In 1632 Lithgow published the first collected edition[4] of his Travels, under the title of ‘The Totall Discourse Of the Rare Aduentures and painefull Peregrinations of long nineteene Yeares Trauayles, from Scotland, to the most Famous Kingdomes in Europe, Asia, and Affrica.… Imprinted at London by Nicholas Okes.’ The publication seems to have got him immediately into trouble, probably owing to the Spanish influence at Court, as there is a petition extant[5] from him in which he states that he ‘had no satisfaction for his grievous torments sustained in Malaga, and having in the description of his foreign travels succinctly avouched the woeful memory of such disastrous accidents, had been this long time committed close prisoner to the Gatehouse, when he had contracted great sickness to the danger of his life. The printer in whom only the reprehension was, is long ago “decarcerat,” but he is retained in severe punishment.’ He protests that he will never ‘meddle any more with the Spaniard however his lamentable wrongs remain unrepaired.’
On the 16th May, 1637, Lithgow, mounted on a ‘Gallowegian nagge,’ left Scotland, where he had been the guest of the Earl of Galloway, intending to embark at London for Russia, but shipping failing, and summer being over, he resolved to go instead to Breda, and on his return published ‘A True and Experimentall Discourse, upon the beginning, proceeding and Victorious event of this last Siege of Breda … London: Printed by J. Okes for J. Rothwel … 1637.’
On 24th August, 1643, Lithgow again left Scotland, embarking at Prestonpans for London, ‘In all which deserted way, betweene Forth and Gravesend, wee found onely three ships, two Scotsmen and a Noruegian, and one of the royall whelps lying at anker in Aermouth road, which made the sea resemble a wildernesse.’ As the result of this visit, he published ‘The present Surveigh of London and England’s State … London, Printed by J. O. 1643.’ In this book Lithgow gives an interesting account of the fortifications raised by the citizens for defence against the Royalist army. The last work known to have been published by him is ‘An Experimental and Exact Relation upon that famous and renowned Siege of Newcastle … Edinburgh, printed by Robert Bryson 1645.’ From this date all trace of him is lost; the date of his death and the place of his burial are unknown, though there is a tradition that he died in Lanark, and lies buried in the churchyard of St. Kentigern there.
Editions of ‘The Totall Discourse’ were published in London in 1640 and 1682, and in Edinburgh in 1770 and 1814, while a volume of the ‘Poetical Remains of William Lithgow,’ containing valuable ‘Prefatory Remarks,’ was collected and published by Dr. James Maidment in Edinburgh in 1863.
The text of ‘The Totall Discourse’ now published is a reprint of the editio princeps of 1632. References to the pages of the original edition are given in the margin. The letters i, j, u, and v have been altered to conform to modern usage, and obvious printers’ errors both of spelling and punctuation have been corrected. The index of the original text has been replaced by a fuller one in this edition.
Glasgow,
September, 1906.
[1] Somers Tracts, Vol. IV. p. 535, Ed. 1810. [↑]
[3] Lithgow himself says nine weeks, but in the ‘Supplication of Aquila Wykes,’ Keeper of the Marshalsea (Calendar of State Papers, Domestic, Vol. CLIII, No. 26), dated October 9th, 1623, Lithgow is mentioned as ‘committed close prisoner 2 Febr. 1622’ and still remaining in custody. [↑]