About the same time happened a still more untoward thing. James was now
in Ireland. He had learned how matters had gone in Scotland, and
conceived that the moment for action had come. A commission was
accordingly despatched to Dundee, constituting him Lieutenant-General
and Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, together with a letter in James's
own hand, informing him that five thousand foot and three hundred horse
would presently be at his disposal. There were letters also from Melfort
both to Dundee and Balcarres. Either by the folly or the knavery of the
messenger the papers fell into the hands of Hamilton, who read them to
the Convention. As usual, Melfort's letters were in the most foolish and
violent language. "You will ask no doubt," he wrote to Dundee, "how we
shall be able to pay our armies; but can you ask such a question while
our enemies, the rebels, have estates to be forfeited? We will begin
with the great and end with the small ones." To Balcarres he wrote in
the same strain. "The estates of the rebels will recompense us. You know
there were several lords whom we marked out, when you and I were
together, who deserved no better fate. When we get the power, we will
make these men hewers of wood and drawers of water." No man was
mentioned by name, so that each man was at liberty to take these threats
for himself.
Pages:
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208