party; and that it signified nothing, since he knew BOOK IL that lord Melville never durst pass it, though it came to be approved." The projects of the parties were now entirely disconcerted, and mutual reproaches succeeded. "To all your friends," said lord Balcarras in the celebrated tract now quoted, and addressed by him to the abdicated monarch, "it was very evident how great an advantage might be had by joining with the violent party; for by that we thought ourselves sure of breaking their army, which consisted of about 10,000 men, and which must immediately be disbanded when they saw the parliament establish no fund, neither for paying their arrears nor subsistence and all having gone in confusion, and your majesty being then in Ireland, and the highlanders in a better disposition to rise, it were easy to make a good use of their disorders. Sir James, in the first meeting we had with him, laid out the great advantages your interest would obtain if this succeeded; the strength of his party, and all the influence he had over them. He told us likewise of their sending a messenger to your majesty, with assurances of their returning to their duty; but said nothing of the instructions, commissions, and pernicious advices he had sent along with them, believing undoubtedly it would have hindered us from joining with them. For by this we should have clearly seen it was only trying to make a

BOOK II. better bargain for themselves that made them change parties, and not out of any sentiments of conviction for having done amiss."

A direct rupture however did not take place between these jealous and distrustful friends, till the arrival of a messenger from the late king with a great black box of papers, directed to sir James Montgomery. This sir James first opened alone, and afterwards disclosed to the lords Argyle, Arran, and Ross, who agreed that various of the papers were improper to be scen by the other party. Sir James Montgomery therefore again Artifices of closed and sealed the box, and appointed a meet

Montgo

tected.

mery doing at the apartments of the marquis of Athol, at which the marquis himself, and the lords Linlithgow, Ross, Breadalbane, and Balcarras, attended. At this meeting, sir James informed the persons present that a box of papers had arrived, which he had determined not to open but in their presence: protesting, as lord Balcarras in his narrative of this transaction affirms, in the presence of Almighty GoD, that he was entirely ignorant of the contents. But the lords present, strongly suspecting the integrity of Montgomery examined the box and seals with the greatest attention, and plainly perceived not only that the cord was changed, but that the seals themselves wore, by a strange inadvertency, Montgomery's own impression. A scene of the utmost confusion

66

now ensued, not merely from the detection of so BOOK H. infamous a collusion, but from the actual inspection of the papers; by which, notwithstanding the withdrawment of those deemed most obnoxious, it appeared that the king had consented to put the whole power of the government into the hands of the presbyterians. They," says lord Balcarras, "were in no less confusion than we; finding we saw their folly in undertaking things they had not the least shadow of power to perform. They had promised to get all the parliament to declare for your majesty, and immediately meet in your name; and the earl of Argyle commissioner, who was made a marquis, and sir James made earl of Ar, and Ross likewise an earl; and all employments of church and state, and army, entirely put into their hands and those of their friends, who were generally the greatest enemics to monarchy. There were likewise great great bundles of letters not directed, but left to their direction, to be given to any of your friends they thought fit to trust; which indeed we thought a little hard to be put into their hands, who had been for fighting your majesty, and also endeavouring to ruin us on your account."

All confidence being now for ever lost, the only question at issue between the parties seemed to be, which should first impeach the other. The lord Ross, after protesting with

BOOK п. oaths, as lord Balcarras informs us, that He never

of the Scot

would make any discovery, communicated to a fanatic minister at Edinburgh that he was under great trouble of conscience, and desired his prayers to enable him to open his heart to him. After long prayers and many sighs and tears, he told him all he knew. The minister repeated next morning to lord Melville the result of this conference, and desired a passport to London for lord Ross; who before his departure informed Melville in general terms that there were dangerous matters in agiParticulars tation against the king and government, in which tish Con- he had too great a share, and for which he sought spiracy disclosed. God's pardon, but was denied, and was now going to seek it from the queen. On his arrival in London and examination before the lords Nottingham and Danby, being thought to prevaricate in his evidence, he was committed close prisoner to the Tower. The earls of Argyle, Annandale, and Breadalbane, withdrawing also under different pretences to England, Montgomery himself repaired to the earl of Melville, and made a full discovery of the whole conspiracy. The good-nature and credulity of Melville, mistaking consternation for contrition, furnished this man also with a passport to London, and a letter to the queen in his favor. But, on his subsequent examinations, having, from a sense of honor not to be expected from a man who had acted a part so treacherous, per

sisted in his refusal to reveal the names of those BOOK IL with whom he carried on a correspondence in England, he failed in obtaining his pardon. After absconding and lying concealed some months in London, he made his escape to the continent, where his plotting genius involved him in new dangers and difficulties, till at length spleen and vexation put an end prematurely to a turbulent and miserable life; and he may be regarded as one of the many striking examples which history exhibits, how great is the curse of possessing splendid talents, when unaccompanied by judgment, and disgraced by moral depravity.

upon

The earl of Annandale also threw himself the queen's mercy, and, as he had not personally treated with any in England, he could make no discoveries to their disadvantage. He gave however a deposition on oath against one Neville Payne, as the man who had been the chief medium of connection and correspondence between the English and Scottish malcontents. Being taken in Scotland, Payne was twice put to the torture, according to the barbarous custom of that country, without making any confession: and it does not appear that the extent of this conspiracy, which the government shewed much solicitude to fathom, was ever perfectly ascertained; though, according to the accustomed lenity of this reign, free pardon was granted to many who acknowledged them