Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 4.djvu/272

 340 NOTES AND QUERIES. [9- s. iv. OCT. 21, m who these were we know not—bathed in the Dead Sea, a not very safe proceeding for women unpro- vided with an escort. She gives a rather con- ventional picture of herself travelling with her Bible and her Josephus ! We remain, however, more disposed to appreciate than deride her, though we should warmly recommend, in the case (probable and desirable enough) of further explora- tions, a better literary equipment. In artistic respects she is amply provided. Thr Lit'*'- ninl Caii>j>aii/iii of Ale.xaiultr Lea/if., Flrxt Earl of Ltren. By Charles Sanford Terry, M. A. (Longmans & Co.) AFTKR the surrender of Charles I. the part played by the Scots in the history of the English Com- monwealth was sufficiently disastrous to bring a measure of oblivion upon the assistance they rendered to the Parliamentarians during the inva- sion of l&M. At Marston, it is true, Leslie shared the defeat of Fairfax, and lied from the field, according to some accounts, as far as Leeds. Very real were, however, the services rendered during that battle, as well as in the siege of York and the capture of Newcastle, and but for the part played by the Scots the result of the great Civil War m'ight have been widely different. New materials having been found since the date (1891) when the period of the Civil War was treated by Dr. (Jar- diner in his monumental history, Mr. Terry has undertaken to write an account, the first yet attempted, of Leslie's campaigns. His task, so far as regards the English invasion, is well carried out, and his book forms already an indispensable portion of every historical library. It is with the period between lli'W and 1647, when Leslie stands forth as " the Goliath of the Covenant," that Mr. Terry principally occupies himself. Concerning the career in Sweden, where Leslie obtained the warlike know- ledge that led to his appointment as Lord-General of all the Scottish forces, our author has little to say. Leslie's military activity against Charles I. is his chief theme. For various reasons we might have wished that, instead of a life of a not very picturesque or interesting individual, we had been supplied with a full account of the part taken by the Scots in the civil struggle. To chronicle m txliuxo the defeats at Preston, at Dunbar, and at Worcester is not, perhaps, a task to inflame patriotism, but a full record based on the latest authorities would l>e a work of signal value. It is, however, with what is done, not with what might have been or even what we should like to have been, that we have to deal, and from this point of view Mr. Terry's book constitutes high accomplishment. Based on documents many of them but recently accessible, it comes with a full weight of authority. It is weakest in por- traiture. With the exception of Charles himself, whose tergiversations aim incapacity for truth are strikingly apparent, no character stands very clearly before us. Leslie himself, with all his bumptiousness and tnori/uf, is more easily recog- nizable from the fine jmrtrait, reproduced by photo- gravure from the original at Melville House, which serves as frontispiece, than from anything Mr. Terry says. We see little of Montrose, and the Covenanting lords and captains generally are but shadows. If we are asked how these men are to be differentiated, we are unable to say; but we .contemplate them as a flock of sheep, or should we rather say wolves t It is clearly shown that without the Scottish invasion the task of making headway against the Royalists in the West, the Midlands, and, let us add, the North, would pro- bably have overtaxed the resources of the Parlia- ment. Leslie's conduct in taking arms against the king, after having held his commission against " the Irish rebels, ' and given him assurances that he would not again oppose his forces in the field, was not loyal, and finds but lukewarm defence from his biographer, who cautiously says that " indirectly only was Leven justified in taking advantage of his reservation, adding, " Neither Scotland's religion nor laws were in any immediate danger, and if patriotism called Leven to the cam- paigns of 1839 and 1(MO, a spirit of proselytism drew him to that of 1044." How great disappointment was l.egotten in Scotland is shown. Almost, if not quite, for the first time at Marston Moor a large English and Scottish army had undertaken combined action against a common enemy. Before that time Baillie had expressed the national sentiment in saying, " W'aller, Manchester, Fairfaxc, and all "getts victories ; but Lesley, from whom all was expected, as yett lias had his hands bound. God, we hojte, will loose them, and send us matter of praise also. And now that the great victory had come, Leven was still found wanting, while Cromwell's name swelled the roll of England's successful generals." Before Cromwell's star that of Leslie had to pale. An idea that he had met more than his match seems to have entered the mind of Leslie, who, though both adventurous and resourceful, was not the equal of his English rival and conqueror. Few pages serve to dismiss Leslie's later career. Useful appendices deal with Cromwell's Scottish cam- paign. Many precious documents, including Leslie's despatches, are printed. Maps of Newcastle, York, &c., add to the utility ana attraction of an im- portant work. Wt muxl call special attention to the following notices:— ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith. WK cannot undertake to answer queries privately. To secure insertion of communications corre- spondents must observe the following rule. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. Correspond- ents who repeat queries are requested to head the second communication " Duplicate." W. T. ("Les Detenus "). — Send address. We have a letter for you. NOTICE. Editorial Communications should be addressed to "The Editor of 'Notes and Queries ' "—Ad vertis-j- ments and Business Letters to "The Publisher" — at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C. We beg leave to state that we decline to return conimunications which, for any reason, we do not print ; and to this rule we can make uo exception. TERMS or SUBSCRIPTION BY POST. For Twelve Mouthi 108 For Six Montbi 0 10 3