The History of England Volume V

LVIII. Montrose's victories - The new model of the army - Battle of Naseby - Surrender of Bristol - The west conquered by Fairfax - Defeat of Montrose - Ecclesiastical affairs - King goes to the Scots at Newark - End of the war - King delivered up by the

HistEng5_451-500.indd 11 6/1/11 8:21 AM LVIII Montrose's victories- The new model of the army - Battle of Naseby - Surrender of Bristol - The west conquered by Fairfax Difeat of Montrose- Ecclesiastical affairs - King goes to the Scots at Newark - End of the war King delivered up by the Scots WHILE THE KING'S AFFAIRS declined in England, some events happened in Scotland, which seemed to promise him a more prosperous issue of the quarrel. Before the commencement of these civil disorders, the earl of Montrose, a young nobleman of a distinguished family, returning from his travels, had been introduced to the king, and had made an offer of his services; but by the insinuations of the marquess, afterwards duke of Hamilton, who possessed much of Charles's confidence, he had not been received with that distinction, to which he thought himselfjustly entitled." Disgusted with this treatment , he had forwarded all the violence of the covenanters; and agreeably to the natural ardour of his genius, he had employed himself, during the first Scottish insurrection, with great zeal as h Nalson, Intr. p. 63. Montrose's victories. HistEng5_451-500.indd 12 6/1/11 8:21 AM HISTORY OF ENGLAND well as success, in levying and conducting their armies. Being commissioned by the Tables to wait upon the king, while the royal army lay at Berwic, he was so gained by the civilities and caresses of that monarch, that he thenceforth devoted himself entirely, though secretly, to his service, and entered into a close correspondence with him. In the second insurrection, a great military command was entrusted to him by the covenanters; and he was the first that passed the Tweed, at the head of their troops, in the invasion of England. He found means, however, soon after to convey a letter to the king: And by the infidelity of some about that prince; Hamilton, as was suspected; a copy of this letter was sent to Leven, the Scottish general. Being accused of treachery, and a correspondence with the enemy; Montrose openly avowed the letter; and asked the generals, if they dared to call their sovereign an enemy: And by this bold and magnanimous behaviour, he escaped the danger of an immediate prosecution. As he was now fully known to be of the royal party, he no longer concealed his principles; and he endeavoured to draw those, who had entertained like sentiments , into a bond of association for his master's service. Though thrown into prison for this enterprize/ and detained some time, he was not discouraged; but still continued, by his countenance and protection, to infuse spirit into the distressed royalists. Among other persons of distinction, who united themselves to him, was lord Napier of Merchiston, son of the famous inventor of the logarithms, the person to whom the title of a GREAT MAN is more justly due, than to any other, whom his country ever produced. There was in Scotland another party, who, professing equal attachment to the king's service, pretended only to differ with Montrose about the means of attaining the same end; and of that party, duke Hamilton was the leader. This nobleman had cause to be extremely devoted to the king, not only by reason of the connexion of blood, which united him to the royal family; but on account of the great confidence and favour, with which he had ever been honoured by his master. Being accused by lord Rae, not i It is not improper to take notice of a mistake committed by Clarendon, much to the disadvantage of this gallant nobleman; that he offered the king, when his majesty was in Scotland, to assassinate Argyle. All the time the king was in Scotland, Montrose was confined to prison. Rush. vol. vi. p. g8o. HistEng5_451-500.indd 13 6/1/11 8:21 AM CHAPTER LVIII without some appearance or probability, of a conspiracy against the king; Charles was so far from harbouring suspicion against him, that, the very first time Hamilton came to the court, he received him into his bedchamber, and passed alone the night with him! But such was the duke's unhappy fate or conduct, that he escaped not the imputation of treachery to his friend and sovereign ; and though he at last sacrificed his life in the king's service, his integrity and sincerity have not been thought by historians entirely free from...