sent, they resolved to invade England; a measure which the chief of the covenanters had determined upon in their private cabals six weeks before; and in that view had been at pains to publish and disperse their manifestos and declarations through the whole island, exhibiting the reasons of their expedition. *

When Montrose returned to the army, as he found he could not prevent their resolution, he chose rather openly to approve it. He himself commanded in this army 2000 foot and 500 horse, and his most intimate friends and dependents, who had solemnly engaged to him to employ their services for the king's interest, commanded 5000 more; and if the greatest part of these had not broke their engagements, he had either carried off the whole army with him to the king, or, at least, had easily disappointed the designs of the covenanters. They pitched their camp at the river Tweed, upon the borders; and the principal officers having cast

They published what may be called their manifesto, under the title of Six considerations of the lawfulness of their expedition, which see in the appendix, No. 1. His majesty having issued a proclamation declaring them rebels and trai tors, they published another paper in their vindication, intituled, The intentions of the army of the kingdom of Scotland, declared to their brethren of England by the commissioners of the late parliament, and by the general, noblemen, barons, and other officers of the army; which see in Rushworth's Collect. Vol. III, append. p. 283.

lots, it fell to Montrose's share first to cross the river, which he executed immediately on foot, at the head of his own infantry, and with great readiness, the better to conceal his designs, and remove any suspicion of him; for his influence in the army, and his frank honest disposition, were now so much dreaded by these conscious rebels, that they' kept a strict watch over all his motions. †

Then crossing the river Tyne, four miles above Newcastle, they got possession of that place by the treachery of the English generals, who retired to York with the king's army, though it was very considerable. Advances being made on both sides towards a peace, a truce was in the mean time agreed to. During this interval, Montrose had wrote some letters to the king, which contained nothing but expressions of his fidelity and duty to his majesty, and his inclination to serve him. Some of the gentlemen of the king's bed-chamber, in whom he placed the most entire confidence, and who, notwithstanding, held a secret correspondence with the covenanters, and furnished them with daily advice of the king's most secret councils, of which they themselves were often either the advisers or

August 21, 1640.

+ "The lot gave the van that day to Montrose, to whom, I think, it was very welcome. He went on foot himself first through, and returned to encourage his men; yet one of his soldiers, and he only of all the army, did drown."-Baillie's Letters.

promoters, having stole these letters out of the king's pocket in the night-time, transcribed them, and sent them to the covenanters at Newcastle.* The most forward of the party accused Montrose very sharply concerning them; and, though they durst not make an open quarrel, or call him publicly to account, because of his power and influence in the army; yet among the common people they loaded him with calumny and reproach. For such purposes they had many preachers through the whole kingdom at their devotion, whose venal tongues were employed to turn the people's minds which way they pleased. And in general, nothing contributed more effectually to promote and spread their rebellion, than the spiteful and virulent invectives which those worthy pulpiteers were constantly buzzing in the ears of their deluded admirers, against the king and all his faithful subjects, as the enemies of Christ; for such was the canting language of those demagogues, while they themselves were a scandal and reproach to the Christian

name.

After Montrose returned to Scotland, as his whole attention was employed to avert, if possible, the storm of rebellion which he saw impending, he

The gentleman suspected by Montrose was William Murray, nephew to Mr Robert Murray, provost, or minister of Methven, through whom he corresponded with the covenanters.-Guthrie's Memoirs, p. 117. But others ascribed this piece of treachery to the Marquis of Hamilton.

prevailed upon severals of the nobility and gentry of the first rank and influence, to join with him in a bond or association for the defence of his majesty, and his ancient and lawful privileges and prerogatives, against all his enemies, foreign and domestic, with their whole lives and fortunes, to the utmost of their power. And he got matters to bear so far, that there had certainly been an open division in the army, whereby he might soon have obtained his desire, had not some of the associators, through timidity and want of resolution, qualities incompatible with that secrecy and reserve necessary in affairs of the last importance, disclosed the whole matter to the covenanters. They made a very great noise about it, but things were accommodated at that time; for they were still so much afraid of Montrose's influence, that they durst not as yet decree any open severity against him.

But soon after, the covenanters having contrived a new oath, in order to secure the obedience of the

* This association was framed at Cumbernauld, the Earl of Wigton's house, in July preceding; and was at first subscribed. by the Earls of Montrose and Wigton, the Lords Fleming, Boyd, and Almond. And afterwards Montrose drew to it the Earls of Marischal, Mar, Athole, Kinghorn, Perth, Kelly, Home, and Seaforth; and the Lords Stormont, Erskine, Drummond, Ker, Napier, and others. It was discovered to Argyle by the Lord Almond; and upon the bond being given up to the Committee of Estates, and burnt by their order, the subscribers were dismissed.-Guthrie's Memoirs, p. 89.

army, and having likewise entered into a very close league with the parliament of England, though they thought themselves now sufficiently secure against the plots and intrigues of any private man, yet they were still afraid of Montrose, whose aspiring views and enterprising genius did not at all square with their dark designs; and, therefore, they thought it necessary, by any means, to remove him out of the way.

For this wicked purpose an opportunity very soon occurred. They were informed by some of the people about court, whom they had corrupted by rewards and promises, that the king had sent some letters to Montrose, and that they were sewed up in the messenger's saddle, whose name was Stewart, a servant of the Earl of Traquair.

This

man had no sooner set his foot on Scots ground than he was seized, and the letters found in his saddle according to their information. These letters contained nothing which was unbecoming the best of kings to command, or the best of subjects to obey nevertheless, these retailers of lies and scandal made their own advantage of them, and set their instruments at work, to alarm the country with the most tragical accounts; and that they had at last made a discovery of the plot concerted betwixt the king and Montrose, for subverting religion, and reducing the country to a state of slavery yet for all that they durst not bring him to