A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...
A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...
A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...
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EXECUTION OF SIR ROBERT SPOTTISWOOD.<br />
43.')<br />
be eminently const<strong>an</strong>t <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> virtuous. The gentlemen who spoke wen<br />
tolil that <strong>the</strong> authority oF <strong>the</strong> established government was not secure<br />
wliile Sir Robert's life was spared. Whereupon <strong>the</strong> noblemen who pre-<br />
sided at <strong>the</strong> meeting <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> estates at Glasgow, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> in <strong>the</strong> parliament at<br />
St Andrews, openly declared, when <strong>the</strong>y signed <strong>the</strong> respective sentences,<br />
that <strong>the</strong>y did sign as preses, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> in obedience to <strong>the</strong> comm<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> estates, bnt not as to <strong>the</strong>ir particular judgment."*<br />
After he had mounted <strong>the</strong> scaffold, still reeking <strong>with</strong> <strong>the</strong> blood <strong>of</strong><br />
Colonel Gordon, Sir Robert surveyed <strong>the</strong> terrific scene around him <strong>with</strong><br />
singular composure, which, added to his appear<strong>an</strong>ce, which was naturally<br />
grave <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> dignified, filled <strong>the</strong> breasts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> spectators <strong>with</strong> a feeling <strong>of</strong><br />
compassion. Sir Robert had intended to have addressed <strong>the</strong> people, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />
had prepared a written speech for <strong>the</strong> occasion ;| but on turning round to<br />
• Life prefixed to Sir Robert's work, titled " Practicks," folio, prii.led in 1706.<br />
t Tiii3 speech is too long for insertion, but <strong>the</strong> most interesting piirts <strong>of</strong> it are here<br />
given.<br />
" You will expect to hear from me somewhat <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> cause for which I am brought<br />
hi<strong>the</strong>r at this time to sulTer in this kind ; which 1 am bound to do, for clearing <strong>the</strong> integrity<br />
<strong>of</strong> mine own proceedings, vindicating his majesty's just <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> pious intentions, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />
<strong>with</strong>al to undeceive you that are muzzled in ignor<strong>an</strong>ce, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> made to believe that you are<br />
tied in conscience, to set forward this unnatural rebellion, masked under ihe cover <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />
pretext <strong>of</strong> propagating religion, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> maintaining <strong>of</strong> public libei ty.<br />
"You liave perceived by <strong>the</strong> fact which hatti gone before, viz , tearing <strong>of</strong> my arms,<br />
&c , that I st<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> here adjudged to die by this pretended parliament, as a traitor to <strong>the</strong><br />
states, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> enemy to my native country. This is a treason unheard <strong>of</strong> before in this<br />
kingdom ; against <strong>the</strong> states, a thing <strong>of</strong> a new creation, which, I believe, <strong>the</strong>re be some<br />
would have erected in opposition to <strong>the</strong> just <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> lawful authority <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> king, under which<br />
we <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> our predecessors have been so m<strong>an</strong>y hundreds <strong>of</strong> years governed.<br />
** To come to <strong>the</strong> particulars <strong>of</strong> my treasonable deme<strong>an</strong>our, as <strong>the</strong>y term it, <strong>the</strong> main<br />
one is, that 1 did bring down a commission <strong>of</strong> lieuten<strong>an</strong>cy from his Majesty to <strong>the</strong> lord<br />
marquis <strong>of</strong> Montrose, <strong>with</strong> a proclamation for indicting a parliament by <strong>the</strong> king's au-<br />
thority, wherein <strong>the</strong> lord marquis was <strong>the</strong> commissioner. Not to excuse myself upon <strong>the</strong><br />
necessity laid upon me to obey his majesty's comm<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> in a business <strong>of</strong> that nature, in<br />
regard <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> charge I had about him ; I c<strong>an</strong>not so far betray mine own conscience, as to<br />
keep up from )0U my judgment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> thing itself; seeing it may both tend to <strong>the</strong> justi-<br />
fying <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> king's part, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> your better information, for lack whefe<strong>of</strong> I know m<strong>an</strong>y are<br />
ent<strong>an</strong>gled in tliis rebellion unwittingly ; <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> who knowelh but God, in his merciful providence,<br />
hath brought us hi<strong>the</strong>r, to be <strong>the</strong> instruments <strong>of</strong> freeing you from <strong>the</strong> m<strong>an</strong>ifold<br />
delusions that are made use <strong>of</strong> to insnare \ou.<br />
** I say, <strong>the</strong>n, it was just <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> necessary to his majesty to gr<strong>an</strong>t such commissions, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>,<br />
by consequence, <strong>an</strong> act <strong>of</strong> duty in me to peiform what he was pleased to comm<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> me.<br />
" It is known well enough what contentment his majesty gave to Ihe kingdom at his<br />
last being here, both in Ihe affairs <strong>of</strong> church <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> policy ; not<strong>with</strong>st<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>ing where<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
world seeth what meeting he hath got from us. When this rebellion first burst out in<br />
Engl<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>, all that he desired <strong>of</strong> us was only to st<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> neutral, <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> not to meddle between<br />
him <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> his subjects <strong>the</strong>re. Of which moderate desire <strong>of</strong> his little reckoning was made.<br />
But un <strong>the</strong> contrary, at <strong>the</strong> request <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se rebels, by <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> iheir faction amongst<br />
us, <strong>an</strong> armv was raised <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> sent into Engl<strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong>, to assist <strong>the</strong>m against <strong>the</strong>ir own native<br />
king.<br />
" His majesty being reduced to this extremity, what expedient could he find so fair <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong><br />
easy, as to make use <strong>of</strong> tlie help <strong>of</strong> such <strong>of</strong> his loyal subjects as he knew had such unpa-<br />
ralleled disloyalty in horror <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> detestation? Amongst whom, that matchless mirror <strong>of</strong><br />
all true worth <strong><strong>an</strong>d</strong> nobility, <strong>the</strong> lord marquis <strong>of</strong> Montrose, having <strong>of</strong>fered himself, it<br />
pleased his majesty to give him a subaltern commission first; which he having executed<br />
»ith such unheard-<strong>of</strong> success, that his memory shiill be had in honour for it, in all ages.
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