but they do not appear to be Brodie's hand-writing: they might be the MSS. of his uncle John or Joseph Brodie. In 1643 the Laird of Brodie was chosen to represent the County of Elgin in the Parliament which met in the 22nd of June that year. In this, and subsequent Parliaments, his name frequently occurs as upon Committees, which shows that he enjoyed the confidence of the Estates during the later years of Charles the First's reign. As Ruling Elder, he was likewise a member of the General Assemblies of the Kirk, at the same period In the list of unprinted Acts of Parliament, we find "A ratification in favour of the Laird of Brodie, of his infeftment of the lands of Brodie and others." Also a " Decreet of the Committee of Estates," 27th March, 1647; and another "Act in favours of the Laird of Brodie," 15th March, 1649. The efforts used by the Scots Commissioners to avert the sad termination of Charles the First's career were unavailing, and the King was beheaded at Whitehall on the 30th January, 1649. Six days later (5th of February) his son was proclaimed King of Great Britain, at the Cross of Edinburgh, declaring, however, "That before he be admitted to the exercise of his Royall power he shall give satisfaction to the Kingdom in these things that concern the security of Religion, the Union betwixt the Kingdoms, and the good and peace of this Kingdom, according to the Nationall Covenant and the Solemn League and Covenant, for the which end we are resolved with all possible expedition to make our humble and earnest Address to his Majestie."a Charles at this time was residing with his brother-in-law, the Prince of Orange, at the Hague. The Commissioners appointed for this purpose by the Estates of Parliament, on the 6th of March, were, John Earl of Cassillis, Alexander Brodie of Brodie, Mr. George Wynrame of Libberton, and Alexander Jaffray burgess and provost of Aberdeen. To accompany them two ministers were appointed by the General Assembly, 3 Acts Parl. Scot., vol. vi., pp. 4, 60, 177, 269, 299, 346. Printed Acts of Assembly. • Acts Parl. Scot., vol. vi., pp. 287, 288, 434. d Acts Parl. Scot., vol. vi. P. 363. Mr. James Wood of St. Andrews, and Mr. Robert Baillie of Glasgow. Their mission was unsuccessful, as the terms which they were instructed to offer did not prove satisfactory to the King and his advisers. Having therefore returned, their Report, along with the various letters and papers were printed in a separate form, and the Estates, on the 14th of June, passed an "Act of approbation of the proceedings of the Commissioners who went to his Majestie." A similar Act of approbation was passed by the Assembly on the 10th of July. a Among a series of missives addressed to the Borough of Aberdeen, there are two letters written at this time by Provost Jaffray, from which an extract may be made, but without adhering to his peculiarly bad orthography: This letter having stayed by me longer then I expected, we have since been several times present with the King. Some of our wicked countrymen and of his English counsel are only for his going to Ireland, because they have not hope to get libertie to come with him to Scotland, yit we want not out own friends here. The Prince of Orange, the Princess Royal, and Estates General are for us. We have interchanged several papers with the King, and are this night, or the morrow, to give in a paper containing the substance of our desires. What will come of it I cannot tell; but all that either loves King or Kingdoms, has much reason to be earnest with God, for mercy to them, for his controversy seems not yet to be near an end. Ye shall be further adver tised as occasion offers. From the Hague, 2-12th Apryle, 1649. We have not had that success in our employment here with the King that we would wished, by reason of evil counsel that are about him. He is shortly to go for France to meet with his Mother. Till then he will not resolve what to do... From the Hague, May 3-13, 1649. In like manner, on the 10th of April, Mr. James Wood in writing to his wife, from the Hague, says:— Deare heart, excuse me to friends that I wreit not to them at this occasione, because I am Edinb. 1649, 4to., pp. 30. See Baillie's Letters and Journals, vol. iii., pp. 510. Several of these papers are there given, in the Appendix. b Acts Parl. Scot., vol. vi., pp. 451-459. Printed in the Spalding Miscellany, vol. v., P.. 379. d Spalding Miscellany, vol. v., p. 379. resolved to forbeare till I have somewhat [to tell] of our matters here, which I conceive once this week will be in the heat of debate with the King's Counsell. What the issue and result will be, we cannot yet tell, onlie we heare surmises that there will be a messenger sent from the King, not [to] our Parlament or Committee of Estates formallie, but to the Chancellor and some others particularly with some offers, &c. In another letter on the 9th of May, 1649, Wood writes as follows: We have not as yet received from the King a direct answer to our desires, but now after long delayes, we are promised to have it this following Saturday, and we know alreadie what it will be, verrie unsatisfactorie. Yesternight Mr. Bailie and I was with him (the King) in privat for the space of an houre; and by his discourse which was open and free to us, we found his resolutione is to offer the confirming of the Covenant and Reformation in Scotland, himself to practise according to the Directorie, while he shall be in Scotland; as for England, that he shall follow the advice of a free Parlament and National Assemblie. He told us withall plainelie, that his resolutione is to goe first to Ireland, and thence to come with some forces to Scotland, that these and the Scots being joyned together, he might be the stronger against his ennimies. We had long debate with him about this resolutione which I have not time to relate. Towards the end of our discourse I was free with him, told him that God would not blisse him, if he joyned with these Irish Papists, &c." The following extracts from the Accounts of the Treasurer of the Excise in 1649 may be quoted as showing the expenses incurred during this negotiation. It may be added, that the subsequent Accounts for 1650 are not known to be preserved: COMPT MAID BE SIR JAMES STEWART of Kirkfield, Knight, Thesaurer of the Excise, off the haill Excise of this Kingdome, frome . . . Marche 1648 to the first of Maij 1649: Summa of the haill charge, &c...... £304,775 15 1 In the Discharge. Item to Peter Sympsone Dutchman who attended the Commissioners to Captane Johne Gillespie his allowance for his service in £502 10 0 9450 0 0 to 1774, in the collection of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Item to Sir Joseph Douglas for his charges when he was sent to to Euer Hansein Dutchman who carried over Sir Joseph Douglas to the Earl of Cassills at his goeing to Holland 15th Marche to the Laird Brodie and Alexander Jaffray at their goeing to to Maister James Wood Minister at his goeing to Holland to Maister George Winrahame of Libbertoune at his goeing to to Maister Robert Baillie Minister who went with the said delyverit be the Comptar to Alexander Jaffray for himself and payit be the Comptar to Mr James Dalrumple in name of the 600 0 0 880 0 0 1,440 0 0 1,200 0 0 360 0 0 1,440 0 0 720 0 0 11,368 0 0 2,660 0 0 478 6 8 240 0 0 £312,784 5 3 W. CUNYNGHAMHEID. RO. BARCLAY. GEDION JACK. Wynrame and Brodie, in June, 1649, were nominated Lords of Session, but not to interrupt the account of the negotiations with Charles the Second, it may first be noticed that the former was again sent to His Majesty as the bearer of a letter from the Estates, 12th September, urging the King to comply with their requests, he having shown some inclination to do so, notwithstanding his undisguised aversion to these overtures. In a letter to Mr. Robert Douglas, dated Rotterdam, last October, 1649, Wynrame says: a SIR, their is hopes that the King will acknowledge the parliament, and desyre a treaty; which, if he doe, I am persuaded it will be your care to study soe much moderatione as ye ar able, with safty to Religioun and Covenant: unless his Majestie get satisfactione in some things, they will suffer him to die in misery, and we will haue no settled peace. In another letter to Douglas, dated at Campvere, 18-8 November 1649, Wynrame represents the very deplorable condition to which the King was reduced : ... SIR, now is the time to pray that the Lord wold prevent the King with his tender merceis, for indeed he is brought very low; when he hes not bread both for himselfe and his seruands, and betuixt him and his brother not ane Inglish shilling; and worse yet, if I durst wryte it. I am confident no ingenous spirite will tak advantage of his necessiteis; but for all this (as I have heard yow aduyse them to deal with [his] Father), use him princely. France is neither able nor willing to help him. The Prince of Orange hes suffered not a little for his Father and himselfe, till he is forced to alienate the most considerable thing of his ancient patrimony: Scotland is neir exhausted; soe that his case is very deplorable, being in prisone, where he is living in penurie, sorounded be his enemies, not able to liue any where els in the world, unles he would come to Scotland, by giuing them satisfactione to their just demandis; yet his pernitious and deuillish Counsell will suffer him to starue before they will suffer him to take the League and Covenant. I am persuaded no rationall man can thinke he will come that length at first; but if he could once be extricate from his wicked Counsell, their might be hope. The following letter from the King, the result of Wynrame's mission, serves to illustrate the progress of events, by showing that Charles himself |