The LIAR laid open In a LETTER, First Written to a Friend in the Country, at his desire, for his private satisfaction: And now Printed for the Public.  
Touching a late PAMPHLET, ENTITLED, 
 The manifold Practices and Attempts of the hamilton's: AND Particularly, of the present DUKE OF HAMILTON, (Now General of the Scottish ARMY) to get the Crown of SCOTLAND.  
London, Printed in the Year, 1648.   

An Answer to a Letter forged by some Malicious Person against the Illustrious Lord, JAMES Duke of HAMILTON, now General of the SCOTTISH ARMY; And the Right Honourable WILLIAM, Earl of LANERICK His Brother.  
SIR,  
IN satisfaction to your desire touching a malicious Pamphlet lately forged, and published against Duke Hamilton and his Brother the Earl of Lanerick; I shall show you briefly and ingeniously my opinion thereof; Sine amore et odio, which blinds and transports most judgements.  
The first part thereof concerning some of Duke Hamiltons' Predecessors is borrowed from Buchanan, who is known by all judicious impartial men of the Scottish Nation, to have been suborned by the Earl of Murray then Regent, to defame Queen Mary and her Posterity, make them odious to the people, and incapable of Government, according to his pernicious principles now revived in this Island, (whether first invented by Jesuits, or some Sectaries about the year of God 1536. is not material to our purpose, since both Join issue in it; and like Herod and Pilate, agree against the Lords Anointed;) to make way for the settling of the Crown upon his own head, and transferring of it to his Posterity; as by Buchanan his Dialogue, De jure Regni apud Scotos, his Detectio, and History may appear: As also by the Charge, which the Earls, of Murray, Morton, and others gave in to Queen Elizabeth against Queen Mary; and as King James declares plainly in his Basilicon doron.  
And perceiving that this could hardly be effectuated so long as the race of hamilton's, the next undoubted lawful Heirs remained, who stood firm to the Queen: He caused Buchanan to defame them also in his Libels for that same end, forfeited and banished them for their Loyalty; and as Buchanan, to insinuate his calumnies the better, took his rise from King James the fifth's minority; so doth this Pamphleter now, and yet makes only use of him, when he serves his turn, building upon his own raw invention, when Buchanan makes not for it;  
As when he instances Sir James Hamilton executed for Treason, Buchanan doth not charge the Earl of Arran to have had any hand in it, neither was he ever accused thereof; the said Sir James of Evendale being known to be a profuse wicked man.  
Again, Buchanan in terminis charges the Clergy, as the chief hinderers of King James the Fift his meeting at York with his Uncle Henry the Eighth of England, for fear he should have induced him to shake off the Pope's Authority as himself had done a little before; and that the Marriage with the Lady Mary might have been a means to procure it: as they likewise hindered the Marriage of Mary Queen of Scots with Edward the Sixth, agreed upon under the Great Seals of both Kingdoms: The Queen-Mother and Cardinal Beaton who ruled all then, sending her to France; which this Pamphleter charges most injuriously upon the Duke of Chastle-rault, whereas it is conspicuous that he obtained that title, and 1200 Franks pension (which this Duke keeps still) from the French King, for resigning the Regency to the Queen dowager, being that he was made Regent, not by a private faction (as the Pamphleter says) but by the Three Estates of the Kingdom, in opposition to a forged Will of the late Kings, which Cardinal Beaton obtruded, the Duke being inclined then to the Protestant Religion, and most popular, as both Buchanan and John Knox in their Histories do testify, and impute his after change in Religion to the Queen's side, to his Brother the Abbot of Paseley, after Archbishop of St Andrews; and M. David Panter his Secretary, after Bishop of Rosse, who returning from France, got in great favour with him, over ruled him, being of no great intellectuals, and caused remove of all his ancient servants, and placed their own creatures about him: And it is very plain, that if he had been a man of an aspiring spirit to the Crown, he would never have given up his Regency; but all his actions shows him to have been a humble man, and of no ambition, and more inclined to a private, than public way of life.  
And for his eldest Son the Earl of Arran, he was known to be distracted, and died so without marriage, and Lord John the second Son, this Duke's Grandfather, never was a suitor to the Queen that I can read in any but this Pamphleter, though I cannot see, that it had been a Crime in either to have been suitors, more than it was for the Lord Darnely to marry her.  
As for the King's murder afterwards, when the Earl of Morton suffered for concealing of it, a clear Discovery was made, who were the chief authors of it, and actors in it; the Duke of Chastle rault and his Sons having small hand in the Government at that time, and standing fast to the Queen, when others rose in Arms against her in prosecution of that Design.  
As for the Earl of Murrayes death, Bothwel-haugh that perpetrated it, flying after to France, professed that he did it out of a private revenge, because the Earl of Murray had taken his Estate unjustly from him, and could not be induced by large rewards to kill a great man there, neither could there ever be any legal proofs brought against the Duke, his Sons, or Archbishop Hamilton, (who was most illegally and barbarously murdered, concerning the King's murder and Regent's death:) though much attempted by the Faction of the times out of malice to them for their Loyalty to the Queen, and consequently to the Prince her Son, whom the Faction set up in his Cradle, to destroy his Mother, under colour of his Authority invested in them, which, how much he abhorred, he declared fully when he came to years of understanding: and many of the chief Actors, did not escape God's judgement; And here I must observe, how this Scribbler would seem to be a Royalist, and yet runs himself upon Sectarian Antimonarchical Rocks, that make inevitable Shipwreck of all Monarchical power.  
Where he says, That the Queen was put and kept in Lochleven a prisoner, by command of Parliament, and that the hamilton's took a course to relieve her, and suppress the King and his party; he will not deny, but the Queen was their lawful Sovereign by the Law of God, and by near 107 Descents; by what law then, of God, or that Kingdom, could a party of her Subjects imprison, and disthrone her? Was it Treason in my Lord Hamilton, Duke of Chastle-rault to relieve her, and employ all his power to defend her? Let them cite the Law; I demand of him, Would it be so now, to rescue the King out of the Isle of Wight? But he answers, That it was to suppress the King her son, and the Nobility, that did adhere to him: This is a poor subterfuge, the Prince was in his Cradle, not fully 18 months of age, and what hand could he have in the ruin of his Mother, to make a Precedent for his own? the matter is clear to any reasonable man.  
The hamilton's would have restored the Queen according to the duty of their allegiance without wronging the young Prince in his just succession; nay, for the better preserving of his Royal Person to come to it in his due time, according to the Law of God, and of that Nation. But such was the perfidious guilt of the Earls of Murray, Argile, Morton, Ruthen and others, that it could not be done without their destruction; therefore they laboured to keep the power in their own hands, in the name of the Infant King, and to destroy the Queen and hamilton's, to put the crown upon the Earl of Murraye's head, the young King being in his custody to make away when he found time.  
And besides, King James His Authority, (which is of great force with the judiciously learned,) all the Earl of Murrayes proceed, do clearly demonstrate his intended usurpation of the Crown; for from the first beginning of that Rebellion he was head of it, and all along acted covertly, making the Earl of Argile to own it openly, and made still a show to be for the Queen his dear sister, abusing of her goodness, and getting into places of greatest trust, the better to betray all her Counsels to Argile, and the Lords of the congregations absenting himself ever from the execution of all the plots contrived against her, which himself was chief author and abettor of, until at last she was imprisoned, and disthroned; and then when he thought all sure, he took off the mask, raised an Army openly, defeated her in Langside field, and enforced her to fly into England for safety, in regard of his most violent prosecution: to the disgrace both of her, the young King, and the Scottish Nation, charging her with many base aspersions, that could not but reflect upon her Son, and subjecting her honour and life to the judgement of a foreign Prince contrary to the fundamental laws of that ancient free Kingdom, never subject to any but their own Kings: and at the same time forfeited and banished the hamilton's, Lord John and Lord Claud being reduced to that extremity, that they were constrained to go on foot disguised through England to France; such an influence and correspondence the Earl of Murray had then with Queen Elisabeth, that they durst not be known there.  
Some Two Years and odd Months after the Earl of Murry being killed by one of the name of Hamilton out of his private revenge (as I touched before) the Earl of Lenox got to be regent; and continued the persecution of the hamilton's, out of an old quarrel that had been between these families for the death of John Earl of Lenox in King james the fift his minority (but withal still under the pretence of the murder of the late King and Regent) and so did the two succeeding Regent's, the Earls of Marre and Morton, to keep the power in their own hands, and debar my Lord Hamilton from his just Right, the Regency being due to him by the Laws of the Kingdom, as next of blood to the young King.  
Thereafter Captain James Stewart a man of a violent and hot Spirit, coming in favour with the young King, studied to raise his fortune, (being a Soldier of fortune) upon the continuance of the Hamiltons' ruin, and first begged the Ward of the Earl of Arran, being a Lunatic; and afterwards got himself to be made Earl of Arran: Thus for many years the hamilton's suffered exceedingly for their loyalty; until at last a great part of the Nobility, and Gentry, not being able to endure longer Captain james his oppressions, risen in a body, called home Lord John Hamilton, and Lord Claud his Brother, and rescued the King at Striveling out of his hands.  
At which time Lord john, venerable for his comely person, and grey hairs (occasioned by his great afflictions) falling upon his knees to kiss his Majesty's hand, was taken up, embraced, and called Father by him; who being overjoyed with the King's presence, and kind reception, fell again upon his knees, and could not express for tears, his joy mixed with grief, that he should have been enforced to take that way to come to His Majesty's Presence, humbly begging pardon, if he had given any offence to his Majesty thereby. The King being much moved with his passionate expressions and manner of his carriage, took him up again, embraced him, and desired him not to be troubled, assuring him that he was now come to years, to discern what he and his family had suffered above all others, for their fidelity to his Mother, and should reward it, if God spared his days.  
And soon after created him Marquis of Hamilton, made him a Privy Councillor, and desired much his advice in all business of Weight; but he being of retired disposition waved as much as he could the Court, to enjoy a private contented life in the Country. Some of the furious Ministers wrote to him the famous 17 day of December, 1596. when they stirred up the hot-headded Zelots in Edinburgh against the King, to come and be head of their faction, which they called God and the Kirks Cause, which was a fair occasion for him to have embraced, if he had been more ambitious than loyal; but he flatly refused, advising them to submit to their Sovereign; sent their Letters to the King, and offered his best assistance to suppress them, and so continued all his time most passionately affectionate to his sacred Majesty's service, which leads me to observe this Libelers malice in his Postscript against him, most injuriously, and upon no ground, unless he do with some of our times interpret the greatest loyalty to be treason, as he asserts plainly in some parts of his discourse, and particularly in the Postscript, to bring home his conclusion grounded upon false Premises, against my Lord Hamiltons' Predecessors, and to make way for a more easy belief, in the Readers of these things, that he libels against the Duke himself, and his Brother, to whose parts I am now come, (not esteeming it needful to insist upon the Noble disposition of the Duke's Father, not mentioned by the Pamphleter, and the faithful service that he did to King james in the general Assembly at Perth, and in His Majesty's Royal Family.)  
The first arrow wherewith he thinks to wound my Lord Duke's honour, is drawn from that Levy for Germany, about seventeen or eighteen years ago, and carried on with a longwinded story concerning the Lord Rae, Ochiltrie, and others.  
Sir, it is well known, that in that public trial, before the Marshal Court, between the L. Rae, & David Ramsey, and at the Council Table between Major Borthuik, and M. Robert Meldram, he was acquitted; David Ramsey being known to be no better than a mad man, and the other esteemed a man of no stable spirit, both very unlikely to be entrusted by so prudent a Statesman, (as the Duke is thought to be) in a business of that nature. The Lord Raes concealing of the business so long, makes it suspicious, that if he could have obtained a lease of Orknay (which it should seem, the Lord Duke either crossed him in, or did not ●ive him that furtherance which he expected, there had never been a word of it. And Major Borthuik (as I have been informed by them that knew him) was a bare Soldier that would have raised a fortune any way. The Lord Ochiltrie, son to Captain james Stewart, formerly mentioned, being of a desperate estate, is confessed by the Pamphleter, to have gone far beyond his information, and consequently to suffer justly (whatsoever he says to the contrary.)  
The second arrow that he shoots at my Lord Duke, taketh its flight from the beginning of the troubles in Scotland, about which time my Lord Duke being employed by His Majesty as his Commissioner into that Kingdom, to settle all differences there, left no means unattempted to advance His Majesty's service, (whatever this Scribbler falsely surmiseth to the contrary) and notwithstanding so great a mountain of opposition as he then met with, did employ his uttermost power with all fidelity, wisdom, zeal and courage for His Majesty's interest, (his now enemies themselves then being Judges:)  
Immediately after he hath shot this second arrow, pag. 16. perceiving it to fall short, he feathers it of new with some Articles once in preparation (as he says) by the House of Commons here in England against my Lord Duke, but this embryo wherewith this ardelio seems to please himself very much, proved abortive, like one of his births, who hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood; and the truth is, that my Lords unsained zeal and unwearied fedulity to promote His Majesty's Interest in both Kingdoms, was that which rendered him obnoxious to the fury of the times in both, and might have cost him dear, if he had not taken some fair prudential ways to save himself, when the King was not able to protect him: As for this Pamphleter, to draw conclusions from the event and success of things, which is only in God's hands, and many times follows the worst or weakest counsels, savours of too much spleen.  
— Careat successibus opto,  
Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putet.  
And to drive on Consequences from, perhaps, it may be, it seemeth, and such dialectical mediums, and suppositions, as also upon foolish Prophecies, which like Sybiliaes' Oracles have ever divers senses, and are interpreted at pleasure with additions, diminutions and alterations, relishes too much malice. As this of Cadyow, which is laid by him as the corner stone of his accusation,— was made use of by the Zealots, against the Duke's Father, when he was His Majesty's Commissioner in the general Assembly at Perth, with the addition of the word Kirk, thus; When Cadyow shall be King (interpreted by) them the King's Commissioner) he shall much woe to the Kirk bring.  
But this word Kirk is now omitted by this Libeler, he following, for his own finister ends, the footsteps of his Father the Devil.  
As for my own part, I profess to you, Sir, that I look upon these pretended Prophecies not otherwise, then upon the cheats of Wizards, though there may be sometimes cunning policy in them, to abuse the simple credulous people.  
His last arrow flieth high, but how far wide, and how much, in this last aspersion, his tongue is like a razor that cutteth deceitfully; will appear by this true narration, which I shall briefly give you, as followeth.  
In the year 1643. upon the Duke's arrival at Oxford from Scotland, out of his Zeal to His Majesty's Interest; some Doegs then of both Nations conspiring together, and being led with a most perverse and ungrateful spirit (divers of them being raised by his means to their highest and best fortunes,) most falsely and injuriously laid to his charge things that he knew not, acting the part of informers, accusers and witnesses; whereupon a process was drawn against the Duke, but when the same was given into Sir Robert Holborn (that late famous Lawyer) to see how far it would strike against my Lord Duke: In plain terms he affirmed it was of no weight, withal adding, there was never greater injustice done to a Peer of this Realm; for which plainness and candour, the said Sir Robert Holborn was like to have suffered deeply: Besides, to this day there never was, neither then could be any real proof made against him. And though my Lord Duke, during his abode at Oxford, did from day to day most humbly supplicate access to His Majesty for clearing of himself; yet the said combined faction (well knowing, that if the Lord Duke had got access to His Majesty, he could as easily have shaken off their forged accusation, as Saint PAUL did the Viper from his hand;) prevailed by their multiplied malicious Suggestions, subtle insinuations, and the influence of their abettors, over the King's good nature, as to get my Lord removed from Court, and committed to Pendennis, where he endured a long and tedious imprisonment with great Patience, his good conscience being a continual feast to him.  
Now lest I should trespass upon your patience, and transgress too far the just limits of a Letter, I shall shut up the Duke's part with this, That all that the Pamphleter hath packed together in his Letter, is but a fardel of gross lies and false aspersions, whereby, if that he hath not lied himself out of all credit with all men of any candour or ingenuity; I report myself to any who hath not the pearl of prejudice in the eye of their judgement; As also that he proves himself a Libeler in not putting his name to the charge, according to the Laws of that Kingdom.  
To draw towards a conclusion, pag. 21. he shows no small particular spleen against the Earl of Lanrick in the citation of two passages that could not drop from the mouth of any rational man, much less from one of my Lord Lanricks wisdom and temper: The passages he takes upon him to confirm by my Lord's horoscope (wherein it seems he is versed) & with a Peut-estre and his bare affirmative; as his Peut-estre, hath no strength in it, and his affirmative no credit, so I hope none will fancy my Lord Lanrick of so mean a capacity, and credulous a brain as to place so great confidence (as the Pamphleter speaks of) in a horoscope, much less to glory in the same, contrary to the Canons of the Primitive Church, and practice of all good Christians, nay even the Laws of some Pagan Emperors. Sir, as for the nature of Horoscopes in general, I have spent some time in the search of it, but could never find any certain grounds to build upon, and can instance an hundred failings for every truth hath fallen out.  
Lastly I conceive this Pamphlet (as things stand) to have been unseasonably vented, to the no small encouragement of all disaffected to his Majesty and Monarchical Government, and the grand discouragement of all well affected to his Majesty's service and interest; yea even to divide and disturb them. But to wind up all, my Lord Duke being made General of the Scotish Army, not by a private Faction, but by the Estates of that Kingdom assembled in a full and free Parliament, I am confident (and so desire you to be] that his Graces faithful, vigorous and active prosecution of that high and weighty employment now laid upon his shoulders, will prove, (by the blessing of him who is the Lord of Hosts the Panpharmacon of all our distempers and diseases, turn all our water into wine, speak this conjurer (for so he takes upon him to be pag. 23. dead, falsify all his panic predictions, undeceive many who out of their too much credulity and no less partiality, have apprehended and entertained divers groundless fears and jealousies of my Lord Duke, and in the end fatal to none but this upstart Merlin and his pertinacious Proselytes: My Lord Duke having nothing before his eyes, nor prising any thing upon earth more dear to him then the settling of Religion in its power and purity, his sacred Majesty's restauration to his Royal Throne and Dignity; the firm union of both Nations; and the peace and tranquillity of all these so long bleeding and distempered Kingdoms: which the God of Peace speedily accomplish and I presume that you and all the lovers of truth, justice and peace, will say A men to the Prayer of  
SIR, Your observant Friend to serve you, 510: 1610.  
Postscript.  
I forgot (being in haste] to show you how that the Author of the Pamphlet doth Pag, 20, & 21. intimate himself to have been very inward with the King at Newcastle, to be a man of no vulgar intelligence, and as confident as a Secretary of State; but as he plundered Buchanan in the first part; so he discovers the like, or more interest than buchanan's plundered mare and cloak-bag in the last part.  
FINIS