MONTROSE

AND

THE COVENANTERS,

THEIR

CHARACTERS AND CONDUCT,

ILLUSTRATED

FROM PRIVATE LETTERS AND OTHER ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED,

EMBRACING THE TIMES OF CHARLES THE FIRST, FROM
THE RISE OF THE TROUBLES IN SCOTLAND,

TO THE DEATH OF MONTROSE.

BY

MARK NAPIER, Esq.

ADVOCATE.

VOLUME SECOND.

LONDON:

JAMES DUNCAN, 37, PATERNOSTER.ROW.

M.DCCC.XXXVIII.

19697A

1

PRINTED BY JOHN STARK, EDINBURGH.

CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAPTER I.

1641.

Lord Loudon opens the Scotch Parliament of 1641-Recep-

tion of the King's instructions-The Earl of Traquair-

Loudon supports the King's intercession in his favour-

Loses cast with the Covenanters in consequence-Argyle's

influence in the Parliament-Indictment against Traquair

-Fragment of Traquair's defence from the original manu-

script, throwing farther light upon the falsehoods of Walter

Stewart, and the fictitious nature of the prosecution of

Montrose and his friends,

Page 1

CHAPTER II.

1641.

The process against Montrose and his friends pressed in Par-

liament-Napier petitions that they be not prejudged in

their absence-Articles of impeachment prepared against

them, and ordained to be read publicly in Parliament, in

absence of the accused-Original draft of the substance

of the articles-Articles passed-Montrose, Napier, and

Keir called to the bar of the House Their respective ap-

pearances Argyle's favour to Blackhall-Lord Napier's

manuscripts containing a defence of " the Plotters," and

a history of the real state of the case-His character of

the Duke of Lennox,

28

CHAPTER III.

1641.

Lord Sinclair employed to search the private repositories of
Montrose, in order to make a case against him-Result of
the search-Montrose's declaration, from the original ma-
nuscript, containing his own account of his correspondence
with the King, and of the transactions for which he was

imprisoned-Contradicts the evidence of Walter Stewart

-Disreputable and illegal proceedings of the Parliament

against Montrose-Endeavour to excite the General As-

sembly against him-Balmerino defends Montrose, and

the Assembly evade the propositions of the Parliament—

Their overture rejected by the Parliament-Reference

to Montrose's oath-Montrose claims the benefit of the

rules of law in such references-His declaration upon

oath, from the original manuscript-His dignified and

composed demeanour throughout his persecution-Frag-

ment of the original libel against Lord Napier-A proof

of the dishonesty of the prosecution-Sir George Stirling

of Keir's depositions and disclosures, from the original MS.

-Indirect practising of the faction-Their tyrannical and

illegal treatment of Montrose-the King arrives in Scot-

land,

Page 48

CHAPTER IV.

1641.

The King and the covenanting Parliament of 1641-Death

of Rothes-His character-His apotheosis by act of Par-

liament-the King's speech-Its coincidence with the ad-

vice of Montrose and Napier-Argyle's insolent reply-

Attempts to humble Montrose-Charles's anxiety for the

fate of Montrose and his friends, expressed in his corre-

spondence with Sir Edward Nicholas,

CHAPTER V.

Examination and refutation of the calumny that Montrose

made an offer to assassinate Hamilton and Argyle-Mr

D'Israeli's injustice to the character of Montrose,

CHAPTER VI.

1641.

Scramble for office among the leading Covenanters at the
close of the King's visit-New agitation of "the Inci-
dent" Its relation to the Plot-Hamilton's conduct to
Charles-The King's indignation and distress-History
of the Incident-Its real nature and bearings detected—
Mr Hallam's unsatisfactory and erroneous comment upon
it-William Murray of the bed-chamber, the secret emis-
sary
of Hamilton and Argyle in those transactions-Mr

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