MONTROSE AND THE COVENANTERS, THEIR CHARACTERS AND CONDUCT, ILLUSTRATED OM PRIVATE LETTERS AND OTHER ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS EMBRACING THE TIMES OF CHARLES THE FIRST, FROM TO THE DEATH OF MONTROSE. N21 116162 PREFACE. SOME years ago, having occasion to examine the Napier charter-chest, I discovered materials there which suggested the idea of illustrating, more fully and originally than had hitherto been done, the lives of two of the greatest worthies, in their separate walks, whom Scotland has produced, viz. NAPIER and Montrose. Different as were the characters and pursuits of the Inventor of Logarithms, and the Hero of the Scottish Troubles, some of the illustrations contained in the "Memoirs of John Napier of Merchiston," and those How brought together to elucidate the comparative merits of "Montrose and the Covenanters," are not without an historical connexion. Napier, a great champion of the Protestant Church, attracted the yes of Europe even more, in his own day, by his very learned and original Commentaries on the Apocalypse, than by his immortal discovery in mathematics. He was a most distinguished leader of that church party in Scotland who stood forth, sturdily and conscientously, but without disloyal or anti-monarchical feelings, against the supposed papistical inclinations of James VI., and the desperate attempts of absolute Popery from abroad. Napier's eldest son, the first Lord Napier, a sincere disciple of his father's in those rigid Protestant doctrines, became the personal friend both of James VI. and Charles I., and, moreover, a second parent to Montrose. But, in the progress of events, all that was honest and sincere of the anti-papistical party in Scotland was superseded by an insidious democratic clique, who, disguised for a time under the mantles of such enthusiasts as Knox and Napier, and pretending to identify Episcopacy with Popery, pressed onwards, through their various stages of duplicity and crime, until an ephemeral throne, born of their anarchy, was reared upon the prostrate necks of RELIGION and LIBERTY, whose sacred names they had taken in vain. Hence it happened that the immediate representative of the great Napier, and his illustrious pupil Montrose, were covenanting at first, and, without the sacrifice of a principle, martyrs to their loyalty in the end. But, even in our own enlightened times, there is a disposition to confound the cause of truth with that career of democracy, and to claim for the factious Covenanter of Argyle's Dictatorship,-as vicious a compound as ever agitated under a veil of sanctity,the respect due to the stern virtues of some of our early reformers, and also that admiring sympathy which the violent and impolitic retaliation of the Government of the second James has rendered no less due to the wrapt heroism of the Cameronian peasant. Some, indeed, carry their vague ideas, of the political sobriquet" Covenanters," so far as to consider the term sacred, to identify Those factionists with the Church of Scotland in all eras, and to resent any attempt at exposing their vices, with .. much keenness as if the respectability of the Presbyterian forms depended upon the fame of the unprincipled shool of Argyle, such as Wariston, and Lauderdale himself, the persecutor of the second race of Covenan It is not, however, in a sense so indiscriminate, that I have adopted the title " Montrose and the Covemanters," or have instituted that contrast. The name and actions of Montrose were too conspicuous, and influential, in his critical times, not to have become familiar even to such as cannot, in a strict sense, be termed readers of history. The romantic pages, and historic genius, of Sir Walter Scott, have made the hero as well known to the general or luxurious reaor, as he is to those who study, more inquiringly and systematically, all the historical annals of their country. Hence there is an impression, widely prevailing though very erroneous, that no more need or can be recorded of Montrose and his times. But, I venture to say, had the original materials now first brought to light in the following pages, been in the possession of David Hume or Sir Walter Scott, greatly would the acquisition have aidd, enlightened, and enriched, a deeply interesting and important chapter of their historical compositions. Even the domestic facts, though few in number, which I have been enabled to add to a more minute illustration of the priniples of Montrose's public conduct than had hitherto been afforded, would have been treasures in the hands of the "Great Magician." With such stores, new to the |