trigues at Paris-Death of the Emperor Charles VI.-Accession of Maria Theresa-- Confederacy against her-Neutrality of Hanover-Meeting of the Hungarian Diet-- Speech of the Queen-Austrians ravage Bavaria_Retirement of Walpole-Proposed overtures to the discontented Whigs from the Chevalier de St George-Drummond of Bochaldy arrives at Edinburgh, and Murray of Broughton at Paris-Plan of a French invasion-Charles, eldest son of the Chevalier de St George, arrives at Paris -Preparations for invasion-Alarm of the British ministry-Preparations for defence -Sailing of the French fleet-Embarkation and failure of the expedition-Declara- tion of war between France and England-Arrival of Murray of Broughton at Paris -Interview with the Prince, who resolves to proceed to Scotland, pp. 392-419. HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS. CHAPTER I. The king rejects certain propositions made to him-Conduct of the Scots army and commissioners, in regard to the delivery of the king-Communicates with the marquis of Huntly about an escape-Return of the Scots army from England-Huntly retires to Lochaber-Pursued by David Leslie-March of Leslie to the south-Encamps in Strathallan-Advances into Argyle and Kintyre-Defeats Sir Alexander Macdonald, who flies into Ila-Surrender of Dunavertie castle-Garrison perfidiously put to the sword-Leslie lands in Ila-Surrender of Dunniveg castle-Apprehension and execution of Macdonald's father. Leslie lands in Jura, and afterwards in Mull-Conduct of the chief of Maclean-Apprehension of Huntly-Rising of his vassals-Irish prisoners shot at Strathbogy-Huntly imprisoned in the jail of Edinburgh-Execution of Innermarkie, Newton-Gordon, the younger, and Harthill-Hamilton's En. gagement-Warlike proceedings of the Scots parliament in behalf of the king-Argyle obstructs the levies-Defeat of a body of insurgents at Mauchline-Departure of Lord Reay for Denmark-March of Hamilton to the borders-Defeat of the royalists at Preston-Rising of Covenanters in the west-They enter Edinburgh-Capture of Stirling by the royalists, and flight of Argyle-Cromwell arrives in Edinburgh-Struggles in the English parliament between the Presbyterians and independents-Trial and execution of the king-Execution of the duke of Hamilton and the marquis of Huntly. As soon as the news of the flight of the king reached London, the greatest agitation prevailed; and the two great parties-the Presbyte rians and Independents-each of which was struggling for ascendency, became even still more distrustful of one another; but when they ascertained the place of his retreat, they joined in reprobating the conduct of the Scots, who, they erroneously supposed, had induced the king to put himself in their power. The possession of the royal person had been long desired by both factions as of paramount importance in paving the way for the accomplishment of their respective objects; but the unexpected step which the king had just taken seemed to render their prospects for ever hopeless. But they soon found that the case was not so bad as they had imagined for the king was not only prevailed upon to order his officers to surrender the fortresses which they still retained, but to become a suppliant for peace by requesting both houses of parliament to offer him propositions for consideration. Some of these propositions were, however, such as the king could not, in conscience, submit to, and others were quite incompatible with monarchical government. The refusal of the king to agree to these conditions, one of which stipulated the establishment of the Directory, and the recognition of the Westminster Confession, while it displeased the presbyterian party, inspired the independents with fresh hopes, and the latter now began to indicate pretty plainly their intention of dethroning the king. While the two houses were engaged in new deliberations, in consequence of the king's refusal to accede, the chancellor (Loudon), the marquis of Argyle, and the earl of Dunfermline, who had offered to the king to go up to London, and treat with the parliament for a mitigation of the propositions, arrived in London; but, as the royalists had observed, it was soon seen "that their treating would end in a bargain;" for, although professing themselves great sticklers for the freedom, honour, and safety of the king, they not only offered to concur in any measures that parliament might propose, should the king remain obstinate, but offered to withdraw the Scots army from England, on receiving payment of the arrears of pay due to the army for its services. Such an offer was too tempting to be withstood; and a committee having been appointed to adjust the balance due to the Scots, it was finally agreed by the latter, after many charges on both sides had been disallowed,† to accept of £400,000 in full of all demands, one moiety of which was to be paid before the Scots army left England and the other after its return to Scotland. Whatever may have been the understanding between the Scots commissioners and the English parliament as to the disposal of the king, it is certain that in fixing the terms on which the Scots army should retire from England, that question was left quite open for discussion, as is sufficiently instructed by the subsequent vote of the two houses, that the right of disposing of the king belonged to the parliament of England, a vote which "gave birth to a controversy unprecedented in history," and which threatened to involve the two nations in war. To say, therefore, that the Scots nation sold their king is a foul calumny, refuted by the whole history of the transactions which preceded the delivery of the king to the English parliamentary commissioners, for although a majority of the persons who attended the Scottish parliament complied with the demand of the English parliament for possession of the king's person, a virtuous minority, with whom was the great bulk of the nation, voted against it. A celebrated historian who may be supposed very impartial in his views of the conduct of the Scots on this occasion, because opposed to the common opinion of his countrymen, thus defends the Scottish nation from the charge in question. "The royalists ever since the king's visit to Newark, had viewed with anxiety and terror the cool calculating policy of the Scots. The result converted their suspicions into certitude: they hesitated not to accuse them of falsehood and perfidy, and to charge them with having allured the king to their army by deceitful promises, that, Judas-like, they might barter him for money with his enemies. Insinuations so injurious to the character of the nation ought not to be lightly admitted. That fanaticism and self-interest had steeled the breasts of the covenanters against the more generous impulses of loyalty and compassion, may indeed be granted; but more than this cannot be legitimately inferred from any proof furnished by history. 1m The • Guthry. + Amongst the many items set up by the English parliament against the claims of the Scots, there was one, according to Bishop Guthry, of £80,000 sterling, "for the cab bage the Scots had devoured !!!!! t Lingard, voi, vi. p. 556. NEGOTIATIONS ABOUT THE KING. 3 despatches of Montrevli make it evident that the verbal engagement of the commissioners at London was disavowed by the commissioners with the army before Newark; that the king was officially informed that it would never be carried into execution; and that, if he afterwards sough an asylum among the Scots, he was not drawn thither by their promises, but driven by necessity and despair. 2°. If the delivery of the royal person, connected as it was with the receipt of £200,000, bore the appearance of a sale, it ought to be remembered, that the accounts between the two nations had been adjusted in the beginning of September; that, for four months afterwards, they never ceased to negotiate in favour of Charles; nor did they resign the care of his person till the votes of the English parliament compelled them to make the choice between compliance and war. It may be, that in forming their decision their personal interest was not forgotten; but there was another consideration which had no small weight even with the friends of the monarch. It was urged, that by suffering the king to reside at Holmby, they would do away the last pretext for keeping on foot the army under the command of Fairfax; the dissolution of that army would annihilate the in fluence of the independents, and give an undisputed ascendancy to the presbyterians, the first, the declared enemies, the others the avowed advocates of Scotland, of the kirk, and of the king; and the necessary consequence must be, that the two parliaments would be left at liberty to arrange in conformity with the covenant, both the establishment of religion and the restoration of the throne." While the negotiations for the delivery of the king were pending, Charles, who seems to have been fully aware of them, meditated the design of escaping from the Scots army, and putting himself at the head of such forces as the marquis of Huntly could raise in the north. In pursuance of this design, his majesty, about the middle of December, sixteen hundred and forty-six, sent Robert Leslie, brother of General David Leslie, with letters and a private commission to Huntly, by which he was informed of his majesty's intentions, and Huntly was, therefore, desired to levy what forces he could, and have them in readiness to take the field on his arrival in the north. On receipt of his majesty's commands, Huntly began to raise forces, and having collected them at Banff, he fortified the town, and there awaited the king's arrival. But the king was prevented from putting his plan into execution by a premature discovery. It is stated by Guthry that Leslie and his committee having begun to talk of confining his majesty, and "that it might be handsomely done, and upon some shew of reason, William Murray, of the bed-chamber, furnished a pretext, suggesting privately to his majesty something concerning an escape, and offering to make his way, and have a ship in readiness to transport him." He then observes that it is uncertain "what entertainment his majesty gave • Lingard, vol, vi. t Gordon's Continuation, p. 536. |