Capture of Covenanting Town of Dumfries. 41 



humble desire of Mr John Corsane, late Provost, to be admitted 

 and received into the Covenant, the members of the Session never 

 heretofore being acquainted with the nature of his suit, have 

 found it expedient that he be turned to the Presbytery, as the most 

 fitting and competent judges for clearing his carriage." The 

 reason for this course was that Mr James Hamilton having by this 

 time been translated to Edinburgh, Mr Henderson, formerly of 

 Dairy, who was unacquainted with Corsane's case, was now 

 minister of Dumfries. The final deliverance of the Presbytery 

 follows : — 



" Apud Dumfries, 26 June, 1649. — Compeired Mr John 

 Corsane, late Provost of Dumfries, who being suspended by Hugh 

 Henderson, his minister, from receiving the Mutual League and 

 Covenant, because the said Mr Hugh (being a stranger to his pro- 

 cess anent the gi\ing over of Dumfries at James Grahame's in- 

 vasion) could not receive him thereto without the brethren's 

 information anent that process. Whereupon they, informing the 

 said Mr Hugh of his innocence of malignancy (so far as they could 

 be informed by witnesses), declared the said Mr John to be 

 absolved therefra, and enjoined the said Mr Hugh to receive him 

 to the Covenant and to the communion with the first occasion." 



These details brought together present a curious piece of 

 history. Here we have Montrose, in virtue of a commission from 

 the King, invading Scotland and seizing the town of Dumfries. 

 The Estates of Parliament, convened by virtue of the last Act of 

 the last Parliament holden by his Majesty and the Three Estates, 

 in Anno 1641, organised an army, which swooped down upon 

 Dumfries and put the forces of the King to flight across the 

 Border, whence they came. A few of the Dumfriesshire men who 

 had joined Montrose fled with him to England, but the greater 

 number gave themselves up to Parliament, and were, as we have 

 seen, treated with clemency. The town was taken and re-taken 

 without bloodshed, and only one person suffered capitally in con- 

 nection with all that took place. 



The Earl of Montrose does not appear here to ad\-antage. 

 With the exception of the Maxwell clan, led by their hereditary 

 and steadfast royalist chiefs, he had no following or supporters in 

 the district, notwithstanding that there were no Covenanting forces 

 present to over-awe the people. He misjudged Scotland and 

 much overrated his own power and influence. 



