such use of this power given to you as may May it please your majesty; This is a double of the former commission granted by your majesty to the marquis of Montrose, to be lieutenant-governor and general of all your majesty's forces in Scotland. ROBERT SPOTISWOOD. Follows the King's majesty his PROCLAMATION for calling a Parliament. C. R. Charles by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland king, defender of the Faith, &c. To our Lovits, Lyon king of arms, heralds, pursevants, messengers and officers at arms, our sheriffs in that part, conjunctly and severally greeting. Whereas by the seventh act in the first session of our late parliament in that our kingdom, we with advice of our estates there, did statute and ordain that in every three years, once at least, a parliament should be kept within that our kingdom, in such a convenient place and time as we with advice aforesaid should at the close of every parliament determine and appoint; likeas by the last act of our said late parliament, it was appointed, that the next triennial parliament should meet and conveen at Edinburgh upon the first Tuesday of June last 1641. Which date, in regard of the great distempers both of this and that kingdom, we could not keep at that time, neither in our own person nor by our commissioner. But now amidst the many and weighty affairs we have in hand, not laying aside the care of that our antient and native kingdom, we have thought good not to frustrate any longer the expectation and desires that our good subjects there may have of such a parliament; and that the rather, lest any of them should be abused in thinking, that we do or ever intend to acknowledge for lawful the meeting begun at Edinburgh the first Tuesday of June last, and continued since under the name of a parliament; which howsoever the appointing of it to conveen by us at that day and place, might have been a sufficient warrant to them for their first meeting; yet to continue the same in absence of us, or some one at least to represent our royal person amongst them. and by themselves, without oar concurring authority to make pretended laws and ordinances is such a presumption as we are resolved never to endure. For these therefore and other causes us moving, but chiefly out of the tender affection we carry to that our native kingdom, the present distracted estate whereof we much pity, and think it cannot better be remedied than by the wisdom and authority of a lawful and free parliament, by whose counsel and advice we will be governed in what may conduce to the perfect settling of peace and tranquility there. We will and require you and every one of you conjunctly and severally to pass to the Mercat-Cross of our town of and there by open read ing of this our proclamation, summoned and warn all and sundry dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts and lords within that our kingdom, to give their personal appearance within the of our said town of the day of next, where and when we intend to hold our high-court of parliament by ourself or our commissioner to be appointed by us for that effect; as also that ye make intimation of and warning to the sheriffs and freeholders of every shire within that our kingdom, and to the magistrates of all our burroughs royal within the same, having place and voice in parliaments to elect and choise commissioners to be sent from their several shires and burroughs respective, that they may give their opinion and counsel in such things as shall be proposed in the said parliament, and concur with our nobility aforesaid, to make such acts and statutes as may conduce most to the peace and welfare of that kingdom, and shall be approved and ratified by us or our commissioners aforesaid in our name: Likeas we will and command you to intimate publicly to all our lieges of whatsoever quality and condition, that may have any suits complaints or grievances to be represented to us in parliament, that they resort for that effect to our said town of the day aforesaid, and have their recourse no where else within that our kingdom, especially to the pretend d parliament kept by the rebels there at Edinburgh, as they would not have of us to esteem of them as persons disaffected to our roval person and government. Furthermore, it is our pleasure, that this being done, you pass immediately to the Mercat-Crosses of all the head-boroughs within every several at shire of that our kingdom, (or at least to so next. of C. R. Charles, by the grace of God, king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. To our right trusty and right entirely beloved cousin, James Marquis of Montrose, lieutenant governor of our kingdom of Scotland, greeting. Whereas, for the settling of the present distractions within that our kingdom, we have thought fit to call a parliament, which is to meet and begin the day of And in to adjourn and continue the said parliament from time to time, or to dissolve the same as you shall find it meet and expedient; and generally to do all and every thing that any commissioner from us heretofore hath had power and authority to do. Likeas also we give you full power and authority, in absence of our chancellor, to appoint a vice-chancellor to supply his place, and to do and perform such things as any chancellor, heretofore in preceding parliaments, have been in use of: as also, in absence of the clerk-register and other necessary members of parliament, to appoint such as you shall think fit to fill their places, and exerce their charges during the sitting of the said parliament. And furthermore, we will and ordain you to make public intimation to all our lieges within that our kingdom of all such acts, statutes and ordinances as shall be enacted and concluded in the said parliament, and generally to use all solemnities requisite for giving of them the strength and power of laws, which may bind all our subjects of that kingdom, in the same manner that any preceding act of parliament in our time or any of our predecessors have done. Given under our royal hand and signet. May it please your Majesty; This is a warrant for the marquis of Montrose, to be your majesty's commissioner in this next parliament, giving him power to appoint a vice-chancellor, in case of the chancellor's absence, and other officers, during the sitting of the said parliament, in case they that are now in place do absent themselves. ROBERT SPOTISWOOD. Sir Robert Spotiswood's Declaration from St. Andrew's, 2d January, 1646. In presence of the Laird of Bogie and Mr. Robert Barclay, two of the Commissioners for the Process. next, within our town of regard of the great and weighty affairs we are taken up with here at this time, we not being Sir Robert Spotiswood, being examined and able to be present in our own person at that interrogative when he went into James Grainceting; therefore we, reposing a special trust ham's army, declares he went in to him at Bothand confidence in your approved wisdom and wel upon the first day of September last by fidelity, do by these presents name, constitute past, and went along with the said James Graand ordain you our commissioner at the said ham and his army all the way, till he came to parliament, authorizing you, at the day and Philiphaugh, and being in Selkirk the time of place above mentioned, for us and in our name the alarm, he followed down to the Haugh after to meet and convene with such of our nobility James Graham had drawn down all his inen to and commissioners of shires and boroughs as the Haugh; and when the deponer was come shall give their appearance for holding of our down, he found the armies ready to join, and high court of parliament in our said town of before he could come through the laugh to there to advise and consult with our said the other side where the baggage stood, James nobility and others, of all such things as may Graham's army was put to flight, and the detend to the peace and welfare of that our king-poner seeing them flee, resolved to flee also, dom; and in our name to propone unto them such things as you shall think expedient to be enacted in our said parliament, which may conduce to the good of our service and happy state of our said kingdom: giving you hereby full power and authority for us and in our name to approve and ratify all such acts and statutes as shall be agreed upon by you and them, and to give them the strength of laws to bind and oblige all and whatsoever our subjects of that kingdom; with power also to you and was thereafter taken by the laird of Silvertonhill, and some of his accomplices, holding his sword in his hand. Robert Spotiswood, Ja. Weems of Bogie, Robert Barclay. For clearing the generality of that part of my deposition, bearing that I was taken with my sword in my hand, the manner of it was this: By the time that I came from the town of Selkirk down the Philiphaugh, the fight was begun (wherein I was never engaged) and the flight taken, in the which I was carried along with the throng, having nothing but a cane in and kept a bustling here. Besides, he was invited hereunto by the earls of Roxburgh and Home, who when he was within a dozen miles of them, have rendered their houses and themselves to David Lesly, and are carried in as prisoners to Berwick, Traquair hath been with him, and promised more nor he hath yet performed. All these were great disheartenings to any other but to him, whom nothing of this kind can amate. With the small forces he has Sir Robert Spotiswood's Letter to the Laird of presently with him he is resolved to pursue Bogie and Mr. Robert Barclay, from St. David Lesly, and not suffer him to grow Andrew's Castle, 4th January, 1646. stronger. If you would perform that which Right Worshipful; Having bethought myself you lately promised, both this kingdom and the of my deposition last day before you, lest I north of England might be soon reduced, and might be prejudged by the generality thereof, considerable assistance sent from hence to his in regard of my answer made to your ques- majesty; however, nothing will be wanting on tion, That I was taken with my sword in my our parts here: these that are together are hand, I humbly desire that this specification both loyal and resolute, only a little encourageof my said deposition may be admitted at the ment from you (as much to let it be seen that time of the advising thereof, to wit, That as I they are not neglected, as for any thing else) have deponed already, I was not engaged in would crown the work speedily. This is all I the fight, neither ever drew sword till after have for the present, but that I am your lordthe flight begun; in the which I being carried ship's most faithful servant, Robert Spotswood. away with the rest, and my nag not being able | Dated, near to Kelso, September 10, 1645. to take me off, when I saw sundry troopers These are the evidences whereupon the sencoming upon me with their drawn swords, then I drew mine, to keep them off, if I could, until I of which there was much division in the court; tence condemnator is founded, in pronouncing had obtained quarters, in which posture I was taken. This being the truth, I hope to clear and though many liked not sir Robert's party, yet they loved his person, which made him my carriage in that place the better: your worships will allow me the favour to let me eik many friends, even among the covenanters, in this to my former deposition, re adhuc integra, some of the nobility spoke in his behalf, and so much, that after the sentence was read, before the concluding of my process. In exintreated the house to consider the quality and pectation whereof, I rest your worships' very parts of that excellent gentleman, and most just judge, whom they had condemned, and begged earnestly his life might be spared: but an eminent knowledge and esteem, which in other cases might be a motive to save a criminal, was one cause of taking away his life. For these gentlemen who spoke were told, That the authority of the then established government was not secure, while sir Robert Spotiswood was spared. Whereupon these noblemen who presided in the meeting of the estates at Glaswhen they signed the respective sentences, gow, and in the parliament at St. Andrews, openly declared to the rest of the members, That they did sign as preses, and in obedience to the command of the estates, but not as their particular judgment. humble servant, ROBERT SPOT ISWOOD. Sir Robert Spotiswood's Letter to the Lord My Lord; We are now arrived ad columnas Herculis, to Tweed-side, dispersed all the king's enemies within this kingdom to several places, some to Ireland, most of them to Berwick, and had no open enemy more to deal with, if you had kept David Lesly there, and not suffered him to come in here, to make head against us of new. It is thought strange here, that at least you have sent no party after him, which we expected: although he should not come at all. You little imagine the diffi culties my lord marquis hath here to wrestle with; the overcoming of the enemy is the least of them, he hath more to do with his own seeming friends: Since I came to him (which was but within these ten days, after much toil and hazard) I have seen much of it. He was forced to dismiss his Highlanders for a season, who would needs return home to look to their own affairs. When they were goue, Abeyn took a caprice, and had away with him the greatest strength he had of horse: notwithstanding whereof he resolved to follow his work, and clear this part of the kingdom (that was only resting) of the rebels that had fled to Berwick, The day before his death, he wrote a letter to the marquis of Montrose, telling, "That he was condemned to die for being faithful to the king, and because he had shewn an inviolable respect to his lordship's pardon. That whatever the estates might pretend, he believed his taking part with his lordship, was the only motive which made them determine his destruction, and he hoped by his death he would contribute more to his majesty's service, than he could have done, had it pleased the sovereign Providence to have prolonged his life. He intreated his lordship to notice one thing he found necessary for the king's service, which was, to continue his gentleness and moderation of con brought us hither, to be instruments of freeing you from the manifold delusions that are made use of to ensnare you. I say then, it was just and necessary to his majesty to grant such Commissions, and by consequence an act of duty in me to perform what he pleased to com duct, and not to imitate the barbarous inhumanity of their enemies, who gave his lordship but too great cause to follow their example. And as a mark that his services were not disagreeable to his lordship, he conjured him to take under his protection his poor orphans, and the afflicted family of his brother sir John Spotis-mand me. It is known well enough what conwood of Dairsey." Sir Robert Spotiswood's EXECUTION. The day of sir Robert Spotiswood's Execution being come, the people were surprized with astonishment, when they see appear upon the scaffold, a person whoth in former time they had with love and admiration seen preside in the Supreme Judicature of the nation, with great sufficiency, and much honour, He appeared with the same gravity and majesty which did ever shine in his countenance; and as he was about to speak to the people, a minister of the place, knowing that the last words of this great man would make impression on the minds of all the Spectators, caused the Provost of the town to impose on him silence. But sir Robert foreseeing this treatment, had put in writing what he had proposed to speak to the people; so that finding himself interrupted, he threw among the multitude the following Paper: "Ye will expect something from me of the cause for which I am brought hither at this time to suffer in this kind; which I am bound to do for clearing the integrity of my own proceedings,, vindicating his majesty's just and pious intentions, and withal to vindicate you that are misled in ignorance, and made to believe that you are tied in conscience to set forward this unnatural Rebellion, masked under the covert and pretext of propagating Religion, and maintaining of the Public Liberties. You have perceived by the fact that is gone before, viz. carrying arms, &c. that I stand here adjudged to die by this pretended Parliament, as a traitor to the estates, and an enemy to my native country. This is a treason unheard of before in this kingdom, against the Estates, a thing of a late creation, which I believe there be some would have erected in opposition to the just and lawful authority of the king, under which we and our predecessors have been so many hundreds of years governed. To come to my treasonable demeanor (as they esteem it), the main one is, That I did docquet and bring down a Commission of Lieutenantry from his majesty, to the lord marquiss of Montrose, with a Proclamation for indicting a parliament by the king's authority, wherein the said lord marquiss was to be commissioner. Not to excuse myself upon the necessity laid upon me to obey his majesty's command in a business of that nature, in regard of the charge I had about him, I cannot so far betray my own conscience, as to keep up from you my judgment of the thing itself, seeing it may tend to the justifying of the king's part, and your better information; for lack whereof, I know many are entangled in this Rebellion unwittingly: And who knoweth, in his merciful providence hath tentment his majesty gave to this kingdom at his last being here, both in the affairs of Church and Policy; notwithstanding whereof the world seeth what meeting he hath gotten from us. When the Rebellion burst forth in England, all that he desired of us, was only to stand neutral, and not to meddle between him and his subjects there: Of which moderate desire of his little reckoning was made; but on the contrary, at the request of these rebels, by the power of their faction amongst us, an Army was raised and sent to England, to assist them against our own native king. His majesty be ing reduced to this extremity, what expedient could he find so fair and easy, as to make use of the help of such of loyal subjects here, as he knew had such an unparalleled disloyalty in horror and detestation ? "Amongst whom that matchless mirror of all true worth and nobility, the lord marquiss of Montrose having offered himself, it pleased his majesty to give him a subaltern commission at first: which he having execute with such unheard of success, that his memory shall be had in honour for it in all ages; his majesty for the better furthering of his own service, and to countenance and encourage him the more in it, gave him an absolute and independent one thereafter, which is that I delivered into his hands by his majesty's command. Herewithal his majesty pitying the misery of this poor kingdom, occasioned by the rebellious stubbornness of a few factious spirits, thought fit to give power to the said lord marquiss to call a Parliament in his majesty's name, to try if by that means a remedy might be found against the present evils, and to have all his subjects of this kingdom reduced by one means or other under his obedience. In all this I see not what can be justly charged upon his majesty, or upon me as his servant, who have done nothing against any authorized law of the kingdom, but have served him faithfully, unto whom by trust and natural allegiance I am so much bound. "Whereas I am declared an enemy to my native country, God be so propitious to me, as my thoughts towards it have been always public, and tending to the good and honour thereof! I do profess, since the first time I had the honour of that noble marquis's acquaintance, I have been a favourer of his designs, knowing them to be both loyal and honourable: Beside that I knew his affection towards his country to be eminent in this especially, that he did ever show himself passionate to vindicate the bonour of this kingdom, which suffereth every where, by this strange combination of theirs with the Rebels of another kingdom against their own prince; wherein I concurred in judgment with him, and thought there was no other way to do it, but by setting up a party of true and loyal- tion, labour to draw your hearts unto the conhearted Scots men for his majesty, whereby it demnation of Core. God Almighty look upon might be seen that it is not a national defec- this poor miserable Church and kingdom, tion, but only stirred up by a Faction therein, and relieve you out of the intolerable servitude who for their own ends have dishonoured their you lie under, which I do heartily wish for in native kingdom, and disturbed the peace your behalf! So let me have the assistance of thereof. In enterprizing and prosecuting of your prayers, that God would be pleased to parwhich heroical design, God hath so favoured don all my sins in Jesus Christ, and gather my that noble lord, that he hath righted our comm-soul with the saints and martyrs that are gone try in the opinion of all the world, and disco-to their rest before. So I bid the world and vered where the rottenness lieth. you farewel." Sir Robert was not disturbed at the unmannerly interruption he met with, when he was about to address himself to the people; so that turning from them, he wholly bestowed himself in devotions and prayers to Almighty God. The same Minister having asked, if he would have him and the people to pray for the salvation of his soul, he made answer, That he desired the prayers of the people, but was not solicitous for his prayers, which he believed were abominable unto God: for, added he, of all the Plagues with which the offended majesty of God had scourged this nation, this was much the greatest 66 "Thus far I am content to be accounted a Traitor, in their opinion that have condemned me, being fully assured that God, the righteons Judge of all, who knoweth the uprightness and integrity of my intentions, will impute no fault to me in this kind; since to my knowledge I have carried myself according to the direction of his Word, and the practice of all good Christians before these miserable times we are fallen into. My Exhortation therefore (which coming from one at the point I am at, will, I hope, have some weight) shall be this unto you; That you will break off your sins by repentance, and above all, free yourself of this master sin of Re-(greater than the Sword, Fire, or Pestilence), bellion that reigneth in this land: whereunto most part are either forced, or drawn unawares, chiefly at the instigation of those who should direct you in the way of truth. It cannot be but a great judgment upon a land, when God's singular mercies towards it are so little valued. He hath not given us a king in his wrath, but one for piety, bounty, and all virtues both Christian and moral, may be a pattern to all princes besides. How thankful we are to God for so great a blessing, our respect towards him manifesteth. Yet I fear there is a greater judg-cution, and shewing no alteration either in ment than this upon it, which occasioneth all the mischiefs that afflict this poor land, such as was sent upon Ahab: God hath put a lying spirit in the mouths of the most part of your Prophets, who instead of the doctrine of Salva that for the sins of the people, God had sent a lying spirit into the mouths of the Prophets." With which saying this preacher finding himself touched, grew so extremely in passion, that he could not forbear scandalous and contumelious language against sir Robert's father, who had been long dead, and against himself, who was now a dying: which this mild gentleman took no notice of, having his mind fixed upon higher matters. At last with an undaunted air he advances towards the instrument of his Exe voice or countenance, he laid down his neck to the fatal stroke, and uttered these his last words: "Merciful Jesu, gather my soul unto thy saints and martyrs, who have run before me in this race." 176. The several Informations, Examinations, and Confessions of the WITCHES,* arraigned and condemned at the Sessions holden at Chelmsford, in the County of Essex, before the Right Hon. Robert, Earl of Warwick, and several of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, the 29th of July: 21 CHARLES I. A. d. 1645.† |