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

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a bill given in to the Council against Colonel Douglas, the brother
of Queensberry. The Premier took the part of his brother and
resented the action of Claverhouse. Drummond makes frequent
mention of the conduct of the latter to Queensberry in
his letters, and always in the way of denouncing it. He brought
the matter under the notice of the Duke of York and states the
displeasure the Duke felt at Claverhouse in the matter. In letter
No. 276, he says of Claverhouse, "if he uill play the fool he
most drink as he breus." In letter No. 281, the last in this
Eeport, dated 16 April 1685, Drummond, who was now Earl of
Melfort, intimates to Queensberry the King's interposition in his
favour in the matter, by ordering Claverhouse to give Queensberry
satisfaction.
The year 1685 opened with a display of unabated zeal upon
the part of the Government and its officials against the
Covenanters. Jealousy was now more than ever manifested lest
any mercy should be shewn them either by the King or by
those under him. Drummond's letter. No. 267, while giving
an example of this, makes it abundantly evident how little
leniency to the Covenanters accorded with the policy of the
government. He refers on 29th January to rumours of the King's
intention to adopt new and apparently milder measures and to
release some prisoners. Queensberry appears in some alarm
to have mentioned the rumours to Drummond, who replies,
"As for new measures, fear them not; the suggestion of
them is in enmity to the King and Duke, and what neuer entered
in ther thought to doe. So think thes stories lyes." As for the
other matter, he assures him on this also, saying it was only
" some loyall subjects imprisoned by reason of Oats' plott." Of
any other course, such as had been imagined, " I am sure my
principalis are so farr from that, that I uold clamor higts befor
thes fanatiques get any rest to truble us mor."
The first reference to the illness of King Charles the Second
which terminated in his death is in letter (No. 268), dated
5th February 1685. In this letter Drummond reports that the
King continued to grow better and better, and that a return of
feverishness the previous night had been met by giving
him " Jesuites pouder " twice during the night, which
relieved him, so that he was better than he had
been since the beginning of his trouble. The King died a day
later, on 6th February 1685, and was succeeded by his brother,
King James the Seventh. Moray and Drummond, the two
Secretaries, on the day of the King's death wrote to the Council
in Scotland reminding them to have King James proclaimed with
the usual solemnities, and enclosing a proclamation of his
Majesty. This letter which is printed by Wodrow,^ is not
included in the collection of letters here reported. But it is
alluded to in letter No. 269, which also gives some account of
the King's death and of the proclamation of King James.
^History, Folio Edit., Vol. II. No. ci. B. p. 141.