hardly the men, perhaps, to sanction the pranks of Macaulay’s Apollyons and Beelzebubs.  Napier also quotes an amusing passage in a letter from Athole to Queensberry, which, as he says, may recall memories of a certain historic injunction of later times, “to take care of Dowb.”  Athole had been superseded in his command of the Life Guards by Montrose, and when the latter fell sick, made interest with Queensberry to be reinstated.  “As you will oblige me,” the passage runs, “pray remember Geordie Murray [who held a commission in the regiment], but not in wrath.”

[75] Creichton.

[76] It is not clear that Dundee had an audience of William.  Macaulay says in one place that he was not ungraciously received at Saint James’s, and in another that he employed the mediations of Burnet.  Both statements are of course compatible with each other.  The latter rests on Burnet’s own authority; but for the former I can find none in any of the writers from whom Macaulay has taken his narrative of these days.  Dalrymple’s words are, “Dundee refused without ceremony,” which may mean anything.  It is, I think, not improbable that William employed Burnet to sound Dundee, and that the good bishop, among whose qualities tact was not pre-eminent, managing the matter clumsily, met with an unceremonious refusal for his pains.  The point, however, is of no importance.  It is clear enough that William, would have been glad to see both men in his service, and that they both declined to enter it.  As Macaulay has called Dundee’s conduct disingenuous, apparently on Burnet’s authority, it may be well to give the bishop’s own words.  “He [Dundee] had employed me to carry messages from him to the King, to know what security he might expect if he should go and live in Scotland without owning his government.  The King said, if he would live peaceably, and at home, he would protect him:  to this he answered, that, unless he was forced to it, he would live quietly.”  “History of My Own Time,” iii. 29.  Macaulay’s paraphrase is as follows.  “Dundee seems to have been less ingenuous.  He employed the mediation of Burnet, opened a negotiation with Saint James’s, declared himself willing to acquiesce in the new order of things, obtained from William a promise of protection, and promised in return to live peaceably.  Such credit was given to his professions, that he was suffered to travel down to Scotland under the escort of a troop of cavalry.”  “History of England,” iv. 281.  I do not think the text quite bears out the commentary; and indeed elsewhere in the chapter Macaulay seems inclined to allow more credit to these professions.  The “escort” under which Dundee was “suffered to travel” consisted of his own troopers, who had followed him from Watford to London, and stayed with him to the end.

CHAPTER IX.