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

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their offers, thinking there was no more to be sayed ; but now hearing
the Test is to be put to them makes some I belieue repent wiiat they
have done. There is days also apointed for our small heritors, who are
very numerous in this shire, to come in and take the Test, and I wish
there be not to many that refuises it. Howeuer, since its thought fitt
that the parsons be knouen that refuises it, and great marks of distinction
put on them, I haue no more to say but my ouen fears that there may
be more disadvantage then advantage in pressing of it so uneversally at
this time ; for many that wold very heartely concurred to reduceing the
people to order and conformitty, and seasing of the rebells and fugitiues,
has now nothing under their ouen prospect but suffering on the head of
the Test; but since your Lordships in the government has thought it
fitt for his Majesties service, my indevores to concurr therin shall not
be wanting, as they shall on all occasions be to expres that I am, my
Lord, your Lordships most humble servant and affectionate brother,
Hamilton.
186. More had taken the Test than he expected — prisons full of small
heritors—rumour of a conventicle at Crawford—Lists of commons not
keeping the church.
Hamilton, 20 October [c. 1684J.
I come here on Saturday and am to return tomorrow, the other tuo
lords being to dine this day at Halket. I received the honor of your
Lordships of the 12 and did not thinke it necessare to trouble you until!
your return from Wigtown ; nor shall I trouble you with particulare
account of our transactions, since I know my Lord Secretare will do itt
fully, whoes dilligence and indefatigable pains is to be admired. I will
not debate with your Lordship what cuntries has been most gilty or are
ablest or least able to giue. I am sure T can say, I and my interrest has
sufferred most, and are like to do so still; howeuer, iff wee haue come
short as to our purse, wee have out done all in our undertakeings, and I
wish wee may be able to perform. More has taken the test then I
thought wold ; there is no considerable persons has refuised it in this
shire but such as you know. Our bond considerable heritors aprehends
the danger of much, tho in obedience most has aduentured on itt,
trusting rather to the discreation of the government then give present
offence, and indanger imprissonment by the refuissiug, for none refuises
both bond and test, but to prisson they most go ; and on Saturday all
our prisson s wer full, generally of the small heritors, and because
severall of Evandale litle heritors did not apear they wer fined in
1001b. scots a peice, and a party of dragoons sent to quarter on them.
untill they eated up the fines, and sent the persons prissoners to
Glasgow. I confes I did differ with this maner of bringing in
the fines. I am very sencable of the toiil your Lordship is at that
has such jurneys in this ill weather to make ; and I assure you iff I had
not thought it my duty to serue his Majestic, riO other consideration
should ingadged me to this trouble considering my circumstances which
I will not trouble you with in this. Beside I shuld haue been at a
course of phisike sent me by Doctor Short, which this bussines has
forced me to delay, but if wee come not to an end this weeke, I must for
this reason excuse myself from longer attendance. This morning I had
a letter from the Secretare with an account of a Conventikle that hath
been given notice of by some from the Sanquer, to have been keeped on
Wednesday last on the march betwixt that parish and Crafurd, where
they write that there w^as 300 well armed men, and a party of Dragoons
are sent to Crafurd and Crafurdjohn to looke after them, the same information
bearing they wer comed into that countrey: whereupon I
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