PATRICK GORDON'S SHORT ABRIDGEMENT OF BRITANE'S DISTEMPER.

Tuts volume is a publication of the Spalding Club, and professes to be a notice of Scottish or indeed British history from 1639 to 1649 ; " Britane's Distemper," in the quaint phrasing of Mr.

GORDON, meaning the disorder of the body politic that ensued in consequence of CHARLES the First's contest with his subjects. The

real object of the book, however, is to defend the character of the

Marquis of HUNTLY from the charges brought or insinuated against him by the friends of Moaraosa, especially in the well-known " Memoirs of the Marquis of Montrose" by Bishop WISI1ART. In the language of the able editor of Britane's Distemper, it is " the tribute of a devoted vassal to the memory of his chief." Of the author little is known. " He was the second son of Sir Thomas Gordon of Cluny ; and he married a daughter of Murray the Laird of Cobairdy, a relative of his own ; in 1609 he was ad- mitted a burgess of Aberdeen, at the special request of Lord Gor- don, afterwards Marquis of Huntly." But beyond this every thing is obscure, even to the date of his birth and death ; though it may be conjectured from passages in his history that he died before the Restoration.

Mr. GORDON'S character as exhibited in his book indicates a man of considerable acquirements for his age and country, with a mind

enlightened by reading and observation : he appears to have had much natural sense and shrewdness, which he had sharpened by worldly exercise iu a time when every man who wished to dwell in safety, much more to advance his fortunes, was compelled to have his wits about him. He also seems to have had some knowledge both of civil and military matters—more of both, we think, than he could have derived from merely looking on affairs : indeed, his narrative frequently indicates a familiar knowledge of the lead- ing actors. But his mind was not comprehensive, or, to speak more accurately, it was bounded by his experience : his capacity might have judged truly of great affairs had he been engaged in them, but he could not rise to them by speculation. Circumstances, if not nature, had also made him a thorough partisan. This spirit is not shown in his manner, which, compared with the diatribes of modern politicians, is singularly measured, and his judgments upon individuals of whom he had some personal knowledge seem toler- ably fair : but large events and great characters exhibit his ludi- crous weakness. The reports of the most rancorous malice, the

most bigoted prejudice, and the idlest gossip, are recorded by PATRICK GORDON of Ruthven as undoubted facts. It was like his age to be credulous ; but he carries his credulity and superstition-

to a degree which we should scarcely have thought consistent with his obvious common sense and information. Everything, however,

that PATRICK GORDON tells he tells in good faith ; and this appear- ance of honesty, coupled with the strength of his native character, and a zealously earnest spirit, impart an interest and life to his work, which a much better book might be deficient in.

The subject of the work in its full extent is the history of na- tional affairs from the commencement of the troubles in 1639 to

the execution of the King in England and of HUNTLY in Scotland.

Public events are more noticed as respects Scotland than England; but even there they are arbitrarily touched upon and briefly dis- missed, unless they relate to the local affairs in which the Marquis

of HUNTLY was engaged. The most striking incident and the most fully treated is the celebrated campaign which forms the ground- work of SCOTT'S Legend of Montrose. This is curious, not only

for the fulness of its details and its traits of distinguished men and local manners, but for the means it furnishes of enabling the reader to compare the reality with the fiction—to observe the changes which the novelist has made for the sake of effect, and what a very different thing is contemporary history from historical romance.

Considered as an addition to our mere historical muniments, the importance of this publication is not great ; for Mr. GORDON does not throw much if any additional light upon the larger events •

of the period he treats of; and if his information in this point of view were greater, his prejudices and partialities would render him a very

unsafe authority for facts or motives without some corroborative testimony. The value of the book consists in its indirect picture of manners, its direct traits of the dispositions of some distinguished Scotchmen, its narrative of local occurrences, and the strong quaint character of the author continually displayed in his writing. The inherent interest of the period, and the extrinsic interest which the poetry and romances of SCOTT have imparted to the customs and people, increase this value ; and the Spalding Club deserves the thanks of every lover of archaeological literature, for preserving from oblivion this singular outpouring of contemporary story, by submitting to the conservative action of types the only existing manuscript of PATRICK GORDON'S Britane's Distemper.

The perceptive faculty of our author was so keen as to amount to critical acumen ; and when he commences his criticism, not even his sense of feudal duty prevents him from drawing distinctions and noting faults, however tenderly he may handle them. Thus, the following picture of his chief may be favourable, but it carries internal evidence of being fair.

CHARACTER OF THE MARQUIS OF HURTLE.

Ile was of a singular dispositione, mad up both of good and bad qualities ; as the best men that ewer hued ware not without faits, so had he his owne imperfections; but as the good ware superlatiwe good, both for himself and others, so the ewill wrought onlie his own prejudice, as hauing no further reach then to giue himself content. For as his greatest falt was a self will and db.. stinate opinione, which made him cairlesse of counsell, so had he such a nimbi". and apprehensiue witt, as he could find reasons for whatsoewer he did, min to convince reasone itself. And from this abstinancie, or self willed opinion, pro- eeided all his mallours. He was both constant and reall in his frindehip to whom he professed it ; nor could anie threatnings or fair persuasiones be able to alter or change him ; but if furtoune frouned, or the world went against him, he was in this onlie lyke other noblemen, not aboue them. Seruice don, and not to doe, was forgotten, and old seruants, for whom there was no use, most be brusbt or rubt off as spots from cloathes ; so as this falt, if it may be tearmed a fait, was tensile a noble one, for it attendeth allwayes on no- bilitie ; and yit the hard constructione which was mad of this did more harm to himselfe then to thos castawayes, for it did, by litle and litle, insensiblie alienate the hearts of his followers : whereof he had a proofe when his anta- gonist Montros and he ware to joyne in the kinges serwice ; for then this slightening of his followers bred him great prejudice, because, with a certainc kynd of resented inclinatione, he seemed desyrous to kelp a distance with his inferiours, without distinctione of qualitie ; for frinds and followers ware equalled with domestickes and common obseruance, onless his affaires required it, and then could he be both familiare and obsequious. This gott him but an outward and constreaned obedience ; which soon appeared when they saw cane other lyk to contend with him, whose courteous and bumble fredome, whose affable and kynd intertainment, without ostentatione of grandour or affecta- tione of estat, did quicklie make a conquest of there libertie.

This other was

MONTROSE.

It cannot be denyed but he was ane accomplished gentleman of many ex- cellent partes ; a bodie not tall, but comely and well eumpossed in all his liniamentes; his complexion meerly whitee, with flaxin bairn ; of a stayed, graue, and solide looke, and yet his eyes sparkling and full of lyfe ; of speech slowe, but wittie and full of aence; a presence graitfull, courtly, and so win- using vpon the beholder, as it seemed to claime reuerence without aeweing for it ; for he was so affable, so courteous, so bening, as seemed verely to scorne ostentation and the keeping of state ; and therefor he quicklie made a conquesse of the heartes of all his followers, so as whim he list he could Issue lead them in a chaine to bane followed him with chearefullnes in all his interprysea ; and I am certanely perswaded, that this his gratious, humane, and courteous fre- dome of bebauiour, being certanely acceptable befor God as well as men, was it that wanne him so much renovne, and inabled him cheifly, in the lone of It's followers, to goe through so great interprysses, wheirin his equall had failled, altho they exceeded him farre in power.

MONTROSE'S HEROES.

This also could not but offend the Holie of Holies, that, when God had giuen there enemies into there bander', the Iriahes in particulare ware too cruell ; for it was eueriewhere obserued they did ordinarely kill all they could be =later of, without any motion of pitie or any consideration of humanitie ney, it seemed to them there was no distinction betuixt a man and a beast ; for they killed men ordinarly with no more feilling of compassion, and with the same carelesse neglect that they kill sue bents or capone for titer supper. And they were also, without all shame, most brut ishlie giuen to vneleatt nes and filthie lust ; as for excessiue drinkeing, when they came where it might be had, there was no limites to there beastly appetites ; as for godlesse awatice, and mercilesse oppression, and plundering of the poore laborer. Of those tuo cryeing sinnes the Scotes ware aloe giltie as they. There commanderes, in a sort, may be blamed for this, because they ware not carefull eneugh to restrains them ; altho it was impossible to get the euill perfectly cured, since indeed they could not exact severe punishment from the souldiour that bad neuer receaued pay, and therefor could not be sworne to the culloures; so as being well considered, they ware but ane armie of woluntyres, and there chastissement, or too stricke dis- cipline, might move them to disband or mutinie.

Our author's national feelings were strong, and his prejudices against the English very great ; showing themselves in the imputa- tion of opposite qualities. Here is an example, from his lamenta- tion over the death of CHARLES.

CHARACTER OF THE ENGLISH.

Thus died the best of kinges by the inhumaine and barbarous crueltie of the worst of nationes.

O how truelie might that old adaige be now applyed, that the impreour is kings of kinges, his subjects, the Germane princes, being kinges within them- seines ; the kluge of France, kinge of asses, for he layes what burthene he pleases on his people, and they most hear it; the kinge of Spaine is kinge of gold, for he commands the Indies; the kings of Scots is kinge of men, both because he is not intituled efter the countrie as other kinges, but efter the na- tions, as lykwayes it is not his wealth or great reuenues that mantains his royal! dignitie, and so longe continuance of his throne, but the resolutione, the curradge, and the walour of his subjects ; and the kings of Ingland is kinge of diwells ; for as it was pryde that made diwells of angells, so their pryde makes them batefull to all nationes, in so much as both in their actiones, in their day- lie and ordinarie discourses, yow may hear them undervalue all other nationes of the world, ewer building their oune praises on the dispraise of others. And it was this onfortunat, great, and good kinges onlie fait, that he had nothings of a tirrant in him ; for they ware never so submissiue nor obedient as to their tirraut kinges. Henrie the Eight, who played the tirrant ower them, and whose werie presence mad their parliament to tremble, him they reverence, him they fear, him they obey, and ea in to this day they acknowledge him for one of their heat kinges. They have disinthroned many of their kinges, but thos ware found to be myld, gentle, and benigne. But William Rufus, Ritchard Crookbak, William the Conqueror, when will was a law, they ware obeyed, they ware reuerenced. And this bard hearted, this proud, this stub- borne, and this onplacable nations, who could never be ruled but by aw and tirranie, sail yit be brought under, and humbled by the sword, and cruel tir- ranie, when God ash be pleased to wiset them, for the most inhumaine and most unjust m urther of this their admirable, most worthie, and aoveraine lord.