"Ihaveonlytoadd,thatyouhavemyfullpermissiontomakewhatuseofthiscommunicationyouplease,andeithertorejectitaltogether,orallowitsuchcreditasyouthinkitdeserves;
andIshallbereadyatalltimestofurnishyouwithanyfurtherinformationonthissubjectwhichyoumayrequire,andwhichitmaybeinmypowertoafford。
"ARDVOIRLICH,15THJANUARY,1830。"
Thepublicationofastatementsoparticular,andprobablysocorrect,isadebtduetothememoryofJamesStewart;thevictim,itwouldseem,ofhisownviolentpassions,butperhapsincapableofanactofpremeditatedtreachery。
ABBOTSFORD,1STAUGUST,1830。
II。INTRODUCTION（Supplement）。
SergeantMoreM'Alpinwas,duringhisresidenceamongus,oneofthemosthonouredinhabitantsofGandercleugh。Noonethoughtofdisputinghistitletothegreatleathernchaironthe"cosiestsideofthechimney,"inthecommonroomoftheWallaceArms,onaSaturdayevening。Nolesswouldoursexton,JohnDuirward,havehelditanunlicensedintrusion,tosufferanyonetoinducthimselfintothecorneroftheleft—handpewnearesttothepulpit,whichtheSergeantregularlyoccupiedonSundays。Therehesat,hisblueinvaliduniformbrushedwiththemostscrupulousaccuracy。Twomedalsofmeritdisplayedathisbutton—hole,aswellastheemptysleevewhichshouldhavebeenoccupiedbyhisrightarm,boreevidenceofhishardandhonourableservice。Hisweatherbeatenfeatures,hisgreyhairtiedinathinqueueinthemilitaryfashionofformerdays,andtherightsideofhisheadalittleturnedup,thebettertocatchthesoundoftheclergyman'svoice,wereallmarksofhisprofessionandinfirmities。BesidehimsathissisterJanet,alittleneatoldwoman,withaHighlandcurchandtartanplaid,watchingtheverylooksofherbrother,toherthegreatestmanuponearth,andactivelylookingoutforhim,inhissilver—claspedBible,thetextswhichtheministerquotedorexpounded。
IbelieveitwastherespectthatwasuniversallypaidtothisworthyveteranbyallranksinGandercleughwhichinducedhimtochooseourvillageforhisresidence,forsuchwasbynomeanshisoriginalintention。
Hehadrisentotherankofsergeant—majorofartillery,byhardserviceinvariousquartersoftheworld,andwasreckonedoneofthemosttriedandtrustymenoftheScotchTrain。Aball,whichshatteredhisarminapeninsularcampaign,atlengthprocuredhimanhonourabledischarge。withanallowancefromChelsea,andahandsomegratuityfromthepatrioticfund。Moreover,SergeantMoreM'Alpinhadbeenprudentaswellasvaliant;and,fromprize—moneyandsavings,hadbecomemasterofasmallsuminthethreepercentconsols。
HeretiredwiththepurposeofenjoyingthisincomeinthewildHighlandglen,inwhich,whenaboy,hehadherdedblackcattleandgoats,eretherollofthedrumhadmadehimcockhisbonnetaninchhigher,andfollowitsmusicfornearlyfortyyears。Tohisrecollection,thisretiredspotwasunparalleledinbeautybytherichestsceneshehadvisitedinhiswanderings。EventheHappyValleyofRasselaswouldhavesunkintonothinguponthecomparison。Hecame——herevisitedthelovedscene;itwasbutasterileglen,surroundedwithrudecrags,andtraversedbyanortherntorrent。Thiswasnottheworst。Thefireshadbeenquencheduponthirtyhearths——ofthecottageofhisfathershecouldbutdistinguishafewrudestones——thelanguagewasalmostextinguished——theancientracefromwhichheboastedhisdescenthadfoundarefugebeyondtheAtlantic。Onesouthlandfarmer,threegrey—plaidedshepherds,andsixdogs,nowtenantedthewholeglen,whichinhisyouthhadmaintained,incontent,ifnotincompetence,upwardsoftwohundredinhabitants,Inthehouseofthenewtenant,SergeantM'Alpinfound,however,anunexpectedsourceofpleasure,andameansofemployinghissocialaffections。HissisterJanethadfortunatelyentertainedsostrongapersuasionthatherbrotherwouldonedayreturn,thatshehadrefusedtoaccompanyherkinsfolkupontheiremigration。Nay,shehadconsented,thoughnotwithoutafeelingofdegradation,totakeservicewiththeintrudingLowlander,who,thoughaSaxon,shesaid,hadprovedakindmantoher。
ThisunexpectedmeetingwithhissisterseemedacureforallthedisappointmentswhichithadbeenSergeantMore'slottoencounter,althoughitwasnotwithoutareluctanttearthatheheardtold,asaHighlandwomanalonecouldtenit,thestoryoftheexpatriationofhiskinsmen。
Shenarratedatgreatlengththevainofferstheyhadmadeofadvancedrent,thepaymentofwhichmusthavereducedthemtotheextremityofpoverty,whichtheywereyetcontentedtoface,forpermissiontoliveanddieontheirnativesoil。NordidJanetforgettheportentswhichhadannouncedthedepartureoftheCelticrace,andthearrivalofthestrangers。Fortwoyearsprevioustotheemigration,whenthenightwindhowleddawnthepassofBalachra,itsnotesweredistinctlymodelledtothetuneof"HATILMITULIDH"（wereturnnomore）,withwhichtheemigrantsusuallybidfarewelltotheirnativeshores。TheuncouthcriesoftheSouthlandshepherds,andthebarkingoftheirdogs,wereoftenheardinthemidstofthehillslongbeforetheiractualarrival。Abard,thelastofhisrace,hadcommemoratedtheexpulsionofthenativesofthegleninatune,whichbroughttearsintotheagedeyesoftheveteran,andofwhichthefirststanzamaybethusrendered:——
Woe,woe,sonoftheLowlander,WhywiltthouleavethineownbonnyBorder？
Whycomesthouhither,disturbingtheHighlander,Wastingtheglenthatwasonceinfairorder？
WhataddedtoSergeantMoreM'Alpin'sdistressupontheoccasionwas,thatthechiefbywhomthischangehadbeeneffected,was,bytraditionandcommonopinion,heldtorepresenttheancientleadersandfathersoftheexpelledfugitives;andithadhithertobeenoneofSergeantMore'sprincipalsubjectsofpridetoprove,bygenealogicaldeduction,inwhatdegreeofkindredhestoodtothispersonage。Awofulchangewasnowwroughtinhissentimentstowardshim。
"Icannotcursehim,"hesaid,asheroseandstrodethroughtheroom,whenJanet'snarrativewasfinished——"Iwillnotcursehim;
heisthedescendantandrepresentativeofmyfathers。Butnevershallmortalmanhearmenamehisnameagain。"Andhekepthisword;for,untilhisdyingday,nomanheardhimmentionhisselfishandhard—heartedchieftain。
Aftergivingadaytosadrecollections,thehardyspiritwhichhadcarriedhimthroughsomanydangers,mannedtheSergeant'sbosomagainstthiscrueldisappointment。"Hewouldgo,"hesaid,"toCanadatohiskinsfolk,wheretheyhadnamedaTransatlanticvalleyaftertheglenoftheirfathers。Janet,"hesaid,"shouldkilthercoatslikealeaguerlady;d——nthedistance！itwasaflea'sleaptothevoyagesandmarcheshehadmadeonaslighteroccasion。"
WiththispurposehelefttheHighlands,andcamewithhissisterasfarasGandercleugh,onhiswaytoGlasgow,totakeapassagetoCanada。Butwinterwasnowsetin,andashethoughtitadvisabletowaitforaspringpassage,whentheSt。Lawrenceshouldbeopen,hesettledamongusforthefewmonthsofhisstayinBritain。Aswesaidbefore,therespectableoldmanmetwithdeferenceandattentionfromallranksofsociety;andwhenspringreturned,hewassosatisfiedwithhisquarters,thathedidnotrenewthepurposeofhisvoyage。Janetwasafraidofthesea,andhehimselffelttheinfirmitiesofageandhardservicemorethanhehadatfirstexpected。And,asheconfessedtotheclergyman,andmyworthyprincipal,Mr。Cleishbotham,"itwasbetterstayingwithkendfriends,thangoingfarther,andfaringworse。"
HethereforeestablishedhimselfandhisdomicileatGandercleugh,tothegreatsatisfaction,aswehavealreadysaid,ofallitsinhabitants,towhomhebecame,inrespectofmilitaryintelligence,andablecommentariesuponthenewspapers,gazettes,andbulletins,averyoracle,explanatoryofallmartialevents,past,present,ortocome。
Itistrue,theSergeanthadhisinconsistencies。Hewasasteadyjacobite,hisfatherandhisfouruncleshavingbeenoutintheforty—five;buthewasanolesssteadyadherentofKingGeorge,inwhoseservicehehadmadehislittlefortune,andlostthreebrothers;sothatyouwereinequaldangertodispleasehim,intermingPrinceCharles,thePretender,orbysayinganythingderogatorytothedignityofKingGeorge。Further,itmustnotbedenied,thatwhenthedayofreceivinghisdividendscameround,theSergeantwasapttotarrylongerattheWallaceArmsofanevening,thanwasconsistentwithstricttemperance,orindeedwithhisworldlyinterest;forupontheseoccasions,hiscompotatorssometimescontrivedtoflatterhispartialitiesbysingingjacobitesongs,anddrinkingconfusiontoBonaparte,andthehealthoftheDukeofWellington,untiltheSergeantwasnotonlyflatteredintopayingthewholereckoning,butoccasionallyinducedtolendsmallsumstohisinterestedcompanions。Aftersuchsprays,ashecalledthem,wereover,andhistemperoncemorecool,heseldomfailedtothankGod,andtheDukeofYork,whohadmadeitmuchmoredifficultforanoldsoldiertoruinhimselfbyhisfolly,thanhadbeenthecaseinhisyoungerdays。
ItwasnotonsuchoccasionsthatImadeapartofSergeantMoreM'Alpin'ssociety。Butoften,whenmyleisurewouldpermit,I
usedtoseekhim,onwhathecalledhismorningandeveningparade,onwhich,whentheweatherwasfair,heappearedasregularlyasifsummonedbytuckofdrum。Hismorningwalkwasbeneaththeelmsinthechurchyard;"fordeath,"hesaid,"hadbeenhisnext—doorneighbourforsomanyyears,thathehadnoapologyfordroppingtheacquaintance。"Hiseveningpromenadewasonthebleaching—greenbytheriver—side,wherehewassometimestobeseenonanopenbench,withspectaclesonnose,conningoverthenewspaperstoacircleofvillagepoliticians,explainingmilitaryterms,andaidingthecomprehensionofhishearersbylinesdrawnonthegroundwiththeendofhisrattan。
Onotheroccasions,hewassurroundedbyabevyofschool—boys,whomhesometimesdrilledtothemanual,andsometimes,withlessapprobationonthepartoftheirparents,instructedinthemysteryofartificialfire—works;forinthecaseofpublicrejoicings,theSergeantwaspyrotechnist（astheEncyclopediacallsit）tothevillageofGandercleugh。
ItwasinhismorningwalkthatImostfrequentlymetwiththeveteran。AndIcanhardlyyetlookuponthevillagefootpath,overshadowedbytherowofloftyelms,withoutthinkingIseehisuprightformadvancingtowardsmewithmeasuredstep,andhiscaneadvanced,readytopaymethemilitarysalute——butheisdead,andsleepswithhisfaithfulJanet,underthethirdofthoseverytrees,countingfromthestileatthewestcornerofthechurchyard。
ThedelightwhichIhadinSergeantM'Alpin'sconversation,relatednotonlytohisownadventures,ofwhichhehadencounteredmanyinthecourseofawanderinglife,butalsotohisrecollectionofnumerousHighlandtraditions,inwhichhisyouthhadbeeninstructedbyhisparents,andofwhichhewouldinafterlifehavedeemeditakindofheresytoquestiontheauthenticity。ManyofthesebelongedtothewarsofMontrose,inwhichsomeoftheSergeant'sancestryhad,itseems,takenadistinguishedpart。Ithashappened,that,althoughthesecivilcommotionsreflectthehighesthonourupontheHighlanders,beingindeedthefirstoccasionuponwhichtheyshowedthemselvessuperior,orevenequaltotheirLow—countryneighboursinmilitaryencounters,theyhavebeenlesscommemoratedamongthemthananyonewouldhaveexpected,judgingfromtheabundanceoftraditionswhichtheyhavepreserveduponlessinterestingsubjects。Itwas,therefore,withgreatpleasure,thatI
extractedfrommymilitaryfriendsomecuriousparticularsrespectingthattime;theyaremixedwiththatmeasureofthewildandwonderfulwhichbelongstotheperiodandthenarrator,butwhichIdonotintheleastobjecttothereader'streatingwithdisbelief,providinghewillbesogoodastogiveimplicitcredittothenaturaleventsofthestory,which,likeallthosewhichIhavehadthehonourtoputunderhisnotice,actuallyrestuponabasisoftruth。
III。ALEGENDOFMONTROSE。
CHAPTERI。
SuchasdobuildtheirfaithuponTheholytextofpikeandgun,DecideallcontroversiesbyInfallibleartillery,Andprovetheirdoctrineorthodox,Byapostolicblowsandknocks。BUTLER。
ItwasduringtheperiodofthatgreatandbloodyCivilWarwhichagitatedBritainduringtheseventeenthcentury,thatourtalehasitscommencement。Scotlandhadasyetremainedfreefromtheravagesofintestinewar,althoughitsinhabitantsweremuchdividedinpoliticalopinions;andmanyofthem,tiredofthecontroloftheEstatesofParliament,anddisapprovingoftheboldmeasurewhichtheyhadadopted,bysendingintoEnglandalargearmytotheassistanceoftheParliament,weredeterminedontheirparttoembracetheearliestopportunityofdeclaringfortheKing,andmakingsuchadiversionasshouldatleastcompeltherecallofGeneralLeslie'sarmyoutofEngland,ifitdidnotrecoveragreatpartofScotlandtotheKing'sallegiance。Thisplanwaschieflyadoptedbythenorthernnobility,whohadresistedwithgreatobstinacytheadoptionoftheSolemnLeagueandCovenant,andbymanyofthechiefsoftheHighlandclans,whoconceivedtheirinterestandauthoritytobeconnectedwithroyalty,whohad,besides,adecidedaversiontothePresbyterianformofreligion,andwho,finally,wereinthathalfsavagestateofsociety,inwhichwarisalwaysmorewelcomethanpeace。
Greatcommotionsweregenerallyexpectedtoarisefromtheseconcurrentcauses;andthetradeofincursionanddepredation,whichtheScotchHighlandersatalltimesexercisedupontheLowlands,begantoassumeamoresteady,avowed,andsystematicform,aspartofageneralmilitarysystem。
Thoseattheheadofaffairswerenotinsensibletotheperilofthemoment,andanxiouslymadepreparationstomeetandtorepelit。Theyconsidered,however,withsatisfaction,thatnoleaderornameofconsequencehadasyetappearedtoassembleanarmyofroyalists,oreventodirecttheeffortsofthosedesultorybands,whomloveofplunder,perhaps,asmuchaspoliticalprinciple,hadhurriedintomeasuresofhostility。ItwasgenerallyhopedthatthequarteringasufficientnumberoftroopsintheLowlandsadjacenttotheHighlandline,wouldhavetheeffectofrestrainingthemountainchieftains;whilethepowerofvariousbaronsinthenorth,whohadespousedtheCovenant,as,forexample,theEarlMareschal,thegreatfamiliesofForbes,Leslie,andIrvine,theGrants,andotherPresbyterianclans,mightcounterbalanceandbridle,notonlythestrengthoftheOgilviesandothercavaliersofAngusandKincardine,buteventhepotentfamilyoftheGordons,whoseextensiveauthoritywasonlyequalledbytheirextremedisliketothePresbyterianmodel。
IntheWestHighlandstherulingpartynumberedmanyenemies;butthepowerofthesedisaffectedclanswassupposedtobebroken,andthespiritoftheirchieftainsintimidated,bythepredominatinginfluenceoftheMarquisofArgyle,uponwhomtheconfidenceoftheConventionofEstateswasreposedwiththeutmostsecurity;andwhosepowerintheHighlands,alreadyexorbitant,hadbeenstillfartherincreasedbyconcessionsextortedfromtheKingatthelastpacification。ItwasindeedwellknownthatArgylewasamanratherofpoliticalenterprisethanpersonalcourage,andbettercalculatedtomanageanintrigueofstate,thantocontrolthetribesofhostilemountaineers;yetthenumbersofhisclan,andthespiritofthegallantgentlemenbywhomitwasled,might,itwassupposed,atoneforthepersonaldeficienciesoftheirchief;andastheCampbellshadalreadyseverelyhumbledseveraloftheneighbouringtribes,itwassupposedthesewouldnotreadilyagainprovokeanencounterwithabodysopowerful。
ThushavingattheircommandthewholewestandsouthofScotland,indisputablytherichestpartofthekingdom,——
Fifeshirebeinginapeculiarmannertheirown,andpossessingmanyandpowerfulfriendsevennorthoftheForthandTay,——theScottishConventionofEstatessawnodangersufficienttoinducethemtoalterthelineofpolicytheyhadadopted,ortorecallfromtheassistanceoftheirbrethrenoftheEnglishParliamentthatauxiliaryarmyoftwentythousandmen,bymeansofwhichaccessionofstrength,theKing'spartyhadbeenreducedtothedefensive,wheninfullcareeroftriumphandsuccess。
ThecauseswhichmovedtheConventionofEstatesatthistimetotakesuchanimmediateandactiveinterestinthecivilwarofEngland,aredetailedinourhistorians,butmaybehereshortlyrecapitulated。TheyhadindeednonewinjuryoraggressiontocomplainofatthehandoftheKing,andthepeacewhichhadbeenmadebetweenCharlesandhissubjectsofScotlandhadbeencarefullyobserved;buttheScottishrulerswerewellawarethatthispeacehadbeenextortedfromtheKing,aswellbytheinfluenceoftheparliamentarypartyinEngland,asbytheterroroftheirownarms。Itistrue,KingCharleshadsincethenvisitedthecapitalofhisancientkingdom,hadassentedtotheneworganizationofthechurch,andhaddistributedhonoursandrewardsamongtheleadersofthepartywhichhadshownthemselvesmosthostiletohisinterests;butitwassuspectedthatdistinctionssounwillinglyconferredwouldberesumedassoonasopportunityoffered。ThelowstateoftheEnglishParliamentwasseeninScotlandwithdeepapprehension;anditwasconcluded,thatshouldCharlestriumphbyforceofarmsagainsthisinsurgentsubjectsofEngland,hewouldnotbelonginexactingfromtheScotchthevengeancewhichhemightsupposeduetothosewhohadsettheexampleoftakinguparmsagainsthim。SuchwasthepolicyofthemeasurewhichdictatedthesendingtheauxiliaryarmyintoEngland;anditwasavowedinamanifestoexplanatoryoftheirreasonsforgivingthistimelyandimportantaidtotheEnglishParliament。TheEnglishParliament,theysaid,hadbeenalreadyfriendlytothem,andmightbesoagain;whereastheKing,althoughhehadsolatelyestablishedreligionamongthemaccordingtotheirdesires,hadgiventhemnogroundtoconfideinhisroyaldeclaration,seeingtheyhadfoundhispromisesandactionsinconsistentwitheachother。"Ourconscience,"theyconcluded,"andGod,whoisgreaterthanourconscience,bearethusrecord,thatweaimaltogetheratthegloryofGod,peaceofbothnations,andhonouroftheKing,insuppressingandpunishinginalegalway,thosewhoarethetroublersofIsrael,thefirebrandsofhell,theKorahs,theBalaams,theDoegs,theRabshakehs,theHamans,theTobiahs,theSanballatsofourtime,whichdone,wearesatisfied。NeitherhavewebeguntouseamilitaryexpeditiontoEnglandasameanforcompassingthoseourpiousends,untilallothermeanswhichwecouldthinkuponhavefailedus:andthisaloneislefttous,ULTIMUMETUNICUMREMEDIUM,thelastandonlyremedy。"
Leavingittocasuiststodeterminewhetheronecontractingpartyisjustifiedinbreakingasolemntreaty,uponthesuspicionthat,incertainfuturecontingencies,itmightbeinfringedbytheother,weshallproceedtomentiontwoothercircumstancesthathadatleastequalinfluencewiththeScottishrulersandnation,withanydoubtswhichtheyentertainedoftheKing'sgoodfaith。
Thefirstofthesewasthenatureandconditionoftheirarmy;
headedbyapooranddiscontentednobility,underwhomitwasofficeredchieflybyScottishsoldiersoffortune,whohadservedintheGermanwarsuntiltheyhadlostalmostalldistinctionofpoliticalprinciple,andevenofcountry,intheadoptionofthemercenaryfaith,thatasoldier'sprincipaldutywasfidelitytothestateorsovereignfromwhomhereceivedhispay,withoutrespecteithertothejusticeofthequarrel,ortotheirownconnexionwitheitherofthecontendingparties。Tomenofthisstamp,Grotiusappliestheseverecharacter——NULLUMVITAEGENUS
ETIMPROBIUS,QUAMEORUM,QUISINECAUSAERESPECTUMERCEDE
CONDUCTI,MILITANT。Tothesemercenarysoldiers,aswellastotheneedygentrywithwhomtheyweremixedincommand,andwhoeasilyimbibedthesameopinions,thesuccessofthelateshortinvasionofEnglandin1641wasasufficientreasonforrenewingsoprofitableanexperiment。ThegoodpayandfreequartersofEnglandhadmadeafeelingimpressionupontherecollectionofthesemilitaryadventurers,andtheprospectofagainlevyingeighthundredandfiftypoundsa—day,cameinplaceofallarguments,whetherofstateorofmorality。
Anothercauseinflamedthemindsofthenationatlarge,nolessthanthetemptingprospectofthewealthofEnglandanimatedthesoldiery。Somuchhadbeenwrittenandsaidoneithersideconcerningtheformofchurchgovernment,thatithadbecomeamatterofinfinitelymoreconsequenceintheeyesofthemultitudethanthedoctrinesofthatgospelwhichbothchurcheshadembraced。ThePrelatistsandPresbyteriansofthemoreviolentkindbecameasilliberalasthePapists,andwouldscarcelyallowthepossibilityofsalvationbeyondthepaleoftheirrespectivechurches。Itwasinvainremarkedtothesezealots,thathadtheAuthorofourholyreligionconsideredanypeculiarformofchurchgovernmentasessentialtosalvation,itwouldhavebeenrevealedwiththesameprecisionasundertheOldTestamentdispensation。BothpartiescontinuedasviolentasiftheycouldhavepleadedthedistinctcommandsofHeaventojustifytheirintolerance,Laud,inthedaysofhisdomination,hadfiredthetrain,byattemptingtoimposeupontheScottishpeoplechurchceremoniesforeigntotheirhabitsandopinions。
Thesuccesswithwhichthishadbeenresisted,andthePresbyterianmodelsubstitutedinitsplace,hadendearedthelattertothenation,asthecauseinwhichtheyhadtriumphed。
TheSolemnLeagueandCovenant,adoptedwithsuchzealbythegreaterpartofthekingdom,andbythemforced,atthesword'spoint,upontheothers,boreinitsbosom,asitsprincipalobject,theestablishingthedoctrineanddisciplineofthePresbyterianchurch,andtheputtingdownallerrorandheresy;
andhavingattainedfortheirowncountryanestablishmentofthisgoldencandlestick,theScotsbecameliberallyandfraternallyanxioustoerectthesameinEngland。ThistheyconceivedmightbeeasilyattainedbylendingtotheParliamenttheeffectualassistanceoftheScottishforces。ThePresbyterians,anumerousandpowerfulpartyintheEnglishParliament,hadhithertotakentheleadinoppositiontotheKing;whiletheIndependentsandothersectaries,whoafterwards,underCromwell,resumedthepowerofthesword,andoversetthePresbyterianmodelbothinScotlandandEngland,wereasyetcontentedtolurkundertheshelterofthewealthierandmorepowerfulparty。TheprospectofbringingtoauniformitythekingdomsofEnglandandScotlandindisciplineandworship,seemedthereforeasfairasitwasdesirable。
ThecelebratedSirHenryVane,oneofthecommissionerswhonegotiatedthealliancebetwixtEnglandandScotland,sawtheinfluencewhichthisbaithaduponthespiritsofthosewithwhomhedealt;andalthoughhimselfaviolentIndependent,hecontrivedatoncetogratifyandtoeludetheeagerdesiresofthePresbyterians,byqualifyingtheobligationtoreformtheChurchofEngland,asachangetobeexecuted"accordingtothewordofGod,andthebestreformedchurches。"Deceivedbytheirowneagerness,themselvesentertainingnodoubtsontheJUS
DIVINUMoftheirownecclesiasticalestablishments,andnotholdingitpossiblesuchdoubtscouldbeadoptedbyothers,theConventionofEstatesandtheKirkofScotlandconceived,thatsuchexpressionsnecessarilyinferredtheestablishmentofPresbytery;norweretheyundeceived,until,whentheirhelpwasnolongerneedful,thesectariesgavethemtounderstand,thatthephrasemightbeaswellappliedtoIndependency,oranyothermodeofworship,whichthosewhowereattheheadofaffairsatthetimemightconsiderasagreeable"tothewordofGod,andthepracticeofthereformedchurches。"NeitherweretheoutwittedScottishlessastonishedtofind,thatthedesignsoftheEnglishsectariesstruckagainstthemonarchialconstitutionofBritain,ithavingbeentheirintentiontoreducethepoweroftheKing,butbynomeanstoabrogatetheoffice。Theyfared,however,inthisrespect,likerashphysicians,whocommencebyover—
physickingapatient,untilheisreducedtoastateofweakness,fromwhichcordialsareafterwardsunabletorecoverhim。
Buttheseeventswerestillinthewomboffuturity。AsyettheScottishParliamentheldtheirengagementwithEnglandconsistentwithjustice,prudence,andpiety,andtheirmilitaryundertakingseemedtosucceedtotheirverywish。ThejunctionoftheScottisharmywiththoseofFairfaxandManchester,enabledtheParliamentaryforcestobesiegeYork,andtofightthedesperateactionofLong—MarstonMoor,inwhichPrinceRupertandtheMarquisofNewcastleweredefeated。TheScottishauxiliaries,indeed,hadlessofthegloryofthisvictorythantheircountrymencoulddesire。DavidLeslie,withtheircavalry,foughtbravely,andtothem,aswellastoCromwell'sbrigadeofIndependents,thehonourofthedaybelonged;buttheoldEarlofLeven,thecovenantinggeneral,wasdrivenoutofthefieldbytheimpetuouschargeofPrinceRupert,andwasthirtymilesdistant,infullflighttowardsScotland,whenhewasovertakenbythenewsthathispartyhadgainedacompletevictory。
Theabsenceoftheseauxiliarytroops,uponthiscrusadefortheestablishmentofPresbyterianisminEngland,hadconsiderablydiminishedthepoweroftheConventionofEstatesinScotland,andhadgivenrisetothoseagitationsamongtheanti—
covenanters,whichwehavenoticedatthebeginningofthischapter。