assurance that he never intended to admit any Alteration or Change in the true Religion professed within this Kingdom and that they may be truly and fully satisfied of the Reality of His Intentions towards the maintainance of the Truth and Integrity of the same His Majesty hath been pleased to require and command all His good Subjects to subscribe the Confession of Faith subscribed by His dear Father in Anno 1580. and for thaâ— effect hath ordained the Lords of His Privy Council to take some speedy course whereby the same may be done thorough the whole Kingdom which His Majesty requires likewise all those of this present Assembly to sign and all others His Subjects who have not done it already and it is His Majesties Will that this be inserted and registred in the Books of this Assembly as a Testimony to Posterity not onely of the sincerity of His Intentions to the said true Religion but also of His Resolution to maintain and defend the same and His Subjects in the professing thereof C. R. The Marquis consults the Bishops how to proceed The Marquis sent a Gentleman to ask the advice of the Bishops then in the Castle of Glasgow about the particular way of his Procedure in the Assembly from whom he had the following Letter My Lord may it please your Grace THis Worthy Gentleman hath desired my Iudgment concerning three things who write to him first concerning the production of a Letter from His Majesty to the Assembly directed to the Archbishops Bishops and Ministers whether or not this can be produced and any Note made upon it before there be a Moderator condescended upon My humble Opinion is which I humbly submit to your Graces better Iudgment that the Letter be presented given by your Grace to the Clerk and read by him Here it is most like your Grace will be pressed that the Letter is directed to an Assembly that cannot be without a Moderator and yet on purpose to get a Moderator by Election and an Assembly established to which in my Iudgment it may be replied that it may be that the Kings Letter containeth something to that purpose which therefore is to be read and noted by the Clerk as produced onely The second is concerning the Examination of the Commissions and Commissioners My Lord it is certain that both are most illegal and there is more than sufficient ground from this one if there were no more to void this Assembly and make it null But how to begin at this I see not so well for if the Commissions and Commissioners be rejected then how shall the Kings Real and Royal Intentions be manifest to the Subjects which is most necessary that the Factious may not have advantage to possess good and loyal Subjects that His Majesty is onely deluding them for other ends On the other part if your Grace approve the Commissions and Commissioners how far King and Church shall suffer your Grace is wiser to conceive than I am able to express The third is concerning the Declinator when it shall be proposed or presented to your Grace My Lords of Glasgow and Brechin are fully of that mind that at the very first it is to be used before the Assembly be established their Reasons seem very pregnant first because all Declinators are used so next if the Assembly be once established how can it be declined or your Grace admit our Declinator or Protestation My Lord seeing two things are mainly to be look'd to the one that His Majesties Pious Intentions be made known to this present Meeting the other that the Church suffer no prejudice my humble Opinion is that first the Kings Letter as I have said be read and marked Produced next immediately after our Declinator produced and presented to your Grace read in audience of all Instruments taken in the Clerk-Registers hands and it marked by the Clerk Produced Then your Grace may by your own Wisdom conceive a brief Speech excusing your self that you are not so well acquainted with the Formalities and Legalities of Church-meetings yet that seeing in such Distractions and Combustions all things cannot be done in that orderly way is requisite and that your Grace does know how that with a most earnest and Fatherly Care His Majesty endeavours the binding up of this Breach and the restoring of Church and State to Quiet and Peace and that your Grace for that Duty you owe to your Master and Love you have to your Native Country will leave nothing undone that is in your power and incumbent to a faithful Servant and kind Patriot and therefore will adventure to chuse rather to erre in formal Errours than to leave so material and necessary a Work at such an exigent of time and so seeing there is no Archbishop nor Bishop present your Grace by connivence will permit them for how your Grace can allow it I see not to chuse a Moderator and will not fall upon that shelve or rock of Examination of Commissions or Commissioners being confident that if matters go on in a moderate way what shall be agreed upon shall be liked by all even those that are taken to be their Party and what is amiss in Formality and Legality if no errour be in the matter of the Conclusions may most easily and speedily be helped After the Moderator is condescended upon the first thing your Grace would urge is the Registrating the Kings Letter in the Books of the Assembly then the Registrating of our Declinator After this your Grace will be careful that nothing be proposed till what is in His Majesties Declaration be enacted and if this being done they fall upon any extravagancy your Grace then may by advice of the Council declare that seeing they will not hold Moderation your Grace and the Council must examine their Commissions and Commissioners to which before you gave connivence and discuss the relevancy of our Declinator This Course keeped in my poor Iudgement will fully manifest to all His Majesties pious Intentions evidence your Graces sincere affection to Religion and the Kingdom preserve our Right make them unexcusable let the People see how unreasonable and immoderate they are and give to your Grace a fair way and ground to discontinue and discharge the Meeting under pain of Treason This my weak and poor opinion I have made bold to declare to your Grace not out of any confidence in my self but necessitated because of that Obedience I owe your Grace and true affection to the Peace of Church and State which with my self and all my endeavours I humbly prostrate to you and submit to your Graces better Iudgement I humbly beg of your Grace to let me know by this Gentleman what shall be done with our Declinator and let him come and
His Majesty and use the utmost of my Intercession with His Sacred Majesty for the Indiction of a new Assembly before the meeting whereof all these things now challenged may be amended if you shall refuse this Offer His Majesty will then declare to the whole World that you are disturbers of the Peace of this Church and State both by introducing of Lay-elders against the Laws and Practices of this Church and Kingdom and by going about to abolish Episcopal Government which at this present stands established by both the said Laws two points I dare say and you must swear it if your Consciences be appealed to as was well observed by that Reverend Gentleman we heard preach the last Sunday which these you drew into your Covenant were never made acquainted with at their entring into it much less could they suspect that these two should be made the issue of this business and the two stumbling-blocks to make them fall off from their Natural Obedience to their Soveraign Mr. Henderson made a long Speech Mr. Henderson answers wherein he said much to the magnifying of the Kings Authority in matters Ecclesiastical calling him The Vniversal Bishop of the Churches in His Dominions with other such like Expressions which gave no small disgust to many of the zealous Brethren but in the end he said that we must render to God the things that were Gods as well as to Caesar the things which were Caesars and spoke much for vindicating their Proceedings and charging the Bishops And after him many of the Lords spoke about the Freedom of the Assembly to whom the Marquis replied AS for your pretence of your unlimited Freedom The Marquis replies you indeed refused so much as to hear from His Majesties Commissioner of any precedent Treaty for the preparing and right-ordering of things before the Assembly alledging that it could not be a free Assembly where there was any Prelimitation either of the Choosers or of those to be chosen or of things to be treated of in the Assembly but that all things must be discussed upon the place else the Assembly could not be free but whether you your selves have not violated that which you call Freedom let any man judge for besides these Instructions which it may be are not come to our knowledge we have seen and offer now to produce four several Papers of Instructions sent from them whom you call the Tables containing all of them Prelimitations and such as are not onely repugnant to that which you call the Freedom but to that which is indeed the Freedom of an Assembly Two of these Papers were such as you were contented should be communicated to all your Associates to wit that larger Paper sent abroad to all Presbyteries immediately after His Majesties Indiction of the Assembly and that lesser Paper for your meeting first at Edinburgh then at Glasgow some days before the Assembly which Paper gave order for chusing of Assessors and divers other particulars but your other two Papers of Secret Instructions were directed one of them onely to one Minister of every Presbytery to be communicated by him as he should see cause but to be quite concealed from the rest of the Ministers the other Paper was directed onely to one Lay-elder of every Presbytery and to be communicated by him as he should see cause but to be quite concealed from all others in both which Papers are contained such Directions which being followed as they were have quite banished all Freedom from this Assembly as shall appear by reading the Papers themselves These he caused read but they were disowned by the Members of the Assembly and they said they might have been the private Opinions of some but did infer no Prelimitation on the Assembly to which the Marquis answered That all the Elections being ordered according to these was a clear proof they were sent by an Authority which all feared to disobey And after that he told That for many moneths the Orders of the Table had been obeyed by all but he would now make a trial what Obedience they would give to the Kings Command and protested that one of the chief Reasons that moved him to dissolve this Assembly was to deliver the Ministers from the Tyranny of Lay-elders who if not suppressed would as they were now designing the ruine of Episcopal Power prove not onely Ruling but Over-ruling-elders By this time his Heart was so full of Grief which was easily to be observed by divers Indications that almost all present were affected with it In end seeing nothing said in reason did prevail he in His Majesties Name dissolved the Assembly and dissolves the Assembly but they continued to sit and discharged their further Proceeding under pain of Treason Mr. Henderson and the Earl of Rothes answered him that they were sorry he left them but their Consciences bore them witness they had hitherto done nothing amiss so they could not desert the Work of God protesting much of their Duty and Obedience to the King in its due line and subordination and after this a long Protestation was begun and read This being done the Marquis presently went out and called a new Council The Council approved of it to whom he told how sorry His Majesty would be for this Breach and how really desirous he was to have done all was possible for satisfying of his Subjects but that their Behaviour had extorted what was done he therefore encouraged them all to their Duty to the King assuring them that whatever any of them might suffer for it His Majesty would see they should be no losers From this Council the Earl of Argyle withdrew and fully cleared all Jealousies about him for he told the Marquis in plain Language he would take the Covenant and own the Assembly But most of the Councellours seemed satisfied with the Marquis his Carriage in the Assembly particularly all his Assessors Argyle onely excepted yet the Marquis durst not offer the Proclamation for dissolving the Assembly to be signed in Council for fear of a refusal not having tried them all in it beforehand but got most of them to sign it next morning and then he sent it to the Market-Cross to be proclaimed where it met with a new Protestation Argyle's Example was followed by some few Privy-Councelours whose declaring themselves the Marquis judged rather an advantage than a loss The Council also wrote a Letter to the King highly commending the Marquis his zeal and industry in what had passed in the Assembly which is in the Large Declaration to which the Reader is referred for the perusal of all the Papers set down there at length these being onely inserted here that were not then made publick Thus he left Glasgow and went first to Hamilton The Marquis returns to Edinburgh carrying some of the Bishops with him for their security from hazard and after two or three days stay there went to Edinburgh hoping that as he had outlived their
Threats he should ere long see His Majesty master their Insolence and from thence he gave His Majesty an account of what had passed since his last together with a desire for a Permission to come and wait on him to which the King wrote the following Answer Hamilton I Never expected other than that you would have too just grounds to dissolve this Assembly The King approves of his dissolving the Assembly and certainly I were very unjust if I did not approve you therein since not onely your Instructions warrant you the same but even the Council hath testified to me the Necessity of it And now I shall lay before you some Considerations in the first place to take care that yâ—ur coming away do nâ—t cast things so loose that the honest men â—f my Party do believe that you leave them as in a case desperate or at least that by your Absence they be denuded of Advice and Protection therefore I hope before you come up you will take so good order that your Absence do neither dishearten nor prejudice my Party As for my Preparations I doubt not but ere this you have had a full account by your Cousin Sir James whereby you find that I shall not be able to shew my self like my self before February or March wherefore I lay it to your Consideration whether it were not fit to give hopes that the Parliament shall hold notwithstanding all the impertinencies of this last Assembly so that their Follies break not out into open Acts of Rebellious Violences and really I will not say but that things may be so prepared it may be fitting that it should hold To conclude I hope you do not conceive that the Date of your Commissionership is out wherefore I expect that if you find cause you send out Commissions of Lieutenantries to Huntley fâ—r the North and to Traquair or Roxburgh either joyntly or severally as you shall find most fit for the South yet all as subaltern to you This I confess is not to be done but upon great necessity of which I leave you as upon the place to be Iudge being abundantly satisfied of your zeal and dexterity to serve me as I do of all that I have now written and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Whitehall 7 Dec. 1638. To this shall be added two Letters written by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Marquis on the same subject My very good Lord Letters from my Lord of Canterbury to the Marquis I Received your Lordships Letters of Novemb. 27th they came safe to me on Decemb. 2d after 8 at night I was glad to see them short but their shortness is abundantly supplied by the length of two Letters one from the Lord Ross and the other from the Dean They have between them made their word good to your Lordship for they have sent me all the passages from the beginning of the Assembly to the time of the Date of their Letters and this I will be bold to say never were there more gross absurdities nor half so many in so short a time committed in any Publick Meeting and for a National Assembly never did the Church of Christ see the like Besides His Majesties Service in general that Church is much beholding to you and so are the Bishops in their Persons and Callings and heartily sorry I am that the People are so beyond your expression furious that you think it fit to send the two Bishops from Glasgow to Hamilton and much more that you should doubt your own safety My Lord God bless your Grace with Life and Health to see this Business at a good end for certainly as I see the face of things now there will very much depend upon it and more than I think fit to express in Letters nay perhaps more than I can well express if I would I am as sorry as your Grace can be that the Kings Preparations can make no more haste I hope you think for truth it is I have called upon His Majesty and by His Command upon some others to hasten all that may be and more than this I cannot doe but I am glad to read in your Letters that you have written at length to His Majesty that you may receive from himself a punctual Answer to all necessary particulars and I am presently going to him to persuade him to write largely to you that you may not be in the dark for any thing But my Lord to meet with it again in your Letters that you cannot tell whether this may be â—our last Letter and that therefore you have disclosed the very thoughts of your Heart doth mightily trouble me but I trust in God he will preserve you and by your great Patience Wisdom and Industry set His Majesties Affairs to your great Honour in a right posture once again which if I might live to see I would be glad to sing my Nunc dimittis I pray my Lord accept my thanks for the poor Clergie there and particularly for the Bishop of Ross who protests himself most infinitely obliged to you I heartily pray your Lordship to thank both the Bishop of Ross and the Dean for their kind Letters and the full account they have given me but there is no particular that requires an Answer in either of them saving that I find in the Deans Letter that Mr. Alex. Hendeâ—son who went all this while for a quiet and calm-spirited man hath shewed himself a most violent and paâ—sionate man and a Moderator without Moderation Truly my Lord never did I see any man of that humour yet but he was deep-dyed in some violence or other and it would have been a wonder to me if Henderson had held free Good my Lord since â—ou are good in the active part in the commixture of Wisdom and Patience hold it out till the People may see the Violence and Injustice of them that would be their Leaders and suffer not a Rupture till there be no Remedy God bless you in all your ways which is the daily prayer of Your Lordships most faithful Friend and humble Servant W. CANT Lambeth 3 Decemb. 1638. My very good Lord I Received your Letters of the second of December upon the sixth of the same at night and could not speak with His Majesty till this day This day I did and shewed him your Letters and the Deans and I read to him more than the later half of all the long Discourse which the Dean wrote unto me for His Majesty was very desinous to know what occasion you took to dissolve the Synod and how you prosecuted it in both which that Paper gave him great satisfaction With your Letters I have received three other Papers that which sâ—ews you have keeped within your Instructions the Copy of the Proclamation which dissolves the Assembly and a Copy of the Councils Letter to the King both which His Majesty takes to be very good Service done for him and commands me to give
your Grace thanks in his Name which I am very glad to doe and I doe it heartily For the Earl of Argyle I can say no more than I have already though now I know him more perfectly than I did Your Resolution was to put him from the Council-Table if he refused the Kings Coâ—enant he hath now deserved it more but whether it be a fit time as yet to proceed so far I dare not determine here This I am sure of if he do now publickly adhere to the Covenant and the Assembly nay be the professed Head of the Covenant as the Dean calls him yet he will have much ado to look right upon that who ever looked asquint upon the Kings business Concerning your coming up to Court I am glad I find His Majesty in that Opinion which I cannot chuse but be of that is to leave it to your self and your own Iudgment upon the place whether it be fitter for you to come or stay for the truth is my Lord in my poor Iudgment the King must needs leave this to your self or discern himself for if he bids you come you will not stay and if he would have you stay you will not come but whether it be fittest to come or stay cannot be prudently judged here therefore my Lord doe that which shall be best approved there for His Majesties Service And as much as I desire to see you I will be bold to adde this that I hope you will not stir to come thence till you have so settled the Country or at least the Kings Party there as that you may be sure they may be safe till further course for Security may be taken for I do not know how much it may dishearten them if your Grace come away from them too soon In tender care of His Majesties both Safety and Honour I have done and do daily call upon him for his Preparations He protests he makes all the haste he can and I believe him but the jealousies of giving the Covenanters umbrage too soon have made Preparations here so late I doe all I can here with trouble and sorrow enough Here is News that three Ships-full more of Arms are come to Leith from Poland whence have they money to buy all this If this be true the King of Poland hath watched a shrewd opportunity to quit the King for the late neglect of his Ambassadour And that which troubles me not a little is that the Kings Party there I doubt is not half so well provided of Arms as the Covenanters are For the Money you mention I wish with all my heart you had received it for at the rising of the Assembly most miserable will be the Condition of them who have faithfully served God and the King I have now again put it to the King and he sees enough but cannot well tell how to â—elp it yet this he said If he could possibly scrape so much together it should be had I pray be pleased to thank the Dean for his great pains though it cost me the sitting up some part of the night to read it His Letter beside that Discourse contains but two things The necessity of a present shew of Force against the rising of the Assembly before men be urged to new Confederacies and Subscriptions to all things determined in this Assembly The other that some care may be had for the poor Ministers who will be put to the greatest sufferings and all for God and the King And to these two I have said as much as I can and shall daily labour with the King to doe all that may be done for them I pray God bless your Lordship but I am infinitely sorry so much Grace and Goodness of the Kings should be no better received To Gods blessed Protection I leave you and all your Endeavours and shall ever shew my self Your Graces most faithful Friend and humble Servant W. CANT Whitehall Decemb. 7. 1638. The Assembly go on at a great rate The Assembly all this while were not idle but went on at a great rate now that there was none to curb them They condemned all the Assemblies had been for forty years before as prelimited and not Free they declared Episcopacy unlawful and contrary to the Laws of their Church the same was the fate of the Service-book Book of Canons High-Commission and the Articles of Perth They appointed the Covenant to be taken by all under pain of Excommunication with their new Gloss against Episcopacy and the Ceremonies and then they proceeded to the Processes of Bishops notwithstanding their Declinator which was sure not to be sustained by them for they being both Judges and Parties would not fail to carry the matter as they desired The Marquis at his coming to Edinburgh on the 17th of December emitted a large Proclamation The Marquis puts forâ—h a Proclamation against them containing the Reasons of his dissolving the Assembly and declared those who continued to sit in that pretended Assembly Traitors He added His Majesties Pious Intentions to preserve the Religion established discharging all his Subjects to acknowledge or obey the Acts of that pretended Assembly with an assured promise of Protection to all such as continued in their Obedience to His Majesties Service This he sent every where to be proclaimed through Scotland and wrote to all he heard of that were affectionate to His Majesties Service encouraging them to continue in their Duty assuring them of the Kings Favour and Goodness But now were all Peoples minds set on flame every one expecting what should be the issue of this disorderly Affair He begun again to talk with the Covenanters according to the Kings Order for a continuance of Treating but they received it with so much neglect that he was scarce able to bear it and sinding they did encourage themselves with the Kings Clemency he resolved to prostitute the Offers of it no more He found the Castle of Edinburgh in some better posture at his return thither than he had left it when he went to the West forty good men were stolen into it with some Musquets and Cases of Pistols and abundance of Ammunition and Provision for five weeks This was carried with great cunning for the Castle had been watched all the while but when the Covenanters understood what was carâ—ied in they were enraged and beset the Castle so closely with their Guards that it was as good as besieged The Assembly of Glasgow after they had deposed all the Bishops The Assembly end their business and write to the King and excommunicated eight of them wherein it was easie to proceed against Absents at length they closed with a Letter to the King to be found in the Printed Acts of that Assembly and in it they justified their Procedure complained of the Usage they met with from His Commissioner and prayed His Majesty to look upon them as good and dutiful Subjects and be satisfied with what they had done The Marquis his
Journey was delayed The Marquis indisposed through long Fatigue through an Indisposition of Body some days longer than he intended and indeed all things being considered it was a wonder how either Body or Mind could hold out so long His Negotiation was both painful and unprosperous most of the day he was obliged to spend with unmanagable and unruly Spirits and much of the night in writing Letters for every third or fourth day he gave the King a large account of what passed which was sometimes of the length of two sheets of all sides in close writing This was always seconded by another to my Lord of Canterbury of the same and often a greater length Besides that about other matters of course he wrote as often to the Earl of Sterlin and almost as often to Sir Henry Vane And this was besides all his Letters up and down Scotland most of which particularly those to my Lord Huntley which were at least weekly were all with his own Hand And the most uneasie part of all was that he was obliged to keep himself in a reserve almost with every Body there being very few about him whom he durst intirely trust and certain it is had not his Mind been of a great and undaunted stayedness and calmness the shocks he met with had dashed him to pieces But having recovered his Health put things in the best Order could be expected in the midst of so great Disorders he took Journey to London on the 28th of December having committed the chief care of business to the Earl of Traquair in whoâ—e hands he left some of the Blanks under the Kings Hand which he had by him to be filled up as Traquair should be answerable with a particular Order that if the Lords of the Covenant pressed the Lords of the Session to doe any thing that might infer an Acknowledgment of the Assembly of Glasgow and if he saw any grounds to fear their yielding then he should fill up one of the Blanks with a Proclamation to the Session to rise Thus ended this Ominous Year An. 1639. Anno 1639. The sad posture Affairs were in THE Marquis his thoughts did bear him sad company during his Journey the least painful of them was that he knew he had many Enemies who would impute the present Disorders to his Mismanagement if not to his unfaithfulness but those he quieted with his confidence in His Majesties Justice and his own Integrity And indeed any personal Hazard could meet him must have had small footing in a mind prepossessed with other thoughts That which tormented him most as appears by his Letters was that he saw inevitable Ruine hanging either over his Master or his Country if not over both since the Ruine of either would prove fatal to both To advise His Majesty to Treat any further before he were in a posture to command as well as to treat was so dishonourable that he could not think of it He saw a Kingly way must be taken but he knew well His Majesties Affairs were not in a very good posture England had enjoyed a long quiet and so both their Warlike Spirits and Preparations were much rusted there was store of Factious Spirits among them who would give heartless assistance to His Majesty in his Designs and those who would be most forward he knew were ready to drive His Majesties Resentments too far He saw little hope of any Party to be made for the King in Scotland except from the Marquis of Huntley He knew the Covenanters would proceed as men desperate and less heartiness could be expected from His Majesties hired Souldiers than from such as had no hope but in their hands and actions In a word all things looked so cloudy to his discerning mind that it proved a melancholy Journey to him The King highly displeased with the Covenanters On the 5th of Ianuary he came to Whitehall where he gave the King a true and ample Relation of all particulars His Majesty was fully satisfied with his Carriage in every step of it approving all he had done but was so highly irritated at the Covenanters that he resolved neither to think nor talk of Treating till he should appear in a more formidable posture judging it would render his Person and Government contemptible not onely to all abroad but to his other Subjects and teach them to kick off his Authority if after all the Affronts had been put upon his Laws and Condescensions he should be so tame as still to Treat and therefore was resolved not to receive the Letter he knew was coming from the Assembly to him backed with a Petition from the Lords But the Marquis desired he would delay any such more apparent Breach till he were ready to appear in the Field which was impossible before March. All His Majesties thoughts were now bent upon the way of reducing Scotland to due Obedience in which the Marquis offered him his humble and hearty concurrence for though his Affection to his Country and Friends did struggle strongly against his engaging further yet it yielded to his Duty but not so intirely as to clear his Spirit of sad regrates And in this he was not onely rivalled but far out-stripped by his Soveraign whose Sorrow keeping pace with his Affection and Interest made this Expedition prove as sad as it was just The Design was thus laid down His Majesty was to raise an Army of thirty thousand Horse and Foot and to lead them in Person towards Scotland He was to write to all the Nobility of England and resolves on a War to wait upon him to the Campagne with their Attendants who should be maintained by His Majesties Pay He was to put good Garrisons in Berwick and Carlisle two thousand in the former and five hundred in the latter He was at the same time to send a Fleet to ply from the Frith North-ward for stooping of Trade and making a great Diversion for guarding the Coast He was also to send an Army of five thousand men under the Marquis his Command to land in the North and joyn with Huntley's Forces all which should be under his Command he retaining still the Character of Commissioner with the addition of General of the Forces in Scotland And with these he was First to make the North sure and then to move South-ward which might both make another great Diversion and encourage such as wished well to His Majesties Service who were the greater number in those Parts Next the Earl of Antrim was to land in Argyle-shire upon his Pretensions to Kyntire and the old Fewds betwixt the Mackdonalds and Campbels and he promised to bring with him ten or twelve thousand men And last of all the Earl of Strafford was to draw together such Forces as could be levied and spared out of Ireland and come with another Fleet into Dumbriton-Frith and for his encouragement the Marquis desired him to touch at Arran that being the only place of his
Interest which he could offer unto His Majesty and he would be sure of all his Men there such naked Rogues as they were is his own phrase Besides there were store of Cows in that Island for the provision of the Fleet which he appointed should not be spared Thus was the Design laid down for curbing the Scotish Insolences and layes down methodâ— for the effectuating of his design yet His Majesty firmly resolved that when-ever they returned to their Obedience he should not be inexorable The first thing for prosecuting this Design was the looking for Officers and Money for the former England was pretty scant yet the best were sought out On the second of February the King named the Earl of Arundel to be General the Earl of Essex to be Lieutenant-General of the Foot and the Earl of Holland to command the Horse Letters were also sent through the Counties for levying of Men and Advertisements given to the Nobility to meet the King at York against the first of April Antrim undertook bravely and Strafford said he should doe what was possible with all expedition The Fleet was appointed presently to be rigged out and Orders issued out for levying five thousand Souldiers under the Command of the three gallant Colonels Morton Byron and Harecoat who should go with the Fleet without knowing whither they went A Commission for the Lieutenantry of the North of Scotland was sent to the Marquis of Huntley but he was ordered to keep it up as long as was possible and carefully to observe two things One was not to be the first Aggressor except he were highly provoked or His Majesties Authority signally affronted the other was that he should keep off with long Weapons till His Majesty were on the Borders lest if he should begin sooner the Covenanters might overwhelm him with their whole Force and either ruine him or force him to lay down his Arms. As for the Marquis his Employment he told His Majesty that though he was so far from declining his Service at such a time that he should be infinitely troubled if he were not imployed yet he desired the King might choose a fitter person for the Naval Forces since he was altogether unacquainted with Sea-affairs and not fit for such an important Service But His Majesty looking upon this as an effect of his Modesty gave no hearing to it telling him that as for Affairs purely Naval Sir Iohn Pennington the Vice-admiral should go with him and would abundantly supply his defects in that But the getting of Money was the hardest part of all for two hundred thousand pound Sterlin was all the Money the King could make account of The Treasury was much exhausted and an unlucky Accident fell in at that time which put the King to much extraordinary Expence the Queen-Mother of France coming over to England yet the King found Himself able to doe well enough for the Summer following but His Purse could not weather out another year Thus did the King frame and prosecute His Design with the Secret whereof very few were trusted it being communicated to none without reserve save to Canterbury Arundel Sir Henry Vane and by Letters to Strafford but above all to the Marquis But here this Narration must be stopt that we may take a view of Scotland The Covenanters prepare for War and of the Power and Practices of the Covenanters In the beginning of Ianuary there was a full Meeting of them at Edinburgh where they first resolved to send a Gentleman to the King with the Assemblies Letter and a Petition from themselves full of Submission to the King Invectives against the Marquis and Justifications of their Procedure in all things particularly in the late Assembly which they doubted not they should make appear in the ensuing Parliament of the holding whereof they seemed to make no question With this the Earl of Argyle wrote a general Vindication of his own Behaviour and these Letters were sent to Court by Mr. Winram His Majesty received their Petition but resolved to give it such an Answer in due time as their Behaviour deserved but he wrote back to Argyle that he should be willing to receive from his own mouth a Vindication of his late Behaviour though it seemed scarce capable of any The Covenanters their next and indeed chief care was to fortifie themselves against what they knew in reason they might quickly expect Orders were therefore given through all the Shires of Scotland that a Committee of War should sit in every Shire Souldiers be listed and trained and a Commissioner sent from every County to lie at Edinburgh for receiving and transmitting of Orders Great care was also taken to provide the Country with Arms and Ammunition Merchants were sent every where to buy up all were to be had and in a short time there were Arms for above thirty thousand men brought to Scotland and particular Orders were given that none should be sold but to such as were well-affected to the Cause Strong and strict Guards were set about the Castle of Edinburgh so that it being but hitherto ill furnished little was to be expected from it wherefore Ruthwen would not shut himself up within it but went to offer his Service to His Majesty where he might be more useful They were also careful to fortifie Leith apprehending hazard from the Kings Fleet and about fifteen hundred of all Sexes yea and all Qualities for encouraging of others wrought about it till the Fortifications were compleated But of all men the Ministers were the busiest the Pulpits did ring with the Ruine of Religion and Liberties and that all might look for Popery and Bondage if they did not now quit themselves like men and are much inflamed by the Ministers Curses were thundred out against those who went not out to help the Angel of the Lord against the mighty so oddly was the Scripture applied and to set off this the better all was carried on with many Fasts and Prayers and they forgot not to pretend much Duty and Affection to the King but the Bishops and his other ill Councellours as they called them got the blame of all and none more than the Marquis By these means it was that the poor and well-meaning People were animated into great extremities of Zeal resolving to hazard all in pursuance of the Cause for they were told that the design was to reduce Scotland to a Province under the Power of the English whose Oppression they must resolve to bear if they stood not now to their own Defence Upon this it was that the Committees for War which were held in the several Shires about the beginning of February found small resistance and no difficulty of levying Men greater numbers being offered than could be either armed or maintained At Edinburgh the Session met with great trouble from the Covenanters The Session is disturbed for the greater number of the Lords of the Session being resolved not to own the Assembly all
such Petitions wherein the Bishops were not designed as they ought to have been but were called either pretended Bishops or late Ministers of the Places where they served before their Promotion were rejected and some Signatures being offered in Exchequer wherein they were so designed Traquair took them and tore them to pieces Of all this the Covenanters complained as if Justice were denied but it was told them that if they went to force the Session it would be High Treason and that they would never yield to them But the four Covenanting Lords of the Session having passed Petitions wherein the Bishops were so called these were stopt at the Signet The Covenanters made also great Complaints to the Council of some persons who had written to England of their Designs to invade it of which they protested themselves innocent and craved liberty to pursue their Slanderers but that was laid aside only a Letter was written about it to the King Yet all at least most of the Council what through fear what through inclination went along with the Covenanters and such as stood firm to their Duty were forced to fly into England The Covenanters made sure work of all the Shires They become Masters of all Scotland onely in Tweddale Traquair resisted them a little and got their Meetings to be deserted for two or three Diets but that was all he could doe In Teviotdale the Earl of Roxburgh kept all right and begun to levy men as well as others but he was faintly followed The Marquis of Douglass was not able to doe His Majesty that Service his Illustrious Ancestours had done the former Kings for himself was a Papist and so not followed by the Friends and Dependers of that Noble Family so that all the Marquis could doe was to go and wait upon His Majesty and offer his House of Tentallon to be made use of as the King pleased But the Covenanters seized both it and his House of Douglass and thus all on the South of Tay was lost without stroke of Sword But in Angus the Earls of Airly and Southesk made more vigorous resistance to the Attempts of the Covenanters and were able to have made that Country good for the King but could not withstand the Force came upon them from other Places They all armed and Earl Airly stood out to the Pacification but Southesk was fitter for a Council than a Camp and seeing inevitable Ruine to follow since the Kings Preparations went on so slowly he struck sail and came to Edinburgh Huntley gave them more trouble for my Lord of Montrose and Kinghorn with some others coming to hold a Committee at Turreff in that County he gathered so many together and came so near them that they were forced to disperse themselves yet he kept up his Commission of Lieutenantry acting onely in the quality of a Peer and Councellour But they resolved since they could doe nothing against him with the men of that Shire to bring a Body from other Places to ruine him The want which pinched the Covenanters most at first was of good Officers and this made General Lesley who at that time had acquired much Fame in the Wars of Germany get an earnest Invitation sent him from the Earl of Rothes in the name of the Covenanteâ—s to come home to command their Forces upon which he did quit his Employment there and came to Scotland with many other Commanders He was chosen their General and undertook the Service with much Joy And this was the Posture and Preparations of Scotland which I draw from the Letters that are yet extant written to the Marquis from the Lords of Traquair Huntley Airly and Roxburgh Mean-while the King went on making all the haste with his Levies and Preparations that was possible in which none acted his part with more Fidelity and better Dispatch than the Earl of Northumberland who was Admiral and discharged what was committed to him so well that nothing was defective that concerned the Fleet. But the Marquis found the Hearts of many of the English Nobility both backward and cold and in particular he assured the King that he saw much Heartiness was not to be expected from some of the general Officers which the King apprehending The King emits his Declaration of the Reasons of the War trusted them as little as was possible About the middle of March the King published a Declaration of the Reasons of his Expedition against Scotland which was followed by a larger one commonly called the Large Declaration or Manifesto penned by Balcanqual and revised by His Majesty in which a full account was given of the rise and progress of the Combustions of Scotland of which no more shall be said it being so commonly known save that from the account hath been given it will appear how unjustly that Book was charged to be full of Lies and Calumnies The Covenanters begin the War The News of this coming to Scotland set all a-flaming whereupon they first sent in Papers and Letters through all England and to the Court vindicating themselves with high Protestations that they designed not the Invasion of England as had bâ—en misrepresented and therefore they expected no Hostility from thâ—m to whom they neither did nor intended hurt These Letters were said not to be ill-received even by some at Court who were in the highest Trust. The Covenanters also resolved to take the start of the King and so on the 23th of March General Lesley with some Companies went to the Castle of Edinburgh and petarded the Gates and set Ladders to the Walls and carried it no resistance being made from those within It is true much could not be made but that could not wipe off their stain who yielded that impregnable and important Place so faintly The occasion of their negligence was that a Gentlewoman of good Quality was sent in under pretence of visiting the Captain of the Castle to keep him in discourse she dined with him and engaged him to play at Cards so that they were about his ears before he was apprehensive of danger Dumbriton run the same fate it being surrendred by Sir William Stewart whose only excuse was that at his coming down the former year he found the whole Garrison Covenanters that he durst not turn them off nor take on new Souldiers without a powerful assistance and so finding them resolved both to deliver him and the Castle up he could do nothing alone besides that he was unprovided of every thing that was necessary for a Siege The next day after the Castle of Edinburgh was seized the Covenanters went to the Session to force the Lords to take the Covenantâ— but most of them refused it then they seized on the Privy-Seal aâ—d thought to have got the Great Seal which the Marquis had committed to the keeping of an honest Servant Mr. Iohn Hamilton by their endeavours to prevail with him for it but he refused to part with it except with his Life and so
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
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
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
not accept the Offer therein contained albeit it be onely a Writing put in Print without the Kingdom and not warranted by Act and Authority of the Council lawfully convened within this Kingdom And your Grace in your Wisdom may consider whether it can stand with the Laws Liberties and Customs of this Kingdom that a Proclamation of so great and dangerous Consequence wanting the necessary Solemnities should be published at the Mercat-cross of this City Whereas your Grace knows well that by the Laws of this Kingdom Treason and Forfeiture of the Lands Life and Estate of the meanest Subject within the same cannot be declared but either in Parliament or in a Supreme Iustice-Court after Citation and lawful Probation how much less of the whole Peâ—rs and Body of the Kingdom without either Court Proof or Trial. And alâ—eit we do heartily and humbly acknowledge and profess all dutiful and ciâ—il Obedience to His Majesty as our Dread and Gracious Soveraign yet since this Proclamation does import in effect the renouncing of our Covenant made with God and of the necessary means of our lawful Defence we cannot give Obedience thereto without bringing a Curse upon this Kirk and Kingdom and Ruine upon our selves and our Posterity whereby we are persuaded that it did never proceed from His Majesty but that it is a deep Plot contrived by the Policy of the Devilish Malice of the known and cursed Enemies of this Church and State by which they have intended so to disjoyn us from His Majesty and among our selves as the Rupture Rent and Confusion of both might be irreparable wherein we hope the Lord in whom we trust shall disappoint them And seeing we have left no means possible unessayed since His Majesties coming to York as before whereby His Majesties Ear might be made patent to our just Informatiâ—ns but have used the help to our last Remonstrance of the Lord Gray the Iustice-Clerk the Treasurer and the Lord Daliell as the Bearer can inform your Grace and yet have never had the happiness to attain any hopes of our end but have altogether been frustrate and disappointed thereof and now understanding by the sight of your Graces Letter that your Grace as His Majesties High Commissioner is returned with full Power and Authority to accommodate Affairs in a peaceable way we will not cease to have recourse to your Grace as one who hath chief Interest in this Kirk and Kingdom desiring your Grace to consider as in our Iudgments we are persuaded that there is no way so ready and assured to settle and compose all Affairs as by holding of the Parliament according to His Majesties Indiction either by His Sacred Majesty in Person which is our chiefest desire or by your Grace as His Majesties Commissioner at the time appointed wherein your Grace shall find our Carriage most Humble Loyal and Dutiful to our Soveraign or to your Grace as representing His Majesties Person and in the mean time that your Grace would open a safe way whereby our Supplications and Informations may have access to His Majesties Ears And we are fully persuaded that we shall be able to clear the Lawfulness and Integrity of Our Intentions and Proceedings to His Majesty and make it evident to His Majesty and to the World that our Enemies are Traitors to the King to the Church and State and that we are and ever have been His Majesties Loyal and Obedient Subjects So we rest Your Graces humble Servants A. Lesley Argyle Marre Rothes Eglinton Cassils Wigtown Dalhousie Lothian Angus Elcho Lindesay Balmerino Montgomery Forrester Erskins Boyd Napier Burghly Kirkudbright Edinburgh 9 May 1639. And about 30 Commissioners for Shires and Burroughs To this Letter the Marquis wrote the following Answer next day directing it to the Earl of Rothes My Lord I Received a Letter yesterday morning signed by your Lordship and diverâ— Noblemen and others wherein you alledge you are come to attend the Parliament but considering your Preparation and Equipage it appears rather to fight a Battel than to hold a Civil Convocation for the good of the Church and Commonwealth You may perceive by His Majesties Gracious Proclamation that he intended in His Own Sacred Person to be present at the Parliament so soon as with Honour and Safety he might doe it and for that end exprest therein what was fit to be done But these Courses which you take and your Disobedience to his Iust Commands daily more and more shewed will necessitate him to have them put in execution another way It is true that His Majesty sent me hither to accommodate these Affairs in a peaceable manner if it were possible which I have laboured to doe and accordingly my Deportment hath been which hath been met with that Retribution as if I had met with the greatest Enemy but your refusing to publish His Majesties Grace to his People signified in his Proclamation hath taken away that Power which otherwise I had that being a Liberty taken to your selves which never any Loyal Subjects assumed in any Monarchy You alledge many Reasons for your selves of the Illegality of that Proclamation but you cannot be ignorant that your Carriage hath forced many of these principal Councellours for safeguard of their Lives to forsake the Kingdom out of which they remain yet for the same cause You have suppressed the Printing of all Writings but what is warranted by Mr. Alexander Henderson and one Mr. Archibald Johnstown neither was the Clerk of the Council whom I sent for twice to give him Directions concerning this Business permitted to come aboard to me upon Conference with whom for any thing you know I might have resolved to come ashore my self and convened a Council for the Publication thereof in the ordinary way But your extraordinary Proceedings in all things must needs force from His Majesty some things which perhaps you may think not ordinary Whereas you desire me to be a means that your Supplications may have free access to His Majesties Ears it is a work of no difficulty for His Majesty hath never stopt his Ears to the Supplications of any of his Subjects when they have been presented to him in that humble and fitting way which became dutiful Subjects nor did I ever refuse any all the time I was among you or conceal any part of them from His Majesty So that your Allegation of not being heard is grounded upon the same false Foundations that your other Actions are and serves onely for a means to delude the simple People that by making them believe what you have a mind to possess them with they may become backers of your unwarranted Actions which as it is generally lamented by all His Majesties good Subjects so it is more particularly by me who have had the Honour to be imployed in this Business with so bad Success My Lord Your humble Servant HAMILTON After this on the 11th of May a Letter came from the Council and Session desiring liberty to send some of
Letters from all Hands both from Ministers and Noblemen Many of these Letters with the Copies of his Answers are yet extant and run in a strain very far from any thing of Friendship or Correspondence indeed they look liker Challenges than Letters of Civility The Covenanters desired a Safe Conduct for such as they should send to him to treat with him but he answered he was the Kings Commissioner and so would give no Conduct for any of his Subjects coming to wait upon him And after a days Advisement they sent the Lord Lindsay the Marquis his Brother-in-law aboard with a Petition of the former strain who told the Marquis that they would lay down their Lives sooner than pass from what they had done that their Army consisted of 25000 Men they knew the Kings Cavalry was better than theirs but their Infantry exceeded his far After some Discourse had passed all before Witnesses the Marquis dismissed him In the mean while all Trade was stopt and every Vessel that belonged to Scotland was seized onely such as took an Oath for adhering to the King against the present Rebellion in Scotland were let go according to His Majesties Orders One Vessel was taken which was of more Importance having in her about twenty Officers who were coming home from Germany upon Lesley's Invitation All these the Marquis sent to Berwick He sent also a free Advice to the King informing him of all he knew of their Strength and that besides the Army which was marching to the Borders there were about 20000 Men lying on both sides of the Frith so that his being there made a powerful Diversion He besought His Majesty not to hazard on a Battel the success whereof was always dubious but more than commonly so in this case where the one side was desperate and the other but half cordial He told His Majesty how much he feared his Foot might be too weak wherefore he desired His Majesty to consider if he would call for two of His Regiments since all the three were not sufficient for him to land with them and march into the Country and one was enough to burn the Coast which was all he could doe and for that he was resolved not to fail in it as soon as he had Orders adding that in a Fortnight he would doe all that could be done that way after which he thought it would be fittest that he went Northward and landed His Regiments there which must be supplied another way if His Majesty called for any of them where some good might be done But as for Treating he desired His Majesty would imploy others in it if that were to be done for he confessed his Spirit was so irritated against them that he desired neither to see nor meddle with them onely he told His Majesty that the Covenanters had addressed both their Letters and Petitions to some English Lords which he thought they should have brought to His Majesty unopened and given no other Answers but such as His Majesty ordered On the 26th of May he received the following Letter from His Majesty Hamilton RVmours come here so thick of the great Forces that the Rebels mean very shortly to bring down upon me that I thought it necessary to advertise you that you may be ready at the first Advertisement to land at the Holy-Island wind and weather serving yet not to come from where you are untill I send you word except you shall find it necessary by your own intelligence and so I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Newcastle 22 May 1639. POSTSCRIPT I leave it to your Consideration if it be not fit to leave some 300 Men in Inchcolm though it should be fit that you should come away with the rest of the Landmen And the day following Sir Henry Vane wrote to him to send two of his Regiments to Holy-Island The King calls for two Regiments from the Marquis to which Letter the King added with his own Pen I have seen and approved this C. R. Upon this Order the two Regiments commanded by Morton and Harecoat were accordingly dispatched away immediately and did land at Berwick on the 29th of May. About this time the Covenanters sent a new Message to the Marquis the account whereof shall be given from a Paper written by Sir Henry Devick who was particularly trusted by His Majesty at this time and was a Witness to the Conference The Paper follows THE whole Discourse so far as I can remember of it may be reduced to these Heads A Conference betwixt some Covenanters and the Marquis Their Invitation of your Excellence to go in person to His Majesty to present their Desires and to mediate for an Accommodation To this your Excellence answered First that having full Power from His Majesty to treat and conclude of all things concerning that Business you held it unnecessary to go to him Secondly your Excellence thought it unfit you having so great a Charge here which required your presence and they having propounded nothing that could give sufficient occasion to such a Voyage to undertake it Thirdly that if the distance from His Majesty were thought by them to be a hindrance to the Treaty they might address themselves to His Majesty by such of the Nobility as were about him who was not distant above threescore and twelve miles from the Leaguer They replied that things would be more facilitated by your Excellence's being there wishing that as you had a part in the beginning of these Affairs you might have the Honour to put an end to them Your Excellence returned that the Lords Traquair and Roxburgh who were now with His Majesty were imployed in them before you which they acknowledged but wished it had never been confessing that they were spoiled before you had the managing of them Concerning a Cessation of Acts of Hostility both by Sea and upon the Frontiers where they complained of divers Insolencies committed by the Horse-troops of His Majesty your Excellence answered That in what concerned the first you â—ad committed none since your coming hither true it was you had stayed and taken many Barques and Boats but some of them you had dismissed without touching any thing that they had in them and these from whom you did take to supply your uses you had paid them for it that this day you had sent to Burnt-Island and would doe so to other Places to offer them full permission of Trade provided they would swear not to carry Arms against His Majesty and take the Oath of Fidelity and for the Fishermen you required no Oath As for the otâ—er namely some pretended Insolences upon the Frontiers you knâ—w of none and believed not any and if tâ—ere was any it was their fault by their deferring to return to their Obedience to His Majesty and when they made Instance in some particulars your Excellence did cut them short and said That it was an unfit thing and nothing conducible to make an end of Business
of that Our Ancient Kingdom Our Will and Pleasure is that a Free General Assembly be kept at Edinburgh the sixth day of August next ensuing where We intend God willing to be personally present and for the Legal Indiction whereof We have given Orders and Command to Our Council and thereafter a Parliament to bâ— holden at Edinburgh the twentieth day of August next ensuing for ratifying of what shall be concluded in the said Assembly and settling such other things as may conduce to the Peace and Good of Our Native Kingdom and therein an Act of Oblivion to be passed And whereas We are further desired that Our Ships and Forces by Land be recalled and all Persons Goods and Ships be resâ—ored and they made safe from Invasion We are Graciously pleased to declare That upon their disarming and disbanding of their Forces dissolving and discharging all their pretended Tables and Conventicles and restoring unto Vs all Our Castles Forts and Ammunitions of all sorts as likewise Our Royal Honours and to every one of Our good Subjects their Liberties Lands Houses Goods and Means whatsoever taken and detained from them since the late pretended General Assembly We will presently thereafter recall Our Fleet and retire Our Land-Forces and cause Restitution to be made to all persons of their Ships and Goods detained or arrested since the aforesaid time whereby it may appear that Our Intention in taking up of Arms was no ways for invading Our Own Native Kingdom or to innovate the Religion and Laws but mainly for the maintaining and vindicating of Our Royal Authority And since that hereby it doth clearly appear that We neither have nor do intend any Alteration in Religion and Laws but that both shall be maintained by Vs in their full Integrity We expect the performance of that humble and dutiful Obedience which becometh loyal and dutiful Subjects and as in their several Petitions they have often professed And as We have Iust Reason to believe that to Our peaceable and well-affected Subjects this will be satisfactory so We take God and the World to witness that whatsoever Calamities shall ensue by Our necessitated suppressing of the Insolencies of such as shall continue in their Disobedient Courses is not occasioned by Vs but by their own procurement After this the following Articles were signed THe Forces of Scotland to â—e disbanded and dissolved within eight and fourty hours after the Publication of His Majesties Declaration being agreed upon His Majesties Castles Forts Ammunition of all sorts and Royal Honours to be delivered after the Publication so soon as His Majesty can send to receive them His Majesties Ships to depart presently after the delivery of the Castles with the first fair Wind and in the mean time no interruption of Trade or Fishing His Majesty is Graciously pleased to cause to restore all persons Goods and Ships detained and arrested since the first of November last There shall be no Meetings Treatings Consultations or Convocations of His Majesties Lieges but such as are warrantable by Act of Parliament All Fortifications to desist and no further Work therein and they to be remitted to His Majesties Pleasure To restore to every one of His Majesties Subjects their Liberties Lands Houses Goods and Means whatsoever taken and detained from them by whatsoever means since the aforesaid time Next the Commissioners signed the following Note IN obedience to His Majesties Royal Commands we shall upon Thursday next the 20th of this June dismiss our Forces and immediately thereafter deliver His Majesties Castles and shall ever in all things carry our selves like Humble Loyal and Obedient Subjects Signed Rothes Dumfermline Lowden W. Douglas Al. Henderson Arch. Johnstown The Treaty being thus ended The Treaty is variously censured all parted with great expressions of Joy But few wise men expected it should be followed with a lasting Agreement the Covenanters being peremptory not to part with a hoof so that whatever Concessions came not up to all their Desires were not like to prove satisfactory Those who understood not the true state of the English Army wondered that the King should have let this opportunity out of his hands whereby they judged he was able to have broken and subdued Scotland And according to the vulgar Civility of of all Censurers of Kings Actions his bad Counsellours bore the blame whereof the far greatest share fell upon the Marquis But others who saw beyond those superficial Observers acknowledged there was an equal temperature of Wisdom and Goodness in His Majesties Concessions not denying a proportionable share of the praise to his good Counsellours The Covenanters judged they had scaped well who got off so easily for it would have been impossible for them to have maintained the great Bodies they had gathered together any longer except they had marched into England to which they had no mind unless forced by necessity But some made another Observation though of less moment yet not unpleasant upon Mr. Henderson's signing the former Paper That it was strange to see a Church-man who had acted so vigorously against Bishops for their meddling in Civil Affairs made a Commissioner for this Treaty and sign a Paper so purely Civil so strongly does Passion and Interest biass and turn men When the Commissioners came back to the Camp A Paper is given out for the Conditions of the Agreement though not agreed to they gave an account of their Negotiation and besides the Articles of Treaty they produced another Paper which passed among all for the Conditions of the Agreement It was a Note containing some Points which were alledged to have been agreed to at Berwick verbally though not set down in the written Treaty which was made up of some down-right Mistakes and of other things which the King in discourse had indeed said but not positively nor as a Determination on which he had concluded However the Army made a Declaration that their accepting of the Kings Papers wherein the Assembly of Glasgow was called the pretended Assembly did not infer their accounting it so which they could never do Yet all the Forcâ—s withdrew most of them laying down Arms but still keeping in great Bodies together and a Proclamation was sent to the North to Montrose on the one side Aboyne on the other to lay down Arms for all this while there had been a Body of about 2000 that had stood for the King in Aberdeenshire who were commanded by my Lord Bamf against whom my Lord Montrose was sent and these Orders were obeyed by them both and indeed they came in good time to Aboyne otherwise he had been sore put to it On the 22th of Iune the Marquis was ordered to go to the Castle of Edinburgh The Marquis receives and furnishes the Castle of Edinburgh and take possession of it in the Kings Name and relieve the Marquis of Huntley and put Ruthwen now created Lord Estrick in it and also to furnish it with store of Provision and Ammunition out
of the Magazine in the Navy which being done the Fleet was to be sent out of the Frith And accordingly on the 24th of Iune he came to Edinburgh but he met with such Reproaches and Hootings from the Vulgar that he was forced for preventing a Tumult to desire some of the Covenanting Lords to wait on him to the Castle and yet on the way he was all along cried out upon with most unworthy Names as Pyrate Traitour Enemy to God and his Country with other such-like Invectives These he could not but despise though he was sensible of the Dishonour put upon the Kings Commissioner by that Usage yet he might well have expected that it should have secured him from the Jealousies Stories which were spread of him as if he had been all that time so popular that he was looked upon as the chief Friend of the Good Cause which was as well grounded as the rest of these Reports But having executed the Kings Orders about the Castle of Edinburgh he left the Earl of Traquair whom with the Earl of Roxburgh His Majesty had again received into his Favour to see the rest of the Conditions fulfilled The Tables continued to sit The Tables continue to sit pretending it was necessary they should doe so till all were scattered It is true I have in my hands a Copy of a Warrant for them to sit till the 20th of Iuly but whether it was signed I can neither assert nor deny Divers Disorders fell out in Edinburgh and Traquair met with many Insolences in one of which the White-staff which was carried by his Servant before his Coach was pulled out of his Hand and Complaint being made of this to the Town-Council of Edinburgh all the Reparation they offered was to bring my Lord Treasurer another White-staff so it was said they rated the Affront put on the King in the Person of his Treasurer at Six pence Other Insolences were also complained of and the Covenanters partly excused them and the Covenanters are insolent partly denied what was alledged but no Reparation was made These Disorders obliged His Majesty to change his purpose of coming to Scotland in Person resolving to be present onely by his Commissioner The Marquis returned to His Majesty and stated all that was to be thought upon for Scotish Affairs in a Paper presented to His Majesty at Berwick the 5th of Iuly yet extant in these words To leave all that is past the Question is briefly The Marquis his advice to the King WHether the Assembly and Parliament now indicted is fittest to be held or discharged If held the Success of the Assembly will be the Ratisying of what was done at Glasgow or if that point be gained yet certainly most of the Acts that were made there will of new enacted nor is there any hope to prevent their finding Episcopacy to be abjured by their Covenant and the Function against the Constitution of their Church This will be by the Members of Parliament ratified and put to the Kings Negative Voice and if it be not condescended to by him it is more than probable that his Power even in that Court and in that Place will be questioned If it will be discharged nevertheless the Assembly be keeped by the Rebels and the same things done in it by them and thereafter maintained by the generality of the Kingdom this consequently will bring alongst with it the certain loss of Civil Authority and so necessitate the re-establishing the same by Force or otherwise the desertion of that Kingdom So it is to be resolved on whether it be fit to give way to the Madness of the People or of new to intend a Kingly Way If way be given to what is mentioned it is to be considered in that case if the King shall be personally present or not if not present who shall be imployed and how instructed If the Kingly Way be taken what shall be the means to effectuate the intended end particularly how Money may be levied for the waging of this War and if that be feisible without a Parliament If a Parliament what the Consequence may prove So all may be summed up in this Whether to permit the Abolishing of Episcopacy the lessening of Kingly Power in Ecclesiastick Affairs the Establishing Civil Authority in such manner as the Iniquity of the Times will suffer and to expect better and what will be the Consequence of this if way be given thereto or to call a Parliament in England and leave the event thereof to hazard and their discretions and in the interim Scotland to the Government of the Covenanters This Freedom declares how candidly he dealt with the King in all his Counsels It is true he pressed the King earnestly to give way to the abolishing of Bishops judging that to be the onely mean to bring Scotland again into Order but this was out of no other Principle save his Desire to see the King again enjoy the Affections as well as the Obedience of his Subjects of Scotland thinking Episcopal Government not so essential or absolutely necessary as not to be parted with for a time in such an Exigency wherein the Ruine of the King and Kingdom was was so manifestly threatned His Majesty considering that God did not tie him to Impossibilities The King intends to send him again Commissioner into Scotland resolved notwithstanding his Conscientious adhering to Episcopacy in England to give way for some time to lay aside that Government in Scotland hoping to draw more good from it but intended to imploy another for executing it knowing that his Countenance and Carriage would betray the Discord was betwixt his Heart and his Actions if he went himself and being well satisfied with the Marquis his Behaviour desired him to return to Scotland in the same Character and finish that Business But he made use of all his Forces both of Reason Friendship who opposes it with all his Interest and Interest to divert the King from this representing the following Reasons to dissuade him from it in a Paper presented the 8th of Iuly in these words IF Your Majesty give way to the Covenanters Demands it would be seriously considered which will be the fittest way to doe it if by Your Majesties Own Personal Presence or by a Commissioner if Your Self I shall say in that case nothing in this Paper if by a Commissioner then give me leave humbly to represent to Your Majesties Consideration how unfit it is that I should be imployed The Hatred that is generally carried me and in particular by the chief Covenanters will make them hoping thereby either to ruine me or at least make my Service not acceptable stand more peremptorily on these other Points of Civil Obedience which Your Majesty aims at than they would doe to one that is less hated Since they are the same men I have formerly treated with who now again must be principally used they cannot but find these Particulars which I
have heard nothing of but We are easily induced to believe that what you wrote of his undutiful Carriage is true and that you will easily make it appear to which We will give no unwilling Ear. Thus you have your last Letter answered with what for the present and on such a sudden hath come into Our thoughts and so We bid you Farewell Whitehall Octob. 1. 1639. The Parliament sate at Edinburgh the day appointed The Parliament sits in Scotland but their Actings can onely be overly related they being too remote from the Marquis his Story so that onely such Generals are to be hinted as occur among his Papers They consented that for that time Traquair as Commissioner should name those Lords of the Articles that were for the Nobility who should have been named by the Bishops but protested it should be no Precedent for the future And they went roundly to take away the Lords of the Articles totally and were framing all their Acts at the rate of the Assembly But Traquair finding he could not hold pace with them and keep close to his Instructions to the Letter of which he resolved to adhere and is quickly prorogued did on the 30th of October prorogue the Parliament to the 14th of November next The Covenanters though they resolved not to sit till the day to which it was prorogued yet protested against the Legality of any Prorogation without consent of Parliament and sent up the Earls of Dumfermline and Lowdon with the Acts of the Assembly to the King desiring he would order his Commissioner to give way to their Ratification in Parliament as also to purge themselves of any Misrepresentations the King might have received of their Actions They came to London on the 8th of November but His Majesty resolved not to see them since they came from Scotland without His Commissioners Warrant wherefore they were commanded presently to return home They sent a Letter to the Marquis for he would not see them desiring him to interpose for procuring them a Hearing and that they might not be condemned unheard whose Answer was That the Order which the King had sent them was upon mature Deliberation and that nothing remained for them but Obedience so they returned And the King ordered Traquair to prorogue the Parliament Proroguing and Adjourning are all one in Scotland to the second of Iune next and to come up and give an account of Affairs which accordingly he did but got a cold Reception the King being highly displeased with his Subscription of the Covenant as was before marked But he complained that he could have no Assistance from them to obtain any thing if he had not done that and that it was impossible to prevail with these People Traquair incites the King to a new War except by Force or by a total Compliance The Bishops failed not to take advantage at this trip of his to pursue him with much eagerness and he to recover himself was the more earnest to press the King to a new Invasion assuring him that Ruthwen was so strong in the Castle of Edinburgh that he would teach them their Duty and was very formidable to them He also furnished the King with a great many Grounds for justifying his following Procedure against them a chief one being a Letter he had got which the Covenanters had written to the French King desiring his Protection and Assistance which was High Treason by the Law of Scotland as being a Treaty with a Foreign Prince without the Kings Permission And upon these Grounds it was that the Earl of Traquair was afterwards pursued as the Grand Incendiary The Marquis saw there was too much Ground for His Majesties Resentments either to contradict or condemn them but that which grieved him was that he saw not a way how His Majesty should be able to defray the Expence of a War without calling a Parliament in England which was no less formidable to the Court than the Covenanters in Scotland they foreseeing what followed At this time the Covenanters sent up their Petition to His Majesty by one Cunningham desiring permission to send some of their Number for their own Vindication which His Majesty granting the Earls of Lowdon and Dumfermline were again sent up But Lowdon being accused of that Letter to the French King The Earl of Lowdon committed to the Tower was committed to the Tower Yet he vindicated himself first that the Letter was not finished and had neither Date nor Direction since that which was on the back of it Au Roy was added afterwards and by another Hand next that it was written before the Pacification and so was buried by the Oblivion that it was never sent and that it was designed onely that the French King should interpose and mediate for them Upon all this he offered himself to a strict Trial by his Peers in Scotland but added that he being sent by the States of Scotland and come upon His Majesties Warrant was first to be returned a Freeman thither and thereafter to be accused and tried This Accident troubled the Marquis extremely for he knew it would raise Clamours against His Majesties Justice among those who were inclined to misconstrue his Actions and indeed it was highly resented by the Scotish Lords as a violation of the Law of Nations to meddle with any publick Messenger but the King judged no Consideration could warrant his Subjects to commit Treason nor secure them from Trial and Censure when found Guilty There were some ill Instruments about the King who advised him to proceed capitally against Lowdon which is believed went very far but the Marquis opposed this vigorously assuring the King that if that were done Scotland was for ever lost They would then have somewhat to pretend against so much as Petitioning and Treating besides it was against the Laws of Scotland to proceed against a Scotish Peer for a Crime committed in Scotland but by the Peers of Scotland And after all this he assured His Majesty that he knew few of the Covenanters who might be more able to serve the Kings Interest and could be more easily gained than Lowdon And the truth was that Letter was signed by six of the Covenanting Lords but being put in the hands of the Lord Mirtland to sign it as he told the Writer he found it was False French and so it was laid aside for that time and never again taken into consideration but one taking up the Letter brought it to Traquair His Majesty being of himself both Just and Good did reject those cruel Counsels as hurtful to his Service yet Lowdon continued prisoner for some months his Enlargement shall be mentioned in its proper place But how to proceed in the publick Affairs was a hard Chapter A new War with Scotland Which way the Counsels were taken this Winter doth not appear to the Writer but from the Effects Only the Marquis was full of apprehensions foreseeing that it would be impossible
can befall me And for your further satisfaction know that nothing can grieve me more in this World than to be sent in any Hostile manner against my Friends Kindred and Country where at the best though I may merit something from His Majesty to whose Goodness I owe much besides the Duty of a Subject yet I shall never be called other than the Destroyer of them and what cause of Sorrow this will be to a kind-hearted Scotsh-man I leave to you to judge Therefore I assure you that if either my Industry Intreaties nay Prayers prevail no such Charge will be imposed on me my inclinations having always led me in this rather to follow your Advice and absent my self in case things come to the worst than to accept of that Employment though I must tell you it may bring along with it His Majesties Displeasure and so consequently certain Ruine Yet I do intend to put that to the hazard and if it happen I will have the Vanity to say it will neither prove advantageous to the Country nor to those in it who once did me the Honour to esteem me their Friend To conclude this point consider if a Navy come probably I must be miserable for what can I gain by it if employed a Discontented Life ever hereafter If the King should impose the Charge on me and I refuse it what the better would you be an abler would be employed in it and I need never look for His Majesties Favour thereafter after and without that in his Kingdom will I never live If I had no other Reasons but these but I could write you fourty more consider if I have not cause to endeavour Peace and believe me I will do it For the Danger that His Majesty will run if he enter into this War I do acknowledge with you it may be great but that certain Ruine must follow I cannot confess yet I must say that his Gain will be but small when he hath gâ—â— that by Force which is his or ought to be his already but what remedy He conceiveth a Kingdom to be lost and two will be hazarded to regain that if they continue in the Course they are in For the Assistance you mention God hath provided for you elsewhere that is conceived to be used as an argument to fright us For from whence can it come From a Party in England Trust not to that nor give credit to a few Factious Spirits with whom perhaps Correspondence may be kept From France Reason and the knowledge of their Affairs make us confident that no great matter can come from thence Reason for they will not assist the Rebels for so you will be called of a King for examples sake and the necessity of their Affairs for we know they have enough to do elsewhere From Sweden Though they perhaps be willing yet it is known they have not men to do it in these Parts From Holland The Body of that Estate hath by their Publick Ministers disallowed your Actions and hath given assurance that they will be far from either giving Countenance or Assistance to you what private men may doe by way of Stealth is little regarded or to be esteemed Thus I freely write what is thought of the Assistance you are like to get from abroad of which Opinion I shall still be unless you can make it more clearly appear therefore I will use the old Proverb to you Beware that your stout Hearts make not your Heads dry a Gutter and make you neglect the receiving of His Majesties Pleasure with all thankful Obedience which for any thing I know nay I durst Swear will be no other than stands with the true Protestant Religion and the Laws of the Kingdom What pity is it then that these mistakes should continue but how much more will it be that they should encrease to a Bloody War If all amongst you would rightly consider what true Religion and Piety is and lay that only before their Eyes there are yet not only good hopes but certain assurances of a peaceable Conclusion of those unhappy Troubles and as you have advised me so let me you which perhaps may be the last time that on this Subject I shall write to you endeavour Peace which if gained the effusion of much Christian Blood will be saved the Country preserved Scotsh-men esteemed Valiant Iust and Loyal not only in this Kingdom but through all Europe and no man happier than Your now much troubled and affectionate Brother HAMILTON POSTSCRIPT For Answer to your Postscript I am not in dispair but to bring it to a good pass if your own carriage do not marre it for His Majesty is content to sign the Signature but iâ— is to remain in my hands and not to be delivered except your Carriage do deserve it as well as Crawfords who knows not as yet how far His Majesty hath condescended This Letter is not fit to be long keeped therefore it will not be amiss it be burnt Let me hear from you with the first occasion and thereafter I care not how seldom if matters come to the worst Since the writing of this the Letter which Rothes wrote to the Chamberlain by Dumfermline was this day publickly read at Council-board His Majesty being present it hath produced contrary effects to what I believe he expected for not only doth the Chamberlain swear that there is not one true word in it but hath beseeched His Majâ—sty that Rothes may be called to an account for the traducing of him in so high a nature to use his own words nay to make him if it were in his Power appear to be a greater Traytor than himself In a word the whole Table was much scandalized with the Letter and no wayes satisfied with the Writer of it even though it had been all as he expressed I profess I have loved Rothes and am sorry when any misfortune befalls him and likewise I thought fit to mention this that you may see what those of this Country will doe when it comes to an issue therefore I hope not only he but the whole Country will take example by this and grow wise while there is time This Letter he carried to the King and at the end of that Copy he retained yet extant His Majesty with his own hand wrote I have perused this Letter and have not only permitted but commanded that it should be sent CHARLES R. Whitehall 2 March 1639. This is set down to shew what his Correspondence with his nearest Friends was and how warranted by His Majesty But that the Reader may not be wholly in the dark about the Grounds of this Confidence the Covenanters had The Grounds of the Covenanters Confidence I shall set down what I had from some Persons of great Honour who were fully informed about it When the Earls of Dumfermline and Lowdon came to London a Person of Quality of the English Nation whose Name is supprest because of the Infamy of this Action
came to them and with great vehemence pressed them to engage in a new War and among other Motives brought them Engagements in writing from most of the greatest Peers of England to joyn with them and assist them when they should come into England with their Army This did much animate them for they had not the least doubt of the Papers brought them But all this was discovered at the Treaty of Rippon to have been a base Forgery for there the Scotish Lords looking very sullenly on some of the English Lords as on Persons of no Faith or Truth the Lord Mandevil came to the Earl of Rothes and asked the reason of that Change of their Countenance and Behaviour in them who after some high reflections at length challenged him and the other Lords of not keeping what they had engaged to them Upon which that Lord stood amazed and told him and so did the other Lords there that they had sent no such Messages nor Papers to them and that they had been abused by the blackest Imposture that ever was Thus it appeared how dangerous it may be to receive some things that seem to have the highest Probabilities in them easily and upon trust In April following the King called a Parliament in England A short Parliament in England but they begun with their Grievances in which they rose to so high a strain that after twenty days Sitting the King by advice of his Council dissolved them but the hopes of Money from the Parliament failing the next Course was to try what could be drawn by Loan and for good example the Councellours subscribed for near two hundred thousand pounds Sterlin The Councellours lend Money What the Marquis his part was in this I should have willingly concealed judging fit that his Story should be as sparing in relating it as himself was modest in not boasting of it but Sanderson and some other malicious or ignorant Pens who say That he pretended Poverty and subscribed for none force me to free him of that Calumny by a true Relation of what his Duty to the King cost him at this time He subscribed for 10000 l. Sterlin and laid down Eight thousand of it presently in Gold likewise in August following at York he again subscribed and laid down Six thousand and three hundred pounds for both which he had Tallies struck Besides this when he served as Commissioner in Scotland in the year 1638. he got no Payments made him Ten thousand pounds Sterlin was allowed him of which he had not received a farthing and besides the great expence he was at in that Service he laid that year out of his own Money about 5000 l. Sterlin on the Kings account And thus in the space of four years he advanced to the King near Thirty thousand pounds Sterlin and this was in a time when the advantages he had by his Places and Pensions were through the necessity of the Kings affairs dried up But since I was forced to say this I must not conceal His Majesty who now reigns His Justice and Goodness to his Heiress in repaying the sum contained in those Tallies together with the other Royal effects of His Favour which they have felt in the repayment of the Scotsh Debt This is said once for all and all this was little reckoned of by him who was ready to hazard both Life and Fortune for His Majesties Service acknowledging that it was Just since he and his Ancestors owed so much to the King and his Progenitours bounty that all he had should be spent in his Service The Covenanters in Scotland were beginning to look to themselves and fearing Ruthwen Ruthwen a terror to the Covenanters who was in the Castle of Edinburgh they required him to obey their Orders but he told them he had his Trust from the King and would acknowledge no Commands but his whereupon they blockt him up He might easily have done them much Mischief but his Orders were to hold himself most on the Defensive and to amuse them but not to break out to open Hostilities within which limits he contained himself The second of Iune came which was the day the Parliament was to Set but the King had sent down an Order to the Justice-Clerk for proroguing it The Parliament sits notwithstanding the Kings Orders for proroguing of it and he was to carry along with him in this Affair the assistance of the Kings Advocate who was at this time confined to his House in Fife by the King upon pretence of some petty maleversation in his Office but really because of his adhering to the Covenanters too much The Kings Advocate was glad both of being delivered from that Disgrace and for being honoured with the Employment But to clear the Method in which he intended to proceed to make this Prorogation legal I must look back a little when Traquair got his Commission under the Broad-Seal there was another Commission given under the quarter-Seal to the Lord Elphinstown the Lord Napier the Kings Advocate and the Justice-Clerk these or three of them were impowred to act as Commissioners in Traquair's absence and upon his Orders Therefore the Kings Advocate judged it needless to fill up a Blank that was sent down to be made use of if need were to make the Prorogation Legal but resolved to require one of the other two to concur with the Justice-Clerk and himself in the Prorogation which was to be done after the Parliament was Fenced therefore they provided the persons necessary for Fencing of it a Ceremony they use in the beginning of a Session who are the Constable the Marshal the Provost of Edinburgh the Sheriff of Lowthian and a Doomster and if any of these be absent the King must name others for their Service that day So the Members of Parliament being met the Kings Advocate required the Lord Elphinstown who was first in the Commission to go up with them to the Throne for executing the Kings Commands who having read the Commission found their Power was only to act by the Commissioners Order and therefore called for Traquair's Warrant the Kings Advocate answered That as when the King is present a Commissioners Power of it self expires so also when his Warrant is produced there is no need of one from his Commissioner But Elphinstown stood on the Letter of the Commission and so found he was not legally warranted to doe it That same was the Lord Napier's Answer who was also of the Commission and so the Kings Advocate and the Justice-Clerk could doe nothing but take Instruments Many imputed this to the Kings Advocat's Jugling but he vindicated himself solemnly which is extant under his Hand with a long Narrative of this whole Affair sent up by him to the King However the effects of this Errour were great for the Members voted themselves to be in a Parliamentary Capacity as being summoned by the King at first and again adjourned to this day whereupon they proceeded to
Instructions and of full and ample Power from His Majesty He having fully signified His Pleasure to those whom He did entrust with the executing thereof not thinking it fit to imploy other Servants of greater Eminence by reason of the disorders and iniquities of the Times and as forced by the importance of his other great and weighty Affairs He was necessitated to prorogue the Parliament for some few days so did He most really intend to perform at the time prefixed whatsoever He had promised by the Act of Pacification But neither can the neglect of His Servants if any be nor those other Reasons alledged by the foresaid Noblemen Barons and Burgesses in their Declaration for their Sitting satisfie His Majesty for their proceeding in a Parliamentary way since by the Duty and Allegeance of Subjects they are bound to acknowledge in a most special manner His Transcendent Power in Parliaments and if Subjects there do assume the Power of Making Laws and of Rescinding those already made what Act can be done more derogatory to that Regal Power and Authority we are all sworn to maintain Therefore His Majesty conceives they cannot in reason expect He can interpose His Royal Authority to these or any other Acts whatsoever whereto neither He in His own Royal Person nor by His Commissioner did assist Yet such is His Majesties Clemency that when they shall take such an Humble and Dutiful way as may witness that they are as careful and tender of His Majesties Royal Power as they are desirous of His Approbation then shall it be time for them to expect such a Gracious and Iust Answer as may testifie His Majesties Fatherly Compassion of that His Native Kingdom and his Pious and Princely care of performing whatsoever is necessary for establishing their Religion and Laws So thus having imparted unto you all that was enjoyned me by His Majesty I shall say no more from my self but I am Your Lordships humble Servant LANERICK Whitehall 27th of June 1640. My Lord Lowdon found matters at so great a height that he was able to do little more than give intelligence that he delivered the Letter to the Lords at Edinburgh who returned to it the following Answer My Lord The Reply of the Committee WE received your Lordships Letter of the 27th of June from the Lord Lowdon whose relief out of Prison gives us occasion before we answer your Lordships Letter to acknowledge the same as an act of His Majesties Royal Iustice and Goodness although the pretended cause of his Imprisonment was but a malicious Calumny of the Enemies of the Kings Honour and our Peace forged to engage both His Majesties Kingdoms in a National War As we cannot but regrate that any neglect of His Majesties Officers or absence of His Commissioner whose presence we did both desire and expect should hinder the interposing of His Royal Authority to these Acts of Parliament which were found most necessary for establishing Religion and the Peace of this Kingdom and which according to the Acts of Pacification His Majesty was graciously pleased to promise so we have and shall still endeavour to give demonstration of that tender Respect we have of His Majesties Honour and Royal Power And whereas your Lordships Letter doth imply that we should take some other way for the more easie obtaining His Majesties Approbation which also by several reasons hath been most instantly pressed by the Lord Lowdon yet we conceive that Parliamentary way which was taken by the Estates convened by His Majesties Special Warrant to have been most Legal and necessary and no ways derogatory to His Majesties Power in Parliament nor contrary to the Duty of good Subjects who are warranted by the Articles of Pacification under His Majesties Hand to determine all Civil questions ratifie the Conclusions of the Assembly and remove the present Distractions of this Kingdom as is more abundantly demonstrated by their Declaration in Parliament thereabout So that we dare not take any other Course which may entrench upon their Parliamentary Power or Proceedings nor will we being so few in number appointed by them to stay here presume of our selves in a matter of so great moment to return a more full and particular Answer till there be a more frequent Meeting of those appointed by Parliament which will be shortly and then your Lordship shall be acquainted that you may shew His Majesty their Resolutions and humble Desires and we shall remain Your Lordships affectionate Friends and Servants Signed Lindsay Balmerino Burghly Napier J. Murray G. Dundas Ja. Sword J. Forbes Ed. Eggar Edinburgh 7th of July 1640. They went on with their Preparations The Preparations are great in Scotland and caused all to bring in the tenth Peny of their Rents to make this War look like a Sacred one since carried on by the Tithes and ordered their Forces to be drawn together Mean while the King went on at as good a pace as he could and went from London in the end of Iuly to make his Rendezvous at York The Earl of Strafford staid some time behind partly for Sickness partly to see what Money could be borrowed from London and at this time there were great and high Misunderstandings between him and Sir Henry Vane both making their Complaints to the Marquis by their Letters Strafford was also to bring an Army out of Ireland upon the West of Scotland whereupon they in Scotland drew their Forces together in the end of August and resolved to march into England and make that the Seat of the War pretending as by their Declaration then emitted doth appear that their Trade was block't up by English Ships that in England and Ireland Scotishmen were proceeded against for taking the Covenant and the English Council had voted a War with them wherefore they said they were constrained to go into England with their Petitions declaring they came not to invade England but to avert the Invasion of their Country that was designed adding that they should be so far from doing prejudice to any in England that severe Justice should be executed upon those who took any thing in England without payment And about this time Ruthwen being for many months block't up in the Castle of Edinburgh so that Victuals and Ammunition were spent his Water also failed and most of his Souldiers died was forced to Capitulate and render up the Castle of the Covenanters But not to stand too long on matters universally known as soon as they entred England The Scotish Army enters England the King by Proclamation declared them Traytors on the 22th of August yet they went on and when they came to the Ford of Tine at Newburn some miles above Newcastle they found it guarded by a Body of Foot who had raised a Brest-work near the River and lay there to obstruct their passage Yet no sooner did the Scottish Cannon begin to play but they struck with Fear threw down their Arms and run away whereupon the General
Peers advised a Settlement with Scotland and a Parliament in England Strafford's Advice was more severe and the Marquis pressed a Pacification But though their Opinions varied yet their Friendship continued since both had the same designs for the Kings Honour and Service A recruit of Money which was beginning to run low was not to be hoped without a Parliament and their late experience told on how uneasie terms that was to be had Earl Lowdon also assured the Marquis by his Letters that the Covenanters were well armed well commanded and very resolute nor did they doubt of a strong Party in England and therefore shewed how dangerous it would prove to His Majesties Affairs if a Treaty should not presently follow The Marquis little regarding how ill these Counsels would be represented by others used all his Industry to prevail with the King for a Pacification on any terms since none could be so bad as the hazard the King was like to run if matters continued so broken for it was now apparent how faintly His Majesties Forces did serve him and with how much resolution the Scotish Armies proceeded neither were they without fears in their own Army and that many of the Peers and People of England would have assisted the Scots if matters had run to extremities A Breach betwixt the Marquis and the Earl of Montrose But at that time a passage fell out which drew after it a tract of great Troubles on the Marquis The Earl of Montrose had in Iuly that year procured a Meeting of some Noblemen at Cumbermwald the Earl of Wigtons house where there was a Bond signed by them of adherence to one another in pursuance of the Covenant and from New-Castle he continued to keep Correspondence with His Majesty notwithstanding an Act that had passed in the Committee that none should under pain of Death write any Letters to the Court but such as were seen and allowed of by at least three of the Committee But this Correspondence of my Lord Montrose came to the knowledge of the Covenanters and there were ill Instruments who suggested that this Advertisement must have been given by the Marquis which being too easily believed occasioned a Breach betwixt them that could never be made up And Sanderson hath had the Impudence not only to fasten this on him but as if there had not been Imputation enough in it he adds that the Marquis had in the night picked His Majesties Pockets for his Letters Indeed he needed not take such Courses had he been capable of that Treachery for the Kings Confidence in him was such that he delivered all the Letters he had from Scotland to his keeping and if he had designed such a thing upon Montrose it was in his Power to have done it long before for in October and December of the former year Montrose had writ much in the same strain to the King which Letters the King gave him and are yet extant but were never heard off till now that the Writer gives this account of them But the way how that Letter was discovered was this the Covenanters sent Sir Iames Mercer to York with their Letters to my Lord Lanerick of September the 14 th with whom my Lord Montrose sent his Servant with Letters to some of his Friends at Court and these Letters had been shown to the Committee but as he sealed them up he put within one to Sir Richard Grahame a Letter to the King which had not been seen and Sir Richard opening his Letter carelesly the inclosed to the King dropt out whereupon Sir Iames Mercer being near him stooped down in civility to take up the Letter and read the Direction of it and he returning next day to the Scotish Camp told what he had seen to the General who in a Committee that sate that afternoon wherein it was my Lord Montrose's turn to preside said that the Gentleman they had sent must be examined concerning any Letters he carried to the Court and so he was called in and examined But Montrose understanding that his Correspondence with the King was discovered said that seeing others kept a Correspondence with the Court he knew not why he might not do it as well as they it was answered if others were guilty that did not excuse his fault but when that could be made out against any they were liable to the same Censure he had now incurred whereupon he was commanded to keep his Chamber and he called a great many of his Friends to him to try who would adhere to him whereupon the General bade the Earl of Calender who was then Lieutenant-General tell him that if he came not and submitted himself he would hold a Council of War upon him and proceed against him Capitally Upon this my Lord Montrose came and produced a Copy of the Letter he said he had written and craved pardon and so this Matter was passed over â—ut it was suspected that his Letter had been sent to the Covenanters by the Marquis whereas indeed they knew no more of his Letter but what they had from Sir Iames Mercer who read the Address of it and so they knew not what was in it but by the Copy he produced Yet this went current for the Marquis his Treachery though Sir Iames Mercer did often vouch the truth of this before many Witnesses and particularly particularly to Sanderson himself before Noble Witnesses who acknowledged his Mis-information and promised to expunge that in the next Edition of his Book though there are no grounds to fear the Woâ—ld will ever be troubled with another Edition of so ill a Book The Treaty at Rippon In the end of September a Treaty was agreed upon and His Majesty named the Marquis and my Lords of Traquair and Lanerick to be amongst the Commissioners who should Treat in His name But the Covenanters excepted against the Marquis and Traquair whom they intended to pursue as Incendiaries and therefore they could not Treat with them as for Lanerick they had nothing to fasten on him Upon this the King resolved to send none but English Lords conceiving it not fitting to send any Scotchman if the persons he had imployed as Commissioners were not of the number Rippon a little Town fifteen miles from York was appointed to be the place of Treaty instead of Northallertown and the King sent the English Lords thither appointing Traquair and Lanerick to wait upon them for giving them Information of Scotish Affairs but he kept the Marquis to wait upon Himself The Treaty begun at Rippon and after a few days by reason of the new Parliament the King had summoned against the beginning of November was removed to London The Covenanters Demands were the same with those contained in their Letter of the 8th of September about which they continued Treating till the Iune of the next year and so this year ended But here I shall insert a Paper all written with His Majesties hand which though it do not relate
to Scotish business yet I judged it a crime to let any of the Reliques of that Princes Pen perish How it came into the Marquis his hand I know not it is an Answer to a Remonstrance sent to the King by the Two Houses at Westminster in the end of this year I Having taken to my serious Consideration the late Remonstrance made to me by Both Houses of Parliament do make this Answer I take in good part your care for the Preservation of the true Religion established in this Kingdom from which I will never depart as also for your tenderness of my own Safety and security of this State and Government It is against my mind that Popery or Superstition should any way increase within this Kingdom and I will restrain the same by causing the Laws be put in due execution I resolve likewise to provide against the dangers of Iesuites and Priests setting forth a Proclamation with all speed commanding them to depart the Kingdom within one month whereof if they fail or shall return then they shall be proceeded withall according to the Laws Concerning Rosettie you must understand that my Wife hath always assured me that to her knowledge he hath no Commission but only to entertain a persâ—nal Correspondence betwixt Her and the Pope of things requisite for the exercise of Her Religion which is warranted to Her by the Articles of Our Marriage which give Her a full Liberty of Conscience yet I have so perswaded Her that since the misunderstanding of this person's Condition gives offence She will within a convenient time remove him Moreover I will take special care to restrain my Subjects from resorting to Mass at Denmark-house St. Jame 's and the Chappels of Ambassadours Lastly concerning John Goodman the Priest you must know the reason why I reprieved him is that as I am informed neither Queen Elizabeth nor my Father did ever avow that any Priests in their times were executed meerly for Religion which to me seems to be this particular case yet seeing that I am pressed by Both Houses to give way to his Execution because I will avoid the inconvenience of giving so great a discontentment to my People as I perceive this Mercy may produce I remit this particular Cause to Both Houses but I desire you to take into your serious Considerations the inconveniences which as I conceive may upon this occasion fall upon my Subjects and other Protestants abroad especially since it may seem to other States to be a Severity with surprize which I having thus represented to you think my Self discharged from all ill consequences that may ensue upon the Execution of this person Anno 1641. THe Marquis notwithstandiâ—g all the malice he knew some of his Country-men bore him did not slacken his endeavours to bring things to a final Settlement An. 1641. and the high language which was now spoken at Westminster furnished him with too strong Reasons for enforcing the necessity of agreeing with the Covenanters The King yields to all the Demands of the Covenanters At length the King weary of contending so much resolved to yield to most of their Demands For the first of publishing their Acts though it was contrary to the practice of Scotland to hold a Session of Parliament unless the King were present by himself or his Commissioner yet it was represented that was but a point of Form for as they Sate by the Kings Summons so they did not pretend their Votes were Laws without the Kings Ratification and their Sitting in this manner though disorderly could not be so derogatory to the Kings Authority as at first view appeared since it was the constant practice of the Two Houses in England to Sit and Vote in the Kings absence The King was willing all these Acts should be of new voted promising his Royal Assent to them but they were stiff and the King yielded For the Reparation of Losses the King remitted them to the Two Houses who considered their Accompts and gave them a large Brotherly Assistance For the disposal of the Castles the election of the Councellours Officers of State and Judges which the Covenanters desired should be done with Advice of Parliament they went very harshly down with the King But they alledged divers old Laws for their Demands which seemed now necessary to he revived since His Majesty was so seldom in Scotland The Kings great apprehension of this was that it would give a Copy to England for making the like Demands to which it was answered that the Kings residence in England made the case to differ vastly the Scotish Lords engaging upon their Honour to declare in case the Two Houses should make the like Demands they were unreasonable in so doing In a Word the King granted all they demanded only he thought it unjust and unreasonable to grant an Indempnity to the other Party and let his Friends be secluded from it wherefore he pressed nothing so earnestly as that the Oblivion might be without exception and the List of those who were summoned upon the pretence of being Incendiaries was so great that he thought to abandon so many of his Faithful Servants to the violence of the Times was so dishonourable that he could not answer for it neither to God nor man The Covenanters to yield somewhat reduced their great number to five persons who were the Earl of Traquair the Bishop of Ross Sir Robert Spotswood Sir Iohn Hay and Doctor Balcanquell but the King thought he could not yield to that Demand were there but one excepted and told them that though he had better Grounds to pursue some of themselves as Incendiaries yet being willing to dispense with these his Resentments he had reason to expect the same Condescendency from them But they pretended their Bond and Oath for prosecuting of them and though it was told them that an ill Oath was worse kept yet they were stiff and the temper found was that their Processes should go on but their Censure should be remitted to the King and that the Scots should be satisfied with his Assurance that he should imploy them no more in Scotish Affairs without consent of Parliament And thus all things were agreed on and His Majesty determined to go in Person to Scotland to settle matters there but at this time the Scotish Commissioners began to Cabal with the Male-contents in the Two Houses and in particular concurred with them in the pursuit of the Earl of Strafford The Friendship betwixt the Marquis and that Gallant man had been great and intire and as his Testimony in those matters about which he was examined was among the Evidences Strafford had in his Defences so his Confidence in the Marquis did appear by the following handsome Letter he wrote to him a few days before his Death May it please your Lordship HItherto I judged it not fit to endanger your Lordship by any Intelligence betwixt us which might have turned much to your prejudice in a time when
the World is in so much mis-understanding of me but now be your Lordship pleased to admit me to resort to your noble Expressions and former Friendship that I may carry forth of the â—ourt with me the belief and tokens of it It is told me that the Lords are inclinable to preserve my Life and Family for which their generous Compassions the great God of Mercy will reward them and surely should I die upon this Evidence I had much rather be the Sufferer than the Iudge All that I shall desire from your Lordship is that devested of all Publique Imployment I may be admitted to go home to my own private Fortune there to attend my own Domestick Affairs and Education of my Children with as little asperity of words or marks of Infamy as possibly the Nobleness and Iustice of my Friends can procure for me with a Liberty to follow my own occasions as I shall find best for my self This is no unreasonable thing I trust to desire all considered that may be said in my case for I vow my fault that should justly draw any heavy Sentence on me I yet do not see yet this much obtained will abundantly satisfie a Mind hasting fast to quiet and a Body broken with afflictions and infirmities And as I shall take my self highly bound to any that shall further me therein so I more particularly desire to receive an obligation therein froâ— your Lordship than from others as being purposed in the truth of my former Professions to express my self Your Lordships humbly to be Commanded STRAFFORD Tower 24th of April 1641. But since all His Majesties most vigorous Intercessions were not able to preserve that Great man it is not to be imagined any good Offices done by meaner persons could succeed yet the Marquis acted in it with Great Candor and Friendship but that preserved him not from being suspected of having advised the King to consent to Strafford's Death and for his Vindication I shall only refer the Reader to his own words in the Speech he delivered the morning before he died to be inserted in its proper place The Scotish Bishops who were now at London thought themselves undone and complained of the Marquis as the cause of their Ruine Many complain of the Marquis and yet he had been careful to get them all either provided with Places or relieved with the Kings Money so that all of them in their Letters to him acknowledged him to be their only Patron about the King Traquair was worst pleased of any and complained that the Marquis had opposed the Article of Incendiaries till his own Name was dashed out and then had deserted the rest but his Name was not struck out alone Huntley's and many others being dashed out with him besides the prejudice of that Process was only to be put out of Imployment in Scotland by which the King was engaged in Honour to make up that loss another way wherein the Marquis engaged to serve him faithfully Others of the Court who hated and envied him were glad to find colours of Censure in any of his Actions and it was loudly talked that the King was now to part with his Crown of Scotland with his own hands by granting Concessions so derogatory from Kingly Authority but the King who understood his own Affairs better than any of these Censurers saw the necessity of settling with Scotland immediately For the Marquis represented to His Majesty that though those Acts did very much diminish his Authority yet the Scotish Parliament being governed but by a few Heads who influenced the rest there was no doubt but the gaining of the Leading-men might so prepare things that ere a few years went about all might be brought to a greater Temper for the King was firmly resolved to make good what he now promised and never to violate these Concessions unless he could get them rescinded in Parliament And let me once for all say freely this was the great Measure of all the Marquis his Counsels about Scotland that except when he saw at the beginning as hath been said that the Kings Interest and Honour required his utmost Resentments and that a forcible Redress seemed not improbable and promised success way should be given to the present heats for some time in hope of recovering of them by such Concessions The Earl of Rothes is gained and soon after dies and in pursuance of this design Rothes was much caressed by the King and intirely gained but as he was recovering to his Duty he was overtaken by sickness of which he died at Richmond and was much regrated both by those of the Court and the Covenant being a man of great Abilities and much Honour In Iune the Earl of Dumfermline and Lowdon were sent from London to Scotland with the Articles of the Treaty and a desire that the Parliament there might yet be prorogued for some time since the Affairs of England put a stop to the Kings present Journey They also carried down a Submission from Traquair and were to deal that the Acceptance of it might stop the further agitation of the Pursuit against him All this while there had been divers Meetings of Parliament in Scotland but by reason of the dependence of the Treaty they were still prorogued The Parliament of Scotland is oft prorogued but goes on with the Process against Incendaries Their greatest business was to prepare the Process against the Incendiaries both the President Spotswood and the Clerk of Register Hay being Prisoners in the Castle of Edinburgh since the former Winter The Covenanters required the Kings Advocate to concur with them according to his Place which obliged him to assist in the Pursuit of all Publick Crimes but Lanerick in the Kings Name commanded him to deny his concurrence and this made much ado as also in all the Kings Orders for proroguing the Parliament mention was made of my Lord Traquair as Commissioner against which they always protested But at this time the Parliament would not consent to Prorogue of new only they declared they should be preparing matters and not go on to the Determining any thing before the middle of August against which time the King purposed to be in Scotland As for Traquair's Submission it was rejected and many begun to complain aloud that whereas they signed a Bond to prosecute the Incendiaries yet many were dispensed with and much pains was taken by distinctions to satisfie their Consciences that they meant not to set up an Inquisition by that Oath and that it was only meant of those that were declared and avowed Incendiaries but others said that the words were general and tied them without respect of persons to pursue all equally The Earl of Montrose is made Prisoner for corresponding with the Court. At this time there was a Gentleman seized at Broxmouth with Letters to my Lord Montrose which discovered a new Correspondence of his with the Court for my Lord Traquair's Preservation and with this
We exspect your best endeavors as a real Testimony of your Affection to Our Service We do likewise think fit that a Double of all such Instructions as have already been given or shall hereafter be given to the Commissioners be sent Vs which will exceedingly conduce to the shunning of unnecessary Mistakings And in case there come any Dispute betwixt Vs and Our Parliament here about the Nomination of Officers and Councellors We hope you will remember upon what Grounds We were induced to yield in this particular to the desires of Our Subjects in Scotland it being Our necessary absence from that Our Native Country and you in private did often promise upon occasion to declare that this Kingdom ought not to urge it as a Precedent for the like to them the Reasons not being the same therefore now you are to think upon the most convenient way to make good that Promise and labour to prevent so great an Inconvenience unto Vs which We expect from you as one of the most acceptable Services can be done unto Vs. CHARLES R. Windsor 26th January 1642. POSTSCRIPT With His Majesties own Hand I have commanded this My Servant Mungo Murray to tell you some things which I think not fit to write therefore desiring you to trust what he will say to you from Me I will now only add that your Affections rightly expressed to Me at this time will do Me an unspeakable Service to the effecting of which I expect much from your particular Affection and Dexterity His Majesty also wrote to the same purpose to the Marquis of Argyle and added the following Postscript with His own Hand I Cannot but thank you for your Letter I received by Kinnoul it being the performance of a Promise you made at my last being in Scotland not doubting but you will perform the rest with the same cheerfulness And I assure you this is a time wherein the kything of your Affection to Me will do Me an unexpressible Service as Mungo Murray will tell you more at large whom I desire you to trust in what he shall tell you from Me. CHARLES R. Windsor 26th January 1642. His Majesty named the Officers of the Army that was to go over to the relief of the Protestants in Ireland choosing them so that they might be most acceptable to Scotland and this he did both to gain the more upon them by his Confidence as also to set those troublesom People out of the way though this turned to the great prejudice of his Affairs in Scotland as shall afterwards appear But for this Advice the Marquis deserved no share of the Blame for the King left him behind at London to see what could be effectuated by Mediation with those of the Peers whom he knew to love him and it appears by the following Note that he continued in His Majesties Confidence Hamilton I Desire you to come hither to morrow not only to end our last Discourse but also upon other business of great Importance and you shall find that I am Your constant Friend CHARLES R. Windsor 1st February 1642. What that business was does not appear to the Writer When the King withdrew further from the Parliament and went Northwards the Marquis was kept at London by a great Sickness of some months continuance The King leaves the Parliament and the Marquis stays at â—ondon being sick the length of it being occasioned by his frequent relapses into Fevers and a lingering Recovery out of them yet his ill-willers at Court represented the story of his Sickness to be but feigned that under that pretext he might desert the King when he needed his Service most But he hearing of this was resolved to be carried sick as he was to the King which the King knowing commanded him to stay till God gave him Strength to come without prejudice to his Health In March the Treaty between the Parliament of England and Scotland was closed The Treaty with Scotland for the relief of Ireland is ended and among other Articles one was cast in That an Vniformity of Religion should be endeavoured betwixt the Kingdoms But the King would do nothing that might seem to stop the Irish business and therefore gave way to it though he smelled the design of it abundantly well Besides the words being conceived in general Terms he would not oppose them since he judged an Uniformity of Religion was to be endeavoured as well as they did but with this odds that he thought the Standard of it should be taken from England As soon as this went home the Scotish Armies went over speedily in the beginning of April And the Scotish Council wrote to His Majesty and the Two Houses that they designed to send the Marquis of Argyle over to Ireland but first to send him and the Earl of Lowdon to London to mediate betwixt the King and the Houses with which His Majesty was pleased But the Houses excused it in a fair way pretending that they judged Argyle's presence necessary in Scotland Many wondred whence this Jealousie of him did flow some thought it was because the King consented to it and therefore they misdoubted him others apprehended that their Jealousie was founded on the Friendship that was betwixt the Marquis and him and that finding the Marquis so inflexibly firm to the Kings Interest and averse from theirs they feared that Argyle's Friendships and his was founded on the same designs New Calumnies on the Marquis At this timâ— some of the Marquis his Enemies represented to His Majesty that he made Offers of the Militia to the Houses with other things highly derogatory to His Majesties Authority and that he pretended a Warrant for those Offers was sent him by Mr. Murray of the Bed-Chamber These were the bad offices some fiery spirits studied to do to all who endeavoured the quenching of that Flame which was like to devour Britain but notice being given of this to the Marquis he wrote Mr. Murray this Answer Worthy Friend IT is no new thing for me to find my self traduced to His Majesty but I should wonder very much of which he clears himself if he give Credit to a Report grounded upon such Improbabilities for if His Majesty would be pleased to call to mind how oft he repeated to me that He would never condescend to the Parliaments Demands concerning the Militia no not for an Hour in the way it was I am sure He will not think that I could engage my self to the Parliament that He would perform that which He never gave me Ground to believe my self And as for His return to London I likewise affirm He never gave me cause to hope let be to engage my self to the Parliament for it I have had the Honour to be intrusted in divers Employments from Him and He knows I never exceeded His Instructions I hope He will not now think me so mad or so great a Knave as to do that which might bring Him any Inconvenience for why
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
idle in so stirring Times and therefore His Majesty would consider how to make use of them lest otherwise they may be engaged and with them the Kingdom Shew that it will be impossible longer to delay the Meeting of the Commissioners for Conserving of the Peace and what my Part hath been therein and therefore to Consider if it were not fit they were called by His Majesties Warrant Shew that I could not think of a better way to serve Her Majesty for the present than by procuring an Invitation from the whole Kingdom for Her return which Proposition if His Majesty conceive fit for His Service and be acceptable to Her Majesty I doubt not of the effectuating it otherwise it shall here end Shew that though I can be of no great use to His Majesty any where yet I conceive more here than at York for albeit I still say I can undertake for nothing yet I may possibly be able to prevent Evil if I can do no Good Shew the miserable Condition of my Fortune which occasioneth the not sending as yet the Moneys for entertaining the Horse which if the sale of Land can procure shall be quickly remedied In August following there was an Assembly to which the King sent the Earl of Dunfermline Commissioner Dunfermline Commissioner to the General Assembly with full Assurances of His Majesties Resolution to adhere to what was now settled by Law and to encourage all good Motions for advancing of Piety and Learning and it was also recommended to him as his chief Work to keep the Assembly within their own bounds that they might not meddle with England nor interpose in the Differences betwixt the King and the Two Houses But this was not to be done except by Authority backed with Force for there came a Declaration from the Parliament of England which was very welcome to them and had such a Return as they of England desired For the Assembly declared Prelacy to be the great Mountain that lay in the way of the advancement of Religion The Assembly declares against Episcopacy in England which must first be removed before the Church and Work of God could be established and nothing the Kings Commissioner said was able to divert them from this so irresistible was their Zeal They also sent a Petition to the Council desiring them to second their Address to the King for an Uniformity in Church-Government in all his Dominions and likewise desired that by reason of the Commotions were in England the Council would call together the Conservatours of the Peace this was a Court established by the late Parliament to see to the Preservation of the Articles of the late Treaty with England The Council upon this recommended Uniformity in Church-Government by a Letter to the King wherein they desired also Warrant to convene the Conservatours of the Peace the Assembly wrote also to the King to the same purpose The Marquis represented to His Majesty that their Zeal for this Uniformity was so great that no Art could hinder them from Petitioning for it but if they could be preserved from Deeds Many desire Uniformity in Church-Government and that the Conservators of Peace might meet their big words were to be answered with smooth Language But as for the Meeting of the Conservatours of the Peace he laid out the hazard of it to the King for if he refused to convene them it would raise Jealousies in the Peoples minds and there was ground to fear they would meet of their own accord if they were not called which would be an affront to the Kings Authority and might precipitate a Rupture But on the other hand there was no small danger in their Sitting for of that number some were likelier to disturb than conserve the Peace To the Letters from the Assembly and Council the King wrote the following Answer CHARLES R. BY your Letter to Vs of the 19th of this Instant August We find you concur with Our late General Assembly The Kings Letter about Uniformity of Church-Government in their Desire to Vs about Vnity of Religion and Vniformity of Church-Government in all Our three Kingdoms which cannot be more earnestly desired by you than shall be really endeavoured by Vs in such a way as We in Our Conscience conceive to be best for the flourishing Estate of the true Protestant Religion But as for Ioyning with Our Houses of Parliament here in this Work it were improper for Vs at this time to give any Answer for since their Meeting they have never made any Proposition to Vs concerning Vnity of Religion or Vniformity of Church-Government so far are they from desiring any such thing as we are confident the most considerable Persons and those who make fairest Pretences to you of this kind will no sooner embrace a Presbyterial than you an Episcopal And truely it seems notwithstanding whatsoever Profession they have made to the contrary that nothing hath been less in their minds than Settling of the true Religion and Reforming such Abuses in the Church-Government as possibly have crept in contrary to the establish't Law of the Land to which we have been so far from being averse that We have by divers Declarations and Messages pressed them to it though hitherto it hath been to small purpose But when-ever any Proposition shall be made to Vs by them which We shall conceive may any way advance the Vnity of the true Protestant Religion according to the Word of God or establish the Church-Government according to the known Laws of this Kingdom We shall by Our chearful Ioyning with them let the World see that nothing can be more acceptable unto Vs than the furthering and advancing of so good a Work So we bid you Farewell From Nottingham the 26th of August 1642. All in Scotland called for the Conservatours Sitting and said that they must be on their guard The Chancellor calls a Meeting of the Conservators of the Peace when War was like to be on their Borders whereupon the Council ordered the Chancellour to convene them At this time all the Scotish Commissioners returned from London every thing that concerned the Treaty being expeded but the Council thought it necessary to send the Earl of Lindsay and Sir Iohn Smith to lie there for Correspondence of which they gave the King notice With this His Majesty was highly displeased for he said they were either sent to Treat by vertue of the Commission from the Parliament in which case they were not a Quorum or by the Councils Authority if so then he asked who warranted them to do that without his Order yet to take away any ground of Heats or Jealousies he impowered them to go that they might see to the preserving the Articles of the Treaty As for the Conservators of the Peace he gave the Earl of Lowdon Warrant to convene them against the 22th of September and sent Mr. Murray of the Bed-Chamber afterwards Earl of Dysert with Instructions Mr. Murray
which could never be recovered for this raised Jealousies in the minds of the Scotish Lords as if the King had no Confidence in them which was cherished sufficiently by divers Male-contents upon which the Marquis despaired of getting any good done in Scotland All he judged possible thereafter was to prevent and provide against the Evil he feared and that he prosecuted with all the Zeal he was master of which His Majesty understanding by Mr. Mungo Murray Cupbearer wrote him what follows Hamilton YOur Letter and this Bearer hath so fully satisfied me that I cannot be more confident in any thing than that you will beside what you have deserve that mark of Favour I intend you You know me too well to have more words spent upon you only this I think unfit to trust particulars to Paper having so trusâ—y a Messenger whom I stayed this long expecting dayly a Battel but now I think the Rebels want either Courage or Strength to fight before they be forced So referring you to my Servant Mungo I rest Your most assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Wollerhampton the 27th Octob. 1642. The next Meeting of the Conservatours was on the 24th of November The Conservatours become worse affected where their strain seemed much altered to the worse yet they still resolved to interpose in a Mediation betwixt the King and the Parliament of England whereupon they wrote both to the King and the Two Houses for a Safe-conduct to such as they should send up At this time there were great Complaints of some encroachments made upon the Priviledges the Scotish Nation had enjoyed in France The Earl of Louthian is sent to France for Redress whereof the Council thought it necessary to send one to France and made choice of the Earl of Louthian and sent him first to the King with the Instructions they had given him that His Majesty might send him as His Minister to negotiate that Affair One of the Instructions was to get the Marquis put in possession of the Honour and Revenue of Chastle-herault Upon the Earl of Lowthian's coming to Court the Instructions he had from Scotland were called for by His Majesty who judged he had no reason to allow this Precedent of His Subjects instructing His Agents to Foreign Courts and these are yet extant among Lanerick's Papers But the King caused write them over in his Name so that there was no ground from this to charge any thing on the Marquis as tampering with Foreign Princes which was publickly done by his Enemies on this occasion it having been ordinarily recommended by King Iames to all the Ministers he sent from Scotland to France Neither was this done without the Kings particular Knowledge and Orders for besides that the King gave that Instruction with the rest he very seriously recommended it by word of mouth to Lowthian's Care as he informed the Writer After this the Marquis represented to the King that it were fit he should send down some person of Quality to give fresh Assurances and Hopes before they sent up their Commissioners Lanerick is sent back to Scotland whereupon the King sent down the Earl of Lanerick as the person who understood his thoughts best and was ablest to second his Brother in advancing his Service He came from Oxford in the beginning of December and brought the following Letter from the King to his Brother Hamilton THough the Trust of this Bearer needs not a Credential Letter An extraordinary Letter of the Kings yet the Civility of a Friend cannot but under his hand as well as by word of mouth express his Kindness and resentment of Courtesies which of late have been such that you have given me just cause to give you better Thanks than I will offer at in in words I shall not neglect the lazie use of so trusty a Bearer by referring to him not only the estate of my Affairs here but likewise in what way you will be of most use to Me yet I cannot but tell you I have set up my rest upon the Iustice of my Cause being resolved that no extremity or misfortune shall make me yield for I will be either a Glorious King or a Patient Martyr and as yet not being the first nor at this present apprehending the other I think it now no unfit time to express this my Resolution unto you One thing more which but for the Messenger were too much trust to Paper the sailing to one Friend hath indeed gone very near me wherefore I am resolved that no Consideration whatsoever shall ever make me doe the like Vpon this Ground I am certain that God hath either so totally forgiven me that he will still bless this Good Cause in my Hands or that all my Punishment shall be in this World which without performing what I have resolved I cannot flatter my self will end here This accustomed Freedom will I am confident add chearfulness to your honest Resolutions seeing beside Generosity to which I pretend a little my Conscience will make me stick to my Friends assuring you I have none if I am not Your most assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Oxford 2d Decemb. 1642. This excellent Letter will both shew what pious Resentments His Majesty carried along with him in the greatest perplexities of his Affairs and discover how he did not think that the Marquis had either neglected or abused his Trust. Lanerick acted with more briskness and spoke more home and roundly than his Brother which preserved him in a high degree from the Jealousies which the smoothness of his carriage brought upon him Now the Pulpits were not idle for the Ministers begun again to work on the People The Ministers perswade the People to Arms. for the Defence of the Good Cause now in hazard which was ecchoed back with the applause of the Vulgar The Marquis and Argyle at enmity At this time the Marquis his Friendship with Argyle grew to a Coldness which after a few moneths turned into an Enmity for he finding Argyle so backward in all motions for the Kings Service and that he could not be prevailed upon to continue in a Neutrality in the English quarrel broke with him There was then in Scotland one Pickering an Agent from England who studied to poyson all with Misinformations of the Kings Proceedings and Designs The Marquis is complained of England as the Incendiary He wrote to Mr. Pym that he found good inclinations with all in Scotland to own their Quarrel and declare for them only the Marquis with his Friends resisted it so powerfully that till he were laid aside the success of his Negotiation was to be feared Wherefore he advised to proceed against him roundly and either to summon him to the House of Peers or to send down a Warrant to pursue him in Scotland as the Incendiary betwixt the two Kingdoms and he sent threatnings of this to the Marquis but he found his firmness to the Kings Service was proof against all
wherein it is represented that your Lordships late Warrant for Printing His Majesties Letter hath occasioned great Grief and heavy Regrate of all who tender the Glory of God His Majesties Honour and procuring Vnity of Religion and Vniformity in Church-Government the continuance of Peace and Vnion betwixt the two Kingdoms and fearing if at this time we should be silent your Lordships should conceive us and the rest of the Kingdom to be involved with them in the like Desires Iudgements and Opinions and lest by our silence our Gracious Soveraign the Kings Majesty should believe us wanting in the Duty and Allegiance which by so many Tyes and Obligations we owe to Him our Native King or that our Brethren of England should apprehend the least Intention â—r Desire in us to infringe or any ways to encroach upon the Brotherly Vnion of the two Kingdoms so happily united under one Head We presume in all Humility to clear our selves and our Intentions to your Lordships and to all the World and therewith to represent our humble Wishes and Desires for Establishing His Majesties Royal Authority and continuing that happy Vnion betwixt the two Kingdoms which can never truely be conceived to be intended to weaken the Head whereby it is knit together and without which it can have no subsistence The happy Vnion of the two Kingdoms under one Head our King doth so much add to His Majesties Greatness and Strength of both Kingdoms that we British Subjects cannot choose but wish that the said Brotherly Vnion be heartily entertained and cherished by all fair and reasonable means to which we conceive no one thing will so much conduce as that the late Articles of the Treaty of Peace and Conclusions taken thereupon about Vnity of Religion may be carefully and timeously prosecuted wherein as our Commissioners then so we now without presuming or usurping to prescribe Rules or Laws of Reformation to our Neighbour-kingdom Civil Liberty and Conscience being so tender that it cannot endure to be touched but by such as they are wedded to and have lawful Authority over them notwithstanding seeing the duty of Charity doth oblige all Christians to pray and profess their Desires that all were of the same Religion with themselves and since we all acknowledge that Religion is the base and foundation of Kingdoms and the strongest Bond to knit the Subjects to their Princes in true Loyalty and to knit their Hearts one to another in true Vnity we cannot but heartily wish that this work of Vnion so happily begun may be crowned and strengthened by the Vnity of Church-Government and that your Lordships with us may be pleased to represent it to His Majesty and Both Houses of Parliament as an expression and Testimony of our Affections to the good of our Brethren in England and of our Desires to make firm and stable our Brotherly Vnion by the strong chain and Bulwark of Religion but as we have said no ways intending thereby to pass our bounds in prescribing and setting down Rules and Limits to His Majesty and the Two Houses of Parliament their Wisdom and Authority in the way of prosecution thereof The sense we have of the great Calamities and irreparable Evils which upon occasion of these unhappy Distractions and Mistakes betwixt the Kings Majesty and the Two Houses of England which if not speedily removed cannot but produce the fearful and prodigious effects of a bloody and Civil War obligeth us in the duty of Christians and as feeling members of what may concern our Common Head the Kings Majesty and the Good and Happiness of our Brethren of England humbly to represent to your Lordships That as we will not be wanting with our Prayers and our faithful and best Endeavours to assist in the removing of these unhappy Mistakes and Misunderstandings so we heartily wish and humbly Petition your Lordships that from the deepness of your Wisdom such happy Motions may flow as upon that tender care of our Soveraigns Person and Authority Peace and Truth may be settled in all His Majesties Dominions Although we will not presume nor take upon us to prescribe Laws and Rules to your Lordships yet in all Humility we intreat your permission to represent such Particulars as we conceive and are very confident will conduce much to the removing of all â—hese Mistakes betwixt His Majesty and His Two Houses of Parliament and be a ready mean to facilitate a happy and wished Peace and continue the Brotherly Vnion between the Two Kingdoms And first that in answering the foresaid Petition your Lordships may be pleased to do no Act which may give His Majesty just occasion to repent him of what Trust he so Graciously expressed in his Letter of the Date the fifth of December He reposes in us His Subjects of His Ancient and Native Kingdom for we cannot think that our Brethren in England or any other can believe that the ground of this Mutual Vnion of the two Kingdoms by the several and respective Vnions to our Prince and Head should weaken the strong Bond whereby it is knit and by which we are so firmly tied by so many Ages and unparalelled lineal descents of an hundred and seven Kings Neither can we suppose that any good Protestant or true member of our Church can imagine far less seduce others to believe that by the late Treaty of Peace or Act of Vnion we as Scotish Subjects are in any sort liberated from the Dutiful Obedience which as Scotishmen we owe to our Scotish King or from that due Loyalty which as Scotish Subjects we owe to our Native Soveraign for Maintenance of His Person Greatness and Authority or that thereby we are in any other Condition in these necessary Duties to our Soveraign than we and our Ancestors were and have been these many Ages and Descents before the making of the said Act or before the Swearing and Subscribing of our late Covenant by which we have solemnly sworn and do swear not only our mutual Concurrence and Assistance for the cause of Religion and to the utmost of our power with our Means and Lives to stand to the Defence of our Dread Soveraign His Person and Authority in the preservation of Religion Liberty and Laws of this Church and Kingdom but also in every Cause which may concern His Majesties Honour we shall according to the Laws of this Kingdom and Duty of Subjects concur with our Friends and Followers in quiet manner or in Arms as we shall be required of His Majesty or His Councel or any having His Authority Secondly That if your Lordships think it fitting to make any answer to the Parliament of England their Declaration your Lordships may be pleased not to declare enact or promise any thing which may trouble or molest the Peace of this Kirk and Kingdom which by God's special Grace and His Majesties Favour and Goodness we enjoy and have established unto us according to our Hearts desire by the Laws Ecclesiastical or Civil of
this Kingdom respectivè and which His Majesty since by so many Declarations and deep Protestations hath Sworn to maintain inviolably Thirdly That your Lordships may be pleased to consider that as nothing will more diminish His Majesties Greatness than that this Kingdom should consume in Civil War so nothing will more conduce to the Suppressing of insolent Papists malignant schismatick and Disloyal Brownists and Separatists the special if not the sole promovers of these unhappy Misunderstandings than that heartily and freely without respect of worldly and secondary Considerations we give to Christ what is Christ's and to Caesar what is Caesar's by means whereof the Truth and Purity of Religion shall be established to the utter Confusion of all these Sectaries true Monarchical Government firmly setled by which likewise Laws and Authority shall retain their ancient vigour and force to the Suppression of all Commotions and tumultuous Conventions the bane and overthrow of all true Religion and Policy Fourthly Although there be nothing farther from our minds than to presume to question or crave of your Lordships an account of your Actions knowing perfectly by the inviolable Laws and Customes of this Kingdome that to be only proper and due to the King and Parliament from whence you have that great Charge and Trust delivered unto you yet we hope your Lordships will give us leave in all Humility to remember your Lordships of your Deliverance June 1642. and are confident that the said Lords the Petitioners neither have nor shall have necessity to trouble themselves nor the Council with Supplications of this kind and that your Lordships in your Wisdom will take some Course for preventing all occasions which may in any sort disturb the Peace of this Kingdom or make Division among the Subjects thereof This Petition was signed by a great many Noblemen and Gentlemen Many sign it but though they took much pains to get Ministers to concur in it yet none of them could be drawn to it This Petition was presented with many hands at it to the Council and it was observed that as it was written by a trusty Friend of the Marquis's so also all his Friends signed it which made the Author suspected and did shew that his Friends adhered hitherto to their Duty and his Example All the Answer the Councellors returned to it was that they should be careful to proceed as they should be answerable All the Ministers condemn it But the Preachers threatned Damnation to all the Authors and Subscribers of it and detestable Neutrality became the Head on which they spent their Eloquence The Commission of the General Assembly passed a severe Censure on the Cross Petition in a Remonstrance they gave in against it which was answered by a Counter-remonstrance Upon these cross tides of Petitions that were offered to the Council the Conservatours of the Peace resolved to send some Commissioners to London Commissioners sent to Treat betwixt the King and the Two Houses to Mediate betwixt the King and the Two Houses and endeavour chiefly the Uniformity of Church-Government for which end the Commission of the Kirk was also to send their Commissioners to second them in it and no resistance could be made to this that was able to obstruct it They also moved that the King should be desired to call a Parliament in Scotland The Marquis and his Friends opposed this vigorously not that he was against a Parliament but judged the Motion unseasonable and thought the Time prefixed at the last Parliament for the next to wit after three years needed not be anticipated It was also put in their Instructions to their Commissioners to press the King to put all Papists from his Person The Marquis and his Friends also opposed this not upon the account of the thing it self but because it seemed to cast a Scandal upon the King as if his Religion were to be suspected But the Church-party was strongest in this Meeting of the Conservatours and so carried every thing in it The Safe-conducts being come they named their Commissioners the Chancellour being the chief of them and though Lanerick in the Kings Name excepted against the Lord Waristoun and produced the Kings Warrant for it yet they named him but were so wise as not to send him They were also so discreet that they appointed the Commissioners to go first to the King Things being thus determined Lanerick took the start of them but they were at Court before him he being detained by a Garrison of the Parliaments for some days In the end of February he came to Oxford Lanerick goes to Court and discovers the inclination of the Church-party where he gave the King an account of the present state of the Scotish Affairs and that it was the Advice of His Majesties truest Friends in Scotland that he should entertain the Commissioners with the best words he could give them but should not by any means suffer them to go to London since there were great grounds to fear they would engage too deep in the Quarrel if they went thither This Advice agreed so with the Kings Inclinations that it could meet no resistance in his thoughts When the Commissioners arrived they delivered their Message but the King repeated what was formerly told them That Scotland and England had different Laws and Interests and therefore it was to give the one Kingdom too great an advantage over the other to suffer them to come and be Vmpires in the present Differences They pressed their Desires as warmly as they could but all was in vain for the King would by no means suffer them to go to London and in particular he told the Earl of Lowdon what grounds He had to believe they designed to raise an Army for the Parliaments Quarrel and that some of his fellow-Commissioners would prove Incendiaries rather than Mediators But Lowdon with great Protestations denied that they designed to raise Arms and said to the King These were but the Misrepresentations with which the Marquis and his Brother abused His Majesty As for the Calling a Parliament the King said he saw no reason for it and therefore would not anticipate the Day that was already prefixed for it But to the Commissioners from the Assembly the King gave the following Answer which I set down in his own Words having it written all with His Majesties own Hand HIs Majesty commends the Zeal of the Petitioners for the advancement of the true Reformed Religion against Heresy Popery Sects Innovations and Profanity and always shall use His best and uttermost endeavours for Advancing the one and the utter Suppressing the rest For the Vnity in Kirk-Government His Majesty knows that the Government now established by the Laws hath so near a relation and intermixture with the Civil State which may be unknown to the Petitioners that till a composed digested Form be presented to him upon a free debate by Both Houses of Parliament whereby the Consent and Approbation of the whole Kingdom
may be had and He and all His Subjects may discern what is to be left or brought in as well as what taken away He knows not how to consent to an Alteration otherwise than to such an Act for tâ—e ease of Tender Consciences in the matter of Ceremonies as His Majesty hath often offered And His Majesty hath formerly expressed Himself and still continues willing that the Debates of Religion may be entred into by a Synod of Learned and Godly Divines to be regularly câ—osen according to the Laws and Customs of this Kingdom to which end His Majesty will be very willing that some Learned Divines of the Kirk of Scotland may be likewise sent to be present and offer their Reasons and Opinions This was the Success of that Negotiation but because the Reader may wonder how Lowdon and the Marquis came to be in such terms I shall set down the occasion of their Breach When Lowdon was to go up the Marquis resolved on a Course that should either stop his Journey or make him so obnoxious to the King that he should not dare to act contrary to his Duty which was this Lowdon had purchased from the King a Right to the Annuities of the Tythes that was confirmed to His Majesty by Act of Parliament whereupon the Marquis caused the following Petition to be drawn by Traquair's Advice To the Kings most Excellent Majesty the Humble Petition of the Noblemen Barons and Gentlemen occasionally met at Edinburgh Humbly Sheweth THat whereas Your Majesty at Your late being in Scotland being humbly moved to disburden and liberate the Subjects of this Kingdom of the Annuity due to Your Majesty out of the Tythes The Petition against the Annuities were pleased in that only Particular to delay to give us our Hearts desire and now out of the sense of the great Burdens that lye on us and in Confidence of the Continuance of Your Majesties Fatherly Care of the Good of Your Subjects we presume humbly to supplicate Your Majesty to be Graciously pleased in this Particular to dispense with Your Own Benefit or at least till Your Majesty be informed of the true state thereof to discharge Execution against us for the said Annuities And for Your Majesties incomparable Goodness and Gracious Favours we shall as in duty bound behave our selves in every thing as becometh Loyal and Faithful Subjects As we have unanimously endeavoured so shall we still continue to return such thankâ—ul Acknowledgment as may give to Your Majesty a real Testimony of our zealous Affections to Your Majesties Sacred Person Honour and Greatness derived upon Your Majesty by so many unparalelled Descents and as Your Majesty may expect and justly challenge from the Allegiance of us Your Majesties most obedient and obliged Subjects 16th February 1643. The last words of this Petition were by the first draught so conceived as would have amounted to a Bond of Mutual Defence and Adherence which the Marquis thought might draw on a Rupture and occasion a pursute as against Plotters therefore since this Paper was to be avowed and publick he judged such Expressions as were smooth and general were fittest for their Design This Petition was signed by him and a great many of the Nobility he also sent it up and down all the places where he or his Friends had Interest to get Subscriptions to it This was generally lookt upon as a well-couched Bond both by such as took it and those who refused it and yet this smoothing of the Expressions of it was represented by the Marquis's Enemies as done in prejudice to the Kings Service These Petitions were sent immediately to the King upon which great Complaints were made as if by these immediate Addresses the Judicatories of Scotland had been neglected but the King justified that part of it in an Answer he wrote to the Council and for the thing it self he resolved to keep Lowdon under the fear of it and therefore delayed to make any Answer In the end of February Her Majesty landed at Burlingtown whither the Earl of Montrose went to represent to Her the hazard of a new Rebellion in Scotland The Queen lands in England and Montrose waits on Her and offers his Service and that the only way to prevent it was to take the start of them before they were ready and with a great deal of forwardness offered his Service in that Design adding that he had great Assurances of a considerable Party who he knew would own the Kings Quarrel but he did not condescend on the particular way of prosecuting it so that the Queen was not satisfied of his being able to effectuate what he undertook Mean-while the Marquis hearing of Her Majesties Landing went to wait on Her to whom She proposed the Earl of Montrose's Offer but he studied by all means to divert Her from listning to it upon the following Grounds The King had settled a Treaty with Scotland The Marquis goeâ— to Her and disâ—wades the precipitating a Rupture with Scotland and till that were violated on their part he knew His Majesty would never consent to a Rupture on his part and the King had so often and so lately in his Letters and Declarations protested he was resolved unalterably to adhere to the late Settlement that if he should now authorize the first Breach it would bring an indelible stain upon his Honour and create a perpetual Difâ—idence in his Subjects of all his Concessions and Assurances He confâ—ssed he had great Fears of Scotland and therefore would undertake for nothing but his own Faithfulness and Diligence yet he hoped to get things kept in Agitation all that Summer so that for that Year there should not be a Scotish Army in England But that was the utmost of his Hopes yet it was much fitter to spin out things as long as could be than to precipitate them by an over-hasty Rupture besides he could not see how any Hopes could be conceived from that design of Force There was never a Castle nor Strength in Scotland in the Kings Power to which they might retire The Vulgar were still at the Ministers devotion and by late and fresh experience they saw them all as one man resolved to die in the Defence of the Covenant and any handful of Gentry could be gathered together would signifie nothing but to expose their own Throats to their Enemies Rage and the Kings Authority to their Hatred and Scorn so there remained no hopes but in the Highland-men which he accounted as good as none Their two chief Heads where the Marquisâ—es of Huntley and Argyle the former was not to be much rested on being unable to do what so brisk an Undertaking required and they knew well what to expect from the other Besides any Companies could be brought down from the High-lands might do well enough for a while but no Order could be expected from them for assoon as they were loaded with Plunder and Spoil they would run away home to their
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
way and with such hope of Success as may give satisfaction to Your Majesty serve for the good of this Your Majesties Kingdom and as may make us answerable to the Trust committed to us by Your Majesties Parliament We have been constrained to crave the advice and resolution of a Convention of the Estates to meet June 22th which as according to the obligation and duty of our Places we are bound to shew Your Majesty so do we humbly intreat that against the Time agreed upon by Common Consent Your Majesty may be Graciously pleased to acquaint us with Your Pleasure and Commandments that Matters may be so determined as may most serve for the Honour of God Your Majesties Service and Well of Your Kingdomes which now is and ever shall be the earnest desire and constant endeavour of Your Majesties faithful and humble Subjects and Servants Lowdon Cancellarius Leven Argyle Cassilis Dalhousy Lauderdale Balmerino Yester Burghley Balcarres Gibson-Dury T. Myrton Tho. Hope A. Johnstoun T. Hepburne J. Hamilton J. Home T. Wauchop T. Raffrerland T. Bruce J. Smith Edward Edgar J. Binny W. Glendoning Hugh Kennedy G. Gourdon Edinburgh 12th May 1643. Three dayes after this came the Lords who were sent down who being all met Lanerick delivered the following Instructions from His Majesty CHARLES R. Instructions to Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Cousins and Councellours Iames Marquis of Hamilton William Earl of Glencairn Robert Earl of Roxburgh George Earl of Kinnoule David Earl of Southesk William Earl of Lanerick Instructions for the Lords that were trusted by His Majesty THat you endeavour by all fair and lawful Means to prevent Division among Our Subjects in Scotland That you give all the Assurances in Our Name which can be desired of Our Resolution to preserve inviolably the Government of that Kingdom as it is now established by Assemblies and Parliaments That you take what Courses you shall think most fit for causing Print and Publish either in Scotland or at York Our Declaration which We now send with you to that Our Kingdome and all such other Papers as We shall hereafter send thither or which you shall conceive may conduce to the good of Our Service and for that purpose make use of such Blanks as We have thought fit to entrust you with That seeing We perceived by Pickering's Letters Our Two Houses of Parliament intend to send Commissioners or Agents to Scotland you shall endeavour by all fair Means to hinder any of Our Iudicatories to Treat with them and for that purpose make use of any of the foresaid Blanks That seeing We conceive it would exceedingly conduce to the good of Our Service that the Lords of Session would explain the Commission granted by Vs and Our Parliament to the Conservatours of the Treaty you shall for that purpose likewise make use of the foresaid Blanks either to them all in general or to such of them in particular as you shall think most fit That you endeavour to hinder the liberty which possibly Ministers may take to themselves in the Pulpits of Censuring Our Actions or stirring up the People against Vs and to that purpose make use of the said Blanks to the Council or Commissioners of the Assembly as you shall think necessary That in case you apprehend any danger to Our Service from the Return of the Scotish Army in Ireland you shall declare Our readiness to contribute any thing which is in Our Power for the Maintenance thereof even to the Engaging of our Revenues in Scotland for raising Moneys to be so imployed and to that end you shall make use of the foresaid Blanks If you shall find it necessary you shall likewise make use of some of the Blanks to the Council declaring expresly Our Pleasure That that Army shall not be recalled until We be acquainted therewith and to the Earl of Leven discharging him to obey any Orders whatsoever for that end until he know Our further Pleasure If you shall find it necessary you shall make use of some Blanks to Our Council recalling all former Commissions which have been granted for Levying and Transporting of Men out of that Kingdom over to France or Holland You shall make use of these Blanks to some of Our Council and Exchequer for discharging the Arrears and disposing a plenary Right of the Annuities to those particular persons that have Petitioned Vs thereabout and to surcease all execution against all others until the 31th day of August next You shall make use of these Blanks to such of Our Council and others as you shall find fit for encouraging them to attend the Meetings of Our Council and to continue the Testimonies of their Affection to Our Service with assurance of Our Resentment thereof We do hereby authorize Our Secretary the Earl of Lanerick by your Advices to fill up these Blanks and to Sign them with Our Court-Signet and for his and your so doing this shall be your Warrant C. R. From Oxford the 21th April 1643. Besides this Lanerick told that it was the Kings positive Pleasure that the first Breach should not come from his Party but they should draw out things as long as was possible before they hazarded on a Rupture As for the Kings Declaration the first draught whereof is extant marked and corrected by the Kings Hand it being so home and clear though very long I shall not contract it but set it down at length His Majesties Declaration to all his loving Subjects in His Kingdom of Scotland CHARLES R. AS there hath been no mean left unattempted which the malice and wit of Rebellion could devise to infect and poyson the Affections and Loyalty of Our good Subjects of Our Kingdom of England and to withdraw their Hearts from Vs by the most pernicious and desperate Calumnies that could be invented to under-value and lessen Our Reputation with Foreign Princes by Injuries and Affronts upon their Publick Ministers and by presuming to send Agents qualified for Negotiation without Our Consent and in truth to expose Vs and Our Royal Authority to Scorn and Contempt by assuming a Power over Vs so the pernicious Contrivers of these bloody Distempers have not delighted in any Art more than in that by which they have hoped to stir up Our good Subjects of that Our Native Kingdome of Scotland to joyn with them and to infuse in them a jealousie and disesteem of Our true Affection and Our Gracious Intentions towards that Nation To this purpose they have used great Industry to convey into that Our Kingdom and to scatter and disperse there divers Seditious Pamphlets framed and contrived against Our Person and Government and have sent Agents of their own to reside there and to promote their Designs one of whom lately resident there one Pickering by his Letters of the 9th of January to Mr. Pym assures him of the Concurrence of that Kingdom and that the Ministers in their Pulpits do in downright terms press the Taking up of Arms and in another
Hearts to yield much more than the Authority of the Kings Commands who having got notice of it from the Earl of Lindsay wrote down to Scotland peremptorily commanding them to desist from any such pursute if it were begun requiring also his Advocate to appear for them in His Majesties Name if they were pursued The Earl of Lanerick wrote to the King what follows May it please Your Majesty I Shall here Humbly presume to let Your Majesty know that before any of Your Scotish Servants who lately parted with Your Majesty at Oxford Lanâ—rick 's account of Affairs to His Majesty could possibly come hither the Chancellour had made his Report to the Council and Conservatours of the Treaty and Mr. Henderson to the Commissioners of the General Assembly of their Employments to Your Majesty where Your Answers to their Desires were found not satisfactory and thereafter Your Majesties Council Commissioners for the Treaty and Common Burdens having joyned together for giving of Security for such Moneys as should be levyed for the Maintenance of Your Majesties Scotish Army in Ireland they thought fit without admitting of any delay until Your Majesties Pleasure were known to call a Convention of the Estates as their several Acts and Proclamations to that effect here inclosed will more particularly shew Your Majesty And for the present Your Majesties Servants who came lately hither having only met with three or four of those whom Your Majesty appointed them to consult with have thought fit to advise with some others of the same Affection and Forwardness to Your Majesties Service before they presume to give Your Majesty any Advice upon the present Occasions being matters of so great Weight and so highly concerning Your Majesties Service but they have taken the readiest and most speedy Course they can think upon for Meeting and Consulting with them and thereafter are immediately to return hither from whence they will with all diligence offer unto Your Majesty their humble Opinion In the mean time I have dispatched Your Majesties Letters to such Noblemen and Burroughs as Your Majesty was pleased to direct me shewing Your Resolution of preserving here what you have been pleased so Graciously to establish in Church and State not having been able to deliver Your Majesties Letter to Your Council who were dissolved before my coming and my Lord Chancellour is gone out of Town without whose Appointment there can be no extraordinary Meeting so that I believe Your Majesties Gracious Declaration to Your Scotish Subjects cannot be published before that time nor till then can I be able to give Your Majesty any further account of Your Affairs here though in the mean time I shall study to serve Your Majesty faithfully according to the Duty of Your Majesties Most humble and most faithful and most obedient Subject and Servant LANERICK Edinburgh 18th May. 1643. In the end of May there was a Meeting of about thirty Noblemen where these two Questions were proposed The Lords consult what to advise His Majesty First if it were fit for the Kings Service that the Convention should be suffered to hold Next if it held whether those who were well-affected to the Kings Service should fit in it There were three or four Days spent in debating upon these Heads some moved that since by the calling of this Convention the other Party had so far encroached upon the King they should presently break with them this Motion came chiefly from other Lords who would not come to that Meeting But it was answered that the King as he would not give Commissions for raising an Army in England till he knew the Parliament had first done it on their side so it was his positive Pleasure that his Party should not make the first Breach which the King judged so much for his Honour that no Consideration could move him to dispense with it yet these who made that Proposition were desired to lay down ways how it could be made effectual since it was Madness and not Courage to hazard the Ruine of the Kings Service and Friends without at least a likelyhood of being able to carry it through with some Success All things being examined it was concluded that the following Message should be sent to His Majesty which was set down in a Paper dated the 5th of Iune but because of the War in England they committed it verbally to a Trusty Bearer lest it had been intercepted A Convention was indicted by the Chancellour and such others of the Council as have signed His Majesties Letter thereabout with the Advice and Concurrence of the Committees for conserving the Treaty and Common Burdens to be kept at Edinburgh the 22th of June whereby it is conceived His Majesty suffers exceedingly in His Regal Authority in the Calling thereof without his Special Warrant A Proclamation for the Indicting thereof is likewise issued forth in His Majesties Name expressing a danger to Religion His Majesties Person and the Peace of this Kingdom from Papists in Arms in England which in that appears to be contrary to His late Declaration sent to Scotland Hereupon divers Noblemen and Gentlemen well-affected to His Majesties Service met at Edinburgh and after three or four days Debate considering the exigency of Time the present posture of Affairs and the disposition and inclination of the People of this Country did not conceive it fitting that His Majesty should absolutely discharge that Meeting which certainly would be kept notwithstanding of any Discharge from Him which would both bring His Authority in greater Contempt and lose more of the Affections of the People whereby the Power of His Majesties Servants would be lessened but rather that His Majesty should so far take notice of the Illegal Calling thereof and His Own Suffering thereby that the same remaining upon Record may be an evidence to Posterity that this Act of theirs can infer no such Precedent for the like in the future but afterwards His Majesty or His Successors may Legally question the same And that His Majesties Servants here may be better enabled and strengthened with the assistance of others of His Majesties faithful Subjects who truly and really intend nothing but the Security of Religion as it is here established and are altogether averse from and against the Raising of Arms or Bringing over the Scotish Army in Ireland whereby His Majesties Affairs or their own Peace may be disturbed they conceive it fit that His Majesty should permit this Convention to Treat and conclude upon such Particulars as may secure their Fears from any danger of Religion at home without interessing themselves in the Government of the Church of England And in respect that the Two Houses of Parliament have not sent Supplies for Entertaining the Scotish Army in Ireland whereby they may have some colour or ground for recalling them it is conceived necessary that this Convention should have a Power from His Majesty to advise and resolve upon all fair and Legal wayes for Entertaining the
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
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
receive of their Plagues and that the Lord may be one and his Name one in the three Kingdoms We shall with the same sincerity reality and constancy in our several Vocations endeavour with our Estates and Lives mutually to preserve the Rights and Priviledges of the Parliaments and the Liberties of the Kingdoms And to preserve and defend the Kings Majesties Person and Authority in the preservation and defence of the true Religion and Liberties of the Kingdoms That the World may bear witness with our Consciences of our Loyalty and that we have no thoughts or intentions to diminish His Majesties just Power and Greatness We shall also with all faithfulness endeavour the discovery of all such as have been or shall be Incendiaries Malignants or evil Instruments by hindering the Reformation of Religion dividing the King from his People or one of the Kingdoms from another or making any faction or parties amongst the People contrary to this League and Covenant That they may be brought to publick Trial and receive condign Punishment as the degree of their Offences shall require or deserve or the Supreme Iudicatories of both Kingdoms respectively or others having power from them for that effect shall judge convenient And whereas the happiness of a blessed Peace between these Kingdoms denyed in former times to our Progenitors is by the good Providence of GOD granted unto us and hath been lately concluded and settled by both Parliaments We shall each one of us according to our place and interest endeavour that they may remain conjoyned in a firm Peace and Vnion to all posterity and that Iustice may be done upon the wilful opposers thereof in manner expressed in the precedent Article We shall also according to our places and callings in this common cause of Religion Liberty and Peace of the Kingdoms assist and defend all those that enter into this League and Covenant in the maintaining and pursuing And shall not suffer our selves directly or indirectly by whatsoever combination perswasion or terrour to be divided and withdrawn from this blessed Vnion and Conjunction whether â—o make deâ—ection to the contrary part or to give our selves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in this Cause which so much concerneth the Glory of GOD the Good of the Kingdoms and Honour of the King But shall all the days of our lives zealously and constantly continâ—e therein against all opposition and promote the same according to our power against all â—ets and Impediments whatsoever And what we are not able our selves to suppress or overcome we shall reveal and make known that it may be fully prevented or removed And which we shall do as in the sight of God And because these Kingdoms are guilty of many sins and provocations against GOD and his Son Iesus Christ as is too manifest by our present distresses and dangers the fruits thereof We profess and declare before GOD and the World our unfained desire to be humbled for our own sins and for the sins of these Kingdoms especially that we have not as we ought valued the inestimable benefit of the Gospel that we have not laboured for the purity and power thereof and that we have not endeavoured to receive Christ in our hearts to walk worthy of him in our liâ—es which are the causes of other sins and transgreâ—sions so much abounding amongst us And our true and unfained purpose desâ—re and endeavoâ—r for our selves and all others under our power and charge both in publick and in private in all Duties we owe to God and Man to amend our lives and each one to go before another in the example of a real Reformation That the Lord may turn away his wrath and heâ—vy indignation and establish these Churches and Kingdoms in Truth and Peace And this Covenant we make in the presence of Almighty GOD the Searcher of all hearts with a true intention to perform the same as we shall answer at that great Day when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen us by his Holy Spirit for thâ—â— end and to bless our desires and proceedings with such success as may be deliverance and safety to his People and encouragement to other Christian Churches groaning under or in danger of Antichristian Tyranny to joyn in the same or like Association and Covenant To the Glory of GOD the Enlargement of the Kingdom of Iesus Christ and the peace and tranquility of Christâ—an Kingdoms and Commonwealths This was offered to the Assembly on the 17th of August The Censures that generally were passed on it and after it was publickly read Mr. Henderson being then Moderator had a long Speech about it Then it was read the second time and many of the most eminent Ministers and Lay-Elders were desired to deliver their Opinions about it who did all magnifie it highly and though the Kings Commissioner pressed a Delay till at least it were communicated to the King yet the approving it was put to the Vote and carried unanimously and they ordered the Lord Maitland the now Duke of Lauderdale and Mr. Henderson and Mr. Gillespy to carry it up to the Two Houses at Westminster On the same day it was also approved in the Convention Wise Obfervers wondered to see a matter of that Importance carried through upon so little Deliberation or Debate It was thougâ—t strange to see all their Consciences of such a size so exactly to agree as the several Wheels of a Clock which made all apprehend there was some first Mover that directed all those other Motions this by the one Party was imputed to Gods extraordinary Providence but by others to the Power and Policy of the Leaders and the simplicity and fear of the rest One Article of it was thought strange that one Government of the Church was abjured but none sworn to in its place for England this was not the fault of the Scots who designed nothing so much as to see Presbytery established in England But the English Commissioners would not hear of that and by that General words of Reforming according to the Word of God cast in by Sir Henry Vane thought themselves well-secured from the inroads of the Scotish Presbytery and in the very contriving of that Article they studied to out-wit one another for the Scots thought the next words of Reforming according to the Practice of the best Reformed Churches made sure game for the Scotish Model since they counted it indisputable that Scotland could not miss that Character Those of Scotland would have had Episcopacy abjured as simply unlawful but those of England would not condemn that Order which had merited so much Glory in the whole Christian Church therefore the second Article was so conceived that it might import only an Abolition of the present Model of England and it was so declared both in the Assembly of Divines and in the Two Houses of Parliament when they swore it The Scots either perceived not this Change or were
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
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
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
Law every advantage his Learned Counsel have suggested who besides many things they have laid before him from the Priviledges of the Peers do assure him that in Law every impeachment ought to contain in it the matter of Fact particularly and certainly set down with all necessary circumstances of Time Place and Witnesses otherwise the Party accused may Demur in Law Besides the Charge given against him is so general and historical so aggravated with scandalous Glosses invective Expressions groundless Suggestions and Pretences false Collections and Inferences seeming Probabilities with cunning Suppositions and Conjectures together with the Opinions and Words of his Friends Acquaintances and Enemies all so ambiguously penned by the Contriver that he may Demur in Law upon the whole Charge for matter of Insufficiency and Form since many Insufficiencies and Absurdities might be observed in it upon a strict Disquisition and Dissection of Law and indeed the Defendant cannot but desire the last words of the Charge be considered wherein his Accusers pretend to be able to prove some of the weightiest points by several Witnesses and all the rest by some and strong Probabilities which words alone his Lawyers do assure him are sufficient to invalidate the whole Charge since no man can be Arraigned of Treason upon some Probabilities to which other Probabilities may be always opposed with equal colours of truth Many of the particulars charged upon the Defendant were done before the Pacification and Act of Oblivion passed in both Kingdoms by which no remembrance is to be had of what passed before it and His Majesty did verbally express at the last Parliament at Edinburgh that the Defendant had carried himself during the former Troubles as became a faithful Subject and one that tendered the Good and Happiness of his Country There was also in that same Parliament a particular Act passed declaring he had carried himself during the former Distractions as a faithful Servant to His Majesty and a loving Patriot to his Country upon which the Defendant may well plead that he is not bound to answer for any thing charged on him that was done before that Parliament and that his Accusers do incur Punishment for going against the Act of Oblivion then passed nor is he bound in Law as his Learned Counsel assure him to answer for any Words alledged to have been spoken by him unless questioned for them within three Months after they were spoken according to the Laws of this Kingdom But though the Defendant hath so far complied with his Lawyers as to have named the former particulars yet it is not out of any design to escape either Trial or Justice therefore he is ready to give an account to His Majesty of the Actions of his whole Life in reference to His Majesties Service whenever he shall be called to it particularly for the Trusts and Imployments his Majesty honoured him with being so confident of his own constant unstained Integrity and Loyalty and of His Majesties Justice that he is not afraid of the issue of the whole Matter himself being so Innocent and his Judge so Just therefore he shall answer plainly and particularly to all the Matters of Fact laid to his Charge leaving the Plea in Law together with the necessary distinction of points of Treason from Misdemeanours to his Learned Counsel when they shall be allowed to plead Answer to Article 1. To the first Article the Defendant says nothing can be more false than that he ever used any such Expressions The Answer to the first Article he knowing well his Majesties Affection to that Kingdom and to the Liberties and Freedoms of it There is neither Time Place nor Persons expressed to whom such Words should have been spoken nor upon what occasion nor to to the People of what Kingdom they were used nor are any of his Actions condescended on to make out what is charged on him nor knows he who are meant by his Emissaries Instruments or Creatures if any have used such seditious Speeches let them be punished for them but he cannot be answerable for other men unless it be proved they acted by his Order and Direction therefore the Defendant simply denies what is alledged in this Article as basely false and forged Charge That he hath most seditiously endeavoured to exasperate His Majesty against His Subjects of Scotland Article 2. by Invectives against them to His Majesty even before their falling off from their Obedience by advising His Majesty to make War against them affirming that His Majesty would never be King of Scotland unless He conquered it which he likewise then averred would be a Work only of three Months time and at the same time encouraging them most treacherously to withstand His Majesty and take from Him His Power and His Rights particularly exciting them thereunto by vilifying Speeches of His Sacred Person That if they awed Him He was such a Coward they might have of him what they would but if they gave him his Will he would prove a verier Tyrant than ever Nero. Answer To the first branch of the second Article the Defendant says The Answer to the second Article he appeals to His Majesty how false it is who knows well that the Commotions of Scotland were begun a year before he was imployed in Scotish Affairs Comp. p. 30. and p. 43. which had been before that trusted to other Persons of Honour in that Kingdom and that the Covenant was generally taken the Courts of Justice removed from Edinburgh the Tables formed Protestations used against His Majesties Proclamations before he was engaged His Majesty also knows well that he had never advised these Innovations which gave the rise to these Commotions nor engaged in the Affairs of that Kingdom but upon His Majesties particular Command without which he had designed to avoid all meddling in them See p. 38. so that nothing can be more notoriously false than that part of this Article is That the Defendant did exasperate His Majesty against that Kingdom or advised Him to conquer them before they fell from their Obedienee It is true after His Majesty had thought fit to imploy the Defendant in those Affairs he did give him clear advertisements of the state of Affairs in that Kingdom not sparing his nearest Friends as His Majesty well knows but gave no advice but what he thought agreed both with the Duty of a good Subject and Patriot He never advised His Majesty to conquer or subdue that Kingdom or to govern it as a Province for he takes the suppressing of a Party in Arms against the King or who were rejecting his Authority to be very different from conquering the Kingdom and therefore as he simply denies the first branch of this Article so he refers the clearing of his Innocency in this to His Majesty who cannot but know best what he advised him and to the Letters he wrote to His Majesty if they be yet remaining The next branch of the Article is of
a piece with the former as to falshood He hath often seen eminent Proofs both of His Majesties Courage and Clemency and never entertained a dishonourable thought of His Person and he is able by many Compurgators to prove that his Discourses of His Sacred Person have been always such as became a dutiful Subject and an infinitely obliged Servant It is not to be imagined he could have used such expressions before Witnesses and if any single Persons say they heard them from him he asserts they are Lyars and dare not say so if he have a sword in his hand Charge That whilst he was the Kings Commissioner he did palpably foment the Differences betwixt King and Country as particularly by these Evidences following Article 3. viz. Whilst he might have settled at his first Arrival all those unhappy Differences by yielding to the People such things as would have contented the Country and which His Majesty had given him Warrant by his Instructions to condescend unto as particularly by the removal of the Service-Book Book of Canons High-Commission five Articles of Perth and Episcopacy only limited in a moderate way he by the contrary upon his first coming to Scotland being acquainted herewith having the same represented to him to the full did in a fomenting way so pleasantly deny as if he would have had some further to have been sought And whilst before his coming all his Friends and Followers and such as did belong unto him did resolutely stand out against that Course no sooner was he come but all of them perceiving his strain did on a sudden quit their former way and violently joyn themselves to the other Party witness amongst others the late Earl of Hadington Sir Alexander Hamilton his Vncle now Master of their Ordnance a main stickler the Earl of Lauderdale and his Son the Lord Maitland of all men most intimate with him to omit his Brother-in-law the Lord Lindsay a Principal Actor in that Rebellion from the beginning and his Cousin-German the Earl of Glencairn who continuing long firm for His Majesty in end by his secret sollicitation as is thought made Defection by which and such-like he cunningly necessitated the breaking up of the Assembly at Glasgow that the Water might be once troubled and the Country quite abandoned unto themselves Answer The Answer to the third Article To the third Article the Defendant says he was so far from fomenting the Differences betwixt His Majesty and his Subjects of Scotland that he did all that was in his power to bring Matters which were quite imbroyled when he went Commissioner thither to a happy Close and that he did yield to them all such things as he had power to grant which he is ready to make appear by comparing his Actings with his Instructions It seems the Accusers knew well what would have satisfied the Country but understood little what his Instructions were The Covenanters in all their Petitions to the Defendant expressed that nothing would content them without a Free Assembly and Parliament See p. 40. n. 7. and the Defendant being neither instructed to do that nor the other Particulars which by the Article are falsly said to have been in his Instructions See p. 50.51 he after he had proclaimed all the Favours he was empowered by His Majesty to grant came to Him to this Kingdom and received new Instructions See p. 64. according to which he proclaimed all he had Warrant from His Majesty to grant nor did he ever deny or conceal any of His Majesties Graces to his People or provoke them to new Desires but did all was in his power to make them rest satisfied with His Majesties Gracious Concessions He also stayed with the Assembly of Glasgow as long as his Instructions warranted him and did all he could to keep them from those Extremities which enforced the Rupture See p. 107. and in his whole Proceedings he carried along with him not only the Assessors His Majesty appointed him to advise with the Earl of Argyle only excepted and the Secret Council but likewise the Bishops whose advice he got and followed all which he is ready to make out by comparing his Instructions and His Majesties Letters to him See p. 96.97 and the Letters he got from the Bishops with his Proceedings at that time from which the falshood of this Article will plainly appear Nor can he be charged with the faults of his Friends or his Followers It is known how much the places where his Interest lies were gained to those Courses before he was Commissioner and yet many of his friends did stand out against the Courses others then followed though they were not able to make head against the more prevailing Party round about them For the Earls of Glencairn and Lauderdale they continued in their Duty to the King till the Pacification nor did they take the Covenant for ought he knows till His Majesty allowed it for the Earl of Lindsay he did not joyn in these Courses after the Defendant went to Scotland but engaged in them from the beginning though much pains was used by the Defendant to divert him from them And as the Defendant is not answerable for the Actions of his Friends much less is he accountable for the Thoughts of his Enemies who may Charge what they please on the suspicions of his secret Solicitations which are their own groundless and malicious Forgeries therefore this whole Article is false as the former are Charge That he traiterously betrayed His Majesties Service while he was in the Frith Article 4. and had His Majesties Trust and Command of His Fleet and Forces therein and whilst he was thus as appeared in Arms for His Majesty he intended nothing less as appears by his Friends and Followers their underhand Dealings suggesting that his taking that Charge upon him was out of his love and respect to his Country thereby to prevent that some other should not be put upon it who might have made use of that Power and Force to their Prejudice whereas he never intended any such thing by which he did not only most basely betray His Majesties Trust but there did also endear himself to the People and by the same means exasperate them against their King and Sovereign And that he was not only accessory hereto but really guilty of the thing it self appears by his own Discourse to divers Persons that if he had pleased he could have landed his Forces and done what further he was Warranted by his Commission but that he never intended it which Double-dealing may be yet more clearly evinced in that he had frequent private Meetings Correspondencies and Practices with the Counter-party as particularly by his Ordinary Appointments upon the Sands of Barnbougal and other places next adjacent where he usually kept his Meetings with some who were most desperate Leaders and Promoters of these Courses And the Prime Instruments of the Committee and Cabinet-Counsels there amongst them then
at the very same time and in the greatest heat of all the business did profess and give assurance both by word and under their hands that Hamilton was the greatest Favourer that ever their good Cause had notwithstanding of all that the formality of the time obliged him to profess to the contrary And not only in Scotland where it was generally known to be so but even some of the Scotish Commissioners did profess to some of this Kingdom that Hamilton had done things which they did not approve but yet that he had been much more Friend than Enemy to the Courses of the Country and had done much more good than evil yea Argyle himself upon a private dispute falling into heat delivered that he and those others did nothing but by Hamilton's Directions Knowledg or private Approbation As also whilst he was in the same Expedition being frequently invited by all His Majesties good Subjects then in the Northern parts of Scotland he most treacherously beâ—rayed them and abandoned the business as particularly can be instanced by the Marquis of Huntly who being appointed to receive His Majesties Orders from time to time by Hamilton whilst he did endeavour at the beginning at Turreff and other places vigorously to suppress that Party was straitly inhibited to engage but by the contrary by peremptory Orders willeâ— to suffer the Malignant Party to be the first beginners by which Restraint the Business was totally ruined as is notoriously known After which the Viscount of Aboyn being cloathed by His Majesty with Commissions and to have had some experimented Officers along in that Imployment the said Duke of Hamilton did break off that probable Course and engaged such of his own Election and Trust who did so evidently miscarry the Business as thereafter they were to be accused by the whole Noblemen and Gentry of that Party Like-as he having got Orders about the same time from the King to send Sir Nicholas Byron's Regiment to assist the King's Party in the North who could easily have reduced all that Country to His Majesties Obedience notwithstanding thereof and of their frequent Sollicitations to have it done he still shifted the Business and would never give way to it pretending that he had some other Design in hand for them though all they had to do was to Die below decks and be thrown over-board into the Sea And how often he might have put Forces great enough to Land and how frequently he was invited to it the whole Kingdom can bear witness Answer To the fourth Article the Defendant says The Answer to the fourth Article it is most false that he betrayed His Majesties Trust or Service when he commanded the Fleet and that he is ready to justifie every step of his Actings there by His Majesties Instructions and Letters which he received every third or fourth day when h ehad that Imployment nor is he answerable for what others might have said of him His Majesty knows well that he did not desire that Imployment for himself See p. 114. but conscious of his own unfitness entreated to be excused from it this His Majesty not allowing he undertook the Service and His Majesty likewise knows what Informations and Advices he sent him and that he gave punctual and ready Obedience to all the Orders he received Nor was his Service there useless for besides the great Diversion it made by the huge Bodies were left to guard the Coast he took divers Ships particularly some coming from Germany with many Officers who were returning home to offer their Service to the Covenanters and his Carriage was so far from making him gracious to that Party that none was more odious to them which appeared in the Curses and Reproaches were cast on him as he passed through the streets of Edinburgh to possess the Earl of Forth of the Castle See p. 144. a little after the Pacification nor had it been possible for him to have escaped at that time more sensible Affronts if he had not taken some Leading men of the Covenanters along with him When the Defendant was in the Frith See p. 124. he sent His Majesties Proclamation to those then in Arms and used all means possible to engage them to a Compliance with it nor had he any Conferences with them in secret when he was aboard See p. 133. but had always some Witnesses by when any were sent from the Covenanters to him and did immediately give His Majesty an account of all that passed for proof whereof he desires his Letters to His Majesty be examined See p. 131 133. Neither had the Defendant any Orders to land his Men till His Majesty was come to Berwick but had express Orders to the contrary and it was thought that his lying in the Frith did more amuse the Enemy than his Landing could have prejudiced them since they being uncertain where he might land great Bodies were kept upon the whole Coast which if he had landed had gathered together against him and had been too strong for him being about four times his number Nor did the Defendant make any Appointments on the Sands of Barnbougal as is most falsly alledged nor did he ever set his foot on Land except on the Isles of Inchcoln and Inchkeith all the while he lay in the Frith It is true he was once very near the Sands of Barnbougal but on a very different design he chasing a Bark that run her self aground there was likewise stuck fast and had almost been taken Prisoner divers Volleys passing betwixt his men and those on the Land but his Boat-men with much ado got him off See p. 138. Nor had the Defendant any Orders to proceed to Hostilities till two of his Regiments were called to the Camp nor could he safely land the other that remained consisting only of 1700 men It is true upon His Majesties Orders he was resolved to do the Enemy all the mischief he could but about thirty hours after he got these Orders in which time he was considering where he was first to make an Impression and did go out himself to have fired some Ships but by a mischance was run on a Shelve so that he lost that Tide they were countermanded by new Orders for His Majesty having resolved to Treat with the Enemy See p. 139. commanded him to go on to no more Hostilities but to come and wait on His Sacred Person so that the Defendant having in all things followed His Majesties Orders in that Service was well approved of by His Majesty Nor can any thing be charged on him from what the Leaders of the contrary Party might have said or written of him either then or since which might have been done on design either to encourage their own Party or out of hatred to the Defendant that thereby they might possess His Majesty with jealousies of him Nor was the Defendant ever invited by His Majesties good Subjects to come North except by one
Letter the Earl of Airly wrote him See p. 140. which he got after His Majesty called the two Regiments from the Fleet and about that time His Majesty commanded him to stop all Hostilities and give attendance on His Person See p. 123. He had likewise express Orders from His Majesty not to think of the North till some good were done in the South and it is most falsly alledged that when he was there See p. 117. he abandoned the Marquis of Huntley who was taken Prisoner before either he or his men were Shipped and the Orders he sent that Marquis were by His Majesties express Commands founded on very good reason that he should not make a Rupture till His Majesties Forces were drawn together and near the Borders lest as by the event did appear the Enemy should have overpowered him if he begun too soon and as the Defendant hath been informed that Business was ruined not by the Restraint these Orders gave but by the Treachery of some of the Defendant's Accusers who were then in Arms against him See p 135.137 and took that Marquis under Trust. And when the Viscount of Aboyn came to the Defendant with His Majesties Letters which were of a very old Date he was supplied to his hearts desire as himself professed His Majesty had before his coming called away two of the Regiments that were with the Defendant and he had Orders not to weaken the other so false is it that he had Orders to send Byron's Regiment to the North but he gave the Viscount of Aboyn some experienced Officers Arms Ammunition and Money And the Defendant hath been well informed that the Miscarriage of that Attempt did not flow from those he sent with that Lord but that being encountred by Souldiers commanded by some of the Defendant's Accusers his Lordship betook himself to his heels but the others whom the Defendant sent with him behaved themselves gallantly and laid all the blame of their bad success on that Lord. It is also false that Byron's Regiment was kept to die below Decks since from the time they went aboard till they were discharged there died not ten of their number so false is this Article in all its branches and assertions Charge That in all his demeanour he went about to advance the designs of that People against the King Article 5. as by secret encouraging them to persist in their obstinate Courses so by private discouraging of well-affected men to persevere in their Allegeance and in particular did advise some Noblemen who craved his Opinion how they should behave themselves in these Distractions to agree with the Country and go home and make their own Peace Like-as after the Pacification at Berwick continuing in his wonted strain of incensing in an underhand way the People against their King being demanded why he denuded himself of his former Commission his Answer was because he knew the King intended to keep nothing of that which at that time he had condescended unto otherwise he would not easily have parted with the Honour of that Service By which he did so wound the King in the Opinion of His Subjects of the sincerity of His Intentions That as no one thing did at that time breed more rubs and difficulties to His Majesties Service so is there nothing by which the People are more readily and easily stirred up to the present Rising in Arms than the Opinion they then and by his continual underhand working have since drunk in of the King's Intention to reverse in case he should prevail in England all the Acts and Favours he had condescended unto to His Subjects of Scotland Answer The Answer to the fifth Article To the fifth Article the Defendant says he ever studied by all the means that became a good Subject and Countryman to bring the Differences betwixt His Majesty and His Subjects to a happy Temper and he desires the Malice of his Accusers in forming this Article as all the rest be considered wherein base Discourses and Advices are fastned on him without naming the Persons to whom they were given and in this he cannot but commend his Accusers Prudence who have named no Person till they have tried upon whom they can so far prevail as to be guilty of the wickedness of owning such Lies The Defendant can prove the contrary by many in whose Preservation it is to be supposed he is more concerned than in any they can name with whom he used his utmost endeavours to perswade them to adhere closely to His Majesties Interests which prevailed on some though not on all nor did he advise any to agree with the Country till he knew His Majesty was resolved to end the Business in a Treaty in which case it could be no Crime to advise any to make their own Peace nor did he ever infuse into any Person a jealousie that His Majesty would void the happy Settlement of Scotland sure he is he said and did all was in his power to root these jealousies out of the Subjects minds which he can prove by innumerable Witnesses and Presumptions and no man durst say he heard any of the Discourses mentioned in the Article from the Defendant if he were in a capacity to call him to an account for it Nor did he desire to be free'd of his Commissionon the account that is falsly alledged in this Article but finding his continuing in that Place gave a Jealousie not only to the Country See p. 146. but to the Counsellours and Officers of State as if too great a Trust had been heaped on one Person and apprehending that the expence and greatness of that Character continuing long in one man would breed Envy and much retard his Majesties Service he desired a fitter Person might be put in that High Trust and that he might be suffered to continue about His Majesties Person who he supposes does remember well upon what grounds he desired to be free'd of that Great but Invidious Character thus this Article is also intirely false Charge That in the Petition to His Majesty for discharging the Annuity which was not so much pretended for that Article 6. as to be a pretext under which a firm Bond and Association might have been contracted amongst all Loyal Subjects for the Preservation of the Kings Person Honour and Authority and a strict Conjunction amongst themselves he could not be induced to put his hand to it until a Clause conceived in favours of His Majesty to the effect above-expressed as too great an eye-sore was dasht out and the same thus dashed being sent up to Court and the desire of the Petition most Graciously condescended unto by His Majesty and delivered unto the Earl of Lanerick chief Secretary the same was kept up to the great amazement of all those Noblemen and Gentlemen who had signed the same and total discouragement of others to appear in that or any such Course thereafter Answer To the sixth Article the
Defendant says The Answer to the sixth Article that he sees there is nothing so false but his Enemies have the impudence to fasten it on him since he was one of the chief Contrivers and Promoters of that Petition as he can prove by hundreds of Witnesses nor did he dash See p. 211. or cause to be dasht out any Clause that was conceived in His Majesties favours which his Enemies with their usual falshood say was too great an eye-sore It is true he saw divers Draughts of a Petition against the Annuities and some of them had expressions in them which the Judicatories of that time would have declared contrary to Acts of Parliament which by the advice of good Lawyers all that were well-affected to His Majesties Service rejected and yet the Draught agreed to will be found to contain very plainly the Assurances of their Fidelity to His Majesty and that Draught being agreed on the Defendant sent it to all the Places where he had Interest and procured very many Subscriptions to it so unjustly is the Defendant charged in this Article But as these Subscriptions were thus procured the Council stopped all further Proceedings in that Business by a Declaration forbidding any to subscribe it nor did His Majesty send any Answer to those Petitions to the Defendant It is true by his Instructions he did empower them to discharge the Annuities to such as had petitioned about them See p. 220. if this was not done it was not only the Defendants deed but was the concurring Opinion of the others joyned with him in Trust by His Majesty who he doubts not shall be able to give a very good account of that See p. 223. as of all the other particulars committed to their Trust when-ever His Majesty shall call them to it and shall shew him very good reasons why they did not proceed any further in that Affair Charge That since he left His Majesty at York Article 7. he hath been still labouring to frustrate the good Intentions of His Majesties faithful Subjects of Scotland and to bring Matters to the Pass they are now at which may be clearly evinced by the particulars which follow First when some Noblemen of that Kingdom well-affected to His Majesties Service perceiving the Intentions of some there to engage that Nation in Rebellion with the Malignant Party here made offer of all their best Services and ready endeavours to prevent the same for themselves and in the name of all the Kings greatest and best-affected Party there he to disappoint those promising and evident Courses thrust himself into the Business and in a very seeming plausible way undertook to keep that Kingdom in Peace and Quiet and from attempting any thing upon this Nation or against His Majesties Service now depending here and to make it appear the more specious without making use of any Force or putting His Majesty to any Trouble or Charges and withall solemnly engaged to break off all his Alliance Ties and Friendship with the Marquis of Argyle who doth make himself so much the Head of that Rebellion against His Majesty or otherwise perswade him to acknowledg himself and become a good Subject and that betwixt and three Months thereafter at farthest the effect of all which undertaking had this result First that immediately upon his return to Scotland a Convention of tâ—e Estates was indicted without the King's knowledg or consent a Precedent whereof can never be shown in any Records which coming to His Majesties knowledg He did immediately direct a Letter under His own Hand willing that Hamilton and some other of his Complices who had His Majesties Trust for the time should declare the said Meeting Illegal and disapprove it in His Majesties Name About the time of the Receipt of which Letter the said Hamilton and some of his Cabal did employ the Earl of Calander from them to speak with a great many Noblemen of the Kings Party and take their Advices in what was to be done and they who understood nothing of His Majesties Letter it being altogether kept up from them declared all in one voice their Iudgments were that His Majesty should disclaim the Convention and declare it Illegal and that they would all be willing to joyn with Hamilton and his Party and take their Lives in their hands to maintain His Majesties Honour and Authority and free themselves from the Slavery of those rebellious Tyrants It was answered them again by the said Earl of Calander His Majesties Letter being still supprest That the King would needs approve of the Convention with Limitations To which it was replied That they behooved either to be very ignorant or unfaithful who had given His Majesty such Advice seeing those People would never confine themselves within Limits or take a part if it should be left them in their power to extend themselves and over-reach all and that they would on no terms assent to any such Course as being intended for nothing else but a hollow undermining of His Majesty and all His faithful Subjects So they parted with little satisfaction on either hand and some days thereafter the said Earl of Calander was again directed to the same Parties to perswade them still to the former Overture but to no effect yet in end lest the Service might seem to suffer by so much difference in Opinion they desired Calander to shew Hamilton and those of his Party that since he was only trusted and employed by His Majesty in the Business their Affection and Tenderness to the Service should make them very unwilling to differ with him in the way and however in their own Iudgments they did no way approve that the King should so far wrong His Authority as to allow of any such Illegal Proceedings which did portend from bad Causes worse Effects yet since His Majesty would do it and they needs have it so they should go along but with one Caveat which was That if the Convention did not observe these Limitations prescribed by His Majesty in that case that they should protest and withdraw presently from the House and that then all who were for His Majesties Service should immediately joyn themselves together and take the Field This being solemnly concluded and with much attestation it was resolved that all who did affect the Kings Service and had Vote in the Convention should be present there upon certain hopes that they should be able to ballance either by Voices all violent Courses or at least to protest against them and adhere to His Majesties Service and Authority in a vigorous way But all their great Promises and fair Assurances were either not intended or very soon forgotten for whilst it was the first Act of the Convention after His Majesties Letter was read to Voice themselves a Free Assembly as any had ever been kept in that Kingdom notwithstanding of the Restraints in His Majesties Letter and that in that case Protests and Declarations and every thing
else in His Majesties behalf were faithfully assured they came so short of that as when Hamilton's Voice was asked and all expected he should have made a Protest he pronounced so doubtful an Oracle as Argyle seeming to question of what spirit it came though no question it had been oft so concluded among them the more to possess others with panick fears desired he should explain himself if that he meant not thereby any Protest who answered that he never intended to protest against a National Convention and that it seemed his words were very much mistaken To second this his Brother Lanerick the King 's chief Secretary rose up and had a Discourse to qualifie Hamilton's expressions and free them from all such disloyal blemishes as a Protest in the Kings behalf so all who were to have declared themselves for His Majesty being surprized by so strange and unexpected a way withdrew and retired themselves from the Meeting in a general Discontent And yet their Affections being such to His Majesties Service as they were unwilling to leave it on these Terms however so badly handled would not let it rest there but would yet put him a little further to it making again the offer of all their best Endeavours for His Majesties Service desiring that since he was only the Person chiefly imployed by His Majesty and one who had most interessed himself in the King's Trusts that they might be directed by him in the matter of His Majesties Business how to carry themselves and whether or not it were more fitting for the Service that they should sit in the Convention or absent themselves or do whatsoever else He was so far notwithstanding of his Imployment and Trust from giving information encouragement or advice as all that he returned them for their Affection and Faithfulness to His Majesties Service was That they might use their own Discretions and do as themselves should think fit which did so evidently discover unto them his hollow-hearted Cunning the Ruin by consequence of His Majesties Affairs the slight and cold way they themselves were used and the ticklish condition he had so mired them into as they seemed constrained for the most part to keep the Convention and countenance all those Illegal and Rebellious ways were taken in it And it is likewise to be remembred that notwithstanding His Majesties Letter wherein He declared His express Pleasure anent the discharge of that Illegal Indiction that they did not only suppress the same and keep it up from the knowledg of the King 's faithful Party there but also did procure from His Majesty an allowance to that Illegal Meeting contrary to His Majesties Pleasure already expressed unto them and the wishes and desires of all the faithful Party in that Kingdom It is also to be called to mind that after all hopes and probabilities of the Kings Service in the Matter of the Convention were absolutely deserted and given over that Will. Murray who was commanded by the King to Agent His Affairs there then desired a Meeting of those of the Kings Party who had already kept these two Appointments with Calander before the Convention who notwithstanding His Majesties Service had been so grosly and palpably already miscarried and they themselves so notably abused in it being willing to study rather the Remedies than regrate the Disease and redeem the Time rather than complain of its loss once for all were content to hear what could be propounded for the recovery of Business which only proved that they would undertake and joyn to re-gain that After-game which a few had spoiled and all given over Notwithstanding whereof they gave it Will. Murray back in his Commission to Hamilton and his Complices that if they would really and even down put on a Resolution to appear vigorously and to purpose in the Service they in that case to shew they should not mingle themselves nor any of their particulars would be willing to follow were it Hamilton or any in what should prove to the advancement of the Service otherwise if they thought that too much that they would be willing to joyn hand in hand and put their Lives and Fortunes and all together at the stake with them and if that did not satisfie but that they esteemed it too rash a Business for men of so much cunning to engage in that they would but approve them to put it to a hazard and they would willingly take their adventure which should they carry they could be very willing that Hamilton and his Party â—hould have the esteem of it did they miscarry or succumb that he and his might take their own Course of Safety without being concerned in their Misfortunes This Commission being home and heartily delivered it was promised by Will. Murray that Hamilton and his Party should be presently put to it and an Answer returned for the more hasty dispatch whereof they sending along one of their own number to expede the Return Hamilton and his Complices being several times convened and pressed upon it did absolutely refuse to meddle in that kind which was all their Answer so that the other being willing notwithstanding of all these hollow-hearted Treacheries both before in the time and after the Convention either to follow joyn or hazard alone in His Majesties Service would they but approve it they refused all either to do alone joyn or suffer others to do it after all which there could be nothing resting but an invincible necessity to know His Majesties own Mind since they who had his sole and absolute Employ and Trust did so much abuse it to His Disservice By all which points circumstances and cunning fetches to bring this Convention to the wished period it may clearly appear to every undeluded eye that he is accessory to that bad Plot of raising this Army in Scotland to disturb the Kings Affairs in this Kingdom that so all being brought to a Chaos of Confusion he might the better fish his hopes and ends from amongst so troubled waters Answer To the seventh Article the Defendant says The Answer to the seventh Article he does not much wonder that his Enemies have filled this up with many Falshoods since they have the impudence in the former Articles to fasten many things on him which were known to His Majesty to be Falshoods but no wonder their Malice does culminate in aggravating the particulars of this Article they being recent and passed since His Majesty was in Scotland and since the Defendant had the Honour of waiting on His Majesty and giving him more particular Informations than Letters or Messengers could carry and the tragical event of Affairs seems to offer colours as is usual in such cases for charging those who had the chief Trust in them But the Defendant doubts not he shall be able to make appear the falshood of this Article in all these particular instances with which he is charged and First His Majesty knows best of any if he did thrust
himself into Affairs and if he did not act only as he was commanded and employed by him nor does the Defendant know who those Noblemen were that made such Offers His Majesty knows better if any such were made The Defendant knows well that some of his Accusers made some Offers to Her Majesty about eight Months after His Majesty had sent him to Scotland Comp. p. 212. with p. 195. but as these Offers were designed to make His Majesty the first breaker which would have been infinitely to the prejudice of His Service and have given incurable jealousies to the Subjects of all His Majesties Concessions so no rational Methods were proposed for prosecuting them and it seemed they flowed from the desperate State those Lords were in who had engaged as deep against the King as any had done but afterwards not meeting that Esteem and those Rewards which their Ambition and Vanity had designed and their Fortunes being ruined they pretended much zeal for the Kings Service but offered no rational appearances of being able to prosecute what they undertook But the Defendant as both their Majesties well know laid the whole Matter before them with his own Opinion and the grounds on which he went and they do also know with what impudent Falshood it is alledged See p. 21â— 227 228. that he undertook to keep the Kingdom of Scotland in Peace since both in his Discourses and Letters he often said he would undertake for none but himself and that he very much feared the Conjunction of that Kingdom with the Two Houses and that the utmost of his Hopes was to keep off things by delays for that year and in this he appeals to His Majesty and to all in the Court with whom he kept Correspondence And for his Engagements to break with the Marquis of Argyle if he did not faithfully adhere to His Majesties Interests it is well known how ill an understanding and how little Correspondence hath been betwixt the Defendant and Argyle these twelve Months past His Majesty also knows See p. 210. that when the Chancellour of Scotland was sent up last the Defendant wrote to him to look well to him for it was believed and it was the Defendant's own Opinion that if he went to London he would engage in an Union with the Two Houses in name of the Kingdom of Scotland of which when His Majesty challenged the Chancellour he denied it and said These were Jealousies infused into His Majesty by the Defendant so far was he from abusing His Majesty with vain Hopes Nor is it strange that his Enemies charge Falshoods on him in Matters pretended to be transacted among few hands since they are so impudent in Matters that were publick as to say that immediately upon his return to Scotland a Convention of Estates was called Comp. p. 195. and p. 218. for that was not done but after he had been sent to Scotland almost a whole year and all that time the Defendant did render His Majesty such Services that he was pleased out of His Royal Goodness not only to write him many Letters of Thanks but to confer divers marks of His Favour on him And when the Convention of Estates was appointed to be called See p. 21â— the Defendant did all he could to oppose that Resolution and entred his Declaration against it which is yet upon Record having omitted nothing he could either say or do to hinder the Calling of it for which Service he received a particular Letter of Thanks from His Majesty and the Defendant says See p. 232. that there was no Letter written from His Majesty to him to hinder the meeting of that Convention nor does he know who are meant by his Complices or Cabal as they are afterwards called except those Lords whom His Majesty joyned with the Defendant in the Instructions he sent them The first Article of these being that they should do all was possible for avoiding Divisions among His Majesties Subjects See p. 219. and a Latitude being left for them to do what might be most for His Majesties Service on their perils and as they should be answerable See p. 245. they were to consider what was most to His Majesties Service It is true His Majesty did direct a Letter to the Council to forbid the meeting of the Convention See p. 230. but did remit it to the consideration of the Lords whom he had trusted whether it were fitter to deliver or conceal it upon which they were obliged to consider what was best to be done nor was it fit for them to divulge that Letter till it was considered whether it should be made use of or not But the Lords that had His Majesties Trust did call some meetings of all who were judged best-affected to consider what Advices were to be offered to His Majesty and they all did return their joynt-Advices See p. 226. with the reasons that prevailed with them to His Majesty wherein the Defendant was but one of seven and so is not to be charged nor answerable for the Advice so given since they only offered Advertisements to the King with their Advices and the reasons that prevailed with them and as His Majesty who could only judge what Advices were best gave Orders so they did Act if the Advertisements sent were false or their Advices against Law they are accountable for them but are not bound to answer for the good success of every thing they advised that being in the hands of God and neither the Defendant nor any other joyned with him in Trust did advise His Majesty to authorize the Convention but only to allow them liberty to sit so they kept within the prefixed Limits And there was good reason for offering such Advice His Majesties Affairs not being in so promising a condition that it was fit for them to begin the Rupture and it was certain that these who called the Convention without His Order would have acted in it notwithstanding His Prohibition which must have either affronted His Authority or precipitated a Breach which could not have been done at that time without the Ruin of the King's Affairs in that Kingdom The Defendant did at that time desire the Earl of Calander that he would use his Endeavours with some of these who pretended zeal for the King's Service and are now the Defendant's Accusers that they would lay aside all private Animosities and concur in His Majesties Service and offer their Opinions with the Method in which they desired things might be carried on and the Defendant offered them all possible satisfaction in every thing for which they stood at a distance from him but that Earl brought Answers very far different from what they pretend they sent and all wise men looked on their Propositions as so extravagant and unpromising that none could think them fit to be followed But the Defendant denies there were any such Engagements passed as in the Article is falsly alledged yet
when the Convention sat the Defendant did often and no way ambiguously See p. 224. but very plainly declare he did not own their Authority nor would give obedience to any of their Acts that were beyond the Bounds prefixed in His Majesties Letter upon which he withdrew with divers of his Friends and did advise and prevail on many to follow his Example It is true some came and asked his Advice of whose Fidelity he had no reason to be assured judging not without grounds that they came to him on design to trepan him and therefore he told them that for his own part he was resolved not to acknowledg their Authority nor give obedience to their Commands by which they might easily judge what he would advise seeing his Practice It is also false that the Defendant procured from His Majesty an allowance to that Convention since the Letter His Majesty wrote was so far from allowing it that it particularly challenged the Illegality and Nullity of that Meeting See p. 232. and the Convention was so far from thinking themselves Authorised by it that they refused to stand to it or so much as to put it on Record It is also false that any such Offers as are vainly and without truth said to have been made to Mr. Murray were ever brought by him to the Defendant or others intrusted with him he was indeed imployed to deal with them to overcome their untoward Jealousies and ambitious Vanity but with no success as he reported and is ready to make good but they venting their implacable Hatred and ill-grounded Jealousies of His Majesties faithful Servants left the Kingdom in the Summer and possessed many with such Prejudices that they infinitely retarded His Majesties Service and divided the small Party that adhered to him yet His Majesty sustained no Prejudice from Scotland all that year which was the uttermost that ever the Defendant gave His Majesty any hope of But it is most basely false that the Defendant did bring the Convention of Estates to the wished period since he did all that was in his power to hinder its Sitting and to get it broken up assoon as it sat down It is also false that the Defendant was on the design of raising the Army in Scotland which he opposed by all the probable and honest ways were in his power and was ever ready upon the least appearances or hopes of Success to have hazarded his Life and Fortune to hinder it and therefore sent frequently to England for those Supplies without which their Attempt could signifie nothing but the exposing the Kings Party in Scotland to the scorn and malice of their Enemies But the necessity of His Majesties Affairs in England did so retard the Answers that opportunities were lost and the other Party had prevailed over all which forced the Defendant to fly out of that Kingdom Order being given for seizing on his Estate and taking and imprisoning his Person and yet Affairs there are not quite desperate but the Defendant had many very probable Propositions to have offered to His Majesty the Maintaining of whose Prosperity and Authority hath been the constant designofhis whole Life Charge That he hath endeavoured to set on foot a Title to the Crown of Scotland Article 8. having Treated with Forreign Princes touching his Claim thereunto and desired their Aid and Assistance to his Right protecting and maintaining such as wrote Treatises in his behalf and Claim to the Crown Besides all which particulars of his treacherous sowing of Sedition 'twixt His Majesty and His Subjects his undervaluing and reviling his own Sacred Person his fomenting all the unhappy Differences betwixt King and People his exciting of each against the other his pouring of oyl into the fire betwixt them both his direct Attempts upon the Crown and intentions to Vsurp his late Carriage doth give too evident a Character of his invincible Disloyalty as particularly his treacherous Carriage before in the time and at the late Convention his juggling in the business of the Counterpetition and that of the late pretended Bond which are so notorious Truths and so evidently to be instructed by all His Majesties good Subjects but more particularly by those with whom by His Majesties special Command he kept a seeming Correspondence Besides divers other circumstances whereby it may be clearly demonstrated that he is of the Party with them that have raised this Rebellion in Scotland namely that in the Instructions given by that Faction to the Earl of Lowthian in his late French Negotiation one of the particulars earnestly recommended to him was to desire of the Crown of France Restitution of the Dutchy of Chastleherault to him which in all probability they would never have done in his favour if they had taken him for an Enemy to their designs and purposes Last of all it is craved that in respect of his unexpected Arrival here there may be liberty to add and amplifie this Charge as occasion shall offer One particular omitted above is not amiss to be here inserted at what time the business of the Scotish Covenant was at the greatest height a distressed Gentleman of Scotland Sir John Ferguson desired the Loan of some Money from Sir John Hamilton of Broomhill whose Relation and Interest every way to the Duke are known to every one who knows them both who answered him in flat terms he would neither give nor lend him a penny except he and his Sons would bind themselves to go home and sign the Covenant upon which Condition he offered to lend him what he sought We do engage from our faithful respects to His Majesties Service without any consideration or interest else whatsoever to make good this Charge some of the weightiest points by several Witnesses and all the rest by some and strong Probabilities Answer The Answer to the eighth Article To the eighth Article the Defendant says here lies the Master-piece of his Enemies Malice and Calumny to charge him with a point treasonable in the highest degree without offering one circumstance to make the Truth of it appear probable and such publick things as the setting on foot a pretence to the Crown the Treating with Forreign Princes touching his Claim to it the Authorising and Protecting of any who wrote in defence of his Title must have been notour and known things and yet no particular is here named which clearly shews the Forgery of the whole on design to beget in His Majesty Jealousies of the Defendant who knows of no such Title to the Crown but acknowledges His Majestie 's and His Posteritie's whom he prays God to preserve their undoubted Right to the Crown And as the Defendant acknowledgeth the great Honour of his Relation to the Royal Blood so there is no more reason to Charge him on that account than to Charge any others who are more nearly related to His Majesty as are all the Noble branches of the Prince Elector Palatin's Family But as the Honour of
small Trouble except the loss of some Time which this lingring Course would have cost whereas if they fought with them it was to be feared that the Irish with some Scotish Highlanders and other Gentlemen that joyned with Montrose being desperate would be too hard for such raw Souldiers as would be drawn together to oppose them for the Covenanters resolved not to bring any of their Forces out of England or Ireland till they were forced to it by necessity Besides the Plague at that time had broken in upon Scotland and swept away many thousands which filled all Places with so much fear and horrour that the hearts and hands of all did fail them and so a faint Resistance was to be expected in such a general Consternation But the more forward did not relish these Advices and many Church-men being full of hopes of Success and the opinion of Gods Favour to their Way were for engaging into present Action This Advice was plausible for they hoped for a speedy issue of it whereas Delays drew a vast expence on the Nation This their errour cost them dear and opened a way for a great deal of Honour to Montrose who managed his small Force with as much Conduct as Success and carried all down before him with a torrent of Victories till at length after his last Victory at Kilsyth the High-landers loaded with Prey would needs go home to their Lurking-holes which he could not resist his Authority over them being but precarious And instead of retiring with them into the Hills he came down into the South-Country with the little handful that adhered to him in hopes that many should have flockt about his Victorious Standard but he was generally hated by the Vulgar so powerfully had the Excommunications and Thunders of the Church wrought upon them Besides many Outrages had been committed by his Irish and High-land Souldiers which had been indeed resisted by him as much as was possible but having no Pay to give them he durst not exercise that severity of Martial Discipline which had been otherwise necessary Yet all was imputed to his Orders by his Enemies which made him very odious to the generality of those who knew him not and hence it was that wise men did not hope for a good account of the Kings Affairs from this Design therefore he was not assisted with such Forces as he had promised himself from the Kings Friends in the South-Countrey But he was become too secure of Victory and began to apprehend the Fame of his former Conquests was able to scatter any Force could be brought against him therefore notwithstanding some Advertisements he had of Lieutenant General Lesley's coming down with a good Body of Horse from the Scotish Army in England he still remained in the low Countrey till he was surprized and routed of a sudden Then he went again to the Hills but there he saw how groundless it was to expect any real Aid from those wild and disorderly People he traversed to and again through the Hills sparing neither Labour Industry nor Art to draw together new Forces but was never able to effectuat it a small Body of a few hundreds being all the Strength he could ever make only he was in hopes of great matters And thus it continued till this time that the Scotish Commissioners moved the King for recalling his Commission His Majesty was willing to grant this only he desired he might have liberty to send for him with a Safe-conduct and that he might be suffered to kiss his Hand after which he should go beyond Sea never again to return without their Consent But to this they would not hearken wherefore His Majesty being constrained to yield to all their Demands His Majesty call in his Commissions to Montrose did by Proclamation call in his Commission and sent a Gentleman with Orders to him and such as were with him to lay down their Arms immediately To this Montrose answered by a Dispatch yet extant dated the second of Iune that as he had proposed nothing to himself in all he had done but His Majesties Service so he was not now to dispute his Obedience to His Commands Only he desired that Security might be granted for those Gentlemen who had hazarded their Lives for the Kings Service that they might not be laid open to the Fury of their Enemies but might live at quiet in their own Houses and as for such as were counted unpardonable he desired they might have Passes to go beyond Seas and at this it stuck for some time When this was done His Majesty began to be importuned from all hands to settle Religion according to the Covenant The King is much pressed to take the Covenant Addresses being made to him for that effect both from the Army the Commissioners sent from Scotland the Committee of Estates in Scotland and the Commissioners from the General Assembly But to all those the King answered That when he was satisfied in Conscience with the lawfulness of what they desired then but never till then could he grant their Demands wherefore he said he was willing to enter in Conference with any they should appoint Protesting that if he got satisfaction to his Conscience in those two Points the one being that he judged Episcopacy of Divine Appointment and the other that by his Coronation-Oath in England he was tied to the Defence of the Church as it was then established he should not be ashamed to change his Iudgement and alter his Resolutions Whereupon Mr. Henderson was pitched upon as the man of greatest Abilities and Discretion for that task and during the Month of Iune Papers passed to and again betwixt the King and him of which they being so often published I shall say no more but that from these it appears had His Majesties Armes been as strong as his Reason was he had been every way unconquerable since none have the dis-ingenuity to deny the great advantages His Majesty had in all these Writings And this was when the help of his Chaplains could not be suspected they being so far from him And it is indeed strange to see a Prince not only able to hold up with but so far to outrun so great a Theologue in a Controversie which had exercised his thoughts and studies for so many years And that the King drew with his own Hand all his Papers without the help of any is averred by the Person who alone was privy to the interchanging of them that worthy and accomplished Gentleman Sir Robert Murray who at that time was known to His Majesty and he discovering in him those great parts and excellent qualities that recommended him to the love and esteem of all vertuous persons that knew him honoured him with a great deal of Freedom and it was believed few were more in the Kings Favour than he was him therefore did His Majesty imploy in that exchange of Papers being all written with his own Hand and in much less
time than Mr. Henderson did his They were given by His Majesty to Sir Robert Murray to transcribe the Copies under Sir Robert Murray's hand were by him delivered to Mr. Henderson and Mr. Henderson's hand not being so legible as his he by the Kings Appointment transcribed them for His Majesty and by His Majesties permission kept Mr. Henderson's Papers and the Copies of the Kings as was signified to the Writer by himself a few days before His much-lamented Death All this while they were consulting at Westminster They consult at VVestminster about Propositions to be made to the King about the Propositions to be sent to His Majesty for now the Independent Party begun to prevail and as they were certainly the strongest in the English Army so they had a great Party in the House of Commons Their Design was to perpetuate a Military Power in their own hands and to set up a Toleration of all Sects and so the Propositions at Vxbridge were much altered The Scotish Commissioners The Scotish Commissioners are for making them easie to the King in the Papers they gave in concerning the Propositions first complained That the Settling of Religion was conceived in general Terms and that no particulars about Vniformity of Religion were laid down next they opposed much the Propositions about the Militia desiring that no new ones differing from what had been offered at Uxbridge might be made that so it might appear they were not taking advantages from the Straits His Majesty was in to diminish His Iust Power and Greatness to which they were bound both by Covenant and Treaties and which had been often repeated in all their Declarations adding that they could not consent to any Proposition that should take from their Soveraign the Power of Protecting and Defending His Subjects which necessarily followed were the Militia put into the hands of the Parliament wherefore they pressed that the Militia might not be settled in the hands of the Parliament but of the King and Parliament jointly and so consigned to such Commissioners of both Kingdoms as should be chosen by the King and them together This they backed with a Paper Many Papers past betwixt them and the Two Houses containing the Extracts and Citations of the former Declarations and Papers emitted by Both Houses to the same purpose both about Uniformity of Religion and the Maintaining the Kings Authority even in the matter of the Militia which was a long and smart Paper They also in another Paper appealed to all the Treaties that had been betwixt the Kingdoms since the beginning of that War wherein the Maintenance of the Kings Just Power had still been laid down as a ground on which they were to proceed in order to a Peace But upon this the Independent Party begun to say that the Agreement made with Scotland An. 1643. was no Treaty and that the Parliament was not bound to make good what was agreed to in it And this drew from the Scotish Commissioners another large Paper proving That to be a Treaty wherein they did shew How that the Kingdom of Scotland had engaged both in the Irish and English War upon the invitation the Two Houses sent them by Commiâ—sioners impowered with ample Credentials Signed by the two Speakers which gave them power to Treat and conclude both about the Scotish Army then in Ireland and the Army they invited to come to their Assistance in England upon which an Agreement was treated and concluded betwixt the Committee of Estates in Scotland and the Commissioners from England and Signed by them and so transmitted to the Two Houses who by frequent Letters to Scotland expressed their Ratification of that Agreement and whereas in some of the Articles then Agreed to there was an Alternative concerning the Scotish Army then in Ireland their Stay there or their Transportation upon which the Independents founded their Allegation that matters were not finally concluded they did shew how false that was since that Alternative was emitted in their Agreement then made to the Determination of the Two Houses who thereupon declared by repeated Letters to what branch of it they agreed So they made it appear that no obligation could be brought on any State by any Treaty that was wanting in that But at length the Propositions were all agreed on The Propositions are agreed on and the Scotish Commissioners though they opposed that Article of the Militia yet gave way to it rather than hazard on a Rupture The Propositions being so oft in Print need not be at length set down only the Heads of them follow taken from the Original that was delivered to the King which he gave to the Earl of Lanerick and is among his Papers FIrst The annulling of all Oaths The Heads of them and Declarations against the Parliaments and Kingdoms was desired The next five Propositions were about establishing the Covenant the Abolition of Episcopacy and Liturgy and the Kings taking and authorizing the Covenant The next five were against Popery and Papists The 12th was for the observation of the Lords Day and against Pluralities and Nonresidences and about Vniversities 13 That the Militia should be in the hands of the Parliament for 20 years who should also have a power to raise Money and that after those years the Two Houses might raise what Forces they pleased by their Bills though His Majesty gave not his assent to them and that the Rights of the City of London should be confirmed 14 That all Honours and other Writs passed under the great Seal since it was taken away from Westminster should be annulled 15 That the Treaties betwixt England and Scotland should be ratified 16 Delinquents were to be excepted from the general Oblivion and those were put in several Classes and accordingly several Punishments designed against them 17 The late Cessation granted by the King in Ireland to be annulled and the management of that War to be remitted to the Two Houses The 18 was about the City of London 19 That all Writs passed under the Parliaments Great Seal should be in force In Iuly the Duke came to Newcastle to wait on His Majesty The Duke waits on the King and is well received by him and and when he first kissed the Kings Hand His Majesty and he blushed at once and as the Duke was retiring back with a little Confusion into the croud that was in the Room the King asked if he was afraid to come near him upon which he came to the King and they entred into a large Conversation together wherein His Majesty expressed the sense he had of his long Sufferings in terms so full of affection that he not only brake through all of his Resentments but set a new edge again upon his old Affection and Duty He told him He ever had Iudged him Innocent as to the bulk of things though he confessed there were some particulars he was not so well satisfied with but that his Restrain was extorted from
him much against his Heart for he had stood out against all the Importunities of his Enemies till the very morning he came to Oxford in which most of the whole Court came about him and said they would all desert him if He yielded not to their Desires The Duke professed he was fully satisfied that His Majesty judged him Innocent and that his Heart was still what it had ever been to His Service but he saw himself in no capacity of being further useful to His Majesty since these Iealousies would be ever hanging over his Head though His Majesty were free of them Things were now brought to great extremities so that the success of any Service might be laid on him seemed not only doubtful but desperate Besides he had no reason to think that cloud of Misfortunes which did hitherto hang over all his Actions was yet broken or dissipated and therefore he had particular reason to apprehend cross Events would yet follow his Attempts but he knew the World would be so unjust as to impute them to his Resentments and count them not casual but designed Miscarriages wherefore he desired permission to go abroad into some corner of the World where he might enjoy a private Retirement But the Kings Answer to this was that he looked on it as a well-couched Resentment adding he did not expect he would now leave him when he needed his Assistance most and this overcame his Resolution for that time therefore he frankly desired His Majesty would lay his Commands on him And the first of them gave occasion to a very unexampled and sublime exercise of his Vertue for at this time the King was in great perplexity about Montrose his Affairs The King orders the Duke to do what he could for rescuing Montrose since to leave him to the fury of his Enemies for having served him faithfully was so contrary to his Honour and Conscience that the King abhorred the thought of it on the other hand he could not preserve him for having recalled his Commission his further Actings were legally Treasonable and there was no way remaining to get him out of their hands since the King had no Ships for his Transportation and the fury against him was so great that they would hear of no Conditions unless he rendered himself to their Discretion wherefore the King proposed it to the Duke to do what in him lay to extricate him out of this Strait for the known enmity that was betwixt the Duke and Montrose would make his Advices in that particular less suspected An ordinary Vertue would have judged it sufficient not to have revenged Injuries and to have dispensed with the remembrance of them but it must be confessed to be a high Instance of Christianity to repay Injuries while the smart and sense of them was yet so fresh with so great Generosity He recommended the care of this to that Noble Gentleman Collonel Lockhart who was in Command under Middleton that led the Forces which were sent against him and had much power over him being his intimate Friend and did then begin to shew those eminent Qualities which made him afterwards be so much esteemed over Europe and his death be so Universally lamented Middleton treated with Montrose and took Lockhart with him to the Interview who told Montrose what Commands were laid on him by the Duke to serve him Montrose seeing his danger was willing to Capitulate with Middleton that they should lay down their Armes and retire to their Houses those only excepted who were attainted by the Acts of their Pretended Parliament who should be suffered to go beyond Sea within a few days after the Agreement This being done the Kirk-Party made great opposition to the Ratification of it in the Committee of Estates nor could it have been carried but by the Interest the Duke and his Brother had there who pressed it with much zeal This hath been often owned by Midleton and was avouched to the Writer by Sir William Lockhart who added That never did the Duke or his Brother lay their Commands on him in more pressing terms than in this particular about Montrose's Preservation The King being freed from this troublesom Intrigue The King is earnestly pressed to yield to the Propositions the next care was what Answer should be given to the Propositions for Peace that were every day expected The Duke prest him most earnestly to yield to them how unreasonable soever they might seem and particularly in the point of Religion for without full satisfaction in that nothing would please the Scotish Nation nor the City of London by whom only His Majesty could now hope to be preserved and they would hear of nothing short of the Abolition of Episcopacy and the Kings Taking the Covenant But were those granted he found a willingness in them to interpose for Moderating the other Propositions particularly those of the Militia and about the Delinquents he therefore intreated His Majesty to consider the Danger He was now in Foreign Aid was not to be looked for and he could not apprehend that Scotland would engage for him if the case varied nothing by His â—oncessions since they could not heretofore be kept in a Neutrality would His Majesty therefore for a Form of Government hazard the loss of his Crowns or if He was so Noble as to despise any Prejudice Himself might feel yet he besought Him to consider His Royal Posterity who by His stiffness would be ruined and to have pity on His Dominions which lay bleeding in that long tract of Civil Wars And though His Majesty had not full clearness in His Conscience about it yet he was sure the matter seemed of small Importance in it self though it became very great by the effects it might produce and he was confident if it were a sin God would never lay it to His charge since His Inducements to it were so strong and unavoidable All this he did not say from his own sense of these Propositions since himself thought His Majesties Concessions were such as might give full satisfaction but that he saw things were in that state that nothing without satisfaction in the point of Religion could bring them to any Settlement This was often repeated to the King both by him and his Brother as well in their Letters as Discourses But His Majesty said His Conscience was dearer to Him than His Crown But the King resolves to adhere firmly to his Conscience and He would willingly run the hazard of all His Crowns below rather than endanger that above that hitherto He had received no satisfaction to His Conscience in these two Great Points at which He stuck and till that were done no Consideration whatsoever would prevail The Quiet of His Kingdoms and the Settlement of His Throne were indeed to be purchased at any rate yet the Peace of His Conscience must be preferred by Him to all things And on these grounds did His Majesty still continue unshaken notwithstanding all
hazards The Propositions were brought from the Two Houses about the middle of Iuly and a speedy answer was craved to them The Propositions are brought to the King But for an account of His Majesties Thoughts of them I cannot give it better than by setting down a written account of them in a Letter sent to the Earl of Lauderdale at His Majesties Command by Sir Robert Murray THe Duty which I conceive every good Subject owes His Majesties first Thoughts of them to use his utmost Endeavours how weak soever for the furtherance of the happy Peace of these afflicted Kingdoms hath made me take the boldness to talk with the King upon the Propositions to see how far he can be induced to yield to them And although to every particular I cannot promise you an exact account because there are divers things in them which neither He nor I understand yet to the main Points I shall and such as I hope may be a good ground-work for happy Conclusions First then for Religion I find His Majesty really Conscientious and not superstitiously Scrupulous wherefore until He be better satisfied the uttermost He can be brought to is that He will be content that Presbyterial Government be generally established within this Kingdom by Act of Parliament for three years provided that He and all those of His Opinion may freely enjoy their Consciences according to the practices in Queen Elizabeth 's and King James 's Times Now how to do this would be too long for a Letter but as there are Examples so I doubt not to shew you more than one way to do it so willing ears may be brought to such a Motion and I assure you His Majesty is most willing to hearken and seek after information to the end He may be satisfied how with a safe Conscience He may give you full satisfaction herein but this Proviso that His Majesty grants will probably be but temporary For the Militia I can neither see inclinations in His Majesty to relinquish nor can I find Arguments to perswade him to it nevertheless I perceive so great inclinations in Him to strain to the uttermost to give His Subjects all just Satisfaction especially in what concerns the securing of their Fears that He will be content for Ten years the Two Houses should dispose of the Militia by Act of Parliament in the hands of such and so many persons as they shall name as likewise to change them within the said time and appoint others in their Places as they shall think fit but after the expiration of the said Time to return to the Crown as Queen Elizabeth and King James enjoyed it Concerning Delinquents His Majesties Opinion is that a good Act of Oblivion is the best way to bind up a Peace after Intestine Troubles it having been the Wisdom of other Kingdoms most usually and with good success to grant general Pardons with very few or no Exceptions whereby the numerous Discontentments of all sorts of People which are the seeds and fuel to future Disorders might be totally extinguished and His Majesty further conceives that He cannot desert so many gallant Persons of Condition and Fortune who have engaged themselves with Him only out of a sense of Duty without a perpetual and irrecoverable Dishonour As for Offices though His Majesty judges that the Disposal of them is a necessary Flower of the Crown yet He is content for this time to accept of the Nomination of them from the Two Houses to be enjoyed by these persons quam diu se bene gesserint so that after Vacancies they return to be disposed of as before I unwillingly mention Ireland because His Majesties Publick Faith being engaged how dare I speak to Him to violate that which is and must be all our Security but even in this will I pawn my Life He will prove Himself a zealous Protector of Protestants and a constant Maintainer of Sovereign Power My Conclusion is that if upon these grounds a Conference may be had betwixt His Majesty and the Two Houses I will engage any thing that an Honest man can that these Kingdoms will be shortly happy in a firm Peace which if it should fail on our part for our not hearing of our Soveraign it would be an unparalelled Misfortune not without Infamy These were His Majesties private Thoughts but His publick Answer inclined more to a Denial which when it was brought to Westminster was entertained both with Joy and Sorrow The King does not yield to the Propositions according to the inclinations of the several Parties The Independents and those of the Army feared nothing so much as the Kings granting them for in that case they saw there could be no colour for keeping up an Army and in the House of Commons when Thanks were Voted to the Commissioners that had been with the King for their pains one Member whispered another in the ear that they owed more Thanks to the King than any body and in another corner an honest Member saying to another what shall become of us since the King refuseth these Propositions the other answered nay what had become of us if He had granted them The Independent Party upon this moved The Houses go on to high Resolutions but are stopped by the Scotish Commissioners that no more Addresses should be made and that His Majesties Person should be demanded and the Army commanded Northward to see it executed which had been infallibly done had not the Scotish Commissioners given them in some Papers complaining of many Violations of the Treaty and the Arrears due to the Army The King had also desired a Personal Treaty near London and the Scots seconded it but the obtaining it was impossible for all this time the Scotish Commissioners and the English whereof the greatest part were of the Independent Faction were in no good terms As for the Arrears of their Pay the Two Houses talked of offering five hundred thousand pounds Sterling whereof an hundred and fifty thousand should be paid presently that so they might be rid of their Army which they said was no more necessary in England and a Complaint being made against some who spoke and wrote in prejudice of the Scotish Nation an Ordinance was debated for punishing them The Independents Imployed all their Strength against it Cromwell spoke most vehemently that it was to discourage their Friends and to encourage their Enemies but Hollis took him up so sharply for calling base Libellers Friends that he was glad to recant When it went to the Vote it run near an equality for 102 were against it and 132 for it so quickly were the Services of their dear Brethren of Scotland forgotten At this time the King sent my Lords of Argyle The King employes Argyle at London for obtaining a Personal Treaty Lowdon and Dumfermline to London Their Instructions were to deal for a Personal Treaty near London to get some of the Kings faithfullest Servants to be suffered
to come and wait on Him And for the Militia the Scots had declared themselves satisfied with the Kings Concessions about it wherefore He desired they would stick to Him according to their Promises As for Religion He desired they would represent to those who were best-affected how dangerous it would be to insist too much on that at this time when the greatest hazard was from the Sectaries and that His Majesties consenting to a temporary Establishment of what they craved did put them in a fair way to their Desires And beside all this it was recommended to them to procure a delay of the Desire for an answer to the Propositions till the 16th of September When these Instructions were given them the King desired their promise first of Secrecy next of Fidelity in discharging what was intrusted to them for the second they undertook it but refused the first except the King also promised Secrecy His Majesty presently apprehended their Design was that the Duke and his Brother might understand nothing of their Imployment and finding it was a thing wherein neither of them was concerned He thought it unfit to disoblige Argyle by that Refusal since he was so able to serve him if he should be Cordial in it and He was secure of the two Brothers that if they mistook His Reservedness it would be easie for Him to clear Himself afterwards Yet this Secret was ill-kept among them for the Earl of Lauderdale had notice of it as he told the Author before they came to London but opposed much the seeking a Delay to a prefixed day since he knew that could not be granted without adding a dreadful Sanction of Deposing the King in case a favourable Answer came not against the day appointed and found it would be easier to procure a Delay by other Methods than by asking it The Duke and his Brother were much troubled with the Kings Reservedness in that Affair but assoon as they understood the ground of it they were satisfied But what success that Negotiation had or how it was managed doth not appear to me from any of the Duke's Papers In the beginning of August the Duke went to Scotland where his greatest Care was to see what could be done to get the Committee of Estates to be satisfied with the Kings Concessions The Duke deals with the Committee of Estates to get them to acquiesce in His Majesties Concessions representing to them how they did at once put England in the possession of the desired Church-Government and set the other out of the way which was a great stop to their full satisfaction He desired they would consider how inhumane and unchristian it was to force the Kings Conscience and how much it favoured of the Violence they had lately condemned in the Bishops It was visible that nothing but Conscience could be imagined to lye in the way of the Kings Accepting the Propositions and were His Majesty like many Princes to swallow down all things and belch them up at their Pleasure there would be less ado made but the Kings sticking at what He could not yield did abundantly secure them of His making good to them all that was promised On the other hand they were to consider that if they should now desert the King and bring their Army out of England it would make them odious through the whole World and the payment of the Arrears of their Army would pass under a far worse Character Besides England was divided and the Party that was most prevalent among them waâ— the Independent with the other Sectaries who would never carry on the Settlement of Religion and by their present carriage at London it appeared what Friendship they had for Scotland wherefore he moved earnestly that their Army should not be brought out of England till a firm Peace should be established according to the first Treaty Anno 1643. but was opposed by the Ministers This did shake many but some of the Leading Church-men were not satisfied with this and represented to their Party that all this was said smoothly to engage them to the Kings Quarrel which they were resolved never to do till the Covenant were taken by Him Neither were they well-satisfied with the Duke for his being instrumental in the Agreement with Montrose and his Party and it was preached to his face that all the Bloud that was lately shed would lye on them and their Posterity who for the pleasing of men had procured such Favour to the Enemies of God and of his Cause and People In the end of August they sent the Duke with the Earls of Crawford and Casilis and some others to deal with His Majesty for a speedy granting of the Propositions The Duke is sent to the King to obtain from him the granting the Propositions and to represent to him all the inconveniences that followed even upon a Delay much more upon a Denial The Duke had no willingness to the Employment misdoubting the Success and knowing his engaging avowedly in such a Message would be misrepresented but there was no avoiding of it for had he declined it he would have been suspected of being an ill Instrument and of Aversion from the thing which would have disabled him much from going on with the Kings Service They came to Newcastle in the beginning of September where they discharged themselves of their Commission to the full But the King answered them in the following Paper yet extant under His Majesties Hand My Lords I Shall begin by answering what you have now said for I assure you I had not thus long delayed My Answer The Kings Answer to their Desires but to weigh fully those Reasons and Arguments which you have laid before Me whereby to use the uttermost of My Endeavours to give you all poâ—sible Satisfaction for you having told Me nothing but what I have heard before the change of Answer could hardly be expected And now I do earnestly desire you to consider what it is that I desire which is To be heard which if a King should refuse to any of His Subjects He would for that be thought a Tyrant For this if I had but slight Reasons it were the less to be regarded but they are such upon which such a Peace as we all desire doth depend for albeit it is possible that if I should grant all you desire a Peace might be slubbered up yet it is impossible that it should be durable unless there should be a right Vnderstanding betwixt Me and My People which cannot be without granting of what I desire Yet I desire to be rightly understood for though many like to Esops Fable will call Ears Hornes yet let men say what they will I am far from giving you a Negative nay I Protest against it My only Desire being to be heard for I am confident that upon Debate I shall so satisfie them in some things as likewise I believe they may satisfie me in many things that we shall come to
a most happy Agreement This I believe is not much neeâ—ful to satisfie your Iudgements for I am not ignorant how really yâ—ur Commissioners at London have endeavâ—ured a satisfactory Answer to My Message as likewise what good Instructions have been sent them â—ut of Scotland so that the force of Power more than the force of Reason hath made you so instant with Me as you have been with which I am so far from finding fault that what you have done I take well knowing it proceeds out of the abundance of your Zeal to My Service therefore as you see I do not mistake you so I am careful not to be mistaken by you Wherefore again I desire you to take notice that I do not give a Denyal My Desire being only to be heard as likewise that you will take things as they are since neither you nor I can have them as we would wherefore let us make the best of every thing and now as you have fully performed your Duty to me so I cannot doubt but you will continue to press those at London to hear Reason And certainly you can little expect fair dealing from those who shall reject so much Reason and of that sort which you have and I hope will offer to them Not to stay you too long upon so unpleasing a Subject I assure you that nothing but the Preservation of that which is dearer to Me than My Life could have hindred Me from giving you full satisfaction for upon My word all the dangers and inconveniences which you have laid before Me do not so much trouble Me as that I should not give full satisfaction to the Desires of My native Country especially being so earnestly pressed upon Me. And yet here again I must tell you for in this case repetitions are not impertinent that I do not give you a Denyal nay I protest against it and remember it is your King that desires to be heard To this Paper I shall adde another given by His Majesty to the Committee then at Newcastle but by the Copy extant written with Lanerick's hand it doth not appear when it was sent them The Paper follows My Lords Another Paper of His Masties to the same purpose 'T Is a very great grief to Me that what I spoke to you Yesterday and offered to you in Writing concerning Religion hath given so little satisfaction yet lest the Reasons I then told you should not be so fully understood I think it necessary at this time to set them down to you in this Paper I then told you that whatsoever was My particular Opinion I did no ways intend to perswade you to do any thing against your Covenant wherefore I desire you to consider whether it be not a great step to your Reformation which I take to be the chief end of your Covenant that Presbyterial Government be Legally settled It is true I desire that My Own Conscience and those that are of the same opinion with me might be preserved which I confess doth not as yet totally take away Episcopal Government but then consider withall that this will take away all the superstitious Sects and Heresies of the Papists and Independents to which you are no less obliged by your Covenant than the taking away of Episcopacy And this that I demand is most likely to be but temporary for if it be so clear as you believe that Episcopacy is unlawful I doubt not but God will so enlighten Mine eyes that I shall soon perceive it and then I promise you to concurr with you fully in matters of Religion But I am sure you cannot imagine that there is any hope of Converting or Silencing the Independent Party which undoubtedly will get a Toleration in Religion from the Parliament of England unless you joyn with Me and in that way I have set down for the re-establishing My Crown or at least that you do not press Me to do this which is yet against My Conscience until I may do it without Sinning which as I am confident none of you will perswade Me to do so I hope you have so much Charity not to put things to such a desperate Issue as to hazard the loss of us all because for the present you cannot have full satisfaction from Me in Point of Religion Not Considering that besides the rest of the Mischiefs which may happen it will infallibly set up the innumerable Sects of the Independents nothing being more against your Covenant than permitting of those Schisms to encrease As for the Message which I think fit at this time to send I have chosen rather to mention the Point of Religion in a general than particular way lest not knowing all these Reasons which I have set down to you which are most unfit for a Message it may give less satisfaction than I desire Nevertheless I do conjure you by that Love and Loyalty you have always professed unto Me that you make use of what I offered Yesterday in Writing with these Reasons which I have now set down to you and those further Hopes I have now given you for the best advantages of My Service With this particular Explanation That whereas I mentioned that the Church-Government should be left to My Conscience and those of My opinion I shall be content to restrict it to some few Diocesses as Oxford Winchester Bristol Bath and Wells and Exceter leaving all the rest of England fully to the Presbyterian Government with the strictest Clauses you shall think upon against Papists and Independents POSTSCRIPT I require you to give a particular and full account hereof to the General Assembly now sitting in Scotland shewing them that I shall punctually make good My last Letter to them and that this is a very great step to the Reformation desired not only by the present putting down all Sects and Independents but likewise presently establishing Presbyterian Government â—oping that they as Ministers of Gods Word will not press upon Me untimeously the matter of Church-Government and Discipline until I may have leisure to be so perswaded that I may comply with what they desire without Breach of Conscience which I am confident they as Church-men cannot press me to do The Duke left nothing unsaid that could be devised The Duke seeing matters desperate resolves to retire out of Britain to prevail with the King for satisfying Scotland in the point of Religion assuring him that he found a great willingness in them to serve him in all other things should he yield to them in that one That for the point of the Militia they would study to bring it to what the King desired and in the point of the Delinquents they would labour to get it brought to that in which the Process of the Incendiaries in Scotland had ended that they should only be secluded from Trust but he assured him he found it impossible to make them abate a tittle of the Demand of Religion Yet His Majesty continued on his former
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
to give a full and particular Answer to every Branch of them But the more He considers the nature of them together with the high Importance and variety contained therein not without some ambiguity as well in the several Propositions as also in comparing the one with the other so much the more He finds it necessary to desire the help of Explanation Debate and Conference concerning some of them as he touched in His Paper whereby His Vnderstanding may be informed in those things which as yet are not clear to Him His Reason may be more fully convinced and His Conscience so satisfied that without offence to either of them He may make such a particular distinct Answer as may best attain His Desires of satisfying them and though for the present His Majesty at this distance from His Two Houses wants the view of many necessary Papers and other Assistances yet at what disadvantage soever He will apply Himself to give all the satisfaction that is in His power desiring He may not be mis-interpreted in any thing He shall say or omit His Majesties Answer to the first Proposition is That upon His Majesties coming to London He will heartily joyn in all that shall concern the Honour of His two Kingdoms or the Assembly of Estates of Scotland or of the Commissioners or Deputies of either of them and particularly in those things which are desired in that Proposition upon confidence that all of them respectively with the same tenderness will look upon those things which concern His Majesties Honour Concerning all the Propositions touching Religion His Majesty says that He has often and solemnly professed His Opinion concerning Episcopacy to which He refers Himself yet considering the present Distractions about Religion which are so great and of that nature that Perswasion as well as Power must be used to restore that happy Tranquillity which the Church of England hath lately and miserably lost for certainly Violence and Persecution never was nor will be found a right way to settle mens Consciences His Majesty proposes that He will confirm the Presbyterian Government for Three Years being the time set down by the Two Houses that is to say that during the said time the Church be governed by Classical and Congregational Elderships National and Provincial Assemblies with their respective Subordinations with such Forbearance to those who through scruple of Conscience cannot in every thing practise according to the said Rules as may consist with the Rule of the Word of God and the Peace of the Kingdom and that the Office of Ruling-Elders the Power of Elderships to suspend from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ignorant and scandalous Persons be all settled by Act of Parliament for the aforesaid Term as also that the Directory be by the same way authorized for the same time so that His Majesty and His Houshold be not hindred from using that Form of Gods Service which they have formerly done and also that in the mean time and with all convenient speed a Committee be chosen of Both Houses to have a free Consultation and Debate with the Assembly â—f Divines being also willing the said Assembly shall be authorized to sit for the space of the said Three Years twenty more being added of His Majesties Nomination how the Church shall be settled and governed at the end of Three Years or sooner if Differences may be agreed Also it is to be understood that those Committees shall have no Power but of hearing debating and reporting the better to prepare all these Differences for the Determination of His Majesty and the Two Houses To the Seventh and Eighth Propositions His Majesty will consent To the Ninth Proposition His Majesty doubts not but to give good satisfaction when He shall be particularly informed how the said Penalties shall be levyed and disposed To the Tenth His Majesties Answer is That He is and hath been always willing to prevent the Practices of Papists and therefore is content to pass an Act of Parliament for that purpose as also that the Laws against them may be duely executed His Majesty will give His consent to the Act for the strict Observance of the Lords Day for the suppressing of Innovations and those concerning the Preaching of Gods Word and touching Non-residencies and Pluralities And His Majesty will be willing to pass such an Act or Acts as shall be requisite to raise Moneys for the payment and satisfaction of all Publick and past Debts expecting that His also will be therein included As to the Proposition concerning the Militia though His Majesty cannot consent to it in terminis as it is proposed because thereby as He conceives He wholly devests Himself of the Power of the Sword intrusted to Him by God and the Laws of the Land for the Protection and Government of His People and placeth the same in effect for ever in the Two Houses of Parliament thereby at once disinheriting His Posterity of that Right and Prerogative of the Crown which is absolutely necessary to the Kingly Office and so weakening Monarchy in this Kingdom that little more than the Name and Shadow of it will remain yet if it be only Security for the preservation of the Peace of this Kingdom after these unhappy Troubles and the due performance of all the Agreements that now are to be concluded which is desired which His Majesty always understood to be the case and hopes that â—erein He is not mistaken His Majesty will give abundant Satisfaction to which end He will consent by Act of Parliament That the whole Power of the Militia both by Sea and Land be in the Two Houses for the space of Ten Years and afterwards to return to its proper channel again as it was in the time of Queen Elizabeth and King James of blessed Memory And now His Majesty conjures His Two Houses of Parliament as they are English-men Christians and Lovers of Peace by the Duty which they owe to Him their King and by the bowels of Compassion which they have to their Fellow-Subjects that they will accept of these His Majesties Ofâ—ers whereby the joyful News of Peace may be again restored to this languishing Kingdom His Majesty will grant the same to the Kingdom of Scotland if it be desired touching the conservation of the Peace betwixt His two Kingdoms Touching Ireland His Majesty will give full satisfaction as to the managing of War and for Religion as in England Touching the mutual Declaration proposed to be established in both Kingdoms by Act of Parliament and the Qualifications Mollifications and Branches which follow in the Propositions His Majesty truly professes that He does not sufficiently understand divers things contained therein but this He sufficiently knows that a General Act of Oblivion is the best Bond of Peace and that after intestine Troubles the Wisdom of this and other Kingdoms hath usually and happily in all Ages granted general Pardons with none or very few Exceptions whereby the numerous Discontentments of
many Persons and Families otherwise exposed to Ruine might not become fuel to new Disorders or the seeds of future Troubles His Majesty desires that His Two Houses of Parliament should seriously descend into these Considerations and tenderly look upon His Condition herein and the perpetual Dishonour that must cleave to Him if He should thus desert so many persons of Condition and Fortune that have engaged themselves with Him only out of a sense of Duty His Majesty is very unwilling to enlarge Himself further upon this Subject but earnestly desires that upon Conference these Particulars may be better understood and reconciled wherein He will condescend to all that in Honour and Iustice He may do concerning the same and then they may likewise particularly consider and conclude of the best Means to discharge the Publick Debts as likewise those of His Majesties and then His Majesty will apply Himself to the Consideration concerning the Seals and any other thing now casually omitted or to which for the present without further Information or Debate His Majesty cannot give any positive Answer As for the Offices which are mentioned in the 17th Article albeit His Majesty judges that the free Disposal of them is a necessary Flower of the Crown yet he is content for the space of these next Ten Years to come to nominate such both for England and Ireland who after shall be approved of by the Two Houses to be enjoyed by these Persons Quam diu se bene gesserint so that after the said Ten Years they shall return to be disposed of as formerly His Majesty will very willingly consent to the Act for the Confirmation of the Priviledges and Customs of the City of London And now that His Majesty hath thus far endeavoured to comply with the Desires of His Two Houses of Parliament He conceives it seasonable for Him to propose some things for Himself which if consented to may be a testimony of their reciprocal Affections to Him First that an Act of Oblivion and General Pardon be passed by Act of Parlâ—ament whereby all the seeds of Discontentments and future Troubles may be quite extirpated Secondly that the Two Houses would settle upon His Majesty such a certain Revenue as may be honourable and sufficient for the support of Him His Wife Children and their Families Lastly that this Agreement may be firm and lasting His Majesty desires to come to Westminster with honourable Freedom and Safety there solemnly to confirm the same where He may both give and receive Pledges of mutual Love Confidence and of Trust with them in all things which shall concern the good and prosperity of His People Newcastle the Decemb. 1646. To this Letter with the Inclosed Message my Lord Lanerick wrote the following Answer Lanerick 's Answer to His Majesty Most Sacred Soveraign IMmediately after the receipt of Your Majesties Commands of the 4th Instant by Sir James Hamilton I imparted under a tye of Secrecy Your intended Message to the Houses of Parliament to such Persons as I knew were most tender of Your Majesties Honour and Happiness but I must humbly beg Your Majesties Pardon if my Freedom offend since I cannot conceal so important a Truth as that I cannot find many here satisfied with it nor dare I promise the least Countenance to it from this Kingdom seeing Your Majesty hath divers times verbally and now again by Your Letter assured me of Your Resolution to adhere to the Grounds contained in this Message I shall not presume to make any Objections against it having when I had the honour to wait upon Your Majesty last represented my sense of that You was pleased to send by Mr. Murray whereof this in divers Particulars comes far short for besides that it is as wanting in that Article concerning Religion Your Majesty offers far less than you did at that time by the private Instructions Your Majesty then gave Him in the Propositions about the Militia Officers of State and the Great Seal yet I find not Your Majesties Condition is much more promising at least to vulgar eyes That Clause concerning the Liberty Your Majesty would allow to Tender Consciences is one of the meanest Particulars that is misliked in Your Majesties Answer to the Proposition concerning Religion Your Majesties Preface to that Article the Limitation of time to Presbyterial Government the addition of Twenty of Your Majesties Nomination to the Assembly of Divines the particular Exception of Your Own Family and what is most of all the total omission of making any mention of the Covenant are the most insisted-on Objections But as I dare not think upon the sad Consequences in relation to Your Majesties Person and Government which will presently follow upon the Return of the Scotish Army and Your Majesties declining to allow the Covenant without which though I presume not to press it all that can be offered will not satisfie here so I will not conceal the great advantages which I conceive the doing of it would bring to Your Majesty and to those You study to preserve for I am confident it might be so managed as this Kingdom would not only declare themselves for Preserving Your Majesties just Rights in Civil Relations but likewise engage themselves for an honourable and speedy Invitation of Her Majesty to return from France Besides an easie passing of all such who during these Troubles have adhered to Your Majesty in England with what else could be expected from faithful and dutiful Subjects But I have by my impertinent Expressions exceeded both my Intention and Duty for which I humbly beg Pardon for Your Majesties most faithful most loyal most obedient Subject and Servant LANERICK Edinburgh 8th Decemb. 1646. Upon this His Majesty wrote what follows Lanerick I Like well of your accustomed Freedom nor shall I alter My stile to you and indeed as I am well satisfied with your Proceedings His Majesty writes more fully on these Heads in order to My Commands sent by Sir James Hamilton so I wonder much that My intended Answer had so ill a Reception among you for aâ—beit I could not expect that you would approve what I know is so much against your Wishes yet I thought that even Common Charity besides believe Me there is also the Interest of the Country which would be considered might make you endeavour to make the best of that yâ—u saw remediless Yet since what I sent you is so much mistaken the rest is the less wonder to Me for it amazes Me to hear that some amongst you who know every tittle that Will. Murray carried say that this is far short in divers Particulars when there is but one which is the Militia for which there is any colour and not that neither but in a much wrested sense And is it not so when private Instructions are the only ground which only permit a further Latitude to be made use of in case of absolute necessity and not otherwise it being a new kind of Incivility
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
with the like apprehensions to minister much Comfort to him only he pressed him not to give way to languishing Sorrow but to see what could be done for setting things right again and for infusing that sense of Shame and Horrour in all People for the late Action which might prepare them to a Noble Reparation of it by a generous Engaging in the Kings Quarrel And upon this much pains was taken to infuse Jealousies of the Independents in the minds of the Kirk-men though there were other violent persons as careful to refute them Most of this Year was spent in possessing all mens Minds with these Apprehensions so preparing them for what they designed to execute upon the first Opportunity The Duke and the Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick were they who united most closely and cordially for the contriving and prosecuting of that Design The King was Prisoner at Holmby without any other Liberty save that of taking the air sometimes all his Servants were denied access to him and so cruel was the zeal of his Enemies that it reached to his Soul for they refused liberty for his Chaplains to wait on him a favour not denied to the worst of Malefactors but God was his Refuge who supported him in all his Sufferings and Solitudes The Two Houses wrote to the Committee of Estates in Scotland that they should take such a joynt Course with them as might tend most to bring things to a happy Peace But now the Jealousies betwixt the Parliament and the Army begun to grow visible and above board for the Presbyterian Party in the Parliament saw their Error too late Disorders rise in England most of them seemed to have intended the Kings Good only they were mistaken in Judging that the Parliament in which they were most numerous would never be disobeyed by the Army but being disappointed in this they ruined all their confidence in their Power in Parliament having been the cause why they let the Scotish Army go home for till they were gone the Independents crouched under them and trepanned them into Severities against the King and the Dismissing of the Scots who were no sooner gone but the Army acted what had been before projected but most industriously concealed from the Presbyterians Lauderdale is sent to England In April the Earl of Lauderdale was sent from Scotland to London to insist on the motion for a Settlement with the King and chiefly to hinder the adding of any new Propositions and he was also Instructed to deal for a permission to the Duke and the Earl of Dumfernline to go and serve the King in his Bedchamber But the Earl of Lauderdale found matters in great confusion at Westminster for the chief thing thought on was the Disbanding of the Army which was an unnecessary Burden to the Kingdom many grounds of Fear appearing that their Designs were to keep themselves up and govern the Nation by a Military and Arbitrary Power therefore such as were best-affected judged it necessary once to disband them before they engaged in a new Treaty with the King But for that private Proposition concerning the Duke and Dumfernline the Earl of Lauderdale seeing it would not take because there was not a Family yet settled about the King nor could it be expected that any from Scotland would be the first they would set about His Majesties Person did not present it and indeed the Duke's late Behaviour in opposing the Delivery of the King had forfeited his Credit with those of England then in Power But it is not my meaning to go on with a regular History of the irregular Transactions that past in England this Year I shall only say so much of them as will make appear what reason the Scots had for their Proceedings and to clear what may have relation to the Dukes Concerns In the middle of May the King sent a new Message to the Parliament of England in order to a Treaty but his Offers were the same upon the matter they had been at Newcastle and so not like to take and the Two Houses were then busied about Disbanding the Army They therefore ordered the Army to be disbanded and some of the Forces they kept up to be sent over to Ireland and all Satisfaction being offered The Army refuses obedience to the Parliament the time of their Disbanding was named But the Ring-leaders of the Army disposed them to mutiny against the Parliament upon pretence of want of Satisfaction in matter of Money and Reparation in point of Honour so the Army drew to a Body and erected a Court who were called the Agitators Mean-while Cromwel puts his Party in the House of Commons on the Recalling oâ— their Declarations against the Army and goes to the Army though his Commission was expired More Money was offered to the Army but nothing was accepted only divers of the Presbyterian Officers submitted and subscribed for Ireland whereupon they were by the prevailing part of the Army disbanded and takes the King from Holmby And the Army to make a sure game for their Party sent one Ioice a Taylor by Trade but now a Cornet by his Employment to Holmby who came at twelve a clock at night and forced the King to go with him against his will Upon which the Earl of Lauderdale emitted a Declaration in Name of the Scotish Nation against that Force put on the Kings Person contrary to all their Treaties and Declarations and demanded that His Majesties Person might be presently set at Liberty and brought with Honour Freedom and Safety to some of His Houses in or about London and after that he went to Newmarket to wait on the King who was there with the Army But the Army begun to abuse His Majesty into some Confidence in them And use Hiâ— civilly and used Him at another rate than had been done at Holmby They gave free access to all His Servants to come to Him they allowed His Chaplains to attend about Him and serve in their Office according to the Liturgy and permitted Him free Correspondence with the Queen and every body else and in their Discourses intimated their willingness to lay aside the Covenant and allow the Toleration of Episcopacy and the Liturgy all which though smoothly said was meant to cajole Him to his Ruine Assoon as His Majesty was at Liberty He wrote the following Letter to my Lord Lanerick Lanerick THe present condition of My Affairs is such He writes to Lanerick that I believe you and your Brother may do Me better Service at London than where you are therefore I desire that both or at least one of you would come up assoon as you could the rest I leave till meeting and so farewel Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Newmarket 22th Iune 1647. To this my Lord Lanerick wrote this Answer Sir YOur Majesties Letter of the 22th of June had been immediately obeyed Lanerick's Answer if our Stay here for some time had not
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
Lesly's Discourse and Instructions but I do not so well understand your Letter of the 23th of this Month as not agreeing fully with what Robin hath said and shewn to Me wherefore I have the more reason to desire you to hasten your Coming up In a word every minute that you stay 't is so much the worse for the Affairs of Your most real constant Friend CHARLES R. Hampton-Court 29th August 1647. For Particulars I refer you to Robin The King was then so filled with Hopes from Assurances given Him by the Army The King is abused by the Army that He was out of doubt of getting things carried by Treaty and therefore continued to press Lanerick's Coming up The Earl of Lauderdale wrote also to Scotland that some Person of Eminence might be sent to concur with him in the great Transactions that were coming on whereupon the Lord Chancellour and Lanerick were appointed to go up upon which a Pass was signed by Fairfax for the Earls of Lowdon and Lanerick according to the desire sent from Scotland to come and wait upon the King But their Coming up was delayed the occasion whereof is given in the following Letter written by my Lord Lanerick to the King which though I set down in the due Stile yet both it and almost all the Letters written this Year being in Cypher run in the third person but for making the Narration smoother I have presumed to change their phrase a little Sir THe difference betwixt Robin's Relation and my Letter of the 23th of August last I shall easily reconcile The Reasons that stopt Lanerick 's Journey for some time when I shall have the happiness to see Your Majesty for I can hardly speak truth and sense without running a hazard of making my self useless and uncapable of speaking at all Those of the Chancellor's Friends who were against his being employed at this time take occasion to press a Delay to his and my present Going to London or Court from the Two Houses their not yet answering a Letter the Committee here wrote to them for Reparation of the Affront done to the Earl of Lauderdale and for Assurances to all Commissioners employed from this Kingdom so until a satisfactory Answer be returned to that Letter it is alledged that their Going will be useless since except they be allowed by the Two Houses access to Your Majesty may still be denied them and so their Endeavours to serve You frustrated This is the rather urged by reason of many informalities in the Pass sent them by Sir Thomas Fairfax by which they were only warranted to come to Your Majesty at Hampton-Court and if You chance not to be there it doth not warrant them to wait upon Your Majesty in any other place especially since it bears not at all a liberty for them to go to London where their Endeavours probably would be of the 〈…〉 use If the Earl of Lauderdale had not been affronted they would not have desired any Assurance at all but that being unrepaired for they are not at all satisfied with Sir Thomas Fairfax his Answer to the Two Houses Letter in that particular if they shall have occasion to move any thing in Your Majesties Favours which shall be disliked by the Parliament or Army they may chance to meet with the same or worse Vsage that Lauderdale did I was not so scrupulous but willingly would have hazarded through these or any Difficulties being required as I am by Your Majesty to haste thither but the Chancellor's Stay would have made my single Going I being only employed to Your Majesty useless yet if it shall be thought fit and I again commanded to it want of Formalities or Passes will not fright me from my Duty In the mean time Instructions are this day sent to our Commissioners at London to delay their concurrence in sending the Propositions of Peace to Your Majesty till the Chancellour's Coming for the Committee resolved to adhere to their former Instructions in pressing Your Majesties Coming to London with Honour Freedom and Safety for confirming so far as You have already granted by Your Message of the 12th of May last and there to Treat upon the rest of the Propositions Thus begging Pardon for this tedious account I expect Your Majesties further Commands which shall immediately be obeyed by Your Majesties most humble most faithful and most obedient Subject and Servant LANERICK Edinburgh 4th September 1647. His Majesties Answer follows Lanerick The Kings Answer to Lanerick YOu had reason not to come up without the Chancellour but I do not understand why you did both stay for is this a time for Scotland to vie punctilio's of Honour with England and thereby neglect even almost to loss the Opportunity of redeeming that Fault which they committed at Newcastle certainly you are not yet in the right way But seriously I write not this for you but to you that others by you might learn more wit In a word Time is not altogether lost redeem it for shame and be not startled at My Answer which I gave yesterday to the Two Houses for if you truly understand it I have put you in a right way where before you were wrong remember the Proverb Ill bairns are best heard at home I say no more but make what haste you can with your Colleague to Your most assured râ—al constant Friend CHARLES R. In the mean while a Message was sent from Scotland to the Parliament of England for such a full Pass as was demanded Lowdon and Lanerick with difficulty are permitted to wait on the King which drew on a great Debate for Haslerig Martin and others of that Cabal argued much against it saying why should Lanerick be sent up who was a known Incendiary and the Latham Letter mentioned in the account of the Year 1643 with many other Particulars were remembred Next they excepted against it that by the Pass that was demanded it appeared they were to go first to the King as if they had been to Treat without the Parliament of England But old Sir Henry Vane took them up sharply for remembring things which were long ago buried yet the Heat was so great that it was referred to a Committee to consider of it but in end it was granted All this while the Earl of Lauderdale went not near Westminster because he got not Reparation for the Affront put on him by the Army but was extremely vâ—xed to see the King possessed with such a good opinion of the Army and used all the ways he could think of to undeceive Him In the beginning of October the Earls of Lowdon and Lanerick came to London The Scotish Commissioners wait on the King and with them the Earl of Lauderdale went to wait on the King who was then at Hampton-Court and after they had learned from Him the State in which His Affairs were and had expressed the Sense and Affection of His Subjects in Scotland who judged all their happiness
so much for the saving of My labour as the inevitable loss of so much precious Time which must have been spent had I written so long a Discourse as that Promise required wherefore I have freely and fully imparted My Mind to Traquair as well concerning your Propositions to Me as the making of some from Me to you Having no more to say but to desire you to give an entire belief a willing ear and a speedy answer to what he shall impart to you I am Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Carisbrook 8th December 1647. Lanerick NOtwithstanding My Ioynt-Letter I think it most fit to write to you alone to assure you that if I have any Iudgment Traquair is right set for My Service wherefore in a most special way I recommend him to you to whom referring you I rest Your most assured real faithful constant Friend CHARLES R. Carisbrook December 8th 1647. The Message trusted to Traquair The Kings Message by Traquair was that as to matters of Religion His Majesty was unmoveable but as for other things wherein the Honour or Interest of Scotland might be concerned he was ready to give them the greatest and fullest Concessions that could be demanded in answer to which the three Commissioners wrote what follows to His Majesty SIR WE have heard Traquair's Relation whom last night we had dispatched to Your Majesty with our sense upon all the Particulars The Scotâ—sh Commissioners their answer to it but this morning he hath conceived his going at this time unfit which forceth us upon this tedious way And the receipt of Your Majesties of the eleventh Instant makes us the more earnestly beg that You would not suffer us longer to walk in the dark but give us under Your Royal Hand an assurance that You will perform what is contained in that Paper concerning Religion and withall insert what You have scraped out of the Paper which we gave Your Majesty at Hampton-Court and we shall oblige our selves to endeavour that Scotland shall engage themselves for Your Restauration and Civil Interests as was expressed in those Papers Without this Assistance we are absolutely unable to serve Your Majesty and although Doctor Goff shewed us Your unwillingness to allow of that Clause concerning the Covenant yet we should but abuse Your Majesty if we gave You the least hopes that Scotland would be engaged at an easier rate therefore we again beseech Your Majesty to haste to us Your clear and positive Answer lest we forfeit our Trust with those that sent us hither and You which to us would be more bitter perish by Delays Our informations concerning the Restraint intended to be put upon Your Majesties Person and some of those with You are still confirmed therefore Your Majesty would speedily resolve to satisfie Scotland and engage their Power for Your Assistance Concerning the Duke of York there is nothing we desire with more earnestness than to serve Your Majesty in what You would have done but being Publick Ministers we cannot be the Actors of it without absolutely disabling us to do Your Majesty any other Service and none else will engage in a matter of this nature upon any desire from us without a positive Command from Your Majesty therefore if You continue in that Resolution we conceive it fit You make choice of some such trusty Person as Your Majesty would employ in acting of it and that You write to him for that effect without taking any notice of us at all in Your Letter to him We pray the Lord to preserve and direct You who are unchangeably Your Majesties most humble most faithful and most loyal Subjects and Servants LOWDON LAVDERDALE LANERICK 13th December 1647. After this His Majesty wrote these Letters to the Scotish Lords The King commands them to come to the Isle of Wight THough no time hath been nor shall be lost for My Going from hence yet contrary to expectation it will be ten days before the Ship can be ready And I confess that this had been too late if the Governour would have permitted Forces in hither wherefore I am most confident that I shall not be surprized for time And therefore I earnestly desire all you three or at least one of you to come hither without delay for the full Conclusion of all things betwixt us for upon second thoughts I judge it less dangerous to go to London than to any Place else except I were totally accorded with you To conclude if you will not counsel Me to go to London without being publickly invited make haste hither as you love His Service who is Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Carisbrook 14th Decemb. 1647. TIme was never more precious to any than it is at present to Me and therefore I am glad to take occasion upon Doctor Goff's long Dispatch which I received yesternight after I had written to you to return you by him such a draught of Articles betwixt us as your Signing it will make your Iourney hither unnecessary and I am to take what Course you will propose in order to My Safety I am confident the necessity of this Accord in divers respects is so well known to you that all Arguments are needless Also I hope that the particulars are so well worded that you will make no difficulty to pass them as they are but if contrary to My expectation you should scruple at any expression then necessarily all or at least one of you must come hither with all expedition So desiring you to believe what Doctor Goff will say to you in My Name I rest Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Carisbrook 15th Decemb. 1647. With this last Doctor Goff brought a full account of His Majesties thoughts but the Scotish Commissioners finding it impossible to adjust matters which were of such importance without waiting on His Majesty resolved to go to the Isle of Wight And that their Going might give less Jealousie they resolved to go after the Commissioners whom the Two Houses were sending with the four Bills that they might Protest against them At this time the Marquis of Huntley being in Arms in Scotland and not able to resist the Forces that came against him was taken Prisoner which His Majesty understanding he expressed his Concern for him in the following Letter he wrote to Lanerick about him Lanerick HEaring that the Marquis of Huntley is taken and knowing the Danger that he is in I both strictly command you as a Master and earnestly desire you as a Friend that you will deal effectually with all those whom you may have any Interest in for the Saving of his Life It were I know lost time to use Arguments to you for this wherefore I judge these lines necessary to add to your Power though not to your Willingness to do this most acceptable Service for Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Carisbrook 17th Decemb. 1647. About this time the Queen wrote to my Lord
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
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
raised Regiments of five or six Troops on their own expences And though it is not to be imagined that the publick Expence of so great a Design was not likewise great yet there was a sad want of Money which the Duke and his Brother did all they could to supply as far as their Credit could go and raised above two and twenty thousand pounds sterling for prosecuting of the Engagement and were on all publick occasions so liberal of their own Money as if some Bank had been put into their hands The Curses the Ministers thundred against all who joyned in this Engagement made the Souldiers very heartless being threatned with no less than Damnation This obliged the Lords to use Force in some places for carrying on their Levies and indeed the Ministers counter-acting the State was such that it is hard to judge whether their Boldness or the Parliaments Patience was most to be wondred at The Lords resolved to chastise them to purpose in due time but judged the present time improper for it and to carry on the Levies the better the Parliament adjourned for three weeks So the Lords went to the several places of their Interests leaving a Committee behind them at Edinburgh but before their Adjournment they wrote the following Letter to the Presbyteries The Parliaments Letter to the Presbyteries THe many Scandals that are tâ—rown on our Actions by the favourers of Sectaries and haters of the Person of our King and Monarchical Government invite us to this extraordinary Address to you conjuring you as you will answer the Great God whose Servants you are not to suffer your selves to be possest with unjust and undeserved Prejudices against us and our Proceedings who have since our late Meeting in Parliament preferred no earthly thing to Religion and the promoving all the ends of our Covenant and have constantly used all real Endeavours to have carried on these Duties to the satisfaction of the most tender Consciences and especially by our great Compliance with the many Desires from the Commissioners of the General Assembly we have proceeded to greater discoveries of our Resolutions in the ways and means of managing of this present Service than possibly in prudence we ought to have done having so near and active Enemies to oppose us neither can it with any Truth or Iustice in any sort be alledged that we have in the least measure wronged or violated the least Priviledges and Liberties of the Church or taken upon us the determination or decision of any matters of Faith or Church-discipline though we be unjustly charged with making an Antecedent Iudgment in matters of Religion under pretence whereof great Encroachments are made on our unquestioned Rights for what can be more Civil than to determine what Civil Duties we ought to pay to our King or what Civil Power he ought to be possessed of and if we meet with obstructions and opposition in carrying on these Duties are not we the only Iudges thereof is there any other Authority in this Kingdom but that of King and Parliament and what flows from them that can pretend any Authoritative Power in the choice of the Instruments and Managers of our Publick Resolutions is it a Subject for the Dispute of Church-Iudicatories whether His Majesty have a Negative Voice or not These things certainly cannot be pretended to by any Kirk-man without a great Vsurpation over the Civil Magistrate whereof we are confident the Church of Scotland or any Iudicatory thereof will never be guilty nor fall into the Episcopal disease of meddling in Civil Affairs and if any have already in these Particulars exceeded their bounds we expect the ensuing General Assembly will censure it accordingly and prevent the vilifying and contemning the Authority of Parliament by any of their Ministers either in or out of their Pulpits who shall offer to stir up the Subjects of this Kingdom to disobey or deny to give Civil Obedience to their Laws it being expresly prohibited by the 2 and 5 Acts of King James the sixth his eighth Parliament Anno 1584. That none of His Majesties Subjects under pain of Treason impugne the Authority of Parliament And therefore seeing the Cause is the same for which this Kingdom hath done and suffered so much and that we are resolved to proceed for the Preservation and Defence of Religion before all wordly Interest whatsoever and to carry on sincerely really and constantly the Covenant and all the Ends of it as you will find by our Declaration herewith sent to you we do confidently expect that as the Ministers of this Kingdom have hitherto been most active and exemplary in furthering the former Expeditions so now you will continue in the same Zeal to stir up the People by your Preaching and Prayers and all other ways in your Calling to a chearful Obedience to our Orders and Engageing in the business that you will not give so great advantage to the Enemies of Presbyterial Government and bring so great a Scandal on this Church as to oppose the Authority of Parliament or obstruct their Proceedings in their necessary Duties for the good of Religion Honour and Happiness of the King and his Royal Posterity and the true Peace of His Dominions Signed by Order of Parliament Alex. Gibsone Clerk Regist. Edinburgh May 11 1648. The Parliament having resolved to raise an Army for the Kings Relief The Parliament sends for the Scotish Army in Ireland found it expedient for encreasing the number and strength of their Forces to send to Ireland for a part of their Scotish Army there which as was told An. 1642 had been sent from Scotland thither by Commission from the King under the Great Seal and upon a Treaty and Establishment betwixt the two Nations for suppressing the Irish Rebellion and for perswading them to desert for so Noble an Undertaking their Interest in Ireland which was very considerable for there was above seven hundred and seventy thousand pound sterling of Arrear resting to them upon a stated Accompt fitted by Persons intrusted by the Parliament of England and Commissioners from them preceding the 16th of Iune 1647 besides a year more until Iune 1648 not at all reckoned they sent over three of their number two Knights Sir Iames Macdougal and Sir William Cocheran now Earl of Dundonald and Mr. Crawford Burgess of Linlithgow with Letters and Instructions to that purpose They were kindly received by such of the Officers as had chief Power there but most unwelcome to a contrary Party who had notice how averse the Kirk to which they were addicted had declared themselves from the Designs of that Parliament nevertheless it was quickly agreed to that about twelve hundred Horse and two thousand and one hundred Foot should be provided and regimented and transported to Scotland to be conducted by Sir George Monro in the quality of a Major-General and to be joyned with the Dukes Armie At Westminster they were in great Confusion fearing that the General
of Foot were totally routed and either killed taken or dispersed nor did we ever hear any more of Monro and the Irish Forces nor of the Rear-guard of Horse that was on the Moor so that we begun to look on our selves as broken being in a Country where we might look for nothing but Unfriendliness and Treachery Upon this sad Juncture the General called a Council of War of all the chief Officers in the Army there was one of two things to be done we were either to wait for the Cavalry or to march to them Divers Messages had been sent to Middleton to come up with the Horse yet he appeared not Calander pressed a Retreat and to him agreed almost all the Officers except Baylie and Turner who urged their staying till Middleton came up which might be expected in a few hours The General expressed much indifferency in that Particular and if they had stayed they could not have forced Cromwel to fight who knowing their wants would have let them alone till Hunger had forced them away So Calander's Authority prevailed for a March the greatest Prejudice thereof was that they could not carry their Ammunition with them for the Countrey People whose Horses carried it had fled away so that there was a necessity of leaving it behind them To have fired it would have discovered their March and so done them Mischief therefore it was appointed to be blown up by a Train which being neglected by him to whom it was trusted it fell into Cromwel's hands next day all the Souldiers could carry with them was only their Flasks full Our March was very sad the way being exceeding deep the Souldiers both wet hungry and weary and all looked on their business as more than half ruined The next morning we came to Wiggan and found almost the half of our Foot had fallen off by the way whom we saw no more But our Misfortunes grew on us Middleton's Gallantry for Middleton upon the advice he got had marched to the Bridge of Preston another way where he found the Enemies quiet our Fires burning and none by them but some Sutlers wherefore hearing we were gone to Wiggan he followed our tract and was hotly pursued all the way by the Enemies Horse with whom he skirmished all along till he came within a Mile of us and indeed he made that Retreat which was seven Miles long very gallantly and was well seconded both by Coll. Lockhart and Coll. Hurry the last getting a dangerous shot in his Head which occasioned his being taken Prisoner The Enemy lost several Men and among others one Collonel Thornly accounted one of their best Officers We meeting with our Cavalry drew up in Battalia in the Moor and some thought of Fighting but we found it impossible the Place not being large and environed with Inclosures which we could not have maintained long for want of Ammunition So we were resolved to march all night and designed for Warrington-Bridge where we hoped we might either maintain the Bridge or cut it and so have gone whither they pleased yet many of us apprehended we might be routed e're we got thither Marching all night we got a false Alarm which put us in no small Disorder and Turner and Lockhart labouring to recover us the one was wounded and the other was trodden down to the great danger of his Life yet no Enemy came in the Rear for they had taken up their Quarters for that night but next morning they pursued us yet we passed Warrington-Bridge Warrington-Bridge the Enemy being close in our Rear We maintained it some time against the Horse but were driven away from it when the Foot came up And here Calander and most of the Officers of the Cavalry pressed the General to March off and leave the Foot to Capitulate their Reasons were strong they had marched two nights both under an extraordinary Rain and in very deep way and were wet almost up to the middle and had scarce eat any meat all that while they had no Ammunition the Powder in their Flasks being all wet so that to study to preserve them was to attempt an impossibility and to lose all The Horses were also so weary with their long ill March that they were for no present Action but they getting off and turning either back to Scotland or joyning with those who were in Arms for the King in England might still prove useful for His Majesties Service Upon which the General was moved though with great reluctancy to leave the Foot and Baylie to Capitulate and in an account of this Business drawn by Baylie which the Writer has seen he sayes Calander ordered his Capitulating and Middleton advised it but says nothing of any Orders he had from the Duke for it Baylie upon this occasion lost some of the Patience he was usually Master of but having recovered himself as much as he could he sent Major Fleeming to Cromwel with Articles who not agreeing to those desired a Parly with Baylie himself and they met on the Bridge and agreed that the Infantry should lay down their Arms and both Officers and Souldiers be Prisoners of War to the Parliament Here Cromwel left Lambert with four Brigades of Horse to pursue our Cavalry and himself marched after Monro But I shall go through with the Tragedy of our Army before any further account be given of that March Our Cavalry rode divers miles towards Westchester with intention as was supposed to have gone to Wales but putting on another Resolution we stayed all night at Malpas in Shropshire And here it was debated whether we should go to Yorkshire or to Herefordshire where we had intelligence that Sir Henry Lingen had put himself in a considerable posture for the King but this being contradicted that very night vve resolved for Yorkshire designing to try if vve could clear a vvay for our selves to Scotland But next day many of the County Trained-Bands appeared against us vvho vvere soon dissipated by Middleton vvithout any bloud-shed and that day vve made a great March and lodged all night in the Fields next day vve marched betimes and at noon made a great halt at Stone in Staffordshire After this as vve vvere marching Middleton rode in the Rear for making it good against some Troops of the County-Militia but unfortunately his Horse fell under him and he vvas taken Prisoner Thus the remnant of our unfortunate Army sustained an irreparable loss by the taking of that brave Man The rest of that day vve marched to Vtoxater The Horse came to Vtoxater and the vveather being rainy vvindy and tempestuous vve came thither in great Disorder On the next day vve had not marched a mile when both Horses and Men being extremely weary many of the Officers and Troopers expressed an unwillingness to march further neither were we well-resolved whither to go that night and many surrounded the General in a Confusion next to a Mutiny desiring he would return to Vtoxater from
both that they should have some honest Noblemen Commissioners here to reside at Edinburgh and that we shall have some at London that by Commutation of Counsels our Common Peace may be the better settled and continued You shall try if the Treaty betwixt the Kings Majesty and the Two Houses of Parliament be like to take effect and shall study to preserve the Interest of this Kingdom in the matter of the settling of the Peace of these Kingdoms and if you shall find there are real Grounds to hope an Agreement betwixt the King and the Two Houses in respect both Kingdomes are engaged in the same Cause and Covenant and have been and still are under the same Dangers and to the end our Peace may be more durable you shall endeavour that before any Agreement of Peace be made we may be first acquainted therewith An. 1649. that we may send up Commissions in relation to the Treaty with the King upon the Propositions and in relation to mutual Advice for the settling of the Peace of these Kingdomes and accordingly as you find the Two Houses inclined therein you shall give us Advertisement You shall according as upon the place it shall be found expedient present the same Desires to the Two Houses of Parliament in name of this Kingdome touching the Work of Reformation as shall be presented to them from this Kirk You shall assist Mr. Blair in this Imployment and take his advice and assistance in yours and give us Advertisement weekly how all matters goe You shall publish all Papers either concerning the Proceedings of the Church or of the Protesters which are necessary to be known You shall endeavour to keep a good Vnderstanding betwixt us and the City and the Assembly of Divines and strive to remove all Iealousies betwixt us and them or betwixt honest men amongst themselves You shall endeavour that honest men who have suffered for opposing the Engagement be not prejudiced but furthered in payment of the Sumes assigned unto them before the Engagement out of the two hundred thousand pound Sterling and Brotherly Assistance for publick Debts or Losses You shall acquaint the Speakers of both Houses with his Majesties Letter to this Committee and our Answer sent to Him You shall desire that the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Quality and considerable Officers of the Army that went into England under the Duke of Hamilton and which are now there Prisoners may be kept as Pledges of the Peace of the Kingdomes especially to prevent a new Disturbance in this Kingdome or Trouble from this Kingdome to England until the Peace of both be settled You shall acquaint the Two Houses with our Answer to that of L. General Cromwell 's of the sixth of this Instant and make use of the Grounds therein mentioned as you shall find occasion Their next Care was to look well to Lanerick Lanerick appointed to be secured but escapes to Holland and the other Engagers lest they should attempt somewhat against them the account of which shall be set down in a Letter Lanerick wrote to the Lord Chancellour when he left Scotland For in the end of Ianuary the Earl of Lauderdale came from Holland being commanded by the Prince to see what might be done there but he found all so discouraged and overpowered that no good was to be expected and he got advertisement from the Lord Balmerino that they designed to secure both Lanerick and himselfe and as he believed would deliver them up to the Parliament of England as Incendiaries whereupon they both resolved to go beyond Sea in the same Ship in which Lauderdale came and to offer their Service to the Prince The Letter follows My Lord ALbeit the Proceedings of the late Committee constituted of Dissenters against me was without president in Confining me a free Subject who was neither Guilty nor so much as accused of any Guilt or Breach of the Laws of the Kingdome for declining to sign a Declaration and Bond which even they themselves conceived in Iustice they could not enjoyn me to sign yet I did submit and went not without the Bounds limited for my Confinement until I was certainly informed that upon Wednesday last at a private and select Committee it was resolved I should instantly be Committed and the little Liberty left me taken from me for it seems that these private persons I speak not of Iudicatories who procured the severe Instructions given those employed to London against my Brother the Duke of Hamilton and the many Noble and Gallant Persons who are now in Bonds with him for their Loyal Endeavours to have rescued His Majesty from being murthered are not satisfied or think themselves secure while any enjoy their Liberties who would have been Instruments in that pious Duty to our Sovereign therefore I am forced to seek shelter and protection abroad since Innocency and Law and even Treaties and Publick Engagements prove now too weak Grounds for securing me at home And though this rigid and unparalellâ—d Procedure against me might have tempted the dullest and calmest nature to some Desperation yet I have still preferred the Peace and Quiet of Scotland to all my own Interests and I do ingeniously declare upon my Honour unto your Lordship that I neither have had neither do I know of any Design from abroad or at home of interrupting the same and now in whatsoever corner of the World it shall please the Lord to throw me as I shall endeavour by his assistance to maintain my Loyalty to my Prince untainted so I shall still preserve a perfect affection to the Peace and Happiness of my Country My prayers to God shall be that it may yet be instrumental of advancing the Work of Reformation and so fixing the Crowns of these Kingdomes upon the Head of our Soveraign Lord the King and of His Royal Progeny after Him that Faction and Rebellion may never be able to shake or interrupt their Government that Loyalty may lose the name of Malignancy and a good Christian may with Safety and without Scandal be and profess to be a good Subject that the Acts of unquestionable Parliaments and the Decrees of other Sovereign Iudicatories of this Kingdom may be Security sufficient to the Subjects to govern their Civil Actions by that they may be free of arbitrary Exactions and Impositions and may enjoy with Truth and Peace their Estates and Liberties without the tyrannous Encroachments of great men and other impowered persons and I am confident that the God of Heaven who will Iudge all the Iudges on earth will avenge the wrongs of the oppressed and in his own time restore me again to my Country who am now forced by unjust Persecution to flee from it This I shall patiently wait for and give your Lordship no more Trouble but desire you to make what use of this you think fit from My Lord Your Lordships most humble Servant LANERICK Dirleton 25th January 1649. But now I return to prosecute what remains to
be said of the Duke Anno 1649. ON the 4th of December Orders were sent to bring him to Windsor and he came thither the 11th of that Month. He was lodged in the House of one of the poor Knights of Windsor and kept under strict Guards yet on the 21th of that Month as the King was carried through Windsor he prevailed so far with his Keepers as to permit him to see his Majesty and as he passed he kneeled down and with a transport of humble Sorrow kissed his hand and had only time to say My dear Master the King embraced him very kindly and said I have been so indeed to you but they were parted and suffered to have no discourse It may easily be imagined with what sorrow he followed the King with his eyes as far as he could see him knowing he was to do so no more nor did he much regrate his present Trouble or imminent Danger all his thoughts being swallowed up in sorrow at the Consideration of his Master's Ruin which was then no more to be doubted the Army and House as it was then modelled or rather forced having avowed their Design against his Person and thrown off the Disguise with which they had long mask'd themselves The Parliament of England had upon the matter condemned the Duke to perpetual Imprisonment Much pains is taken to draw discoveries from him but in vain by setting an hundred thousand pound sterling for his Ransome which sum could not be raised by him at a time when by the Debts he had contracted in the Kings Service his Fortune was fallen so low Cromwel came several times to him to draw from him some Discoveries of his Correspondents in England and gave him great assurances of Life Rewards and Secrecy but he rejected the Proposition with horrour and disdain though often repeated and apprehending they might get his Brother into their hands sent him at that time the following Note which I set down though unfinisht and written with the Juyce of a Lemmon I Vnder the power of the Sword and merciless men no favour to be expected oft examined but nothing discovered being ignorant perhaps you will abide the same Trial beware if you do The thirtieth of Ianuary was that fatal and never-to-be-forgotten Day wherein His Sacred Majesty after the Pageantry of a Trial to add the appearance of Justice to so base and barbarous a Murder was beheaded to the Amazement of all Europe by an unexampled practice in any Monarchy But the particulars of his Royal Constancy and Christian Patience being so punctually related by others I shall not stand to repeat what is already known but having proposed to my self nothing more in this whole Work than to let the World see the great Piety and strictness of Conscience that Blessed Prince carried along with him in all his Affairs and to publish such Remains of his Pen as had not been formerly seen or known I shall therefore insert a Copy of Verses written by his Majesty in his Captivity which a very worthy Gentleman who had the honour of waiting on him then and was much trusted by him Copied out from the Original who avoucheth it to be a true Copy but I shall first present that Royal Martyr to the Readers view in the Posture which was most familiar to Him and then set down those Verses in which the mighty sense and the great Piety will be found to be beyond all the finest sublimities of Poetry which yet are not wanting here An. 1648. Rom. VIII more than Conquerour Bona agere mala pati Regium est Alij diutius Imperium tenuerunt nemo tam fortiter reliquit Tacit. Histor. Lib. 2 c.47 p417 MAJESTY in MISERY OR An Imploration to the KING of Kings Written by His late Majesty King CHARLES the First during His Captivity at Carisbrook Castle Anno Dom. 1648. GREAT Monarch of the World from whose Power Springs The Potency and Power of Kings Record the Royal Woe my Suffering sings And teach my tongue that ever did confine Its faculties in Truths Seraphick Line To track the Treasons of thy foes and mine Nature and Law by thy Divine Decree The only Root of Righteous Royaltie With this dim Diadem invested me With it the sacred Scepter Purple Robe The Holy Vnction and the Royal Globe Yet am I levell'd with the life of Job The fiercest Furies that do daily tread Vpon my Grief my Gray Dis-crowned Head Are those that owe my Bounty for their Bread They raise a War and Christen it The Cause Whil'st sacrilegious hands have best applause Plunder and Murder are the Kingdoms Laws Tyranny bears the Title of Taxation Revenge and Robbery are Reformation Oppression gains the name of Sequestration An. 1649. My Loyal Subjects who in this bad season Attend me by the Law of God and Reason They dare impeach and punish for High Treason Next at the Clergy do their Furies frown Pious Episcopacy must go down They will destroy the Crosier and the Crown Church-men are chain'd and Schismaticks are free'd Mechanicks preach and Holy Fathers bleed The Crown is crucified with the Creed The Church of England doth all Faction foster The Pulpit is usurpt by each Impostor Ex tempore excludes the Pater noster The Presbyter and Independent Seed Springs with broad blades to make Religion bleed Herod and Pontius Pilate are agreed The Corner-stone's misplac'd by every Pavier With such a bloody method and behaviour Their Ancestors did crucifie our Saviour My Royal Consort from whose fruitful Womb So many Princes legally have come Is forc'd in Pilgrimage to seek a Tomb. Great Britain's Heir is forced into France Whilst on his Father's head his foes advance Poor Child He weeps out his Inheritance With my own Power my Majesty they wound In the King's Name the King himself 's uncrown'd So doth the Dust destroy the Diamond With Propositions daily they enchant My Peoples ears such as do Reason daunt And the Almighty will not let me grant They promise to erect my Royal Stem To make Me great t' advance my Diadem If I will first fall down and worship them But for refusal they devour my Thrones Distress my Children and destroy my bones I fear they 'l force me to make bread of stones My Life they prize at such a slender rate That in my absence they draw Bills of hate To prove the King a Traytor to the State Felons obtain more priviledge than I They are allow'd to answer e're they die 'T is death for me to ask the reason Why. But Sacred Saviour with thy words I woo Thee to forgive and not be bitter to Such as thou know'st do not know what they do For since they from their Lord are so disjointed As to contemn those Edicts he appointed How can they prize the Power of his Anointed Augment my Patience nullifie my Hate Preserve my Issue and inspire my Mate Yet though We perish bless this Church and State Vota dabunt quae bella
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
sometimes in raillery since he was now to seal it with his Blood then he kneeled down and prayed in these words His Prayer MOst blessed Lord I thy poor and most unworthy Servant come unto thee presuming in thy infinite Mercy and the Merits of Iesus Christ who sits upon thy Throne I come flying from that of Iustice to that of Mercy and Tenderness for his sake who shed his Blood for Sinners that he would take Compassion upon me that he would look upon me as one that graciously hears me that he would look upon me as one that hath Redeemed me that he would look upon me as one that hath shed his Blood for me that he would look upon me as one who now calls and hopes to be saved by his all-sufficient Merits for his sake Glorious God have Compassion upon me in the freeness of thy infinite Mercy that when this sinful Soul of mine shall depart out of this frail Carcase of Clay I may be carried unto thy everlasting Glory O Lord by thy free Grace and out of thy infinite Mercy hear me and look down and have Compassion upon me and thou Lord Iesus thou my Lord thou my God and thou my Redeemer hear me take pity upon me O Glorious God and so deal with my Soul that by thy precious Merits I may attain to thy Ioy and bliss O Lord remember me so miserable and sinful a Creature Now thou O Lord thou O Lord who died for me receive me receive me into thy own bound of Mercy O Lord I trust in thee suffer me not now to be confounded Satan hath too long had possession of this Soul O let him not now prevail against it but let me O Lord from hence-forth dwell with thee for evermore Now O Lord it is thy time to hear me hear me Gracious Iesus even for thine own Goodness Mercy and Truth O Glorious God O blessed Father O holy Redeemer O Gracious Comforter O holy and blessed Trinity I do render up my Soul into thy hands and commit it to the Mediation of my Redeemer praising thee for all thy Dispensations that it hath pleased thee to confer upon me and even for this Praise and Honour and Thanks be to thee from this time forth and for evermore His Death and Burial After this Doctor Sibbald entertained him with some pious Discourses and then the Duke prayed a short Prayer by himself After which he with a cheerful and smiling Countenance imbraced the Doctor and said Truly I bless God I do not fear I have an assurance that is grounded here laying his hand on his Heart that gives me more true Ioy than ever I had I pass out of a miserable World to go to an eternal and glorious Kingdom and though I have been a most sinful Creature yet I know Gods Mercy is infinite and I bless my God I go with so clear a Conscience that I know not the man I have personally injured Then embracing his Servants that were there present he said to every one of them you have been very faithful to me the Lord bless you He turned next to the Executioner and after he had observed how he should lay his Body he told him he was to say a short Prayer to his God while he lay all along and should give a Sign by stretching out his right Hand and then he was to do his Duty whom he freely forgave as he did all the World And then he stretched himself out on the Ground and having placed his Head aright he lay a little while praying with great appearance of Devotion within himself and then gave the Sign upon which the Executioner at one blow severed his Head from his Body which was received in a Crimson-taffety skarf by two of his Servants kneeling by him and was together with his Body immediately put in a Coffin which was ready on the Scaffold and from thence conveyed to a House in the Mews from whence it was according to the Orders he had given sent down by Sea to Scotland and interred in the Burial-place of his Family where it lies in the hopes of a Blessed Resurrection to eternal Life THE CHARACTER OF James Duke of Hamilton c. THus lived and died IAMES Duke of Hamilton who was born at Hamilton the 19th of Iune His Birth and Parents 1606. His Parents were Iames Marquis of Hamilton and Lady Anne Cunningham Daughter to the Earl of Glencairn He was of a middle Stature his Body well-shaped His Person and Constitution of Health and his Limbs proportioned and straight in his last years he enclined to fatness his Complection and hair were black but his Countenance was pleasant and full of Life and shewed a great Sweetness of Disposition his Health was regular suitable to his Diet and free of sickness or pain only in his last years he was a little subject to the Stone But when his Body was opened all his Inwards were found sound and entire so that had not that fatal stroak brought his days to a too early Period he might probably have been very long lived His Education At the time of his Fathers coming to Court the Duke of Buckingham being then in great favour with King Iames and desiring to strengthen his Family with Noble Alliances agreed a Marriage betwixt him the Lady Mary Feilding Daughter to William Earl of Denbigh and the Lady Susanna Villiers Sister to the Duke of Buckingham upon which his Father sent for him to Court to be married when he himself was fourteen years of age and the Lady designed for him but seven This broke off the Course of Studies in which he had been educated till then in Scotland and though he was sent afterwards to the University of Oxford yet the interruption that his stay at Court put to his Education in Letters was such that he never recovered it After the years of Consummating the intended Marriage were come he was forced to it not without great Aversion occasioned partly by the disproportion of their ages and partly by some other secret Considerations His Marriage He lived with his Lady for some years in no good terms and that concurring with other Motives made him leave the Court upon his Fathers death but her excellent qualities did afterwards overcome that Aversion into as much Affection as he was capable of and it was no wonder for she was a Lady of great and singular worth and her Person was noble and graceful like the handsome Race of the Villiers's But to such as knew her well the vertues of her mind were far more shining She was educated from a Child in the Court and esteemed and honoured by all in it and by none more than the late King who as he was one of the Chastest men not to say Princes so he was a perfect honourer of all vertuous Ladies She was Lady of the Queens Bedchamber and admitted by her Majesty into an entire Confidence and Friendship and not
only was her Honour unstained but even her Fame continued untouched with Calumny she being so strict to the severest Rules as never to admit of those Follies which pass in that style for Gallantry She was a most affectionate and dutiful Wife and used to say she had the greatest reason to bless God for having given her such a Husband whom as she loved perfectly so she was not ashamed to obey But that which crowned all her other Perfections was the deep sense she had of Religion she lived and died in the Communion of the Church of England and was a very devout person Many years before her death she was so exact in observing her Retirements to her Closet that notwithstanding all her Avocations and the Divertisements of the Court as the Writer was informed by one that lived with her no day passed over her without bestowing large portions of her time on them beside her constant attendance on the Chappel She bore first three Daughters and then three Sons her Daughters were Lady Mary Lady Anne and Lady Susanna her Sons were Charles Iames and William but all her Sons and her eldest Daughter died young A year before she died she languished which ended in a Consumption of which after a few Moneths sickness she died so that she prepared for Death timeously About a Moneth before her death she called for her Children and gave them her last Blessings and Embraces ordering them to be brought no more near her lest the sight of them might have kindled too much tenderness in her which she was then studying to raise above all created objects and fix where she was shortly to be admitted She died the tenth of May in the year 1638 and left her Lord a most sad and afflicted person and though his Spirit was too great to sink under any burden yet all his Life after he remembred her with much tender Affection She died indeed in a good time for her own Repose when her Lord was beginning to engage in the Affairs of Scotland which proved so fatal both to his Quiet and Life But the Distractions of the following years concurring with the affectionate Remembrance of his Lady which rather increased than abated with time kept him from the thoughts of re-engaging in a married life Neither did the death of his Sons shake him from that purpose since he had so noble a Successor secured for his Family in the person of his Brother and next to him he had two Daughters who were dear to him far beyond the ordinary rate of Children on whom he got his Dignity and Fortune entailed in case his Brother died without Sons His Religion was Protestant and Reformed and as he was a Zealous Enemy to Popery so he was no less earnest for a good Correspondence among all the Reformed Churches His Religion in particular betwixt the Lutherans and Calvinists and therefore was a Great Patron and Promoter of the designs of Mr. Dury who bestowed so much of his travel and so many of his years in driving on that desired Union for I find by many of Dury's Letters to him that as he owed a great part of his Subsistence to the Money and Places were procured for him by the Duke both from the King and my Lord of Canterbury so his best Addresses to the Swedish Court and the Princes of Germany were those he had from him and therefore he continued giving him an account of his success as to his Patron and Benefactor As for our unhappy Differences which have divided this Island he judged neither the one nor the other worth the Blood was shed in the Quarrel and the excess he had seen on both hands cured him from being a Zealot for either He was disâ—atisfied with the Courses some of the Bishops had followed before the Troubles began and could not but impute their first Rise to the Provocations had been given by them but he was no less offended with the violent spirits of most of the Covenanters particularly with their opposition to the Royal Authority As long as the King employed him for the preservation of Episcopacy he served him faithfully and though afterwards he pressed him much for his consent to the Abolition of that Government in Scotland it was not from any Prejudice himself had at it but flowed only from the Affection he had to His Majesty since he saw it could not have been preserved at that time without very visible hazard both to King and Countrey and so he took the National Covenant at the Kings Command Anno 1641 in the Parliament of Scotland He was all his life a great honourer of true Piety where-ever he saw it notwithstanding any mistakes that might have been mingled with it so that whatsoever particular ground of Resentments he had at any who he judged feared God the consideration of that did overcome and stifle it but his first Imprisonment in the year 1643 was the happiest time of his Life to him for there he had a truer prospect of all things set before him which wrought a Change on him discernible by those who knew him best This made him frequently acknowledge Gods great Goodness to him in that Restraint for then he learned to despise at the foolish pleasures of Sin and the debasing vanities of a false World which had formerly possessed too great a Room in his thoughts It is true he chose to be Religious in secret and therefore gave no other vent to it in his Discourse than what he judged himself obliged to which was chiefly to his Children to whom he always recommended the Fear and Love of God as that wherein himself had found his only Joy and Repose The following words are a part of one of his Letters to them which he wrote a little before his last going to England IN all crosses even of the highest nature there is no other remedy but Patience and with alacrity to submit to the good-will and pleasure of our Glorious Creator and be contented therewith which I advise you to learn in your tender Age having injoyed that Blessing my self and found great Câ—mfort in it while involved in the middle of infinite Dangers He was a constant Reader of the Scriptures and during his Imprisonment they were his only Companions other books being for a great while denied him and he making a vertue of that necessity became a diligent and serious Reader of those holy Oracles and studied to take the measures of his Actions from them and not from the foolish Dreams and Conjectures of Astrology though the enquiring after and taking notice of these be among the injurious Imputations Obloquy fastened upon him But so far was he from any regard to them that an Astrologer coming to him in Germany with a Paper wherein he said he should read a noble Fortune he after he had sent him away threw it into the fire without once openinâ— it and indeed he was so far from flattering himself with the
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
the following Passages of his Life William Duke of Hamilton was born at Hamilton on the 14th of December in the year 1616. being ten years younger than his Brother The Character of William Duke of Hamilton and of the same Parents He was of a middle Stature his Complexion black but very agreeable and his whole Air and Meen was noble and sprightful his Youth discovered with an extraordinary Capacity so much Ingenuity that Candor seemed in him not so much the effect of vertue as nature since from a Child he could never upon any tentation be made to lye When his Father died he left him very young to the care of his Mother and the kindness of his Brother with a very small Provision but he confessed he never missed a Father in his Brother who kept him not only at the University of Glasgow where he was educated but likewise in his Travels at a rate and with an Equipage suitable to his Quality He travelled some years in France where he was very much esteemed and invited to stay in that Court with very honourable Offers He had a good foundation of Literature though he was no great Scholar and what he once acquired was rather improved than lost by him His appearance at Court He returned from his Travels when he was one and twenty years of Age and was look'd on both by the King Queen as a rare and highly promising Gentleman and now that he was of an Age capable of it his Brother and he entred into an entire Friendship And finding him so rarely accomplished and fitted for the greatest Affairs he kept him with himself at Court and though he depended wholly upon his Brothers Generosity for his Subsistence yet he was far from making him feel that either by upbraiding him with his Favours or by disparaging him with any neglect Faults too commonly incident to Elder Brothâ—rs when the Younger are obliged to stoop to them But as Lord William was too high-minded to have endured the least appearance of those so his Brother was not capable of giving him any such hard Usage but allowed him all things suitable to his rank and carried towards him with Respect as well as Affection He continued in the Court some years being much esteemed by all sorts there for as his Address was becoming so his Converse was full of Life and Wit and he was a great Master in all his Exercises But his Brother was more careful to think of a Fortune for him than himself was and therefore provided a Marriage for him that had the expectation of a vast Fortune Lady Elizabeth Maxwel eldest Daughter to the Earl of Dirleton who had no Sons and but one other Daughter It was not without reluctancy that he was engaged that way but his Brothers Authority over him was absolute so he was married to her in the year 1638 and continued still at Court He had by her four Daughters that survived him L Ann L. Elizabeth L. Mary and L. Margaret Afterwards he pretended to be made Master of the Horse to the Queen He is made Secretary of State but Her Majesty was engaged to another which was much resented by him and made him resolve on leaving the Court and going into France This grieved his Brother extremely and both the King and Queen sent him a promise that if he would give over thoughts of that Journey he should be preferred to what-ever Place fell that were fit for him And a little after that the Earl of Sterlin died who was Secretary of State for Scotland and the Queen moved the King to advance him to that Trust to which his Majesty did willingly consent for as he was glad of all opportunities of expressing his kindness to his Brother so he saw in himself that which made him judge him both worthy and capable of any Imployment and thereupon he made him Secretary and created him Earl of Lanerick He had every thing but years to recommend him to the highest Trust being Witty Considerate Brave Generous and resolute to the highest Degree He saw his Engagement in Affairs fell to be in such a disordered time that he could not have appeared on the Scene with more disadvantage He had no experience at all in Scotish Affairs but for that he resolved to trust to his Brothers Informations and Advices which did not only continue till he came to understand Persons and Affairs better The Friendship betwixt his Brother and him but that Noble Pair were all their lives united with bonds of Friendship straiter than those of their Blood Calumny got no access to their Ears nor Emulation and Jealousie room in their Hearts and as their Friendship was never broke off with a Discord so it was not so much as marred by a Mistake They had both Interests Friends and Quarrels in common they were pleasant in their Lives nor was their Friendship divided in their Deaths as appeared from the interchanged Preferences they gave one anothers Children in their Last Wills Both of them had peculiar Excellencies yet even in those things wherein the one was excelled by the other there remained enough to term them both eminent The Elder had the greater Temper and Command of his Passions but this made him sometimes fall short of that Acrimony and Authority which such Times and Services required The Younger was more forward and resolute yet sometimes this left his Temper behind it The Elder as he had the advantage of Years and Experience so he had the deeper Apprehensions and the greater Foresight but the Younger had more Vivacity of Spirit and Readiness of Apprehension The Elder was readier to forsee a Danger and invent Objections and the Younger quicker at Answering them and finding Salvoes for all Difficulties The Elders Converse was smoother but more reserved the Younger as he was the brisker so he was the more frank and was no less beloved and in fine the Elder spoke more gracefully but the other had the better Pen. He was most assiduous in his Imployment His diligence in his Imployment to procure not only favourable Answers but speedy Dispatches to all those who made their Addresses by him to the King He frankly told every one whether he would serve them or not for where he meant no Assistance he never disguised it with general Assurances but where he promised Service he needed no new Applications either to refresh his Memory or quicken his Diligence and he was wont to say he was sure there was no Person whose sight His Majesty had so little reason to desire as his since he never saw him when there was any possibility of speaking to him apart but he moved him in one Suit or another But his Confidence was grounded on this that he gave the King no trouble with any desires of his own his Reality this way obliged his Friends exceedingly who used to complain that though his Brother as far as his own Kindness could go was most obliging
in his Breast Nothing did so much support his spirit under the heavy Pressure that lay over it as the desire he had to preserve his Life for His Majesties Service of which he was prodigal when he saw it useless to his Master for his Life had been of a great while burdensome to him and indeed it was no wonder to see Death so welcome to one who had so little reason to desire to live and so much ground to hope in Death for when the Tossings and unjust unmerciful Usage he met with in those years he survived his Brother are well looked into it is a wonder they forced him not unto the horridest Resolutions imaginable I use his own words and to pursue private and publick Injuries with a mortal Resentment yet his zeal for the Kings Service and the Countries Quiet over-ruled all other thoughts From Scotland he went to Holland where he was scarce landed when he heard the sad and dismal news of the Kings Murder nor had he recovered of the extreme Grief that raised in him when he heard likewise how his Brother was murthered which afflicted him beyond expression nor did any thing grieve him more than his laying down Arms at Sterlin for when he saw too late how they had been abused in it he censured it more severely than any of his Enemies could do He was ill used by his Enemies and the Preachers In Scotland the Parliament if that Meeting could ever deserve that name wherein there were scarce any of the Nobility present not only condemned the Engagement for the King but passed an Act against all the Engagers ranking them in several Classes whence it got the name of an Act of Classes whereby they were excluded from all Offices publick Trust and Vote in Parliament nor were they ever to be admitted to Trust till they had satisfied the Church by a publick profession of their Repentance for their accession to the unlawful Engagement as it was then called and were by them recommended to the favour of the State and those that ruled were resolved to readmit none but such as would depend on them and adhere to their Interests They were also particularly severe to the Duke for breaking Confinement and leaving Scotland without their Pass The Duke upon his arrival in Holland offered his Service to his Master our Gracious Soveraign who now Reigns which he received and entertained with so much Royal Goodness as if the Affection and Confidence of their Masters had been the Inheritance of these Brothers and what the late King was to the Elder his Majesty was to the Younger who continues to this day to honour his Memory with the highest Commendations And indeed his Royal Favour was not misplaced on one that was either unsensible or ungrateful for never Subject served Master with more Honesty Zeal and Affection so that no consideration either of Hope or Fear wrought so much on him as the Affection he bore his Master neither expressed he anxiety for any thing at his Death save for His Majesties Person fearing lest he might fall into their cruel hands whom he knew to be thirsting for his Blood He stayed in the Netherlands till His Majesty came to Scotland He adviseth the King to settle with Scotland and though those that governed there were so much his Enemies that they would have the King stand to their Act of Classes and made that one of the Articles of their Treaty at Breda yet the Duke seeing the desperate posture the Kings Affairs were in and that no visible hope remained unless His Majesty settled fully with Scotland was not only satisfied to consent to that severe Demand but did earnestly press His Majesty to agree with that Kingdom whatever might become of him Many were for extremer Methods and pressed the Duke to concur for making a forcible Impression upon Scotland but he well foresaw the mischief of that Course and how little could be promised from it for as no great Concurrence could be expected in the condition things were then driven to so all that could follow even on a little success was to expose the Country to the rage of a prevailing Army from England against which Scotland entirely united would have had work enough though it had not been weakned by a Civil War and therefore he was against all Divisions which might also have tempted the prevailing Party to joyn with the English Army The Treaty with the Scotish Commissioners was held at Breda where things stuck long their Demands being very high and uneasy to the King The chief of the Commissioners was the Earl of Cassilis who did truly love the King and Kingly Government so that when the Usurpation proved sucessful by the Conquest of Scotland afterwards though Usurper studied by the greatest Offers he could make to gain him to his Party considering the high esteem he was in for his Piety and Vertue could never prevail so far as to make him advance one step towards him even in outward Civilities yet he was a most zealous Covenanter but of so severe a Vertue and so exactly strict to every thing in which he judged his Honour or Conscience concerned that he would not abate an ace of his Instructions but stood his ground so that nothing could beat or draw him out of it But he did it with so much Fairness and Candor that the King though troubled enough with the difficulties that bred him yet was much taken with the Openness of his Proceeding with him and conceived so high an Opinion of his Fidelity to him that nothing could ever chaâ—ge or lessen it so so excellent a thing is Ingenuity that it begets an esteem wherever it is to be found even when we are most displeased with the Instances in which it appears The next in the Commission was the Earl of Lothian who though he was deeply engaged in Friendship and Interests with the Marquis of Argyle yet was of a Noble Temper had great Parts and a high sense of Honour The other Commissioners depended on them and went easily along with them in what they agreed to The Commissioners seeing the good Offices the Duke did were willing he should return with his Majesty to Scotland Anno 1650 and enjoy the common Priviledges of Scotchmen only be secluded from all publick Trust and from his Vote in Parliament But the leading-men in Scotland judged it necessary for the Peace of that Kingdom that the Duke might not return with His Majesty and sent Orders for stopping his Voyage These Orders came not to Holland before most of the Commissioners were aboard only the Earls of Cassilis and Lothian were ashore when they got them they were much troubled to get such severe Commands obliging them to break the Treaty they had so lately signed But since most of their fellow-Commissioners were gone But is put from His Majesty at his return to Scotland and they without them made not a Quorum they could do nothing so
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
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
The King consults with them ibid. He goes to the Isle of Wight ibid. And writes to Lanerick p. 325. The Scotish Commissioners write to him p. 326. The Kings Answer to Lanerick ibid. The four Bills are passed p. 327. The Scotish Commissioners protest against them ibid. And write to the King about them ibid. The King is well-pleased with their Papers p. 328. They write again to him ibid. Another Letter to the King p. 329. The Kings Answer to them ibid. Designs against the Kings Person p. 330. Traquair is well with the King p. 331. The Scotish Commissioners advise the King p. 332. The King sends for them ibid. The Kings care of Huntley p. 333. The Queen writes to Lanerick p. 334. The Scotish Commissioners agree with the King ibid. The King is made Prisoner ibid. Lib. 6. Of the Duke's Engagement for the Kings Preservation and what followed to his Death THe Duke's endeavours in Scotland p. 335. Three Parties in Scotland p. 336. The Commissioners return ibid. The Church-men are jealous of them p. 337. The King writes to them ibid. Their Answer ibid. Lowdon forsakes them p. 338. The Duke is designed General ibid. The Parliament sits ibid. Commissioners from England ibid. The Remonstrance of the Ministers p. 339. The King writes to the Lords p. 340. Their Answers to him ibid. and p. 342. Satisfaction offered to the Ministers ib. Lanerick's Letters about their Affairs ibid. And about their Demands to the Two Houses ibid. And about the Declaration p. 343. And putting the Kingdom into a posture of War ibid. And the modelling their Army p. 344. The Prince resolves to come to Scotland ibid. The King designs an Escape ibid. Great disorders in England p. 345. Letters to the Queen and Prince p. 346. And to the King about the Officers of the Army ibid. The Ministers oppose the Engagement p. 348. The Parl. Letter to the Presbyteries ib. The Parl. sends for the Scotish Army in Ireland p. 349. The Confusions in England p. 350. A Fast at Westminster ibid. The Parl. of Scotl. adjourned p. 351. Some are against a present March ibid. A Letter of the Prince's ibid. Others press a speedy March p. 352. And it is resolved on p. 353. An Insurrection at Mauchlin ibid. Some Troops are sent to the Borders p. 354. The whole Army enters England ibid. The Chief Officers of it ibid. Calander's Character ibid. The Condition of the Army p. 355. An Account of their March ibid. Lambert retires ibid. A Letter from Langdale ibid. The Army marches into Lancashire p. 357. The Scotish Army comes out of Ireland ibid. The Cavalry leave the Foot p. 358. Preston-Fight ibid. Middleton's Gallantry p. 361. At Warrington-Bridge the Foot Capitulate ibid. The Horse come to Utoxater p. 362. A Munity ibid. They treat with Lambert p. 363. The Articles are signed p. 364. L. Gray of Groby comes up ib. The Duke is made Prisoner p. 365. And examined but discovers nothing ibid. The Engagement variously censured ib. Lauderdale was sent to bring the Prince to Scotland p. 366. The Prince intended to go ibid. But the loss of the Army stopt him p. 367. An Insurrection in Scotland ibid. Many in the Committee of Estates incline to submit to them ibid. But Lanerick opposed that long p. 368. An Account of the Irish Army ibid. They are called back to Scotland p. 369. And joyn with the Committee of Estates p. 370. And defeat Argyle at Sterlin p. 371. A Treaty is carried on ibid. Cromwel is invited to Scotland p. 372. Different opinions about the Treaty ib. Articles offered for a Treaty p. 373. The Answer sent to these Offers p. 374. The Treaty is concluded p. 375. But not at all kept ibid. Instructions sent to the Two Houses ibid. Lanerick goes out of Scotl. p. 377. His Letter to the Chancellour ibid. The Duke is brought to Windsor p. 379. Oft examined but in vain ibid. The King is murthered ibid. Majesty in Misery in a Copy of Verses written by the King p. 381. The Duke escapes out of Windsor p. 384. But is taken in Southwark ibid. And kept in St. James's ibid. Argyle refused to interceed for him p. 385. He is brought to his Trial ibid. The Inditement against him ibid. The Duke's Plea ibid. The second Appearance p. 386. The third Appearance ibid. The fourth Appearance ibid. The fifth Appearance Witnesses examined p. 387. The Duke pleaded the Articles given him p. 388. The sixth Appearance more Witnesses p. 389. The seventh Appearance more Evidence led ibid. The eighth Appearance the Duke pleads for himself at great length p. 390. The ninth Appearance his Counsel plead p. 392. The tenth Appearance the Counsel for the People plead against him p. 394. The eleventh Appearance Bradshaw's Speech p. 396. Sentence is given against him ibid. The Duke prepares for Death ibid. And writes to his Brother p. 397. And to his Children ibid. His Speech before his Death p. 398. He is led out to his Execution p. 400. And writes a note to his Brother ibid. New Offers of Life made upon base Conditions and rejected by him p. 401. D. Sibbald encourages him on the Scaffold ibid. The Duke's last Speech p. 402. And Prayer p. 404. His Death ibid. And Burial p. 405. His Character p. 406. His Birth and Parents ibid. His Person ibid. His Education ibid. His Marriage ibid. His Lady's Vertues p. 407. and Death ibid. His Religion ibid. His Abilities p. 409. His Loyalty ibid. His love to his Country p. 411. His Temperance ibid. His Ingenuity p. 412. His Good Nature p. 413. His Death much lamented p. 414. A Letter of the Queens p. 415. Another of the Kings ibid. Lib. 7. A Continuation of Affairs till Worcester-Fight THe Character of William Duke of Hamilton p. 417. His first Appearance at Court p. 418. He is made Secretary of State and Earl of Lanerick ibid. The Friendship between his Brother and him ibid. His Diligence in his Imployment p. 419. His Abilities ibid. His Religion ibid. His troubles prove happy to him p. 420. His care of his Brothers Daughters ibid. His Duty to the King p. 421. He was ill used by his Enemies p. 422. He advises the King to settle with Scotland ibid. The Treaty at Breda ibid. The Duke returns with the King p. 423. But is put from the King ibid. And lives in the Isle of Arran ibid. Cromwel enters Scotland p. 424. Dunbar-Fight ibid. The King is better used in Scotland ibid. The Church-party divided ibid. The Duke comes to the King p. 425. The King marches into England ibid. The Duke's Letter about their March p. 426. Lambert is beat from Warrington-Bridge p. 427. The K. comes to Worcester ibid. Cromwel follows â—im ibid. The King is in great straits p. 428. The Duke apprehends his own Death ibid. And prepares for it ibid. His Meditations before the Fight ibid. And Prayer p. 429. Worcester-Fight p. 430. The Duke's Regiment câ—arged gallantly ibid. The Duke 's great Valour ibid. He is wounded and taken p. 431. His wounds prove mortal ibid. His Letter to his Lady ibid. His Death p. 432. And Burial ibid. His last Will p. 433. A Leâ—ter with it to his Lady p. 434. The Conclusion p. 436. A Rational Method for proving the Truth of the Christian Religion as it is professed in the Church of England in Octavo The Royal Martyr and the Dutiful Subject in two Sermons Quarto both Written by Gilbert Burnet Author of Duke Hamilton 's Memoires and Printed for R. Royston Several Chirurgical Treatises by Rich. Wiseman Sergeant-Chirurgion to His Majesty Fol. New THE END
bounty he ever met with foâ— His Majesty embraced him with such tender affection that he had been a monster of ingratitude if he had been ever capable of forgetting it and indeed the Marquis used to say that never were his resentments for any usage he afterwards met with so great but the remembrance of that night stifled them quite and it must be confessed to be a passage without example in History since the days of the conquering King of Macedon But the Marquis was not able to lie under such terrible imputations wherefore he pressed that Ochiltree might be put to it to prove what he had alledged but all he offered against Ramsay was onely a presumption which Ramsay denied and Reay affirmed so that they were both put under Bail and nothing appeared that did touch the Marquis for though Ramsay had been as guilty as the Lord Reay called him that left no imputation on him since none can be made answerable for those they imploy unless it appear that they followed the Instructions given them So the Marquis was dispatched to Germany Lord Ochiltree had charged the Marquis with Treason Ochiltree tried and sentenced for his Forgeries and failing so totally in his probation was sent down to Scotland to be tried where he had a legal and free Trial for his false Charge before the Justice-general and such Asâ—essors as were appointed to sit with him by the Privy Councel and had the Marquis repaid him in his own coin he could not have escaped capital punishment but he was satisfied with his own Justification and such a Censure put on the Calumniator as might deter others from the like attempts wherefore he was condemned to perpetual Imprisonment in Blackness Castle to perpetual Imprisonment and he continued there for twenty years But that all this matter may be ended at once ten years after this when His Majesty was in Scotland in the year 1641 the Marquis was prevailed on by the addresses Ochiltree made to him to procure his liberty from the King which he was to have done but at that time one Captain Stewart who had married his daughter was amongst these who discovered the alledged Plot commonly called the Incident whereof an account shall be given in its due place and this bound up the Marquis from interposing for Ochiltree's liberty lest it should have been supposed that he had done it as a kindness to his Son-in-law for that discovery which might have raised some Jealousies As for the Lord Reay and Mr. Ramsay Reay and Ramsay desired a Combat they continued the one positively affirming the other as confidently denying what was alledged but in the whole progress of the Trial the King expressed that concernment in the Marquis that he seemed earnest even to have Ramsay vindicated Ramsay carried himself very fiercely in the pursuit at length both of them desired to be judged by the Martial Court and that they might be permitted a Combat Ramsay was the more eager in that but though Reay did not decline it yet he was not so forward as the other It seems needless to give a relation of the particular procedure of this Affair though another to swell up his Volume with impertinent Stories Sandersons Life of King Charles hath at length set down the Journal of the proceedings of the Martial Court with no other design but to heap the more envy on the Marquis which he usually doth with as much ignorance as malice All the account to be added shall be in the words of one against whom there can be no exception I shall therefore set down His Majesties Letter to the Marquis upon the conclusion of this matter which is taken from the Original James His Majesties Letter about that Affair SInce you went I have not written to you of Mackay's business because I neither desire to prophesie nor write half news but now seeing by the grace of God what shall be the end of it I have thought fit to be the first advertiser of it to you I doubt not but you have heard that after long seeking of proofs for clearing the business as much as could be and formalities which could not be eschewed the Combat was awarded day set weapons appointed but having seen and considered all that can be said â—n either side as likewise the Carriage of both the men upon mature deliberation I have resolved not to suffer them to fight because first for Mackay he hath failed so much in his circumstantial probations especially câ—ncerning Muschamp upon whom he built as a chief witness that no body now is any way satisfied with his accusations then for David Ramsay though we cannot condemn him for that that is not yet he hath so much and so often offended by his violent tongue that we can no ways think him innocent though not that way guilty whereof he is accused wherefore I have commanded the Court shall be dismissed and Combat discharged with a Declaration to this purpose that though upon want of good proof the Combat was necessarily awarded yet upon the whole matter I am fully satisfied that there was no such Treason as Mackay had fancied and for David Ramsay though we must clear him of that Treason in particular yet not so far in the general but that he might give occasion enough by his tongue of great accusation if it had been rightly placed as by his foolish presumptuous carriage did appear This is the substance and so short that it is rather a direction how to believe others than a Narration it self one of my chief ends being that you may so know David Ramsay that you may not have to doe with such a Pest as he is suspecting he may seek to insinuate himself to you upon this occasion wherefore I must desire you as you love me to have nothing to doe with him To conclude now I dare say that you shall have no dishonour in this business and for my self I am not ashamed that herein I have shewed my self to be Your faithful Friend and loving Cousin CHARLES R. London May 8. 1632. But to return to our Story the King of Sweden appointed General Lesley afterwards Earl of Levin to wait on the Marquis at his landing which he desired might be at Breme The Marquis sets sail and intends for Breme and appointed his Agent to deal with the Archbishop of Breme about it who was well satisfied promising him all assistance he was also put in hope of the Auxiliary Forces to be in readiness to meet him there but seeing no other appearances besides words and promises he did not think it safe to land his little Army in a Country so distant from the Swedish Camp when the Enemy lay betwixt them so that he might easily have been cut off before they could joyn therefore he resolved to sail through the Sound but sails through thâ— Sound and land in Pomerania where none lay betwixt him and the King of Sweden On
had been committed in the way of introducing the late Books His Majesty did more than correct that by His gracious Condescensions that he was resolved as soon as the Country was settled to call both an Assembly and Parliament if they themselves obstructed it not but withall he represented to them the madness of hazarding on a Rupture with the King they knew it would not be uneasie to engage England against them the Kings Navy was in good case and it would be no trouble to the King to destroy their Trade which would quickly impoverish the Country therefore he desired they would follow such courses as might redeem themselves and their Country from Ruine and Infamy This prevailed with divers and all acknowledged there was that strength of reason in his Discourse that it was not easie to resist him long and see him much but there were rough and wild Spirits who could neither be tamed nor tuned right by it yet the Multitudes began to disperse but the Covenant was so dear to them that it was the endangering of all to speak of delivering it up On the 15th of Iune he received the following Answer from His Majesty to the Accounts he had sent him Hamilton THough I answered not yours of the fourth yet I assure you that I have not been idle so that I hope by the next week I shall send you some good assurance of the advancing of our Preparations This say not to make you precipitate any thing for I like of all you have hitherto done and even of that which I find you mind to doe but to shew you that I mean to stick to my Grounds and that I expect not any thing can reduce that People to their Obedience but onely Force I thank you for the clearness of your Advertisements of all which none troubles me so much as that in a manner they have possessed themselves of the Castle of Edinburgh and likewise I hold Sterlin as good as lost As for the dividing of my Declaration I find it most fit in that way you have resolved it to which I shall adde that I am content to forbear the latter part thereof until you hear my Fleet hath set sail for Scotland In the mean time your care must be how to dissolve the Multitude and if it be possible to possess your self of my Castles of Edinburgh and Sterlin which I do not expect And to this end I give you leave to flatter them with what hopes you please so you engage not me against my Grounds and in particular that you consent neither to the calling of Parliament nor General Assembly untill the Covenant be disavowed and given up your chief end being now to win time that they may not commit publick Follies untill I be ready to suppress them and since it is as you well observe my own People which by this means will be for a time ruined so that the loss must be inevitably mine and this if I could eschew were it not with a greater were well But when I consider that not onely now my Crown but my Reputation for ever lies at stake I must rather suffer the first that Time will help than this last which is irreparable This I have written to no other end than to shew you I will rather die than yield to those impertinent and damnable Demands as you rightly call them for it is all one as to yield to be no King in a very short time So wishing you better success than I can expect I rest Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Greenwich 11 June 1638. POSTSCRIPT As the Affairs are now I do not expect that you should declare the Adherers to the Covenant Traitors until as I have already said you have heard from me that my Fleet hath set Sail for Scotland though your six weeks should be elapsed In a word gain time by all the honest means you can without forsaking your Grounds But he had taken his Resolution about this set down in the Postscript before he got the Kings Answer He delays to publish the Proclamation to avoid an affront for he wrote to the Archbishop of Canterbury that he was resolved on it finding the hazard on the one side was a present Rupture which would have been the ruine of the Kings Affairs and of all his Friends whereas the hazard of not doing it was onely the cutting off his Head for transgressing his Instructions which he was willing not onely to endanger but lose for the Kings Service But till the Multitudes were wholly dispersed he duâ—st not hazard on the the publishing of the Proclamation lest Authority might have met with an affront in it This was now doing apace Commissioners onely staying in name of the rest but all the Ministers hearing that the Covenant must be given up or no Treaty made their Pulpits ring with it and the Marquis was to purpose inveighed against some not sparing to say that the faggots in Hell were prepared for his reward but all declared they would never quit their Covenant but with their Lives A Protestation was also resolved on whenever the Declaration should be published which made it be delayed a little longer and it was told him by the Kings Advocate that a Protestation might be legally made and that it had been done so in the year 1621. But for all this things begun to promise some likelyhood ofSettlement which made him write to the King not to proceed in his warlike Preparations till things were more desperate to which he received the following Answer Hamilton THe dealing with Multitudes makes diversity of Advertisement no way strange and certainly the alteration from worse to less ill cannot be displeasing wherefore you may be confident I cannot but approve your Proceedings hitherto for certainly you have gained a very considerable point in making the heady Multitude begin to disperse without having engaged me in any unfitting thing I shall take your advice in staying the publick Preparations for Force but in a silent way by your leave I will not leave to prepare that I may be reaâ—y upon the least advertisement Now I hope there may be a possibility of securing my Castles but I confess it must be done closely and cunningly One of the chief things you are to labour now is to get a considerable number of Sessioners and Advocates to give their opiniâ—n that the Covenant is at least against Law if not treasonable Thus you have my Approbation in several shapes tâ—erefore you need not doubt but that I am Your assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Theobalds 13 Jun. 1638. At this time the Session sate not He advises the King to bring back the Session to Edinburgh for the Town and Country about Sterlin threatned them so that they could not return thither wherefore the Marquis desired a Warrant from the King to bring the Session back to Edinburgh both because it was not fit they should be too far from himself and the Council
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