s, justifying
their conduct in a public declaration. They made a tender of their
attachment to duke Hamilton, from whom they received encouragement
in secret. They reconciled themselves to the episcopalians and the
cavaliers: they resolved to take the route to Edinburgh, and dissolve
the parliament; while the duke of Athol undertook to secure the pass of
Stirling with his highlanders, so as to open the communication between
the western and northern parts of the kingdom. Seven or eight thousand
men were actually ready to appear in arms at the town of Hamilton,
and march directly to Edinburgh, under the duke's command, when that
nobleman altered his opinion, and despatched private couriers through
the whole country, requiring the people to defer their meeting till
further directions. The more sanguine cavaliers accused his grace of
treachery, but in all likelihood he was actuated by prudential motives.
He alleged, in his own excuse, that the nation was not in a condition
to carry on such an enterprise, especially as the English had already
detached troops to the border, and might in a few days have wafted over
a considerable reinforcement from Holland. During this commotion among
the Cameronians, the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow were filled with
tumults. Sir Patrick Johnston, provost of Edinburgh, who had been one
of the commissioners for the union, was besieged in his own house by
the populace, and would have been torn in pieces had not the guards
dispersed the multitude. The privy-council issued a proclamation against
riots, commanding all persons to retire from the streets whenever the
drum should beat; ordering the guards to fire upon those who should
disobey this command, and indemnifying them from all prosecution for
maiming or slaying the lieges. These guards were placed all round the
house in which the peers and commons were assembled, and the council
received the thanks of the parliament for having thus provided for
their safety. Notwithstanding these precautions of the government, the
commissioner was constantly saluted with the curses and imprecations of
the people as he passed along: his guards were pelted, and some of his
attendants wounded with stones as they sat by him in the coach, so that
he was obliged to pass through the streets on full gallop.

Against all this national fury the dukes of Queensberry and Argyle, the
earls of Montrose, Seafield, and Stair, and the other noblemen attached
to the union,