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
either fear or wit But beyond all these in my opinion was that device of the Marquesses who at Alderne being in a great strait one wing of his Armie being routed and the other in a very staâ—gering condition he did so incense that which was yet whole with the feigned success of the other that valiantly charged the enemie and put the business again in an even ballance And very like was it to that device of Tullas Postilius who being deserted by Metius King of the Albans told his souldiers he had don 't of purpose to try them and by that means turn'd their fear into indignation he was exceeding constant and affable to those that did adhere to him and to those he knew very affable though his carriage which indeed was not ordinarie did make him seem proud Nor can his enemies lay any greater fault to his charge than this insatiable desire of honour which he did pursue with as handsome and heroick action as ever any did and such as had neither admiration of avarice or self ends though he was therewith by some most unworthily branded For these and the like vertues of which he was the rich possessour he was lamented all Christendome over by all sorts of men and since his death too by those who had the greatest hand in 't though their success at that time did animate their cruelty Nescia mens hominum fati sortisque futurae Et servere modum rebus sublata secundi The Speech of Collonel William Sybbald intended by him to have been spoken on the Scaffold at time of his Execution at Edenborough Jan. 7. 1650. but hearing that libertie would not be given him to speak so freely he gave a Copie of it to a speciall friend GEntlemen I am brought this day to this place to pay a debt to Nature before it be due and by the malice and crueltie of my mercilesse enemies I am sentenced to die as a Traytor to my Country for endeavouring to doe service for my King on whose happiness and well-fare does depend the welfare of these Kingdoms to whom I am bound both by the Law of God and man to perform all faithfull and loyall service And as the Cause for which I suffer proclames my loyaltie so their Sentence does declare to all the world their disloyaltie and their intentions against their King Their self-guiltiness makes cowardly spirits cruell and such was their proceedings against me as that I could not obtain an Advocate to plead for me nor any man skilfull in the Laws either to advise with me or to write my Defence though they knew me to be ignorant of the Laws Thus is my innocencie and integritie betrayed partly by their malice and my own ignorance The truth is they did proffer to doe me any courtesie or favour if I would make an ingenuous confession that is accuse some Noblemen and gentlemen of keeping correspondencie with his Majestie or with the Marquesse of Montrose which if I had done I deserved to have been branded with perpetuall infamie for I never knew any man in this Kingdome that did keep correspondencie with them neither had I Commission from his Majestie or the Marquesse of Montrose to treat with any I did indeed speak with some Noblemen and Gentlemen because I was formerly oblieged 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 Bayliffe 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 sinne than in any private Calling Besides naturally my youth led me to some abominable sins and custome 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 â—esus Christ will purge cleanse my soul from all uncleanness and deliver me from all blood guiltiness 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 the courage I have to suffer gives me some assurance of this blessed hope that through faith in Christ Iesus my Saviour my penitent soul though sinfull 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 contradictorie for in the year 1639. the Assemblie did affirm as appears by our Acts of Parliament and Assemblie that in all Causes whatsoever you were to defend and maintain the Person and dignitie of your King but in the year 1644. you limit your abedience to your King to your Religion Laws and Libertie and make your selves in all differences between the King and you both Judge and Partie 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 his worship or men partakers with my Redeemer in the work of my Redemption or that made our Christian libertie a cloak of maliciousnesse and though naturally I inclined to evill and wicked companie drew me to most hainous and filthy sins yet I thank God I hated that Religion that taught impietie and wickedness Rebellion murther and injustice or that approved the killing of Kings and their loyall Subjects for their loyaltie as having its originall rather from the Devill who was a murtherer from the beginning than from God and I did ever esteem it more agreeable to mans sinfull and corrupted nature than to Gods holy Word I have heard a learned man say that it were better to denie 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 crueltie and murther the God whom we serve and worship is the Saviour of the world the preserver 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 wickedness neither shall any evill dwell with him undoubtedly such bloody Sacrifices cannot be pleasing or acceptable to him for they are repugnant to his nature and contradictorie to the justice and equitie of his holy Law It is my greatest grief at this time that I did not walk according to the puritie of my Religion and the holiness 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 thorough 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 mercifull Father forgive my Enemies and lay not this sin to their charge Amen FINIS
might well imagine that these men who by the same devises laboured to render his Majestie 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 rayling humour bespatter as much as in them lay this most excellent man and all his honourable atchievements and as it is said of Wasps poyson with their tongues or pens the juice of most sweet and wholsome flowers and leave the lesse knowing or lesse wary to suck it up He was therefore pleased to offer this short and faithfull Narrative as a seasonable antidote against that evill to all that loved truth and plain dealing of which he would needs be so obstinate a maintainer that although he saw well enough how much envie and hatred it would derive upon himself hee resolved he would neither basely slatter any one nor lap up that truth which they would not like to bear in obscure and doubtfull Expressions For hee 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 Jail 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 The Affairs of the King in Scotland under the Conduct of the most Honourable James Marquesse of Montrose Earl of Kinkardin c. And Generall Governour for his Majesty in that Kingdome In the Years 1644 1645 1646. 49 50. SOmetime James Marquesse of Montrose sided with the Covenanters in Scotland and very forwardiy bestowed his unhappily happy endeavours in their behoof They pretended to nothing then lesse than the preservation of Religion the Honour and Dignitie of the King the Lawes 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 blood with the lives and estates of their Ancestors 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 enslaved under the power of their old enemies Yet all this while they engaged themselves by their publike attestations and even a solemn Oath that they would never goe to work by force and arms 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 enemie to Religion and Libertie 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 Majestie and Person was levelled at Therefore vehemently detesting so horrible a crime he resolved to desert the Conspirators side to frustrate their counsells 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 Kingdome to their side he saw himself alone too weak to check their power and therefore thought not good to open himself too suddenly 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 authoritie these he had a mind to draw oft 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 safetie 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 Apologeticall Pamphlets whereby they laboured to set a good glosse upon the reasons of their Expedition This resolution of theirs Montrose being returned seeing hee could hinder 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 feer 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 eie by the guilty-conscienced Rebells 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 treacherie of the English Commanders who had retreated to York with a potent Army of the Kings the Scors 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 copied out by the Kings own Bed-chamber-men 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 quarrell of it or call him publiquely to account because he was so powerfull and welbeloved 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 doe yet than this to have those doughty Oratours in their popular preachments to rail bitterly against the King and all his Loyall Subjects as the enemies of Christ as they love to speak being themselves the while the very shame and scandall of Christianity Montrose returning into Scotland and thinking of nothing but how to preserve his Majestie 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 Royall Privileges and antient and lawfull Prerogatives with the hazard of their lives and estates against all his enemies as well home-bred as forraign 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 cowardife which are bad keepers of counsell 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 subtlest 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 at chievements 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 apprehend 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 set about horrible and tragicall 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 publike tryall but on a sudden when he suspected nothing thrust him with Napier Lord of Marchiston and Sir Sterling Keer Knight two both of his neer kindred and intimate familiars 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 speciall endeavours to detain the Gentlemen in prison unheard untill such time as the King was gone 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 awhile at hâ—s 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 doe 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 Libells Pasquills 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 ingratefull 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 ease of their grievances which they pretended and the security of their persons and estates than all his Ancestors the Kings of England together from William the Conquerour downward Therefore at last that he might withdraw himself and his family from present danger he is forced sore against his mind to depart London He sends the Queen out of the way into Holland for the safety of her life and betakes himself to York The States of Parliament as they call themselves forthwith and before the King take up arms and divert those very Forces which the King had appointed for Ireland which were then in a readiness and whose Officers had been of the Parliaments choosing hoping by them to overthrow the King himself The Rebells in Scotland who knew well enough the King would have strength sufficient to deal with the English Rebells resolved upon no termes to be wanting to their confederates in so apparent danger as they were And although our most gracious King had given them satisfaction as much as ever they could desirâ— in that Parliament at Edinburgh aforesaid
Muskets once apiece immediatly 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 Scos appoints the left to the Lord Kilpont and the main Battell to Mac-donell 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 all kind of vertues who declared in his name That Montrose as well as the Kings Majesty from whom he had received his Commission was most tender 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 hee was covetous of no mans wealth ambitious of no mans honour envious at no mans preferment thirsty after no mans bloud all that he desired was that in the name of God they would at length give eare 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 indulgant 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 hee called God to witnesse that it was their own stubbornnesse 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 Drummond sent out a forlorn hope to provoke Montrose to a light skirmish he sends a few to meet them who at the first on set 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 disordered 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 Montrose's Souldiers those when their powder was spent and many of them had neither Pikes or scarce Swords they stoutly entertain with such weapons as the place would afford good stones of which they poâ—red in such numbers amongst them with so great strength and courage that they foâ—ced 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 â—o eagerly when they gave ground that at last they betook themselves to the nimblenesse of their Horses heels There was something more to doe a little while longer in the right Flank Sir James Scot disputed sometime for the higher ground but Montrose's men being stronger bodied and especially swifter foot men 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 sury 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 seven 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 Hee took in Perth the same day without doing the least harm unto the Ciry 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 designs Chap. VI. HE staid three dayes at Perth for there he expected 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 Kinoule with a few gentlemen of Gawry nor did they continue very constant unto him neither And by this time Argyle was at hand 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 neer Couper a little village in Angus where a famous Monastery once stood but now lies on the ground Here a brave young gentleman Sir Thomas Ogleby Son to the Earl of Arley with others of the Gentry of Angus met him and readily offered him their service whom he courteously entertained and sent them away with thanks they pretending they only went to fit themselves for a march neverthelesse few of them returned besides the Oglebies Next morning by break of day before the Revellier was beat there was a great tumult in the Camp the Souldiers ran to their arms and fell to be wild and raging Montrose ghessing that it was some falling out between the Highlanders and the Irish thrust himself in amongst the thickest of them there he finds a most horrible murther newly committed for the noble Lord Kilpontin lay there basely slain The murtherer was a retainer of his own one Stuart whom he had treated with much friendship and familiarity in so much that that same night they lay both in a bed It is reported that the base slave had a plot to dispatch Montrose and
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 armes by the violence and tyranny of the Rebells to submit their persons and estates to the Conquerour humbly to beseech his protection and 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't 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 Rebels 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 lusts 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 Armes when no other means was left out of the tyranny of Rebels 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 Kingdom sounded nothing but Montrose's praise Men of all sorts every where extolling the ingenuity of his disposition in which he out went all his Equalls the gallantry of his person in Warre his patience in travels his evennesse of spirit in dangers his wisdome in counsels his faithfulnesse to such as submitted his quicknesse in dispatches his courtesie to such as he took prisoners in a word his truly heroick vertue in all things and towards all men And this honour most men gave him in good carnest and out of a sincere affection but some in craft and dissimulation and as every one had wit or skil they set forth his Encomiums or Panegyricks in Vetse or Prose Yea such is the volubility or humane things and the inconstancy of the whirling multitude that they were not affraid openly to curse and rail at the ringleaders and prime men of the Covenanters Faction such as Argyle Lindsey Loudon and other whom a while agoe they honoured and adored for Saints as authors of all the mischiefs that had befaln them All things going on thus happily the Northern parts of the Kingdome being secured on his back the way being opened unto him into the South the power of the Rebells every where quash'd their chief leaders who in conscience of their guilt despaired of mercy driven out of the Kingdome and no considerable party remaining in armes yet in the West there were some stirres For the Earls of Cassils and Eglington and some other promoters of the Covenanters Cause laboured to engage the Countries in a new War and were said to have rais'd in a tumultuary way the number of four thousand men Therefore Montrose the next day after the battell of Kilsythe drew his men into Cluidsdale from whence the Earle of Lancrick being struck with the news of their late overthrow disbanding those men that he had rais'd was fled Montrose chose that quarter as lying most commodiously for his affaires in the South and West and matched to Glascow which is the principall city of that Countrey He receiv'd the Town into his protection and entring into it with the joyfull acclamations of the people first of all he restrained his souldiers from plunder and then being severe against the delinquents for the terrour of others he put some of the chiefest incendiaries of them to death After that in favour of the Citizens the next day after he came he departed the Town and quartered at Bothwell Where because it was but six miles from the City lest the Citizens should be prejudiced by the insolence of the souldiers he gave them leave to stand upon their guard and defend the City with a Garrison of the inhabitants Hoping with such acts of clemency to engage not only the men of Glascow unto himself but the inhabitants of other Cities also by good offices more than by force and armes At Boihwell he stand many dayes where he received the personall addresses of some of the Nobility and of others by their Trustees Friends and Messengers and setled the peace of Towns and Countries thereabouts who all willingly submitted themselves The chief of the inhabitants of those parts who came to wellcome him and offer their service were the Marquesse of Douglasse a man of a most noble family and chief of the Douglasses the Earls of Limmuck Annandale and Hortfield the Lord Barons of Seton Drummond Fleming Maderty Carnegy and Jonston Hamelton of Orbeston Charter of Hempssield Toures of Innerleigh a most deserving man who afterwards lost his life gallantly in battell Stuart of Resyth Dalyel a brother of the Earle of carnwarth Knights and many more whose names I can either not rightly call to mind or else think sit to forbear at present lest by giving them an unseasonable and thanklesse commendation now whiles they lie under intolerable tyranny I should doc them more harm than honour After the victory of Kilsythe no thoughts had higher place in Montrose's noble breast than the enlargement of such prisoners as for no other fault but the sin of Loyalty had been most basely used and still expected death in the grievous and filthy gaole of Edinburgh Therefore he sends his nephew Napier with Collonel Nathaniel Gordon and a commanded party of Horse to Edinburgh to summon the City and receive it upon surrender to sot the prisoners at liberty and to settle the Town in peace and loyalty but in case they stood out and refused to submit to threaten them with fire and sword They assoon as they came within four miles of the Town made a stand and intended to come no nearer unlesse they chanced to be forced unto it by the obstinacy of the Citizens as well that at that distance they might the more easily
and the Law of Nature and Nations and I have not sinned against man but against God and with him there is Mercie 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 Dutit by obeying my Princes most just Commands for Religion His Sacred Person and Authoritie Yet I am sorry they did Excommunicate me and in that which is according to Gods Lawes without wronging my conscience or Allegeance I desire to be relaxed if they will not thus 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 Saviour It is spoken of me that I should blame the King God forbid For the late King he lived a Saint and died a Martyr I pray God I may so end as He did If ever I would wish my soul in another mans stead it should be in his For his Majestie 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 doe 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 goe to Heavens throue with joy If He enable me against the fear of Death and furnish me with courage and confidence to embrace 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 Name and Charity to you all And thus briefly 〈◊〉 have exonerated my Conscience Being desired to pray apart He said I have already powred out my soule 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 cal'd for the Executioner and gave him money then having brought unto him hanging in a cord his Declaration and Historie he hanged them about his neck saying Though it hath pleased His Sacred Majestie that now is to make him one of the Knights of the most Honourable Order of the Garter yet he did not think himself more Honoured by the Garter than by that cord with the Books which he would embrace about his neck with as much joy and content as ever he did the Garter or a chain of gold and therefore desired them to be tied unto him as they pleased When this was done and his arms tied he asked the Officers If they had any more Dishonour as they conceived it to put upon him he was ready to accept it And so with an Undaunted Courage and Gravitie suffered according to the Sentence past upon him THe death of the noble Marquesse was not bewailed as a private losse but rather as a publique calamitie The greatest Princes in Europe expressed no small sorrow for his unhappy end And indeed wee have not had in this latter Age a man of more eminent parts either of body or of mind He was a man not very tall nor much exceeding a middle stature but of exceeding strong composition of body and incredible force with excellent proportion and feature Dark brown hayr'd sanguine complexion a swist and piercing gray eye with a high nose somewhat like the antient signe of the Persian Kings Magnanimitie He was of a most resolute and undaunted spirit which began to appear in him to the wonder and expectation of all men even in his childhood Whom would it not have startled to attempt as he did at his first entrie into Scotland a journey wherein he could not almost escape discovery all passes being so layd for him but even when he was known and almost made publike he proceeded in his intention He was a man of a very Princely courage and excellent addresses which made him for the most part be us'd by all Princes with extraordinarie familiaritie A compleat Horseman and had a singular grace in ryding Nor is it lesse wonderfull how in so great scarcity of all things when warre in that Country is but tedious with the greatest plentie it can afford he could patiently endure so much distresse Nor is it lesse to be wondred at how he could win so much upon those Irish who had no tye to him either of Countrie Language or Religion as he did More especially when they wanted not all manner of temptation that either their own miseries and intollerable duty could suggest or the wit and sagacitie of the enemie could invent to make them leave him and abandon the service Besides the many examples shown upon them and their continuall want of Pay either of which accidents in an Armie is ground enough and has been many times the occasion of mutiny and desertion Nor had he only an excellent and mature judgement for providing and forecasting of businesse but a prompt and readie spirit likewise in matters of present dange and sudden caramitie and these things which might have confused another mans understanding as such sudden chances often doe were a whetting to his wit There are many stratagems in severall Histories related which in the heat of action have been put in practice for the regaining of a day already lost or in danger to be so As that of Jugurtha a politick and valiant Prince who in the heat of a battell betwixt him and Marius the Roman Consull rode up and down in the head of the Armie showing his bloudie sword and affirming that he had slain Marius with his own hand which word did so encourage the Numedians and amaze the Romans that had not Marius in time appeared that day had been in hazard It is likewise reported of one of the Roman Captains that he flung his Standard amongst the middle of the enemie that his own souldiers by pressing forward to rescue it might break and disorder the enemie Likewise of another that took the bridles off the horse-heads that every man might be alike valiant and charge as we say without