Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	king_n	law_n	majesty_n	3,064	5	5.9700	4	false

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

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

lives have I preserved and as I came in upon his Majesties Warrant So upon his Letters did I lay aside all interest and retreated And for my comming in at this time it was by his Majesties command 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 a more lawful power than 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 quarrel 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 battel and be not too rash but let me be judged by the Laws of God the Laws of Nature and Nations and the Laws of this Land if you do 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 Gravity 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 further 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 aggravating 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 He took it for a greater honour to have his head stand upon the Prison Gate for this quarrel 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 memorial to all posterity Wishing he had had flesh enough to have sent a piece to every City in Christendome to witnesse his loyalty to his King and Country His Friends were not suffered to come near him but a guard was alwayes in the Chamber with him insomuch as he had neither time nor place for his private devotions 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 Beauty Majesty and Gravity as amazed the beholders and many even of his Enemies did acknowledge him to be the gallantest subject in the World but because all his Friends and well-willers were debar'd from comming near 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 wayes of the wicked and to the wicked according to the wayes 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 than 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 than 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 and the Law of Nature and Nations and I have not sinned against man but against God and with him there is Mercy which is the ground of my drawing neer unto him It is objected against me by many even good People That I am under the Censure of the Church This is not my fault since it is only for doing my Duty by obeying my Prince's most just Commands for Religion His Sacred Person and Authority Yet I am sorry they did Excommunicate me in that which is according to Gods Laws without wronging my Conscience or Allegeance I desire to be relaxed if they will not do it I appeal to God who is the righteous Judge of the world and who must and will I hope be my Judge and Sviour It is spoken of me that I should blame the King God forbid For the late King he lived a Saint and dyed a Martyr I pray God I may so end as He did If ever I should wish my Soul in another mans stead it should be in his For his Majesty now living never people I believe might be more happy in a King His Commands to me were most just in nothing that he promiseth will he fail He deals justly with all men I pray God he be so dealt withall that he be not betrayed under trust as His Father was I desire not to be mistaken as if my carriage at this time in Relation to your waies were stubborn I do but follow the light of my own Conscience which is seconded by the working of the good Spirit of God that is within me I thank him I go to Heavens Throne with joy If He enable me against the fear of Death and furnish me with courage and considence to imbrace it even in its most ugly shape Let God be glorified in my end though it were in my damnation Yet I say not this out of any fear or distrust but out of my duty to God and Love to his people I have no more to say but that I desire your Charity and Prayers I shall pray for you all I leave my Soul to God my Service to my Prince my Good will to my Friends and my Na●●e and Charity to you all And thus briefly I have exonerated my Conscience Being desired to pray apart He said I have already powred out my Soul before the Lord who knows my heart and into whose hands I have commended my Spirit and he hath been graciously pleased to return to me a full assurance of peace in Jesus Christ my Redeemer and therefore if you will not joyn with me in prayer my reiterating again will be both Scandalous to you and me So closing his eyes and holding up his hands he stood a good space at his inward devotions being perceived to be inwardly moved all the while When he had done he call'd for the Executioner and gave him mony Then having brought unto him hanging in a cord his Declaration and History he hanged

which if I had done I deserved to have been branded with perpetual infamy for I never knew any man in this Kingdome that did keep correspondency with them neither had I Commission from his Majesty or the Marquesse of Montrose to treat with any I did indeed speak with some Noblemen and Gentlemen because I was formerly obliged unto them for their love to me and did expect from them some small assistance to furnish me in my journey but I never spake with them concerning the publike Affairs no further than the weekly Gazets made known to all the world if these great Fish could have been taken in our Statesmens Nets it might have been that such a Minim as I should have escaped the Bayliff of the Fish-markets hand this day I have been from my youth a Souldier and though that Calling in it self be honourable yet men in that Calling have greater occasions and provocations to sin than in any private Calling Besides naturally my youth led me to some abominable sins and custom in them did for many years detain me captive unto them so that I cannot but confesse that to me appertaineth shame and confusion in this life and damnation of soul and body eternally in Hell fire if God should deal with me according to my desert my comfort is that the blood of my Saviour cries lowder in his ears for mercy than my sins doe for vengeance and that he who hath promised a free pardon and remission unto all penitent sinners through faith in Jesus Christ will purge and cleanse my Soul from all uncleanesse and deliver me from all blood-guiltinesse by the blood of his Son our Saviour The true sorrow that I find in my Soul for my former sins and that godly resolution and stedfast purpose I have to lead a new life if it please God to continue it together with the joy the patience and the courage I have to suffer gives me some assurance of this blessed hope that through faith in Christ Jesus my Saviour my penitent Soul though sinful shall be saved And as for my Religion I die as I lived a true Protestant this Religion I thank God as it preserved me from Popish Superstition so it kept me from being seduced by the Novelties of the times and from being deluded with the wicked Doctrine which is now taught by the Reformers of the Kirk It was this Religion which did keep my hand from your Covenant of which in the space of some five years you gave two interpretations quite contradictory for in the year 1639. the Assembly did affirm as appears by our Acts of Parliament and Assembly that in all causes whatsoever you were to defend and maintain the person and dignity of your King but in the year 1644. you limit your obedience to your King to your Religion Laws and Liberty and make your selves in all differences between the King and you both Judge and Party The Religion in which I was bred taught me to give both to God and my King their due it taught me to honour and worship God and to expect Salvation through Christ and to live soberly and to deal justly with all men I ever hated that Religion which made Saints or Angels sharers with God in his worship or men partakers with my Redeemer in the work of my Redemption or that made our Christian liberty a cloak of maliciousnesse and though naturally I inclined to evill and wicked company drew me to most hainous and filthy sins yet I thank God I hated that Religion that taught impiety and wickednesse Rebellion Murther and Injustice or that approved the killing of Kings and their loyal Subjects for their loyalty as having its original rather from the Devill who was a murtherer from the beginning than from God and I did ever esteem it more aggreable to mans sinfull and corrupted nature than to Gods holy Word I have heard a learned man say that it were better to deny God to be than to believe him to be such an one who delights in the bloody sacrifices of men and women or to think that he is such an one who delights in cruelty and murther the God whom we serve and worship is the Savior of the world the peserver of man the Redeemer of Man-kind the avenger of his blood I have been taught from Gods word that he hath no pleasure in wickednesse neither shall any evil dwell with him undoubtedly such bloody Sacrifices cannot be pleasing or acceptable to him for they are repugnant to his nature and contradictory to the Justice and equity of his holy Law It is my greatest grief at this time I did not walk according to the purity of my Religion and the holinesse of God who hath called us to the knowledge of his truth Therefore let me entreat you to pray unto God with me and for me that he would be pleased to pardon my many and great sins that he would purge my soul with the blood of his Son from the guilt and pollution of all my sins that I may be presented unto my heavenly Father without spot or wrinkle holy without blemish that he would receive me through the merits of my Saviour into everlasting peace and into the glorious estate of his chosen Saints in heaven O Lord into thy hands I commend my soul Lord Jesu receive my spirit O merciful Father forgive my Enemies and lay not this sin to their charge Amen FINIS Upon the Death of King Charls the First GReat Good and Just could I but Rate My Griefs and Thy too Rigid fate I 'de weep the world to such a strain As it should Deluge once again But Since Thy loud-tongu'd blood demands supplys More from Briareus Hands than Argus eys I le sing Thy Obsequies with trumpet Sounds And write Thy Epitaph with Blood and Wounds MONTROSE Written with the point of his Sword

and Confessors for withstanding them And therefore he might well imagine that these men who by the same devises laboured to render his Majesty himself odious and so to destroy Him to enjoy his Honours and Revenues so traiterously and perfidiously purloyned would easily find men who should out of the like railing humor bespatter as much as in them lay this most excellent man and all his honourable atchievments and as it is said of wasps poyson with their tongues or pens the juice of most sweet and wholesome flowers and leave the lesse knowing or lesse wary to suck it up He was therefore pleased to offer this short and faithful Narrative as a seasonable antidote against that evill to all that loved truth and plain de aling of which he would needs be so obstinate a maintainre that although he saw well enough how much envy and hatred it would derive upon himself he resolved he would neither basely flatter any one nor lap up that truth which they would not like to bear in obscure and doubtfull Expressions For he professes that as he is a Free-man born and bred so he will never part with his Freedome till with his life And although he be ambitious of no other commendable quality of a good Historian neither of wit nor art nor eloquence yet he seems to challenge in his own right the honour of sincere and exact truth for the defence and propagation whereof he hath set at nought all that was dear in this world having been thrice plundered of all that he had thrice imprisoned in a nasty and filthy Fail and now the third time lives in banishment for the Truths sake Yet he is merry and chearfull that being conscious to himself of no wrong as towards men he is counted worthy of the Lord to suffer these things for Truths and Righteousnesse sake And thou good Reader make much of him at least for his truths sake excuse him for other things and Farewell ON THE Death of the Noble and Valiant Marquess of Montross NOr shall He sleep nor can His valour lie Rak'd in His ashes to Eternity His glories shall out-blaze each puny plot Of th' accurst Rebel and the perjur'd Scot That Slavish Kirk too late now wish indeed Their guilt wash'd off with their high-swelling Tweed Too late alas that generous blood shall be A brand on their despis'd Posterity Brave Soul whose learn'd sword's point could strain Rare lines upon thy murther'd Soveraign Thy self hast grav'd thine Epitaph beyond Th' impressions of a pointed Diamond Thy prowess and Thy Loyalty shall burn In pure bright flames from Thy renowned Um Clear as the beams of Heav'n Thy cruel Fare Scaffold and Gibbet shall Thy Fame dilate That when in after ages Death shall bid A man go home and die upon his Bed He shall reply to Death I scorn 't be gone Meet me at th' Place of Execution Ther 's glory in the Scandal of the Cross Let me be Hang'd for so fell stout MOMTROSS T. F The affairs of the King in SCOTLAND under the Conduct of the most Honourable James Marquesse of Montrose Earl of Kinkardin c. And General Governour for His Majesty in that Kingdome In the Years 1644 1645 1646. SOmetime James Marquesse of Montrose sided with the Covenanters in Scotland and very forwardly bestowed his unhappily happy endeavours in their behoof They pretended to nothing then lesse than the preservation of Religion the Honour and Dignity of the King the Laws of the Land and the freedome of that antient Realm so happily so valiantly defended in time of yore from such powerfull enemies as the Romans Saxons Danes Normans by the sweat and bloud with the lives and estates of their Ancestours And the tales they made they never wanted fitting instruments to tell and spread among the people It was given out that there was nothing more in the aim of the Court of England than that that free people being reduced to a kind of Province should be eternally enflaved under the power of their old enemies Yet all this while they engaged themselves by their publique attestations and even a solemn Oath that they would never go to work by force and armes nor sollicite the King any other way than by Petition That he would be pleased graciously to accept the supplications of his humblest Subjects and to take order that his dearest Country should suffer nothing in matter of Religion or the Liberty of the Subject But at last in the year 1639. Montrose found out that these fair tales were coyn'd of purpose to steal the hearts of the silly and superstitious multitude and to alienate them from the King as an enemy to Religion and Liberty For the Covenanters did not dissemble to him but spoke out that Scotland had been too long governed by Kings nor could it ever be well with them as long as one Stuart that 's the sirname of the Kings family in Scotland was alive and in the extirpation of them they were first to strike at the head so that Montrose easily perceived the Kings Majesty and Person was levelled at Therefore vehemently detesting so horrible a crime he resolved to desert the Conspirators side to frustrate their counsels to impoverish their store to weaken their strength and with all his might to preserve His Majesty and His Authority entire and inviolate But because between force and craft the Covenanters had drawn in almost all the Kingdom to their side he saw himself alone too weak to check their power and therefore thought not good to open himself too suddainly or rashly Amongst them he had many friends men very considerable as well in regard of their numerous retinues and clients as of their wealth and authority these he had a mind to draw off from them and bring them with him to the King and by this means conceived he should be able to gather no small power which would conduce much both to the Kings safety and his own Mean time the Covenanters raise a strong Army against the King and in a solemn Convention at Duns they determine to invade England Montrose was absent then Which resolution of theirs the chief of the Covenanters had taken up in their cabinet counsels more than six weeks before and to that purpose had been busie in divulging through all Great Britain their Apologetical Pamphlets whereby they laboured to set a good glosse upon the reasons of their Expedition This resolution of theirs Montrose being returned seeing he could not binder would not seem to disapprove Montrose commanded in this Army two thousand foot and five hundred horse his friends who were most obliged unto him and had religiously promised their best endeavours in the Kings service had the command of five thousand more And truly if a great part of them had not been worse than their words they had either brought the whole Army along with them to the King or at least had broken the neck of the Covenanters designs When the

Army came to the river of Tweed which is the border of the two Kingdomes dice were cast amongst the Noblemen and Commanders and it was Montrose's chance to passe first over the river which he cheerfully performed on his feet his own foot Souldiers following him that he might more easily conceal his own resolution and take off all occasion of suspition For as well his authority in the Army as the integrity of his noble spirit began to be looked on with a jealous eye by the guilty-conscienced Rebels so that they diligently observed all his behaviour words and deeds After this marching over the river of Tine four miles above Newcastle by the treachery of the English Commanders who had retreated to York with a potent Army of the Kings the Scots possesse themselves of that Town and thereupon Commissioners being appointed on either side to treat of a Peace a Truce was presently made In the time of this Truce Montrose had sent Letters unto the King professing his fidelity and most dutifull and ready obedience to his Majesty Nor did the Letters contain any thing else These being stoln away in the night and coppied out by the Kings own Bed-chambermen men most endeared to the King of all the world were sent back by them to the Covenanters at Newcastle and it was the fashion with those very men to communicate unto the Covenanters from day to day the Kings most secret counsels of which they themselves only were either authors or partakers And some of the forwarder sort of the Rebels were not ashamed to tax Montrose bitterly enough with those Letters and although they durst not make an open quarrel of it or call him publiquely to account because he was so powerfull and well-beloved in the Army yet they loaded him with backbitings and slanders among the people For they had obliged unto themselves most of the Preachers throughout the Kingdome whose mercenary tongues they made use of to wind and turn the minds of the people which way they would Nor did they promote their Rebellion more effectually any other way nor do yet than this to have those doughty Orators in their popular preachments to rail bittorly against the King and all his Loyal Subjects as the enemies of Christ as they love to speak being themselves the while the very shame and scandal of Christianity Montrose returning into Scotland and thinking of nothing but how to preserve his Majesty from that storm of Rebellion hanging over his head at last resolved of this course He joyns many of the prime men for Nobility and Power in a League with himself in which they vowed to defend the Kings Majesty and all his royal privileges and antient and lawful Prerogatives with the hazard of their lives and estates against all his enemies as well home-bred as forein unto the last breath in their bodies And truly it came to that passe that there had been an open division in the Army which was his aim had not some for fear levity or cowardise which are bad keepers of counsel betrayed the whole businesse to the Covenanters Hence arose no small stirs and brauls but were pacified again in a while for neither yet durst they offer any open violence to Montrose But afterward the confederates having given a new oath made sure the Army at their devotion and joyning themselves to the Parliament of England in a strict Covenant although they saw themselves secure enough from the subtilest designs of any private man yet they seriously consult how they should take Montrose out of the way whose heroick spirit being fixt on high and honourable howsoever difficult atchievements they could not endure To make their way therefore unto so villanous an act by the assistance of some Courtiers whom with gifts and promises they had corrupted they understood that the King had written Letters to Montrose and that they were quilted in the saddle of the bearer one Stuart belonging to the Earl of Traquair The bearer was scarce entered the borders of Scotland but they apprehended him rip his saddle and find the Letters There was nothing at all written in them which did not become the best of Kings to command the best of Subjects to obey Neverthelesse those most exact crafts-masters in the arts of Lying and Slandering sent about horrible and tragical reports by their apt Ministers that at last all the Kings plots with Montrose for the overthrow of Religion and the ruine of the Kingdome were found out and discovered Nor yet neither durst they afford him a publique tryal but on a suddain when he suspected nothing thrust him with Napier Lord of Marthiststen and Sir Sterling Keir Knight two both of his neer kindred and intimate familars into the castle of Edinburgh At length a Pacification being made between the people of both Kingdomes between whom there had been no War only they laid their heads together against their most just and gracious King a Parliament was called at Edinburgh where the King in person was present Montrose desires most earnestly to be tryed before the King and that solemn Assembly but to no purpose for the Covenanters being conscious enough of his innocency and their own guilt applyed their special endeavours to detain the Gentleman in prison unheard untill such time as the King was got out of Scotland and they had concluded all things with the King in Parliament according to their hearts desire And certainly they were much afraid lest by his wisdome and courage and the esteem he was in as well with his Peers of the Nobility as with the people he should have fetch'd off the greatest number of either sort to his own resolution for the preservation of his Majesties Power and Authority At last the King returning into England Montrose and his friends are set at liberty and because it was ordered in Parliament that he should not come into conference with the King he sat still a while at his own house This was towards the end of the year 1641. CHAP. II. IN the year 1642. the Covenanters of both Kingdomes began to unmask themselves and let us see more plainly what they meant to do The Rebels in England began to vex the King with unjust unreasonable unseasonable Petitions and Complaints bespatter him with malicious slanders prophane his sacred Name in scurrilous Songs and Ballads vilifie him in infamous Libels Pasquils or Pamphlets raise Tumults arm great numbers of the scum and rascally sort of the people and engage them upon the Kings palace in a word threaten all extremity to him and his whom although he might have justly punished himself yet he chose rather to refer them to the Parliament that he might the more oblige it unto himself But it was to no end for so gracious a King to gratifie that and many things more to so ungracious so ingrateful men who were the very Authors and Abettors of these villanies For he had already granted more and greater Graces to his Subjects for the

the right flank Sir James Scot the left and the Earl of Tullibardin the battel To the right and left flanks were added wings of horse with which they made no doubt on so fair a Plain to hem in the enemy Montrose perceiving the great body of the enemy and especially their strength in Horse for he had not so much as one Horse-man nor more than three lean horses and being carefull as it concerned him lest being incompassed with so great a number they should fall upon him in the Front Rear and Flank he caused his Army to be drawn out to as open order as could be possible and makes his files only three deep He commands the Ranks all to discharge at once those in the first Rank kneeling in the second stooping and in the hindmost where he placed the tallest men upright he chargeth them also to have a care of mis-pending their powder of which they had so small store and that they should not so much as make a shot till they came to the very teeth of their enemies and assoon as they had discharged their muskets once a piece immedidiately to break in upon the enemy with their swords and musket ends which if they did he was very confident the enemy would never endure the charge Montrose undertakes the Command of the right Flank over against Sir James Scot appoints the left to the Lord Kilpont and the main Battel to Mac-Donald with his Irish which was very providently ordered lest the Irish who were neither used to fight with long Pikes nor were furnished with swords if they had been placed on either flank should have been exposed to the fury of the Scotch-Horse Montrose had sent unto the Commanders of the enemy Drummond Son and Heir to the Lord Maderty a noble Gentleman and accomplished with That Montrose as well as the Kings Majesty from whom he had received his Commission was most lender of shedding his Countreys blood and had nothing more in his devotions than that his victories might be written without a red Letter And such a victory they might obtain as well as he if they should please but to have the honour to conquer themselves and before a stroke were struck to return unto their Allegiance That for his part he was covetous of no mans wealth ambitious of no mans honour envious of no mans preferment thirsty after no mans blood all that he desired was that in the name of God they would at length give ear to sound counsell and submit themselves and what belonged unto them unto the grace and protection of so good a King who as he had hitherto condescended unto all things either for matter of Religion or any thing else which they thought good to ask though to the exceeding great prejudice of his Prerogatives so still they might find him like an indulgent Father ready to embrace his penitent children in his arms although he had been provoked with unspeakable injuries But if they should continue still obstinate in their Rebellion he called God to witnesse that it was their own stubbornesse that forced him to the present encounter The Commanders of the enemies answered nothing at all to all this but against the Law of Nations sent the Messenger who out of meer love to his Countrey had undertaken the employment prisoner with a company of rude Souldiers unto Perth vowing assoon as they had got the victory to cut off his head But God was more mercifull to him and provided otherwise than they intended for the safety of that gallant man They were come within musket shot when the enemies under the Command of the Lord Drummand sent out a forlorne hope to provoke Montrose to a light skirmish he sends a few to meet them who at first onset disorder and rout them sending them back to their main body in no small fright Montrose thought now was his opportunity and that nothing could conduce more either to the encouragement of his own souldiers or the terrour of the enemy than immediatly to fall upon them as they were disordred and astonished with that fresh blow nor would he give them time to rally or recover courage therefore setting up a great shout he lets loose his whole Army upon them The enemy first at distance discharge their Ordnance which made more noise than they did harm afterwards marching forward their Horse labour to break in upon Montroses Souldiers those when their powder was spent and many of them had neither Pikes nor scarce Swords they stoutly entertain with such weapons as the place would afford good stones of which they poured in such numbers amongst them with so greatstrength and courage that they forced them to retreat and to trouble them no more For the Irish and Highlanders striving bravely whether should outvie the other in valour bore up so eagerly when they gave ground that at last they betook themselves to the nimblenesse of their Horses heels There was something more to do a little while longer in the right Flank Sir Iames Scot disputed some time for the higher ground but Montroses men being stronger bodied and especially swifter footmen obtained the Hill from thence the Athole men rushed down with their drawn swords upon the enemy and making little account of the musquetiers who sent their bullets amongst them as thick as hail closing with them as they lik'd best to fight they slash'd and beat them down At last the enemy not able to abide their fury fairly ran away Most of the Horse made so good speed as to save themselves but there was a great slaughter of the Foot whom they pursued for six or seaven miles There were conceived to be two thousand of the Covenanters slain and more were taken prisoners of whom some taking a Military Oath took up arms again with the Conquerour but perfidiously for almost all forsook him afterwards The rest taking a Solemn Protestation that they would never after bear arms against the King he set at liberty He took in Perth the same day without doing the least harm unto the City although most of the Citizens had fought against him in this battell thinking by so great clemency to turn the hearts of the people towards their King which was the only end to which he directed all his defigns CHAP. VI. HE staid three dayes at Perth for there he exected many in those parts to come in with their friends and clients armed who upon the noise of the late victory professed themselves most faithfull to the King but none came but the Earl of Kinowl with a few gentlemen of Gowry nor did they continue very constant unto him neither And by this time Argyle was at haud with a great Army of Foot of his own and supplies of Horse were joyned with him out of the South parts therefore Montrose passing over the Tay took up his Quarters in the field for other quarters he seldome had near Couper a little village in Angus where a famous Monastery once

first heat those that mann'd the places beat them off drave them away and slew them without resistance The Highlanders being animated with this happy success those that were next those places not expecting the word of Command ran rashly up the hill which lay open to the whole strength of the enemy Montrose although he was something troubled at the unseasonable boldnesse of his men yet thought it not good to leave them engaged nor was it easie to say whether the quickness of his relief or the cowardliness of the enemy conduc'd more to their safety Montrose had in all four thousand four hundred Foot and five hundred Horse a thousand of his Foot or more had now by their own fault so engaged themselves with the enemy that they could not come off for the enemy encounter'd them with six thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse But the enemies Rear came up but slowly and while the Van made a stand expecting their advance Montrose had opportunity to bring timely aid to his engaged men But at last they send out three troops of Horse and after them two thousand Foot against those rash and almost lost men of Montrose Which when Montrose saw after others had too dishonourably shifted off that service he thus bespeaks the Earle of Airley You see my noble Loid how yonder men of ours by their unadvisedness have brought themselves into a most desperate hazard and will presently be trampled to dirt by the enemies Horse except we relieve them with all speed Now all mens eyes and hearts are fixt upon your Lordship they think you only worthy so great an honour as to repell the enemy and bring off our fellow Souldiers Besides it seemes most proper for you that the errour which hath been committed by the fool hardinesse of youth may be corrected by your Lordships grave and discreet valour And he undertook the service as dangerous as it was with all his heart and being guarded with a troop of Horse in which rode John Ogilby of Baldeby who had formerly been a Collonel in Swethland a stout man and a skilfull souldier led them on straight upon the enemy And they giving the charge upon the Ogilbies disputed it sharply with them for a while but at last being no longer able to withstand their courage fac'd about whom the Ogilbies pursued so hotly that they made them fall foul upon their own Foot and charging them furiously thorow and thorow routed them and trode them under foot By this gallant example of Airley and the Ogilbies Montrose's Souldiers being enraged more and more could no longer be kept back from raising a great shout as if they had already got the day and falling on upon the enemy Nor would the Rebels Horse long abide their charge but deserting their Foot fell a running as ●ast as ever they could Nor did their Foot after they were so deserted stand it out long but throwing down their arms sought to save their lives by flight Which proved unserviceable for the victorious pursuers had the killing of them for fourteen miles So that of all the enemies Foot that were present at that battell it is thought there did not an hundred come off Nor did their Horse escape very well of whom some were killed some taken the rest disperst Their Ordnance their Arms their Spoils came clearly to the Conquerours who lost only six of their side whereof three were Ogilbies valiant Gentlemen who fighting like themselvs sealed the victory with their own bloud The rebellious sort of the Nobility of whom many were in the fight some of them by their timous running and swiftness of their Horses got to the Town and strong Castle of Sterling others escaping to the Scotish Fyrth shipt themselvs in some vessels that lay at anchor near the shoar amongst whom Argyle having now this third time been fortunate to a boat escaped into a ship and thought himself scarce safe enough so till weighing anchor he got into the main Or prisoners the chief were Sir William Murray of Blebo James Arnot brother to the Lord Burghley one Collonel Diee and Collonel Wallace besides many more whom Montrose after quarter given used courteously and upon the engagement of their Honours set at liberry And this is that famous victory of Kilsythe obtained on the 15 day of September 1645. in which it is beleev'd no fewer then six thousand Rebells were slain CHAP. XIV THere was a great alteration all the Kingdome over after this battell at Kilsythe those of the Rebell-Nobility were all of them sore affrighted some of them fled to Baywick some to Carlisle some to Newcastle others into Ireland And such as before only privately wisht well unto the King now did no longer fear to shew themselves to expresse their loyalty to pray openly for his prosperity and to offer their service But those that before had sided with the Covenanters began to ask forgivenesse to plead they were constrain'd to take up Arms by the violence and tyranny of the Rebells to submit their persons and estates to the Conquerour humbly to beseech his protection and to implore his wonted clemency And Cities and Countries that were furthest off began to dispatch their Commissioners to professe in their names their Allegiance to their King their duty and service to his Vicegerent and freely to offer him Men Arms Provision and other necessaries of War The Nobility of the Realm and the Chiefs of Septs came in thick unto the Lord Governour welcomed him tendred their service unto him extoll'd his high and honourable atchievements and thank'd him for them All whom he pardoned for what was past receiv'd them with liberty and indempnity into his protection and encouraged them to be of good chear Nor did he lay any greater burden upon them than to change that covetous and cruell slavery which they were manacled with by the Rebells for the sweet and gentle government and protection of a most gracious Prince and by laying aside all former grudges and fewds hereafter more religiously to observe their duty and loyalty to the good King and thence forward never more to have to doe with the counsells of seditious men who by endeavouring to satisfie their own ●usts had engaged King and Subject one against the other and upon the matter ruin'd both For his part he never had any other intention than to restore their Religion their King their Liberty his Peers and Countrymen by Arms when no other means was left out of the tyranny of Rebells unto their antient peace happinesse and glory Which if he should effect he would give Almighty God the authour of all good things everlasting praise but if he failed however he should by these his honest endeavours acquit himself before God and Gods Vicegerent his Majesty before all good men and his posterity his honour and his conscience At this time the whole Kingdome sounded nothing but Montrose's praise Men of all sorts every where extolling the ingenuity of his disposition in