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

218
February : 1685.
270. The state of affairs looked most hopeful, "all mankind
aquiessing in the providence of God, and the Court crouded uith
adresses comeing from all parts to congratulate his Majesty upon
this occatione." Men's minds were changed by the declaration
his Majesty made in Council, which removed their fears. '*! am
confident a Parliament and you Com. uold doe much good."
The Officers were ordered down ; all except '* Airely " had
already taken leave of the King. The liveries for the
Guards, fine and ordinary cloaks, banners for trumpets, and
kettledrums, which Queensberry said before came to £900, would
''
now be about i;360. They most neids be layed up till ther be
mor occatione for the fyne ones then theas Whigs." He refers
to Earls Lauderdale and Aberdeen, and the sport they would
afford Queensberry ; to the Act of Indemnity ; and at considerable
length to Lady Obryan's affair. He mentions a letter from
the Lord x\dvocate to Sir Joseph Williamson, showing that now
was the time for him to get his feu duties sold, and for the
Duchess of Portsmouth to get money to buy them, '' seing ther
uer so many fynes now undisposed of ;
" that she should secure
some of those in a list he sent, and to shew the Duchess how
much he was concerned for her and her son, and asking Williamson
to say as much to the late King. "The fynes named in the list
uer Douchall, Poog [Pollok] , and the 2 Craigends- This I sheued
the Duke, for I had the letter a night ; and he and I concerted the
mater that I should endeavour (if the Duchess of Portsmouth
spock to me) to persuade the late King to try to haw it by lau.
If that could not be done, then to make the cheapest bargane ue
could. The Dutchess of Portsmouth did speak to me, and told
me the King had a peaper to giv me.
Some days afterwards the
King did giv me a Memorial to the effect of the Advocate's letter,
and I told him that the thing uas recoverable in lau ; but he
uold gratifie, as I understood. Lady Katherine Obryan, and so
the Duke ordered me to make the best bargan I could, and this
uas the Fryday befor the King's illness." He had never yet met
they had, he would have seen how much of the
Sir Joseph, but if
i^4,000 he would give down, and be free of all gratuities Asks
Queensberry to say nothing of it to the Advocate.
Lord Stair's letters to this place had no effect on anybody.
He had made no application to the King. Was sensible of
Queensberry 's kindness in the matter of Monkland, &c. "I see
in the Jurnalls of Councell a great mistake of one Anderson of
Douhill, that he has deponed negative upon the lybell; wheras
at Glasgow he confessed judicially converse seuerall times uith
Alexander Porterfeild, a declared traitor, as by our minutes uill
apear, and my Lord Justice Clerk most neids remember it. Ther
most neids be some cheat in the mater, and it ought to be inquired
particularly into."
Mourning was as deep as possible. All noblemen and
Councillors have their coaches and liveries in mourning, and all
other gentlemen their liveries. It was said the King was to be