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

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me of some proposals he has to make to you for the improument of his
Majesty's reveneu in Scotland. When you heare it from hira, you will
sone judge if it be so, or fitt to be done.
For the Marquis of Queensberry.
73. llecommeuding a Lady, who bore the letter.
London, December 2 : 1683.
The faire Lady that will give you this, being going back into Scotland,
to her husband, I could not refuse hir, to recomend in generall hir
concerns to you, which I do. She will be so long on the way that I
shall say no more now.
For the Marquis of Queensberry.
74. Earlston's madness feigned—effects of the Duke of Monmouth's
being at court.
London, December 6: 1683.
I had this day yours of the 29 : of last mouth, by which I see Earleston
is sent to the Castel, and I cannot help thinking his madnesse is
fained. I see you Avere all of you surprised with the newse of the Duke
of Monmouth being at court : at which I do not wonder at, since here
it had the same efiect, and upon it the Whiggs are growne very insolent,
and the more since they see he, the Duke of Monmouth, has not behaued
himself as he aught, and not owned his knowledg of the conspiracy
as he promised his Majesty to do. But tho this has done some liarine
at first, yett now that Algernon Sidney is to be beheadded tomorrow,
and some other things will be done, they will not be so high ; and the
Duke of Monmouth will only have done himself harme by his behauior,
and will satisfy the world he has not deserved such fauor from the King
as he has had. I haue charged Lundy to speake with you, and to lett you
know how necessary a thing it is for his Majesty's seruice, that the
Chancelor and you should be upon good terms. I haue writen to the
same purpose to the Chancelor and to the Archbishope of St. Andrews
to speake to you both about it, who I hope will bring it about ; which
is all I shall say to you now.
For the Marquis of Queensberry.
75. The Duke of Monmouth banished the Court.—Algernon Sidney
beheaded.
London, December 8 : 1683.
The Duke of Monmouth's being banished yesterday "the court, will, I
beleve, be no lesse surprising to you then his coming to it was ; and
tho he has gained his point in getting his pardon and keeping his credit
with his party, yett I am confident it will haue no further ill effect, and
will haue this good one, of taking away that tendernesse which moued
his Majesty to do what he did in his fauor : for now, he, the Duke of
Monmouth has satisfyd the world he can neuer be trusted, and was
neuer a true penitent ; for he would not owne under his hand what he
sayd to the King and myself, when he saw us first, and told some of
his dependers that what had been put in the Cxazette was not true ;
which so incensed the King as obliged him to send him out of court.
But of this no more at present. Yesterday Algernon Sidney was
beheaded ; he died stoutly and like a true republican. I have not time
to say more.
For the Marquis of Queensberry.