The Third Book 99 



an action, but to seek their ruin and destruction, without the 

 least benefit to his Majesty ? Then the Marquess of Montrose 

 asked my Lord's advice, and what he should do in such a 

 case ? My Lord answered, that he, knowing best his own 

 country, power, and strength, and what probability he had 

 of forces, and other necessaries for war, when he came into 

 Scotland, could give himself the best advice ; but withal told 

 him, that if he had no provision nor ammunition, arms and 

 places of rendezvous for his men to meet and join, he would 

 likely be forced to hide his head, and suffer for his rash under- 

 taking : which unlucky fate did also accordingly befall that 

 worthy person. 



These passages I mention to no other end, but to declare 

 my Lord's judgment and prudence in worldly affairs ; whereof 

 there are so many, that if I should set them all down, it would 

 swell this history to a big volume. They may in some sort 

 be gathered from his actions mentioned heretofore, especially 

 the ordering of his affairs in the time of war, with such conduct, 

 prudence, and wisdom, that, notwithstanding at the beginning 

 of his undertaking that great trust and honourable employ- 

 ment which his late Majesty was pleased to confer upon him, 

 he saw so little appearance of performing his designs with good 

 success, his Majesty's revenues being then much weakened, and 

 the magazines and public purse in the enemy's power, besides 

 several other obstructions and hindrances ; yet as he under- 

 took it cheerfully, and out of pure loyalty and obedience to his 

 Majesty ; so he ordered it so wisely, that so long as he acted 

 by his own counsels and was personally present at the execution 

 of his designs, he was always prosperous in his success. And 

 although he had so great an army, as afore-mentioned, yet 

 by his wise and prudent conduct, there appeared no visible 

 sign of devastation in any of the countries where he marched ; 

 for first, he settled a constant rule for the regular levy of money 

 for the convenient maintenance of the soldiery. Next, he con- 

 stituted such officers of his army, that most of them were 

 known to be gentlemen of large and fair estates, which drew a 

 good part of their private revenues, to serve and support them 

 in their public employments ; wherein my Lord did lead them 

 the way by his own good example. 



To which may be added his wisdom in ordering the govern- 

 ment of the Church, for the advancement of the orthodox 



