appearance in that island. The arrival of Cromwell sud-
denly changed this gleam of fortune into cloud and storm.
Wherever this fated General appeared he was victorious,
and in Ireland, in order perhaps to strike terror into a
fierce people, for Oliver Cromwell was not blood-thirsty
by disposition, he made dreadful execution among the
vanquished, particularly at the storming of the town of
Drogheda, where his victorious troops spared neither sex
nor age. He now returned to England, with even greater
terror attached to his name than before.
The new Commonwealth of England had no purpose
that the son of the King whom they had put to death,
should be suffered to establish himself quietly in the sister
kingdom of Scotland, and enjoy the power when oppor-
tunity offered of again calling to arms his numerous ad-
herents in England, and disturbing or perhaps destroying
tiieii new modelled republic. They were resolved to
OF IRELAND. l&l
prevent this danger by making war on Scotland, whilst still
weakened by her domestic dissensions ; and compelling
her to adopt the constitution of a republic, to become con
federated with their own. This proposal was of course
haughtily rejected by the Scots, as it implied a renuncia-
tion at once of King and Kirk, and a total alteration of the
Scottish constitution in civil and ecclesiastical government.
The ruling parties of both nations, therefore, prepared for
the contest.
The rigid Presbyterians in Scotland showed now a
double anxiety to exclude . from their army all, however
otherwise well qualified to assist in such a crisis, whom they
regarded as suspicious in point of doctrine, whether as
absolute Malignants, or as approaching nearer to their own
doctrines, by professing a moderate and tolerant attach-
ment to Presbytery.
Yet even without the assistance of these excluded par-
ties, the Convention of Estates assembled a fine army,
full of mtn enthusiastic in the cause in which they were
about to fight ; and feeling all the impulse which could
be given by the rude eloquence of their favourite minis-
ters. Unfortunately the preachers were not disposed to
limit themselves to the task of animating the courage of
the soldiers ; but were so presumptuous as to interfere
with, arid control the plans of the General, and move-
ments of the army.
The army of England, consisting almost entirely of
Independents, amongst whom any man who chose might
exert the office of a clergyman, had a resemblance to the
Presbyterian troops of Scotland, for both armies profess-
ed to appeal to Heaven for the justice of their cause ;
and both resounded with psalms, prayers, exhortations,
and religious exercises, to confirm the faith, and animate
the zeal of the soldiers. Both used the same language
in their proclamations against each other, and it was such
as implied a war rather on account of religion than of
temporal interests. The Scottish proclamations declared
the army commanded by Cromwell to be an union of the
182 CROMWELL'S INVASION
most perverse heretical sectaries, of every different per-
sua*-.on, agreeing in nothing, saving their desire to tffect
tli' ruin of the unity and discipline of the Christian
C tirch, and die destruction of the Covenant, to which
IT ist of their leaders had sworn fidelity. The army of
( -ormvell replied to them in the same style. They de-
( ared that they valued the Christian Churches ten thou-
md times more than their own lives. They protested
nat they were not only a rod of iron to dash asunder the
common enemies, but a hedge (though unworthy) about
ihe divine vineyard. As for the Covenant, they protest-
ed that, would it not seem to make it an object of idola-
try, they would be content, if called upon to encounter
the Scots in this quarrel, to place the Covenant on the
point of their pikes, and let God himself judge whether
they or their opponents had best observed the obligations
of that national engagement.
Although the contending nations thus nearly resembled
each other in their ideas and language, there was betwixt
the Scottish and English soldiers one difference, and it
proved a material one. In the English army the officers
insisted upon being preachers, and though their doctrine
was wild enough, their ignorance of theology had no effect
on military events. But with the Scots, the Presbyterian
clergy were unhappily seized with the opposite rage of
acting as officers and generals, and their skill in their own
profession of divinity could not redeem the errors which
they committed in the art of war.
Fairfax having declined the command of the English
army, his conscience (for he was a Presbyterian) not per-
mitting him to engage in the war, Cromwell accepted
with joy the supreme military authority, and prepared for
the invasion of Scotland.
The wars between the sister kingdoms seemed now
about to be rekindled, after the interval of two-thirds of
a century ; and notwithstanding the greatly superior power
of England, there was no room for absolute confidence
in her ultimate success. The Scots, though divided into
parties sc far as church government was concerned
OF SCOTLAND. 185
were unanimous in acknowledging the right of King
Charles, whereas the English were far from making coin
mon cause against his claims. On the contrary, if the
stern army of Sectaries, now about to take the field,
should sustain any great disaster, the Cavaliers of Eng-
land, with great part of the Presbyterians in that country,
were alike disposed to put the King once more at the
head of the government ; so that the fate not of Scotland
alone, but of England also, was committed to the event
of the present war.
Neither were the armies and generals opposed to each
other unworthy of the struggle. If the army of Crom-
well consisted of veteran soldiers, inured to constant vic-
tory, that of Scotland was fresh, numerous, and masters
of their own strong country, which was the destined
scene of action. If Cromwell had defeated the most
celebrated generals of the Cavaliers, David Lesley, the
effective commander-in-chief in Scotland, had been vic-
tor over Montrose, more renowned perhaps than any of
them. If Cromwell was a general of the most decisive
character, celebrated for the battles which he had won,
Lesley was, by early education, a trained soldier, more
skilful than his antagonist in taking positions, defending
passes, and all the previous arrangements of a campaign.
With these advantages on the different sides, the eventual
struggle commenced.
Early in the summer of 1650, Cromwell invaded
Scotland at the head of his veteran and well-disciplined
troops. But, on marching through Berwickshire and
East Lothian, he found that the country was abandoned
by the population, and stripped of every thing which
could supply the hostile army. Nothing was to be seen
save old spectre-looking women, clothed in white flannel,
who told the English officers that all the men had taken
arms, under command of the Barons.
Subsisting chiefly on the provisions supplied by a fleet,
which, sailing along the coast, accompanied his move-
ments, the English General approached the capital, where
Lesley had settled his head-quarters. The right wmg of
184 CKOMWELL'S INVASION OF SCOTLAND.
the Scottish army rested upon the high grounds at the
rise of Arthur's Seat, and the left wing was posted at
Leith, while the high bank, formerly called Leith Walk,
made a part of his lines, which, defended by a numerous
artillery, completely protected the metropolis. Crom-
well skirmished with the Scottish advanced posts near to
Restalrig, but his cuirassiers were so warmly encountered,
that they gained no advantage, and their General was
obliged to withdraw to Musselburgh. His next effort
was made from the westward.
The English army made a circuit to Collinton, Red-
hall, and other places near to the eastern extremity of the
Pentland Hills, from which Cromwell hoped to advance
on Edinburgh. But Lesley was immediately on his
guard. He left his position betwixt Edinburgh and
Leith, and took one which covered the city to the west-
ward, and was protected by the Water of Leith, and the
several cuts, drains, and mill-leads, at Saughton, Colt-
bridge, and the houses and villages in that quarter. Here
Cromwell again found the Scots in order of battle, and
again was obliged to withdraw after a distant cannonade.
The necessity of returning to the neighbourhood of
his fleet, obliged Cromwell to march back to his encamp-
ment at Musselburgh. Nor was he permitted to remain
there in quiet. At the dead of night, a strong body of
cavalry, called the regiment of the Kirk, well armed at
all points, broke into the English lines, with loud cries of,
" God and the Kirk ! all is ours." It was with some
difficulty that Cromwell rallied his soldiers upon this sud-
den alarm, in which he sustained considerable loss, though
the assailants were finally compelled to retreat.
The situation of the English army now became criti-
cal ; their provisions were like to be exhausted, the
communication with the fleet grew daily more precarious,
while Lesley, with the same prudence which had hithert
guided his defence, baflled all the schemes of the Eng
lish leader, without exposing his army to the risk of p
general action, until Cromwell, fairly outgeneralled by
BATTLE OF DUNBAR. 18.3
the address ofliis enemy, was compelled to retiie toward?
England.
Lesley, on his part, left his lines without delay, for the
purpose of intercepting the retreat of the English. Mov-
ing by a shorter line, he took possession with his army of
the skirts of Lammermoor, a ridge of hills terminating on
the sea near the town of Dun bar, abounding with diffi-
cult passes, all of which he occupied strongly. Here he
proposed to await the attack of the English, with every
chance, nay, almost with the certainty, of gaining a great
and decisive victory.
Cromwell was reduced to much perplexity. To force
his way, it was necessary to attack a tremendous pass
called Cockburn's path, where, according to Cromwell's
own description, one man might do more to defend, than
ten to make way. And if he engaged in this desperate
enterprise, he was liable to be attacked by the numerous
f orces of Lesley in flank and rear. He saw all the dan-
ger, and entertained thoughts of embarking his foot on
board of his ships, and cutting his own way, as he best
could, at the head of his cavalry.
At this moment, the interference of the Presbyterian
preachers, and the influence which they possessed over
the Scottish army and General, ruined this fair promise
of success. In spite of all the prudent remonstrances of
Lesley, they insisted that the Scottish army should be
led from their strong position, to attack the English upon
equal ground. This, in the language of Scripture, they
called going down against the Philistines at Gilgal.
Cromwell had slept at the Duke of Roxburghe's house,
called Broxmouth, and his army were stationed in the park
there, when he received news that the Scots were leaving
their fastnesses, and about to hazard battle. He exclaim-
ed, " that God had delivered them into his hands ;" and
calling for his horse, placed himself at the head of his
troops. Coming to the head of a regiment of Lanca-
shire men, he found one of their officers, while they were
in the act of marching to battle, in a fit of sudden eiuhu-
186 CROMWELL'S INVASION
siasni holding forth or preaching to his men. Cromut. 1\
also listened, and seemed affected by his discourse. At
this moment the sun showed his broad orb on the level
surface of the sea, which is close to the scene of action.
"Let the Lord arise," he said, "and let his enemies he
scattered ;" and presently after; looking upon the field
where the battle had now commenced, he added, " I
profess they flee."
Cromwell's hopes did not deceive him. The hasty
Scottish levies, thus presumptuously opposed to the vet-
eran soldiers of Cromwell, proved unequal to standing
the shock. Two regiments fought bravely, and were al-
most all cut off; but the greater part of Lesley's army
fell into confusion without much resistance. Great slaugh-
ter ensued, and many prisoners were made, whom the
cruelty of the English government destined to a fate hith-
erto unknown in Christian warfare. They transported to
the English settlements in America those unfortunate
captives, subjects of an independent kingdom, who bore
arms by order of their own lawful government, and there
sold them for slaves.
The decisive defeat at Dunbar opened the whole of
the south of Scotland to Cromwell. The Independents
found a few friends and brother sectaries among the gen-
try, who had been hitherto deterred, by the fear of the
Presbyterians, from making their opinions public. Almost
all the strong places on the south side of the Forth were
won by the arms of the English, or yielded by the ti-
midity of their defenders. Edinburgh Castle was sur-
rendered, not without suspicion of gross treachery ; and
Tantallon, Hume, Roslin, and Borthwick, with other for-
tresses, fell into their hands.
Internal dissension added to the calamitous state of
Scotland. The Committee of Estates, with the King,
and the remainder of Lesley's army, retreated to Stirling,
where they still hoped to make a stand, by defending the
passes of the Forth. A Parliament, held at Perth, were
in this extremity disposed to relax in the extreme rigoui
of their exclusive doctrines, and to admit into the army
OF SCOTLAND. 187
which they laboured to reinforce, such of the moderate
Presbyterians, or Engagers, and even of the Royalists
and Maiigoants, as inclined to make a formal confession
of their former errors. The Royalists readily enough
complied with this requisition; but as their pretended
repentance was generally regarded as a mere farce, sub-
mitted to that they might obtain leave to bear arms for
the King, the stricter Presbyterians regarded this compro-
mise with Malignants as a sinful seeking for help from
Egypt. The Presbyterians of the western counties, in
particular, carried this opinion so far, as to think this pe-
riod of national distress an auspicious time for disclaim-
ing the King's interest and title. Refusing to allow that
the victory of Dunbar was owing to the military skill of
Cromwell, and the disciplined valour of his troops, they
set it down as a chastisement justly inflicted on the Scot-
tish nation for espousing the Royal cause. Under this
separate banner there assembled an army of about font
thousand men, commanded by Kerr and Strachan. They
were resolved, at the same time, to oppose the English
invasion, and to fight with the King's forces, and thus
embroil the kingdom in a threefold war. The leaders of
this third party, who were called Remonstrators, made a
smart attack on a large body of English troops, stationed
in Hamilton under General Lambert, and were at first
successful ; but falling into disorder, owing to their very
success, they were ultimately defeated. Kerr, one of
their leaders, was wounded, and made prisoner ; and
Strachan soon afterwards revolted, and joined the Eng-
lish army.
Cromwell, in the meanwhile, made the fairest promises
to all who would listen to him, and laboured, not altogeth-
er in vain, to impress the Presbyterian party with a belief,
that they had better join with the Independents, although
disallowing of church-government, and thus obtain peace
and a close alliance with England, than adhere to the
cause of the King, who, with his father's house, had, h<>
said, been so long the troublers of Israel. And here J
may interrupt the course of public events, to tell you an
183 CROMWELL'S INVASION OF SCOTLAND.
anecdote not generally known, but curious as illustrating
the character of Cromwell.
Shortly after the battle of Dunbar, Cromwell visited
Glasgow ; and upon Sunday attended the Presbyterian
service in the principal church of that city. The preach-
er, a rigid Presbyterian, was nothing intimidated by the
presence of the English General ; but entering freely
upon state affairs, which were then a common topic in
the pulpit, he preached boldly on the errors and heresies
of the independent sectaries, insisted on the duty of re-
sisting their doctrines, and even spoke with little respect
of the person of Cromwell himself. An officer who sat
behind Cromwell, whispered something in his ear more
than once, and the General as often seemed to impose
silence upon him. The curiosity of the congregation
was strongly excited. At length the service was ended,
and Cromwell was in the act of leaving the church, when
he cast his eyes on one Wilson, a mechanic, who had long
resided at Glasgow, and called on him by name. The
man no sooner saw the General take notice of him than
he ran away. Cromwell directed that he should be fol-
lowed, and brought before him, but without injury. At
the same time he sent a civil message to the clergyman
who had preached, desiring to see him at his quarters.
These things augmented the curiosity of the town's peo-
ple ; and when they saw Wilson led as prisoner to the
General's apartments, many remained about the door,
watching the result. Wilson soon returned, and joyfully
showed his acquaintances some money which the English
General had given him to drink his health. His business
with Cromwell was easily explained. This man had
been son of a footman who had attended James VI. to
England. By some accident Wilson had served his ap-
prenticeship to a shoemaker in the same town where
Cromwell's father lived, had often played with Master
Oliver while they were both children, and had obliged
him by making balls and other playthings for him. W T her.
Wilson saw that his old companion recognised him, he
ran awav, because, recollecting his father had been a
CORONATION OF CHARLES II. 189
servr.i.t of the royal family, he thought the General, who
was known to have brought the late King to the block,
might nourish ill-will against all who were connected with
nim. But Cromwell had received him kindly, spoken
of their childish acquaintance, and gave him some money.
The familiarity with which he seemed to treat him, en
couraged Wilson to ask his former friend what it was that
passed betwixt the officer and him, when the preacher
was thundering from the pulpit against the sectaries and
their General. " He called the minister an insolent ras-
cal," said Cromwell, not unwilling, perhaps, that his for-
bearance should be made public, " and asked my leave
to pull him out of the pulpit by the ears ; and I com-
manded him to sit still, telling him the minister was one
fool, and he another." This anecdote serves to show
Cromwell's recollection of persons and faces. He next
gave audience to the preacher, and used arguments with
him which did not reach the public ; but were so con-
vincing, that he pronounced a second discourse in the
evening, in a tone much mitigated towards Independency
and its professors.
While the south of Scotland was overawed, and the
Western Remonstrators were dispersed by Cromwell, the
Scottish Parliament, though retired beyond the Forth,
st'.Il maintained a show of decided opposition. They re-
solved upon the coronation of Charles, a ceremony hith-
erto deferred, but which they determined now to perform,
as a solemn pledge of their resolution to support the con-
stitution and religion of Scotland to the last.
But the melancholy solemnity had been nearly prevent-
ed by the absence of the principal personage. Charles,
disgustea with the invectives of the Presbyterian clergy,
and perhaps remembering the fate of his father at New-
castle, formed a hasty purpose of flying from the Presby-
terian camp. He had not been sufficiently aware of the
weakness of the Royalists, who recommended this wild
step, and he actually went off to the hills. But he found
Duly a few Highlanders at Clova, without the appearnnce
>/ an army, which he had promised mrnscif, and was
190 MANCEUVR1NG OK THE ENGLISH
easily induced to return to the camp with a party who
had been despatched in pursuit of him.
This excursion, which was called the Start, did ni
til-cully tend to increase confidence betwixt the young
King mid his Presbyterian counsellors. The ceremony
of the coronation "was performed with such solemnities
as the time admitted, but mingled with circumstances
which must have been highly disgusting to Charles. The
confirmation of the Covenant was introduced as nn es-
sential part of the solemnity ; and the coronation was
preceded by a national fast and humiliation, expressly
held on account of the sins of the Royal Family. A
suspected hand, that of the Marquis of Argyle, placed an
nsecure crown on the head of the son, whose father he
had been one of the principal instruments in dethroning.
These were bad omens. But, on the other hand, the
King enjoyed more liberty than before ; most of the En-
gagers had resumed their seats in Parliament; and many
Royalist officers were received into the army.
Determined at this time not to be tempted to a disad-
vantageous battle, the King, who assumed the command
of the arrny in person, took up a line in front of Stirling,
having in his front the river of Carron. Cromwell ap-
proached, but could neither with prudence attack the Scots
in their lines, nor find means of inducing them to hazard
a battle, unless upon great advantage. After the armies
had confronted each other for more than a month, Crom-
well despatched Colonel Overton into Fife, to turn the
left flank of the Scottish army., and intercept their sup-
plies. He was encountered near the town of Inverkeith-
ing by the Scots, commanded by Holborn and Brown.
The first of these officers behaved basely, and perhaps
treacherously. Brown fought well and bravely, but
finally sustaining a total defeat, was made prisoner, and
afterwards died of grief.
The situation of the main Scottish army, under Charles
in person, became hazardous after this defeat, for their
position was rendered precarious, by the footing which
the English tbtained in the counties of Fife and Kinross,
AND SCOTTISH ARMIKS. 191
which enabled them to intercept the King's supplies and
communications from the north. In this distressed situa-
tion Charles adopted a bold and decisive measure. He
resolved to transfer the war from Scotland to England,
and, suddenly raising his camp, he moved to the south-
westward by rapid inarches, hoping to rouse his friends
in England to arms, before Cromwell could overtake him.
But the Cavaliers of England were now broken and dis-
pirited, and were, besides, altogether unprepared for this
hasty invasion, which seemed rather the effect of despair
than the result of deliberate and settled resolution. The
Presbyterians, though rather inclined to the Royal cause,
were still less disposed to hazard a junction with him,
until terms of mutual accommodation could be settled.
They were divided and uncertain, while the republicans
were resolved and active.
The English militia assembled under Lambert to op-
pose Charles in front, and Cromwell followed close in his
rear, to take every advantage that could offer. The Scots
reached without much opposition the city of Worcester,
where, 3d September, 1651, the militia, commanded by
Lambert, and the regular forces under Cromwell, attacked
the Royalists with double the number of their forces.
Clarendon and other English authors represent the Scot-
tish army as making little resistance. Cromwell, on the
contrary, talks of the battle of Worcester, in his peculiar
phraseology, as " a stiff business a very glorious mercy
as stiff a contest as he had ever beheld." But, well or
ill disputed, the day was totally lost. Three thousand
men were slain in the field, ten thousand were taken, and
such of them as survived their wounds, and the horrors
of overcrowded jails, were shipped off as slaves for the
plantations.
Charles escaped from the field, and concealed himself
in obscure retreats, under various disguises. At one time
he was obliged to hide himself in the boughs of a spread-
ing oak tree ; hence called the Royal Oak. At another
time he rode before a lady, Mrs. Lane, in the quality of
a groom ; and in this disguise passed through a part of
1 92 PRESERVATION OF THE
ihe Parliament forces. After infinite fatigue, many ro-
mantic adventures, and tlie most imminent risk of discov-
ery, he at length escaped by sea, and for eight years con-
tinued to wander from one foreign court to another, a poor,
neglected, and insulted adventurer, claimant of thrones,
which he seemed destined never to possess.