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HISTOSY or ENGLAND.

ciiap. dence which, would not have satisfied any impartial tribunal.—Sh— He was condemned to death: his honours and lands were de-clared forfeit: his arms were torn with contumely out of theHeralds’ book; and his domains swelled the estate of the crueland rapacious Perth. The fugitive meanwhile, with cha-racteristic wariness, lived quietly on the Continent, and dis-countenanced the unhappy projects of his kinsman Monmouth,but cordially approved of the enterprise of the Prince ofOrange.

Illness had prevented Melville from sailing with the Dutchexpedition: but he arrived in London a few hours after the newSovereigns had been proclaimed there. William instantly senthim down to Edinburgh, in the hope, as it should seem, that thePresbyterians would be disposed to listen to moderate counselsproceeding from a man who was attached to their cause, andwho had suffered for it. Melville’s second son, David, whohad inherited, through his mother, the title of Earl of Leven,and who had acquired some military experience in the serviceof the Elector of Brandenburg, had the honour of being thebearer of a letter from the new King of England to the ScottishConvention.*

James's James had intrusted the conduct of his affairs in Scotland toScotland” John Graham, Viscount Dundee, and Colin Lindsay, Earl ofSaicarras. Balcarras. Dundee had commanded a body of Scottish troopswhich had marched into England to oppose the Dutch: but hehad found, in the inglorious campaign which had been fatalto the dynasty of Stuart, no opportunity of displaying thecourage and military skill which those who most detest hismerciless nature allow him to have possessed. He lay with hisforces not far from Watford, when he was informed that James

* As to Melville, see the Leven and Melville Papers, passim, and thepreface; the Act. Pari. Scot. June 16. 1685; and the Appendix, Juno 13.;Burnet, ii. 24.; and the Burnet MS, Hail. 6584.