The Autobiography of Anne Halkett[She leaves to visit Anne Howard; Bampfield intercepts her in Roxburghe, and persuades her to return to Edinburgh, pp. 77 - 78] [p. 77] Beeing now setled, and putt my affaires in such hands as would bee carefull of them in my absence, I resolved to goe into England and see my Lady H. [Anne Howard], having the conveniency of horses lentt mee by my Lord Dunfermeline's mother [Margaret Seton, Countess of Dunfermline], who was extreamly obleiging to mee, and the more because she knew I was a faithfull servantt to all that owned the King's interest, for shee was an extraordinary Royallist.1 Beeing provided with all things for my journy, and intending to goe first to the Fleurs [Floors], where I was invited by the Countese of Roxbery [Lady Isabel Ker (born Douglas), Countess of Roxburghe],2 to hasten my journy I receaved a letter from C. B. [Colonel Bampfield], writt in cipher, giving mee accountt that affter many hazards and deficultys hee was come to the North of England, where hee staid privately till hee could inquire where I was, and that I could advise him where hee might speake with Sir R. Moray [Robert Moray]. I gave him an answeare by the same way I receaved his, and aquainted him with my intention of going to N. [Naworth] Castle [Cumberland], and apointed a day that I intended to bee at Anwicke, where, if hee durst venture to come, I should then lett him know Sir R. [Robert] Moray's opinion of the fittest place for to meett with him, for I had told Sir R. [Robert] my designe, and had his aprobation3. When I was come to the Fleurs [Floors], and staid there two or three days, I wentt on my intended journy towards N. [Naworth] Castle; but when I came to Anwicke C. B. [Colonel Bampfield] diswaded mee from going there, because there was some there that I was nott desirous to see, and so I returned backe again the next day and came to the Fleurs [Floors], where I staid till Crew came backe, who I sentt to N. [Naworth] Castle to bringe my trunkes and what I had left there for wantt of conveniency to bring them with my selfe (when I came from thence). The intertainment I had att the Fleurs [Floors] was so agreeable that I had noe reason to bee weary the time I was there; nor was I unsattisfied to returne to [p. 78] Edb [Edinburgh], because C. B. [Colonel Bampfield] was uncertaine how to dispose of himselfe till hee heard againe from mee.4 I gave Sir R. M. [Robert Moray] and my Lord D. [Dunfermline] an accountt of his designs, which was to waite all opertunitys wherein hee might serve the King, and if there were any probability of doing itt in Scottland, hee would then come there and hazard his life as farre as any could propose itt to bee rattionall. The advice they gave was to conceale himselfe where hee was for some time till they saw a fitt opertunity to invite him to Edb [Edinburgh], where they beleeved hee might bee secure enough, since hee was knowne to very few there butt such as was his friends. While hee continued in the North of England I heard frequently from him, and still gave him accountt of what hopes or feares there was of acting anything for the King, which I had the more opertunity to doe because my chamber was the place where Sir Robert M. [Moray] most commonly mett with such persons as were designing to serve the King.5 Amongst the rest, Sir James H. [Halkett] seldome missed to be one. |
[1 Margaret Seton (born Hay), Countess of Dunfermline; she was the third wife of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline (Loftis, Memoirs, 265n). They are parents to Charles Seton, 2nd Earl of Dunfermline who together with his wife and niece have been essential to Anne's comfort and safety since arriving in Edinburgh. EM]
[2 Lady Isabel Ker (born Douglas), Countess of Roxburghe, the 3rd wife and widow of Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe, resided in Floors, a house in Roxburgheshire (near the southern borders of Scotland). Lady Isabel had married 2nd James Graham, 2nd Marquis of Montrose. (Loftis, Memoirs, 203n, 253n). She was a faithful Royalist, and third wife to Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe; Ker's first wife, Jean Ker (born Drummond) had been governess to the children of Charles I; Anne Murray's mother, Jane Drummond had replaced Jean Ker when she went with the royal children to Holland; the names suggest a family relationship. See Childhood and Adolescence, note 3. EM]
[3 Once again Robert Moray (1608/9-73) was connected to Scots royalist conspirators like Balcarres, and close to Dunfermline,with or for whom Bampfield sometimes acted. Moray was also James Halkett's cousin. EM]
[4 Anne Murray and Joseph Bampfield are behaving as loyal husband and wife, people with exactly the same interests. Although she said she wanted proof Bampfield's wife is dead, here she and he seem to have decided (if they know Bampfield's wife is still alive), to pretend they don't know it or act as if they don't (ignore the reality they are bigamously married). She is trying to set up alliances for him which when he suggested she go to Edinburgh from Naworth Castle, he wanted her to make in that city for him among Presbyterian and Covenanting Royalists. It seems to me they may have had a pre-arranged plan to meet in southern Scotland and discuss what to do next; she returns to ask if it's safe for him to come to Scotland and Moray and Dunfermline advise him to stay in the north of Scotland for the moment. We know that in August 1652, there was a warrant for Bampfield's arrest as Royalist conspirator; he could not be found as he was hiding in the north of England somewhere (Bampfield's Apology, 160. EM]
[5 At the beginning of the section on Anne's coming to Edinburgh, Couper 1701 Life, p. 25 says Anne was "in the confidence" of the Scots royalists. He does not mention Bampfield. See further on Anne's politicking, Amid Royalist politicking and plans, p. 80n3. EM]