Note 210 — Miscellaneous Historical Documents, RELATIVE TO THE ECCLESIASTICAL AND POLITICAL EVENTS IN SCOTLAND—1639.

Burnet, p. 139.—This letter affords sufficient evidence of the King’s apprehensions as to the increasing power of the Covenanters, which made him resolve “to keep himself on a defensive;” and it is confirmed by the King’s postscript. And Burnet (p. 140) tell us that Hamilton had warned his Majesty in the Gallery of Whitehall, “that few of the English would engage in an offensive war with Scotland.” This apologist of Hamilton states farther that, on reaching the English camp early in June, “the Marquis did shew the King that, while the fire-edge was upon the Scotish spirits, it would not prove an easie task to tame them, but would be a work of some years, and cost much money and many men: he therefore desired the King would consider if it were not fit to consent to the abolishing of Episcopacy and giving way to their Covenant till better times; and that, as the chief leaders had entered upon that course, being provoked by some irritations and neglects they had met with, so it might be fit to regain them by cajolery and other favours. And to persuade the King to this course was easier, that both his reason and his affection to his subjects did co-operate with it—a great strengthening coming to it by my Lord Canterbury’s opinion, who saw a pacification absolutely necessary for the King’s service, and did advise it.” And Hamilton got a warrant under the King’s hand, to “deal with” the Scotch leaders in the way thus suggested. It was at this time that Montrose was induced, by what motives still remains unexplained, to forsake the Covenant and join the King’s party; and previously to the treaty, Home, Buccleugh, and some others also forsook the national banner.

It is curious to contrast these disclosures of the real state of facts at the time referred to, with a piece of gasconade in Heylyn’s Life of Laud, (p. 365,) which, in its leading points, is contradicted by letters under the King’s hand to Hamilton. “These preparations (for negotiation, says this Doctor of divinity) being made, they fand an easier business of it than they had any reason to expect, to bring his Majesty to meet them in the middle way. It was not his intent to fight them, as I have heard from a person of great trust and honour; but only by the terrour of so great an army to draw the Scots to do him reason. And this I am the more apt to credit, because when a Noble and well experienced commander offered him (then being in camp near Berwick) that with two thousand horse, (which the King might very well have spared,) he would so waste and spoil the country, that the Scots should creep upon their bellies to implore his mercy,—he would by no means hearken to the proposition.”