126 The Duchess of Newcastle 



going for England ? My Lord answered, he was ready 

 to do His Majesty what service he could, and would 

 shun no opportunity, where he perceived he could 

 effect something to His Majesties advantage; nay, 

 said he, if His Majesty should be pleased to command 

 my single person to go against the whole army of the 

 enemy, although I was sure to lose my life, yet out of 

 a loyal duty to His Majesty, and in obedience to his 

 commands, I should never refuse it. But to venture 

 (said he) the life of my friends, and to betray them in 

 a desperate action, without any probability of doing 

 the least good to His Majesty, would be a very 

 unjust and unconscionable act ; for my friends might 

 perhaps venture with me upon an implicite faith, 

 that I was so honest as not to engage them without 

 a firm and solid foundation; but I wanting that, as 

 having no ships, armes, ammunition, provision, forts, 

 and places of rendezvous, and what is the chief thing, 

 money; to what purpose would it be to draw them 

 into so hazardous an action, but to seek their mine 

 and destruction, without the least benefit to His 

 Majesty? Then the Marquess of Montross asked My 

 Lord's advice, and what he should do in such a case ? 

 My Lord answered, that he knowing best his own 

 countrey, power and strength, and what probability 

 he had of forces, and other necessaries for warr, when 

 he came into Scotland, could give himself the best 

 advice; but withall told him, that if he had no 

 provision nor ammunition, armes 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 undertaking: 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 



