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

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uhen Duke Hamilton appears to joyne uith us, ue meit not uith
the least resistance from the commons, except in places uher the
jest has bein caried on too farr, and that is mainely in his Grace's
oun lands, or amongst his nearest neighbours. I most tell your
lordship, that at the begining I uas forced to carie very even
uith him ; for I found all the heritors run to him for councell, and
if he had gon wrong, it might hav put us upon thes violent
courses that at this juncture of affairs had not bein proper; but
since the uorst uas over, ue hav not so uell agreed ; for tho' I uas
iirme from the begining, yet I menaged and took time. But nou
I am mor indifferent, and so tells him parts of the truth that are
not pleasing to him, as he sticks not to tell uhen I am not
present ; as for instance, last day, (after he had sent a minister
that desired a Churche from him, that had formerly the promis of
advancement from His Grace, to me to get a favor,
seing, as the Duke said the minister's aime uas only
to pleys me,) he fell upon the Bishop, and told him
his ministers uer unreasonable men, for they had given up
800 irregular people in one paroash. The A. Bishop ansuered,
(as I had upon that same subject befor,) that he uas indeid
unreasonable, but it uas for giving up so feu, seing of 2,500
persons, the minister could not say he had abov 100 at one time
in his church.
But to leav this : yesternight I had informatione of a
Conventicle upon the borders of Crauford. I sent to the
Duke, to my Lord Duke Hamilton, to tell him that I heard, and
sent him the double of the informatione from your lordship's
servant, and uith all something by uay of admonitione, as that
this being upon his land, said to be 400 armed men, it uas a
scandall to him, and a reproach to all the neighbouring heritors,
and told him that as Sheriff he ought to eas the country, and to
follou after them ; and uith all, that so soon as I got certaine
informatione, I uas resolved to go myself in to se that country
used as it became the King's authority ; that in the mean time,
ue had dispatched a party of 24 hors and 30 Dragoons, to bring
in all the bordering heritors and suspect persons, and to disarme
the adjacent paroashes. His Grace's ansuer I hav sent inclosed.
I am hopefull ue shal get some accompt if any such thing has
bein. As for what is done hear, your lordship has too favorable
ane opinione of our cariage ; but I can say my Lord Justice
Gierke nor I could doe no mor, and I am sure had others bein as
zealous, things, as to the mony, uold hav gon better. But that I
am confident may aluays be helped ; for befor the expireing of
thes tuo years granted, they uill not scruple, if required, to
continou it as much longer as the Goverment shal require ; for
to hav bein free of other ingadgements, they uold most uillingly
sacriiise ther purses, but that uold not doe ther turn hear.
Besides Duke Hamilton uas sticking that any should be given,
and urged the Acts of Parliament so vehemently, that ue durst
neuer dounright propose Sess, but only lett them offer, and as
soon as ue got them the lenth of our instructions, having so
much, and so ticklish uork behind, it uas not in our opinione fitt