fasting; but, where a rude, enraged and revengeful multitude is gathered together in defiance of heaven itself, all acts of devotion are obstructed, and even suspended till a more seasonable time.

Fourthly, Though prophetick periods do not always take place, according to the punctual warnings of the agitated spirit in the child of adoption, yet, like a great conqueror, who sometimes meets with difficulties and miscarriages in his march, in due time break through all obstruction, for the more glorious accomplishment of the promises.

Fifthly, and lastly, Had we been peaceably suffered to appear on the day and hour we predicted, it would then have been decided who were the cheats and impostors (names we have been notoriously loaded with) but when open rage, mob, fury, and even death itself not only threatened, but looked us in the face; such a time, we are sure, was inconsistent for the undertaking of any thing that related to a publick satisfaction; for, had the miracle really been wrought in such a confused medley of ungovernable rabble, instead of being acknowledged as such, we had run the hazard of being torn in pieces, and perhaps occasioned a fatal and general disorder among the people; for whose sake, more than for fear of our own lives, we prudently delayed attempting the said weighty undertaking till a more favourable opportunity; though we could freely have sacrificed our lives for the sake of spiritual truth, if such a dispensation had been either necessary or convenient; but (considering the madness of the age, the malice of the mob, and the rage of many male-contents against the present government, who, in all probability, would have took the advantage of such a confusion, in order to have promoted their long-wished for treasons and wicked designs) we preferred the publick peace and safety of the government before our own interest and reputation, which, however so much shaken in this particular, shall never discourage us from being loyal and obedient to our superiors, notwithstanding our being rendered obnoxious to them by spiteful and malicious agents, who are always fishing in troubled waters, to bring about their own notorious and pernicious purposes, though, to the scandal of themselves, and ruin of their Christian brethren, whom they hate for no other reason than being honester than themselves.

To conclude: Let men of carnal principles have what sentiments they please of us, we are resolved to act as the spirit of peace and love within us shall dictate and guide us, and as the supernatural agitations of Divine Inspiration shall enlighten our understanding.

VOL. XI,

AN ACCOUNT

OF THE LATE

SCOTCH INVASION;

As it was opened by my Lord Haversham in the House of Lords, on Friday, the Twenty-fifth of Februrary, 1708-9. With some observations that were made in the House of Commons, and true copies of authentick papers. In a letter from a gentleman in South-Britain to his friend in North-Britain.

ISAIAH xix. v. 13.

The Princes of Zoan are become fools, the Princes of Noph are deceived; they have also reduced Egypt, even they that were the stay of the tribes thereof.

Printed in the year 1709. Quarto, containing forty-six pages.

I

WAS not, Sir, till now, able to give you the account you desired, Whether the intended invasion would have any further notice taken of it, than what I sent you an account of, with the address of the House of Lords, for the papers to be laid before them? But can now tell you, with good assurance, that one of the chief reasons, why those lords, who first moved that matter, let it sleep so long, was out of the just apprehension they had, that should they awaken that enquiry sooner, it might prove a disturbance to the necessary preparations of the next campaign, by hindering subscriptions, or weakening the credit of the bank. And it was for this reason, as I have been told, that the Lord, who opened this matter, would not take notice of a very remarkable particular, which he had good vouchers in his hand to prove; but to let the world see, though those lords had been so long silent, they had not forgot that matter, they took the first opportunity that offered, after the subscriptions were finished, and the bank books made up, to put the house in mind of it, and, if possible, to get this invasion looked into. They thought themselves obliged to do so, in duty to her majesty, that she might see in how much greater danger she then was, than they had reason to believe she thought herself; and in duty to the nation too, that the publick might be convinced how little care the ministry took of them in such a dangerous conjuncture of affairs; and lastly, in justice to themselves, to demonstrate it beyond exception, that they were not only willing but desirous too, to have this matter searched to the bottom, and those concerned in it, have the just reward of their crimes; and accordingly my Lord Haversham did again put the house in mind of

what seemed to have been so long forgot, and spoke, as I am told, to this effect:

My Lords,

THE temper of this house, with relation to your enquiry into the late intended invasion, since your address to her Majesty to have the papers laid before you, and since they have been upon your table, is so very visible, I need not take notice of it, but ought rather to ask forgiveness for myself, that I should dare so much as to mention that matter once more to your lordships; nor should I do it, were it not from an absolute necessity and justice, which I think is due to myself, and those lords who did me the honour to second the motion I made for addressing her Majesty for those papers; for to me it seems too much like fear or guilt, to sit down tamely, under any reflexion a man has in his power to wipe off, and there are some which we perhaps may hereafter be reproached with; one is, that these lords, who made you this motion, never so much as looked into the papers they called for, or have thought on, or mentioned that matter since. Perhaps they will say too, That they never intended it should come to any thing, that it was only a cover to hide some design they had under it; nay, I do not know but they may go so far as to say, that under hand they were trying how an act of grace would relish. Should such a thing be offered, I know myself so innocent, as in our present circumstances, I should not give my consent to it, for I shall always think, that when horses are skittish, vicious, and head-strong, let whoso will be upon their back, it is fit they should never be without a good strong curb in their mouths. And as to these papers, my lords, I have looked into them, and those who have done so cannot, in my opinion, but think of them; but that your lordships may not have my word only for this, I will, with your lordship's leave, take notice of some particulars that are in them; and that you may be certain of the truth of what I observe, I beg your clerk may read for vouchers the papers themselves, as they shall be called for.

It will not, I presume, be denied me, that upon the twenty-third of February, Mr. Boyle received certain intelligence, that the intended armament at Dunkirk was designed for Scotland; there had been several advices before of great preparations making, and by the great quantity of fire-arms it was judged to be for some land design. The States were apprehensive, and acquainted her Majesty by their minister with. it; and Scotland had been in several intelligences named, but I do not find there was a certain account till that of the twenty-third of February, to Mr. Boyle.

The Queen, in her letter of the twenty-fifth of February, to the council of Scotland, thinks it necessary to acquaint them with it, and that she does expect they should do their utmost for the protection of her subjects, and preservation of the publick peace; that nothing on her part should be wanting; that she has given orders that some of her troops in Flanders should be ready to imbark, in case the imbarkation at Dunkirk should go on: And that her troops in England and Ireland are so disposed as to give what assistance may be necessary; in the

T

mean time authorises and impowers them, the privy-council, to give such orders as were proper to put her forces, forts, and garrisons there, in the best order.

This then being allowed, the first question is, What number of forces, effective regular troops I mean, were in Scotland at this time, that is, the twenty-third or twenty-fifth of February, 1708? I cannot but observe to your Lordships that there has been a great deal of care taken to conceal this from us, although this very account was particularly asked for by your address; yet in all that great bundle, there is not one paper from whence we can learn the number: I was therefore forced to get the best light and intelligence I could elsewhere, and have very good authority for what I am going to say, and do affirm to your Lordships, that the regular forces in Scotland, upon the twenty-fifth of February, 1708, were not above 1500 men. If I am mistaken, I hope some Lord here will set me right, and take upon him to say what the real number was at that time.

And since there were but 1500 men, it is certain that was not a number or strength that could be thought by any man sufficient to secure and protect the kingdom against the invasion that threatened it; and the ferment that was then in the nation was such, that I do not find they durst so much as trust their militia with their own defence. We are therefore in the next place to consider, what additional strength or augmentation this handful of men had, or what assistance, either from the forces from Ostend, or those from Ireland, or English troops from hence.

As to augmentations or additions, I find there was little or nothing done, as to that part. The parliament indeed had, on the twentieth of December, 1707, raised the establishment of the forces in Scotland from 2834 to 5932; but it appears by a letter from the Earl of Leven, to the Earl of Mar, of the seventh of March, that little notice had as yet been taken of what the parliament had done; for in that letter to the Earl of Mar, he intreats him again to mind the establishment, and let him know if he shall give encouragement to any who should be willing to take arms to join them; and says further, he hopes at least, that so much of the levy money, as is due since the Twenty-fourth of December, will be given now; for that would buy some horses, and levy some men: So that by this letter it appears there was no money given to levy men, or increase the forces in Scotland, though there were 3600 men wanting at that time, and had been so ever since the parliament had voted the establishment in December, and though our danger at that time, from the want of them, was so very great and evident, which seems very astonishing. Nor does it appear that any directions, or money for this or any other service, till the invasion was over, was ordered here till the twelfth of March; and then indeed, on the thirteenth, the Earl of Mar writes from hence, to the Earl of Leven, that my Lord Treasurer had ordered the people of the customs and excise to answer the Earl of Leven with money for provisions, and other necessary charges; and further says, That my Lord Marlborough told him that very morning, which was the thirteenth, that the Scotch establishment

would be ended that day; he knows not how they have made it, or if they have altered any thing that we had concerted with St. John, or if any thing be omitted; but he hoped they had not.

It is very true, her Majesty, in her second letter, of the Eighth of March, to the council of Scotland, recommends to them to give present directions to put her forts, garisons, and magazines there, in a good posture of defence; and says, That what shall be expended towards these ends, by their warrants, shall be repaid, for which she has already given orders. What those orders were, or to whom given, are not to be found among the papers; but it is very evident, that there was no order for one farthing of money, to answer either the orders of the council, or the Earl of Leven's necessary charges, out of any branch of the revenue, or otherwise; for in a letter of the Earl of Leven to the Earl of Mar, of the thirteenth of March, he has these words, which will likewise shew the condition of the nation, at that time:

My Lord, says he, I leave it to your Lordship, to consider my circumstances; here I am, not one farthing of money to provide provision, or for contingencies, or intelligence, none of the commissions yet sent down, few troops, and those almost naked. It vexes me sadly to think, I must retire towards Berwick, if the French land on this side the Firth; and, that you may not have his Lordship's single word for it, the Lord Advocate confirms very much the truth of this, in his letter of the eleventh of March, to the Earl of Mar; for after he had said, that he was ordered to lay before her Majesty the inclosed information, for the Castle of Edinburgh, and a particular account of what it wants, to put it in a case of defence; and also the Castles of Sterling, Dumbarton, and Blackness, to shew their present condition, and what great disorder and want they are in, and that he had formerly sent a memorial of Mr. Slezer's, for a train of artillery; all which he hopes will be considered :' He adds, I believe,' says he, there was never a country more destitute and defenceless, than we are, nor have we so much as a treasury, or any money for incident charges; so that I must again, by the council's order, lay these things before your Lordship, and that at least some order may be given, whereby necessary expences may be defrayed; and the Earl of Mar's letter of the thirteenth, from hence, is the first account, we have of any money, that was ordered for Scotland. By all which, it plainly appears, that notwithstanding the orders, the Queen mentions in her letter of the eighth of March, the council had not a shilling for necessary expences, on the eleventh, nay, not so much as one penny ordered, till the thirteenth; and as to the establishment, notwithstanding all the pressing instances, that was not settled till after the invasion, as appears by the Earl of Mar's letters, of the twelfth and thirteenth of March.

This, my Lords, is the true state, as appears from the papers themselves given in, relating to the force of that, I had almost said, deserted, but I may say defenceless nation; few men, and those almost naked; three thousand six hundred men wanting of the establishment voted by parliament, for the year 1707-8, near three months before; no levymoney, no establishment settled, no commissions sent down, not a shil