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
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
needful in our present circumstances than to represent those things truly That Ministers on the one hand considering the ill effects that followed on a stretched Prerogative and the People on the other hand apprehending the dismal consequences of Tumults Iealousies and Civil War there may be such an Vniversal Harmony between the King and his Subjects as may rejoyce all good men and disappoint and confound all the Enemies of our Peace and Happiness But all those things not being yet so fully clear to me and not lying in the Papers that were in my hands I have given no account of them in this Work which I confined to the Negotiations of those two Brothers whose Papers I perâ—sed Nor have I written any thing of the Affairs of England further than was necessary by their Relation to and Intermixture with those of Scotland and though there are very considerable Papers in that Collection that were sent to Scotland both from the Committee of both Kingdoms and from some Eminent men of both Houses yet there is not a continued thread in them and therefore I have published none of them Nor have I drawn down my Relation farther than Worcester-Fight where the younger of these Brothers lost his Life for though I have been much pressed to write a full History of Scotland from K. James his Death where the most Reverend Dr. Spotswood ended his so much and so justly valued History and to bring it down to the present Time yet I will see how the World is satisfied with what I now publish before I give my self and others more trouble of this sort At first I wrote this Work Historically and only drew the most material heads and passages out of the Papers that lay before me but that Noble and Iudicious Gentleman Sir Robert Murray to whose Memory I owe the most Grateful Acknowledgments that can be payed by a Person infinitely obliged to him and that did highly value his extraordinary Parts and rare Virtues gave me such reasons to change the whole Work and to insert most of the Papers at their full length that prevailed on me to do it and when it was written over again as I now offer it to the World he was so much pleased with it that though I know the setting down his words would add a great value to it among all that knew him yet they are so high in the Commendation of it that I cannot but conceal them Some have wondered to find sewer of the Duke's Letters here than of other Persons but the truth is these are so full and so particular in the Advices and Advertisements he wrote to the King that it was by no means thought fit to publish too many of them though the Originals of them are yet extant being written on the back by the King's hand The Vouchers of this whole Work lie at Hamilton where Curious Persons may both be satisfied about the truth of what is now published and about many other very important things from which I drew these MEMOIRES only in a few particulars for supplying some defects I was forced to seek Informations from Persons of great Honour and Worth My writing from such Vouchers was the cause that sometimes the angry Language I found in Letters did slip into my pen. I know there is nothing that does more misbecome an Historian than to mix Passion with the Account he gives and so I studied to cleanse this Work from it all I could and read it over once or twice to throw out all those angry words which I had mixed in it carelesly having among other things Copied them from the Letters that were in my hands But upon a further Review I find that some of these Reflections do still remain for which I am very sorry but I can assure the Reader I had no design to leave needless Imputations on any Persons for I took great care to write with all possible Respect and Caution even of those who were the greatest Enemies that both these Dukes had and those that know the present circumstances of that Family and of the Writer himself will find that no Resentments for any hard Vsage they have met with has biassed him from what becomes an honest Man and a faithful Historian I thought it unworthy of my pains to set down and confute those base and malicious Calumnies which fill many Books that pass for the Histories of the late Times The Truth of this Work is a fuller Confutation than any other could be These Writings indeed made me examine all the Duke's Papers more carefully particularly the Copies of their Letters to their nearest and most assured Friends with the Letters they received from them most of these were written in Câ—pher and the decyphering of them was no small trouble yet I resolved to spare no pains that might give me a full satisfaction about their most secret Correspondencies But after all that search I was still more and more confirmed of the great Integrity of their Professions and of their constant Fidelity to the Crown I publish these MEMOIRES with the more confidence because they having been seen and perused by divers of the most Considerable and most Intelligent Persons of both Kingdoms either they went very far with their Civility and Complement or were well satisfied with them I shall enlarge this Preface no further but desire that all the faults in the Style or way of Writing may be charged only on my self and may leave no Imputation on those Worthy Persons whose Actions I relate nor on those wâ—o now represent them since they deserved a far better Pen to be employed in writing their History All that is good in this Work is only from them and all that is evil in it must fall entirely to my share and I alone must bear it They have suffered too much already from the Malice of their Enemies it will therefore be very unjust to make them suffer more for the Indiscretion or Weakness of an ill Writer I shall not stand longer on laboured and formal Apologies which are more used to shew the Wit of the Writer in making them gracefully than from any humble opinion they have of their own Performances who make them If I have not done this to the best advantage it is because I could do it no better for the Importance of these Transactions the Merit of the Persons and the great Honour I pay the Family and the Duke and Dutchess of Hamilton that now are made me judge it very well worth all the Application and Industry I could bestow upon it ERRATA THough a great deal of care was used to revise the sheets yet the following Errata must be corrected Literal Faults and some errours in the punctation are not marked which it is supposed the Reader will easily perceive Pâ—ge 11. Line 30. for Titles read Tithes p. 11. l. 44. for Cleazar r. Eleazar p. 13. l. 1. for seeming r. seemed p. 40. l. 28. for at r. as p.
the 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Attempts and he could neither be caressed nor cudgelled out of it Most of Pickering's Letters both to Pym and Clotworthy were intercepted from which I draw these Accounts About the 20th of December there was a Council-day a particular account whereof I shall give Great debates in the Council about the Kings Declaration as I have it from a Copy of a Letter written to London in which the Chancellour presented to the Council a Letter from my Lord Lindsay then at London with the Declaration of the Parliament But though the Lords of that Party knew nothing of this yet by private Letters Lanerick had some conjectures of it beforehand After the Parliaments Paper was twice read Lowdon resumed it fully and assoon as he had done with that Lanerick delivered another Letter from the King with as large a Declaration within it and after it was twice read Lanerick bade the Chancellour resume it as faithfully as he had done the former which accordingly he did The first thing the Marquis thought best to move as that of the least Importance which yet would discover how the Council was inclined was the Publishing the Kings Declaration The Lord Balmerino said the Parliament desired not theirs to be published so it were Officiousness to do it but that it were Injustice to publish the one without the other The Marquis asked was that because we owed as much to the Parliament of England as to the King Lanerick added he had a Command from the King for it Argyle answered they sate there to good purpose if every Message to them was a Command and they two let fly at one another for a while with much eagerness But the Marquis and Balmerino took the debate off their hands and managed it more calmly The Marquis said the Vote was to be stated Obey or Not obey the other answered that was the Bishops way of proceeding to procure Orders from the King without Advice and then charge all who offered better Counsel with Disobedience The Marquis said to what did they mean to reduce the Kings Authority if he might not set out Declarations for removing the Aspersions were cast on his Person and Government or would they speak plainly were they afraid that his Subjects might have too good an opinion of him if they heard himself There appeared a variety of Opinions before it was put to the Vote some were for Printing both some were for Printing neither some for Printing the Kings and not the Parliaments and one had a singular Opinion for Printing the Parliaments and not the Kings There were one and twenty Councellours present and it being put to the Vote Print or not Print there were eleven who voted I I I and nine voted No No No. This being carried that the Kings Declaration and not the Parliments should be Printed the Marquis moved next that the matter of these Declarations might be considered But the Lord Balmerino said the Parliament of England was long in contriving their Paper and the King and those about him had been no doubt as long in forming the other and if we shall fall upon a few hours Consideration to give our sense of them we were pretty fellows in faith which he twice repeated This rude Raillery touched the Marquis in the quick because he conceived these words were not so much a reflexion upon himself as on the King who on another great occasion had used the same expression However they had sate and debated long so they gave it over for that day This is set down more particularly because it was the first instance that these two Parties fell visibly asunder and henceforth they continued stated in two Factions But because I love not to name persons upon invidious occasions henceforth all the other Faction shall be designed by the General term of the Church-party others calling them Argyl's Party and the other the Hamilton-party However the Declaration was printed which drew a large share of Censure and Hatred on the two Brothers but the King was so well pleased with their Behaviour that he wrote the Marquis the following Letter Hamilton YOu know I am ill at words I think it were best for me to say to you as Mr. Major did you know my mind and indeed I know none of my Subjects that knows it better and having for the present little else to give my Servants but thanks I hold it a particular Misfortune that I can do it no better therefore this must suffice I see you are as good as your word and you shall find me as good in mine of being Your most assured constant Friend CHARLES R. Oxford December 29th 1642. An. 1643. POSTSCRIPT You cannot take to your self nor express to your Brother better thanks than I mean to you both for the Service you did me the last Council-day Anno 1643. THe next Year begun with Petitions which were brought from divers Shires and Presbyteries complaining of their Publishing the late Declaration but the Conservatours of Peace who were for the most part of the Church-party made this up the best way they could Most are inclined to joyn with the Two Houses against the King for first they declared a Publication was not an Approbation next they appointed the Parliaments Declaration to be also Published At this time the Marquis and Traquair renewed their old Friendship and seeing these Petitions coming in so fast which did clearly insinuate desires of engaging in the Parliaments Quarrel he with his Brother's and Traquair's advice contrived a Cross Petition to be offered to the Lords of Council And as the Motion of it came first from him so the first draught of it was from his Pen of which I find an account under Lanerick's hand so little reason there was to charge him with Juggling in that matter though it was not fit he should have owned it lest upon that account the Church-party might either have accused him as a Plotter or at least cast him from Sitting and Judging in it The Petition follows May it please your Lordships The Cross Petition THat whereas His Majesty with Advice of his Great Council the Estates of Parliament hath been pleased to select your Lordships to be His Councellours and hath by an Act of the late Parliament committed to your Lordships the Administration and Government of this Kingdom in all Affairs concerning the Good Peace and Happiness thereof and in regard of that great Trust reposed by His Majesty and the Estates of Parliament in you your Lordships have been and will continue so careful to acquit your selves of that weighty Charge as you may be answerable for all your Actions and Proceedings to His Majesty and the Estates of Parliament to whom as we conceive you are and can only be accomptable And now we being informed of a Petition presented by some Noblemen Gentlemen and others to the Commissioners for conserving the Articles of the late Treaty upon pretext of your Lordships not Sitting at that time
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
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
hopes of great success in any of his Undertakings that he rather apprehended himself under some inauspicious Star that crossed all his Attempts which made him in his latter years long for some secret Retirement out of the noise of business And in his last Expedition into England he was so far from promising himself great matters that the night before he marched when he was taking leave of one of his Friends he said he not only knew that such Attempts were doubtful but apprehended that what he was then engaging in might prove not only dangerous but destructive to himself nevertheless he was resolved either to go through with it successfully or to perish in the Attempt and never survive it adding that the last was what he looked for and therefore he took his leave as never to meet again But notwithstanding all the Misfortunes that either lay upon him or did hang over him he preserved the greatest calmness in his mind that could be imagined which appeared in an unclouded serenity that dwelt always on his looks and discovered him ever well pleased And though the greatness of his mind and the sweetness of his Natural Temper might have contributed much to that Tranquillity yet certainly it took its rise from another Source and flowed chiefly from his Considence in God and the Security he had in the innocency of his own Heart His Accomplishments were great His Accomplishments though cultivated only by his own thoughts and improved by Experience for he was no great Scholar neither was he bred abroad his Judgment was profound his Foresight great his Style was smooth and without affectation for he spoke with a native Eloquence One advantage he had beyond all he engaged with in debating that he was never fretted nor exasperated and spake at the same rate without clamouring or eagerness He had seen so much of the baseness of many men that it inclined him in the end to Jealousie which made him reserved with most people and of this I find divers complaining in their Letters For his Affection and Duty to his Prince it hath appeared so much in his History that little remains to be said in his Character His Loyalty It is true some were pleased to say that he treated with forreign Princes for seconding him in his own pretensions to the Crown of Scotland but this Forgery was so ill-grounded that he had signal proofs to the contrary When he first engaged in the German Design one wrote to him from the Spanish Court in the name of the Ministers of that Monarch making him great promises if he would desist from it but his Answer was that Duty Gratitude and Inclination concurred to tie him inseparably to his Masters Interests and that no consideration either of Hope or Fear was able to shake him from his fidelity to them Neither did any thing obstruct his being more imployed and trusted in Germany than his constant adhering to the Kings Pleasure and Interest for had he given himself up to the will of the Swedish King he would have been quickly put in another capacity and might have had about him one of the best Armies in Germany since all the Scotish Officers who at that time were many and considerable inclined to have formed an Army apart and served under him had the King of Sweden given way to it When he was claiming his Estate and Rights of Chastleherault in France Cardinal Richelieu appointed Sir Iames Hamilton whom he had sent over to negotiate that Affair to tell him that he should be not only settled in that but have more likewise if he would enter into a close Correspondence with him and be a faithful Servant to the French Crown His answer was that he owed indeed the greatest Duty and Dependence to the King of France of any Prince next his own King and therefore would faithfully serve all his Interests after the Kings But nothing was to be expected from him that might upon any consideration prejudice his Masters Service neither would he engage in any Correspondence without his knowledg and allowance adding that he was confident his Eminence was too faithful a Minister to that Monarch whom he served to like him the worse for his Honesty to his own Master These Instances will evince how far he was from pretending to any Interests in his Correspondence with forreign Princes different from the Kings whom he served with as much Affection as Duty And indeed the Love he bore his Person was no less than the Duty he payed to his Authority for he did not deny but the former made him digest some things which perhaps otherwise he had not born so well This kept him far from vilifying His Majesties Person or speaking unhandsomly of him as some accused him It may be supposed that had he been guilty of that it would have appeared more to his Friends than Strangers since Prudence would have taught a reserve to them though Duty had not enjoyned it but those who conversed most with him saw so much of his Affection and Esteem for that Prince that many of them have told the Writer he was the furthest from it that could be since he studied by all means to infuse that value in others for him which possessed his own mind It is true his Calmness made many who knew not how natural that Temper was to him suspect he was not in earnest because he did not bluster out in heats of Passion upon every occasion for as he was not easily inflamed so he could not well personate a Passion when he was free of it All his Advices to the King were for settling matters without hazarding on a bloody Decision knowing well that no Quarrels are so mortal as those that follow upon the closest Ties therefore he was far from acting that infamous Office of Incendiary which some fastned on him And it was his suggesting and pressing gentler Methods which engaged some fiery Spirits into such opposition to him and from hence it was that when he was put to a Review of those Advices he offered to his Majesty he said He would not study to justifie them all since he was far from the vanity of magnifying his own Counsels but all he could answer for was his good Intention which was not to be measured by Success As for his disclosing the Kings Designs to his Enemies Hell could have devised nothing further from Truth for not only does the silence of all his Letters that are in my hands refute that but when afterwards some who had been Leading men in the Covenant broke with him with such Animosity and when by some of those much pains was taken to possess the King with Jealousies of him it is not to be doubted but if there had been a shadow of truth for those Imputations some Particular would have appeared or some Letters had been preserved to have justified these Insinuations But nothing was so much as ever pretended for this beyond Whispers and
returned into Scotland the Duke of Castle-herald had again great advantages if any such desire of Power had governed him for the Reformation had then prevailed in Scotland and he and all his Family except his youngest Son Lord Claud from whom descended the Earls of Abercorn were Protestants so that to have put himself at the head of that was the likeliest way to have advanced his own Designs but it appeared that he and his Sons embraced the Religion not for Faction but out of Conscience for he continued true and faithful to the Queen to the last of which She was so sensible that beside many Publick Testimonies of Her confidence in them such as the naming the Duke of Castle-herald her Adopted Father and calling him still by that Name and the referring Her whole Concerns when She was a Prisoner in England to his Care when that severe and unparalelled sentence of Death was to be executed on Her She took a Ring off Her finger and gave it to one of Her Servants and ordered him to carry it to Her Cousin Lord John Hamilton who then represented his Father that was dead his elder Brother being sick of a Frenzy and tell him that that was all She then had to witness her great sense of his and his Families constant Fidelity to Her and of their suffering for Her Interests and desired that it might be still kept in the Family as a lasting Evidence of Her kindness to it which is preserved to this day Nor was tâ—eir Duty to the Crown at that time easie or cheap to them for the contrary Faction designed to root them out of Scotland and therefore in one of their Mock-Parliaments their Blood was attainted and their Estates and Honours were afterwards given to other Persons and they were forced to seek shelter in England and France till King James came to Govern by his own Counsâ—ls then being also pressed to it by the Intercession of Queen Elizabeth He restored them to their Honours and Estates and created Lord John Hamilton Marquis of Hamilton who was Grand-Father to tâ—e two Dukes whose MEMOIRES I now publish King James did also treat him with the same respect that the Queen his Mother had done the Duke of Castle-herald and called him always Father and wrote to him often with the greatest Freedom and Familiarity that was possible and when that King went to Denmark to bring home His Queen He named him Lord Lieutenant of the South of Scotland and left for him a Letter yet extant full of great Esteem and Kindness to which He added this Postscript with his own Hand MY LORD if my constant Trust had not been in you of your great Love towards me I had not thus employed you upon such an occasion therefore I assure my self you will not frustrate my Expectation He also called him to Christen one of his Children and continued to the last to put great Confidence in him That Lord did indeed deserve to be so used by him for as he had with an invincible Patience and Loyalty submitted to the hard Vsage â—e met with during that King's Childhood and for some years after so he made no Stirs nor Disturbance but that little that was at Sterlin An. 1585. so that when he was admitted to the King's presence the King said to him My Lord I did never see you before and must confess that of all this Company you have been most wronged you were a faithful Servant to the Queen my Mother in my Minority and wâ—en I understood not as I do the estate of things hardly used And though he was frequently invited by the Violent Church-party to head them in their Mutinous Courses yet he would never engage in it And when that old Lord was dying as he was giving his Blessing to his Son and reckoning up the most signal Favours of God to him he named three more particularly The first was That during all his Troubles and notwithstanding the great Offers were made him in France by the House of Guise if he would change his Religion yet God had never left him to do so base a thing though he lost his Interest in that Court by refusing it The other was that he had never oppressed any of his Vassals and Tenants And the third was that he had never entertained one thought contrary to the Duty he owed the Crown and that no hard Vsage â—e met with had ever prevailed on him to any such Design and therefore charged his Son on his Blessing to continue in the same Courses All this I thought needful to be said for the Honour of that Family because Buchanan studied with much Art and Industry to cast an eternal Disgrace upon it For as he from being a great Flatterer of Mary Queen of Scotland which may be seen in his Dedication of his Incomparable Paraphrase of the Psalmes to Her became Her mortal Enemy and partly by Lies partly by his cruel aggravating of some unjustifiable things has written the History of Her Reign with so much Malice that his Work stands condemned as a base Libel by an Act of Parliament in Scotland so being provoked by an Injury which a Servant of the Duke of Castle-herald's youngest Son did him of which he thought he got not sufficient Reparation and carrying a spite to them because they adhered to the Queen's Interests he wrote of that Family with the most impudent and virulent Malice that was possible And his admirable stile of Latine in which he is inferiour to none that wrote since the days of Augustus has made all Forreigners take their Informations wholly from him and the Collectors of the General History of that Age do for the most part draw all the Account they give of Scotish Affairs out of him by which that Family hath suffered much in the opinions of Forreign Nations so dangerous it is to provoke one that has much Malice and can write â— History so that it shall take with the World But that Writer contradicts himself so often in what he says of that Family that small regard is to be had to it And Lesly Bishop of Ross Privy-Counsellour to Mary Queen of Scotland who wrote the History of that time and bore no great good will to the Duke of Castle-herald and his Children for being such Promoters of the Reformation speaks always of them with a great deal of Honour and Iustice. For the Father of those Dukes he was as Archbishop Spotswood truly calls him a Nobleman of rare gifts and fitted for the greatest Affairs and was most Vniversally beloved by all his Countrymen he was a very Graceful and Gallant Person and of a most agreeable Conversation and â—ery obliging and so did recommend himself to all sorts of Persons King James finding him excellently qualified brougâ—t him to Court where he made a great Figure the rest of his Life All these things concurred to make me very desirous to see whether the late Dukes had continued in those
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Lanerick Cousin YOu will perceive by this that you cannot make more haste in obliging Me A Letter from the Queen to Lanerick than I shall on My part in witnessing My Acknowledgements of it I ascribe a great deal of the good Inclinations your Commissioners do now express to the good Offices you do of which I intreat the Continuance The testimonies of Friendship which I receive from those of your Family surprize Me less than what I met with from other Hands and I promise My Self to see further effects of it And as I have all the esteem of you that you can expect so you owe Me the Iustice of believing that I shall give evidence of it upon every occasion that shall be offered to Me nor shall I rest satisfied with that but shall diligently search out every opportunity of expressing it Therefore I entreat you to believe that I am Cousin Your very good and very affectionate Friend and Cousin HENRIETA MARIA R. Towards the end of December the Earls of Lowdon Lauderdale and Lanerick The Scotish Commissioners go to His Majesty followed the English Commissioners to the Isle of Wight and after they had protested against the Bills they concluded their Treaty with His Majesty to engage for his Rescue and Re-establishment on his Throne and to bring in an Army into England assoon as it were possible for that effect An Agreement with the King to bring an Army for His Service The King on the other hand engaged to them for all the Assistance they could demand from the Queen or Prince or any other who would obey His Authority and that the Prince should come to Scotland assoon as they found it convenient to invite him and that His Majesty should grant all the Desires of Scotland which with a good Conscience he could grant And the Commissioners having advised and agreed with His Majesty both about the Methods of carrying on their Designs and the ways of keeping Correspondence with him they resolved to return home to Scotland and so they left His Majesty at Wight in the end of the Year But upon the Kings refusing to pass the Bills he was made close Prisoner and a Vote passed in both Houses against all further Addresses to him MEMOIRES OF THE LIFE and ACTIONS OF James Duke of Hamilton c. LIB VI. Of the Dukes Engagement for the Kings Preservation and what followed till His Death Anno 1648. An. 1648. THe former Book has given the Reader a just and full Representation of His Majesties Imprisonment and the Danger his Person was in of the Force put on the Two Houses by the Army and of the breach of former Treaties with the Scotish Nation and now it cannot but be imagined that such Illegal and Unjust Proceedings must have inflamed the Resentments of all good Subjects and more signally of such who had formerly been carried away in the crowd to act against the Kings Interests but now seeing how fatal the Breach between the King and his People was likely to prove to both were much concerned to correct all former Errours and expiate all past Faults by a vigorous appearance for the Kings Rescue out of his Imprisonment In order to this Design the Duke was not idle in Scotland The Dukes endeavours in Scotland but by all the Art and Diligence he was Master of did study to rouse up and work upon the Fidelity and Loyalty of that Nation representing that now an Occasion was in their Hands to witness to the World the sincerity of their Intentions for their King when he was under so base a Restraint and Designs were hatching against his Life Would they now look on and see the King murdered the Parliament of England over-awed the City of London oppressed the whole English Nation enslaved the Treaties with Scotland so unworthily violated the Covenant and Religion so neglected and swarms of Sectaries over-run all Now or never was the time for declaring themselves and if Duty did not move them yet the apprehension of their own Danger might provoke them to look to themselves for did they think to escape the fury of the Sectaries if they were so tame as to suffer them to prevail in England therefore all Laws Divine and Humane did oblige them to look to themselves and to those Enemies of theirs And there was good reason to hope for success since besides the Blessing of God which might be expected upon so just and Noble Enterprizes the People of England were groaning under this Usurpation and would be ready to assist them and they had reason to expect a welcome from the City of London and the better part of the Two Houses These things did prevail much on the most of the Nobility and Gentry Three Parties in Scotland But at this time Three Parties begun to appear in Scotland The one was of those who would hear of no Proposition for the Kings Delivery unless he first gave satisfaction in matters of Religion and this was made up of the Preachers and a few of the Nobility and the Western Counties Others were for a direct Owning of the Kings Quarrel without any restrictions and for taking all Persons who had been in Arms for the Kings Service within it The Earls of Traquair and Calendar were the chief of these and many Noblemen were of it who called themselves the Kings Party but their Power in the Country was not great The Duke was as much for that in his thoughts as any of them but saw it impossible to effectuate the Kings business at that rate and therefore judged it best to go on in so great a Design by degrees The present Strait was that he first looked to which was the Rescue of the Kings Person and he doubted not if they once got a good Army engaged upon that account though all were at first clogged with many severe Restrictions yet it would be easy afterwards to carry things that were not to be then spoken of and this way took with almost the whole Gentry of Scotland The Scotish Commissioners spent much of the month of Ianuary at London The Commissioners return to Scotland establishing a good Correspondence with the Kings Friends in England and they had Letters from St. Germans in France in which the Queen and Prince undertook to make good to them all that had been promised by the King in their Name And in the Commissions the Prince gave to Sir Marmaduke Langdale and others for Levying of Forces in the North of England he commanded them to receive their Orders from the Earls of Lauderdale and Lanerick and follow their Commands Thus having laid down the best Methods they could think of with their Friends in England they set out for Scotland about the end of Ianuary At their coming to Scotland they found a general dissatisfaction with the Kings Message in November about Religion And though all the Duke's Friends were ready to have hazarded their Lives for His
Majesties Preservation on these or on easier terms yet it was long debated amongst them what the Consequences might be of engaging in so great a Work not only without Unanimity but with the Opposition of the Church and most of those who had been of greatest Eminence and Power during the late Troubles Wherefore they resolved to give very extraordinary Complyances to their Desires whereby they might either gain their Concurrence or at least mitigate their Opposition and determined to go a greater length than otherwise their Loyalties could allow of But the Church-men by the insinuations of Mr. Gillespie and others were possessed with an opinion of their bad Intentions and that their Resolutions if they were blessed with Success were to overturn all that had been formerly established and so they resolved not to be satisfied with any Security or Proviso they might grant believing that nothing they offered was really meant to be kept and that all they intended was but Cajolery therefore they determined to oppose them with their utmost Zeal and Industry A few dayes after the three Lords returned to Scotland the following Letter came to them from His Majesty UPon Saturday I received yours of the twenty fourth of January A Letter from the King and have written to Lee as you desired Let no reports of any Personal Threatning against Me stagger your Confidence of My Constancy nor hinder Scotland in what shall be best for Kingly Authority lose no time in your great and honest Designs for him who is Your most assured real constant Friend CHARLES R. Monday 7th February 1648. POSTSCRIPT I resolve within these two or three Days to write to you by a trusty Messenger however I hope not to fail by these ways you mention To which they returned the following Answer May it please Your Majesty THis day we received Your Majesties of the 7th Instant Your Letter to Lee we hope may be useful Our Resolution to serve Your Majesty cannot be shaken with which we will go through or perish The Clergy cannot be satisfied with what Your Majesty offers in Religion for the reason expressed in our last of the 15th yet we hope to engage them in the Work We wish Your Majesty could further enable us in that Particular as the only mean to procure Vnanimity In the mean time we will set up our rest on the procuring a speedy Engagement though without that we cannot do it so much to Your Majesties advantage Sir Marmaduke Langdale is come hither and our first care shall be to secure Berwick and Carlisle which ere this we had done if our Forces had not been at too great a distance scattered in their Quarters They have now Orders in private to draw together and we intend to act and speak both at a time POSTSCRIPT We want Arms and Ammunition exceedingly and do earnestly desire the Queen may be pleased to endeavour the supplying us from France and Holland speedily The Lord Chancellour though at first the most forward of them all for an Engagement Lowdon falls off to the Church-party yet was quickly wrought upon to abandon his generous Resolutions and not only turned over to the violent Church-Party but some Months after was made do Penance by a solemn Acknowledgment in the High-Church of Edinburgh for his sinful complyance with these unlawful Courses as they were termed Traquair played his old game a great while with both hands and studied to make a Reconciliation with some Lords of the Church-party if by any means they could have been engaged in the Design and Mr. Murray of the Bed-Chamber who was sent to Scotland from France treated also long with the Heads of the Church-party whom he thought more powerful in the Country and so more able to deliver the King but finding them so backward without positive Concessions about Religion and the Covenant he and the rest of these called the Kings Party were forced to unite with the Duke and his Friends The first thing was to engage all the Officers of the little Army then standing which was carried very successfully and their next care was to fix on one to command Those who united for engaging in the Kings Quarrel designed that David Lesley now Lord Newark should command the Army to be raised and he at first undertook the Service very cordially but some of the Church-men fell upon him very furiously and prevailed so far on others who had a great Ascendant over him that he being of an easie nature struck off and refused the Service Whereupon finding it necessary that a Person of Eminence and Integrity should command the Army They resolve the Duke should be General which he oposed much they resolved on making the Duke General which he opposed to a high degree saying that he was resolved to hazard his Life with the first yet he would decline all Command knowing with what Calumnies he had been aspersed and what Jealousies many had still of him as if his Designs were for himself and to the Kings Prejudice And many yet alive with whom he lived in the greatest Confidence know with what earnestness he pressed them to set their eye on some other Person but there were none to choose fit for the Trust wherefore it was agreed by them all that the Charge must be laid on him to which he submitted with great Aversion The Parliament meets in Scotland In the beginning of March the Parliament sate Their first trouble was from the Remonstrance which the Commission of the Kirk sent them against Association with Malignants and of the danger Religion was in which Paper they intended to have printed but with much difficulty this was stopped There were Commissioners sent down from the Two Houses with whom Mr. Stephen Marshal came for Justifying their Proceedings and keeping a good correspondence with the Scotish Nation and notwithstanding all the Injuries done by them last Year yet some of the Clergy and of the Lords of their Party were in a very good understanding with them But first of all the Carriage of the Scotish Commissioners in England was approved in Parliament next there was a Committee of Eighteen appointed for preparing business and to confer with the Commissioners of the Kirk for giving them satisfaction which was a long and slow Work On the 14th of March the English Commissioners complained that they heard there were Designs among some Malignants to seize Berwick which they desired these in Scotland would oppose whereupon the Parliament referred it to the Committee of Eighteen to see to the Security of the Kingdom in that Affair from which all the Members who were of the Church-Party dissented and against this Vote the Commissioners of the Kirk sent in another Remonstrance because they knew that Committee was so chosen that they would send Orders for the securing of Berwick On the 22th of March the Committee of the General Assembly commonly called the Commission of the Kirk gave in their large Paper consisting
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
negarunt But I go on from this sad subject to the tragical Conclusion of the Duke's Life The News of that Murder sunk the Duke's thoughts into a deep Sorrow which he carried with him to his Grave he well saw his own Danger knowing that those who had broken all the bonds of Loyalty and Duty were not to tie themselves to the faith of a Capitulation or Articles though granted by a person impowered by them and therefore he designed an Escape from Windsor that night which was contrived by his faithful Servant Mr. Cole afterwards one of the Kings Quirries who during his imprisonment had liberty to go and return from London which he did very frequently bringing him an account of what passed And the Duke having gained his Keeper ordered Mr. Cole to send a trusty Servant with two Horses to Windsor which accordingly he did advertising the Duke not to come to the City till seven a Clock in the Morning and then Mr. Cole was to come to him near London and bring him to some secure House in the City whereupon at night about the time of shutting the Gates The Duke makes an Escape from Windsor the Duke made his Escape freely out of the Castle without suspicion and came to the Place appointed where his Servant and Horses waited for him But he fatally went from the Resolutions he had laid down with Mr. Cole and would needs go in the night to Southwark thinking to have got to Mr. Owen's House who was acquainted with the business not considering what had been told him of the Guards were about the City all the night so that there was no coming to it but in the day and all things concurring to hasten him to his Grave there was that night a Party of Horse and Foot in Southwark searching for Sir Lewis Dyves and another who had escaped the night before but is re-taken in Southwark Some of them meeting the Duke in the Streets about four in the morning where he had long knocked at a door took him and examined him he told them a very formal Story of himself and his business which at first satisfied them but they observed that as he took a pipe of Tobacco by them he burned several great Papers to fire it whereupon they searched him and found such Papers about him as discovered him It was not before the next morning that he was missed at Windsor for that night he made his Escape there came an Order from Cromwel to the Governour of Windsor to make him close Prisoner and put all his Servants from him who thereupon ordered the Captain of the Guard to go about it but he hearing the Duke was a-bed delayed it till next morning and then found he was gone It being discovered that Mr. Cole had ordered the Duk 's Escape many advised him to go out of the way but he resolved rather to die than to leave his Master at such a time and made a shift to come at him that same evening When the Duke saw him he lifted up his hands and said It was Gods will it should be thus That night Mr. Cole was also taken and Sir Hardress Waller examined him but drew nothing from him whereupon he was made close Prisoner yet when the Duke was brought to his Trial he procured his Liberty for the Averment of some particulars of his Plea The Duke being thus unfortunately retaken he was committed to Prison at St. Iames's and is kept in St. Iames's in the same Room where the Earl of Norwich the Lord Capel and Sir Iohn Owen were Prisoners and then all saw in what danger his Life was whereupon great endeavours were used and strong applications made in Scotland to the Marquis of Argyle who had then the chief Powâ—r there that the Committee of Estates would so far study his Preservation as to own that what he did was by the Authority of that Kingdom that so whatever other Punishment they would lay on him his Life might not go for it And it had been faithfully promised by all the Leaders of that Party at the Pacification at Sterlin either to save his Life or to make his Death a National Quarrel But the Marquis of Argyle would not interpose These who had the power in Scotland refuse to move for him and though the Dukes Daughter the present Dutchess of Hamilton left no means unessayed to prevail on him yet all was in vain for he pretended that since those in England had murdered their King notwithstanding their Commissioners protesting against it it was not to be expected their interposition in other things could be of any weight nor was it fit they should any more address to the Murderers of their Soveraign So all hopes of any Mediation that way failed and not only that but Lambert being prevailed on by the offer of a good Sum to claim the Duke as his Prisoner some Letters came from Scotland about it upon which Lambert was advised not to insist on that Demand This was vouched to the Writer from several hands who had it both from Lambert himself and some other considerable men in the Two Houses But now his Majesties Blood not having satisfied the Cruelty of the New Usurpers their next design was against those who had served him faithfully and therefore the Duke was brought to his Tryal and honoured to be the first of those who followed his Master in that Glorious Martyrdom The Usurpers ordained the pretended Court of Justice to proceed against him so in the 6th of February he was brought to a Tryal It will not be hard to perswade the Reader without further inquiry that those who embrued their hands in the Blood of their Soveraign thereby breaking loose from all Ties Sacred and Humane could not stand much at the effusion of meaner Blood no their Consciences were feared with their former Crime so that nothing could be so wicked but they were stout enough for attempting it yet they chose to varnish over their perfidious Cruelty with some Colours and Appearances of Justice but the Disguise was so thin that it served them to no other purpose but to add hypocrisie to their former Villany which will evidently appear from the following Tryal drawn partly from the Journal of the Court and partly from Notes of what passed taken by some Eye-witnesses Steel and Cook the Counsel for the People of England did exhibit on the 6th of February being Friday the following Charge That the Earl of Cambridge about the 19th of July last Traiterously invaded this Nation in a Hostile manner The Charge given against him and levied War to assist the King against the Kingdom and People of England and had committed Sundry Murders Outrages Rapines Wastes and Spoiles upon the said People and particularly about the 20th of August near Preston did make War joyn Battle and fight against the Forces of the Parliament and therein did murder and kill Collonel Thornley and others To this the
that the Duke was suffered to return to Scotland with the King But at His Majesties Landing one appointed by the Parliament to put him from the King required him to withdraw and when the King pressed the Commissioners with the Articles of their Treaty they said they could not oppose an Order of Parliament The King was much offended with this and was inclining to resent it both as an unworthy Usage and as a Breach of Treaty but the Duke told him that at that time Argyle was the person who was most able to render him considerable Service in Scotland therefore though he knew he designed nothing so much as his Ruin yet he advised His Majesty to use all possible means to gain him absolutely to his Party and to neglect himself as much as Argyle desired and not at all to seem much concerned in him adding that he knew when His Majesties Affairs were in a better posture he would not forget his faithful Servants This particular His Sacred Majesty vouchsafed to tell the Writer It was in vain for him to claim either the benefit of the Treaty at Sterlin or Breda Interest and Jealousy prevailing more with these who then ruled than any other Tie so the Duke was forced to retire to the Isle of Arran And goes to Arran where he stayed till the end of Ianuary 1651 nor could his Petitions with the Intercessions of his Friends prevail for allowing him the liberty of coming to fight for his King and Country so that he was forced to stay at Arran till the best half of Scotland was lost Cromwell enters Scotland But God who had suffered the Church-party to prevail long did blast their Force and Success at once for Cromwel upon the Parliament of Scotland's bringing home their King entred it with his Army The Church-party as they had no mind to invade England on the Kings account so were very careful to declare that their Arming against Cromwel was not on the Kings account which they excluded from the state of the Quarrel by an Act of their Committee and declared that they stood only to their own Defence against that Hostile Invasion which was contrary to their Covenant and Treaties They were also very careful to model their Army so that neither Malignant nor Engager that had been of the Kings Party should serve in it for though when His Majesty came to their Army at Leith the Souldiers were much animated by his Presence and with the coming of two thousand brave Gentlemen with him to the Army yet the Leaders of that Party pretended that since the Malignants were in their Army God would be provoked to give them up to the Enemy and therefore forced the King to leave the Army They also forced away all those Gentlemen who came and offered their Service I shall not pursue this account further but only add that notwithstanding all their Confidence of their Army and though they had the Enemy at great disadvantages so that he and all his Officers gavethemselves for gone yet they were with very little Opposition broken and routed near Dunbar on the third of September 1650 Dunbar-Fight and even those who two years before had insulted over the Misfortunes of the Engagement were now themselves taught how ill an Argument Success was to evince the Goodness of a Cause The King is better used in Scotland This procured a great change in the Counsels of Scotland for by that time the honester and better part of the Clergy were by the Murther of the King and the other Proceedings in England filled with distast and horrour at them and began to think how defective they had hitherto been in their Duty to the King and therefore resolved to adhere more faithfully to it in all time coming Others of the Church-party did also see that as Cromwel was setting up a Common-wealth in England so they found many of the forwarder amongst themselves very much inclined to it in Scotland This divided them from the other violent Party made them joyn more cordially with the King and be willing to receive his other faithful Servants to oppose the Common Enemy therefore it was brought under debate if the Act of Classes that excluded them from Trust should not be rescinded and all Subjects allowed to enjoy their Priviledges and suffered to resist the Common Enemy after long debate it was carried in the Affirmative yet none vvere to be received but upon particular Applications and Professions of Repentance The Church-party divided The Commission of the Kirk being also asked their Opinions declared that in such an Exigency vvhen the Enemy vvas Master of all on the South of Forth and Clide all fensible persons might be raised for the Defence of the Country This vvas called the Resolution of the Commission of the General Assembly and was ratified by the subsequent General Assembly But against this many Ministers protested and from thence arose great Heats and Divisions among those of the Kirkmen who owned the Publick Resolutions An. 1652. and those who Protested against them the one being called the Publick-Resolutioners and the other Protesters And now all Churches were full of pretended Penitents for every one that offered his Service to the King was received upon the Publick profession of his Repentance for his former Malignancy wherein all saw they were only doing it in compliance to the peremptory Humour of that time It was about the end of Ianuary that the Duke was suffered to come and wait on the King The Duke is suffered to wait on the King but at that time Cliddisdale with the other Places where his Interest lay were in the Enemies hands who had put Garrisons in Hamilton Douglas Carnwath Boghall and other Houses of that Country Yet the Duke got quickly about him a brave Troop of about an hundred Horse made up of many Noblemen and Gentlemen who rode in it among whom were divers Earls and Lords whose Lands being also possessed by the Enemy they could do no more but hazard their own Persons in his Majesties Service the rest were his Vassals and Gentlemen of his Name and they were commanded under him by a gallant Gentleman Sir Thomas Hamilton of Preston whom he sent with 18 Horse to Cliddisdale to try if the Enemy could be catched at any disadvantage and the People of the Country raised for the King The Enemy kept so good Guards and was so strong at Hamilton that he could not fall in there therefore he went to Douglas where he took about 80 Horse that belonged to the Garrison but could not surprize the House for it was too strong to be taken without Cannon He likewise took all the Horse that belonged to the Garrison at Boghall and killed twenty Souldiers This made the Enemy keep closer at Hamilton upon which the Duke resolved to raise ten Troops of Horse and appointed Sir Thomas Hamilton Lieutenant-Collonel but the Enemies Garrisons gave great interruptions to his
The shortning of our days is an Evil wholly depending on Opinion for if men did now naturally live but Twenty years then we should be satisfied if they died about 16 or 18. We call not that Death immature in any who live to Seventy and yet this Age is as far short of the old Period before and since the Flood as he who now dies of eighteen is of Seventy Let us still be ready for it and it cannot come too soon for let us die young or old still we have an Immortal Soul and do lay down our Bodies for a time as that which was the Instrument of our Sorrow and Trouble and the Scene of Sickness and Diseases let us not then fear that which rids us of all these for by fearing it we shall never the more avoid it but make it the more miserable to us Fanius who killed himself for fear of Death died as certainly as Porcia who eat burning Coals or Cato who tore out his own Bowels To die is necessary and natural and may be honourable but to die poorly basely and sinfully that alone is that which can make a man miserable for no man can be a Slave but he that fears pain or fears to die to such a man nothing but peaceable times can secure his Quiet for he depends upon things without him for his Felicity and so is well but during the Pleasure of his Enemy a Thief or a Tyrant but blessed is he who willingly resigns his Soul and Body into Gods hands as unto the hands of a blessed Creator and Redeemer O Blessed Iesus thou didst die for me grant that I may with Ioy submit unto thy Summons when thou shalt call me to Death for thou art my Advocate as well as my Iudge and camest into the World to save sinners whereof O Lord I acknowledg I am the greatest but thy Mercies are infinite O God of Mercy and God of all Comfort with much mercy look upon the sadness and sorrow of thy Servant my Sins lie heavy upon me and press me sore by reason of thy hot displeasure my Miseries are without comfort because they are the punishments of my Sins my Sin hath caused my sorrow and my sorrow doth not cure my Sin and unless thou for thy own sake and meerly because thou art good pity me I am as much without Remedy as without Comfort Lord pity me let thy Grace refresh my spirit let thy Comfort support me thy Mercies pardon me and let not my portion be among helpless and accursed Spirits for thou art good and gracious and I throw my self upon thy Mercy suffer me never to let my hold go anddo then with me what seems good in thy own eyes I cannot suffer more than I have deserved and yet I can need no Relief so great as thy Mercy is for thou art infinitely more merciful than I can be miserable Lord make me the object of thy Mercy both in my Life and in my Death if even this day thou shalt think fit to remove me from this valley of miseries either by the violent hand of this merciless Enemy or any other way which in thy Providence thou hast ordained when my Soul shall go out from the Prison of this Body may it be received by Angels and preserved from the horrour and amazements and the surprize of Evil Spirits and be laid up in the Bosom of our Lord till at the day of thy second Coming it shall be reunited to the Body which is now to be laid in the dust yet I hope shall be raised up in Ioy to live for ever and behold the Face of God in the Glories of our Lord Iesus who is our Hope our Resurrection and our Life our Blessed and ever-Glorious Redeemer to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all Honour and Glory for ever and ever Amen In these Exercises he continued till it was almost morning and then he threw himself down on the Bed where he did not lie above two hours when he was called on to make ready and assoon as he was Dressed and Armed he waited on the King into the Field The Dukes Regiment charges gallantly at Worcester-Fight The Account of that Engagement is not here to be offered since nothing belongs to this Work but that wherein the Duke was concerned His Regiment was commanded to charge a Body of Horse and Foot that stood near two peece of Cannon not far from the Severn but there were two great Bodies of Foot standing on each side of the Lane through which they were to go and these firing on them as they pasâ—ed they received great Loss but having got through the Lane there was no coming to the Enemy who stood in a close Ground but through aGap in the Hedge through which theLieutenant Collonel with a very inconsiderable Number Charged and the Enemy gave ground and left the Cannon in their hands the Horse retiring to Hacker's Regiment who came up and Charged and was gallantly received by the Lieutenant Collonel and the Dukes Regiment but some Foot brought to line the Hedges on their Flanks Fired so on them that they were forced to retire The Duke being near the Kings Person and observing all that passed inquired who they were and being told it was his own Regiment His great Valour he thought it unworthy of him to be too far from Danger when they were so put to it and galloped all alone from the King to the place where they were where he found them retiring and did all he could either by words or threatnings to make them keep their Ground But the Enemy did still bring up more Foot and Fired uncessantly on them and most of the Officers were either wounded or had their Horses killed under them particularly the Lieutenant Collonel who had all the while Charged very gallantly had his Horse shot under him and so they were beaten back The Duke himself keeped in the Reer with such as were in a Condition to wait on him to the great hazard of his Person and gave signal demonstrations of a high Courage but the Enemy following him close in great Bodies he commanded some Foot to make good the Hedge against them and rode up and down among them and encouraged them to stand and die for the Service of their King and the Honour of their Country An. 1652. and did several times Charge down to the Hedges so that all were astonished at such daring and unusual Valour But the Enemy pressing on he rode again with his Pistol in his hand to the Hedge where he received the fatal Shot that quite disabled him He is wounded His Majesty hearing of the extreme Danger he exposed himself to in these Charges and knowing well how great a loss he would suffer if so brave a Commander and such a wise and faithful Counsellor were killed sent once again to call him away from that Hazard he was in but he choosed to prefer