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

164
The Duke is surrounded uitli petitioners, and I tell him
frankly to retrinch is the best uay to stop ther mouths and our
truble. This he has promised to shou me his mynde in this
mater the next ueike. I am hopefull this uill finde your lordship
at Edinburgh, and therfor I shal again say that all the uinning
is in the first buying, and therfor ther most be no dallieing,
but frankely uhen any thing is controverted, it most be to the
vote, in the councell I mean, for I am confident in the sessione
uhat's done uill sho he is not the omnipotent, and so soon as
that is beleived his credite will fall. I am just going to the Duke
againe, and therfor shal not take much of your lordship's time at
present. . . .
London, November 8 : 1683.
222. Having had no letters by the last post, I hav no thing to
say of importance, for yesterday the Duke uas at hunting, and
this day uas the artillery feast ; so that ther has bein time for no
business, and tomorrou he goes a hunting againe ; but I hav so
prepared business, that I hope at one time to go thorough all I
hav left to say. I can delay no longer to tell your lordship that
yesterday my Lady Midletone uas brought to bed of a sone
uith a great deal of hazard, but at present she is as well as can be
expected againe.
Posso is as busie as it is possible in getting horses, but this
place had never so feu good as at this time, as he is resolved to
hav them good or not at all, and if he get them not hear he will
[go] down to Northampton ulier the best are. I hope to be so
i-eady against the ansuer of that letter I sent uith the draught of
instructions anent Arg^de, that so soon as I hav it, I uill take my
leav of this place, for uhat uill be left undone. Earl Midleton
uill take care of, and ther shal be as litle left as I can. Ther is
no neus, but the progress the Christians make in the Turkish
territorys so allarmes all the Ottoman Empire that they are in
great consternation, and in all probability the King of Poll [and]
uill pursue all the leinth his fortune uill go. It uill not be in
my pouer to get thes gentlemen that are hear, doun befor me,
])ut it is not one farthing mater, for I hope they shal not be able
to alter measures in despyte of them.
Lord Tester has got a neu- business now to solicite but I
most begg your lordship to say nothing of it yet, which is the
ward of Earl Eoxburgh and nonentries; but the Duke uill advise
very uell uhat he does in it. I shal tel your lordship the story
at leinth at meiting. . . .
L[ondon], 10 No'' : 1683.
223. Last post brought me 3 of yours, one of the 31 Oc'*- and
2 of the first of Nov'*. Befor this time ye kno by one of myne
that Earl Midleton is not in a conditione for this bout to accept
of any kindness but uhat most lykuays include Earl Morray ; so
ue most prepar things for him, but not propose them. I am
glead at the leinthe your lordship has brought the affaire of