Treason and rebellion against their native country justly rewarded upon severall traitors and rebels lately executed in Scotland.: Certified by an expresse in two letters dated at Saint Andrews, Jan. 26. 1645. Together with a declaration of the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Published by authority.

A Copy of a Letter sent from S. Andrews, dated January 26. 1645.

SIR:

THe Committee appointed for the Pro∣cesses against Delinquents having found the Enditements brought in a∣gainst Sir Robert Spotswood, pretended Secretary of State, William Murrey, Bro∣ther to the Earle of Tillibarne, Gen. Major Nathaniell Gordoun, and Master Andrew Guthery, Sonne to the pretended Bishop of Mur∣ray to be relevant, and having repelled all their defen∣ces except that of Quarters, which was left to the deter∣mination of the Parliament; their Processes were read in open Parliament, and there were many rationall de∣bates about the defence of Quarters grounded upon Scripture, Reason, Law of Nations, and Military, and the municipall Law of this Kingdom; the state of the Question was, Whether the granting of quarter in Bat∣tell to Delinquents by an Officer or Souldier, did exempt

them from punishment by the State, for their Murder, Rebellion, and Treason; and it was resolved unanimous∣ly by the whole Parliament that the defence of Quarters was not relevant, when all the defences were repelled, and the Parliament was ready to pronounce Sentence. Offer was made by Nathaniell Gordoun to procure the exchange of all the Prisoners with James Grahame late Earle of Montrose for himselfe, and to lye in prison un∣till they were brought hither, and further to engage himselfe, and finde Surety that he should never lift Arms against the Parliament. This offer he conceived to be the more plausible, that the Lord Chancellors Brother was one of the prisoners with the enemy; but when the Lord Chancellors opinion was asked therein, he decla∣red, That though all his Brethren and Children were in the like hazard, he would not be the meanes of hinde∣ring the execution of Justice. And such was the earnest desire of the Parliament to execute Justice, that this mo∣tion was rejected, and all the foure were forfeited in Life, Lands, and Goods; their Coats of Armes ap∣poined to be rent, and deleted out of the Booke of Armes, and themselves to be beheaded upon Tuesday the twentieth of January, there were onely five or sixe contrary voices, and those were for perpetuall im∣prisonment. The Earl of Tillibarn presented a very hum∣ble supplication for sparing his brothers life, and entrea∣ting that any other punishment might be inflicted upon him. This was denyed, but in regard he was very insensi∣ble of his present estate, his execution was delayed till Friday the 23. and some Ministers were appointed to waite upon him, and to endeavour to bring him to some sence of his condition. Upon the 17. three of them were

executed, and first Nathaniell Gordoun, who was excee∣ding penitent, whereof he gave many evidences to all that heard him, and at his earnest desire (given in writing under his hand, whereof a Copy is herewith sent) he was relaxed frō the sentence of Excommunication. After they were condemned, he & Sir Robert Spotswood were put in one Chamber, whose obstinacy did him some har me; but when he came to the Scaffold, he said, It was not time to dalley longer in a matter of eternall consequence, he acknowledged that mercies led him not to repentance, and therefore God had brought him to that publike death; he confessed he had been an Adulterer, a Drun∣kard, and a shedder of innocent blood; he besought all to pray for him, and craved pardon of all that had any interest in the blood shed of late. Casting off his Doublet, he said, That many a time he had cast it off to sinne, but now hee cast it off to embrace his Saviour, and to let his blood be now justly shed, who formerly had shed much innocent blood. As for that ambition that made men provoke to Combates, he said, Of all vanities it was one of the chiefe; He desired the Parliament to keepe unity in the Cause, and to avoid division, as they desired to shun Gods Judgement upon themselves. And amongst his last words, he said, He left as many ill wishes as in the condition he was in he durst, to all such of his friends as should attempt to revenge his death, he desired the Minister not to part with him, till he delive∣red him over to his Redeemer. All his discourse was so ingenuous, and his expressions so Pathetick that he had few hearers, from whose eyes he did not bring teares. But Sir Robert Spotswood, and Master Andrew Guthery, dyed as they lived, full of malice against the Cause and

Covenant, justifying themselves in all that they had done against the Cause. Sir Robert Spotswood inveighed much in his discourse against the Parliament of England, stiling them alwaies Rebels, and said, The Judgement of God was upon this Kingdome for assisting those Re∣bells against their native King, when he had granted unto us all that we could crave concerning the setling of our owne Peace, and desired no more of this King∣dome but that they would be neutrals in the affaires of England; that the excommunicating those holy men of GOD (meaning the Bishops) was lying as a grievous sinne upon this Land. That God had put a lying spirit in the mouthes of our Prophets, whereby the people were deluded. Master Robert Blare who was appointed to attend him, desired the people to take notice that he was the Sonne of a false Prophet, viz. the pretended Arch-Bishop of Saint Andrewes, sometimes Chancellor of Scotland; he would confesse no more sinne, but that he had as other men, Peccate juventutis, & quotidianae incursionis. He said to the Pro∣vest of Saint Andrewes, That he was sorry, the place where he was so much honoured should now be the Stage of his Tragedy. William Murray was executed upon Friday the 23. He confessed himselfe guilty of Adultery and Drunkennesse: but denyed that he was a Traitor to his Country. It is worthy of remarke, that Nathaniell Gordoun whose sentence was most que∣stioned, because of the offer made by him for ex∣change, that it should please God to open his eyes, and move him so ingenuously to acknowledge the Justice of the Sentence pronounced against him. Sir William Rollock, Sir Philip Nisbet, and Inner

Wharrity, who were formerly executed at Glasgow acknowledged the Justice of the Sentence pronoun∣ced against them; yea Macklauchlane, and Col. Ocain the two Irish Rebells hanged at Edenburgh did the same: But these three last executed were obstinate to their last breath. The Processe against the Earle of Hartfell is to be brought in to the Parliament this weeke. I acquainted you by my last that the Lord Ogilby was escaped out of Prison in his Sisters cloathes, and that the Rebells did retreat to the Hills upon Colonell Barclayes advance. I have no more to adde at this occasion, but that I am Sir;

St. Andrews the 26. of January. 1645.

Your affectionate friend to serve you.