A short Narrative by way of Vindication of the late Honourable marquis of Montrosse, his last design, impartially setting forth the true grounds which moved him to undertake that second employment, together with the most probable causes of his miscarriage therein.  
TO unlock the secret Riddles of Divine Providence, or make discovery of the strange and unparallelled Changes this Age hath brought forth, is a work fitter for an OEDIPUS then myself; yet for satisfaction of well affencted mindes, who have not had the benefit and opportunity to be thoroughly informed of each particular truth,& rectifying the misguided judgements of such as give credit to all vulgar Reports without any just examination; as also the clearing of many mistakes that somewhat sourly reflect upon persons not rightly concerned, and as Justice and Equity requires, setting the saddle upon the right horse: Have I adventured to set Pen to Paper, and make the world acquainted with such observations of the truth of things, as in my travels abroad( not without some pains, and cost, and danger too) I have acquired touching the late Lord marquis of MONTROSSE, his last Engagement and miscarriage therein.  
That cursed faction, which was first hatched in Scotland, but afterwards nursed and brought up in England, having attained its fu●l growth, and come to that ripeness of Rebellion, as to destroy that peerless Prince CHARLES the First, of blessed Memory: The unhappy news of his death, together with those Acts of the English State( as they called themselves) for Abolition of Monarchy, and disinherision of the heir apparent to that crown and kingdom( designed of purpose utterly to extirpate the Royal Family, Root and Branch) soon arrived at the Hague, where the Prince of Wales then resided, and filled all mens mindes with astonishment at the horror of the fact: A dumb silence for a good while possessed their souls, grief and amazement stupefied their understandings, and so many perplexities perturbed their Reason, that for the present they knew not which way to turn, what advice or course to take to expedite themselves out of that deplorate condition, till time( the cure of mighty cares) had let them breath out their mournful sorrows, and after some few weekes, dispeld those clouds of grief by intervention of sundry Agents from foreign Princes, sent to the now newly proclaimed King of Scotland, partly to condole his Fathers death, partly to comfort and cheer up his drooping spirits, with hopes, if not promises of assistance. And that foreigners might not outstrip his Native Subjects, obliged by more strict ties of Loyalty and Religion, divers of the Nobility and Gentry( His Majesties exiled Subjects) from all parts flocked to the Court, and as their Allegiance bound them, made tender of their service to their young King: Brave loyal souls, who had lost all the estates they had in defence of( their Prince) the Father, his just Cause, crown and Dignity, were now ready, and offered themselves to venture all that was left, their lives, in restoring( their Prince likewise) his Son, to his just Rights and Inheritance. To complete this Loyal Tribe, came that Renowned Scot, the marquis of MONTROSSE, one famous all the world over, not more for his Eminent Loyalty, known Prudence and integrity▪ then for his Valour and skill in Military affairs, manifested in those signal Victories obtained not long since over the Rebels in Scotland.  
This comfortable appearance soon cleared up the sad face of the Court, and gave life and warmth to their stupefied spirits, so as in time they begin to bethink themselves of the best prudential means, how to put the young King into a condition to act for the recovery of his just Rights and Inheritance: And shortly after the marquis of MONTROSSE his coming thither, a council was called, wherein his Majesties most faithful servants humbly represented unto him, his low, and seemingly deplorate condition, through the power and prevalency of his utter enemies in all or the most part of his Dominions; adding also some pressing Arguments to sharpen him speedily to act some thing for revenge of his Fathers death, whilst his wounds bled a fresh, and the memory of that horrid fact had yet an impression on the hearts of his bleeding Subjects. His Majesty returned them thankes for their prudent advice, and commanded them to consider of some effectual expedient to that purpose, promising withall he would be guided onely by the conduct of their Counsels, who had approved themselves so faithful and loyal to his deceased Father.  
Within few dayes after the council met again, and then by way of expedient they offered these two proposals to his Majesties choice; either to sand his ambassadors abroad to all Christian Princes for supplies both of men and money, that an Army might be speedily sent into the North of Scotland to aid his Loyal Subjects there, who were then risen up in arms for him, and would receive and proclaim him King without any conditions or limitation: Or else to yield himself over to the unreasonable Demands the Scotch Parliament were now about to sand him; and so cast himself wholly upon that perfidious party in Scotland, who JUDAS like, had sold their Lord and Master,( nay worse then JUDAS, sold their Prince that came to them for protection, voluntarily, if not upon assurance of safety; and to their eternal infamy be it spoken, never repented of it, as JUDAS did, nor brought back the money, which was the price of their Prince) into the hands of the English, and so were become Accessaries, if not principals in their Kings murder: And who by the same Artifice and legerdemain, wherewith they had destroyed the Father, sought now to entrap the Son, by proclaiming him King with provisoes, as if he should not enjoy the kingdom by any natural Right of Succession and Heirship; but by Election, and mutual compact between him and his people: For thus to proclaim him King, and by a limitation to deny him the exercise of his regal Power, is in effect to depose him before he came to the Crown; deposing being nothing else but excluding of Kings from the exercise of that power, which of Right belongs to them.  
The Debate upon these proposals was hotly disputed by his Majesties council, for those who were truly loyal upon honest and legal Principles, were of opinion the safe way was for his Majesty to enter the North of Scotland with a foreign force; but such as were loyal onely upon private interest, favouring the sacrilegious ends of the Presbyter, and fearing his Majesties Power if brought in by the sword; were of opinion, his Majesties safest way would be to yield himself up to the Parliament of Scotland, who sate there upon the Presbyterian score; for this would be a means to sweeten the English Presbyter into a compliance, and taking part with his Majesty, being thus put in hope not only of obtaining pardon, and to be secured from the punishment they had deserved for their Rebellion against CHARLES the First, but also might catch the Fish which they had so long angled for, the Bishops, and dean, and Chapters Lands. In conclusion the honest loyal party carried it by a plurality of Votes; yet before these counsels could ripen, and they have time to pitch upon a general for conduct of those foreign Forces into the North of Scotland; the Scotch Commissioners arrived in May, 1648. and accordingly as had been formerly represented to the King, their Propositions and Deportment was unreasonable and insolent, suitable to the height and pride of the Presbyterian faction; insomuch that that Treaty broke off unluckily without satisfaction to either part.  
nevertheless his Majesty upon mature deliberation, and by advice of his council gave the marquis of MONTROSSE a Commission to be his general, and to levy and conduct such foreign Forces as Christian Princes would supply him withall for his assistance; and to land them either in England or Scotland, as might tend most to the advantage of his Majesties service, and as the necessity and urgency of his present affairs should require. And in like manner to GEORGE MONRO a Commission was granted by his Majesty to be his mayor General, and to levy 4. or 5000. Irish foot to be forthwith in readiness for the furthering the marquis of MONTROSSE his design.  
But such is the mischief of divided Counsels; no sooner had the marquis of MONTROSSE taken his leave of His Majesty, but his Adversaries( that favoured the contrary opinion) both Scots and English, who had acted in the rebellion against his Father, do endeavour by all means possible to persuade with His Majesty for recalling the marquis his Commission: And most clear it is, this they did partly out of envy at the worth and integrity of the man, partly out of fear his design should take effect, and so His Majesty become an absolute Monarch, and invested with just power to call them to an account for their former rebellion. Those of the Scotch Nation, that thus sought to suppress MONTROSSE, were Duke HAMILTON, the Earls of calendar, and Lauderdale: Of the English, MASSY, GRAVES, Alderman BUNCH, and others of the secluded Members. But when they found His Majesty immovable, His royal breast impenetrable, by all the force of their subtle persuasions; then they betake themselves to their old tricks, under hand to supplant this Honourable design, by sending secretly into Scotland some fit instruments, upon specious pretences, to prevail with the loyal party there to lay down Arms, and accept of conditions proffered; by their politic alienating the affections of the Prince of orange, the marquis of Brandenburg, Count EMDEN, from my Lord of MONTROSSE, and winning them cunningly to refuse the affording him assistance either of men or money: In like manner, they privately dispatch Agents abroad to the Emperour, and divers other Princes of Germany, to the King of Denmark, and the Queen of Sweden, effectually to rencounter his design: And when they found their sly insinuations, could operate little on those Princes affections, to take them off from MONTROSSE; there Molelike they wrought under ground, and suborned the most powerful Instruments of the Court against him.  
The Queen of Sweden( to Her eternal Honour be it spoken) was constant to Her promises, and furnished him readily out of Her Magazines, with arms and Ammunition; but here Chancellor OXENSTERNE, no small friend to, and favourer of the Scots Rebellion, sought by all means possible to cross those supplies, and hinder him from obtaining either men or money. In Denmark the King was much taken with MONTROSSE, approved his design, and most willing to further it in what he was able; but the Hoff-Master, and sundry others of his council, had been privately tampered withall, and brought off by these subtle Incendiaries to stand in opposition with the King in whatever he endeavoured to accommodate the marquis of MONTROSSE his design: nor was it needful to solicit the Queens Court at Paris for the furthering their desires in the crossing of this enterprise; the Lord GERMAN and his Faction there having long since expressed spleen enough and animosities sufficient to let all the world take noticc, they were declared Enemies to MONTRNSSE, and his undertakings.  
Thus craftily behind the curtain, the Presbyterian party, utter Enemies to the marquis of MONTROSSE, acted abroad in all the Courts of christendom; nor are they asleep or idle at home, as appears by their secret workings with the Scotch Parliament and Committee of Estates, who now were framing a dismal Declaration against their King, which did amount to his deposing, as I said before; in declaring him unfit for the exercise of his regal power, as having yet sucked in no other principles, save prerogative, and Tyranny; bread up under Bishops and Ceremonies, which the Scotch air seems to have a natural Antipathy unto; one that inwardly hated the Covenant, and would never take otherwise than as a snare to take them therein; one whom they themselves saw so averse from harkening to any sound counsel and Advice, that he suffered himself to be seduced, by evil Councellors, even to an invasion of their country: I say, notwithstanding the Scots were setting out this pestilent Declaration against their King, yet were they so effectually wrought with by some crafty Agents, upon assurance His Majesty should be forced to disclaim MONTROSSE and his enterprise, and cast himself wholly upon the Scotch Parliament, that a second Treaty is desired from His Majesty, and GEORGE WINDRAM sent a dangerous Winters journey to Jersey upon this message; which by the earnest and daily solicitation of the Queen his Mother, seconded by the secret persuasions of a Court Faction that favourd it, was yielded unto; and the place appointed for meeting was Breda; the time designed for that Treaty to begin, March 15. 1649.  
To this I might add, besides the malice and underhand working of his Adversaries, ●here concurred to the defeating of MONTROSSE his design, the unhappy disasters which at that conjuncture of time befell the Noble marquis of ORMOND in Ireland▪ together with the perfidiousness and treachery of Sir JOHN COCKRAM, who being the Kings Agent abroad, had taken up of the Scots Merchants divers considerable sums of money, by the leave and appointment of the King of Poland, for the promoting my Lord of MONTROSSE his design, as also for the same purpose great quantities of corn from the Duke of Courdtland: All which provided and lent for the public use, he unworthily misemployed and put into his private pocket  
Notwithstanding these many misfortunes, and hindrances, through indefatigable industry this prudent marquis of MONTROSSE in order to his design, levied, and listed about fourscore Volunteers, Gentlemen in Holland, all of his own, whom he speedily accommodated and dispatched into the Isle of Orkney, under the conduct of the then earl of Kennowl. From Denmark likewise, not without many rubs, he procured sixscore more, who were conducted thither also, under the Command of WILLIAM HAY, now earl of Kennowl. From Gottenbury in Sweden, he listed between twenty and thirty Officers, old German Souldiers; but because then in those parts the Sea was frozen, himself never tired out with incessant pains and dangers( with two or three Gentlemen more in that could climate travelled by land to Norway, and took shipping there for Orkney, where no sooner was he arrived, but( behold the Iliads of mischiefs and machinations of his Enemies!) those Gallant souls he had sent before, were all in a mutiny, and by the subtle practices of some, so divided into Factions as that they were ready to cut one anothers throats.  
During this disorder, before things could be composed, Mr. MAY is sent from His Majesty, with the Garter, and a Letter besides, peremptorily commanding my Lord forthwith to advance into Scotland.  
The Garter was received with all thankfulness, and honourable respect: the Letter with no small joy, out of more then probable hopes, it might be a means to appease the Mutineers, and win them to a sweet compliance for a speedy and cheerful engagement upon the main Land; To this end the Officers and chief Gentlemen were assembled, and His Majesties Letter red; the purport whereof was, That His Majesty being overcome by the importunity of sundry friends, had yielded once more to treat with the Commissioners from the Scots Parliament, at Bredah, March 15. where, by the blessing of God, His Majesty was resolved to do nothing prejudicial to the marquis or his Followers, by whose faithful endeavours he had reaped so great fruit and benefit, as to affright the Scotch Faction to design a Treaty, and make more moderate Proposals than formerly. Therefore that the marquis and his loyal party might not be disheartened with the unexpected news of a Treaty: He desired and commanded him vigorously to prosecute the advancement of that service he had already undertaken for Scotland.  
The Letter ended, my Lord bespoke the company to this effect: By what ye have heard, Gentlemen, ye perceive His Majesties most honourable Intentions, in this Treaty, his chief care to be, the good and preservation of His loyal Subjects: therefore it will become us in duty to show ready obedience to His Majesties Command, and to do our best endeavours, either to reduce the Rebels of Scotland to a due submission to His Majesties just power, or at least enforce them to tender more moderate Proposals than ever hitherto came from them. And now that he might be assured of their unanimous& hearty concurrence in this design, he desired them to empty their breasts freely, and give him their sober advice touching the same.  
The first that spake, an ingenious Gentleman,  told my Lord, that Letter had been printed in France a month before, and in Holland he had red it in the Dutch gazettes, which made him fear it was contrived and published to His Majesties disservice, and the destruction of his Lordship and his followers: for( says he) it is well enough known to those in JERSEY, that you are disappointed of the aid you expected both from Ireland and foreign Princes; and that your whole number now in Orkney, are not above two hundred strangers: My Lord, is it imaginable His Majesty, or any rational man, should command you to invade the Isle of Great britain only with 200. men; especially at this instant, when the insulting Factions of both kingdoms are united against you? May it please your Excellence to excuse me, if in obedience to your command, I give you my censure freely, touching this Letter sent by Mr. MAY; that it was penned by your Enemies( not ignorant of your undaunted spirit, in attempting difficult things, even such as without a Miracle, it seems scarce possible to be effected) out of design to spur you on to your own destruction; and partly to render His Majesty odious to all parties, either for a dissembler with Scots Parliament, or as if he sought your destruction and your Followers by precipitating you to a visible and unavoidable danger. I beseech you pardon my freedom, and be assured, whatever my opinion is, I will never forsake you in your most desperate undertakings.  
My Lords Reply was, both his Charity and Loyalty commanded him to think honourably of His Majesties intentions, and though he had cause enough to suspect the Court-Factions, and some others about the Queen, that were his most deadly Enemies; yet he was well persuaded, and hoped it was not in their power( though never so maliciously bent) to withdraw His Majesties affections from them, who had so readily adventured lives and fortunes for his service; notwithstanding their being unworthily deserted and disappointed of assistance from those whom they reputed to be their best and fast friends; neither is it to be imagined, my present expedition into Scotland, should prove either a desperate or impossible enterprise, for though, as you rightly, the Rebels of both Nations be united against us, yet I am well assured, there are many thousands, both of English and Scotch, that are ready and will join with us, if any visible Power appears, as is most clear to me, by some secret correspondence held with the best of the Nobility and Gentry of Scotland; from whom this very day most certain Intelligence is come, that so soon as ever we have set footing on the Continent, the Highlanders will rise as one man for our assistance: And then reflect but upon some former undertakings, which by the blessing of God, even beyond human expectation were successfully accomplished; when with 1000. Irishes only, God so prospered the uprightness of a just cause, as to enable us not only to encounter, but to vanquish the Rebels( trembling through guilt of conscience) in 6. or 7. several battles.  
This Speech of the Generalls, spoken with such moderation and confidence, suitable to the greatness of his mind, roused up the courage of those Gentlemen and Officers that heard it, presently to cry out, They would live and die with him; and farther to give him assurance they would engage with him, where and when he pleased to command them. Whereupon immediately whilst their spirits were yet warm, those 200 Volunteers, together with 1000 Islanders were shipped, who all arrived safely in Cathnes on the 9. of April, 1650. and in that Country a Commission was given to colonel GRAHAM to raise a Regiment there; but Provisions being exceeding scarce in those parts, my Lord was necessitated to march into Sutherland, and from thence to Rosse, where partly to refresh his men, and partly to gain intelligence, whether the safest way were to march up into the Hills, or to proceed forward alongst the Sea cost; he stayed two or three dayes: But his Scouts, whether out of carelessness, or falsehood, or surprised by the Enemy,( for tis not clearly resolved on) failed to bring him intelligence; insomuch that April 25. his whole party was unhappily surprised by the Enemy, as they were on their march towards innerness, by mayor STRAUGHAN and lieutenant colonel HACKET, who with 200. Horse, and 1500. experienced Foot Souldiers Routed his whole Body( the Islanders throwing down their arms at the first Charge) as they were upon a Retreat to a Wood, giving no quarter to any man, till Sir John HURRY, with about 20. poor Scotch Nags( which were all the Horse my Lord had) charged so gallantly colonel HACKETS Troope, that they forced them to give quarter.  
My Lord perceiving by that unhappy skirmish, his whole design to be in danger to be lost, betook himself to his feet, and only with six Officers marched about 60 miles back again, hoping to have met with some of his new levies; but finding himself much tired with that long march, he refreshed himself near the Laird of ash, and sent mayor SINCLERE out to try if he could get any intelligence, with a guide to direct him to my Lord REA his Country: But whether for fear, or bribery, or treachery, I am not able to judge, that mayor most unworthily betrayed him into the hands of his enemies, who came suddenly with about 30 or 40 men, and took him in his Quarters on the 28. of April, 1650. Whence how uncivilly and barbarously he was carried by mayor general HOLBURN, and the Convoy that guarded him to edinburgh, I leave for other Pens to paint forth in due time and proper colours; as also with what affronts and contumelious language they proceeded afterwards to try him; and how insultingly they behaved themselves towards him when he was lead to execution; having torn in pieces his Majesties Commission, and as much as in them lay re-murtherd CHARLES the First, and testified to all the world their desires and intentions, likewise in him to murder CHARLES the Second: That so both Father and son, Root and Branch, and all the rest of the Royal Stems, might be utterly extirpate.  
FINIS.