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An account of Scotland brought [B. XIII.

tormented and weakened by his wounds, that being near the seat of the earl of Stamford, whose lieutenant colonel he had been in the beginning of the war, and being well known to his lady, he chose to commit himself to her rather than to her husband; hoping, that in honour she would have found some means to preserve him. But the lady had only charity to cure his wounds, not courage to conceal his person; and such advertisements were given of him, that, as soon as he was fit to be removed, he was likewise sent to the Tower, and destined to be sacrificed by the high court of justice together with Middleton, for the future security of the commonwealth.

But now the presbyterian interest shewed itself, and doubtless, in enterprises of this nature, was very powerful; having in all places persons devoted to them, who were ready to obey their orders, though they did not pretend to be of their party. And the time approaching that they were sure Middleton was to be tried, that is, to be executed, they gave him so good and particular advertisement, that he took his leave of his friends in the Tower, and made his escape; and having friends enough to shelter him in London, after he had concealed himself there a fortnight or three weeks, that the diligence of the first examination and inquiry was over, he was safely transported into France. And within few days after, Massey had the same good fortune, to the grief and vexation of the very soul of Cromwell; who thirsted for the blood of those two persons.

When Middleton came to the king to Paris, he brought with him a little Scottish vicar, who was

1652.] to the king by a Scottish vicar.

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known to the king, one Mr. Knox, who brought letters of credit to his majesty, and some propositions from his friends in Scotland, and other despatches from the lords in the Tower, with whom he had conferred after Middleton had escaped from thence. He brought the relation of the terror that was struck into the hearts of that whole nation by the severe proceedings of general Monk, to whose care Cromwell had committed the reduction of that kingdom, upon the taking of Dundee, where persons of all degrees and qualities were put to the sword for many hours after the town was entered, and all left to plunder; upon which all other places rendered. All men complained of the marquis of Argyle, who prosecuted the king's friends with the utmost malice, and protected and preserved the rest according to his desire. He gave the king assurance from the most considerable persons, who had retired into the Highlands, that they would never swerve from their duty; and that they would be able, during the winter, to infest the enemy by incursions into their quarters; and that, if Middleton might be sent to them with some supply of arms, they would have an army "ready against the spring, strong enough to meet "with Monk." He said, " he was addressed from "Scotland to the lords in the Tower, who did not "then know that Middleton had arrived in safety

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with the king; and therefore they had com"manded him, if neither Middleton nor the lord Newburgh were about his majesty, that then he "should repair to the marquis of Ormond, and "desire him to present him to the king; but that, having found both those lords there, he had made

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The king appoints the chancellor [B. XIII.

no farther application than to them, who had "brought him to his majesty." He told the king, that both those in Scotland, and those in the Tower, made it their humble request, or rather a "condition to his majesty; that, except it were granted, they would no more think of serving "his majesty: the condition was, that whatever "should have relation to his service in Scotland, and to their persons who were to venture their lives in it, might not be communicated to the queen, the duke of Buckingham, the lord Jermyn, or the lord Wilmot. They professed all duty to "the queen, but they knew she had too good an "opinion of the marquis of Argyle; who would infallibly come to know whatever was known to "either of the other."

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The king did not expect that any notable service could be performed by his friends in Scotland for his advantage, or their own redemption; yet did not think it fit to seem to undervalue the professions and overtures of those who had, during his being amongst them, made all possible demonstration of affection and duty to him; and therefore resolved to grant any thing they desired; and so promised not to communicate any thing of what they proposed to the queen, or the other three lords. But since they proposed present despatches to be made of commissions and letters, he wished them to consider, whom they would be willing to trust in the performing that service. The next day they attended his majesty again, and desired, "that "all matters relating to Scotland might be con“sulted by his majesty with the marquis of Or“mond, the lord Newburgh, and the chancellor of

1652.] to make all despatches for Scotland. 15

"the exchequer; and that all the despatches might "be made by the chancellor;" which the king consented to; and bid the lord Newburgh go with them to him, and let him know his majesty's pleasure. And thereupon the lord Newburgh brought Middleton to the chancellor; who had never seen his face before.

The marquis of Ormond and the chancellor of the exchequer believed that the king had nothing at this time to do but to be quiet, and that all his activity was to consist in carefully avoiding to do any thing, that might do him hurt, and to expect some blessed conjuncture from the amity of Christian princes, or some such revolution of affairs in England by their own discontents, and divisions amongst themselves, as might make it seasonable for his majesty again to shew himself. And therefore they proposed nothing to themselves but patiently to expect one of those conjunctures, and, in the mean time, so to behave themselves to the queen, that without being received into her trust and confidence, which they did not affect, they might enjoy her grace and good acceptation. But the designation of them to this Scottish intrigue, crossed all this imagination, and shook that foundation of peace and tranquillity, upon which they had raised their present hopes: besides that the chancellor was not without some natural prejudice to the ingenuity and sincerity of that nation, and therefore he went presently to the king, and besought him with earnestness, "that he would not

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lay that burden upon him, or engage him in any "part of the counsels of that people." He put his majesty in mind of "the continued avowed

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The chancellor desires not to be [B. XIII.

"jealousy and displeasure which that whole party "in that nation had ever had against him; and "that his majesty very well knew, that those noble Ipersons who served him best when he was in

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Scotland, and in whose affection and fidelity he "had all possible satisfaction, had all imaginable 'prejudice against him, and would be troubled "when they should hear that all their secrets were "committed to him." He told his majesty, "this "trust would for ever deprive him of all hope of "the queen's favour; who could not but discern it "within three or four days, and, by the frequent "resort of the Scottish Levite to him," (who had the vanity to desire long conferences with him,) 66 that there was some secret affair in hand which was kept from her; and she would as easily dis66 cover, that the chancellor was privy to it, by his reading papers to his majesty, and his signing "them; and would from thence conclude, that he "had persuaded him to exclude her majesty from "that trust; which she would never forgive." Upon the whole, he renewed his importunity, "that he might be excused from this confidence."

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The king heard him with patience and attention enough; and confessed, "that he had reason not "to be solicitous for that employment; but he "wished him to consider withal, that he must "either undertake it, or that his majesty must in

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plain terms reject the correspondence, and by it "declare that he would no further consider Scot

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land as his kingdom, and the people as his sub"jects; which, he said, he thought he would not "advise him to do. If his majesty entertained it, "it could not be imagined that all those transac

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