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

:
190
patern in other things, I am resolved in this to follou your lordship's
example, and be found in my duety, and pushing the interest
of the Croun, be the euent uhat it uill ; and I can neauer think
that the King uill be persuaded to advance the interest of thes
uhos designe it is to extirpate his family and monarchy uith it.
But this is such a crisis that the King most doe some extraordinary
thing for Presbitery, or it's undon for ever. The people are so
affrayed of us, that thes whom for terror ue declared fugitives, no
touns man uill lett ther goods stand in his hous, and they come
running to the Courts, tho' they are sure to be laid by the heils
uhen they come. But it's litle less then treason to think that
the King can mak any so great change at this time, and therfor I
laugh at it. I forgott to tell your lordship that it uas impossible
to get probation against Poog ; and tho' Douchall and his brother
uer together befor ane hundreth uittnesses, its so hard to proue
it, that one uold uonder at it. But a letter of this leinth is so impertinent
that I shal not add any thing to it ; and tho' I hav many
things to say, I shal referr all to the minutes, and my self to your
lordship's goodness, whoes protection I begg. Tho' I uas going
to end hear, yit I most say your lordship's neus of my Lord
Drumlanerig is so uelcom to me, that I most rejoise uith you at
it, and hav sent him my oun hearty approbatione.
Postscript —Some speidy course most be taken uith thes
shires, for ue uill leav multitudes in prison or spoile all.
My Lord Hamilton uill not take fhe Bond himself till he come
to Edinburgh to see what your lordship does. But I took it as
ane heritor of Monkland, lest he had given me for his patern.
Ther are remitted to Edinburgh Sir George and Sir William
Lockharts, my Lord and Sir Dan : Carmichaells and Forfar.
This day the Duke turned solicitor for Scelmorly and his
Chamberlane, whom we imprisoned yesternight. This is the
assistance he gives, and thinks becaus he does not stoutly opose
evry thing that he does wonders.
Glasgou, 20 Oc"^: [16] 84.
Ten at night.
244. Just nou I receaved your lordship's of the 18 Ocr.
and am extreamly rejoysed to find that your lordship keips your
healthe so uell, after so tedious and so inconvenient a jurney,
which I think a kinde of marterdoom for your loyalty ;
yet God be
thanked, it's worthe the paines ; and, since your lordship is uell
after, it is very uell ouer. I shal obey your lordship's commands
in all things ; and in the first place, thes contained in this letter I
receaved last from your lordship. Indeid it uas mater of great
uonder to me to find our affairs so concidered abov, as that they
uold not bestou the charge of transporting our disturbers. It's
impossible to secure this country uithout many poeple be transported,
especially the smal heritors, who acknouledg no superior
on earth, and it's a question if they doe in heaven ; but I am of
opinione, if we had our 300 out of them, this mater uold be
brought some lenith hear. I am sure, it's most evident that the
persons of quality hav bein to blame for this mater ; for nou