his stratagem, returned aboard that night. At the dawning Monson of the day the play began, for that was the hour appointed 1636 for the wolf to seek his prey; and Captain Chester, with fifty armed men, in a disorderly manner, like pirates, went on shore, and acted so much as was agreed on; and the cattle being killed, he was, in a secret manner, invited to the house of the gentleman; but at his entreaty was to make it appear publicly that he came not by invitation, but of his own accord. Here he was welcomed and friendly entertained by the daughters, whose desire was to hear of their sweethearts and to receive their tokens; but all in general coveted to see Captain Manwaring, who they confidently believed would enrich them all. The gentleman, Mr. Cormack by name, was punctual in all his undertaking, and the two ambassadors he promised came aboard and delivered a friendly (though in a rude manner, like their country) message of their love, and assurance of their service to Captain Manwaring. Their message ended, Sir William wished them to observe and consider whether they thought that ship and company to be pirates? for they could well judge of pirates because of their familiarity and acquaintance with them? It was a folly to dissemble any longer; for though they would, yet they could not betray Sir William's design; and therefore in as rough and rude a manner as they delivered their message, he told them how they had transgressed, and the next thing they were to expect was death; and commanded them to be put in irons, in dark and several places, being careful to permit neither boat nor man to go ashore until his own landing.

The time approached Sir William promised to visit them; and for his greater honour they had drawn down four or five hundred people to attend on the shore side: which he perceiving, and seeming to be jealous of their number, pretended to be shy of going ashore, for fear of treachery. But if oaths, vows, or any kind of protestations would serve him

Monson he had them; and when they saw him thus convinced of 1636 their sincerity, and that he put himself upon them, three of their principal men run up to the arm-pits in water, striving who should have the credit to carry him ashore. One of these three was an Englishman, a late tradesman in London, and attended the arrival of pirates. The second had been a schoolmaster, and a man attended like another Apollo amongst these rude people. The third a merchant of Galloway, but his chiefest trade was to buy and sell with pirates. These three gallants, like gentleman-ushers, conducted Sir William to Mr. Cormack's house, and the meaner sort followed with acclamations of joy. At his landing

happy was he to whom he would lend his ear. Falling into discourse, one told him they knew his friends, and though his name had not discovered it, yet his face did shew him to be a Manwaring. In short, they made him believe he might command them and their country, and that no man was ever so welcome as Captain Manwaring.

Entering into the house of Mr. Cormack, his three hackney daughters rose to entertain him, and conducted him to the hall newly strewed with rushes, as the richest decking their abilities or the meanness of the place could afford. In the corner was a harper, who played merrily, to make his welcome the greater. After some discourse, and several questions asked by the three daughters concerning their acquaintance and friends; but above all, being desirous to handle the tokens promised, and laughing and jeering at their two messengers aboard, who they did not suspect were detained prisoners, but drinking and frolicking in the ship, as the use was upon the arrival of pirates. After these passages the women offered to dance, one chose Sir William, which he excused, but gave free liberty for the rest of his company. The Englishman was so pleasant and merry that he seemed to have new life infused into him: he told Sir William the

heavens did foresee he was born to serve him and to relieve Monson him; he shewed him a pass, procured upon false pretences 1636 from the Sheriff of that county, authorising him to travel from place to place to make inquisition of his goods, which he falsely pretended he was robbed of at sea; he laughed at the cheat he had put upon the Sheriff in getting his pass, and urged the advantage that might be made of it in sending to and fro in the country without suspicion. He proffered Sir William the service of ten mariners of his acquaintance, that lay lurking thereabouts, expecting the coming in of men-of-war, which sea-faring men he had power to command. His antic behaviour was enough to to put the melancholiest man in good humour; sometimes he played the part of a commanding Sheriff; then he acted his own, with many witty passages how he deceived the Sheriff. Sir William embraced his offer of ten mariners, with a promise of reward, and caused him to write effectually for them, as may appear by this that follows::

'Honest brother Dick, and the rest, we are all made men; for valiant Captain Manwaring, and all his gallant crew are arrived in this place. Make haste; for he flourisheth in wealth, and is most kind to all men. Farewell; and once again make haste.'

This letter being writ and the pass enclosed in it, Sir William took it into his own hand, offering to hire a messenger to carry it; but night drawing on, which required his return on board, and having drawn from the country all the secret he desired, he caused the harp to cease playing and commanded silence, because he was to speak. He told them that hitherto they had played their part, and he had no part in the comedy; but though his was last, and might be termed the epilogue, yet it would prove more tragical

Monson than theirs. He put them out of doubt that he was no 1636 pirate, but a scourge to such, and was sent from His Majesty to discover, suppress, and punish them and their abettors, whom His Majesty did not think worthy the name of subjects; he told them that he had received sufficient information of the protection given to pirates in that harbour, and by Cormack; and that he could find no better expedient to confirm what had been told him, than by taking upon him the habit of a pirate, and one of their associates; and that they had made themselves guilty in the law, without further accusations: and now there remained nothing but to proceed to their execution, by virtue of his commission; and to that purpose, he had brought a gallows ready framed, which he caused to be set up, meaning to begin the mournful dance with the two men they thought had been merry dancing aboard the ship. He told the Englishman, he should be the next, because his offence did surpass the rest, being an Englishman, who should be a pattern of good life to those people we have sought to reduce to civility, since we first possessed that country; and seeing man naturally is rather up to follow evil example than good, he should be hanged for example. He told the schoolmaster he was a fit tutor for the children of the devil, and that he had apt scholars to follow his damnable instructions; and that as the members are governed by the head, the way to make his members sound was to shorten him by the head, and therefore willed him to admonish his scholars from the top of the gallows, which should be a pulpit prepared for him. He asked the merchant, whether he imagined there could be thieves if there were no receivers? And as the contriver and plotter of evil is worse than he that executes it, so is the abettor and a receiver to be condemned before the thief. He told him that pirates could no more live by their occupation were it not for buyers, than a poor labourer work without wages; that the offence in a merchant was more

1636

heinous than in another man, because his trade must be Monson maintained and upheld by peace; his time he told him was not long, and wished him to make his account with God, that he might be found a good merchant and factor to him though he had been a malefactor to the law.

Here was seen the mutability of the world; their mirth was turned into mourning, and their dancing into lamenting, each bewailing and repenting, as is the custom of offenders. The night calling Sir William away he appointed their guard to a boat, and left the carpenter ashore to finish the gallows, which was done by morning, and the prisoners ready to receive their doom; but being sued to by the whole country, with a promise never to connive again at pirates, after four and twenty hours fright in irons, he pardoned them. The Englishman was banished, not only from the coast, but from the sea-side throughout Ireland; and a copy of his pass sent to the Sheriff, with advice to be more cautious for the future in granting his safe conduct.

Sir William Monson.

Ο

A COVENANTING ARMY

The like was

UR ready obedience being perceived, behold our unhappy party makes a new onset. They persuade the King to proclaim, in our borders, towards the former proclamation of our treason, and the offer of pardon, and their master's lands, to these who would desert us. This was done at Duns with a strong convoy of English horse. intended at Kelso; but there Monro, Fleming, and Erskine, presenting themselves in battle array, did make Holland, with some thousand foot and horse, with their show alone, to retire in haste in a shameful disorder. It is thought Holland's commission was to cut off all he met in opposition

Baillie 1639