ght, they secretly formed a treaty with the king for
arming Scotland in his favor.[**]

* Cl. Walker, p. 80.

** Clarendon, vol. v. p. 101.

Three parties at that time prevailed in Scotland: the "royalists,"
who insisted upon the restoration of the king's authority, without any
regard to religion sects or tenets: of these, Montrose, though absent,
was regarded as the head. The "rigid Presbyterians," who hated the king
even more than they abhorred toleration; and who determined to give
him no assistance, till he should subscribe the covenant: these were
governed by Argyle. The "moderate Presbyterians," who endeavored to
reconcile the interests of religion and of the crown; and hoped, by
supporting the Presbyterian party in England, to suppress the sectarian
army, and to reinstate the parliament, as well as the king, in their
just freedom and authority: the two brothers, Hamilton and Laneric, were
leaders of this party.

When Pendennis Castle was surrendered to the parliamentary army,
Hamilton, who then obtained his liberty, returned into Scotland; and
being generously determined to remember ancient favors more than recent
injuries, he immediately embraced, with zeal and success, the protection
of the royal cause. He obtained a vote from the Scottish parliament to
arm forty thousand men in support of the king's authority, and to call
over a considerable body under Monro, who commanded the Scottish forces
in Ulster. And though he openly protested that the covenant was the
foundation of all his measures, he secretly entered into correspondence
with the English royalists, Sir Marmaduke Langdale and Sir Philip
Musgrave, who had levied considerable forces in the north of England.

The general assembly, who sat at the same time, and was guided by
Argyle, dreaded the consequences of these measures; and foresaw that the
opposite party, if successful, would effect the restoration of monarchy,
without the establishment of Presbytery in England. To join the king
before he had subscribed the covenant, was, in their eyes, to restore
him to his honor before Christ had obtained his;[*] and they thundered
out anathemas against every one who paid obedience to the parliament.

* Whitlocke, p. 300.

Two supreme independent judicatures were erected in the kingdom; one
threatening the people with damnation and eternal torments, the other
with imprisonment, banishment, and military execution. The people were
distracted i