MONTROSE REDIVIVUS OR THE Portraicture of James late Marquess of Montrose Earl of Kincardin c. 1. In his Actions in the years 1644. 1645. and 1646. for Charles the First 2. In his Passions in the years 1649. 1650. for Charles the Second K. of Scots LONDON Printed for Jo. Ridley at the Castle in Fleet-street neer Ram-alley 1652. Jaques Marquis de Montrose Counte de Kingcairne Seigneir de Graeme Baron du Mount dieue etc A Paris P Pontius sculpsit To the Reader THere are a few things courteous Reader of which I would not have them ignorant who shall chance to peruse this short Historie whereof some concern the Lord Marquesse of Montrose whose Actions in his Country for two years space are here published and others have relation to the Author of this work And first of all I desire thee to take notice that Montrose is the Chief of that antient and famous Family of the Grahams and is called in old Scotish Graham more the great Graham He derives his Pedegree from that famous Graham in the Histories of Scotland who was son-in-law to Fergus the second King of the Scots and was the first that with the assistance of his father-in-law cast down that Trench which Severus had made and set out for the utmost limit of the Roman Empire between the Scotish Frith and the River of Cluid at such a place where Great Britain was narrowest and by that means cut the power of the Romans shorter Whence it happens that some evident remains of that Trench retain his name amongst the Inhabitants to this day who call it Gremesdike The same Graham from whom this noble Family took its rise surviving his father-in-law Forgus and being a man as able for Civill as Military employment was made Protector unto his Nephew and Regent of the Kingdome and after he had fetched back the Doctors of the Christian Faith who had been vanished by the late wars and setled as well the Church as State with excellent Laws freely resigned the Government into the hands of his Nephew when he came to age He flourished in the time of the Emperours Arcadius and Honorius about the year of our Lord CCCC From whom hath descended in a fair and straight line a long and noble row of Posterity who imitating the vertue of their Ancestors have been famous in the succeeding generations Amongst whom that valiant Graham was eminent who with the help of Dumbarre so seasonably rescued his Country from the Danes who were then Masters of England and had frequently but with little successe invaded Scotland with mighty Armies And in after-times that noble John Graham came nothing behind his Ancestors in vertue and honour who after the death of Alexander the Third in that vacation of the Kingdome while Bruce and Bailiol disputed their titles was with that renowned Vice-roy William Walley a stout maintainer of his Countries Liberty against the unjust oppression and tyranny of Edward King of England and after many heroicall exploits fighting valiantly for his Nation dyed in the bed of Honour His Tomb is yet to be seen in a Chappell which hath the name of Folkirk from the aforesaid Gremesdike by which it stands Adjoyning unto which the Marquesse of Montrose hath large and plentifull possessions descended by inheritance unto him from that first Graham But lest I should seem to derive the Nobility of so illustrious a worthies extraxion only out of the rubbish of dusty and obscure Antiquity I must not omit that his Grandfather the Earl of Montrose was advanced unto places of the greatest honour in that Kingdome and discharged them most happily For being Lord Chancellour of Scotland at such time as King James the Sixth of blessed memory came to the Crown of England he was created by him Vice-roy of Scotland and enjoyed that highest Honour which a Subject is capable of with the love and good affection both of King and People to the day of his death And his Father was a man of singular indowments both of body and mind and so known to be both in Forraign Countries and at home who after he had performed many most honourable Embassages for King James was called to be Lord President of the Session by King Charles and being snatched away from his Countrey and all good men by an untimely death was extremely lamented and missed And what we may think or hope of the grandchild I leave unto thee to judge by what he hath done already seeing he is yet now a year and a half after his employment in his Country scarce entred upon the 36. year of year of his age One thing more I must adde for thy sake good Reader three Periods already have been very dangerous and almost fatall to the Kingdome of Scotland the first by the oppression of the Romans whose yoke our Ancestors cast off by the Conduct of that first Graham descended of the noble British Family of the Fulgentii The second by the Danes therepulse of whom is owing especially to the the prowesse of the second Graham aforesaid And the third by the English and Normans whom the third Graham twice expelled out of Scotland and gave them many and great defeats So that as it was of old spoken of the Scipioes in Africk it seems the name of Graham is something fatall to their enemies and lucky to their country at a dead lift and that it was not without the speciall providence of God Almighty that in these worst times One stood up who did his best endeavours to maintain the Kings just Rights and Authority the Peace Safety and Liberty of the Subjects and the Honour and antient splendour of his House And this is all I thought good at this time to premise concerning the Lord Marquesse of Montrose And for the Author of the Book take it briefly thus Hee professeth himself to have been but little conversant in these sort of studies and expecteth neither credit or commendation for the strength of his wit which he acknowledgeth to be little or none nor reward or profit for his Pains which two things are the chiefest incentives to most to Wet their pen but that he undertook the businesse meerly out of a desire to propagate the truth to other Nations and to posterity For hee saw by late and lamentable experience in such a Cause as this that prosperous Villany can find more Advocates than down-cast Truth and goodnesse For when the same Confederates in both Kingdomes had by their own arts that is by lying and slandering ruined the Church to fill their bags with its Revenues so sacrilegiously purloyned and enrich their posterity with plentifull Anathema's and accursed things there wanted no store of men that extolled them for it to the skies as men deserving highly from their Country from the Church it self and from all man-kind and reviled with all sort of reproaches and contumelies the most religious servants of God holy Martyrs and Confessors for withstanding them And therefore he
offering him authority and wealth even the greatest Honour Civill and Military Which offers he did not seem much to slight that by that means he might have an easier way to dive into their counsels The Covenanters that this growing friendship might be the better cemented and sanctified God blesse us send unto him that great Apostle of their Covenant Alexander Henderson who should give him full satisfaction in all his scruples Montrose heartily desired to speak with that fellow out of whom he doubted not to pump all the secrets of the Covenanters and lest a private meeting with such a man should give a scandall to the Kings friends he took the Lords Napier and Ogleby and Sir Sterling Keere to be witnesses of the discourse and on the bank of the river Forth not far from Sterling they met Montrose made as though he accounted himself very happy and much honoured in the visit of so worthy a man upon whose faith honesty and judgement he so much relyed Told him That to give the ill opinion of his enemies leave to breath it self after some late mistakes he was content to stay at home that he knew nothing of what was done in Parliament that he was almost at losse how to behave himself in that ticklish Condition the Common wealth stood and therefore beseeched him for old acquaintance sake to let him freely know what they intended Henderson taking it for granted by these expressions that he was wheeling about towards the Covenanters that he might the more oblige the Marquesse unto him answered him flatly and without more adoe That it was resolved to send as strong an Army as they could raise in aid of their brethren of England against the Kings forces that the Covenanters of both Kingdomes had unanimously agreed upon this either to dye or bring the King to their lure that nothing could fall out more happily than that he should renew his friendship with his Peers of the Nobility and the rest of the Kingdome that so doing he would give great content to all men besides the honour and profit that would redound to himself that by his example others if others there were that idolized the empty shadow of the Kings name would joyn themselves unto the Covenanters and for his own part he would give most bearty thanks unto his Lord God that he had vouchsafed to make use of him as the Minister and ever Mediatour of so great a work and at last entreated him to speak out his mind and commit all such things to his care and industrie as he should desire from the Parliament either in relation to his honour or profit assuring him he should be satisfied to his hearts desire Montrose having gotten out the knowledge of those things which he eagerly sought for now bethought himself how he should keep Henderson and his party in suspence awhile that they should not yet get within him For what answer could he give them If he should professe himself to be against their courses that would do the King no good and might bring a great deal of danger upon himself and on the other side to put them in greater hopes of him by promising those things he never meant to perform he scorned as being a stain unto his honour Therefore he takes this course there was present at that conference with Henderson one Sir James Rollock Chief of a very antient and flourishing Family his former wife had been Montrose his Sister after whose death he married the Sister of the Marquesse of Argyle the ring-leader of the Covenanters in Scotland thus being allied unto them both he seemed to be a very fit mediatour of friendship between them Montrose asks him whether those things which had passed between them proceeded from the direction of the Parliament or out of their own good wills He answered he conceived that Master Henderson had received Commission from the Parliament to that purpose but Henderson said no but he made no question but the Parliament would make good any thing that he promised Montrose told them he could resolve upon nothing except he had the Publique faith to build upon especially the messengers disagreeing between themselves Whereupon as the fashion is on such occasions one of them layes the blame upon the other when both of them ought rather to have condemned their own carelesness and negligence The conference being thus ended Montrose having obtained his ends and they being no wiser than they came thither every one went his own way Chap. III. MOntrose being returned from this Conference related all things as they had passed unto some select friends whom he could safely trust and withall entreated them that for the greater confirmation of the businesse they would all goe along with him to the King that his Majesty receiving a full account of all things might lend hâ—s ear to sound counsell and yet if it was possible provide a remedy against so threatning evills Most of them were of opinion That the King and his authority were utterly ruined and irrecoverable that it was a thing pussing the power of man to reduce that Kingdome to obedience that for their parts they had acquitted themselves before God and the world and their own consciences that hitherto with the disgrace of their persons the losse of their estates and the hazard of their lives they had continued in their allegiance hereafter they would be only lookers on and petitioners unto Almighty God for better times Montrose who câ—uld by no means be removed from so honest a resolution communicating his counsell to the Lord Ogleby whom of all men he especially loyed â—oes straight to Oxford The King was absent thence being gone to the siege of Glocester he imparts unto the Queen what designes the Scotish Covenanters had against his Majesty but he had as good have said nothing for she had determined not to believe a word by reason of the far greater confidence she reposed in Hamilton and his brother Montrose seeing no good was to be done with the Qeen goes to Glocester and declares all things to the King himself How there was a powerâ—ull Army to be raised in Scâ—tland and a day appointed on which it should be brought into England how their Counsels were manifestly known unto him and how to fetch him over to their side they had offered him very honourable commands in the Army but that he heartily detesting so horrid an employment had fled to his Majesty that he having notice thereof if he were not able to provide so timely and powerfull a remedy as could be wished at least might cast some blocks and rubs in their way untill such time as he had setled his affairs in England that the enemies of either Kingdome might be easily dealt withall by themselves but if they came once to joyn their forces they would be hardly supprest that there were very many in Scotland who would sacrifice themselves and all that they had for their dearest King whose good will
that Kingdome and therefore their service for the present might well be spâ—â—ed besides they complained that their houses and corn in and with which their parents wives and children were to be sustained that winter were fired by the enemy and no provision made for them so that they humbly desired to be excused for a few weeks in which they might take care to secure their families from hunger and cold Also they solemnly and voluntarily engaged their words that they would return many more than they went and much refreshed within forty dayes These Montrose seeing he could not hold them as being Voluntiers and fighting without pay that he might the more engage them thought fit to dismisse them not only with Licences but Commissions And giving publick commendations to the souldiers and thankes in his Majestics name to the Commanders exhorting them to follow their businesse closely and vigorously he appoints Alexander Mac-donell their Countryman and Kinsman who was but too ambitious of that employment to be their companion and guide who should bring them back to the Camp by the day appointed Who in a set speech gave thanks in all their names to the Lord Governour for his so noble favour and as if he had been their Bail or surety with a solemn oath undertook for their sudden return yet he never saw Montrose after Not was he contented to carry away with him the whole Forces of the Highlanders who were more than three thousand stout men but he privily drew away sixscore of the best 〈…〉 ish as if forsooth he had pick't them out for his Life-guard About this very time many messengers came severall ways to Bothwell from the King at Oxford Amongst whom one was Andrew Sandiland a Scotch-man but bred in England and entred into holy Orders there a very upright man faithfull to the King and much respected by Montrose who continued constantly with him unto the end of the War Another was Sir Robert Spotswood once the most deserving President of the highest Court in Scotland and now his Majestâ—es Secretary for that Kingdome who passed from Oxford through Wales into Anglesey and thence getting a passage into Loghaber came into Athole and was conducted by the men of Athole unto Montrose Almost all the Agents that came brought this Instruction amongst the rest That it was his Majesties pleasure that he should joyn unto himself the Earls of Roxburough and Trequair and confide in their advice and endeavours of whose sidelity and industry no question was to be made Moreover that hee should make haste towards the Tweed where he should meet a party of Horse which the King would instantly dispatch out of England to be commanded by him with whom he might safely give battell to David Lesly if as was suspected he marched that way with the Covenanters Horse All this the respective bearers unanimously delivered and his most excellent Majesty being over-credulous signified by his Expresses And Montrose being now over-born with the Kings absolute Commands takes up his resolution to march to the side of Tweed But the day before he went the souldiers being drawn up to a Rendezvouz before that Mac-donell and the Highlanders were gone Sir Robert Spotswood making an humble obeysance under the Kings Standard delivered his Majesties Commission under the Great Seale unto Montrose which he again gave unto Archibald Primrose Clerk of the Supreme Councell to be read aloud That being ended in a short but stately Oration he commended the Valour and Loyalty of the Souldiers and the great affection he bore them And for Mac-donell he not only extoll'd his gallantry in the head of the Army but by vertue of that authority that he had received from the King gave him the honour of Knighthood For not only Montrose but all the Kings friends were confident of the integrity of the man whose good opinion he deceiv'd not only to the undoing of the Kings cause but the utter ruine of himself and his friend Montrose following his intended journey came the second night to Calder Castle at which time the Earl of Aboine whether the Lord Governour would or no carried away with him not only his own men but all the rest of the Northern Forces whom he had inveighled to desert the service Nor would he be perswaded either by reason or the intreaty of his friends who heartily detested that shamefull act to stay but so much as one week and then he might depart not only with the Generalls license but with honour and the good esteem of honest men Seeing it would be no better Montrose passing by Edinburgh led his small Army through Lothainshire and in Strathgale joyned with Douglasse and the other Commanders whose Forces being much diminished were daily mouldring more and more In that coast Trequaire himself came unto him more chearfull and merry than he used to be who pretended himself to be a most faithfull servant not only to his Majesty but also to Montrose and the next day sent him his Son the Lord Linton with a gallant party of Horse as if they were to be under his command that by so likely a pledge he might make Montrose more secure and so more easily ruine him For this was not the first time that Trequaire plaid the Covenanters Scout-Master that ungratefullest piece of mankind intending to betray unto them Montrose and in him the King himself Now when he was not above twelve miles from the Lords Hume and Roxborough and they sent not so much as a Messenger to him nor offered him the smallest courtesie Montrose being much troubled at it resolved to march into their Territories and to bring them in either by fair means or soul But they prevented him by a singular device They sent unto David Lesley whom they well knew by that time was come to Berwicke with all the Scotch Horse and many English Voluntiers for they were privy to all their counsells and entreated him to send a party and carry them away in the condition of prisoners which he did the day before Montrose came thither For by this means that crasty old fox Roxborough who had Hume under his girdle conceiv'd that they might both ingratiate themselves with the Covenanters as freely committing themselves into their protection and yet keep in the Kings favour whiles they made as if they fell into Lestey's hands sore against their wills And this being Lesley's first noble exploit he passed over Tweed and marched into the Eastside of Lothian Montrose assoon as he perceived the King and himself betray'd by these men and saw no hopes of that party of Horse which was come from the King and that the too powerfull enemy would block up his passage into the North and Highlands resolved to march with those few men he had into Niddisdale and Annandale and the Countrey of Ayre that he might there raise what Horse he could For although he had no certain intelligence concerning the strength of the enemy yet he conjectured that it
indeed not so proper for our intention in this brief narration which is to satisfie the curiosity of all in the manner of his last entrie his defeat death and buriall if it may be so call'd Things for ought I know as yet set down in no certain relation Wee shall therefore setting aside his forreign endeavours bring him upon that same stage where his Tragedie had both its beginning and ending Only that you may have a more lively representation of his personall vertues we shall give you to understand in what high estimation the Marquesse was with forreign Princes as well as with those of England and Scotland and point at these honours which did seem to court his magnanimitie beyond the Seas In France with the generall consent of the Princes of the blood and the rest of the Nobilitie he was design'd Captain Generall of all the strangers in that kingdome A trust which those know that are acquainted with the warres of France of very high consequence for in them consists the whole strength of the kingdome But this advancement of the Marquesses was by Cardinall Mazarini crossed or delayd who was alwayes a professed enemie to Scots in that kingdome From thence he took his journey to Holland where the Prince then was in pursuit of his former intentions but here he met with as great crosses and impediments as he had done in the bowels of his own Country Duke Hamilton who was his irreconcilable enemie was now his competitor and being then at the Hague labour'd by all means possible to undermine or prevent the Marquesses designs With him were the Earl of Lautherdale and the Earl of Calender men both of eminent parts whom the Duke by severall engagements had made firm to his purposes They were both very earnest for a Commission The Duke having interest in the Prince by blood could not think that any in that trust could justly be preferrd before him alleging likewise that he might be more able to perform any design in that kingdome his kindred and allies and those of his Name being very powerfull and in the very heart of the kingdome Whereas Montroses souldiers whom he trusted most and employed in his former action were either kill'd or dispersed And those whom he had left so terrified and squeezed in their estates that they were utterly unable to help him On the other part the Marquesses fidelitie pleaded much for him his notable achievements his poor and slender beginnings which made him so much the more capable for that undertaking it being requisite the Prince should employ such an instrument as the case then stood being destitute of all means to help him The Prince who knew how needfull it was to reconcile two such eminent Persons who being joyn'd might draw the greatest part of that kingdome after them fayling of which either of them was sure to oppose the other that should be employ'd made it it his main drift to unite them Severall meetings were appointed to this purpose but all in vain neither could any industrie prevail to make an agreement so inveterate was their malice each to other so jealous were they one of anothers proceedings This variance made a long demur in that expedition which was farre sooner intended The causes of which were partly set down in the beginning of the Historie and partly hatched by the Duke himself who looking as he was a man very ambitious of honour upon all the Marquesses actions with a squint eye fretted much that there was any within the same kingdome who so farre surpass'd him in gallantrie and esteem nor could he brook that any one should possesse the Kings ear so much as he and for these reasons he employd his utmost endeavours in defeating all Montrose's enterprises But his Brothers known disservices and bad successe together with his own neglect or ill managing of businesse at Strivling bridge much retarded and obscured his claym to the Kings favour in the particular he sought for And to speak impartially the Marquesses worth and experience was such that it did easily sway the ballance in any indifferent mans judgement even though the other two had been thrown in to make up the weight The Marquesse having against his will spent a great deal of time in these disputes departed at last from Holland and travell'd up into Germanie and so to Austria The Emperour who in his late warres against the Swede hath been very unsuccessfull hearing of his arrivall invited him to his Court and amongst many other honours conferr'd upon him freely proferr'd him the Command of ten thousand men which should be a standing Army constantly to be recruited With free power to engage at his own discretion without receiving orders from any but the Emperour himself Which charge the marquesse being willing to accept and about to receive yet rather that he might if it were possible advance that cause which he had in hand than for any desire of honour he was prevented by that happy peace concluded betwixt the Emperour and the Swedes which all who love the Common good of Christendome wish to be lasting and perpetuall Being from thence very honourably dismiss'd he addresses himself to the Dukes of Brandeburg and Holsteyn from the last of which he receiv'd those ships which were kept a great while at Amsterdam to no purpose being three or four very fair Vessels and well mann'd Which Prince would have willingly contributed more to that service but that he perceiv'd that which he had before given to be so misemployed wherein both he and the Marquesse were grossly abus'd as in the ensuing relation shall appear Great were the promises which had been made to the Marquesse by many other Princes but they proved very slack in the performance so that the assistance which was so generally expected proved nothing else but a meer formalitie and complement But the season of the year being now fit for Action he resolves with what speed he can to call together those which he could get and to that purpose removes to Hamburgh from whence he might have a convenient passage to the Northern Isles of Scotland But ere we further proceed it will not be imperrinent to our purpose to take a slender view of that kingdom whither this expedition was intended and of the condition wherein it then was Scotland was then in a reasonable posture of quiet for the old grudges by taking away the heads of factions whereof some had suffer'd after Philip Haugh and others were detain'd Prisoners in England were rak'd up for a while And a certain number of Horse and Foot modell'd into an Armie was muster'd and dispos'd of in severall places of the kingdome to prevent any forreign invasion or any homebred insurrection which might happen These were commanded by David Lesley Collonel Mountgomerie Col. Straughan c. being in all fifteen hundred Horse and three thousand Foot commanded by Lieut. Generall Holborn This handfull did at that time over-awe and keep under the discontented
stood with the King his Royall Master Which being reported unto the Parliament they ceased proceeding against him untill Monday and allowed their Commissioners to tell him that the King and they were agreed He desired to be at rest for he was weary with a long journey and he said The Complement they had put upon him that day was somewhat tedious The next day being Sunday he was constantly attended by Ministers and Parliament-men who still persued him with threatnings but they got no advantage of him he told them They thought they had afronted him the day before by carrying him in a cart but they were much mistaken For he thought it the most Honourable and joyful'st journey that ever he made God having all the while most comfortably manifested his presence to him and furnishing him with resolution to ever-look the reproches of men and to behold him for whose cause he suffered Upon Monday in the forenoon he was brought before the Parliament and after the deliverie of a long penned discourse by the Chancellour wherein he was pleased to take notice of his miscarriages against the first Covenant the League and Covenant his Invasion and joyning with the Irish Rebells and blood-guiltiness and that now how God had brought him to just punishment Hee desired to know if he might be allowed to speak for himself which being granted he said Since you have declared unto me that you have agreed with the King I look upon you as if his Majestie were sitting amongst you and in that Relation I appear with this reverence bareheaded My care hath been alwaies to walk as became a good Christian and a loyall Subject I engaged in the first Covenant and was faithfull to it untill I perceived some private persons under colour of Religion intended to wring the Authoritie from the King and to seize on it for themselves and when it was thought fit for the clearing of honest men that a bond should be subscribed wherein the securitie of Religion was sufficiently provided for I subscribed For the League and Covenant I thank God I was never in it and so could not break it but how farre Religion hath been advanced by it and the sad consequences that have followed on it these poore distressed Kingdomes can witness for when his late Majestie had by the blessing of God almost subdued those enemies that rose against him in England and that a faction of this Kingdome went in to the assistance of them His Majesty gave Commission to me to come into this Kingdome and to make a diversion of those forces that were going from hence against Him I acknowledged the command most just and I conceiv'd my self bound in conscience and duty to obey it what my carriage was in this Countrey many of you may bear witnesse Disorders in any Army cannot be prevented but they were no sooner known then punished never was any mans blood spilt but in Battell and even then many thousand lives have I preserved and as I came in upon his Majesties Warrant so upon his Letters did I lay aside all interest and retreat And for my comming in at this time it was by his Majesties commands in order to the accelerating of the Treaty betwixt him and you His Majestie knowing that when ever he had ended with you I was ready to retire upon his call I may justly say that never subject acted upon more Honourable grounds nor by so lawfull a power as I did in this service and therefore I desire you to lay aside prejudice and consider me as a Christian in relation to the justice of the quarrell as a Subject in relation to my Royal Masters commands and as your Neighbour in relation to the many of your lives I have preserved in battell and be not too rash but let me be judged by the Lawes of God the Lawes of Nature and Nations and the Lawes of this Land if you doe otherwise I do hear appeal from you to the Righteous judge of the world who one day must be both your Judge and mine and who alwayes gives Righteous Judgement This he delivered with such Gravitie and without Passion as was much admired even of his enemies After which the Chancellour commanded the Sentence to be read which he heard with a setled and an unmoved countenance and desiring to be futher heard was presently stopt by the Chancellour who commanded he should be presently removed back again to prison where being no sooner come but the Ministers assault him afresh agravating the terrour of the Sentence thereby to affright him he acknowledged himself much beholding to the Parliament for the Honour they put upon him saying Hee took it for a greater honour to have his head stand upon the prison Gate for this quarrell than to have his picture in the Kings Bed-chamber And lest his Loyaltie should be forgotten they had highly honoured him in designing lasting monuments to four of the chiefest Cities to bear up his memoriall to all posteritie wishing he had had flesh enough to have sent a piece to every city in Christendome to witnesse his loyalty to his King and Countrie His Friends were not suffered to come neer him but a guard was alwayes in the Chamber with him insomuch as he had neither time nor place for his Private devotion but in their hearing The next day being the 21. Cloathed in a Scarlet cloak richly laced with Gold lace he was brought to the Scaffold He came along the streets with so great state and there appeared in his countenance so much Beautie Majestie and Gravitie as amazed the beholders and many even of his Enemies did acknowledge him to be the gallentest subject in the world but because all his Friends and well-willers were debar'd from comming neer him there was a boy designed for that purpose on the Scaffold who took his Last speech Which was to this Effect I am sorry if this manner of my End be scandalous to any good Christian Doth it not often happen to the righteous according to the waies of the wicked and to the wicked according to the waies of the righteous doth not sometime a just man perish in his righteousness and a wicked man prosper in his malice They who know me should not disesteem me for this many greater then I have been dealt with in this kind yet I must not say but that all Gods Judgements are Just For my private sins I acknowledge this to be Just with God I submit my self to him but in regard of man I may say they are but instruments God forgive them I forgive them they have oppressed the poor and violently perverted Judgement and Justice but he that is higher then they will reward them What I did in this Kingdome was in obedience to the most just Commands of my Soveraign For his defence in the day of his distresse against those that rose up against him I acknowledge nothing but fear God and Honour the King according to the commandements of God
would â—e of no use unto his Majesty after the Covenanters had raised their Army but destractive unto themselves that the baughty spirits of the enemie were to be sneap't in time and their strength broken before it grew too big lest the beginnings being neglected repentance should prove the only opposition that could be made afterward These things and to this effect did Montrose continually presse unto the Kâ—ng but in vain for â—e had not only the strong and deepâ—y rooted confidence his Majesty had of the Hamiltons to struggle with but â—he devices of a set of desperate Courtiers beside who daily buzzed in the Kings ears Montrose's youth his rashnesse his ambition the envy and hatâ—ed he bâ—re unto the Hamiltons and what not and on the oâ—her siâ—â— the Hamiltons fidelity their honesty their discretion their power Thus Montrose nothing prevâ—â—ls and the King returns to his Winter quarters at Oâ—ford And although his Majesty saw very well reports coâ—ming thick and thâ—eefold of the Scotish Army that all was true that Montrose had told him yet the most religious King determined upon no termes to give any occasion of quarrell to the Scots till fiâ—st they entred England resolving that he for â—is part would perfectly observe the articles of Pacification he had made with them which if they should violate he doubted not but they should highly answer it both to God and him While these things were discussed at Oxford the Covenanters in Scotland bring their businesse about according to their desires no one opposing them They raise as big an Army as they can which consisted of eighteen thousand Foot and two thousand Horse and at last when they had marched unto the very borders the Hamiltons were not ashamed to give the King notice by Letters of the approach of that formidable Army making this their excuse that according to their engagement they had prevented an invasion the Summer before but now that Winter was come on they were able to keep them out no longer but they would come in immediatly with a powerfull Army The King when he saw himself thus grosly abused sends for Montrose shews him the Hamiltons Letters and at last when it was even too late asks his advice what was best to be done Montrose tells him that his Majesty might now see that what he had before given him notice of had neither proceeded from ambition nor malice nor any self-endâ— but from his bounden duty and allegeance that for above a twelve-moneth he had been continually pressiâ—g both their Majesties to prevent this that he accounted himself very unhappy that all that while so faithfull a servant could not be credited by so good a Master that the case seemed now desperate but if the King had a mind he might trust them again who by pretence of his authority had bound some of his friends hands that they could not assist him and drawn in others who intended nothing lesse under colour of Loyalty to fight against him and given up unto the Rebells now that they had got an Army all that they had without striking a stroke The King complaining that he was most abominably betrayed by them with whom he had entrusted his Crown his honour his Secrets his Life earnestly demanded his advice He repeating again the lamentablenesse of the condition in which things now stood nevertheless offered that if his Majesty so thought good he would either lose his life which if he did he would be sure it should seem rather sold then lost or else which he did not despair of he would reduce his Country-men and bring the Rebells there into subjection The King being no little pleased with the confidence undauntednesse and gallantrie of the man that he might more advisedly contrive his design desired him to take two or three dayes to consider of it and so dismist him Montrose returning at the time appointed shews his Majesty how desperate an adventure he was undertaking that all Scotland was under the Covenanters command that they had Garrisoned all places of strength that they were plentifully provided both of men and mony and arms and ammunition and victuall and all things necessary for a War that the English Rebells were joyned with them in a most strict Covenant to defend one another against all the world But for his own part he had nothing to set up with neither men nor arms or pay yet he would not distrust Gods assistance in a righteous cause and if the King would lay his Commands upon him he would undertake to doe his best The King should be in no worse câ—se than he was He himself would take what malice envy or danger should fall upon himself so that his Majesty were graciously pleased to condescend to a few reasonable requests And first that the businesse might go on more successefully it seemed to him very necessary that the King should send some Souldiers out of Ireland into the West of Scotland Next that he should give order to the Marquesse of Newcastle who was the Generall of the Kings forces towards Scotland that he should assist Montrose with a party of Horse to enter the South of Scotland by which means he might convey himself into the heart of the Kingdome Then that he should dâ—al with the King of Denmark for some troops of Germane horse And lastly that his Majesty should take some course to procure and transport some arms out of some forreign country into Scotland nothing needed more but humane industry the success was Gods part and to 〈…〉 e referred to his providence The King commending his counsel and giving him thanks that he appâ—ehended some life in the businesse encourageth him to â—iâ— himselâ— cheerfully for so great a work and wished hâ—m to leave the care of those things he had requested unto him And truly for the matter of aid out of Ireland the King sends for the Earl of Antrim and acquaâ—nts him with Montrose's design This Antrim is of Scotish extraction descended of the noble and antient Family of the Mac-Donalds a man of great â—stâ—te and power in Ireland and allyed to the prime Nobility of England by matching with the Dutchesse of Buckingham He being driven out of his own country lived at Oxford and cheerfully undertook the negotiation with the â—â—â—sh upon himself and engaged himself also voluntarily unto Montrose that he would be in Argyle a part of Scotland bordering upon Ireland with ten thousand men by the first of April 1644. thâ—s passed in December 1643. And as for forreign aids and arms the King sent Sir John Cockeram his Embassadour about it with his Commission and Instructions And directions unto the Marquesse of Newcastle were carried by some of Montrose's own company Who receiving the Kings Letters and Commission to be Governour of Scotland and Generall of the Army there made himself ready for his journey In the interim news comes on a sudden that Duke Hamilton with his brother the Earl of Lannerick were posting up
them Their Horse who expected Foot to come and line them seeing them all run away ran faster than they whom the Conquerours were not able to follow much lesse to overtake so they sâ—ap'd scot-free but the Foot paid for all few of which escaped the Vâ—ctors hands For having no other place to fly unto but into the City Montrose's men came in thronging amonst them through the gates and posterns and laid them on heaps all over the streets They fought four hours upon such equall tetmes that it was an even lay whether had the odds At this Battell Montrose had some great Guns but they were unserviceable because all advantages of ground were possessed by the enemy but the enemies Guns made no small havock of his men Among others there was an Irishman that had his legge shot off with a Cannon bullet only it hung by a little skin he seeing his fellow-souldiers something sad at his mischance with a loud and cheerfull voyce cryes out Come on my Comerades this is but the fortune of Warre and neither you nor I have reason to be sorry for it Doe you stand to it as becomes you and as for me I am sure my Lord marquesse seeing I can no longer serve on foot will mount me on horse-back So drawing out his knife being nothing altered nor troubled he cut asunder the skin with his own hand and gave his legge to one of his fellow-souldiers to bury And truly when he was well again and made a Trooper he often did very faithfull and gallant service This battell was fought at Aberdene on the twelfth day of September 1644. Then Montrose calling his souldiers back to their Colours entered the City and allowed them two dayes rest Chap. VII IN the mean time news is brought that Argyle was hard by with much greater forces than those they dealt with last the Earl of Lothian accompanying him with fifteen hundred Horse Therefore Montrose removes from Aberdene to Kintor a village ten miles off that he might make an easier accesse unto him for the Gordons the friends and dependants of the Marquesse of Huntley and others that were supposed much to favour the Kings cause From thence he sends Sir William Rollock to Oxford to acquaint his Majesty with the good successe he had hitherto obtained and to desire supplies out or England and some place else That hee had sought twice indeed very prosperously but it could not â—e expected that seeing he was so beset on all sides with â—â—eat and numerous Armies he should be able to hold out â—â—waies without timely relief Still nothing troubled Montrose more than that none of the Gordons of whom he conceived great hopes came in unto him And there wanted not some of them who testified their great affection to the service but that Huntley the chief of the Family being a back-friend to Montrose had with-held them all either by his own example or private directions and that himself being forced to sculk in the utmost border of the Kingdome envied that honour to another of which he had missed himself and had forbidden even with threats all those with whom he had any power to have any thing to doe with Mentrose or to assist him either with their power or counsell Which when he understood he resolved to withdraw his Forces into the Mountains and Fastnessesses where he knew the enemies Horse wherein their great strength consisted could do them little service and of their Foot if they were never so many relying upon the justice of his cause and the valour of his souldiers be made but little reckoning Therefore he hid his Ordnance in a bogge and quitted all his troublesome and heavy carriages And comming to the side of the river of Spey not far from an old Câ—stle called Rothmurke he incamped there with an Army if one respect the number but very small but it was an expert and cheerfull one and now also something acquainted with victory On the other side of the Spey he finds the men of Cathnes and Sunderland and Rosse and Murray and others to the number of five thousand up in arms to hinder his passage over the swiftest River in all Scotland till such time as Argyle who marched after him was upon his back Being oppressed and as it were besieged with so many enemies on every side that at least he might save himself from their Horse he turned into Badenoth a rocky and mountainous Countrey and scaâ—ce passable for Horse There for certain dayes he was very sick which occasioned so immoderate joy to the Covenanters that they doubted not to give out he was quite dead and to ordain a day of publike Thanksgiving to Almighty God for that great deliverance Nor were their Levites you may be sure backward in that employment in their Pulpits for as if they had been of counsell at the Decree and stood by at the execution they assured the people that it was as true as Gospell that the Lord of Hostes had slain Montrose with his own hands But this joy did not last them long for he recovered in a short space and as if he had been risen from the dead he frighted his enemies much more than he had done before For assoon as his disease would give him leave he returned into Athole and sent away Mac-donell with a party unto the Highlanders to invite them to take up arms with him and if they would not be invited to force them He himself goes into Angus hoping it might happen that he should either force Argyle with his tyred Horse unto his Winter quarters or at least leave him far enough behind him For Argyle had pursued him so slowly and at such distance that it was apparent he thought of nothing lesse than of giving him battell Therefore going through Angus and getting over the Grainsbaine which going along with a perpetuall ridge from East to West divideth Scotland into two equall parts he returned into the North of the Kingdome And now that he had left Argyle so farre hehind him that he might safely take some time to recruit he went to Strathbogy that he might meet with the Gordons and perswade them to engage with him But he lost his labour for they were forestalled by Huntley and after his example plaid least in sight For such as were generous and daring spirits though they were loath to provoke the indignation of their Chief yet they could not but be ashamed that at a time when there might be so much use of them they did nothing Besides the Lord Gordon Huntley's eldest Son a man of singular worth and accomplishment was detained by Argyle his Uncle by the Mothers side the Earl of Aboine the second Son was inclosed within the siege of Carlisle and Lewis anot her Son was of the enemies side so that there was no one of Huntley's family under whose authority they should take up Arms. Notwithstanding Montrose quartered there a great while in which time almost every other
restrain the unrulinesse of the souldier lest they should wrong the poor inhabitants and in their sury reduce that cursed City which had been the cause and somenter of all the Rebellion into ashes which Montrose gave them especially in charge by all means to prevent as also to preserve the Army safe from the plague which was hot in the City and places adjacent and whereof very many dyed every day Assoon as ever the news of their approach was brought unto the Town they all began to tremble and despair of their lives and to raise a cry as if the swords were already at their throats or their houses in a flame Not a few of them being pricked in their guilty constiences freely and openly accus'd themselves for the most ungratefull traiterous sactilegious and perjured persons in the world and unworthy of any mercy Then applying themselves unto the prisoners they had both calling unto them a far off and sending private messengers they implored their assistance and besought them in compassiou of the poore silly people who were almost wasted with a great mortality to pacifie the anger of the conquerous whom they had most justly incensed told them all their hopes lay in them and they were utterly undone without their help Protested moreover that if they found mercy but that one time they would redeeme their former revolt with more religious fidelity and constant Allegiance ever after The prisoners whom but the other day the basest of the people bitterly abused and reviled cursing and bequeathing them to the gallowes and worse for getting all injuries receiv'd and more troubled with the sense than revenge of their sufferings first rendred hearty thanks to Almighty God who of his mercy shewed unto them that liberty and safety which they little expected and then turning unto their deadly enemies bad them be of good chear for the most gracious King and his Lieutenant Montrose desired the safetp and happinesse of his repenting Subjects and not their extirpation and ruine Therefore they advised them immediately to send some delegates to Montrose humbly to beg his pardon for nothing could better appease the rage of a Conquerour than a speedy submission For their parts they would not be backward to mediate with him for their safety and doubted not but his high and noble spirit which could not be vanquished with their armes would yet suffer it self to be overcome with the prayers and lamentations of men in misery The Edinburgians being comforted with these hopes and assisted with this good advice immediately call a Hall to consult of sending Delegates There were among the prisoners of those that were most high in birth and favour with Montrose Lodowick Earl of Crawford Chief of the most antient and noble family of the Lindseys a man famous for Military service in forraign Nations amongst the Swedes Imperialists and Spaniards This man by the power and cunning of his cosen the Earl of Lindsey who because he was greedy of the honour and title of the Earl of Crawford was greedy also of his life was designed by the Covenanters to be put to death Nor was it for any other crime but for being a Souldier and an expert man and one that had done faithfull service for his Master the King and it was feared he would doe so again if he should be suffered to live There was also James Lord Ogleby Son to the Earl of Airley one singularly beloved by Montrose who was formidable both for his fathers and his own vertue and authority He also being an enemy to Argyle both upon old fewds and some fresher wrongs was just as deep in sin and danger as Crawford These therefore the Common Councell of Edinburgh chose out of the rest of the prisoners and immediately setting them at liberty they earnestly pray and beseech them to assist their Delegates to the uttermost of the power they had with the Lord Governour and to labour to hold his hands off that miserable City upon which the hand of God himself lay so heavy already And they curse themselves and their posterity to the pit of hell if they should ever prove unmindfull of so great a favour or unthankfull to them that did it They were not backward to undertake a business which was so universally desired but taking the Delegates along with them went forth to Napier He having by the way delivered his dear father his wife his brother-in-Law Sir Sterling Keer and his sisters out of the prison at Limnuch whither the Covenanters had removed them from Edinburgh Castle marched back unto his Uncle with his Forces and those prisoners now at libety and the Delegates of the City as having done his businesse Montrose embracing Crawford and Ogleby his dearest friends whom he had long longed for and rejoycing to see them safe and sound used them with all honour and accommodation after their long restraint and they on the other side magnified their deliveter and avenger with high praises and thanks as became them to doe on both sides affording a spectacle of great joy to the beholders Afterwards the Delegates of Edinburgh were admitted to audience and delivered their Message from the Provost and City The sum was They would freely surrender the Town unto the Governour humbly desired his pardon promised to be more dutifull and loyall for the time to come committed themselves and all that they had to his patronage and protection for which they earnestly besongbt him Moreover they undertook forthwith to set the rest of the prisoners at liberty according to his appointment and to doe any thing else that he should enjoyn them And although the City was so wasted with a grievous contagion that no men could be raised out of it yet they were ready as far as their share came to pay contribution to such as should be raised in other places And above all things they humbly begged at his hands that he would labour to mitigate the anger of their most gracious Lord the King that he might not be too severe with that City which by the cunning authority and example of a seditions and prevailing party had been engaged in Rebellion Montrose bad them be confident of the rest and required no more at their hands than to be hereafter more observant of their loyalty to the King and faithfully to renounce all correspondence with the Rebells in armes against him either without or within the Kingdome To restore the Castle of Edinburgh which it was evident was in their custody at that time unto the King and his Officers Lastly assoon as the Delegates came home to set the prisoners at liberty and send them to him And truly as for the prisoners they sent them away upon their return but as to other Articles they were perfidious and perjured and if they doe not repent must one day give an account unto God the assertor of truth and justice for their high ingratitude and reiterated disloyalty Whiles these things passed concerning
instruments wherein they confidently averred that the States of the Kingdom as they call'd themselves would by no means suffer that so gallant a Subject should be banished the Country For they knew not how great need they might have of a man of his worth especially if the Ring who had cast himself freely upon the affections of the Scots could not get any right of the English but should be put to seek it by Force and Armes And if it came to that no Age had afforded a better Generall than Montrose And truly that was the earnest desire and expectation of most men who were not able to dive into the bottom of the Rebells Plots but they had far other designes in hand and another game to play For what their thoughts were towards the King the sad event made too manifest And for Montrose they laid very unconscionable and unworthy Traps to catch him For they did this that if they could flatter him up with such vain hopes and entice him to stay in the Kingdome beyond his time appointed they might take hold of him upon the Articles and cut him off with more credit August was almost spent and no newes at all was to be had about the shipping or safe Conduct therefore Montrose although he was resolved to be gone by the day the King had limited that he might the more fully grope the intentions of the Covenanters gave leave for some of his friends to deal with them for further time But when they brought him nought but doubtfull and uncertain answers he had reason to think they intended nothing but to delude and intrap him Besides which made his suspition so much the greater there came a ship upon the very last day allowed for his stay to wit on the last of August into the haven of Montrose The master of it was not only a stranger to him but a most rude and violent abettor of the Rebels the Sea-men and Souldiors men of the same temper malicious dogged and ill-condition'd the ship it self neither victualed nor fit to goe to Sea So that when Montrose shew'd himself ready to depart and bad them horse their sails assoon as they could the Master of the ship told him that he must have some dayes allowed him to pitch and rigge his ship before he durst adventure himself to the wind and waves And then making great brags of himself and his ship he drew forth a Commission which the Covenanters had given him wherein hee was required to transport the passengers to certain places assigned by themselves and to carry no body else Moreover there lay great English ships and men of Warre every day in sight about the mouth of the river of Eske which makes the haven of Montrose attending there in favour of the Rebels for their much-desired booty that by no means he might escape their hands But Montrose had sufficient notice of these treacheries and wanted not some friends of the Covenanters themselves who informed him by frequent messages that the Sea was sore pester'd with the English Navy and he could not escape safely either into France or the Low-Countries that the haven was upon the matter block't up in which he was to take shipping and therefore it was very perillous for him to goe to Sea that his enemies look'd for nothing else than that either by making too long stay in his own Country he should fall into the hands of the Scotish Covenanters or by going he should be surprised unarm'd and unawares by the English Rebells Montrose's friends that were with him were of opinion that it was best for him in so apparent a danger to return into the Highlands and draw his men together again conceiving that he had better trust the fortune of Warre than so perfidious a peace But he forbore to take that course especially because of his most ardent affection to the King For he was assured if the Warre brake forth again it would be laid upon the King though undeservedly and so he should bring his Person into present danger perhaps as much as his life was worth Therefore being straightned on every side one way with treachery plotted against his own another against the Kings anointed head he determined with an unalterable resolution to bear all the burden upon his own shoulders And therefore he withdrew himself not out of rashnesse as if he despair'd of safety at the worst but out of sage and discreet deliberation For when he had smelt out the plots of the Rebels before-hand he had sent some a good while agoe to search diligently the havens in the North and if they chanced to find any outlandish vessell to agree with the Master for the fraught and to appoint him to be ready to put to sea at such a day and to transport the passengers which should be ready with him by the help of God into Norway By good fortune there was found in the haven of Stanhyve a small bark of Bergen in Norway and the Master was soon agreed with for he was very glad of the opportunity having hopes of getting Thither Montrose sent away Sir John Hurrey John Drummond of Ball Henry Graham his brother John Spotswood nephew to that great Sir Robert John Lily a Captain of approved skill and courage Patrick Melvin such another George Wischeart Doctor of Divinity David Guthercy a stout young Gentleman Pardus Lasound a French-man once a servant to the noble Lord Gordon afterwards entertained for his Masters sake by Montrose himself one Rodolph a German an honest and trusty young man and a few servants more And these he had pick'd out to carry along with him whithersoever he went for this reason especially because he knew the Rebels to be so maliciously bent against most of them that they could not be safe for never so little a while in that Country And they on the third of September having a good wind put forth to Sea for Norway and the same evening Montrose himself accompanied only with one James Wood a worthy Preacher by a small cock-boat got into a bark which lay at anchor without the haven of Montrose and being clad in a course suit the Lord and Patron passed for his Chaplains servant This was in the year of our Lord 1646. and the 34. year of his age The Continuation of Montrose's Historie IT is not our purpose in this addition to the Historie of the famous Marquesse to deliver his severall Negotiations with forreign Princes further than in the Generall For hosoever they were in order to the Cause he had in hand and did adde a great deal of lustre and splendour to his worth in the eyes of strangers who were indifferent in the case As likewise it must be confessed that no subject of that Kingdome ever received higher favours abroad or procur'd greater respect to the addresses made in his Masters name Yet these things being but obscurely known in the Tenour of them except only to those who were employed and
partie though farre more powerfull For besides those which had been disbanded by the Earl of Lanerick and Major Generall Munroe at the bridge of Striveling there flock'd daily out of England great companies of those who had escaped out of Prison who finding their estates Sequestred and seiz'd upon and withall most tyrannically proceeded against by the hot-spirited Ministerie desired nothing more than an opportunitie of revenge Besides these he had a considerable number of his own name and faction in the North. The Gordons the Athole-men who if he had not been crush'd at his first entrie would certainly have assisted him This conditiun of the kingdome made the Marquesse appear like a prodigious Mereor hanging over their heads which awak'd those who sate at the helm of the State whom it did indeed most concern to endeavour the defeating of his attempts both at home and abroad For this purpose was there a folemn Message dispatch'd to the Prince then Resident at the Hague whom presently upon the News of his Fathers death they had proclam'd King inviting him home upon certain conditions which were publish'd in this kingdome and need not therefore be inferted In the mean time the Marquesse who had now gathered together a companie of gallant Gentlemen aswell English as Scots makes all possible hast Dispatches Collonel John Oglebie to Amsterdam to entertain such strangers as might be for his purpose But he forgeting his Commission bestowed both moneys and pains in entertaining himself suffering those who upon any termes would have engaged to shift for themselves There being a great number who had fled out of England and more who had lately deserted the French or been cashier'd from the Hollanders service Thus were these goodly Vessells sufficiently provided for service lost by his neglect and a limb of the design broken There happen'd about this time another businesse which did much retard the Marquesses affairs Collonel Cochran who had been dispatch'd Commissioner into Poland to the Scotish Merchants there to require their assistance having procur'd very considerable summs of money upon that score and other provision for the furthering of that expedition dispos'd of the money for his own uses made sale of the corn and provision together with the vessell which was provided for the transportation of it and did himself turn tayl to the quarrell This was another disappointment Generall King likewise whom the Marquesse expected out of Sweden with a considerable party of Horse either could not be ready so soon as was expected or else delayd the time of purpose But the Marquesse as is supposed fearing lest he should have an expresse command to desist from his purpose because the Treaty betwixt the Prince and the Scotish Commissioners was now very neer a conclusion did precipitate himself and those that were with him into most inevitable ruine Now all those great leavies and aydes Those mighty preparations for the invasion of a kingdome settled in a posture of warre and well forwarn'd of his intentions amounted not above the number of six or seven hundred at the most strangers and all The common souldiers which adventur'd over with him most of them Holsteyners or Hamburgers He had sent him by the Queen of Sweden for the arming of such Gentlemen as should upon his arrivall betake themselves to his partie fifteen hundred arms compleat for Horse back brest head-piece Carrabines Pistolls and Swords all which after his defeat in Cathanes were taken untouch'd With this small preparation it was a desperate action to attempt so mightie a businesse And although his touching first upon the Islands did encrease his number and gave him almost the beginning of an Armie Yet were those barbarous people so raw and unacquainted with discipline that they prov'd in a manner uselesse and unserviceable 'T is true the Inhabitants of those Isles were a people in former times very fierce and warlike and have under their own Captains made many great Impressions into the very heart of the kingdome But whether it was the Policie of the late Kings to leave them untrain'd of purpose to break their naturall fiercenesse or because their own Captains being quell'd or cut off they cared not much to engage under any another certain it is That kingdome for two hundred years last past hath not made lesse use of any they had under their jurisdiction nor have they at this present lesse opinion of any Scots for Military courage and valour And this may be alleged as a great cause of their remissnesse and unwieldinesse whilst they were in the Marquesses service I told you a little before of Montrose's whole Strength which did accompany him from Germanie whereof two ships with neer upon a third part were sent before but by storm of weather which is both frequent and dangerous amongst those Northern Islands they were lost with all the men and arms nothing sav'd This was another check and as it were a warning a fore-runner of the sad event which followed But the businesse being fatall he must needs contribute his own endeavours towards that destruction which his cruell fortune had provided for him For he nothing terrified with this successe sends out a second partie which making a more prosperous voyage landed at Orkney and enter'd the Island without any resistance There being at that time no Garrison or defence placed in any of those Islands by the States of Scotland Together with these he sent severall Commissions for levying of Horse and Foot Immediatly there were severall dispatch'd to Scotland and the Islands adjacent for that purpose The people of the Countrie being in no condition to resist these officers endeavoured in hopes of favour as much as they could to further the design And those who were not so earnest were by their own neighbours favourers of the cause and these violent Commissioners forc'd to take up Arms. Not long after landed the Marquesse himself with the rest of his companie together with those Gentlemen which resolv'd to partake of his fortune Amongst whom were severall persons of note Collonel Hurry was there a man who had engaged in all quarrells but never prosper'd in any The Lord Frenderick for his kinsman the Lord Napier was left in Holland Collonel Jonson a resolute man and an old souldier Coll. Gray a German souldier Harry Grahame his own naturall brother Coll. James Hay of Naughton Sir Francis Hay of Dalgetie George Drummond of Ballach For he had employed as was thought Collonel Sibbalds his companion heretofore as his Agent in Scotland But he was apprehended at Musselburgh and did accompanie his Generall in death upon the same Scaffold The Marquesse continued a considerable time in Orkney raising of Forces and strenghning himself with such recruits as the place would afford Neither was there any preparation at all made in Scotland to dispossesse him of these Islands either because it might be thought a difficult businesse to assail him within those places naturally guarded with a rough and
he was much solicited to discover the Conspiratours in the overthrow of that Army but that took no effect nor is that yet since he left it undiscover'd known to any Scotish man alive whether there were any connivance in 't or no. He was very frequent in his devotions whilst he was in prison and exprest much more cheerfulnesse than he had done at any time before since his being taken prisoner After he had endur'd these private batteries and assaults with a great deal of constancie he was at last brought before a publike auditorie to be sifted The Parliament had a little while before been call'd for proclaming the King and ordering the affairs of the kingdome whither he was brought and did appear with a very undismayd countenance in a rich Mantle layd over with massie lace His chief adversaries were the Marquesse of Argyle his known and inveterate enemie Earl of Lowdon the Chancellour of Scotland of the same name and faction Lowdon Ker a violent and a high-spirited man Cassells another of his adversaries was gone in Commission to the King These of the Nobilitie were most against him Of the Gentrie the Laird of Swinton a potent man in that Parliament Sir James Stuart Provost of the Citie of Edinburgh a man likewise in great esteem The Lord Hopton a Lord of the Session and President of the Committee for Examinations and severall others But the whole Assembly was violent against him neither could he be admitted to any place there that was not publikely invective against him But amongst them all the Ministers of Edinburgh in this strife carried the honour and of them Mr. Robert Trayle and Mr. Mungo Law two such venemous Preachers as no man that knows them can mention their names without detest The first of the two had been Chaplain before to the Marquesse of Argyle and was his companion in his flight from the battell of Ennerlochie and now Prisoner to the States of England Many and grievous were the accusations layd to his charge First that he had by his pernicious insinuation diverted the King from the Counsells of his well-wishing Subjects The introducing the Irish into the bowells of the Kingdome The murther of some particular persons the utter spoyl and devastation of the Marquesse of Argyles lands and the Killing and destroying of divers well-affected people there and that in cold blood The cruell usage of some ministers at his last landing The Complainers were there present but could allege nothing save only that he had restrayn'd them from rayling His transacting with Forreign States for the invasion of his Native Country and bringing in of Forreigners now the second time and that without any known Commission His obstinate persecution of all Covenanters against his own oath and engagement and his Apostacie from his first principles The Marquesse knowing how much his defences would avail him did not much labour to clear himself but answer'd all in generall For his Invasion they knew partly what authoritie he had for the rest he was sufficiently perswaded in his conscience that he had done nothing which he might not be answerable to God for as being in order to his Masters Commands and to men too so he might have but an even and an unprejudic'd judicatorie Thus having been call'd once or twice before that high Court of judgement where he answer'd so vigorously as was admirable to all he did at last receive his dolefull Sentence which was accordingly executed upon him two dayes after with all the severitie and bitternesse that could be devised There was erected in the middle of the Market-place a large Scaffold brest-high in the midst of which was planted a Gibbet of extraordinary height The Marquesse having taken his rest very kindly that night next morning recommending himself to God once or twice took his breakfast very chearfully The Bayliffs waited on him to the Scaffold where the whole people of the City attended his comming at least two houres before He came uncovered all the way betwixt the Scaffold and the Toll-booth and in the same rich Mantle he had worn before Being come thither he was much detayn'd with a great many frivolous questions of which partly the Ministers partly those whom the States suffer'd to be about him desir'd to be satisfied Hee made a short Speech in which he was often interrupted the Tenour of which was That he was satisfied in his conscience for ought he had done in relation to warre That for his own particular sins which were infinite he had begg'd pardon earnestly of God and had an inward hope to obtaâ—n it Hee freely forgave all those who had sought his overthrow and intreated the Charitie of all the people to pray both for him and them The Ministers because he was under the sentence of Excommunication refus'd to pray for him and even on the very Scaffold were very bitter against him After he had about a quarter of an hour prayed with his hat before his eyes he was ready to goe to his suffering when his Book and Declaration and all other Papers which he had publish'd in his life being tyed in a string together were hang'd about his neck He was very earnest that he might have the liberty to keep on his hat it was denyed He requested he might have the priviledge to keep his cloak about him neither could that be granted Then with a most undaunted courage he went up to the top of that prodigious gibbet where having freely pardon'd the Executioner he gave him three or four pieces of gold and enquir'd of him how long he should hang there he told him three hours then commanding him at the uplifting of his hands to tumble him over he was accordingly thrust off by the weeping Executioner The whole people gave a generall groan and it was very observable that even those who at his first appearance had bitterly inveigh'd against him could not now abstain from tears 'T is said that Argyles expressions had something of grief in them and did likewise weep at the rehearsall of his death for he was not present at the execution Howsoever they were by many call'd Crocodiles tears how worthily I leave to others judgement But I am sure there did in his son the Lord of Lorne appear no such sign who neither had so much tendernesse of heart to be sorry nor so much paternall wit as to dissemble who entertaining his new Bride the Earl of Murrays Daughter with this spectacle mock'd and laugh'd in the midst of that weeping Assemblie And staying afterwards to see him hewen in pieces triumph'd at every stroak which was bestow'd upon his mangled body Thus ended the life of the Renowned Marquesse though not his punishment if that can properly be call'd a punishment which mens bodies suffer after death For being cut down without so much as any to receive his falling corps His head was smitten off his arms by the shoulders and his leggs by the knees and so put into severall