on Monday, it is like, the cannons and mortar-pieces begin to teach again, or indicate that they can at once begin. Wherefore, on Wednesday, here is a new Note from Governor Dundas; which we shall call Reply No. 4, from that much-straitened Gentleman : "Edinburgh Castle, 18th December, 1650. "MY LORD, I expected that conscience, which you pretended to be your motive that did induce you to summon this house before you did attempt anything against it, should also have moved you to have expected my Answer to your Demand of the house; which I could not, out of conscience, suddenly give, without mature deliberation; it being a business of such high importance. You having refused that little time, which I did demand to the effect I might receive the commands of them that did intrust me with this place; and " I " yet not daring to fulfil your desire,-I do demand such a competent time as may be condescended upon betwixt us, within which if no relief come, I shall surrender this place upon such honorable conditions as can be agreed upon by capitulation; and during which time all acts of hostility and prosecution of attempts on both sides may be forborne. I am, my Lord, your humble servant, "W. DUNDAS." 66 The Lord General's Reply, No. 5: LETTER CVI. SIR, For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. Edinburgh, 18th December, 1650. All that I have to say is shortly this: That if you will send out Commissioners by eleven o'clock this night, thoroughly instructed and authorized to treat and conclude, you may have terms, honorable and safe to you, and 'to' those whose interests are concerned in the things that are with you. I shall give a safe-conduct to such whose names you shall send within the time limited, and order to forbear shooting at their coming forth, and going in. To this I expect your answer within one hour, and rest, * Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 98). The Governor's Reply, No. 5: "Edinburgh Castle, 18th December, 1650. "MY LORD,-I have thought upon these Two Gentlemen whose names are here mentioned; to wit, Major Andrew Abernethy and Captain Robert Henderson; whom I purpose to send out instructed, in order to the carrying on the Capitulation. Therefore expecting a safe-conduct for them with this bearer,-I rest, my Lord, your humble servant, The Lord General's Reply, No. 6: "W. DUNDAS." LETTER CVII. For the Governor of Edinburgh Castle: These. Edinburgh, 18th December, 1650. SIR, I have, here enclosed, sent you a safe-conduct for the coming forth and return of the Gentlemen you desire; and have appointed and authorized Colonel Monk and Lieutenant-Colonel White to meet with your Commissioners, at the house in the safe-conduct mentioned: there to treat and conclude of the Capitulation, on my part. I rest, Sir, your servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.* Here is his Excellency's Pass or safe-conduct for them: PASS. To all Officers and Soldiers under my Command. You are on sight hereof to suffer Major Andrew Abernethy and Captain Robert Henderson to come forth of Edinburgh Castle, to the house of Mr. Wallace in Edinburgh, and to return back into the said Castle, without any trouble or molestation. Given under my hand, this 18th December, 1650. OLIVER CROMWELL.† By to-morrow morning, in Mr. Wallace's house, Colonel Monk and the other Three have agreed upon handsome terms; of which, * Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 99). † Ibid. except what indicates itself in the following Proclamation, published by beat of drum the same day, we need say nothing. All was handsome, just and honorable, as the case permitted; my Lord General being extremely anxious to gain this place, and conciliate the Godly People of the Nation. By one of the conditions, the Public Registers, now deposited in the Castle, are to be accurately bundled up by authorized persons, and carried to Stirling, or whither the Authorities please; concerning which some question afterwards accidentally rises. PROCLAMATION. To be proclaimed by the Marshal-general, by beat of drum, in Edinburgh and Leith. WHEREAS there is an agreement of articles by treaty concluded betwixt myself and Colonel Walter Dundas, Governor of the Castle of Edinburgh, which doth give free liberty to all Inhabitants adjacent, and all other persons who have any goods in the said Castle, to fetch forth the same from thence: These are therefore to declare, That all such people before mentioned who have any goods in the Castle, as is before expressed, shall have free liberty between this present Thursday the 19th instant, and Tuesday the 24th, To repair to the Castle, and to fetch away their goods, without let or molestation. And I do hereby further declare and require all Officers and Soldiers of this Army, That they take strict care, that no violation be done to any person or persons fetching away their goods, and carrying them to such place or places as to them seemeth fit. And if it shall so fall out that any Soldier shall be found willingly or wilfully to do anything contrary hereunto, he shall suffer death for the same. And if it shall appear that any Officer shall, either through connivance or otherwise, do or suffer' to be done' anything contrary to and against the said Proclamation, wherein it might lie in his power to prevent or hinder the same, he the said Officer shall likewise suffer death. Given under my hand the 19th of December, 1650. OLIVER CROMWELL.* It is now Thursday: we gain admittance to the Castle on the Tuesday following, and the Scotch forces march away,-in a somewhat confused manner, I conceive. For Governor Dundas and the other parties implicated are considered little better than traitors, at Stirling in fact they are, openly or secretly, of the Remonstrant or Protester species; and may as well come over to Cromwell ;-which at once or gradually the most of thern do. What became of the Clergy, let us not inquire: Remonstrants or Resolutioners, confused times await them! Of which here and there a glimpse may turn up as we proceed. The Lord General has now done with Scotch Treaties: the Malignants and QuasiMalignants are ranked in one definite body; and he may smite without reluctance. Here is his Letter to the Speaker on this business. After which, we may hope, the rest of his Scotch Letters may be given in a mass: sufficiently legible without commentary of ours. LETTER CVIII. For the Honorable William Lenthall, Speaker of the Parliament of England: These. RIGHT HONORABLE, Edinburgh, 24th December, 1650. It hath pleased God to cause this Castle of Edinburgh to be surrendered into our hands, this day, about eleven o'clock. I thought fit to give you such account thereof as I could, and 'as' the shortness of time would permit. I sent a Summons to the Castle upon the 12th instant; which occasioned several Exchanges and Replies,-which, for their unusualness, I also thought fit humbly to present to you.* Indeed the mercy is very great, and seasonable. I think, I need to say little of the strength of the place; which, if it had not come in as it did, would have cost very much blood to have attained, if at all to be attained; and did tie up your Army to that inconvenience, That little or nothing could have been attempted whilst this was in design; or little fruit had of anything brought into your power by your Army hitherto, without it. I must needs say, not any skill or wisdom of ours, but the good hand of God hath given you this place. I believe all Scotland hath not in it so much brass ordnance as this place. I send you here enclosed a List thereof, and of the arms and * We have already read them. † Drakes, minions, murderers, monkes, of brass and iron,-not interest ammunition, so well as they could be taken on a sudden. Not having more at present to trouble you with, I take leave, and rest, Sir, Your most humble servant, OLIVER CROMWELL.* ing to us, except it be the great iron murderer called Muckle-Meg,' already in existence, and still held in some confused remembrance in those Northern parts. |