To return, therefore, to my story: When I awaked out of my dream, as I had done before in the affair of Wilson, (and I desire the same apology I made in the Introduction to these Memoirs may serve for both), I presently rose, and ordered thirtysix dragoons to be at the place appointed by break of day. When we arrived thither, I sent a party to each of the five farmers' houses. This villain Steele had murdered above forty of the king's subjects in cold blood; and, as I was informed, had often laid snares to entrap me; but it happened, that although he usually kept a gang to attend him, yet at this time he had none, when he stood in the greatest need. One of the party found him in one of the farmers' houses, just as I happened to dream. The dragoons first searched all the rooms below without success, till two of them hearing somebody stirring over their heads, went up a pair of turnpike stairs. Steele had put on his clothes, while the search was making below; the chamber where he lay was called the Chamber of Deese, which is the name given. to a room where the laird lies when he comes to a tenant's house. Steele, suddenly opening the door, fired a blunderbuss down at the two dragoons, as they were coming up the stairs; but the bullets, grazing against the side of the turnpike, only wounded and did not kill them. Then Steele violently threw himself down the stairs among them, and made towards the door to save his life, but lost it upon the spot; for the dragoons who guarded the house dispatched him with their broadswords. I

* Or chamber of state, so called from the dais, or canopy and elevation of floor, which distinguished the part of old halls which was occupied by those of high rank. Hence the phrase was obliquely used to signify state in general.

Wodrow gives a different account of this exploit. "In December this year, (1686,) David Steil, in the parish of Lisma

was not with the party when he was killed, being at that time employed in searching at one of the other four houses, but I soon found what had happened, by hearing the noise of the shot made with the blunderbuss; from whence I returned straight to Lanark, and immediately sent one of the dragoons express to General Drummond at Edinburgh.

General Dalziel died about Michaelmas this year, and was succeeded by Lieutenant-General Drummond, who was likewise my very good friend.

But I cannot here let pass the death of so brave and loyal a commander, as General Dalziel, without giving the reader some account of him, as far as my knowledge or inquiry could reach.*

Thomas Dalziel, among many other officers, was taken prisoner at the unfortunate defeat at Worcester, and sent to the Tower; from whence, I know not by what means, he made his escape, and went to Muscovy; where the Czar then reigning made him his general: but some time after the restoration of the royal family, he gave up his commission, and repairing to King Charles the Second, was, in con

hagow, was surprised in the fields by Lieutenant Creichton, and after his surrender of himself on quarters, he was in a very little time most barbarously shot, and lies buried in the churchyard there."

* Burnet represents this general as "acting the Muscovite too grossly," and "threatening to spit men, and roast them." "He killed some in cold blood, or rather in hot blood; for he was then drunk, when he ordered one to be hanged, because he would not tell where his father was, for whom he was then in search."Vol. I. p. 334.

† He served the Emperor of Russia, as one of the generals of his forces against the Polanders and Tartars, till the year 1665, when he was recalled by King Charles the Second; and thereafter did command his majesty's forces at the defeat of the rebels, at Pentland hills in Scotland; and continued lieutenant-general in Scotland, when his majesty had any standing forces in that kingdom, till the year of his death, 1685.-GRANGER, III. 380.

sideration of his eminent services, constituted commander in chief of his majesty's forces in Scotland; in which post he continued till his death, excepting only one fortnight, when he was superseded by the Duke of Monmouth, some days before the action at Bothwell Bridge, as I have already related. He was bred up very hardy from his youth, both in diet and clothing. He never wore boots, nor above one coat, which was close to his body, with close sleeves, like those we call jockey-coats. He never wore a peruke; nor did he shave his beard since the murder of King Charles the First.* In my time, his head was bald, which he covered only with a beaver hat, the brim of which was not above three inches broad. His beard was white and bushy, and yet reached down almost to his girdle. He usually went to London once or twice in a year, and then only to kiss the king's hand, who had a great esteem for his worth and valour. His unusual dress and figure, when he was in London, never failed to draw after him a crowd of boys, and other young people, who constantly attended at his lodgings, and followed him with huzzas, as he went to court or returned from it. As he was a man of humour, he would always thank them for their civilities, when he left them at the door, to go in to the king; and would let them know exactly at what hour he intended to come out again, and return to his lodgings. When the king walked in the park, attended by some of his courtiers, and Dalziel in his company, the same crowds would always be after him, shewing their admiration at his beard and dress, so that the king could hardly pass for the crowd; upon which his

* It was not unusual for the ancient cavaliers to wear what they called vow-beards. The editor's great-grandfather made an oath never to shave until the restoration of the Stuart family.

majesty bid the devil take Dalziel, for bringing such a rabble of boys together, to have their guts squeezed out, while they gaped at his long beard and antique habit; requesting him, at the same time, (as Dalziel used to express it,) to shave and dress like other Christians, to keep the poor bairns out of danger. All this could never prevail on him to part with his beard, but yet in compliance to his majesty, he went once to court in the very height of the fashion but as soon as the king and those about him had laughed sufficiently at the strange figure he made, he reassumed his usual habit, to the great joy of the boys, who had not discovered him in his fashionable dress.

When the Duke of York succeeded to the crown, General Dalziel was resolved still to retain his loyalty, although, at the same time, he often told his friends, that all things were going wrong at court; but death came very seasonably, to rescue him from the difficulties he was likely to be under, between the notions he had of duty to his prince on one side, and true zeal for his religion on the other.

I must now resume a little my discourse upon Captain Steele. Some time before the action in which he was killed, General Drummond, who was then newly made commander in chief, sent for me in haste, to attend him in Edinburgh. My way lay through a very strong pass, hard by Airs-moss, and within a mile of Cumlock: as I was going through Cumlock, a friend there told me, that Steele, with a party waited for me at the pass. I had with me only one dragoon, and a drummer: I ordered the latter to gallop straight on to the pass, and when he had got thither, to beat a dragoon march, while I with the dragoon should ride along the by-path, on

the edge of the moss. heard the drum, they scoured along the by-path, into the moss, apprehending that a strong party was coming in search of them but either I or the dragoon (I forgot which) shot one of the rebels dead, as he crossed us to get into the moss.-To put an end to this business of Steele: When the dragoon, whom I sent express, had delivered his message to General Drummond, he was just setting out for his country house at Dumblain; but returned to his lodgings, and wrote me a letter, that he would send for me up after the holidays, and recommend me to the government, to reward me for my services. He faithfully kept his word; but I received nothing more than promises.

When Steele and his men

Steele was buried in the church-yard of Lismahago by some of his friends; who, after the Revolution, erected a fair monument, on pillars, over his grave, and caused an epitaph to be engraved on the stone, in words to this effect:

Here lieth the body of Captain David Steele, a saint, who was murdered by John Creichton, [with the date underneath.]

Some of my friends burlesqued this epitaph, in the following manner :

Here lies the body of Saint Steele,

Murdered by John Creichton, that de'el.

Duke Hamilton, in Queen Anne's time, informed me of this honour done to that infamous rebel: and when I had said to his grace, that I wished he had ordered his footmen to demolish the monument, the duke answered, he would not have done so for five