CHAPTER I. Character-Enters the army-Commands the horse at the bridge of Dee-Marries-Enters the service of the Parliament of England— Lieutenant-general under Sir William Walter-Resigns his commission in consequence of the Self-denying Ordinance-Robert Middleton murdered by Montrose's soldiers-John Middleton appointed second in command against Montrose-He and Leshe defeat Montrose at Philiphaugh-The Estates vote Middleton five thousand marks for his services-Commands the troops left in Scotland-His proceedings against Montrose-The latter ordered by the king to disband his forces; hesitates, but finally holds a conference with Middleton, and agrees to quit the countryMiddleton witness at his nephew's baptism-Appointed Commissioner of Estates belonging to Cavaliers-Proceedings against Huntley, who is at length captured by a division of his troops. CLARENDON1 has given General John Middleton a place amongst what have been called his " inimitable portraits." He describes him as an excellent officer who kept up the spirits of his comrades, and was much beloved by them. Many of the Parliament," he says, "had a greater regard for Middleton than for any other of his country, knowing him to be a 1 Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon, Lord High Chancellor of England, born 1608, died 1674. 2 Memoirs of Prince Rupert, by Eliot Warburton. man of great honour and courage, and much the best officer the Scots had." Their hatred towards him was proportionate, when he joined the Royalist party.1 In a letter to Sir Edward Nicholas,2 Secretary of State, during the campaign in Scotland in 1653, Clarendon speaks of the general as "a very gallant person, of good understanding and great truth, and one from whom he never heard the least brag; but says he would prefer to hear of their business from Nicholas, rather than from Middleton himself, as the latter is too short in his relations." The king (Charles II.), in speaking of Middleton to Clarendon, said "that he had the least in him of any infirmities incidental to his party, that he (Charles) knew; and that he was a man of great honour and ingenuity, with whom Clarendon would be well pleased." On another occasion he praises his discretion and temper.3 Samuel Pepys, who knew him during the latter years of his life, describes him as a great soldier, fine and stout: one who had done the king good service; a man of moderate understanding, who had seen much of the world; usually " of but few words," 1 History of the Rebellion. Sir Edward Nicholas, for many years principal Secretary of State to Charles I. and Charles II., dismissed from his office through the intrigues of Lady Castlemaine. Died 1669, aged 77. 3 Letter from the king to Middleton in Clarendon Papers. like most of the other Scotch gentry he had met with; but able to converse when he chose well and sensibly, so that it was a pleasure to listen to him. He remarks also that Middleton was said "not to be covetous," which good reputation he probably acquired in 1648, when he was appointed by the Scotch Parliament commissioner concerning the estates belonging to Cavaliers. He made peace then with the Earl of Seaforth, and took nothing from him;1 but unfortunately his conduct at the time of his administration in Scotland tells a different tale, the obnoxious Act of Fines passed by him having for its chief object the enrichment of himself and friends. Pepys himself discovered afterwards, in his dealings with him as treasurer for Tangiers, that Lord Middleton was possessed of much shrewdness, and was a thorough Scot. He grumbled about his profits and perquisites as governor being diminished, and said that the garrison must be increased. Such conduct was, however, excusable, as he was a soldier of fortune" and "a needy lord," and his son-in-law, Lord Morton, was at the time in distressed circumstances." "2 Unfortunately his career is, on the whole, a most 1 Gordon. 2 Diary. Compiled from the different notices of Lord Middleton in Pepys' |