His guilt of treafon was indifputable y but the ail of grace in
1641, and the other in 1651, ought to have been his fecurities
from a capital punilhment.
Here is alfo a head of his fon, the Earl of Argyle, a fteady,
virtuous, but unfortunate charailer. Firm to his truft through all
the misfortunes of his royal mailer, Charles II. Was appointed
colonel of his guards in 1650, but fcorned to receive his com-
miffion from the tyrannical d a t e s o f h is c o u n t r y , and infilled on
receiving it from his majeity alone. Neither the defeats at Dunbar
or at Worcefter, abated his zeal for the defperate caufe; he betook
himfelf to the highlands, and for a long time refitted the ufurping
powers: potwithftanding he was call off, and his adherents declared
traitors, by the zealous marquifs, his father *. Suffered
after his fubmillion to the irrefiftible tyranny of the times, a lono-
imprifonment. His releafe, at the reftoration, fubje&ed him but
to frefh troubles : ingratitude feems to have been the firft return to
his fervices. A bare recital of his fuccefs with the king, in repelling
certain injuries done him, was entitled Leafmg-making, or
creating diffenfions between his majefty and his fubje&s. For this,
by the Scottijh law, he was condemned to lofe his head : a fentence
too unjuft to be permitted to be put into execution. After a long
imprifonment, was reftored to favor,-to his fortune, and to the
title of Earl. In all his a&ions he preferved a patriotic, yet loyal
moderation : but in 168 r, delivering in an explanation of an oath
he was to take, as a teft not to attempt any alteration in church or
.ftatef, he was again difgraced, tried, and a fecond time con-
* W hiuhck, 563. + State Tryals, II. 831.
demned ;
demned; and the infamous fentence would have been executed,
had he not efcaped from the power of his enemies. In 1685, in
concert with the Duke of Monmouth, he made a fatal attempt to
reftore the liberties of his country, then invaded by James II. He
failed in the defignf and was put to death on his former fentence.
On the day of execution, he eat his dinner, and took his afternoon’s
nap with his ufual compofure. f a l l i n g with a calmnefs and
conftancy fuitable to the goodnefs of his life.
A little before his death he compofed his epitaph, I think ftill
to be feen in the Grey-friers church-yard, Edinburgh. The verfes
are rather to be admired, as they ihewed the ferenity of his mind,
at that aweful period, than for the fmoothnefs of the numbers :
but the tranflation, by the Rev. Mr. Jamifon, of Glafgow, cannot
but be acceptable to every reader of tafte :
A u di, Hofpes, quicunque venís, tumulumque revilis,
E t rogitas quali crimine tinélus eram.
Non me crimen habet, non me malus abftulit error,
E t vitium nullum, me pepulit patria.
Solus amor patriae, verique immenfa cupido
Difluetas juffit fumere tela manus.
Opprimor, en ! rediens, v i fola et fraude meorum,
Hoftibus et fasvis vi&ima terna cado.
Sit licet hie nofter labor irritus, haud Deus aequus
Defpiciet populum faecula cunéta fuum.
Namque alius veniet fatis melioribus ortus
Qui toties ruptum firie beabit opus.
Sat mihi credo datum (quamvis caput enfe fecetur)
Hinc petor astherei Lucida templa poli.
T h o u