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 LETTERS 
 
 FROM 
 
 ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 TO 
 
 JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 
 
 PRINTED AT EDINBURGH, 
 M.DCCC.XXIX. 
 

At a Meeting of the Committee of Management of the Banna- 
 TYNE Club, held at Edinburgh, 14th May, 1829, 
 
 Resolved, 
 That One Hundred Copies of a Volume of Letters from Archi- 
 bald Earl of Argyll to John Duke of Lauderdale, now in 
 the press, from Originals in the possession of George Sinclair, Esq. 
 be purchased for the use of the Club. 
 
 DAVID LAING, 
 
 Secretary. 
 
 728880 
 
TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, 
 
 OF 
 
 ABBOTSFOKD, BAKONET, 
 
 THE PATRON OF WHAT IS USEFUL, 
 
 AND THE MODEL OF WHAT IS EXCELLENT, 
 
 IN THE LITERATURE OF HIS COUNTRY, 
 
 THIS VOLUME, 
 
 IS 
 
 RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 
 
 BY 
 
 THE EDITOR. 
 
 EviNBURGH, August, 1R29. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 It is not proposed to prefix to these Letters any particulars, con- 
 nected with the conduct or character of a statesman, so well known 
 in the annals of his country, as Archibald, ninth Earl of Argyll. 
 The Editor is not possessed of any new or interesting information 
 on these subjects — a circumstance, which he is the less disposed to 
 regret, as a History of the Illustrious Family, to which the Earl 
 belonged, may be expected from the pen of a distinguished writer, 
 eminently qualified, as well by talents and acquirements, as by ac- 
 cess to the best sources of information, to supply the deficiency. 
 
 The orthographical errors cannot with truth be ascribed either 
 to the Editor, or to the printer ; but are found in the original let- 
 ters. 
 
FOE YOUR LO: '-if', V, !' 
 
 The letter to my Lord Bal- 
 lenden is not to be sent 
 but w* the papers. 
 My Lord, 
 I CAME heire yesterday afternoone, where I found my Lady^ in 
 good health, and longing much for your Lo: arrivall. My wiffe, 
 I thanke God, is better, and presents her service to you ; but at 
 night came Sir Robert Murray ^ out of London of purpose to find 
 me : he is the faithfullest and diligentest agent for his friend in the 
 world, he had quate Grassum Colledge, and all his greater imploy- 
 
 ' Anne, daughter of Alexander, Earl of Hume, Countess of Lauderdale. 
 
 * Mary, daughter of James, Earl of Moray, Countess of Argyll. 
 
 ^ First President of the Royal Society. See a very favourable character of him in 
 Burnet's History — of late times he has been much ridiculed for his account of the ge- 
 neration of solan geese, in which he asserts that he had himself seen the young birds 
 come out of their shells. He died 4th July, 1673. Life ofAshmole. 
 
 A 
 
2 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 ments, to follow out what was laid on him by Henry M'^Kies dis- 
 patch. I leave to himselfe to give your Lop. ane account what 
 lenth he hath brought it ; only I am fully satisfied with any alter- 
 ation his Ma hath been pleased to make, and with what is done, 
 and if there be any thing in it wherin his Ma*'* is not cleare, I am 
 allways willing to lay it at his Ma*'^ feete, when I am restored, as 
 well a? new : but it will be time enough to speake of these things 
 after your Lop. comes up. That which seems now the maine thing 
 to be done for me, is to endeavoure to have all past the sealles as 
 shoone as may be, and this I must leave to your Lo: care.^ George 
 Campbell is at Ed'^ and will goe about it as you command him, or 
 failling of him, Johne Campbell of Fordy, the Receauer ; and I am 
 still for passing the short signature first, if both cannot together ; 
 but if my Lord Ballenden'^ be come from Ed% I know not what 
 shall become of all. I can give no opinion, but leave it to your 
 Lo: what to doe with the papers in that case. I have written to my 
 Lord Tresurer,^ to thanke him for what he hath done for me, and 
 to desire his concurrence in the passing the Exchequer and Scales. 
 I was very glad to heare the account Sir Robert gives me of other 
 things. I am troubled to see such weather, when you intend a 
 journey, but I am hopfull it will blow out before you begine it ; 
 
 ^ He was restored to his grandfather's title of Earl of Argyll, by patent under the 
 great seal, 16th October, 1663, and the same day had a charter of the Earldom of 
 Argyll, &c. 
 
 ^ William, Lord Bellenden, Treasurer-Depute. 
 
 ' John, Earl, afterwards Duke of Rothes, High Treasurer of Scotland. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 3 
 
 and yet I long to see you heere. Your sone Johne^ is well, and 
 I am 
 
 Yours, as I am bound. 
 Higbgate, 
 October 16, 1663. 
 
 FOR THE Jl^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Canogate, June 25, 1664. 
 
 My Lord, 
 You have, inclosed, a draught of that commission, which is to 
 cleare all questions betwixt the creditors of our family and me. My 
 advocates advised me to have it passe the quarter seale only, as suf- 
 ficient, and lesse noise and shooner done ; but I apointed another 
 draught for the great seall, that your Lo: might choose, and they 
 have drawn it for that seall only. If ether of these please your 
 Lo: it is well ; if not, Johne Don can draw it over as you command 
 him. The persones, if his Ma"^ please, may be my Lord Treasurer, 
 the Earles of Twedale and Kincardine, my Lord Ballenden, the Pre- 
 sident of the Session, Register, and Justice Gierke, my Lord Staires, 
 and the Laird of Nethry,^ these nine, and any five of them a corum, 
 and the clerke, Mr Thomas Young. The first day of ther meeting 
 
 1 The Earl of Argyll's second son John, afterwards of Maraore, is here meant. 
 
 2 John, afterwards 1st Marquis of TweedaJe. Alexander, 2d Earl of Kincardine. 
 Sir John Gilmour of Craigmillar, President. Sir Archibald Primrose of Carrington 
 
4 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 to be before the 15. of No**' nixt, and the commission to continue 
 till the first of Aprill, sixty-six. The mater of it is verbatim out 
 of my signatures, and such as my greatest enemies can say nothing 
 against ; but when it apears the estate will not reach so farre as 
 they cry'd out in the beginning, then I know what I am to have 
 will be gruged : but I resolve to be very fare from streaching his 
 jyjg^ties grace to me beyond his purpose, for tho by my signatures I 
 could claime what I had, not as heire to my father, or grandfather, 
 and my fifteene thousand pound beside, I will only claime my 
 fifteene thousand pound for all ; and tho his Ma*** hath laid no 
 burthen on the moveables, I resolve to allow the creditors M"- 
 Laine,* and the Cap* of Clanronald's^ debts, which is all that is con- 
 siderable that is owing me, and which will amount to above ane 
 
 Register. Sir James Foulis of Collingtoun, Justice-Clerk. Sir James Dalrymple, 
 then a Lord of Session, afterwards 1st Viscount Stair. Sir John Wauchope of Niddry. 
 
 ^ Probably Hector Maclean of Torloisk. For various acts of Pai'liament, containing 
 minute particulars as to the Marquis of Argyll's debts, his feuds with his neighbours, 
 and the settlement of his son's affairs, vide Acta Parliamentorum Caroli II. vol. VII. 
 
 - John Macdonald of Clanronald. He is thus mentioned in a MS. translation of 
 the volume, termed the Red Book of Clanronald. — " Anno Domini, 1670. John 
 Muidartach died at Erisca in Uist, and was interred in Tom ore, leaving one son Do- 
 nald, and three daughters. Mor, (^■. e Sarah) Lady Coll, Catharine, Lady Bara, and 
 Ann, Lady Benmole. Donald, son of John Muidartach, lived sixteen years after his 
 father's death, and these he spent in peace, sometimes at court, much esteemed, and 
 sometimes at home. He died at Cannay in 1686, the same year that King Charles 
 the Second died, and his body was interred in Thomor, in the same gi*ave with his 
 father. He left two sons and three daughters. Allan, the Laird, and Ronald. Mor, 
 Janet, and Mary. Mor, daughter to John Macleod, being their mother, and Mor, 
 daughter to Rory Mor INIacleod, their grandmother by the father's side. Great was 
 the loss of the Hebrides (Insigall) by the death of this Donald, as every one alive 
 doth testify." 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 5 
 
 hundreth or sixscore thousand merks ; and whatever lands have 
 beene wrested from me this whill by decrets on non compearance, 
 I will recover them for the creditors, not by strong hand, nor by 
 decrets at hom, but before the ordinarie judge heere. And when 
 all this falls short to the satisfaction of the creditors, I hope it will 
 be thought just I stike by my fifteene thousand pound, for preser- 
 vation of my family. 
 
 I doubt not to carie what I have before the councell, concerning 
 the opression the castle of Dunbarten uses in the mater of our cows ; 
 the act of Councell made two yeares agoe,^ without citing or hear- 
 ing of parties, will be taken of, and then a legall way will be taken 
 for the rest, wherein most of the Highlands of Scotland will be con- 
 cerned : for I find they have not meddled with me only, as I supo- 
 sed, and they have commited insolencies I will not follow, encase it 
 come to a friendly agreement, as I have ground to believe it will. 
 This is long enough to need ane excuse, and yet I cute it short, to 
 be ready to goe presently w my Lord Duke^ and my Lord Craford* 
 to Hammiltoune. 
 
 Pray have all the care of my L. Lowdon* can be, his cause is 
 just ; he is a pretty man, and I dare say no phanatike, and may be 
 very serviceable to his Ma*** in that part of the country ; Sir Ro- 
 bert Murray can informe your Lo: about all concerns him. Adieu. 
 
 * See act in favours of the burgh of Dumbarton, Scotish Acts of Parliament, toL VL 
 p. 23, and a paper conceniing thivS afiair in the Appendix. 
 
 « William, 3d Duke of Hamilton. ^ joj^^, 15th Eari of Crawford. 
 
 * " James, Earl of Loudon, not concurring in the measures of government in the 
 reign of King Charles H., went abroad, and died at Leyden in 1684.":— Wood's 
 Peerage of Scotland. 
 
LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 INCLOSED IN THE PRECEDING LETTER. 
 
 His Ma*'** Letter to the Coramissioun wold here, that having re- 
 ceived ane address^ from my Lord Argyll, touching ane dowbt mo- 
 ved be the creditours, whither the superiorities of blench and ward 
 holdings should be conveyed be the Commissioners appoynted for 
 setling the estait of Argyll to the saids creditours. That therefoir 
 his Ma"* declairs, that it wes nevir his royall sens and meaning that 
 the said superiorities should be conveyed to the creditours, hot should 
 remayne as adjudged to the familie of Argyll, with the Erie and his 
 aires maill, according to the trew intent and meanyng of the said 
 commissioun ; and that therefore the Creditours had no interest be 
 vertew of the said Commission, to acclame the said superiorities, 
 which, as concernyng the honour and interest of the Erie his fami- 
 lie, according to the s*^ commissioun, and his Mat'^s royall declaratioun 
 y* anent, is to remayn inseparably with the said familie. 
 
 TO THE r'^ HON^^^ the EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Jully last. 
 
 My Lord, 
 The shooner that commission passe the better ; for if it could be 
 
 ^ Altered, in the Earl's hand, to " petition." 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 7 
 
 heere about the 1 2. or before the 15. of Agust, I would strive to 
 have it passe the seall, and have ane meeting before I went out of 
 toune, to sumraond all the creditours and we to the first of Novem- 
 ber ; and so ther would be so much time gained : for till Novem- 
 ber they cannot fall to the bussines, and ther must be time for the 
 summons. As to which of the two I would have passe his Ma**" 
 hand, it were not amisse that both did, for only one can be made 
 use of heere. Sir Johne Nisbite^ says ether is legall. He seemd first 
 to incline to the quarter seall, and afterwards to the greate seal], 
 so if only one can be signed, let it be the greate seall, but if it should 
 meete with any stope, because of the vacancie, I would be at a losse ; 
 yet the councell doth weekly give order to apend sealls, and I hope 
 to get the same measure, only it may be said, these past the Ex- 
 chequer, this did not ; yet it will but cost a word to my Lord Trea- 
 surer. This is but my owne objection, and if I mette with it, I would 
 make use of the other, if I had both signed, before I moved it in 
 publike : the duration is to Aprill 1666, the persons, Tres : Tres" 
 dep : E. Tweed : Kinc : P. Sess : J. Gierke, L. Register, Nethry, 
 Staires, or any 5 of them. Adieu. 
 
 I have sent your Lo^ a paire of Scots pistolls. 
 
 Endorsed by the Duke^ 
 " last of July 1664, E. of Argyll." 
 
 * Sii- John Nisbet of Dirleton, afterwards King's Advocate. 
 
9 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE 11^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF I.AUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Inveraray, Sept. 20. 64. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I shall have little to say from this till after the 11. of the nixt 
 month, which is the diet of the Justices of Peace. I find our ne- 
 bours keepe frequent meetings, and discourse much of stures they 
 expect, and doe buy store of gunes, swords, powder, and lead : I 
 desire to know how ther frequent meetings contrarie to law will be 
 lookt on, and how I shall carie to those refuse to come in to acept 
 to be Justices of Peace ; whether I may in publike aduise forbear- 
 ing of meetings, unlesse the occasion be knowen. I have hitherto 
 forborne all legall citations against any nighbours I have to doe with, 
 lest that might be any excuse for any untoward course they take. 
 I find ther is paines taken to spread reports as if I ether neglected, 
 or discountenanced his Ma"" service, but by gods grace the contrare 
 shall apeare. I will doe what I can, tho I get litle helpe, for I am 
 forced to write to the Archbishope of Glasgow,^ that ether the 
 Bishope or some from him come heere to look after his Ma*'^ con- 
 cernments in the church. If against the eleavnth of the nixt 
 month ther could be somwhat from his Ma*"^ to me, laying his com- 
 
 ^ Alexander Burnet. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 9 
 
 mands upon me in termes that I might communicate, with somwhat 
 requiring obedience to me, in his Ma**^* name, in such things as I 
 desire to be done, by command from him, inviting all to a hearty 
 concurrence in his service, and giving some certification against such 
 as I shall complane of, it may very much contribut to the advance- 
 ment of his Ma**** service, and make both friends and nighbours 
 stand the more in aw. I beg a returne of this. Adieu. 
 Remember the commission when you can. 
 
 TO THE R^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAIL, LORD 
 SECRETARY OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I receaued your Lop: yesternight about the Provest,^ and he is 
 perfectly satisfied with the returne I gave him. I saw the copie of 
 my L. M'Donald's last,^ and I am glad it apeares so cleirly, under 
 his owne hand, that I have given no body any ground of complaint 
 since I came to the country : but that it displeases some that I en- 
 deavoure to make the country peaceable. I wish my L. Com :^ light 
 
 ' Probably Sir Andrew Ramsay, provost of Edinburgh from the year 1662 to 1672, 
 and much favoured by the Duke of Lauderdale. 
 
 2 ^neas, Lord Macdonell, so created for his loyalty during the Commonwealth. 
 He left issue a daughter, married to James Montgomery of Coylsfield, son of Alex, 
 sixth Earl of Eglinton. His title, being limited to the heirs-male of his body, became 
 extinct at his death. 
 
 ' John Earl of Rothes, the King's High Commissioner. 
 
 B 
 
10 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 on such letters as come heere, as I doubt not he may ; ther will be 
 more stufFe in them. I have offered to him to snape M'Nachtan's 
 letters, after they passe this, but I have not yet order for it. My 
 L. Seaforth, Tarbet, and Cromarty* are come to toune about Bal- 
 lengouns^ bussines ; my Lord AthoU and Tillibairne^ about Weeme" 
 and the M*Gregors ; my Lord Murray and Duflfus,^ about M'Entosh 
 and Lochyall.*' Thus highland matters are to be much of my L. 
 Com. worke for a whill. I wish they had not come on so throng ; 
 but I hope all shall be well, and I shall still give your Lop. ane ac- 
 count once in two posts. This day the Councell proceeded against 
 the prentises engadged in the tumalt ;' one is banished the king- 
 
 * Kenneth, 3d Earl of Seafoith. Sir George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromarty. 
 Sir John Urquhart of Cromarty. g 
 
 ^ David Ross of Balnagoune. 
 
 ^ John, Earl, afterwai'ds Marquis of AthoU. John, Lord TuUibardin, his eldest son. 
 ■* Alexander Menzies of Weeme, afterwards created a Baronet. 
 
 5 Alex. 4jth Earl of Moray. Alex. Ist Lord Duffus. 
 
 6 See " Act and Decreet in favour of Lauchlan M'Intosh of Torcastle against Ewan 
 Cameron of Lochyeld," as explanatory of the feud in question. Acts of Par. vol. VII. 
 
 "^ '* About this period, a tumult of a very singtJar nature happened in Edinburgh. 
 We have not been able to discover the smallest vestige of its original cause ; its more 
 immediate one was somewhat extraordinary. A combination had been formed (from 
 what motive we know not) among the whole shopkeepers in Edinburgh to keep their 
 shops shut.* This resolution they persisted in for two successive days. The confusion 
 which, in a great city, behoved necessarily to flow from so whimsical and perverse a 
 combination, may be easily conceived. A tumult arose ; and it would seem that some 
 
 1 " But what brave spirit could be content to sit in his shop with a flapet of wood, and a blew aprone 
 before him, selling methridatum and dragon's water to visited houses, that might pursue feats of 
 armes ?"— Tfte Knight of the Burning Pestle, Act I. Scene 3. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 11 
 
 dome, one the toune, one or two put in some part on the Commis- 
 sioner, and the rest are to be on ther knees before the Councell. 
 The King's Advocate hath compeared for his Ma**^' interest in the 
 revaluation of Cowell, and that bussines is not like to be worth a 
 second jurney to my L. Montrose/ As shoone as ther is a close 
 your Lop: shall know it. Adieu. 
 
 Ed' Jan' 3L 
 65. 
 
 All I have procured of my L. Com: for the Earle of Loudoun is, 
 that he shall not be the first fallen upon ; pray let me, if his Ma**^ 
 will allow, to see a testificate of his innocencie, and if that will pro- 
 cure any delay. 
 
 of the rioters had proceeded to very unwan'antable measures. The privy council 
 assembled — they required the magistrates to command the citizens to open their shops 
 instantly, and, if they failed to comply, to break them open by force. In consequence 
 of this order, the tumult was appeased. Sundry rioters were committed to jail ; and 
 a report upon this affair was laid before his majesty, which, it is to be regretted, is 
 not inserted in the records of the privy council. The king, by a letter of his to the 
 privy council, appears to have been much displeased. He complains, that the ma- 
 gistrates, by keeping their own shops shut, provoked the people to uproar ; that after- 
 wards they were very remiss in appeasing the tumult ; that, however, he was willing 
 to consider this riot as the inconsiderate sally of insolent young men ; and therefore 
 his Majesty inclined, that the prisoners should not be put to death, hut he syhjected to 
 such arhUrary punishment as the Privy Council should think Jit. Several of the 
 rioters were accordingly banished for life." — Arnot's History of Edinburgh^ p. 142. 
 1 James, 2d Mai-quis of Montrose. He had a charter of the Lordship of Cowal, 
 forfeited by the Maiquis of Argyll, 21st August 1661. 
 
12 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE r'"' HON®^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 E* Feb 4—65. 
 
 My Lord, 
 You will perceave, by the inclosed copies, that ther hath endea- 
 vours beene used to bring my Lord Seaforth and me into termes of 
 friendshipe ; and endeed I did hearken to it, knowing the advan- 
 tage it might be to his Ma"^' service, and how farre it might con- 
 tribute to the peace of the country. But tho I be content to live 
 in gen" friendshipe with every body, yet I resolve not to enter into 
 any soleme tys of owning other mens quarles, nor yet their just in- 
 terests, wherein I am not concerned, without both his Ma"** leave, 
 and your Lo: advice ; farre lesse to renew any thing that talkes of 
 religion, for I resolue to subscribe no covenants. I say not this to 
 reflect on any have made ane offer of friendshipe to me ; for, if your 
 Lo: allow me, I resolue not only to enter into friendshipe with the 
 Earle of Seaforth, but to endeavoure the same betwixt the Earles 
 of Caithnesse^ and Murray, and him : and I leave it to the Earle of 
 AthoU to tell how farre I have beene ready to entertaine friend- 
 
 ^ George, 6th Earl of Caithness. His wife, Lady Mary Campbell, was sister to 
 Lord Argyll. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 13 
 
 shipe with him, on the other hand. And endeed, unlesse animosi- 
 ties be laid asid, his Ma"^ cannot be serued as he ought to be. / shall 
 wish your Lo} The Earle Seaforth, it seems, desires not to have 
 his willingnesse of friend shipe with me talked of, till some little par- 
 ticulars that are betwixt us be settled in a friendly way ; and, it may 
 be, till he be sure I be in friendshipe with him, and therefore I shall 
 desire to give him no occation to chang his mind, by any bodys know- 
 ing of this, save your Lo: only I will not faill to let my Lord Com- 
 missioner know how I proceed in the mater ; so your Lo: needs give 
 him no account of it. I had lettres yesternight from Argyllshire, 
 wher all is, I thanke god, very quiet ; and a letter from M'Leane, 
 shewing me he had taken a fellow had commited a pitifuU murther, 
 and I have sent to put him into Dunsteffenage, till I goe to the 
 country, for I resolve not to suffer any Deput to take any lives 
 in my absence, that I may the better know what is done. We have 
 a greate storme heere, but in Argyllshire ther is only blake frost, 
 and in some places plowing and delving. 
 
 Pray have a care to procure Robine Andrew his remission in 
 time, lesst by claiming bake his mony, he losse his necke ; and it 
 [is] as just he ow himselfe to his Ma*"^ grace as Sir George his ava- 
 rice ; your Lo: knows how I come to be concerned. Adieu. 
 
 ^ Through the words in Italics a line is drawn. 
 
14 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE r"^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 
 secretary of scotland. 
 My Lord, 
 I have seene these letters of my Lord McDonalds, which are so 
 good commentaries upon themselves, that I need say no thing ; only 
 it is cleare what paines some take to misconstrue every thing I doe ; 
 but if his Ma"^ could see all his subjects hearts as well as these let- 
 ters, I assure your Lop: he should find all my actions tend to his 
 service, as fare as I have ether skill or power. It hath of late beene 
 told me by some, betwixt jest and earnest, that in endeavouring 
 the peace of the Highlands, I secure my owne interest ; and treuly 
 I thinke in the obedience of his Ma"^' laws, the security of every 
 man's property is bound up, and so fare my concernment is neces- 
 sarily included : but whill his Ma"^ is pleased to accept of my ser- 
 vice, I valow not mens discourses to my prejudice ; for if I endea- 
 voured to set men by the eares, they might justly say worse of me. 
 I thinke it were not amisse to try of my L. M*Donald, from his 
 Ma"% what his opinion is, how to setle the highlands, and in parti- 
 culare M'Entosh and Lochyall ; it may be he would yet shew more 
 disingenuity, if it be possible. 
 
 Since my last the processe betwixt the E^ Seaforth and Ballen- 
 goune hath been before the councell, and my L. Seaforth assoillied, 
 and Ballingoune put into the castle ; but is let out this day. My 
 L. Seaforth and I have mette, and since, my L. Murray with us. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 15 
 
 and we have all promised to lay aside former animosities, and to 
 live in friendshipe, and not to obstruct his Ma*'^^ service in the hands 
 of one another. Lochyall is come to toune, and hath beene with 
 my L. Com'". When any thing is done your Lop: shall know. My 
 L. D. Hamiltoune presses hard for mony, bvit I have not power till 
 these signatures passe. 
 
 I thinke to goe from this to Ai'gyll within a fortnight, and to be 
 bake about the first of May ; but I will not goe till my L. Com' 
 allow me : but I believe all our highland treists will be over be- 
 fore then. Adieu. 
 
 Ed' Feb'' U. 
 65. 
 
 If my L. M 'Donald come heere he will obstruct all agreement, 
 what he can, but a faire word from his Ma"® will keepe him as long 
 as you please, and I am quite with him. 
 
 FOR THE b!^ H0N°^'^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 The delay of the passing of these signaturs is like to breed some 
 mistake about the payment of that mony for Arkinlas forfeiture,^ 
 
 2 James Campbell of Ardkinglass, was an active instrument under the Marquis of 
 Argyll, in promoting the success of the Covenant, and the measures of his own clan. 
 
16 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 for I neither promised, nor can I pay the mony, till young Arkinlas 
 be reabilitate, and my Lord Duke aprehends I delay all of purpose 
 to disapoint his payment, which I am very farre from. Wherfore 
 I entreate your Lo: to move the mater to his Ma"^ as shoone as your 
 Lo: can doe it conveniently ; for I assure your Lop: young Arkin- 
 las is a person his Ma" may trust, and was never in any publike 
 business, being yet not past one and twenty yeares of age, or ther- 
 about : and I see not, seeing ray Lord Duke Hamiltoune is to be 
 satisfied by his reabilitation, what prejudice ther can be in it. Up- 
 on the contrare, it will be a meanes of peace and friendshipe amongst 
 a greate many concerned. I intend, God willing, to goe homwards 
 to morrow ; but before I goe, I shall trouble your Lop: with one 
 line more. Adieu. 
 
 Ed' March 8. 
 65. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Your Lo* of the 9 instant overtooke me heere yesternight, and I 
 returne you many hearty thanks for those papers of Arkinlas. I 
 shall now satisfie my L. Duke Hamiltoune ; and realy his Ma"*' 
 grace in this will very much satisfie the country heere, and, I dare 
 answer, all that family will be very thankfull and usfuU in what- 
 
 See the Marquis's trial for many atrocious murders, and other crimes, laid to his charge, 
 in the year 1661. The Duke of Hamilton procured '* an act and decreet" against him 
 and others, for ravages committed in the Isle of An'an. Acta Par. Car. II. vol. VII. 
 p. 248. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 17 
 
 ever services his Ma*^^ can find them capable of ; for I must say it, 
 I find none in the country more willing to obey all his Ma"" com- 
 mands ; tho' I hope all will, and must doe duty. And if now his 
 Ma"^ were graciously pleased to pardone the old man, he is very 
 sencible of his faults, and we should then in this shire have nothing 
 but his Ma*^^ grace to remember us of the late rebellion. If your 
 LoP think it fitte to move it, I shall send your Lo a remission to 
 be signed. I hope his Ma*'^ will look on it but as a part of that 
 grace he hath intended, in that he hath alreadie done. 
 
 As I tooke my leave of my Lord Commissioner, he shew me a 
 letter he had from your Lo: to which I could give no other answer 
 but that he was sure of my concurrence in whatever was his Ma*'" 
 service ; the oficers of state had scene it, and when his Grace and 
 they had resolued, he knew what would be my opinion. He pro- 
 pounded my stay ; but I was necessarily engadged to come this 
 lenth, and so he gave me leave. I thinke to be at Ed'^ before the 
 end of the nixt month, and then your Lo: shall heare from me. 
 Whatever your Lo: writes to that persone you name, will serue 
 me, and when I return I will call for it. 
 
 The Archbishope of Glasgow spoke to me of some debts dew by 
 my father to the Toune and Hospitall of Glasgow ; I told him a 
 commission appointed by his Ma"^ was to site shortly, and would 
 pay as farre as the estate would goe, and I doubted not would have 
 speciall consideration of such creditors as he would recommend. 
 Notwithstanding whereof, I heare some addresse to his Ma"^ is in- 
 tended ; but I hope his Ma"* will leave all equally to the commis- 
 
18 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 sion till he heare from them, otherways he will be troubled with 
 addresses from all the creditors. 
 
 I gave your Lo: ane account all ready of the bussines betwixt 
 M'Entosh and Lochyall ; and tho' it be not ended yet, I am not 
 desperate it will ende shortly. I forgote to tell your Lo: that Tar- 
 bet had renounced to me a service and decreete of improbation, 
 whereby he intended to defraud rae of what M^Leane was resting 
 me, so that I thinke M'^Leane and I shall setle without going to 
 law. My wifTe presents her humble service to your Lo. Your 
 sone Johne, if any aske him if he be ane English man, he puts his 
 hand to his bakeside, and says, ther. Adieu. 
 
 Inveraray, 
 March 20, 
 65. 
 
 FOB, THE r"^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 
 secretarie of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I had a letter two days agoe from the Archbishope of St An- 
 drews,^ wherein he desirs my opinion about a bishope for Argyll ; 
 but I am to be so shortly at Ed^ that what I have written to the 
 Archbishope of Glasgow will serue till I be ther. I find in Arkin- 
 las bussines we are better then we thought, and I am confident he 
 
 * Archbishop James Sharp. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 19 
 
 shall deserue it. The Bishope of the Illes^ pretends a right of pro- 
 perty to the lUe of Canna, and did endeavour to put himselfe in 
 possession two yeares agoe. I did not at first understand the bussi- 
 nes, and I was so tender in it, that first I cald my advocates, and 
 made them debate it with him before me. After that, I undertooke 
 the bishope before my Lord Staires, as a friend to both ; he would 
 give no opinion, because he was to judge in it ; but I was glad he 
 should heare us, for the bishope complaines a litle severely, and 
 threatens to enforme his Ma*'^ that he is oppressed, because I al- 
 leadge I pcssesse. The case is, I have a few charture from the 
 then bishope, without diminution of the rentall, with consent of 
 deane and chapter, and a seasine, and a confirmatione from his 
 Ma**% with forty two yeares unenterupted possession, and the few 
 dutys discharged by two or three bishops. I ended with this, that 
 it was to be none of my ISOOO^'', but I was countable not to imbes- 
 sell the estate to the prejudice of the creditors ; but what the Ses- 
 sion, or the commission, or the creditors, would allow me, I should 
 doe ; and so we parted. If any complaint be made, there is no 
 more ground for it but what I tell your Lo. I have had a letter 
 from the E. T.,^ and I am much for the old way of taxation, beyond 
 any other way ; and whatever is necessarie to lay on for his Ma*^^ 
 service, your Lo: may be sure I will be for it very heartily. Adieu. 
 
 Inveraray, 
 Aprill 7, 
 65. 
 
 Robert Wallace. ^ Piobably the Earl of Tweeddale, 
 
20 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 The way of taxation will fall haviest on the westerne shires, but, 
 gen"^, it is the best way. 
 
 FOR THE R^ HON°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Ed: June 1,65. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I have delayed to trouble your Lo: all this last weeke, till I 
 gote the inclosed petition framed, for a rise to the letter I need from 
 his Ma"*, whereof I have sent a rude draught ; likways I have to 
 get ended with my brother ;^ but I hope the Earle of Tweedale and 
 my Lord Staires, who is now in towne, will get it done ; if not, I 
 hope to stike at nothing shall be thought unreasonable ; and it is 
 no small satisfaction to me that your Lo; hath not found me to 
 blame in what is past. The bussines of our bishope and commis- 
 sare sleepes till the archbishopes come to towne. My wiffe and I 
 intend to morrow to sie Brunstone ; and if Highgate were within 
 ane hundreth miles, we should not sleep one night where we were 
 another, till we saw it. Adieu. 
 
 ^ Lord Niel Campbell of Armaddie. It is surprising enough, considering the prin- 
 ciples of his family, both religious and political, that his second son, D'' Archibald 
 Campbell, was consecrated a bishop of the episcopal church of Scotland, at Dundee, 
 25th August, 17 IL 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 21 
 
 for the r*^ hon°^^ the earle of lauderdaill, lord 
 secretary of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 If it be possible, pray helpe me to that I desire in the inclosed, 
 for we are much put to it this yeare for want of market for our 
 cows. Just now I heare all our neighbouring braes are full of 
 fiery crosses, as the aray is in case of allarme,^ upon M'Entosh 
 march towards Lochaber. I wish it had beene prevented, for it 
 will very much unsetle the Highlands ; but I doe not expect many 
 stroakes betwixt the partys. Adieu. 
 Inveraray, August 23, 65. 
 
 * " This mode, by which the Highland chieftains convoked their clan to arms, is, 
 I apprehend, of greater antiquity than their conversion to Christianity ; with this dif- 
 ference only, of a change of symbol. Anciently, when the chief desired to assemble 
 his clan, he killed a goat with his own sword, and dipped a half-burned stick in the 
 blood. This he gave to one of his vassals, who bore it with all dispatch to the next 
 villj^e, where the first person he met was obliged, by the feudal customs, to relieve 
 him, and carry forward this summons to arms ; and thus it was carried from villsige to 
 village through the chieftain's domains. Upon their conversion to Christianity, the 
 priests would no doubt discover, in the killing of a goat, a species of heathen sacrifice. 
 It was proper that a symbol should be adopted more analogous to their new religion ; 
 and what so suitable as the Cross, which, under the splendid name of the Labarum, 
 blazed in the heavens, conducting the Christian emperor to victory and glory ? A 
 slight pole, with a bit of stick infixed in the figure of a cross, burnt at the ends, was 
 substituted in the place of that dipped in goat's blood ; and this ceremony was per- 
 formed even in the late rebellion. There were two sorts of coronoch : that properly 
 so called was the dirge which accompanied the deceased to their grave ; the other was 
 a sort of war-song, or dismal howl, which the women set up on seeing the fiery cross, 
 
22 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE R^ HON^^^ THE EARL OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I doute not but you have heard of M'Entoch going to Lochaber, 
 to possesse hiniselfe of that lands of Glenluy and Locharchaig, which 
 Lochyall keeps from him by strong hand. The Earle of Murray 
 endeavoured to agree them, but could not, and returned home not 
 pleased ; yet M'Entoch having granted Lochyall a cessation, the 
 Earle of Murray write to me, and offered to meete me at the place of 
 treaty in Lochaber, to see if we could agree, but have no command 
 frome my L. Com. I would not medle, so nether did my L. Mur- 
 ray. / confessed M'^Entoch had no assistance but his owne friends 
 and tenants, and some few of my L. Huntleys,^ so that when Loch- 
 yall and he mett, they were very neare a like number. They have 
 treated long, and have had many renewed cessationes, and at last 
 are towards a setlement, for young Glenurchy,^ who is a tryster, and 
 
 from the anxiety they entertained about the safety of their husbands and friends in 
 the approaching hour of battle." — A knot's Criminal Trials, p. 87. 
 
 ' Blotted out. 
 
 ^ George, fourth Marquis of Huntly, afterwards created Duke of Gordon. 
 
 ^ Sir John Campbell of Glenoi'chy, afterwai'ds created Earl of Breadalbane. — 
 In the MS. Memoirs of Sir Ewan Cameron, many curious details as to this feud 
 are recorded. Macintosh had a body of 1600 men ; Lochiel had 900 men armed 
 with guns, broadswords, and targets, " and 300 men, who had bows in place of guns ; 
 and it is remarkable that these were the last considerable company of bowmen that ap- 
 peared in the Highlands. In the meantime, the Earl of Breadalbane, who was cousin 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 23 
 
 upon the place with 200 men, writes to me that on Sunday last 
 they were within two thousand five hundreth marks of the prisse, 
 and were nixt to treate of the termes of payment and security ; so 
 
 german to the chief, and a person of extensive genius and vast capacity, having resolved 
 to interpose in the quarrel, marched into Lochaber, at the head of 300 men, and of- 
 fered himself as a mediator. He was well acquainted with the tempers, capacities, 
 interests, and views of the parties, and knew how to make the proper use of it ; but 
 whether he applied first to Lochiel or Macintosh, is what I am not infonned of ; but 
 certain it is, that Lochiel, in consequence of his former resolution, detached Allan 
 Cameron of Essacht with a strong body of choice men, to surprise and attack the 
 enemy on the very night that Breadalbane arrived." It appears from this account, 
 that the mediator threatened to join the party most inclined to peace, not only with 
 his own forces, " but also would bring all the power that Argyle was master of, with 
 his own, into the quarrel : and he thereupon showed a commission he had from the 
 Earl of Argyle to that purpose." The agreement was concluded on the 20th of 
 September, 1665, about 360 years after the commencement of the quarrel. The MS. 
 above quoted contains a most minute detail of the conflict of Achdalew, which is in- 
 teresting even in the abridgement of Pennant. Sir Ewan's extraordinaiy adventure 
 with a stout Englishman is thus related : — " It was his chance to follow a few that fled 
 into the wood, where he killed two or three with his own hand : the officer who com- 
 manded the party had likewise fled thither, but concealing himself in a bush, Lochiel 
 had not noticed him. This gentleman, observing he was alone, started suddenly out 
 of his lurking place, and attacked him in his return, threatening, as he rushed furious- 
 ly upon him, to revenge the slaughter of his countrymen, by his death. Lochiel, who 
 had also his sword in his hand, received him with equal resolution. The combat was 
 long and doubtful ; both fought for their lives ; and as they were both animated by the 
 same fury and courage, so they seemed to manage their swords with the same dex- 
 terity. The Englishman had by far the advantage in strength and size, but Lochiel 
 exceeding him in nimbleness and agility, in the end tript the sword out of his hand ; 
 but he was not allowed to make use of this advantage, for his antagonist, flying upon 
 him with incredible quickness, they enclosed, and wrestled till both fell to the ground 
 in each other's arms. In this posture, they struggled and tumbled up and down, till 
 they fixed in the channel of a brook, betwixt two narrow banks, which then chanced 
 
24 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, DUKE OF ARGYLL, 
 
 that is like all will end peaceably. M'Coull hath sent to desire to 
 speake with me, and I have yeilded to it. These agreements, I hope, 
 will breake all the broken men. My wife mends slowly, yet I hope, 
 God willing, is in the way of recovery. Adieu. 
 
 Inveraray, Sept. 21, 65. 
 
 Begin heerr. 
 I receaved this morning two from you that came to Ed" with 
 H. Mackie ; if I get not a warrand about selling cows, I will have 
 ill paid rents this yeare. Melgum ^ will give you his owne returne : 
 
 to be dry. Now Lochiel was in a most dismal and desperate situation, for being im- 
 dermost, he was not only crushed imder the weight of his antagonist, (who was an ex- 
 ceeding big man,) but likewise sore hurt and bruised by many sharp stones that were 
 below him. Their strength was so much exhausted, that neither of them could stir 
 a limb ; but the Englishman, by the advantage of being uppermost, at last recovered 
 the use of his right hand ; with it he seized a dagger that hung at his belt, and made 
 several attempts to stab his adversary, who all the while held him fast ; but the nar- 
 rowness of the place where they were confined, and the position they were in, ren- 
 dered the execution very difficult, and almost impracticable. While he was so strictly 
 embraced, he made a most violent effort to disengage himself; and in that action 
 raising his head, and stretching his neck, Lochiel, who by this had his hands at liberty, 
 with his left suddenly seized him by the right, and with the other by the collar, 
 and jumping at his extended throat, which he used to say God put in his mouth, he 
 bit it quite through ; and kept such hold of his gripe, that he brought away his mouth- 
 ful. This, he said, was the sweetest bit he ever had in his lifetime." It appears 
 from the MS. that the Duke of Lauderdale was ever an enemy to Lochiel. This 
 brave and worthy knight died of a high fever, at the age of eighty-nine. His por- 
 trait, very dark-complexioned and handsome, is in the possession of Mr Cameron of 
 Lochiel. 
 ^ Alexander Murray of Melgum. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LA.UDERDALE. 25 
 
 he is gone from this. All my part of these canone shall be his Ma^**, 
 at any rate his Ma"^ pleases, and Melgura, I hope, will doe the 
 same ; but he alleadges he hath fourteen pence offered, and expects 
 more. I have sent you copies of my rights to what I can receave 
 of this vessell, &c. &c. 
 
 The Archbishope of Glasgow did speake to me about that debt of 
 my fathers, and my answer was that which I gave to most in that 
 case ; that if he could persuade the commission to prefer him to all 
 or any parte of the soume, by allotting him land, I was content to 
 take the land, and become his debitoure, but my 15000 lb. and re- 
 liesse of that I am already bound in, I cannot passe from, otherways 
 I would but breake myselfe, and deceave those I promised to pay, if 
 i had it not ; and this is endeed all I can doe, and on this occation I 
 shall tell you what is to worke on, encase I told it not before. The 
 whoU debt, principall and anuell, is about 1000000 mks, wherof 
 I am bound in some more then 300000 mks. Ther is estate to pay 
 me my 15000 lb. and releive me of all my engadgments, except 
 about 20000 lb. which must burthen the reversion of my mother's 
 jointur.* Soe ther goes to the payment of the creditors I am not 
 bound to, the reversion of my mothers jonter of 10300 mks, and 
 the debt owing by M'^ Laine and Cap* Clanronall, for which, if 
 
 ^ Lady Margaret Douglas, daughter of William Earl of Morton. This Marchioness 
 died in March 1678, as we learn from a mutilated account of her among the Wodrow 
 MSS. ; she is there stated to have been exceedingly charitable to the poor. She be- 
 lieved " if she gave with a single eye, she would be accepted, q* ever they wer ; yet 
 did she little regard profane I'andy beggars, yet even these still gott something by her 
 order." The Lord's way with Lady M(archioness) A(rgyll). 
 
 D 
 
26 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 they will agree among themselves, I offer to them the halfe of all 
 principalis ; if not, when the commission declares who are to be 
 prefered, or what share every one is to have, I will deall with every 
 one severally, which will be more worke both to them and me. In 
 a word, I will strive to pay as much of my father's debt as necessity 
 will suffer me. My brother and I am fully setled, but he inclines 
 not so niuch to be a Highland man as I could wish. I have taken 
 my venture of his right ; and instead of it, I give him the land in 
 Lome he had right to, and I bind my selfe to releive 32000 mks of 
 wedset is on it ; so that he hath 5300 mks of rent lying together, 
 and I give him warrandice out of the lands he hath resigned in, &c. 
 intire, as farre as they will goe : but my mother will never thinke 
 he hath enough. 
 
 I have sent Duncan Campbell this expedition to Kintire, because 
 my Bailly is sike. I am farre from foregeting his Ma**** comands, 
 and not very ready to question expense ; but till it be a fitte time to 
 speake of that, I wish my Lord Com. had order to provead me 
 with armes and amunitioun for his Ma*'" own service : I will find 
 men and meall, for all is yet laid on me. 
 
 If you darre promise, it will not be ill taken. I can possibly find 
 some use for R. A. ; but unlesse I were by you, I cannot all ways an- 
 swer all questions. 
 
 Pray let me have a receate of making small shote. Prince Ru- 
 pert's way ;^ I folded my paper wrong, will make you glake. Adieu. 
 
 ^ Prince Rupert gave himself so much to study and scientific experiments, that he 
 was looked upon by the vulgar as a magician ; a notion encreased by bis austere man- 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDELIDALE. 21 
 
 My service to Will. Erskine. 
 
 Inveraray, Sept. 22, 63. 
 
 Your garlantine presents her service to you. 
 
 I would not have you shew the copies inclosed, save to E. L. or 
 
 his Ma*•^ 
 
 FOR THE r"^ H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUD Ell DAT 1-L, LORD 
 
 secretary of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I receaved this morning your Lo: sent me by H. M'=Kie, with the 
 order it mentions, and did immediatlie dispatch every thing in order 
 to that business ; and have sent my yacht doune the coast, encase 
 they should offer to slipe away. Sir Robert Murray knows the 
 bounds ; I must againe upon this occasion remember your Lo: to 
 
 ner, sallow complexion, and a large favourite dog, alias familiar, his constant com- 
 panion. The Duchess of Orleans remarks in her letters, " J'ai entendu raconter 
 qu'en Angleterre on a pris feu mon oncle Rupert pour un sorcier, et son gros chien 
 noir pour le diable. Aussi, quand il vint a I'armee, et marcha contre I'ennemi, des 
 regimens entiers foirent devant lui," Medicine was one of his pursuits. In a jour- 
 nal of the year 1553, after mention of black Prince Rupert having been saved from 
 drowning by his blackamores, is this passage, " His highness, it seems, has learnt some 
 magic amongst the remote islands ; since his coming hither, he hath cured the Lord 
 Jermin of a feaverr, with a charme ; but I am confident England is without the juris- 
 diction of his conjuring faculty." In a MS. vol. of receipts which belonged to a lady 
 of the Falkland family, is the Prince's cure for gravel — " old oil of turpentine, four 
 or five drops in any drink." 
 For various proofs of his supernatural powers, see Law's Memorials, p. 237, JVote. 
 
28 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 get me a warrand for the armes and powder, etc. are at Glasgow, 
 which were taken from my father, for I want, and I cannot now 
 get to buy. I spoke to my Lo: Com: and he said he could not doe 
 it without ane order ; and if at any other time orders of the like na- 
 ture come, it is necessare to be provided of such things as I cannot 
 get for mony, during the war and sicknesse. The two brasse gunnes 
 are at DounstifFnage, and what ever more we get shall be at his 
 Ma"^ service, only I have sent S(ir) R(obert) M(urray) copies of my 
 rights, encase they be questioned ; but it will be next sumer before 
 we get what is worth his Ma**^* sending for. I thanke God to heare 
 his Ma*'* is well againe. Adieu. 
 Inveraray, Sept. 22, 
 65. 
 
 Inveraray, Oct. 12, 65. 
 
 My Loud, 
 Since my last I have beane busie taking prisoners in all quar- 
 ters.' Ralston and Coll: Racket are secured. L' Co" Wallace slipt 
 
 ^ " Towards the beginning of September, an order comes down to the commissioner 
 to seize, imprison, and confine several of the most considerable and best gentlemen of 
 the kingdom. Such were pitched upon who were suspected to have greatest aversion 
 to the prelatic way, and indeed no other thing could they be charged with, and were 
 as peaceable and loyal subjects as the king had — they were, without the least pre- 
 vious notice, seized by a written order from the commissioner, and had not the least 
 reason given them. Their names, as far as I can now recover them, were Major-ge- 
 neral Robert Montgomery, brother to the Earl of Eglinton, Sir William Cunningham 
 of Cunninghamehead, Sir George Maxwell of Nether. Pollock, Sir Hugh Campbell of 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 29 
 
 out of the way upon the taking Gen" Major Montgumery, six or 
 eight weekes before my order. We have no Major Moor in Kin- 
 tire, but two Moores we have, whom I have put under baill, and 
 my L: Com' shall choose. M'Coull finding me resolute to repos- 
 sesse myself, according to my decret, resolved to draw to a head, 
 and play Lochyall with me ; but before he could effectuate it, I tooke 
 a wing of his armie with caption, and am now in poss(ess)ion of the 
 debeatable lands, according to my decreate : for the tenants have re- 
 nounced, and are gone home in peace. Yet our business is not 
 over, for M'Coull hath left his house, with his uncle, and 12 men 
 to keepe it, and is himselfe gone to sea with a berline and ano- 
 ther boat, and 46 men, and brags greate maters ; but if he let me 
 allone, he shall be no more troubled by me. Ther is one of the 
 fined persons whom I could not catch, who hath committed a vile 
 rapt upon Ednamples^ sister, a widow, by carrying her away over 
 seas, and to illes, above 5 weeks, forcing her at last, to save her 
 life, to marie the partie, and to sigue several papers, all which, at 
 her returne, she declares was extorted from her. I have sent to ad- 
 vise his Ma**** advocate befor I proceed in the processe, and it is like 
 I will doe no more but sumond all partys to find caution till I be 
 
 Cesnock, Sir William Muir of Rowallan, Major-General Holburn of Menstrie, Sir 
 George Monro, Colonel Robert Halket^ brother to Sir James Halket of Pitferran, Sir 
 James Stewart, late provost of Edinburgh, Sir John Chiesly of Carswell, James Dun- 
 lop of that Ilk, William Ralston of that Ilk." — ^Wodrow's Hist. B. I. chap. vi. 
 
 Colonel Wallace, mentioned in the letter above, made afterwards a very conspicu- 
 ous figure in the insuirection terminated at Pentland. 
 
 ' John Campbell of Edinample. 
 
30 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 at Edin% which I intend, God willing, the first weeke of the next 
 month. M^Entosh and Lochyall are now fully ended, save the se- 
 curity, wherein I will not willingly let Lochyall faill, though I know 
 some will be ill pleased any nighbour would be my friend ; yet it 
 is good for his Ma"" service, and I deny not it is my good that the 
 Highlands be peaceable, and the law current, which that differ will 
 be a greate let to, for it is ill favoured to heare in too publick meet- 
 ings, upon occasion of citing of persons, that there is not tutus acces- 
 sus. I confesse it is much harder catching men in the Highlands, 
 but pains might make his Ma^'" bage goe throw them with as much 
 authority as throw any other shires in Scotland. Adieu. 
 
 FOR THE n^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Upon my returne to the inclosed depends my dispatch from this 
 (which concerns me much to hasten) and indeed the close of all my 
 rights ; for till this commission end, and I resigne, and be throw 
 the sealles again, I am not as I would be. The inclosed notte is 
 Sir George Lockharts^ draught, who is my greate tutor : if it were 
 
 ^ Sir George Lockhart, knight, afterwards president of the Court of Session — his 
 murder, by Chiesly was supposed to be agreeable to the Jacobites ; yet the Lord 
 Chancellor Perth, in an unpublished letter to King James, dated 29 Dec. 85, assures 
 him that Sir George " will do his best to secure those who (by yom' special order) 
 serve you here, and are not qualified by the late acts of Parliament to serve in any 
 publique station." 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 31 
 
 not delay, I would never stand to take these superiorities at all 
 they can be valued at, but it would take more time to value them 
 than all the rest of that estate, and if once it were set afoute, all 
 must stand till that be done. Your Lo: knows who I have most 
 work to guid in that commission ; he is for the creditors beyond 
 ane advocate or a creditor ; yet in my L. St. ansures, as cleare as 
 may be, I find my L. M'^Donald hath a signature for the few dutys 
 of Illanster. My L. D. Lennox^ gift runs out. It was well done 
 to rid his Ma"^ of his trouble, but his desire is most unreasonable ; 
 for besids the Exchequers interest, it is hard to turn over the laird 
 of Calder, who is heritor, to be upon the mater McDonald vassall 
 instead of his Ma"% which is done by giving him an heritable right 
 to the few duty. I know my Lord M'^Donald values hiraselfe as 
 chiefe, and a greate man, but the Cap* of Clanronald, and Sir James,* 
 and several of the name, are greater than he : and Lochyall com- 
 mand is double his. I wish no letters may come from his Ma*** to 
 second the gift, and I believe it shall not passe for a whill. I will 
 long sorely for ane answer to my petition, and till it come, and a 
 fortnight after, I am fixt. I have written all clash to S(ir) R(obert) 
 M(urray). Adieu. 
 
 Ed' No»^'. 18, 65. 
 
 ' Charles, Duke of Lennox and Kichmond, the last of his illustrious family. He 
 died at Elsineur, December 1672, without issue. 
 * Sir James Macdonald of Slate, Bart, ancestor of the Lords Macdonald of Slate. 
 
32 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE r'^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 My Lord Commissioner having spoken to me of the Erie of Low- 
 downs signing the declaration, I told him he was willing ; but in 
 regard he was conscious of no guilt he was fined for, and that it 
 was out of duty and obedience to his Ma'*^ he did it, and not to save 
 mony, and hoping his grace would looke on him as a persone able 
 and willing to serve his Ma''% I beged ther might some other rise 
 be taken fof his signing than the fine, were it but to make him a 
 justice of peace ; I would not move any greater trust lest it might 
 be thought he would not doe it without that, yet realy, were he a 
 counceller, it might very much advance his Ma*'^* service in the west. 
 My Lord Commissioner promised to write to your Lo: about the 
 first ; the second I did not then propound, but I meane to doe it 
 by the time this can come to your hands. The E. of Lowdons 
 match w' E. Eglintons^ daughter stands only at the jointer, which 
 
 ^ Hugh, seventh Earl of Eglintoune ; his daughter, Lady Margaret (l>y Lady Mary 
 Lesley, sister of the Duke of Rothes) finally became the wife of Lord Loudon. The 
 following letters, of which the originals were in the possession of Lady Douglas of 
 Bothwell, were written during the courtship. The lady's is a model, which, it is but 
 too much to be feared, very few in her situation will imitate. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 33 
 
 cannot be received without prejudice to him, till the mater of the 
 
 anuities be at some period ; yet I am striving to find overtours for 
 
 it. Within a fortnight after I receave your Lo: answer to my last, 
 
 I thinke to be makeing west. This evening the councell have 
 
 apointed Jo. M'^Nachtane to reenter prisoner in the tolbooth of In- 
 
 verary, from whence he escaped. I write a long story of it to S. 
 
 R(obert) M(urray.) My wiffe presents her service to you and to 
 
 my lady, and so doe I. Adieu. 
 
 Ed' De'^' 7, 63. 
 
 Lowdon, Sept. 5, 1666. 
 Madam, 
 The continuance of my misfortune in not being yett in a conditione to wait upon 
 your Lap is beyond expression vexing ; and the more I ponder my unspeakable loss, my 
 anxiettie is the greater, and cannot but continow so till this sadde and dark cloud be 
 over ; and then the beames of your presence and favour will elevat the now perplexed 
 heart of, 
 
 Madam 
 
 Your La: most affectionate, 
 
 And most humble servant, 
 For my Lady Margaret Montgomerie. Loudon. 
 
 Caniget, Nov. 25, 1666. 
 My Lord, 
 To give a return suitabell to anie of yours, is above what I am capabell of, they so 
 far excied both the capacity and desert of, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Your Lo: humble servant, 
 For the Earl of Loudon. Margaret Montgomerie. 
 
34 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE r"^ H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Ed'' Jan» 20, 66. 
 
 My Lord, 
 It were too long a theme to say all is necessarie about stoping of 
 theft in this country, yet if it were seriously gone about, few needed 
 be hanged, though some must ;^ but seeing every judge conderas, 
 and only his Ma*'^ can pardone, I thinke this case of Lachlane M'^In- 
 tosh is as much ane occation of pity as most : and if he pardoned, 
 I am confident it will doe no hurt to the country, for I believe he 
 
 * Lord Hailes, in his Catalogue of the Lords of Session, has printed part of a letter 
 from Lord Argyll, to Sir Archibald Primose, Clerk Register, on a similar subject — 
 the whole, saving a few words, is subjoined from the copy in the Advocates' Library. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 You have now in your hands ; not for sculdudry, the old fault of the house, 
 
 else I should not interpose, he would make a shift for friends ; but for a less gentle- 
 manny crime, theft ; which, if he were guilty of it, needed not have come this lenth. 
 Pray, play him fair play, and make not him the only example of suffering thieves to 
 live near him. It is his Maj' authority only to fall on outlaws. is gone. Weem 
 
 is and no wise man will medle without backing. If he get that, and he not 
 
 ready to serve his Majesty, let him suffer. Let me have a line from you after the 
 council day. I rest, my Lord, your aifectionat friend and servant, 
 
 Inverarey, Sept. Ist^ (1663). Argyll. 
 
 For my Lord Registar. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 35 
 
 resolves to quite the trade. I rest, my Lord, your Lo: loving ne- 
 phew and humble servant, 
 
 Argyll. 
 
 TO THE r"^ HON^^^ the EARLE OF LAUDERDAIL, LORD 
 
 secretary of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I have written a long answer to my brother about the particu- 
 lares in your last ; and for what your Lo: tells me is done for Cal- 
 der and Lochyall, if they be not than(k)full to your Lo: they are to 
 blame. But because your Lo: is pleased to remember the children, 
 your sone Johne is a great rogue : the dry nurse, douting he had 
 **** *** ***, threatened him if it had beene trewe, shee would have 
 pulld him in pieces, and eated him every bit. He lookt up in her 
 face, and laught, and said. What, would you have eaten my **** 
 too ? I askt him presently what I should now say to you from him ? 
 He said, even deare Lord Lauderdaill. Give me leave to tell you 
 one story more, of Jeane,^ whom I still alleage is very like my lady, 
 and not the lesse of this. The children are taught morning and 
 evening to say the Lord's prayer, and pray God to blesse their re- 
 lations by name, of whom you are oftest first with them ; Nanie' 
 
 * Lady Jean Campbell, married to William, second Marquis of Lothian. 
 
 * Lady Anne Campbell, married first to Richard, fourth Earl of Lauderdale ; se- 
 condly, to Charles, seventh Earl of Moray. 
 
36 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 one day mist the king : endeed, says Jeanie, it is not your coramone 
 to forgete the king ; if it had not beene for him, you and I had 
 been hussies. Some thiukes a sib child the best foole ; it may be it 
 is so with me. My wife is to goe a progresse with me to Kintire ; 
 shee presents her service to your Lo: and as I doe to my Lady and 
 my Lady Marie. Adieu. 
 Inverarey, March 28, 66. 
 
 FOR THE EARLE OF ARGYLL. 
 
 [Enclosed in the preceding ; probably written by Lady Argyll. The notes are in 
 
 her husband's hand.] 
 
 Deare 
 Lord father, I wold fain have you come home. Camie* and wee 
 are all bursen, brewing aquavitie to send to my godfather. Ther is 
 two cows calved in Killmelow, and another going to calve, and 
 Lady Mother hath bidden Anna Forest make them fat against you 
 come home ; and then they will be killed, and you shall get a piece 
 of them. And ther is two swin in the clos, that Sandie Cun- 
 ningham gives them pans full of draf and swilings, to make them 
 fat against Fastrens even, and then we will get bros and pancaks. 
 I have biden Lady Mother take something out of her owne head, 
 ^ Campbell, that is, Katherine Stewart. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 37 
 
 for I have no mor in ray head to say, but deare lord father, fare- 
 well for old long syne.^ 
 
 Your owne pritie man, 
 
 JOHNE LaUDERDAILL. 
 
 Deare swit lord father, remember ray 
 new yirs gift. 
 
 FOR THE r"^ H0N°^^ THE EAllLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I ara heare, not only setling land, but breaking a club ; and I 
 hope to effectuate both. I have now set raost of ray land, save a 
 litle of what the lowlanders possesse. It is not mony is the differ- 
 ence, but I will have every single tennant have his take of me, with 
 all necessarie clauses, and not depend on one another, and remove 
 or stay, and doe every thing as the word is given them. I have 
 improved what his Ma*'^ gave me a litle, and it is still at his Ma*'" 
 command. I have at last gote the draught of that ratification, and 
 sent it ; it is every word the commission and decreete, only one 
 word in the close, which the vassals are as much concerned to have 
 past as L If it can passe, it will doe them and me some good : but 
 I leave it to your Lo: to leave it out, if it be not fitte. 
 
 My wiffe presents her service to your Lo. Adieu. 
 
 Kintire, May 4. 
 * This is a song he is much taken with. He dances all dances to that tune, and 
 repeates the words on all occations. 
 
 He is ane English man, he remembers his belly so well. 
 
38 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 for your lo: 
 
 My Lord, 
 I will long to heare a returne of my last. Our bishope* was heare, 
 and had many instructions given him to try my cariage, but we 
 parted in a very good understanding. I found ther was much pains 
 taken by some to give him characters of your Lo: but partly by 
 what you gave me warrant to say, and partly by my own proper 
 knowledge of maters, I hope I have made him know your Lo: better 
 than they wish. The braes of the Highlands are fallen very broken ; 
 the cry will be at Glenurchy, and so at me : but as it concerns no 
 subject more to have them peaceable, so none shall wish it more then 
 I, be instrument who will. Adieu. 
 August 23, 66. 
 
 FOR THE r'^ HON^^^ THE EARL OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECKETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Yaght at Tarbet, Kintire, 
 Dec^ 3, 66. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Since my last I have not had the honour to endure blows for his 
 Ma*'^' service, but really I am allmost killed with toill and ill wea- 
 
 1 William Scrogie, originally parson of Raphan in Aberdeenshire. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 39 
 
 ther. After I had advertised all the heritors of the shire to meete 
 me heere, with a certaine proportion of the best men, best armed, I 
 went myself, day and night, forward to Kintire, with a small party, 
 and drave all, foul and cleane, here before me ; where I found the 
 country very well conveened, but not armed as I could have wished 
 for his Ma*'^' service. It is not to be imagined but in a whoU shire 
 some would be slow, and some refractory ; and these I have taken 
 notice of, and some I have taken engadgments of, to live peaceably, 
 and to render ther persones when they are required. Not that I can 
 prove any accession to the late insurrection,^ but because, in dis- 
 course, I found them not principalled as I wished. I have garisoned 
 two houses, Sadell and Skipnage, for a fortnight, till all be peace- 
 able, and till I acquaint the Gen",^ and the lowlanders have con- 
 tributed ther share for it ; but I would have none of ther men. Our 
 leavies being spent, and hearing by a letter from Dunbarton that 
 the rebells were disipate, I have dismissed the country people. I 
 have done at this time what I could, with the graith I had, but if 
 his Ma**^ use the shire upon such occations, it is necessare we be 
 better provided ; and, with ane inconsiderable expence, this shire 
 will be able and willing, upon any accident, to serve his Ma"^ with 
 a thousand men, in or about the shire. I heare, since I came from 
 home, that ther were orders sent to the severall ShirrifFs, and to 
 me, from the councell ; but some good hand hath kept up mine. I 
 intend home early, and will strive shortly to be at Ed^ Adieu. 
 
 * The Galloway delusion, which ended so fatally at Pentland, is here alluded to. 
 
 * General Thomas Dalzell of Binns, who routed the insui-gents at Pentland. 
 
40 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yours of the 5*^ I receaved on Fry day the 14 as I was at din- 
 ner, and E. Seaforth with me ; and have danced more since then 
 since I was maried, for I made all the house try it.^ You bid me 
 hast to Ed', but when you have receaved my letter to E. Tweedale 
 from this, before I went to the Tarbet, my letter from that to your- 
 selfe, and my letter to S. R. Morra at my returne, I hope your Lo: 
 will not find so much necessitie in my hurling from this ; yet I had 
 waited on my L. Commissioner at Glasgow, if E. Seaforths come- 
 ing heere had not diverted me. He was the lenth of Mull when I 
 gote the news of the rebellion, but that journey to Tarbet was, be- 
 yond complement, on private business, so he stayed ther till my re- 
 turne, and, I believe, eate all the shild meall in that country before 
 he came away. I cannot now be at Edin' before the 4*'' of Jan', for 
 this yeare puts me very far behind in my private affaires. The per- 
 fecting some things betwixt E. Seaforth and me is left to E. Tweedale. 
 M^Leane and I cannot agree, but I doute not a decreete will do my 
 businnes. I shall goe the lenth you command me to settle with M. 
 Montrose, rather than be at a constant jangle ; but entreuth it is all 
 I can doe, and I cannot deny I expect but little helpe in the treist : 
 but before I give up, I will engadge for 100,000 mks Scots, so get 
 reasonable termes, and that is 16,000 mks more then the land was 
 valued to at first, and 25,000 mks more than my father got from 
 
 ^ On the 11th of December, 1666, Lady Anne Maitland, the duke's daughter, was 
 married to John, Lord Yester, afterwards Marquis ofTweedale. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 41 
 
 M. Montrose. As shoone as I come to Ed' I will prepare the signa- 
 ture, and your Lo: may be sure of the best account I can give you 
 in every other thing. I hope your Lo: will hast down E. Twee- 
 dale. I had almost forgote to tell you that William Wallace is re- 
 turned to Kintire, and I have secured him ; but I am hopefull he 
 was not upon the knowleadge of the insurrection, nor at it : but if 
 he have, I hope to find it out before any other be troubled to exa- 
 mine him. I confesse I did not doute the goodman of Calwall, 
 whose name is in the proclamation. He was my tenant in Kintire, 
 and had ane estate in the Lowlands, wher he had beene two months 
 before the insurrection. He is the only man I missed out of Kin- 
 tire, besids W. Wallace, and one Jo. Cunnegham, that nobody takes 
 for phanatike. You will heare more certainly from Ed" than I can 
 doe heere, but as far as I can learne, this seemes not to have beene 
 a gen" plote, nether can I heare that L. Coll. James Wallace was 
 at the begining of the rising ; but, it seemes, too many have been 
 ready to rake when the fire was kindled : yet I hope Kintire will 
 not, after this, be so ill looked on. I am talked of for tendernesse 
 to them, and I deny it not, when I think it will doe good, and no 
 hurt ; but if they abuse it, I hope they shall need no other to cute 
 their throats. Adieu. 
 Inveraray, De**" 15, 66. 
 
42 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE ll"^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 The minute betwixt M. Montrose and me is not yet signed, but 
 I thinke we shall overcome all the rubs remaine ; he will have me 
 renounce all acts in favours of debitors, made or to be made. I am 
 will(ing) to renounce all made : then I thinke he should assigne me, 
 amongst rights, to the fourscore foure thousand pound to which 
 Cowell is valued, and absolutely discharge me and my estate of all 
 claimes. This would keepe me, and, it may be, his Ma"% free of 
 some trouble ; but I am not fully resolved whether to stike at ether 
 of these, so that I thinke all shall end to morrow. 
 
 I am not a litle troubled at ane accident is fallen out, tho I hope 
 his Majesty shall have no losse, and my Lord Com: laughs at me, 
 and thinks the baill better then the persone. The matter is, that 
 rascall William Wallace, after he was come neare the lenth of Glas- 
 gow, out of Kintire hither, he mette one Eshinyards^ Coninghame, 
 who persuaded him, tho he were never so innocent, he would never 
 get of, but would be put in the bootes. Upon this, after he had 
 gote all the testificates of his residence during the rebellion, he tooke 
 a suden resolution, and went backe to Kintire, wher he stayed but 
 one night, in a remote part on the shore, and from thence went to 
 Ireland. He left a letter behind him, protesting his innocencie. My 
 
 ' Probably Auchinyards. See Playfair's Baronetage of Scotland, p. 197. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 43 
 
 L: Com: remembered very well it was against my will he was not 
 brought with a guard ; but he now wisht me to keepe it quiet, till 
 I tryed what could be done to catch both him and his father, which 
 I have contrived thus : I have dispatched Duncane Campbell to 
 Kintire ; I have bid him make faire weather, and put W. Wallace 
 wiffe, who is ther, in some hope her husbands peace may yet be 
 made. Shee will certainly send over to him, and I question not 
 his father and he are together. I have directed Duncan to send 
 over some to doge the mensengers, and find out the haunt ; and if 
 that can be done, a party from Kintire, with a recommendation 
 from my L: Com: to the Justices of Peace in Ireland, may catch 
 them. I have given instructions at greate lenth, and I assure your 
 Lo: it shall cost me both paines and mony if I catch not W. Wal- 
 lace, or some more considerable persone. No bodie in toune doth 
 yet know this, and before they doe, I hope to get a returne from 
 Duncan. You need not chid me ; I am as vexed as you would wish 
 me ; and that you write to me vexes me the more : yet many others 
 as suspect are on baill, and many obscure persones have escaped out 
 of this prisone, to the number, I believe, of 40. 
 
44 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE R"^ H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDATLL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Your Lo: two last came to my hand but yesternight, for Fordie* 
 had lockt them up, and was out of toune, so I could not know wher 
 to looke for them. The aquavitie shall be hasted all I can ; I wish 
 I had payed for a puncheon more, (and) the letter had overtaken me 
 at Inveraray, as it might, for now it will be longer by the way, doe 
 what I can. I am very much rejoyced at the account of the wed- 
 ding, and I am confident some good influence reacht our distance, 
 for we tooke a fitte at Inneraray will not be forgotten. When I 
 gote your Lo: letter telling me of the weding day, it was at diner, 
 and I had new put his Ma"^' health round, which I use to end 
 with ; so when you gave me occation to drinke to the bridgroome 
 and brides, it put us to drinke his Ma"^' over againe, to be upmost ; 
 and for two days we were as merrie as you would wish us : my 
 wifTe and children, and all the servants, were brought to dance, 
 besids what other companie we had. 
 
 I was diverted the last post day, from write, by a foolish accident 
 fell out. My brother in law, Mr Archibald Stueart,^ had rifled his 
 
 * John Campbell of Fordie. 
 
 ^ Afterwards of Duneam, in Fife, fourth son of James Earl of Moray, by Lady 
 Margaret Home, daughter of Alexander Earl of Home, co-heiress with her sister Anne, 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 45 
 
 mothers closet at Dunibrisle, and as shee aileighted from her litter, 
 seased on what shee caried about with her; so that he possessed 
 himselfe of, and caried away, all her Jewells, gold, and mony, plate 
 and knacks. Her servants tooke no paines to looke after it, nor did 
 such of them as were in toune send me any word ; but hearing of 
 it at second hand, I presently sent to her to know the treuth, and 
 to offer my service in the recoverrie. At first shee would not see 
 D. Campbell, whom I sent, but, on second thoughts, shee accepted 
 of my offer, and thanked me ; but before I gote her returne, I did, 
 by good luke, find out my youth, who thought he had done no 
 greate fault, and thought he would be allowed to capitulate, that 
 way, with his mother, for a livlihood ; and had some hopes given 
 him of countenance, or oversight at least, from some ought not, and 
 I hope would not have done ; however, I made bold, without noise, 
 to secure him in my owne chamber, till I got all, save the mony, 
 restored : and I haue giuen all bake to my Lady. 
 
 I must now plead strongly that your Lo: would deall with my 
 Lady his mother, and his brother, and concerne yourselfe in the 
 poore young man, that he ruine not ; he is desperate, and he threat- 
 ens runing out of the country, if his friends doe nothing for him. 
 He hath a mistresse, he says, he cannot be happy without ; shee 
 hath but about five thousand pound Scots portion, but some of her 
 relations knew as much of his pranke as may make them portion 
 
 Ducbess of Lauderdale, of her brother James, second Earl of Home. Mr Stuart mar- 
 ried a daughter of Sir John Henderson of Fordel, by whom he had issue 
 
46 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 her better, rather then come to a hearing. If my Lady would se- 
 cure him in about eleaven ch alder of victuall, that is, of her new- 
 purchase, he will be satisfied. He is realy a pretty sweete young 
 gentleman, and I would not have him lost for this : the mony was 
 but 200 lb. St., and seing I have gote bake the papers and Jewells, 
 gold, and every thing els, I have left my Lady to seeke that her- 
 selfe ; but really I thinke shee is content it be so : pray doe som 
 thing for him, for it greeues me to see him in the plight he is in at 
 present. 
 
 I have, since I came heere, beene looking over the minuts of the 
 Councell ; there is no word of me in the act for letters to the shires, 
 tho euery body was present says I was mentioned in Perthshire. 
 Atholl is excepted, not to rise with the Sherriffe, but with the E: 
 of Atholl, or whom he shall apoint. I am not mentioned, tho my 
 interests in Perth shire be not inferior to his, tho my rent be lesse ; 
 but, except to your Lo:, I shall take no notice of it, but I shall, with- 
 in a weeke, give your Lo:, it may be, some further hints about the 
 militia of the country. 
 
 I have beene severall times to waite upon my Lord Commissioner ; 
 he shewed me the copie of his Ma"** letter to the Convention : he 
 promises to determine betwixt the M: Montrose and me, and I am 
 confident he may prevaill ; for (tho) M: M: be confident to wine the 
 cause about the blanch and ward lands, he is certaine to lose the 
 cause with my mother, which is to him of farre greater importance. 
 
 I shall observe all you direct me in your last ; ther shall none 
 offer more, nor more frankly, for the maintenence, then I ; and for 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 47 
 
 fighting phanatiks, I think they cannot be severly enough used. As 
 for W. Wallace, I had, besids my gen" order to the Baily in Kintire 
 to secure all suspected persons, expresly apointed the securing him ; 
 but he came and offered himselfe, and gave such ane account of his 
 absence, that he tooke two baill for him. I examined him afterwards, 
 and not finding what I expected, I knew it would be ane upcast to 
 me, if I sent in only ane, against whom ther was nothing to be 
 made out ; yet I write to my L: Com: to see if he had gote any 
 information against him, and, since I came heere, he refused to let 
 me send for him by a gard, but only to command him heere on his 
 baill. I thinke he is secure enough on the baill, but it is out of no 
 kindnesse he was not close ; but it is hard to me some times to know 
 how to walke without orders, for it is enough somtimes to make 
 some deale for a man, because I am against him. 
 
 G. Campbell, or his sone Coline, Montrose chamberlaine, are now 
 counted as honest as any, tho nether will take the declaration ; 
 and I would not willingly medle with them without order : how- 
 ever, your Lo: shall not have cause to complaine of me on that head. 
 The A. B. was not at church last Sunday. Its talked throw the 
 toune he is not to proceed in the convention. 
 
 I did a whill agoe write a word to S. R. M. of a bussines my bro- 
 ther tooke me very short in ; he had, without my knowledg, I con- 
 fesse, made ane adresse to your Lo: niece, the young Lady Lundie.^ 
 
 ' Sophia, daughter and heiress of Margaret Lundin of Lundin, in Fife, by the Hon. 
 Robert Maitland, brother of John, Duke of Lauderdale. She married, April 1670, 
 John, Earl of Melfort. 
 
48 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 At his returne he communicate the bussines to me ; I joined heartily 
 in it, and offered to come heere about it, but when I came to speake 
 of particulares, I found the commoning was farre advanced on termes 
 I thought of greate(r) advantage to the Lady nor him, and such as 
 I thought I had reasone not to give my consent to, if it signified any 
 thing. I thought he would have stayed at Rosneath, till I had 
 beene ther on my way hither, but I found both my mother and him 
 so earnest at have it at a close, that he was gone ther the second 
 time. All I shall say is, I am farre from fearing your Lo: thinke my 
 not medling in the mater proceeds ether from unkindnesse to the 
 Lady, or yet to my brother, for if he had advised with me, I could 
 not have advised him better, or more to my owne satisfaction ; but 
 I hope your Lo: will not thinke it amisse he treate so as may carie 
 alongs the relation of the family he is come of, nor thinke him the 
 farrer from the honour of your relation, that he doe so. Whatever is 
 my concerne in it, I will not only be advised, but commanded by 
 your Lo: in it, and shall signe a blanke, whenever they please, to 
 that purpose ; but if they refuse your Lo: arbitration, I thinke it no 
 wonder they refuse my advise. I have not time to read this over 
 Adieu. 
 
 Ed% 8 Jan. 67. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 49 
 
 for the -r^ hon°^^ the earle of lauderdaill, lord 
 secretarie of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 The Earl of Lowdone hath now beene at the convention, and 
 upon that occation tooke the declaration. My L: Com: called me, 
 and gave me a fortnight to deall for the halfFe of his fine, which is 
 all can be pretended to : I said I would neuer acknowledge guilt, 
 nor promise to pay, but ill was good of frist. Let me know what 
 measurs to take, and what I may expect from him. He is unable 
 to pay, and thinks he is alltogether innocent ; and if I dare answer 
 for any on earth, it is for him. Ther was but three of all his vas- 
 sals or tenants with the rebells, and I am sure sore against his will ; 
 and ther is one of them catch. Both he and I will be heere this 
 fortnight. This day the lawers and burgesses have proved so denote 
 as to free all ministers of taxation, in hops the clergie will free the 
 mony.^ One urged, a minister of 8 chalder of victuall might pay 
 as well as ane heritor of 4 or 5, that behoved besides to joine in the 
 militia ; but it was rejected. Adieu. 
 
 Ed% Jan' 15, 
 67. 
 
 * This word is doubtful in the MS. 
 
50 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR YOUR LO: 
 
 Ed% Jan' 19, 1667. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yesterday morning I waited on my L: Com. He shute his dore, 
 and after severall expressions of kindnesse, he told me he had beene 
 dealing with M. Montrose to setle with me, and now he had put it 
 to a close. I said I had put myselfe in his hands, and would obey 
 whatever he would command ; he pronounced 80000 lb., and said it 
 was your Lo: opinion, and if I refused, you would pay 10000 lb. of 
 it. I deny not I gave a looke shew I was surprised, but that I said 
 was, it was nether fitte your Lo: should pay mony for me, nor that 
 I should disobey his commands ; but I hoped he was but jesting : 
 for a twelve month agoe it was offered me for 70000, and I hoped 
 to be somewhat the better of his mediation. I had offered 50000 lb. 
 to his G' before, and offered to refere the ods to 60000 lb. to him, 
 but how it should be beyond that, I knew not ; especially seing 
 Montrose would necessarily losse the rent during my mothers lif- 
 time. He answered, your Lo: had said so ; and after this he would 
 write such things doune : it behoved to be 70000 lb. I said, I could 
 not deny your Lo: had written to me but of 60000 lb. (and) had 
 wished me to goe as great a lenth as I could, and seing he told me 
 it behoved to be more, though I resolved never to exceed that, yet 
 in deference to him, he should command me in 100000""''*, and Mon- 
 trose pleased to breake for the rest I was very indiflferent ; I hope 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 51 
 
 his G' would not take it ill. He said, he had ended at the 80, and he 
 could not no more, nor would medle no more in it. I said, if he had 
 said it, I was to obey ; but I wisht he had spoke to me ere it went 
 that lenth. It stands heere, and it is understood I have yeelded, 
 but I am sore tempted to break of. I know any body might have 
 had it at the rate, seing my L. C. says he is engadged, and that 
 your Lo: spoke of such a soume, though etc, and seing I said I 
 would yeeld to the soume he would name, I will not breake on the 
 soume ; but ther remaines the securitie, and termes : these I shall 
 treist, I will not submite. Besids my mother will carie this yeares 
 rent, and shall doe it for me, if he accept not of 100000"" : it may 
 be really they will seeke security I cannot give for ; for the other, 
 I doe it, I confesse, because I would not be overfarre out treisted : 
 however, I will strive to keep it in the ballance till I have your Lo: 
 returne, for w* out your consent I will not give up. 
 
 I am much troubled to see my mother in law so farre out of hu- 
 mour, and willing to take no advice ; the first night I gave her 
 some of her things (she) was very sober, but now is just at the 
 old trade, still railing at Allex: Brodie, as if my wife and I had con- 
 bined with him, to take all from her. (Her) sone, Mr Ar: shee can- 
 not be perswaded to looke on, but ther is a fellow, her butler, that 
 cheats her ; his sister bore two children to Mr An, and lay in 
 within my ladys. This hussie, and some others of the trade, lodge 
 in the house, and the acquaintances haunte them ; they sell aile, 
 and keepe a racket, that all the toune knows : besids I have more 
 than shrewd presumptions that this fellow knew of stealing the 
 
52 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 Jewells, and for all this shee will keepe him, and will not — (The 
 rest of this letter is lost.) 
 
 FOR THE r"^ H01SI°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 The convention have now ordered the mater of quartering for 
 deficiencie. Each trouper hath 15 pence, a foute souldier a groate, 
 from the day he produces his order ; and is to quarter at the sight 
 of the collector, and two or three of the commissioners of assesment : 
 the shires name ther collectors, and pay them, and the commis- 
 sioners, and their clerks ; and the collectors are to take the decla- 
 ration. 
 
 This afternoone ther was some debate about the way of reckon- 
 ing, and paying what the soldiers spent in ther quarters ; but it 
 was unanimously voted, save by the oficers, and about six more, 
 that the country should compt with the Quarter M', wher they gote 
 not payment, and have it allowed in their cesse. The ways and 
 methods are referred to the commitie. The burrows begine to re- 
 great they yeelded to suspention of principal soumes, and wish they 
 had rather agreed to retention of one of the hundreth ; but it is hard 
 now to helpe it. Some thinke to stage the debate anew ; if so, the 
 convention cannot end to morrow. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 53 
 
 The Re(gister) hath againe beene upon me about S. W. T./ and 
 the provost of Ed"^ hath beene with me ; whither they understand 
 other perfectly I doe not know, but I doe partly doute it, except in 
 uno tertio. However, the provost tells me he resolves to waite on 
 your Lo: expressly to explaine himselfe farther to your Lo: and to 
 let you know how desirous he is to satisfie you in anything is in 
 his power. I am hopefull he intends to doe so, and I have not dis- 
 swaded him from the journey, but I have not the least ground to 
 believe he will signe that contract your Lo: sent him. He did not 
 positively say he would not, but, as I understood him, he is to sa- 
 tisfie your Lo: with reason, and not with doeing the thing. He 
 thinks to be up towards the end of the session, and wisht me to en- 
 deavoure his silence might not be misunderstood, seing he only de- 
 layed to write, being so shortly to have oecation to open his mind 
 at greater lenth. What your Lo: commands me to say to him, I 
 shall Adieu. 
 Ed', Jan' 22, 1667. 
 
 ' Probably Sir William Thomson, knight, a person who made for some years a great 
 figure in the politics of the town of Edinburgh.— See Appendix. 
 
 * Sir Andrew Ramsay of Abbotshall ; his letters to the Duke of Lauderdale are 
 printed in the Appendix. 
 
54 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE a"^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have receaved all you write, or sent to me inclosed, and have 
 as neare as I could obeyed your Lo: in the first, and also lastly in 
 the second. 
 
 The aquavete is by this time readie, and as shoone as it comes 
 shall be sent by land to Newcastle ; and if ther be not a present 
 occation by sea, shall goe on the same way ; for it is in small barles 
 of purpose : your Lo; may be sure my wiffe will hast it all is pos- 
 sible. 
 
 I thinke it very fitte to delivere your letter to my mother in law, 
 and I acknowledge it may justly need some time to perswad her to 
 doe greate things for her sone, and therefore I have never attempt- 
 ed, further then to dispose her to see him, and accept of a submis- 
 sion, which, without more, hath made me, I beleive, losse my thanks; 
 however, I will still observe duty to her. These two young gen- 
 tlemen, her sones, are endeed in a hard condition. Francis' may 
 well expect a sober intertainment ; he will never get more of his 
 brother : and for Archibald, he hath lost himselfe, in all apearance, 
 at his mothers hands, and I feare at his brothers, and his stay with 
 
 * Francis Steuart, afterwards of Culalay. He died without issue. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 55 
 
 me is but a small part of the fortoune I wish him. Wherfore, if 
 your Lo: see any way how some imployment may be gote to them, 
 they are both realy pretty men, and as hopeful as most of ther con- 
 dition in Scotland. I have sent your Lo: two letters I had about 
 Mr Francis ; I know I need say nothing to your Lo: ether for to 
 move you to the thing, nor to propound any employment, nor the 
 way to come at it ; these things your Lo: will know better than L 
 As for my oune brothor, he hath yet told me no particulars, but 
 E. Craford, who is in toune, will, I know, tell me all ; and what ever 
 my brother resolve, your Lo: may be very certaine I will not abuse 
 the friedome you give me. I will looke to the interest of my family 
 a litle, I deny not ; but it shall be so as I hope you will aprove, and, 
 I am sure, shall not any way slaken the tys of the ofspring to your 
 Lo: nor your family. I know you expect no returne to your kind- 
 nesse by paper, nether do I intend it that way. Adieu. 
 
 Edn', Jan^ 26, 
 67. 
 
 FOR THE R^ HON^^® THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I have scene your Lo: to my L. Com. and the inclosed from his 
 Ma"® to him, and you understand all better than I can tell you ; I 
 shall heartily agree to all these remedies, but sure they are scarce 
 
56 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 worth a quarter of ane hour of his Ma"^' time.^ All the armes shall 
 be found will not in my opinion arme one companie, nor the horse 
 raont a troupe. The outed ministers that medled in the late rebel- 
 lion, I thinke deserve torture ; but what advantage will be in se- 
 curing any that did not, but, in obedience to the law, have removed 
 out of the parishes they were in, I cannot tell. My humble opinion 
 is, that all will not engadge to live peaceably, and never to carry 
 armes against the king or his commission, should be put wher ther 
 needs no troops to supresse them J ther helpe we desire not, unlesse 
 we have some more ground of confidence in them, and if ther oath 
 or subscription signifie any thing, sure it is in this, which is so cleare 
 that there is no equivocation ; so just that no Christian, nor most 
 of them, in cold blood, will deny nor find ground of scruple : and 
 therefore I thinke answers the end of any engadgment could be put 
 on them, more fully then any thing els I can thinke on. I deny not 
 I thinke ther are too many that affect not the episcopall government, 
 but I am confident a very inconsiderable number ; and those inconsi- 
 derable persons, that incline to disturbe the peace. Ther is much dis- 
 course about setling the Highlands, and the way is not yet fallen on ; 
 but if, as God forbid, we should see any invasion, I feare the disor- 
 ders ther would prove as greate a retardment to his Ma*'*' affaires, 
 as the phanatiks. Severall overtours hath beene made, which I 
 shall give a more full account of by my nixt then now I can. Adieu. 
 
 EdinS Jan' 28, 
 67. 
 
 ' This alludes to the severities meditated by government after the Pentland insur- 
 rection. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 57 
 
 Since I write this I receaved your Lo: of the 24 current out of 
 Mr Sharps hand.^ I am very much satisfied that at this distance 
 your Lo: doth aprove of any thing I have scribled ; you doe perfect- 
 ly understand the estate of things, and I shall strive to follow your 
 directions as neare as I can, for besids your Lo: command, I am ab- 
 solutely convinced of every word you write, that it is his Ma"^^ ser- 
 vice and my duty. As shoone as this meeting is over I thinke of 
 going home. 
 
 FOR YOUR lo: 
 
 Ed', Jaa' 30, 1667. 
 
 My Lord, 
 This evening my L. Com: called the Archbishope of Glasgow, D. 
 Hamiltone, M. Montrose, E. Athole, E. Anandale^ and me to D. 
 Hamiltones chamber ; wher, after he read his Ma"^' letter, and 
 opened the bussines, the A. B. G. gave a rise to the several partes of 
 what was to be spoken of ; and the first was, how to secure the peace 
 against intestine rebellion, nixt against forraine invasion. D. Ha- 
 miltone spoke to several ways of doing the first, M. Montrose re- 
 sumed what they had said, and agreed to it. I said the end was 
 good, our duty to his Ma''^ and our owne interest led us necessarily 
 to agree to it ; I hoped after debate we should agree in the midses 
 
 ' Afterwards Sir William Sharp, brother of the Archbishop of St Andrews. 
 ' James, second Earl of Hartfell, and first Earl of Annandale, simamed Johnston. 
 
 H 
 
58 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 too. E. Atholl said something for present pressing the declaration. 
 E. Annandale said the end was cleare, and wished us to speake to 
 particulares. After A. B. G. and D. H. had spoken to the taking 
 the oath of alleadgance and declaration, the seazing on all armes 
 and horses, I pitched to speake to the first of these. First, I said, 
 seing ther apeared some capable to breake out into rebellion, and 
 too many disafected to the eclesiastike government, I wished we 
 might fall on some way to secure us of the one and of the other, 
 and my overtoure was, to lay something to ther dore, which they 
 would thinke shame before the world to refuse, or pretend to scruple 
 at ; and this was to engadge to live peaceably, and never to rise in 
 armes against his Ma"% or his commission, and never to harboure 
 any declared rebell ; if ther promis signified any thing, this would ; 
 all that refused this might justly be denyed the protection of his 
 Ma"^ law. I thought this would calme the spirits of such as signed, 
 as that they were not to be farther questioned ; his M*'^ might after- 
 wards doe what he thought fitte : but finding my L. Com: and the 
 A. B. incline rather to the puting them to the oath of alleadgance 
 and declaration, I urged it no further ; yet when we came to speake 
 of puting all to the declaration, the A. B. was no way for it. E. 
 Anandale said, that in time of the late rebellion, some had joined 
 with him, and he was convinced wer as ready to hazard ther lif in 
 his Ma"^' service as himselfe was, and in that very cause he was 
 then about, who confessed to him in private, they were not cleare 
 to signe the declaration ; but he was answered, that ther were but 
 few of that sort. I asked, whether ther were not severalls that at 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 59 
 
 least resolved to live peaceably ? it was answered, they believed not 
 many, if they saw oceation. I asked them, whither it were better 
 then to state them all in one condition, or whither to divid them 
 and keepe ane ey upon them ? It was answered, it was fitte the coun- 
 cell should have power from his Ma"^ to put the declaration to whom 
 they should thinke fitte, which needed not be above ten or twelve 
 in a shire, and in some shires to scarse any at all. I gave no an- 
 swer to this, but when I gote my L. Com: allone, I told him I 
 thought this would allarme to many, and not punish them, and I 
 thought it was, as your Lo: knows the story, to take the goose by the 
 taill and not by the necke. For the seazing on armes, all agreed to 
 it ; but all agreed likways, that they were not worth the taking, 
 and therfore it was thought fitte, by way of proclamation, not by 
 searching ; for horses, we found likways ther was no number to be 
 gote, yet it was thought fitte, as I understood, they should be sea- 
 sed on ; for ther was nothing in anything positively determined. 
 Only after D. H. had very handsomely debated severall of these 
 particulars, my L. A. B. G. was desired to draw a draught of a re- 
 turne to his Ma"% which it is thought may be ready against the Sa- 
 turdays post, if he be not the carier himselfe. Some discourse ther 
 was of putting all the outed ministers to one place. The A. B. pro- 
 pounded it, and nobody was against it, but nothing concluded. The 
 militia, in the severall shires, is the way thought on to opose for- 
 raigne invations. But there will be more difficulty in the model- 
 ling of them than is imagined ; and if ther be not magazines of 
 armes, it will be very insignificant. 
 
60 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 FOR THE n^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDATLL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I receaved your Lo: 26 instant, this morning, as I was exami- 
 ning the wittenesses in that busines of the Lord Lion, wherof I can- 
 not yet give a full account. This afternoone M. Montrose in coun- 
 cell went out of his way to giue me a broad side, and gote another. 
 He was drunke, and I was surprised, but ther is no hurt done ; my 
 , ho: C. found me in the right, and it will be forgote to morrow. 
 
 This evening I was with A. B. G. He was in private somewhat 
 more of my opinion about the securing the peace, but he says from 
 severall depositions of the roages that were hanged, he thought 
 the designe of the late rebellion more gen" then I imagined ; he 
 would have the declaration only put to a few, and those are not put 
 to it to secure for the peace. He acknowledged he himselfe was 
 more willing to give the usurpers baill, then promise ; but he thought 
 baill best in this case, yet he was willing to more ^ about it ; but 
 the scroll of the returne being allready drawen, I doute it be much 
 altered. 
 
 I shall yeeld to the 70000 lb., but they seeke cautioners. I offer 
 my bond, and the land in warrandice. I thinke S. P. Wedderbourne^ 
 
 ^ Sic in MS. ; probably it should be move. 
 
 * Probably Sir Peter Wedderbume, of Gosford, advocate, and clerk of the Priry. 
 Council. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 61 
 
 will be a good instrument to end it, and as shoone as it is done, I 
 resolve to be gone ; it is ill stealing beside theeves, E. T(w)eedale 
 really guesses right. This cesse is 20000 lb. out of my way, besids 
 all I pay myselfe ; but if it please God we have peace, I hope to over- 
 come it ; and if not, it is all one. The inclosed will show your Lo: 
 what a greate rent I have this yeare, and many are no better. 
 Adieu. 
 
 Jan' 31, 
 67. 
 
 FOR THE iJ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Feb' 1. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 This evening my L. Com: called us againe, with E. Arly^ and 
 L. Drumlanrike.^ My other letter will shew your Lo: what was re- 
 solved. Some were very earnest that wher any conventicle was 
 keept in a parish, the wholl parish should be lyable as conventiclers, 
 if they gave not present notice. This they thought would make 
 people diligent to discover them, but others thought it would en- 
 snare honest men, from whom they did industriously hid such things. 
 
 As to taking of horses, ther are realy very few worth taking ; 
 
 * James, second Earl of Airly. 
 
 * William, afterwards first Duke of Queensberry. 
 
62 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 but if ther be no mony to be payed, I dout ther will be many more 
 above the valew then otherways would be. Your Lo: sees we say 
 nothing of the Highlands. Its said, if any companies of foute were 
 put in some mens hands, for seing to the peace and order of the 
 country ther, they would be necessare for ever. Some did propound 
 it, but I hope my projects shall never tend to any burthen on his 
 Ma"^. I should not refuse a companie, if his Ma"^ offered it, and I 
 thinke it might be as useful to him as any one companie ; but if I 
 had beene earnest to have it, it had not been propounded, for me, 
 first heere ; endeed, I knew not it was propounded, till it was done 
 and had this answer. 
 
 I have a letter for you with a short account of our meeting, and 
 an abreviate of our returne inclosed, neare readie, but whether I 
 send it with this post, I know not. 
 
 A. B. St (Andrews) is gone of toune in a huffe. Yesternight we 
 were at others lodgings at one time, and missed other, but mette at 
 the Abey after. Wher after we had told each other of our purpose, 
 he said he was to waite on me to pay his respects, and thanke me 
 for my courtesies, not to offer services, which were now insignificant. 
 Before I could get out a returne, he said, he behoved to acknow- 
 ledge, though I was presbiterian, I caried myselfe to bishops like a 
 gentleman. Now, pray, consider what I should answer ? but be- 
 fore I gote out a word but, my Lord, is the mater ? my L. Com: 
 came upon us, not hearing our discourse, and interrupted us ; and 
 after a little hearked me in the eare to be gone, and to meet him at 
 D. Harailtones, for he was to take leave of the bishope, and desired 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 63 
 
 to doe it allone. As shoone as the meeting was over, I ran up 
 to the A. B, his lodging, and desired to know what he meant by 
 what he said at the Abey, for I knew not how to take it till he ex- 
 plained him. He repeated it without the word presbiterian. I said, 
 I realy knew nothing I was ever able to serve him in deserved so 
 solemne thanks, nather had I, that I knew of, ever done him wrong ; 
 and I knew not what he meant by calling me presbiteriane. He 
 excused that. He said, he endeed thought I walked more straight* 
 ly than others went under that name. I said, it was trew. I was 
 a whill bred under presbitery, but I had beene in other parts of the 
 world, wher church government was not made so greate a mater of 
 as by some in this country ; but whatever was past, I tooke it not 
 well to goe under names. I had receaved such favours from his 
 Ma"% and made such profFessions to him, that I hoped he would not 
 suspect I would deal unstraightly ; no, it would be found I would 
 serve his Ma"^ as faithfully as others, with my life and fortoune, 
 even in preservation of his eclesiastike government (I had almost 
 said), but I held as readily as if I had gote a bishoprike. I said, I 
 hoped he would not say any mistakes had fallen out had made me 
 chang my way to him. He said, ther were mistakes endeed ; he 
 knew no ground for them, but that he had brought a man in play* 
 which he did in no ill designe. I was about to have asked him par- 
 ticulares, who that persone was who tooke it ill, and who were those 
 went under the name of presbiterians, but the A. B, of Glasgow 
 
 * This probably alludes to the Lord Commissioner Rothes, whose credit was then 
 on the decline. — Vide Burnet's Hist. vol. i. p. 240. 
 
64 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 came upon us, and interrupted us ; so I kissed his hands without 
 
 further clearing. He said, ther was a friend of mine who was once 
 
 a friend of his, but^ — and I cannot really tell you more of it ; only 
 
 I hope you are one of the presbiterians walks not so straight as I. 
 
 This is a confused account of a confused discourse. Adieu. 
 Feb' 2, 
 67. 
 
 FOR THE U^ HON^''^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Edin% Feb' 2, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 You have inclosed ane abreviate of the returne those my L. 
 Com: called together had made to his Ma*'^* gratious letter. I was, 
 I acknowledge, in the debate for pressing the declaration no further 
 than formerly, to all in trust, because I feare many may be inclu- 
 ded that resolve to leave peaceably, because I think a severe cen- 
 sure should follow the refusall of his Ma"^' pleasure, and I know 
 not if it be fitte at present to take so many in taske nedlesly. I 
 offered a ty I hoped answered the end, against which it was not easie, 
 even on the pretended scruples of the disaffected, to find ane eva- 
 sion ; it was to ty them to live peaceably, not to beare armes against 
 his Ma*'% or his commission, nor to harboure or assist declared re- 
 bells. This, I hoped, few would refuse ; and if any did, I thinke 
 ^ The letter " I" seems to have been erased here. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 65 
 
 his Ma"^ might send them wher ther needed no troupes to watch 
 over them. I was in all humility of the opinion, that so the peace 
 were secured, the fewer were put to suffer for opinions at present 
 the better. This was answered, by his Ma''^' giving a power to the 
 councell to offer the declaration or not as they found cause : which 
 I feare will give the allarme, and disquiet unstable spirits. This 
 was endeed my humble opinion, and the reason of it, but I have 
 yeelded to ane unanimous returne to his M"* with the rest, for what 
 ever my private opinion be, which by my oath I am bound to give 
 freely, I will, in prosecuting his Ma''^* service, allways follow the 
 way prescribed by his Ma"% and those he intrusts. I shall only ad 
 this, that I dare not conceal ; I thinke we need the more troups : 
 all the other articles I thinke of less consequence, only I wish his 
 Ma"^' magazins were well stored. It will not be time when ther is 
 need to send to England. I thinke to goe home the nixt weeke af- 
 ter the councell day, but before I goe you shall have the account of 
 what is done about Cowell. Adieu. 
 
 for the r^ hon°^^ the earle of lauderdaill, loud 
 secretarie of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 It will take another post, before I can give your Lo: a full account 
 of the effect of the treist betwixt M. Montrose and me ; all I can 
 say is, if it end not, it shall be so as your Lo: shall know the par- 
 
66 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 ticulares, and that I shall be willing his Ma'*^ know them : but I 
 thinke it shall not come to this. 
 
 The president of the Session hath beene ill these two days ; it 
 was given out it was but a cold, but a palsie is feared, and yester- 
 night he was almost speechlesse : this day he is better, and passes 
 his time at cards ; but it may stike to him. If his place were void, 
 most in Scotland would find but one to fill it. Consider of it, for 
 some would, it may be, be for the Advocate, to make roume for 
 another. 
 
 My L. Com: seemes to be in some doute who to fill in, in the 
 blanke commission for setling the Highlands. He promises to tell 
 me more of it to day or to morrow ; it is resolved, upon a motion 
 I made, that the chiefe landlords, and chiefes of clans in the High- 
 lands, compeire once in the yeare in Ed^ The list is not yet made 
 up, but I have made up one ; when it past, your Lo: shall have a 
 double. 
 
 In setling the militia, I find myselfe concerned to be heere, and I 
 feare I cannot ; that, in short, I will underetake for is, my wassals 
 and ther tenants, and my owne tenants^ and the name of Campbell, 
 who hold of his Ma"^ and desire to joine with me. If any other 
 ly so as that they fall in to me, I shall take or leave them as shall be 
 thought fitte ; but these I have named doe ly as contigous as High- 
 land ground will suffer. Before I goe I shall send your Lo: a kind 
 of mape and a modell, but I confesse both the sesse and militia will 
 be hard in one yeare. Adieu, 
 Feb' 9, 
 67. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 67 
 
 FOR THE R^ HON^''^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Ed', Feb' U, 
 67 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Mr Sharpe shew me a letter this morning, desiring him to forbid 
 me to goe out of toune, till I heard from your Lo: which I hope 
 will be on Sunday nixt ; for I have staid long beyond my resolution, 
 and both the busines of the shire and my owne particulares calls me 
 home, for I have not gote above the sixt part of my rent this yeare, 
 and whill I am heere, people are mad craving, for the want is gen". 
 My L. Montrose bargaine and mine is not fully ended, nor, I thinke, 
 scarce shall at this present ; but we are allmost in speaking termes, 
 and I thinke the communing shall not give up : but if we end not 
 at present, the use I intend to make of the time I gaine, will be to 
 engadge my friends in Argyll, and to take my measures what mony 
 I can raise betwixt and the first of June, before which time none of 
 us can doe any thing at law. That it sticks at is the warrandice 
 he should give me of Co well. 
 
 I did claime absolute warrandice, seing I gave full price, at least 
 more then any other would give ; but I have past from that, and 
 craves only warrandice from particulare incumberances I have con- 
 deshended on : if he thought them light incumberances, he might 
 
68 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 the better warrand them, but I believe he thinks them not small. I 
 find some inclinations rather to lessen the soume then warrand me, 
 and if he be freak, I will be well natured, and put myselfe to the 
 trouble of maintaining the right he gives me. 
 
 We have daily complaints out of the west of the condition of that 
 country, that under pretence of sequestrating the estates of rebells, 
 many that are innocent suffer ; but I am very hopfull all we heare 
 of it is not trew, for it is horrible, and 1 have heard of few proufes, 
 and I find my L. Com: at all occations offer to give full redresse, wher 
 any wrong is done, and yet no complaint hath hitherto been before 
 the councell. Only being this day in the Abbey, I found one re- 
 solving to give in a petition to the councell against a quarter m' 
 sent him a charge I saw, wherof the inclosed is a just double ; he 
 says he was accordingly quartered on, and yet he protests nether 
 he nor his nephew was owing that man a groate. My L. Com: 
 did not suffer the bill to be read, but will take it away privately, 
 and I wish ther may be no more of it. I desire not to medle with 
 things of this nature, but without taking notice of me, I wish your 
 Lo: would be serious with L. Gen" D(alzell) that abuses of this kind 
 may be prevented ; for there is a greate cry, and, if I may say it 
 without offence, the lesse the soldiery medle, except in securing the 
 peace, the better : what is taken upon the account of disaffection, 
 I wish may come into his Ma"^* coffers. If your Lo: nixt give me 
 leave, I resolve home the day after, for my wiffe hath been very 
 neare miscarriing of quicke child, which hasts me, tho shee be bet- 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 69 
 
 ter, and I hope well. Your Lo: must not open the inclosed, ^ for 
 there is a secrete in it concerns Grassam colledge. The aquavite is 
 this day shiped ; the litle barle, thrice marked on the end, hath a 
 roote grows in the Highlands we call curmeile, in steade of liquoras. 
 
 FOR YOUll Lo: 
 
 Edn', Feb' 16, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I am now resolved to stay heere one weeke more, to waite your 
 commands. This morning I was at the examination of those that 
 are suspected to be accessorie to the designe of the rapt of the Re- 
 gisters daughter in law, which doubtlesse you have heard of.^ I 
 make no question, Mr William Dundas the advocat, in whose house 
 shee was, upon the knowledge and contrivement of it ; if the Regi- 
 ster, or some persone who would have followed it so smartly, had 
 
 ^ Probably a letter to Sir Robert Moray. 
 
 ^ This alludes to Elizabeth Dundas, daughter and heiress of Sir James Dundas 
 of Newliston. Her mother, Agnes, daughter of Sir William Gray of Pittendrum 
 married, secondly. Sir Archibald Primrose, Lord Register of Scotland, and Miss Dun- 
 das finally became the wife of John, Earl of Stair, to whom she bore the celebrated 
 Field-marshal, John Eai-l of Stair. The following notices, from the Records of Privv 
 Council, are all that have been discovered respecting the affair in question :— 
 
 « 14 Feb. 1667. 
 " The council give commission to the Earls of Argyle and Dumfreis, the Register, 
 
^0 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 not beene concerned, shee had not returned not quickly, and many 
 would but laugh at it ; but now I know the Register will take it 
 very kindly if you concerne yourselfe in it, and that any thing 
 came from his Ma*'^ to quicken the councell to looke after it. 
 
 The settling the Highlands is now asleepe againe ; we have a re- 
 porte to day that a greate number of broken highlanders have bro- 
 ken up the tolbooth of Bamfe, and made Patrike Roy M'Gregore his 
 escape, who killed the Laird of Meurus.^ 
 
 Advocat, and Justice Clerk, or any two of them * to be a committee for trying of the 
 late rapt committed upon Elizabeth Dundasse — to examine all persons,' &c. and par- 
 ticularly to take tryall of Mr VVilliame Dundasse his cariage in that efiFair, and that 
 in the mean tyrae he to continow prisoner as at present. And to report." 
 
 « 21 Feb. 1667. 
 
 " Considering that a most violent and barbarous rapt was attempted on the tuelt 
 
 of this moncth be William Dundasse, brother to Dundasse of Mortoun, 
 
 his sei'vant Charles Daniell. George Pringle, James Thomson, 
 
 and Thomas Gielespy, doe therefore command his Majesties subjects to seize upon 
 
 the saids persons and to enter them prisoners," &c. 
 
 « 28 Feb. 
 Letter from the King on the subject. 
 
 " We have bein informed of a great insolence committed by ane officer of our re- 
 giment under the command of the Earl of Linlithgow, assisted by some other souldiers, 
 in violently carying away a gentlewoman called Dundas, &c. — The council recom- 
 mends the committe to call before them such persons as they shall think fitt, and to 
 examine them upon oath anent the said mater," &c. 
 
 ^ John Lyon of Muiresk. His son was also murdered with many treacherous cir- 
 cumstances. — See Arnot's Criminal Trials, p. 136. Macgregor, and Patrick Drum- 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 71 
 
 I am very much dealt with to interpose with your Lo: for cor- 
 netts places to my cusines, my L. RoUo his second sone,^ and Sir 
 Robert Mongumerys brother,^ they are both pretty young men, but 
 I am sensible enough the difficulty is greater to get them such 
 places than ther relations doe imagine. 
 
 Colline Campbell, late provost of Glasgow, is become very rich 
 in land and mony, and worth at present 6 or 7 thousand pound ster- 
 line, ready for a bargaine, which would be of greate use to me, if I 
 could get him to louse his purse upon my land, when mony is so 
 scarse. In order to this, I have found a way by the last right your 
 Lo: procured to me from his Ma*'^ about the vassals, and by buying in 
 some comprisings were on Achinbreks^ land, holden of his Ma"^ and 
 
 mond, an accomplice, were tried in Edinburgh 25th of March, 1667. Their sentence 
 was, to have their right hands cut oflP, to be hanged at the cross of Edinburgh, and 
 their bodies to be hung in chains on the gallows between Edinburgh and Leith. In 
 a MS. abridgement of the justiciary record, belonging to Henry H. Drummond, Esq. 
 is the following notice respecting Macgregor : — " Nota, This Patrick Roy Macgre- 
 gor was a most nottorious and villanous person, but of a most couragious and reso- 
 lute mind. He was a little thick, short man, red haired, and from thence called Rob 
 Roy ; he had red eyes like a hawk, and a fierce countenance, which was remarkable 
 by every person. He endured the torture of the boots in the Privy Council with 
 great obstinacy, and suffered many stroaks at the cutting off his hand with wonder- 
 ful patience, to the great admiration of the spectators, the executioner having done his 
 duty so ill, that the next day he was deposed for it." 
 
 ^ Archibald RoUo, afterwards a major in the army, second son of James, second 
 Lord Rollo, by Lady Mary Campbell, daughter of Archibald, seventh earl of Argyll. 
 
 ^ Another Lady Mary, daughter of Earl Archibald, married Sir Robert Montgo- 
 mery of Skermorly. Her second son, Henry, an officer in the army, died without 
 issue. 
 
 ^ Sir Duncan Campbell of Auchinbreck, 
 
72 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 some other such methods, to put him in my reverence altogether, 
 for a thousand pound sterline and upwards, Achinbreke was owing 
 him ; this may be some ty upon him, and it is all the use I would 
 make of it, to put him to buy my lands rather than anothers ; yet 
 seing he hath kindnesse for me, I would not doe all by the strong 
 hand, wherefore if your Lo: think it pertinent to speake of a knight- 
 hood or rather a knightbarronet for him, or his sone, I doute not, 
 with these two strings in my bow, to doe my bussnes. 
 
 Edr, Febr21,67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yesterday morning Haltone ^ told me your Lo: had writen to him 
 in favours of one of my brothers in law, and that he was engadged 
 to Collintons^ sone so farre, that he could not easily retreate ; wher- 
 fore, I did not only freely passe from my compearance, but I shall 
 desire your Lo: may allow him to performe his promise and reso- 
 lution ; and if any other occation offer for ether or both these two 
 young gentlemen, I entreate your Lo: may remember of them. I shall 
 in the mater of the justiciarie as you adwise, as neare as I can. I ex- 
 pect to end with M. Montrose to morrow. Adieu. 
 
 ' Charles Maitland, afterwards third Earl of Lauderdale. He married Elizabeth 
 Lauder, heiress of Halton. 
 * Sir James Foulis, a Lord of Session, with the title of CoUinton. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 73 
 
 FOR THE r"^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Edin% Feb-^ 23, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I am going out with E. Haddintone^ to returne on Monday makes 
 this so short, yet it shall tell you, that yesterday, before my L. Com- 
 missioner M. Montrose and I shooke hands, and dranke others 
 healths. I am to pay him one hundreth thousand merks ; I take 
 single warrandice, of him, and I give him security of the land, with 
 absolute warrandice, and gentlemen worth ten thousand merks of 
 yearly rent, cautioners : I enter at Whitsunday, and I have three 
 Candlesmesses to pay, in three equall shares, but am to pay anuell 
 from Whitsunday. Adieu. 
 
 :P0R THE r"^ H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDATI,L, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 M'Laine is fled to court to crave a discharge of some debts he 
 owes, and a personall protection against others. For the first, it is 
 
 ^ John, fourth Earl of Haddington. 
 K 
 
7* LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 so unreasonable that I doe not feare it. Your Lo: knows the E. of 
 Crafords right, and what he owes me is ether cleare debts and ane 
 adjudication following thereon, which I have assigned to my fa- 
 thers creditors, and is most of what they will get, or it is few dutys 
 resting to me, or money I have payed the Exchequer for him, and 
 I feare not his Ma"^ will doe any thing in these to my prejudice, or 
 the creditors ; but because I know much of his busines will be to 
 tell stories, and invent calumnies, I entreate your Lo: to send me 
 doubles of any informations he gives in, that I may satisfie your 
 Lo: anent them. And for a protection to him, if he will ether take 
 creditors of E. Craford and me, or give us possession of land, ether 
 by way of wedset or heritable sale, we shall be content his persone 
 be free ; but whill he refuses to give us what is in his power, it were 
 to encourage him never to pay us a groate. If he should get any 
 protection he will, I know, plead his brothers service, but he would 
 find some other way of reward then a discharge of debts that be- 
 long to subjects, and for his owne services, I belive they will be very 
 insignificant. 
 
 The M. of Montrose and I have this day signed our minute, and 
 discharged other of all clags and claimes, hinc inde, so that he will 
 not have me to seeke for what he wants of the soume in his decreate. 
 Adieu. 
 
 Eds March 2, 
 67. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 75 
 
 FOR THE R*^ HON°^^ THE EAllLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECllETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 E(l% March 5, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I have seene your Lo: to my L. Comm. It will be of singular ad- 
 vantage for some vessels to have liberty of trade ; it would bring 
 in mony, and doe no hurt, and for that of the stope of any thing 
 going from this to Irland, I thinke it will be but litle losse to us. 
 Some coale and salt goes, and some iron and lint we send ; the first 
 two I thinke they cannot want, the other two they will be stealing 
 over, if ther were peace, for at present we have litle to send them. 
 I have put of my jurney till Fryday. Adieu. 
 
 for THE r"^ HON^^^ the EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I have now taken my leave of my Lord Commissioner, and intend 
 homwards to morrow. All the papers betwixt the M. of Montrose 
 and me are extended, and signed, only the disposition to me is con- 
 signed in his hand, and the two contracts of wedset in mine, till the 
 cautioners subscrive. He desired me to write to your Lo: to be- 
 
76 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 friend him in his claime to his Ma"^ of the od sixteen thousand 
 pounds, wherof my L. of Glasgow will speake to you ; and tho it be 
 most improper for me to desire his Ma"^ to pay that which he was 
 graciously pleased to burthen himselfe with in my favours, yet I doe 
 very seriously entreate the M. of Montrose may be satisfied, if he 
 can fall on any way that is reasonable, and that he may feell the 
 benefite of our setlement ; for tho I will not quite my old uncle for 
 my new, realy I thinke we shall live in friendship. I write a whill 
 agoe of some interest I had in Perthshire, but seing my L. Montrose 
 and I am setled, I am content that that interest of mine, the Earle 
 of Airths^ interest, the Earle of Murrays, and some other lands that 
 ly contiguous, make up a foote regiment in the militia to be com- 
 manded by the M. of Montrose. This offer I find he takes kindly ; and 
 my L. Com: is satisfied with it, so if it come in your Lo: way I shall 
 desire your Lo: may countenance it. Ther will be in Perthshire an- 
 other foute regiment, and a number of horse, either of which my L. 
 Perth^ may have, for the Sheriffe hath litle interest. Adieu. 
 
 Ed^ March 12, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 As I past by Dunbarton on my way hither, I secured Hill of Beth,^ 
 
 ^ William Earl of Airth and Menteith. ^ James, third Earl of Perth. 
 
 ' Probably John Cunningham of Hill of Beeth, who, in the year 1622, was com- 
 pelled to pay a fine of £206, 4s. 4fd. Scotch, for having, with many others, wasted Lord 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 77 
 
 on of W. Wallace baill. After he found he was prisoner, he offered 
 to catch W. Wallace, if I would promise to deall for him, which I 
 was farre from granting ; but seing he knows the way, he may the 
 better ly for him : I have two in Ireland in search of him and his 
 father, but I have no returne from them since they went. 
 
 I was at Mugdoke^ as I came heere, and have since gote all the 
 cautioners I promised, to signe, so the papers are presently to be ex- 
 changed. 
 
 Before I came from Ed' ther was severalls of the places in the 
 session in hazard to be vacant, and having occation to speake with 
 my L. Staires, and some others, who understood best of the subject, 
 the persons they wished me to recommend to your Lo: were Mr 
 Johne Harper, Mr James Cheape, Mr David Dinmure, and Mr 
 George Norrowell.^ The first of these I know my L. D. Hamiltone 
 will be much for, and realy I thinke none of them is fitter for it ; it 
 is trew he had his slipes, but I am confident he would endeavoure to 
 repaire his credit. 
 
 Ther was no small debate in the last Convention about the way of 
 raising the sesse, and of the proportion betwixt shires ; and it was 
 singly upon the account of his Ma"^* service, that no interest of mine 
 might retard it, that I yeelded to my L. Com: to be against revalu- 
 ing the shires, on with another : for we are very high by our being 
 
 Queensberry's estate, and joined the forces under Colonels Strachan and Ker, in the 
 year 1650. 
 
 ^ A castle belonging to the Marquis of Montrose. 
 
 2 Four celebrated lawyers ; yet none of them appears to have attained to the high- . 
 est offices of the profession. 
 
78 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 tvast, and neglecting it at the first valuation, and not sending com- 
 missioners in time of the usurpers. This debate of proportions will 
 be fresh and greater, whenever any new cesse is to be laid on ; I doe 
 therfore humbly offer to your Lo: whither it be not fitte, that a com- 
 mission of revaluation be apointed in the interim. If this be, I shall 
 aply myselfe to it ; if not, I beg your Lo: advice how to get some 
 ease, that we be no dearer than our neighbours, or most in Scotland. 
 I hope by this time the aquavite is arrived, but it will be yet too 
 new for a tryall. Adieu. 
 Inverary, March 28, 
 67. 
 
 FOR THE b7 HON^^^ THE EAllLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Inveraiay, May 11, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Sir R. Murray will give your Lo: ane account of all, I hope, I 
 need to say concerning the Bishope of the Illes, or M'Leane ; ther 
 busines, and what they are, will certainly be understood before they 
 be long ther, and I hope I need to feare none of them. 
 
 The paper my L. Montrose signed to secure the vassalls in Cowell, 
 and which remains in your Lo: hands, as I remember, was a part of 
 our communing, and he desires it may be put into my hand ; for 
 after I am perfectly informed of his procedoure with them, it is like 
 I will discharge him, and give him up his engadgment. And if it 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 79 
 
 be necessare, your Lo: shall have a letter from him to that purpose, 
 but I would not seeke it till I advertised your Lo: 
 
 My wiffe and her litle ones present ther service to you. Adieu. 
 
 Inveraray, May 27, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I will promise no more long letters, least I breake, yit have at 
 you. You promise me your nixt will please me ; I long for it. E. 
 Craford and I did both write long letters about M*Leane, when he 
 went ; if they came not to E. L. hands, they must be miscaried ; I 
 never gave any but to Mr Sharpe, and in his absence, to Henry 
 M'Kie. All ways, I have writen most of what I need say to you since, 
 and I have now writen to E. L. at so greate lenth that I feare I be 
 troublesome ; pray you take the keeping of my letter till that bus- 
 sines be over. 
 
 You understand me very right about P. M*Gr(egor) ; it will con- 
 cerne both the honour and peace of Scotland that that bussines be 
 tryed to the bottome. 
 
 I resolve to try seede and beries, tho I will not give over trans- 
 planting. 
 
 The liburnums are the peasecod tree, I thinke, sometimes called 
 hoburne ; they are excellent for a hedge, as plyable and a better tim- 
 ber then sach, with a long bushie yellow floore. 
 
 The good of plaine is, that it gets leaves very early ; but I j)Iant 
 
80 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 none very near my house, for within walls, except one row, I will 
 have no barren trees, unlesse it be in hedging : you know the bounds, 
 and none of the barren trees stand on the levell of the house, save 
 at a greate distance. The hills serve me for shelter, and the house, 
 if I were planted as I desing, will looke at a distance as if it stood 
 on the tope of a wood, and yet few barren trees are within twise 
 twelve score. The firre, oake, and elme I trust most to ; I am fallen 
 much in conceate with elme, and it grows well with me : I sent every 
 wher to get seed, and was promised as much as I needed, but I have, 
 I find, of mine owne some foure or five, which were not farre from 
 the house, have presently more seeds than leaves on them, which will 
 be ripe in a fortnight ; if ther be any feare, it is that the trees are 
 but young, within twenty yeares or lesse. 
 
 My gardine is now finished, all save the walls, which I intend not 
 till nixt summer ; 1 have only ane inch and a halfe of very fine 
 gravell to lay on after : now doe not feare hardnesse, for when the 
 wheell barrows rune on the wakes, they make no impression, and I 
 have the gravell so neare, that it will be easier once in a yeare or 
 two to scrape of two inches of the gravell, and lay them new, then 
 to weede them ; and in that time no weeds at all will grow. 
 
 I was willing to have mette for my brother, but he hath not yet 
 called me ; Mr Andrew Kerre is turned his absolute tutor : he is rai- 
 sing what money he can, but keeps all up from me. I am sory the 
 herring you gote were spoiled, but I thanke you for telling me, to 
 see if we can mend it ; I cannot thinke they lay any time without 
 salt : they pretend it was ther saltnesse, and tho they had picle liquur. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 81 
 
 it may be it was put in at Ed', for the cariers never faill to let it rune 
 out, and to ease ther horses burthen ; some thinks they were salted 
 too shoone in the yeare. 
 
 I will now need your directions about the salt panns, for I am 
 going to Kintire for a fortnight, but I must hast bake to the butter- 
 sapes. 
 
 G. Campbell did refuse to submite differs betwixt him and me to 
 E. Lowdon, Staires, and Cesnoke^ so the last session I gote him 
 turned out of a roume of land close at my gate ; I offered latly to 
 submite the price of his house in toune to Colline Campbell, but he 
 would not, so I resolve this session to give him another tryall, for 
 he is the worst nighboure I have. 
 
 M'Nachtanes people are still very foolish ; his wiffe will needs 
 hinder me to worke at a lime craig I have right to, as you will see 
 by a copie of paper Abruchell will send you, tho I had no more to 
 say to him. Adieu. 
 
 If my petition or information need amendements pray be at the 
 paines to se them transcrived. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I was hasted bake from Kintire beyond my expectation, by the 
 news of my wiffes being brought to bed ; shee is, I thanke God, as 
 well as ever I saw her in so long time, after such a storme ; and I 
 
 '■ Sir Hugh Campbell of Cessnock. 
 L 
 
82 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 am very hopfuU both the litle ones shall live, but they may pray 
 God send peace, for if the cesse continow, ther will be no tochers for 
 them ; in good earnest, I never saw^ such a want/ 
 
 I have, as I had time, laid new ways to catch that rouge, and I 
 am confident some of them will hite ; he hath, I heare, put on a 
 white periwige, for he is a blake fellow, and plays the physitiane, 
 and hath killed more that way then by his sword ; in some places 
 he hath given out he had my passe, but I am confident he shall get 
 his reward at the end. I have tryed ther cariage in Kintire as nar- 
 rowly as I could, and I am still confident none of those your Lo: 
 mentioned hath beene ther ; M'Cormike we believe gen"^ was killed i 
 ther was no minister of the name of Chambers with the rebells, but 
 ane Chambers, a brother of Gaidgarts^ ther was, but I am confident 
 was never in Kintire. And of Mures there was never but three, one 
 went three yeares agoe, one is in Dunbarten Castle, and one is no 
 phanatike is still ther. To try the mater further, I desire to know 
 particularly in what house, or what place of Kintire, that man pre- 
 tended to have scene these men ; I could then question these the 
 more strictly ; in the meane time, I have turned out my Bailly, and 
 have set one I can trust to live at every landing place, to take notice 
 who comes or goes from that. I cannot at this distance see it with 
 
 ^ These children died in infancy. 
 
 * Andrew Macorraick, an Irish minister, was killed at Pentland. Kirkton says that 
 he was commonly called " the goodman." 
 
 ^ That is, Gadgirth's. " Robert Chalmers, brother to Gadgirth," is mentioned in 
 the "• Proclamation discharging the receipt of the rebels, Dec* 4, 1666." 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 83 
 
 my owne eys, but I acknowledge, any that lives ther, and hath the 
 charge of the country, may easily know of all that can be harboured, 
 for the country is but narrow, and ther are but few landing places. 
 I have some incling that Mr Johne Carstaires^ was in Kintire two 
 or three nights, but I cannot yet prove it ; but if it be trew, I will 
 find it out : if it was, it was just after the breake ; he was since seene 
 in Ireland, in a suite of light grey cloaths. 
 
 The clan Camerone have latly fallen in blood amongst themselves, 
 but I hope to get justice done on the murtherers by common con- 
 sent. Adieu. 
 
 Inveraray, June 10, 
 67. 
 
 In February last one Mr M'Loy, ane Irishman of the age of 34 
 yeares or therby, indifferent tall, very druken faced in his aile, but 
 otherways of a pale complexion, came to Kintire from Irland. He 
 gave it out he was forced in by stresse of weather, that he intended 
 for Arran, that he was grivously oppressed by the Marquis of An- 
 trame^ told a number of idle ranting news, and had a deale of od 
 discourses, ill knute together ; which, with his other extravagancies, 
 made him to be taken notice of by every body in the streete of Loc- 
 head in Kintire. Wherupon producing severall passes, wherin he was 
 named M*Loy, one in the company offered to prove one of the passes, 
 pretended to be subscrived by the governour of Derry, to be coun- 
 
 1 Mr John Carstairs, minister at Glasgow, never actually joined the insurgents,— 
 Vide Wodrow, B. 2. C. 1. 
 
 * Randal Macdonnell, Marquis of Antrim. 
 
84 ETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 terfeit. Wherupon, next morning before day, he stoll away in a 
 boate to Arrane, and was never heard of since. If this be the in- 
 former, trust nothing but what he proves ; let him condeshend on 
 persones and places, and all shall be tryed to the full. 
 
 FOU THE r"^ H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Ed' Jul! 4, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I am desired to give a cover to the inclosed, and I doe very seri- 
 ously recommend it to you ; it is somwhat fuller of expostulation 
 then I expected, but he expressed himselfe fully to me, and from all 
 I can gather, ether from his discourse or cariage in other things, I 
 beleive he resolves realy to be in freindshipe with you. He did at 
 greate lenth acknowledge to me what favours he had of your Lo: 
 after his Ma"" happie returne, and acknowledged all was done for 
 him then was by your Lo: meanes ; he vindicate himselfe that your 
 Lo: was not in his billette\ and in the end said he knew do ground 
 of your being colder to him, but the differs that fell out betwixt him 
 and me ; and on this occation said it was trew he had concerned him- 
 
 * This alludes to Lord Middleton's act of balloting, by which twelve of the most 
 considerable royalists, particularly Lords Crawford and Lauderdale, were to be inca- 
 pacitated from public trust. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 85 
 
 selfe to stand in my way, but he would doe so no more ; but said in 
 gen" and named some particulares wherin I should find a greate 
 chang. I would not let your Lo: last part of it light, but laught at 
 it, and said what ever had past, or on what ever ground, I would 
 serve him at your Lo: hands what I could. I beleive the first par- 
 ticulare he will try will be to get somthing out of the forfeited estates 
 in the west, or some way or other, for I find not he is yet very rich. 
 I find him very well satisfied with any late change his Ma"** hath 
 made, and I find he is not tempted with our militia. Adieu. 
 
 FOR THE b7 H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Ed' Jully 16, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I have, out of my desire to shune any publike debate with the 
 Duke of Lenox\ at the Earle of Tweedales mediation agreed to pay 
 600^''* St" for the freedom e of driving our cows without trouble to 
 the markettes. The inclosed will shew your Lo: the beginning of 
 our trouble was very small, and occationed only by our willingnesse 
 to serve the Duke his predecessouars, with whome we were in per- 
 fect friendshipe ; but the abuse of the exaction had no end, but grew 
 
 ' Charles, sixth Dake of Lennox. 
 
86 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 to this very day. The Chan" Glencairne' gave it the first greate ad- 
 vance, farre beyond all former pretences, after it had lyen over many 
 yeares. I did last winter setle for this, and the deputation of the 
 admiralty, with L. Cochrane^ for 400^^ SV ; but a new commissione 
 was in the mean time granted to trouble us, and nothing performed. 
 I am now to have the deputation of the admirality on the west 
 coast, during my liffe, and 19 yeares after, excepting prizes : many 
 have deputations without any payment ; however, I desire peace, 
 and if the Duke refuse what his trustees have agreed to, I beg only 
 his Ma"** may understand the case, that I refuse no duty to his 
 Ma*'*, and I shall with litle anxiety take any venture of the issue of 
 the processe. If the Duke tell your Lo: of groates were due upon 
 each cow, ther was no such mater ; but when the oppression grew, 
 they tooke groates of every cow, instead of ten fatte cows, not at 
 Dunbarten only, but 40 miles from it, till the exaction is multiplied 
 ane hundredth times. 
 
 M. Montrose will expect some returne to what he write to your 
 Lo: as I goe home, which I intend, God willing, within ten or twelve 
 days. 
 
 My resignation, I hope, by that time shall be ready ; and I shall 
 send one with it can answer your Lo: any question occurres, and 
 alter whatever you find amisse ; The Kings advocate consults it, so 
 your Lo: neede not doute the law part, nor the proufes. Adieu. 
 
 1 William, Earl of Glencairne, appointed high-chancellor of Scotland for life. 19 
 Jan^ 1661. 
 
 ^ William Lord Cochrane. He died before his father in 1679. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 87 
 
 FOR THE r"^ H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF I.AUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have now at lenth gotten a scroll of such a signature ready as 
 I desire upon the resignation I intend to make. And because ther 
 may be severall things in it which may need explanations, and some 
 proufes, I have desired Abruchell^ to cary with him such papers as 
 I thought most necessary for that purpose. The rights of lands 
 will be timously enough instructed of before the Exchequer, and for 
 every other thing, I hope he shall be able to satisfie your Lo: ; I 
 have apointed him to conceeall nothing from your Lo: of the full pur- 
 pose and intention of every word, or clause, and expression in the 
 signature, and to ad, and paire, and alter by your Lo: direction, tho 
 it were to the moulding new of the wholl, which he can doe. I 
 crave pardone to beg your patience to heare him in the wholl par- 
 ticulars, tho it be tedious, for it will ease your Lo: the more of any 
 trouble about it afterwards, if any letter be necessare to come allonge 
 with it, you will be pleased to procure it. 
 
 The story of the Lady Drums^ processe against me, and the suc- 
 cesse and the consequence, I leave to the bearer to relate, as likways 
 
 * Colin Campbell of Aberuchel. 
 
 ' Probably Lady Mary Gordon, daughter of George, Marquis of Huntly ; she was 
 married to Alexander Irvine of Drum in the vear 1643. 
 
88 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 the story of stoping theeving in the Highlands, and all G. Campbell 
 his pranks, and all litle storys concerns me : my wifFe, and your god- 
 sone, and all the bairns can speake, present their service to you, and 
 I to my Lady, and my Lady Yester, whom I wish a good houre. 
 Adieu. 
 
 If your Lo: will be pleased, at Abruchels parting, to present 
 him to his Ma*'^ to be knighted, it will oblidge him and some of his 
 relations : I intend to employ him as my depute heere, and it will 
 get him some respect. 
 
 FOR THE r"^ H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Inveraray, Oct. 28, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I find Abruchell halfe distracted with your kindnesse to me, and 
 your dispatch to him ; he expects I should send your Lo: soleme 
 thanks, which I am sure you doe not, yet I am sure nothing but 
 absolute distraction can make me forget it. 
 
 I will not say you have made a man of me ; it is hard to doe, and 
 I heare that word was over abused E. T. (weedale) understands 
 this) but I am sure you found me litle better then a muse. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 89 
 
 Advise me what remains of my particulare ; command me in your 
 owne as farre as I have breath. Adieu. 
 
 I hope your Lo: will be pleased to get Abruchell dobd, before he 
 come away. 
 
 FOR THE iJ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Inveraray, No^' 11, 1667. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I must begine with your good sone; when he heard of your 
 grandchilds birth^ he leapt, and danct,and sung, and said, "Now Lord 
 godfather hath two of us, two Johnes :" but whither that be or not, 
 he owns without sant cerimony, to be his brother ; now, if Abru- 
 chell be still ther, he can tell your Lo: ther is a thing called in the 
 Highlands a coult, which is a relation they reckone stricter then to 
 be brothers or cousine germans. 
 
 Abruchell writes to me your Lo: hath some thoughts to adven- 
 ture some thing on the fishing trade ; if you doe, try if you can 
 order it so that our returns from France and Spaine may be vented 
 in England. I know not how it will stand with the English acts, 
 but if it can be compassed, two or three thousand pound sterline of 
 
 * Charles, afterwards third Marquis of Tweedale. 
 M 
 
90 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 stoke or more may, I am confident, be laid out heere to as good pur- 
 pose as in any place of Europe ; but take no parteners, but by my 
 advice, for it will be a thing of another nature then you imagine, 
 and I care not how few medle in it : only get us liberty to sell in 
 England, and we shall buy heere as chape as you can reasonably de- 
 sire ; for I have a cast of craft that every body must not know. Be- 
 fore you name them, I am free to receave E. T. (weedale), E. Kin- 
 cardine, Sir A. Frazer,^ but as few more as I can ; but if this cannot 
 be done, our trade heere, to tell you treuth, is litle worth : for we 
 have not a country to vent our returns, a vessell of 30 or 40 tune 
 will bring in all we can spend, so that it is not worth the whill for 
 your Lo: to medle in it. 
 
 The Laird of M'Laine will be on your Lo: for a protection. He 
 sent his Lady heere, who promised to pay me 18000"* he owes to 
 me, against Candlesmasse, and to submite what satisfaction he 
 should give for a decreete of adjudication for 200,000'"''*, wherin 
 my fathers creditors and I have a joint interest, to the President of 
 the Session, L. Staires, and the Laird of M'Loid,^ they three agre- 
 ing in one ; if he doe these two, which he hath not yet done, I am 
 content he have it, other ways I beg His Ma"^ may deny it ; for he 
 seekes but to shift, and denys what is in his power to give. Ther 
 is one Doull, a Scots mans sone, will waite on your Lo: to kisse your 
 hands ; his father is my aquaintance, I tbinke a very honest man ; 
 your Lo: will be pleased to looke favourably on him. Adieu. 
 
 ' Probably Sir Alexander Fraser of Dores, physician to the King. 
 ^ John Macleod of Macleod. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 91 
 
 FOR THE iJ HON°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Inveraray, De*"" 3, 
 67. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I have sent your herrings and aquavitae to Mr Sharpe, and some 
 honey out of this same orchard ; they use in this country to take it 
 with the aquavitae, enstead of sugare ; the cuper hath made the barle 
 too litle, and I have not time to helpe it now, but if you care for it, 
 because it is Highland, I shall helpe it nixt yeare, God willing. My 
 wiffe presents her service, and the bairns, to you, to my Lady, my 
 Lady Yester, and her sone. Adieu. 
 
 FOR THE r"^ H0N°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARY OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I remember, these two last conventions, ther was a greate deal 
 of heate about the way of laying on the sesse ; and whither it be by 
 way of taxation, or as in this last sesse, it is so unequall, that if 
 any new occation of sesse offer, it may readily retard his Ma"" ser- 
 vice : and had done it last, if the endeavoures of some, and the hopes 
 
92 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 it should not continow, had not diverted it. I doe, therfore, hum- 
 bly offer to your Lo: whither it may not now be a fitte time for his 
 Ma"^ whill ther is no present hast, to apoint some to consider of the 
 way of laying on of sesse, for afterwards, and the proportions. The 
 way of sesse is thought more e quail, and yet ther are greate dispro- 
 portions betwixt one shire and another, which is worse then betwixt 
 one man and another; in the way of taxation, ther are some so 
 heavie, that it were impossible for them to beare a greate taxation, 
 yet the cases are so few and so notoure, that I imagine they might 
 be helped with consent : and providing the generality were equall, 
 and none overburthened, I thinke a few to have ther old ease were 
 no greate hurt, but ane advantage to his Ma*'*, for in reasone they 
 ought to be most forward to advance what his Ma"^ needed. If 
 such a way as this were fallen on, it might save some time to the 
 first Par* or Convention that were called to raise mony ; this is but 
 a fancie I vent to your Lo: if it doe no good, it shall doe no hurt. 
 Adieu. 
 
 rOR THE -R^ HON°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Ed^ Dec' 22, 68. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I know I need not recommend to your Lo: any concernment of 
 my Lord Ballmerinos,^ but in this case he hath so much need of 
 * John, third Lord of Balmerinoch. 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 93 
 
 helpe, that I hope your Lo: will allow me to tell you, that every 
 body thinks it a mad distracted act the L. Cuper^ hath done, and 
 if some had not concerned themselves, it had not past in Exchequer 
 without much flouting; it is true it is not ordinare to refuse resig- 
 nations which are voluntarie deeds, but what els can be done for 
 my L. Ballmerino, I hope your Lo: will doe it. I am very glad to 
 heare of my Lady Yesters safe delivery, and of your brave boy f I 
 wish you much joy in him. Adieu. 
 
 FOR THE R"' H0N°^^ THE EAIILE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 
 seciietarie of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I have writen this other, which I hope will give satisfaction to any 
 stike may be about my signature ; and in case your Lo: thinke not fit 
 
 ' Lord Coupar was Lord Balmerinoch's uncle. A curious decision concerning this 
 Lord was given by the Court of Session, 3d July, 1662. Lord Coupar, sitting in 
 Parliament, took out his watch, and handed it to Lord Pitsligo, who refusing to re- 
 store it, an action was brought for the value. Lord Pitsligo said, that Lord Coupar 
 having put his watch into his hand to see what hour it was, Lord Sinclair putting forth 
 his hand for a sight of the watch, Lord Pitsligo put it into Lord Sinclair's hand, in the 
 presence of Lord Coupar, without contradiction, which must necessarily import his 
 consent. Lord Coupar answered, that they being then sitting in Parliament, his si- 
 lence could not import a consent. The Lords repelled Lord Pitsligo's defence, and 
 found him liable in the value of the watch. — Morrisons Decisions. 5626. 
 
 * Probably John, afterwards Lord John Hay. ^ 
 
94 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 to presse for ane order from his Ma''% I dare, for my interest, if your 
 Lo: allow it, on your Lo: writing a private line to E. T(weedale), 
 put It to a vote of Exchequer. 
 
 I am now fiting my accounts, and am, I confesse, a great deall in 
 arire ; but if your Lo: will be pleased to get ane order to the Com- 
 missioners of the Exchequer to pay Fordie, according to a former 
 order, and ane act of the Exchequer, which hath hitherto taken no 
 effect, I shall pay all presently. His Ma*'^ I know, remembers the 
 debt, and S. R. M(urray) knows how tender Fordie was to presse 
 untimously : I hope some time or other some other thing will be 
 done for him. In the meane time this will be a favour to him, and 
 a necessare favour to me. 
 
 I have another bargane with the Commissioners on foote, wherby 
 they will, in two, or three, or foure yeare, get payment of what is 
 due to themselves and E. Craford by M'^Laine, extending to forty 
 thousand pounds, which otherways could not be payed, for aught I 
 know, in twenty yeares. Adieu. 
 
 Your Lo: may leave my name in the order for Fordie, or put it 
 out, as you please. 
 
 (Endorsed by the Duke, "Earle of Argyll, in Dec^ 1668.") 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 95 
 
 FOR THE R^ HON°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Inveraray, 6 May, 1669. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I came here upon Friday last by the way of Pearthshyre, for 
 reasones Erie Twedaill will tell you ; I brought Sir Joseph Dou- 
 glas^ w* me, that at his returne he may tell my Lady stories of 
 the Highlands, which I am confident my Lady will rather take upon 
 trust then green to see. 
 
 I promised in my last, when I came here, to give your Lo: ane 
 account of the reasones of my desire to have your Lo: allowance to 
 wait upon you at Londone, in case your Lo: came not to Scotland 
 this sumer ; and they are, in short, to give your Lo: ane accompt 
 of the present state of my affaires, which by Gods providence, his 
 Ma"^' favour, and your Los: kyndnes, are now in a conditione that 
 some reckoning may be maid, what is frie to my familie, and legal 
 convoyances can be maid, which could not so weill be done before. 
 And having of late, both in my own familie and severall others 
 about me, had many signall proofes of mortalitie, uncertaintie of 
 the tyme and way of death, as I find it a dewtie to my familie to 
 leave my affaires in some ordour, and bounds clere betwixt my chil- 
 
 ^ Probably Sir Joseph Douglas, son of William Douglas of Pumpherstoun, by Mary, 
 daughter of Gilbert, Lord Somerville ; he was drowned going down to Scotland with 
 the Duke of York, 1682. 
 
96 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 dren, if it should please God to call me, so I think ther lyes a 
 dewtie upon me, both in respect to them and your Lo:, to have yo' 
 advyce in it, that I pull not down what you have built up. The 
 particulares of these thinges cannot be treated of at this distance ; 
 the maine thing, and indeed the only thing I know, that rests of con- 
 sequence, and may breed me truble, and unhinge my vassals ryghts, 
 which cannot be but very grievous to me, is the interlocutour of the 
 Lords of Session I met with in winter ; and said then a litle of it 
 to your Lo: The legall pairt I leave to the informations my advocat 
 hath drawne, which all the world cannot answer in law : but be- 
 cause I will never refuise, though I had ane hundreth great sealls, 
 to putt my life and fortune in his Ma"^' hands, I shall remember yo" 
 Lo: a litle of mater of fact, and I doubt not, when his Ma*'^ consi- 
 ders of it, he wold yet doe ovir againe what he hath done for me, 
 if it wer to doe : much more now, be content to leave me to the 
 course of law, my debate being foundeit on his Ma*'''* royall prero- 
 gative, and the privilege of the Crowne. 
 
 Your Lo: knows that whill that estate that wes my fathers vves 
 entirely in his Ma*'^' hand, I never pleaded any interest in it, but 
 with the burden of the whoU debt, though afterwards his Ma"* wes 
 graciouslie pleased to consider my conditione, and to burden my 
 gift with no more debt than might, in some measour, consist with the 
 preservatione of my familie. His Ma*'* was lykwayes graciouslie 
 pleased to give me the right of my vassals estates, so farr as fell 
 undir the foirfaultour ; and albeit therby the propertie of most of 
 y^ estates wold fall to be myne, and that I am forced wher I have 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 97 
 
 greatest kyndnes for them, to take out decreets against them, yet 
 none of them can say I took a yeires rent from them on that single 
 accompt ; tho I have setled with nyne pairts of ten of them, and 
 this is no great sowme for y' sheare, considering the paines and ex- 
 pence I have been at. 
 
 Only in George Campbells case, in his houses in Inveraray, worth 
 ane hundreth pund sterling, I took the benefite of my decreet, be- 
 cause he refuised altogither to setle w* me, and I wes desireous to 
 be frie of his neighbourhead. When that decreet wes procured, he 
 defended most contentiousslie, and left nothing unsaid that aither law 
 or malice could prompt him to: so that in his case, I have ane 
 ample practiqz of all I can pretend to. But at this tyme, the Lords 
 wold not doe so much as read it, or my ratificatione, wherof I have 
 inclosed a double of the clause which concernes that point. When 
 I received my interloquutour, I said, tho it was a delay, I wes weill 
 pleased with it, because I feared no hurt from the hand they had putt 
 me in. I went afterwards to the President, and told liim, I was still 
 pleased with my interloquutour, but that the lords might doe thinges 
 uncertaine knowledge; 1 wished him to read my decreet against 
 George, and the clause of my ratificatione, which the Lords had not 
 done, tho it lay upon ther table. He pretendeit he did not know it 
 wes ther, but all that he could say against me wes, that my ratifi- 
 catioune wes not past in Excheq' ; which the Kings Advocats, my 
 Lord Gosford, and Sir George Lockhart, who wer my advocats, had 
 told me wes not necessar ; seing it wes only ane ratificatioune of ane 
 act of a comissione under the great seall : but I can now answer this 
 
 N 
 
98 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 sufficientlie, tho the Excheq''" consent wes necessarie, for they have 
 homologat my ratificatioune, by passing ane act, declaring that the 
 passing my great signatour wes w*out prejudice of the creditours 
 rights, by vertew of the act of the Comissione, and the Ratifica- 
 tioune following therupon ; which is all I crave. 
 
 This resolutione of wrytting to his Ma"% wes started in George 
 Campbells case ; but upon my Lord Staires saying that the mater 
 wes then in law, and that they satt ther to give justice according to 
 law, and not to be his Ma*'^' counsellouris, it wes waved at that tyme. 
 
 It is not fitt to say it at the barr, but it is the creditouris, and not 
 the vassalls, that stickells ; for if this decreit goe against me, which 
 is impossible w^out speciall ordour from his Ma"^ very many of my 
 vassalls wold be brocken for my fathers cautionrie, especiallie whill 
 they have no releiff ; and to show yo'' Lo: my purpose, provyding 
 the decreet pass in my favour, I doe assure you I will never exact 
 beyond what I have told you, from any that have not setled : only 
 I must keep it* as ane awband over ther head, till they doe setle ; and 
 if ever any complaint come to his Ma**^* eares of my rigour on the 
 accompt of foirfaultour, I shall be content, at his Mat*""" sight, to 
 discharge the wholl. 
 
 All that I desire is, that his Ma"^ will be graciouslie pleased in 
 his returne to the Sessione, to say that he hath already declaired his 
 pleasour fuUie in that wholl affair, and to appoint them to doe justice 
 according to law, and to direct his advocate to appear for his in- 
 terest 
 
 I think a very litle word from the Earle of Twedaill, at his re- 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 99 
 
 turne, will doe the bussines ; And if that wer, I wold bestow the 
 summer sessione on it : But if your Lo: find any difficultie in it, that 
 I am not aware of, I will leave every thing till I wait upon you, and 
 informe your Lo: more particularlie about it. I confes it is hard that 
 whill Marques Huntlie caries decreets of the same nature without a 
 hushe, whill he exacts the rigour, and yet hath no express clause in 
 his ryt, that I shall be putt to get his Ma"^ declair himselfe the 
 second tyme. 
 
 My Lord, after I had writen this once over, and begune it againe, 
 I was afraid you should (not) read my scribling on this sinking pa- 
 per, which hath made me use a hand, whose head I am sure knows 
 nothing of what he writes : my nixt, its like, may be from Tober 
 Morry. Adieu. 
 
 FOR THE R*^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF I.AUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 Ed' 17 Feb. 70, 
 
 My Lord, 
 I find my Lord Montrose and Pitcurs^ signaturs cannot passe 
 without a taxt duty, such as are usuall in course, unlesse your Lo: 
 doe of new signifie his Ma"^' pleasure concerning them ; and there- 
 fore they are delayed to be presented, till your Lo: procure them the 
 
 * Sir James Haliburton of Pitcur. 
 
100 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, 
 
 iavoiire you proposed for them. I thought not to have beene here till 
 now, but ther hath been a great storm, hath made it impossible to 
 goe any way in coach ; but I intend, God willing, now to goe on 
 Monday. Adieu. 
 
 FOR THE R"^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 
 secretarie of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 I came heere in obedience to your Lo: commands, to waite upon 
 E. T.(weedale) but how usfull my being heere hath beene to your 
 Lo:, or how pleasing to myselfe, will be fitter to discourse of, when 
 I have the happinesse to waite upon you, then to write of at this 
 distance ; and therfore I shall wave it : only I beg that during that 
 time, your Lo: will believe I am what I am bound to be to your Lo: 
 on many accounts. I know not if on the bake of this I should tell 
 your Lo: a story, which I concerne myselfe no more in then you will 
 allow me ; and is not my complaint, as it may be, will be suggested. 
 Upon Thursday at the councell, a desire was given in that E. Atholls 
 gift of sheriffe shipe might passe the great seall per saltem, which 
 was refused ; the gift cariing, it should passe in Exchequer, and 
 yesterday it was stopt in Exchequer. I did not open my mouth in 
 ether of the occations, nor came it ever to a vote, it was so flatly re- 
 fused ; but seing it is stopt, it may be your Lo: would not afterwards 
 find it amisse to write two lines to E. T.(weedale) that it were no 
 
TO JOHN, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. 101 
 
 further prest till you saw him, for ther is somthing in it I may not 
 write. I did not realy thinke to write of this particulare when I be- 
 gane to write, but I resolve to use the freedome your Lo: hath beene 
 pleased to allow me, till your Lo: forbid it, who ever be displeased 
 at it. I thinke to goe out of toune once nixt weeke, that I may be 
 amongst the first to waite upon you, and for that purpose I beg to 
 know your Lo: diet, as neare as may be. Adieu. 
 
 for the 11"^ hon°^^ the earle of lauderda.ill, lord 
 secretarie of scotland. 
 
 My Lord, 
 The bearer heerof, the ShirrifFe of Bute^ desires your Lo: favoure 
 in some particulares he hath in hand ; he is my friend and nighboure, 
 and his family hath beene so to mine. My advice to him is, to pro- 
 pound his busines to your Lo:, and to follow it, or give it over, as 
 you advise him ; and if your Lo: find it reasonable and faisible, I 
 hope you will at my request countenance him. I rest. 
 
 My Lord. 
 (The rest torn off.) 
 
 * Sir Dugald Stewart of Bute. 
 
102 LETTERS FROM ARCHIBALD, EARL OF ARGYLL, &c. 
 
 FOR THE iJ HON°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE OF SCOTLAND. 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 I have inclosed a rude draught of the buriall place at Killrnune. 
 
 L. and H. is the Quire, c is the buriall place, wher my grand- 
 father, and father, and others of our family, and some of my child- 
 [tert ly;? fci^fe.k is full, save one place for my mother. 
 
 M. is ane olde tombe looking to the Quire, and the square of L. 
 hath beene full of coffines of my predecessours, and ther children, 
 but of late liberty was taken to bury some friends deshended of our 
 family, and the square c lookt on our buriall place. 
 
 My designe is to have a tombe betwixt a and b, which is twelve 
 English foute, just over against the other ; and any afterwards, if 
 they please, may build a buriall place k, and in the meane time I 
 have shute up the Quire, and laid my wiflfes body in it, in a lead 
 coffine, under ground ; so as it may safely be changed when the 
 tombe is made up. 
 
 When your Lo: lets me know the designe of the tomb, I shall send 
 you all helps I can, ether for armes or efigies, which are not yet 
 ready. 
 
 Now that S. R. M.(urray) is at London, he will ease your Lo: 
 of this trouble, which I presumed to give my Lady at the beginning. 
 Whatever is not of marble, by direction can be done at home, un- 
 lesse it be very fine worke in peices. 
 
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 MJL^ . ^f J^J "^^^""^ 
 
appentii):. 
 
 The following Letters, addressed by Sir Andrew Ramsay, of Abbotshall, Bart, to the 
 Duke of Lauderdale, are printed here, as they and Lord Argyll's come within the 
 same period of the Duke's coiTespondence, and they are too few in number to con- 
 stitute a volume of the series. Sir Andrew was long Provost of Edinburgh, and 
 in that capacity forwarded the interest of the Duke of Lauderdale with the utmost 
 zeal and success ; nor did his services pass unrewarded. Kirkton says, " Sir An- 
 drew Ramsay acquired the barony of Waughton, and the island, or rock, of the 
 Bass, among the rest. This he sold to our King, as was reported, for some thou- 
 sand pounds English, (wherein usually the procuring courtier had his share,) and a 
 dear bargain it was." In the " Account of Scotland's grievances by reason of the 
 Duke of Lauderdale's ministrie," it is stated that " Sir Andrew Ramsay, having 
 neither for a just price, nor by the fairest means, got a title to a bare insignificant 
 rock in the sea, called the Bass, and to a public debt, both belonging to the lord 
 (i. e. laird) of Wachton ; my Lord Lauderdale, to gratifie Sir Andrew, moves the 
 king, upon the pretence of this public debt, and a place of strength (like a castle in 
 the moon), and of great importance, (the only nest of solan geese in these parts) 
 to buy the rock from Sir Andrew, at the rate of L.4000 sterling, and then obtained 
 the command and profits of it, amounting to more than L.lOO sterling yearly, to 
 be bestowed upon himself." 
 
 FOR THE r'^ honorable THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, SOL 
 SECRETARIE OF STATE TO HIS Ma"^^*^ FOR SCOTLAND, 
 
 THESE. 
 
 Edinbrugb, 29th of Dec', 1663. 
 
 My most NOBLE Lord, 
 Please your Lo: I am verie myndfull of the debts wee owe you, 
 and, if possible, would willinglie satisfie the mony part, before the 
 
104 APPENDIX. 
 
 long day yo' Los: hes been pleased to allow us ; and for that cause 
 thought fit at this tyme to entreat y'' Lo: if you find any pourposse 
 in his Ma"^ to rebuild the Abbay/ to accelerate the same, for if that 
 work goe on, wee may make some money of the he wen work of the 
 citadail,^ which this winter hath whollie either beaten downe, or so 
 lowsed, that the next storme will bring all to the ground. My 
 Lord, I did more fuUie speak herein to my Lord Twiddell, who or 
 long I hope shall be with yo' Lo:, so that I shall not trouble yo' Lo: 
 with any further, than to sey, I am most perfectlie, 
 
 My Lord, 
 Your Lo: most humble and 
 
 Most faithful servant, 
 
 A. Ramsay. 
 
 ' Holyroodhouse. Nicol, in bis MS. diary, tells us, that on Wednesday, 13th No- 
 vember, 1630, the royal part of the palace of Holyroodhouse was burnt to the 
 ground, " all but a little," being then occupied by the English troops. Feb. 1652. 
 The Commissioners of the English Parliament, then at Dalkeith, sent masons and car- 
 penters, who defaced all the royal insignia on the Castle, the Abbey, and the High 
 Kirk, " they dung down the unicorn on the cross, and hung the crown that was upon 
 his head on the gallows." In 1658, the repairs of Holyroodhouse were commenced by 
 order of the Protector. 
 
 ^ The citadel at Leith. 
 
 j/Ummmgss^l^mgmmgg^^ 
 
APPENDIX. 105 
 
 FOR THE R'^ honorable THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAILL, HIS 
 ma: SEC^^ for SCOTLAND, 
 
 THESE. 
 
 Edinbrugh, 7th May, 1664. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yo' Los: great and successful! care in the matter of trade is most 
 kyndlie resented by those of the Borrows ; there is a metting of the 
 most considerable of them to be at this place the 24th instant, if yo' 
 Lo: have anything to communicate to them, yo' Lo: may signifie yo' 
 pleasure betwixt and then. My Lord, it is generally wished that 
 the hopefuU advance in that particular may be brought to a spidie 
 and happie closse, w""^ they doubt not by yo' Los: endeavour will 
 be attained, but if warrs should happin with Holand before its setle- 
 ment, it will be a verie considerable losse to this nation. My Lord, 
 I told Mr W" Sharpe that the 250 lb. dew to yo' Lo: at this in- 
 shewing terme should be paid, and now I beg leave to tell yo' Los: 
 self, that if yo' Lo: desyre a thowsand or fyfteen hundreth pounds 
 more, upon yo' Los: advertisement I will essey to doe it ; and I de- 
 syre that yo' Lo: will acquent non therwith but my selfe, lest it 
 should occasion me obstructions. My Lord, I most make bold to 
 remember yo' Lo: that I undertuke in yo' Los: name to have that 
 new signatur of imposition here before or about this tyme. And 
 therefore let me humblie entreat yo' Lo: to haist it downe, and let 
 it be the verie same signatur w''^ was sent up, and was consulted 
 before hand, and is what without any alterations will be most plea- 
 
 o 
 
106 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 sing. My Lord, pardon my earnestnesse to see my owne undertake- 
 ing to this place performed in my owne tyme. Thus is all I darr 
 presume to trouble yo' Lo: with, further then to sey, I am. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yo' Lo: most humble and 
 
 Most faithful servant, 
 
 A. Ramsay. 
 
 FOR THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE EARL OF LAUDERDAILL, LORD 
 
 SECRETARIE TO HIS MAJESTIE FOR THE KINGDOME 
 
 OF SCOTLAND, 
 
 THESE. 
 
 Edinbrugh, 2d Sept. 1664. 
 
 My Lord, 
 My unwillingnes to trouble yo' Lo: together with the doubteful- 
 nes of the cittie Councils adhereing to their sentence of depositor 
 past upon their clerk, S' W™ Thomson, for his great neglect, and 
 pregnant presumption of malversation, in their affaires of greatest 
 concerne, made me refraine from acquainting yo' Lo: hereof till 
 now, that all hops of remede is past. And now, my Lord, it being 
 the cittie councils act, its what I am bound to owne, and shall not 
 doubt of yo' Lo: respects, neather to them nor myself, in yo' Lo: 
 patrocine of us in this just act. My Lord, I pourpose once betwixt 
 and the terme of Mertimesse to give M' Shearp a thowsand pounds 
 to account, which will compleat the half of our debt to yo' Lo:, and 
 
APPENDIX. ^ 
 
 am hopfuU, God willing, to satisfie the whoU a twelf monthe hence, 
 and sooner if possible ; I trust yo" Lo: shall never find me remisse in 
 what I may serve yo' Lo: in. As to the signatur, haveing oversaid 
 in that matter alreadie, and being confident of yo' Los: care, shall ab- 
 solutlie leave it to your owne tyme. And now I shall add noe more, 
 but desyre yo' Lo: beleave, that noe man liveing shall serve yo' Lo: 
 with more faithfulnes and affection then he who subscrybes himself. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yo' Lo: most humble and obliged servant, 
 
 A, Ramsay. 
 
 FOR THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE EARLE OF LAUDERDATL, 
 LORD SECRE^^ TO HIS MATie FOR SCOTLAND. 
 
 My most NOBLE AND DEAR LORD, 
 
 I had before this returned ane answer to yo' Lo: of the 5th in- 
 stant, if the continuall meetings of the Convention and comitties 
 thereof had not tyd me almost to a constant attendance ; as also 
 the consideration of the particulars therein mentioned not being my 
 concernment, but that of the towne of Edin', did make me endea- 
 vour to try the pulse of the Magestrats, and of the clerk also, in re- 
 latione to the desyre of those who solicit yo' Lo: in the behalf of 
 S' W" Thomson, that so I might with the greater fridome let y' Lo: 
 know what was in my power to effectuat ; which, from the sense 
 of my dewtie I owe yo' Lo:, and on all occasions shall expresse : and 
 
108 APPENDIX. 
 
 particularlie, I doe well remember I did to the Earl of Tweddell 
 upon his coming for London, who asked me what I could move the 
 towne of Edinb: to doe for S' W™ Thomson. And all that was 
 craved, was, that what Mr Thomas Young the present clerk should 
 condeshend to give S' W"", that upon Mr Thomas Youngs deathe 
 or deposition, the towne might secure him in it for his lyfe, he have- 
 ing been ane old servant ; to which I answered, that it wes more 
 than I would undertake, haveing a multitude to doe w*^ and to add, 
 I may sey, and that a kitle multitude : and thereafter my Lord Twed- 
 dell said, what if yo' Lo: should be moved to wreat hereanent ? I 
 told my Lord that I was so sensible of yo' Lo: favours to me, that 
 I would not be wanting to serve yo Lo: in what I could. This is 
 all that past. And now upon yo' Lo: lettre I think I may be able, 
 though not without difficultie, to get the counsel of Edinb: to con- 
 deshend to what was desyred by the Earle of Tweddell ; which is, 
 in caise of Mr Tho: Youngs death or deposition, to burthen the nixt 
 entrant or entrants successive to the annuitie to be agreed on, not 
 exceiding the half profits of the chambre to S' W"" dureing his lyfe, 
 he acknowledging the justnes of their sentence pronounced against 
 him, and promissing to demeane himselfe as a burges and nigh- 
 bour ought to doe ; but that he should think of being reponed in 
 the termes of the inclosed paper, drawn up by his Lo:, who was em- 
 ployed by him against the towne, it wes not to be imagined by 
 me or any who knew the temper of the most knowing and interes- 
 ed in this cittie ; who are absolutely averse from makeing any clerk 
 of longer endurance then the Magestrats, which are annuall, unlesse 
 
APPENDIX. 109 
 
 continewed by election ; neather was there any clerk had their 
 office since Edinb" was, in any other terms, till S' W™ obtained it 
 in the Usurper's tyme, and lykeways there is many acts of the Bor- 
 rows against gifts ad vitam : and the present magestrats is of the 
 same judgment and resolution. I did also, in presence of the ma- 
 gestrats, comunicat the paper to the present clerk, who openlie de- 
 clared that as he was never made knowing to any such paper or 
 agreement, so he would never agree thereto ; nor could he advyse 
 the towne of Edinb: to consent to any such agreement, so that find- 
 ing both the magestrats and him so zealous in their opposition to 
 that which I insinuat, what I have given yo' Lo: ane account of 
 as passing betwixt the Earle of Tweddell and me, which if desyred 
 by yo' Lo: I think may be obtained at their hands. And upon the 
 matter it is that for which yo' Lo: does wryte, as to S' W".'* profit ; 
 and I hope yo' Lo: will never think but the power of the towne over 
 their servants is to be preserved. My Lord, I know noe reason for 
 which so much could be condesh ended to as I have promissed to en- 
 deavour, but because yo' Los: is pleased to move in it. And there- 
 fore, I think I may sey for the towne, and sure I shall swere for 
 myself, that I shall ever continew my faithfull endeavours to doe 
 your Lo: all the service that I shall be capable off, and yo' Los: 
 verie inclinations, when knowen, shall be to me as comands, to 
 which I doe owe myself oblidged ; and so shall evidence, when ever 
 the opportunitie shall offer to me, that I am. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yo' Lo: most humble and faithfull servant, 
 
 A. Ramsay. 
 
no APPENDIX. 
 
 FOR THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAIL, 
 LORD SE^^ TO HIS MA"^^^ FOR SCOTLAND. 
 
 Ed% 19th ApU, 1665. 
 My most NOBLE AND DEAR LORD, 
 
 I have heretofore so much cloged yo' Lo: with my lettres, that 
 I have just cause to judge that I have wearied yo' Lo: with them ; 
 and indeed, had it not been the occasion of this bearer, I would not 
 have troubled your Lo: at this tyme ; but being one whom I know 
 honours yo' Lo: as much as any in the world, and to whom I stand 
 much ingaged to for kyndnes, I have presumed (which I beg par- 
 don for) evin to intreat for yo' Los: favour in the behalf of his par- 
 ticular concerne. My Lord, the privat advantage I have, or looks 
 efter, for my publict service, is but to serve my friends in their just 
 interest, and if yo' Lo: will honour me so far as to let him know 
 that this my recommendation hath been of good use to him, it will 
 be a singular respect put on me. My Lord, I am fraught with r 
 desyre of that, that I cannot convenientlie attains to at this tyme, 
 evin to have the happines to be with yo' Lo: for a litle, that 
 amongst other things I might give yo' Lo: ane true and honest ac- 
 count of the tumblings and turnings in this place since yo' Lo: par- 
 ture, and to w"'' I am asseured yo' Lo: is a strainger to the veritie 
 as yet ; a great part whereof the bearer is able to give yo'Lo: 
 acco*. My Lord, whill I am in any publict condition, I shall en- 
 deavour to the utmost to serve you, and when I retier my self to 
 
APPENDIX. Ill 
 
 my gowne and my beads, I shall pray for yo' Lo: prosperitie, and 
 in all conditions shall be readie to witnes my self. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yo' Lo: most humble and most faithfull servant, 
 
 A. Ramsay. 
 
 FOR THE R^ HON°^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDERDAIL, LORD 
 SEA^^ TO HIS Ma"^ FOR SCOTLAND, 
 
 THESE. 
 
 Edinbrugh, 16^J^ Dec, 1665. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Please yo' Lo: I am exciding sensible of yo' Los: favours, and 
 of late of that favour in varding me from the designed blow of my 
 enemies, vrho, throw lying and craftie endeavours, had misrepre- 
 sented me to my noble friends, and thereby abussed them groslie ; 
 w""* throw tyme and patience I have overcome, so that now they lye 
 catched in the snare they devysed for me. And as I ever under- 
 stude it was yo'^ Los: advyse and desyre that I should be carefuU to 
 serve and oblidge the Lord Comis" Grace, so truelie, as from yo" 
 Los: advice, dewtie, and my owne inclination, I have carefullie en- 
 deavoured the same ; w*"^ at lenthe, blissed be God, I have been suc- 
 cessful! in : the publict good of this place was motive ennough for 
 me to have studied it, though my owne advantage and quyit had 
 not been concerned therein. And since I received yo' Los: welcome 
 
112 APPENDIX. 
 
 to my troublesom imployment, by yo' Lo: to Mr Sharp, w*"^ justlie 
 may be termed so, and which is worse, there is no hops to see it 
 deserve a better epithet, with ane encouragement also to send up 
 the good towns signature, immediatelie thereefter I applyed my 
 self to my Lord Com" Grace, and craved his allowance to the send- 
 ing of [some words torn off] cheirfuUie concured to the sending 
 of it ; and promissed not onlie to give it covert, but lykewayes said 
 he would recommend it to yo' Lo: and when it pleases yo' Lo: to 
 returne it, I am hopfuU it will passe smuthe ennough here, not- 
 withstanding of the noyse yo'^ Lo: possiblie have been allarmed with, 
 of a new started debait of prioritie betwixt the Lords of the Session 
 and the Provost of Edinbrugh w^'^in the priviledges of the cittie, 
 in w''^ matter I humblie beg yo'^ Lo: leave to give yo' Lo: this fol- 
 lowing troublesome information. Upon the expresse desyre and 
 comands of the Council of Edinb: besyd the obligation and right of 
 my owne office, I went some weeks agoe to the CoUedge of Edinb: 
 in ane affaire of the towns concerne ; it was the election of the hu- 
 manist maister ; where my Lord Advocat with my Lord Stair came 
 from the Lords of the Session, who have a conjunct right of nomi- 
 nation with the towne of that maister onlie, albeit the eolation of 
 that, and all other places in that Coledge, be properlie the towns. 
 At this meeting the Advocat was pleased to debait against the Pro- 
 vost of Edinb. presidencie therin, howbeit he represented the Rec- 
 tor for the tyme, and albeit the Advocat founded not upon the Col- 
 ledge of Justice interest, but upon the interest of a third partie, to 
 wit, the principall of the Coledge,"^ whose prudencie, modestie, and 
 
 » William Colvill. 
 
APPENDIX. 113 
 
 conscience of the towns right, could not but persuade him to ced 
 thereto. There was noe other debait there, nor at that tyme, but 
 with the tacit consent of the Advocate, in the ordinarie civilitie 
 giveing way. I cam furth, and thereefter downe the laine from the 
 Coledge with him, takeing that place that my predecess" provosts 
 of Edinbrugh had allways possessed past memorie, without so much 
 as one word from the Advocat to the contrarie ; yet the nixt day 
 morning it was his will to complaine to the Lords of the Session, 
 not touching the presidencie, but precedencie, of the Provost of 
 Edinbrugh before himself, which was seconded by another complaint 
 from my Lord President of that same nature done to himself. 
 Whereupon tliey with the remainent lords, upon their owne respec- 
 tive particular, and comune interest,^ the clerks were removed, that 
 their sentence might be, if not the more legall and solemne, yet the 
 more privat and secreat, as being without citation of partie to the 
 proces, and without publict notar or clerk to the decreat ; which 
 decreet was thereefter sumarlie, I shall not sey pronunced, nor 
 given, but taken by thamselfs in their owne favours, decerning and 
 ordaining all the Lords of Session, to have the place and preceden- 
 cie, both of the Provost of Edinb. expreslie, and also of all noble- 
 mens sonns, without exception of either marquisses or ducks, as I 
 am informed, for there is no publict record of the sentence ; if so, 
 howsoever publict or comune concerne it be, not only to the Pro- 
 vost and cittie of Edinb: but to all the noble families of Scotland ; 
 yea, I humblie conceive to the honor of the nation itself. 
 
 » Sic in MS. 
 P 
 
114 APPENDIX. 
 
 Efter this representation of the case, yd" Lo: I hop, will give me 
 leive, though it be not necessar as to yo'selve, who, in cases most 
 abstruse, far more in one so clear as this, at first sees what is just, 
 and (w*^** is always mixt in questions of this nature) what is also 
 convenient ; yet, for my owne exoneration, on the interest not of my 
 person, but office, and of the Good Towne, yea, and of our poor coun- 
 trye, whereof yo' Lo: is knowne to be so noble a patriot, and for w"^ 
 causes alone, w%ut any other recompense in the least, I mainetaine 
 the charge (besyds the toyl) of the imploymeut upon my owne pri- 
 vat fortune, and now cannot but defend the dignitie thereof upon 
 the same accounts. Whereupon, I sey, my Lord, I am confident 
 yo' Lo: will permit me to touche some reasons why the precedencie 
 within the priviledges of the towne of Edinb: belongs to the Pro- 
 vost of Edinb: before any Lord of the Session. In this question I 
 am confident the Lords will not oppose their owne decreet, seeing 
 it was without citation or audience before themselfs, which is a nul- 
 litie evin by naturs law ; it was taken by themselfs in their owne 
 favors, being both judge and partie ; herein their dignitie is indeed 
 of themselves. It was in a matter not patrimoniall, but of dignitie, 
 which, especiallie being of so comune a concerne, and belonging to 
 the decorum and policie of the kingdome, in the office of the pro- 
 vost of the cheif cittie thereof, and dignitie of the wholl noble fa- 
 milies, is, I humbly conceive, onlie proper to his Majestic himself, 
 who is the fountain of all dignitie and honor ; and so most incom- 
 petent to them, evin though they themselfs were not parties. And 
 more, that sentence was never, and I trust never shall be, in actis. 
 
APPENDIX. 115 
 
 nor so much as a clerk ever present thereat. The litle experience 
 and knowledge I have of judiciall procedurs in generall, were it but 
 from what may be seen in our cittie court, puts me above all doubt 
 of the nullitie of that sentence, and I hop yo*^ Lo: will be of the 
 same mynd : therefore without farther, I shall but hint at the su- 
 marie heads of some reasons of the Provost of Edinb: precedencie 
 before mentioned. And first, the Provost of Edinb: is in the pos- 
 sessione, and hes been, by vertue of his office and dignitie, in peace- 
 able possession of that precedencie for tyme immemoriall, w"^ I sup- 
 pose cannot but be knowne to yo' Lo: w*^^ is sufficient to defend his 
 right, till it be reduced and taken away. Then if the sol right of 
 the Provosts precedencie were in debait, he hath not onlie a power 
 of jurisdiction in civil and privat interest of parties, but of governm*, 
 as to the policie and publict good of the metropolis and cheif cittie 
 of the realme ; q'by he hath that eminent trust comited to him, not 
 onlie to procure the publict peace and welfair of that cittie, (as in I'l'"- ■"« <'"• avoids 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ of K. I. 6, his char- 
 
 the case of provosts of other brughs, above all w^*" it's eminent) but |"'" "* *^"' ''"*if ^ "^ 
 
 ^ o I honor to the Prov- 
 
 in it of his Majesties owne person, when he is in the nation of his ^"""^ "^^ Edmbr. 
 
 Comis'" Grace in his absence, of his Parliaments, Convention of Es- 
 
 tats, and Councils, and of his other high courts, civel and criminall, 
 
 all which hes fixt their sets here, and cannot easilie be changed. 
 
 Upon reasons of that nature it's well knowen to yo' Lo: which I 
 
 may have had some occasion in passing to read, what was the pre- 
 
 cellencie and precedencie of the praefect of Rome ; as also how, efter 
 
 that example, and upon the lyke grounds, the lyke dignitie has been 
 
 given be comune consent of all nations, as being of comune reason. 
 
116 APPENDIX. 
 
 policie and expediencie, to the cheif magistrats of the cheif cittie 
 of each nation, amongst all the civel people of the knowen world, 
 as induction might be made if it were necessarie ; but London may 
 suffice for all, and it may suffice onlie to name London. Upon the 
 same considerations the priviledge of metropolitan and comunis pa- 
 tria, is, by the law of our land, given to Edinbrugh, and by that ex- 
 presse priviledge, testaments of those that dies out of the kingdome 
 are confirmed in Edinb: and citations onlie privileged to be used 
 there, against those that are gone out of the kingdom, as being the 
 comune domicil of the wholl nation. And hereupon his Ma*'^ King 
 James the 6*^ of glorious memorie, hes, by his chartor under the 
 great seal, given the Provost of Edinb: the badges of honor, of the 
 scepter and sword, and ordained expreslie that they shall be caried 
 before him within the priviledges of the towne, in the same maner 
 they are caried before the Mayor of London ; whereby his Ma*'* in 
 a way sutable to his royall concession, hes, by giveing the same 
 badges expreslie for honors cause, confered upon him the same dig- 
 nitie, which, how eminent it is, yo' Lo: well knows ; and it is notor 
 that both in our kingdome, and in all Europe besyd, as well civil 
 as ecclesiastical dignities, are and have been confered by simbols 
 both of late and of old ; yea, in all tymes. Lyke as how convenient 
 it is for the honor of the nation that the Provost of Edinbrugh 
 have a sutable dignitie here, both as to ourselfs at home, and to 
 straingers from abroad, who either for their affairs, or for seeing 
 the country, come and remaine most at Edinb:, it needs not to de- 
 raonstrat. The princelie wisdome of said glorious Ma"* saw it well. 
 
APPENDIX. 117 
 
 and thereupon founds his concession, in the chartor above mention- 
 ed ; and adds to the forsaid badges, scarlet robs to be worne in lyke 
 raaner to the Mayor and Aldermen of London ; from all which it's 
 evident that there is a dignitie adherent to the Provosts office 
 always. 
 
 But it is above all question that he cannot but have the prece- 
 dencie when he is in the exercise of his office, which is so undeny- 
 able, that the Lords themselves in their aforesaid sentence, made 
 that expresse exception touching their owne precedencie, when he 
 were in the exercise of his office ; whereupon I subsume that he is 
 always in the exercise of it, for it consists not onlie in jurisdiction, 
 but principallie in government, whereunto his jurisdiction is adjoyn- 
 ed to make it effectual ; and as to that, were he but walking in the 
 streets, he' is in the exercise therof, seeing to the good order, peace 
 and quyit of the towne. And therefore, that precedencie by this 
 necessarie reason, and the Lords owne acknowledgment, is allway 
 dew to him from the liberties of his charge, which is the priviledges 
 of the towne. I shall cease here, for fear, if I should sey more, y' 
 Lo: should think I had said unnecessarilie too much, and therefor 
 shall onlie add that, which without sacriledge I cannot omit, that is, 
 that whatever is said of our right and possession as to the Lords of 
 the Session, yet when I come before his Majestic, the great authore 
 of all our honors and happines of our comunewealth, I then for all 
 my interest, as to his will, lay my hand on my mouthe, and sub- 
 mitts to his royall pleasure ; and onlie entreats, so soone as may be 
 with his Majesties convenience it may be declared, that whatever it 
 
118 APPENDIX. 
 
 be, I have that honor (which I esteeme above all other on earth) to 
 obey cheirfullie as becometh a most loyall and faithfull subject to 
 so high and mightie, and withall so gracious a prince ; wherein I 
 most humblie entreat and evin expect yo' Lo: favour, as to, 
 
 My Lord, 
 Yo' Los: most devoted and most humble servant, 
 
 A. Ramsay. 
 
 FOR THE R"^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDDERDAILL, LORD 
 
 TIE 
 
 SECRETARIE TO HIS MA^*'' FOR SCOTLAND. 
 
 Edinbrugh, 22d S"", 1667. 
 My MOST NOBLE AND DEAR LORD, 
 
 I could not pas by giving yo"" Lo: a lyne at my arrival, w'^ I did 
 by the last Thursdays post, and albeit I neather was, nor am able 
 sufficiently to expresse thankfulnes enough for yo' Lo: manifold late 
 favours, since what I would is beyond the reach of my power ; how- 
 ever, my dear Lord, accept the acknowledgment of it, from a heart 
 that means as much as the most puissant gratitude can act. My 
 Lord, this day I had a meeting with all the ministrie of this place, 
 and enquyred of them what they knew of conventickles, or disaf- 
 fected persons within their paroches, and all of them declared they 
 knew not of any, nor did they know any that did not keep their 
 
APPENDIX. 119 
 
 church. I entreated that if they could at any time disco vre any, 
 that they would not fail to acquaint me privatlie thereof, and they 
 should he no further troubled nor made to appear in it ; and if I did 
 not take course therewith, they should of consent, lay it at my door. 
 I have likeways, as yo' Lo: willed me at parting, taken such a course 
 for searching this cittie for those excepted persons as had accession 
 to the late rebellion, as I hop by the next I shall be able to give you a 
 true account, whether any of them be harboured or not in this place. 
 My Lord, I wish the west may keept quyet and seur ; the last in- 
 dulgence is the most probable essey could be used for peace, if 
 rightlie made use of, but I am not without fear that there may be 
 bad comments put on it, upon the badest of designs ; for howbeit I 
 am ane ennimie to conventickles, yet not clear that the gilt thereof 
 doeth araise to the hight of the penaltie contained in the bond. Its 
 my il fortune not to have seen S" Ro* Murray as yet ; he went to 
 FyfFe that day I came to towne. I sent my Lord of Canterberies 
 letter to the Bishop of S' Andrews, who is earnest to meet with me 
 at my house of Abbotshall ; but I intend to keep my usual way, in 
 paying my respects to him at S* Andrews, and that in the begin- 
 ning of the nixt week, though my long absence can scarslie per- 
 mit the same. And now, my Lord, grant me friedome, without 
 which there can be no trust, or true friendship, which is humblie to 
 entreat yo' Lo: to assist him handsomelie from under the cloude, 
 that every way he may be the more usefull. I believe he has got- 
 tin the second sight through experience, and that not for nought ; 
 but, my Lord, they say its onlie the witches that can lay on, and 
 
120 APPENDIX. 
 
 not take off. My Lord, I am informed by some that knows much 
 of Duck Hameltouns mynd, that he cannot be dissuaded from goeing 
 to Court, and that its concluded by the cabal, that they are first to 
 desyre yo' Lo: to joyne in severall particulars, and, if denyed, to 
 break off friendship. I thought it not the way to come at them by 
 seeming too earnest, and therefore have come to the knowledge 
 onlie of one as yet, which is, that Duck Hameltowne should be ad- 
 ded to the Commission of the treasurie, of pourpouse to give them 
 the sol power ; for they are asseured of my Lords Cochran and Bal- 
 lenden, as they sey. The Ducke takes journey from this the mor- 
 row, and takes his own horses to Morpeth, and from thence takes 
 post. My Lord, its hard they should be all absent, especially the 
 session being so near ; they expect great assistance from Lambeth, 
 but I am mistaken if they mistake not their measurs there. My 
 Lord, I have said all this tyme doeth allow me, I wish I incure not 
 blame for seying too much ; and if your Lo: will vouchave to give 
 me a lyne or two at yo'^ leasure, I shall steere my course according- 
 lie, and shall place it among those favours which hath made me yo' 
 Lo: desperat debtor, but. 
 
 My Lord, 
 Your Lo: most humble and 
 
 Most faithfull servant, 
 
 A. Ramsay. 
 
APPENDIX. 121 
 
 My dear Lord, — Suffer these to present my most humble ser- 
 vice to yo' Lo: most noble Ladie, the Earle of Tweddell, the Lord 
 Yester, and my Ladie; the good news of her happie delyverie will 
 be more welcome than all the news the Parlia' can produce. 
 
 FOR THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE EARLE OF LAUDDERDAIL, 
 LORD SECRET ARIE TO HIS Ma"^^^ FOR SCOTLAND. 
 
 Edinbrugh, 26th NovS 1667. 
 My MOST NOBLE AND DEAR LORD, 
 
 This fourtnight I have forborne to trouble yo' Lo: with anything 
 from my pen, there being litle or nothing new, and what there has 
 been I know S" Ro* Murray hath not failed to give yo' Lo: account 
 off, and when anything either of publict or privat concerne occurs, 
 worthie of yo' notice, yo' Lo: shall have them as they grow on the 
 ground. I have at this tyme litle more to say then with the cowcow 
 to sing one and the same note, that this place is quyet and secure ; 
 and I hope to be that happie gowk to sing, and hear it sunge, all my 
 tyme. My dear Lord, it would be most acceptable to me to have 
 the signal yo' Lo: procured in the good towns favour past in my 
 tyme, and I may aver from ane ingenuus heart, that the defering of 
 that is the raaine ingredient that hath made me subject myself so 
 long to the yock and troublesome imployment I am in. My Lord 
 Chancelour, the president of the Session, was clear to doe it ; the stop 
 
 Q 
 
122 APPENDIX. 
 
 it mete with was from the advocat, which I believe a lyne from yo"^ 
 Lo: self would take of all scruple with him, and I shall humblie en- 
 treat yo' Lo: to wreat a lyne with the Earle of Tweddell to that effect, 
 but without yo' Lo: wreat I doe expect nothing by any other meine. 
 My Lord, I have noe more peper left than what will permit me to 
 tell that I am, and ever will be. 
 
 My Lord, yo' Lo: most humble. 
 And most faithfull SQrv', 
 
 A. Ramsay. 
 
 FOR THE R"^ HON^^^ THE EARLE OF LAUDDERDAIL, LORD 
 SECRETARIE TO HIS Ma"^^^ FOR SCOTLAND, 
 
 London. 
 
 Edinb', 12 Dec^ 1667. 
 
 My most noble and dear Lord, 
 My frequencie with S' Ro* Murray maks me so unfrequent in my 
 wreatting to yo' Lo:. The Bishop of Glasgow parted from this yes- 
 terday ; he was pleased to give me a visit that morning he parted ; 
 I found him full of jealousies and fears, and discontented to that 
 hight, as made him expresse a willingnes to parte with his imploy- 
 ment. I believe he thinks himself not right stated, things above 
 not answering expectation. My L* S* Andrews seys he mete with 
 him thereafter, and found him in that same mude ; but after some 
 reasoning, he had gained ground, and sent him away in a better 
 
 ■■ • - . -. . -- -' ■■-'-^ — -' ■" ^..-.^^ — ^— . „^_^_^^jtm^,.m.i^mi^imti^miia*tmmmditd 
 
APPENDIX. 123 
 
 humour. My L** S* Andrews, to my aprehension, was never more 
 contented then at present, and as it seems to me S' Ro* has taken him 
 downe, and made him up againe ; and now he has so fixt his gripe 
 on yo"" Lo: as that I think it will not eassilie be gote lowsed. Our 
 particular meeting of the Borrows dissolved the last week, and have 
 appoynted a gen^^ meeting to be here the first of Marche, lykeways 
 appointed a petition to be given in to the Commiss" of the treaserie 
 against S"^ Walter Seaton,^ and that monople caried on be him of the 
 salt, which petition in name of the wholl borrows and their reasons, 
 are to be present the morrow : and if yo' Lo: have not seen them al- 
 readie, they shall be sent yo' Lo: by the nixt, w^^ the Com" answer. 
 My dear Lord, allow me to impart to you a particular wherein 
 I am tenderlie concern'd ; your Lo:, I know, needs not new argu- 
 ment to persuade you I am entirlie at yo' disposall ; if it were not 
 so, what I am now to sey would certainlie evince it. I doe not on- 
 lie intend yo'Los: countenance shall be the measure of my satisfac- 
 tion, but of my sonnes happienes, for the respect I bear yo' Lo: most 
 be entailed to him. There is in his view a considerable match, and 
 from a ryse that is well grounded, he hath cause to beleive his ad- 
 dresse will not be unsuccessful, but though the advantages of it be 
 greater then he could rationallie pretend to, or I dreame of, I will 
 not give way nor he attempt it, without yo' Lo: approbation. The 
 Earle of Midleton's daughter Jean, is the ladie ; and if it stick not 
 at hir, I beleive it will not at him, but whatever might accrue to my 
 Sonne by it, nothing will encourage the designe so much as yo"^ Los: 
 
 ^ Sir Walter Seton of Northbank, Bart. 
 
124 APPENDIX. 
 
 allowing of it.^ I presume you will not think any of us foolish in 
 it, nor charge me with presumption for this fridome; which I 
 thought fitter for me to use then to employe evin S" Ro' Murray to 
 sey the thing for me, this way being most sutable to the noble friend- 
 ship yo"^ Lo: have been pleased to fix upon me, and the heartie love 
 and service eternallie devoted to yo' Lo: by, my Lord, 
 Yo^ Lo: most humble and most obedient servant, 
 
 A. Ramsay. 
 
 ^ This match, which never took place, could not prove agreeable to the Duke, who 
 had good reason to be Lord Middleton's enemy. The Lady is not mentioned in 
 our Peerages. 
 
 ;ffini». 
 
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