the prospect of obtaining commissions in case of
distinguishing themselves.
    Many young men of good families were to be found in the ranks, a
circumstance which added to the pride and self-consequence of these troops. A
remarkable instance of this occurred in the person of the non- officer in
question. His real name was Francis Stewart, but he was universally known by the
appellation of Bothwell, being lineally descended from the last earl of that
name - not the infamous lover of the unfortunate Queen Mary, but Francis
Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, whose turbulence and repeated conspiracies
embarrassed the early part of James Sixth's reign, and who at length died in
exile in great poverty. The son of this Earl had sued to Charles I. for the
restitution of part of his father's forfeited estates, but the grasp of the
nobles to whom they had been allotted was too tenacious to be unclenched. The
breaking out of the civil wars utterly ruined him, by intercepting a small
pension which Charles I. had allowed him, and he died in the utmost indigence.
His son, after having served as a soldier abroad and in Britain, and passed
through several vicissitudes of fortune, was fain to content himself with the
situation of a non-commissioned officer in the Life-Guards, although lineally
descended from the royal family, the father of the forfeited Earl of Bothwell
having been a natural son of James V.8 Great personal strength and dexterity in
the use of his arms, as well as the remarkable circumstances of his descent, had
recommended this man to the attention of his officers. But he partook in a great
degree of the licentiousness and oppressive disposition, which the habit of
acting as agents for government in levying fines, exacting free quarters, and
otherwise oppressing the Presbyterian recusants, had rendered too general among
these soldiers. They were so much accustomed to such missions, that they
conceived themselves at liberty to commit all manner of license with impunity,
as if totally exempted from all law and authority, excepting the command of
their officers. On such occasions Bothwell was usually the most forward.
    It is probable that Bothwell and his companions would not so long have
remained quiet, but for respect to the presence of their Cornet, who commanded
the small party quartered in the borough, and who was engaged in a game at dice
with the curate of the place. But both of these being suddenly called from their
amusement to speak with the chief magistrate upon some urgent business, Bothwell
was not long of evincing his contempt for the rest of the company.
    »Is it not a strange thing,