25

ART. III.-1. The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie, Principal of the University of Glasgow. Edited by DAVID LAING, Esq. 3 vols. Edinburgh: Ogle.

2. Letters Illustrative of the Revolution in England, from 1646 to 1653. Edited by HENRY CARY, M. A. Vol. I. Colburn.

MR. LAING, an eminent antiquary, has undertaken to give a complete and accurate edition of Baillie's Letters and Journals, extending from 1637 to 1662, two volumes of which have been published, and the third is shortly to appear. No satisfactory and correct copy of this distinguished man's manuscripts has ever before been given to the public, although portions of them have appeared; while almost every writer concerning the struggles civil and religious of the Great Revolution frequently quotes his authority. It can hardly be said that between the dates mentioned a year elapsed which was not marked by momentous events in British history, and the agitation of questions which were either mighty in themselves, or rendered most memorable by the manner of discussion, as well as by the persons who entered the fields of conflict. And certainly Robert Baillie was one of the most active, the most characteristic, and the most entertaining that the Scotch presbyterians furnished. There is much of honesty and independence as well as of bigotry in his writings, his feelings, and his conduct; and while he throws very considerable light upon the parties and the occurrences of the stirring period in which he flourished, he also affords an animated and minute insight into the manners and modes of thinking of the age, together with an unconscious self-portraiture that is racy and amusing, the more so on account of his numerous Scotticisms and pithy Doric. His descriptions, for example, are as expressive as they are quaint; his sentiments and opinions as plain as they are cogent and appropriate to the man. His learning, too, it is manifest, was very considerable, as might be at once inferred from his high office of Principal of the University of Glasgow, and at a period when learning was held in real repute, even among the Puritan party; and there more especially, without a question, than where the Cavalier pretensions come to be weighed. Profound and various erudition was required, had it only been to equip the polemical combatants for the arena of battle. An extracted sentence or two will confirm and illustrate what we have now stated. Baillie is writing concerning an expected visit by the King to Scotland, whom he calls a "sweite prince," and of a certain change which had taken place, as well as how brought about, in his own mind, with regard to opposing his sovereign. He says, "I was latelie in the minde, that in no imaginable case, any prince might have been opposed. In all our questions I confesse no change bot in this

66

only; whereto I was brought, not by Paræus, or Buchanan, or Junius Brutus, for their reasons and conclusions I yet scunner at; bot mainly by Bilsone de Subjectione." 'Luther, Melancthon, Bucer, Martyr, Beza, Abbotts, Whittakers also gives leave to subjects, in some cases to defend themselves, where the prince is absolut from subjection to any man, bot not absolut from tye to the lawe of Church and State, whereto he is sworn, which is the case of all Christian Kings now, and ever also since the fall of the Roman Empire."

Baillie was an encourager and patron of learning, and maintained an extensive correspondence with persons abroad concerning his own studies, and the advancement of those of others. He wishes one that he "would essaye to perswade some" at Amsterdam," who has good types and paper, to print, for their own great profit and scholler's great use, ane Hebrew Bible, and Syriack New Testament, in one volume, both with the poynts, in quantitie of our English poutch Bibles." And he adds, "a million of thir would sell in two years." He also writes for "the Targum and Talmud," &c. His own library seems to have been large, considering his income, and that the press did not daily groan as it does in our day. The orders he appears sometimes to have given for foreign books attest his love of learning, its range, and depth.

But we are forestalling particulars; or rather are keeping at a distance from the main purpose of our paper, which is to present such passages as will illustrate the manners of the times in which Baillie lived, and bring before us vividly national and party characteristics; not altogether leaving out such notices as furnish interesting sketches of individuals, the writer of the Letters himself necessarily figuring most prominently among the portraits. The grand historical events, the leading features of the great actors in the drama, are too familiar to every reader to require any critical treatment in our pages at present, or any anxiety to find corroborations and corrections in the Principal's relics.

The period at which the Letters commence was one of remarkable importance in the history of Scotland, Baillie being then parish minister of Kilwinning, in the shire of Ayr; for the service-book and the bishops were about to be forced upon the people; but with what prospect of success might have been augured from such Amazonian scenes as are described in the following passage :—

Mr. William Annan, on the 1. of Timothy, "I command that prayers be made for all men," in the last half of his sermon, from the making of prayers, ran out upon the Liturgie, and spake for the defence of it in whole, and sundry most plausible parts of it, as well, in my poor judgment, as any in the Isle of Brittain could have done, considering all circumstances; howsoever, he did maintain, to the dislyk of all in ane unfit tyme, that which was hinging in suspense betwixt the King and the countrey. Of

his sermon among us in the Synod, not a word; bot in the towne among the women, a great dinne. To-morrow, Mr. John Lindsay, at the Bishop's command, did preach; he is the New Moderator of Lanrick. At the ingoing of the pulpit, it is said that some of the women in his ear assured him, that if he should twitch the Service Book in his sermon, he should be rent out of the pulpit; he took the advyce, and lett that matter alone. At the outgoing of the church, about 30 or 40 of our honestest women, in one voyce, before the Bishope and Magistrats, did fall in rayling, cursing, scolding with clamours on Mr. William Annan: some two of the meanest were taken to the Tolbooth. All the day over, up and down the streets where he went, he got threats of sundry in words and looks; bot after supper, whill needleslie he will goe to visit the Bishop, who had taken his leave with him, he is not sooner on the causey, at nine o'clok, in a mirk night, with three or four Ministers with him, bot some hundreths of inraged women, of all qualities, are about him, with neaves, and staves, and peats, [but] no stones: they beat him sore.

But no stones! Baillie is a true Scot; a man unquestionably of strict integrity; but yet with not merely the religious exclusiveness which characterized every sect or church of his day, but with those national prejudices which form, perhaps, an essential attribute in the highest instances of patriotism. He was as earnest a champion in behalf of Presbytery, to the fierce denunciation and stronghanded destruction of Episcopacy, as any of the wives who pelted and buffeted the apologists and advocates of the Liturgie, that was forced upon Scotland, could prove themselves. He buckled on his armour with alacrity, it mattered not what the scene or opportunity might be. In the pulpit he was a thunderer; in his writings he was the nationally admired assailant of Laud,-instance the formidable "Ladensium Autokatakrisis, or the Canterburian's SelfConviction;" and he took the field in good earnest as one of the chaplains of the Scots army when it marched into England. It is amusing to observe how his heart warms towards Auld Scotland and her sons in arms; and how he vauntingly contrasts these with England and the English. The Southrons are in his eyes little better than arrant cowards and gross gluttons :—

It would have done you good (he says) to have casten your eyes athort our brave and rich Hill, as oft I did, with great contentment and joy, for I (quoth the wren) was there among the rest, being chosen preacher by the gentlemen of our shyre, who came late with my Lord of Eglintoun. I furnished to half a dozen of good fellows musquets and picks, and to my son a broadsword. I carried myself, as the fashion was, a sword, and a couple of Dutch pistols at my saddle; but I promise for the offence of no man, except a robber in the way; for it was our part alone to pray and preach for the encouragement of our countrymen, which I did to my power most cheerfullie.

He goes on to tell how the "Hill was garnished on the toppe, towards the south and east, with our mounted canon, well near to the number of fortie great and small." "Our marche did much affraye the English campe." "It was thought the countrey of England was more afraid for the barbaritie of his highlanders than of any other terror; these of the English that came to visit our campe, did gaze much with admiration upon these souple fellows, with their playds, targes, and dorlachs." Such are some of the good man's self-complacent and congratulatory sentiments; such a few of his descriptive touches. "Our captaines, for the most part, barons or gentlemen of good note; our lieutenants almost all sojours who had served over sea in good charges." Besides, "Everie companie had, flying at the Captaine's tent-doore, a brave new colour stamped with the Scottish Armes, and this ditton, For Christ's Croun and Covenant, in golden letters." The General had " a brave royal tent," but it was not set up. Nevertheless "his constant guard was some hundreds of our lawiers, musqueteers, under Durie and Hope's command, all the way standing in armes, with cocked matches before his gate, well apparelled.' Also, "Our sojours grew in experience of armes, in courage, in favour dailie." Most of them were "stoute young plowmen." The sight of "the nobles and their beloved pastors dailie raised their hearts." What made them "all so resolute for battell as could be wished," were "the good sermons and prayers, morning and even, under the roof of heaven, to which their drumms did call them for bells; the remonstrances very frequent of the goodness of our cause,-of their conduct hitherto by a hand clearlie divine; also Leslie his skill and fortoun."

The sketch of the General, with a few particulars connected with him, must be quoted without a break :

We were feared that emulation among our nobles might have done harme, when they should be mett in the fields; bot such was the wisdome and authoritie of that old, little, crooked souldier, that all, with ane incredible submission, from the beginning to the end, gave over themselves to be guided by him, as if he had been Great Solyman. Certainlie the obedience of our Nobles to that man's advyces was as great as their forbears wont to be to their King's commands: yet that was the man's understanding of our Scotts humours, that gave out, not onlie to the nobles, bot to verie mean gentlemen, his directions in a verie homelie and simple forme, as if they had been bot the advyces of their neighbour and companion; for as he rightlie observed, a difference would be used in commanding sojours. of fortune, and of sojours voluntars, of which kinde the most part of our camp did stand. He keeped dailie in the Castle of Dunce ane honourable table for the nobles and strangers with himself, for gentlemen waiters thereafter, at a long syde table. I had the honour, by accident, one day to be his chaplaine at table, on his left hand; the fare was as became a

Generall in tyme of warre: not so curious be farr as Arundaill's to our nobles; bot ye know that the English sumptuositie, both in warr and peace, is despised by all their neighbours.

The plight of the Scots was not always so gratifying, nor their conduct so exemplary. But we go not into the history of the march or of the fortunes of the army. We keep with as much closeness as possible to the minister and his more special conduct and sketches.

Having returned to Kilwinning, he was ere long summoned to accompany the Scots Commissioners to London. This is the characteristic account of part of the journey: "On Monday morning we came that twentie myle (from Ware) to London before sun-rising; all weell, horse and men, as we could wish; diverse merchants and their servants with us, on little naigs; the way extreamlie foule and deep, the journeys long and continued, sundrie of us unaccustomed with travell, we took it for God's singular goodness that all of us were so preserved; none in the companie held better out than I and my man, and our little noble naigs. We were by the way great expenses; their inns are all like palaces; no wonder they extors their guests." It appears that he was never adequately paid for the expenses of his journey; whereas others connected with the commission seem to have been well rewarded. His own outlay, not to speak of services, was far from being remunerated; having also had "to keep ane young gentleman to attend me all that 8 months, whose expenses in apparell and purse I did bear." Still, "As for me, I seek no recompense; onlie if my reall and true charges may be defrayed to me, I will thank God and my Lord Chancellor for that favour; or if this my desyre may be found to his Lordship to be unreasonable, or may tend to anie long or publick agitation, I require no more favour bot that it may be suppressed; for my meane estate hath not, thanks to God, so farr ever prevailed over. the honestie of my mind that I would choose to have my name tossed for large soumes.

All this is highly characteristic of the writer, and so are the following "instructions to Mr. Alexander Cunninghame," belonging to an earlier date than when the minister was in London himself:

If in your way ye have occasion to divert for three or four dayes to Cambridge, or if at your leisure ye go to it from London, see Dr. Ward: try of him the secret, how Arminianisme hes spread so much there; how Shelfurde's absurdities pleases him; how they were gott printed there, with such approbation of so manie fellowes, and Dr. Beell Vice-chanceller for the tyme; if the book was called in, and any censure inflicted on the approvers. His colleague in the profession, Dr. Colings, is verie courteous: sift him what he avows of Arminianisme and Canterburian poperie; they