Middleton's safe arrival in France when Knox conferred with them, directed him, if neither he nor Lord Newburgh1 were at Court, to seek the Marquis of Ormond,2 and ask him to present him to his Majesty ; but this he had not thought necessary to do, as both Middleton and Newburgh were there.

A humble request, or rather condition, was attached to these offers of service, which if not granted, neither those in Scotland, nor the lords in the Tower, hesitated to declare that they would no more think of serving his Majesty-which was, that everything relating to these affairs should be kept from the queen, the Duke of Buckingham, the Lord Jermyn, and the Lord Wilmot.5 They professed all duty to the queen, but knew that she had so good an opinion of Argyle, that he would in that case be certainly made acquainted with all that took place.

The king did not expect that much would be achieved by his friends in Scotland; but he did not

1 Sir James Levingston, first Viscount Newburgh, a staunch Cavalier, and one of the gentlemen of the bedchamber to Charles II. Died December 26th, 1670.

2 James Butler, afterwards Duke of Ormond, born 1610, died 1688. 3 George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham, the favourite of Charles II., born 1627, died 1688.

• Henry Jermyn, created Lord Jermyn in 1643, advanced to the earldom of St. Albans in 1660. He was thought to be married to the Queen Henrietta.

5 Afterwards first Earl of Rochester.

think fit to undervalue their professions. Nor had Middleton either much hope of success; they having both seen a Scotch army, well provided with necessaries, unable to do anything when they fought on more advantageous terms. It was not therefore likely that those who were drawn together by chance, half armed and undisciplined, would be able to contend with victorious troops. Middleton, however, having promised to go to the Highlands, was willing to venture his life in the undertaking if a sufficient force could go over with him.

The next day another interview was held on the subject, on which occasion Lord Newburgh introduced Middleton to Hyde, they having never met before. The chancellor was at first very unwilling to be employed in the affair, lest he might lose the queen's favour, and also because some noble persons in Scotland had formerly been prejudiced against him; but the king reassured him as to the latter objection, saying that the nation was much altered since he had to do with them, and that no men were better loved by them now than they who had from the beginning been faithful to his father and himself. To which he added "that Middleton had the least in him of any infirmities incident to his party, that he knew, and that Hyde would find him a man of great honour and ingenuity, with whom he would be well pleased."

Hyde writes from St. Germains, 27th September, 1652: "The king greatly desires that the regiment vacant by the 'precious' Earl of Roxburgh's1 going into England, may be given to Middleton.”

In

Many other expresses were sent afterwards to the king, particularly after the declaration of war between England and Holland, when General Monk left Scotland to take the command of the English fleet, from the prisoners in the Tower and the lords in Scotland, desiring that Middleton might be sent into the Highlands with his Majesty's commission. the mean time the Earl of Glencairn, a gallant nobleman, offered, if he were authorized by the king, to draw a body of horse and foot together, and infest the enemy, promising at the same time to resign his command to Middleton as soon as he arrived. The king, as requested, sent a commission to Glencairn, who in August, 1653, collected some men, gained a slight advantage over Colonel Kidd, the Governor of Stirling Castle, and, although attacked by Morgan, the English commander in place of Monk, succeeded in making good his retreat. Some disturbances breaking out among the fiery Scotch chieftains he commanded, who were always ready to quarrel on the

1 William Drummond, second Earl of Roxburgh, succeeded to the title 1650, died 1675.

2 William Cunningham, ninth Earl of Glencairn, afterwards Lord Chancellor of Scotland.

slightest provocation, he sent another despatch to the king, earnestly begging that Middleton might be sent over as soon as possible to compose their animosities.

About this time Glencairn was joined by an enterprising young officer named Colonel Wogan, who landed at Dover, raised a body of volunteers, traversed England under the banner of the Commonwealth, and, arriving in Scotland, joined the Royalists in arms, with whom he soon rendered himself much beloved.

Middleton exerted himself with great industry and activity to obtain a sufficient force for the expedition. Whitelocke says that he landed himself in the Highlands in August, 1653, with arms and ammunition, but as he was then occupied in collecting forces in Holland, this may have been a false report; and that letters on October 7th spoke of some commotions of the Highlanders, and of their killing two English soldiers and taking three prisoners. This probably happened while Glencairn had the command.

The following abstracts of letters preserved among the Clarendon Papers refer to Middleton's endeavours to obtain forces :

Paris, 10th July, 1653.-"The king, under his sign manual to Colonel Scott at Riga, thanking him

for the offers of service in his letter of the 6th May, and directing him to act under Middleton in relation to the transportation of men to Scotland."

25th July, 1653. Hyde to Middleton (Paris).— Glad that Middleton proposes to go to Denmark, as Wentworth has met with a good reception there, so that he is not likely to fail in getting both arms and men."

Paris, 19th September, 1653. Hyde to Nicholas.— “Would rather have accounts of Middleton's business from Nicholas than from Middleton himself; the latter is a very gallant person, of good understanding and great truth, and one from whom he never heard the least brag, but he is too short in his relations."

Whitelocke says, October 20th, that Middleton was labouring to get the assistance of the States for the King of Scots; that he had great favour there, and was in hopes of obtaining some effectual aid from them should the proposed peace with England not succeed. On December 8th he heard that there were preparations for 120 ships to go from Holland. in the spring; that the lords there were close and silent; that it was said that Middleton was transporting great store of arms and ammunition to the Highlands. The Dutch were anxious that he should attack some of the northern harbours.1

1 History of the Rebellion; Clarendon Papers; Whitelocke.