80 WILLIAM SMITH, ESQ. WILLIAM SMYTHE, ESQ. MOSES STEVEN, ESQ. DUNCAN STEWART, ESQ. WILLIAM STIRLING, ESQ. OF KEIR. WILLIAM STIRLING, ESQ. JOHN STRANG, ESQ. LL.D. 90 ADAM URQUHART, ESQ. PREFACE. THE first intention of these MEMORIALS OF MONTROSE was, simply, to preserve in a tangible form certain original papers referred to, or partially extracted, in two successive publications illustrative of his Life and Times,' but which suitable Appendices to those works were found inadequate to contain. These papers were part of the materials obtained from the 1 Montrose and the Covenanters, their characters and conduct illustrated from private letters, and other original documents hitherto unpublished; in two volumes; London, 1838, Duncan. The Life and Times of Montrose, illus trated from original manuscripts, including ORIGIN and PLAN OF THESE a ORIGIN AND Montrose and Napier charter-chests. They consisted of various letters to the great Marquis from different members of the royal family; some documents connected with his last unfortunate descent upon Scotland in the year 1650; and also the most important papers relating to the nefarious criminal process raised against him by the prevailing faction in 1641, for the purpose of crushing his conservative movement in favour of the Throne. While this plan was in contemplation, under the liberal auspices of the Maitland Club of Scotland, various new acquisitions came very unexpectedly into my possession, and from different quarters unconnected with each other. Twelve original letters from Montrose to his loyal though perverse rival Huntly, hitherto quite unknown, were most obligingly placed at my disposal by the Duke of Richmond. These all relate to the period of the hero's extraordinary exertions to restore the fortunes of the Standard in Scotland, in 1645, after the fatal disaster at Philiphaugh. Some interesting and important papers, including a Remonstrance by Montrose, written during the period between his last victory at Kilsyth and the defeat above mentioned, and which I discovered to be in the hand-writing of his friend and relative, Archibald first Lord Napier, were no less opportunely than unexpectedly contributed by an intelligent antiquary, Mr Mackinlay of Whitehaven. These documents had never been in possession of the Montrose or Napier families, and had remained in abeyance until now. Not to enumerate at present minor acquisitions |