him, and leaving him to the will and pleasure of his most cruel and inveterate enemies. And, accordingly, both parties appealed, Argyle and his faction to the general assembly, and the Duke of Hamilton and his party to the parliament.

The

The kingdom was immediately thereupon split into two parties, and two supreme judicatories were erected in direct opposition to one another. general assembly, on the one hand, thundered out their ecclesiastical censures, their anathemas, and excommunications; and the parliament, on the other, threatened imprisonment, banishment, confiscations, and military execution. By this means the people were miserably distracted betwixt fear and superstition; and even the nobility were at a loss what conduct to pursue in this confusion. The Duke of Hamilton's party, who were the majority in parliament, procured the raising a very great army, and had the officers all named to their liking; they levied money, and ordered arms, ammunition, and every thing to be got ready for hastening their intended expedition; and the Duke of Hamilton was himself unluckily appointed general, much against the inclinations of many, who suspected his loyalty and fidelity to the king. Argyle's faction, who, on the contrary, were superior in the assembly of the kirk, and carried all be

* May 3, 1648.

fore them, passed an act censuring and condemning that expedition, though it was approven and authorised by the parliament; and, to make their act the more effectual, not only employed their spiritual artillery to terrify the people, but also stirred up great numbers in the western parts of the kingdom to rise in arms and oppose it from their numbers, and the encouragement given them by their preachers, whom they looked on as inspired, they were confident of success; but, being all raw and void of discipline, Middleton soon quelled them, though not without some danger. Several of their ministers were taken prisoners, completely armed, and fighting desperately in the first ranks; but Hamilton, to curry favour with the Presbyterians, pardoned them not only that, but the other treasonable acts they had been formerly guilty of.

About the same time, the general assembly, in order to draw down the dislike and reproaches of the populace upon the parliament, appointed a day of solemn humiliation and fasting to be observed through all Scotland; for which the chief reason they alleged was the defection and apostasy of the states of the kingdom from the truth and purity of

These ministers were William Adair, William Guthry, Gabriel Maxwell, and John Nevoy, or Nave, the instigator of the massacre at Dunnavertie, old Cant's nephew; they were the principal commanders of this tumultuous army.

religion, by their endeavours to restore the king upon too easy terms. The Duke of Hamilton openly professed himself a Presbyterian; and, in several pamphlets which he published in defence of his conduct, he declared and protested solemnly to the people, that he would religiously observe the Solemn League and Covenant, which he would defend against all mortals; and that the army which he commanded was chiefly raised, and would be employed for that end. None of the loyalists, especially those who had formerly served under Montrose, were promoted by him to any dignity, or allowed any command in the army; however, he privately gave them encouragement to expect places of trust and honour, how soon he entered England. By these means he thought to have pleased both parties; but in this he found himself disappointed, becoming thereby suspected and hated by both.

CHAP. III.

The Duke of Hamilton marches his army into England; joined by several of the English; defeated by Cromwell at Preston, and surrenders himself.A new army raised in Scotland, and the command given to the Earl of Lanark; he is joined by great numbers of the nobility and gentry.General Monro, contrary to Lanark's intention, attacks and defeats Argyle at Stirling.—Lanark's loyalty suspected; at length he concludes a dishonourable peace with Argyle.

THE Duke of Hamilton, besides the choice levies he had made in Scotland, procured likewise from Ireland a considerable number of old experienced troops, under the command of George Monro, a very brave general. The Earl of Callender, who had been from his infancy trained up in the wars, both at home and abroad, and was now become remarkable for his skill in military affairs, was appointed by the parliament his lieutenant-general, and went along with him to England. His brother, the Earl of Lanark, was left at home, to bring up a reinforcement, if there should be occasion. short, every thing was settled to his mind; he had a very brave army, appointed with excellent and

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experienced officers, and well provided in arms and other necessaries; and he had assurance of being joined by a considerable reinforcement in England. Yet with all these encouragements it was thought by many that he made not that quick progress he ought to have done they complained that he trifled away the time to no purpose, and allowed a fine opportunity to slip out of his hands, whereby the enemy had time to recover their surprise, and put themselves in a posture of defence; and they concluded, that the loyalists in England, who were already in arms, and even the king himself now for a second time, were basely betrayed to their enemies by this scandalous and unseasonable delay. One thing is certain, that great numbers in several counties in England,especially in Wales, Kent, and Cornwall, trusting to the duke's promises, and expecting powerful assistance from him, rose in arms, under the command of the king's officers, rather too early, which in the end proved fatal both to themselves and to the king.

When he came at length to the borders, he was met by several gentlemen of the north of England, remarkable for their courage and loyalty, and of considerable weight and influence in these counties. They joined the Scots army very frankly; and as a proof and pledge of their fidelity and constancy, they immediately delivered up the towns of Berwick and Carlisle, two strong forts, which they had some time before taken from the Independents;