The manuscripts of His Grace the Duke of ... - Electric Scotland

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36.— (3.) The King to the Commissioner—First intelligence about
the rebels &c.
St. James'H, April 23 : 1685.
I haue only tyme to tell you, that I haue heard that a party of
twenty dragoons, meetting with about 80 : of the rebels, did not eut^ao-e
them as they ought to haue done, by which means these rebels°gott
away. I do no[t] heare who it was that commanded the dragoons.
Lett it be enquired into, and if
the matter of fact be true, such a fainthearted,
pitifull officer, nmst be severly punished. I have ordred the
secretarie to give an account of some intelligence latly come from.
Holland, by which you will see the rebels designe to attempt some thing.
Lett a company of Earl Mars regiment be sent to Sterling Castel to
reinforce that garrison. I hope the magazin of meal is still continued
there, as it was in my tyme. I intend sone to send Earl Dumbarton
downe to you to give me an account of the true condition of all the
forces there.
(Initialled) J. R.
For the Commissioner,
37.— (4) The King to the Commissioner—That the Scotch parliament
had begun well, " and would be a very good presedent to the
English one." Original letter not initialed by the King as usual.
St. James's, May 3 : 1685.
I had last night your[s] by Gosfort, of the 29, by whom I see how
well you and the parliament haue begun, which will be a very good
presedent to the English one, and I make no doubt but that you will
continu doing so, and ending well. I haue not tyme by this bearer, the
Lord Glammes, to say much to you, it being necessary that the instruction
you sent for should be sone with you, and besids, I intend ta
dispatch Earl Dumbarton very sone, by whom I shall write at large to
you. Only pray lett Duke Hamilton know I take kindly the motion
you wrote me word he made in the Articles, for the aduantage of the
crowne. I hope Captain English will be punished as he deserves for
losing the prisoners. I had before I heard of that signed a commission
for George Windram, for English his troop, 'and for Gosfort to be
major.
For the Commissioner.
38.— (5) The King to the Commissioner. Lord Dumbarton sent
to Scotland to inspect the military stores &c.
St. James's, May 8 : 1685.
I haue now giuen Lord Dumbarton all his dispatchesse, and haue
charged him to speake to you of seuerall things, which would be to long
for a letter, hauing intire confidence in him, and so refer to him for
what I haue to say, only this I shall say to you myself, which is that
you need not aprehend it, it is in any bodys power to do you ill offices
with me. No body has gone about it, and if they had, it would only
haue done them harme, and not you ; therefore, feare nothing of that
kind. On the other hand be not to jealous, and beware of such as
under a pretence of making their court to you, improve or make story
of others to satisfy their priuat malice against others. I haue seen the
mischeef such kind of people haue done here, to those they pretended
to be freinds to. I haue discoursed at large to this bearer upon this
and other subjects, so that I need say no more upon them. I intend
to send Beckman downe sone after him, that no more tyme may be lost
in securing the bridg of Starling, which is a very necessary worke.