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

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maters. Pray, send me your opinion uhat to doe, for tho' I hope
thes things uill open folks eys, yet it is not to be trusted too.
They say he speake against me with open mouth. But I shal
not much concern myself for that, being resolved, God willing, to
doe uhatever becoms an honest man, com of it uhat uill. I am
about the Bishop's aflfairs, and I hope I shal be able to doe his
business. I uold giv for one half hour's time to speak with you
any thing in the world. But I most liav patience, and you may
imagine that I will doe what's fitt on all occations ; but my eys
are much opened, and I did uell that made the Advocate at
first dash say all, so that ther was no room for repentance.
He holds out hear uell, but ther is sayed to be a letter
from him in favors of Earlestone, that if he be any way ingenuous,
the torture may be spaired; and this, in consequence of Sir
William Hamilton's ofi'er of mony for his frendship, uill not look
uell. Therfor I desire that ye may caus inquire into the mater,
that if he has ureaten any such letter I may kno, for half a word
will be eneugh to the Chanslour to make him spair him ; and I
uold gladly hav that hair in the Advocate's neck. Therfor, sett
to uork to find it out. I hav reason to beleiv that the accusation
of Dyell and Drummond was a designed thing put into Earleston's
head. It is therfor fitt he be interrogate upon it, if it can be
done, so that no body be sein in the inquire.
I most nou desire to knou if ther be any thing not contained
in my nott, that ye may be thinking of it. Every post lessens
the affair of Vienna, so that att last, I am affrayed it prove a
retreat rather then a defeat.
But this time most tell.
The transplanting of the Bishop of Edinburgh to Boss depends
upon the Archbishop of St. Andrews, therfor ply him and the
caus is w^one. I shal not add mor this night, but that, with all
humility .
London, 22 September : 1683.
205. Drummond had so far prevailed in all that he had in
Commission, "that 1 dare say both the King and Duke hav
thes thoughts of you and your service that ye desire, and
of the Chanslour what he deserves." Earl Middleton had shown
himself a faithful friend to Queensberry. "Lord Eegister has
done good service, and the Advocate has done just as I foretold.
So all goes most extreamly well just nou
I am hardly
acquainted with Balye Drummond yet to demonstrate how litle
influence thes people hav, and to put the Provost out of the tribe,
and to lett all people knou that it is not worthe ther while to
caball for elections, and to keip the king in possesione of choosing.
I thought fitt, with deference to the others hear that uerr
violent for him, and the Duke that was very uell pleased with
him, and told he w^as of his acquentance at curling, made me
hazard to recommend him." Drummond was confident "that
uhatever he be, he shal be so intirely depending on j^our lordship,
that uhatever you desire shal be done by him. If not, it uill
be no difficult matter to turn him off and make another. As for