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on the head; and no inquiry could discover the ma- BOOK lefactors.

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sent a com

the earl of

Many expresses were sent to the king, as well 1655. from those who were prisoners in England, as from some lords who were at liberty in Scotland, "that "Middleton might be sent into the Highlands with "his majesty's commission;" and in the mean time the earl of Glencarne, a gallant gentleman, offered, if he were authorized by the king, to draw a body of horse and foot together in the Highlands, and infest the enemy, and be ready to submit to Middleton, as soon as he should arrive there with a supply of arms and ammunition. Accordingly the king The king had sent a commission to the earl of Glencarne; mission to who behaved himself very worthily, and gave Monk Glencarne. some trouble. But he pressing very earnestly, that Middleton might be sent over to compose some animosities and emulations, which were growing up to the breaking off that union, without which nothing could succeed, his majesty, about the time that the earl of Rochester was despatched for Ratisbon, sent likewise Middleton into Scotland, with some few And Midofficers of that nation, and such a poor supply of sent into arms and ammunition, as, by the activity and in- Scotland. dustry of Middleton, could be got upon the credit and contribution of some merchants and officers in Holland of that nation, who were willing to redeem their country from the slavery it was in. With this very slender assistance he transported himself in the winter into the Highlands; where, to welcome him, he found the few, whom he looked to find in arms, more broken with faction amongst themselves than by the enemy; nor was he able to reconcile them. But after Glencarne had delivered his thin unarmed

,dleton is

1

BOOK troops to Middleton, and condescended to fight a XIV. duel with an inferior officer, who provoked him to it 1655. after he was out of his command, whether he was

retires to

his own house; and

troubled to have another command over him, who, upon the matter, had no other men to command but what were raised by him, though he had exceedingly pressed Middleton's being sent over to that purpose, or whether convinced with the impossiGlencarne bility of the attempt, he retired first to his own house, and then made his peace with Monk, that he makes his might live quietly, and retained still his affection and fidelity to the king; which he made manifest afterwards in a more favourable conjuncture: and at the same time he excused himself to the king, for giving over an enterprise which he was not able to prosecute, though Middleton sustained it a full year afterwards.

peace with

Monk.

The truth is, the two persons who were most concerned in that expedition had no degree of hope that it would be attended with any success; the king, and Middleton; who had both seen an army of that people, well provided with all things necessary, not able to do any thing where they fought upon terms more advantageous. And how could those now, drawn together by chance, half armed and undisciplined, be able to contend with victorious troops, which wanted nothing, and would hardly part with what they had got? But his majesty could not refuse to give them leave to attempt what they believed they could go through with; and Middleton, who had promised them to come to them, when he was assured he should be enabled to carry over with him two thousand men, and good store of arms, thought himself obliged to venture his life with

XIV.

them who expected him, though he could carry no BOOK more with him than is mentioned; and by his behaviour there, notwithstanding all discouragements, he 1655. manifested how much he would have done, if others had performed half their promises.

It will not be amiss in this place to mention an adventure that was made during his being in the Highlands, which deserves to be recorded for the honour of the undertakers. There was attending upon the king a young gentleman, one Mr. Wogan, a very handsome k person, of the age of three or four and twenty. This gentleman had, when he was a youth of fifteen or sixteen years, been, by the corruption of some of his nearest friends, engaged in the parliament service against the king; where the eminency of his courage made him so much taken notice of, that he was of general estimation, and beloved by all; but so much in the friendship of Ireton, under whom he had the command of a troop of horse, that no man was so much in credit with him. By the time of the murder of the king he was so much improved in age and understanding, that, by that horrible and impious murder, and by the information and advice of sober men in his conversation, he grew into so great a detestation of all that people, that he thought of nothing but to repair his own reputation, by taking vengeance of those who had cozened and misled him: and in order thereunto, as soon as the marquis of Ormond resumed the government of Ireland again for the king, (which was the only place then where any arms were borne for his majesty,) captain Wogan

khandsome] beautiful

BOOK repaired thither to him through Scotland; and beXIV. haved himself with such signal valour, that the mar1655. quis of Ormond gave him the command of his own

guards, and every man the testimony of deserving it. He came over with the marquis into France; and, being restless to be in action, no sooner heard of Middleton's being arrived in Scotland, than he resolved to find himself with him; and immediately asked the king's leave not only for himself, but for as many of the young men about the court as he could persuade to go with him; declaring to his majesty, "that he resolved to pass through Eng"land." The king, who had much grace for him, dissuaded him from the undertaking, for the difficulty and danger of it, and denied to give him leave. But neither his majesty, nor the marquis of Ormond, could divert him; and his importunity continuing, he was left to follow his inclinations: and there was no news so much talked of in the court, as that captain Wogan would go into England, and from thence march into Scotland to general Middleton; and many young gentlemen, and others, who were in Paris, listed themselves with him for the expedition. He went then to the chancellor of the exchequer; who, during the time of the king's stay in France, executed the office of secretary of state, to desire the despatch of such passes, letters, and commissions, as were necessary for the affair he had in hand. The chancellor had much kindness for him, and having heard of his design by the common talk of the court, and from the free1 discourses of some of those who resolved to go with him, represented "the danger

1 free] loose

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of the enterprise to himself, and the dishonour BOOK "that would reflect upon the king, for suffering "men under his pass, and with his commission, to 1655. expose themselves to inevitable ruin: that it was

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now the discourse of the town, and would without "doubt be known in England and to Cromwell, be"fore he and his friends could get thither, so that "it was likely m they would be apprehended the "first minute they set their foot on shore; and "how much his own particular person was more " liable to danger than other men's he knew well;" and, upon the whole matter, very earnestly" dissuaded him from proceeding farther.

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He answered most of the particular considerations with contempt of the danger, and confidence of going through with it, but with no kind of reason (a talent that did not then abound in him) to make it appear probable. Whereupon the chancellor expressly refused to make his despatches, till he could speak with the king; "with whom," he said, "he would do the best he could to persuade his majesty to hinder his journey;" with which the captain was provoked to so great passion, that he broke into tears, and besought him not to dissuade the king; and seemed so much transported with the resolution of the adventure, as if he would not outlive the disappointment. This passion so far prevailed with the king, that he caused all his despatches to be made, and delivered to him. And the very next day he and his companions, being seven or eight in number, went out of Paris together, and took post for Calais.

it was likely] Not in MS.

n earnestly] positively

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