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

183
is one, ought not to go lightly out of the Goverment's hand.
This night all the wittnesses against Douchall, for whom we sent
out a party, are come in ; and I hope hy the nixt to giv your
lordship a full accompt what is in that mater ; for the fugitiv
himself is taken whom he harhoured, and who is yet fugitiv.
Ther is another laird on whoes land he uas taken, who, I hear,
uill not take the Test ; he uill be in a fyne takeing.
I hav given accompt abov of your lordship's condition, and the
paines your lordship is takeing, in such a maner as my duety
obliges me to, and that I am sure is the most earnest and affectionate
I can devise. Besides sitting the whol day, I hav letters to ureat,
wheroff this is the ninth, for this night; but the Jurnalls are so full
that I neid add no mor to them. It uas fitt to extend
the Bond upon second thoughts, least the Councell should think
that the greatest part of our uork uas left undone. Your
lordship uill easiely judge that Duke Hamilton uold think the
imprisoning thes men seuere, but he is resolved he uill, after
having fought by the inch, to (sic) acquiess rather then to seperate
from us. He designed some criminalls should hav bein judged
for the plantations to morrou, and some for ther lives on Monday ;
but tho' I uas content of banishing in his absence, (for he goes
to morrou to Hamiltone and does not return till Monday's night
at soonest,) yet I uold no hanging uith out him, exept he had said
he flatly uold not.
I hav sent your lordship Jurnells uhich are so full, that
your lordship, understanding our affair as you doe, neids
no mor : only, I think our ecliastique disorders uill be so
many, that it uill force us to appoint somebody to judge them,
that is, to inquire uho uill obleige themselves to keip the church
and who not. The fines of the first to hang over the heads of the
last to be exacted, and if they be not too numerous, to banish
them. This is the most hindersom instruction that could be
devised for this countrie, the not allouing us to judge the
heretors ; for this country, instead of commons, has a kind of
mungrells of 20 or 30 lib Scots, uhich maks them heritors. We
cannot judge them, but I am resolved to try them uith the oath
of alleadgeance come uhat uill, so if it pleas God, one uay or other,
ue shal be able at least to giv a distinct accompt of the country,
and mor could not be expected from us. I am sul'e my letters
most neids be trublesome, but they are otheruays meant.
Postscript :—Orbiston continous most zealous, and deserves
great thanks. Many mor are very forduard notuithstanding the
stops ther are.
Dumbarton freeholders. Renfreu shire.
Has taken the Test - - 7 Freeholders tested - - - 34
Not taken 3 Nott tested 20
Absent, excused - - - 4 Absent, excused - - - - 16
Absent, not excused - - 2 Absent, not ex. - - - - 7
Ther names your lordship shal hav by the nixt, the Clerks
being tyred to death.
Glasgow, OC- 13 : 1684.
240. If anybody has done service in this Comisione, I am sure
your lordship's share is mor then double. I am extreamly glead