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stating that he anxiously desired peace, and promised that, upon demonstrations of obedience, his majesty was ready to grant their reasonable petitions. He, however, commanded their army not to come within ten miles of the royal standard, as their nearer approach would be construed into a declaration of their intention to invade the king's person and the realm of England. But general Leslie advanced his head quarters to Dunse, on the 31st of May, and encamped on the southern slope of a small conical hill called Dunse-Law, where law and justice used to be dispensed. In this advantageous position he was not more than seven miles distant from the royal camp, and of course had infringed the king's proclamation, and must be held as intending "to invade the king's person and the kingdom of England." In fact, it was partly to prevent an invasion of the kingdom of England that the king had drawn his small army to the borders; and in justification of his own proceedings, he said, "They go about to persuade our good subjects that we intend an invasion of that our kingdom but they must have a great power over the faith of such as they can make believe that a king would invade his own kingdom! Invasions made by princes of other princes' dominions have been usual; but for a prince to invade his own kingdom is a prodigious untruth. But they tell our people that we are coming thither attended with English troops: we wonder if they should be afraid of them whom our people in their pulpits and elsewhere have been made believe were all of their own party, and would take arms with them in their defence against us. But the truth is, these English troops go along to secure their own kingdom of England from invasion by them which they have so frequently threatened; and if, for the securing of our person, they should offer themselves to be our guard wheresoever we go, what do they else but shew themselves to be true and loyal subjects, and lay an obligation on us to continue in our breast that full assurance o. their loyalty and fidelity towards us, of which we have always, by unanswerable demonstrations, been fully persuaded; as also upbraid the disloyalty of many of our subjects of that our native kingdom, amongst whom they are loath to trust us without offering their persons to be our guard?1"

The earl of Holland was despatched with a division of the army, consisting of 3000 horse and 2000 infantry, with some artillery, to assault the Scots; but the Covenanters presented such a good front, and their numbers besides being so much.

1 Large Declaration, 421, 422.

superior, his lordship did not think it prudent to attack them, and he therefore drew off his men, and retreated to the royal camp. In the meantime, the marquis of Hamilton, who might have made a powerful diversion in the rear of the rebels, lay quietly in Leith Roads, without landing the division of the army which was on board his fleet, or giving them the slightest disturbance. But the suspicion of treachery is strongly allied to this nobleman's name. He was in communication with the Tables, and had a secret interview with the insurgent chief, the lord Loudon, at midnight, a little below Queensferry, where his neutrality, if not his active co-operation, was secured. Lord Holland's retreat served the Covenanters as effectually as if they had gained a victory; yet, from the secret information which their chiefs received from the traitors in the royal camp, they discovered the king's weakness, and above all his private intention to avoid bloodshed if possible. Both armies remained inactive till the 6th of June, when the earl of Dumfermline arrived at the royal camp with the following petition. "The Scots," says Clarendon," from the beginning, practised a new sturdy style of address, in which, under the license of accusing the counsel and carriage of others, whom yet they never named, they bitterly and insolently reproached the most immediate actions and directions of his majesty himself; and then made the greatest professions of duty to his majesty's person that could be invented. The king had not at that time one person about him of his council who had the least consideration of his honour, or friendship for those who sat at the helm of affairs, the duke of Lennox only excepted2." Besides, the rebel army was superior not only in numbers but in the quality of their officers, and reckoned more than 24,000 men, horse and foot; whereas there were not 20,000 men present with the royal standard. "It was, therefore," says Stevenson, "the business of the English to endeavour by all means to avoid deciding the quarrel by arms; the loss of a battle would have sunk the king's credit exceedingly 3." "To the king's most excellent majesty,

"The humble petition of his majesty's subjects of Scot land, humbly sheweth, that whereas the former means used by us hath not been effectual for recovering your majesty' favour, and the peace of this your majesty's kingdom, we fall down again at your majesty's feet, most humbly supplicating

1 Clarendon's Rebellion, i. 193.-Stevenson's Church and State, 372, 373.Nalson's Impartial Collection, p. 231. 3 Church and State, n. 375

Hist. of the Rebellion, i. 199.

that your majesty would be graciously pleased to appoint some few of your majesty's many worthy men of your majesty's kingdom of England, who are well affected to the true religion and common peace, to hear by some of us of the same affection, of our humble desires; and to make known to us your majesty's gracious pleasure; that as, by the providence of God, we are here joined in one island and one king, so, by your majesty's great wisdom and tender care, all mistaking may be speedily removed, and the two kingdoms may be kept in peace and happiness under your majesty's long and prosperous reign; for the which we shall never cease, as becomes your majesty's faithful subjects, daily to pray for your majesty's long and happy reign over us1."

This petition was graciously received, and the earl of Dumfermline was sent back with a safe conduct under the royal sign manual, for the earl of Rothes, the lord Loudon, and sir William Douglass of Cavers, to meet with the royal commissioners in the earl of Arundel's tent. His majesty having considered the petition, directed Mr. Secretary Cook to return the following benevolent answer:-"That whereas his majesty hath published a gracious proclamation to all the subjects of Scotland, whereby he hath given them full assurance of the free enjoying both of the religion and laws of that kingdom, as also a free pardon upon their humble and dutiful obedience; which proclamation hath been hitherto hindered to be published to most of his majesty's subjects; therefore his ma jesty requireth, for the full information and satisfaction of them, that the said proclamation be publicly read. That being done, his majesty will be graciously pleased to hear any humble supplication of his subjects."

Sir Edmund Verney was despatched to the rebel camp to see that this proclamation was really and properly read; and having reported that it was legally read in their camp, the earl of Dumfermline returned with him to the royal camp, and was the bearer of a petition beseeching his majesty to vouchsafe them a favourable answer; and Mr. Secretary Cook replied, "His majesty having understood of the obedience of the petitioners in reading his proclamation as was commanded them, is graciously pleased so far to condescend unto their petition as to admit some of them to repair to his majesty's camp on Monday next, at eight of the clock in the morning, at the lord general's tent; where they shall find six persons of honour and trust, appointed by his majesty, to hear their desires."

Balfour's Annals, ii. 325.

These met on the 11th of June, in Arundel's tent, with the duke of Richmond, the marquis of Hamilton, the earls of Arundel, Holland, and Essex, with sir Henry Vane and sir Joseph Cook; but the principal business of that day was a sumptuous dinner, at which the earl of Arundel entertained the commissioners. The king came suddenly into the tent, and having taken his seat, told the Covenanters that he had heard they complained that they could not be heard, and he had therefore now come in person to hear their complaints. Lord Rothes made the most vehement protestations of loyalty, and the lord Loudon began to apologise for their former actions; but the king cut him short by saying, that if they came to sue for grace, they should set down their desires in writing, and they should have a written answer. They accordingly withdrew, and returned with a long paper; but for which the following brief memorandum was afterwards substituted :"Memorandum, 1. That our desires are only the enjoying of our religion and liberties, according to the ecclesiastical and civil laws of his majesty's kingdom. 2. To clear by sufficient grounds that the particulars are such, we shall not insist to crave any point which is not so warranted. And we humbly offer all civil and temporal obedience to your majesty which can be required or expected of loyal subjects.

(Signed)

"LOUDON1."

On the 13th, when they met again, the Covenanter commissioners were accompanied by Mr. Henderson the moderator, and Johnston the clerk of the late Assembly. It is somewhat singular, that Henderson, who had objected to the bishops for having engaged in secular affairs, should thus engage himself in both a military and a political occupation; both of which were unbecoming his profession and station. The king condescended to appear again personally at the second meeting; when the commissioners had the honour of kissing hands, and of being again hospitably entertained by the English general. The king caused Secretary Cook to read and deliver the following answer to the paper left by the covenanting lords the previous day" That if their desires be only the enjoying of their religion and liberties, according to the ecclesiastical and civil laws of his majesty's kingdom of Scotland, his majesty doth not only agree to the same, but shall always protect them to the uttermost of his power: and if they shall not insist upon any thing but that is so warranted, his majesty will most willingly and readily condescend thereunto: so that in

1 Nalson's Collection, 233-238.

the meantime they pay unto him that civil and temporal obedience which can be justly required and expected of loyal subjects." On the third and last meeting, which was Monday, the 19th of June, the following articles were agreed to, and signed by the king, and also by the commissioners :

on

1. The forces of Scotland to be disbanded and discharged within twenty-four hours after the publication of his majesty's declaration, now agreed upon. 2. His majesty's castles, forts, and ammunition of all sorts, and royal honours, to be delivered after the publication, so soon as his majesty can send to receive thein. 3. His majesty's ships to depart presently after the delivery of the castles with the first fair wind, and in the meantime no interruption of trade or fishing. 4. His majesty is graciously pleased to cause to be restored all persons, goods, and ships, detained or arrested since the first of December last past. 5. There shall be no meetings, treaties, consultations, or convocations, of our lieges, but such as are warrantable by acts of parliament. 6. All fortifications to desist, and no further working thereon, and they be remitted to his majesty's pleasure. 7. To restore to every one of our good subjects their liberties, houses, lands, goods, and means whatsoever, taken and detained from them by whatsoever means, since the foresaid time. 8. The Assembly to be indicted to the 6th of August, and parliament to begin the 20th of the same month 1.

Although Balfour says the marquis of Hamilton was present, yet lord Clarendon affirms he arrived some hours after the treaty was signed; which, he says, "was very convenient to him; for thereby he was free from the reproach that attended it, and at liberty to find fault with it; and which he did freely to the king and some others, whereby he preserved himself in credit, to do more mischief2." Next day the royal army was disbanded. The king kept his court at Berwick until the middle of July, but sent the earl of Traquair to Edinburgh, to prepare for the ensuing parliament and Assembly, at both of which the king himself proposed to be present. The Lyon-king-at-arms was sent into the Covenanters' camp with a proclamation, in which it was stated, that "although the king could not ratify the acts of the pretended Assembly at Glasgow.... yet such is our gracious pleasure..

we are

pleased not only to confirm and make good whatever our commissioner hath granted and promised in our name, but also...

Balfour's Annals, ii. 327, 328.-Nalson's Collections, 234-236. 2 History of Rebellion, i. 202.

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