1650.
Excerpts from the Historical Discourses, &c., by Sir Edward Walker, Knight, Garter, Principal King of Arms, Secretary of War to his Majesty King Charles I., and Clerk of the Council to King Charles II.[443] [London, folio, 1705.]
Much about the time of his Majesty’s landing, certain intelligence came of Cromwell’s advance, which induced a necessity of reinforcing their standing army, consisting of 2,500 horse and 3,000 foot. Much debate it had in Parliament, and was much opposed by Warriston, Scheesely, Swinton, and others of that party; but the certain news of his Majesty’s arrival cooled their courages at that time; and so the Act of Levies past, consisting of above 30,000 horse and foot throughout the kingdom. This being done, a list being sent them (by that zealous brother Geffery, one of the Commissioners) of the persons that came over with his Majesty, as well his servants as others. They presently voted all of them from him but the Duke of Buckingham, Mr Seymour, Dr Frazer, and Mr Rodes; and so the Parliament adjourned to the 15ᵗʰ of August leaving a committee to rule in the interim. Two or three days after, the Marquess of Argyle, the Earls of Boclough and Weymes, Warriston, Cheesely, with the ministers Dick, Guthery, and others of the Committee came, and (having, it seems, power to that purpose,) they mitigated somewhat of the rigour of the former vote; for they only excluded the Lord Wilmot, Mr Secretary Long, Mr Harding, and Mr Oudart from Court, until they were otherwise disposed by Parliament; but banished out of the kingdom within eight days after the publication, either at Dundee or Aberdeene, the Earl of Cleveland, and his son the Lord Wentworth, (who had deserved better of them,) the Lords of Widrington and Grandison, Sir Philip Musgrave, Sir Edward Walker, Mr Progers of the Bedchamber, Collonel Darsy, Collonel Grey, (though absent in Holland,) Collonel Boynton, Major Jackson, and Dr Gough. The first four, to shew their obedience, presently absented themselves; and two of them, the Lord Wilmot and Mr Harding, are again returned to Court, though no publick vote be yet passed in their favour; but the rest being not to expect any from them, and another part of the vote being to have money to transport them, did not remove themselves. Hither many of the Nobility Engagers and others came, but with difficulty were admitted to kiss his Majesty’s hand, and not suffered to stay any time. Among others, the Earl of Cornwarth, who coming into the Privy Chamber, and being told by the Marquess of Argyle, it was a great presumption to come thither being in his condition, he went to his Majesty, told him Friends must part, and wished and hoped he had none about him less faithful to him than himself. Then turning to Argyle, he told him—This is your doing; but I value it not. Then, coming into the presence, he applied himself to the Earl of Cassels, standing on the one side of the Cloth of State, Warriston and Cheesely standing on the other. By this time, notice was given what had passed within, and Mr Wood, the minister, one of the Commissioners in Holland, beckned to him to come away, which he presently did; and coming to him said, Sir, God, I hope, will forgive me—will not you? But Mr Wood turned from him in disdain, giving him never a word; upon this, the Earl of Cornwarth went out. In the interim, Warriston and Cheesely called Sir James Balfour, Lyon King at Arms, and gave him order to take the Earl and hang him presently, except he went from Court. Hence you may observe the charity of the Clergy, and the mercy of the Committee to any of the Royal party; since, the Earl being taken at Edenborough, was made prisoner in the Tolbooth, and (for anything I hear) left to Cromwell’s disposition, together with Sir John Henderson; who coming afterwards to Dumfermling, and addressing himself to the Marquess of Argyle, was to have been employed by him to bring over the remainder of the arms from Sweden; in confidence of whose favour, he went to Edenborough, where he was likewise imprisoned. Besides this vote of Banishment, the Committee presented His Majesty an Act of Confirmation of the Treaty, with a recognition of his right and capacity of his executing of His Royal Authority; intimating their intentions of his Coronation at the next meeting of Parliament. But, in the interim, reserving the administration of affairs to the Committee of Estates, who still kept all in their power, except his Majesty’s concurrence with them can add to their advantage, and then they seek it; to this end, they procured His Letters to the several Northern Counties to hasten the Levies.
The Committee having, to their satisfaction, at this time dispatched their business, returned to Edenborough; so did the old General Levin and David Lesley to the Army; from hence, likewise, all the Commissioners that were in Holland went their several ways, none remaining but the Earl of Lothian, and of the Committee, the Marquess of Argyle and his son the Lord Lorne, taking upon them the sole administration of Affairs.
His Majesty having stayed here about fifteen days, went to St John’s Town, [Perth] where he was affectionately received, and, staying there one night, he passed back to Dumfermling, where he rested two, and so went to Stirling. By this time Cromwell was entred Scotland, and, without any opposition, advanced to Musleborough, but six miles from Edenborough. The Scotish army was drawn between Leith and Edenborough, having cast a trench before them. The number, at that time, of either army were equal, each being about 12,000 men, but Cromwell’s, at that time, in much better order and discipline, for the Scotish army, being solely governed by the Committee of Estates and Kirk, took especial care in the levies not to admit any Malignants or Engagers; placing, for the most part, in command, ministers sons, clerks, and such other sanctified creatures, who hardly ever saw or heard of any Sword but that of the Spirit, and with this, their chosen crew, made themselves sure of Victory.
His Majesty having stayed three nights at Sterling, and Cromwell drawing nearer to Edenborough, was, by the good will of the general officers of the army, and the promptness of the Earl of Eglanton (a little before made Collonel of His Majesty’s Horse Guard,) sent for by him to come to the Army. This was done against the sense of the Committee, and it were to have been wished he had not gone, or not given way so much to them, as when he was there to quit his interest and return. So, on Monday the 27ᵗʰ of July, His Majesty, attended by the Duke of Buckingham, the Marquess of Argile, and some few of the Scotish nobility, with his servants, rode to Leith. Before he went, all the banished persons were commanded not to go with him to the army. That evening, His Majesty was received into the army with all the expressions of joy; and, at that instant, Cromwell drew a strong party of horse down even to the trench, and caused a party of the Scots, commanded by Sir James Hacket, to retreat in very great disorder. The next day a strong party of horse, commanded by Collonel Mountgomery, son to the Earl of Eglanton, fetching a compass, fell into Cromwell’s quarters about Musselborough, routed six or eight partys of horse, forced (as ’tis said) Cromwell, himself, in his drawers, to take his horse and pass over the river. Lambert was hurt in the action, and some slain, and ’tis as probable that, if Mountgomery had been seconded, he might as well have ruined Cromwell’s army as he did after the Scotish army; but in the retreat, being in disorder, he lost some men and all his prisoners....
By this time the army was much encreased, many Malignants and Engagers having gotten into command, His Majesty high in the favour and affection of the army, which was then more evident by the souldiers having, in the late action, made an R with chalk, under the Crown, upon their arms, and generally expressing the goodness of their cause, now they had the King with them. This startled the Committees both of Kirk and State, who cried out that the quarrel was changed and the cause of God neglected; and so divers arguments were used to remove His Majesty from the army, as the danger of his person, the multitude of people out of order by reason of his presence, want of provisions; and, ’tis reported, the Committee declared that, if he would not retire, they would act no more; and so, much against his will, he was persuaded, on Friday, the second of August, to pass over the Forth to Dumfermling.
Presently the Committee commanded away all Malignants and Engagers, and so lessened the Army of three or 4000 of the best men, and displaced all officers suspected, concluding then they had an army of saints, and that they could not be beaten, for so their lying prophets daily told the people out of the pulpit. Besides, the Gentry out of the Mers and Tividale, who offered to offend Cromwell’s rear, were, on pain of forfeiture, forbidden to embody themselves, or to attempt anything on him, but to come away and leave all to his power. And I have been assured by persons of great honour and integrity, that offers were made by considerable persons of the Malignant and Engaging Parties, that they would raise another army, that in case this were beaten, to take up the quarrel, and, in the interim, to give their wives and children in hostage; that, if this was victorious, presently to lay down arms, or, at least, that they might come into the army and have the van against Cromwell; but neither would be accepted. The prevailing party, to colour their malice and fear of them, (should they get any power,) by their instruments, the Ministers, declaring against them, and terming the sin of malignancy a sin against the Holy Ghost; that it was better to fight their enemies with a handful of elect and godly people than with mighty arms, loaden with that sin, which, like Acan’s wedge, would surely be the cause of their destruction.
About a week after, Cromwell rose hastily in the night, and marched back; he was as far as Haddington before the Scotish army took notice of his motion; thence he went to Dunbarr. This occasioned several reports and conjectures, but none proved true. The Scotish army followed him, not expecting orders from the Committees.
In the interim, a Guard of two companies of foot, under the command of the Lord Lorne, Argyle’s son, was, for honour’s sake, appointed to attend the Court. These are those who, when all the Scots in the north of Ireland declared to join with the Marquess of Ormond against the murtherers of the late King, refused and came home to Scotland, where they are well treated, and put into the Lord of Lorne’s regiment.
Presently after the large Declaration ensuing was either brought his Majesty by Warriston and Berkley from the State, and Douglas and Guthery from the Kirk, or else, (if he had it before,) they then came for his answer. His Majesty, at that time, positively refused to sign it, and they most peremptorily pressed to have it passed in terminis, without any variation, how barbarous and unchristian soever the expressions were therein in relation to the late glorious King. They staid but one night, and so went away to Edenborough and Sterling, where, the next day being Sunday, they thundred out against the King, that they were deceived in him—that he was the very Root of Malignancy, and an utter enemy to the kingdome of Christ; and the Covenant which he had taken was only to gain his ends; and that they must take heed of him and the heathen people about him. Whereupon, on Monday following, the Kirk published the ensuing Declaration, which was approved by the Committee of Estates; and, two days after, three or four of the most zealous of the army, in the name of the rest, exhibited the following Remonstrance, which failed not of an acceptation. And I am assured that both the contrivers and approvers of them were not displeased at his Majesty’s refusal—their ends being thereby to publish their papers, and so to bring his Majesty into the odium of the people and the army; whereby they might more safely treat with Cromwell, and give him assurance of not invading England, (which part of their Resolution is manifest in all their printed Declarations,) and so (if they kept the King amongst them until they could find a way to be rid of him) yet still to assure to themselves the power of Government; for, believe it, they did then and still do more fear His Majesty’s just authority than they do the Conquest by Cromwell.