at Perth upon the 24th of August, and to call before them all persons
within the Highlands, islands, and other places, who were upon the
late Engagement against England, or had been accessory in any manner
of way to the troubles of this kingdom; and to call on all landlords,
and baillies of land, and chieftains of clans, to subscribe a bond and
declaration for keeping the peace of the kingdom, and to obtemper [obey]
any orders the Committee should appoint for that effect; with power to
do all things necessary for keeping the peace of the kingdom.[428] On
the 31st, commissions were also granted for visiting the universities
of Edinburgh and Aberdeen;[429] and, on the 7th of August thereafter,
a further commission was granted for the Committee of Estates to
sit and act, with plenary powers, till the next session, which was
appointed for the first Thursday of March, 1650. Winram of Libberton
was appointed Commissioner on a new mission to the King, and (12th
September) he was furnished with a letter to the King, and instructions
for conducting the negotiations with his Majesty.[430]
And thus closed the third session of the Whigamore Parliament. For
an illustration of the relative transactions, whether with regard to
affairs of Church or of State, we must refer to the memorials of the
times.
The fourth Session of the Whigamore Parliament was opened at Edinburgh
on the 7th of March, and next day a letter was approved of to be sent
from the Estates to Charles II. acknowledging receipt of his Majesty’s
acquiescence in their desire to accept the Government. Commission was
granted to the Earl of Cassilis and others to repair to the King at
Breda, and treat upon the ground of the former “desires” presented to
him at the Hague by the Commissioners of Parliament, “according to the
Solemn League and Covenant,” &c. Instructions were also given to the
Commissioners; and an adjournment then took place till the 15th of May
following.[431]
The Parliamentary proceedings from that time till the end of the year,
may be thus given in an abbreviated form, so as to afford a general
view of its progress:—
May 15.—The Parliament reassembled.
May 17.—“Act ordaneing the sentence and dome of foirfaultoʳ to be putt
in execuᵒione aganes James Grahame, and for tryell of the remanent
Captives.”—P. 515.
May 18.—“Ordour givin to the Magistrates of Edinʳ to receave James
Grahame and the remanent prisoners from Coˡˡ Campbell of Lawers at the
water gaitt,” &c.—P. 515.
May 21.—“Act in fauors of the Lord Angus & Sir Roᵗ Murray, anent the
prisoners in the Canongait.”—P. 516.
June 21.—Letter from Parliament to Lenthal, Speaker of the House of
Commons of England, remonstrating against the armaments in England
and their approach to Scotland, &c.—P. 523. Another to Lord Fairfax,
Commander in Chief of the English forces, and another to Sir A.
Haselrige, Governor of Newcastle.—P. 524-5. Commission for purging the
Army.—P. 525.
June 25.—Act for Levy of Horse and Foot for defence.—P. 526.
“_Report from the Committee of Conference with the Commissioners of the
Kirk._
“27 Junii, 1650.—The Committee appointed for conference with the
Commissioners from the Church, thought it meet that some persons
should be sent to congratulate his Majesties happy arrivall into this
Kingdome, and to shew his Majestie how glad his people were to heare
that it has pleased God to move his heart to give satisfaction to their
desires, and that it would be very acceptable to them, that, to testify
his reality therein, he would likewise forsake and abandon the company
of Malignants, and that his domestick servants, and such as are about
him, might be well affected to the cause and not malignant, and such
as are otherwise, be removed and put from about him, but in a fair and
discreet way.
“And having considered the list of his Majesties servants and others
of the train, so farr as it come to their knowledge, the Committee
aforesaid thought it fitt and necessary that the persons after
following, viz., The Duke of Hamilton, [formerly Lord Lanerick,] the
Duke of Buckingham, the Earle Forth, Lauderdale, Sir Robert Dalzell,
L. Sinclair, Doctor Frazer, L. Wilmott, L. Wentworth, Secretary
Long, Mr Uder, Earle of Cleveland, Mr Seymor, Viscount Grandison, Mr
Progers, L. Withrington, Mr Rogers, Sir Philip Musgrave, Col. Darsy,
Col. Gray, Col. Boynton, Major Jackson, Dr Goff, Mr Harding, corrupt
chaplaines, and Sir Edward Walker, should forthwith remove themselves
and depart out of the kingdome; and such also as have served in armes
against the Cause, and been evill instruments and given bad counsell
to his Majesties late father and himselfe, and likewise such others as
upon information from our Commissioners shall be thought fitt to be
removed.” This suggestion approved of on 28 of June.—P. 530. All other
Scotchmen “not specifyed” in the Act to be removed out of the Kingdom,
and the English to leave the country within eight days, otherwise their
persons to be seized and disposed of as the Estates think fit; “and
that in the meane tyme they remove themselves from the verge of the
Court, and not be permitted to have accesse to his Majestie.”—P. 531.
July 3.—Commitee of Conference report that all the fencible men
formerly ordered be in readiness to march upon sight of the beacons,
“under the highest and strictest punishment that can be exprest, death,
infamy, losse of all their moveables, and forfaultor of the third part
of their estates; and as to the bordering shires, and other shires
where the actuall invasion shall be, upon the said invasion, and upon
sight of the beacons, the whole persons to rise in armes and draw
together to the standing forces of the Kingdome as they shall have
advertisement by beacons or orders.”—P. 532.
July 3.—An Act for putting the Kingdom in a posture of Defence,
&c. “Considering the great preparations made by the Sectaries in
England to invade this Kingdom, to destroy the Religion, Lawes, and
Liberties thereof,” &c., declares “all fencible persons betwixt 60
and 16 are bound to rise in arms to defend the King and Kingdome from
Invasions”—and appoints them to rendezvous in every shire.—P. 532.
July 4.—Act ratifying Treaty betwixt King and
Commissioners—Instructions to Commissioners to go to the King—The Duke
of Buckingham and 7 others, English, allowed to remain in Scotland till
next Session of Parliament, but not to come within verge of the Court,
or have access to his Majesty. P. 535.
July 5. Parliament continued to 15 of August.—P. 540.
Nov. 26.—The parliament met at Perth—the King present.
Nov. 27.—“The Kings Majestie, and Estattes of Parliament, earnestlie
desyres the Comissioners of the Generall Assemblie to remayne heir
for sum tyme, that thay may haue their advyce in sum particulars to
be comunicat to thame. And that they may haue this day or the morrow
a conference with thame thairanent; wᶜʰᵉ wes communicat to thame by
the L. Burghley, the Laird of Duffus, and Hew Kennedy.”—P. 541. “The
subject of yᵉ Conference to be anent the causes and tyme of the Fast,
and anent the ceremonyes of the Coronatione, anent ministers to the
kingis familie, and anent the reasones, pro and contra, quhy men should
be admitted or excludit from joyneing with the armie, or acting a part
againes the comon enemy.”—P. 542.
Nov. 28,—“The Kingis Majestie and parliament appoynts thoise wpoun the
Conference to meitt wᵗ the Comissioners of the Geˡˡ Assemblie, at 3 of
the clok efternun, in the Kirk Sessione-hous.”—P. 543.
Nov. 30.—Remonstrance and Petition of the Commissioners of the General
Assembly.—P. 544.
Dec. 2.—Commission for trying and putting to execution three
Witches.—P. 548.
Dec. 4.—“The 4 Artickle anent the wreatting of ane Letter to the
Moderatoʳ of the Comissioners of the Geˡˡ Assembly, approvin.”—P. 548.
Act in favour of persons recommended by the Commissioners of the
General Assembly, who have given satisfaction.—P. 549.
Dec. 6. Letter to Moderator of General Assembly read and approven.—P.
550.
Dec. 10. “Ordanes the severall bodyes to meitt at three efternun, and
to considder of the remonstrance givin in be the Comissioners of the
Asemblie, and ordanes ilk body to name three of yʳ number to confer
first among thameselffis anent the remonstrance, and yʳefter to meitt
and confer wᵗ the Comissioners of the Generall Assemblie, and also how
far incapacities that disables men may be takin aff, and men admitted
for defence of yʳ countrie to fight aganes the comon enemy, and to
treat anent a previous advysse concerning England.”—P. 552. “Ordanes
thoise who shall be appoynted to confer wᵗ the Comissioners of yᵉ Geˡˡ
Assemblie to acquaynt the Comissioners they ar appoynted to confer wᵗ
thame.”—_Ibid._
Dec. 14.—“The K. Maᵗⁱᵉ and Parliament ordanes the E. Cassills, the L.
Clarkington, and Joⁿ Jafray to pas and acquaynt the Comissioners for
the Geˡˡ Assemblie, That sum course may be takin wᵗ suche persones as
haue joyned and complyed wᵗ the Sectaries.”—P. 553.
Eodem die.—“Answer maid be the Comissioners of the Geˡˡ Assemblie to
the queere givin in to thame be the Estaitts of Parliament anent the
persones to be admitted to ryse in armes and joyne wᵗ the forces of the
kingdome, and in what capacitie, for defence yʳoff aganes the armie
of Sectaries, &c., redd. The L. Chancelar, at comand of his Maᵗⁱᵉ and
Parliament did returne thame hartie thanks for yʳ readienes in giveing
thair advyce so cairfullie, and declared they will be readie to go
about to improve the same to the best advantage.”—P. 554.
Eodem die.—“Paper conteaning the Parliaments sense concerneing the
Remonstrance and Petitione givin in be the Comissioners of the Geˡˡ
Assemblie, past in Parliament and sent to be communicat to the
Comissioners of yᵉ Geˡˡ Assemblie.”—P. 554.
Dec. 25.—“Sir James Balfour, Lyone King of Armes, exhibeit and
produced ane old evident concerning the entailment of the Croun by
King Robert the Bruce to the race of the Stewarts, and protested he
might be exonered yʳoff. The L. Chancelar, In name of His Maᵗⁱᵉ and the
Parliament, did rander him hartie thanks for his cair and paynes takin
for recoverie of so noble ane evident, and ordanes him to have ane act
of approbaᵒne of his sʳvice, and for his exoneraᵒn of the evident,”
&c.—P. 564.
Dec. 28.—“Remitted to the noblemen, barrones, and burrowis, who
wer wpoun the Conference to meitt and cloise the ansʳ to the Kirks
remonstrance.”—P. 565. The Association in the west declared to be
void, and any such association discharged in time coming; and a paper
containing the sense of the King and Parliament on the remonstrance
from the west, of 25 November, read and approved.—P. 566.
Dec. 30—Act ratifying all Acts of Parliament since the year 1641, and
the late treaty at Breda.—“Act continueing the Parliament to the fyift
of Februar 1651.”—P. 577.
* * * * *
The foregoing meagre abstract serves only as an index to some of the
transactions in Scotland during the year 1650, one of the darkest
and most perplexed in our history, which we must now endeavour, if
possible, to render intelligible by a little more detail. Instead,
however, of attempting to reduce into a connected narrative of our own
the complicated “skein of mingled yarn,” we shall select a series
of statements from the several records of the period, taking these
indiscriminately from men of all the parties which then existed and
fretted their hour upon the stage. This must be done at the expense
of repetitions; but that is fully compensated by the additional light
and evidence which will thus be concentrated within a narrow compass
compared to what is at present to be found in any single record.
* * * * *
1650.
_Excerpts from Balfour’s Annales of Scotland._
[February.] This mounthe manney basse and eiuell rumors wer vented
abroad of the Lord Chanceler; amongest maney, ther was one anent a
woman that had borne him a chylde, and was conwayed to the Englishe
border, and was a missing, and thought to be killed. Some ministers
went to him, to show him of thesse foule aspertions wich wer wented
off him; he menteined his auen innocencey, and shew them that thesse
wer bot calumnies forged by his enimies, and some others that affected
independencey, to make him vngratious to the churche and people; bot
God wold in his auen tyme cleire his innocencey, and discouer ther
malice.
In Febrij: one Mr Johne Lawsone wes sentenced by the Lordes of Sessione
to haue hes tounge perced with a bodkin by the hangman, at the tron of
Edinburghe, for periurey and falsett; and hes 2 associattes had ther
eares nailled to the trone that same day, for bearing falls wittnes;
wich, conforme to the sentence, wes put to executione.
In this same monthe of Febrij: 25 day, wther 3 persons for bearing
falls wittnes, wer lykwayes sentenced by the Lordes of Session to haue
ther eares nailled to the trone of Edinburghe by the hangman, ther
dittay being wrettin one a shedule one ther faces, and they thereafter
to be banished the kingdome for euer; to wich, if euer heirafter they
returned, and wer apprehendit, they shuld be hanged; wich sentence was
accordinglie put to executione.
In Appryle this zeire, 1650, the rebells from Orknay invadit Cathnes,
and spoyled both it and Sutherland; they wer commandit by _________. L.
G. Dauid Lesley marched aganist them with 4000 horsse and footte; his
randewous wes one Brechin Moore, the 25 day of the mounthe of Appryle,
1650.
27 of Appryle, 1650.—Leiuetenant Generall Lesley hauing appoynted a
randeszwouse of his forces at Brechin, 25 of Appryle, did make all
possible haist aganist the enimey, marching 30 myles eurey day: and
to put a stope to the enimies aduance, he sent Leiuetenant Colonell
Strauchan befor him, to command the troupes that wer laying about
Rosse and Inernesse. Vpone Saterday, the 27 of Appryle, the enimey was
quartered at Strathekell, in Rosse; L. Colonell Strachan, with hes auen
troupe, Colonell Montgomerie, Colonell Kers, L. Colonell Hacketts, and
the Irishe troupe, wer quartered about Kincardine. Ther number that
were present being onlie about 230, the officers being conweined, and
haueing consideredthe grate scarsity of prowisions for horsse, and
that it was werey probable, the enemies strenth being in footte, they
wold take the hills vpone the aduance of more of our horsses; they
concludit to feight that wicked crew with the force they had: bot the
Lordes day approaching, and the enimey being 10 myles distant, they
doubted wither to marche towardes them presently, or to delay wntill
Monday, and so declyne the hazard of ingageing vpone the Lordes day;
bot this doubt wes soune remowed, for notice was presently brought
that the enimey was marched from Strachekell to Corbisdale, sex myles
neirer wnto them, whervpone they fourthwith drew vpe in 3 pairties,
the 1 consisting of neire a 100 horsse, to [be] led one by L. Colonell
Straquhan; the 2d some more then 80, to be led one by L. Colonell
Hackett; and the 3d about 40, to be led one by Capitane Hutchesone; and
36 musqueteires of Lawers regiment (wich wer occasionally vpone the
place) to be led one by Quartermaster Shaw. After prayers, said by ther
minister, they marched about 3 a clocke in the afternoone towardes the
enimey, quho wer drawn vpe in a place neire a hill of Scrogie Wood, to
wiche, vpone the aduance of our horsses, they quickly reteired; yet
L. Colonell Strachan persewed them into the woode, and at the first
charge, made them all to rune. The Lord did stricke suche a terror into
ther heartes, as ther most resolute commanders had not the courage to
lifte a hand to defend themselues, and our forces, without oppositione,
did executione one them for 5 or 6 myles, euen wntill sunne sett.
Ther wer killed 10 of ther best commanders, most of ther officers
takin, and 386 comon souldiers. The nomber of the quhole (as the
prissoners did informe) was not aboue 1200, of all wich ther did not
escape one 100, bot wer ather takin prisoners, killed, or drouned in a
riuer that was neir the place. The cheiffe standard, called the Kinges,
and four others, wer takin; the traitor, James Grhame, fled, bot was
afterwards takin by the Laird of Assins people; his horsse was takin;
his coate, with the stare and suord belt, wer found in the feild. L.
Col: Strachan receiued a shotte vpon his belley, bot lighting vpone
the double of his belte and buffe coate, did not pierce. One of our
troopers haistining too forwardly after a boate, wich carried 2 or
3 of the enimey ouer the riuer, was drouned, and 2 wer woundit; and
this was all the losse Straquhan and hes followers had. It is to be
remembred, that Cap: William Rosse, and Cap: Johne Rosse, came vpe to
the executione with 80 footte, chosen out off the countrey forces, and
did good seruice.
Friday, 17 Maij. Sessio 1.—Acte ordaining James Grhame to be brought
from the Watter Gate one a cairte, beare headit, the hangman in his
liuerey, couered, ryding one the horsse that drawes the carte, (the
prissoner to be bound to the carte with a rope,) to the tolbuith of
Edinbrughe, and from thence to be brought to the parliament housse,
and ther, in the place of delinquents, one his knees to receaue his
sentence, viz. to be hanged one a gibbet at the crosse of Edinbrughe,
with his booke and declarations tayed in a rope aboute his necke,
and ther to hing for the space of 3 houres, wntill he wer dead; and
therafter to be cutt doune by the hangman; his head, hands, and leges
to be cutt offe, and destribute as followes, viz. his head to be
affixed one ane iron pine, and sett one the pinnackell one the west
gauell of the new prissone of Edinbrughe; one hand to be sett one the
porte of Perth; the other one the porte of Stirling; one lyge and
footte one the porte of Aberdeine; the other one the porte of Glasgow.
If he was at his deathe penitent, and relaxit from excomunication, then
the truncke of his bodey to be interrid by pioners in the Gray Friars;
wtherwayes to be interrid in the Borrowmure, by the hangmans men, wnder
the gallowes.
Saterday, 18 Maij. Sessio 1.—Saterday, 18 of Maij, James Grhame entred
Edinbrughe, according to the ordinance of parl: of the 17 of Maij,
with 23 prissoners, all commanders, and Sʳ Johne Harvey, his Generall
Maior, and wer all of them comitted prissoners to the tolbuith of
Edinbrughe.
The housse mett this same day, lykwayes, by aine especiall ordinance,
at 6 a clocke at night, and sent Robert, Lord Burlie, Sʳ Ja: Hope of
Hoptone, George Porterfeld of Glasgow, Mr James Durhame and Mr Ja:
Hamilton, ministers, to James Grhame, to aske at him if he had aney
thing to say; and to shew him, that he was to repaire to the housse to
receaue his sentence. They wssed some interrogators to him, and brought
his ansuers in wreat.
The housse delayes the execution of James Grhams sentence till Monday,
at 10 houres, the 29 day. The housse ordaines the Lord Burlie, Sʳ James
Hope, George Porterfeild, Sʳ Archbald Johnston, Clercke Register,
Sʳ Thomas Nicolsone, Kˢ Aduocat, and Sʳ James Steuart, Prouest of
Edinbrughe, to examine James Grhame one some poynts anent Ducke
Hamilton, and others; and becaus he was desyrous to wnderstand of them
formerlie, how it stood betuix the King and them, the parl: ordained
them to shew him the truth, that ther commissioners and the Kings
Maiestie wer aggreid, and that his Maᵗⁱᵉ was coming heire to this
countrie.
Monday, 20 Maij. Sess: 2.—The parl: mett about 10 a clocke, and
immediatly after the doune sitting, James Grhame wes brought befor
them, by the magistratts of Edʳ, and ascendit the place of delinquents;
and after the Lord Chanceler had spokin to him, and in a large
discoursse declared the progresse of all his rebellions; he shew him
that the housse gaue him liue to speake for himselue, wich he did, in
a long discoursse, with all reuerence to the parliament, (as he said.)
Since the King and ther commissioners wer accordit, he pleaded his
auen innocencey, by calling all his auen depredations, murthers, and
bloodshed, only diuersione of the Scotts natione from interrupting
the coursse of his Maiesties affaires in England; and as for his last
invasione from Orknay, from wich (said he) he moued not one footte,
bot by his Maᵗⁱᵉˢ especiall direction and command; that, he called an
acceleratting of the tretty betuix his Maiesty and this natione. To
him the Lord Chanceler replayed, punctually prouing him, by his acts
of hostility, to be a persone most infamous, periured, treacherous,
and of all that euer this land brought fourth, the most creuell and
inhumane butcher and murtherer of his natione, a suorne enimy to the
couenant and peace of his countrey, and one quhosse boundlesse pryde
and ambition had lost the father, and by his wicked counsells done
quhat in him lay to distroy the sone lykwayes. He made no replay; but
was commandit to sitt doune one his knees, and receaue his sentence,
wich he did; Arch: Johnston, the Clerck Register, read it, and the
Dempster gaue the doume; and immediatly arrising from off his knees,
without speaking one word, he was remoued thense to the prisson. He
behaued himselue all this tyme in the housse, with a grate deall of
courage and modestie, vnmoued and vndanted, as appeired, only he sighed
too seuerall tymes, and roulled his eiyes alonges all the corners of
the housse; and at the reiding of the sentence he lift vpe his face,
without aney word speaking.
He presented himselue in a sutte of blacke clothe, and a scarlet coate
to his knee, trimmed with siluer galouns, lined with crimpson tafta;
one his head a beuer hate and siluer band; he looked somequhat pale,
lancke faced and harrey.
Tuesday, 21 Maij. Sess: 1.—This day the 281 comon souldiers taken at
Kerbester, that wer in the Canongait prisson, the housse ordaines 40
of them, being forced from Orknay, and hauinge wyffe and children,
to be dismissed. The housse giues 6 of them, being fishers, to the
Leiutenant Generall; also wther 6 fishers of them giuen by the
Parliament to the Marques of Argyle; and 6 of them, being zoung lustie
fellowes, giuen to Sʳ James Hope, to his lead minnes. The remnant
of them the housse giues to the Lord Angus and Sʳ Robert Murray, to
recreut ther Frenche regiments with, to be transported out of the
countrey to France.
This afternoone, James Grhame was execuitt, conforme to the sentence of
parliament, at 3 a clocke.
_His last Speich one the scaffold, at Edinbrughe crosse, 21 May, 1650._