Great Britain -- History -- Commonwealth and Protectorate, 1649-1660 -- Sources; Great Britain -- History -- Early Stuarts, 1603-1649 -- Sources
the blame on their Chief. Some gentlemen of the Lowlands, that had
behaved themselves bravely in the battle, when they saw all lost,
fled into the old castle, and, upon their surrender, I have treated
them honourably, and taken their parole never to bear arms against
your Majesty.
We have of your Majesty's army about two hundred wounded, but I hope
few of them dangerously. I can hear but of four killed, and one whom
I cannot name to your Majesty but with grief of mind, Sir Thomas
Ogilvy, a son of the Earl of Airly's, of whom I writ to your Majesty
in my last. He is not yet dead, but they say he cannot possibly
live, and we give him over for dead. Your Majesty had never a truer
servant, nor there never was a braver, honester gentleman. For the
rest of the particulars of this action, I refer myself to the bearer,
Mr. Hay, whom your Majesty knows already, and therefore I need not
recommend him.
Now, Sacred Sir, let me humbly intreat your Majesty's pardon if I
presume to write you my poor thoughts and opinion about what I heard
by a letter I received from my friends in the south, last week, as if
your Majesty was entering into a treaty with your rebel Parliament in
England. The success of your arms in Scotland does not more rejoice
my heart, as that news from England is like to break it. And whatever
come of me, I will speak my mind freely to your Majesty, for it is
not mine, but your Majesty's interest I seek.
When I had the honour of waiting upon your Majesty last, I told you
at full length what I fully understood of the designs of your Rebel
subjects in both kingdoms, which I had occasion to know as much as
any one whatsoever; being at that time, as they thought, entirely
in their interest. Your Majesty may remember how much you said you
were convinced I was in the right in my opinion of them. I am sure
there is nothing fallen out since to make your Majesty change your
judgment in all those things I laid before your Majesty at that time.
The more your Majesty grants, the more will be asked; and I have too
much reason to know that they will not rest satisfied with less than
making your Majesty a King of straw. I hope the news I have received
about a treaty may be a mistake, and the rather that the letter
wherewith the Queen was pleased to honour me, dated the 30th of
December, mentions no such thing. Yet I know not what to make of the
intelligence I received, since it comes from Sir Robert Spottiswood,
who writes it with a great regret; and it is no wonder, considering
no man living is a more true subject to your Majesty than he. Forgive
me, Sacred Sovereign, to tell your Majesty that, in my poor opinion,
it is unworthy of a King to treat with Rebel subjects, while they
have the sword in their hands. And though God forbid I should stint
your Majesty's mercy, yet I must declare the horror I am in when I
think of a treaty, while your Majesty and they are in the field with
two armies, unless they disband, and submit themselves entirely to
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