does centre," into their bosom; and have an Incarnate Solecism presiding over them. Satisfactorily descended from Elizabeth Muir of Caldwell, but in all other respects most unsatisfactory! The "Lord of the Session," who felt startled at this condition of things, and “withdrew" from it, I take to have been Sir James Hope of Craighall, * of whom, and whose scruples, and the censures they got, there is frequent mention in these months. But the Laird of Swinton, another of the same, went still farther in the same course; and indeed, soon after this defeat of Ker, went openly over to Cromwell. "There is very "great distraction, there are mighty workings upon the hearts "of divers." "Mr. James Livingston," the Minister of Ancrum, has left a curious Life of himself: he is still represented by a distinguished family in America. LETTER CLIV. THE next affair is that of Edinburgh Castle. Our Derbyshire miners found the rock very hard, and made small way in it: but now the Lord General has got his batteries ready; and, on Thursday 12th December, after three months blockade, salutes the place with his "guns and mortars," and the following set of Summonses; which prove effectual. Edinburgh, 12th December 1650. For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. SIR, We being now resolved, by God's assistance, to make use of such means as He hath put into our hands towards the reducing of Edinburgh Castle, I thought fit to send you this Summons. What the grounds of our proceedings have been, and what our desires and aims in relation to the glory of God and the common Interest of His People, we have often expressed in our Papers tendered to public * Balfour, iv. 173, 235. view. To which though credit hitherto hath not been given by men, yet the Lord hath been pleased to bear a gracious and favourable testimony; and hath not only kept us constant to our profession, and in our affections to such as fear the Lord in this Nation, but hath unmasked others from their pretences, as appears by the present transactions at St. Johnston. * Let the Lord dispose your resolutions as seemeth good to Him: my sense of duty presseth me, for the ends aforesaid, and to avoid the effusion of more blood, To demand the rendering of this place to me upon fit conditions. To which expecting your answer this day, I rest, OLIVER CROMWELL. The Governor's Answer to my Lord General's Letter is this: "For his Excellency the General of the English Forces. "Edinburgh, 12th December 1650. "MY LORD, I am intrusted by the Estates of Scotland "with this place; and being sworn not to deliver it to any with"out their warrant, I have no power to dispose thereof by my"self. I do therefore desire the space of ten days, wherein I 'may conveniently acquaint the said Estates, and receive their 66 answer. And for this effect, your safe-conduct for them "employed in the message. Upon the receipt of their answer, 'you shall have the resolution of, my Lord, your most "humble servant, "W. DUNDAS." The Lord General's Reply to Governor Walter Dundas: * Readmission "of the Malignants almost all;" Earl of Calendar, Duke of Hamilton, &c. (Balfour, iv. 179-203); by the Parliament at Perth, at "St. Johnston," as the old name is. LETTER CLV. For the Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, 12th December 1650. * SIR, It concerns not me to know your obligations to those that trust you. I make no question the apprehensions you have of your abilities to resist those impressions which shall be made upon you,' are the natural and equitable rules of all men's judgments and consciences in your condition; except you had taken an oath beyond a possibility. I leave that to your consideration; and shall not seek to contest with your thoughts: only I think it may become me to let you know, You may have honourable terms for yourself and those with you; and both yourself and soldiers have satisfaction to all your reasonable desires; and those that have other employments, liberty and protection in the exercise of them. But to deal plainly with you, I will not give liberty to you to consult your Committee of Estates; because I hear, those that are honest amongst them enjoy not satisfaction, and the rest are now discovered to seek another Interest than they have formerly pretended to. And if you desire to be informed of this, you may, by them you dare trust, at a nearer distance than St. Johnston. Expecting your present answer, I rest, OLIVER CROMWELL. The Governor's Reply, No. 2, arrives on the morrow, Friday: *By my cannons and mortars. "For his Excellency the Lord General of the English Forces in Scotland. "Edinburgh Castle, 13th December 1650. "MY LORD, It much concerneth me (considering my obli"gations) to be found faithful in the trust committed to me. "And therefore, in the fear of the living God, and of His great "Name called upon in the accepting of my trust, I do again "press the liberty of acquainting the Estates. The time is but "short; and I do expect it as answerable to your profession of "affection to those that fear the Lord. In the mean time I am "willing to hear information of late proceedings from such as "he dare trust who is, my Lord, your humble servant, The Lord General's Reply, No. 2. LETTER CLVI. "W. DUNDAS." For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. Edinburgh, 13th December 1650. SIR, Because of your strict and solemn adjuration of me, in the fear and Name of the living God, That I give you time to send to the Committee of Estates, to whom you undertook the keeping of this place under the obligation of an oath, as you affirm, I cannot but hope that it is your conscience, and not policy, carrying you to that desire. The granting of which, if it be prejudicial to our affairs, I am as much obliged in conscience not to do it, as you can pretend cause for your conscience' sake to desire it. Now considering 'that' our merciful and wise God binds not His People to actions too cross one to another; but that our bands may be,* as I am persuaded they are, through our mistakes and darkness, our perplexities are caused. * - not only in the question about the surrendering this Castle, but also in all the present differences: I have much reason to believe that, by a Conference, you may be well satisfied, in point of fact, of your Estates (to whom you say you are obliged) carrying on an Interest destructive and contrary to what they professed when they committed that trust to you, having made to depart from them many honest men through fear of their own safety,* and making way for the reception of professed Malignants, both in their Parliament and Army; and also 'that you' may have laid before you such grounds of our ends and aims to the preservation of the interest of honest men in Scotland as well as England, as will (if God vouchsafe to appear in them) give your conscience satisfaction. Which if you refuse, I hope you will not have cause to say that we are either unmindful of the great Name of the Lord which you have mentioned, nor that we are wanting to answer our profession of affection to those that fear the Lord. I am willing to cease hostility, for some hours, or convenient time to so good an end as information of judgment, and satisfaction of conscience; although I may not give liberty for the time desired, to send to the Committee of Estates; or at all stay the prosecution of my attempt. Expecting your sudden answer, I rest, The Governor's Reply, No. 3, comes out on Saturday: * Swinton, Strahan, Hope of Craighall, &c. § Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 97). |
