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This failure of the plot did not divert Montrose from his object. He still flattered Charles with the prospect of effectuating his purposes when witnesses should be encouraged by the royal presence to give evidence, and their adversaries be dampt *. We have already spoken of the understanding with leading men in England, upon which the Scots undertook the invasion, and one part of the present plan appears to have been to collect information on that head in Scotland, which, by being apparently lately acquired, might afford the better pretext for making a few sacrifices to the manes of Strafford at the critical moment of ascendancy in the north †, thus removing those whom the monarch most dreaded. During the late treaty, Charles had used all his influence to include in a general indemnity Traquair and others who were accused as incendiaries, but the Scottish commissioners were inflexible, and he, after resorting to many threats and entreaties, was obliged to submit to their exemption. As, however, he still considered their safety equally necessary to his honour and success in recovering his ground, he, in order to save them, intended to be present at their trials, that they might have the benefit of all the influence arising from his person

good." See also printed copy, vol. i. p. 320. Guthrey's Mem. p. 94. Woodrow's MSS. V. lxv. N. 10. et seq. Advoc. Lib. Append. to late publication of Scots Acts for 1641.

*Baillie's Let. vol. i. p. 327.

+ If, as we are told, Strafforde had got proofs of the correspondence between leading men in England and the Scots, the king must have been acquainted with them: Therefore his object must have been what I have represented.

al appearance; and the presumptuous promises of Montrose, whose confidence in his own resources nothing could damp, flattered him with the prospect of not appearing in vain *.

Such were the views with which the king had resolved upon a journey to Scotland; but matters had taken an unfortunate turn before his arrival. Argyle, with the Marquis Hamilton, and his brother the Earl of Lanerick, personally exasperated at the late attempt against themselves, and finding by this instance that their own existence as politicians and that of Montrose were incompatible, soon detected his secret practices, as well as discovered his plot, by means of the bond or band which had been destroyed; and, as they exerted themselves to accomplish his ruin, they had procured his committal, along with that of his confederates, who were called plotters or banders, on a charge of conspiracy against the state. In this way the royalist party appeared to be entirely defeated; the ascendancy of Argyle in parliament was unchecked; and the measures adopted by that assembly were all calculated to diminish the power of the crown. But Charles still did not despair, and the spirit of Montrose was unsubdued. Even in prison he hatched new plots; and the time consumed about the trials of the incendiaries and banders was favourable to his schemes. Having opened a fresh correspondence with his majesty through William Murray of the bed-chamber, he still insisted that evidence might be procured

*Hailes's Let.

dent, 2d October,

1641.

against the Hamiltons and Argyle, but advised, as the simplest way, to cut them off by assassination, which himself "frankly undertook" to furnish the means of accomplishing. According to Clarendon, to whom we are indebted for this portion of secret history," the king abhorred that expedient, though for his own security, advised that the proofs might be prepared for the parliament*." But as Charles did not on that account cool, far less drop his connection with Montrose, so the result of their deliberations was sufficiently atrocious, and indeed partly involved the same conclusion. The Inci- The event alluded to was, from its unexpected nature, denominated the Incident. The individuals who undertook the part of chief actors, were the Earl of Crawford, a Colonel Stewart, a Colonel Cochrane, who commanded a regiment at Musselburgh, Lieutenant Colonel Hume, &c. The two Hamiltons and Argyle were to have been sent for in the king's name to the drawing-room, and there arrested as traitors, when they were to be delivered over to Crawford, who at the head of two or three hundred men, was to have been secretly stationed in the garden attached to the palace, and prepared to hurry them in a close carriage, which was to be in readiness at the back of the garden, to the shore, where a boat was to be in waiting to convey them to a frigate that had been stationed in Leith roads, without any other visible object. The frigate was to serve as a prison, till they could be brought to trial. But

* Clarendon, vol. i. p. 298.

Crawford and his party had also undertaken to assassinate them on the slightest resistance; and indeed it would almost appear that the alternatives of stabbing and transporting them to the king's ships were regarded with equal indifference *. Thus far matters rest upon evidence, which no unprejudiced mind can refuse credit to; but the general understanding, though not so well established, went much farther, and seems, from the whole complexion of the case, to be extremely probable: That Cochrane was to march at the head of his regiment to secure Edinburgh, and, with the assistance of friends there, make fast, or kill, if necessary; that is, if they resisted, "so many of the parliament men as were suspected might have been ready for the prisoner's relief:" that means for liberating Montrose and his fellow

• See the Earl of Lanerick's Relation of the Incident, in Hardwicke's State Papers, vol. ii. p. 299. See the evidence in Balfour's Diurnal, MS. Adv. Lib. The Truth of the Proceedings in Scotland concerning the Discovery of the late Conspiracy, printed 1641. Laing's Hist. vol. i. note. But, while I conceive that this author has clearly made out the real existence of a plot, I conceive that his hypothesis about the alleged forged letter by Saville is unfounded. Burnet, as the nephew of Warriston, is entitled to notice, when he says that Warriston was pressed to give up the letter; but uncles do not always tell their young nephews every thing, and Burnet does not say that he derived his knowledge from the first authority. Again, with a knowledge of the existence of that letter, Charles must have learned that it was forged, and, consequently, must have known that the fact could be proved, so that it could injure none but Saville, who was now in favour. Mr. Laing thinks that Stewart's accusation was defeated; but that is contrary to the assertion of Montrose's party, that he had been tampered with to accuse himself unjustly, and Argyle could not be charged on another ground.

VOL. III.

prisoners, and giving them command of the castle, were also devised; that the Kers, Humes, Johnstons, and other borderers, were instantly to take arms; and that the troops stationed at Berwick were to co-operate with them *. Such a plot promised to put Scotland within the king's power. Parliament, deprived of its leaders, and under military force, would have become an instrument in his hands, since, though the majority deserted an assembly in which the freedom of debate and vote were alike proscribed, some few would have been found to give the appearance of a constitutional meeting; the Hamiltons, Argyle, and other obnoxious individuals, if they escaped assassination, would have been convicted on suborned testimony, provided by Montrose; the monarch would have been set at the head of an army, and, in this critical moment, would have impeached leading men in England, which was clearly part of his scheme, while, under the pretext of tumults purposely raised, he would have returned to that kingdom, attended with a military force, in order to insure their condemnation, and compel the parliament to comply with his demands. Such were the designs apparently contemplated; and it is not a little singular that he had been earnestly writing to have money raised upon a large collar of rubies, which had for that purpose been sent to Holland †.

Baillie, vol. i. p. 330, 331.

+ Appendix to Evelyn's Memorials, vol. ii. Correspondence be tween King Charles I. and Sir Ed. Nicholas, p. 19, et seq.

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